Original subtitles

Provincial Governor Liu De Zhao

you and your wolves for officers

are the real Jiang Yang bandits

Although you are under the salary of the Imperial Court

but you disrespect the Emperor

and disrespect the citizens

You are a bigger threat to Qing Dynasty’s state power

than the leftover evils from Ming Dynasty

Yes...

- Yes... - Wrecking country and ruining people

Brother-in-law

All right!

Even though you say that the storage units in his residence

is filled with official silvers and grains

but how can you say

that it is the emergency supplies given by the Imperial Courts?

You’re right

Listen up...

I, Qiu Gui is the biggest grain supplier in Tai Yuan City

Is it abnormal for my storage

to have grain supplies?

Those were imported from out of state for a lot of money

- It doesn’t concern you - Those are bought by him?

Is he telling the truth?

If you say that these are imported

then let me ask you

where did it come from?

It is from Hubei

Hubei?

You are lying!

These are not Hubei’s grains

These are grains from up north

The emergency grain supplies that are given by the Imperial Court

all came from the north!

Liar...

Stop arguing!

I have not finished talking!

I have so many supplies in my home

only some of them were bought from Hubei

the rest came from up north

All right!

When did you buy these grains from up north?

This month

You are lying!

The grains from up north have already been bought by the Imperial Court

The suppliers up north

don’t have any extra to sell out

You...

How do you explain it...

Who are you?

How would you know that the grains from the emergency supplies

are from up north?

And how would you know

that the suppliers up north don’t have any extra to sell out?

Sir Liu, you don’t have to worry about who I am

If you and your brother-in-law are not guilty

then open up your storage units and let us have a look

- Yes... - At the same time

show us the records of your import

and let us verify it

- That is right - Open your storage...

Show us your records...

Qiu Gui

this person is suspicious

Get someone to keep a close eye on him

Yes.

Brother Zhu

they are planning to catch you

Don't worry

with my skills

they are no match for me

Martial arts masters are so stubborn

Dear villagers...

besides these grain supplies

we also found a few crates of silver bars

in another storage unit in the manor

Take a look

Look!

Sir Liu

I want to see how you and your brother-in-law answer this

Brother-in-law, this...

How? Let him say it, I want answers from him

Are you done talking?

All right

You are right

It is true

that the storage units in the manor

are holding a portion of silver bars and grain supplies

That is because after so many years

the storage unit in the government building

is susceptible to wind and rain

- Liar... - Lying again

That is why

we’ve borrowed Qiu Residence’s storage units

Then Sir Liu, please open the storage units

and give us the silver bars and grains

- Open up the storage units... - Give us the supplies...

Yes

Dear villagers

Open the storage units and give us the supplies

Dear villagers, I will tell you the truth

These supplies that are stored here

are not the emergency supplies given by the Imperial Court

These are

the supplies of Tai Yuan City’s military

Dear villagers

Military supplies are not to be touched

Liu De Zhao

What makes you say these are military supplies?

That is right...

What makes you say these are military supplies?

I, Liu De Zhao is the provincial governor of Shanxi

and also vice military leader

The matters regarding Shanxi’s military

is under my supervision

Would I be unaware of

these silver bars?

Let me tell you

if you want to continuously

create havoc

that is a rebellion

Rebellion?

- Someone, come - Here...

Catch all these people who create havoc

Yes...

This is their leader

- Catch him - Under what basis...

Under... under what basis are you catching us?

Under what basis are you catching us?

- Leader, please resist - You and Sir Suo, protect Leader

Under what basis are you catching us?

Leader

Under what basis are you catching us?

Leader, please don’t be rash

I just got news

that Liu De Zhao has ordered a group of local soldiers

to protect his own manor

I am afraid he will get anxious

and harms you

Dear villagers...

Listen to me

My heart aches for you villagers

Don't listen to his nonsense

I, Liu De Zhao am telling the absolute truth

The supplies in this manor are all military supplies

Whoever dares to take it by force

is punishable by death

Punishable by death

Those who escaped just now

are leftover evils from Ming Dynasty

They want to take advantage of this drought

and let everyone create havoc

That is treason and heresy

that is rebellion!

I will only take into account the leaders’ offence

The rest

if you leave right now

I will let it go

If you still refuse to leave

I will treat you as leftover evils

and execute with no trial

Let’s go...

Brother-in-law

Luckily, you came

If you didn’t come, I will be in a deep trouble

No. You, young man

why are you so useless?

Hasn’t bodyguard Meng mentioned so many times?

