Original subtitles

=Lady Revenger Returns From the Fire=

=Episode 23=

Zong Wei.

You wait.

I'll kill them to avenge you.

Your Highness, congratulations.

You've trodden Shen Danqing

and Xu Chengfeng underfoot.

They can never outfight you.

Get up.

Join me for a drink.

Thank you, Your Highness.

You're so wise.

You memorized the treasure map route at a glance.

With the other half of the treasure map in your hands,

you'll obtain the treasure very soon.

Very soon?

I feel good about today's revenge.

But the developing water is losing its effect,

and the minister will be more cautious.

Without the developing water,

what can I do with half a map?

Your Highness, Plum Wine is a type of liquor.

My family is well-known for making wine.

I'll seek advice from Ganlu Brewery's skilled winemakers

to alleviate your concerns.

I almost forgot your ability.

I will await your good news.

Yes.

I couldn't have succeeded

without you today.

It was your idea.

Utilizing Luo Ailian's identity

to catch them off guard.

Here is

to you.

I'm flattered.

You're foresighted and thoughtful.

You confirmed Luo Ailian's identity

by her fingerprints.

Otherwise, my plan might not have succeeded.

You don't take credit

and know when to stop.

You're useful to me.

It's my honor

to alleviate your concerns.

Someone else

once said the same thing to me.

His name was Zong Wei.

He was once my most capable subordinate.

But he was killed by Xu Chengfeng and Shen Zishan.

Zong Wei held an irreplaceable place in my heart.

But now he's gone.

I hope

that you can become another one

I admire

and trust the most.

I'm willing to serve you, Your Highness.

I will never let you down.

Since you understand me so well,

I'll reward you handsomely.

(Prince Yi's Mansion)

How is it going?

Failed.

Still unable to brew it?

Miss.

The Plum Wine has long been lost.

Without the recipe

or any finished wine to refer to,

I have to say

few people can brew it now.

(His Highness mentioned)

(that Shen Danqing found the Plum Wine.)

If Luo Ailian has tasted this wine,

could she brew it?

If she has tasted it,

and even if the brewing process is complex,

I suppose there's a 90 percent chance of restoring it.

Unfortunately...

(It seems this is the only way.)

Sister, we meet again.

I dare not be your sister.

Ailian, are you blaming me?

Your attitude is truly disgusting.

Do you think you're still the young lady

and General Xu's fiancee?

Now you are just a humble prisoner.

But I am different now.

I now belong to His Highness.

People follow my command,

and I enjoy all the glory and favor.

The last time you were imprisoned,

Xu Chengfeng came to your rescue.

Who do you expect to save you this time?

Xu Chengfeng and Shen Zishan,

one is a general and the other a young hero.

Both will lose their lives because of you.

Ailian, I'm afraid you can't escape this time.

Why not let me save you?

After climbing the social ladder,

your tone has changed.

If I were you, instead of wasting energy arguing,

I would think about how to survive.

I came today to show you the way.

Spit it out.

The developing water won't work.

As long as you can brew new Plum Wine,

you will redeem yourself and walk out of here alive.

Perhaps even greater fortune awaits you.

Prince Yi sent you here, didn't he?

He has the half of the treasure map.

Ailian, don't make false accusations.

His Highness is concerned about state affairs

and helping His Majesty.

Since you're asking for my help,

don't talk so high and mighty.

I'm not asking for your help.

You are clever.

You know I offer you a good deal.

Indeed.

This is a good deal.

However,

you'll have to wait some time.

Good. Clever decision.

Tell me how many days you need.

Wait until I'm dead.

I'll wait for you and Prince Yi in the underworld.

At that time,

we'll do this deal slowly.

You ungrateful fool.

Fine.

You just stay here and die

with your husband and brother.

(The developing water isn't working.)

(As long as you can brew new Plum Wine,)

(you will redeem yourself and walk out of here alive.)

(Plum Wine?)

(I see.)

(Chengfeng.)

(You deliberately mentioned the developing water is expiring)

(just to force Prince Yi to find the developing water.)

(If so,)

(this might be a chance to survive.)

Somebody!

Is anybody there?

Stop yelling.

Let me see the minister.

Who do you think you are?

Behave.

That day,

in court, there were both witnesses and physical evidence.

And Chengfeng confessed personally.

If we turn this situation around,

it's harder than we think.

Minister.

Please save the general.

You watched him grow up.

You know he wouldn't steal the map and commit treason.

