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 13=

Ziming.

Young Master,

look out for this dagger.

Split up and ask around.

Be thorough.

(Harvest Rice Shop)

Come on, take a bite.

Easy there.

Such a big bite.

It's good, right?

Yes.

It's good.

A big bite for you.

Big one.

Miss Jiang.

Ayan.

Come.

I just brewed some hot tea.

Try it.

All right.

Here.

These are the oranges I planted.

Try it.

I won't hold back then.

Sure.

Over the past few days,

we've covered every corner of Nanling,

inside and out.

The rice prices at all the major shops are normal.

Nanling is a lot calmer than it seems.

But the calmer it is, the stranger it feels.

It's like someone is pulling the strings behind all of this.

Shaojun,

who in Nanling

could possibly have that kind of power?

Those in the thick of it often miss the big picture.

Why don't we hear what Ziming thinks?

We might need to start with the families and friends

of those craftsmen.

See if we can find any flaws in their story.

What's wrong?

Are you feeling unwell?

No,

I might have caught a chill on the boat earlier.

Have something warm.

It'll warm you up.

All right.

What's that over there?

Is that rice?

How could there be rice at this time of year?

That's Zizania grass.

The stalks can be used for cooking.

It's tender and delicious.

The seeds, called manoomin wild rice,

can be used to make cakes or porridge.

You can eat that?

Let's go gather some and try it.

All right.

Come on.

Your Lordship,

I've heard there are crabs in the water over there.

We'd like to go catch some.

Go ahead.

Be careful.

Careful.

Miss Jiang,

this isn't the season for crabs.

You don't get it.

His Lordship just likes

hearing pleasant things.

His Lordship is very good to you.

Is he not good to you?

What good is someone else being nice to you?

They're kind to you today

and take their kindness back tomorrow.

What really matters is that you are good to yourself.

Miss Jiang, you're very carefree.

You must not have experienced the feeling

of having your fate intertwined

with someone else's, sharing a deep connection.

Once you've felt that,

you'll know how terrifying

it is to be alone.

I'd only ever heard my master talk about wild rice before.

This is my first time seeing it.

Look at this.

Miss Jiang,

what is this?

This is manoomin wild rice.

In times of famine,

poor people use it to fill their stomachs.

All these in the wetlands over there

have been harvested.

Ci, are you saying there are people

suffering from famine in Nanling?

The last time I had porridge at the rice shop,

I found it strange

that they used old rice to make it.

What's wrong with old rice?

Nanling is known for its rich harvests of fish and rice.

This year's rains were plentiful,

so crops have increased.

If that's the case,

why are the rice shops selling old rice

instead of fresh rice?

Old rice is meant for reserves,

and it doesn't taste as good as fresh rice.

But the rice shops are charging fresh rice prices for the old rice.

Small business owners might grit their teeth

and buy the old rice,

but poor families

can't afford to pay fresh rice prices for old rice.

That's why they have to harvest manoomin wild rice

to survive.

How large did you say

that wetland area was?

It stretches for about 5 kilometers.

If all the manoomin wild rice in that ten-mile stretch has been harvested,

it means a lot of people in Nanling can't get enough to eat.

But where are they now?

Looks like the problem isn't with the production

but with the rice shops.

Sanlang, you're right.

I'll investigate the major rice shops,

and you look into where the starving people have gone.

What do you think?

Sounds good.

Your Lordship,

with so many hungry people in Nanling,

I'd like to help with the investigation as well.

Ci,

you did well this time,

but the case is complicated,

and the road ahead is uncertain.

I can't put you in danger.

Stay at Changfeng Estate.

Don't add to trouble.

(I made this for you.)

I've found out that out of the eight

rice shops in the city,

three are controlled by Second Master,

two by Fourth Master,

and the remaining three have investments

from all the family branches.

They're stealing the people's food.

These clans are heartless!

The truth isn't clear yet.

Why are you getting agitated?

That grain is the lifeline of the people.

I don't believe that they aren't making a profit.

Your Lordship,

even if there's something on with the rice shops,

it might not be connected to the weapons case.

Under what circumstances

would a rice shop

have no fresh rice to sell?

If it's not due to a poor harvest,

then perhaps...

They've run out of money.

Your Lordship, are you saying

the rice shops are broke,

so they're passing off old rice as fresh?

If the treasury is empty

and they can't afford fresh rice,

they'd have no choice but to bring in old rice from surrounding granaries

as a temporary fix.

