Original subtitles

♪The spring breeze outside the window moves the stream♪

♪Who is disturbed by the williow catkins?♪

♪You're there when I look back, toying with my heart♪

♪Everything has become an ornament♪

♪A pair of lovebirds are flying under the roof in the drizzling rain♪

♪Whose secrets have drifted to the chamber?♪

♪The night when the moon shines, I'll have a drink with you♪

♪Let's keep each other company for the rest of our lifes♪

♪The mountain and water carry me through my lifetime relationship♪

♪Oh, wind and rain, you're as romantic as spring♪

♪Like the star and the moon, I wish you all well♪

♪Don't think about him, I'm right by your side♪

♪Oh, my dream keeps changing because of you♪

♪I'm still waiting for you to look at me♪

♪It's hard to let go once one falls in love♪

♪My life is not wasted while being with you♪

=Choice Husband=

=Episode 16=

The last time I looked at him like this

was three years ago.

Pei Yanzhen. Pei Yanzhen.

Miao, it's alright.

I knocked over the candle holder.

Do you want to drink water?

I'm not thirsty.

It's just that my wound hurts.

I'd like to get some tincture.

I'll go get the servant over.

Miao,

don't move.

Beware of the glass on the ground.

I'll go by myself.

Be careful.

You can't reach it. Let me help you.

♪There are many devoted lovers in the mortal world♪

♪It's hard to understand love♪

Miao.

♪If I have another chance, I won't be late again♪

Did you tear the wound?

Does it hurt?

♪Don't ask me if this is worth it♪

It doesn't hurt.

With you around,

everything is fine.

Without you,

even a panacea is useless.

Miao,

don't ever leave me again,

okay?

♪There's an unfinished story between you and me♪

♪How am I supposed to continue my life?♪

(Miao.)

(But from now on,)

(I have nothing left.)

(Never mind.)

(You still have me)

(and Xiao.)

♪And make a vow about you♪

♪I'm willing to be obsessed with you♪

How is Song Xiyuan doing?

He has gained Qin family's trust and has gone

to the capital as promised.

What about the letter I asked you to bring to His Majesty?

I've given it to him.

His Majesty will pretend not to know it

before Her Highness.

As long as we obtain

the evidence of the Qin family,

we can make a clean sweep.

After spending a few days with Qin Miuzhen,

I found that the Qin family harbored evil intentions

and got a big plan.

They're suspected of plotting a mutiny.

I had a narrow escape this time.

It means

His Majesty and I will usher in the final battle

with the Qin family.

If we fail,

everyone will die here.

If you seized the chance and married

Qin Miuzhen back then,

you wouldn't be in this kind of situation now.

Is it worth it to take the risk

for Shen Miao?

By the way,

as for the Shen Family...

After everything is settled,

they'll be annihilated.

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Official Qin, why do you take me here?

Third Master, you might not know.

I became one of the Ministry of War

from a petty official because of the Empress Dowager.

I've spent decades of effort

to become who I am today.

Obviously, this is the destiny of the Qin family

and your great strategy.

With your protection of the country,

the ruling will last forever

and the people can rest easy.

None of the officials

would dare to compete with you, General.

I didn't know

you admired my father so much.

Miss Qin, have you ever heard

"One can develop strong feelings for someone in short time"?

My admiration for General Qin is

like the surging river.

Unfortunately,

His Majesty is not as broad-minded as you are.

To him, the power of the Qin family has

restricted his authority as the Emperor.

He never thought of this.

The soldiers of the Qin family are stationed at border gates.

Otherwise, the nation wouldn't be so peaceful.

So, it was a strategy

to set Pei Yanzhen up and evict him

from the capital?

He's just a mere man.

I attached no importance to him.

I admire your determination and assertiveness.

I'm willing to seek a bigger picture with you.

I wonder

if you like that.

I'm willing to work with you, General.

I'll do whatever you ask

no matter what it takes.

