Original subtitles

I'm just kidding.

If we want to talk about grave offences,

Long San had committed no less of them.

But boss,

I'm really curious.

Where are you actually from?

Why do you have so many special skills?

Me?

I am just a nobody in the underworld.

To survive the underworld,

I must learn many things.

Or else, how would I survive it?

Am I right?

You are more of an eye-opener to me

as compared to Liu De Zhao.

It's lucky that your skill isn't perfect

that this seal

is still distinguishable from the original one.

If not,

it will surely cause chaos.

Brother Long,

did I do something wrong

that made you doubt me?

Don't worry.

If it's someone else

who falsifies the seal,

no matter what his reason is,

I will not forgive him.

But it's you.

I know that you can be playful,

but you will never do anything

that I can't forgive.

You might be saying this,

but I know very well that

you have started to doubt me.

I shouldn't have come out with this idea.

I should have thought of something else.

Anyway, I have already made up my mind.

After we are back in the palace,

I will keep you beside me.

Then no matter what you do,

I will be able to cover for you.

I don't want to be imprisoned

in that golden cage called the Forbidden City.

A king keeps his promise.

Remember what I said just now.

But you are not the Emperor now.

You are my Brother Long.

Guardian Li,

when your master is back,

please say some good things about us

in front of him.

Sure...

Thank you.

The Imperial Commissioner is here.

The Imperial Order is here!

This is His Majesty's secret order

to Liu De Zhao and his fellow officials.

I will accept His Majesty's order.

Empowered by divine authority, the Emperor commands that

Long San be the Imperial Commissioner

to investigate the assassination of Military Head Shu Jian.

While he is there, he shall supervise the relief of the draught in Shanxi

and the culture of the officials and their performance

in all honesty and truth without any delay.

Long live our king...

You...

Sir Liu,

have you heard the Emperor's order?

Before I departed,

the Emperor had repeatedly reminded me

to investigate the relief of draught in Shanxi in great detail

and the culture of the officials and their performance.

I hope all of you will cooperate with me.

Don't worry, Sir Long.

I will do my best to assist you.

The journey must have been difficult for you.

Shu Jian's residence is so remote

and doesn't have many facilities.

I'm so sorry for the inconvenience.

Sir Long,

if you don't mind,

I have a small mansion in my residence

with a great environment

and better accessibility.

Sir,

perhaps you can stay at my mansion.

I thank you for your kindness, Sir Liu.

It's just that

I was sent to investigate the officials' performance.

I should not be seen too close to you

so that there will be no rumours

which can be bad for the both of us.

Sir Long,

you have come a long way from Beijing,

and crossed so many mountains.

It must have been difficult for you.

Since you are already here,

my fellow officials and myself

must fulfil our duties as the host.

Leader,

we have been taking simple meals at Shu's residence lately.

I'm getting sick of the food.

Why don't we just see

if Sir Liu has anything nice for us?

I...

Sure. Then I thank you first, Sir Liu.

This way, please, Sir Long.

Please...

It's really our great honour

to have Sir Long coming all the way

to eat with us.

Sir Long,

we should not look at it anymore.

All of these are some home cooked food

prepared by the cooks in my residence.

I hope they suit your taste.

Let's have a taste.

Try it.

Sir Liu,

there is no ordinary meat

like chicken, duck, fish or pork on this table.

All the food are made of precious ingredients.

Sir Liu,

your so-called home cooked food

seems much better than the Emperor's own meal.

Sir Long, you're amusing.

You are flattering me.

It's like this.

Good food cannot be served without good wine.

Here.

Sir Long, have a taste.

This is...

Here...

This is grape wine from the West.

It tastes even better when served cold.

Go on and have a taste.

The two of you, come and help yourselves too.

It's so hot outside

and the draught is bad.

I didn't expect you would have

cold grape wine in your residence.

I hope you don't laugh at me.

I am too fat, so I'm afraid of heat.

