Original subtitles

[Spring of The Blade]

[Episode 19]

Xia Yingying left me two things.

The first is this hairpin.

The other is Qingrong.

After Xia Yingying passed away,

I was soft-hearted

and brought her back.

I raised her day and night.

We developed a bond,

and also an obsession.

In my heart,

Qingrong and Qingru

are both my own flesh and blood.

There is no difference.

You are so kind, Madam.

Maybe this is retribution.

I just hope Qingrong

will never know the truth.

[Harmony Among Kin]

You're here.

Third Sister, you're burning the Rebirth Sutra

for Fifth Madam again.

Fortunately, the truth has come to light,

allowing the two of us

to peacefully coexist.

Previously, I saw you as the daughter of my enemy,

but I didn't expect to have hated the wrong person.

If it weren't for you,

the real culprit who killed my mother and brother

would probably still be gloating today.

But I...

Like you,

I lost my mother at a young age.

Therefore, in this residence,

the person who understands you best

should be me.

As your mother's child,

if you live under the same roof as your enemy

and remain indifferent,

that'd make you truly unfilial

and heartless.

Third Sister,

I don't blame you,

and you shouldn't mind either.

I don't mind at all.

Yes,

I did hate you before

and always made things difficult for you.

But you didn't suffer either.

Anyway, every time I teased you,

I was the one who ended up unlucky.

Qingyuan,

I'm sorry.

And thank you, really.

Mei Yinghua

received a heavy punishment from Father.

If Fifth Madam knew this in the afterlife,

she could rest in peace.

But there's one thing I don't understand.

[Harmony Among Kin]

Concubine Mei is not proficient in pharmacology,

so how could she come up with such a subtle poison scheme?

Or is it really as she said,

she only wanted Fifth Madam to miscarry

and had no intention to kill?

That cruel woman bullied my mother

and managed internal affairs for years.

Naturally, she had no good intentions.

Since childhood,

you grew up under Mother's roof

with Second Sister.

You always disregarded others.

As such, you might have

overlooked certain things.

You've just recently discovered that

the real murderer is not my mother,

but Mei Yinghua.

The Xie family

hides far too many secrets.

What you hear

and see

is not necessarily the truth.

Even though Mei Yinghua is vicious,

she knew

she couldn't escape her crimes.

So why did she bite back for no reason?

Why isn't anyone accusing her?

A-Are you out of your mind?

You told me about the euphorbia!

Though I no longer hate you,

I don't need to hear you say these things.

I've been in the residence for a long time.

If there's really anything,

I'd know.

Lord Xie.

Having just lost your beloved son,

you still insist on stepping up to take charge.

I admire you.

I will substitute tea for wine

to toast you, Lord Xie.

-To Lord Xie. -To Lord Xie.

My trivial family matters

have troubled you, my lords.

Thank you.

Please.

Please, my lord.

Yan Rui has left.

It is settled that Wei Changyan

colluded with

the northern bandits.

I would like to hear

what your next steps

will be.

Yan Rui is finally cleared out of Hengtang.

Wei Changyan left behind a huge mess of unresolved accounts.

We still need you to make decisions, Lord Xie.

Not so.

Not so.

Hengtang belongs to all of you,

not just me.

In all matters,

we must join forces

and deliberate together.

-Yes. -Yes.

In my opinion,

we should follow the old rules.

The more you work, the more you gain.

What do you think?

Good.

Your Lordship is right.

Your Lordship is right.

Lord Xie,

with you in charge,

we naturally have no objections.

Right, my lords?

That's right.

No objections at all.

Lord Xie,

Wei Changyan left a sum of money at the dock.

Counting it

will take some effort.

I am willing to share your burden, Lord Xie.

Lord Xie, I'm also free lately.

I'm willing to help settle Wei Changyan's old accounts too

and share your burden, Lord Xie.

I'm free too.

I'm free too.

We are also willing to share your burden, Lord Xie.

Whose people are they?

This...

This...

Death is at your door,

yet you are still fighting over a few pieces of silver.

This is...

Lord Xie,

[Yongjia County Lady, Pei Yuting]

you really know how to lead your subordinates.

How dare you?

Who are you?

My lords are discussing important matters here.

How can a woman like you come here?

Guards!

Wait!