-Go! -Go!

-Go! -Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Pei Yanzhen,

Lvying said you needed to see me?

Pei Yanzhen?

I didn't expect you

to keep these shadow puppets.

Why did you take my stuff?

Give it back.

I once said

I'd make you a pair of shadow puppets every year.

But now,

it's been four years.

Four years and yearning for

are a homonym.

I won't forget my promise for even a moment.

Miao,

do you remember that?

You're attentive today.

Is there something you want?

Is that all?

I've prepared this for so long.

I thought you'd cry.

You want me to cry?

Then, you should at least prepare 80 pairs of shadow puppets.

Are you saying

that you want to grow old with me?

(Shen)

(Shen Xiao)

(Shen)

(Shen Miao)

What do you think?

It's nice.

-Shen Xiao. -Shen Xiao.

-Shen Miao. -Shen Miao.

Xiao.

Xiao.

Miao.

Miao.

Xiao.

Miao.

Xiao, Miao.

Xiao, Miao.

Xiao.

Mother.

By the way,

what are you doing here today?

Can't I come here?

You can.

Let's continue, Xiao.

It's the Qixi Festival tonight.

Do you want to hang out with me?

What a coincidence.

I've got plans tonight at home.

What are you up to again?

Miao,

didn't you say

that we got to start over

and make up for the three years of lost time?

Let's start tonight.

Rob...

Robbery.

Er Zhuzi?

I already saw your face.

Why didn't you cover your face well?

Why bother pretending to be a robber?

Miao, doesn't a romantic encounter

always start with a heroic scene?

Since we've missed out the past,

why don't we start with the first encounter?

But,

a show with such an opening is

normally an awful story.

It's extremely tawdry.

You don't like it?

Then, it's my fault.

I seldom watch shows.

I've failed to make you happy.

Don't put it this way.

I watched a lot of shows.

But I've never done one before.

Right?

Come. Let's begin.

Dazhuang, hold the blade higher.

Er Zhuzi, momentum is the most important thing

to play a robber.

Show me the momentum.

Okay.

Let's begin.

You have such fair skin.

I can sell you to Tianxiang Parlor for a good price.

No one will save you even if you cry

for help.

This is too fake.

(Since Miao and I already met each other,)

(it's time to get acquainted with each other.)

(Normally, a man should write the lady several poems as gifts.)

People always say the ocean is deep,

but it's no deeper than my thought of you.

At the previous year's Lantern Festival,

there were many lights at the market.

Were we together at the previous year's Lantern Festival?

Keep going.

Is he

courting me

or torturing me?

Pei Yanzhen,

it's getting late.

And you've embroidered the fragrant sachet.

Why don't we call it a day?

Miao, there's a part when we get along.

There's more?

Give me a second.

Miao.

Pei Yanzhen,

what are you doing out there?

In a show, a man often pledges his love

to the lady when they're forbidden to meet up.

A night tryst is not etiquette

but it's quite fun.

Look at you.

You're a weakling.

Everyone knows this.

If anything happens to you at Shen's Residence,

I'll have to pay the physician to check on you.

As you're broke now,

you'll be spending my money.

How reckless of me.

But I heard

that you met Master Song at this place.

I've gone over the wall many times.

But I never met you.

If that day...

Forget it.

I wonder

who wrote such a silly play for him.

If I found out who it was,

I'd make him regret it.

Wait for me.

Song Xiyuan expedited this from Qin's Residence.

Take a look.

What's wrong? What happened?

Qin Zuze gathers the soldiers

to force His Majesty to abdicate.

But...

But the Qin family has a powerful army.

His Majesty is Her Highness's son.

Her Highness...

From what I know of Her Highness,

I'm afraid

Qi Zuze is keeping it from her.

Pei Yanzhen.

Pei Yanzhen?

It's not only this.

Insubordination will ruin the reputation of the Qin family.

