Original subtitles

[Episode 2]

[Two months ago]

My Lady.

When are we leaving?

We have no money.

We can't leave.

Then what should we do?

One, two, three, four.

All done.

Go wait for the carriage over there.

What about you?

I'll find a way.

A way to get some money.

Miss Ye.

We were only tasked with escorting you out of the mountains.

We aren't obligated to pay for your travel expenses.

A carriage is coming.

Just give me some coins so I can leave.

If I leave, you'll finally have some peace and quiet.

You've been decreed to go to the capital to get married.

You're about to live a life of luxury.

Why are you making things difficult for us?

Exactly.

I'm not trying to be difficult.

But I'm penniless.

I can't leave like this.

If you don't help me leave, I'll just have to stay here.

And as time goes by,

I'll keep you all company.

Miss Ye...

Quick!

Give Miss Ye some spare change.

Hurry up!

Goodbye! I'll come back to visit you!

That's a lot of money.

[Changxing Gate]

My Lady.

Where are we going once we enter the city?

Do you know the way to Prince Ding's Mansion?

I do.

Hold tight, my lady.

My Lady.

Have some tea first.

Take a rest.

Do you have any snacks?

Yes, of course.

We have sesame cakes,

Hundred-flower cakes,

osmanthus honey cakes,

and various cakes.

Then I'll have a bowl of almond malt syrup porridge

and some honey cakes.

Coming right up!

- Please enjoy. - Thank you.

My Lady.

You should eat too.

I'm not hungry. You go ahead.

Prince Ding's Mansion has become quite deserted.

You haven't been back to the capital in a long time, have you?

Being deserted is actually a good thing.

A few years ago,

people would come here to cause trouble.

I almost couldn't keep my business going.

Cause trouble? Why?

You don't know?

Eight years ago,

[Former Prince Ding] [Mo Xiu Wen] Mo Xiu Wen, the brother of Prince Ding,

brought troops back to the capital without permission.

The Cangbei people took advantage of the gap at the border

and captured three cities in a row.

Countless civilians were killed or injured.

How could people not hate them?

The court was also furious.

They had him beheaded.

I know.

Is Mo Xiu Yao doing all right?

How could he be?

Though he wasn't executed for his brother's crime,

his legs were crippled in the Battle of Cangbei.

He's rarely seen outdoors these days.

He was such a bright boy when he was little.

He loved coming to my stall

to buy this honey cake.

And now...

My mother said

[Young Ye Li] that Li Mountain Academy owes you.

We will find a way to make it up to you.

Mo Xiu Yao.

I've come down from the mountain.

What my mother owes your family,

I will repay.

[Prince Ding's Mansion]

There are two kinds of people in this world.

Those on the mountain,

and those below the mountain.

People on the mountain don't like hats.

They just find a piece of thread to tie up their hair.

As long as they are comfortable.

People below the mountain are different.

They always wear all kinds of hats.

Each one is like an invisible rule.

It defines your status for you

and restrains your steps.

Your Highness.

Come in.

Your Highness.

I'm not used to wearing a crown.

Your Highness,

you are going to see First Madam later.

It wouldn't do to be impolite.

Your Highness,

we must hurry with your hair and makeup.

Hurt.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

I will be gentler.

I didn't like wearing crowns or hats before.

But now,

I have come down the mountain.

Where did His Highness stay last night?

Your Highness,

he usually returns to his room,

but he stayed in the study last night.

Your Highness,

First Madam caught a cold last night.

She is not feeling well.

She can't come to see you today.

She's sick?

Then I shall go visit her.

The doctor has already visited.

It's best to let her rest.

She also said she didn't want to pass her illness on to you.

[Memorial tablet of my late husband, Mo Xiu Wen]

Mother, why won't you see her?

I don't want to.

I don't know what to say anyway.

Go burn some incense for your grandfather later.

First Madam, you've been kneeling for a long time.

Please get up and rest.

I usually don't have time to look after you.

It's almost your birthday, isn't it?

If there's anything you need,

tell the household staff in advance.

My birthday this year has already passed.

How are your studies lately?

Is Master Song teaching you diligently?

Master Song left a year ago.

He left?

A year ago, Master Song's mother passed away,

so he went home for the funeral.

That is why he left.

I had no idea.

Human life is truly fragile,

and the world is so unpredictable.

At that time, you even gave him

twenty strings of cash and winter clothes.

Is that so?

Perhaps...

Perhaps as I get older,

my memory is getting worse.

Life is indeed like drifting petals,

with no certainty.

Mother, I still have my studies to attend to.

I shall take my leave.

First Madam, you are always so melancholy.

