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Sir, we have a new performance, The Tale of the Silken Robe.

A lost mother, an abandoned child, and a courtroom trial of the father.

A life adrift, tangled with love and resentment,

and an unbreakable bond between a father and a son.

Please step inside.

Please come in.

That young lady in the fox mask,

-keep an eye on her. -Yes, sir.

Let's see what happens next.

The entire family

was murdered by the bandit, Xu Neng.

Xu Neng?

That's my father's name.

Could my father be...

Unbelievable!

The play is excellent.

But the son discovering his father is not only a bandit

but possibly his mother's killer.

I suppose this must end in tragedy.

Please listen on and see for yourself.

Not necessarily.

People love plays because,

no matter how great

the conflict,

they often end with reconciliation.

Life, on the other hand, is far less forgiving.

It's easy to find companions in joy

but rare to find those who share your sorrows.

Young Lady, if you doubt me,

why not watch the ending together

and see whether it's a tragedy or a happy ending?

Alright.

Remove this screen.

It'll feel more spacious with the candlelight and breeze.

Waiter, remove the screen, please.

Right away!

Bravo!

How strange.

It's neither a tragedy nor a happy ending.

Is the play unfinished?

The son is an official, and the father is a bandit.

Family bonds and justice

stand as irreconcilable opposites,

so naturally, the ending is hard to write.

If the second act really depicted the son putting his father on trial,

wouldn't that be shocking and unconventional?

You think a son shouldn't judge his father?

That familial bonds outweigh justice?

What I mean is,

what's wrong with being unconventional?

Filial piety is essential for a son,

and loyalty is paramount for an official.

It all comes down

to whether he chooses to be a good son

or a good official.

When there's no way to satisfy both,

any choice leads to tragedy.

This protagonist is a pitiable man.

(This gentleman must also be torn between family and justice,)

(which is why he's so sorrowful.)

And if it were up to you to write the ending?

In the courtroom, judge as the law requires.

Outside the courtroom, behind closed doors, return to being a son.

Set aside grand principles

and offer some gentle words.

If that doesn't work,

then just kneel on a washing board.

Well, that would turn it into a comedy.

Ladies and gentlemen, you're in for a treat!

In celebration of the Granary Festival,

I've prepared a riddle game with small prizes

to entertain and delight you.

(Blossom)

(Episode 4)

The objects hidden are from the tavern.

The actors will perform clues as hints.

Everyone is welcome to guess.

The one with the most correct answers wins.

Now, let's begin with the first question!

Empty city walls, galloping warhorses,

year after year, corpses pile high and crows wail.

Warhorses?

That wouldn't fit under the cover!

That's from the Three Tunes of Yuyang.

Mi Heng beat the drum and rebuked Cao Cao.

The object must be drumsticks.

Correct!

Bravo!

You even know about historical military references?

Could you be a man disguised as a woman?

A woman can be just as capable as any man.

Now for the second riddle!

Surrounded by women's attire,

yet standing tall as if holding up the sky.

Who says it's the domain of men?

Hua Mulan joined the army in place of her father.

To disguise herself as a man, she had to wipe away her makeup.

The object in the box

must be rouge used by opera actresses.

Correct!

Bravo!

You're so knowledgeable about women's cosmetics.

Do you often frequent brothels?

In books, there is beauty to be found.

Hey, why don't the two of you take your bickering home?

Spare us all this back-and-forth. Right, guys?

Yes, yes.

What's the fun in that?

It's only interesting if there's a winner!

Exactly. To give up without a fight

would be unworthy of a man.

Is there a third riddle?

Yes, is there?

Here comes the third riddle!

Hearing the Song of Chu stirs sorrow.

Tears flow as one longs for home.

The Battle of Gaixia, surrounded by the Song of Chu.

-The Chu army longs for home. -The Chu army...

And longing for home means a desire to return.

The item must be from the tavern's menu,

angelica root, which also symbolizes return home.

-Correct! -Bravo!

