Original subtitles

Episode 28

Ye Xiaotian and Xia Yingying

will love each other forever.

It’s beautiful.

It’s fabulous.

That’s the most romantic courtship

that I’ve ever seen and can ever imagine.

I’d surely say yes

if a man proposed to me in that fashion.

Miss, I could do that

if I had that flying thingy.

Stay away from me

if you don’t want to die.

Brother Xiaotian and Sister Yingying are such a lovely couple.

What a lovely couple!

Sister Ning’er,

why are you crying?

Yingying must be

very happy now.

You’re happy.

She’s happy.

So I should

be happy for you.

Brother Xiaotian, I feel so happy.

I love you, Yingying.

Do you love me?

I love you, Xia Yingying.

Do you love me?

-Yes. -Yes. -Yes.

I love you.

Let’s go.

Xia Yingying.

You brat.

Come down here immediately.

That sounded like… My father.

Don’t be afraid.

You silly bastards,

why are you doing nothing about it?

Go bring Yingying down here.

Unruly bastards,

you’re defying my orders now?

Get a move on.

-Hurry up. –Let’s go.

It’s all right.

Be a good girl.

You’d better go back with them now.

Your father will go ballistic

if you disobey him again.

But I’ve just come out with you.

I brought you here today

to show Royal Uncle Li we’re together.

I don’t think

he’ll be thick-skinned enough

to ask your father for your hand.

So I’ll solve the remaining problems

for you one by one.

I’ll go talk to your father tomorrow.

But Royal Uncle’s mansion is heavily guarded.

How are you going to get in?

Silly girl,

do you think your father can continue

staying at Royal Uncle’s mansion without feeling awkward?

You’re right.

Bye for now.

Let’s go.

Uncle,

where shall we go?

Shall we go back to Royal Uncle’s mansion?

Spineless bastard,

why should we go to Royal Uncle’s mansion?

Let’s go find an inn.

Um…

Follow them.

Yes.

What happened to you?

Thanks to that darned Ye Xiaotian,

I got severely punished by my father.

He almost broke my leg.

Your Highness,

I heard about what happened tonight.

There are plenty of other fish in the sea.

With Your Highness’s excellent character,

good looks and high social status,

Your Highness can have any woman.

Why would Your Highness

upset yourself about that girl?

Don’t be ridiculous.

I’m His Majesty’s uncle.

Why would I

upset myself about a girl?

Ye Xiaotian humiliated me

so audaciously,

I must get even with him.

Does Your Highness

know Ye Xiaotian’s

past history?

What past history?

After that charity auction I had him investigated

and found that he used to be a minor official,

a Judicial Clerk, in Guizhou.

He was escorted to the Capital City for conviction

on account of violating the official dress code.

He was supposed to be imprisoned,

but he got out

by pulling strings,

and then he made trouble for us.

Is that true?

We can make full use of it

for our own ends.

It’s too late.

The Prime Minister is critically ill,

and the Imperial Court is looking for a new Prime Minister.

All the academicians are preoccupied with it.

Who’d pay attention to this trifle?

Besides, Ye Xiaotian pulled strings

with Minister Qiao of the Ministry of War.

He’ll be granted amnesty in a few days.

So Ye Xiaotian will be granted amnesty

and released from prison in a few days.

This is preposterous!

Your Highness,

we won’t be able to deal with Ye Xiaotian

once he returns to Guizhou.

But we’ll have plenty of means to punish him

if we figure out a way

to hold him back in the Capital City.

Yeah.

Trust me,

the problem will be solved

once that man is taken out of the picture.

Is this plan going to work?

Your Highness,

I can safely say

that it might be hard

if he were a prefect of the fifth rank.

But since he’s just a minor official,

nobody dare disobey

Your Highness’s wish if Your Highness

tells them to hold him back in the Capital City.

It’s settled, then.

Come on.

As decreed by the Minister of Punishments,

you’re pardoned.

I…

I… I’m pardoned?

Yes, you’re pardoned.

Yes.

I’m free to go?

Yes.

But my younger brother…

Cut it out. Get out of here right now.

What a shame!

What a shame!

Yeah.

Brother Feng,

we can no longer follow

this complicated family drama.

Those two pretty girls

won’t come here again.

Xiaotian,

I kept my promise

and persuaded my father to speak up for you,

and now your case is closed.

Really?

Why would I lie to you?

Your pardon must have been delivered to the prison by now.

