Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available.]

Buried City to Shut All Lights

Episode 9

Chief Justice’s Office

Chu Che, there you are.

Be seated.

I’ve identified the man

you met

who called himself Ying Hong.

He’s the eldest prince of Xirong, Luo Hongying.

It really is him.

Do you know the purpose of his travel?

It is said

they’ve been in a tour study here for months

and go to the greatest scholars’

lectures occasionally.

They spend so long in Zhongyuan State.

There has to be a reason.

You should send men to watch them.

I’ve already arranged it.

I invite you over

today to introduce someone to you.

Whom?

Li Huailiu, a friend,

scholar and Assistant Minister of Rituals.

Mr. Chu Qing.

Please.

This is...

This is my brother, Chu Che.

This is Mr. Chu Che?

I often hear your name from Mr. Chu Qing.

What a brilliant young man you are!

It’s Mr. Li.

I admire you.

You know me?

One of the three greatest scholars in Zhongyuan.

There’s Shi Wenqing in south,

an expert of words, all exquisite but superficial ones,

not a real master.

And Kong Yechun in north,

whose words are harsh and controversial.

And there’s Li Huailiu in the capital,

acknowledged with both literature and history.

But the vagrant life enables you to see the world.

Your articles are plain but pragmatic.

I’m flattered.

These are all rumors.

It’s a surprise

you know me so well.

We’re both underestimated.

Mr. Li gives lectures all over the country.

And each time Prince Luo is an audience.

So I think

Mr. Li is the best candidate

to watch over him.

Mr. Li, did you find something?

Luo Hongying takes only one servant.

I’ve verified

it’s General Ling of Xirong State.

A tour study with a general?

They travel around every day.

Doesn’t look like

a keen student on Zhongyuan culture.

Travel around?

Do you know the routes he travels?

Luo Hongying prefers to go north.

The north is mountainous.

And the landscape is precipitous.

Its scenery is worse than the south.

They go north

in the name of tourism,

but in fact, it’s a reconnaissance

to work out a plan of attack.

Now that you mentioned,

it reminds me of something.

Once I found in their rooms

some abandoned scripts.

They don’t look like paintings.

I was curious.

Now that you mentioned,

these abandoned scripts

are more like maps.

Looks like

we’re on the verge of war with Xirong State.

Prince Qixuan and the Minister of Rituals

paid a state visit to Xirong

and presented an abundance of luxury

and two cities

in exchange for peace.

We have a peace treaty.

How could they go against their words?

Nowadays,

so many people hide a dagger in a smile.

Those untrue to their words are common.

Mr. Li,

where is Luo Hongying now?

At an inn in the capital.

Don’t let him leave the capital.

When he does,

the war between Xirong and us

will begin.

Your view on the current situation

is groundbreaking.

I’m flattered.

It’s my honor to meet you

in Chu Qing’s office.

May I ask

when you met my brother?

It’s a long story.

Mr. Chu Qing and I

went to the Royal Examination

and joined the court later together.

But I don’t have a noble family like you do.

So I haven’t made any achievement.

After ten years of hard work at school,

you stood out in the Royal Examination.

But all you got is an examiner

who marks tests.

It’s unworthy of your talents.

It’s a pity.

In history,

there are so many people like me.

Even the greatest poet, Ch’u Yuan,

ended up with a dismal death.

I feel lucky about myself.

You like Ch’u Yuan, too?

Crazily.

I’d like to invite you home someday

to show you my collection of Ch’u Yuan’s works.

I dare say no one has

more of his works than I do.

What

are these?

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 the Eight Elegies.

Now there are only a few.

There are only 20 or so left in the world,

which a dozen is in Qiyan’s collection.

He really likes them.

I don't know if he likes them or not.

I know

he does everything for a reason.

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

Are yours the originals?

A few years ago, I wouldn’t dare to boast.

But now I can tell you for sure

that all Ch’u Yuan’s originals

are in my possession.