Correct! This young lady wins by a slight edge.

We both answered,

I was just quicker.

Thank you for letting me have this one.

Those two words you blurted out, "return home",

are a luxury I dare not hope of.

I concede wholeheartedly.

What do you think is on his mind?

He's upset about losing?

He's thinking about the family he's at odds with

and the hometown he hasn't returned to in a long time.

Congratulations, madam.

Thank you.

A painting of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars?

Too bad.

It's of no use to me.

Young Master!

Young Master!

My young lady would like you to have this.

(I dare to take a guess at the riddle of your heart.)

(Though I'm not sure if I'll get it right.)

(You are knowledgeable and talented,)

(losing not in wisdom)

(but to the weight of family sorrow.)

(If your loved ones are still here,)

(why not try humbling yourself,)

(just as in the story of entertaining one's parents with colorful clothes?)

A mask hides her face, and our meeting was brief.

Yet she is so perceptive and insightful.

Young Master,

Grand General has sent an urgent message.

A typhoon has struck Futing.

Disaster relief requires your immediate return.

A scented sachet?

That's an item for women.

Were you at...

Don't overthink it.

I went to watch a play.

It must have gotten caught on me while I was walking alongside other guests.

Given your discreet departure from the army,

it's best to keep your whereabouts hidden.

You should just discard it.

A lady's belonging

falling into the wrong hands could cause unnecessary trouble.

I'll return it to her myself when we meet again.

Oh, and pass this lantern to my father.

I'll see you at the inn an hour later.

Send her home at dawn once I'm done with her.

Get out of here and lay low for now.

-Yes, sir. -Go.

Pang Kun Bai?

-What are you trying to do? -What am I trying to do?

I'm going to enjoy a good time with you, of course.

How did you...

-How did you... -Well, let's enjoy a good time then.

Beat him!

Please stop!

Show me mercy!

I came here to stargaze to turn into watching such a good show.

Interesting.

Please spare us!

We're just hired hands doing a job!

You have the skills but refuse to use them for good.

Instead, you defile women and ruin their reputations.

Killing you would be justified.

Dou Zhao, it's a misunderstanding!

I was knocked out and brought here by them too.

I don't know anything!

Don't hit me! I'll take responsibility!

I'll marry you.

No one will speaks ill of you.

Shut up!

When I saw you exchanging glances with Wang Ying Xue at the banquet,

I knew you were up to something.

I had someone look into you.

You're her nephew.

You two bank on the idea that a woman

values her reputation above all else,

thinking Young Lady would choose to marry you in the end.

You wanted her private wealth, which she works hard for over ten years,

to become her dowry and fill your coffers.

Let's see who's more afraid of the scandal

reaching the authorities,

me or your Wang family losing its reputation entirely.

Take them away!

Scram!

Little dreamer, looks like Grandmother has been taking good care of you.

It's a book left by a carefree recluse,

meant for someone destined to find it.

Looks like you're that lucky one.

Yuan Tong?

It really is you.

What are you doing here?

Since you're a friend,

why did you let Pang Kun Bai, that scoundrel go?

You were putting on an act for me.

Aunt!

Aunt!

-What are you... -Aunt, we're in trouble!

What... What happened to you?

You're a grown man, and you even brought some men with you.

How did you get beaten up by a girl?

Aunt, she... She knew what we were up to.

We walked right into her trap!

Useless!

Madam! Madam, it's bad!

Young Lady Zhao is here with the authorities!

Quickly, hide in the side room! Go!

Madam!

Is everything alright here?

I was out admiring the lanterns and got attacked by bandits.

Together with Constable Wang and his men,

we chased them all the way here.

And turns out this is my own family's estate!

This is Dou's Residence.

Bandits wouldn't dare to hide here.

What a ridiculous notion.

-Let go of me! -Constable Wang.

He's here.

You...

How dare you! These two children are family.

What's this outsider doing here making baseless accusations?

Madam Wang, a pleasure to meet you.

My name is Ji Yong,

a distant relative of Old Madam Cui.

