Original subtitles

♪Having survived the winter I'm expecting the flower season♪

♪Smiling in a spring breeze I'm immersed in it♪

♪Whose breath warmed my cold heart♪

♪And stirred up ripples♪

♪A figure may be reflected in my eyes♪

♪Bring back numerous memories♪

♪Through my life I've endured hardships for love♪

♪With you My mind is still and peaceful♪

♪Don't blame fate and providence♪

♪And the merciless fortune♪

♪Wandering in the world of mortals like it's a game♪

♪Risking my heart♪

♪Isn't to be regretted♪

♪I'll exchange it for the love of my life delightedly♪

=A Dream of Splendor=

=Episode 24=

(I won't fail your affection.)

(Miss Hui)

What do you want to do?

I found it.

You...

You're with the Gao Family.

Smart. No wonder you're the Third Graduate.

Write the divorce letter now!

I won't.

You don't have to write.

There will be an announcement from the Ziji Palace tomorrow

that Deputy Commissioner Ouyang Xu became ill and died.

Scholars getting caught in the rain and falling ill suddenly

happens all the time.

You're too bold.

I'm a court official,

the newly selected Third Graduate!

(Divorce Letter)

(Written by Ouyang Xu in the Western Capital)

If your lady finds out

what you have done to me today,

she will show you no mercy.

How unrealistic you are.

Do you think it's our master who wants to break you up?

Listen,

it was our lady

who ordered us to get the divorce letter

from you.

It's impossible.

Our lady

has become good friends with Ms. Zhao.

She knows about all the dirty things

you've done.

Gao Hui is ruthless.

How would she let Zhao Pan'er go?

Shut up!

Remember,

the Gao Family will have nothing to do with you from now on.

If you say one word

about what happened tonight,

even if the Gao Family will let you go,

the Capital Security Office will still come after you!

The Capital Security Office?

Does His Majesty also know about this?

If His Majesty knew,

you'd be in Yazhou in exile by now!

Ms. Zhao

will marry Gu Qianfan

of the Capital Security Office soon.

You can just keep dreaming.

Zhao Pan'er, why are you getting married again?

Gu Qianfan.

Gu Qianfan!

Be careful.

It's raining heavily. Let me take you home.

There is no need. I can go back on my own.

It's not far away.

Yinzhang.

The Golden House is ready.

Don't keep me waiting for too long.

(I've never seen)

such a delicate

and talented young lady like you.

You're a treasure.

You're not supposed to fall into the mire.

Let me take care of you and protect you,

will you?

Deputy Commissioner Gu?

That's how you keep them waiting?

Look at the sweat on their foreheads.

I was thoughtless.

Go.

Deputy Commissioner Gu, thank you for just now.

I should be thanking you for helping me out.

I'll visit you in the teahouse in a day or two.

(No, no.)

(How can I be so greedy?)

(I can't be like this.)

Yinzhang?

Pan'er.

The servant in the Xiao's Mansion said

you left from the side door.

Where have you been?

I...

I was picked up by the people of the Music Division.

There were so many people there.

I was running

and disoriented when I got in the carriage.

Then I realized I got on the wrong carriage.

Oh, right. There are other sisters from the Music Division in the carriage.

I made the decision

to send them back first.

That's why I'm back so late.

It's good that you're back.

Those people were like crazy.

Are you okay?

Let me see the words Minister Ke wrote.

(Self-esteem by Ke Zheng)

His calligraphy is sturdy but elegant indeed.

Let's hurry back.

Sanniang and Zhaodi have a celebration party for you.

You have to tell me what happened at the minister's mansion.

Go to the Capital Security Office tonight and get the criminal here.

But last time Deputy Commissioner Gu

didn't even show you respect.

Don't worry. I've warned him.

Interrogate the criminal as soon as he gets here.

Remember,

we must convict

Duke An.

But,

if we blame the whole thing on Duke An,

doesn't it mean Xiao Qinyan will get away with it?

Why are you as short-sighted

as Ke Zheng's disciples?

I remember.

Your older sister is Zheng Qingtian's wife.

Yes.

My mother died when I was young.

I was brought up by my elder sister.

You want to avenge your sister.

Ke Zheng's disciples want to avenge their teacher.

But it's not as easy as you think.