What happened to my big brother?

Since he could serve your sentence for you,

surely he could be released from prison in place of you.

I take it

that I can finally go home

in an aboveboard manner?

Thank you so much. Brother Qiao.

But my priority now

is to get Yingying back.

Brother,

this time we’re ready

to follow your instruction, whether it is

to try peaceful means before resorting to force, or vice versa,

whether you want us to poison dogs or people.

We’re ready.

Good.

I wish you a speedy success.

Thank you. Brother Qiao.

Let’s hit the road.

Miss Zhan,

good morning.

Good morning. Brother Qiao.

You got up so early. Miss Zhan.

Did you watch the lanterns last night?

Yes.

Did you enjoy yourself?

I’m not sure. I left quite early.

We didn’t come back until 1 a.m.

Did you make this, Miss Zhan?

It’s a man’s robe.

You made it for Xiaotian, right?

No, of course not.

I made it for fun.

Miss Zhan, you’re so skillful in…

Miss Zhan,

I have to advise you again

that marriage concerns a person’s lifetime happiness.

Perhaps Brother Ye could marry you both.

In this way neither you nor Yingying shall be grieved.

Women are all the same, right?

Brother Qiao,

you may believe

women are all the same,

but I’m determined

to be different from other women.

Why would you make things difficult for yourself?

He and Yingying are devoted to each other,

so I’d rather die alone

than be

a third wheel in their marriage.

That’s who I am.

That’s the way I am.

If you know your love is unrequited,

why did you…

Brother Qiao,

tell you what,

I’m happy

when I see him happy.

I don’t know how to explain it,

but I just want to do something

to make him happy.

I wish them well.

Sometimes it’s better to let go than to hold on.

Miss Zhan, you love him so much.

I’m impressed.

Peach Leaf Inn

Hello,

I’d like to…

Sorry, sir.

We’ve been booked out.

Why don’t you try another inn?

May I ask you about something?

Was it a family surnamed Xia

who booked out all your rooms?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Sir,

that family is a bit scary.

Do take care of yourself.

Don’t worry.

They know me.

Good.

Where’s Yingying?

Yingying?

She’s still in bed.

That girl

is so heartless.

Uncle,

are you sure that Ye Xiaotian

will show up?

Yes.

That lad

is just like a monkey,

a cunning monkey.

All right.

Wait here for me, guys.

I shall go in there alone.

Brother,

the people in there look malicious.

Let me go there with you.

No, thanks.

They’re my kin.

They’re not going to harm me.

Brother, I don’t think so.

The Xia family is rude and aggressive.

Take Yunfei with you.

Yeah.

That won’t be necessary.

No one needs to come with me.

I’m the Xia family’s son-in-law.

They’re not going to beat me up, are they?

Don’t be so sure.

Come on.

Brother.

Brother.

Good morning,

dear brothers-in-law.

This courtyard is too small

for you to work out with rocks.

They’re too heavy.

If they should hurt yourself

or other people,

it would be too bad, wouldn’t it?

Hold it.

Don’t disgrace the Xia family.

My feet hurt.

Ouch!

Ouch! Brother.

Brother.

Hurry, Brother. Let’s take you to the doctor.

Come on. Hurry up.

Take care.

Uncle Xia.

Ye Xiaotian,

you’re such a capable man.

You discouraged distinguished Royal Uncle Li

with a small trick.

I’m not a very capable man.

I was just playing chess.

The pieces restrict each other.

Royal Uncle Li was more scrupulous

because he had more constraints.

Did you take that as a compliment?

Just tell me.

What will it take to get you to stop harassing Yingying?

Uncle Xia,

I’m in love with Yingying.

You want to get promoted?

The Xia family will see to it

that you get promoted to the fifth rank

in two decades.

What do you think?

I’m in love with Yingying.

You want money?

I can give you 10,000 taels of gold.

I’m in love with Yingying.

You’re fond of beauties?

All right.

What if I give you ten beautiful girls as a gift?

I’m in love with Yingying.

You love getting yourself killed!

I know what you’re worried about.

But who can tell what will happen

in the future?

You mean I should bet on your word

with my daughter’s

lifetime happiness?

Give me three years, OK?

Give me three years.

If I can’t solve the problem

in three years,

I’ll never see Yingying again.

A promise is a promise.

I’ll keep my promise.

Brother Xiaotian.

Hurry up.

Slow down. Slow down.

