Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available.]

Buried City to Shut All Lights

Episode 3

Previously,

it’s a turbulent time in the capital.

Story Teller

The palace will never have peace.

Half a year ago,

the Crown Prince Qiyuan disappeared.

He remains missing.

Someone would ask,

has he done something wrong

to be deposed?

And His Majesty is ashamed to announce it?

Someone would say

it’s a power struggle among the princes

who also crave for the throne.

Whatever it is,

it’s not our common people’s place

to judge.

Six months later,

the Crown Prince’s missing had become a cold case.

There was no progress.

And

the Chief Justice in charge of the case,

Mr. Ji Xingyuan and his family

disappeared, too.

Their missing

has become the gossip of the public.

No one saw them leave their residence.

So how did they disappear?

I don’t know.

The Chief Justice, second-level,

just disappeared.

Odd.

I heard

the princes are gathering their power

in court to draw the new Chief Justice,

Mr. Chu Qing over.

Prince Qixuan, Lord Qi

married the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister

and had his support years ago,

which adds to his power.

Prince Qiheng, Lord Chu, holds military power

and wins victories.

He led the counterattack against Xirong Army

and is still stationed on the border.

It proves

that he has no interest for the throne.

As to Lord Huai,

we’re all know

his relationship with Prince Qixuan.

They’re on the same side.

It’s just Prince Qiyan,

who isn’t to His Majesty’s favor.

But Prince Qiyan

has great talent in business.

He owns all the forges in the capital,

which makes him rich.

Bravo!

Wonderful!

- Thank you! - Wonderful show!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sorry. I don’t have money.

Then get away!

Homeless hussy! You overturned my bowl.

I’m not homeless.

How dare you talk back!

Apologize to this lady.

Miss, I’m sorry.

I’m sorry, miss.

I’m sorry.

It's the rules

the audiences of a street show

can tip or merely applaud

if they think it’s good.

However,

you’re bad at the show

and rude with your audience.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

You’re not homeless.

You’ve got me.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Good job!

If you make troubles again,

I won’t take you out.

He called me a homeless...

a homeless hussy.

People pray to heaven

because they don’t always get what they want.

In this world,

everyone has something they can’t have.

If you let the sorrow of the past blind your eyes,

you would never see what the future can provide,

or hope and the brightness.

Yiluo,

it’s time to grow up.

Let’s go home.

OK.

Zhongyuan State

Qixuan, my brother,

Why are you going the other way?

The New Year’s Eve banquet is that way.

Qiyan, you’re late.

Second Prince of Zhongyuan State

I don’t understand.

The New Year’s Eve banquet usually

starts at 5:45 p.m..

Ninth Prince of Zhongyuan State

It seems our father

didn’t notice that you weren’t there.

Why did the banquet end so early?

I think you know

why father feels so terrible.

Perhaps he’s worried about the Crown Prince.

Father loves him the most.

And it’s New Year’s Eve.

He misses him more than ever.

Qiyan, why do you have to pretend you don’t know?

What do you mean?

I bet you know Qiheng’s counterattack

against Xirong State.

He won such a great victory.

But father doesn’t reward him anything.

You don’t think it fair, do you?

How come?

He’s so rich.

Father’s reward is nothing to him.

Now all through the nation,

90% of the metal wares

for royal use or in the common people’s home

are made in your workshops.

I’m curious

what you’re going to give our father

as New Year’s gift.

Nothing luxurious.

Just some cakes and cookies

father likes to eat.

If you like some particular metal wares,

tell me and I’ll ask the forge

to make the most exquisite ones

for you.

Don’t you think it’s stingy

to give father merely snacks?

Our father is the emperor.

He has all the precious things.

So

I think I should bring some snacks that they don’t

have in palace.

Go back.

Father isn’t in the mood to see you.

If that’s so,

I should not bother him.

But it’s the etiquette

to give my best wishes to him at New Year’s Eve.

If you insist,

we shall speak no more.

Good night.

Good night.

Qiyan,

bye.

Qiyan,

the night is full of dangers. Take care.

They’re so rude.

The princes

are clearly ganging up against you.

It’s understandable.

