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 38=

Your mother has a pure heart and spirit.

She is virtuous, frank,

amiable and respectable.

A gentleman and a lady

falling in love

is the most beautiful thing in the world.

There's nothing to be ashamed of.

The reason why we didn't tell you

is because you just arrived and you're young.

We're afraid you can't take it.

Still, I don't allow it!

According to books, a woman must always be obedient.

She obeys her father before getting married.

She obeys her husband after getting married.

She obeys her son after her husband dies.

Without my permission,

she can't marry you!

Fu Zifang,

I don't need your permission.

Don't you remember?

Your father divorced me.

A woman gets married under the order of her parents.

But she can marry anyone for the second time.

In this world, no one

has the right to interfere with my marriage.

Including you, even if you're my son.

Mother!

You don't really take me as your mother.

All you need is a babysitter

who is always obedient to you

and takes care of you.

That's not true!

Say no more.

I used to indulge you too much.

So, today,

Yinzhang had to coerce you

and gave you a lesson on my behalf.

Now I finally understand.

I may be a good mother, but you're never a good son.

Fu Zifang,

you're just as selfish as your father.

Let's get back.

Sanniang.

But...

Zifang, come up.

It's too cold.

Go. Leave him there.

He won't be drowned.

He may catch a cold.

Mother, I was wrong.

Stand up.

Come over.

Swap for the dry clothes

in case you catch a cold.

Mother, are you not angry with me anymore?

I'm still angry with you.

But a mother never hates her son.

Zifang, now,

you're growing up.

I think you can get my point.

I'm not only your mother,

but also a woman.

An assertive woman.

I indeed dream to be mandated.

For this dream,

I forced to you study hard

so that you became rebellious.

That's why you were

easily bought over by your aunt

and lost your mind.

I don't want you

to live for my dream anymore.

When I want to be mandated,

I'll work hard for that personally.

I picked Du Changfeng to be my husband.

I don't think I'm not good enough for him.

I don't think he'll be bad to me, either.

When our wedding is held a few days later,

I will get married very proudly.

People's discussions

can never defeat me.

Go.

Mother, I was wrong.

I'm no longer angry.

Mm.

Ladies and gentlemen,

a big sale for today.

Come into our restaurant and get a free cup of Celestial Wine.

- Great. - Nice.

Line up.

Line up. Right there. Line up.

Hurry.

Line up.

Go.

- Go quickly. - Hurry.

You're like me before you drink the wine.

But you'll be like him after you drink it.

- It improves your health - Line up.

- and helps you lose weight. - Line up.

- First come, first served. Hurry. - Go get the free wine.

Celestial Wine is good.

- Celestial Wine is free for today! - You two, come this way.

Nice trick, isn't it?

Today, Yong'an Restaurant

receives more customers by 30%.

It's not only a nice trick,

but also a stroke of genius.

You do a better job than me

as the manager of Yong'an Restaurant.

I'm just imitating you.

I can handle the restaurant for the moment.

But I can't handle it for a long time.

I like to see you being happy.

By the way, tell Chi Pan

not to really make a scene

with the restaurant guild.

Just show them

that we're not pushovers.

But they tried to kill you.

Why must we be soft with them?

I don't think they're behind the assassination.

It didn't make any sense.

You're enjoying your leisure time.

Oops.

You're back quite early today.

- Qianfan. - Your leg hasn't recovered yet.

I have something to tell you.

Mm.

Ouyang Xu is transferred to be Controller-general of Xinzhou, right?

He left the Eastern Capital yesterday.

Unexpectedly, he ran into bandits on the sea last night

and was killed.

Ah?

Who did that?

No idea. It's still under investigation.

But I know things can't be quite that simple.

At today's morning court,

censors suddenly impeached me.

According to them, I married a businesswoman,

regardless of the distinction between officials and businessmen.

This made me unconventional.

I allowed my wife to monopolize spices and fight for profits with civilians.

