Original subtitles

Sir Shu is of high rank

you are just a small post assistant

you don't even have the chance to carry his shoes

Why would you have a personal grudge against him?

I am not going to lie

because of a small issue, Sir Shu

gave me a caning

I kept that grudge in my heart

but I didn't kill him

I hope you interrogate Shi Qing Hong clearly

Enough!

I am part of Ping Xi Government, unlike you a commoner

why do you want to let down

the good name of Ping Xi Government?

I heard with my own ears

Sir Shu calling out your name

before he died

I am not lying

- You... - Shi Qing Hong

Don't be reckless

The Imperial Commissioner is fair and just

Post assistant

you are just a small post assistant

why would you dare to kill an Imperial Court official?

It is best you tell me the truth on who the conspirator is

or else

your punishment will be increased

and your family will be dragged into this

Sir

I am following someone’s orders

but I can’t tell you who it is

Or else

my family

will lose their lives

I am guilty

but they are innocent

Sir

let me pay for my offence with my death

He was hiding a poison pill under his tongue

He sensed that things were going south, so he sacrificed himself

Tonight, the person that I saw was the post assistant

but before him

was Shi Qing Hong

It seems that there are three people

who have grudges against Shu Jian

Leader

Physician Li, you are here too?

Miss Li Bin was too upset

I came to check her pulse

and give her some relaxing medication

Wan Xin

don't be too upset

Even though your father has passed away

but I will take care of you forever

In regard to your father’s last wishes

if you have any ideas

just let me know

I don’t have any opinion

we’ll just follow your orders

All right

I have decided that tomorrow morning

I will escort your father’s body back to Tai Yuan City

Although the palace decrees

that the concubines

are not allowed to wear mourning garments

because of their own family matters

but we are out of the palace

I will allow you to wear mourning clothes

to show your filial piety

Once we’ve returned to the palace

I will bestow your father as a first-rank official

to appease his soul

Thank you for your generosity

Brother Long

you need to avenge her father’s death

Shi Qing Hong as the post assistant mentioned

is Wu Ying Qi’s personal bodyguard...

Keep your voice down

Beware, the walls have ears

I also suspect

that this person is Wu San Gui

But he is also cunning and sly

There is a big possibility that they

has planted a spy near Oboi

Maybe after he sent out the golden key

then he got to know about the golden key’s secret

There is a possibility that he then send someone to retrieve it

But Wu San Gui has a powerful army

and undisputed authority

I don't want to act rashly and alert the enemies

No wonder you brushed over his words

Oboi’s Yu Tang and Wu San Gui

is the cause of my headache

But we cannot use immediate relief for such a big illness

Leader, Shu Jian’s death

and Shanxi’s corruption

is not something we can investigate in a short time

For your safety

why don’t you head back to the Capital earlier?

Then, I will accompany Miss Li Bin

to escort Shu Jian’s body

back home

Sir Suo’s idea is good

Leader, let’s get back to the Capital first

It is all right

I understand that you are worried about my safety

but since leaving the palace

all the things we’ve encountered are none that I’ve known before

There is only so much you can read from books

I want to stay in Shanxi for a few more days

to observe the citizens

But Leader, the current situation

is too complicated

What if there are any accidents?

I am afraid I cannot handle it

As an Emperor

the biggest threat

is not an assassination

but the inability to rule a country well

and have the citizens wishing for your death daily

I cannot stay in the depths of the palace forever

and rule the country by the book

Although being here

I am taking some risks

but

it is worth it

and I must do it

Brother Long, you said it well

I support you

Whenever you make any decision

I will protect you with my life

Didn’t Brother Long once say

I can boast as much as I like?

Boss

although you are not very strong

but your heart is good

I will accept your sentiments

Leader, you’ve been interrogating all night

the sun is about to come up

Why don't you rest early?

Take care of your health

How can I sleep now?

When the sun rises, we’ll head off

All right

Imperial Commissioner

this morning, Shi Qing Hong went to the post assistant’s house

The neighbours said

a few days ago

the provincial governor

found a box of dirty money

At the moment, his wife and kids

are all in jail

I understand

Thank you, young master

Imperial Commissioner

me and my father

are loyal and faithful

regardless if it is to the Emperor

or the Imperial Court

I hope when you get back to the palace

you will say some good words

in front of the Emperor

Of course

In regard to Yong Li Emperor’s relics that haven’t been stolen yet

I will leave it you, young master

to send it to the Capital

We will part here

Until we meet again...

Sir, please mount the horse

Go...

Miss Qian Ying

why don't we head off

while the weather is still good?

All right

This Imperial Commissioner named Long San

out of all the officials in the court

who is this person?