Hurry up.

Am I daydreaming?

You offered to go home with me,

and you bought so many presents.

Am I not pretty enough to be your girlfriend?

Are you kidding me, Miss Xia?

OK.

Xia Yingying, you’re the most beautiful creature

I’ve ever beheld.

All right?

I’m embarrassed, too, OK?

As a young lady, I’m not supposed

to come here to visit your father.

But I have to show my father

how determined I am, right?

I’m so proud of you.

Let’s go.

Stop mussing my hair.

What a capricious girl!

Let me fix it for you.

Stop talking nonsense.

Your brother is back, you said?

And you were serving his sentence for him?

Where did he go, then?

He… He didn’t tell me

where he was going.

You…

I was afraid that you might be worried,

so I came home in advance.

Why… Why are you talking all this nonsense?

Tell me the truth.

You’ve got daring, haven’t you?

You dare stay out all night now, huh?

You’ve picked up bad habits.

Stop it.

Father is here.

Beat him.

Give him a good beating.

He needs to be taught a lesson.

You good-for-nothing!

You’d put my mind at rest

if you were half as capable as your brother.

My good daughter-in-law,

give him a good beating.

Hi. Sister-in-law,

you’re lecturing your husband again?

Brother.

Xiaotian.

Father, I’m home.

You’re finally home.

Yeah.

Have a good look at me.

He’s really back?

I told you he’s back, but you wouldn’t believe me.

Father, I came home to see you

a few days ago, actually.

But I disguised myself as my brother.

You didn’t notice it.

Um,

who’s…

Who’s this young lady?

Hello. Uncle Ye. Hello, Mrs. Ye.

Hello, Brother Ye. Hello, everyone.

Hello.

Wonderful.

Wonderful.

Miss Xia,

our place must be too small for your liking. Please excuse us.

Not at all.

It’s all right. Sister-in-law.

Xiaotian,

you should have told us

about your imprisonment.

You should know

that your family

share weal and woe with you readily.

Father,

I was afraid

that you’d be worried sick about me.

Xiaotian,

is your case closed now?

Yes, it’s settled.

Otherwise

my brother would be serving time

behind the bars in place of me,

even if I’d got out, right?

What a relief!

I’m so glad that it’s settled.

Alas, even the official circles could be perilous.

Xiaotian,

do you have any plans

for the future?

Father,

I’ve got a bunch of friends with me,

so I have to put up in the inn for the moment.

Our house is hardly big enough to accommodate us all.

Besides, since the Imperial Court

has issued my pardon,

I guess I’ll be reinstated in office very soon.

So I’m afraid I’ll have to go back to Hu County

when the reinstatement order comes.

All right.

But don’t worry, Father.

I’ll come and visit you from time to time.

Xiaotian,

what official position did you just say

Miss Xia’s father occupies?

It’s called… Minority Headman.

Is it a high position?

Yeah.

Is it a high position?

That’s a difficult question.

But he’s the ruler

of all the people in his jurisdiction.

As you see, even our Prime Minister

had to be appointed to that office,

but a Minority Headman is a local overlord,

and it’s hereditary.

His jurisdiction would remain his

despite a change of dynasty.

That sounds amazing.

I couldn’t stay in prison

last night,

because if I had done that,

I’d have lost

my beautiful girlfriend.

Yeah.

This girlfriend looks very pretty.

Oops, I mean

Miss Xia is beautiful.

She’s so pretty.

Uncle Xia, look,

here’s my gift for you.

Well, Mrs. Xia,

I bought this for you.

I didn’t know your preferences,

so I chose the most expensive one.

The most expensive one?

I’m sure I’ll love it.

What an excellent choice!

It’s too precious.

It’s so beautiful.

Help me with it, my dear. Come on.

Xiaotian,

this young lady is adorably candid and pure.

Father, how do I look?

You look beautiful.

Beautiful.

Very beautiful.

Brother Xiaotian,

I don’t want to go home.

Silly girl,

I know you don’t.

Look, it must have been embarrassing for your father,

as he was first warmly received by Royal Uncle Li

and then had to see him publicly disgraced.

But he flattered himself that I liked him.

Why would I have to indulge him?

OK.

Let’s leave Royal Uncle Li aside.

Your father dislikes me for now, right?

But after all,

he’s your father

and my future father-in-law.

So we can’t stand against him.

But I don’t want to go back.