This made me heartless.

Pan'er wasn't a pariah a long time ago.

She's a civilian, too.

Commissioner Gu Qianfan,

I'm Inspector-in-chief Zhang Yun

from the Infantry Command of the Guard Department.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

Commanded by His Majesty, I'll take you to our prison for interrogation.

Qianfan.

Take it easy. Don't worry.

I'll be right back.

Go find Chen Lian. Hurry.

All right.

Gu Qianfan, you'd better confess.

You're familiar with the tortures, after all.

Why must you wait until you're tortured?

Just because I'm familiar

with the tortures,

I can probably guess

that His Majesty asked you

not to give me severe torture, right?

So far, consequently,

you've only dared

to give me the water torture which will leave no wound on my body.

Let me say it again.

I've never seen The Night Revels.

I've never

instigated anyone to deceive His Majesty with a fake painting.

Why are you still so stubborn even when you're dying?

You're avenging Commander Cui, the Hat Demon,

right?

In the first year of Jingde's reign, he was your deputy commandant.

You two even went to a war with His Majesty.

Do you think His Majesty can't figure out

what I have found out?

Give him the bell torture.

Will you confess or not?

Zhang Yun, calm down.

It's a struggle between Scholar Ministers and the Empress Party.

I know you want to avenge Commander Cui.

But don't be instigated

just because of this

or get involved in the struggle.

You must understand.

If one day His Majesty knows

that I'm innocent,

do you want your Guard Department

to always be an enemy of the Capital Security Office?

Go on!

From the homes of those who attacked you,

jewels with Minister Xiao's signet were found.

Among the dead bandits who attacked Ouyang Xu,

there were Minister Xiao's servants, too.

So, Minister Xiao asked for a sick leave

and he's waiting to be interrogated.

But what does it have anything to do with Qianfan?

Minister Xiao won't kill him.

He just won't.

So, you heard about that rumor, too?

As in the rumor,

Minister Xiao married Chief's aunt

and treated him as his son.

So he kept promoting Chief.

And...

Speech officials told His Majesty

that Minister Xiao must be dissatisfied

when Chief insisted on marrying you...

Me, the humble businesswoman.

That's why he tries to kill Qianfan.

Mm.

They also said

that Minister Xiao didn't know Chief was also in the carriage

and it made you escape by luck.

After hearing that,

His Majesty flew into a rage,

reprimanding Her Majesty and Minister Xiao

for overextending themselves.

But Her Majesty said

she had no idea of this.

To prove her innocence,

she asked His Majesty to have Chief

taken to the Guard Department for a strict interrogation.

Wait.

I get it.

I'm sure His Majesty thinks

Qianfan colluded with the Empress Party

and instigated me

to lie about The Night Revels

so that the Empress could get away.

This is the real reason why Qianfan was arrested.

The Capital Security Office is in charge of the defense of the capital city.

If it's under control of the Empress Party,

it'll be extremely dangerous to His Majesty.

You're right.

I don't think Minister Xiao is the murderer.

It's more like that Qi Mu is incriminating Minister Xiao

when he's out of the capital city.

Who else can order so many speech officials, anyway?

Think about it, Pan'er.

Last time, he colluded with Ouyang Xu but failed to dethrone Her Majesty.

His Majesty then alienated him.

This time, to take revenge,

he tried to murder you and Ouyang Xu.

Whether you died or not,

His Majesty would suspect Her Majesty and Minister Xiao.

In this way,

he'll get a chance

to assume his job back here.

It can't be true.

Qi Mu isn't in the Eastern Capital.

Now that we can think of this,

Xiao Qinyan can figure it out, too.

Shall we visit Minister Xiao

and ask for some advice?

Not now.

I haven't been arrested yet.

But someone is probably spying on me.

What we should do is do nothing now.

Qi Mu isn't in the Eastern Capital.

