Original subtitles

[Episode 4]

Lu Chang Fu will soon set off for his post.

His crimes

against Li Mountain Academy are too numerous to list.

The Emperor loathes him to the bone,

yet cannot move against him because of the Empress Dowager and Marquis Muyang.

Eight years ago,

the late Emperor passed away,

and the Crown Prince died.

Empress Guo Jin sought to take the throne.

At that time, Li Mountain Academy, the intellectual heart of Great Chu,

was the alma mater of nearly half the court of officials.

My grandfather sealed off the mountain under the pretext of compiling texts

in protest against Guo Jin.

Officials who had graduated from Li Mountain Academy followed suit.

Enraged, Guo Jin

sent troops to surround the Li Mountain in the name of protection,

cutting off all contact between the academy and the town below.

Meanwhile, in the capital,

Lu Chang Fu fabricated charges against the academy's alumni.

Some were dismissed from office,

others imprisoned, exiled,

or died due to his cruel acts.

Li,

one more thing,

I found Wei Zhuang,

but I dare not reveal myself to him.

- Nice! - Nice!

Get out!

What's going on?

What are you doing?

Are you blind?

- Come with me to the magistrate! - I can't go.

I can't even stand up!

Are you trying to finish me off?

Everyone here is a witness!

The people from Caiying House are assaulting me!

- It hurts! - Nonsense!

You bumped into me first

and made me drop my things!

- It's killing me! - You're just trying to extort money.

Take the money and get out of here.

- Yeah. - I don't want it!

I want justice!

Justice?

Spare me the excuses!

You bastard!

I'm not giving you a single coin today.

Wait.

Get him money from the counter.

He's a cripple.

[Alumnus of Li Mountain Academy] He'll do anything for money.

[Wei Zhuang] Everyone,

peace breeds wealth.

You may all leave now.

It hurts so much.

Brother Wei.

Li, come here.

- Brother Wei! - What's up?

I've learned a new juggling trick.

- Let me show you. - Sure.

Amazing!

You are so clever.

Does it look like a bird?

Yes.

Why is he leaving?

All right, let's go.

Move on.

Why are you so late?

Did you buy our mother's medicine?

Mother!

How careless are you!

Don't touch hot water, understand?

That's alright.

You have a natural talent for mathematics.

[Master of Li Mountain Academy] Though the counting rods are small,

[Xu Qing Yun] they can measure the universe.

If you stay true to your heart and bring benefit to your hometown,

in the future,

you are meant for something else.

Yes. I will keep that in mind.

All right, see me no further.

Go back now.

Goodbye, Brother Wei.

I'll come find you when I go down the mountain!

That's a deal.

- I'll be waiting. - Wei Zhuang, let's go.

Coming, Yuan Feng!

I'm leaving, Li.

Goodbye! Li.

Your Highness, what song are you humming?

I've never heard it before.

I don't know its name either.

I used to hear my mom hum it often.

I just pick it up over time.

It's very beautiful.

Your Highness,

your needlework is exquisite.

During eight years at Li Mountain Academy,

I made all the clothes for my grandfather and the teachers.

How could they let you do such work?

Qing Shuang went with you.

Why didn't she do it?

She couldn't manage it all alone.

I had to help her.

Your Highness, what kind of silk is this?

It's so lustrous and beautiful.

Feel it.

It's soft and thin,

and it even warms up to the touch.

It's called Fire Silk.

It comes from a special silkworm from the southwest.

On moonlit nights, they spin their cocoons.

It takes a hundred of them

to produce just one foot of this silk.

The best thing about Fire Silk

is that it retains body heat,

keeping out the wind and cold.

Such a fine material.

I never saw the masters at the Ye's Mansion use it.

As wonderful as this silk is,

it requires

careful storage.

If it comes into contact with phosphorus powder

it catches fire very easily.

If it's so dangerous,

you aren't giving it to His Highness, right?

Phosphorus powder isn't something you see every day.

Besides,

these clothes aren't for His Highness.

Not for His Highness?

Then who are they for?

Shall we take it in?

Your Highness, we're coming in.

Your Highness?

Your Highness, what's wrong?

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Go fetch a physician!

Hurry!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, wake up!

Your Highness!

Call a physician here!

Where is the physician?

Your Highness!

Hurry!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, wake up!