Do any of the clan members control the granaries

in the north, south, east, or west?

The clans control

the eastern and western granaries.

You two, head to those granaries immediately.

If I'm right,

the rice stored there has definitely been tampered with.

Yes, Your Lordship.

My Lord.

I couldn't help it.

It's too cold out there.

You'd better have found something.

I've managed to track a few Changfeng Guards,

but there's still no sign of the Yan Sisters.

The weapons case is at a complete standstill.

Do you think Pei Yan

still has the focus to search for the Yan Sisters?

Keep watching.

We can't afford to let our guard down.

However,

I've uncovered something else.

Speak.

You asked me

to look into Jiang Yuan from Internal Affairs Bureau

and Zhao Wu he mentioned.

Godfather,

Zhao Wu...

I found out

that Zhao Wu was an attendant

responsible for guarding the palace's water gate 20 years ago.

He was executed for dereliction of duty.

20 years ago...

The palace's water gate...

That's right.

A little over a month ago,

someone spread the word

that Zhao Wu had a wife and children

before he entered the palace,

and his descendants

have been living in Nanling ever since.

Nanling...

Just over a month ago...

Around the time of Madam Rongguo's birthday banquet.

It was the Yan Sisters!

That night, while I was on duty,

I saw two maids taking Prince Qi away by force.

Zhao Wu had a wife and children

before he entered the palace.

I don't feel comfortable

to let Pei Yan go alone.

Keep an eye on him for me.

Return to the Pei Residence

and reflect on your actions.

Without my order,

you are not allowed to leave.

His Majesty didn't punish Pei Yan at all.

He's obviously protecting him.

If the Pei family is involved,

I will put justice before family ties.

His Majesty suddenly visited the Pei Residence at that time.

Could it have been for this?

That's too much of a coincidence.

Teng Rui once said

he saw the Yan Sisters

taking Prince Qi away.

But how could two assassins

break through the heavily guarded palace?

I suspect

they must have escaped

through the water gate that Zhao Wu was guarding

and fled the palace.

Are you saying

Zhao Wu helped

the Yan Sisters escape?

It's hard to say

whether he let them go or not.

The water gate

is usually guarded by 20 Imperial Guards

and one servant.

If Zhao Wu wasn't killed on the spot

and was instead executed later for dereliction of duty,

he might have been

the only survivor at the time.

Have you looked into Zhao Wu's background?

Zhao Wu was from Shuzhou.

Before entering the palace,

it's said he had a family

and left descendants,

but he lost contact with them after entering the palace.

Zhao Wu's descendants have been living in Nanling ever since.

His Majesty might have grown wary

of the Pei family because of this.

If Zhao Wu left some kind of secret

with his family,

it could very well

be connected to the Yan Sisters.

Send people to track down

Zhao Wu's descendants.

Yes, My Lord.

Speaking of which,

when is your spy

going to steal the annotated book?

Or did she refuse

and storm off again?

As the Deputy Commander of the Dawn Guard,

how could I entrust

such an important task to anyone else?

You're the perfect choice.

Great,

looks like it's fallen on me again.

Where are you going?

To find something to eat.

I'm hungry too.

What are you looking at?

So this is manoomin wild rice cake.

It's not like it would ever catch your fancy.

It's your Lord Pei who kept you out of this.

Why are you taking it out on me?

I grew up in Jiang Village.

I know how important a meal is to ordinary people.

So many people are starving now.

How could I just sit by and do nothing?

Do you know

why Pei Yan had me investigate the famine

while he looked into the rice shops himself?

The Pei family's influence in Nanling

runs deep and wide.

Pei Yan isn't sure whether the famine is connected

to the Pei family in Nanling,

so he has to keep control

of the rice shop investigation.

Are you saying

that His Lordship is investigating the rice shops

to protect the Pei family,

not to help the starving people?

What about you?

Would you give it your all?

What are you doing?

You've taken my cake,

so now you owe me.

Give it your all to find those starving people.

Miss Jiang, what are you really up to?

What could I possibly be up to?

While you have all your attention on the case,

I'll take the opportunity to retrieve the clay cat.

How does that Shameless Cat manage to hide things so well?

Clay cat?

It's a candy cat.

Shameless Cat.

Happy now?

You're messing with me again.

You won't touch Pei Yan's things,

but you didn't hesitate at all

to rummage through mine.

