Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by Cheerful Scholars @Viki

"No Return" by Fan Shiqi

♫ Memories slowly surround me, are they happy or sad? ♫

♫ The intersection of being clear-headed and blurry, can’t determine if it’s white or black ♫

♫ Going against the wind yet still pursuing, I must retreat if I cannot advance ♫

♫ You needn’t and I am unwilling for tears to fall ♫

♫ For you I won’t regret anything even if I forget who I am ♫

♫ No matter how many years have passed, even when stars are falling ♫

♫ I’ll spend this long journey nestled together with you ♫

♫ Grant me a cup of deep love, a life of being intoxicated ♫

[Qing Qing Zi Jin]

[Episode 19]

Everyone...

The results of the exams.

The scores are out.

I will now announce them.

First place...

is Luo Qiuchi.

Second place is Fu Yuanzhi.

Third place

is Zhao Qinghe and Wenren Shu.

Why hasn't my name been called yet?

I will now announce those that failed.

- Failed? - Failed.

What should we do?

What should we do?

No one. Not even one.

- No one. Everyone passed. - No one?

I passed. I survived.

Did I hear it wrong?

I was so scared.

- I passed. - I know.

These exam scores

made

us proud indeed.

Everyone has done so well based on their own hard work.

This means that you all are the best.

This is great!

I passed.

But also...

the results of this exam show that

this is an effective method of learning.

The Academy has decided that from now on,

we'll use testing more as a method of instruction.

When did we decide this? How come I did not know.

It's not true.

This man.

Yuanzhi, what are you thinking about?

Professor Xuan.

Everyone went to celebrate.

Why did you not go?

Celebrate?

Yuanzhi, I saw your paper.

You answered it really well.

It was still not as good as Luo Qiuchi's, was it?

I never got second place before.

The results of this exam was out of my expectation.

Yuanzhi...

I always have confidence in you.

I have to say that

you and Liu Qiuchi are talented.

Using just one exam and several papers

to determine who is better is impossible.

It's just a matter of who was in a better frame of mind during the exam.

But the thing that will determine our futures

will also be just a few sheets of exam papers.

Fu Yuanzhi, did you think about this.

If Liu Qiuchi got second place,

what would he do?

Eat some vegetables.

Try this.

I'll toast everyone, all right?

Fine. This is good.

I'll drink a toast to everyone!

No one can leave here sober.

Come, come, cheers!

Boss Zhang, is there more wine?

Of course, drink up and eat up! Don't be polite!

I can not accompany everyone.

Everyone, please enjoy.

Sit.

Keep eating. Pour me some wine.

Try this.

-This one is good. -Try this one.

Qiuchi.

Look.

Food prepared at home tastes better than that bought from outside.

Cheers.

- A'Juan. - Qinghe, why don't you go in?

- I don't dare. - What is there to be afraid of?

You're the owner of this house. Which owner doesn't dare enter her own home?

The braised pork is delicious.

Have you not made up with Hang Ru Xue?

I'm afraid that was just an illusion.

Is that so?

Come!

- Don't even think about it. - Qiuchi, Qinghe's here.

Qinghe, weren't you just saying that you

had something to say to Instructor Hang?

- I didn't-- - Yes you did!

- That's right. Xiao Xue, didn't you say there was something you wanted to say to Qinghe? - Huh?

You two have a good chat.

Hey, you...

Classmates...

Eat up!

We've had enough to drink. Let's go!

Let's go!

Come on...

We won't keep you company anymore.

Let's go.

We're off.

- What are you doing? - I want to listen to what they're talking about.

- It's none of your business! - I just want to listen!

What do you mean, listen in? Let's go!

Thank you Instructor Hang for being willing to help us pass the exams before.

Ah... actually I didn't do anything.

Instructor Hang, I'll drink a toast to you!

That's my cup.

Oh, I'm sorry.

That's my napkin.

I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose.

It's all right. You can use it.

Thank you, Instructor Hang.

Just call me Hang Ru Xue.

Hang Ru Xue.

Will you stay on as an instructor in our Academy?

What will it take for His Majesty to restore your official position?

Instead of being a general without a specific command,

I'd rather stay at the academy and protect the students. It's more meaningful.

If the country is in peril, I will still step forward.

So no matter what orders His Majesty issues, you'll follow them?

Of course.

Then... what if His Majesty wants you to do something you're not willing to do?

Whatever His Majesty wishes will be my wish. I will never contradict him.

Eat something, Miss Zhao.

Just call me Qinghe.

Qinghe.

That's great, they've finally made up!

Has it finally put your mind at ease?

Then, come with me.

- Where are we going? - Let's go!

Second place?

You dare to come back with just second place?

I have confidence that I can get first place next time!