Sir Long is very low-profile

He is always in commoner’s clothes

and never alerts the local government

Once entering the inn, he asked the attendants to leave

and wishes to talk to Shu Jian in private

Because of Shu Jian’s injuries

after talking awhile, he slipped out of consciousness

The post assistant wanted to poison him at night

and end Shu Jian

But we never thought

that someone from Ping Xi Government got ahead of us

Sir Long didn’t dare to offend Ping Xi Government

so

he pushed all the blame to the post assistant

forcing him to reveal the master behind the puppet

Isn’t he finding trouble for himself?

Originally, when Shu Jian was stabbed

it had nothing to do with us

At first, I thought I can get rid of

this thorn in my flesh

but now

I’ve gone and made things worse for us

Sir

the post assistant knows that he messed up

and was afraid of involving his wife and kids

so he killed himself by ingesting poison

without exposing you, sir

Let me tell you

if this matter is investigated

wouldn’t they find out

that his wife and kids

were caught by us?

Wouldn’t it be obvious to Sir Long the moment he sees it?

There is no point in worrying about it now

My standpoint is

we have to assert

that the post assistant’s wife and kids were hiding dirty money

We are just executing the law

As long as we don’t let the Imperial Commissioner find any evidence

it shows that Shu Jian’s death is related to the post assistant

and he has nothing on us

Hopefully

Hopefully, the Imperial Commissioner

understands

the rules

and is easy to talk to

Wu Ying Qi’s reaction is quite fast

Overnight, he sent Shi Qing Hong

to the post assistant’s house to check

He said

the post assistant

was forced by Shanxi’s provincial governor, Liu De Zhao

That is why he took the risk to

poison Shu Jian

Leader, don’t believe what Wu Ying Qi says

This matter is about Wu San Gui

and Liu De Zhao

both wanted to kill Shu Jian

Liu De Zhao’s motive to kill Shu Jian

must be because he thinks that Shu Jian has

some leverage against him

The one who stole the golden key

and stabbed Shu Jian

must be one of Wu San Gui’s people

Don’t worry, I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on

Brother Long, don’t sit on the horse after this

it is too tiring

Why don't you sit in the carriage?

That is not right

My current identity is the Imperial Commissioner

How can I sit with Li Bin

in the same carriage?

Also

the news of what happened at the inn

is so big

it has probably spread everywhere

If my identity gets exposed

it will be very dangerous

That is right, Leader

Leader

why don't you take a sip of water?

What if we buy you a carriage

at the nearest market?

That is not necessary

In comparison to those starving

and homeless citizens

this little hardship

is nothing

Have a drink

Sir

I overheard a very important information

Travelling with Sir Long

is a mysterious, young lady

She is always wearing a veil

secluded and rarely comes out

Strangers cannot approach her

Even the Imperial Commissioner

is exceptionally formal with her

If even the Imperial Commissioner is formal with her

it must mean

that this lady’s status

is higher than the Imperial Commissioner

Yes

This lady

is Shu Jian’s only daughter

Shu Wan Xin

Shu Wan Xin?

Sir

wasn’t Shu Wan Xin chosen to enter the palace

a few months ago?

I heard that after Shu Wan Xin

entered the palace not too long

she was chosen by the Emperor

and given a Noble Lady status

Soon she will become Li Bin

and enters the Yonghe Palace

So

if Sir Long

is exceptionally formal with her

it does make sense

But Qing Dynasty rules decree

that if the concubines

leave the palace

the punishment is death

Qing Dynasty’s rules are inanimate

but this person is animate

The Emperor

favours Shu Jian a lot

The Emperor knows that he is on his deathbed

so he asks for Sir Long to secretly escort

Li Bin out of the Capital

to see her father

It is possible

Sir

Shu Jian’s body

has been taken by the Imperial Commissioner

back to Tai Yuan to be buried

At the moment

I will go and visit

Shu Residence under the pretence of paying my respects

and investigate this lady’s identity

if it is really Shu Wan Xin

Although I have never met Shu Wan Xin

but I have heard from others

that she an iron fist in a velvet glove

She has her own, strong opinions

She knew that we’ve always disagreed with her father

and now that Shu Jian is dead

is she going to let it go?

She will force Sir Long

to investigate Shu Jian’s death

I don’t think bribing will work anymore

Then we may as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb

Miss Li Bin

watched her father die mercilessly

and was overwhelmed with grief

and died

This is plausible, right?

Sir

Miss Li Bin

is just a weak lady

Even if she hates you

the Imperial Harem cannot interfere with politics

She can’t do anything to you

You don't have to take such a huge risk, right?