I'm the one who reported this to the authorities.

Young Master Ji is the latest top scorer in the provincial exams.

Take him away!

Let go of me!

Aunt! Aunt!

Help, Aunt!

Aunt!

Madam.

It really hurts when you're betrayed by your family, doesn't it?

Or was it your idea all along?

You...

This is a serious matter, very serious.

I'll go fetch Fifth Master and Seventh Master

to accompany us to the authorities.

Any misunderstandings can be cleared up there.

No! They...

They're already asleep.

Let's not trouble them over this, alright?

You put on quite the performance.

If you had taken him to the authorities yourself,

they wouldn't have dared charge him due to the Wang or Dou families' influence.

But being arrested by them is a different story.

Wang Ying Xue will have a hard enough time explaining this

to my father and the Wang family.

Preposterous! You've gone too far!

He's just a distant nephew.

You'd rather believe him than me?

I can't believe he would accuse me

of something as serious as kidnapping!

Your own nephew turned against you and accused you,

how can that be false?

I just can't understand.

You used to be such a kind and patient woman.

Why have you become like this?

Master,

is it me who's changed, or is it you?

No matter how others mocked me in the past,

you always defended and protected me.

But somewhere along the way,

we ceased to be just Shi Ying and Ying Xue,

we became merely Master and Madam.

Ever since we slept in different rooms,

you've seen me as a villain.

Anytime something bad happens to Dou Zhao,

you pin the blame on me!

Let's stick to the matter at hand. Don't bring up unrelated issues.

This isn't unrelated!

I know you've never moved on from Gu Qiu's death,

and so you blame everything on me.

It's been 16 years.

Has Dou Zhao ever shown filial respect to you?

But I, Wang Ying Xue,

whether at home or in the court,

have poured everything I have into supporting your family.

What more do you want from me?

You might as well divorce me!

Ying Xue, Ying Xue!

That's not what I meant.

But Shou Gu has indeed been wronged.

Father.

Mother.

Zhao has ordered for the carriage. She's leaving.

Ming,

your mother's eyes are irritated by pollen.

Wipe her tears for her.

Yes, Father.

Mother, you've devoted yourself to managing the household.

Father knows this in his heart.

I know.

But he always takes Dou Zhao's side.

If I didn't cause a scene today,

how else would I remove this thorn from his heart?

Father longs for family harmony.

Why not be more magnanimous

and try to mend your relationship with Zhao and Grandmother?

I'm the matron of this house.

Why should I bow to them?

Have you lost your mind?

As long as she stays unmarried,

your marriage can't even be discussed.

Her enormous wealth

should be used as your dowry!

Whether my dowry is more or little,

whether I'm getting married early or late,

I don't care about all of that.

Foolish girl!

I didn't give the Dou family a son,

so I have no choice

but to fight for what's ours.

But I never expected

you to grow up such a spineless coward.

Now I don't even know what I've been fighting for all this time.

If I'd known you'd become like this,

I would never have let someone else raise you!

Mother,

I know I'm useless,

but I really don't want you taking such great risks for me.

Loan-sharking is explicitly forbidden by the court.

Over the years, you've been working with the Cangbei Gang...

Silence!

You mustn't speak of such things.

You're crying?

All you ever do is cry.

What good does crying do?

I know that,

but I just can't help it.

I'm so useless.

Ming,

since you know crying is useless,

you must do everything I say.

Remember,

your dowry, your family's influence, and your reputation

will all affect your marriage prospects.

If I don't fight for you today,

your future will be nothing but a life of walking on eggshells.

You can't even control your tears now.

How will you ever endure

the hardships of being a wife?

Shou Gu.

Shou Gu,

I failed to protect you.

This is all my fault.

I promise I'll make it up to you.

It's not your fault, Father.

It's mine for ever having expectations in the first place.

Done.

Peony Fish Fillet, a famous dish of Sichuan.

The preparation for Peony Fish Fillet is so intricate.