It will harm your health.

In my life,

what joy is there left to find?

What about him?

Is he back yet?

It will still be some time,

but he will surely return.

First Madam, please be patient.

It is time for your medicine.

Your Highness.

It is already this late.

His Highness likely won't be coming.

Mind your eyes.

You should rest early.

Alright.

I'll rest.

Your Highness?

I'm fine.

Go to sleep.

Yes.

Didn't I say I was fine?

My Lady, it's me.

Why aren't you sleeping?

Why did you come to my room?

We've suddenly come to a new place.

Everything feels unfamiliar.

The Prince Ding's Mansion is so big,

and I don't know anyone.

I'm a little scared.

I'm afraid His Highness won't like us,

or that others in the mansion won't either.

I'm afraid we'll be sent back again.

Don't overthink it.

His Highness likely won't come tonight.

Sleep here with me.

Alright.

If we huddle together,

you won't be afraid anymore, will you?

I won't be scared with you here.

My Lady, what are we doing tomorrow?

Tomorrow...

We'll go for a walk and look around.

We'll get to know the people in the Prince Ding's Mansion.

And then?

We'll organize our things.

And decorate the courtyard.

We'll set up a tea table by the door,

with Mengding Shihua and Guzhu Zisun.

That way, when it's sunny,

we can brew Mengding Shihua.

And if it's a rainy day,

we'll brew Guzhu Zisun.

And then?

That's it.

That's enough for one day.

There are so many things I want to do.

We'll take it slow in the future.

I think the Princess's "flower"

is just a stone.

Do you think it can really bloom?

Tao Er, Xing Er.

That's enough.

Go to the kitchen and get some snacks.

- Yes. - Yes.

Your Highness,

those shops were left to you by First Madam.

Those managers embezzled money in the morning,

and brought accountants to cook the books in the afternoon.

At night,

they even ordered the veteran staff to clear out the inventory.

Our people couldn't even get a word in.

Your Highness, aren't you worried?

Let them keep themselves busy for a few days.

You're certainly taking this well.

Those are all very valuable shops.

Qing Yu,

where do you think he goes?

Your Highness, who are you talking about?

His Highness.

I've been in the mansion for days,

but I've only seen him twice.

Once on our wedding day,

and the other time,

was when I was exercising early in the morning.

I happened to run into him.

We just exchanged greetings.

Why is he never around?

For someone with limited mobility,

would he really go out often?

His Highness should be in the mansion.

I've seen him

in the study these past few days.

Someone brings him meals on time every day.

The study?

Your Highness, where are you going?

Your Highness.

I want to see His Highness.

His Highness is busy.

It is not convenient for him to see guests.

Guests?

This is Prince Ding's Mansion.

I'm the Princess Ding.

I want to see my husband,

yet I'm considered a guest?

Your Highness, please calm down.

I didn't mean it that way.

It's the Empress Dowager's decree.

Neither of us should disobey it, right?

Astrologer Lv,

His Highness is a man of great merit.

Even if his family erred before,

the Empress Dowager and Emperor would not have the heart to punish him.

As the head of the Bureau of Astronomy,

acting like this in the name of the gods,

I'm afraid it's quite inappropriate.

You have a sharp tongue, Your Highness.

Unfortunately, I am of low rank.

I'm merely following orders.

I can't take the blame for such a thing.

The Prince Ding's Mansion has too much blood on its hands

and is plagued by misfortune.

I'm here

to help the mansion atone for its sins.

My intentions are sincere.

Your Highness, I hope you understand.

Please.

By the way,

Astrologer Lv, I heard you are from the south.

How many years have you been in the capital?

Three years.

Three years?

Your Mandarin is very good, Astrologer Lv.

I thought you grew up in the capital.

Your Highness, please don't be angry.

I'm not angry.

Have the carriage prepared.

Are you going out, Your Highness?

Yes.

What is that over there?

Your Highness,

that is the Soul-Awakening Bell.

As the ancients said,

"Sound resonates with the meridians."

By striking the bell with metal or stone,

it can help realign one's meridians

and dispel misfortune.

Your Highness, please follow me.

This tea was harvested around Qingming,

while the dew was still fresh.

The tea buds

still retain the fragrance of the dew.

Thus, it is named "Dewy Tea."

Have a taste.

Thank you, Third Uncle.

How is it?

How do you have the time

to visit me today?

Is life at Prince Ding's Mansion too idle?

I'm fine.

His Highness and my sister-in-law are easy to get along with.

I've been back in the capital for a while.

It's only right to visit you, Third Uncle.

Besides, at the family gathering that day,

you spoke up for me several times.

