Original subtitles

[Spring of The Blade]

[Episode 27]

Chunzhi.

Your bow.

I've wrapped it for you.

Since I married you,

in this life,

I will always be by your side.

The Marquis has just died,

yet as his soldiers,

how dare you massacre the people?

You also came from the people.

You also have family and parents.

Is your courage

all used to slaughter your own kin?

Fellow villagers!

Fight them!

Kill!

Charge!

Stop!

Stop it, all of you!

I, Shen Run,

am here with the Marquis of Danyang.

Who dares to be insolent?

You-

Eunuch Xia.

I heard you served the late Emperor for decades

without making a single mistake.

How is it that when serving me,

you can't even hold a bowl of ginseng soup properly?

This old servant

deserves to die!

I have done my best

to serve Your Majesty for years.

From now on,

I will obey your edicts

and never act without your permission.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

You saw the situation in the court today.

Hundreds of officials have impeached you.

Look at the bunch of people you've taken under your wing

and the mess they've made of Hengtang.

Peasant uprisings

have been a sign of a nation’s downfall since ancient times.

If I forgive you,

will the people forgive me?

You better

drink this bowl of soup, Eunuch Xia.

Eunuch Xia.

Commander Shen.

You made such a huge scene

capturing a mere County Sheriff.

But here I am, the dignified Commissioner Hu,

and you chose

to come along?

You're hurting my pride.

Outside, the public is furious.

In court, the officials are impeaching you.

Isn't this scene

big enough?

Commissioner Hu,

even at this point,

you are still so greedy.

I admit defeat.

I lost to you.

Come.

Escort me to the capital now.

No need to return to the capital.

Commissioner Hu.

You've been drinking

this aged wine since the time of the late emperor.

It's time to change your taste.

Try this wine bestowed upon you by the Emperor.

Brilliant move, Commander.

Impressive.

Since the late emperor's time,

you have relied on Eunuch Xia as your backer,

leaving chronic problems in Hengtang.

First, officials at all levels

invented various excuses

to increase taxes and corvée,

overwhelming the common people

and causing them to lose their land.

The noble families took the opportunity to annex land,

expanding their estates.

Once they grew strong,

they began to conceal their land

and pay fewer taxes.

With officials protecting each other,

Hengtang

had long been impenetrable.

My father proposed the Equalization Law

to remeasure land nationwide

and levy taxes by the mu.

Those with more land would pay more,

those with less would pay less,

and those with none would pay nothing.

Taking money from noble families to relieve disaster victims

and equalizing the burden of taxes and corvée

would greatly narrow the absurd gap

between the rich and poor in Hengtang.

Yes.

This is indeed a disruptive policy.

But what it disrupts

is the lives of you corrupt officials and noble families.

But have you ever thought about it?

If taxes and corvée are equalized,

from how many noble families' pockets

will the money be taken?

No matter how much,

they still have to pay.

My father was benevolent.

Though he had a good plan,

he didn't get to enforce it on any noble family.

Then I'll make

the first strike,

starting right here with you, Commissioner Hu.

The late Emperor lacked the resolve to do this.

Will the current Emperor

really do it?

Let me remind you,

we should not

both become bait.

Commissioner Hu.

Once you fall,

the new emperor will see the court's

determination to implement the new policy

and hear the cries of the people.

As long as I accomplish the first strike,

there will naturally be a second

and a third.

Even if the new emperor intends to,

extending it from the capital to Hengtang

will meet with great resistance.

Your father failed to do this.

Do you really think you can?

Commissioner Hu, you love drinking so much.

Have you ever had the wine from the Northern Frontier?

In the Northern Frontier,

I only drank two kinds of wine.

One was on cold nights,

to numb the pain

when it was unbearable.

The other

was to see my brothers off when they die

before my eyes in battle.

I often wonder,

when we defend our nations with our lives,

whose homes are we defending?

The homes of you corrupt officials and noble families

who feed on the people?

Foreign enemies are hard to fend off.

