Original subtitles

♪Flower petals have fallen, piling as high as mortal mercilessness♪

♪Gone with the wind, as if it has never existed♪

♪I ask for more time♪

♪To rewrite our stories♪

♪We travel together in joys and woes♪

♪Blood bathes this entangled destiny♪

♪For the next reunion in the troubled times♪

♪We tread a treacherous path♪

♪To find each other♪

♪Wars and bleakness, the bright moon shines upon the city♪

♪I will offer my bravery♪

♪Fighting relentlessly♪

♪All for no regrets♪

♪In this life-and-death battle, I will not back down♪

♪Withstand enduring time♪

♪Someone at the end of the world never leaves♪

♪I brave the grim haze to be with you once again♪

=Love of Nirvana= (Based on Xiao Lou's novel of the same name)

=Episode 12=

An,

he glared at me.

If you didn't glare at him,

how do you know he is glaring at you?

Which side are you on?

His Majesty is worried that Marquis Pei is hiding something,

that is why he assigned Commander Wei to keep an eye on it.

You should be wary,

don't cause trouble to Marquis Pei.

Since Marquis Pei knows their purpose for coming,

why is he letting them live in Changfeng Estate?

Since he came so openly and confidently,

we should let him see everything clearly.

Once they are in Changfeng Estate,

who’s watching whom won’t be so certain.

That's an excellent strategy.

Changfeng Guards' horses

are really one of the best in the world.

Idiot,

I know you haven't experience much of the world.

Keep your eyes wide open and look.

You...

Deputy Commander Tong!

Deputy Envoy Yi!

Come on!

Brother Cui,

who do you think will win?

Well,

when peacocks fight,

it's usually a lose-lose situation.

You have a point.

What's the point of competing?

It would be better to just run freely.

Ci, it must be difficult for you to be in this position.

Clearly, what you’ve always longed for

is the freedom of the mountains and wilderness,

yet now

you’re trapped in this carriage.

I'd like to ride a horse.

It's frosty and dewy outside.

Your body is vulnerable,

the cold

might cause a strain on your body.

Right.

I think

you can definitely ride a horse freely

when flowers bloom in the coming spring.

Thank you for your kind words.

Sanlang, why are you not talking?

I'm thinking about Miss Jiang's arms.

She seems like she could beat a cow to death.

It doesn't seem to have much

to do with vulnerability.

Brother Cui,

have some tea.

Thank you, Ci.

Your Lordship,

Commander Wei,

please help yourselves.

Brother Cui,

try this,

I made these pastries myself.

Thank you, Ci.

You have good skills.

There is a rich aftertaste.

Your Lordship,

you've been coughing lately.

I'm afraid

sweet food won't do good to your throat,

You should refrain from eating this.

Commander Wei,

you don't like sweets, right?

I indeed don't love them,

but I'm really hungry.

Here,

let me have a taste.

It's really good.

It seems that Wei should take this time

to enjoy a good meal

with Miss Jiang.

Miss Jiang, what other skills do you have?

You should demonstrate them as much as you can

instead of hiding them.

Certainly.

Have a piece.

It tastes really good.

Yes.

(Liang State, Nanling, Yijiang)

Sanlang, please pardon us

for the rough conditions.

Shaojun, you're too kind.

It seems

He Zhenwen, the governor of Nanling,

is somewhat shrewd and capable.

It's a shame

that are some less visible areas

with much filth and grime

hidden inside.

Even the deepest water

can be reached with a bamboo pole all the way to the bottom.

As for how much mud can be pulled out,

it depends on how deep we can probe.

Shaojun is a smart man.

I will

just be direct, then.

When He Zhenwen was interrogated by the Censorate,

according to He Zhenwen’s account,

the issue with the military equipment

arose because the craftsmen's experience is still limited.

(He Zhenwen, Governor of Nanling) Poor skills.

The Censorate arrested the craftsmen involved in the incident

and they all confessed, too.

Have you checked the accounts?

Yes,

we didn't spot any issues.

A goose leaves a trace wherever it flies.

With Sanlang helping me in this,

I have a lot more confidence.

Forgive me for my blunt words.

Shaojun, if you want to be reinstated,

you must find out the truth about the military equipment incident fast.

I'm just worried that this incident

has far-reaching implications.