That's why I have a few icehouse in my house

so that during winter,

we would prepare more ice

to go through the summer with ease.

You really know how to enjoy your life.

This draught in Shanxi

had made the Emperor

to lose his appetite

and his sleep in the Forbidden City.

He had even forsaken luxurious clothes and food for a month

and copy scriptures with his own blood.

Only then he managed to beg the Heaven for rain.

It seems like it's less enjoyable

to be an Emperor than an official.

Sir Long, you are exaggerating things.

Come, let's have some food.

Let's have some food.

- Sir, please. - Sir Liu,

save it.

All these good food you served me

show how you have exploited the people.

All these wine

are just like the blood the people bleed.

I really have no appetite for them.

Sir Long, you indeed have the heart for the people.

We are ashamed by it.

If you have something to say,

we will listen to it.

Sir Liu,

we can save all the dramas.

We both know what each of us is thinking.

I just want Sir Liu to complete three tasks.

What three tasks?

First,

let Wang Shi San and the rest go.

And also those draught victims you arrested

at your brother-in-law's manor that day,

acquit them all

and adequately compensate them.

Sure,

I'll do it right away.

Second,

distribute the food you have stored to the victim,

and arrest all of the merchants who

took advantage of the draught

to increase food prices.

Punish them accordingly.

All right,

I'll do it right away.

Third,

hand over the account for the draught relief.

Open up the safe

so that I can go in and check.

If there is any shortage,

you have to find your own ways to make it up.

Then we will distribute all these money

to the victims together.

Don't you all feel that

it is so hot today?

Yes...

It's so hot.

All right,

I will send my men

to do them now.

Sir Liu,

please don't brush me off.

You all know very well that

all these tasks

concern not only the lives of the victims,

but also

the future and more importantly your own lives.

I understand.

All right,

then I will excuse myself.

Send Sir Long off.

There's no need.

You can stay here

and enjoy all the good food and wine.

Don't waste it.

Yi Huan,

you are too outrageous!

How dare you falsify the imperial seal!

Don't you know that

you just did something that provoked the Emperor?

Although the Emperor did praise you,

do you know how would he feel?

I know.

I knew it when I did it.

He certainly wouldn't be happy.

But it's too late to regret it now.

Uncle, Yi Huan was eager to save the victims.

She is a simple-minded girl.

She wouldn't understand the complicated mind of the Emperor.

There's no use blaming her now.

Indeed.

I thought I was resolving an issue for him.

And he was the one who allowed it.

How would I know it would turn out this way?

Brother Zhu, did I just do a silly thing again?

It's indeed quite silly.

But I don't blame you.

We are against Kang Xi after all.

Sooner or later, we will have to turn the table around.

Luckily, we are on the same side for now.

Although he doubts us now,

he has no choice but to keep this relationship going.

You don't have to blame yourself.

Since you were young, you have always been tolerant of me.

Look at you...

One day, I will surely die because of you two.

Die because of you two.

Look at you.

It's all because I hit you too hard that night.

Let me treat your injury first.

Thank you, Eldest senior. There's no need.

Liu De Zhao has been suspected that there is a spy.

But he did not doubt me.

But I can't hide it for long.

Does Liu De Zhao have any new moves?

Today, the Imperial Commissioner came to the residence

and even showed the Emperor's secret order.

It shocked Liu De Zhao and his fellow officials.

After he left,

Liu De Zhao gathered

his trusted officials and merchants

to come out with a solution.

Qiu Gui,

you haven't washed off

the writings on your face.

Don't talk about it.

I didn't know what that Ai fellow mixed

with the ink.

We have tried for days to remove it but failed.

Indeed.

Useless jerk.

If I find him,

I must skin him alive.

Go on and have a seat.

It's all because of my useless servants.

I can't even find a trace

of that Ai fellow.

I'm sorry, sir.

All right.

Let's put that aside first.

Our priority now

is to handle that Imperial Commissioner Long San.

Brother-in-law,

are you really going to listen to that Long San

and arrest all of my friends?