Even so,

you’re brothers.

How can they say those vicious words?

Let's go.

What do you want?

Your death.

Kill him.

Who is that?

Fall back.

Hurry.

Your Highness, are you alright?

I’m fine.

Seal the palace.

Find the assassins for me.

Yes.

Hurry.

Follow me.

New Year’s Eve

Happy new year!

Here are the supplies!

Thank you, guys.

Happy new year!

My master went to give his best to Mrs. Chu.

You must have missed him.

Please help me carry them in.

Thank you.

Miss Yiluo, it’s New Year’s Eve.

Don’t you want to visit someone?

You know my master prefers simplicity.

We only have a few lanterns for celebration.

It’s OK.

Mr. Chu is with his mother.

It may take quite a while.

Thank you.

He’s right.

Maybe a visit to Chu Qian?

My lord.

How is it going? Any clue?

I’ve blocked every entry and exit to the palace.

Everyone in and out will be searched.

Outside the palace, I’ve arranged men

to investigate suspicious individuals.

We have no clue yet.

When can we report it to His Majesty?

It’s said

His Majesty isn’t in the mood

and has gone to bed.

I’ve arranged double guards

around His Majesty’s living quarters.

I suggest we report it tomorrow.

Bring your brother, Chu Che, here. Now!

But it’s late.

Chu Che has a wonderful foresight.

Maybe he’ll see something we can’t.

If it continues like this,

we could find nothing at all for the night.

Bring him to me.

He’ll figure out something.

But...

Just go!

Tell him I must see him tonight.

Yes.

Chu Mansion

Miss Yiluo, let me tell my lady you’re here.

Does she have visitors?

It’s the Prime Minister’s younger daughter.

She’s here to send her wishes to Mrs. Chu

and calls on Miss Chu.

The Prime Minister’s younger daughter?

Yes.

The Prime Minister has two daughters and a son.

The eldest, Zhao Jinlin, married Prince Qixuan.

Our guest here is the younger one, Zhao Jinxu.

If she has an honored guest,

I’d better leave them to it.

Good night.

Yiluo,

I thought you’d come. I know it.

This is...

My apology.

I’m so happy to see Yiluo and forget to introduce.

This is Chu Che’s disciple, Yiluo.

Yiluo, this is Prime Minister’s younger daughter.

Nice to meet you.

The Prime Minister’s younger daughter

Zhao Jinxu

You’re Che’s disciple?

Che?

Are you referring to my master?

I don’t know Che would have a disciple.

How peculiar!

Well, my brother

takes her in

and has almost become an old nanny.

He’s so keen on her care.

You haven’t seen him for ages, have you?

You don’t know.

His residence is desolate.

He’s like a normal guy since Yiluo comes.

Is Che nice to you?

My master is strict.

We’re in peace if only I don’t mess him up.

That’s all.

That’s more like it.

I know you can’t be the one.

Miss Zhao, if you want to see my brother,

you can come to see him with me.

Can I?

Well, too bad!

Your brother Chu Qing summoned him.

He won’t be back in anytime soon.

What are Chu Qing and Ziyi

trying to say?

How weird!

Well, I guess it’s a pity.

You’ll have your chance.

And you have to meet my brother.

It’s getting late.

My mother is waiting for me at home.

Good night.

Good night, Miss Zhao.

Looks like Miss Zhao

wants to marry my master.

You see that, Yiluo?

Brilliant girl.

It’s obvious. I’d be blind if I didn’t.

Do my master and she

love each other?

If your master could even remember her name,

it would be a great encouragement.

How crazy!

Yes.

She’s determined

to marry my brother since little.

While my brother was traveling around,

she came frequently

to ask about my brother.

She seems to be aloof,

but she’s sweet like a cat when Chu Che is around.

What about my master?

He doesn’t feel the same way.

Yes.

I wonder when Miss Zhao

will realize she has no chance.

As the poem puts it,

like a petal on water, she follows him everywhere,

but the water doesn’t feel the same.

What makes you so sullen?

I guess

my master will grow old alone.

And I’ll have to nurture him.

Give him some credit.

Your master has a handsome face.