Your Highness! Can you hear me, Your Highness?

Your Highness! Can you hear me, Your Highness?

Your Highness, wake up!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Mo Xiu Wen, Mo Xiu Yao, may both gods and men strike you down!

Prince Ding's Mansion is filled with beasts in fine robes!

Prince Ding of the Mo clan, a traitor who fled the country,

Their crimes are too numerous to list!

Ashamed by your ancestors,

unforgivable by Heaven's law!

You abandoned faith and duty, shamed the realm.

You traitors, ashamed before mountains and rivers.

You deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!

Father, son, ruler, subject. You would discard them all.

[Mo Xiu Wen] [Mo Xiu Yao] You are all worse than dogs and pigs!

The guilty official, Mo Xiu Wen,

without imperial decree,

entered the capital without permission,

bringing disaster to the border cities.

[Execution Mo Xiu Wen] He is hereby sentenced for treason.

He shall be beheaded and his head displayed to the public.

His younger brother, Mo Xiu Yao,

served under Duke of Huaguo.

He is not subordinate to the Heiyun Cavalry

and had no part in the treason.

In consideration of his past merits,

he is exempt from collective punishment.

Upon hearing of the upheaval at your house,

I know your brother was loyal and framed.

Yet because your brother committed treason,

the world sees you as a traitor as well.

This disaster cannot be cleansed.

The more you struggle, the deeper you sink.

People are afraid to help you,

because they don't want to get dragged into it.

We were wronged!

I did receive the imperial decree!

The Heiyun Cavalry did not rebel!

Young General,

We, the Heiyun Cavalry, are willing to die on the battlefield,

but we cannot die with false charges!

- Traitor! - The scourge of Great Chu!

- Traitor! - Kill him!

Your Highness, you're awake.

Let me get you some water.

The physician said

your old injuries caused blockages

in your blood and energy channels.

Over time, that stagnation turned into internal heat,

which brought on a fever.

Will I die?

Then it's nothing.

Why is there smoke coming from the study?

Go and check at once. Is there a fire?

Your Highness, what are you doing?

Come out quickly, it's dangerous!

It has nothing to do with you.

Everyone, get out!

Quick! Go get something to put out the fire!

- Hurry! - Yes!

What are you doing?

Stop it!

Why are you still keeping those things?

None of your business.

I married you.

That makes me your family.

You are trapped in that room,

and the entire mansion is trapped with you.

I was trapped on Li Mountain for years.

I don't want to come down the mountain only to be locked up again.

Then leave!

The gate is right there.

No one is stopping you.

Get out. Leave now!

I've just married you.

I took an oath

to restore your family's reputation

and share your weal and woe.

Normal people don't act like you.

Do you know

why everyone, from imperial relatives and nobles

down to peddlers and laborers,

loves watching plays?

Because the more twists and turns,

and the more suffering,

the more excited the audience becomes.

Mo Xiu Yao,

don't let your life

become a play in their eyes.

What took you so long?

I have to go early to thank the Emperor and the Empress Dowager before morning court.

Lord Lu, sorry to keep you waiting.

I was getting your new official robe.

The palace is so thoughtful.

Knowing that Huaixi is humid,

they added an extra layer inside

to keep out the moisture.

The palace?

Aren't official robes supposed to be made by the Imperial Workshop?

The servant who delivered the robe

was dressed differently.

I assume he's from the palace and this robe is a reward.

Then I must express my gratitude properly.

Enjoy your meal.

Hello, two steamed stuffed buns and a bowl of porridge.

Got it. Coming right up.

Quick, serve the porridge.

Got it.

If Lu Chang Fu takes up Huaixi Military Commissioner,

it will be harder to shake the status of the Marquis Muyang.

Since the Emperor shares this view,

Li,

we'll proceed as planned.

Your Highness, breakfast is here.

Why are you at Shende House so early?

In a good mood?

The Star of Joy shines over my head.

Auspicious purple clouds surround me.

Misfortune gives way to fortune.

I shall depart tomorrow

to take up my post in Huaixi.

I am here today to express my gratitude for Your Majesty's great kindness,

and Her Majesty's gracious favor.

May Your Majesty enjoy robust health

and the empire stands forever strong.

May Her Majesty enjoy eternal peace.