That clay cat was mine to begin with.

What's wrong with me looking for my belongings?

On the other hand,

your motives aren't pure.

You didn't come to Nanling to investigate the case,

and you definitely aren't giving it your all.

You're used to planning every step,

so you wouldn't do anything that doesn't benefit you.

Miss Jiang, you're right.

But even someone like me

has a truth they want to uncover.

And the price of that truth

is far heavier

than you think.

Forget it.

Since none of you are willing to help,

I'll investigate on my own.

There's one thing you got wrong.

I have

given it my all.

(Nanling, a deserted temple in the west of the city)

Move along!

Go lie down there.

Those famine people are being held here.

How did you find out?

When I saw a flaw,

I just followed the trail.

Why are they being held here?

Maybe to keep them quiet,

or maybe

to protect

the carefully maintained peace in Nanling.

Was it the Pei family who did this?

Hard to say.

Food's here!

Don't fight for it.

Move!

Let me tell you,

all of you better behave and stay right here.

Act like good dogs,

and I might

reward you with a meal.

But if any of you dare to run around and complain,

I'll kill you!

Stop fighting!

What are you fighting for?

Get back!

You beggars,

if you keep fighting, nothing to eat!

You little beggar!

I...

Take this!

Take this!

- Don't hit my brother! - Take this!

You little beggar!

Stop! Stop right there!

Stop!

Come here!

Give it back!

Wuxia,

are you all right?

Come.

Get up.

Let me see.

It's all right.

Let's go.

I have a way to sneak in and find out what's going on.

Sir...

Go away.

Please...

Don't affect my business.

Go away.

Sir, just give me...

- Sorry. - Just a bite.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Vegetables!

Vegetables!

Fresh vegetables!

Stand still.

I knew something didn't seem right.

This is better.

Commander Wei,

sometimes

there's no need for bloodshed.

An indirect approach can work just as well.

Sir,

could you spare some food?

I have no food to spare.

Please spare us some food.

We're starving. Please.

I don't have any.

Anything will do.

- Go away. - We'll take leftovers.

I got nothing.

Can we have this?

You can have this.

Share it with the lady.

All right.

Thank you.

Get out of the way!

Get out of the way!

Only fight when it's necessary.

Who says you could beg for food here?

Sir, we've been starving for three days.

Could you spare us some food?

You're starving, huh?

No problem.

Come with me.

Let's go.

Didn't you say you'd give us food?

Food?

You filthy beggar,

you're dreaming.

You'd better stay put.

Don't even think about leaving here.

Who are you people?

Why are you keeping us locked up here?

Why are you asking so many questions?

I'm sorry, sir.

Sir...

Sir...

We're sorry, sir.

Please forgive us,

we won't do it again.

We're sorry.

Keep a close eye on them.

Yes, sir.

Don't go anywhere.

Didn't I tell you?

Don't use force unless absolutely necessary.

So, putting yourself in danger

is your way of gathering information?

I know

you don't like

being in this miserable state.

But aren't these unusual times?

Be a little more understanding.

I never imagined

a fire

would destroy everything.

My parents and children are dead.

Now it's just me and my husband, wandering the streets.

We thought

Nanling was a prosperous place

where we could find some food.

But who could have known

the heavens would be so cruel?

All we want is a full meal.

Why is it so hard?

Save your strength,

or you'll starve to death.

If there's anything to blame,

blame your bad luck

for ending up in this living hell.

It's a bread!

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

I beg you!

I'm starving!

Please spare me some food!

Sir,

I'm begging you.

I just ask for a bite.

Sir,

give it to me.

Give it to me.

I just want a bite.

If you want this,

you'll have to answer my question.

Whoever can answer my questions

gets this flatbread.

Give me a bite.

Who locked you all up here?

I know!

I know!

They're working for Governor He Zhenwen.

The leader is named Zhao Da.

How do you know that?

I used to work at Zuihong Pleasure House.

I've seen Zhao Da drinking

with the governor's son, He Yonglin.

Why did they lock you all up here?

There were

many poor refugees in Nanling.

At first, no one cared about us.

We couldn't afford rice,

so we survived by gathering manoomin wild rice.

But a few days ago,

these men suddenly came

and locked us all up,

saying that a high-ranking official was visiting Nanling,

and they didn't want him to see us.

Sir,

I beg you.

Sir,

spare me some food.

Do you have more, sir?

Give it to me.