Your traps in your manor

are only useful to go against normal thieves

For the skilled ones

these have no function at all

You refuse to listen

Now you know their power

All right... I will immediately add more manpower

Then ask bodyguard Meng to prepare a new plan

Why isn’t bodyguard Meng with you today?

I sent Xiang He to Shu Residence to get some information

If Shu Wan Xin wants to find trouble with us

and ask the Imperial Commissioner to raise difficulties for us

then when the time comes...

When the time comes

we will send her to be with her father

I realised

we both have become evil

Brother-in-law

I am not

Master

Master, how is it?

It is not going well

I didn’t think Qiu Gui has so many properties

It wasn’t easy to find

the place they locked Shu Wan Xin in

and I wanted to wait until nightfall to save her

But before nightfall

they have moved Shu Wan Xin

It made my efforts go to waste

Where is she moved to?

I heard she was to serve the provincial governor

She should be in the provincial governor’s residence now

But I don’t know the location of the provincial governor’s residence

so I came to find you first

They gave Shu Wan Xin to Liu De Zhao

does that mean Shu Wan Xin did not expose her real identity?

Probably not

I guess Shu Wan Xin knows

that Liu De Zhao is the cause of her father’s death

so she did not expose her real identity

If Liu De Zhao sees Shu Wan Xin

would he recognise her as Shu Jian’s daughter?

Probably not

For a lady from an officer’s family

usually she will not be seen formally

And most definitely won’t be seen by her sworn enemy, Liu De Zhao

Then, that is good

Master, you shouldn’t show your face at the moment

in case someone in this residence recognises you

That you are not the court lady brought by Shu Wan Xin to the palace

It might alert Kang Xi

I understand

I will leave now

This person is skilful

Could it be our own people?

Cuckoo

Master

this is not our secret code

Sister Wan, it is me

I am here to save you

Sister Wan...

This is it

What do we do?

I am clueless about Shu Wan Xin’s lover

If we meet

I will spill the beans

Better not say a thing

Let's wait and see

Sister Wan, why aren’t you saying anything?

It is me

I know you are inside

Sister Wan

I know your father just passed away

and you must be very upset

You must hate Liu De Zhao

and you must hate me

Hate me for being an accessory

Not being able to save your father

I apologise greatly

But Sister Wan

the one who killed your father is Wu San Gui

it is not related to Sir Liu

Master

I know who he is

Who?

Liu De Zhao’s bodyguard, Meng Xiang He

He came with Shanxi’s officers today

to pay his respects

Sir Liu is busy governing

he is unable to make it himself

so he sent me to pay respects on his behalf

and wishes good health to you

I didn't think that Shu Wan Xin’s lover

is her father’s enemy’s bodyguard

Sister Wan, hurry out now and follow me

Once we’ve reached a safe place

I will explain to you clearly

Sister Wan

If you don’t come out

I will barge in

You cannot come in

Wan Xin

Your status is special now

Talking to me through the door

if someone spots us

I’m afraid I might involve you

You should let me in, then we can talk

No

You cannot come in

I... I don’t want to see you

Who asked you to become an accessory?

Liu De Zhao killed my father

I don’t want to live under the same sky as him

Sister Wan

The person who stabbed your father

has nothing to do with Sir Liu

The one who poisoned and killed your father at the inn

was Wu San Gui’s servant, Shi Qing Hong

Although the one who poisoned my father is Shi Qing Hong

but the ones who wanted to poison him, besides Shi Qing Hong

was the post assistant

Didn't he receive orders from Liu De Zhao?

Sister Wan

I have never lied to you before

The post assistant is receiving orders from Sir Liu

but he was framed by the bandits

A crate of silver bars was found at his place

Sir Liu imprisoned his whole family

and forced him to harm your father

At that time, I was outside on duty

not at the residence

I was too late to stop them

I know you hate me

No

I don't hate you

But

although the one who poisoned him is Shi Qing Hong

but it is because he got there before the post assistant

But in my heart

Liu De Zhao is one of my father’s killers

If you really love me

then help me to kill Liu De Zhao

to avenge my father’s death

Sister Wan

we have gotten engaged in secret

Technically

your father is my father

Avenging his death is also my duty

Liu De Zhao is evil

even if it is not to avenge your father

I should kill him, to carry out justice for the heavens

But you know he once saved my parents

At my parents’ deathbed

they requested that I take care of Liu De Zhao for 10 years

I’m bound to this 10-year promise

There is only one more month before it is up

When the day comes

are you willing to avenge my father's death?