If I'm not mistaken,

could you be

the adopted daughter of the Imperial Noble Consort,

sister of Pei Liangyong,

Yongjia County Lady?

County Lady?

Greetings, My Lady.

I, Pei Yuting, haven't been in Hengtang for a long time,

but you still remember me.

It seems

you are not completely foolish.

We wouldn't dare.

Founding Countess

was involved in disaster relief efforts

and met with an accident.

I was deeply saddened.

Are you here regarding that matter?

I missed seeing off my brother and sister-in-law.

But,

I'm just in time to see you all off.

See us off?

No...

What do you mean?

I heard that with Lord Xie in Hengtang,

our Pei family will always be at a disadvantage.

If today,

Lord Xie is willing to beg me

and make me happy,

I might be willing to tell you something.

Please enlighten me.

The fake Yan Rui you let slip

is actually a favored minister of His Majesty,

Shen Run.

Even the Prince has to treat him with respect.

Do you know what's even more terrifying?

His father was Shen Zhibai.

This...

Now he has requested an edict to return to Hengtang.

Tell me,

if he met the lot of you

who framed his father,

now that he is back,

how would he deal with you?

This... I...

Especially you, the Xie family.

Falling into his hands

is only a matter of time.

This...

How can I ensure my family's survival?

We're doomed.

A fake Yan Rui left,

and a real king of hell is coming.

What do we do now?

That's right.

Lord Xie.

Lord Xie.

You have to think of a way quickly.

-Lord Xie. -Lord Xie.

-Do something. -Protect my family, Lord Xie.

Yes, Lord Xie, please say something.

Lord Xie,

are you really not afraid at all?

Lord Shen Zhibai

was a close friend of mine when he was alive.

Since he is the son of an old friend,

I can't wait to catch up with him.

What is there to fear?

It seems

Lord Xie has already found a way out.

What about the rest of you?

I'm afraid it won't be so easy for you.

My Lady.

My wife also has water transport gangs at the docks.

If you want them,

I will offer them all.

Please save my life.

My family has a dock.

-I'll surrender it to the Pei family. -Please protect us, My Lady.

-My Lady. -Shoo, shoo!

We have granaries and rice barns!

They are all for the Pei family.

Alright.

My Lady.

Let go.

My Lady.

I don't have the final say.

You need Lord Xie's approval.

Lord Xie, please say something.

The Pei family

manages hundreds of water transport gangs.

Back then, one of Lord Shen Zhibai's

major crimes

was embezzling profits from water transport.

Now that Shen Run is investigating things,

My Lady, although it has nothing to do with you,

I'm afraid

the Pei family cannot escape involvement.

If I'm not wrong,

the Pei family is already caught in Shen Run's schemes.

I suggest

the Pei family figure out a way to protect yourselves soon.

I just said it.

Hengtang belongs to everyone,

not just me.

We can discuss everything together.

Besides,

the County Lady has returned.

She is wise, too.

I suggest letting

the County Lady take charge of the overall situation.

You can all discuss together

and do what you want best.

I will listen to you all.

Don't say that, Lord Xie.

Lord Xie, what should we do?

What year is this old tea from? It's so bitter.

Lord Xie,

it's time for something new.

Okay.

[Distinguished Family]

What?

Call off the engagement?

Yes.

Reporting to the Master

and Head Madam,

the Pei family says

the Eldest Lady

is cursed to harm her mother and husband,

so they sent a notice to call off the engagement.

Pei Liangyong

is utterly ridiculous.

How can marriage

be treated as child's play?

The three letters and six etiquettes have all been completed.

He can't just call it off whenever he wants.

Calm down, Master.

They just got engaged,

and Madam Pei died a tragic death.

Presumably, the Founding Count

has other thoughts.

Maybe he thinks it's bad luck.

What did you say?

So unruly.

The heir of the Founding Count is in mourning.

They certainly won't be able to marry

within the next 3 years.

But Qinghe can't wait that long.

Why don't we find her another family?

Father.

Lanshan and I have an agreement.

As soon as his mourning period is over, we will get married.

I don't want to marry anyone else.

Qinghe.

You are not yet married.

Although you have an engagement,

meeting privately

will give people cause for gossip.

Exactly.

If this gets out one day,

people will say the women of the Xie family are unchaste,

and that's why the engagement was broken.

It'd really disgrace our family name.

Mother.