There are Mount Li, A Question from Earth,

The Nineteen Songs, Eight Elegies.

A Three-Day Travel, Prophecy,

Fisherman, all in his handwriting.

A Three-Day Travel, Prophecy,

Fisherman?

Do you have

the originals of the three works?

Of course.

You...

Let me go!

Come with me.

Let me go!

Who is this?

Sirs, it’s not proper, is it?

It’s in broad daylight.

And you’re both decent men, right?

We can’t force on an honest lady, can we?

Honest? Lady?

I don’t reach a deal with the hooker.

She refuses to come with us.

Don’t you know what she does for a living?

You must be out of your mind.

Get lost.

Come again?

Let’s go.

Forget it. Come on.

Ruoqian.

Ruoqian.

Ruoqian.

How did you end up here?

Ruo Guxing’s Daughter

Ruoqian

Ziyi.

How are you doing?

Yiluo.

Yes?

Whose clothes are these?

They’re Ziyi’s.

It’s convenient

to dress in man’s outfit to go out.

So I borrow some from him.

You’re not allowed to put on others’ clothes.

But it’s more convenient.

You can only wear my clothes.

Come.

Come on.

Excuse me.

Am I interrupting something?

Shall I go out and wait?

Ziyi, what are you talking about?

Who is this lady?

Chu Che, this is the girl

I told you before that I like.

Miss Ruoqian.

I’ve heard so much about you.

This must be Yiluo.

Yes, I am.

Ruoqian has been my love.

We made an engagement when we were little.

Love.

What’s wrong?

You’re allowed

to love each other.

Why couldn’t I have someone...

someone I love for my lifetime?

This lady is so pretty.

You’re so elegant like light-flavored tea.

Compared with you,

I’m as plain as water.

Yiluo, you’re gorgeous even without makeup.

What a natural beauty!

Really?

Master, see what a sharp eye Ruoqian has!

Miss Ruoqian, you haven’t met Ziyi for years.

Where have you been?

She...

Ruoqian has been in...

The Blooming Spring.

The Blooming Spring?

What is this place?

It has a catchy name!

A brothel.

Broth...

Broth house?

Well...

Do you make chicken broth or...

Yiluo, will you shut up?

You’re not helping. So stop.

Shut your mouth.

I have no choice

but to go to the Blooming Spring.

A few years ago, Ziyi and his father met me

while we were looking for herbs.

We share interest in herbs.

Gradually, we fell for each other

and made promise to each other.

Later, a disaster fell upon my family.

There was a slim hope,

but I met with bad people

and was sold to the Blooming Spring.

Ruoqian,

we’ll be married.

Trust me.

Yes. Ruoqian.

Ruoqian, I promise.

I’ll redeem you.

What’s your stage name in the Blooming Spring?

How many years have you been there?

Chu Che.

Can you drop it?

An Ziyi is a common man.

Though his families are all physicians.

But he likes to offer free service to the poor.

So he’s destitute.

If he wants to redeem you,

he’ll have to borrow.

Master, please stop.

Perhaps he has to borrow around.

Ruoqian.

Ruoqian.

Master.

Why did you irritate them with your words?

They just met again.

Instead of addicting in the joy of reunion,

I’d rather

they think about the problems ahead of them.

But Ruoqian

doesn’t ask Ziyi to redeem her.

You think Ziyi needs her request to do that?

Is a woman’s background that important?

I don’t even have a background.

I’m different from Ziyi.

No one can change my mind.

Besides,

I’ll give you a new identity.

It’s been long.

Master, did you find anything?

Your father’s list

concerns a royal examination in the past.

The case is complicated.

I have to continue my investigation.

Is it related to lots of people?

I’m not sure yet.

So it takes time.

Master.

In any case,

you have to protect yourself, OK?

Rest assured.

I will.

And,

you may go to Ruoqian and talk to her.

I believe

you can be good friends.

So you don’t look down on her, do you?

That’s great, master.

I know you’re not a snob.

