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♪Wearing peach blossom makeup, I boil tea over the stove♪

♪With a pure heart, I embroider the brocade of time♪

♪On the short paper, affection flows in the silent moonlight♪

♪I only wish that by my side, is my love♪

♪Cool autumn wind blowing, I gaze far leaning against the railing♪

♪Sunset glow over the green hill, in formation wild geese are flying♪

♪Covering a thousand miles on horseback, for whom is he longing♪

♪He returned home in dreams♪

♪I will never forget that you held my hands♪

♪In your warm palms and we braved winds and waves♪

♪Unexpectedly, after we traveled so far and turned grey-haired♪

♪I am still by your side♪

♪Hearts burning, we look into each other's eyes♪

♪Feelings overflowing, they don't need to be hided♪

♪No matter how time passes and life changes♪

♪Together, we will grow old♪

=The Sword and the Brocade=

=Episode 1=

(Residence of Luo)

Your Ladyship.

Shiyi is just a kid.

She knows nothing.

(Concubine Lv) She didn't mean to break

Yuanniang's hairpin.

-Mother. -Please spare Shiyi.

Your Ladyship.

She really didn't mean to break

Yuanniang's hairpin.

Your Ladyship.

She didn't mean to do that.

Please spare Shiyi, Your Ladyship.

Spare Shiyi, please.

Shiyi.

Shiyi.

Shiyi.

I'm begging you.

Just apologize, won't you?

Apologize to Her Ladyship.

Will you please do that?

Shiyi.

Stop the flogging, please.

(Madam Luo)

Yuanniang is the daughter of Lord Luo's wife.

Shiyi is the daughter of Lord Luo's concubine.

They are of different status.

The younger ones must respect the elder ones.

That's the rule.

Mother.

Mother.

Mother.

Mother.

(Luo Shiyi)

What's wrong?

What's the matter, Shiyi?

Mother.

Did you have a nightmare?

It's alright. It's alright.

You're fine.

I'm with you.

Don't be afraid.

We need to hurry up with our journey tomorrow.

Sleep early.

Come on.

You're getting more and more proficient.

Master Jian

has not wasted her energy training you.

Do you remember this?

It's the first piece of embroidery

you made and gave me three years ago

when you just learned how to embroider.

I've been carrying it with me all this time.

Years have passed

in the blink of an eye.

Mother, when I've finished this piece of embroidery,

you'll have something new to carry with you.

Alright.

The Luo Family has been ignoring us

over the past three years.

It doesn't even pay us the monthly sum sometimes.

If Lady Shiyi hadn't been selling her embroidery works,

we would have starved to death

in Yuhang.

On a side note,

Her Ladyship has summoned us

back to the capital out of the blue.

I wonder what kind of fortune awaits us.

Mother, don't worry.

I won't let you suffer anymore.

My Lord.

Proper arrangements have been made at Yunlai Inn.

My Lord.

Will those two fugitives

really go there?

That place is a secret lair of the Fujian pirates.

Jiang Huai and Liu Yong

intend to flee to Fujian.

They need help from Yunlai Inn.

Forgive us for our dereliction of duty.

What's done is done.

Pointing fingers is useless at this stage.

Now we must capture the fugitives

and take them to the capital

as soon as possible.

Yes.

It's getting late.

Dongqing.

Let's find an inn and settle down for the night.

Take a look. Take a look.

(Xu Lingyi)

(Yunlai Inn)

Welcome.

Come in, please.

Be careful.

Tea is here.

What would you like to have?

(Lin Bo)

Crap.

That's their code word.

New guests have arrived.

Miss,

our inn is full.

You can move ahead

and find another inn a street away.

Please move ahead.

But you have an empty table there.

Madam, let's go there.

Mother.

It's getting late.

Let's find another inn to spend the night.

But...

How about...

What are you doing?!

Jiang Huai, let her go

or you will die.

Interesting.

You, the government force, will subject us

to a fate crueler than death if you capture us.

Let us go

or we'll kill her

right now.

Let her go.

Let her go.

Shiyi.

Shiyi.

My Lady.

Chief. Let's ride the horses.

Cross the bridge.

Shiyi.

Be careful.

My Lady.

My Lord.

My Lord.

Come on.

-Shiyi. -My Lady.

Shiyi.

Shiyi.

Move.

Chief, what should we do now?

Tell them to get out of our way,

or I'll kill her

right now.

-Shiyi. -My Lady.

My Lady.

My Lady.

