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 4]

So...

He wasn't lying to me.

He really wasn't lying to me.

General Hang, what is the meaning of this?

I committed a crime. I failed Your Majesty trust.

I failed this set of armor.

You failed me? What did you do?

I went to Dong Yi Mountain in secret

and rescued the second daughter of the Wen Ren family.

Although it is to save someone, it is a crime to lie to Your Highness.

I request your Majesty to punish me.

Hang Ru Xue has been stripped of his office.

He has been sent to Zhu Xiu Academy for a new position.

[Zhu Xiu Academy]

Zhu Xiu Academy was opened by the imperial court.

It teaches courtesy, music, archery,

imperial, books, and numbers.

The academy is built on a mountain.

It covers thousand of acres and has a beautiful scenery.

It has the biggest book storage room in our nation.

It store famous works from different periods.

Above...the six-dragon cart, finds the peak stand in the way.

Below is...

I apologize. I made a mistake.

Why are you apologizing to her?

You may not know, but when we were captured by bandits,

she and that bandit.

Do not spread rumors. It will ruin the academy's image.

I pity Shu Er's family.

Then I will not take that ball.

-Let's leave. - Let's leave.

Below...

Below there's a spiralling river with twisting and bending rushing waves.

Senior Brother

Reading "Bring in the Wine" and reciting "The Difficulty of Shu Road".

When did you become this good?

That was The Difficulty of Shu Road?

This is bad. I did it wrong on the exam again.

Senior Brother

Senior Brother, why did you come here?

-Come play with us? -No thank you.

I should take Ren Juan back with me to study.

Or else Teacher will punish her again.

Is there a difference between studying and punishment?

Be good. After we finish studying,

Senior Brother will take you out to eat delicious foods.

Senior Brother

I am no longer a child. Why are you still tempting me with food.

Sister, we'll take our leave now.

Go play with them.

Fine.

Lets go.

Did you two hear about it yet?

The result of the first exam is out.

It came out yesterday. My dad went and did the grading.

When he came back, he was full of praise for the top student.

He got full marks for every subject! The essay he wrote triggered praise from everyone.

He will join tomorrow.

I heard the academy will prepare a special welcoming ceremony for him.

If he comes to our academy,

will he end up knocking Fu Yuanzhi off the top spot?

will he end up knocking Fu Yuanzhi off the top spot?

Senior Brother, are what they saying about you true?

Worry about losing First Place of the Academy to

that top scorer?

This is just a title people give me.

If this is not true, what is there to lose.

That is true. You are a genius since you were a child.

The poems you created at 14 was recognize by the late Emperor.

And was documented in to the poem books.

In addition, ever since you enter

you were first place in your exams.

So First Place of the Academy

is well deserved.

But I am also curious

about this first place student selected from tens of thousands of people.

What kind of person is he.

-Today is so hot. -Yes.

Make some room.

I was wondering who it was. Xie Ziyun?

This is for new students to move in. Why are you here?

How can the four of us not be here for the new students.

-That is right -How can they miss us.

As a schoolmate, we've got to make sure that the newcomer

feels the hospitality and welcome of the school, right?

I have nothing to say.

Make some room.

This is bad. These new students

will be doom.

That may not be the case. Lets wait and see.

Lets go.

A'Juan...

what do you think this top student will be like?

Since he is selected from thousands of people,

then he is a decent

and gracious scholar.

That makes sense.

[Boya]

Confucian scholar,

Volume of Thousands of Autumn,

Mid spring in the third month of the second year,

The top student...

Luo Qiuchi!

He's so handsome!

-Not bad. - I like it.

About that homework, I finally got it!

Brother Yuanzhi pulled me yesterday for revision.

Almost like mine.

[Boya]

A talented individual.

I like him.

Student Luo Qiuchi, greets the professors.

Welcome Luo Qiu Chi.

Congratulations on your entry to the Zhu Xiu Academy.

Next, we'd like to invite the top student

to come onstage to receive his jade badge.

And to be entered into the Academy's register.

Go on.

Thank you.

The top student!

Luo Qiu Chi, next

you will select a guide.

This guide will help you adjust to the environment of the academy.

And the life style of the academy.

Since you were accepted with exception.

I think the First Place of the Academy

Fu Yuanzhi... - Sir, I have a request.

Go ahead.

I've always been shy.