Xiao Qinyan has been a powerful official for decades.

He will not easily give in.

After all, Qianfan is his...

He won't let Qianfan die.

Besides,

I left a hint to His Majesty.

I mentioned that Qianfan got engaged with me,

regardless of my identity.

So, the calmer we appear to be,

the more His Majesty will believe

that I told the truth

before I even realized it.

Is this the good idea you came up with?

It is, of course.

Anyway, very few people know

that Pan'er married Gu Qianfan.

As long as I marry Pan'er,

the speech officials' impeachment

will just be fictitious.

Then His Majesty won't suspect anything.

You're taking advantage!

I'm sacrificing my body

to save all of you, all right?

I'm not aware of other punishments.

But Pan'er will be beheaded for deceiving His Majesty.

You will implicate me, too.

Yong'an Restaurant will also be closed.

Such a dangerous problem

must be solved as soon as possible.

Do you not have a selfish motive?

I do, so what?

I have a selfish motive

just because I like Pan'er!

If you were in this trouble,

never dream to get help from me!

- What? What? - You!

Trying to slap me?

Before I touch you, why are you still touching me?

Come on. Touch me.

Chi Pan, I appreciate your kindness.

Just say but.

But Qianfan and I

traveled from Qiantang County to the Eastern Capital.

Magistrate of Huating County, Prefect Xu,

and some in the Capital Security Office...

A lot of people knew about that.

His Majesty will figure it out with a careful investigation.

What do we do, then?

We can't just sit here and wait to die.

We're not waiting to die,

but waiting for an opportunity.

Qianfan's been in prison for a whole day

and we haven't got any information.

I don't know if he was tortured.

Chi Pan, Qianfan's subordinates don't dare to take any action now.

It's not convenient for me to ask around, either.

You're well-connected in the Eastern Capital.

Could you try to see him?

He can judge more accurately than us.

A jailer of the Guard Department Jail owed me a gambling debt.

I'll ask him for help.

No, no, this isn't appropriate.

You're the owner of Yong'an Restaurant.

He may not want to get involved.

Let me go.

I'm an official, anyway.

Even if I'm caught,

I may survive.

Changfeng, you...

I'm a man.

When the family is in trouble, the man should always step forward.

You're quite manly today.

Not at all.

Off you go.

Thanks.

Sir, I'm ordered to check on you.

Sir?

Gu Qianfan.

Gu Qianfan.

It's me.

Are you the doctor they sent?

Yes, I am.

My ears are hurt and I can't hear anything.

Feel my pulse, then.

Listen to me.

Ask them not to take rash action.

His Majesty only has me interrogated,

instead of doing anything on Pan'er or Yong'an Restaurant.

It means

His Majesty suspects something,

but doesn't have evidence.

Lei Jing sent me to look for The Night Revels.

I've got a lot of things on him.

I believe

he's interceding hard for me with His Majesty.

So, I won't die.

But your ears...

If Pan'er asks about my condition,

tell her

that I'm only imprisoned

and I'm safe.

Ask her not to worry about me.

Are you done?

Yes, yes. I'll go write the prescription.

Take care.

What did I say?

Gu Qianfan would be all right.

Yeah.

After all, he's the Commissioner of the Capital Security Office.

Even Imperial Guards

don't dare to offend him without a good reason.

Something's wrong.

If Qianfan were really all right,

he wouldn't be so nervous.

- Yeah. - No, no, no.

I'm... I'm not nervous.

What exactly happened? Tell me.

Tell us.

Say it.

Come on. Tell us.

When I went in, I called him,

but he didn't respond.

I guess his ears were hurt.

He couldn't hear you?

So, he's deaf?

Not only his ears were hurt,

his pulse felt messy, too.

He also had a fever.

Maybe he was also hurt somewhere else.

Darn it.

How did they torture Chief?

I didn't expect the guards to torture him like that.

Pan'er.

I'm all right.

