Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by Cheerful Scholars team @Viki

"No Return" by Fan Shiqi

♫ Memories slowly surround me, are they happy or sad? ♫

♫ The intersection of being clear-headed and blurry, can’t determine if it’s white or black ♫

♫ Going against the wind yet still pursuing, I must retreat if I cannot advance ♫

♫ You needn’t and I am unwilling for tears to fall ♫

♫ For you I won’t regret anything even if I forget who I am ♫

♫ No matter how many years have passed, even when stars are falling ♫

♫ I’ll spend this long journey nestled together with you ♫

♫ Grant me a cup of deep love, a life of being intoxicated ♫

[Qing Qing Zi Jin]

[Episode 3]

If you tell anyone...

I won't tell anyone!

So... this is why

you wanted to humiliate my peers from the Academy.

I'm sorry, I wronged you before.

Zhu Xiu Academy is the most prestigious college in our country.

But that's just because its students are all of noble status.

When I saw how those female students treated you, I knew

that even though it's been nine years, Zhu Xiu Academy is still the same.

There hasn't been any improvement at all.

Mountain General, then why didn't you go sit for the exam again?

How could I take the exam?

But I heard Father saying

that the scholars in the court and the Academy

are in the middle of pushing the... what was it called... oh!

An exam system for finding great talents, especially designed for ordinary folk.

As long as you do well in the exam, you can study at the Academy.

And you can also take the imperial exam with all the other Academy students.

If this exam really happens, then you can make your childhood dream into a reality!

That's easier said than done.

How can those snooty officials

allow a deviant like me

to present myself before their eyes?

Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm going to rest.

I'll make a move, then.

Off you go.

Mountain General, if you need anything, just call for me!

Or, if you're scared, call for me too!

I'll come keep you company any time.

You, keep me company?

Before, you'd kick and scream when I wanted you to keep me company.

What is it? You're so open-minded now?

Mountain General, stop making fun of me.

Go! Off you go.

Stop putting on a show here.

If they see, then let them look.

Let them look at the new mistress of my house.

General Hang!

General Hang!

General Hang!

Fu Yuan Zhi!

General Hang.

General.

So good looking.

No, absolutely not!

Let me finish.

The court hasn't given any order to attack Dong Yi Mountain.

It's precisely because I don't want to alert the court that I've come to you in private.

Then you're asking me to lie to the emperor!

Absolutely not.

General Hang, do you still remember, when my grandfather rescued you,

you made him a vow?

You told him that no matter what happens in the future,

you would help.

You'd never reject a request.

I would never have asked if there were other options.

Once this matter is done, you won't owe me anything anymore.

I'll never ask you for anything again.

I've never been to Dong Yi Mountain.

I heard that the terrain is difficult, it's easy to defend but hard to attack.

Most people will never get in.

This... I have made arrangements.

Let go! Let go!

Speak! Who are you? Why are you eavesdropping by the door?

Brother Hang, let her go!

- You know her? - This is my schoolmate, Zhao Qinghe.

I've asked her to come help us.

This is Hang Ru Xue. General Hang.

You're Hang Ru Xue?

I'm sorry, I offended you before.

But since you were invited, you should just have knocked.

Why were you eavesdropping at the door?

Fu Yuan Zhi, she's not strong and can't do much,

how can she help us?

Qinghe, I heard that you've got a photographic memory.

And I know you're Ah Juan's good friend. Could you draw us a map of Dong Yi Mountain

so General Hang and I can go rescue her?

You want to rescue Ah Juan?

- Sure, once I'm done with it, I'll send you the map. - Great.

Even so, it's not enough if it's just the two of us.

The troops under your command...

Your grandfather saved me, not them.

Then I'll hire some merceneries to come with us.

But they'll want money...

I'll think of something.

You... need money?

Chen Shu!

Coming!

Put the box down.

- You can go. - All right.

Is this enough?

If it's not enough, I can go home for more.

- Are you all ready? - Ready!

Yuan Zhi, let's go.

Is that enough to attack the bandits?

These are all guards from the Wen Ren household.

They're all highly skilled in martial arts. Take them with you.

Thank you, Sir Wen Ren.

Thank you, master!

Ah Juan will be very happy to know about this.

You can't tell Ah Juan.

You can't tell anyone about me helping you with this attack on the mountain.