Would it be all right for me to find a guide

who I feel comfortable with?

Pick me!

What's all this?

Pick me!

What do you all think?

Sir, this is unprecedented in our Academy.

On the other hand...

why not?

Ouyang, you...

All right, then we'll have you choose yourself.

In my perspective,

this little senior sister is not bad.

No way!

He picked her?

♫ It's just that the best will always be the last ♫

♫ The finale is the most beautiful beginning ♫

Hurry, hurry!

Classmate Luo, would you like me to show you around the Academy?

No need for that, since Classmate Luo just got here,

maybe it's better that I show you around.

Me too, come with me!

A'Juan...

aren't you Classmate Luo's guide?

I also don't know.

Classmate Luo, even though grades for physical training aren't that important

but I can train with you.

No need for that, I can help you!

- That's right! - Ah, no... no...

I'm hot too.

Classmate Luo, come with me.

Here we are.

Classmate Luo, this is the Academy's library.

Also, over there...

Wen Ren Juan, why are you here?

I...aren't I...

Isn't Senior Juan my guide?

Then, please lead the way for me.

Classmate Luo, we all know this place well. We can be your guide.

That's right, any of us could be your guide!

That's right! We all know this place well.

We could guide you.

Exactly.

Since I've already chosen Wen Renjuan as my guide, I won't change my mind.

She'll show me around from now on.

I appreciate the kind intention of all my senior sisters.

- Please go back. - But–

Please.

Senior Juan, please take care of me.

Let's go.

- Let's go. - See you all!

Let's go.

Let's go.

What's wrong?

I thought you died.

I'm the Dongyi Mountain General... how could I have died so easily?

- But that day, I clearly saw you– - Fall down the cliff, right?

There's a cave beneath that cliff.

I use it to hide from ambushes.

I never imagined that, because of a little monkey like you, I'd really have a need for it.

So, you're truly all right?

- You weren't injured at all? - I broke a leg.

You– Which leg? Is it serious?

It's fine now. Why do you think I took so long to seek you out?

That's good.

I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

I dragged you into this.

It really is your fault.

Then you owe me a

big favor.

You...

You...you're not going to make me do something weird again, are you?

About that... that depends on your conduct.

You still haven't said my name.

That's one more offence against you.

Fine. Qiu Chi.

Qiu Chi, Qiu Chi, Qiu Chi!

Is that better? Have I made up for it already?

That's better.

It'll be bad if others see us like this.

But, Qiuchi...

why have you come to our Academy?

Didn't you say you hate this place a lot?

- I... - You're not allowed to say you're here for me.

Qiuchi, please tell me

why you have come all this way to our Academy?

Qiu Chi?

Why else would I be here? To learn.

pass the exams, and become a poet.

A poet?

That's great. You're so outstanding, you'll definitely be able to achieve that goal.

Let's go. I'll take you to

our Academy's library!

Qiu Chi, look at these.

These are all written by past and present students of the Academy.

They've been recorded into the official volumes of poetry.

What are these volumes of poetry?

Proposed by Xuan Zong and edited by Hanlin Academy.

Every year,

the emperor will personally select the best poet of the year.

To be chosen by His Majesty

is a huge honour!

Longing on a Rainy Night?

The rain is silent, the night is clear and fragrant"

"Nange hasn't arisen,"

" the dream didn't last long".

Fu Yuanzhi?

What do you think? Isn't it amazing?

This was a poem Senior composed when he was 14.

He was the youngest of those selected.

He's well known as a genius in the capital.

I'm standing right here, and you're talking up your old flame?

Old flame? I...

Didn't I say before? We're just like siblings.

Siblings? He looks at you

as if you were his wife.

What are you thinking about?

Stop spouting rubbish! We grew up together.

So it makes sense that we're closer than most people.

It's not what you think.

That better be the case.

He destroyed my villa, snatched my wife...

I'm going to settle this score with him.

Don't! You can't!

You can't, Qiuchi!

Please let Senior off the hook. He only did that because he was trying to rescue me.

As long as you let him off, I'll do whatever you say, okay?

Okay? I beg you, please, do this for me, please...

Qiuchi, don't do this...

Okay, okay!

Then... that'll depend on what he does.

Qiuchi, do you shoulders ache?

I'll massage them for you.

So kind?

Qiuchi, don't make trouble for Senior.

Because of this, he got into a lot of trouble too.