But you parasites

must also be eliminated.

Although my father is dead,

there are fortunately countless people like him in this world,

helping me in secret

and paving my way to the new Emperor's side.

My father's ideal...

Our ideal,

is now

almost achieved.

Speaking of which,

I must thank your good brother-in-law.

If it weren't for his help,

it wouldn't have progressed so quickly.

He handed over all the evidence of the crimes committed

by you and Eunuch Xia.

My brother-in-law,

Xie Shu,

cut off his tail to survive.

You instigated him to frame my father back then.

Now, he's repeating his old trick

to bring down your Zuixian Tavern.

It is the ending you deserve.

Your father

was indeed innocent.

He was truly incorruptible.

I spent over a month

fabricating many of his crimes,

but the late Emperor didn't believe them.

It was Xie Shu

who personally forged the false evidence

that your father, as the Jiangnan Transport Commissioner,

profited from canal transport.

This finally angered the late Emperor,

causing the extermination of the Shen family.

After your Zuixian Tavern falls,

the next

will be the Xie Residence.

I just want to

remind you of something.

Do you really think Xie Shu

turned against your father

just to get a promotion?

Couldn't it be

that your father

knew some

huge secret about Xie Shu?

You mean,

there's another story behind this?

When I was investigating your father,

I accidentally learned that

at the last moment before he went to the Censorate for interrogation,

he told this matter

to your wife's birth mother,

Jin Chunqing.

Shen.

It's already nice that you're visiting.

Why did you bring so many gifts?

You are too kind.

I was just passing by,

so I brought you some New Year goods.

That day, my father

took me to Yunya's house.

So it was to...

Well,

I've said what I should.

What an exquisite wine cup.

It's a pity

it's containing this.

Commissioner Hu.

Your defeat is sealed.

Looking back on this journey,

have you ever regretted it?

A defeat is a defeat.

What is there to regret?

Qingyuan.

It's rare for you to visit.

Today,

I will show off my skills so you can

have a taste of my cooking.

Have a seat.

I'll be done in a minute.

Coming.

Smells so good.

Are you planning to open a restaurant, Second Young Master?

Oh, stop calling me that.

Maybe not a restaurant,

but I might open a tavern someday.

But I really didn't expect this.

I'm living a good life now.

Every day, I tend to the farm,

feed the chickens,

have simple meals,

and live a carefree life.

As for matters of the Xie family,

I don't know,

and don't care.

I'm not cut out for it anyway.

Baoxian,

come visit often.

Zhengjun,

I'm hungry.

When will it be ready?

Mother, it's almost done.

It's ready.

Coming.

Come on.

Here.

Come.

Let's eat.

Here.

Here, Qingyuan.

Qingyuan.

I'm so happy

that you could come today.

Mother.

Mother,

let's eat.

Eat.

Is Zhenglun still studying?

Zheng...

Call him over.

Zhenglun!

Brother.

-Zhenglun, come and eat. -Come out and eat.

Look at you, you're always so slow.

Mother was calling you.

Hurry.

-Sit down. -Sit down.

Sit down.

Lun.

-Studying is hard work. -Let’s eat.

Don't exhaust yourself.

Come.

Eat.

Mother.

Here.

I stir-fried cabbage for you again. Try it.

Come, try this too.

Come, try it.

This is also delicious.

How is it?

Second Madam,

I came today to ask you

if there's someone

named Lu Lingshu in the Xie Residence.

Mother.

Mother?

It's delicious.

Is it?

Mother,

do you know

who Lu Lingshu is?

Lu Lingshu.

Lu Lingshu.

Lu Lingshu.

Aren't you Lu Lingshu?

Tell me.

Your Lordship!

I am not from the Xia's faction.

Hu Xing forced me to do everything.

Please believe me, Your Lordship!

Spare me!

I'm innocent!

Coward.

Congratulations, Commander.

After 10 years of hiding,

you finally avenged your father.

What a great trick to escape and deceive everyone.

For this round,

I admit my defeat.

