Original subtitles

=Lady Revenger Returns From the Fire=

=Episode 22=

Zishan.

Luo Xue'er is now dead.

Everything must come to an end here.

I have decided to marry Xu Chengfeng.

Ever since you decided to become Shen Danqing,

you've embarked on the most difficult path of thorns.

Now, finally, the clouds have parted and the moon is clear.

I am truly happy for you.

As for other matters,

as I said,

as long as it's your decision,

I will support you unconditionally.

To live again

is already a blessing from the heavens.

How do I deserve such care from you?

Danqing.

I am good to you because you deserve it.

You are, in this world,

the most wonderful, resilient, and kind-hearted woman I have ever seen.

So I can understand

why someone as proud as Chengfeng would fall so deeply in love with you.

But don't forget

that he's not the only one who is good to you.

I'm still here.

I remember the last time I brought you here,

you said

that my company gave you a family.

But in fact, it's the same for me.

I have long considered you my family.

I will prepare a dowry for you

so that you can marry out of the Shen family with pride.

Just go ahead and do what you want to do.

The Shen family is your backing,

your confidence,

and your support.

And I will always stand behind you.

Zishan.

Thank you.

Miss.

It's getting late. Let's go.

Ying'er.

Leaving without saying a word, huh?

Aren't we supposed to be best friends?

Dan...

I'm sorry.

I made a mistake.

I thought you wouldn't want to see me again.

I know.

You and Danqing were close.

Danqing was lucky to have a friend like you.

I wonder if I am fortunate enough to have the same.

I hope that you will continue to treat me as you do Danqing,

your best friend.

You've been writing all night long.

What else do we need to prepare?

Should we empty the General's Mansion and give everything to the Shen family?

So what if we did?

Listen to me.

Be careful where you step.

Don't mess up these gift letters.

Otherwise, you'll regret it.

You're so good to Miss Shen.

Why are you calling her Miss Shen?

You should start calling her Madam.

Madam Xu.

By the way, has the letter I wrote to the minister been delivered?

When can he come?

Rest assured, General.

The letter inviting the minister

to preside over the wedding was sent early.

He will surely come for your engagement.

That's good.

My parents passed away early.

To me, the minister is like a father.

I hope that he can witness this significant event in my life.

I also hope Danqing can feel how committed I am.

Understood.

Chengfeng.

Honey.

Miss Shen.

Madam Xu.

You've been working hard on the wedding.

So, I specially made some Qizi pastries

as your treat. Have a try.

Thank you, honey.

It's just that my hands...

Alright.

I'll feed you.

Does it taste good?

Yes.

Look, you got some on your mouth.

♪The evening breeze gently scatters the clouds♪

What's wrong?

It's nothing. I bumped into something.

Carry on.

♪It goes without saying♪

What are you writing?

You're transferring all the property and deeds under your name to me.

Yes, these gift letters might take forever to write, page by page.

I want to give you the best that this world has to offer.

But I never realized that the best in this world is you.

The paper is too short for feelings.

- We have a lifetime together. - Hmm.

I embroidered a lotus flower on it,

with ribbon and loop linked together,

meaning 'Always with you'.

I wish to be with you for a lifetime,

never to part.

Did you make this?

This cloth belt is an intimate garment.

It is made by a wife for her husband.

Danqing.

- I want you to help me put it on. - Okay.

♪I only wish to accompany you in sorrows and joys of this world♪

♪Staying the same through all the ups and downs♪

Hearts echoing each other,

and the depth of love matters most.

Since you and I are husband and wife,

we should be of one mind.

From now on, we weather storms together,

never to part.

Having a wife like this, what more could a man ask for?

(Virtue Inspires Talent)

Zishan.

Mr. Shen, what are you doing?

We can't miss the auspicious time

for the betrothal gifts.

Zishan, what does this mean?

No need to rush.

I just have a few words to say.

By all means.

There is a saying that a married daughter is like spilled water.

At home, she obeys her father.

Married, then the husband.

Such absurd remarks have never existed in the Shen family.