Watch out, My Lady.

Don't injure her.

Capture them.

Hurry up and capture them.

Young Master, something seems to have happened.

Young Master, someone has fallen into the water.

I'll go help.

Young Master.

Shiyi.

You got us so worried.

Shiyi.

(Dongqing) My Lady, you're finally awake.

How are you feeling?

I'm alright.

Be careful.

Where am I?

You're in the inn.

Thank goodness, a kind young man

saved you earlier.

Because you tried to save me,

you were held hostage by the criminals.

If you were

killed,

I'd lose the will to live.

Mother, it's over now.

Rest at ease.

I wonder what kind of official

that man is.

I've never seen

an official act with such a disregard for human life.

They released the arrows

when you were

still held hostage by the criminals.

If that arrow

had hit a little off the mark,

you would be...

That man is cold and ruthless.

But if he hadn't acted with decisiveness,

I wouldn't have come through.

Alright. Alright.

Drink the ginger soup now.

Warm yourself up.

I failed to protect the innocent hostage

and almost injured her.

If you hadn't arrived in time,

I'd have made a grave mistake.

It was not entirely your fault.

But

why didn't you let me

explain the situation to them?

You got injured

for saving her,

yet they only remember the arrow you shot.

You're getting blamed wrongly.

They were endangered and frightened

because we failed to carry out the operation.

It's fortunate enough

that they are safe.

My Lord,

the other pirate Liu Yong

escaped amid the chaos.

We haven't

found him yet.

Pass my order to the nearby county governments:

assist us in searching for the pirate.

Yes, My Lord.

Don't worry, My Lord.

Liu Yong won't get away.

You and I both know

he'll be brought to justice

sooner or later.

But capturing him

is not our ultimate goal.

My Lady,

that's the young man who saved you.

(So he rescued me)

(from the water.)

I am Luo Shiyi.

Thank you for saving my life.

No worries.

Actually, someone else

rescued you that day.

I simply lent a hand.

In any case,

I should thank you.

May I know your name?

(Lin Shixian)

I am Lin Shixian.

Mr. Lin.

With the water you inhaled,

be sure to have enough rest.

Young Master.

It's getting late.

We should take to the road.

Take care, Lady Luo.

See you around.

(The Capital)

(Auspicious Abundance)

Remember to come again.

Her Ladyship ordered me

to pick you up here.

Thank you, Nanny Xu.

(Xianling Pavilion)

Mother.

We've arrived at Xianling Pavilion.

I want to see my teacher first.

I don't know when I'll get to come out

and visit her

if I miss this opportunity.

Shiyi.

I know you two feel a deep attachment to each other.

But we just came to the capital,

we should be cautious.

Don't give people any excuse to condemn us.

It's alright.

Nanny Xu,

can we stop at Xianling Pavilion?

I want to see my teacher.

But...

Right. Please, come back soon.

Her Ladyship is waiting for you at home.

This riverside embroidery painting

had been pre-ordered.

(Master Jian) If you like it,

please give me a couple of days

to make an exact copy.

(Delicate Meticulousness)

I want this one.

I want that new one too.

(Wang Yu)

Master Jian,

you are something of a beauty.

How about you

take your embroidery works and come home with me?

I'll keep you company while you embroider.

Please respect yourself.

So you prefer the rough treatment.

Take her home along with the paintings.

Yes.

How dare you!

Stop.

Shi...

Master Jian.

Our Madam Luo sent me here to ask you

whether the riverside embroidery painting

she ordered has been completed.

Of course it has been completed.

I said

that painting is mine.

Come to the Wang Family's property for it

if you dare.

Our Madam Xu might not

be able to visit you,

but Sir, the Marquis will

if you don't mind.

You've got a sharp tongue.

For what family do you work?

Listen up.

My lord is Xu Lingyi,

Marquis Yongping.

Marquis Yongping?

That carriage

is the Luo Family's carriage.

The eldest lady of the Luo Family

is the wife of Marquis Yongping.

I'm sure

you know that.

Sir,

the carriage outside does belong to the Luo Family.

I don't need you to remind me.

Master Jian,

I'm letting you off

not because I'm scared of Xu Lingyi.

I just don't want

to lower myself to a fighter's level.

We'll settle this another day.

Shiyi.

Teacher.

Shiyi.

I haven't seen you in a long time.

Take a seat.

Teacher,

who was that?

He acted in such conceit.

That was Wang Yu, the heir of Duke Mao.

He is infamous for his debauchery in the capital.

