Original subtitles

Are you happy

with the gift I sent?

Not bad.

Thank you very much.

My pleasure.

Sir, please come to my reading room.

As for that matter, we can...

There is no need for that.

We'll do as you said.

Thank you, sir.

But I'm here

to observe the situation of this area.

Not only are the victims causing trouble,

the bandits of Niutou Fortress are watching as well.

So it's not appropriate for me

to come here often to see Lady Wan, right?

That's right...

Instead of staying here,

why don't you let her stay somewhere else?

You can send her to the palace secretly

after I got back there.

Then I'll marry her.

In that case, we can prevent people from gossiping, understand?

Yes, I understand.

Don't worry.

Just leave this matter to me.

It's simple.

Sir.

I'll look for a place on the eastern side of the town,

so that Lady Wan can stay there.

You can go there and meet her

whenever you want.

After you return to the palace,

I'll send her to your residence myself.

This is the safest way.

Liu,

I like the way he does business.

I'm the one who trained him.

Master.

Shall we go back first?

Please excuse us.

Send Sir Long off.

Qiu Gui.

Can you see that?

He has a soft spot for women.

Luckily you have Wan Su,

otherwise, it is hard for us to get away.

We shouldn't waste any more time.

I'll find him a residence

along with several female servants.

Then everything is settled.

And ask Meng Xiang He

to send Lady Wan over.

Honestly,

I never thought

Lady Wan is capable of doing this.

Just one night,

and she can make him

reveal his true colours.

Who are you?

How dare you rob others in broad daylight?

Give us your money.

And the horses, too.

Horses too?

Uncle.

They must be the bandits from the nearby Niutou Mountain.

Everyone,

we don't mind leaving our valuables

in exchange for you giving way to us.

But I have an important task to do

so I can't give you the horses.

Could you spare the horses?

Please.

Bargaining with us?

Right.

Leave your horses

or I'll take your lives.

Guys.

We can talk.

In that case,

I'll give you the horses.

You can take our horses and valuables.

Please spare our lives.

You said you only want the valuables.

Na Sai, move!

Stop them!

Uncle, your leg is injured.

It's okay, hurry and go.

General Shi, two people managed to escape.

What do we do?

Send signal to ask those in front

to stop them.

Let's go!

Uncle.

They don't look like

ordinary bandits.

I don't think they were aiming for our valuables and horses.

They look more like a group of trained assassins

planning to take our lives.

Yes.

They seem to know where we are heading to,

so they waited for us midway

to Wei Ba Zan's camp.

Is our plan exposed?

This is not good.

The Li Siblings do look like thieves who would do so.

Do you think they were sent

by Li Jian Qing and Li Yi Huan?

We keep our plan

confidential this time.

How did they discover it?

Eunuch Li has been living in the palace for over 30 years.

Noble Lady Li is Military Head Shu's daughter.

As for other imperial bodyguards,

they are the selected members of Eight Banners.

They are virtuous people,

I'm sure they won't join forces with others to kill us.

So, the Li Siblings

are the only suspects.

Uncle.

Let's say Li Jian Qing and Li Yi Huan are the rebels,

then, they not only

want to kill us,

but the Emperor might be in danger too.

My bad.

I shouldn't have listened to His Majesty

and move the soldiers.

I should have insisted

that His Majesty returns to the palace.

There's nothing we can do now.

Shall we continue with our plan

or go back to see His Majesty?

Go after them, they can't run far.

Oh, no. Run!

It's been more than ten days.

Why hasn't Songgotu returned?

I wonder if he's safe.

Sorry...

I was talking nonsense.

Leader, don't worry.

I've already asked the guards

to head out and collect information.

I wonder when would Songgotu return.

Yi Huan.

Why don't you take some of the valuables

that Liu De Zhao gave me

to buy some food

for those affected by the disaster?

That's what I thought,

That's what I thought,

only I'm embarrassed to say it out.

I'm surprised that you have the same idea.

Heroes tend to see things in the same light.

Yi Huan.

Show some respect.

He's your leader.