Xu Chengfeng.

I'm warning you.

If you dare to treat my sister poorly,

the entire Shen family will never let you off.

Zishan.

These are the list of presents and the details of all my possessions,

all sorted out

to be passed over to Danqing

under the guarantee of the money house.

The marriage document.

I have made a promise

that if I am not good to Danqing, you may deal with me as you see fit.

The whole city can supervise.

Additionally, the minister will preside over the wedding ceremony,

during which

I will read it out loud.

A true man's word

is his bond.

I, Xu Chengfeng, am a man of my word.

Let's discuss inside

on the wedding matters.

Let's go.

Come, put the things over there.

Come on.

Give them a hand.

Alright.

Be careful.

It's expensive.

Pay attention.

(General's Mansion)

General.

The minister's here.

Great, let's go.

Minister, Chengfeng is truly grateful for your presence.

Please take a seat.

Alright.

The guest room has been prepared for you.

Chengfeng,

(Minister Lin of the Dafeng Dynasty) I have come as your elder

to preside over your wedding.

Relax.

Make it casual, okay?

Yes.

- Tianhao, go get Danqing. - Okay.

Very good.

Chengfeng.

First things first.

- Come on, sit down. - Okay.

Minister, do you have other important matters for this visit?

Indeed, there is an urgent matter I need to tell you about.

The treasure map is complicated.

The Plum Wine you found can't seem to reveal the treasure map's image.

Minister.

This Plum Wine was found by Danqing.

If we talk about wine, I am not her equal.

How about this?

Let's wait for Danqing to discuss it further.

Okay.

Minister.

This is Danqing.

Danqing.

Greetings, Minister.

No need for formalities.

Danqing.

According to the minister,

somehow this Plum Wine

cannot reveal the treasure map's image.

How can this be?

Could someone have tampered with it during transportation?

I've already asked about this.

The transport process

was solely managed by the Imperial Guards.

It's absolutely foolproof.

I will leave the treasure map and the developing water

right here.

Keep them at the General's Mansion.

The developing water has been opened

and will lose its revealing effect in less than half a month.

The pressing matter is to confirm

whether the problem lies with the treasure map

or with the developing water as soon as possible.

Tianhao, escort the minister to his room to rest.

- Minister, please. - Okay.

Chengfeng.

You once said the minister's kindness to you is as heavy as a mountain.

This is a matter of urgency.

Moreover, you have already sent the marriage document.

We are practically family.

I should be more considerate toward you.

This matter concerns the treasure map and Prince Yi.

We must be careful.

As for the wedding ceremony,

we can wait for half a month or so.

Danqing.

I assure you

that once all this is over,

- You'll have an unforgettable ceremony. - Hmm.

Danqing.

Have you noticed anything unusual?

Although this wine has been stored underground for years,

it is clear and transparent,

without any cloudiness

or suspended particles,

indicating it has been well-preserved.

If this Plum Wine is fine,

could we have made a mistake?

Is this not the developing water?

I've already asked Mr. Lin to look for grass juice ink.

After testing, we will know if it is the real developing water.

General.

General, Prince Yi has arrived.

Prince Yi?

Greetings, Your Highness.

It is rare for Prince Yi to visit in person.

Apologies

for keeping you waiting.

I hear that you are about to get married.

You're at the time of deepest affection and sweetness.

I can wait a bit longer.

I am here to present

you two with this zither and se under His Majesty's decree.

An oral decree from His Majesty.

For Minister Xu's recent marriage,

I cannot attend in person.

It's truly a regrettable matter.

I hereby offer

the pure-hearted zither and se as gifts,

wishing Minister Xu and Lady Shen all the best as a worthy couple.

With the zither and se,

everything is peacefully fine.

At the time of the wedding, let the zither and se harmonize,

as if I were present myself.

I will be greatly comforted.

You two should express your gratitude.

- Thank His Majesty. - Thank His Majesty.

Thank you, Your Highness,

for personally delivering the imperial gift of zither and se.