Ruoqian, don’t be mad, OK?

OK.

Ruoqian,

you’re always the proud girl in my memory.

You know?

You’re still you.

Unlike those girls,

you were educated when you were little.

You have the dream to cure people like I do,

don’t you, Ruoqian?

It’s too late to say that.

No, it’s not.

You came to the capital for me, didn’t you?

All right. You’ve found me now.

I’m right here.

There’s hope as long as we’re alive. And we are.

Do you agree, Ruoqian?

I’ll redeem you.

I will.

Chief Justice’s Office

Answer me.

What’s going on

in court today?

Why did the low-rank official from the Personnel,

Wang Chongsheng, second Qiheng’s motion?

Don’t you tell me he’s your man?

Calm down, Your Highness.

He is on our side.

Then why did he speak

for Qiheng in court?

Since Qixuan’s insurrection,

His Majesty is paranoid.

So right now, none of us

should give him the impression

that we’ve formed a clique.

We don’t need him now.

So I ask him to go to Prince Qiheng

and win his trust.

When it’s time,

he can help.

I see.

I was wrong about you.

In fact, there’s no need to worry.

These small potatoes

don’t have a voice.

And it’s too late to choose a side.

An Mansion

Ziyi.

Where have you been?

I’ve been waiting for long.

Silly girl, what are you doing here?

Two things.

Chu Che asks you to apologize, right?

You know

my master has a big ego.

Look, he asks me to send

the fruits as an apology to you and Ruoqian.

Ziyi.

Be a man. Show your generosity.

Besides,

my master said that for your sake.

All right. I forgive him.

I’ll take the fruits.

I have another question.

My master asks you for...

What?

Here.

Loquats, 5 grams.

Basil, 10 grams.

Croton seeds powder, 15 grams.

Yiluo,

the prescription isn’t a cure, is it?

It’s quite the other, not the cure.

What’s going on?

My master asks you to put them in...

Good idea!

My master is awesome!

No problem. You can count on me.

- Ziyi. - OK.

Ruoqian,

there you are.

Ruoqian, what brings you here?

I’ve bought her service

for the following days.

How does our destitute

friend make it?

Rob the rich to help the poor.

I mean to cure the rich.

They pay well.

Yiluo, what are you doing here?

My master sends me to apologize to you.

I brought you the fruits.

You’re Ziyi’s friends.

I’m not angry.

I’ll take the fruits.

Stay and talk with Ruoqian.

I have an errand to run.

How lucky An Ziyi is

to have such a breathtaking

beauty to like him!

Is that what you think?

Of course it is.

From the move,

I know you’ve learned herbs.

I used to enjoy the study on herbs.

Are your families physicians, too?

You can’t be

a common girl to learn medicine.

That’s great.

Did I say something wrong?

I was a lady of an influential family in south.

My father was an official in court

and worked for the late Crown Prince.

A few years ago, he offended him

and was exiled.

Then my families

disappeared overnight.

Later, there was a fire.

It consumed my home.

Your father was the late Crown Prince’s man?

He used to be his mentor.

When did the fire take place?

Four years ago.

Have you ever thought

of finding the murderer?

I met the murderer.

Did you?

You were there.

Yes.

I saw it

tear my families apart one by one

and disappeared.

Who is it?

How cruel!

I don’t know.

But you said you met it,

why couldn’t you find it?

Because it’s a beast in legend,

called...

wolf demon.

Your...

Your families are killed by the wolf demon?

Yes.

How did you get away?

I came back from the mountain

and had euphorbia antiquorum with me.

Even the wolf demon was by my side,

it couldn’t sense my smell.

And I got to escape.

Euphorbia antiquorum?

Isn’t that what Ziyi prescribes for master?

I remember

you’re an orphan, too.

My family was poor.

And my parents died of diseases.

My master took me in.

I envy you.

If I came to Ziyi,

I wouldn’t be sold to the brothel.

My life would be different.

Ruoqian,

Ziyi is a good man.

