Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available.]

Buried City to Shut All Lights

Episode 4

What are you talking about?

I hear laughter.

Now that you’re back,

I shall leave you.

Yiluo, you’re welcome to come to me.

Good night.

It’s a heavy snow. Take care.

I’ll be fine.

Your bad memory

could kill me one day.

My apology.

What’s happened in the palace?

Nothing particularly.

I thought

you wouldn’t come back tonight.

You’re back home.

How could I not come back?

I know what colors

the fireworks are

even without looking up.

Why?

Because I can see them

blossoming in your eyes.

Take it.

Master.

It’s greasy to me.

But luckily,

it’s still warm.

The snow is getting heavier.

Let’s get in.

Yiluo,

I promise you.

I’ll find the truth about your family’s missing.

Really?

I promised, didn’t I?

And I mean it.

I have only one wish

which is to avenge my parents.

If you help me fulfill it,

I would do anything,

anything at all,

as long as I’m alive

to return your favors.

From now on,

I’m your family.

With me,

you’ll have a home.

Thank you, master.

Yiluo, remember.

Stay alive.

OK.

You wake up.

Morning, master.

Your martial training starts today.

OK.

Stop playing.

The sword is too heavy.

I’m so tired.

Only incompetent people

make excuses.

I’m not making excuses.

If you give me a lighter one,

I’ll continue my training.

Do you want to revenge for your parents or not?

Yes.

Then get up.

What now?

Chu Qian is getting married.

I’m upset.

Why is that?

Good for nothing.

Take it.

Your new weapon. I made them myself.

They’re for me?

Firmly stands the pine tree.

Let the winds be stronger.

Now you take them,

be a firm pine tree.

Thank you, master.

Wanyun Pavilion

Master Chu Qing.

Master Chu Qing.

Brother, I’d like a word.

A word with me?

Alright.

I heard

there’s no clue of Prince Qiyan’s assassination.

Though His Majesty orders a thorough investigation,

you’re right.

There’s no evidence in the palace

pointing to the other two princes.

Both this case and the missing of Mr. Ji

and the Crown Prince

are put aside.

I cannot do anything.

I also heard

you received a report

on the case concerning the tax

collected by the Crown Prince.

How do you know it?

I have my ways

and some rumors.

I wonder if you have any progress.

Actually, this case

is not a new one.

Back then, His Majesty assigned the Crown Prince

in charge of the taxation.

However, the amount he submitted to the Treasury

isn’t right.

The Crown Prince covered it up many times.

It’s not until the Crown Prince’s missing

that this case is gradually brought up again.

I’m trying all means to gather evidence.

But members of the Crown Prince’s clique

are major figures in court.

They look after each other.

It’s exceedingly difficult for me

to find any evidence.

Chu Qing, do you want to cooperate with me?

Cooperate?

Do you want my help?

You help me?

Don’t you always keep a good distance

from these cases?

What? You’re interested in this one?

I’m not interested.

It’s just I can gather enough evidence.

If you can help me,

I can solve the case easily.

But,

why do you want to help?

You’re my brother.

A new broom sweeps clean.

You need some shining performance.

I never expected that you’d want to help.

Let’s say no more.

Wait for my good news.

OK.

Hold on.

Come.

Silly, you can come to see me.

No peach cookies for me.

I’ll let An Ziyi bring some to you

from time to time, OK?

I don’t want you to leave.

My master is angry with me every day.

Only you can save me.

Silly, your master is angry

because he cares.

But, recently, he’s annoyed with me.

He scolds me for everything I do.

I’m scared.

Yiluo, trust me.

After I leave,

he’ll take good care of your safety.

I don’t want you to go.

Miss Chu.

Miss, it’s about time.

We need to go.

I don’t want you to leave.

You want me to be an old spinster?

We can be old spinsters together.

Absurd!

Master.

I don’t want Chu Qian to be married.

Get up.

Chu Qian,

please don’t go.

Stay here...

Why do you hit me?

Chu Che, why did you do that?

She’ll be fine.

She’ll wake up in couples of hours.

I’d better go.

Take care of Yiluo.

Hold on.

These?

What are these?

There are Gu Kaizhi’s The Lady of River Luo,

Zhang Sengyao’s Lords of Constellations,

and literary classics,

such as Index of Books, Exemplary Women,

volumes of Intrigues of the Warring States.

Qiyan’s collection

is surprisingly comprehensive.

Yes.

He likes to collect Ch’u Yuan’s works.

He gives out a few as gifts.

The rest are here.

Ch’u Yuan’s works.

Yes.

I like those given as gifts

very much.

There are Mount Li, A Question from Earth,

The Nineteen Songs, and Eight Elegies.

Now there are only a few.

A Question from Earth

There are only 20 or so Ch’u Yuan’s works left,

which a dozen is in Qiyan’s collection.

He really likes his works.

I don't know if he likes or not.

I know

he does everything for a reason.

You’re obsessed with him.

As your brother,

I have some advice.

Chu Che, what is it?

Marrying a royal means

you’ll have wealth and rank.

However, it also means loneliness and slight.

Do you understand it?