Confidence?

I put in so much effort to raise you all these years

and you've been outdone by someone with no clear background.

From now on, I'll send people to the Academy to watch you.

Apart from classes,

you're not allowed to leave your room.

You will not be allowed to exchange a word with anyone!

Mother, I'm already grown up.

I don't need to be supervised.

If you really know what to do, then you'd never have lost out to others!

Nobody is perfect. Everyone will occasionally fall behind.

Look at me.

I used to be a noblewoman too.

Whether it was in looks or education,

I was equal to any other official's daughter.

Your father insisted on marrying me even if it offended other nobles.

But what happened in the end?

When my grandfather was demoted and my family fell into ruin,

his attitude changed.

He left me neglected in this big house

for decades.

The world is cruel.

You can only rely on yourself.

On your own abilities.

Mother, you braved Father's neglect before

and insisted on giving birth to me.

- What was it for? - There's no need to talk about this.

Go and accept your punishment!

Follow me.

- We're here. - What is it that's so mysterious?

Wait for me.

- Don't open your eyes! - Qiuchi!

Qiuchi, are you done?

Qiuchi... Qiuchi, what are you doing?

He can't see me anyway.

Why don't I just take the blindfold off?

Didn't I say not to take it off?

Then can I do it now?

♫ Perhaps, starting from that day we met ♫

♫ Everything relating to you ♫

Do you like it?

Mmm... yes.

But Qiuchi, what made you think of doing all this?

Didn't you say you wanted to see a place full of flowers?

You remembered that?

Have you forgotten? I remember every word you say.

Qiuchi, thank you.

Are you touched?

Then... shouldn't you repay me?

Tell me, what do you want?

It's been so long...

Isn't it time to give me an answer?

What answer?

You're playing dumb! I mean an answer about us.

I...

If you don't give me an answer...

then... give me a kiss.

No!

What do you mean, "no"? You either give me an answer or a kiss. Pick one!

- I... - Then I'll kiss...

How about this?

Once it snows in the capital, then I'll tell you my answer.

What's this?

All right.

Really?

Ah, you fell for it! Let me tell you, it hasn't snowed in the capital in three years!

- Great, Little Monkey, you dare to trick me! - What about it?

What's this?

This... this is dust. It's not snow.

Dust?

Then... what's this?

It's snowing so heavily!

Qiuchi, it's snowing too heavily, let's go seek shelter!

- But... - Let's go! - Hey!

Come on!

You are happy and contented regardless of anything.

I've lived this life for others so far.

This kind of life

should come to an end.

It's snowing.

Yeah... it's snowing so heavily.

- What about my answer? - What answer?

Didn't you just say, you'd give me an answer when it snowed?

Oh, oh yes...

You wanted to look at flowers with me

and now we're looking at the snow...

Little Monkey, it's a little cold in this snow.

Have some hot tea to stay warm.

Thank you.

Thank you, Qiuchi.

This is wine!

How can it be wine? It's tea!

Luo Qiuchi, you did that on purpose!

You know that if I drink, I will--

Yeah, you will!

You still did it and you knew?

Only because I wanted to kiss you.

What did you say?

I said... I wanted to kiss you.

Fine, fine, I know! I was wrong.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Don't drink it then.

I don't know how Tiger and Rat are.

Qiuchi, do you miss them?

A man's ambition is everywhere. What's there not to think?

Right now, all I'm thinking about is kissing.

Hey, how about this? Why don't you make a sneak trip back during the Flower God Festival?

If you go on a fast horse, five or six days would be enough!

Will you come with me?

All right.

But... will it snow in Qingzhou City?

Yeah, it will. It snows from the beginning of winter.

From the summit of Dongyi Mountain to the outskirts of Qingzhou City,

the whole ground will be white with snow.

White with snow...

It must be so pretty.

Do you want to see it?

Qiuchi, I knew the capital was pretty,

but I didn't know it was this pretty.

It would be great if it keeps snowing.

But I think this snow will melt in a few days.

So what if it melts? As long as you want to see snow, we'll keep chasing the snow.

What do you mean?

If it doesn't snow in the capital, we'll keep going north, to the countryside.

If it doesn't snow in the countryside, we'll keep going north.

Wherever there's snow, we'll go there.

Then... what if I don't want to see the snow anymore?

The world is so big.

No matter what you want to look at, I'll go with you.

Really?

Really.

Qiuchi...

Zuoyang? Zuoyang? Wake up!

Zuoyang!

Zhi Zhi! You're back!

I've been waiting such a long time for you!

- Here, drink with me! - Why are you so happy?

Happy? I did well in the exams.

Even though we didn't use Luo Qiuchi's ink pots...

Luo Qiuchi?

What ink pots do you mean?