Yes.

I believe Chengfeng isn't that kind of person.

You're wise.

Please uphold justice

and prove the general's innocence.

To turn this around,

we must find new evidence

to prove that Prince Yi framed Chengfeng.

Or,

find the other half of the treasure map.

Only then could this situation be reversed.

Do you understand?

Whatever it takes, I will

find the evidence to overturn the conviction.

Then I will still rely on you to advocate for the general.

Go quickly.

There isn't much time left.

You must find it before the developing water

loses its effect.

Otherwise,

Chengfeng will die.

Understood.

Your Highness.

What about the developing water?

Plum Wine has been lost for a long time.

Minister has the last jar of it.

We have no recipe

or any finished wine to replicate it.

The most skilled winemaker

of Ganlu Brewery doesn't know how to make it.

However, there is one person

who might be able to do it.

Just tell me.

Luo Ailian.

She's Shen Danqing now.

Shen Danqing?

She is a brewing prodigy,

capable of guessing the mix

of any wine she's tasted.

If she wants to replicate it,

it will not be hard for her.

Exactly.

She's seen the only remaining Plum Wine

and studied it for several days with the minister's consent.

That's great.

I have thought of this.

So I took the liberty to persuade her in prison.

But she was unappreciative

and refused to cooperate.

It's okay.

I have my own methods.

But you.

Luo Ailian is your enemy.

If she works for me,

she will likely threaten you.

Yet you did not conceal it.

You wholeheartedly plan for me.

Well,

it's good.

My body and heart belong to you.

Naturally, I must think about you.

I knew it.

The woman I value

never disappoints me.

You look so calm.

You're finally here.

It seems

you're waiting for me.

You arrived a few days later than I expected.

It seems that finding the Plum Wine

took you a long time.

You intentionally said the lifespan of the Plum Wine in court.

You must have thought of the next move.

Just tell me what you wanna say.

I never intended to leave alive.

The minister's developing water fails,

and I will die.

At the same time, the treasure map in your hands

will become a worthless piece of paper.

Your so-called grand aspirations

will never be accomplished.

We both will lose.

Isn't that what you want?

It seems you still don't understand me.

That's not what I want.

I believe you should already know

that only Danqing can brew Plum Wine.

She still has value to you.

You must not let her die.

I can die,

but Danqing and Zishan cannot

be implicated by me.

If you can persuade Shen Danqing

to make the developing water for me,

I will spare her and Shen Zishan.

Now, you must choose

between the lesser of two evils.

If you can promise

that they will live safely,

I'll agree to your terms.

It's a deal.

However,

I have

one more term.

I know what you are thinking.

Before I die,

I'll confess and kill myself

with guilt

to close this case.

Then,

you will have no further concerns.

Good.

Indeed, you are the one who understands my thoughts the best.

Over the years,

only when I have crossed swords with you

can I truly enjoy the thrill of meeting my match.

I also

understand your thoughts.

If you were to die right now,

you probably would die with regret.

If it were before,

I would not have been content.

But now that I have met Danqing.

Whatever I do for her,

I feel it's worth it.

I didn't expect you to be such a romantic.

Given that,

why do you let your death separate you two?

I can help.

I can intercede with His Majesty

to spare your life.

How about that?

There's something you don't know.

The first rule of my family motto is

that whoever betrays the emperor

shall be expelled from home

and never be a descendant of the Xu family.

We have battled for years.

Do you hate me so much

that make me expelled from home?

Life is like a chess game.

Those who know the game live;

those who break the game win.

And now, I'm the one in control of the game.

The reason I spare your life is

that I admire you for your honors in the field.

You're a rare military talent.

So I hold you in high esteem.

If you were someone else,

I wouldn't have said those words.

I'm afraid

I have to refuse your kindness.

You're talented but stubborn.

Since you're unappreciative,

don't blame me

for killing you.

We have battled

for so many years.

You ultimately lost.

However,

I will arrange for you

to see Shen Danqing one last time.

Chengfeng.

Are you alright? Are you hurt?

I'm fine.

You confessed and claimed

the developing water would soon fail.

It's part of your plan,

and we still have a slim chance, right?

Of course.

We can all live well.

I begged the minister

to allow me to see you

just to reassure you.

I'm sorry. It's all because of me.

If not for my identity,

we wouldn't have been framed by Prince Yi.

Chengfeng.

Do you regret being

with me?

No matter who you are,

I have never regretted

meeting

or knowing you.