This is just an excuse the Pei family made up

to break the engagement.

Instead of seeking justice,

why are we blaming Eldest Sister?

Father.

I think the Pei family

isn't targeting Eldest Sister,

but trying to embarrass our Xie family.

Qinghe.

You really have an unfortunate fate.

She should be punished if she deserves it.

Don't let our inner court affairs

ruin the friendship between the two families.

Okay.

Stop talking.

Everyone, stop talking.

I am busy with official duties every day,

and I still have to listen to your chattering when I get back.

A minister's virtue is loyalty.

A son's virtue is filial piety.

And a woman's virtue

is her wifely duties.

I think you have all forgotten them in this residence.

Each of you has your own ideas.

Wenzhuo,

don't let me worry about

the matters of the inner household.

You make the decisions.

If anyone dares to disobey,

punish them with family rules without mercy.

Yes.

Eldest Lady Qinghe

has misbehaved

and damaged the reputation of the Xie family.

She is grounded for 3 months

and must copy the Admonitions for Women

a hundred times.

Qingyuan,

if you feel sorry for your eldest sister,

kneel in the ancestral hall with her tonight.

To think you wanted Father to speak for you.

You should realize clearly

who is in charge of the Xie's inner household

from now on.

Eldest Sister.

Fourth Sister.

I'm sorry.

I dragged you into this again.

Don't blame yourself.

Mother

is angry that I asked Third Madam about the past,

so she deliberately targeted you.

It's me who dragged you into this.

What happened between you and Young Master Pei?

The day before yesterday,

didn't he come to the herbal shop to look for you?

I have no idea.

[Respectful exchange of birth details] [A match made in heaven]

He clearly said

he would marry me in 3 years.

But it's only been 3 days,

and the narrative has changed.

Something must be wrong.

Don't worry.

Something might have happened in the Pei family.

I will go to the Pei residence tomorrow

and get an explanation for you.

Madam.

The Pei family sent someone to deliver generous gifts today.

They said Fourth Lady

went to the Pei family for an explanation,

and they came to apologize to Eldest Lady.

It's Qingyuan causing trouble again.

It doesn't matter.

Anyway, this marriage with the Founding Count's residence is ruined.

Just keep Qinghe

locked up for now.

Let the third branch know

the rules of the Xie household.

Nothing else matters.

The most important thing

is Zhenglun's funeral.

Have you done

everything needed?

Rest assured, Madam.

The belongings of Eldest Young Master just arrived,

and I've already checked them.

That item is not there.

That's good.

My Lady.

Madam Hu is really too vicious.

Even though the Pei family has apologized,

she still won't let Eldest Lady out.

In this residence,

the deaths of Concubine Xia and my mother,

and Concubine Mei going mad,

were all her doing.

Tomorrow

is Eldest Brother's funeral.

It's time for the guilty

to be buried with him.

Lord Xie,

my condolences.

-Xie. -Lord Xie, my condolences.

My condolences.

Xie, my condolences.

Zhenglun died for his nation.

The men of Hengtang

will never forget this.

My brother died for his nation.

But at his funeral,

even his body couldn't be sent home.

The Northern Frontier is far,

and the war is raging.

They could only gather his clothes

and send them back by fast horse.

Had I known it was a final farewell,

I would have spoken to him

much more in the past.

Chunzhi insisted on coming,

but he is really unwell.

I didn't want him to bring any illness

to disturb Zhenglun's spirit.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Madam Li.

It is comforting enough that the two of you could come.

Ever since you arrived,

the Xie family has had no peace.

Watch your words, Second Sister.

We're at Eldest Brother's funeral.

How can you say such baseless things?

How is it baseless?

Qingru,

stop making a scene.

Yongjia County Lady has arrived!

My Lady.

Apologies for not welcoming you.

Greetings, My Lady.

Lord Xie.

It's getting late.

You should begin.

Master,

shall we begin?

My Xie family

is a family that upholds loyalty, valor,

filial piety, and righteousness.

My eldest son, Zhenglun,

dedicated himself to the nation,

protecting our land and our people.

In his final moments,

he fought bravely against the enemy,

dyeing his battle robes with blood.

He has brought

honor to the ancestors of the Xie family.

Today,

I lead the entire Xie family

to respectfully welcome the general's armor

back home.

The general's armor is returning for burial!

