Original subtitles

Strange Night Talk

The plot of The Female Corpse of Ancient Spring

is the most complicated and eccentric.

I have to take it.

And Return from the Grave

tells the life and death agreement

between Mu Yesheng and his best friend.

It's also necessary.

Strange Night Talk

Ping. Ping. Ping.

Hold on.

Are you going to take the imperial examination

or to read the storybooks?

I am participating in the imperial examination

to enter the Court of Judicial Review

to follow in the footsteps of Mu Yesheng.

If I take fewer winter coats, maybe

I can take more books.

All right.

Forget it.

I'll hire you a donkey cart tomorrow.

Bring everything you like with you.

Bring them all.

Strange Night Talk

A League of Nobleman

Episode 21

Sir. Are you looking for me?

Find a way

to arrange our undercover agent at Hanyuan Hall.

Are you going to...

Sir.

No offense.

But even if we take the greatest risk,

we can only try it on the periphery.

But what you are going to do next

will be even more difficult.

I know.

It's nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot

and an ant trying to shake a tree.

But there are always mantises and ants in this world.

I see.

Sir.

Zhang Ping is here.

Zhang Ping.

Have you made up your mind?

That's why I'm here.

...to East Jiannandao

Have you all read the battle report?

Nandong invaded East Jiannandao

and plundered the three states.

Nearly ten thousand of our people were killed or injured.

At least 30,000 people were displaced.

But Nandong was still unsatisfied,

and continued to invade Jiannandao.

They are going too far.

For now,

not to advance is to go back.

Your Majesty, please think about it carefully.

The border defense in the South is weak,

and most of the defenders are old, weak, sick and disabled,

and they haven't been fighting for a long time.

Once engaged,

we'll have no advantage.

It's a pity that Grand Commandant Wang is sick,

and now we have

no generals who dare to fight.

Your Majesty.

I would like to fight on behalf of my father.

Even if I die on the battlefield,

I won't regret it.

Mr. Wang, your devotion

and loyalty are commendable.

But leading troops to fight

and investigating cases

are two different things.

Don't be impulsive.

Your Majesty.

Defeated 20 years ago,

our military force was severely damaged.

Generals and soldiers were lost,

with a temporary shortage.

We can't fight anymore.

Exactly. We suffered a great loss.

We can't fight anymore.

Then are we going to continue to appease,

let Nandong bully us wantonly,

and ignore the people on the border?

Right now, Nandong

just wants to increase the annual tribute.

Peace talks can solve the urgent need.

Peace talks?

Ceding five cities today and ten tomorrow

just for a short period of peace?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

It is a blessing to the Yong Kingdom that

you care about the common people and the country.

However, marching and fighting

is not a day's work.

What's more, the barbarians in the Northwest are coveting us.

The military governors are also watching us and are full of ambitions.

Your Majesty.

Please think twice.

Now the only option is peace talks.

I agree.

You!

Don't act on a whim.

Peace talks are not the best strategy,

but the only one available.

If the tributes can solve the problem,

why fight and sacrifice?

- Mother. - Emperor.

Don't go your own way anymore.

Just arrange it.

Yes. Benevolence Throughout the World

How is it going?

Still no clue of Mr. Jinghu.

But Hanyuan Hall sent a message

saying that Eunuch Ying Xi was preparing the carriage.

And the personal attendants,

whether they are on duty or not,

have been scheduled tonight.

So the Empress Dowager is about to leave the palace.

Where is she going?

Our people can't enter the inner hall,

so that's all we can get.

In broad daylight, you wantonly act violently.

Could it be that Mowen wants to take me to the Ministry of Justice?

- Mr. Wang. - Why do you use the sword indiscriminately?

Give me a ride as your apology.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to redeem myself.

Take Mr. Wang to the Ministry of Justice.

Mowen. Are you still bothered by what happened today?

The South is with extreme misery.

But our country is still thinking about seeking temporary peace.

I was born in Grand Commandant's family,

but I can't share burdens for the country.

I feel bad.

Mr. Liu and the Empress Dowager have always been at odds,

but today they are rarely in the same camp.

It shows that this matter is a foregone conclusion.

Even His Majesty can't change it, let alone us.

That's why I feel powerless.

I wanted you to drink with me at Banyue Pavilion.

But Peony Pavilion was booked out.

So disappointing.

Didn't you tell them who you are?

I did.

But no matter how much I offered, they said no.

Ministry of Justice

Sir. We've arrived at the Ministry of Justice.

Goodbye. Mr. Wang.