Me too.

Knowing you

is the luckiest thing in my life.

Danqing.

Trust me.

I promised to protect you.

I won't break my promise.

I believe in you.

I went to war

and never feared death.

Since I met you,

I realized that I've had an attachment.

I have someone I want to be with.

If we break the deadlock together,

things will work out fine, and we'll have a bright future.

I still owe you a grand wedding.

Even without a grand wedding,

we can pledge our love under the sky and vow upon the earth.

Xu Chengfeng,

I am willing

to be your wife and spend

our lives together.

Hearing that,

I'm very content.

Danqing.

You can make the Plum Wine.

That's your leverage.

It's also the leverage that keeps us alive.

Yes.

Remember.

Make good use of this leverage.

Okay.

General Xu, please.

♪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♪

You've seen Shen Danqing.

Xu Chengfeng, you may die now.

It seems I misjudged you before.

You're not heartless.

Even if you die a million times,

it cannot outweigh Zong Wei's life.

Life is but a dream.

Why fear death?

If it can secure a safe life for the one I love,

it will be worth it.

I hope you will keep your promise

and spare Danqing and Zishan.

To others,

I do not make promises easily.

To you, Xu Chengfeng,

I will keep my word.

As long as you die,

I will certainly spare them.

Good.

You've done many bad things,

so you may not have the last laugh.

General Xu.

Does it feel terrible to be dying?

You...

(All this time,)

(I've been walking on a bumpy road.)

(You're like a beam of light in my life.)

(I have suffered a lot,)

(but I still believe)

(in the beauty of this world.)

(What about you?)

(When did you start to like me?)

(I don't know.)

(But one day,)

(I found)

(I have eyes)

(for nobody)

(but you.)

(Since you and I are husband and wife,)

(our hearts shall be one.)

(We brave the storms together)

(and never part.)

(Danqing.)

(I'll never go back on my word to you.)

(I will protect you)

(at the cost of my life.)

(Liao City Yamen)

Unexpectedly,

a young general

ends up killing himself to escape punishment.

You've just examined him.

Xu Chengfeng indeed committed suicide.

And his confession says

the other half of the treasure map

was destroyed before he found the developing water.

Therefore, only half remains.

In this case, the treasure might be hard to find.

Things have come to this.

What are you going to do?

Early tomorrow morning,

I will take his confession back to the capital.

This case has dragged on for a long time.

I did not expect this coming.

Given Xu Chengfeng's past achievements,

I hope you can allow Tianhao

to take away his body

to bury him.

Alright.

What are you doing? Let go of me!

Are you surprised to see me?

I came to take you out of prison.

Come with me.

Why should I go with you?

Xu Chengfeng killed himself out of fear of his crimes.

The case of the treasure map has been solved.

The minister has also returned to the capital.

As for you,

before Xu Chengfeng died,

he entrusted you to me.

So you must come with me.

Impossible. You're lying.

He was fine before.

Chengfeng couldn't be dead. It's not possible.

You must be lying to me.

Take her away.

Let go of me.

Go.

Release me.

Let go of me.

Just kill me.

Otherwise, I'll make you die in a gutter.

You have a pretty face

but a sharp tongue.

Moreover, I promised General Xu to keep you alive.

So how could I possibly kill you?

(Keep me alive?)

(No wonder you made me promise)

(to live no matter what happens.)

(You actually sacrificed yourself to save my life.)

General Xu looked miserable

when he was dying.

Before his death,

he struggled painfully

while desperately begging me to spare him.

Even I felt heartache seeing that scene.

I know you're a tough woman.

But your husband

exchanged his life for yours.

Don't let his sacrifice be in vain.

If you create the developing water for me,

I will release you

and the Shen family.

Otherwise,

I have plenty of ways

to make you wish you were dead.

You think it over carefully.

Wait.

Have you made your decision?

Since you claim

that Chengfeng is already dead,

I must go to pay my respects and offer incense for him.

Otherwise,

I won't make the developing water.

Fine, as you wish.

However, I warn you

not to play any tricks.

It will be arranged tomorrow.

Go and return quickly.

(Memorial Tablet of General Xu Chengfeng)

Miss, you have finally returned.

General...

Miss Shen.

♪Time rushes by towards nothing♪

♪What we feel are right and wrong♪

♪Sometimes, there's no right or wrong♪

Impossible.

Impossible.

Miss.

Impossible.

Xu Chengfeng.

