Original subtitles

"The Killing of Three Thousand Crows"

"Episode 1"

Jiu Yun.

Why did you drag me into your painting again?

I'm tipsy.

What are these?

The peach blossoms fall like arrows with the Eastern wind.

The drums are played.

The snowy field is deserted.

Bodies litter around the field.

Their blood flows into a river.

Anger and grievances fill the land.

This is not your painting.

You're right.

My master left this for me.

I've looked at it for a thousand years.

I can't comprehend it.

People killing people,

it's very common in the human realm.

There's nothing special.

Yesterday,

I saw her in the human realm.

This girl?

A thousand years.

I waited a thousand years for this.

The living beings have been protected for eight centuries.

The celestial senses honed by mastering the six skills.

Above the clouds, a good life awaits.

Master, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

The Paper mystic arts,

they're the secret arts...

of Li's royalty.

My princess,

you've learned it for one year already.

Yet you still couldn't master it?

Master.

if I learned them within a year,

everyone can master our secret arts too, right?

You're unreasonable.

If you can't create 10 paper cranes today,

you won't get to leave.

You can't do that.

-You! -For this art,

we have to follow our own heart.

We create whenever we get inspirations.

If you put a rule on that, it will be boring.

And it will ruin the art itself, am I right?

-You! -Okay!

I'll be serious now.

Fine. Do it seriously.

It's not that hard.

It's just a crane.

I quit!

You would've thought you were great if I didn't show you this!

-Princess! -Ah Man, I'm going for a walk.

What's wrong? Did he punish you again?

It's all because Xuan Zhu is coming.

I'm disheartened.

And I can't create the cranes.

You look angry.

Let me show you something good.

This painting,

you can't get it even though you're willing to spend...

a thousand tael on it.

It's not bad.

But I don't think it's worth the price.

Look carefully.

How is it?

Is it worth the price?

Second Brother, where did you get this?

Two days ago, I went...

I went to the museum.

Master Qi won't fancy any of you!

Stop dreaming!

Master Qi.

I heard that he's the most handsome man around.

He's an expert in painting too.

He utilises mystic arts in his paintings.

People will go crazy for his paintings because of it.

But to me, although he's really talented,

he's arrogant.

He said that of all his abilities,

he's the best in music. He's second best at courting ladies.

After that, it's painting.

He ranked his mystic arts at number four.

He even said this.

He said no women in the world can resist his charm.

He said those words?

So, it seems that we can't judge...

a person's character from his painting.

Even though his paintings were good,

he may be the opposite.

He's not as bad as you think.

This Master Qi,

he's really handsome and talented.

Since he said that...

he's second best at courting ladies,

he must be a god in music then.

He wrote the Eastern Peach Blossom Song.

No. I mean he wrote half of it.

-Half of it? -Yeah.

And he dares to say he's the best in music?

Yeah. He wrote half the song.

He laments that...

no dancer in the world can match the song he wrote.

As for the second half, he didn't write it yet.

He said no one in the world can convince him to write the second half.

Isn't he too arrogant?

Second Brother, tell him this message.

Ask him to finish the song fast.

Because someone is going to dance to his song.

Are you the one dancing?

Listen,

if you embarrass yourself, I won't help you.

Everyone will laugh at you.

I will definitely keep my words.

It's no wonder you're the princess of Li.

Okay. I'll get the music score.

But,

you need to promise me one thing.

Sister, let me remind you.

When you see our aunt, you must be polite.

This concerns our etiquette as the royal family.

She almost became the queen, right?

Now, she comes here whenever she feels like it.

She said she's here to visit us. But nobody knows her real motives.

It's our mother's 40th birthday. Everyone knows about it.

She's just jealous of her.

Aunt.

Greetings, my lords.

I missed you guys so much.

Greetings, Aunt.

Greetings, Aunt.

Greetings, Second Prince.

Princess.

Sister Xuan Zhu.

Sister Xuan Zhu, you're too courteous.

How's your trip?

It's great.

It's because you guys are here.

My fatigue disappeared when I see you two.

Yan Yan, it's only been a few months.

You became more beautiful.

Sister Xuan Zhu is much more beautiful.

She's truly the most beautiful woman in your house.

She's just the daughter of a duke.

She can't compare with you, the princess of Li.

I heard that Sister Xuan Zhu became the apprentice of a sage.

Can you show me some powerful mystic arts?

My master taught me this.

We must hone our personality when we learn mystic arts.

I can only reveal my skills...

when I've mastered them.

But I heard that it's hard to be a sage.

Sister,

you're one of our princesses too.