Guard Meng

you are a just a commoner

So, you wouldn’t understand

the powers in the Imperial Harem

Let me tell you, the concubines in the

Imperial Harem’s biggest opportunity

is a mother getting favours from the son’s honour

If the Emperor

favours Miss Li Bin so much

sooner or later, she will carry

the Emperor’s child

When that time comes

do you think she will go easy on us?

And not take revenge on us?

So

we need to seize the opportunity

and get rid of her

You are right, brother-in-law

To clear the weeds

we need to pull the roots

Now that Shu Jian is dead

the people of Shu Residence are jittery

I can take this opportunity

to bribe a few of their servants

so when we want to execute anything in the future

we are prepared

Wan Xin

Wan Xin

Are you really back?

Is there anyone out there?

Hey, open the door!

Let me out!

Is there anyone out there?

Hey, is there anyone out there?

Let me out!

Do you still want to escape?

Let me out!

Hey, is there anyone out there?

- Let me out... - Miss

Stop calling for help

This estate

is in the countryside

The entire estate is a few hundred acres

all belonging to our lord

Even if you shout yourself hoarse

it is no use

Hey

who is your lord?

Why does he kidnap a commoner?

Our lord’s family name is Qiu

his name is Qiu Gui

Qiu Gui?

Why does it sound familiar?

Our lord is the chairman of Shanxi’s Chamber of Commerce

It is the biggest supplier in Tai Yuan City

Last year, our Lord’s sister

married the provincial governor

and is ardently loved by him

You tell me, who are you going to complain to?

It seems that Qiu Gui

is Liu De Zhao’s people

Liu De Zhao is a sworn enemy of my father

Luckily I fainted just now

and never revealed my identity

or else I will drag my father into this

and will be sent back to the palace

Then I will never be able

to see Brother Meng again

Miss, I won’t lie to you

we were also tricked by Lord Qiu to come here

it was almost like we were kidnapped

When we first got here

we were also crying and shouting like you.

But as time goes by

slowly we accepted our fate

In this day and age

being alive is already good enough

what more can we ask for?

Miss

why don't you just

stay here in the residence

and the lord will take care of your meals

Isn't it better than being on the streets

and starving?

Thank you for your advice

But I don’t understand

what does Mister Qiu want

to do with me?

Does he want me to be his servant?

You are so pretty

why would he want to make you his servant?

But

our lord’s sister

is pregnant

Mostly

he wants to give you up to the provincial governor

Give... give me to the provincial governor?

But...

Is he not afraid that

I will fight for favours with his sister?

I won’t hide from you

right now, the lady is pregnant

so she can’t serve the provincial governor

The lord giving up one of his people

to fill the spot

is better than the provincial governor finding another wife, right?

Miss, just stop crying

As long as you listen and follow his orders

the lord will treat you well

Then you have something to rely on for the rest of your life

Liu De Zhao has never seen me before

so he wouldn’t recognise that I am his sworn enemy

Shu Jian's daughter

After I’ve entered the Liu Residence

I will give the signal

and Brother Meng will come and save me

Thank you, sister

I will listen to you

I will listen to Mister Qiu

and serve the provincial governor well

That is the way

For us women, getting married is normal

Being able to marry the provincial governor

is already a big blessing

Oh right

miss, what is your name?

My family name is Wan

I’m Wan Su

Wan Su

All right, why don’t you sit first

and we’ll eat something?

Songgotu says

that the Li siblings do not have any abnormal activity

They are quite loyal to the Emperor

But

Shu Jian

was killed

right under the Emperor’s nose

Grandmother

the real master behind Shu Jian’s assassins

is not only Liu De Zhao

but also Wu San Gui

Isn’t it dangerous

if the Emperor continues his journey?

You better persuade the Emperor

to return to the Capital quickly

and not go to Tai Yuan

It is too late

At this point of time

the Emperor should already be reaching Tai Yuan City

- Go! - Stop

Stop...

Half cup...

- It's here, that's everything - Half cup

This is not enough

Sir

can you give me a little more?

It... it is already good enough

This money is not enough for even half a cup tomorrow

Please

Give her half a cup

Sir

- Your money is not enough - Isn’t Tai Yuan a capital city?

- Why are they so stingy? - Please give me more

All right...

Thank you... sir

Sir... please?

I don't have money, stop blocking

Sir, it has already... been five days since I’ve eaten

Sister, may I ask, what are you all doing?

We are buying rice

Thank you...

Buying rice?

Is there only one sundry shop in this city?

Why is there such a long queue?

Brother

you must be a foreigner

Don’t you know we were hit

by a decade-old drought?

Of course I know this

But didn’t the Imperial Court

send out emergency supplies?