If he wants to,

so many girls would like to take him.

Right.

In love, my master is the one

who makes the call.

Actually,

the matter is there are few of

handsome and decent men

like me and Chu Che.

Ziyi,

I think we’ll be the judge of it, not you.

By the way,

what’s it that Chu Qing wants Chu Che?

I don't know.

Chu Qing came back and said there’s an emergency

in the place

and Chu Che has to go.

He dragged him away.

What’s the emergency?

Who knows?

They were in a hurry and couldn’t tell me.

My master couldn’t be of any use.

He spends most days of the year at home

and pays little attention to world affairs.

Yiluo, you may not know.

Your master foresees everything.

He’s better than anyone in this.

Yes, he’s at home

and seldom cares about things in the court.

But, the fact is

as long as he makes a prediction,

it usually turns out to be true.

Don’t you see

that Chu Qing often comes to Chu Che for help?

Though Chu Qing is the most educated,

it’s Chu Che who has a keen eye for these things.

In my opinion,

if Chu Che were an official,

he would be the prime.

That’s why the princes

like to talk to your master.

But in my opinion,

it’s not Chu Che who Qiyan wants to talk to.

Don’t start it.

All right.

It’s New Year’s Eve.

My master will spend it in Yamen.

Chief Justice’s Office

Mr. Chu,

we’ve searched the palace inside out

but there’s nothing we could find.

It can’t be true.

Not even a trace.

Mr. Chu, what should we do next?

I’ll give you my order after I meet His Majesty.

You may leave.

Yes.

I think that’s it.

I’m nobody in my father’s eyes

anyway.

Even if I were the assassins’ target,

my father wouldn’t care, I guess.

That’s not true, Your Highness.

The Crown Prince disappeared overnight.

Now there are assassins in the palace.

Even you don’t want to keep looking,

I believe His Majesty won’t let it go.

No need to keep looking.

Why?

Isn’t it obvious?

It’s subtle.

What’s obvious?

They searched the palace grid by grid

and found nothing.

We’re talking about four men.

They can’t fly or travel underground.

Miraculously, they escaped from the Palace Guards

and carried out their assassination

after the other two princes left.

Obviously,

they hid themselves in crowds.

So don’t bother searching.

Are they the Palace Guards?

Not likely.

The Palace Guards are strictly disciplined

and take shifts.

Besides, their rotations are recorded.

How could they know when you came

and which route you took?

Besides,

we could at least find their black suits.

It’s not hard to find the assassins.

They’re the princes’

guards accompanying them.

That’s why they managed to change clothes fast

and leave the palace with the princes.

If you searched their sedans earlier,

you might find the black suits.

But now they’re already out of the palace.

It’s too late.

Why?

Why do they want me dead?

The Crown Prince is missing for a while.

Though His Majesty is sad,

in the end, he’ll have to

choose a future emperor.

In the imperial family,

who is the most suitable alternative?

It’s Prince Qixuan for sure.

Let’s start with the war with Xirong State.

Prince Qixuan was ordered to make peace,

which was ruined by your plan.

Tell me if he hates you.

Well,

we just let them go?

If you keep looking into it,

you’ll bring disaster to yourself and our family.

But,

what should I do then?

Your Highness,

you’re a royal.

You know you should stay away from power struggle.

They want to kill you

because you’re a potential threat.

The struggle won’t die down.

It only intensifies.

Only if you give up the succession,

will you have peace.

But there are things

I can’t just stay out.

That’s my suggestion.

Good luck, Your Highness.

I shall take my leave.

You’re leaving?

My disciple is waiting for me to celebrate.

It’s a surprise you care so much about her.

Compared with Your Highness,

I just simply want to protect the people I care.

My father will approve my wedding soon.

I’m marrying your sister, Chu Qian.

We’re about to be families.

In that case,

I hope Your Highness

can give my sister a safe home,

not just a title.

I will.

Goodbye.

Wanyun Pavilion

You’re back.

The snow is heavy.

Get in.

Where is Yiluo?

Your disciple has gone back.

Chu Qian is with her.

I’d better go back, too.

Wait.

Your disciple is so careless.

Take the medicine.

Take it.