If every official in the court

were as loyal and devoted as you,

content with his duties,

keeping in his position,

giving his utmost sincerity without overstepping his bounds,

then our empire

will surely enjoy everlasting prosperity

for generations to come.

Minister Lu,

I await your achievements.

I will spare no effort and live up to

the high hopes of Your Majesty and Her Majesty.

- Commissioner Lu. - Yeah.

Congratulations.

Commissioner Lu!

Congratulations, General Lu,

no, I mean, Commissioner Lu.

Commissioner Zhang. I am leaving for Huaixi tomorrow.

I must trouble you to look after things with the Marquis Muyang.

Commissioner Lu, that is my duty.

Please rest assured.

Staying by Marquis Muyang's side,

a rise in your career

is just around the corner.

I hope your good words will come true.

Commissioner Lu, take care.

Alright.

Alright.

- Commissioner Lu, please forgive me! - How dare you!

Where did you come from, bumping into Commissioner Lu?

Out of your mind?

He didn't mean it.

No need to be so harsh.

Here,

get up.

Greetings to you from Li Mountain Academy.

Here comes the Marquis Muyang.

Here.

Marquis Muyang.

I will depart for my post in Huaixi tomorrow.

Once I have settled in for a while,

I will follow your instructions

and get things back on track.

Please await my good news.

On this journey to Huaixi,

you must proceed with caution.

Don't make rash moves.

Yes, I will.

- What's going on? - Commissioner Lu,

- your clothes... - It's... it's...

- It's smoking! - What is happening?

Why is the smoke getting thicker?

Fire!

He's on fire!

Marquis Muyang.

[Eight years ago]

Eight years ago,

my brother entered the capital without an imperial decree.

I was then serving under the Duke of Huaguo.

Upon hearing the news, I led troops north

to fight against the Cangbei elite. The battle lasted for a month.

It was brutal.

Though we won,

five or six out of every ten of my men fell.

Father!

The injury to my leg

is also from that battle.

Fall back!

Fall back!

My brother and his accompanying cavalrymen

were all executed.

The entire Prince Ding's Mansion was condemned.

I was also escorted back to the capital.

That day,

I saw her again.

Mo Xiu Yao!

Mo Xiu Yao!

It's me, Ye Li!

Do you remember me?

You saved me before. Do you still remember?

Stand aside! Stand aside!

No one is to approach!

Damn it!

Mo Xiu Yao! Take this!

Get killed!

Die, traitor!

By the time my brother entered the capital, the late emperor had already passed away.

A child emperor ascended the throne,

and Empress Guo ruled as regent.

My brother insisted that he had entered the capital under the late emperor's decree,

yet he never produced that decree.

The Marquis Muyang and others demanded the execution of our family.

I too was to be put to death for collective guilt.

The Duke of Huaguo and generals in the army petitioned for mercy on my behalf.

The court officials argued endlessly.

I was held in prison.

At first,

no one paid me any attention,

and my leg injury went untreated.

To curry favor with the Marquis Muyang,

Lu Chang Fu bribed the jailers

to cut off my food and water.

For the first few days,

I barely survived

on the pastries

Ye Li had given me.

Half a year later,

the imperial decree finally arrived.

"By the Mandate of Heaven,

the Emperor decrees:

Mo Xiu Wen and the Heiyun Cavalry are found guilty.

His younger brother, Mo Xiu Yao, served under the Duke of Huaguo

and had no part in the treason.

In consideration of his past merits,

he is exempted from collective punishment."

You're lucky to be alive.

[A month ago]

I waited for eight years.

Finally, as the young Emperor wished to eliminate the Marquis Muyang,

I was secretly brought back into service.

Xuanwu Squad, break through the gate.

Zhuque Squad, seal off the lane.

Ensure Yuan Fang's safety.

Understood!

Let's go.

Commissioner Yuan, I'm sorry

you got kidnapped

and barely made it out alive.

You sent word to the capital

saying you had a break in the Huaixi Armory Case.

Did you get the evidence?

I admire who you are.

I'd never sell you out.

Besides, Marquis Muyang and I are enemies.

I won't side with him.

That's why His Majesty sent me.

In Huaixi,

I did get...

Stop.

I'm here on His Majesty's orders

to pick up Commissioner Yuan.

Eunuch Gao, we're not in the capital yet.

I'm afraid it's not proper

to take him away now.