You'll embarrass yourself,

if you didn't learn anything from it.

I can withstand that.

I can surely create something better than frogs or cranes.

Xuan Zhu.

My aunt,

I still have some homework to do.

I can't delay them.

I'll leave now.

You should stay here.

And chat with our aunt and Sister Xuan Zhu.

Of course.

Leave now.

Go and send her off.

Yes.

Sister Xuan Zhu,

I want to give you something.

You can wipe your sweat with it.

Do you want to take everything that belongs to me?

-You! -What?

It's rightfully mine.

Princess.

Princess Xuan Zhu.

Zuo Zi Chen.

You do care about Sister Xuan Zhu.

She's just here for a moment.

Yet you're here to visit her already.

You're really considerate.

Princess, I'm here by my sick father's order.

I'm here to see Madam Qiu Hua and Princess Xuan Zhu.

Is that so?

You can go then.

Tian Yuan,

they took over the three nations in their vicinity.

They've been training their soldiers.

Clearly,

it shows that they want to invade Li.

They serve the demons and they excel in demonic arts.

I'm really worried about our soldiers at the borderside.

Chancellor Zuo and Su Xian Shan have good ties.

Does he have any suggestions?

He?

He sent me a letter yesterday.

He said he's old and weak now.

He said he can't serve me anymore.

Clearly, he wants to quit.

This is unlike him.

That's why,

I'll go and visit him in his manor.

This is the complete score of Master Qi's...

Eastern Peach Blossom Song.

Second Brother, you're the best.

Listen,

if you can't dance well, I can't help you.

Do you know how long I've begged him for this?

Okay, I understand.

Master Qi said this as well.

If you can dance to this,

he'll draw a painting for you with his best abilities.

But if you can't do it,

he'll tell the people that...

the princess of Li thinks too much of herself.

This is too hard.

Yan Yan?

You caught me again.

Why are you here?

My father came here for a secret visit.

Where are you going?

His Majesty is here. I need to greet him.

No.

It's a secret visit. He doesn't want anyone to know.

Your father will meet him. You will stay here with me.

I still have something I need to ask of you.

You can't escape.

This is...

You're good in all of the six arts.

That's why, I brought this here to test you.

A master must've written this.

It's my first time seeing such a complex rhythm.

Of course.

Where did you get it?

From the palace.

It's no wonder.

I think...

we can only find this in places such as the palace.

Here. I'm perplexed.

How can I play this section with the lute?

The writer is very intelligent.

He knows how to hide the details.

Maybe it's not that hard to play this part.

Do you have the solution then?

Just do it the opposite way.

How are you so smart?

You managed to solve this problem in no time at all.

But,

although the song is grand and complex,

it's quite violent as well.

Both the performers and the listeners will feel depressed.

Especially in the second half.

It seems to show that life is vanishing.

That's not suitable then.

A birthday is a joyous occasion.

Joyous occasion?

Just change it then.

Yeah! Why am I so dumb?

Zi Chen,

I knew you were the best in music.

Music is just for entertainment.

It doesn't matter even if I'm the best.

What are you looking at?

How is it?

-Great! -Is that true?

By the way,

look at this.

I took this from the palace.

It's a high-quality white jade.

And I asked the best blacksmith in Li...

to make this hairpin for you.

It's made for you.

Let me put it on for you.

It's great.

Yan Yan.

Zi Chen.

Father.

Who was in the room just now?

It's...

the princess.

Do you know...

who came to our house too?

It's His Majesty and Second Prince.

Do you know why they're here?

They want you to return to the court?

You know everything.

So, Father, did you agree?

Her Majesty's birthday is coming.

I can't go. I'm still sick.

Go on behalf of me.

Father, you're not returning to the court?

But His Majesty came to our house.

Must I agree? Even if he comes to my house?

But now, the court is in trouble. And the enemies are approaching.

Father, are you really leaving your position?

You're trying to reprimand me now?

You want to order me around?

Or are you trying to control our future?

I don't dare to do so!

That's for the best.

Princess.

Why are you so happy?

Is it because of Master Zuo?

Yeah.

Come. Lie down with me.

Ah Man,

will he marry me?

Of course.

One day,

Master Zuo will come here with his magnificent stead.

Wearing his magnificent helmet.

He'll see the flowers of Li.

And he'll come here to marry you.

You know how to please me.

Master Qi.

Not just dancing,

I can prove to you that our Zi Chen is the best in music too.

A beauty disguised as a man.

Hideous.

Don't forget our promise.

Master Qi, just you wait.

I'll win this time!

It's been months since Chancellor Zuo turned down visitors.

Will he come today?

