Original subtitles

Pingjun,

you're here.

Remember this place?

When we were kids,

we used to play here all the time.

Your note said

you had something about Changxuan's safety

to tell me.

What is it?

You're that worried about him?

If it weren't for Yu Changxuan,

would we even get a chance

to talk here?

So,

you're the one behind

what happened to Changxuan?

Yes, it was me.

So what?

Do you know how I've lived

all these years?

After the hut caught fire,

I rushed in to save you.

But Changxuan's men

blocked me outside

and pushed me off a cliff.

When I woke up,

I was in a labor camp.

That's no place

for a human being.

Lives were worthless there,

worse than death.

I lost my leg

back then.

Those two years,

all I could do was endure,

hold on.

I had one thought in my head:

survive and get out to find you.

And when I finally

left that hellhole,

you'd already become

Changxuan's wife.

That taught me something:

in a cutthroat world like this,

without power,

you don't even have the right

to protect anyone.

So I climbed

all the way

to where I am now.

Only then could I stand before you.

Mr. Jiang.

Xueting.

Maybe

we were both

once the most important person to each other.

But no matter what,

what happened to you

was caused by me and Changxuan.

So today,

I apologize to you on his behalf.

What gives you the right

to apologize for him?

If it weren't for Changxuan,

we'd never be

like this!

Why are you still

so blind to it?

Pingjun,

I can protect you now.

Leave him. Come with me.

Mr. Jiang,

Tao Ziyi is your fiancée.

Pingjun,

she and I

aren't what you think.

This engagement

is just us using each other,

playing the odds, nothing more.

Using feelings

to get what you want.

Mr. Jiang,

how are you any different

from the Yu Changxuan

you talk about?

You compare me to him?

What makes him worthy of comparison?

Maybe Changxuan

did do a lot

of wrong things before.

But while I was unconscious,

he stayed by my side

and took care of me.

After I woke up,

he protected me and kept me company.

That whole time,

I never knew

how I felt about him.

I rejected him again and again.

But he never once

gave up on me.

Right now,

he's in my heart.

And only him.

So you've thought it through?

Changxuan won't escape this time.

Are you sure you want to stay

with a dead man?

I've thought it through long ago.

Wherever he is,

that's where I'll be.

Whether he lives or dies,

I'll be with him.

Alright.

Everyone, quiet down.

General Gao was tragically murdered in Nanhuai.

I'm heartbroken.

The case is grave and complex.

Today's hearing will be presided over solely by me.

Rest assured,

the law of Sujing

will be fair.

Governor‌ Chu,

the prosecution has submitted

all the evidence.

The witness has confessed everything.

Governor‌,

what Jiang says

is all one-sided.

General Gao and I

had no conflict of interest,

let alone a motive to kill.

General Gao was ordered to take over the arsenal.

And that very day,

many saw the two of you

in a heated argument.

Isn't that motive enough

for murder?

When you did this,

whose orders were you following?

Tell me

everything, straight.

Sir,

it was him!

Deputy Commander Yu ordered me to do it.

He refused to hand over the arsenal,

so he sent me

to plant explosives

in General Gao's car.

I confess to everything.

I ask the court for leniency.

Governor‌,

the evidence is conclusive.

Deputy Commander Yu

assassinated the special envoy.

That's an unforgivable crime.

Deputy Commander Yu,

anything to say for yourself?

Governor‌,

as Captain Jiang said,

General Gao and I

did have a dispute.

But we settled it privately long ago

and signed an agreement.

The agreement clearly states

that after General Gao

inspected the Nanhuai Arsenal,

he found the technology highly advanced,

and that a hasty takeover

would severely hurt munitions production.

So it was decided

we'd continue managing it fully.

All output

would go to the Central Army first,

and we

would report to him monthly on schedule.

Confirmed.

Settled?

Settled?

Then there's no motive for murder.

Seems there was a turn in this case all along.

The man's already gone.

Whether the agreement is real or fake,

who can say?

Since that's the case,

and Captain Jiang doubts

the agreement's authenticity,

then I request

to summon

a key witness in this case.

Granted.

Who's that?

How is General Gao alive?

General Gao is still alive!

General Gao isn't dead!

What? Wasn't he dead?

What's going on?

General Gao,

so you're safe and sound.

General Gao,

it was a false alarm for all of us.

What exactly happened?