However, I am busy with the wedding arrangements.

I won't detain you for long.

It seems the general still harbors reservations against me.

Well, since my task is already accomplished,

I won't intrude.

Today, I only came to deliver a gift.

On the day of the ceremony,

I will be here for the harmony of the zither and se.

At that time, I will bring you an even greater surprise.

Are you worried that Prince Yi might tamper with this instrument?

We must be careful.

The zither is clear and soaring.

The se is uplifting.

Listening to it,

they seem normal.

I will have someone check them carefully.

Alright.

Although Prince Yi is quite arrogant,

he wouldn't tamper with the imperial gift openly.

Besides, we have the minister presiding over the wedding ceremony.

Displeased as he might be,

deliberately being sarcastic is all.

Tianhao.

Find the best musicians to practice

the zither and se duet pieces

before the wedding ceremony,

- so as to not fail His Majesty. - Yes.

The reason why this Plum Wine can reveal the routes on the treasure map

is that during the creation of the treasure map,

a kind of invisible ink made from a special herb was used to draw the route,

and the ingredients of the Plum Wine

happen to make this invisible ink appear.

(Treasure Map)

Look, the characters have become visible.

This indicates that the Plum Wine is indeed the developing water.

If there is no problem with the developing water,

the issue must lie with the treasure map.

Could it be that this treasure map is fake?

Giving up Zong Wei's life

to make a narrow escape

and secure the true treasure map.

Killing two birds

with one stone, meticulous

and insidious. Sounds like Prince Yi.

In less than half a month, the Plum Wine will be ineffective.

We need to find the real treasure map

before this effectiveness wears off.

If this map is fake,

the real treasure map should be in Prince Yi's possession.

I must inform the minister about this matter.

(Liao City Yamen)

(Today, I urgently request all of you to come for a meeting)

to announce an important matter.

Your Highness.

This matter concerns the national treasure of Dafeng.

Urgent matters require adaptation.

Please forgive me.

I received information

that the treasure map obtained from Zong Wei was fake.

Your expression seems to indicate that you knew about this.

That's right.

How did you know then?

Minister, please allow me to explain gradually.

The treasure map case is indeed complex.

And as an assistant investigator,

I have already found the truth.

The map is indeed fake.

Because it was swapped many years ago.

And the person who swapped the treasure map is

precisely the Luo family of Liao City.

Why suddenly bring up the Luo family?

Not sure what he's scheming.

Respond calmly.

The Luo family?

Is Prince Yi referring to the local liquor merchants Luo?

The Luo family is but a mere merchant,

seemingly unrelated to the treasure map as horses are to cows.

I have irrefutable evidence.

Days ago, I sent someone to sort through Zong Wei's belongings

and unexpectedly found a journal he left behind.

It is recorded in it

that Zong Wei was injured while pursuing the treasure map

and fainted near Luo's residence.

The person who saved him was the Luo family's Master, Luo Jida.

Luo Jida took the treasure map

and returned it to Zong Wei after he recovered.

Based on the notes and my deductions,

the treasure map was swapped out by Luo Jida long ago.

And the real treasure map

should still be in the hands of the Luo family.

Luo Jida is a wine merchant in Liao City

who has hardly ever left here.

And Zong Wei is your personal bodyguard

who came to Liao City with you just a few months ago.

The two are totally unrelated

and have nothing to do with the treasure map.

Why do you always like to bring up those who are unrelated to the case?

Besides, both of them are already dead.

This is your side of the story.

There's no evidence.

Your Highness.

You have confused me.

One moment you say the treasure map is in Zong Wei's hands,

and the next you say it's in Luo Jida's.

So where exactly is the real treasure map?

As everyone knows,

Luo Jida was killed by his eldest daughter, Luo Ailian.

It caused a huge commotion at the time.

Everyone knew about it.

Most people thought

it was because the eldest daughter was given a ghost marriage

that she turned against her father.

But upon my investigation, I discovered

that the audacious Luo Ailian

was really after the treasure map.

That's why she killed her father.