Didn’t you receive them?

Are you talking about the emergency supplies from the Imperial Court?

We haven’t even seen a grain of rice

We only see this rice store’s pricing

continuously increase

Sir, how much is the rice?

Isn't it stated here on the door?

- Take a look yourself - Why is there a price increase?

- Half cup... - Give them half a cup

All right, half cup

The ones at the back, follow up

- So expensive? - Yes...

We can’t afford to eat rice anymore

- The ones at the back, follow up - Give him half cup

All right... go

Every cup of rice 2,000 cents

Next

- Next - Boss, when did you get here?

When you were in the city last time

what are the prices of rice?

You’ll have to see what year it is

If it is the harvest year

then a litre is around

10 to 12 cents

One cup is 10 litres

so it is around 100 to 120 cents

But if it is lunar year

and the harvest is bad

then the prices will double

About 200 to 240 cents a cup

Brother Long, do you know what you can get

with 2,000 cents?

No...

If it was before, you can buy a whole pig

This...

No... leave

Leader

don't worry about it

Let’s settle Shu Jian’s matters first

All right

If you want to buy, then hurry up

Tomorrow, it won’t be this price anymore

Hurry up

Miss Li Bin, I am at your disposal

Court lady, forgo the formalities

Miss, you need to restrain your grief

You are much skinnier than

when you were home

your face is much sharper now

She misses her family when she is at the palace

until she can’t even think of eating

that is why she is skinnier now

Is the food in the palace

not to Miss’ liking?

When you were young

you loved to eat goat’s milk pudding that I made

I have made some for you

Thank you for your thoughtfulness

but right now I have no appetite to eat anything

This is not good

Now that the Lord is not here anymore

you need to take care of your health

When you were young, every time you are upset

and you don’t want to eat

you will have a big appetite

once you take a whiff of my goat’s milk pudding

Miss

here, take a sniff

- Take it away - Take it away first

Miss, what happened?

You used to like this smell before

why do you feel like vomiting when you smell it now?

I don't like this smell anymore

Miss, do you dislike

me now?

Here...

Do you understand?

All right, I understand...

Miss, take good care of your body

I will leave first

Luckily, I managed to chase her away

Yi Huan

what did you say to her just now?

I told her

that you are carrying a child

and now that Sir Shu died all of a sudden

and the concubines are fighting for the favour of the Emperor

this news cannot spread to other people

You silly girl

aren’t you even ashamed after telling such a lie?

Then, what should I do?

You saw her nagging there

if I didn’t say such a thing, would she have left?

But, Sister Xue

if in the future

the food they serve is not to your liking

you don't need to be afraid that they will see through it

That is right

But everyone here is Shu Residence’s people

What if I am discovered here?

Shu Jian is now dead

so there is no more danger

Moreover, the people here are all servants

Even if you slip up

they won’t dare to question your identity

Don't worry

Leader, we’ve searched the whole study a few times

We haven't found anything of value

Leader, take a look

All these notes, the old and new

have been mixed together

It means that before we got here

it was searched by someone else

It seems like a servant in this Shu Residence

has been bribed by Liu De Zhao

The notes that Shu Jian left

has been taken by someone

Leader, do you want to see

the Shanxi officers under Liu De Zhao?

Absolutely not

Leader

you need to look out for your safety

Why don't we return to the Capital

right after Shu Jian is buried?

Even if I don’t go and see them

they will come to see me

the Imperial Commissioner, right?

Leader, the Shanxi officials have come to pay their respects

There is the Surveillance Commissioner and Administrative Commissioner

and Shanxi's provincial governor Liu De Zhao’s bodyguard

Meng Xiang He

Look, my guess is right, isn’t it?

Let's go, let’s meet them

Leader

you need to be very careful

Don't let them see any weak points

Don't worry, I just started governing not too long ago

The officials in Shanxi have not met me before

All right

Glad to meet Miss Li Bin...

- Forgo the formalities - Thank you, Miss

Miss

Sir Liu was shocked to hear news of Sir Shu

he is very upset

He wanted to rush over

but because the drought situation in Tai Yuan City is worsening

he is busy with governing

so he can’t come here himself

He sent me to pay his respects on his behalf

And he hopes that you are well

and not be too overwhelmed with grief

The Emperor has bent the rules to allow me to tend to my father

his graciousness is mighty

I am very thankful

But this matter shouldn’t be made public

And thanks to you sirs

and I ask you

to thank Sir Liu on my behalf

Sir Liu and my father are associates

I thank him for keeping an eye on my father

I will definitely pass on your words

to Sir Liu.

Glad to meet Imperial Commissioner