Even restaurants in the capital rarely serve it.

Shou Gu, who taught you how to make this?

Let me try a bite first.

Zhang Ru,

I made this for Ji Jian Ming.

It wouldn't be proper for you to eat it first.

Alright then.

I'm not sure if he likes spicy food,

so I also made him Thousand Threads Shrimp.

Zhang Ru, what are you doing?

Su Su, what have you been busy with over there?

I wanted something auspicious, so I made a dessert.

Gold and Jade Treasure.

It looks great.

I wonder what he's thinking.

He gives up the comforts of the capital

and insists on staying in this countryside estate.

Yes, Zhao,

tell us how you two met.

I met him when I was little,

at the Wanfo Temple.

Given your condition...

You might as well

just return to to heaven instead.

Go.

Within misfortune lies fortune, you two are bound by fate.

The course of destiny is now in your hands.

With Young Master Ji's ethereal looks,

becoming a monk would be such a waste.

I wonder if he'd be willing to become a live-in son-in-law.

Zhao, how far have things progressed between you two?

I haven't seen him in ages.

And yet you're making Peony Fish Fillet for him.

-You've never made it for me. -That's right.

I'll make it for you next time.

Young Lady Zhao, Old Madam is having migraines again.

Doctor, how is Grandmother's condition?

Her migraines are a result of years of accumulated stress. It can't be rushed.

Just follow the prescription, and she'll recover gradually.

-Thank you, Doctor. -I'll take my leave now.

Quack!

-Who are you calling a quack? -Whoever is answering me.

-You... -Quack! Quack! Quack!

I won't argue with a brat like you!

Good day!

If you're going to follow that quack's prescription,

not even the gods can save her.

Don't jinx her!

Oh? And do kind words save lives?

Take off Old Madam's clothes.

You can save her, right?

The root of her illness is blocked energy,

stuck in the Zhongwan and Taichong acupoints.

One above the navel, the other on the top of the foot.

Her clothes must be removed for proper needle therapy.

You're a man, after all.

Shouldn't we find a female doctor instead?

Female doctors are scarce to begin with.

Grandmother hasn't eaten or drunk anything.

There's no time to delay.

Grandmother.

Everyone has their fate.

Perhaps my time has come.

This is unbelievable.

It's a treatable illness, yet you refuse to treat it.

If everyone clung to propriety and rules, what's the point of doctors?

Old Madam,

isn't your life more important than some outdated proprieties?

Grandmother,

to a doctor, there's no distinction between men and women,

only patients.

I don't want to lose you because of societal conventions.

For my sake,

please just give it a try.

Grandmother.

Shou Gu!

Shou Gu!

Grandmother finally took her medicine.

I'll go serve her some plain porridge.

-Go on. -Avoid meat and stimulating food.

Got it.

Thank you.

It's nothing.

Thank you.

Grandmother has finally fallen asleep.

Momentary peace doesn't guarantee lasting health.

Her illness stems from emotional stagnation, unresolved worries.

If the root cause isn't addressed, she won't live long.

Grandmother has always carried a heavy burden in her heart.

She refuses to talk about it,

and I don't know how to help.

If she doesn't want to resolve it, that's her choice.

Everyone dies.

Just spend more time with her when she's still here.

That glare you just gave me,

you think I'm heartless and cruel, don't you?

I just don't understand

why you treat life and death so casually.

My father said I was born with a closed heart,

indifferent to feelings.

I've never shed a single tear since I was little.

When I was four, he fell gravely ill.

He gave me this telescope

and told me he would become a star.

So, every night I used it to watch the stars.

I even learned astronomy by heart.

But I knew,

I wouldn't find him,

because when people die, they just turn to dust.

Everyone dies.

Living is but a path to death,

and death is the beginning of life anew.

That's right.

What matters is how we live our lives.

So, little dreamer,

how do you want to live?

Honestly, I haven't thought that far.

To live a single lifetime

is already hard enough.

To live it well,

that's a luxury.