I have no more.

Sir...

Are you scared?

In times of famine,

people even resort to eating their own children.

After a long time of being starved,

they no longer see themselves as human.

The words you said to them

are nothing more than

scratching an itch through a boot.

How do you know that?

Now that we've uncovered the truth,

let's get out of here.

We can't help her.

There are too many people here.

She's sick with syphilis.

Let's take her with us.

Two people missing will already draw their attention.

Bringing her along

will be even more obvious

and tip them off.

Then you go.

I'll stay behind.

No way!

But if we don't save her, she'll die.

You don't even know her.

There are so many people here,

you can't save them all.

Saving one is better than none.

Besides,

she's a witness.

You and His Lordship are working hard on this case.

Once you have both the evidence and a witness,

the governor of Nanling won't be able to deny it.

If I stay behind,

I can help you coordinate from the inside.

Since when did you become so indecisive?

Go now.

Go.

Adapt as the situation changes.

Got it.

(Dawn Guards)

(Rice Store)

(Nanling, Granary)

There's a nice tavern up ahead.

Let's get a drink.

Come on.

Your Lordship,

I've looked into it.

Many of the grain sacks in the eastern granary

are filled with sand and stones.

Your Lordship,

the rice in all eight of the major rice shops is old stock as well.

(Pei Ying, butler of the Pei family) Well, they did switch it.

(Western Granary)

My Lord?

What are you wearing?

What's the matter?

An Cheng took Changfeng Guards to investigate the Yan Sisters

and went to the outskirts.

It seems they've found a lead on the Yan Sisters.

My Lord,

they left in a hurry.

If you don't go now,

it'll be too late once they catch the Yan Sisters.

Go to the deserted temple in the west

to protect Jiang Ci.

Now!

What did you say?

Pei Yan

went to the western granary?

Where is He Zhenwen now?

He's missing.

Useless!

If they find the starving people,

they might

trace it back

and uncover the embezzlement.

We can't let them find out.

Take some men

to the deserted temple in the west of the city.

Pass my command,

leave no one alive.

Yes.

I found out Zhao Wu's wife

and children used to live here,

but it looks like the house

has been abandoned for some time.

Let's report back to His Lordship first.

Yes, sir.

A woman

who doesn't know martial arts.

(Western Granary)

Your Lordship,

Deputy Commander Yi has taken all the Dawn Guards

to the deserted temple in the west.

Let's head to the deserted temple.

Yes, Your Lordship.

(Do Good and Spread the Way)

Here.

Have some water.

Have some more.

Search the place!

We have to go.

Pei Yan must not find out about these starving people.

Kill them!

Wei Zhao!

(Jiyun Temple) Look everywhere.

My Lord.

Where is Jiang Ci?

We didn't see Miss Jiang when we arrived.

Any signs of the starving people leaving the temple?

This temple connects to multiple roads,

but there's no trace in any direction.

She wouldn't surrender without a fight.

She must have left some kind of clue.

Wei Zhao!

You wretched maid!

How dare you deceive me!

How do you know I'm a maid?

I work for the Commander of Dawn Guards.

If you dare kill me,

can you afford to offend Dawn Guard?

(Dawn Guards)

Nonsense.

Kill her.

Go ahead and try.

Commander Wei is here under imperial orders to oversee the Nanling case.

If anything happens to me,

can you bear the consequences?

If this girl really has such a high connection,

we probably shouldn't kill her.

Take her,

and anyone else still alive,

with us.

Yes, sir!

Looks like Sanlang's men were too late.

They couldn't stop them from killing those starving people.

My Lord,

Lord Pei is here.

Sanlang.

There are nearly a hundred starving people here.

The assassins didn't have time to kill them all,

so they took them away.

In their rush,

they had no time to clean up the scene.

There must be traces left behind.

I'm sure Miss Jiang

left a clue as well.

Ci was here?

Miss Jiang and I

accidentally discovered the starving people.

She stayed behind

to coordinate from within.

How could you let Ci...?

Saving the people matters now.

Whatever punishment you want to impose,

I will accept it all after this.

Tong Min,

search the place.

Yes.

Search for clues.

Dark Night Orchid.

Once this flower gets on you,

or on the soles of your shoes,

it's very hard to clean off.

Even if you manage to wash it away,

soaking it in white vinegar

will still make it reveal itself.

Yifei,

prepare some vinegar.

Yes.

♪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♪