This is His Majesty's order.

Are you

defying it?

Jin.

Your Highness,

His Majesty sent Eunuch Gao to fetch Commissioner Yuan.

Prince Ding,

this comes from His Majesty.

He wants you to turn over Commissioner Yuan.

As for what comes next,

he'll handle it himself.

I still have something

to say to Commissioner Yuan.

His Majesty's order

is for you to hand him over

to me right now.

He gave me the night blade.

But the sheath stays firmly in his grip.

Please watch your step, bride.

Step on the mat for good luck.

Your Highness.

We'll go in through the secret passage.

Yes.

Get me changed.

Prince Ding is currently busy.

Can't I just go inside

and take a look?

Go hide.

Eight years have passed,

and I meet her once again.

I can still see the girl she used to be in her face.

But I feel she's changed.

Today is our wedding day.

Are you going to stay here and copy sutras all day?

But I haven't finished yet.

Then finish it when you return.

When we get back,

I'll help you copy them.

She's grown up

and taller,

with calluses on her hands.

Now she's not much like a highborn lady.

Her eyes are no longer fragile.

Something seems

to be pushing her forward.

This is my wedding night.

But I'm in no mood to be a husband.

Your Highness,

Commissioner Yuan was snatched

near the capital after Eunuch Gao took him.

He was snatched?

Go find him.

Send more men and make sure you bring him back.

It's got to be Marquis Muyang.

Commissioner Yuan must have

gotten evidence of his arms smuggling.

I'm afraid

Commissioner Yuan might be...

Yuan Fang was taken.

Chances are he's already dead.

He escaped all the way from Huaixi to Suixue Pass,

but just before making it back to the capital,

he died.

I'm angry.

Really, really angry.

Where did His Highness stay last night?

Your Highness,

His Highness normally takes his rest in his room.

But he stayed in the study last night.

But anger doesn't help.

Life must go on.

Now there's one more person

in my life.

When I was young, my mother asked

what kind of wife I wanted when I grew up.

I thought it'd be nice

if she could be as graceful and poised as my mother.

Then my brother got married.

I thought

maybe a gentle, lovely wife

like my sister-in-law

would be good too.

Ye Li comes from the Ye family in the capital.

Her grandfather is the head of Li Mountain Academy.

She should've been well-educated

and quiet lady.

But...

She often runs past my door.

- Jin. - Yes.

Your Highness

does Her Highness have something pressing?

But then I realized

she didn't have anything pressing.

She just runs like this every day.

Your Highness?

Why are you up so early?

Later, the number of people

- running in the morning... - Your Highness.

went from one to three.

- Your Highness. - Wait, Your Highness.

Wait for us.

Your Highness. Your Highness.

From Tuisi House to the study

and then back.

The route never changes.

She says it's to recharge herself with nature's energy

and calm the mind and body.

But soon enough,

she's alone again.

Your Highness,

does this really help Her Highness

recharge herself with nature's energy

and calm the mind and body?

Perhaps.

She secretly drinks some kind of wine.

Not much smell,

but it's actually very strong.

She tells everyone

it's Seven Treasure Tea

from the border.

What are you drinking?

Don't tell me it's wine.

Drinking leads to trouble.

I don't drink.

This is Seven Treasure Tea.

Good for health.

Wu...

It smells like tea.

But the taste is kind of...

My wine.

What

a silly boy.

What do you think this quartz flower

will look like when it blooms?

Also, she keeps three pots of rocks.

She says they are a parting gift from Master Zhu.

Water them

and talk to them every day,

they'll grow strong.

Seems like

only her two silly servant girls believe that.

They fuss over those three pots every day,

dreaming of a banquet.

Actually,

I think

she's lonely.

Just like her three pots of stones.

Surrounded by vibrant blooms,

but destined

never to flower.

I really want to know what my grandfather,

Master Zhu, and Master Ji are doing.

Guess Third Brother still likes going to the back hill...

She likes talking to herself.

She always stays alone in her room

muttering to herself

for a long time.

Your Highness,

maybe we should kick the shuttlecock less often.

Why?

You keep flashing your healthy legs.

His Highness might get upset.

Then he won't come to our place anymore.

So what would make him happy?

Copy scriptures with him?

Don't worry.

His Highness isn't that petty.

Let's go again.