I'm truly grateful.

I just don't get along with your grandfather.

I wasn't entirely helping you.

Besides, with your skills,

could Wang outwit you?

Even without me,

you could have walked away unscathed.

Don't say that, Third Uncle.

I was away at the mountain for eight years.

I was shunned by Grandfather upon my return.

In this vast capital,

I have no one to rely on.

You run this Changsheng Shop,

so you are well-informed

and have many connections.

If I can earn your favor,

I will feel much more at ease.

My mother often used to say

that you have

a sharp tongue like a frost blade,

but a heart as warm as the spring sun.

You're also quite chivalrous,

generous and hospitable.

She said if I run into any trouble in the future,

I can't go wrong asking you for help.

Your mother...

is she doing well?

In the end, it is our Ye family

that has let her down.

Go ahead.

What do you need from me?

There is indeed one thing

I'd like you to look into, Third Uncle.

Lv Cheng?

I'm not familiar with him.

I think he was a registrar in Lianzhou County before.

Just a low-ranking official.

I don't know how,

but he managed to connect with Marquis Muyang.

He was moved to the capital's Bureau of Astronomy.

The man is a social climber.

Marquis Muyang thinks highly of him.

He's been rising rapidly ever since.

If he's targeting Prince Ding's Mansion,

it must be on Marquis Muyang's orders.

He's never been an official in the capital before?

Has he?

I don't think so.

How are you handling this?

This lamp is far too small.

When praying for blessings,

the bigger the lamp, the better.

- Boss. - What is it?

Astrologer Lv's wife

thinks the lantern we gave her is too small.

She's making a scene to have it changed.

She even says her third-rank belt is too tight.

Fine. Tell her to ask the Ministry of Personnel for a purple robe, then.

This is not the Bureau of Engraving,

nor a pawnshop.

If she thinks the lamp is too small...

I want the biggest lamp!

Tell her to go home and ask her husband.

Why cause a scene with me?

Exactly.

Astrologer Lv?

Lv Cheng?

Who else?

It's his wife.

Our Lv family offers lanterns

for the sake of everyone, of course. As for this spot...

She wants to offer a lantern here.

She's here to pick a lantern today,

and will light it tomorrow.

Third Uncle.

I would also like to offer a lantern

for Prince Ding.

Sure.

When?

Tomorrow.

[Prince Ding's Mansion]

I'll visit Changsheng Shop again tomorrow.

Prepare some offerings.

Okay.

Your Highness.

His Highness is still in the study?

At this moment, His Highness...

At this moment...

What's that sound?

Your Highness, you know,

the mansion has suffered divine punishment.

Every month, Astrologer Lv sets up an altar here

to pray for the gods' protection.

Divine punishment?

May the gods descend,

to purify sins and eliminate calamity.

Bless the Prince Ding's Mansion,

with everlasting prosperity.

What are they burning?

Sutras.

The sutras His Highness copies every day.

Your Highness,

it's best not to disturb them.

Repent for your sins.

Your sins are clear and manifest.

Atoning for transgressions here,

only sincerity can reach the heavens.

The heavens judge one's thoughts.

Your Highness.

Let's end here for today.

On the first of next month,

I shall return with the ritualists.

Your Highness.

Your Highness. The wine is gone.

I'll get another pot.

I'm coming in.

Who let you in?

Get out.

I knocked.

You didn't say anything.

I took your silence as permission.

Do you enjoy playing the good wife that much?

Your Highness, there's some ash from the talisman in your hair.

I just wanted to help you clean it.

Let me keep you company for a while.

I used to live at Li Mountain Academy.

Moving to a new place so suddenly,

I'm still not quite used to the mansion.

There are many flowers on Li Mountain.

There's a garden in the mansion too,

but the flowers aren't very pretty.

I think it's better to turn it into a vegetable garden

and plant some chives.

Then we can have chive pancakes.

If you're not used to it, then leave.

On the mountain,

I had to grow everything

I wanted to eat.

I even had to fetch water from the stream.

There were monkeys that would steal things.

They even bit people. They were so annoying.

Besides gardening,

I had to study and attend classes.

Grandfather and the teachers kept a close eye on me.

To be honest,

I had more schoolwork than you did.

Poetry, classics, etiquette, and music,

arithmetic, astronomy, irrigation.

The teachers taught everything.

They assigned piles of homework at night.

Your Highness, you have many books here.

I used to take two scrolls

to the flat slope on the hilltop to read.

When my eyes got tired,

I would look up at the sky.

Look.

The moon is bright without any halo.

Altair and Vega are shining brightly.

They are so clear.