Although His Majesty is concerned about this case,

he cares more

about whether there are

any unspoken things under the table.

Lord Pei

will always be one of His Majesty's subjects

and Nanling will always

be one of His Majesty’s royal lands.

Lord Pei, if you really get involved in this,

Pei Yan will certainly

uphold justice even if it means eliminating one's own kin.

Now that you've said that,

the military equipment case will definitely come to light.

Are you cold?

(Li Ayan, a boatman's daughter, Nanling Boat)

In response to Young Lady,

I am fine.

Please don't call me that,

my name is Jiang Ci.

How about you?

Ayan.

Ayan?

You've been working throughout the journey.

Put it down, let me do it.

No way.

How about this?

Treat this as doing me a favour.

I was just so bored sitting there,

can you help by letting me get a breather?

Come on.

Ci,

be careful.

Hold this,

it's to warm your hands.

You can just

stand next to me later

and help me by pointing the way.

Thank you, Miss.

You're welcome.

Alright.

Stand firm.

My Lords,

please be seated.

(Changfeng Estate, Nanling)

Welcome, Marquis Pei.

Sanlang,

please.

Miss Jiang!

Brother Cui,

you should go first.

Hold the umbrella.

What about you?

Just hold this.

It's raining heavily,

why are you standing here?

I'm here to return your cloak.

You travel on the river often,

this is a thick cloak,

you keep it.

I can't,

this is too expensive.

I can't accept it.

Stop being so polite to me.

You make a living on the boat

and I am surviving under someone else's control.

We share a similar fate,

of course, we need to look out for each other.

It’s getting late.

Come on.

Hold this.

Go back quickly.

Miss Jiang...

(Changfeng Estate)

Thank you, esteemed relatives,

for arranging the welcome banquet.

I'd like to make a toast to you all.

(Pei Zifang, Master of Pei clan, Nanling)

This toast

should have been offered by us to honour you, My Lord.

Unfortunately, I am getting old

and my legs suffer inconvenience.

Please pardon me, My Lord.

Uncle, I am your nephew,

there's no need to be so courteous.

Marquis Pei is a Lord,

I am just a commoner.

It'd be better to adhere to the formalities

to avoid spreading rumours

that I lack manners

and do not follow courtesy.

Cheers, My Lord.

Cheers, My Lord.

Lord Pei honourably returns to Nanling

to have a drink with us,

this is such a joyful event.

However, I heard

that Lord Pei resigned from office for a woman.

Doesn't that

equate to disregarding

Pei family's honour?

Please pardon me

for not explaining to you

about the matters in the court.

This is not a court,

is there anything that is not allowed to be talked about?

Well,

the woman...

Who is she?

My Lord, did you really think

that the news in Qingkang won't spread to Nanling?

My Lord, although you are the Marquis of Jianding,

you are also one of the descendants of Pei family.

Every word and action of yours

should put the Pei family first.

Ci is my maidservant,

hence she is a part of Pei's Residence.

Uncle, please do not mind

the rumours outside.

In the eyes of the world,

the most glorious individual from the Pei family

has to be your father.

It's a shame

that although he held the highest rank among officials,

he passed away a little too early.

During those years,

if not because of the extra care provided by your many relatives,

how can you

get to where you are today?

Your shoulders actually

bear

the entire Pei family of Nanling.

You should

think twice before taking action.

My Lord,

please excuse me.

Master Pei’s words are incorrect.

Under Heaven,

all land belongs to the king.

Even if Lord Pei resigns,

he remains to carry the royalty's grace on his shoulders.

Is the Pei family of Nanling

of higher importance

than royal dignity?

That is not

what I meant.

I am guessing

Master Pei's eyes have grown dim

over the many years of staying in Nanling.

Regardless of whether Marquis of Jianding

inherits the title or resigns, he is still a pillar of the court.

You are merely a local gentry.

According to regulations,

you should've bowed as a courtesy.

Marquis of Jianding regards you as a family member

and forgave you for not doing so,

but you weren't even being courteous to me.

That is rude.

You...

I?

I am the commander of Guangming Bureau.

I hold a third-rank official position.

I forgive the master as he is getting old

hence he became dim and couldn't see clearly.

Don’t you all know etiquette too?

Greetings, Commander.