- I... - It doesn't matter.

In my opinion,

you indeed are a heroine.

Foresighted.

Forgiving.

Leader.

I can't do it.

I'll only draw

Liu De Zhao and Qiu Gui's attention

if I use these valuables to buy a large amount of food.

They would know for sure

that you're not their ally,

and they might conspire

to harm you.

A sly fox can defeat a hero easily.

He's right.

I bet there must be many spies out there

hired by Liu De Zhao to watch us closely.

Since we still don't know Songgotu's whereabouts,

we can't act recklessly.

We can set up a booth serving up rice congee to the victims

on the eastern, western, southern, and northern sides of the city.

However, we can't do it in a high profile way

or else the price would be

too hefty to pay.

You're right.

My bad for not thinking it through.

Aid can only provide

temporary relief.

I need to return to the palace safely.

Only then can I discipline the officials

and free the people

from the corrupts like Liu De Zhao.

That's right, Leader.

There's nothing more important

than your safety.

Yi Huan.

With the money,

you can buy back

Noble Lady Li's jewellery

which you had pawned for the loan.

Otherwise, I bet you'll be asking

for more interest from me afterwards.

Brother Long,

you're really getting smarter.

Qiu Gui.

Anything unusual from Long San?

No.

He merely set up a few more booths

serving up congee to the victims in the past 24 hours.

He really knows

how to win people over.

Has he been visiting

Wan Su's place often?

Yes.

He spends four hours there every night.

However, he never stays overnight

and would be leaving latest

in midnight.

Every time he visits the place,

he would show up in casual wear

and use the back door.

When he is meeting Wan Su,

nobody can get close to him

other than the female servant

and Guard Li.

It seems that he's a careful person.

I can see why he's managed to reach a high rank

at such a young age.

He has the Emperor's trust

and is promoted as an Imperial Commissioner.

A respectable person.

Respectable?

He has become more modest since becoming successful.

It sickens me to think back

how boastful he was before.

What's so sickening?

There's no other weakness we can find of him

besides being fond of women.

Meng,

so Long San usually comes at night

and leaves in the midnight hour?

Yes.

Sir, are you still feeling uneasy about it?

We can't let our guard down

as long as he's still in Taiyuan.

Keep an eye on him.

I got it.

Don't worry.

I'll keep an eye on him.

Thank you.

Leader.

The sound of pipa that I heard

in the Xiao Yao Room that day,

it was played by Wan Su,

not you. Am I right?

So you did notice.

I told you.

You're an impatient person

when doing anything,

so there's no way you can master pipa.

Except for one thing.

Bragging.

When it comes to bragging,

there's no one better than you.

You're best at it.

Boss.

Although I've never met

Wan Su,

her silhouette

and her pipa skill

makes me believe that

she is a beautiful yet talented lady.

I shouldn't have been called a womaniser

by just sitting outside

through the night.

Why don't

you leave for a moment,

so that I can really enjoy Wan Su's service?

No way...

Why?

Wan Su is given to me by Liu De Zhao,

I can do anything with her.

Even if I really fall for her,

I can always come back and send her to the palace.

I said, no.

- So you're jealous? - No.

I just want to protect you...

Protect your image.

So my image isn't that bad to you after all.

I wonder who was the one saying that...

I'm a man who doesn't deserve a woman's affection.

Why don't you just admit

that you're jealous?

In return...

Since you're so upset,

I'll...

I promise that I'll keep calm, even if there's a beautiful lady before me.

It's really painful to sit here for ten straight nights

doing nothing

but drinking tea.

I...

Wait!

Wait... no...

Not again.

Last time

you almost fall for me as well.

Listen,

Wan Su is different.

She already has someone she loves,

and that person is one of our members.

So you can't choose her.

Last time you said the same thing too.

Marry nobody but Long San?

Can't fall for subordinate's girl?

Don't fool me with the same trick.

I won't believe you.

I'm not fooling you.

I'm serious.

Do you know why Liu De Zhao is willing to give us the money?

Because one of his followers is actually our accomplice.