My wish is to be with Qiyan.

In power struggle,

people have no sympathy for its collateral damage.

Keep yourself informed, always.

You can’t trust anyone,

but yourself.

Chu Che,

Qiyan loves me.

I believe he will protect me

when I’m in danger.

Before you marry him, you can love him.

But after that,

you need to learn to love yourself.

The more you love yourself,

the happier you’ll be.

I know you won’t listen to a word.

But one day, you’ll understand.

Chu Che,

I believe you said it for my sake.

The dignitaries have their pursuit,

but it’s the retreat I prefer.

Go.

Chu Qing,

take care of yourself.

Master, what’s wrong with me?

My head aches.

I just want to knock you out.

But it gets you ill.

Take the medicine.

How come it’s so serious?

You panicked.

A man with a weak mind will never succeed.

I just don’t want Chu Qian to go.

You always act like that.

But it won’t solve the problems,

instead, it stands a trouble for others.

I’m much better now.

Can I see her off?

The wedding is yesterday.

What?

You slept for a day and a night.

I didn’t see her get in the sedan.

Chu Qian gives it to you.

Only when you get better

can you revenge for your parents,

right?

Master.

Those who murdered the Crown Prince

did the same to my parents, right?

But why do they want my father dead?

My father didn’t gang up with anyone.

Their targets are never limited to

those who do.

Then who are their targets?

Those who have evidence against them

could all become their targets.

Master, my father’s list

must tell intimidating secrets.

Whatever it tells,

we have to find the list first.

The case is complicated.

We can’t rush.

But I’ve made a plan.

What is your plan, master?

I can’t tell you now.

When it’s time to tell you,

you’ll know.

Now you have only one task

which is to finish the peach cookies.

OK.

Qikun Hall of Zhongyuan State

Your Majesty!

Rise, please.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Do you have anything to report?

Your Majesty,

Prime Minister of Zhongyuan State

A drought strikes the core of the central plains.

Local governments ask for relief.

It’s subject to your decision.

Your Majesty,

Minister of Works

Li Gongye

It hasn’t rained for six months in Luoyang.

Countless civilians died of starvation.

It hasn’t rained for six months.

Why do they wait for so long to report?

Emperor of Zhongyuan State

Don’t be angry, Your Majesty.

The local authority tried

to control the disaster.

But it turns out to be less effective.

It turns out to be less effective,

but not useless at all.

The priority is to move

the victims to the capital in batches.

Minister of Treasury

Hao Jinxi

Your Majesty,

we can’t move the victims to the capital.

My opinion is

there’s a severe plague there.

If we move the victims to the capital,

it will endanger civilians of the capital

and Your Majesty.

Neither is eligible.

Well, give me an eligible solution.

Your Majesty,

I think the priority is to

allocate grains to the central plains,

set up porridge outlets and cut taxes.

Chu Qing,

what do you think?

Your Majesty.

Drought will lead to grain robbery.

I think

we should intensify grain protection

to settle the unrest.

Besides,

with drought comes locusts.

Locust’s prevention is equally important.

Thirdly,

we need to reinforce levees

and dredge the canals

to prevent the disaster from expanding.

Besides,

I agree with the Prime Minister.

Only tax cut and grains support can settle

both the civilians’ and the officials’ mind.

It seems

the alleviation mission concerns all ministries.

Chu Qing,

which prince do you think I should assign

this mission to?

I think

all princes are truly talented.

Whoever it is,

he will live up to your expectation.

Your Majesty,

Prince Qixuan led the alleviation in Changde

and he did it well.

Prince Qixuan has similar experience.

Why don’t assign it to Prince Qixuan?

I think it’s more appropriate.

If so,

let Qixuan go with the team.

Yes, Your Majesty.

If that’s all, you may leave.

Your Majesty, I have something to report.

What is it?

Recently, I looked up accounts

concerning taxes collected by the Crown Prince

and I found something.

I remember it.

There are indeed problems

concerning the taxation.

Someone reported it.

But it remains unsettled till now.

Did you have new findings

to report?

Your Majesty, I’m still looking.

But my brother, Chu Che declares

that he has key information of this case.

Thus, I humbly ask Your Majesty

to give permission to my access to accounts

of the Ministry of Works

and the Ministry of Treasury.

Granted.

Your Majesty, I don’t think it’s proper.

Your Majesty.

I agree with Mr. Li.

The Ministry of Treasury has been reformed.

Even there’s problems

with the taxes,

the Crown Prince in charge has been missing.

It’s a waste of resources

to check the old accounts.

It also distract us

from the on-going alleviation.

Nonsense.

The case

is suspended because the Crown Prince

had your help with the cover-ups.

Now that Chu Qing possesses evidence,

I have no reason to hold him back.

Say no more about it.

Here is my order.

I, hereby, assign Chu Qing

to lead the investigation on the taxation.

All ministries will give him proper support.

If I find anyone trying to set

obstacles,

he’ll be charged with harboring the criminal.

Mr. Chu.

as to the drought alleviation

solutions in the court,

we share the same views.

When you proposed

to reopen the case of the Crown Prince’s bribery,

I admired

your courage.