There seems to be

a letter within the armor.

[Respectfully to Brother Zhenglun, from younger brother Zhengjun]

Did this belong to Eldest Brother?

Since it was his belonging,

let's burn it together for Zhenglun.

Nanny Liu.

Yes.

No!

Out of my way!

I want to know what my brother said before he died.

This letter

appearing here suddenly

must mean that Eldest Brother

still has some unfulfilled wishes.

Thank you both.

It's our duty to avenge the heroic

and redress any grievances.

Go.

Expose that evil woman's true colors

in front of all of Hengtang.

We will support you from here.

There is one more thing

I need your help with.

Tell us.

At my eldest brother's funeral tomorrow,

this letter

must appear among his belongings.

Leave it to us.

[Respectfully to Brother Zhenglun, from younger brother Zhengjun]

Zhengjun.

The sudden appearance of this letter

is highly suspicious.

Today is your eldest brother's funeral.

We must not lose our manners.

Come down first.

To my dear brother Zhenglun.

Mother has been ill at the estate for a long time.

The doctor said

her condition is incurable.

Zhengjun!

This is the mourning hall.

We cannot afford any complications.

Listen to me.

Come down.

Father.

Master.

This is a family letter,

not his last words.

It is not suitable to be read here.

My wife is right.

This is a family letter.

Don't read it in public.

Come down.

Mother probably doesn't have much time left.

Zhengjun!

She resents you in the end

for abandoning her while she's seriously ill

to go to the battlefield.

You sacrificed your family for the greater good.

You failed to repay her,

which makes you unfilial.

As Mother lay on her deathbed,

I hope for your swift victory and return.

If she cannot see you one last time,

I fear she will not rest in peace

and will die with resentment.

This is...

A huge taboo on the battlefield.

That's right.

The slightest negligence can cost a life.

That's why letters to the border

have always reported only good news.

Who would write such a letter to the frontline?

Exactly.

In that case,

Zhenglun must have died in battle

because he was eager to finish things

and rush back to see his mother one last time.

Makes sense.

Makes sense.

That makes sense.

Zhengjun.

Who wrote this letter?

Respectfully yours,

younger brother Zhengjun.

It wasn't me.

It wasn't me!

I clearly...

I clearly wrote,

"Mother is in good health,

and I am studying diligently

without slacking off."

How did this happen?

Fourth Sister,

we wrote this letter together.

How did this happen?

I'm afraid

the letter was swapped.

You're right.

Someone must have swapped the letter.

Someone must have!

Father.

Grandmother.

My brother was murdered.

He was killed by this letter!

Shu.

Here.

Let's finish the funeral first.

As for this matter,

we will discuss it when we go back.

Yes.

Come down.

No!

I must clarify it here.

Second Brother,

who did you give the letter to that day?

Tell me.

Where did you take the letter after I passed it to you?

I...

Speak!

Yes.

The Second Young Master indeed gave it to me.

Yes,

I was the one who sent Nanny Liu

to take the letter.

I wanted to help

send it out quickly.

But after Nanny Liu

got the letter,

the rain

had completely soaked it.

Not a single word could be read.

I guessed

Zhengjun must have wanted to report the family affairs

to Zhenglun,

so I had someone draft one.

I meant well.

You...

You meant well?

If you meant well, you should have said it clearly to my face!

I really...

I didn't expect the Head Madam of the Xie family

to do something like this.

It's no different from murdering a concubine's son.

Keep your voice down.

Don't talk nonsense!

What Mother said is also true.

At that time, Mei Yinghua was about to die.

Mother

definitely didn't do it on purpose.

Father,

there must be something wrong with this matter.

Don't be provoked by false accusations.

Father,

my brother hasn't been buried yet.

This matter can't just end like this.

Father,

Zhenglun

was not only the eldest son of the Xie family

and our respected eldest brother,

but also a loyal martyr

known to everyone in Hengtang.

This is not as simple as a family affair.

The people who came today

are all distinguished guests.

If we don't give them an explanation,

how can we demonstrate the righteousness of our Xie family?

How will we convince the public?

Father.

Eldest Lady is right.

A loyal and heroic soul has died,

yet the cause of death is suspicious.

If it's not thoroughly investigated,

how can we possibly sit idly by?

Indeed!

Mother,

you have known me for decades.