If that's true, Your Highness,

and Luo Ailian did kill her father for the treasure map,

but she perished in a sea of flames,

and the map remains untraceable.

Is this another of your claims, Your Highness, without proof?

Who said that Luo Ailian is dead?

Not only is she still in this world,

but she is also right here in this hall.

Your Highness.

What's that supposed to mean?

She, Shen Danqing, is Luo Ailian.

Your Highness.

That's ridiculous.

Your Highness.

If the so-called evidence you present is as bizarre as this,

I think we need not continue any further.

Minister, please wait a moment.

My witness will arrive shortly.

I'm Luo Xue'er. Greetings, Minister.

Your Highness.

Ailian.

Why are you so surprised to see me?

Did you think I was truly dead?

How dare you?

Do you take me for a fool?

I know you and Shen Danqing are enemies.

You want to use me as your knife to kill.

Come on.

- Drag her out and sink her in the lake. - Yes.

Your Highness, I'm telling the truth.

If you don't believe it, you'll miss this opportunity in vain.

You would be the stupidest person.

Wait!

Dare you repeat what you just said?

After all, I am to be sunk in the lake.

What's the harm?

The current Shen Danqing is Luo Ailian, the murderer of her father in disguise.

She changed her identity and has been deceiving people,

colluding with Xu Chengfeng.

My death is not a pity.

But if Your Highness misses this opportunity to deal with him,

you will regret it eternally.

Still unrepentant even when facing death.

I believe what you say is true.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I have a plan to lend Your Highness a helping hand.

Let me be the knife in your hand.

The sinking in the lake was but a play

to deliberately let someone see my corpse

and convince you that I was truly dead.

I didn't expect you to be so foolish

to take the bait.

Minister.

I can prove

that she is my sister, Luo Ailian.

You say Shen Danqing is Luo Ailian,

but how can you prove it?

In Shen Mansion, there is a doctor skilled in facial restoration.

After Luo Ailian killed my father,

she stole the real treasure map.

To evade the search,

she colluded with Shen Zishan to change her appearance and became Shen Danqing.

Marvelous!

Truly marvelous.

I've listened to so many storytelling sessions,

but none have been as exciting and strange as your story.

Whether my story is true,

Minister, you can investigate.

Besides,

Luo Ailian was once burned in a big fire,

so she fears fire the most.

The always-brave Shen Danqing

was actually scared to the point of turning pale

when watching the torch performance.

That is because after she killed her father,

she set fire to her home.

She harbors deep guilt for her sins

so she feels disheartened.

You say I am afraid of fire?

A test will tell.

Minister, can you lend me a torch?

Okay.

(Danqing actually uses pain to maintain her composure.)

How audacious!

Miss Xue'er.

Didn't you say I was afraid of fire?

Repeat what you just said.

You have a black lotus tattoo on your neck

to cover the burn scars.

Do you dare show it to everyone?

Are you mad?

Stop.

How audacious.

How can you behave so inappropriately in this hall?

What a disgrace.

Minister.

Finding the treasure map is now of utmost importance.

We must not let go of anyone suspicious.

Shen Danqing.

Now we must examine your body.

If there are no burns or the lotus tattoo

on your body,

you can prove your innocence.

In order to prove my innocence,

must my reputation be ruined?

To ensure your reputation,

the female officer and Luo Xue'er will examine you together.

Miss Shen.

No offense.

Minister,

Miss Shen has no burns on her neck,

- nor any sign of a tattoo. - You...

Mr. Miao.

I would like to ask you for a favor.

Please be sure to agree to it.

Please speak, Miss Ailian.

I suspect that Luo Xue'er already knows that I am Luo Ailian.

My identity will become a weak point for Zishan and the General.

There must be no slip-ups in this matter.

And I can't bring any danger to the Shen family.

So I want to ask you to help me remove my tattoo and burn scars

and help me recover.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Miao.

Luo Xue'er.

Do you have anything else to say?

Minister.

Shen Danqing is deceitful.