I'll go beg Finance Minister Lin.

Don't bother.

Chen Lian, there's only one thing we can do.

No one can save Qianfan, but him.

Please draw away those who spy on us.

No problem.

(Xiao's Mansion)

(Xiao's Mansion) Zhao Pan'er

asked to see me?

Yes. She came through the back door.

For the sake of prudence,

I brought her to the side room.

You have many contacts in court

and you must know

how Qianfan is being tortured.

He never wants to be involved

in your struggle against Scholar Ministers.

For the sake of his mother...

You knew

I didn't send anyone to kill you.

He seldom talked about you.

But he always believes

that you won't hurt him.

You may rise.

Don't worry.

I've had everything arranged.

Qianfan won't be tortured anymore.

In three or five days at most,

he can come out safely.

But during this period,

you'd better not stay in the Eastern Capital.

Master.

Go prepare a carriage.

Have it tightly covered

and send her back home in it.

Aye.

Qianfan is a good person.

So are you.

I feel sorry to you.

The carriage is ready.

(Xiao's Mansion)

Don't move unless you want to die.

I'm saving your life.

(Xiao's Mansion)

It's safe here, I guess.

What did you just say?

He won't rescue Gu Qianfan.

He lied to you.

What?

To the Empress,

The Night Revels is irrefutable evidence

of her shameful past.

So,

when she heard the rumors

about the relationship between Gu Qianfan and my father,

she started to suspect

that my father had kept the existence of the painting

because he was disloyal to her.

To prove his loyalty to the Empress,

when he met the Empress's brother today,

he asserted

that he divorced Ms. Gu out of resentment,

and he and Gu Qianfan

only contacted in the Hat Demon case

instead of being a family.

Under such circumstances,

how would he rescue Gu Qianfan?

You think he's heartless, huh?

He's always been this kind of man.

Otherwise, he couldn't be such a powerful official.

In his heart,

sons aren't important at all.

Only power matters most to him.

Sister-in-law,

you used to be very clever.

Why did you lose your mind

and come to beg him today?

Don't you know

how Gu Qianfan hates him?

You knew that?

Do you also know your father was...

I figured out

that Minister Xiao wasn't behind those who attacked me.

But after Qianfan was arrested,

he probably wanted to kill me.

Because as long as he faked

that Qi Mu's men killed me,

he and Qianfan would be vindicated.

But to get Qianfan out quickly,

I don't care how much I hate your father.

Even if I have to die

and even if Qianfan blames me,

I still have to do this.

You're so nice to Gu Qianfan.

He's better to me.

No wonder he insisted on marrying you even by hurting himself.

I'm still not experienced enough.

I didn't expect him

to comfort me with a smile

while arranging for his men to kill me.

Thank you for today.

You always hate Qianfan, don't you?

Why did you save me?

Because...

He's my eldest brother, after all.

And because he saved my life in the Hat Demon case.

I'm jealous of him.

But I don't want him to die.

I don't want his beloved lady to die, either.

Get back home.

You'd better stay in Yong'an Restaurant lately.

Don't be alone.

The more people are around you, the less he dares to kill you.

What about you?

Are you afraid of your father?

He'll just beat me.

I'm used to that, anyway.

Get in the carriage.

I arranged this carriage and the driver. Rest assured.

Sister-in-law.

Take care.

I also felt confused after I heard about this.

After all, I verified again and again that The Night Revels

was fictitious.

Gu Qianfan knew nothing about it before his mission.

How could he fake the painting with Ms. Zhao?

Is Gu Qianfan really the nephew

of Xiao Qinyan's ex-wife?

Yes.

Gu Qianfan never concealed this

in his resume.

But I don't think

Minister Xiao ever helped Gu Qianfan

just for their relationship.

Or I wouldn't dare to always assign

the hardest missions to Gu Qianfan.

But I remember

when Gu Qianfan was promoted to be the Commissioner,

Xiao Qinyan put in a good word for him.