I heard that he dropped his jade pendant on the mountain.

Because of this, he was severely punished by his mother.

Jade pendant?

- On Dongyi Mountain? - That's right.

So, Qiuchi, you just promised that you won't take revenge on him...

It makes me really happy!

This proves that Luo Qiuchi is a really, really, really good person!

Didn't I tell you?

Never talk about being a "good person" in front of me.

How long has it even been? You've forgotten it all already?

I haven't, I haven't forgotten! I promise I won't bring it up again.

But Qiuchi, I have to remind you...

Since you've decided to come to this Academy,

then you can't reveal your identity.

Many people here have interacted with you before.

If you're discovered as the Mountain General...

then they... - I got it!

Little Senior Sister, isn't my acting good?

If they discover the truth about me and want revenge

do you think I'll let them off easy?

What's that sound?

It's the night watchman!

Night watchman?

Our Academy's library

has a huge collection.

There are many extremely valuable volumes!

So the Academy got a nightwatchman.

I heard that this guy

used to dominate the pugilist world.

The principal of the Academy saved his life once

so he was willing to come here to be the night watchman.

During the day, he's worried that his looks will frighten the students,

so he usually stays in the secret chamber upstairs.

At night, he keeps watch on the entire building.

No matter who it is, as long as they're discovered, even if they're top students like Fu Yuanzhi,

he'll beat them up and throw them out!

Fu Yuanzhi?

Jade pendant?

So, Qiuchi, Qiuchi, let's go!

What? Hearing you talk about this...

I'd really like to meet him.

You can't, you can't! Qiuchi, you can't go!

Lots of brave students have gone in before.

Every single one went in full of confidence,

and came out with bruises all over.

Are you trying to stop me,

or provoke me?

I...

No, Qiuchi, we'd better go!

Let's go! Let's go!

[Poem]

[Poem]

[Luo Qiuchi]

[Student's Lodging]

Hello, my name is Luo Qiuchi.

I'm new. How about you?

I'm the martial arts instructor of the Academy.

Martial arts instructor?

Right, you can have the east room. We'll share the living area.

Also, don't bring dirty items in here.

Do you understand?

We've never met. Why are you doing this?

Just fight. What's the point of talking rubbish?

Don't, don't!

How did he start fighting with Instructor Hang?

I don't know.

Classmate Luo, are you all right?

How did you get into a fight with General Hang?

I'm not a general.

Oh, Instructor Hang.

Why did you start fighting with Instructor Hang?

General? He's a general?

I've already said I'm not a general.

He... he... used to be a general.

Now he's a martial arts instructor in our Academy.

You launched a suprise assault on an official. You should come to the investigations bureau with me.

Oh... erm... Instructor Hang, Classmate Luo didn't mean anything by this.

There must have been some misunderstanding. Please give him a chance.

What is it? Are you unwilling to go?

What are you just standing there? Apologise now!

Classmate Luo seems pretty arrogant too.

He doesn't concede to anyone.

Oh, ow, ow, ow...!

Oh, oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Why did he use so much force?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. So you're a general?

That explains why, when I first saw you, I had the urge to compare our martial arts skills.

- Comparing our skills? - Comparing skills?

That's right. Wasn't it just a few simple moves?

Aren't you a martial arts instructor? Surely you'd be willing?

Don't let this happen again.

Quick, come with me.

He's so handsome!

What's the point? We can't get him.

Let's go. Come on, let's go. We can't get him anyway.

Qiuchi, didn't you say you wouldn't make any trouble?

- What's his name? - Who?

He's Hang Ruxue.

- Hang Ruxue... - What is it?

He was involved in me falling off the cliff. I broke my leg because of them.

No way...

But when Instructor Hang returned to the city, he immediately confessed his offences to the emperor.

And... it was because of this that he was demoted from general to a martial arts instructor...

Because of this, he was demoted to be a martial arts instructor and captain of the guards.

Surely that counts as punishment?

- Qiuchi, let him off. - No way!

- Why not? - I already promised you I'd let Fu Yuanzhi off. He doesn't count.

It's always been an eye for and eye.

I'll mess him about

slowly.

Didn't you say that girls can't come into the boys' quarters?

You... how did you come in here?

I... I... just sneaked in!

You saw all those people just now! They all sneaked in.

I'll not chat with you anymore. I'm off!

Hang Ruxue...