Master, are you not familiar with etiquette?

As long as it is in your heart,

you need not be concerned with formalities.

Shaojun,

I am an outsider after all.

I should stop intruding

your family banquet.

I have offended you in many ways today,

please excuse me.

My Lord,

I should also retreat.

Ci.

Brother Cui?

- What are you doing here? - Ci.

It's really stuffy in that room,

the air outside

is fresher and more comfortable.

Thank you, Brother Cui.

I'm fine.

Those aristocratic families and local gentry

relying on the fact that no one dares to discipline them,

have entrenched themselves in various regions and lorded over others.

Tell me,

they read books of the sages and virtuous,

but they don’t practice good.

Sooner or later,

this country and its land

will be eaten up by these parasites.

You sound like

you despise them more than I do.

I left the secular world to enter official service

in hopes that I can put myself forward on behalf of the people.

I wish that one day,

the fact that we are controlled by the aristocratic families

can be changed.

However, in the end, I'm just an ant trying to shake a tree.

There are ants that shake the tree,

there are also ants moving around.

I believe

that as long as you work hard, your efforts will not be in vain.

Ci, you possess inner beauty and intelligence.

I must have been blind.

I assure you,

I will never break your trust.

You must be hungry.

I heard

the night market in Nanling is very lively

and there are plenty of delicacies there.

I'll take you to take a look.

Brother Cui,

give me a minute.

Let me take you somewhere.

Let's go.

Ci,

hurry up.

Let's go.

Quick.

Run, run!

This isn't nice, is it?

I added Clivia.

Clivia is cold in nature.

When mixed with alcohol,

they will suffer from diarrhoea for a few days at most.

Did you

pick this up from the medical book I gave you?

Thank you for the gift.

Let's go.

Let's go get something nice.

Watch your step.

My Lord, please pardon me.

I'm not sure why one is missing.

It's fine.

You may go.

Yes, My Lord.

Brother Cui,

Nanling is such a lively place.

Nanling

is famous for its fish and rice.

As the saying goes,

when the people have food in their bellies,

they naturally won't panic.

Look.

When I was staying at Pei's Residence,

I couldn't even breathe properly.

It's better here,

there is everything.

I understand.

Look at this.

Look.

Steaming buns.

Sir,

what are the fillings?

There's beef and mutton.

Which one would the lady like?

Ci,

what would you like to eat?

I'll go with you.

You don't have to force yourself,

I'll just take a walk.

I'll eat as I walk.

Don't worry,

I won't run around aimlessly.

Alright.

Then let's meet here

after a while.

Sure.

Here, have a look, Sir.

Sir, how much is this?

I'll give you a discount.

(Changfeng Estate)

Here.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Uncle,

I have been reckless tonight,

I apologise to you.

Please

do not hold anger towards me.

Nephew,

it’s not that I want to give you a hard time.

As the leader of the clan,

I have to prioritize the Pei family's glory at all times.

You

already lost your official position

but in this court,

I cannot be without support.

At present,

your cousin Wang is already an adult.

In the course of his political career,

if you can help him clear the way,

he can perhaps

aid you with your comeback

in the future.

The Pei family from Nanling

will give you a helping hand.

Uncle,

I understood.

Cheers, My Lord.

Take a look at the sachets.

Madam, can I take a look at this?

Here.

(Two weeks ago)

We drift with the current

in life,

and truly,

no one can shake the boat of fate.

(Everything has a beginning, but few can see it through to the end)

How much is this?

Ten coins.

Tanghulu.

Sir,

I'll have a serving of sweet porridge.

Miss,

coincidentally,

our business is booming tonight,

unfortunately, we don't have any available tables.

How about we seat you at a shared table?

Is that alright with you?

Sure.

Where should I sit?

Over there.

Look over there.

There is a table there,

a young man has already taken his seat there.

Were you following me?

I think I came here first.

Fine.

Considering that you stood up for me just now,

I'll let this go.

Who said I was standing up for you?

Were you doing it for Lord Pei, then?

Why did you come to Nanling?

I am acting on an imperial command,

to investigate a case.

This is the origin,

but not the purpose.

When did Miss Jiang

start developing an interest in me?

If you hadn't plotted against me,

I wouldn't care about you.

Porridge is here.