If his family hadn't gone downhill,

he might have done something worse.

His family was bound to go downhill

with a degenerate like him.

Why did you

suddenly come back?

Her Ladyship has summoned us

back to the capital out of the blue

without telling us why.

I feel somewhat uneasy.

Now that I think about it,

you've reached the age of fifteen.

Madam Luo

probably wants to arrange

a marriage for you.

She has always seen me and my mother

as thorns in her flesh.

She'd never arrange a good marriage for me.

Besides,

I've seen too much

deception in the Luo Family.

It makes me unwilling to get married.

I wish to stay single

and free

like you.

Silly girl,

you are not aware of the pain

behind my freedom.

Remember,

don't rush to make any decision.

I don't care if my future is bright

or full of dangers and difficulties,

I won't regret

my choices.

Well-said.

No matter what you do,

I will do my best

to support you.

Teacher,

I know life in the capital

won't be easy.

I'm already hard up

and I'll need money to spend in the future.

Would you sell my embroidery works

for me,

so I could make ends meet?

No problem.

Just bring the embroidery works

here for me to sell.

Thank you.

(Residence of Luo)

(Residence of Luo)

I pay my respects to you, Your Ladyship.

You look fine.

The beautiful landscape of Yuhang

suited you better as I expected.

Thank you for your kindness.

Your Ladyship, look,

only three years have passed

and Shiyi

has grown

prettier

and demurer.

(Concubine Yang) She probably won't trouble you

as much as she once did.

Mother,

I have kept your teachings in mind

over the past three years.

Now that I have returned,

I'll talk and act cautiously

and not let you down.

You really have become more prudent.

Get up.

-Thank you, Your Ladyship. -Thank you, Mother.

I heard that you

ran into criminals on your way here.

Did you get hurt?

Thank you for your concern.

We just got a scare.

Amber,

pack your stuff

and start serving Lady Shiyi

from now on.

(Amber)

You have too few

handmaids.

Yes.

Mother, that won't do.

Amber is your capable assistant.

Who will serve you

if she starts serving me?

His lordship is back.

I pay my respects to you, My Lord.

Qingtong.

(Lord Luo)

You're back.

Yes, My Lord.

My Lord.

I pay my respects to you, father.

How was your journey?

Thank you for your concern.

We had a small incident on the way and got a scare,

but we came through, thankfully.

Good. Good.

Have you got a place to stay?

If you need anything,

tell your mother.

Don't worry, My Lord.

I have made arrangements.

I have also sent Amber

to serve her.

Great.

Tell the kitchen staffs to prepare a slew of seasonal dishes

for the welcome dinner for Shiyi and the others.

-Thank you, father. -Thank you, My Lord.

The long journey must have exhausted them.

Let them go and rest.

You're dismissed.

Yes.

My Lord.

What happened?

My teacher argued with

Grand Secretary Chen about tea taxes.

In a rage, he asked to resign

and His Majesty approved.

What?

That's shocking news.

Does it mean

you won't be reinstated?

Don't worry too much.

Marquis Yongping has come back to the capital.

His elimination of the bandits is a feat.

I don't think the court

will try too hard to stop me

from getting my position back.

Good.

The furnishings in this room

are so nice.

My Lady,

is this table

made of rosewood?

Has Her Ladyship turned?

Watch your mouth.

Dongqing is right.

It seems the reason behind

the summoning is not simple.

Greetings, Madam.

Hello, Lady Erniang.

Hello, Lady Wuniang.

Let me make tea for you.

Sister Erniang, sister Wuniang.

Shiyi.

We haven't seen you in a long time.

The furnishings in your room

are much fancier

than those in our rooms.

I envy you so much.

It's not worth your envy.

(Luo Erniang) Mother picked a good man

(Luo Erniang) for you to marry.

That's enviable.

Congratulations

on your desirable marriage.

I wonder

who this

lucky man is.

You're too kind.

(Luo Wuniang) He is not high-born.

He is our eldest brother's schoolmate at the Imperial College.

But he is modest and gentle.

He treats me well.

Shiyi,

just be obedient

and this family

will find you a good man too.

Understood?

Your room

may have new furnishings,

but it lacks an air of elegance.

I created a calligraphic work for you.

Let Dongqing hang it up.

(Reeds on the walls, bamboo shoots in the mountains)

Thank you for thinking of me.

And thank you for this gift.

You have traveled a long way.

Rest early.

Don't forget

to pay your respects to mother tomorrow.