Peizhi.

Let's drink together next time.

Sure.

With Mowen and his father's status,

Mr. Jia still rejected him.

Only a handful of such figures can do it in the court.

And one of them likes to go to... Banyue Pavilion.

You mean...

Tonight we are going to Banyue Pavilion, too.

Banyue Pavilion

Mr. Lan.

Mr. Jia.

Mr. Lan. Please.

Why didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming?

I'm drinking with a good friend,

and I don't want to be disturbed.

I see.

What you need today is privacy.

Sir, please.

It's lively here tonight.

We've got a new play.

You came at the right time.

Please be at ease.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Come on.

Her Majesty has been reclusive

since the appearance of Mr. Jinghu.

It is strange for her to leave the palace just to watch a show.

Indeed.

Unless she has another purpose.

Then I will keep an eye on Peony Pavilion here

and observe what is unusual about the Empress Dowager.

I will check the situation in the pavilion

to see if there is anything suspicious.

Xu Dong. Cooperate with Zhang Ping.

Yes, sir.

Let me.

Sir.

May I ask how to get to the Wenzhu Table?

It's too big here. I can't find it.

Thank you.

I just found a suspicious person

with a golden tiger head dagger on his waist.

That is the weapon of the Imperial Guards.

Imperial Guards?

Yes.

The show is on soon.

♪ The beginning ♪

♪ Of the world ♪

♪ Men and women ♪

♪ Trapped by love ♪

Is there anything unusual outside?

Her Majesty didn't bring any guards with her when she entered.

Her Majesty often goes out of the palace for theatergoing.

Every time besides Ying Xi,

she would bring several Imperial Guards with her.

Why not this time?

They are here.

But they disguised themselves and mixed in with the spectators.

Then why not arrange the Imperial Guards in the private room?

Or do they have ulterior motives?

What's going on here, Mr. Lan?

Kind of strange.

Her Majesty seems calm.

But Ying Xi... is visibly nervous.

I wonder what has Liuyun found out.

♪ The two of them were finally separated ♪

♪ Each in a different corner ♪

♪ Of the world ♪

Sir.

I found a person holding a crossbow

on the eaves of the opposite stage,

and he is facing the Peony Pavilion where the Empress Dowager is.

The crossbow machine is thick and heavy,

and its strength can penetrate walls.

It is also the weapon of the Imperial Guards,

but can't be used at will.

That would make it even more certain

that Her Majesty knew she was in danger, so she came prepared.

♪ Relentless hell ♪

♪ Knife saw ♪

♪ Burning on fire ♪

Her Majesty is definitely not here for theatergoing tonight,

but seems to be planning to deal with someone.

But with her power, who needs her to risk herself?

It's him!

Mr. Jinghu.

Since he has targeted Her Majesty,

he must have known that Her Majesty

is the instigator of the Moluo Village's case.

Could it be that he wanted revenge

by bringing Her Majesty to Banyue Pavilion today?

♪ Tonight ♪

♪ An immortal came to enlighten ♪

♪ Help the two ♪

♪ Return to the world ♪

♪ Hand in hand ♪

♪ Always together ♪

Peony

♪ The immortal ♪

♪ Is among the peonies ♪

Don't...

Please. Don't say it.

♪ The guest of honor in the Peony Pavilion ♪

Didn't the peony sign be hidden?

I clearly told you.

Maybe the one who prepared them is careless.

So I ignored it.

If she pursues responsibility, no one can escape.

♪ We parted for several years ♪

♪ I sent you a letter with a paper crane ♪

♪ Asking you to meet here tonight ♪

♪ I hope you come here ♪

♪ If you don't come for a long time ♪

♪ It will be full of red mist ♪

We parted for several years.

I sent you a letter with a paper crane,

asking you to meet here tonight.

Here refers to the stage.

The red mist probably refers to the scarlet mist poison.

You mean the actor may be Mr. Jinghu?

His purpose is to let Her Majesty take the stage.

If she disagrees, he will fill the Banyue Pavilion with red mist as said in the libretto.

Why doesn't she come down?

Come down.

- Come down. - Come down.

Come down.

Come down.

Sir, you can't go there now.

Empress...

♪ The Peony Fairy has arrived ♪

♪ Time passes like flowing water ♪

♪ Before the ghosts arrive ♪

♪ Run away ♪

This...

They are gone.

Amazing.

Yes.

Bravo.

Xiong Xiao, Vice-general of Imperial Guards Amazing.

Where are they?