If I can spare some energy to help those around me,

that's more than enough.

You're content with such a simple wish?

What about you? Have you given up on becoming a monk?

I was only sent to the temple as a child because of my poor health.

While there, I learned medicine from the abbot.

A small doctor heals the sick, a great doctor heals the nation.

I want to become Grand Secretary.

That would be interesting.

I've studied the biographies of grand secretaries from the past 300 years.

The typical path involves gradual promotions and enduring the grind.

Most of them took at least 50 years to reach the second rank.

Too slow and not worth it.

I need to find another way.

There's no shortcut to becoming Grand Secretary,

unless you want to be a sycophant or a traitor.

That's an option too.

Talking to you is always so fun.

Let's talk more when I return from the capital

as the top scorer in the imperial exam.

Before you leave for the capital, I have a favor to ask.

I want to learn medicine from you.

Even though people are destined to part ways eventually,

I want to do my best

to prolong the time we have together.

Not bad.

Young Master Ji and Shou Gu meet in private every day.

They must be in love. Want to bet on it?

Bring it on.

A chicken and a duck.

What a perfect match.

Let's do it.

Your dissection of the hen today was decent,

but we'll have to try on a human body next.

We're going to the mass grave tonight.

Alright.

They're going on a date in the mass grave?

You win.

Ji Yong? Ji Yong?

Ji Yong? Ji Yong?

I invited Ji Jian Ming here

just to see if he and Shou Gu might be a good match.

You're so perceptive.

Look how well they suit each other!

One doesn't know how to love, and the other isn't interested in it,

they do make a fitting pair.

Too bad

it's never going to work out.

Study the medical texts regularly.

If I find out you've been slacking off when I return,

you'll be in for some needles.

Fine.

But if you fail the exam, you'll also be in for needles.

But failing the exam would be too easy.

If I don't top the exam, I'll let you do whatever you want.

The nation is suffering from deep-rooted problems,

and I've diagnosed it.

I've heard the higher the rank, the harder it is to retire.

Becoming a historically renowned statesman isn't necessarily fun.

Local officials' laziness is just a symptom,

systemic flaws in administrative structures are the root cause.

If reforms are enforced from the top down, streamlining and discipline

could save countless taels

and restore vitality to the nation.

I'm off.

He is extraordinarily gifted and ambitious.

But why did he shave his head and became a monk in my dreams?

Amitabha.

A prodigy to rival Wenchang,

daring to teach Confucius the stars.

Loyalty and treachery, gratitude and enmity, all dismissed with a smile.

The green bamboo and yellow blossoms mark the end of the mortal form.

(Futing)

The Grand Preceptor has instructed me to explain the reasoning.

Duke of Ding is in Futing now for disaster relief.

Our government is out of grain.

We'd better keep a low profile and avoid drinking banquets these days.

What's there to be afraid of?

You don't understand. That Song Mo is like a living Yama.

I've heard that once he locks onto someone and questions them,

-Did you take bribes or not? -he'll uncover crimes without fail.

No, I didn't.

Whether it's imperial relatives, wealthy merchants, or high-ranking officials,

he investigates them all the same.

Song Mo, how dare you raid our Tang family!

Do you even know who my brother is?

Do you know who I am?

The eight Tang brothers control all the salt affairs, stone mines,

and canal transport in Futing.

Our family won't let you get away with this!

Who else?

This is disrespectful! Go back to your stage!

How dare an actor like you jump on our table!

Duke of Ding's Army?

General Song?

General Song!

General Song, spare me!

I'll give you half of my money. Just let me live!

Alright.

I'll leave you with half your limbs and organs too.

General, have mercy!

All the embezzled money is here.

Enough to leave you a whole corpse.

If you don't want to die, tell me

where you're hiding the private grain reserves.

Your Grace, please reconsider.

It's His Majesty's decree to let the crown prince to oversee disaster relief.

While your intentions are good,

speaking against an imperial order

(Ding Wei) is something I dare not do.