Yes.

I'll get going.

My Lady,

she was so pompous,

as if her status

was second only

to that of Her Ladyship's.

Alright.

Don't lower yourself to her level.

I just can't stand

her smugness.

My Lady,

what do these words mean?

Top-heavy and uncultivated

like the reeds on the wall.

Sharp-tongued, thick-skinned and hollow

like the bamboo shoots in the mountains.

Dammit.

I knew she meant ill.

I'm going to burn it

and piss her off.

Alright.

Don't be mad.

Hurry up and put this away.

Don't give people any excuse to condemn us.

Where are they?

They left?

What's the matter, Shiyi?

Erniang wasn't exactly close to me

the last time I lived here.

But she'd never been arrogant

and relentless toward me

like she was today.

Have we been summoned back

because something abnormal?

I'll find out the answer tomorrow

when I pay my respects.

Otherwise, we'll miss the best opportunities

and come under other people's control.

Your Ladyship.

Which hairpin would you like to wear today?

This one.

Your Ladyship.

The ladies have come

to pay their respects to you.

Her Ladyship is being groomed.

Tell the ladies to wait for a while.

Let them in.

Yes.

I pay my respects to you, mother.

You came at a good time.

I'm torn between the hairpins.

Which one should I wear today?

Erniang,

I have faith in your taste.

Pick a hairpin for me.

Mother,

you've been treating me with kindness

and letting me learn the skills of embroidery.

It's time for me to serve you.

Let me help you pick a hairpin.

Mother,

Shiyi has been away from you

in the past few years.

She doesn't know your preferences.

Your skin is fair and smooth

and your hair is silky and shiny.

Gorgeous bright-colored accessories

suit you the best.

This hairpin with gold wires, eight gems and pearls

does the best job at highlighting

your dignified and graceful beauty.

Shiyi,

what do you think?

The hairstyle you sport today

seems to match the velvet peony

more than anything.

The velvet peony

can flatter your nobility and elegance better.

What do you think?

Good. Good.

You know me the best.

I love it.

But I'm not

as young as you.

The peony looks gaudy on me.

No way.

You are the peony.

We are just the flower buds

around you.

We grew up

under your care.

Therefore,

this peony suits you the best.

You're so thoughtful.

Alright.

I'll wear it then.

Yes.

You're in your prime

and you look gorgeous.

The peony

suits you the best.

Since you see yourselves

as flower buds,

I'll take you out

for some sunlight

and to expand your horizons.

Come with me to the Xu Family's spring banquet

on the third day of March.

-Yes. -Yes.

Alright. I'm tired.

You're dismissed.

-Yes. -Yes.

Shiyi,

you've grown much wittier

over the past three years.

You've been back for less than a day

and you've already pleased Mother.

She's even decided to take you

to our brother-in-law's spring banquet.

Because she is kind enough

to expand

our horizons.

Yeah.

Mother has not only a kind heart,

but also good judgment.

She can see right through

those who

harbor despicable thoughts.

I suggest somebody should

grow some awareness of their humble status,

before fawning on their superiors.

You can't have both prizes.

Insatiable greed is most unwanted.

Enough with your sarcasm.

What exactly do you mean?

I'm sure Shiyi knows

what I mean.

You want to compete with me?

You don't have what it takes.

I suggest

you lay low

and wait for a good marriage.

What did she mean?

She was talking in riddles.

She even mentioned marriage.

Has your marriage

been arranged already?

Does she know something?

The important thing is to visit our eldest sister.

I need to get back and prepare myself.

You should

prepare yourself too.

Yes.

My Lady.

You told me

not to lower myself to her level.

Why did you do the opposite?

Silly girl,

if I hadn't done that,

Erniang wouldn't have

given away so much information.

So

you irritated her on purpose.

Erniang is Her Ladyship's favorite daughter.

She is definitely the most well-informed person.

We needed to make her

come forward with information

instead of throwing questions

at her aimlessly.

But what did she reveal today?

I didn't understand anything she said.

Her Ladyship summoned me back

to arrange my marriage

and Erniang's marriage.

Marriage?

Who will you marry?

She meant "two men" by "two prizes".

She despises one of them,

whom she thinks

as a match for me perfectly.

She eagerly wants the other one

and is determined to marry him.

Because he is of higher social status,

she fears

I may compete with her.

It seems

the man arranged for you

is very undesirable.

After Her Ladyship said

she'd take us to the Xu Family,

Erniang couldn't help herself.

