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 39=

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.

Are you okay, Pan'er?

I'm fine. Thank you.

I'm so mad at you!

How dare you break into His Majesty's chamber and make personal political comments.

I…

The trouble was made.

It won't change the fact even if you beat me to death.

Hui, are you out of your mind?

Why would you infuriate His Majesty

for a manager of a restaurant?

You're besties, huh?

You've only known her for days.

I really see her as a good friend.

When I was desperate,

she offered me help

without saying a word.

So I must pay back her kindness.

And this is the only thing that I can do for her.

(Pan'er is a lady.)

(She came here all alone and has no one to rely on.)

(It's really hard for her)

(to run the restaurant so well.)

(Her Majesty can rely on no one, but you,)

(in the Imperial Palace.)

(Are you under someone's shelter now?)

(I used to, but not anymore now.)

(That person must be a rogue.)

(Maybe.)

(But he was really nice to me.)

(At least, he didn't mind I was once a pariah.)

(He wanted to marry me legally.)

(So I never really hate him.)

Pass my order. Xiao Qinyan is to attend the morning court tomorrow.

Gu Qianfan is to be released

and reinstated to his former position.

Aye.

Commissioner Gu.

I was only doing my job.

My apologies.

We both work for the imperial court.

I won't hold a grudge.

Commissioner Gu,

here's some wonder medicine,

it works well on ear diseases.

Pan'er.

Pan'er.

This dish

is Sanniang's new creation

called Dripping Green.

It's good. Try it.

Wooden Head?

Wooden Head, when did they free you?

Where's Pan'er?

Pan'er...

She's gone to Kaifeng Prefecture.

I said, she's gone to Kaifeng Prefecture

to sue Ouyang Xu for breaking off their engagement.

Are you deaf?

What's wrong with his ears?

Wooden Head? Wooden Head?

Sorry.

Only by making it big

will Ouyang Xu's reputation be ruined,

so he and the one behind him

won't set me and Qianfan up again.

(Kaifeng Prefecture)

(Kaifeng Prefecture) The more suspicious Ouyang Xu appears,

(Kaifeng Prefecture) His Majesty will suspect Qianfan less.

But I'm afraid that you'll be dragged into this.

We're sisters.

Don't say something like that.

They won't have any concerns

if only a handful of people know about it.

Just file the lawsuit.

I've finished the pipa piece.

Within three days,

everybody in the Eastern Capital

will learn about Ouyang Xu's unfaithful behaviors.

(Kaifeng Prefecture)

I, Zhao Pan'er, manager of Yong'an Restaurant,

would like to sue Ouyang Xu, Controller-general of Xinzhou,

(Plaintiff Zhao Pan'er, Address: Eastern Capital) for breaking off the engagement,

and his retaliative defamation after failing to degrade his legal wife to a concubine.

But we only have the evidence

of him breaking off the engagement.

What about his retaliative defamation?

Relax.

Mr. Chi interrogated

those ruffians who made trouble again

last night.

We have acquired the fingerprints

of those who admitted

that Ouyang Xu's valet paid them to do it.

Pan'er has the statement.

Zhao Pan'er was here last night?

It's not a small matter. Why didn't you tell me earlier?

She came at midnight.

And the officers were sent

by the Court of Judicial Review.

Even if I wanted to deliver a message,

I didn't have a way.

Please let the Empress know at once

and come up with an idea against Zhao Pan'er,

otherwise, this woman…

Mr. Ouyang, you're summoned by Kaifeng Prefecture.

Mr. Ouyang, here's the subpoena.

(Ouyang's Mansion)

Zhao Pan'er is suing me for breaking off the engagement?

What to do?

Zhao Pan'er wishes to make

a big deal out of it,

so we will have concerns.

Once she wins the case,

my reputation is ruined.

And when the Court of Judicial Review hears Qi Mu's case,

they won't believe my testimony.

You said

you had disposed of all the paperwork

about your engagement

at the time, didn't you?

She is now suing me.

It means she has other evidence

that I don't know about.

After all, I was with her for three years.

Fear not.

Let her file the lawsuit.

But will she necessarily win?