Be a good girl and stay at home waiting for me.

I promise you I’ll go all out

to solve all my problems as soon as possible.

Oh, right.

I’ve talked to my father,

and he’s agreed to move

all the family to Hu County

as soon as I gain a firm foothold there.

Then we’ll be able

to stay together forever.

Then I’ll take you with me

whenever I go,

even if I’ve bored you to death.

All right.

Do come to see me when you’re free.

Wrong.

I will come to take you home.

Sister Ning’er.

Well.

I don’t know what to say

or what to do,

but I must thank you for everything you did for me.

It’s nothing.

Xiaotian and I are sworn buddies.

I’ve got to go.

Let’s go.

-Let’s go. -Let’s go.

Why did you buy all this stuff?

Are we visiting a grave?

What nonsense.!

Last time you asked me

to implore those rich young ladies

to grace your charity auction with their presence.

Why are you being a miser

and begrudging a few gifts for them?

I’m not being a miser.

I just think you should have asked

Luo Daheng to do this.

That chubby fellow

needs to lose a few pounds badly.

Was it Luo Daheng who turned to me for help last time?

It was you, OK?

You often call yourself a great buddy,

and now you’re whining about a trifle.

Isn’t that Xiaotian?

He’s got himself another girlfriend?

I’m impressed.

Xiaotian. Xiaotian.

Xiaotian.

Sister-in-law.

You’re doing grocery shopping?

Xiaotian, who is this young lady?

She’s Miss Zhan from the Minority Headman’s family in Shiqian.

A Minority Headman’s daughter?

Hello, Mrs. Ye.

Hello, Miss Zhan.

Sister-in-law,

it’s not what you’re thinking.

Our relationship isn’t of that nature.

I see.

It’s not of that nature,

but we can invite her home for tea, right?

Come with me, Miss Zhan.

Miss Zhan, come on.

What?

Are you tired?

Let’s go home for a cup of tea.

Sister-in-law,

what are we going home for?

For tea.

Miss Zhan,

have a seat, please.

You’re a Minority Headman’s daughter?

Our… Our place must be too small

for your liking.

Please excuse us.

Not at all.

Let me get you a cup of water.

Thank you, Mrs. Ye.

Miss Zhan,

a Minority Headman’s daughter.

Have some water, please.

Have some water, Miss Zhan.

Thank you, Mrs. Ye.

Are these gifts

for… for us?

Um, Mrs. Ye, they’re…

It’s so kind of you, Miss Zhan.

Don’t mention it.

Thank you.

What a generous young lady!

Um, son,

who’s this girl he brought home this time?

Is she a daughter

of some Minority Headman or local tyrant

he mentioned last time?

I saw her once when serving time

in prison in place of brother.

She showed up along with the girl we met the other day.

The situation seems…

A little complicated.

Miss Zhan,

when did you first meet Xiaotian?

I’ve known him

for quite some time now.

I first met him in Huangzhou.

Then I went to Hu County

and then to Tongren.

Then I returned to Hu County from Tongren, and we ran across each other again.

You ran across each other again?

It must be fate.

Fate.

Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?

Ning’er and I are good buddies

who went through thick and thin together.

Am I right, Ning’er?

Yes.

Good buddies.

See?

Good buddies are nice.

A Minority Headman’s daughter.

Good buddies are nice.

Have some water.

Miss Zhan,

your hairpin looks so pretty.

You mean this one?

No.

The one with a butterfly ornament on it.

Ning’er. Ning’er. Ning’er.

Sister-in-law,

you… you’ve already got one in your hair,

why would you want another one?

No, I was just saying…

It’s all right.

Miss Zhan’s hairpin is pretty, that’s all.

Please take it, Mrs. Ye.

You… You’re giving it to me?

Look, Xiaotian.

The Minority Headman’s daughter is so generous.

Thank you, Miss Zhan.

Miss Zhan, please help me with it.

I’d like to see if it suits me.

Come on.

How do I look?

Beautiful.

Xiaotian, how do I look?

It’s so pretty.

Come in, please.

Come in, please.

Listen to me.

As far as a woman is concerned,

marriage can be compared to rebirth.

To be reborn into a good family

is crucial, don’t you think?

Back in the old days, my wife

liked her cousin more than me.

So I beat my rival to it,

and married her.

She’s been living a happy life

over the years,

and she’s long forgotten her childhood sweetheart.