My father said

we have to seat you two together,

these two Songzao cakes

are his gifts for you two.

Thank you.

What's a Songzao cake?

It's an offering to Kitchen God.

When Kitchen God eats something sweet, he will be pleased

and tell God good things

to bless everyone in the coming year

so we have our bellies filled and not get sick.

That's right.

Filling up bellies is the most important.

I wish your business prosper.

Thank you, Miss.

Han,

hurry and wash the dishes.

What are you doing?

Why are you dilly-dallying?

Coming.

I didn't expect

that you know how to thank people.

It seems that Miss Jiang has a

very serious misconception toward me.

Why do you love sweets so much?

Could it be

that Miss Jiang is actually interested in me?

When I tested you with Bitterless Congee,

you said that the porridge was not sweet enough.

What does the real Bitterless Congee taste like?

I don't remember.

Aren't you from Yueluo?

You are from Liang'an.

Do you actually remember

the taste of the congee you had when you were young?

I remember.

I remember the taste of anything I have eaten.

Let's just say that

I can never forget

any good food that I have come across.

You have no ambition.

What do you mean?

Do I have to fight and compete every day like you do

to live?

Why are you

so obsessed with Bitterless Congee?

The reason I went down the mountain

was to collect Lingjiu Flower

to make Bitterless Congee for Master for her birthday

but who would have thought

I couldn't leave after coming to Qingkang.

Your master

likes Bitterless Congee?

She said that she had it with her family

when she was young

so that was a very important memory for her.

Bitterless Congee...

Bitterless Congee...

It's not that I can't tell you about it,

but out of courtesy,

you have to return me a favour.

Don't even think about it.

No worries,

I know your rules.

I won't ask you to do something evil.

What do you want me to do?

Following His Majesty's orders, I must

investigate Pei family’s connection with the military equipment case.

I need Changfeng Guards'

annotated book of encrypted correspondence.

What does that have anything to do with that case?

You've seen Master Pei's attitude.

Changfeng Guards listen to Pei Yan's orders.

If we can find out Changfeng Guards' directions,

we can keep track of Pei Yan’s investigation process.

Are you suspecting that Lord Pei will protect the Pei family?

People, for the sake of what they seek,

can resort to any means

at times.

If we do that,

Pei Yan can be reinstated,

you can reunite with your master,

and I can answer His Majesty.

It's rare to encounter a situation

that achieves three benefits with one action,

am I right?

Don't even think about it.

Since I agreed to help you hide your identity,

I won't stop you,

and I will never break my promise.

However, I will never be used by you again.

All this talking,

it seems that you still can’t let go of Marquis of Jianding.

Yes,

I just can't let go.

Stop eating.

I'll take it to Lord Pei.

There is a valley

in Yueluo

named Mingyue Valley.

It is green all year round,

with flowers blooming everywhere.

However,

that is also the burial ground of Yueluo.

Those from Yueluo are never afraid of death.

They sleep under the moon all year round,

The thoughts and memories of loved ones and friends

have caused their graveside to be covered with fresh flowers,

those are Lingjiu Flowers.

They pluck it

to make Bitterless Congee

to convey their remembrance of the deceased

and express life's bittersweet experiences.

I didn't ask you,

you told me yourself.

Don't force me to do anything.

Everyone has their own needs.

I wish you

get what you wish for.

Why is this made of stale rice?

Go.

Uncle,

how are you doing?

Nephew, please stay.

My Lord,

look.

They were fine and now they're suffering from a stomachache,

this is karma.

My Lord,

are you alright?

I didn't drink the soup,

so I should be fine.

Could it be that the soup was poisoned?

I will head to the kitchen to investigate.

It's fine,

it's a trivial matter.

How is the investigation of

each room's background going?

In Nanling, in terms of clothing, food, shelter, and transportation,

every industry has people from each family.

The people here never said much

because of giving face to His Lordship.

I heard that some time ago,

Fourth Young Master seized a land from others

and it cost lives.

They had to cover this up by giving bribes.

Besides, Second Master

just took in his seventeenth concubine this year,

she was tied up and brought into the house.

Second Master?

Isn't he 68 this year?

Lord Pei's reputation

is going to be completely tarnished because of them soon.

My Lord, you have devoted yourself to the Pei family,

yet they are making things difficult for you,

what a shame.