[Wen Ren residence]

Shu'er, you're back!

Mother.

Why didn't you give us any advance warning?

I thought you would be staying at the Academy tonight.

Xiao Qing, tell the kitchens to add some of Shu'er's favourite dishes.

Yes.

Second Miss, Sir Wen Ren says

that once you're home, he'd like to see you in his study.

- Me? - Yes.

Father.

You've been back for some time.

How have things been? I've been busy with the examination.

I didn't have time to ask you how you've been.

Is everything okay?

It's fine, thank you, Father.

Do you have anything

that you'd like to tell me?

I...

- Why are you here? - Can't I come?

Is there anything you two are talking about that I can't hear?

Of course not! What do you want to say?

I've come to tell A'Juan some good news.

Me? Good news?

You also know that it's gone around the capital

that the Second Miss of the Wen Ren family was violated by bandits.

- I wasn't! - Regardless of whether it's true or false,

people are already talking about it.

If this goes on any further, Shu'er will be implicated too.

What do you mean by this?

I mean... Juan'er isn't young anymore.

I've taking the initiative to seek a match for her.

The young master of the Henan family is returning to the capital.

Since their family isn't as highly ranked as ours,

but they're also fourth rank officials.

I heard that their eldest son is handsome.

It should be a good enough match for you.

Husband, what do you think?

Shu'er isn't even married yet. How can the younger sister marry first?

This is not the time for these reasons!

If this goes on, our Wen Ren family reputation will be ruined.

A'Juan, what do you think?

I...

I'll listen to whatever Father says.

Good! Then it's settled.

Do you have any grievances?

No.

Looking at the current situation,

this is a good thing for you.

- Quick, sit down! - Hey, don't use so much force!

Here we are!

Little Senior Sister, where do you sit?

There.

The professor is here, I can't talk to you now, I'm off!

Good morning!

Luo Qiuchi, why are you still standing here?

My guide didn't tell me where to sit.

Wen Renjuan, what's going on?

I'm sorry, Professor Ouyang, it was my oversight.

What's the use of apologising to me?

I'm sorry, Classmate Luo.

It's no problem, Little Senior Sister.

All right. Qiuchi,

as for your seat... - Professor Ouyang, there's an empty seat next to me.

If Classmate Luo doesn't mind, he can sit here.

Hmmm... I do mind.

- What do you mean? - Exactly what I said.

All right, all right. I've already arranged Qiuchi's seat.

Come, follow me.

Luo Qiuchi, you sit here.

All right, let's begin with the class today.

Has everyone read Luo Qiuchi's...

A'Juan, do you find that this Luo Qiuchi

seems quite familiar?

I don't know why I feel a little scared whenever I see him.

Really?

You must have misremembered.

Professor Ouyang,

I have an interpretation of the poem. I'm not sure if it's correct.

Fu Yuanzhi, tell us.

It's explictly written that the Spirit Bird travelled to its native land.

Native land implictly refers to Qingyun's Official career.

The phrase, "Zi Chen invites me to publish the Book of Immortals"

"Thinking about the mountain and woods, I hesitate."

Both wrote about the longing of the sea

It also wrote about the fears of the ascent of the rugged and tough official career.

And being used by the Imperial Court.

Mountains and woods pointed towards the ordinary and comfortable life.

Trapped in the middle, both goals are difficult to either obtain or forfeit.

The writing is very moving.

Fu Yuanzhi has done well!

That's not bad.

Luo Qiuchi, you wrote the poem.

What do you think of his interpretation?

Professor, Classmate Fu really is the top student of the Academy.

His interpretation is impressive. Only, when I wrote this poem,

I didn't harbour so many intentions.

Perhaps you're overthinking it.

As they say, the author might not have intentions, but the reader has opinions.

Perhaps Classmate Fu has read my poem, and projected his own thoughts into it.

What do you mean by this?

It means whatever you think it means.

For everyone here... if it weren't for your noble status, who would be able to study here?

What does he mean? How can he say that?

That's right!

Luo Qiuchi, that's enough.

Don't go overboard.

Do you want to die?

Who do you think you are? Why did you say that about us?

All right, stop fighting!

What do you mean?

Stop fighting!

Tell us! Do you want to fight?

Stop fighting!

What is this? Making a ruckus in the classroom?

I've told you before...

if you have opinions, debate them properly.

Sit down, all of you!