I'll have my men tell Kaifeng Prefecture you're the victim in a case

that the Court of Judicial Review is dealing with,

so there cannot be an open trial.

You answer the summoning,

and I'll go with you.

Once we find out what Zhao Pan'er has got in hand,

we'll just wing it.

Ms. Zhao from Yong'an Restaurant

sues the new Third Graduate for breaking off their engagement?

What I have heard is,

she's going to marry Commissioner Gu.

Me too.

Isn't Mr. Ouyang

Inspector Gao's son-in-law?

Go. Get out of here.

There won't be an open trial.

Go.

Chief.

Chief, no.

Once the door of Kaifeng Prefecture is closed,

it won't open for non-staff.

You just got out of jail,

don't try to start another turmoil.

Ouyang Xu wants her dead.

How can I not be anxious?

Chief.

The trial begins.

Silence.

Why isn't it an open trial?

It isn't fair.

Who speaks down there?

What's your complaint?

I'm Zhao Pan'er.

I wish to sue Ouyang Xu, Controller-general of Xinzhou,

for breaking off the engagement

and his retaliative defamation after failing to degrade his legal wife to a concubine.

I have the plaint paper,

witnesses, and evidence with me.

Mr. Ouyang, what is your justification?

Your Honor.

I have nothing to say.

So you acknowledge that Ms. Zhao speaks the truth?

No.

I don't justify myself

because I think

Ms. Zhao has no right

to sue me today.

Please review the law.

Ms. Zhao is from Qiantang,

and since I was ordered to leave the capital city,

my position is registered in Xinzhou.

Kaifeng Prefecture shouldn't even accept the case.

Nonsense.

We're now in the Eastern Capital,

so we are under Kaifeng Prefecture's jurisdiction.

If when two outlanders have an argument in the Eastern Capital,

do you mean Kaifeng Prefecture has no right to hear this case?

If it's a theft case or a dispute,

Kaifeng Prefecture will hear the case,

but if it's a matrimonial litigation,

Qiantang County or Xinzhou

has the right to hear the case.

Your Honor, you know the laws well.

I'm sure you know that I'm stating the fact.

Ms. Zhao, is it true

that you haven't lived in the Eastern Capital for over a year?

Your Honor…

Yes or no?

No, I haven't.

Your so-called engagement

was agreed upon in Qiantang County, right?

But he defamed me and broke off our engagement.

Yes, we can prove that he broke off the engagement.

Yes, we can prove that.

Silence.

Ms. Zhao, this case is indeed beyond Kaifeng Prefecture's scope of jurisdiction.

I will return the paper to you.

File the lawsuit at home.

A fair verdict, Your Honor.

Your Honor.

Mr. Ouyang came out already.

Most likely, Ms. Zhao has lost the case.

So it was a false charge.

I knew it.

Why would

the refined Third Graduate

marry a woman who runs a restaurant?

Every restaurant and teahouse knows

that Ms. Zhao

- used to work in a brothel in Qiantang. - Pan'er.

In that case,

she's not clean.

Who's not clean, huh?

I dare you repeat what you said.

Here.

You're out of jail now.

How are your ears?

They're fine.

The doctor said

my cochleae weren't damaged.

After a few days of recuperation,

I'll be fine.

Ouyang Xu did this to you.

I must see him convicted.

Pan'er, calm down.

Gu Qianfan is fine now.

It's meaningless that you sue Ouyang Xu now.

It is meaningful, actually.

You heard what they said about us.

We are women, and we are of pariah status,

so they are on Ouyang Xu's side

regardless of the truth.

Even if we're much more capable

or kinder than them,

in their eyes,

we are women who are rotten inside.

My original purpose was to protect myself

and to rescue Qianfan.

But now, the purpose of the litigation

is to clear our names.

I swear he'll be convicted.

Pan'er.

I believe and support you.

Chief.

The Empress is behind Ouyang Xu's back.

If you're determined to do this,

it's declaration of war on her.

Now I'm reinstated,

but why hasn't His Majesty

summoned me?

It's because he's still suspicious of me.

Pan'er is right.