I am protecting the Pei family

for my father's dignity,

it is also my responsibility to do so.

By the way,

any news about the whereabouts of the Yan Sisters?

We have sent someone to investigate discreetly,

but there is no news yet.

Send more people.

Yes, My Lord.

Where is Ci?

She went out with Mr. Cui,

they are not back yet.

Brother Cui,

the purse you got is really pretty.

You have good taste.

Thanks.

Isn't that for Miss Jiang?

Unfortunately,

I noticed this purse

goes very well with something I picked up earlier

so I bought it.

I thought

a humble gentleman like Mr. Cui

don’t pick up things on the road.

It turns out...

I really want to see that girl again

and return the paper dragonfly to her.

Can I look?

Everything has a beginning,

but few can see it through to the end.

The meaning of this phrase is

that in this vast world,

there are often good beginnings,

but it is rare to both start well and finish well,

ending with a good conclusion.

(Changfeng Estate)

Sanlang is here too?

Shaojun, why haven't you rested yet?

Ci has not returned,

so I was concerned.

It's getting late,

you have been bothering Sanlang and Ziming

all night.

You should go back to your room to rest.

Have a seat.

Stop lending your cloak to others.

Your body

is not made of iron.

Fine.

Autumn wind is cold,

warm yourself up.

Thank you, My Lord.

Don't you like ginger tea?

I am just too full,

I can't finish it.

You seem like you had a lot of fun tonight.

Were you taking a trip with Sanlang?

When did the two of you

become so close?

We just met by chance.

The commander took care of me

for your sake.

I noticed you were happily chatting

with Sanlang and Ziming,

I thought you had taken a liking

to one of them.

I don't have a crush.

My Lord,

you should go to bed early.

I should go.

Please stay in my room

for this period of time.

Why?

You may be dismissed.

The reason Sanlang came to Nanling this time

seems to be to assist me with the investigation

when in fact, he is monitoring

every single move I make in Nanling.

His Majesty intends to test me

to find out if I have a second intention.

Sanlang is extremely intelligent,

we can never let him see through

any weakness in our relationship.

I know

you have suffered a lot of pain

during the stabbing incident on the boat previously,

I apologize to you.

This is about the Pei family’s safety,

please give me a helping hand.

Fine,

I will stay here tonight.

My Lord,

to live in lies every single day

while being calculative with others,

are you really not tired of it?

Every living person in this world has responsibilities.

Since this is my responsibility,

I can't say I'm tired.

I know

that any choice I make brings harm,

but I still have to make a choice

to protect things and people that are important to me.

You should sleep inside,

I'll be outside.

Fine.

Is there anything going on in Pei Yan's room?

The lights are out.

Where is Jiang Ci?

She should be inside.

She's still inside?

I understand now.

Lord Pei must have deliberately chosen

the right moment at tonight's banquet

to win Jiang Ci's trust and favour.

A gentle blow.

Every blow is deadly.

What a splendid plan.

Pei Yan thought he was closest to Jiang Ci,

but he never thought

that Lord Wei has made a move silently.

It seems that the annotated book

is expected to be available soon.

Yifei.

I am here.

Go on guarding duty

tonight.

Right now?

Yes.

My Lord,

it's so windy outside.

The moon is dark and the wind is high,

It must be the time for Changfeng Guards to be deployed.

My Lord,

I have to follow you to Foundry Bureau

for the investigation tomorrow.

My investigation of the military equipment case

was just a formality from the start.

At this point,

it is most important to find Yan Sisters.

Go.

My Lord?

My Lord!

(Pei Zifang’s Residence, Nanling)

Greetings, Master Pei, I am He Zhenwen.

Such a huge disturbance is caused.

Lord He,

If it weren't for your limited abilities,

how could you have sent inferior weapons to Qingkang?

It is my fault,

I failed to discover the treasury deficit in time

so I had no choice but to purchase inferior materials to meet the deadline

which is why the weapons

had issues.

That's enough.

Let's not mention this again.

My nephew has always been smart

so he'll be a pain to deal with,

not to mention he brought Wei Zhao who behaves wildly along this time.

The two of them echo each other,

so we need to be even more wary of them.

Lord He,

you must not let them catch any weakness.