Professor Ouyang, since Classmate Luo is so confident,

I'd like to seek his advice too.

Perhaps he can teach me how to compose poetry?

The rain is silent, the night is clear and fragrant"

"Nange hasn't arisen, the dream didn't last long".

"The lonely light did not wake up, the moonlight on the window".

Now in the Old Zhongliu Times Hall,

Ledger books curls anxiously for the vacant rooms.

"Tomorrow, the swallows descend on which family's wall"

"How many flowers will bloom in idle time"

"Bloom till they are luxuriant and bright."

Professor Ouyang, Classmate Fu's last stanzas are full of emotion and meaning,

but they're not quite proper.

Mine is arranged everywhere on the good luck of the turning point.

Seeking endless love and inadvertently poor.

Of course, his first few stanzas were very good.

As for me, I'm just taking advantage of the situation for my benefit.

Professor Ouyang, what do you think?

Professor Ouyang, you don't have to worry about this.

I'm also very curious,

I'd like to know which stanzas you prefer.

You two, sit down first.

Ouyang... how was Luo Qiuchi's first class?

Could he adapt?

Principal, let's not talk about whether he's able to adapt.

The way I see it, it won't be two days

before he gets beaten up by those naughty kids,

or those naughty kids beat him up.

Ouyang, you think those students will bully Luo Qiuchi?

Heh! You didn't see the class today.

It's not just the students, either.

Love, love, love. There's no love,

What about fickleness in love?

Hey, if we're not in this Academy doing homework every day

then we're doing homework at home.

When do we have time for romance?

If it were up to me,

our Zhu Xiu Academy shouldn't have admitted such a scourge.

What do you think? This guy has no family, no background.

Don't you think that you can smell from a distance

a stench of poverty?

- Look at how shabby he is! - That's right!

A'Juan!

- Take your foot off. - What is it, Sun Zuoyang? What does this have to do with you?

Having to spend time with guys like you every day

makes one feel dirty too.

Let's go.

Is your butt stuck to your seat?

Get up!

Write, write, write!

Hey, newbie, didn't you say we were all useless?

Then you must be great.

I guess it wouldn't be too difficult to imitate a few people's handwriting

and write a few more essays.

Then we'll just hand our assignments over to you.

Write well, and I'll not dwell on what happened just now.

Xie Ziyun, you're shamelessly bullying a new classmate!

How is it your business? He was talking about you too!

That's right. How nosy.

I...

All right. I'll do it for you.

Write well! Learn our handwriting.

Don't get it wrong.

He's really writing? You're really doing it?

You don't have much of a spine after all.

But I like this. I'll treat it as having one more minion by my side.

You better learn to recognise us, the four masters of Zhu Xiu Academy.

In the future, we'll have more opportunities to interact.

Remember us?

Be a good dog.

Don't make any mistakes.

Then... you can do my homework too.

You...!

They're really too much!

If you go over there, people will talk about you.

I...

Let's go. Write well!

Let's go!

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

Qiuchi, why are you letting Xie Ziyun and them bully you? Why aren't you rebelling?

- Do you feel bad for me? - I–

- I didn't. - No?

There's so much homework. When will you be done?

Why don't I help you?

Come here.

- It hurts, it hurts! - When they were bullying me earlier,

you didn't speak up for me.

Why are you here offering to help now?

Let go of me first.

I didn't dare to earlier.

Didn't dare?

When we were at my mountain fortress, you dared to contradict me.

Now that you are back at your place, you have become fearful.

Where did that wild monkey go?

You don't understand.

I can't be in the limelight here.

Of course, I wouldn't dare. If I do anything improper, I will be censured by my family.

What's proper and improper? Just do whatever you want.

Who cares about him?

It's not that simple.

I already said you won't understand.

- I don't understand? - Qiuchi!

I'll see you at the pavilion!

"Pear Blossoms Bloom" by Su Miaoling

♫ Pear flowers are blossoming, pear flowers are blossoming ♫

♫ Fluttering in the wind ♫

♫ Waving to and fro in the mountain ♫

♫ Thousand of miles away ♫

♫ Thousand of miles away ♫

♫ Is she still waiting there ♫

♫ Dear wind, please blow gently ♫

♫ Slowly blowing the ends of her hair ♫

♫ Rain, please drizzle slowly ♫

♫ Don’t dampen her face ♫