Only by proving that Ouyang Xu

is an unfaithful man

at this point

will His Majesty's suspicion of us

be dispelled,

and the Empress will think twice

before she makes any move against us.

But…

There's no but.

I'm a man.

In order to save me,

Pan'er risked her life filing the lawsuit to Kaifeng Prefecture,

why won't I be at her side

come hell or high water?

Pan'er,

if our plaint paper won't be accepted in the Eastern Capital,

we'll just go back to Qiantang.

We'll sue him there.

Ms. Zhao.

Ms. Zhao.

There is one place in the Eastern Capital

that will accept your case.

But it may be difficult.

I remember

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) His Majesty ordered in Jingde's Reign

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) to place a Public Petitioners Drum

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) outside the Main Gate of the Eastern Capital.

Every aggrieved man is allowed

to appeal to the Emperor directly.

A case can reach His Majesty?

How come I never heard of it?

There's a law.

The Public Petitioners Drum Office

only accepts serious cases like bribery-taking, blackmailing, or murder.

For other cases,

they need to be appealed to courts from county to prefecture level.

Otherwise, it's regarded as bypassing immediate authority.

What is that sound?

Your Majesty, it's the Public Petitioners Drum.

It's been years since anyone beat the drum.

It's…

Who's beating the drum?

I'm Zhao Pan'er.

I wish to sue Ouyang Xu, Controller-general of Xinzhou,

for breaking off the engagement.

He held a grudge after failing

to degrade his legal wife to a concubine.

He defamed me

and retaliated against me.

I'm from Qiantang,

and I haven't lived in the Eastern Capital for over a year,

so Kaifeng Prefecture won't accept my case.

But I have learnt that I can have justice

by hitting the Public Petitioners Drum.

So here I am.

Zhao Pan'er, are you aware

that your case is neither bribery-taking,

nor blackmailing nor murder?

It's bypassing the immediate authority.

I am aware.

I'm willing to take 20 floggings

as the law says.

But still, I must sue Ouyang Xu.

Do you know that according to the law,

even if you win the case,

the fiancé won't be punished.

He will be ordered to return the dowry to you.

Are you still willing

to take the 20 floggings?

Yes, I am.

Why?

Because what's wrong is wrong,

and what's right is right.

Your Honor,

there's the law of Eight Exceptions,

meaning if high-ranking officials or nobles break the laws,

they shall be exempted from punishments.

But does this

prove that they're innocent?

That's why even though I'm aware of the result,

and the fact that I'll be flogged,

I would still like to prove

that I'm not an indecent woman

and that Ouyang Xu

is an immoral, vicious hypocrite.

In that case,

your wish shall be met.

Controller-general Ouyang Xu of Xinzhou is to attend the trial tomorrow.

Zhao Pan'er and Ouyang Xu were once engaged?

And Zhao Pan'er beat the Public Petitioners Drum?

Yes, Your Majesty.

She has ill intentions.

Your Majesty, the Court of Judicial Review

has found out that the one

who tried to harm Ouyang Xu was most likely Qi Mu instead of Xiao Qinyan.

Now that the trial draws near,

Zhao Pan'er crops up and sues Ouyang Xu.

What's the meaning of this?

She's been in the Eastern Capital for a while.

And she has to sue him

at this very moment.

It's obvious that she wishes to discredit Ouyang Xu

so the Court of Judicial Review

won't believe his testimony against Qi Mu.

I can't believe these Scholar Ministers

claim that Xiao Qinyan colluded with Gu Qianfan.

In my opinion,

they are the ones who bought Gu Qianfan off.

Otherwise, why would Gu Qianfan

have Zhao Pan'er sue Ouyang Xu right after he got out of jail?

She didn't give up and beat the Public Petitioners Drum

even after Kaifeng Prefecture rejected her case.

Your Majesty, I put up with the Scholar Ministers,

and I remained silent.

But now, I can't take it anymore.

How much longer will the tumult

caused by the fake painting last?

When will those Scholar Ministers

get off my back?

All right.

There, there.

I told you, didn't I?

That I trust you.

I don't care about all the nonsense.