He’ll be nice to you.

Thank you.

I can’t imagine

the hardship Ruoqian has been through.

If I didn’t meet my master,

I wonder if I would have the courage for life.

So there is a wolf demon in the world

which breaks so many families.

Where is the wolf demon?

Sixth Prince’s Mansion

Since I learned that you like jade accessories,

I asked people

to search for unique jewels.

Well.

You're so generous.

But they’re too expensive.

The jewels should be lucky

that they add to your grace.

I’m flattered.

I’m counting on the Prime Minister

to help my husband in court.

Well.

You know

women should better

stay out of men’s business.

Mrs. Wang, you misunderstand.

Don’t picture me

as someone

who asks for return with these gifts.

If you do, I don’t dare to give you gifts.

Seldom do I have friends who know jade well.

I’m sincere

to make friend with you.

Of course.

Well,

since you prepare these specially for me,

I couldn’t turn you down.

About Prince Qiyan’s request,

I’ll speak to the Prime Minister for him.

But the Prime Minister is resolute.

As his wife,

I couldn’t discuss politics with him.

Am I right?

If you don’t agree,

I shall return these gifts to you.

Mrs. Wang, I don’t know

gifts can be returned.

Just take them. It’s OK.

I’ll be grateful

that you can speak for us.

Prince Qiyan is so lucky

to have married such a virtuous wife.

You flattered me.

It’s getting late.

I should leave you.

Next time,

I’ll gather a few ladies who also like jades

to meet you.

That’s great!

All right. Princess Jing, goodbye.

Goodbye.

What are you doing here?

Wait. What’s going on?

Chu Qian, since when did you begin

to socialize with these vulgar

wives of officials?

That’s not like you.

I’m tired.

I don’t want to talk about it.

What is it you want to see me?

I...

Can’t I just come to visit?

Don’t be ridiculous.

Tell me what it is.

It’s embarrassing to say.

I wonder what makes you embarrassed.

I...

Go on.

Chu Qian,

I want to borrow some money.

Money?

Yes.

Why do you borrow from me?

Not your father?

I can’t borrow from him.

I can’t tell him.

Why?

Anyway, I thought about it last night.

You’re the only one who can help.

You didn’t lose your money in gambling, did you?

No.

Chu Qian, it’s for a decent matter.

What is it?

I can’t tell you, either.

Chu Qian,

I’ll tell you later, OK?

Lend me some money, please.

Prince Qiyan’s rich.

He won’t care.

Can you talk to him?

Please, I beg you.

How much?

Three thousand taels?

Shall we lend it to him?

Did he tell you what for?

No.

But he seems anxious.

An Ziyi never borrowed money from me.

Give it to him.

After all, you grew up together.

And you’re close.

He likes to offer free service to the poor.

That’s why he’s destitute.

But he must have a reason.

I thank you on his behalf.

How is your meeting with Mrs. Wang?

It’s good.

She took the gifts?

Yes.

Great!

Did she promise that his husband will help me?

She said she’ll speak to

the PM for you

and bring wives of officers with her next time.

You gave her so many luxurious gifts

and she didn’t show her stance.

She’ll speak for me?

Why are you stupid

in this deal?

It’s my fault.

I’ll go to her tomorrow.

There’s no need.

None of you can share my burden.

In the end, I have to count on myself.

Go to bed.

Your Highness.

Qiankun Hall of Zhongyuan State

Ten days ago,

Luo Hantong and his army feigned a defeat

and lured the Sui Army out.

And the latter was separated and surrounded.

They surrendered.

Xirong Army is in high morale.

Liu Shixian

General of Zhongyuan State

They took the capital of Sui State.

The second prince, Luo Hantong,

is such a great military leader.

Your Majesty, Sui State is an important

partner on our border.

Now it’s seized by Xirong State.

And according to our recon,

Xirong State isn’t going to stop.

Its army is stirring up troubles.

I’m afraid we’re bound to meet in battlefield

with Xirong State.