Everyone here,

I, Gao Ping, certify

that the agreement

Deputy Commander Yu just submitted

was signed and sealed by me personally.

Not a word of it is false.

As for the attack on me in Nanhuai,

that did happen.

If Deputy Commander Yu hadn't seen it coming

and sent men to protect me in secret,

right now,

I'd have been a ghost!

[Changxuan, it's clear now.]

[Gao Ping's deficit on the Jingnan Railway]

[is a bottomless pit.]

[But the central government suddenly favors him]

[and gives him special privileges,]

[that makes no sense.]

[General Gao,]

[you know your situation]

[in the central government.]

[The Jingnan Railway affair]

[could cost you your head ten times over.]

[You've long been a discarded piece.]

[So why did they suddenly give you property,]

[settle your son,]

[and hand you a heavy post?]

[Doesn't this look like]

[a lavish last meal?]

[Changxuan,]

[don't scare me with nonsense.]

[They sent you to Nanhuai]

[not just to get the arsenal,]

[but to use your death]

[as ironclad proof]

[that I've turned against the central government.]

[So they arranged]

[your affairs after death.]

[Trust me,]

[I can keep you alive.]

[Or don't.]

[And see what's gonna happen.]

[General Gao,]

[now do you believe]

[what Deputy Commander Yu said?]

I never expected this.

Indeed.

Now,

can Captain Jiang's so-called conclusive evidence

and the Governor’s promised

fair law

clear my name?

Now,

you can tell the truth.

Who

put you up to framing me?

Killing Gao Ping was personal revenge.

He seized my family's land

and drove my parents to death!

I meant to use

the feud between you and him

to pin it on you.

But the plan failed.

I've got nothing to say.

Do you understand

what refusing to confess

will cost you?

I'm telling the truth!

No one's pulling my strings.

I did it

all on my own.

This came out of nowhere.

Take him down and keep him under watch.

We'll interrogate him carefully later.

Yes.

Move.

What's going on?

What happened?

Why gunshots?

Governor‌ Chu,

the suspect grabbed a gun on the way out

and shot himself.

Dismissed.

How is that possible?

How could this happen?

Suicide out of guilt?

He confessed and then just died?

[Captain,]

[as you instructed,]

[we've taken control of his wife and child.]

[But,]

[was that really necessary?]

[Yu Changxuan is in prison now.]

[Your plan worked perfectly.]

[Until the very last moment,]

[don't jump to conclusions.]

[Always keep a card up your sleeve]

[to guard against the unexpected.]

Deputy Commander Yu,

the gentleman has arrived.

Deputy Commander Yu,

nice to meet you.

I've been sent by someone

to deliver a personal letter

to you.

I've come this time

on orders from the Southern Government.

We've always admired

what you've done in Nanhuai,

and we're deeply aggrieved

by what you've been through lately.

[The central government is going against the tide,]

[it has lost the people.]

[A wise bird picks the right tree;]

[a wise man picks the right master.]

[The Southern Government sincerely hopes]

[Deputy Commander Yu]

[will follow the tide of history,]

[change flags,]

[and join us]

[in building]

[a truly unified China.]

No need to answer right away.

We

will be waiting for your reply.

Seems the Southern Government is dead serious

about winning you over.

With the north and south at odds,

if I make a move,

Nanhuai will instantly become

a target for everyone.

I can't gamble with the lives

of hundreds of thousands of people.

The situation's unstable now,

war everywhere.

Nanhuai City

can keep its corner peaceful,

that's rare.

I understand your difficulty.

But what I should protect

shouldn't be just one city.

The southern factions are tangled.

Some truly serve the country and the people,

but others just chase fame

and their own gain.

In the end, you'll have

to weigh the pros and cons yourself.

You have to choose

the road yourself.

Mr. Jin, you've got a letter

from Guangzhou.

[Zhongfang,]

[greetings.]

[Lately the cooperation between the two parties]

[may be heading for trouble.]

[We're escorting comrades]

[to Hong Kong first.]

[When I return,]

[I'll tell you]

[in detail.]

Wenbo.

The comrades from Guangdong

have reached Hong Kong.

We've temporarily come to Changling.

The organization has set up

a contact point in Siping.

Rest assured, comrades,

we'll get you out of the city

safe today.

Things are tense lately.

On the surface they keep up cooperation,

but behind our backs,

they're arresting

and slaughtering our comrades.

