Original subtitles

=Tigers Sniff the Rose=

(Based on the novel of the same name by Yiren Kuikui)

=Episode 30=

Your Highness, Attendant Liu from the palace is here.

Liu Wenji?

Show him in.

Show him in.

Yes.

Sir.

Please.

Bring out the finest tea.

Yes.

Please.

Sir, you must be swamped with affairs.

Do you have any news

about my father?

Your Highness.

The Yu case has been under review for a long time.

It implicates many.

It's really hard to handle.

Besides, my words carry little weight.

I'm lucky to catch a scrap of it before His Majesty.

How would I dare guess at His Majesty's mind?

A scrap from you

is a lifeline for my whole family.

Please, for the sake

of the Prince of Jin,

give me a straight answer.

Confiscation?

Hurry!

Bring my rosewood box with mother-of-pearl inlay.

Yes.

A small token from me.

Please, sir,

tell me what I should do.

Your Highness.

Some rumors don't arise

out of thin air.

Please put in a good word

for the Liang family before His Majesty, sir.

It's not about putting in a good word.

Minister Liang is caught up in the Yu faction case.

Confiscation is the least of what could happen.

We must await His Majesty's decision.

Your Highness.

I am

only taking this risk to warn you

out of respect for your filial devotion.

After all, he's your father.

You

should prepare yourself.

(Blessings in Harmony with Time)

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

For the sake of our marriage,

please save me.

Your Highness!

Your Highness.

For the sake of our marriage,

please save me.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, say something.

Your Highness.

Your...

Your Highness.

Say something.

Your Highness!

Say something, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

(Your Highness,)

(the Yu faction's treason)

(is a crime beyond forgiveness.)

Your Highness.

(These days,)

(no one involved in this case)

(has met a good end.)

(I'm sure I don't need to spell it out.)

(Blessings in Harmony with Time)

I never cared for your affection.

(Blessings in Harmony with Time) I never thought much

of this residence or you!

I

was born noble

and lived with dignity.

Yet I was married off here, only to be humiliated by you!

You wretch.

You wretch!

(Blessings in Harmony with Time)

I waited all these years for you to come.

But I won't even get to hear

you call me Mother

before

we part.

Rather than be deposed, divorced,

and trampled into the dirt,

I might as well

choose a dignified end

while you still call me Your Highness.

(The bearer of this is my trusted man. Follow Yang Si's orders in all matters.)

(This is the Crown Prince's token.)

(Lately,)

(has there been an envoy)

(probing into your dealings with the Crown Prince?)

(His name is Yan Shang.)

(Military Commander, rest assured.)

(He's one of the Crown Prince's men too.)

Did you see clearly?

This is the Crown Prince's handwriting and seal.

I'm the Crown Prince's real messenger.

But...

But Yan Shang has already...

How much does he know?

He knows everything?

And the records?

He...

has seen them all.

What's wrong?

Hoofbeats are approaching.

Horses moving that fast

aren't privately owned.

Take another road!

Turn left.

Left!

What?

This coachman is up to something!

Hold on tight!

So you're the Crown Prince's backup plan.

Yan Shang.

Let's go.

Yan Shang.

Your Highness.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Look at me

Your Highness.

A normal arrow wound wouldn't be like this.

Something's wrong with this arrow.

Bear with it.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Your Highness.

What kind of poison

do you think this is?

I

don't know.

This is Lingnan.

How can there be anything you don't know?

Your Highness,

I'm a scholar,

not a hunter.

Bite it.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang.

Wake up.

I'm

useless.

I actually

passed out from the pain.

You've been poisoned.

Your Highness.

I

can't walk.

Listen to me.

You...

You get out of here.

Come back for me

once

you're safe.

Stop talking nonsense.

Let's go.

♪Be the ferry where you wait for the sun♪

♪Be the blue silk that catches your tears♪

Wanyao.

It's raining.

It's just dew.

If it rains,

we're in trouble.

It's

much colder tonight than the night

you carried me.

I

am not cold.

And

I'm not in pain.

You fool.

I know what it feels like to bleed.

♪See how roses and green bamboo enchant♪

♪Be the vow I make with all my heart♪

Yan Shang.

What mountain

is this?

And what kind of trees

are these?

♪We'll be gods above, or wandering souls♪

♪In heaven or the underworld, you're all I need♪

Answer me.

I won't let you fall asleep.

Yan Shang.

♪- May time be free of fear; - Boats rock♪

♪- Lights fade, seasons turn - May time be free of pain♪

Yan Shang.

♪You're the only one I need♪

Yan Shang.

So many

pine trees.

♪- Be my one and only in this world; - Be my one and only in this life♪

Just like

the estate you gave me.

When

are we going back?

I'll get you back. I promise.

A few of you, search over there!

Search every inch!

Check over there!

Something over here!

Sir!

Sir.

We found bloodstains over here.

Search the mountain.

Yes!

Search the mountain!

Yes!

Search carefully!

Got it!

A few of you, come check over here!