Your Highness, the ink is ready.

Can I go out now?

Go ahead.

But most of the time,

- Your Highness. - she's still the same as when she was little.

Talkative.

- Living happily and freely. - Are you okay?

More and more people

are starting to like her.

And she brings smiles

to so many faces.

Perhaps His Majesty regretted it

after Yuan Fang died.

He summoned me again.

Cousin.

I can't bow because of the problem with my legs.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

Don't say that.

We're family. No need for such formality.

Cousin, you're still sharp-eyed

and proud.

Just as

you've always been.

You flatter me, Your Majesty.

I'm a cripple now.

Totally different from before.

Your Majesty, may I ask

why you summoned me?

A few days ago, I heard Cangbei was up to something.

And I couldn't help remembering

your great feat of sweeping through thousands of troops.

I'm broken now, both in body and spirit.

I don't deserve such praise.

You're unhappy with me, aren't you?

Don't think I don't trust you.

The truth is, since I took this throne,

there's no one left I can trust.

I know you're capable.

And I know you traveled a long way

and worked hard to bring that guy back.

But I couldn't

bring myself to fully depend on you.

So I had Gao Wen Huan take him away.

I wanted to handle it myself.

But I didn't expect...

The past is the past.

Now I understand.

You went all the way to Suixue Pass

for my sake.

I did go to Suixue Pass

to save Yuan Fang.

But do you think I did it for you?

Yuan Fang started as a registrar in Yanzhou.

In the fourth year of Emperor Jinghe, he began his official career in Bianzhou.

And the following year, he received the top possible performance rating.

He should've been promoted from Longyou Circuit's agricultural commissioner.

But he was so poor

he couldn't even afford the trip to his new post.

For the sake of the country and the people,

such a bookish man

threw himself straight into Marquis Muyang's den in Huaixi.

Do you know how he dealt with the local powerful families?

Do you know how he got evidence

while surrounded by predators?

Do you know how he escaped all the way to the border

and how his six severely wounded guards

died protecting him?

How much blood was spilled along the way?

How many loyal men died for this?

Do you know any of it?

I know Commissioner Yuan had it hard.

He fought again and again just to live.

He wanted to live

not for himself,

but to reveal what he knew,

what he'd found.

He wanted to bring back

the evidence.

And make it public.

But you overestimated yourself.

You thought you could protect Yuan Fang.

But within half a day of you taking him away,

he was dead.

Right here in the capital.

Your Majesty,

have you ever reflected on yourself?

Prince Ding, you're out of line!

Yes.

I was wrong.

But Mo Xiu Yao, are you not at fault?

If you were,

how did Suixue Pass fall?

How did Cousin Xiu Wen die?

I remember now.

Because of a petty argument,

you abandoned Cousin Xiu Wen and left the Heiyun Cavalry.

Every time I think about it,

I feel deep regret.

If you had been there,

you could have stopped the Cangbei cavalry

even if Cousin Xiu Wen had to lead the army to the capital overnight.

They'd never have broken through the pass.

The people of those cities wouldn't have been displaced.

And Cousin Xiu Wen wouldn't have been beheaded.

Don't look at me like that.

There's no other way around it.

Mo Xiu Yao,

you already messed up once.

This realm belongs to our Mo family.

If you don't help me

and let someone else take it,

won't you be ashamed

when you meet our ancestors

and Cousin Xiu Wen in death?

- Your Highness. - Get out!

Xiu Wen and Xiu Yao should both die.

Prince Ding's people are all hypocrites.

Prince Ding betrayed the country and fled.

She burned down my study.

All those curses, betrayals,

the pain I never got to explain,

everything that made me torture myself again and again,

everything I should have hated,

it's all gone up in smoke.

When the light reaches my eyes, I finally realize

there's still a fire burning in my chest.

Mo Xiu Yao,

don't let your life

become just a play in their eyes.

About Lu Chang Fu,

I can handle it for you, Your Majesty.

But I

have three conditions.

[On the Next Episode]

Qing Shuang,

is Master Guan really like that?

I don't know.

Qing Shuang

is here too?

[Shende House]

So you need someone to serve?

Yes.

I'm going to the palace tomorrow to see the Empress Dowager.

That's exactly why I have to rest early.

I need to calm my body and mind.

So I can do my best tomorrow.