This... This... no.

I promised Luo Qiuchi not to talk about this.

So... I don't know.

And then... he voluntarily told me lots of things about what happens on the battlefield.

Do you think he only talked that much because he'd been drinking?

But... when he left,

he turned to look back at me.

What do you think that look meant?

Did he have something else to say to me?

Or am overthinking this too much?

A'Juan.

A'Juan.

Did you hear what I was saying?

Yes. Of course, I did.

Why is your face so red?

Is it red?

It could be that the room is too hot.

It's too hot. Don't you think so?

Is that so?

By way, what were you saying just now?

I said, Instructor Hang...

- Hang Ruxue, he... - Qinghe,

I kissed Qiuchi.

What?

This is great. Where were you and...

Where did you both kiss and how long was the kiss?

Are you talking about the first or second time?

You two... Quick, tell me all the details.

All the details?

Hurry up.

I can't talk about it.

Shouldn't Qiuchi seek Lord Wenren's consent for marriage?

Marriage?

That fast?

I don't know either.

A'Juan, I really envy you

for being able to find the one you love and love each other too.

It will happen for you and Instructor Hang sooner or later.

But Qiuchi treats you very well.

Besides, he really loves you very much.

I really envy you.

This is great.

- Happy? - Yes. Don't talk about this. - I won't.

- I wonder how it will be on our wedding day. - It will be gorgeous.

- You and Instructor Hang must attend. - Of course.

What's wrong with you?

You are thinking too much.

I... kissed her.

Who?

Drink some water.

What should I choose?

This or that?

It's you.

Let's go.

Such a slow coach at work. Don't slack off.

- Did you hear me? - Yes.

- Morning, Second Miss. - Morning, Uncle Wang.

Why are you dressed so nicely today?

Is there any difference from usual?

Yes. You look confident and radiant,

with rosy cheeks.

Did you have a good sleep last night?

Yes.

Uncle Wang, if there's nothing else, I'm going to the Academy.

All right, all right, take care.

Speed up. Do you hear me?

Yes.

- Qiuchi. - Little Monkey.

Little Monkey,

you are so happy. You slept well last night, right?

Let's go now or we will be late.

Wait, I forgot my bag.

So forgetful.

I'm going to go get it.

Be quick. I will wait for you.

- Uncle Wang. - Second Miss, why are you back again?

I forgot my bag.

So forgetful.

Wait for me.

- Mister Luo. - Steward Wang.

I would like to ask you something.

- Please ask. - You have been working here for many years.

Have you seen this waist ornament before?

This is my waist ornament. I lost it a long time ago. Where did you find this?

- Yours? - Yes.

Mister Luo...

I'm asking you again. Is this waist ornament really yours?

Yes, it's mine.

Where did he go?

Qiuchi!

Qiuchi, what are you doing? Release him now.

Nine years ago, outside the capital, did you pursue and kill a child?

I didn't. That was a long time ago. I can't remember.

Qiuchi. Qiuchi, release him first.

Talk in a civil manner first, all right?

Are you the killer?!

Yes, it was me.

What?

Uncle Wang, what's going on?

Second Miss, stop asking. Don't bother about who it was.

Tell him to release me now.

How could you kill a little boy?

- Speak! - I...

- I... - Don't want to talk, right?

You don't need to talk ever again, then.

Qiuchi.

Uncle Wang, what's going on? Talk now.

Second Miss,

stop asking. Save me now.

You...

Talk now.

Someone directed you, right?

- No. - Who was that person?

- Will you talk or not? - No one.

- Qiuchi.

Qiuchi.

No one...

You are still alive.

You were that little boy, right?

At that time, I was just a guard.

One day, someone sent a letter to me.

It said Lord Wenren wanted someone to pursue and kill a little boy outside the city.

I didn't know who he was.

I... I was afraid someone would pursue accountability for this in the future.

Hence, I... I kept this letter.

I was wrong. I deserve to die. I deserve to die.

- You are lying. - I'm not. Look,

it has Lord Wenren's signature and personal seal on it.

[Letter to kill Luo Heng dated nine years prior]

Qiuchi, you don't believe this, right?

You know that my father is not that kind of person.

There must be a misunderstanding.

Qiuchi, Qiuchi.

I...

I...

Master, you are here just in time. Help me to find the evidence now.

- What evidence? - Qiuchi mistook my father as the one who ordered to kill him.

How is this possible? Father is such a kind person.

How could he possibly kill a ten-year-old boy?

There must be a misunderstanding.

Girl, you are already an adult.

There are certain things you should know too.

Move aside.

I already know.

You led our classmates to cheat.

If Prinipal Yin knew, would you still be able to stay here?

I'm telling you to move aside.