Once the time is up

I still cannot kill him with my own hands

Or else my parents won’t forgive me

But I don't need to protect him anymore

He has committed so many sins

I believe he will get his retribution

If you are not willing to avenge for me

then please leave

There is no use saying anything

My father’s death

I will avenge it myself

Sister Wan

please don't act rashly

Liu De Zhao wants to bribe the Imperial Commissioner

but he knows that you will not let him go

Moreover, you are here

The Imperial Commissioner surely won’t take the bait

That is why he has a malicious intent towards you

If you continue to stay here

you won’t be able to return to the palace safely

You... you mean

Liu De Zhao sent you to kill me?

That is right

Sister Wan

you force me to kill Liu De Zhao

Liu De Zhao force me to kill you

but I rather die than hurt the both of you

Sister Wan

I have already arranged for a secret location

You have to leave with me now

this is the safest way

Someone...

Stop shouting...

Miss... it is me

Meng Xiang He

You?

How dare you?

The mistress is already the concubine to the Emperor

if the Imperial Commissioner found out about this

you are done for

It seems that this man in black

is the Noble Lady’s lover outside the palace

Miss

Don't worry

I am here to talk to Wan Xin, then I’ll leave

What is there to say between the both of you?

If you really want the best for her

then don’t come and find her anymore

Don't you know?

Miss Wan Xin is now given the Noble Lady status

and is carrying the Emperor’s child

What did you say?

Sister Wan, she is already...

The Noble Lady is carrying the Emperor’s child?

How did I not know it?

- Sister Wan - Don’t come here

Should I call someone here?

The Noble Lady’s lover could escape the guards and enter

He must be very skilled

If I make a sound, I might lose my life

Even if I get the guards to catch him

this is a matter regarding the royal family

The Emperor favours both Wan Xin and Shu Jian

I'm just afraid that things will go south for me

The less trouble the better

Turns out it is not your father’s death

that you cannot forgive me

Turns out that you’ve betrayed our promise

You’ve got the favour of the Emperor

Now...

Now you are pregnant

You should listen to her

and stop looking for me

Sister Wan

you've changed. You’ve once said

you rather die than becoming the Emperor’s woman

You said that you’ll find a thousand ways to escape and find me

Yes

I was incapable

I was unable to stop your father from sending you to the palace

I was unable to save you from the palace

But I’ve always kept to our lovers pledge

I’ve always look out for your news

I was afraid that if you die

I don't want to live on this earth anymore

But I never thought...

Brother Meng

you should leave quickly

Before someone discovers us

It won’t be good for us both

I am not afraid of being discovered

If I am discovered

I will try to kill you

then give up Liu De Zhao

That is considered as taking revenge for you

I will be executed with Liu De Zhao

Then, everything will be over

Why do you need to do this?

Leave quickly

Before someone discovers us

Are you worried about me?

Or are you worried about yourself?

Are you afraid that someone will discover us

and you will lose the favour from the Emperor?

You are now a Noble Lady

living a lavish life

Sister Wan

I don’t believe that you will become a heartless person

for these things

You...

- Don’t... - Do you like being a caged bird?

Sister Wan

come with me

I've found a good secret location

You will like it

Trust me

Trust me, Sister Wan

Don't force me!

It is for you own good

Don't force me

Sister Wan, I won't force you

But you need to leave with me

you staying here is a death sentence for you!

Your father is gone

you have no one at home

If something happens to you

who is going to stand up for you?

Even if I can protect you from Liu De Zhao’s assassins

but have you thought about

when you get back to the palace

can you overcome the cruel women in the Imperial Harem?

I don't need you to worry about me

Sister Wan

Come with me

Do you know martial arts?

Liu De Zhao, this crazed dog

I want to finish him now

Leader, keep your voice down

In case there are Liu De Zhao’s spies in the Shu Residence

It is not a mystery why Leader is so angry

This Liu De Zhao is making deceitful statements

He acts tough but talks softly

He treats the citizens like dirt

He totally disregards me and the Imperial Court

The palace and the Emperor are far away

Leader

Have you got rid of Liu De Zhao’s spy?

I’ve got rid of him before entering the city

But I have a new information

I'm afraid it might anger you further

What is the situation?

Let's go inside first

Leader

Leader

Where is the Noble Lady? Is she well?

The Noble Lady is already asleep

This way

You are not Sister Wan

Who are you?

What have you done to Sister Wan?

Such good skills

I didn't expect such good skills from the weaker sex

Who are you exactly?

Where is Sister Wan?