Do you know what it's like to love someone,

Shen Run?

It is wanting to make love with him,

and share the beauty of this world with him.

It's wanting to be with him,

wearing flowers in spring,

boating on summer nights,

climbing high in autumn,

and warming wine by the stove in winter.

You're two blocks of wood with only revenge in your hearts;

what's left in your hearts besides hatred?

I have already heard.

Hu Xing's remaining followers have all been sentenced to death.

Did you come here this time

to see me off one last time?

[Memorial]

My dear Yuting

loves this kind of exquisite vessel the most.

What an exquisite wine cup.

What a pity.

I will never have the chance

to gift her some

fun,

exquisite things again.

Fortunately,

I've wiped away all the matters

she handled.

[The funds amassed over the years were my sole doing; no others were involved.]

[Pei Yuting, Princess of Yongjia, is usually upright and prudent.]

[Her actions resulted from my threat, not from her own volition.]

I will take on

all the blame.

She is still young.

She still has plenty of time.

He said all of his actions

had nothing to do with you.

So His Majesty

ordered me to escort you back to the capital.

This old man...

Mother, you haven't been out lately.

Are you feeling any better?

I feel better.

I called you here today

because I have something to tell you.

Please go ahead, Mother.

I have agreed with your father

that on a sunny day,

we will send you to the capital to visit your relatives.

Visit my relatives?

Your birth mother

still has some relatives

in the capital.

The Xia family

can still more or less

take good care of you.

You are still sick, Mother.

How can I leave?

It's exactly because I'm sick

that we can't delay this any longer.

I must make plans for you ahead of time.

Qingru is already married.

The only one I'm worried about

is you.

Back then,

I even wanted to marry you into the Pei residence.

Who would have thought

that Qinghe would beat you to it?

I even hated the third branch for quite a while.

Mother,

Pei Guanling and Eldest Sister

were mutually in love.

Mother, you should be...

happy for me

that I didn't marry him.

About that Mr. Zhou you like...

I...

actually asked around about him.

He was devoted to you,

studied hard,

and was a good match.

Qingrong.

Don't be sad.

In your life,

you won't just meet Mr. Zhou.

When you get to the capital,

You will meet so many people.

But you must remember this.

Background is not important.

Neither is family status.

None of that matters.

You must find someone

who leaves you with no regrets in this life.

You are smart

and clear-headed.

You've always known what you want.

You definitely won't be like me.

You will live a good life.

Mother...

Remember.

When you get to the capital,

you are just Xia Yingying's daughter.

You have nothing to do

with the Xie family

or me.

From now on,

you must live anew.

You must absolutely

not return to Hengtang.

And there is no need

to worry about me.

Mother.

Mother, you are still gravely ill.

How could I possibly

abandon you?

For so many years,

you raised me.

In my heart,

you are my real mother.

I know...

I know...

It's fine.

I will be better after taking the medicine.

It's okay.

Don't be afraid.

It's just a spill.

You can brew another one for me.

I want to drink the medicine you brew.

Hurry,

go.

Go.

Go...

Your father

loved your birth mother so much back then.

Even if she committed a grave crime,

he would never

have had the heart to lay a finger on her.

So why

did he agree to let your birth mother

ask to leave the residence,

then not look for her for 9 years,

only to kill her as soon as he found her?

Everything that happened to your birth mother,

including her death,

is due to Xie Shu's

unspeakable secret.

Madam.

Madam.

Fourth Lady wants to see you.

I stopped her.

It's time to put an end to this.

Tell her to wait for me in the main hall.

I will go see her.

Yes.

Long time no see.

I'm here.

What do you want?

Can you tell me now

who Lu Lingshu is?

You are indeed smart and capable.

You have discovered

the secret of the bronze mirror.

But what does Lu Lingshu

have to do with you avenging

your mother?

Didn't you want to kill Xie Shu?

Why didn't you kill him?

My brother is dead.

The Hu family is gone.

But Xie Shu is still alive.