The Xu Family's spring banquet

must be the key.

Vested with authority by heaven,

the emperor has issued an edict:

The empire rewards anyone

who performed great feats.

Xu Lingyi, Marquis Yongping

and the Grand General of Westward Conquest,

has eliminated bandits, quelled riots,

shown his loyalty and performed a great feat.

He has proven to be a competent official.

(Imperial Edict) He will be rewarded with the title of

(Imperial Edict) Imperial Tutor of the Second Standard Rank.

Respect this edict.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Grand Secretary,

Marquis Yongping's elimination of the pirates

is a great feat indeed.

But he failed to guard the leaders of the pirates

and let them run away.

He allowed them to regain freedom,

(Marquis Jingyuan) which spells trouble in the future.

That incident has nothing to do with Marquis Yongping.

I was the one...

Grand Secretary,

it was true.

Because I didn't guard

the leaders Jiang Huai

and Liu Yong well,

they fled.

But we've recaptured Jiang Huai

and sent troops after the other leader.

We won't let Liu Yong get away.

Although

most of the pirates have been eliminated,

riots may occur again

(Grand Secretary Chen) because the leader is still alive.

The sea ban is the reason

that the pirates have been difficult

to wipe out.

Marquis Jingyuan, have you got any great opinions?

Grand Secretary,

we didn't come here

for this kind

of groundless cliché.

Marquis Jingyuan,

when you said "groundless",

you were either being one-sided

or confusing right with wrong.

(Mansion of Xu)

His Lordship is back.

(Great Madam Xu)

My son.

I pay my respects to you, Mother.

My son.

Spare the formality.

Let me get a good look at you.

I've been on a Buddhist diet

and prayed to the Buddha every day in the past year.

Now you have finally come home.

Lingyi,

do you know

how much we missed you?

Look what you have done.

The first thing you did upon your return was entering the palace

(Xu Lingkuan) and reporting on your mission, not coming home.

Because I went on an expedition on His Majesty's order,

I must report on my mission upon my return to the capital

before coming home.

You've made no progress, incompetent boy.

Lingyi.

What made you reproach him when you just came home?

Lingkuan has been well-behaved at home.

He caused no trouble.

Yizhen.

Mother. Where is my wife?

Yuanniang...

Yuanniang has become

even sicker recently.

You should go

and check on her.

I'll go right away.

Yes.

(Luo Yuanniang)

My Lord.

I pay my respects to you.

You're ill.

You can skip the formality.

Zhun.

You cried for your father

just now.

Now your father is back.

Greet him.

(Xu Sizhun)

Father.

Let me take a look at you.

Concubine Wen and Concubine Qin are here.

I pay my respects to you, Your Lordship and Your Ladyship.

(Xu Siyu) I pay my respects to you, Father.

Spare the formality.

Take a seat.

When you were away,

I was...

(Concubine Wen)

Yu

studied even harder than before.

Even the teacher commended Yu

for his good writing.

Good.

Zhun studied hard too.

Zhun, go up.

Zhun.

How well did you do at school in the past year?

Have you made any progress?

Zhun.

Recite a paragraph to your father.

My Lord.

Zhun is still young.

He is feeling a little shy

around so many people.

My Lord,

you have performed another great feat.

Has His Majesty rewarded you

with anything other than the title of Imperial Tutor?

When His Majesty

proposed to confer one more title of nobility on me, I turned him down.

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

♪In the cold darkness of midnight, a sigh is heard♪

♪Who picked up the paintbrush to draw loneliness♪

♪In my life, I can draw everything, but lovesickness♪

♪The mountain city is waiting for rain♪

♪I am waiting for you to pass in my memory♪

♪The sky is in a more lonely color than your face♪

♪The wind rises and the candle light flickers♪

♪The thin clothes can't stand the cold days♪

♪Full of twists and turns, fate is untold♪

♪I ground my thoughts into ink♪

♪But I still can't sketch your contours♪

♪How could the ink and paper exhaust our stories♪

♪Who picked up the pen to disturb the heart♪

♪Who visited to remind me of the past♪

♪If feelings can be kept in mind, but cannot be confessed♪

♪I won't escape from whatever end♪

♪In the dim lantern light, with you there is me♪

♪Who picked up the pen to set free lonely tears♪

♪Whoever visited my life, only you stayed all the days♪

♪If the moth doesn't fly into the fire♪

♪How can it be said to be persistent♪

♪Coming to the end of your story, there is me♪