Check over there!

Move!

How did you end up like this?

Is this his blood or yours?

Yu Niang is dead.

I killed her.

You?

Wait,

why was she here?

Because my dear brother,

the Crown Prince,

doesn't trust you.

Wanyao, how could you kill someone?

Surprised?

It's not my first time.

Yang Si,

you really don't know me.

She was going to kill Yan Shang.

I had no choice.

If it had been me,

would you have killed me too?

Yes.

Yan Shang.

You're finally awake.

You were as cold as ice just now.

I really am

the most forgiving person alive.

You all know who wants to mess with Lingnan's officials.

Killing Yan Shang

won't let you rest easy.

If anything happens to Yan Shang,

Xun and I will become sworn enemies.

My job is to protect the Crown Prince.

Your business with him

isn't my concern.

Yan Shang, you should know

what a storm those findings of yours in Lingnan

will cause

if they reach His Majesty's ears.

You've seen what His Majesty is like.

Don't think you and Wanyao will get away unscathed.

Cat got your tongue?

Gone dumb?

Good.

That's how you'll make it back

to Sheng'an alive.

Shut up, Yang Si!

He's barely hanging on.

It's a miracle if he makes it back alive.

I...

He's burning up.

It probably isn't safe to seek medical help here.

How much longer till we're out of Lingnan?

Around midnight.

We won't find a physician until tomorrow morning.

Hang in there.

(Hongfu Inn)

It's poison spider vine.

How did he

get poisoned with that?

Got accidentally hit

by a hunter while gathering herbs.

What about this poison?

Is his life in danger?

Well...

Can he be saved?

Or tell me who can save him.

Yes, he can be saved.

Arrows laced with this poison are deadly.

But he's lucky.

Thanks to your quick treatment,

he just needs medication now.

He should

be out of danger.

Please go prepare the prescription.

Yes.

Wanyao.

Wanyao.

How are you feeling?

Wanyao.

Wanyao.

Come out here.

Is he out of danger?

Changed your mind?

You'd better talk some sense into him.

If he doesn't want to drag you down,

he'd better keep his mouth shut forever.

I will.

But you should know

that Yan Shang isn't the only one

who knows the Crown Prince's secrets.

I know them too.

Killing just him won't be enough.

Sir.

I'm from Lingnan.

I've heard of poison spider vine.

I know

that my surviving

proves your exceptional skill.

The rest

is beyond human power.

It'll be up to fate.

So

please,

tell me everything you know.

Do you realize that if anything goes wrong,

the lives of everyone in the Eastern Palace

will be on my shoulders?

Yang Si.

I want him

to keep his mouth shut more than you do.

Poison spider vine is the most venomous plant

in the mountains of Lingnan.

Nine out of ten who are poisoned die.

Even those who survive

may go blind,

deaf,

or become paralyzed.

They are all left incapacitated.

How long can I keep it from her?

Ten days at most

before the poison takes effect.

That'll be enough.

Get some more sleep.

I'll stay here with you.

I want to look at you a while longer.

(Blessings in Harmony with Time)

How could

Her Highness suddenly take her own life?

Greetings, Your Highness.

His Highness says

that now that the Princess Consort has passed,

you should raise the child.

Wenji?

What brings you here?

I'm here on imperial order

to deliver funeral funds for the Princess Consort of Jin.

The child is back now.

Chunhua,

are you happy?

From now on,

no one will threaten you anymore.

And you won't have to cry...

It was you?

Yes.

I'm finally

not useless anymore.

I slipped out of the military governor's residence and headed out of the city.

I searched everywhere. When I couldn't find you,

I figured you'd already gone north.

You sure move fast, Your Highness.

Good thing you found us.

Look who you're dealing with.

You're awake.

Should we slow down?

Is it too bumpy?

Fang Tong! Faster!

No need.

I'm fine.

Where are we?

Lantian is just ahead.

Almost back in Sheng'an.

Good.

(Princess Danyang's Residence)

Easy.

Your Highness, someone from the palace is here.

They've been waiting here for days.

By His Majesty's command.

Yan Shang.

How did your work in Lingnan go?

Mr. Yan?

How's the disaster relief?

How's the inspection of funds and grain along the Lingnan circuit?

What did you see on your trip to Lingnan?

Do you have a report?

Please tell His Majesty...

His Majesty asked Mr. Yan,

not you, Your Highness.

Your Majesty,

I've failed.

I've let you down.

Relief efforts fell short.

And the inspection turned up nothing.

I couldn't ease your burden.

I deserve

death.

Mr. Yan.

That doesn't add up.

What does His Majesty intend to do with him?

Princess Danyang,

he won't be staying

in such a fine residence anymore.

His Majesty gave orders.

If Mr. Yan returns with nothing to report,

he'll go straight to the Imperial Prison.

Mr. Yan.

Please.

It's all right.

I saved you once.

I can save you again.

Yan Shang.

There's no obstacle I can't overcome.

Yu Niang served me faithfully

for years.