Zhao Guobing.

Assistant Minister of Rituals

Zhao Guobing

Yes.

I assigned you and Prince Qixuan

to negotiate with Xirong.

We paid such a huge price

and two cities.

Didn’t you reach consensus with them

to maintain peace?

Your Majesty, I’m guilty for my incompetence.

How dare a small state like Xirong

start the aggression against Zhongyuan?

Unbelievable!

What good solutions do you have?

Your Majesty,

Prince Qiheng and his 200,000 army

is settling unrest at the border with Nan State.

We’re short-handed with troops in capital.

I’m afraid we’ll lose it.

But if Prince Qiheng comes back in time,

he’ll surely defeat the enemy.

I’d like to stall them with soldiers

and buy Prince Qiheng some time.

How much troops can we gather in capital?

How long can you hold them back? How many days?

Your Majesty,

perhaps 4 hours.

Aren’t you all eloquent?

Why don’t you speak now?

Father, I think

if we do nothing,

we’ll die.

That goes without saying.

Father, perhaps you don’t know

the eldest prince of Xirong, Luo Hongying,

is in the capital now.

How do you know?

Luo Hongying comes to the capital

in the name of tour study.

In fact, he’s doing a reconnaissance

in order to find a breakthrough

and collaborate with his brother on the invasion.

How do know so many details?

I only heard it from Mr. Li Huailiu,

the Assistant Minister of Rituals days ago.

Li Huailiu, what's going on?

Your Majesty,

the eldest prince of Xirong who hid his identity

and came to Zhongyuan for knowledge

met me on one of my lectures.

His diction and manners

are not like common men.

And his etiquette is different from ours, either.

So I paid special attention

and sent people to follow him.

I have a bold guess.

And it’s proved

to be true judging the current situation.

What’s your plan?

I’d like to take Mr. Li to the border

and negotiate with Luo Hantong.

I’ll stall them

so that Qiheng can have enough time

to come back for rescue.

We’ll see if we go to war or fall back in peace.

Another negotiation?

If it doesn’t work,

you lose your life.

If the negotiation doesn’t work,

we’ll die anyway.

Besides, General Liu is here to protect you.

I’m willing to go.

My officials,

any other plans?

I’d like to go to the negotiation with Prince Qiyan.

It seems that’s the only way.

I’ll live up to your expectation

and do my best.

Prince Qiyan, please have some tea.

Mr. Chu Che.

Here.

Where is Luo Hongying now?

He’s safe and sound in my control.

Thanks to you, Chu Che.

You’re far-sighted.

We owe it to Mr. Li’s information.

Thank you, Mr. Chu.

I’m flattered.

The country is in danger.

I can’t turn a deaf ear to it.

Of course.

You don’t have to care about my feeling.

It’s of national interest.

Mr. Ying,

have some vegetables.

And some meat, too.

OK.

Here. More vegetables, Mr. Ying.

Mr. Ying,

it’s a farewell lunch.

If you take me as a friend,

you have to drink it.

OK.

I must get going after this cup.

A toast to you.

You drink with Yiluo, not me?

OK.

Here. Cheers, Mr. Ying.

Cheers!

Cheers!

Let’s play Scissors-Rock-Paper.

Great!

I don’t know how

to play your games.

Scissors.

You lost.

This is...

You have to drink it, Mr. Ying.

You can’t cheat.

Drink it.

I can’t drink anymore.

The key is, Mr. Ying,

if you don’t drink,

Yiluo would be unhappy.

Do you want to upset her?

Yeah. I’ll be upset.

I can’t do that.

The last thing I want to see

is that you’re unhappy.

If it’s your request, I’ll drink.

How long will we have to wait?

Who is Prince Qiyan?

I am.

The second prince of Xirong is a true man.

You come on your own.

What’s with these nonsense?

What do you want?

Second Prince of Xirong State

Luo Hantong

Only one request.

What is it?

Withdraw.

Ridiculous!

Who are you

to give an order?