Well,

I believe

Prince Qixuan is the most capable prince.

Mr. Chu, is it really what you think?

I wonder what you think

about my opinion on this.

I shall leave you.

Mr. Chu.

Mr. Chu, do you know my daughter, Zhao Jinxu?

Of course I do.

She often visits you home recently.

We all know

that Miss Chu is married.

I think it’s not proper for her

to visit so frequently all by herself.

So you’re saying?

If you would like to date my daughter,

I won’t get in your way.

I believe

Miss Zhao is keen on my brother?

When one likes something

he/she can never have,

he/she changes.

Mr. Chu.

I hope we can be partners

in serving

His Majesty.

I think I know what you mean.

I’m looking forward to Miss Zhao’s good news.

Mr. Chu,

these are the Crown Prince’s clique behind it.

However, Mr. Chu Qing spoke of your name

during the investigation.

So Mr. Chu,

you need to be alert.

Go to Prince Qiheng’s garrison at Tianshui Pass

on the border with Xirong State

and do me a favor.

During the war,

ten thousand arrows

disappeared overnight

but no soldier is gone with the weapons.

Do you want me to find the arrows

or the mole?

Check the geography of Tianshui Pass.

There are mountains and waters.

Nothing was found in the mountains.

Then the weapons...

The weapons?

are either hidden underground or underwater.

I see.

Whoever goes underground

or underwater

is the mole.

Mr. Chu, you can count on me.

Be careful.

Don’t worry, Mr. Chu.

After so many years in the world,

I know I can trust my swift tongue.

I shall get going.

These are all nobodies with neither fame

nor power.

Why did Ji Xingyuan investigate them?

The Crown Prince’s been missing for long.

His Majesty’s never been so anxious.

But I couldn’t find a clue.

What’s it with me?

I know you never care about affairs in court.

That’s what I admire you.

We’ve been through life and death together.

Please look after my daughter for my sake.

Only if she’s with you

can I do what I should do.

You saved my life.

It’s time for me to return your favor.

If she can keep her life

in the complicated power struggle,

I’d be grateful.

I have no son.

My daughter is the only person I care.

I hope she lives in hidden identity

which will save you lots of troubles.

Of course.

Here.

Please keep it properly.

I can’t stay here for long.

Who are you?

Master.

You killed them?

If I didn’t.

it would be us who were killed.

Let’s go.

Go.

They can help you

find the figure behind the Crown Prince’s bribery.

They’re both ruffians.

How do you know

they’ll tell the truth?

When I fought with them,

they hesitated in their moves and withdrew.

I guess they’re not determined.

It’s unbelievable that they found you so fast.

It’s because you exposed my name

and I already found them.

Whom?

Li Gongye, the Minister of Works,

Hao Jinxi, the Minister of Treasury,

and Zhang Zuo, the Chief Procurator.

The three of them

were the Crown Prince’s henchmen

and the hidden figures

behind the taxation bribery.

I’m not surprised with the first two.

They were the Crown Prince’s best hands.

When I brought up the case,

they tried to hold me back.

No wonder the previous investigations failed.

It’s an inside job led by the Chief Procurator.

It involves over 200 officials

and an amount of 100 million taels.

However they’re in the same chain of interest,

once we seize couples of them,

we get the whole story.

So many of them.

Or there won’t be so many people

who want me dead.

Chu Che, it’s the first time you help me

and we make such a feat.

When His Majesty knows,

he’ll regard us with special esteem.

I wouldn’t promise

if I weren’t sure.

Why did my master offer

to help Mr. Chu Qing?

Didn’t he hate these things?

I feel sorry for the Crown Prince’s missing,

but he deserves it.

If one day, someone like him

claims the throne,

it will be real suffer

for the common people.

Come, let’s go to His Majesty.

Chu Qing, you know me.

Fame and rank mean nothing to me.

What I care

is the undisturbed days

in the Misty Rain Pavilion.

Things happened here just now

is what I detest.

I was wrong about you.

I’m so sorry

to have exposed you in grave danger.

My identity exposed this time

due to inconvenience during investigation.

If you give your badge to me,

it’ll be easier.

The badge is given by His Majesty.

How could I lend it to others?

I see, till now

I’m still one of the others to you.

Alright.

You can have it.

I shall leave you.

Master, what are you doing here?

The roll is upside down.

I want to know

if I can read the bottom up.

Clean the blood in the yard.

Now?

Do you want people to see

a blood-stained Misty Rain Pavilion

tomorrow morning?

OK.

Did you listen to our conversation?

No.

I was reading the book.

I swear I didn’t listen to your conversation.

Stay in the Misty Rain Pavilion.

Don’t make trouble out there.

And do not try

to involve in anything about the case.

Don’t even ask.

You said you were inside.

Why is there bird’s dropping in your hair?

I went to Chu Qing to get his badge

and his trust,

so I can access to your parents’ files.

What?

You don’t believe me?

No.

It’s just...

I know

you don’t want to get involved in these things.

But for my parents’ case, you...

I make a promise to you

and I will honor it.

It stinks.

Go take a bath.