Now the Eastern Palace

is in greater danger than ever.

And yet she fell in Lingnan.

Yan Shang

knows when to fold.

He said nothing

and went to prison.

Do you still think I should have him silenced?

He's been unconscious for days.

I went through everything carefully.

He brought nothing back from Lingnan.

He barely escaped with his life.

Words prove nothing.

I'm not blaming you.

But I've never seen you look this bad.

Have you thought about it?

Even if he keeps his mouth shut,

His Majesty

has probably figured out most of it.

I thought the same.

This matter

is known not just to Yan Shang

and Wanyao.

His Majesty

surely has some inkling too.

But without proof,

what can he do?

You're the Crown Prince of Huai, after all.

What is a Crown Prince?

Just an heir who holds His Majesty's favor.

It could be me,

and it could be anyone at any moment.

If His Majesty's favor ever shifts,

the heir's seat

and the Eastern Palace

could be overturned in an instant.

While you were in Lingnan,

I spent every waking moment

thinking about the same thing.

Ever since His Majesty confined us

and sent Yan Shang south,

he'd already made up

his mind.

We should never have held onto hope.

Rather than live in fear,

waiting

and guessing,

we might as well...

Shang.

You can start scattering the seeds.

Okay.

I found lots of wild greens!

We'll have something to eat tonight.

Xiaozhou, you're here.

What is it?

What's so funny?

Shang,

you two just aren't cut out for farming.

The furrows are all crooked.

And the seeds are scattered way too thin.

Let me do it.

Don't bother.

Just show us how.

Forget it.

Let's just plant what we can.

Anyway, we might not even get a harvest.

We're living deep in the mountains.

If we quietly clear a little land,

the authorities won't find out.

Don't believe me? Just try it.

Even if you live deeper in the mountains,

they'll still find you when they want to

collect taxes and conscript labor.

But

that's not how it should be.

With land this good

and rain this plentiful,

all that hard work

should be enough to keep people fed.

Du Ping, Transport Commissioner of Lingnan.

Pei Xuanming,

Director of the Bureau of Operations in the Ministry of War.

Wang Heling, Vice Minister of Revenue.

Wang Heling...

Cheng An, Chamberlain of the Eastern Palace.

Cheng An, Chamberlain of the Eastern Palace.

- Director of the Bureau of Opera... - Yan Shang.

Yan Shang?

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang!

Wenji?

I'm sorry.

The things you asked me to deliver to your father...

I...

No need to explain that now.

Shang,

I don't have much time in here.

How should I plead for you before His Majesty?

Tell me.

Wenji.

Could you get me paper and brush?

(Yingxiang, twenty entries, Huai collection.)

(Eight hundred guan spent on Fei's techniques and armor supplies.)

(Three hundred guan remaining. Check the accounts from previous years.)

(Actual labor and material cost eight hundred guan.)

(Fifty dan of grain in storage. Cao reports that the rat problem has eased.)

Wanyao?

Greetings, Father.

What is it?

I'd like to ask you for a favor.

You're a smart girl.

You know it's impossible.

Why even ask?

I wouldn't ask for something impossible.

I'd never put you on the spot, Father.

Let's hear it.

Yan Shang

is useless,

mediocre,

and unfit for service.

I ask you to banish him from Sheng'an.

You're willing to let him go?

Even the most favored male favorite

eventually loses his appeal.

Besides,

he's caused me more than enough trouble.

Can you really let him go?

Yes.

Father, please send him away.

Keep him out of the palace forever.

And forbid him

from ever setting foot in Sheng'an again.

(Next Episode Preview)

Stop!

Move!

Yan Shang.

What did I tell you?

Why did you lie to me?

I've always despised betrayal above all else.

♪Be the ferry where you wait for the sun♪

♪Be the blue silk that catches your tears♪

♪Be the sleeve we held, worn by dust and years♪

♪Let's conspire to grow old together♪

♪Let me be a captive beast bound by the same lock as you♪

♪- Through trails of mud and blood; - let grief drown in your eyes♪

♪Soar with the wind; plunge into hellfire as one♪

♪Burning bright as a song♪

♪See how roses and green bamboo enchant♪

♪Be the vow I make with all my heart♪

♪If we say forever, then forever it shall be♪

♪Not a single hour less♪

♪However deep the snow, I'll wait if you're there♪

♪We'll be gods above, or wandering souls♪

♪In heaven or the underworld, you're all I need♪

♪If we can stay, let's return to the village of our first meeting♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪Sharp winds or fierce rain, nothing can break us♪

♪Be mine in this world; be mine in this life♪

♪My last untouched innocence♪

♪If only we could return to the village where we first met♪

♪Stay by me; help me forget the frozen dream of last night♪

♪Fireflies glow, flowers kiss our lips; just us, through dawn and dusk♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪By your side, through joy and pain, is that eternity?♪

♪Till fireworks flood the town♪

♪Till the lake is still and clear♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

(No animals were harmed or mistreated in production.)