Original subtitles

[Episode 11]

Yu Chang Xuan, are you insane?

Exciting, isn't it?

You're right.

We don't need to tell Secretary Jiang about us.

If you don't say anything, and I don't say anything,

we can keep this a secret.

You are absolutely shameless.

Ping Jun.

Want me to get the door?

Ping Jun.

That's more like it.

I have all kinds of birds at home, you know.

They chirp all day, never stopping.

But my favorites are still canaries.

They're quiet and obedient.

Yu Chang Xuan.

What do you want?

Kiss me.

Don't cry.

If I don't cry, will you let me go?

No.

Ye Ping Jun.

As long as you say yes,

everything in Nanhuai City...

will be yours from now on.

Yu Chang Xuan.

Listen to me carefully.

I won't consider any of your insane demands.

In this lifetime,

I don't want anything to do with a despicable man like you.

Because I hated you from the start.

I hate you.

Corps Commander.

Secretary Jiang.

What are you doing here?

I'm looking for Ping Jun.

She said she needed to clean her dress.

By the way,

I just found an earring.

Looks like it belongs to Miss Ye.

Please return it to her for me.

Don't mention it.

What matters most to a woman is that she can count on him.

You shouldn't just love her.

You need to be able to protect her.

Secretary Jiang, work hard and make something of yourself.

Don't let another man lay a hand on your girlfriend again.

Thank you for the advice.

Secretary Jiang.

Didn't she tell you she knows me?

Weren't you afraid someone would steal away such a wonderful girlfriend?

At the Officers' Club ball this Saturday, remember to bring a date.

Turn right at the next intersection.

I know.

She looks so much like an old friend of mine.

Many people in this world look alike.

Advisor Yang, please don't take it to heart.

What matters most to a woman is that she can count on him.

Don't let another man lay a hand on your girlfriend again.

[Military Vehicle Records]

You really are enviable.

You're always surrounded by life and beautiful things.

You brat.

Looks to me like you're riding high.

The moment you get home, you start making jokes at my expense.

I heard about it.

You actually got Advisor Yang to back you up.

That must have reassured the arms dealers and the banks.

With the Tao family's full support,

I'd say you've had the arsenal project well in hand from the start.

That's you, all right.

Even buried in your garden, you're still remarkably well-informed.

Nothing is guaranteed to succeed.

I'm just used to keeping more than one option open.

Enough about that. Come look at my flowers.

These are begonias.

These are kerria flowers.

These are yellow roses.

They both go well with lilacs.

They make the lilacs look even more elegant.

Even when you plant flowers, you give the lilacs center stage.

Those are plantain lilies.

They're the cleanest and purest of all.

They have a crystal-clear innocence about them.

If you like them, I'll move one out for you to keep.

Forget it. I've never been good with flowers.

And I wouldn't know how to care for lilies.

Tending flowers is like loving someone.

You have to understand their nature.

Give them exactly the sunlight and rain they need.

Not a bit more, not a bit less.

Yu Chang Xuan, listen to me carefully.

In this lifetime,

I don't want anything to do with a despicable man like you.

[Nanhuai Orphanage] Here. This one's for you.

This one's for you.

Thank you, Sister Ping Jun.

Go play.

Ping Jun, you bought the children so many books again.

You've spent far too much on them.

Seeing them this happy makes it all worth it.

By the way, did you hear?

Nanhuai merchants announced there'll be no discrimination against refugees.

Without household registration, they could only work temporary jobs before.

Now the longest contracts can be extended to a year.

The household registration office will issue a notice soon.

One can apply for residency if they work here for five years, obey the law, and behave well.

Yes.

Thanks to Master Chang Xuan working behind the scenes, city hall finally relented.

What's wrong?

What are you thinking about?

Nothing.

By the way, where's Mu?

He's usually the liveliest one.

Why haven't I seen him today?

He's in the backyard, sulking.

What's wrong with him?

Today is Mu's birthday.

When his parents were alive, they always made a big day of it.

But now...

The first round of funding will officially go into building the arsenal.

The gun assembly shop and ammunition shop will be in Sandaogou.

The repair shop will be in Baijiagou.

They are all in the most hidden, defensible parts of Mount Changping.

Keep a close eye on the schedule.

Make sure the new technicians get generous compensation.

Have our people learn as fast as they can.

We need to make our own guns and cannons. We can't always rely on foreigners.

- I need to trouble you with one more thing. - No need to be so polite.