Eunuch Ding,

tens of thousands of people are dying.

They can't afford to wait

for a royalty to travel thousands of miles here just to put on a show?

Do they even know how many people starve to death every day?

I've opened the granaries for disaster relief on my own.

-Your Grace... -Relay my words as I said them!

If there are consequences, I'll bear them.

Grand General.

General has bought grain from the neighboring county

with confiscated embezzled fund.

The grain is being sent to the porridge stations.

Well done!

-I have to go take a look. -Old Madam.

-Let me go take a look. -It's fine.

The rain is too heavy. You can't.

-Grandmother. -Shou Gu.

Your health has just started to improve.

You shouldn't be out in the rain.

I have to check it myself.

With such heavy rain,

though we've prepared grain

and repaired the foundations and roofs,

how can they withstand such a deluge?

The ordinary thatched houses will collapse.

The tenant farmers will be left homeless and starving.

Don't worry, Grandmother.

I'm going to work with the farmers and craftsmen

to repair the canals and distribute food.

I promise to keep the villagers safe.

You should stay here at the estate and allocate the supplies.

Tuo Niang, stay with Grandmother and assist her with the arrangements.

Leave the rest to me.

-Then... -Don't worry, Young Lady Zhao.

You have to be careful, Shou Gu.

Don't worry. I will.

Stay safe!

Don't push! One at a time. Don't crowd. Step back!

Line up! There's enough for all of you!

(Corrupted thief) One by one. Hold it still.

Next!

You will all get some.

-One by one. -I'm here first!

Mister,

why is this hairpin made of white stone?

Isn't it heavy to wear a stone on your head?

Look.

It's not heavy anymore.

No matter what it's for, it can be exchanged for 30 catties of rice.

Now you and your parents won't go hungry.

Take it.

Thank you, mister!

The grain carts are here!

The grain carts are here!

-Careful. -Hurry!

Careful!

Watch out!

-Young Lady? -What's wrong, Young Lady?

-General? -Mister!

General? General?

General? General! General!

General! General!

Who are you?

Why are you here?

It's you.

We haven't found each other yet.

You cannot die now.

General is awake.

He's awake.

Thank goodness.

I'll inform Grand General.

General.

You injured your head three days ago.

We tried everything, decoctions, acupuncture,

but you just wouldn't wake up.

Fortunately, Grand General saw this item and decided to ignite it.

Amazingly, it actually worked.

Doctor, what incense is this?

It's benzoin incense.

Legend has it that after Yang Guifei's death,

Emperor Xuanzong had been unable to sleep.

Only this incense could help him sleep

and dream of his lost love.

Oh, I know! General must have dreamed of his sweetheart!

Shut up.

She saved my life.

Where's Grand General?

Grand General stayed by your bedside all night.

He went to inspect the newly repaired seawall before dawn.

The weather this year has been strange.

Heavy rains have fallen in many places.

Even Jinmenwei and Zhending have been affected by disasters.

Zhending...

-There's more. -Here, have some.

-Here. -Thank you.

-Have a bun. -Thank you.

-Thank you. -Eat up.

-Thank you. -Have a bun.

-Here. -Thank you.

How is it?

Here.

Distribute it to them.

Thank you.

Don't worry, he'll get better.

(Two weeks later)

Pardon our intrusion.

My master's surname is Mei, a merchant from the south.

We humbly request lodging for the night.

Young Lady, you're awake.

What time is it?

Just past the third quarter of the Yin hour.

Young Lady,

a group of merchants arrived at the estate seeking lodging.

Their leader calls himself Young Master Mei.

But these men have calloused palms

and move silently.

Mr. Chen has sent people several times asking if you're awake yet.

Invite Mr. Chen over now.

They've surrounded exits of the estate.

They're going to slaughter everyone.

We only took the baby to ask for a chance of negotiation.

Whether it ends in bloodshed or discussion is up to you.

Young Lady Zhao, you're not involved in politics.

How do you know so much about Duke of Ding's case?

Who are you, really?

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