No worries, sir.

It's arranged.

Look over there.

♪ After hell's calamity ♪

♪ Return to the world ♪

♪ From now on, in the world of mortals ♪

♪ You can always be together ♪

Where are they?

Empress Dowager.

Sir.

Sir, here.

Sir.

When the black silk fell,

they should have gone down here quickly.

No more nonsense. Open it.

Take a look.

How many exits are there in this tunnel?

Only one over there.

Enter this way, and after dancing there, exit through the hidden exit.

Yunniang.

She's still breathing.

Has anyone come up before?

No.

Isn't the Empress Dowager downstairs?

- Come on. - No.

Ask someone to look for her.

- Aren't you... - Zhang Ping held a banquet for the teacher here.

I never expected this to happen.

General Cao.

What about asking Zhang Ping to help?

Empress Dowager.

Where have you been?

I saw the paper crane and said you can't go.

Eunuch.

General.

I searched the tunnel carefully

and found nothing abnormal.

No way.

Where could she have been?

Just now everyone was here watching.

After the black curtain fell off,

the shadow disappeared, pand she just went down.

I'm afraid she's not here anymore.

Mr. Jia.

If anything happens to the Empress Dowager, you are done.

I see.

Under the guidance of the dancers,

everyone thought that Her Majesty and the actors would come out from the other side

after going down the tunnel from this side of the stage.

But in fact, the actor stunned the actress after entering the tunnel,

and then led Her Majesty back the same way and went out from the backstage.

Because of the occlusion of the screen, it wouldn't be discovered at all.

You mean he took Her Majesty away backstage

while we were still paying attention to the spectator area?

Yes.

General. Someone is here.

Still breathing.

It seems that the actor in the last scene was replaced by the murderer.

The lots were arranged before.

Everything is prepared.

No!

The Empress Dowager's carriage is right at the back door.

Just now we wasted time searching in the tunnel. Now maybe...

Where is the carriage?

It's... It's going over there.

Piss off.

The Empress Dowager's carriage.

Department of Incantation.

Sealed by Court of Judicial Review on October 17, the first year of Yongxuan

Department of Incantation

Right here.

In the back.

Help!

Help!

Empress Dowager.

Help!

Let me.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Hold on.

Be safe.

- If anything happens to you... - Obviously

this is a magic formation.

What magic formation?

Mr. Xiong.

What's this?

There are words on this stele.

In Lingnan Secret Realm, there is a Moluo Village.

The water is clear and the mountains are steep.

Dormant for 20 years.

Just wait for today to kill the enemy with my hands,

and celebrate it with wine and music.

Sir.

I can't figure out

why Mr. Jinghu kidnapped the Empress Dowager in full view this time,

and did such evil things in the Department of Incantation.

There is already a sensation in the public,

and everyone was discussing how the Empress Dowager was kidnapped

by Mr. Jinghu with the magic trick,

and that she was almost burned to death.

Everyone in the court knows it.

What a move.

What's he up to?

Perhaps he just wants to announce that the Empress Dowager is his goal.

Probably.

It's a pity that we were one step late and let him succeed.

Now that Her Majesty is seriously injured,

it is impossible to find another opportunity to apply Water Illusion for her

and find out the truth.

Don't worry.

I think the message left by Mr. Jinghu in the Department of Incantation seems to convey something.

Perhaps it is related to the secret of that year.

After figuring it out, maybe the Moluo Village's case,

my father's old case and Mr. Jinghu's revenge will be revealed.

But what is the meaning of this magic formation?

I drew the patterns in the magic formation while I still remembered.

Before the accident, the Department of Incantation often performed Zhuyou Arcane for the palace.

Although it has been abandoned for many years, there may still be some classics related to the magic formation.

Then let's try our luck tonight.

Department of Incantation

What happened here?

20 years ago, the leader of the Department of Incantation was still Xuan Ji.

During a ceremony that year, the poison was leaked,

and all the incantation practitioners here died.

It has since been sealed off.

After Xuan Ji died, I once visited here.

But the dossiers from that year are nowhere to be found.

Be careful of the poison.

It's been 20 years.

Even worms can't live that long.

There's no harm in being careful.

Sir, look.

The same pattern.

It should be this magic formation.

But the text above is a bit weird,

and I can't tell where it is from.

Take it back for study.

Okay.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Zhang Ping.

What happened to you?

Mr. Lan.

You...

The torn page is also poisonous?

Sir.

Let's go.

- Come on. - Let's go.

Let's go.

A League of Nobleman