It was... It was because

Gu Qianfan killed the Hat Demon.

If Minister Xiao didn't repay Gu Qianfan

for saving his life,

others will badly gossip about him.

Besides, Gu Qianfan requested Your Majesty

to mandate his aunt Ms. Gu.

Ms. Gu is from a family of Scholar Ministers.

She divorced Minister Xiao out of resentment.

Wasn't he disgracing

Minister Xiao

in front of Your Majesty?

Oh, right.

There may be another way out.

Say it.

Ouyang Xu isn't dead.

Ah?

He isn't dead?

He was just wounded.

Someone saved him.

Guards of the Court of Judicial Review are escorting him back.

His two servants died.

On the ship transferring osmanthus south,

all of the six workers died, too,

from the helmsman to the boatmen.

Only he jumped into the river early

and floated downstream on a piece of deck.

Pan'er,

I know you hate Ouyang Xu.

But if we try to bribe him with a large sum of money

and ask him to tell His Majesty

that Qi Mu sent the bandits to kill him,

maybe we can stir things up.

Wait, wait. Say it again.

Ouyang Xu isn't dead.

We can try to bribe him

and ask him

to accuse Scholar Ministers instead.

Something's wrong.

Qi Mu knows Xiao Qinyan is Qianfan's father.

Under such circumstances,

he only needs to conceal this secret.

After all, colluding with his son

and distorting an official's resume

can be a capital offense for Xiao Qinyan.

If so,

the one behind all this only knows

that Xiao Qinyan and Qianfan are close.

Could you take me to see Ouyang Xu stealthily?

Fine.

Help!

Stop yelling.

I've knocked out the guards

with some incense.

Are you here to kill me?

No.

I came to verify something.

I'm almost sure about it, though.

Don't try to look mysterious.

Just get to the point.

I smell the Pear Fragrance in this room.

It's rarely used by common people,

but widely used in the imperial harem.

You just met someone sent by the Empress,

right?

Your being attacked is a hoax.

Qi Mu isn't behind all this,

but the Empress is.

You turned to the Empress a long time ago, right?

Because of The Night Revels,

the Empress hates Qi Mu a lot.

Qi Mu has been banished from the Eastern Capital,

but she still wants to get rid of him.

So, she set interlocked traps.

First, she had Xiao Qinyan suspected.

Then, she'll ask the guards of the Court of Judicial Review

to find out the flaws in the evidence.

Qi Mu isn't in the Eastern Capital.

So, he can't explain to His Majesty's face.

His Majesty will suspect Scholar Ministers

as much as he distrusted the Empress Party.

Meanwhile, the Empress can

warn Xiao Qinyan who gets arrogant as the Grand Secretary.

Am I right?

How did you know that?

Because I used to be the one

who knew you best.

Three years ago, you fell sick in Qiantang County

and couldn't smell the osmanthus.

Otherwise, your body would flare and itch.

How could a man like this

take a ship transferring osmanthus?

It means

everything was arranged by someone else

and you didn't dare to resist.

Wrong.

I planned all this.

I begged the Empress's brother regardless of humiliation.

I told him

that I completely offended Qi Mu

and I had to be loyal to the Empress.

As long as I risked my life to set this trap,

the Empress can get rid of Qi Mu forever.

She trusted me

and gave me another chance

to stay in the Eastern Capital.

So, you had eight people killed?

So, you tried to kill me, too?

Ouyang Xu,

I don't think

I've ever hurt you.

Why did you do such things to us?

Because...

I have no other way out.

Are you all right?

Because I hate you!

You put me through this!

Zhao Pan'er,

do you know how much I loved you?

Why didn't you listen to me?

Why did you ask Gu Qianfan for help?

Why did you force me to be the Taoist Temple Administrator

in the Western Capital?

You ruined my bright future

after I studied hard for a dozen years.