Your Highness,

tomorrow will surely be a sunny day.

I don't care what tomorrow is like.

When I was on the mountain,

I heard many things

about you.

What happened back then was so sudden.

You weren't even aware of it.

Besides, your brother...

Why are you saying this?

To pity me?

Please leave, Ye Li.

I don't need you.

I just want to say

that I don't want to leave.

Life at Prince Ding's Mansion is better than life on the mountain.

And...

Mo Xiu Yao,

do you really not remember me?

Your Highness.

Your Highness, the wine is ready.

On our wedding day,

I told him

it was our first meeting.

Actually, I lied.

I met him

a very long time ago.

In the spring of the 13th year of Jinghe,

I went north with my mother through Yanming Pass

to attend the New Day Festival in Fire City.

We encountered bandits on the way.

I got separated from my mother.

It was there

that I first saw Mo Xiu Yao.

Later, I asked everywhere about him.

I even wanted to find him at the camp.

Unfortunately, we missed each other.

I heard people say

he was a brilliant, spirited young man.

He was very cheerful and lively.

But back then,

I just thought he was a very strong guy.

But no matter which version,

he was much better than he is now.

No need. Go and get some rest.

Lucai! Lucai!

[The Emperor] [Mo Yan Qi] Lucai! Lucai!

Three blacks and two pheasants. It's a Zhicai.

Your Majesty, please move your piece.

I'm sure to win this round.

Lucai! Lucai!

Lucai! Lucai!

- The Empress Dowager has arrived. - Lucai!

Mother.

[Empress Dowager] [Guo Jin] Ten strokes of the cane

for each of these serving in the hall.

Have mercy, Her Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, spare me!

Silence!

Go out and receive your punishment.

Yes.

What a fine Emperor of a peaceful era.

Tributes from the three towns of Heshuo are delayed.

Rebels in Zhedong have taken four prefectures.

Yet you still have the leisure to gamble here.

Don't forget,

you are the Emperor.

Yes.

I have failed you, Mother.

As the Emperor,

you should lead by example.

But you let the eunuchs lead the gambling.

You disrespect the late Emperor and the court.

How can you face your ancestors?

How can you face your late father?

How can you face the court officials

who work day and night to govern for you?

Emperor.

Emperor?

Mother, do you truly want me to be the Emperor?

You are still young.

The imperial court's

internal relations are complex.

You can't handle them yet.

If Li Mountain Academy hadn't closed its doors,

you would have likely ascended the throne yourself.

Would I even be here listening to your lecture today?

[Diligent Day and Night]

Princess Ding.

Astrologer Lv has ordered that no one may enter without permission.

What place is this?

It is...

the Prince Ding's Mansion.

So you know this is Prince Ding's Mansion.

By what standing do you dare to stop me?

The Empress Dowager only ordered His Highness to copy scriptures.

She never said he should be locked up here,

forbidden from having visitors.

He hasn't eaten for days.

If anything happens to him,

can you take responsibility for it?

I'm coming in.

Eat something first.

I prepared this especially for you.

This is millet porridge.

I added almonds.

It warms the body and is good for the stomach.

You haven't eaten for days.

You must be hungry.

Don't disturb me.

It's too dark in here.

You should see some light.

You've been shut in for days.

You don't look well.

It's none of your business.

You're sick.

You even know how to take a pulse?

I don't just know how to take a pulse.

I can also read faces.

The hermit physician who can bring the dead back to life,

Master Helai.

He's an expert in medicine, fortune-telling, and divination.

I studied under him.

So I know medicine too.

Mo Xiu Yao, do you want to try?

If you don't want a diagnosis,

let me read your face.

Your Highness.

Your brows reach the temples.

Your earlobes are like pearls.

Your clear eyes show no sign of a short life.

Your strong spirit won't be claimed by death easily.

Your Highness, you have a blessed fate.

You will live a long life.

Fasting won't kill you.

Eat something.

A long life...

A life where everyone around me is gone,

and I'm the only one left alive.

I've learned that too.

Do I look good at it?

What are you doing now?

Drink it while it's hot.

I'll leave once you've finished.

[On the Next Episode]

Your Highness, you don't know me well yet.

It's okay.

After some time,

we will naturally become closer.

Madam Lv just left after lighting a lantern?

Exactly.

She insisted on having her lantern

placed at the highest spot.

[Lv Bo Ying] How was it handled in the end?

The lantern was placed in the center of the second shelf.

Chief Eunuch Shunxi.

It's a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!

Chief Eunuch, it's a misunderstanding!

Chief Eunuch, it's a misunderstanding!

Chief Eunuch!