I think they'll think

of a way to justify their actions.

Like eradicating the vile officials.

You're saying...

They'll poison His Majesty

and make me and the Shen family

the scapegoats.

If this really is their plan,

you'll die.

Do you have a way to deal with it?

If they're going to do this,

we'll make a clean sweep.

By the way,

send a verbal message to Song Xiyuan.

Ask him to find a way

to get the comprehensive plan out of the Qin family

and gather all of our men in the capital

to keep His Majesty alive.

Given the situation,

I'll go to the capital with you.

So there's someone to help you if anything happens.

I have to stay in Lingzhou

to gather the men who were trained before

for the emergency.

This is for Shen Miao's sake, isn't it?

You stay here

just to keep her safe, don't you?

So she won't be implicated.

I'm toast.

I forgot about Miao.

Say it.

He's neither at Shen's Residence,

nor at Pei's Residence.

Nor at the brothel.

What are you talking about?

He's not at Qinchu Pavilion either.

Where is Pei Yanzhen?

Did he ascend and become immortal?

Go find him again.

Yes.

Let's go.

Indeed, a man can't be trusted.

He said he wanted to marry me.

Yet, he went missing in a blink of an eye.

Just like what he did back then.

♪The spring breeze outside the window moves the stream♪

♪Who is disturbed by the willow catkins?♪

♪You're there when I look back, toying with my heart♪

♪Everything has become an ornament♪

(Oh no.)

(This sense of familiarity came back.)

♪The night when the moon shines, I'll have a drink with you♪

By the riverside, a pair of turtledoves are cooing.

There is a maiden fair whom a young man is wooing.

Miss Shen.

What's wrong?

Are you not feeling well?

I'm fine.

Just stay away from me.

I need a moment.

Miao,

do you hate everything I've done for you?

You left without a word

just

because of these?

Of course.

Didn't I tell you

we need to make the show look real?

Besides the first encounter, getting along and acquainted with each another,

is there another scene?

I want you

to marry me once again.

No.

I want you to confess in a serious manner.

Show me your sincerity.

♪It's hard to let go once one falls in love♪

♪My life is not wasted while being with you♪

♪It's hard to let go once one falls in love♪

♪My life is not wasted while being with you♪

Father-in-law, you ask to see me?

Perfect timing. Come here.

Look.

I got this Persian tapestry.

This is the only one in our nation.

Actually, there are a lot of special products along the Western Regions.

If we can do business on this trade route,

ship the silk of Jiangnan out,

and bring the products of the countries of the Western Regions back,

I'm sure it'll be a huge profit.

I already got this idea when Miao's mother

was still alive.

This was also what my father-in-law,

Master Lu, wanted.

But our country's border has been in tumult for so long.

It's really hard to get the right of doing business.

An old friend of mine works at the Ministry of Rites.

Maybe he can help us with this.

If we can settle this,

it'll fulfill the desire

of Miao's deceased mother and Master Lu.

(Tea Merchant)

(Hope Your Majesty could allocate 30 million taels to the military)

What is Uncle going to do?

He increases the military spending every year.

But there's no war.

Is he trying to push me over the edge?

Serve the tea.

Your Majesty.

General,

things have been delivered in batches.

There are 30 cart-loads of them, not one less.

Thanks for your valuable help.

So we can deliver the weapons

to the capital in the name of tea-picking merchant team.

As a token of appreciation,

the Qin family hereby promises

that you'll get

what you want when everything is settled.

Thank you, General Qin

and Miss Qin.

But for your record,

I don't accept any form of marriage arrangement.

You...

Something important awaits us.

Knock it off, Miuzhen.

(Overall layout of the guard deployment in the palace)

Take a look.

His Majesty has already been poisoned.

Ten days later,

I'll redeploy the army

to the capital in the name of troop rotation.

Ten days later?

That soon?

General Qin, you're incredibly skillful,

vigorous, resolute and decisive.