You know very well

how I treat the Xie family.

I am a daughter

of the prominent Hu family.

You also know

what my character is like.

Old Madam, please discern the truth

and uphold justice for me.

Mother...

Exactly. How can it not be investigated?

The evidence is here.

How can we not investigate?

Enough!

Everyone.

Today's funeral

is to mourn Zhenglun,

who sacrificed his life for the nation.

May his heroic soul live forever.

If there are hidden circumstances...

after the Xie family investigates it,

we will definitely give everyone

an explanation.

Everyone.

The general's armor

will be placed in the ancestral hall.

When his remains

are brought back in the future,

they will be buried together.

Today's matter is concluded.

Please return to your residences.

This...

Yes.

Lord Shen, Commander of the Palace Guard, has arrived.

Yan Rui?

It's Yan Rui.

It's Yan Rui.

Didn't they say it was Lord Shen?

Yan Rui?

How dare he come to the Xie family?

And he chose to come during the funeral.

Commander of the Palace Guard,

Shen Run,

here to comfort the heroic spirit.

I apologize for

disturbing your peace.

My dear friend,

have a safe journey.

The imperial edict is here.

I heard that a family of martyrs

will inherit the righteous spirit of heaven and earth.

[Commander of the Palace Guard, Shen Run]

As such, Zhenglun of the Xie family

was endowed with a resolute posture

and the courage of a defender.

Armed and armored,

he sacrificed himself in battle.

He is hereby posthumously awarded

the title of Commandant of Loyalty and Power.

He shall be enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine of the prefecture,

and bestowed rites in spring and autumn.

His family shall be granted a hundred taels of gold

and fifty bolts of silk

to compensate the kins left behind.

His father, Xie Shu,

has taught his son well

for instilling loyalty and integrity.

He shall be granted the title of Earl of Zhongyong

and promoted to Grand Officer of the Secondary First Rank

to commend his family's teachings.

A plaque honoring the loyal Xie family shall be built to perpetuate

their renown for posterity.

Lord Xie,

please receive the edict.

I humbly

receive the edict.

I, Xie Shu,

thank His Majesty for the profound grace.

My dear nephew,

I didn't expect

you to be the son of an old friend.

Your father,

Lord Shen Zhibai,

was my best friend.

Do not be in a hurry to exchange pleasantries with me, Your Lordship.

I have a second edict to read.

Shen Che.

In the 39th year of the Jingyu era,

Shen Zhibai took office in Hengtang,

and broke the monopoly of the prominent families.

He found out that they colluded with the authorities

under the guise of the Green Sprouts Law,

forcing the civilians

into high-interest loans

and turning the imperial court's benevolent policy

into a vicious law.

From then on,

Shen Zhibai cracked down on the collusion between officials and merchants.

For a while, the politics were clean,

and the people lived in peace.

However,

in less than a year,

the prominent families colluded with the officials,

instigated the merchant guilds,

and united

to fabricate serious charges of corruption

against Shen Zhibai,

framing him collectively.

Overnight,

Shen Zhibai

went from a peerlessly honest and loyal official

to a world-shocking

corrupt official in Hengtang.

Back then, the Shen family was executed,

and only two children

narrowly escaped death.

From then on,

they became lonely wandering ghosts in this world.

I am

Shen Run,

son of Shen Zhibai.

By the Emperor's edict,

I am here to clear Shen Zhibai's name

and purge the heinous criminals from back then.

From today on,

regardless of their official rank,

anyone with evidence against them

will be handed over

to the Palace Guards to be punished according to the law.

Those who disobey orders

or cause trouble

will be executed immediately.

I don't accept this!

What does a case from years ago

have to do with me?

Open your damn eyes.

I am the eldest son of the Lin family in Hengtang!

Do you know

who my father...

Lin Bingcheng.

In the 5th year of Jingxi,

he forcibly seized a civilian woman and caused her death.

In the 7th year of Jingxi,

he allowed his servants to commit violence,

forcing dozens of farmers to sell their fertile land.

The evidence is conclusive.

Execute immediately.

Shen Run!

You set up a private court

and killed the innocent!

I will go to the Emperor

and report you!

I almost forgot.

You also allowed

your servants to commit violence.

And you,

Fang Ruike.

Not me.

Really, not me!

Not me!

Lord Xie, save me!