Master Pei, please rest assured,

the state of affairs in Nanling is perfect,

those that the Censorate did not discover

will not be found out

by Pei Hou and Commander Wei.

(He Yonglin, son of He Zhenwen, Nanling)

Thank you, Master Pei...

Father

Why do you bother paying attention to their moods?

Having received the ruler's salary,

one should bear the ruler's worries

Father,

you are receiving the court's salary,

why must you bear with the Pei family's anger?

You have such a reckless temperament,

you still need some polishing

or you will suffer a loss sooner or later.

We just sent away the Censorate,

and Pei Yan and Wei Zhao are here again.

Father,

what should we do now?

Lead your men

to Liumin Alley

to seize those hungry people,

find a hidden place in the city and lock them all up.

Tomorrow,

Pei Yan and Wei Zhao

are going to pay the Foundry Bureau a visit.

(Provincial Governor's office, Nanling) I need to recharge myself

so I can deal with them properly.

Marquis Pei,

Commander Wei,

I am sorry for the inadequate welcome,

and I feel ashamed.

I have already resigned from my official position.

I am just

following Commander Wei here today.

Thank you, Commander Wei.

Then I'll trouble you, Lord He.

Welcome.

(Workshed of Foundry Bureau, Nanling)

Please.

What is this place?

In response,

This is a Grade A forging furnace.

An incident happened

some time ago

and it has not been repaired as of yet

hence it is not usable.

Why are there signs of fire?

In response,

about two months ago,

there was a fire

due to a few craftsmen's incorrect operation.

The fire was put out

but the craftsmen

passed.

We have prepared some bereavement

to console their families.

Why does Lord He describe

the craftsmen of the Foundry Department

as all lacking skill?

It's either forging substandard weapons

or bringing disaster upon oneself.

In response,

it was my oversight

that caused this disaster.

I have failed

to live up to the Emperor's grace

and have poorly supervised my subordinates.

I am willing to accept all punishment,

but I humbly beg to show mercy

and forgive these craftsmen.

They have little experience,

and I am willing to bear all the punishment for them

without any complaints.

He Zhenwen’s rhetoric

is quite familiar and well-practised,

it seems that this is how he brushed off the Censorate.

(200 people, 200 bags of rice on 12/4, payment for transport, 86,068 silver)

There is a problem with the imperial weapons.

This concerns the security of the imperial city,

which is a capital offence in itself.

The only option is to shift the blame onto the craftsmen,

then plead for mercy on their behalf

to gain a reputation for virtue

and possibly save oneself.

I think

it's a flawless

and unassailable explanation.

(22nd January, 2,078 taels for wages 23rd of January, 1,000 bronze)

(Account book of the Foundry Bureau)

There is no issue with

the accounts of the Foundry Bureau.

Since Ziming said so,

the accounts

must be really believable.

I didn’t expect the case

to reach a deadlock like this.

Just focusing on the Foundry Bureau

is unlikely to reveal much.

It seems that we need to conduct undercover investigations in the city.

Since it is an undercover investigation,

how about we pretend to travel around

and scour both inside and outside the city

so we won't attract unnecessary attention?

Miss Jiang should come, too.

Having a female companion present

makes the scene seem more authentic.

I will happily oblige, then.

♪Pluck a red bean, cherish you♪

♪Deep within♪

♪A flower of affection blooms without fading♪

♪Forever in love♪

♪Fold a kite, let it fly with the wind♪

♪Into sweet dreams♪

♪The beautiful moments we shared last through time♪

♪We never leave each other♪

♪My love sees the sun rising and the moon setting♪

♪Your face stays vivid in my mind♪

♪Two hearts bound to each other♪

♪Like flowing water, love and hate continue♪

♪I only wish for your unwavering heart♪

♪You are still there when I turn back♪

♪As passionate as we first met, I hold your hands through eternity♪

♪Time cannot separate us♪

♪Our longings go on♪

♪My love sees the sun rising and the moon setting♪

♪Your face stays vivid in my mind♪

♪Two hearts bound to each other♪

♪Like flowing water, love and hate continue♪

♪I only wish for your unwavering heart♪

♪You are still there when I turn back♪

♪As passionate as we first met, I hold your hands through eternity♪

♪Time cannot separate us♪

♪Our longings go on♪