- Especially Ah Juan. - I understand.

Everyone here now

will have only one identity: guards of the Academy.

You're coming with me to Dong Yi Mountain to rescue Wen Ren Juan, a student of the Academy.

You have no connection to anyone else,

you understand? - We understand!

- Be careful. - Farewell.

What's happening? It's so noisy.

Put this up there!

Hurry up!

Okay.

Why is it so noisy? What's happening?

- It's a celebration! (Sounds like they're saying there's going to be a wedding.) - A celebration?

Hurry up and put this outfit on!

Me...?

Mountain General!

Is there really going to be a wedding on the mountain?

That's right.

Why aren't you putting on the clothes you were given?

Mountain General... weddings have to have the consent of both sides.

Once outsiders know

that you, the Mountain General, married an ugly wife,

you'll be laughed at!

Even if I married a pig,

no one would dare to laugh at me.

It's not that easy to be

the wife of the Dong Yi Mountain General.

Go get changed!

[Dong Yi Mountain Villa]

Here she comes! Here's the lady!

She looks so pretty!

So pretty!

On this brilliant

spring day when a hundred flowers bloom,

we are gathered here

to celebrate the most important day of our village.

Next,

let's welcome the most beautiful lady to enter the scene!

You're so pretty, miss!

Oh, you're annoying!

I know it's not possible for me to go home anymore.

For the rest of my life...

I'll have to stay here.

I'll accept it.

Whether it's being a servant, or slaving away,

I'll accept it all!

But...

if you're planning on violating me,

if you want to violate me... never!

Even if I have to die, I'll never marry him!

You...

Qingzhou City...

our annual

Flower God Festival

officially commences!

Eat.

Good!

Great!

If this were before, I would never have imagined

that I'd end up living with bandits.

And that I'd eat food given to me by bandits.

Maybe I'll even become a bandit myself.

If my father knew about this,

he'd definitely say I've shamed the Wen Ren family again.

But it's funny, too...

I've never been like anyone else in my family.

My father is a famous scholar and official in the capital.

The first wife, too. Before she was married, she was famous for her talent.

And you've seen my sister, so there's no need for me to explain.

She excels academically, and she's beautiful, too.

She's pretty and gentle.

Not like me...

I guess, when compared to my older sister,

no one will prefer me.

You're right.

But if you were like your sister,

- I would have kicked you off the mountain. - Huh?

You drink.

I won't drink.

It's rude to refuse when someone offers you a drink

during the Flower God Festival.

Great!

From today on...

you'll be just like them. You all belong to me.

- I'll toast you. - Mountain General!

Go, go!

You're awake?

I... how long have I been asleep?

About an hour.

An hour?

Then... why is everyone gone?

There's a celebration in the city.

They've all gone to have fun.

The Flower God Festival celebrations?

Can I go too?

I don't know what's going on... why does my head hurt so much?

- It's no big deal. - Hey, where are you going?

- To change. - Change?

- Why are you going to change? - The Flower God Festival celebrations.

Change? I bet he's afraid he'll be recognised and people will beat him up.

Mountain General, can we go...

Where is he?

You...

I say, what sort of dirty things

are going through your mind all day long?

I...

This is yummy!

I want to look at that!

Hurry up.

[Qingzhou]

♫ Even if it turns into a thousand times ♫

♫ Homeless and miserable, no complaints at all ♫

♫ Sharing meagre resources in this life ♫

Mountain God, look! It's a shadow puppet show!

♫ It's you who won't forget ♫

♫ I want to protect you ♫

Try again!

Great.

The last one... boom!

Great!

All right, gather round!

Wow, it's so pretty!

Let me explain the rules.

The one to get 10 questions right,

will have the chance to ride the carriage and enjoy the parade!

Mountain General, you're the best, we're counting on you!

It's really fun.

Want to try?

They are planted in the garden in the rustling westerly wind,

the stamens are so cold and so are their scent. The butterflies dare not come.

The answer is "chrysanthemum".

He's right! Impressive!

Mountain General, why aren't you answering?

- If you don't answer it, someone else will get it, and there won't be a carriage ride. - What's so great about the carriage ride?

Adversity is easy

and easy to destroy

- Chrysanthemum! - Wrong!

- Peach blossom. - Wrong.

- Pear flower. - Wrong! Wrong!