Thanks.

Don’t mention it.

How did it go with Lord Jing’s assassination?

Not a clue.

You didn’t tell them, did you?

No. You can count on me.

Good.

But don’t you think it’s strange?

What is strange?

Well, you know.

Six months ago, the Crown Prince disappeared.

Three months ago, Mr. Ji and his family disappeared, too.

With tonight’s assassination,

don’t you think the three cases are related?

The first two are.

They all disappeared overnight

without a clue.

And they didn’t take anything.

But Lord Jing’s assassination

is different.

Besides, Lord Jing is safe

and sound.

Chu Che, that’s what I mean.

Look, in these cases,

their bodies disappeared without a sign.

I have a feeling...

I have a feeling

that perhaps it’s related to that thing.

Chu Che,

I have a question which I want to ask

but I don’t know if I should.

What do you want to ask?

Tell me.

Are the mysterious

missing cases

related to you?

If I denied it,

you wouldn’t believe, would you?

That’s not what I mean.

It’s just a question.

Yiluo is waiting for me.

I’m going back.

It’s really just...Chu Che!

Chu Che!

Chu Che!

Chu Che!

Chu Che, I never suspected you.

Chu Che!

Don’t make it wrong.

It’s snowing!

Who is it you’re making with the snowman?

These are Qiyan’s eyes.

This is his nose.

And this is his mouth.

Chu Qian,

you’re so in love with Lord Jing.

You’ll marry him one day, won’t you?

Let me tell you a secret.

His Majesty will approve our wedding soon.

So soon?

Then your life

will be totally different, right?

Of course.

After the wedding,

Qiyan will be the center of my universe.

I’ll help him pursue his dream.

His dream?

What about your dream?

My dream is to help Qiyan

pursue his.

What’s Lord Jing’s dream?

I don't know.

But I can feel

that beneath his humbleness,

there’s an ambitious heart.

It’s like

he’s after something big.

Do you know that feeling?

Sometimes, I admire him.

I wish I could understand him.

Does Lord Jing love you?

Of course he does.

Or,

why would he hide so many valuable things

in my residence?

Aren’t these things his?

They’re not stolen goods.

Why does he want to hide?

Yiluo, you don’t know

the royals.

They’re different from us.

Now the Crown Prince is gone.

Prince Qixuan gets the upper hand.

You met Zhao Jinxu.

Her father is Prince Qixuan’s henchman, the PM.

So you know why

she can be so domineering.

No wonder she’s so tough.

But I’m not afraid of her.

Don’t let the others hear it.

Now that Chu Qing is the Chief Justice,

we should all stay low profile,

in case of any misunderstandings.

What misunderstandings?

The Chief Justice

is the head of Zhongyuan State’s justice system.

That’s a huge power.

Everyone wants to draw him in.

Is the position that important?

Of course.

His predecessor, Mr. Ji

is just and upright.

He doesn’t gang up with anyone.

It’s said even the Crown Prince was afraid of him.

Qiyan told me

he’s His Majesty’s trusted man.

But if he’s His Majesty’s trusted man,

who would dare to harm him?

I don’t know.

Things in court are too complicated

for us girls to comprehend.

My family disappeared just like

the Crown Prince did.

They’re murdered by the same men.

Why do they want to kill my families?

Silly girl, get over with it.

You’d better think about

you and your master.

What about me and my master?

I can see it.

Chu Che has feelings for you.

Chu Qian, don’t joke with me.

How could it be possible?

My master treats me as a servant girl.

He loathes me.

How could he have any feelings for me?

Well, I know him.

He has you in his heart wherever he goes.

How could you not see it?

He looks indifferent.

In fact, he’s keen on you.

But perhaps,

he doesn’t even know

he has such feelings for you.

Chu Qian,

I have never been loved by a man.

You want to know how it feels, do you?

Yes.

When you love someone,

you’re willing to

weather the storm with him,

to help him, whether he’s rich

or poor.

You want to share the moment his dream comes true.

It’s a new year.

Don’t frown.

Smile.

Chu Qian is going to marry this man!

Yes. I’m going to be married!

You’re...

Master.

You’re back.