But your rock-hard trust

won't stop the defamation from attacking me.

Your Majesty, I beg you.

Please ask the Court of Judicial Review

to hold a strict trial for the case

of Qi Mu framing Xiao Qinyan and harming Ouyang Xu.

OK. OK.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

No problem.

Don't be mad.

Thank you for your help, Your Majesty.

If Zhao Pan'er fails to discredit me,

I will do everything I can

in the Court of Judicial Review

to make sure Qi Mu is convicted.

Silence!

Ms. Zhao, are you aware

that to prevent the abuse of litigation right,

the action of bypassing the immediate authority

shall receive the punishment of flogging before the trial begins.

I am aware.

Very well, then.

Let the floggings begin.

Let the floggings commence.

One.

Two.

Three.

Hit her.

Four.

Good one.

Hit her to death.

Five.

Six.

Stop!

- Stop! Stop! - Let go!

Gu Qianfan.

As a commissioner,

don't you know that interfering with the court is a felony?

As a judge, don't you know

that it should be posterior flogging

not spine flogging?

Is the purpose of your increased punishment

to silent her

by beating her to death right in the court?

Silence!

You have no right to yell at me

or obstruct the execution of punishment in the court.

What's the purpose of your abuse of power?

I'm the Commissioner of the Capital Security Office.

I have the right to have you arrested right away.

Pull him aside. Continue the flogging.

Hit her! Hit her! Hit her to death!

How dare you?

I'm afraid you're biased, Your Honor.

I'm taking Ms. Zhao back.

The rest 14 floggings can wait

after the truth comes to light.

Bah!

I thought you were a good official yesterday.

It turns out

that you, too, are rotten inside.

H-How could this happen?

Open the gates.

Move. Move out of the way.

Move!

What?

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) What happened to her?

(Public Petitioners Drum Office)

W-What happened?

What's wrong?

Someone played a trick.

The judge changed the posterior floggings to the spine ones.

What?

What?

It's…

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) The spine flogging is as serious

as banishment of 3,000 miles.

Yes.

The Public Petitioners Drum Office is…

They're supposed to uphold justice,

but the judge intends to murder the plaintiff.

Is there justice anymore?

Right.

- Come on, let's make an appeal. - The Drum Office is unfair,

- Come on, let's make an appeal. - the imperial court is unfair.

Let's make an appeal.

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) The Drum Office is unfair,

(Public Petitioners Drum Office) the imperial court is unfair.

The Drum Office is unfair, the imperial court is unfair.

Qianfan, I…

Don't be afraid. I'm here.

Take some medicine.

Should we get a doctor here to perform acupuncture on her?

Acupuncture can wake her up.

Pan'er said previously

that she mustn't fall asleep.

If she's in a coma,

she won't be able to make the appeal at the Drum Office.

Do your best to take care of her.

I need to go out.

Watch her. I'll go get the doctor.

I have heard

that Ms. Zhao is really tough.

She was determined to sue her ex-finance

even if she had to be flogged.

Outrageous.

How dare you maids gossip here?

- Hail, Your Majesty. - Hail, Your Majesty.

What were you talking about?

Tell me about it.

I heard Matron Wang and the others'

conversation at Anyang Hall.

They talked about the floggings Ms. Zhao from Yong'an Restaurant had.

And they said

she really lives up to her birth as the daughter of a general.

She's the daughter of a general?

She's Zhao Qian's daughter.

She's Zhao Qian's daughter?

Yes.

She has an underclass birth.

A refined girl

has to live a life like this.

It's a mistake that I made.

Your Majesty,

all of your orders are fair.

In my opinion,

Ms. Zhao holds no grudge

against you.

(Yong'an Restaurant) So I'm fine.

May Heaven bless His Majesty.

If it wasn't for his benevolence,

I wouldn't have the opportunity to come to see the fireworks

and experience the beautiful life in the Eastern Capital,

(Yong'an Restaurant) nor would I have this big restaurant.

What's your opinion about Zhao Pan'er?

I-I-I know nothing.

I only envy her.

When my service is over,

I hope I can meet a good man like Commissioner Gu.

It'll be worth everything.