And he is the one

that Wan Su loves.

If you really think of taking advantage of her,

that means you're disrespectful

and ungrateful.

- Are you serious? - I mean it.

I swear I am telling the truth.

All right, I'll let her go this time.

Boss.

To be honest, I don't have the mood to court a girl

when so many things had happened recently.

I was just kidding.

Anyway, I am not like someone

who finds excuses

to rationalise

the feeling of jealousy.

This Kang Xi is really a womaniser,

he is always looking for opportunity to get close to Yi Huan.

Yi Huan,

you must hold back from falling for our enemy.

Nonsense.

Sir Long.

It's late already.

Let me see you off.

Look...

Wan Su is not interested in you.

She asks you to leave.

I can feel that someone is jealous...

Right, Lady Wan.

Please excuse me.

- Brother Meng. - Brother Li.

Qiu Gui has been watching you guys from the other room.

He just left.

You can return to Shu Residence now.

Thank you.

Imperial Commissioner Long.

This is Meng Xiang He.

Lady Wan's sweetheart.

Also the person who has been helping us all this while.

So? Handsomer than you, right?

The more you ridicule me,

the more it shows that you're jealous.

Thank you for your help.

You're welcome.

Being Liu De Zhao's follower,

I have seen many government officials.

You're the only one who really cares about the people.

I admire you a lot,

so it's my pleasure

to be able to support you.

Take care.

Until we meet next time...

Wan Xin.

Brother Meng.

Wan Xin.

Brother Meng.

You came finally.

I have been thinking about you

and trying to look for an opportunity to see you.

Well,

my ten-year contract with Liu De Zhao

will come to an end tomorrow.

Finally, we can leave this place together.

Really? Thank goodness.

Wan Xin.

Get your stuff ready,

I'll come again tomorrow.

Nasai.

I need to sit.

I can't stand anymore.

Nasai.

Nasai.

Take this gold plaque.

Look for Wei Ba Zan.

Get him to rescue the Emperor.

Hurry!

No.

I'm going.

What about you?

Nasai.

You must understand.

Even if I die,

there's still the Empress.

The Heseri Family still has other brothers and relatives.

As long as the Emperor is safe,

there's hope for the Heseri family.

But if something bad happens to the Emperor,

it's the end not only for the Heseri Family,

but also the entire Qing Dynasty.

- Go now! - No...

Hurry and go!

I don't care.

Anything can come to an end

but you.

Let's go.

- Let's go. - You...

Let's go...

Foolish kid.

Come on.

All right.

Let's go.

Come.

Here, come on.

When someone came...

I will tell you later.

Sir.

Xiang He.

How's your injury?

It's getting much better.

Thank you.

Xiang He.

I've asked you to find out who's the spy in our group.

How's the progress?

I'm still working on it.

Nothing new so far.

Sir.

I have something to discuss with you.

Say it.

Before my father died,

he asked me to protect you.

So I promised to protect you

for ten years.

Today is the last day of the promise.

I'd like to resign from this post

and live simply from now on.

Xiang He.

Have you really thought about it?

Have you really made up your mind?

Don't you want to follow me anymore?

I have wanted to live a simple life.

Life as a government official doesn't really suit me.

I hope you allow me to resign.

All right.

Since you've made up your mind,

I won't insist.

You have your own goal.

In that case,

there's a final task

I want you to complete.

I'll let you go after that.

What do you think?

I'll do my best.

What task do you want me to perform?

Sneak into Shu Residence tonight

and kill Noble Lady Li.

Sir.

You want me to assassinate Noble Lady Li?

That's right.

The Imperial Commissioner Long San

is under our control for the time being.

But Noble Lady Li is pregnant with the Emperor's baby.

If she gives birth to the baby

after returning to the palace,

and we'll be

in big trouble.

So we must get rid of her as soon as possible.

How do you know that she's pregnant?

Meng.

To tell you the truth,

I've bribed the butler of Shu Residence for information.

She told me

that Noble Lady Li's court lady

has been preparing

all kinds of soups for her these days.