Can a little Hat Demon you created

make His Majesty suspect Xiao Qinyan?

Don't forget

that Xiao Qinyan got promoted

for supernatural things.

Can you bring him down with such a little move?

It was our oversight.

Ke Zheng always regards himself

as a man of integrity.

If he finds out his disciples

dealt with Xiao Qinyan

in such a way,

I'm afraid he will die of anger on the road.

Besides, blaming it on Duke An

is killing two birds with one stone.

It can hurt Xiao Qinyan,

get us out of this,

and make His Majesty vigilant at the same time.

Then he will appoint the Crown Prince early

and stabilize the foundation of the state.

When the Crown Prince administers the state,

there will be no room for a woman in politics.

When the iceberg falls,

Her Majesty' men like Xiao Qinyan

will lose their power.

You're insightful indeed.

I'm impressed.

At the end of the banquet,

I remember Minister Ke walked over to Deputy Commissioner Gu

and said, "you're good."

What's more, I've never seen him

wield his sword when he made raw fish slices.

Try my red bean smoothie.

Is it done?

It's the perfect thing to eat on a hot day.

Yinzhang, come on.

Did you bring the fish back

when you made extra money

by digging up lotus roots?

Yeah.

All right.

You've been smiling all day. What's wrong with you?

You know what,

I just found out

why his name is Chen Lian.

Why?

When he was a kid,

the Lian in his name means lotus.

His mother had a few daughters before she had him.

She was worried she couldn't raise a son well,

so she gave him a girl's name on purpose,

and asked Boss Lotus

to be his godfather.

No wonder he was able to recommend you for digging lotus roots.

Hurry and eat.

It's too cold. I'll eat it slowly.

Chen Lian

was actually raised as a girl for so many years.

The next time I see him,

I'll have to...

All right, stop it.

Yinzhang hasn't finished yet.

Yinzhang, go on and tell me about

the birthday banquet at the minister's mansion.

You said the bowls and plates they used to serve food

are imperial porcelain, right?

Imperial porcelain is only used for ordinary dishes.

When they served humps,

they used large rosewood carved bowls.

Deputy Commissioner Gu's raw fish slices

was served on an imperial disk.

Minister Duke Xiao specifically ordered that.

Speaking of raw fish slices,

can you make it, Sanniang?

Of course I can.

I'll make it tomorrow and let you have a taste.

I'm sure it will be as thin as a cicada's wings

and no worse than what Gu Qianfan made.

Why don't we take this lucky chance of Yinzhang

and add raw fish slices to our menu?

Now summer's here.

Our teahouse is in the off season.

Making raw fish slices doesn't need fire. It's also a fresh dish.

Okay.

(No.)

Teahouse is a place to enjoy music and taste tea.

How can we suddenly start selling food?

Highbrow things and lowbrow things

can't be mixed together.

We're just chatting and making jokes.

Don't take it too seriously.

What do you mean I'm taking it too seriously?

Pan'er.

Half-hidden is an elegant place.

Isn't that what you used to say?

You two also said

if one of us

disagrees with a way

to run the teahouse,

we won't do it in that way.

Have you all forgotten?

I didn't sleep all night.

I'll go back to my room.

What's wrong with Yinzhang?

Why was she so angry?

I guess we kept interrupting her

and she got upset.

But she had been talking for a while about

how beautiful the layout of the mansion is,

how rich the guests are there,

and how many people crowded in front of the mansion

just to take a look at her.

I've even seen Minister Ke's words

on her pipa three times.

Today is a rare happy day for her.

Becoming famous in the capital

is something to be proud of.

But no matter how proud she is,

she shouldn't show off at home.

You and Pan'er cooked a nice meal for her

to celebrate her success.

What's more,

why did she keep praising Deputy Commissioner Gu

in front of Pan'er?

She made us awkward.

She probably doesn't know about them.

No way.

Even that dumb boy, Chen Lian, and I

can see that.

Is she dumber than Chen Lian?

Show some respect.

You also work for her.

I just think

she's been different

since she came back from the minister's mansion.

Oh right, Sanniang.

Are we really not going to sell raw fish slices?

But pastries

are also food.

Why do we have to struggle with teahouse?

Besides, I think

you cook better

than you make pastries.

You've been a waitress, too.

You know the difference between a restaurant and a teahouse.