She is fine

Master, have mercy

Move aside

He has already seen through your facade

We can’t let him leave alive

Master

This person is innocent

he also has a good faith

and is an infatuated man

Spare him his life

Don’t be a fool. If we let him go

our identities will be exposed

It won’t

Give me some time

I will talk to him

I can convince him

I heard from the disaster victims

that they had a few relatives and friends from other places

that are selling supplies

and they wanted to export grains to Shanxi

And sell it at a normal price

to help relieve the disaster situation

But the main passageways for delivery

including the river ways and official roads

have been blocked by Liu De Zhao

Any supplies that are entering Shanxi

need to pay a high tax and toll

I heard that Liu De Zhao’s brother-in-law, Qiu Gui

is not only the biggest grain supplier in town

but the chairman of Shanxi’s Chamber of Commerce

I think they have monopolised the grain market

and stop the import of grain from outside

Big fortune but not for the country

It is an intolerable justice

to not kill Liu De Zhao!

Leader, calm down

Leader

Please calm down

Based on the way Liu De Zhao works

his words are gentle but his actions are deadly

If he can fool, he will fool

if not

he will force his way through

At the moment, Liu De Zhao has 10,000 local soldiers at his disposal

I am afraid that he finds out that all his actions

have been discovered by you

he might get anxious

and then do something untowardly to you

Then, what are you saying?

Should I wait until I get back to the palace to do something?

I can wait

But can the victims wait?

Of course they cannot wait

One more day

and I don't know how many more will die of starvation

How about this

why don’t we steal all the supplies

that they misappropriated

and hand it out to the citizens?

Are you planning to steal the supplies?

Lady Yi Huan

this is not a joke

That is right

It is obvious that Lady Yi Huan is telling a joke

The robbery of an official storage

is a crime that implicates nine generations

Just a few of us

snatching the food from the tiger’s mouth

isn’t that just seeking one’s death?

Why can’t we snatch the food from the tiger’s mouth

with the few of us?

Previously, me and my brother

always...

Always what?

Always steal supplies?

No

I was just bragging

Just bragging

Are you really just bragging?

You really are not guilty of serious violations?

I can’t lie to you

we just couldn’t stand to watch the official graft

So we sometimes teach them a lesson.

We take some profit on the side

just a few items

But all these are just small things

Not hurting the important essentials...

Leader

Don't listen to Yi Huan’s nonsense

When we were wandering before

we are unable to escape from a few dirty work

but our hands were tied

We have never done anything that is a serious violation of the law

Brother Long

why do you keep looking at me like that?

You are giving me the creeps

You teach them a good lesson

If I was your brother

if I am as talented as your brother

meeting officers as evil as Liu De Zhao

I will also not let him go

You scared me

But, Brother Long

if you want to find the person responsible

then it is you

who didn’t manage your officers well

Allowing them to drink the citizens’ blood

and eat the citizens’ flesh

leaving them with no choice but to take the risk

Sister Huan

even if we are not in the palace

you cannot say such things

to Leader’s face

Yi Huan is right

The officers forcing the citizens to rebel

is also a responsibility of the Imperial Court

It is my responsibility

Brother Meng

have a drink of water first

Don't worry

Shu Wan Xin is not dead

I am Xue Qing Cheng

I am Shu Wan Xin’s good friend

She wanted to return to Tai Yuan to find you

so I found a physician to change my appearance to hers

and replaced her to enter the palace

This is a token that she gave me

You should recognise this

Where is Sister Wan now?

Since you are Liu De Zhao’s bodyguard

then you should know Liu De Zhao’s brother-in-law, Qiu Gui

A few days ago, Qiu Gui snatched a maiden from Huai Yang Village

Do you know about this?

The dirty work of Sir Liu and his relatives

are something I cannot stop

I just pretend to not know

and never ask about it

Then you’ve made a big mistake

The maiden he snatched is not anyone else

it was Shu Wan Xin

At first, I wanted to save her

but I didn’t expect Qiu Gui to send her to Tai Yuan City

to serve Liu De Zhao

Brother Meng

don't get worked up just yet

We might alert people in the residence

I was just discussing on how to save Shu Wan Xin with my master just now

and then you appeared

Brother Meng

everything I am saying is the truth

you have to believe us.

I believe you

Today, I heard from Qiu Gui

that he found another perfect woman

that is an untouched virgin

to give to Liu De Zhao

Liu De Zhao says that he is busy dealing with the Imperial Commissioner

he doesn’t have the mood at the moment

I couldn’t believe that they were talking about Sister Wan

This group of beasts

Turns out Liu De Zhao and his people are beasts...