Miss Zhan,

while it’s hard for a man to court a woman,

a woman easily succeeds in wooing a man.

Sister Ning’er,

I don’t know what to say

or what to do,

but I must thank you for everything you did for me.

Ning’er and I

are good buddies who went through thick and thin together.

Am I right, Ning’er?

Yes.

Ning’er,

we’re good buddies,

right?

What are you doing here?

I’m sorry.

Well, that’s the way my sister-in-law is.

She’s… Philistine.

And she took your hairpin.

How much did it cost you?

I should compensate you for it.

Forget it. Forget it. Forget it.

I gave that hairpin

to Mrs. Ye willingly.

It looked good on her.

I seldom wore it, anyway.

It suits her, I think.

Why do you have

a man’s robe here?

No. Give it back to me.

Did you make this yourself?

You know how to do needlework?

Come on.

Let’s appreciate Miss Zhan’s work.

How is this robe… Wearable?

One half is for a grown-up,

and the other half is for a child.

It’s designed for a freak?

Give it back to me.

That’s your style.

-What are you doing? –Hold on.

Let me help you with it.

Where are you going?

I’ve brought uncle Dong for a change of clothes.

Uncle Dong seems weird to me,

experimenting with his bugs all day long.

I guess he’s related to spiders by blood.

Cut it out.

Ye Xiaotian, take it off immediately.

No, I won’t.

Take it off, will you?

No.

I’ll beat you if you don’t.

I won’t take it off. I won’t.

Take it off right now.

No, I won’t. No.

I’ll beat you if you don’t.

No, I won’t.

Well done, Zhan Ning’er.

Way to go, girl.

Is she going to throw herself at him?

Um,

should we make ourselves scarce?

Why would we do that?

Take a look, guys.

This…this is a robe Miss Zhan made.

Ye Xiaotian,

are you taking it off or not?

I’ll take it off when I finish laughing.

I’m breaking with you.

I’m… I’m taking it off, all right?

Why is she mad at me?

Brother, she’s a woman.

Try buttering her up.

Come on. Try it on.

Give it to me.

Why would I butter her up?

I’m off.

Brother.

We came to the Capital City

with a plan to break into the jail

and rescue Ye Xiaotian.

Who’d have thought

we’d open a shop here instead?

Brother,

the Cabinet Grand Secretary will succumb to his illness,

the political situation is changing.

Yeah.

Who cares about a dying Prime Minister

when the Minister of War has come forward?

And Ye Xiaotian’s case has concluded

without a conclusion.

So

Ye Xiaotian will soon return to Hu County?

Let’s hurry back to Hu County.

What’s the hurry, Brother?

We should tell Xu Boyi

to make preparations.

Your Highness,

the amnesty has been issued.

Luckily, we notified them beforehand,

otherwise Ye Xiaotian would be

reinstated in office and be back

in Hu County in a few days.

Did the Ministry of Personnel

consent to our request

to hold Ye Xiaotian back in the Capital City?

How would they say no to the appointment

of a lowly Judicial Clerk?

I take it

that Ye Xiaotian is going to stay in the Capital City.

We’ve got plenty of ways to deal with him

as long as he stays in the Capital City.

Great.

Then I shall watch him fall in front of me.

Brother,

you’ve been pardoned,

so why don’t you spend a few more days with your family?

Uncle Ye misses you a lot, I can tell you.

I was born and raised together with my brother,

and now I’m not doing well…

My brother …

I don’t want to displease my sister-in-law.

Brother,

I think you overthought this.

Anyway, in my eyes

Brother’s brother is also my brother,

right?

May I ask if Lord Ye, Ye Xiaotian

the Judicial Clerk of Hu County, is here?

I’m Ye Xiaotian. What’s the matter?

This is a document issued by the Ministry of Personnel. Please accept it.

Well, they were so efficient.

No sooner had my father spoken up for you

than this letter of appointment arrived.

Managerial Officer of the Ministry of Personnel.

What official position is that?

There are so many posts in each department and yamen,

I don’t know which rank this post is.

What does the letter of appointment say?

It says it’s a lateral transfer.

It sounds fishy.

The Capital City is no ordinary place.

Local officials

would scramble for a position

two ranks,

no,

three ranks lower than their original position

to hold office here.

Yeah.

Why did they ask you to take office in the Capital City?

To which dignitary do you owe this favor?

I can’t find my enemy, my love

or my future here.

I’ve got to go back to Hu County.