Let's do the math.

For a restaurant with ten tables,

apart from the owner,

there should be two servers, two handymen, and two cooks.

How many people do we have?

Besides, how many more stoves will we need?

How many more dishes will we need?

Have you done the math?

We can hire more people

if we are understaffed.

The Eastern Capital is big.

I'm sure there are plenty of restaurants for sale.

Besides, teahouses can't sell food,

but restaurants can sell tea.

(But if you marry Zhao Pan'er,)

(you can never be a civil official.)

If your wife used to be a businesswoman,

those imperial censors won't let you get away with it.

You will bear a reputation for breaching marriage etiquette.

Not to mention being a high civil official,

even your mother's title will be lost.

What's wrong? You've been absent-minded.

Nothing.

Pan'er.

If I won't let

Censor Qi be our matchmaker,

will you still marry me?

That's what you're hung up on?

Of course I will.

I want to marry you.

It doesn't matter who the matchmaker is.

Thank you.

What's the point of just saying that?

I need you to promise me one more thing.

Go ahead. I'll promise you anything.

I want to open a restaurant.

Don't be on your guard all the time.

I've been in the Eastern Capital long enough to know some facts.

Firstly,

people here don't like tea as much as people in the south.

Running a restaurant will make more money.

Secondly, Sanniang used to run a restaurant.

She cooks better than she makes pastries.

I have some money left,

and someone is willing to offer a good price

for Half-hidden.

Why can't I do it?

Most of the customers

who came to your teahouse were literati.

But if you run a restaurant,

there will be

all kinds of people coming.

It's definitely easier to make money.

I'm just worried it will be harder for you.

You should think it over.

But my father was also an official.

I know something about official circles.

I asked around.

Fengdeng Shop, which sells imperial wine,

is the private property of Militia Captain Jiang's mother.

Many of the families of the empress and consorts

are also doing restaurant business.

You don't have to do this for me.

It's not totally for you.

The business is growing.

I want some peace and quiet,

and I don't want to greet guests myself.

What's more, Sanniang can focus on cooking in this way

and doesn't have to be a server at the same time.

Besides, husband and wife

are supposed to be considerate of each other.

That's the right way to do it.

Thank you.

Don't say that. Nothing has been settled.

Not to mention there is nothing settled about the restaurant,

I'm afraid Yinzhang is not willing to come

because she thinks the restaurant is not quiet enough.

I've been having some trouble with her lately.

Minister Ke wrote her some words.

The pride in her

is floating up again.

Even biological sisters

are not always on good terms.

If you need, I'll get Shen Ruzhuo here.

I'll induce and threaten him

to talk to Song Yinzhang.

Deputy Commissioner Gu is mighty indeed.

I'm flattered.

Jesus!

Hat Demon!

Hat Demon is coming!

Go!

Hat Demon is coming!

Hat Demon is coming!

Hurry!

Pull in to shore!

Hat Demon is coming!

Go!

Go!

What happened?

It's terrible.

This is brutal.

Hat Demon is coming!

Hat Demon is coming!

Hat Demon is coming!

Help!

Go!

Run!

(Wine)

Qianfan!

I told you not to come.

We've been through danger together so many times.

Let's also face it together this time.

Didn't you say

you've found out about the Hat Demon?

The victim died in a different way this time.

Looks like chaos is about to engulf the Eastern Capital.

Is there anyone who wants to commit a crime again

in the name of the Hat Demon?

Today the Hat Demon showed up in the Tea Lane.

You must be careful, too.

It's a holiday today.

By tomorrow,

there will be more people coming to listen to pipa.

I've just got some people to help me.

I'll be attentive.

There must be a catch in this.

The prisoner is clearly in prison.

How would he show up on a busy street of the Eastern Capital?

And it happened to be the day

before the I'm going to present the Hat Demon case to His Majesty.

What are you suspecting?

The Capital Security Office did it.

It's Gu Qianfan.

He didn't listen to you

and he was afraid we would steal the credit.

Why are you still holding on to Gu Qianfan?

Since he gave you the man,

he won't do such things.

Then it must be Lei Jing.

That guy didn't help much

when I went to ask for the criminal from Gu Qianfan last time.

He is a two-faced man.

What if Duke An also bought him off

and created another Hat Demon

to exonerate himself?