If you are not afraid

and if others knew that

you are related to Mountain God of Dongyi...

I already know that the trespasser in the Rare Items Shop

to find the waist ornament was you.

Why would you have the same weapon as the Mountain God of Dongyi?

You are a member of Dongyi or...

you are the Mountain God of Dongyi.

I'm telling you for the last time.

Move aside.

If you leave A'Juan's side, I won't reveal anything.

[Payments by Lord Wenren for assigned tasks]

[More Payments by Lord Wenren]

Impossible.

Not possible.

Impossible.

What are you doing? Stop it!

Stop fighting. Stop it.

Are you hurt? What's going on? What happened?

How could you hit him? Luo Qiuchi, don't leave.

Luo Qiuchi. You can't leave either.

Instructor Hang.

Qiuchi, don't leave.

I don't want to see you now.

Wenren Juan, what are you doing here?

- Where's Luo Qiuchi? - What's wrong?

Something bad happened.

- What's going on? - No idea.

What happened?

- A'Juan. - What's going on?

Why is Qiuchi being reported?

I heard that Fu Yuanzhi reported to the Principal that he cheated during the examination.

They even found the inkstones that we used for cheating.

- What? - The principal has already sent someone to look for him.

- Do you know where he is? - I...

The principal is here.

Everyone, listen carefully.

During the examination,

whoever cheated,

be honest and stand out now.

Or whoever knows the truth,

please report it directly to us.

Otherwise, if the Academy investigates and finds out,

regardless of who you are,

you will be expelled.

You won't be able to take the examinations for three years.

We can't take the examination for three years?

Even if Luo Qiuchi cheated,

it was impossible for him to do it alone.

Speak. Who else did it?

Who else?

It was me.

Wenren Juan?

So you're saying, together with Luo Qiuchi,

- you cheated too. - It's not that.

Frankly, I'm the only one who cheated.

It had nothing to do with Luo Qiuchi and the rest.

Don't think that by taking the fall for him,

he will be fine. If the Academy finds out,

he won't be able to extricate himself from this either.

No, Principal. I did it alone.

No, Principal. Me too. I was part of it too.

- You? - It has nothing to do with her. Principal, Professors,

you should know that Qinghe is usually such a coward.

How could she be so brave as to do this?

A'Juan.

Principal, this has nothing to do with A'Juan. Qiuchi did it.

Wenren Juan, is there anything else you want to say?

Principal, Classmate Fu has never gotten along with Luo Qiuchi.

Hence, you can't trust his words.

Also, right now, I will testify that

- everything was done by me. - A'Juan, don't do this.

Fine.

You can testify then.

A'Juan, you shouldn't take the responsbility for this alone.

This is because of me too.

If it weren't for me, Luo Qiucihi wouldn't have cheated.

Qinghe, don't worry. We didn't really cheat.

As long as we explain clearly to the Principal, everything will be fine.

I'm going.

She will be expelled.

What should we do?

We used this mirror

and set up a device on the ceiling.

We would then use the answers reflected in the mirror

to answer the questions.

So to say, you alone

planned this?

Yes. I planned this

- but... - You are too bold.

Instead of focusing on your studies,

you even plotted to do something like this.

I was afraid that I would fail and be expelled from the academy.

That's why I came up with this strategy

but, Principal, during the examinations, I knew that this was a serious matter.

And that it was wrong. Hence, I didn't bring the inkstones in.

Hence, we really didn't cheat. Please investigate wisely.

How can you prove that you didn't bring this in?

Besides, regardless whether you intended to cheat or actually cheated,

you already had the devious thought. To the Academy,

that's a big disgrace.

Do you know that your behavior will get you expelled from the Academy?

Pprincipal, I know I was wrong. You can scold me, hit me, or confine me.

Please don't expel me from the Academy.

I swear I won't do this again.

It's too late to say anything now.

Pack your belongings and go home.

Principal... Principal!

Professors, please help me.

We are unable to help you.

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by Cheerful Scholars @Viki

[Venerable Teacher's Hall ]

Principal, Professors.

I know that I committed a major taboo in this academy.

Not only did I insult the saints, I also disgraced the Academy itself.

But I know I'm really wrong and am willing to be punished.

Please be lenient and give me another chance.

"Pear Blossoms Bloom" by Su Miaoling

♫ Pear flowers are blossoming, pear flowers are blossoming ♫

♫ Fluttering in the wind ♫

♫ Waving to and fro on the mountain ♫

♫ Thousands of miles away ♫

♫ Thousands of miles away ♫

♫ Is she still waiting there ♫

♫ Dear wind, please blow gently ♫

♫ Slowly blowing the ends of her hair ♫

♫ Rain, please drizzle slowly ♫

♫ Don’t dampen her face ♫