So one night...

Noble Lady,

please have more.

You're pregnant with the Emperor's baby,

you must take care of yourself.

It's just a slip of the tongue,

you shouldn't take it seriously.

That's right.

It's just a slip of the tongue.

But inside the soups she prepared,

there are all sorts of good-for-baby ingredients.

To be safe,

I rather believe it to be true

than the otherwise.

Even if she isn't pregnant

with the Emperor's baby,

given the attention she gets from the Emperor,

there's a fair chance that it would happen.

Do you think she'd spare us

when that really happens?

So we have to get rid of her

as soon as possible.

But Noble Lady Li is protected secretly

by Imperial guards sent by the Imperial Commissioner.

Moreover, I'm yet to recover from the injury.

How about this?

I'm going to invite the Imperial Commissioner

to come out for a drink tonight.

While half of his bodyguards will be out following where he goes,

I'll send some of our guys

to sneak into the Shu Residence

to shift the attention of another half of the bodyguards.

This way you can perform your task with peace of mind.

Sir.

There are already many clues that show

you're responsible for Shu Jian's death.

If Noble Lady Li is killed,

the Imperial Commissioner would suspect that you're behind it.

Although he has received your money,

it doesn't mean he won't betray you.

You're right.

Let me reconsider it.

Xiang He.

Is that sword

bequeathed by your father?

Sir,

it's the treasure of my family.

I remember there's a line of words on the hilt

which was carved by your father,

can I take a look at it?

Sure.

This is a good sword.

Arrest him!

Stop struggling.

Running out of strength already?

Do you know what's inside the soup

you had this morning?

What do you mean?

Meng Xiang He.

You really disappoint me.

I never thought this would happen!

How dare you band together with Long San?

Sir.

I don't know what are you talking about.

You better admit it.

I've learnt that Long San was the one

responsible for the missing silver

in my manor.

Sir.

You mean Long San was the one

who stole the silver?

Do you have proof?

If you want the proof,

I'll tell you then.

The butler of Shu Residence told me that

Long San and his bodyguards

were not at the residence

the night when the silver went missing.

They came back in the dawn hour

with their faces covered

and their movements very secretive.

When Long San went out that morning,

he even dressed

as an old man.

I sketched a portrait and showed it to the butler

only to learn

that the merchant named Ai

was actually Long San.

Until today,

the characters on my face have yet to fade away!

Meng Xiang He.

You refuse to admit, right?

Listen.

We doped Noble Lady Li's servant

last night,

and she told us everything.

Meng Xiang He.

You shouldn't come here anymore.

Wan Xin is now the Emperor's woman.

She's even pregnant already.

Xiang He.

You've been working with me for years.

I don't understand.

You and Long San are not friends

or family.

Why do you want to betray me

and become his accomplice?

All these years,

you only accept

the money from me

but not the women

that I gave you.

Now I know

it's because you already have someone you love.

But I never thought that person

is Shu Jian's daughter,

Shu Wan Xin.

You and Noble Lady Li have an affair.

That's right.

I love Shu Wan Xin.

Sir.

It's true that I'm indebted to you.

I've been serving you for ten years,

and you have been kind to me all this while.

I never thought of betraying you.

But I don't want you to continue with all the wrongdoing.

Sir.

Listen to my advice.

Stop committing crimes

and repent of your sins.

What do you mean?

Where is the sin?

Is there a sin to begin with?

I knew Long San

was just pretending

to accept the girls and the money.

He just wanted to fool me.

The moment he stepped into this city,

it's the end for me.

This is the only way I have.

There's nothing else I can do.

I'm just trying my luck.

After his death,

I'd tell everyone that

it's the bandits at Niutou Fortress who did it.

Sir.

Don't you realise that

Niutou Fortress is located in Shanxi?

Even if the Emperor believed

that Long San and Noble Lady Li were killed

by the bandits at the fortress,

but as the provincial governor for Shanxi,

you'd be held responsible for being negligent as well.

Negligent?

Xiang He.

Listen here.