If there is a problem, I can help.

At five this afternoon, Ping Jun and I are celebrating the orphanage kids' birthdays.

We are going to the temple fair together too.

So I'll need you to translate these documents for me.

No problem. When I finish translating them, I'll file them for you.

Thank you, Ying Mei.

Xue Ting. Don't leave yet.

You need to work late tonight.

Group Leader, I have plans tonight.

These are the new source documents for the carbine.

The Technical Department needs them urgently.

You must finish translating all of them tonight.

Take a look.

Sorry. Thanks for taking this on.

Group Leader.

Then I'd like to access some files in the archive room tonight.

No problem. I'll approve a pass for you.

What terrible timing.

Ying Mei.

After you finish translating, go to the temple fair and tell Ping Jun for me.

Sure. Don't worry.

He got called in to work late?

The Group Leader kept him there. He really couldn't get out of it.

Xue Ting asked me to come right away and let you know.

Okay. I understand. Thanks for doing this.

No need. I delivered the message, so I'll head back now.

- Thanks. - No problem.

Come on. I'll take you inside. Let's go.

Let's go.

Mu.

Brother Chang Xuan.

Happy birthday, Mu.

What are you doing here?

Mu asked me to spend his birthday with him.

- Right, Mu? - Yes.

Let's go celebrate your birthday.

You're busy with official business. I'll stay with Mu.

You should go.

Why should I leave? I didn't come for you.

Sir, madam.

See if there are any stories you like.

If there are, try making the leads as clay figures.

If they look alike, you get a prize.

Sister Ping Jun, I want that little wooden horse.

You want that little wooden horse?

Join in. It is his birthday, after all.

Fine.

Well? Looks just like him, right?

That doesn't look like Liang Shan Bo.

It looks like the unreasonable Ma Wen Cai.

What is wrong with Ma Wen Cai?

I think Liang Shan Bo is the weak one.

When you like a girl, you should go after her.

Miss Zhu.

I hear you and Liang Shan Bo pledged yourselves to each other first.

Stop fooling around.

Good things in this world must be fought for.

If I don't fight, how do I know it isn't mine?

If I don't try to take it, how do I know I can't?

Mr. Ma.

Feelings have to be mutual.

You can't force them.

Not only will I force them,

I'll fight for them.

Ying Tai.

If I could walk you those 18 miles,

I'd stay by your side every step.

I would never let you have the chance to be promised to someone else.

- Mu, it's late. I'll take you home. - Watch out!

Mr. Ma.

Feelings have to be mutual.

You can't force them.

Ye Ping Jun.

What am I supposed to do with you?

[Entry ID: 2, Feb 16th, Military Asset Transfer]

[Entry ID: 2, Feb 24th, Military Asset Transfer]

Secretary Jiang, what's taking so long?

Are you done yet?

Found it.

How did I fall asleep?

Where's Mu?

I already took Mu back to the orphanage.

I didn't expect you to sleep so soundly with me around.

Don't you consider yourself a gentleman?

When have I ever been one in your eyes?

Thank you for taking me home. I'll head inside.

Ye Ping Jun.

Ping Jun.

Xue Ting.

Corps Commander.

It's so late.

Why did you bring Ping Jun home yourself?

Ping Jun and I celebrated Mu's birthday.

We went to the temple fair and made clay figurines.

Zhang Ying Mei said you were working late.

So Mu contacted Master Chang Xuan.

That's how we ran into each other.

You're so busy,

yet you still brought her home.

I'm sorry for the trouble.

You're one of my people.

So your girlfriend is also...

a military family member.

It's only right that I take good care of her.

It's getting late.

We won't invite you in for tea.

No need to be so formal with me.

Let's go inside.

Good day, Corps Commander.

Corps Commander.

Could we speak in private?

Whatever it is, just say it.

First, thanks for celebrating Mu's birthday with Ping Jun in my place.

I should have gone myself.

But right before work ended, I suddenly got assigned overtime.

As long as the kids were happy, don't worry about it.

I just don't know if you really care about kids or if you have some other motive.

I don't understand what you mean.

I checked the assignment log.

The carbine translation was supposed to be next week.

I could have gone to the appointment.

You must have arranged it on purpose to stop me from going.

Am I wrong?

So what if you are right?

A real man competes openly and honestly.

He doesn't scheme behind people's backs like a coward.

How well do you really know Ye Ping Jun?