I don't think so.

His Majesty went to his manor already.

He wants him to return to the court.

But when he met Chancellor Zuo,

he was gravely ill.

He can't even stand.

It's that serious?

I thought they said he was pretending to be sick?

Actually, he knows that His Majesty doesn't like his dominance.

That's why he quit.

His Majesty!

Long live His Majesty!

Her Majesty!

Long live Her Majesty!

Princess, today is Her Majesty's birthday.

You must be the most beautiful woman in Li.

Does this look good?

Isn't this a bit plain?

It's nice.

Try this.

"Li's Defence Plan"

Can we enter like this?

Will we get caught?

Excuse me.

Lord Mei.

Lord Jiu.

You guys are like a flood.

You will rush in from the Ziwu Highland.

The strongholds in Li,

they're weak before us.

Today, I will enter battle on behalf of my master.

Our army will take down the cities of Li.

And crush them!

Crush Li! We will be victorious!

Crush Li! We will be victorious!

Crush Li! We will be victorious!

Crush Li! We will be victorious!

The feast starts now.

This...

Is she our Yan Yan?

It's slow and steady.

The tones are just right. And the rhythm is appropriate.

Great song.

Looks like you're going to lose your bet this time.

She changed my song!

Lord Jiu.

Calm down.

-We will be caught, you know? -She changed my song!

Calm down.

Here.

Lord Jiu.

Jiu Yun, are we not eating?

You can eat on your own.

This is unexpected.

You're more prideful than me?

Don't put us in the same league.

Yeah.

I'm different from you.

Xin Mei and I loved each other.

I just didn't expect her family to arrange a wedding for her.

Besides,

I thought you always told me that the three realms are different?

Sages are different from humans. We mustn't meddle with their affairs.

You told me that, didn't you?

So, why are you furious over a clueless girl?

Why are you allowing her to jeopardize you?

I just think that...

the wine sucks.

So, let's drink at a different place.

We'll drown our sorrows.

Let's go.

Let's go. If you want the most authentic wine,

Ambergris from the West is the best.

That wine,

it's amazing.

You'll be drunk in a minute.

Senior?

Master Qi.

The princess is still young.

You should stop now.

You are a sage.

You shouldn't meddle with human affairs.

Please stop now.

What if I want to interfere?

Her fate was decided from the start.

That is, if you don't interfere.

You're thinking too much.

I just thought she was interesting.

I want to have some fun.

I heard this from Mei Shan.

Since you knew her life is going to end,

you should let fate do its thing.

Please don't interfere.

If you still insist on interfering,

and you go against fate,

you'll be affected too.

Yeah. That's what we're supposed to do.

I told him already. He's stubborn.

Look at him. He made himself unhappy.

If so, mister,

please give her this.

From now on,

I won't meddle with her affairs.

Jiu...

Goodbye.

Jiu Yun.

It's Her Majesty's birthday.

But we only got two buns.

Just eat them.

We need to patrol after that.

Li, I'm coming.

Princess, you're awake.

Ah Man.

What is that?

I found this by the door this morning.

It's a painting and a note.

This Master Qi came here in secret again.

What?

Princess!

Look!

Princess, did you see that?

I saw it. Calm down.

Ah Man, I'll leave the palace by myself.

I want to find Zi Chen.

I'll give him this painting.

This...

I don't think you should do that.

Remember to draw a lot for me in the temple.

Father, what are you wishing for?

Fame.

Fame?

It's for you.

I understand.

But I think I should wish for your good health.

Father.

Okay.

You're filial.

I'm healthy.

Go now. Return in haste.

Yes.

Be careful.

Yes.

Go now.

Close the door. Lock it.

Close the door.

Hurry up.

Jiu Yun,

are you sure she is the woman in the painting?

She's a princess.

She's quite lucky.

She's not as unlucky as the woman in the painting.

My senior has made it clear for you.

You shouldn't meddle with human affairs.

Their fate has been decided.

It's fated.

You,

stop thinking about the woman already.

I don't think there's anything special.

It's just a normal painting.

Mei Shan,

you still have time to care about me?

Why don't you look at your face?

Look at your face,

I'm sure Xin Mei's lover did this.

I just didn't want to fight unfairly.

-I know the rules. Yeah.

-It's a fair fight. Yeah.

-I didn't use any mystic arts. -You're right.

If not, even 10,000 mortals can't beat me in a fight.

Unlike you,

you made a bet with the mortals.

You disgrace us.

Master Qi is the one losing.

I'm not the loser.

Sure. You can just lie to yourself.

-Does it still hurt? Huh? -It hurts!