Don't worry.

Once you reach Tianjin,

someone will meet you at the station

and arrange

your passage to Hong Kong.

Thank you.

Who's in the car?

Everyone get out for inspection.

Insolent!

How dare you talk to me like that?

See clearly now?

Now get out of the way!

Let them through.

Ma'am,

you said you wanted

the candied kumquats

like Miss Jinxuan has.

I brought them from the kitchen.

Perfect timing.

Ma'am,

you're feeling unwell again?

These past few days you've been tired,

and can't stand the smell of grease.

Could it be…

You are pregnant?

Commander Yu,

Deputy Commander Yu,

long time no see.

The Tokyo Military Command

has always greatly admired you both

your skill in running an army.

We're willing to give the Yu Army

financial support

and the latest military equipment,

to help the Yu family

as fast as possible

take control of Sujing.

Of course,

our Empire also hopes

that we

benefit each other.

Only then

can it last.

Thank you, Mr. Takahashi,

for your generous offer.

All our Yu Family wants

is to keep this place safe,

so people can live in peace.

Any aid that can keep Nanhuai stable

and prosperous

is of course welcome.

But as for taking control of Sujing,

that's too heavy a burden.

I really can't shoulder it.

Please don't bring it up again, Mr. Takahashi.

This orchid is elegant and refined,

with uncommon character.

I'd be shameless to ask for it.

When I return to Japan,

I'll hire the best gardener

to transplant this orchid

into my own garden.

Mr. Takahashi,

I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you.

Deputy Commander,

why do you say that?

This is a Nanhuai orchid.

It clings to its native soil.

Only here

can it bloom so pure and elegant.

If it's torn from its roots

and given Tokyo's soil and water,

within three days

it will surely wither and die.

Chinese plants

can't leave Chinese soil.

Father,

with the north and south at odds,

the Japanese want to exploit the gap

and split the country.

Doing deals with them,

no matter how careful you are,

you're still letting the wolf in.

The Japanese are wolves that never get tame.

But Changxuan,

to hold your ground,

passion alone

is far from enough.

Back then, General Xu, outside the pass,

dealt with the Japanese for years.

He understood one thing:

you can take guns and money

from Japanese

and use them as a temporary

tool to play one force against another.

But you have to make them understand

what they can touch and what they can't.

Cross the line,

and it's fight to the death.

We have to use them,

not be used by them.

General Xu's methods

were the tricks of a warlord.

But what the Japanese want now

isn't just a few perks.

They want us to sell out our land,

give up territory and submit.

Power built on Japanese guns

will never

let you stand up straight.

My position is:

don't take a single bit

of their aid.

It's a long road, and there's a lot to do.

Don't be too absolute about anything.

But we must

hold the bottom line.

Not one step back.

Congratulations, ma'am.

You are indeed pregnant.

Almost two months now.

Wonderful!

If Young Master knew,

he'd be overjoyed!

The first three months are the most critical.

Get plenty of rest.

Avoid fatigue and emotional stress.

Keep your diet light, too.

Avoid cold, raw, and greasy food.

Thank you, Doctor.

I've got it all memorized.

Thank you, Doctor.

Ma'am,

if Young Master

heard this good news,

he'd be over the moon!

Ma'am,

are you alright?

How do you drive?

What's going on up there?

A shop at the corner up ahead caught fire.

Thick smoke everywhere.

The road's blocked.

Ma'am…

Ma'am.

What's wrong?

Ma'am,

don't go over there!

Don't scare me!

Ma'am!

Ma'am!

Ma'am, please don't!

[Mother!]

[Mother!]

[Pingjun,]

[a soldier set the fire.]

[A soldier?]

[Why are you trying to stop us again?]

[Why did you leave without a word?]

Ma'am!

Tang,

back to the residence.

Okay.

Ma'am,

aren't we going to the command post?

Tang,

promise me.

Don't tell anyone

in the residence

about my pregnancy.

Something this big,

and I can't tell anyone?

Then,

what about Young Master?

He…

Especially him.

You absolutely cannot tell him.

Promise me. Say yes!

Yes.

Yes. Ma'am.

Why'd you suddenly start to string this?

You've had a lot on your mind lately.

I wanted to make you a bodhi bead bracelet

to keep you safe and sound.

Alright.

Then I'll wear it day and night

and never take it off.

Stop it.