I dare him to do that!

Re-prepare the statement and evidence.

Tell His Majesty

that the Capital Security Office

is behind the Hat Demon case.

I see.

But what if Lei Jing

blames everything on Gu Qianfan,

then...

Whether it's Lei Jing or Gu Qianfan,

they are both from the Capital Security Office, right?

Whoever tries to ruin my plan to urge His Majesty to choose the Crown Prince

will be met with my ruthlessness.

That was

some refreshing rain.

Yeah.

This rain

can cool people off.

You don't have to

talk to me about the restaurant anymore.

I'm 100% willing to do it.

I'll leave the rest to you.

I'll talk

to Yinzhang tomorrow.

The problem

is have we made enough money

to open a restaurant?

Not too much.

I'll get some from Qianfan,

and borrow some from the storehouse and the pawn shop.

That should be enough.

We should thank Ouyang Xu.

We wouldn't be living such a good life

in the Eastern Capital

if he hadn't done what he did.

Exactly.

Not marrying him

was the luckiest thing

I ever did.

Don't squeeze!

Don't squeeze!

Please wait for a while.

Let us in.

What's the use of squeezing?

It has been a long time.

Extra shows?

No.

I know you're tired,

but there are all regulars today.

But I'm different now.

Minister Ke praised me in person.

If I put on extra shows just for hundreds of smelly coins

and those priggish pedants,

how would I live up to

the characters on the pipa?

I was going to do one show today.

There's no way we can survive in the Eastern Capital

without the smelly coins

and those priggish pedants.

That's not what I meant.

I'm just a little tired.

The so-called self-esteem

is in the heart, not in the form.

Don't squeeze!

Don't squeeze.

We don't want to squeeze.

Can you guarantee us regulars

will hear Ms. Song's pipa today?

Yeah, I've been waiting all morning.

But the teahouse is only this big.

The house is full now.

Can't you have an encore

in the main hall just like before?

(Half-hidden) Yeah!

Calm down. Calm down.

Sanniang is outside to buy ice for you.

She'll be back soon to cool you off.

All right. All right.

Hurry. My feet are hurting.

Ms. Zhao is discussing with Ms. Song about the encore.

Please wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Hurry.

How long are we going to wait?

Move.

Yeah, hurry.

I know.

I'll play.

That's not what I meant.

I just...

Pan'er, are you finished?

They are getting restless again.

Tell them to wait for a while.

Okay.

Thank you.

I promise

I'll let you have a good rest tomorrow.

(Playing pipa is supposed to be elegant.)

(I'm famous now.)

(Why do I still have to please them)

(like jugglers in a recreation place?)

(Why?)

Move it back.

Put it there!

Okay.

This one's almost full. Pour it here.

Pour it here.

Madam!

Coming!

Come on, this way.

I think it's enough.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No problem.

Be careful.

Are you okay?

The ice is hard to get.

Hurry.

Over there, and there!

Okay.

Don't miss any.

Okay.

Slowly. There's no rush.

All right, slowly.

Put it there.

Okay.

It's you.

What sad things were you thinking of?

Your tears

came out.

Well,

I got the pastries you sent me a few days ago.

It's delicious.

I don't think you had any of the pastries.

Those brats split them all, right?

How do you know if it's delicious or not?

How do you know that?

I could throw you in the river.

How would I not know your crappy things?

Eat pastries.

Well,

the Gao Family hasn't given you any more trouble, right?

Don't worry about that.

It's okay.

Hold on. Hold on.

Here, take this.

Cool yourself off.

You're all sweaty from crying.

And you're a teacher.

It's my treat.

No.

This way!

(Ice)

Why am I thinking about

my wife eloped with someone else?

Who is playing such mournful music?

Bring her out

and teach her a good lesson!

It's the woman surnamed Song.

It's the pipa siren again.

Bah!

Zhang Haohao and I ended up like this

because of her.

Whoever on Zhao Pan'er's side

is not a good thing!

Young Master, don't be mad.

Well, Ms. Song is famous now.

She cut a figure

at the minister's mansion last time.

Now people who listen to her music are officials.

We can't afford to mess with officials.

Bah!

Greetings to Young Master.

It's such a hot day.

Why are you here to check the books in person?