If it's just for a show,

then it's fine if you arrest us.

I'm just scared that this Long San

really wants to set an example

and won't rest until we are really punished.

- Exactly. - Indeed.

And those money for the relief,

we have already taken

and spent most of them.

How are we going to make it up?

We have to.

As much as we can.

If it is not enough, then we will have to use our own money.

Besides, this Sir Long

doesn't seem to be tempted by anything.

I'm afraid he is serious about it.

What is this Long San up to?

The scout I sent to Beijing

is yet to come back with any feedback.

I don't believe that

no cat doesn't eat fish.

No matter how,

we have to prepare him some expensive gifts

to see if he will show his colours.

Yes...

Perhaps now he is just faking his seriousness

so that he can gain more from us.

Also, I think that Long San

is quite young.

The exact age that longs for women.

Which of you

have any virgin beauty in your residence?

Don't hide them anymore.

It's time to contribute.

Let's just bring this jerk to our side

and plan the next move once we are over it.

Do you have any?

- No... - What about you?

- No... - What about you?

I do.

There's one beauty

from my residence.

Not only she is beautiful and gentle,

but she also plays pipa quite well.

Brother-in-law,

I wanted to keep her for you.

You jerk.

No matter how good she looks,

I have no mood for such thing now.

Forget it.

Let's use this beauty to test out Long San.

Qiu Gui, remember.

Investigate her backgrounds carefully.

Don't complicate things for me.

Don't worry, brother-in-law.

She is an orphan.

When I found her, she almost died of starvation.

I took her in,

and gave her luxurious food and clothes.

She is so grateful to me.

It's not too much if I let her spend a night with Long San.

- Indeed. - Right.

I think the both of you know

the beauty whom they were talking about.

Is it Sister Wan Xin?

Yes.

Wan Xin knew Qiu Gui

wanted to give her to Liu De Zhao.

She thought when she saw me in Liu's residence,

we could find a chance to elope.

That's why she didn't cause any trouble in Qiu's residence,

and instead tried to please Qiu Gui.

I wanted to save her when my injury is healed.

I didn't expect these beasts

wanted her to serve the Imperial Commissioner.

This beast Qiu Gui.

One day I will kill him myself.

If Liu De Zhao send Shu Wan Xin

to the Imperial Commissioner,

then the fact that she ran away

and had someone replacing her to go into the palace will be exposed.

That is why I was eager to come here

so that we can discuss a solution.

But I didn't have a chance

to sneak out until now.

Brother Meng, you are still late.

Just now, Liu De Zhao's men

has already brought the Imperial Commissioner away.

Then we have to resort to that plan.

What?

If the Imperial Commissioner finds out about Wan Xin's identity

and realises you are an imposter,

then the both of you will be in trouble.

What we can do now

is for me to rush to Liu's residence

and kidnap Shu Wan Xin

before she is sent to the Imperial Commissioner.

All right.

Then I must go back now

and help you all in the dark.

I hope we can still make it.

All right.

I'm leaving.

Sir,

my master has something to discuss with you.

Please go into the hall alone.

Please ask your servants to wait outside.

No.

I am Sir Long's personal guard.

I can't leave him out of my sight.

It's all right.

I'm sure it must be something good

that Sir Liu called for me at this hour.

I don't think there will be any danger.

Just wait outside will do.

Are you wearing the vest?

Leader,

discuss everything with Sir Liu properly.

Don't make things ugly.

When did you start to care for me?

I understand.

It is not the time yet to make things ugly.

Sir, this way.

Did you give him the vest?

You are so petty.

Sir Long, please.

Sir Long.

- Hurry up... - Yes.

Sir Long.

Let's have a seat.

Sit...

Sir Liu,

the luxury of your private residence

is as good as the palace.

Sir Long, you are flattering me.

The reason I called you this late

is nothing other than

to have some private talks

and to make friends.

Sir Long,

all the jewels in here

are a token from my local officials.