I'm surprised

that Gu Qianfan is a good man.

Not only did Commissioner Gu go to the court with Ms. Zhao,

he also ended the unfair punishment in the court.

So of course, he's a good man.

U-Unfair punishment?

Unbelievable. This is utterly unbelievable!

You're the Empress.

How can you break the law?

It's widely spread outside the palace.

The Drum Office is unfair, the imperial court is unfair.

If you think I made a mistake,

just sentence me.

Your Majesty, I have served you for over a decade,

and I have been sincere and meticulous

all the time.

But ever since you made me the Empress,

those Scholar Ministers

have never stopped attacking me,

calling me a seductress,

and a woman of lowly birth.

Did I ever show my displeasure?

Did I ever try to justify myself?

I'm expecting

the one who wants me dead to be brought to justice,

I don't want any uncertainty at the moment.

Is that a mistake?

But the "uncertainty" you would like to erase

is a living person.

Wanwan, don't you know

why I'm mad?

You can't give birth,

I gave you a baby with another woman.

You want power,

I never appointed a crown prince.

What makes me sad is,

I treat you with sincerity

while you respond to me with lies.

Have you been secretly sulking over

my decision

of locking up Gu Qianfan

but letting Zhao Pan'er off?

You think my love shifted

after I visited Yong'an Restaurant?

My love.

She's a Zhao,

a girl at the age of my daughter if I had one, and a member of my clan.

When I see her,

I only feel we're close.

Strictness and leniency are equally important in statecraft.

Do you think

I'm so broad-minded

that when Ke Zheng spat on my face,

I enjoyed it?

No.

Father taught me,

as an emperor, I mustn't act on will.

I am to be reasonable and value public opinions.

Arise.

Arise.

Wanwan.

You said Qi Mu tried to frame you with the fake painting,

I believed you.

You were once married to someone else,

I don't feel good about it.

But I control myself as hard as I can

in case you're displeased.

But you adopted a crooked method.

Even if Zhao Pan'er was beaten to death,

would Ouyang Xu's reputation

not be ruined?

Would the Court of Judicial Review

believe Ouyang Xu's words

and convict Qi Mu because he deserves it

instead of your illicit arrangement?

Would the citizens out there believe that?

I…

That's all I have to say.

You think it over.

Who is it?

Gu Qianfan, Commissioner of the Capital Security Office.

Hail, Your Majesty.

Gu Qianfan,

do you know you'll receive a death sentence

for breaking into my chamber at night?

Yes, I do.

Your Majesty.

My surname is Gu,

but I'm not Xiao Qinyan's nephew.

I'm his son.

My parents were divorced when I was young.

I was raised in my uncle's house.

Qi Mu, the former Vice Censor-in-chief knew about my story,

tricked me into joining the Capital Security Office

with the purpose of me gathering information inside the palace for him

to bring Xiao Qinyan down.

I, however, still love my father,

so I helped him from time to time.

At the end of last year,

I was ordered to investigate the defamation of you.

I learnt that The Night Revels was hidden in Yang's Mansion,

so I went to Qiantang

in an attempt to destroy the painting.

Unexpectedly, I met Zhao Pan'er, the original owner of the painting.

Your Majesty, you support Ouyang Xu

because you need him to bring Qi Mu down.

But I have much more secrets

about all these officials than Ouyang Xu does.

Now,

I have told you all about my secret.

It can be a tool for you to control me.

If you give me an order,

I shall obey with full allegiance.

I only hope you show mercy

and let my wife Zhao Pan'er live.

OK. I appreciate your straightforwardness.

Now that you have pledged your allegiance to me,

I won't give Zhao Pan'er a hard time anymore.

Here's what you are going to do.

You will ask Zhao Pan'er to cancel the case at the Drum Office tomorrow.

When Qi Mu's trial is over,

I will let you have Ouyang Xu.

Then you can do whatever you want with him.

Neither I nor Pan'er will drop the lawsuit.

Why?

We're determined to bring Ouyang Xu to justice,

and to clear Pan'er's name

through the case.

Ridiculous.

Well then. Don't blame me for not helping you.

♪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♪