What does knowing who Lu Lingshu is

have to do with killing him?

Xie Shu?

Of course I can kill him.

But I want to figure out

why my birth mother died.

Is there anything in this world that can be figured out

and explained clearly?

I’ve lived my whole life,

yet I haven't figured out

what love is.

I thought that

since I married Xie Shu,

as long as I treated him wholeheartedly

and loved him,

he would definitely fall in love with me.

But I've only seen Xie Shu look at your mother

the way Shen Run looks at you.

In his eyes,

I am nothing.

Xia Yingying,

Mei Yinghua, and I.

in Xie Shu's eyes,

we were merely power,

beauty,

and money.

We were just

stepping stones for Xie Shu to climb up.

But your birth mother was different.

She was nothing.

Yet Xie Shu loved her.

He loved her with all his heart.

I hated her.

We all hated her.

We hated her to death.

So,

forcing your birth mother out of the Xie Residence that day

was an unspoken decision shared among us.

You are still too young.

You don't understand what love is.

The word "love"

is sought after by everyone.

But when survival is concerned,

it is abandoned by everyone.

Mother.

You're truly a noble of the Hu family.

Even this sick,

you are still so elegant and graceful.

Nine years ago,

you came to my house wearing that accessory.

At that time, I just thought

that this hairpin

looked stunning

under the sun.

I also thought

the woman wearing this hairpin

was elegant

and extraordinary.

That day,

what exactly did you say to my birth mother?

What does Lu Lingshu

have to do with my birth mother's death?

What exactly is that massive secret?

I've been your mother for a while now.

I should tell you something useful.

Xie Shu...

Is just an imposter.

Everything in the Xie Residence is fake!

You actually want to see me.

Then speak.

What is the matter?

The day before yesterday,

before Shen Zhibai was summoned by the Censorate,

he came to see me.

At that time,

he looked conflicted.

I asked him what had happened,

but he hesitated to speak.

Right before he left,

he finally told me.

Chunqing.

I've kept something from you for over 10 years.

I don't know if I helped you back then

or harmed you.

More than10 years ago,

it was Xie Shu

who personally killed

his father.

I couldn't figure it out back then.

Xie Shu was just born days before

Old Master Xie's death.

How could he have killed his father?

Then I realized

the only possibility.

You actually guessed it.

You knew Xie Shu killed your birth mother.

Why didn't you kill him?

Are you scared?

Are you scared because you've never killed anyone?

Are you afraid of the feeling

of a life slipping through your fingers?

[Qinyue Corridor]

Fifth Concubine, what brings you here?

[Qinyue Corridor]

You lowly performer,

do you really think you're fit to live in Danyue Pavilion?

The courtyard was arranged by the Old Madam.

-If you have any complaints, -Chunqing.

you can...

Shut up!

What are you doing?

Concubine Xia!

Let me tell you,

I'll give you 3 days to move out.

That day,

I finally found a chance

to not only eliminate two threats,

but also use this secret

to threaten Xie Shu.

I know you hate Xia Yingying to the core, My Lord.

But you can't make a move because of her great-uncle.

It doesn't matter.

I...

am willing to be of help.

Fifth Madam,

Fourth Madam told me to bring you this pregnancy tonic.

She also said she would

-move out of Danyue Pavilion soon. -Leave it there.

Let go!

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

-Why did you hurt me? -It’s not me!

Let go!

I'll kill you!

It wasn't me.

It wasn't me!

Qingrong.

That day,

I was going to strangle her.

But I just couldn't do it.

Somebody, help!

Someone is dead!

Qingrong.

Shall we have some tangyuan soup together?

Good girl, let's go.

Thank goodness, I didn't do it.

That's how Qingrong became my daughter.

I burned Soul-Suppressing Mantras every day

just to suppress Xia Yingying's soul.

I didn't want her to come back.

I didn't want her to come back

and tell my daughter

what I did to her mother

and the harm I caused her!

So you not only killed my mother,

but also almost killed me too!