You're indeed the hero of the present age.

Here he comes again.

Your plan is flawless.

But I think

the troop movement

will surely arouse suspicion.

You're saying...

In my opinion,

we should tell Her Highness

that Pei Yanzhen has a follow-up plan to hurt His Majesty.

In the name of protecting His Majesty,

we'll get the edict from Her Highness

and openly place 2000 elite soldiers in the palace.

You are indeed a smart man.

(Overall layout of the guard deployment in the palace)

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Quick.

Ask Pei Yanzhen to come

to the capital.

Your Majesty.

Quick, get the physician over.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

There are many physicians here.

After so long,

you still can't cure His Majesty.

What do I need you for?

If you still can't diagnose it,

I'll decapitate

all of you tomorrow.

Your Highness,

we can't wake His Majesty up.

But judging from his symptoms,

I'm afraid he's...

Say it!

I'm afraid

he's been poisoned.

How is it possible?

It's always been Brother who is in charge of the security of the palace.

Who would dare

to poison my son?

Your Highness, I'm guilty.

What have you got?

His Majesty endured the pain

and asked me to bring

Pei Yanzhen to the palace before he fainted.

I was nervous

and forgot about this.

Now, I wonder

if

His Majesty was trying to tell you

that the perpetrator

was Pei Yanzhen.

Pei Yanzhen?

Has His Majesty not woken up yet?

We've tried everything

but it's useless.

I think

Pei Yanzhen is the son

of the late emperor and the maid.

He's been serving His Majesty and harboring ill intentions.

He has placed his forces at the palace.

Now, he's back to his hometown. His effort is ultimately in vain.

That's why he tries to kill His Majesty.

Since he's the perpetrator,

I'm sure he'll know how to detoxify it.

Why don't we bring him here,

lock him up and torture him

to make him hand the antidote out?

Okay.

Please issue an edict, Your Highness.

To command Qin Army to guard the palace

to prevent Pei Yanzhen from revolting.

Pei Yanzhen must die.

I must save my son.

Brother,

you must help me this time.

I've brought Miao over to see you.

There's no name on the tombstone.

May I ask

who was buried here?

This was

an important Madam of mine.

She liked to be quiet.

She didn't want to be constrained by fame.

And she didn't like to be interrupted.

So,

she left a will

and wished to have a nameless grave.

After so many years,

I've forgotten her look.

Remembering her look

is not the only form to think of her.

My mother died over 10 years.

I've also forgotten what she looked like.

But whenever I smell the fragrance of osmanthus flowers,

it feels like she's still by my side.

I was weak when I was a kid.

One time I was severely ill,

she brought me to the temple and prayed.

She was willing to trade her life for mine.

Even so,

I still don't

believe in deity.

That's why I don't believe the lines in the play

such as "Deity can prove my love

for you".

This Madam is the deepest secret

in my heart.

Miao,

I'd like to prove my love for you

in front of this Madam.

I want to hold your hand and grow old with you

in this life.

Would you like that?

♪The long river runs shallow, separating the two's worlds♪

I'm Shen Miao.

I don't have the chance to meet you,

but I know you cared about Pei Yanzhen

like I do.

From now on,

I'll take care of Pei Yanzhen on your behalf

for my whole life. I'll never abandon him.

♪They say that true love is something to be envious of♪

♪Have you seen all the love words in a play?♪

Come.

Miao.

Thank you.

Miao,

you seldom talk about your mother.

I wonder what kind of a person she was.

She...

A year before she passed away,

she liked to stay in the garden all day to watch

the osmanthus trees.

Dad said

my grandfather died too suddenly.

My mother was depressed.

He asked me to accompany her more.

But I was too young back then.

I couldn't sit still.

I always went out for fun

all day long.

It was dark when I got back.

She was still in the garden, staring at the trees.

I think something was fishy about what happened to the Lu family.

I wonder if your mother was aware of that.