- Azalea. - Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

- It's plum blossom. - Correct!

Great!

He's really impressive.

Here's the third question.

This one is going to be difficult.

Without flags,

the front and rear buildings are red and green.

Lotus.

Correct! That's great, that's great!

Read more proper books in the future and stop reading those nonsensical stories.

I... okay.

- Stay here. - Why?

Because you want me to answer the riddles.

The fourth question!

Please go ahead.

Bonuses are easy to decline like a man's will.

The flow of water is like infinite sorrow.

Peach blossom.

Correct!

He's got it right again!

What is your name, sir?

My surname is Zhou, my name is Meng.

Oh, you're Mr Zhou Meng!

Wow, you're a great talent!

Is that so? The genius of Qingzhou?

Mountain General, isn't that Rat and Tiger?

No!

- Why not? - They're way too noisy.

Let's go.

Miss...

Aren't you Master Zhou from before?

My name is Zhou Meng.

I would like to ask if you would be willing to ride the carriage with me?

Me? Can I really?

- Mountain General? - No.

Why not?

Mountain General! Mountain General!

Mountain General and his wife! What a coincidence!

Wife?

I'm sorry, I was rash.

Master Zhou, you've misunderstood, it's not...

- You... - Are you trying to flirt with our mistress?

It's all a misunderstanding!

- Mountain General, Mountain General... - Hang on.

Master Zhou, you're very learned.

Where did you study?

This... I come from a poor family. I'm self-taught.

Have you thought of taking the imperial exam?

It's hard to get a foot in the door for the imperial exam.

Coming from a poor background, I'll likely be met with derision.

In the best case scenario, I'll probably still only be a study companion for some young noble.

Furthermore...

I don't think I'll be able to meet the demands of officialdom.

All I like doing in this life is studying.

Then, Master Zhou, do you intend to stay in Qingzhou City for the rest of your life?

Wouldn't that be a waste of your talent?

It's not bad to stay in one's hometown.

To be frank, I'm saving up right now

and I plan to open a little school here.

Where I can teach, so the children of poor families can get an education too.

I'm sorry for just now.

I didn't know that you already have a partner, miss.

I apologise to you now.

- That's not it... - Master Zhou, you did nothing wrong.

Master Zhou, see you.

Perhaps we'll meet again.

This...

Amazing.

Dumplings!

Boss, two bowls of dumplings!

Here you go, two bowls of dumplings.

Thank you, boss.

Thank you, Mountain General.

That's right, Mountain General, I don't know your name.

Do you want to know?

Call me "husband".

Who's that?

That's the Dong Yi Mountain General!

Dong Yi Mountain General?

God, that's so shameless!

He's a tyrant, and he forces the people to worship him!

I don't care what you're thinking about...

I'm just going to tell you now, you're wrong.

I wasn't thinking about anything.

I'm thinking about dumplings.

Miss... you must not be from around here.

The Dong Yi Mountain General is the guardian of our city!

But isn't he a bandit?

Years ago, Qingzhou City

was plagued by bandits and robbers.

Robbers from elsewhere.

They would come into the city to pillage and plunder.

We're far from the centre of power here.

The government doesn't take actions here.

To put it simply, the people here are destitute.

But three years ago, the Dong Yi Mountain General

emerged with his men

and dealt with

all the bands of brigands.

He even took the property and food he confiscated

and distributed it among the people. - Really?

The bandits under him

only rob the rich and give to the poor.

They never harass the people.

The Flower God gave us life,

but the Dong Yi Mountain General

brought us the peace!

The two of them are the gods of the people of Qingzhou!

Boss, a bowl of dumplings!

Sit in there.

Please.

Wipe that disgusting look off your face.

So it turns out...

It turns out that you're not a despicable bandit.

You're a crusader for justice!

- Where are you going? - I want to take a look over there.

Who said you can run around? Am I being too good to you?

Now you're getting more and more daring!

I... Mountain General, do you just enjoy

seeing people get annoyed at you, but not being able to do anything about it?

It's the same when you took me as ransom and forced me to drink too.

Don't you think, as the Mountain General, your bad habit

is too childish?

Oh? Is that so?

But what can you do about it?

The second rule of the mountain villa: no leaving the Mountain General's side without permission.

- Otherwise... - Otherwise...