You two grew up together.

But is it love, or just dependence like family?

Can you even tell the difference?

That's between us.

You should focus on your own fiancée.

[Nanhuai Press]

The military is strictly managed.

Every military vehicle trip is recorded.

But they can't be lent out privately.

So I thought to check the vehicle records from the Xiping battlefield to the mines.

They altered the destination, but the time, distance, and head count match.

The order came from Feng San Li, commander of 4th Brigade, 2nd Corps.

Excellent.

Xue Ting.

I'll arrange the typesetting and printing right away.

We'll publish it secretly through the underground newspaper.

Hello.

Commander Mou. This is Hong Wen.

The man I relied on in Japan

has infiltrated the Yu Army and found solid evidence.

He'll expose it under the pen name "Jun Guan".

"Jun Guan" means a gentleman may die, but keeps his cap on.

This man has great ambition.

These days,

young writers with fire in their blood are as powerful as machine guns and cannons.

By tomorrow, this will be all over town.

Good.

Newspaper! Get your newspaper!

- That's barbaric. - Get your newspaper!

- What the hell is going on? - This is outrageous.

- What hope is there now? - Is there any law left?

The Yu Army forced soldiers to work as miners.

50 soldiers died in a mining disaster.

This is outrageous.

50 lives were lost.

[Sparks]

The story has already spread everywhere.

Exactly.

- This is going to be difficult. - We need to find a way to bury it.

Master Chang Xuan.

The underground newspaper office has been burned down.

But they only handled the printing.

They knew nothing about the source.

We compared the recovered manuscripts against the handwriting of clerks in the army.

Still no leads connected to Jun Guan?

Nothing so far.

Put more men on it. I want answers as soon as possible.

Understood.

And the mine.

It was registered as an iron mine, but it was actually a gold mine.

By law, all locally mined gold must be turned over to the central government.

They used soldiers' lives to hide this deal.

They've got nerve.

Who's in charge?

His name is Liao Tie.

He seems completely ordinary,

but he's actually Feng San Li's distant nephew.

Chang Xuan, about Feng San Li...

Arrest him.

Yes, sir.

This is slander. Pure slander.

I may have a temper, but I'm no coward.

Gold mines, iron mines,

or whatever mines don't have anything to do with me.

Feng San Li.

Don't waste the chance I've given you.

All I have to say is this: I didn't do it.

Soldiers from your barracks were taken onto military trucks.

And the man in charge of the mine is your distant nephew.

We also have handwritten wills from so many soldiers killed in the mines.

How can you still deny it?

You keep saying you were loyal to my father and the Yu Army.

But everything you've done has pushed them straight into the line of fire.

You put them all in mortal danger.

Is that what you call loyalty?

You say I embezzled the gold mine.

But you catch a thief with the goods.

Where are they?

Do you have the stolen goods?

I never personally ordered the use of military trucks.

That was done by a distant nephew of mine.

He's barely even family.

Now that he's in trouble, he's trying to drag me down with him.

Even if the central government asks,

you can't jail me without evidence.

Master Chang Xuan.

Let me ask you this.

Do you and Commander-in-Chief trust outsiders,

or someone who has risked his life for the Yu Army?

That's me! I still have 27 bullet holes in my body.

Give us justice.

- Give us justice. - Give us justice.

Hand over the killer.

- Hand over the killer. - Hand over the killer.

[Arrest the culprit and give us justice] Give us justice.

- Give us justice. - Give us justice.

Hand over the killer.

- Hand over the killer. - Hand over the killer.

Hand over the killer.

Give us justice.

Give us justice.

Hand him over.

Hand over the killer.

This is outrageous.

All the blame is now pinned on Father and Chang Xuan.

They're being portrayed as utterly unforgivable.

Our wounded soldiers are treated at designated hospitals, free of charge.

How could we possibly mistreat our soldiers?

The Yu Army has tens of thousands of men.

How could anyone claim there are no corrupt officers in the ranks?

You have to trust your father and Chang Xuan.

They'll soon find the bad apples.

Mother, we can't just stay home and wait for Father and Chang Xuan to clear their names.

I have an idea.

The women in our family can visit the wounded at the military hospital.

First, to steady the troops.

If the Yu family truly mistreated soldiers,

how could we face them with such confidence?

Second, to set an example.

We share our soldiers' honor and disgrace.

We've never turned our backs on them.

But what if people say we're just putting on a show?

The truth will speak for itself.