The 100,000 cash

are a token from the local merchants

to you, Sir Long.

I hope you will like them.

Sir Liu,

I'll just accept your gift.

Good.

Miss Wan,

when you see the Imperial Commissioner later,

you must make him happy.

Yes, Sir Qiu.

If it wasn't for you,

I would be long dead due to starvation.

I will repay your kindness.

Good.

Let's go.

Brother Meng,

where are you?

When you hear the sound of my pipa,

you must come to save me.

I have accepted

these gifts from you all.

If you have something to say,

you can speak your mind.

Indeed you are someone who accepts no nonsense.

All right, then I will say it now.

I know that when you saw

how I handled the case,

you weren't very pleased.

I know that.

But Sir Long,

you must have misunderstood me.

What have I misunderstood?

Those who robbed the official's money

are the Ming loyalists from the Niujiao Fortress.

It's a shame that this fortress is hard to infiltrate.

That's why

I took these three as scapegoats.

I admit that

I had tortured them too much in the court.

But what I intended

was to lure those rebels from the Niujiao Fortress

to come and rescue them.

It's a good strategy.

But Sir Liu,

without any proof,

how can you be so sure that

the rebels from Niujiao Fortress were behind the robbery?

Sir Long, you had no idea.

The people who robbed the money

had around 20 men.

All these 20 men

have great martial art skills and discipline.

They can't be ordinary thieves.

The only people that can match such descriptions

in the area under my jurisdiction

are the rebels from Niujiao Fortress.

I see.

But if Sir Liu

is going to sacrifice three innocent men

and torture them

to lure out the rebels,

it still goes against the codes of law, am I right?

Sir Long,

I was eager to get rid of these rebels.

That's why I had to be extreme.

I understand that.

Sir Long,

you surely have your own reservations.

But didn't I do as you told me

and let the three innocent men go?

And also those victims we arrested

for causing trouble in the Qiu's manor,

we have also released them.

To be honest,

I even compensated them a lot.

Sir Long.

So the first task you asked me to do,

I have done it.

What about the other two?

About the second task,

we can distribute the food,

but we can't distribute too much.

We will just distribute nominally

so that you can answer to the Emperor when you go back.

Those merchants involved

are all cronies of and related

with the local officials.

Sir Long,

it's not a good idea to arrest them all.

Then the fund for the relief...

To be honest,

these past few years,

Shanxi had gone through many natural disasters.

The money from the safe is far from enough.

The fund allocated by the government

is also of a little help.

Even if there is anything left,

it can only make up for previous years' losses.

For example,

if we follow the government's order

and give each victim 2 taels of silver

and dig a well every 10 miles,

Sir Long,

those money wouldn't even be enough.

That's why

Sir Long,

how about this?

You just have to

shut one eye to this.

We will give

1 tael of silver to every victim,

while for every 30 miles, we will dig a well.

So the both of us can fulfil our duties.

Brother Zhu,

what do you think Liu De Zhao wants

for summoning Brother Long in alone?

What else?

Of course, he wants to bribe him.

Those fools.

If they knew that Imperial Commissioner they are bribing

is actually the Emperor himself,

they will surely freak out.

That will be fantastic.

We can use the money they bribed Brother Long

to buy food

and give to the victims.

- It's bad! - Qing Cheng?

Why is she here?

She is not Sister Xue.

She is Shu Wan Xin.

Miss Yi Huan,

why are you here?

How are you these days?

I'm fine.

Thanks for your concern.

Aren't you the servants of that foreign merchant?

Why are you here?

We are the servants of the Imperial Commissioner.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell.

I'm sorry for what happened.

Please don't take it to heart.

Miss,

what happened in Huaiyang Village

was a misunderstanding.

It really was a misunderstanding.

Is this lady

the one that you kidnapped from Huaiyang Village?

How could that be?

I have always treated

her with great courtesy.

I don't even dare to mistreat her the slightest.

If you don't believe me, you can ask her.

Sir Qiu has been very good to me.