I had no choice,

but to work for Qi Mu

and do evil for the Empress.

It's you. You put me through this.

No.

I...

I meant to be a good man.

I meant to be

an unyielding official.

But I didn't have a choice.

It's you. You made me do this.

All of you made me do this.

I still have a chance.

As long as I help the Empress topple Qi Mu

and kill you and Gu Qianfan,

I can stay in the Eastern Capital,

get promoted,

and take revenge on the Gao Family.

You and Gu Qianfan will regret what you've done.

I failed to kill you last time.

I won't let you run away again.

Pan'er.

Somebody!

Pan'er.

Come on. Let's go.

Help! Assassins!

Mr. Ouyang, who assassinated you?

I didn't get a clear look.

Wait.

Don't bother to run after them.

Leave me alone.

(Don't panic.)

(Even if she knows everything,)

(she doesn't have any evidence.)

(Gu Qianfan is in prison, anyway.)

(She's a mere civilian,)

(with no one to rely on.)

(I'll tell the Empress about this tomorrow.)

(Yes. This is what I should do.)

Ouyang Xu's being attacked is also weird.

If Minister Xiao really wanted to kill that minor official,

he wouldn't have failed

or left such visible traces.

What's up?

Your Majesty, Consort Gao's niece Gao Hui insisted on seeing you.

Ridiculous. I'm busy.

She said she had something important.

We're not finished here. Wait.

Get her in. Hurry.

Aye.

Don't bother to kneel.

What did you come for? Say it.

Your Majesty, my good friend Zhao Pan'er,

the manager of Yong'an Restaurant,

has never monopolized spices

on the strength of Commissioner Gu.

She's innocent.

Zhao Pan'er is your good friend now?

She is.

So, you came to intercede for her?

I'm not interceding for her!

She has done nothing wrong!

If Pan'er really bullied others on the strength of Gu Qianfan

like the officials accused,

why did she need to impawn

the deed of her teahouse?

Besides,

other restaurants first refused

to sell wine to Yong'an Restaurant.

Pan'er then didn't sell spices to them.

She was just

turning their playbook against them.

Some people had an ulterior motive

and forcibly blamed Pan'er for bullying others

instead of having a common business competition.

All right. All right.

This is an affair of politics.

A lady like you shouldn't interfere.

But Pan'er is just a lady, too.

You can send anyone to verify what I just said.

I promise it's all true.

Miss Gao, please go back home.

Your Majesty, you watched me grow up.

I'm overbearing.

But I've never lied to you

or begged you for anything.

Miss Gao, say no more.

Just go.

Pan'er is a lady.

She came here all alone and have no one to rely on.

It's really hard for her

to run the restaurant so well.

I just beg you to investigate the case

and not to hurt an innocent civilian in the political struggle,

Your Majesty!

Go. Say no more.

Gao Hui is always arrogant.

Why did she make friends with Zhao Pan'er, too?

It's just fate, I'm afraid.

I think Miss Gao made sense.

Come on.

You guys came one after another

to intercede for Zhao Pan'er and Gu Qianfan.

If I remember correctly,

you used to be Gu Qianfan's superior.

Your Majesty, just because you're generous to take advice,

and Miss Gao and I have a clear conscience,

we dare to speak bluntly.

With all due respect,

Prince Sheng is young.

Her Majesty can rely on no one, but you,

in the Imperial Palace.

She's chaste and proud.

She offered to have Gu Qianfan strictly interrogated

and asked Minister Xiao to wait to be interrogated on a sick leave

only because she trusted you.

But if there's no evidence for the false charge

and you still don't get Minister Xiao back to court,

won't you hurt her heart?

Oh, no.

The Empress won't let us go.

Perhaps she will.

She's extremely powerful.

But I know her weakness.

If we fight desperately,

we may stand a chance of survival.

But how?

According to Xiao Wei,

the more people are around me,

the less they dare to kill me.

♪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♪