Our intent is simply to care for the wounded.

Rumors don't matter.

We did it before, and we'll keep doing it.

Visiting the wounded together sets an example.

Qi Xuan.

I have a task for you.

Yes, Mom. What is it?

The Spring Wind Troupe was highly praised for aiding refugees.

I want to invite Director Liang and Miss Ye to visit the hospital together.

We can have them write a play to comfort the wounded.

That's a great idea.

I'll contact them right now.

- Go ahead. - Sure.

Feng San Li's distant nephew has taken all the blame.

- Feng San Li is stubbornly denying everything. - Corps Commander, Advisor Li.

Looks like he planned from the start to find a fall guy.

Master Chang Xuan.

Master Chang Xuan.

The central government has sent an official telegram.

An Army Inspector will come in person to inspect the Yu Army.

They'll supervise military conduct until we catch those behind the mine disaster.

Could Chu Wen Fu be using this chance to stab us in the back?

After crossing Master Cheng, Chu Wen Fu kept a low profile.

He hasn't made a move.

The gold mine belongs to the central government.

They'll naturally suspect the Yu Army of pocketing the gold.

They'll investigate all the way.

We really invited a royal pain in the neck.

I'm telling you, they're using this chance to divide our military command.

Finding that gold is our top priority.

If there's gold, there has to be a place it's stored.

No matter how carefully Feng San Li hid it,

he must have left some trace.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

Come. Have some porridge.

Careful.

Okay.

[Nanhuai Army Hospital]

Careful, it's hot.

Thanks, Madam.

Auntie.

Zi Yi, what brings you here?

Auntie, I heard from Chang Xuan that you were coming to visit the wounded soldiers.

I thought I could do my part.

Auntie.

Where is Chang Xuan?

He's inside visiting the critically wounded.

He'll be here soon.

Be sure to follow your treatment plan.

Thanks, Madam.

- Let me hold that for you. - I don't need any help.

I'm fine.

Madam Yu.

Ye Ping Jun?

Why are you here?

I invited them.

Miss Ye. Director Liang.

Miss Sun.

Please help with this new production.

You're too kind, Madam Yu.

It's what we should do.

It's our responsibility.

We'll see it through.

Okay. I won't keep you. Carry on.

Then let's check the critical care ward.

Okay.

Auntie, I'll go take a look too.

Go ahead.

How long have you been out fighting?

Over two years.

Two years, I see. Have you been home?

No.

Give me the porridge.

It's bird's nest porridge. Let me feed you.

Miss Tao, apologies, but the patient needs a dressing change.

I'll do it.

Okay.

I'll change your dressing.

Calm down. I'll do it.

This might sting a little.

Here we go.

All done.

Let me tend to your arm.

Get your commanding officer.

- Go get your commanding officer. - Don't come any closer.

You, put the knife down first.

Get your commanding officer.

Step back.

Go get your commanding officer.

Corps Commander, we have a situation.

Get your commanding officer.

Stay calm.

- Let's talk this out. - Get your commanding officer over here.

- Madam, look out! - Miss Ye.

- Danger. - Auntie.

Step back. I want to see your commanding officer.

Let her go.

Let her go.

Put the gun down.

I said put the gun down. Do you hear me?

Or I'll kill her.

Chang Xuan.

Calm down.

Tell me what's wrong. I'll help you fix it.

Can you give me my leg back?

They promised me army pay and proper treatment for my leg.

I begged them over and over,

but I never saw a cent.

And now? My leg is ruined.

How am I supposed to get through the rest of my life?

How am I supposed to live now? Tell me.

I will look into everything you said and give you an answer.

Who would believe your lies?

Everyone out there is talking about it.

The Yu Army forced soldiers to work as miners.

50 lives were lost for nothing.

You only claim you love the people like your own children.

But behind our backs, you don't treat us like people at all.

Whatever grievance you have,

this girl has nothing to do with it.

Let her go.

Take me instead.

Why should I trust you?

I'm Yu Chang Xuan, Commander of the 9th Corps.

Since the mining disaster came to light, I've been investigating it.

I owe an answer not just to those 50 soldiers, but to every soldier.

This girl treated you out of kindness.

You shouldn't hurt her.

I will answer for everything that happens in the army.

You're Master Chang Xuan.

I know who you are.

You've arrested plenty of corrupt men in the army.

You can trust me.

Come on.

Chang Xuan.

Chang Xuan