She had already removed the tattoos and burn scars in advance,

but she put on an act.

What are you talking about?

I don't have any tattoos at all.

Nor have I ever been burned.

I dodged

because you were going to tear off my clothes right here.

How can I, a pure and virtuous maiden, endure such humiliation?

Luo Xue'er.

You've been rambling and pestering up to now

just because you held a grudge against me

and wanted to vent your anger.

Today, I've called everyone here on short notice.

Shen Danqing couldn't possibly have known that you would come,

nor could he have made preparations in advance.

If you continue to create a ruckus and pester here,

I will charge you with the crime of slander.

Minister.

Shen Danqing has already proven her innocence.

In the court,

how can we allow Luo Xue'er to act up time and again?

You are in cahoots.

Of course, you'd defend her.

You are not allowed to make a fuss in this court.

Your Highness.

Luo Xue'er has no evidence

or real proof, so...

Minister, please be patient.

I have other physical evidence

which should be arriving soon.

(The prince has a backup plan?)

Make way, make way.

Your Highness.

(Tribute Wine Transportation Order)

Judging by Miss Shen's expression, you should recognize this document.

What document?

The Luo family is a wine merchant

who was responsible for the imperial palace's tribute wine.

This document is the transport order handled by Luo Ailian.

It bears her personal handprint.

Faces can be forged,

but the fingers' whorls are hard to replicate.

How wise.

The Transportation Order has been kept in the palace.

It is absolutely impossible to be switched or torn up.

I ordered someone to fetch it

and prepared the handprint.

I just wanted everyone to see

if you really are Luo Ailian.

This indeed is a method.

Miss Shen.

Do you want to do the honors

or do you need my help?

All right.

The evidence is irrefutable.

Minister, let's make it quick.

I admit it.

I am Luo Ailian.

Minister, Shen Danqing has admitted it.

Then everything I just said is true.

Minister.

Let's deal with it quickly.

Precisely because I am Luo Ailian,

I know that the treasure map that Prince Yi mentioned

is a frame.

My father didn't know anyone named Zong Wei or anything

about a treasure map.

So how could he steal it?

Minister, I asked Danqing not to tell anyone about her face.

Back then, Luo Ailian was trapped in a fire,

framed by someone,

and escaped from death.

And my sister Danqing happened to be critically ill.

I selfishly took advantage

of her unclear consciousness and changed her face.

It's my fault.

Minister, even if Shen Danqing is Luo Ailian,

it still can't prove that what Prince Yi and Luo Xue'er said was true,

even less to prove that she took the treasure map.

If you don't trust her character,

I can vouch for her.

Luo Ailian is definitely not a murderer.

Xu Chengfeng.

Luo Ailian is the wife whom you're betrothed to.

Both emotionally and rationally, you would speak for her.

Your guarantee is not credible.

As for what my sister said

about Father never knowing the treasure map

or Zong Wei,

it's simply a lie.

Ailian.

It was Father who had us go find the doctor to treat Zong Wei.

Why won't you just admit it?

Alright, let's discuss the Luo family case later.

The pressing matter at hand

is to find out who stole the treasure map.

Minister, you're right.

The real key is the treasure map.

Since it has been proven that Shen Danqing is Luo Ailian,

then I can assert

that the treasure map is either at Shen Mansion or the General's.

Minister, I, Xu Chengfeng, guarantee with my life,

that it's impossible.

Impossible?

Who is telling the truth

and who is lying?

You can just send someone to check.

Alright, what if it isn't found?

I will apologize immediately

and will not pursue the matter further.

Guards.

Pass on my order.

Search for the treasure map at Shen's and the General's Mansion now.

Understood.

(Silence)

(Evade)

Minister, after a thorough search of both Shen's and the general's mansion,

inside a side hall of the General's Mansion,

inside a box for storing sheet music,

this half of the treasure map was found.

Take a look.

Get the developing water now.

Yes.

Strange.

Why was Prince Yi so certain that he could find the treasure map?

Let's see how things unfold.

(I am here to present)

you two with this zither and se under His Majesty's decree.