My mother said

an ignorant one

could be happier.

She wished I could be safe, happy

and healthy in my life.

She even left me this scrimshaw deer.

She said with it around,

she's always with me.

Look.

With this scrimshaw deer,

whatever happens,

they'll always stay by our sides.

Miao,

this is a precious thing.

Are you going to give it to me?

I've devoted myself to you.

There's nothing I can't give you.

They are two different matters.

In order to get you out of the prison,

I've spent a lot of taels on bribes,

transportation and meals.

How will you pay me back?

You can pay in installments.

I'm jobless now.

I'm not well-paid.

Miao,

let's

forget about the bride's dowry.

It won't do.

The bride's dowry is also my money.

Dad.

Miao.

Dad.

Dad.

I've got a good news to announce.

So do I.

-I'll go first. -I'll go first.

-I'll go first. -I'll go first.

We have to thank Pei Yanzhen for this.

There are always wars at the borderland.

The products in the Western Regions are invaluable.

But it's hard to bring them in.

So I requested it the other day.

Unexpectedly, the royal court consented

to let us do business in the Western Regions.

I spoke fast so I went first.

Doesn't it mean

we can set foot in the silk and horse trade?

It can bring us huge profits.

Who are you sending?

This is an important matter.

I decide to go there by myself. I'll be back soon.

Well, it's your turn.

What good news have you got?

I'll tell you when you're back.

I'll go ask Aunt

to pack your luggage.

Miss is

acting a little weird today.

You don't say!

Yanzhen,

come with me.

Come.

Let me show you something.

This is

the official seal of the leader of the Shen family.

This official seal represents me.

Father-in-law, you're...

Without an explanation, I've already guessed it.

Your wedding is approaching.

My late wife died early.

I've promised her

to take good care of Miao.

In the past 20-odd years,

I've valued her more than my life,

more than all treasures in the world.

Your previous wedding was a farce.

Let's forget about it.

From now on,

if you dare hurt her feelings again,

I'll be sure to...

Don't worry, Father-in-law.

I'll never fail Miao.

Great, then.

You brat.

I have faith in you

as Miao trusts you.

When I'm gone,

I'll entrust the Shen family

and Miao to you.

Noted.

Also,

I heard

that you've been sleeping in Miao's room lately.

Father-in-law, actually, we...

You don't need to explain.

I understand.

Control yourself.

The wind is strong and the night is cold in the desert.

The trip will be strenuous.

You must take care of yourself.

All of us will be here waiting for your return.

Okay.

Thank you.

But it's summertime in Lingzhou.

Can you not make me wear this thing?

I stayed up all night to make this.

Don't be ungrateful.

Yes, noted.

Look, it's cold that I sweat.

Thank you, Dear.

Just let Dad go now.

The trip will be delayed if he doesn't depart now.

He might not have a place to stay tonight.

Miao,

the road is covered with our family business.

If anything happens,

ask someone to send me a letter.

Also,

keep an eye on Zai's homework.

Pei Yanzhen,

take good care of them.

Yes.

Also,

control yourself.

Just go, Dad.

Okay, I'll get going.

Old Master.

Be careful.

Slow down.

Take care of yourself.

♪There are many devoted lovers in the mortal world♪

♪It's hard to understand love♪

♪If I have another chance, I won't be late again♪

♪All I wish is for you to be well♪

♪Don't ask me if this is worth it♪

♪However, love is♪

♪Turning into lovesickness when it deepens into your heart♪

♪Even life and death can't frighten me♪

♪I've been through the good times and bad times♪

♪But the person I've been waiting for is not aware of it♪

♪There's an unfinished story between you and me♪

♪How am I supposed to continue my life?♪

♪The moon rises and sets, a day has passed♪

♪I just want to protect you until old ages♪

♪And make a vow about you♪

♪I'm willing to be obsessed with you♪

♪I wish we could be together in our next lifes♪