♪How many can return♪

Haven't you told me before?

Haven't you said

that none of us would die?

Haven't you promised

to spend the rest of your life with me?

Why?

(Memorial Tablet of General Xu Chengfeng)

Why leave me?

♪Along the way, through snow and wind, I have no complaints or regrets♪

♪A tale of resentment exchanged for a life of sorrow♪

Miss Shen.

Due to the accusation of suicide out of fear of crime,

the minister asked me to bury him quickly and quietly.

I couldn't

let you see him for the last time.

So I took the liberty

to take this ribbon off

for you to remember him.

You must live well.

I believe that's the general's wish.

♪A lifetime of disaster exchanged for one night of getting drunk♪

♪An oath leaves the regret for a lifetime♪

♪How can I face it again♪

(This ribbon is a personal item.)

(It is made by a wife for her husband.)

(I wish you could tie it on me personally.)

♪A dream shatters with thoughts♪

♪Let me look at you again when I wake up♪

(You have always been my only choice.)

(No matter what secrets you have,)

(I will keep them safe for you.)

(Actually, I've been thinking.)

(If we can be together,)

(I will protect you better.)

(Danqing, perhaps this is fate.)

(In my eyes, you are like the bright moon and the stars,)

(the most wondrous existence)

(in this world.)

♪How can I face it again♪

We've made a pledge of love.

It's unalterable.

Though we have no wedding ceremony,

in my heart,

you are already my husband.

(Memorial Tablet of General Xu Chengfeng)

I promise.

As your wife,

I will avenge you.

♪Flowers bloom, fly away, and never return♪

♪Time rushes by towards nothing♪

♪What we feel are right and wrong♪

♪Sometimes, there's no right or wrong♪

(Prince Yi's Mansion)

You're back.

His Highness was worried that you would not obey,

so he allowed someone to accompany you.

Get him here.

Danqing.

Zishan.

- Are you okay? - How are you?

I'm fine. How about you?

How is Chengfeng doing?

Stop it.

Are you getting sentimental?

You will have plenty of time to catch up.

I got Mr. Shen here

because I just wanted you to know

that Shen Zishan's life

and the dozens of lives at the Shen Escort Agency

are now all in your hands.

If you can make the developing water,

they will be safe.

Otherwise,

all of them will die.

Prince Yi!

Zishan.

I don't care about life or death anymore.

At worst, we die together, and you will get nothing.

Chengfeng saved me

at the cost of his life.

For him,

I will live well.

I won't let his sacrifice be in vain.

So you don't need to threaten me.

Let my brother go.

I'll make the developing water for you.

Danqing.

Miss Shen made a wise decision.

I'm glad to hear that.

The developing water is done.

Please keep your promise

and let my brother and I go.

In the future, if you two are not against me,

you will be fine.

But if you make any moves,

I will definitely not spare you again.

Wait.

What tricks are you playing now?

I found this in father's room.

(Luo Xue'er's identity) Identity statement?

Father had already made plans for you.

He found a dead prisoner similar in stature and appearance to you

to take your place in a ghost marriage.

He would send you to the suburban estate and change your identity.

With a new identity,

you can not only get rid of Ms. Zhou

but also live the life you want.

Please, father. Don't make me go through with the ghost marriage.

- I beg you. - Xue'er.

- Please. - Xue'er, get up.

Xue'er.

Xue'er, listen to me.

I've arranged everything.

If you do it...

Why me?

Why not Ailian or Shuangshuang?

Is it because I'm not your biological daughter?

I will die.

I know you can't let your daughters die.

How did you know?

Although I'm not your birth father,

over the years,

I have not slighted you in any way.

This is the only feasible way.

You must follow my arrangements.

No, I won't listen to you.

- Xue'er. - I won't.

- Xue'er. - I won't.

Xue'er.

Father.

Father, are you alright?

Father, are you alright?

You must

follow my arrangements.

That's what he said

the only feasible way?

So he never intended to put me through the ghost marriage.

Father is the only one in this world who loves you most.

Yet you killed him with your own hands.

If you have your humanity,

mend your ways

and confess your guilt.

Following Prince Yi is undoubtedly wrong.

Sooner or later, you will be destroyed

with an unfortunate end.

I don't believe it.

Why are you telling me this now?

I can't turn back now.

I am not wrong.

It's all your fault.

I did the right thing.

I am not wrong.

I did the right thing.

It's all your fault.

♪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♪