(Wang's Ice Shop)

Have a piece of ice to cool off.

Let me say something to cheer you up.

It has been hot these days.

Our business is booming.

See, we just sent eight buckets of ice

to Half-hidden.

Half-hidden?

Did you sell these buckets of ice

to Zhao Pan'er?

Do you also know Ms. Zhao?

Not only do I know her,

but I have a vendetta against her!

Listen carefully,

I'm ordering you as the head of the ice industry

in the Eastern Capital,

you will sell no ice to her from now on.

Otherwise,

you'll end up like this piece of ice!

It's so cold!

Look how crumbly that ice is.

Capital Security Office's fireworks are pretty good.

You did it.

Did you guess it?

I chose the Tea Lane on purpose.

It can also cause trouble

for the opponents of Pan'er.

As her future father-in-law,

am I considerate?

Why did you do it?

Someone's trying to use the Hat Demon thing against me.

You warned me before, didn't you?

Do you really think

the person behind all this

is Duke An who doesn't know anything?

Who else could it be?

Will you believe me if I tell you?

Qi Mu.

You don't believe me?

Right.

He is sanctimonious

and he has been a mentor to you.

Of course you don't believe me.

It's impossible.

Many people among the high officials want to bring you down.

He just wants

to reap the profits.

If His Majesty gets suspicious of me

because of the Hat Demon case,

who do you think will be the biggest beneficiary?

You're in the game

and you can't see it clearly.

Don't forget

Qi Mu is the leader of the high officials now

after Ke Zheng left.

Let me tell you one more thing.

Do you think Qi Mu approached you

and urged you to join the Capital Security Office

for the sake of his friendship with your grandfather?

Did he ever mention to you

he was one of the groomsmen

when your mother and I got married?

My silly son.

You have been cheated by Qi Mu.

You are...

He knew you are my son.

He talked you into giving up your bright future

and joining the infamous Capital Security Office

because he wanted you to be grateful to him,

made you one of his henchmen,

and got back at me for being his political enemy.

You are my son.

Why would I lie to you?

Well, I knew

why you've been risking your life for Qi Mu

over these years.

You want to get promoted to the Fifth Rank

so that a title will be conferred on your mother.

With the imperial incense burning,

your mother's tomb will be rebuilt.

I know that.

That's why I've always respected your choices.

Now

I'm the Prime Minister,

but Qi Mu

is still trying to drive a wedge between us.

I've had enough!

Didn't you ask me

if I arranged the Hat Demon?

I can tell you right now.

I did it yesterday.

But not today.

I revealed the news

that I will go to the river incognito to watch the moon tonight

with no escort.

Qi Mu's men hate me so much

that they want to eat my flesh.

What do you think they will do?

A treacherous official who has just been made the Prime Minister

is punished by God and killed by Hat Demon.

Can high officials like them

resist such a temptation?

Where are you going?

Get out of here now.

You only have two options now.

You can let the assassins kill me,

or you can save me

and take back the glory

that was stolen by the Office of Imperial Guards,

and get promoted for saving the Prime Minister.

You must remember

that I'm risking my life to help you.

You can decide

what to do.

Xiao Qinyan, you are crazy!

How lively!

(Qingyue Fang) How beautiful!

How lively!

Look up there.

There are many people.

Be careful!

The tassel crowns the knight!

The sword is snow white!

In the silver saddle,

he rides like a shooting star!

Father!

What are you doing here?

I can't let you stay in danger.

Father, let's go.

Take this!

Protect Minister Xiao!

Father, let's go!

Be careful, Qianfan!

(Commander Cui?)

♪A feeling of depression♪

♪Falls on those will part just like moonlight♪

♪How can we forget each other♪

♪Wind blows and time flies♪

♪When the splendor fades away only the smell lingers♪

♪In the corner of memories there are sad moments♪

♪Emotions go on and on♪

♪Because time is short but love is hot♪

♪Stars wink for you♪

♪Romance is crazy about you♪

♪Who even waits for you♪

♪Until the end of her life♪

♪When I look back one day♪

♪I'll let go of everything♪

♪I'll hold your hand and never let you down♪

♪Ah Ah Ah♪

♪When our eyes get wet with tears for each other♪

♪Ah Ah Ah♪

♪I'll enjoy a simple life with you♪