I haven't finished stringing it.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Did Qixuan upset you?

Or…

is Mother pushing about the child?

Qixuan's always had a loose tongue.

If she said something

that bothered you,

it was meant well, even if it landed badly.

Don't be upset.

About the child,

I'll talk to Mother.

We're still young.

No rush.

And I don't want

you to feel forced into it at all.

I can tell,

when you hold Zening,

you can't hide the joy in your eyes.

Pingjun,

listen to me.

To me,

nothing

matters more than your happiness.

[I'm the commander of the 9th Army,]

[Yu Changxuan.]

[Whatever grievance you have,]

[it has nothing to do with this girl.]

[Let her go.]

[Take me instead.]

[No!]

[Changxuan,]

[you're here.]

[I'm here.]

[You're safe now.]

[What's the point of]

[picking on]

[a helpless weak woman?]

[Take it out on me.]

[Changxuan!]

[Stop hitting him!]

[Changxuan!]

[You are such a fool!]

[I don't remember anything.]

[I'm not worth this.]

[Pingjun,]

[to me…]

[I can walk now!]

[Nothing]

[matters more than your happiness.]

Alright.

It's still early.

Go back to sleep.

Changxuan.

What is it?

Nothing.

Remember to eat breakfast.

I know.

Wait for me to come back.

[Changxuan,]

[it doesn't matter]

[whether it was you or not.]

[All of this]

[started because we met.]

[Since it was the wrong fate,]

[let it end here.]

Ma'am,

I'll go change the water.

Mother?

[It's cold out.]

[Don't catch a chill.]

[I know.]

[Don't burn yourself.]

Madam.

Ma'am,

what's wrong?

Nothing.

Who upset you?

Tell me,

and I'll go teach them a lesson.

Except Young Master, of course.

From now on, before you speak,

think it through first.

Don't be so rash.

Or you'll offend people without even knowing.

With you looking after me, ma'am,

I'm not afraid.

I can't look after you forever.

In this world,

who can look after anyone forever?

Let me.

Today, no formalities.

Let's just talk, heart to heart.

Xueting,

I want to hear what's really on your mind.

What do you really think

of the government today?

Today's government

is like a ship

riddled with holes.

It looks huge,

but really it's factions infighting

and rampant corruption.

One little storm

and it'll fall apart.

Today, we're actually

on the same page.

But,

aren't you a top general of the central government?

I've been aboard

the central government's ship too long.

I know better than anyone

where it's leaking

and where it's about to snap.

So a man

can't have only one road to take.

You mean…

the Southern Government.

Better to have two legs

to stand on than one.

But it won't be easy.

Why would the Southern Government take in

old Central Government hands like us?

Even if they do,

getting a high post

won't be easy

for us.

That's why today,

I want to introduce you to a friend.

Come in.

Mr. Jiang,

I've heard so much about you.

You're back early today,

just in time for dinner.

Yeah.

Mother made you

walnut pork rib soup again.

Where's Pingjun?

Mrs. Zhu,

go call the Young Madam for dinner.

Ma'am,

the Young Madam went to the old house at Dongshan Bridge,

and hasn't come back yet.

The old house?

Yes.

Why would she go there all of a sudden?

Bad news!

The Young Madam is gone!

What do you mean, gone?

The Young Madam said…

Speak clearly.

Didn't she go to the old house?

How is she gone?

The Young Madam said

she was meeting a friend

at Guangfu Teahouse,

and would be out in an hour.

But we waited two hours

and she never came out.

I just went in to look around,

the staff said

they hadn't seen the Young Madam today.

Meeting a friend?

She doesn't remember anything.

Where would she get a friend?

What's been going on these past few days?

Speak up!

That day the Young Madam wasn't feeling well,

so we went to the hospital.

The doctor found out

that the Young Madam

was pregnant.

She was overjoyed,

said she had to tell you immediately.

But on the way,

we saw a big fire.

She seemed terrified.

I don't know what happened.

She told me

not to tell anyone in the residence

about the news,

especially you, Young Master.

Changxuan!

Mother.

Our time together

was like a dream.

Now it's time to wake up.

The truth of my mother's cruel death

weighs on me like a mountain.

Every piece of evidence points one way.

I don't want to believe it,

but how can I lie to myself?

For me, for you,

rather than keep tangling in something wrong,

it's better to part here.

My only request:

please spare me

and stop looking for me.