You may play the music right here.

This is the sheet music for the wedding day.

This is the real treasure map.

It is real.

But why is there only half of the treasure map?

Xu Chengfeng.

What is your explanation?

Minister.

That half of the treasure map was used to frame me.

How so?

The prince knew that the zither and se would be played at the wedding ceremony.

So he took the opportunity

to bribe the musicians invited by the General's Mansion in advance.

Then, during the performance,

he brought that half of the map to the General's Mansion

and hid it within the sheet music.

General Xu.

At this point,

I advise you to stop framing me.

Aren't you the one doing the framing?

Didn't you bribe the musician?

You keep saying that I colluded with the musician.

You can very well bring him here to confront.

Since the prince dares to say so,

it seems that the musician won't be coming.

Xu Chengfeng.

I have Zong Wei's handwritten note as proof

showing that the treasure map did fall into the Luo family's hands.

Now we also have a witness, Luo Xue'er, the daughter of the Luo family,

proving that what's written in the note is true.

Luo Ailian seized the map and killed her father,

before setting a fire to feign her death and changing her identity.

And your fiancée has just admitted in the hall

that she is Luo Ailian.

Now, the treasure map has been found in the General's Mansion.

We have the witness, evidence, and the stolen items all present.

Do you still dare to deny it?

Do you really have only empty rhetoric?

Fine, if it really was our doing,

why did you only find half of the map?

Half?

General Xu could have simply divided and hidden the treasure map.

Isn't this just an example of not putting all your eggs in one basket?

Just a small trick, after all.

The prince's evidence is indeed flawless.

But don't forget

I was the one who found the developing water.

I also have the treasure map.

Why didn't I just go look for the treasure?

Instead, I went through great trouble to look for this map?

The most skillful chess players often use traps to confuse the line of sight.

I admire you for this.

Alright.

The evidence is conclusive.

Minister.

Please deal with it as soon as possible.

Xu Chengfeng.

You have greatly disappointed me.

You three are implicated in the theft of the treasure map.

Guards.

Take them to prison

and interrogate them.

Hold on.

At this point,

it seems that I can only come clean about everything now.

I stole the treasure map, and the Shen siblings are not involved.

I'm the only one

who knows where the other half is.

- Chengfeng. - Chengfeng.

No need for further words. I'll take the responsibility.

I hope the minister can spare the Shen siblings.

Before the developing water expires,

the other half of the map will be handed to you.

Should this developing water expire,

even obtaining the complete treasure map would be of no use.

Having put in so much effort,

would it not all be in vain in the end?

Your Highness, don't you agree?

What did you say?

It seems that you are not yet aware.

I said that once the developing water is unsealed,

it only lasts about half a month.

Now, there aren't many days left.

This is what I am most anxious about.

The matter of urgency

is to quickly find the other half of the map.

Minister.

This is why Xu Chengfeng dares to be so confident.

In my opinion,

all three of them should be thrown into the dungeon and interrogated.

I do not believe that we can't get the location.

The matter is of great importance.

Should there be any mishap during this period,

neither you nor I could explain it to His Majesty.

It is still best to act cautiously.

Put the three in prison

to await their fate.

Yes. Guards.

General, please.

I'm here. It's okay.

♪I've stepped into a maze, stirring up all the chaos♪

♪I've stumbled among all the entanglements♪

♪Your face resembles the figure I'm familiar with♪

♪I've wandered and struggled, and the seal of time remains intact♪

♪We've been tied by fate for half a lifetime♪

♪One thought goes up as another goes down♪

♪Yet we can't escape karma's manipulation in the end♪

♪Together with you in this life♪

♪With unrepentant persistence♪

♪I've created candlelight in darkness♪

♪We've been tied by fate for half a lifetime♪

♪One thought goes up as another goes down♪

♪Yet we can't escape karma's manipulation in the end♪

♪Together with you in this life♪

♪With unrepentant persistence♪

♪I've created candlelight in darkness♪

♪Which protects you as it protects me♪