Mountain General, I won't do it again! Mountain General, put me down!

Thank you, Mountain General!

I'm really grateful.

Although you always tease me, although seem like you never take anything seriously,

but apart from my father, my sister, Senior Yuan Zhi,

Grandma Liu in the kitchen, the maid, Butler Zhou,

and the uncle who does the sweeping, you're the one that's nicest to me!

Wow. I'm really honoured by your favour.

Today is the happiest day of my life.

No one has told me off for laughing loudly or running around.

I can do whatever I want,

I can eat lots of delicious things and have fun.

And it's all at your expense.

Since you're not happy back there, just stay on the mountain

and live with me.

If you want to go back, I won't stop you.

There's no need to escape in secret.

I... Mountain General, I...

I really wasn't trying to escape.

- Really? - Mmm.

Then just stay, and be my wife.

I just realised that your eyes

are really lovely.

And this beard... when I look at it, I feel like kissing it!

And this little beard...

Don't be afraid, I'll treat you well!

Come, let's have a kiss!

♫ I feel that everything's worth it ♫

Why are you blushing all of a sudden?

I... I...

Did I drink too much just now,

and... and... and...

You remember now?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't know I'd be like that when drunk!

I didn't mean to seduce you like that, I'm sorry.

You... what are you thinking of doing?

My turn to seduce you.

Mountain General, isn't that the direction of the villa?

Stay here, don't move.

Mountain General!

Brother, what's happening here? Have you seen the Mountain General?

A group of people came and set fire to the village!

The Mountain General is fighting them!

They've gone to the forest over there!

Little Sister, Little Sister!

Little lady!

This is bad!

Senior?

- Who are you? - There's no point in delaying!

As long as you hand the hostage over, we won't hurt you!

The guy next to you has different ideas.

Mountain General, you've been surrounded by the guards of Zhu Xiu Academy!

Hand over Ah Juan immediately!

Oh, you're from the Academy.

Where have you hidden Ah Juan?

She's my woman. What's it to you?

After him!

What are you doing? As long as you hand her over, we won't hurt you.

No!

Hey!

- We came here to rescue someone, not kill! - He deserved it!

How many lives were lost in your battles? What's one more bandit?

- That's an order. - He will die an innocent death.

I won't say anything, and neither will they.

No one will know.

Ah Juan!

Ah Juan.

Ah Juan, you've suffered over these past few days.

♫ Perhaps, starting from the day we met ♫

♫ Everything about you ♫

Ah Juan, let's go.

♫ turned into my nostalgia ♫

♫ Destined to be unforgettable ♫

Fu Yuan Zhi, the capital is just ahead.

I'll leave you here.

Thank you, General Hang.

Let's go!

Ah Juan, have some water.

Ah Juan!

Thank you, Senior.

You've been distracted since returning from Dong Yi Mountain.

Was it because you got a fright?

No.

Are you still angry about me not rescuing you before?

I'm sorry. It was my fault.

I'm not angry with you, Senior.

My older sister is the first daughter, she really is more important than I am.

So... it makes sense that you picked her.

I'm not angry.

Don't say that. To me...

Ah Juan?

- Stop the carriage! Quick, stop! - What is it, Ah Juan?

Ah Juan!

Ah Juan, be careful!

[Heaven gates are wide yet I cannot fly]

No, it can't be...

Ah Juan, what are you doing?

No... he must have been lying to me.

It can't be... it can't be...

Ah Juan!

It can't be...

It can't be...

He must have been lying to me.

It can't be...

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by Cheerful Scholars team @Viki

So...

he wasn't lying.

"Pear Blossoms Bloom" by Su Miaoling

♫ Pear flowers are blossoming, pear flowers are blossoming ♫

♫ Pear flowers are blossoming, pear flowers are blossoming ♫

♫ Fluttering in the wind ♫

♫ Waving to and fro on the mountain ♫

♫ Thousands of miles away ♫

♫ Thousands of miles away ♫

♫ Is she still waiting there ♫

♫ Dear wind, please blow gently ♫

♫ Dear wind, please blow gently ♫

♫ Slowly blowing the ends of her hair ♫

♫ Slowly blowing the ends of her hair ♫

♫ Rain, please drizzle slowly ♫

♫ Rain, please drizzle slowly ♫

♫ Don’t dampen her face ♫