Original subtitles

[Brocade Odyssey]

[Episode 25]

Mr. Yang, Ms. Ji, it's time to wake up.

All right. Please don't come in now.

Wait a moment!

Don't come in!

Without our permission,

they won't be allowed in.

Come in.

I am Jinxiu, your servant.

Greetings to Mr. Yang and Ms. Ji.

Madam told me

to bring these maids

to serve in your place.

We await your orders, Mr. Yang and Ms. Ji.

Yingying.

Yingying.

Rise.

Thank you, Mr. Yang,

and Ms. Ji.

Our Yang family has many strict rules.

It may take some time for you to adapt.

But don't worry.

As long as I'm here,

no one will dare to bully you.

For now,

the most important thing is to rescue your mother.

Thank you, Yang Jinglan.

No need to thank me.

We have plenty of time ahead.

Look at all this blood.

It's soaked into the planks.

If I don't replace them,

no one will dare to take my boat.

Such bad luck!

Enough, stop complaining.

Is that enough to replace the planks?

It's more than enough!

Could you tell us exactly

what happened that day?

A man should build a family and career,

but where's your career now?

You're a grown man.

Don't you feel any shame?

Boatman,

when will we dock?

Soon.

Why don't you stay in the cabin

and rest a little longer?

Those two women are too noisy.

I came out for some fresh air.

We're almost there.

I'll go check on them.

Murder! Murder!

She killed my wife!

Quick, report to the authorities!

So you didn't

see my mother kill her with your own eyes?

What does it matter if I saw it personally or not?

There were only two people in the cabin.

If your mother hadn't killed her,

who else could have done it? A ghost?

Do you usually light incense on your boat?

Yes.

It keeps mosquitoes away.

But that's strange

because since they boarded my boat,

the incense burner has disappeared.

It's truly odd.

[Case Report]

The wound on her neck

is the only fatal wound.

This is the murder weapon.

It is indeed my mother's hairpin.

And over here.

These outer garments belong to your mother,

your aunt, and Li Feng.

They're stored as evidence

because of the bloodstains.

Do you notice anything unusual?

The stains on these two garments aren't blood.

They're dye.

Dye?

I know what was going on now.

This case is actually very simple.

It's just that the county magistrate refuses to investigate.

The victim's husband, Li Feng,

and the boatman, Yu San, both testified

that on the day of the incident,

Mrs. Li and Mrs. Ji argued on the boat.

As the boat was about to dock,

the two men entered the cabin

and found the victim

stabbed to death with a hairpin by Mrs. Ji.

The evidence and testimony are conclusive.

Ms. Ji,

on what grounds do you claim your mother was wronged?

Speak truthfully to this court.

I have three points of doubt, Your Honor.

First,

according to the boatman Yu San's testimony,

he did not see my mother committing murder personally.

Instead, he heard shouting after Li Feng

entered the cabin.

Then,

he saw my aunt covered in blood,

lying in Li Feng's arms.

Blocked by Li Feng,

he might not have even seen

if my aunt had any wounds.

The boat was in the middle of the river,

surrounded by no one.

In that cabin, it was only your mother and your aunt.

If your mother hadn't killed her,

then who else could have done it?

Why don't we suspect

the first person who found the victim?

Li Feng and the boatman entered the cabin one after the other,

only moments apart.

How could he have had time to kill?

And why didn't the two women resist

or make any noise?

That's my second point of doubt.

If my mother was the murderer,

then why was she also found unconscious on the boat?

Perhaps your mother hit her head

while committing the murder

and fainted.

Or she was overcome by fear after the act

and passed out.

Those are possible scenarios,

but there's another explanation.

My mother was framed.

Both she and my aunt were drugged unconscious.

Your claims are mere speculation,

unsupported by evidence.

I have proof, Your Honor.

Please examine it.

Here is the incense ash that I found

on Yu San's boat.

I had it examined by a physician.

It contains datura

and other sleep-promoting herbs.

If Your Honor don't believe me,

you may have another physician verify it.

You say you found it on the boat.

How can you prove it was from the boat?

Mr. Zhuge!

Please make way.

Your Honor,

Inspector Yang is unwell

and has tasked me and the Qianniu Guards

with assisting Ms. Ji in this case.

I can testify

that this incense ash

was indeed discovered on Yu San's boat.

This matter is unrelated to the brocade industry,

so there's no need for Inspector Yang to be troubled.

Your Honor, that's not accurate.

The one suffering from this case

is the president of the Bloom Society.

How could it be unrelated to brocade affairs?

Still, Inspector Yang trusts

that you will uncover the truth,

and has no intention of interfering.

However, the murderer

committed the crime openly,

showing great nerve.

Surely, someone must be behind this.

Inspector Yang sent me here

to remind Ms. Ji

that you also have allies on your back.

There's no need to fear them.

So what if it was found on the boat?

How can you prove

that it was the incense lit by the boatman on that day

and that your mother

was drugged by it?

That's right.

How can you prove it?

I can't prove it.

If you can't prove it,

why bring it up at all?

Nevertheless, I have a third point of doubt.

I ask Your Honor to allow me to present it.

If I don't allow you to continue,

will you really stop?

These three outer garments

belong to my mother, my aunt, and Li Feng who were wearing them respectively

on the day of the incident.

Your Honor, take a look.

Do you notice any difference in the bloodstains?

What difference could there be?

I won't look at them.

Fine.

Then let everyone else take a look.

What's the difference in the bloodstains on these garments?

Why is the color on this one

different from the others?

Even the smell is not the same.

The bloodstain on Mrs. Ji's garment

has a noticeably fainter smell.

Because some of it is blood,

and some of it is dye.

Most of the stains

on my mother's garment are dyes.

Your family runs a dyehouse.

It's not strange for your mother's garment

to have dye on it.

But my aunt does not work in a dyehouse.

Why does her garment also have dye?

And why does Li Feng's garment

have only blood

and no dye at all?

Ji Yingying,

even if your three points of doubt

are true,

they have nothing to do with the truth of this case.

Of course they do.

These three points, when connected,

can prove

that my mother is not the murderer.

The true murderer

is him,

Li Feng!

Utter nonsense!

IOU?

From the very beginning,

Li Feng planned this entire scheme.

The argument in the cabin that day

was not between my mother and my aunt.

It was Li Feng deliberately causing a scene

to make the boatman hear arguments.

At the same time, he lit an incense stick

in the cabin's corner.

Then, he left under some excuse.

Shortly after Li Feng left,

my mother and aunt

both fell unconscious.

Outside the cabin,

Li Feng deliberately engaged Yu San in conversation.

Soon.

He told Yu San that it was

my mother and aunt who were arguing in the cabin,

creating a motive for my mother to commit murder.

When the boat was about to dock,

he acted concerned and entered the cabin to call for them.

That was when

he executed his tricks.

After hastily finishing his act,

he shouted loudly,

drawing Yu San into the cabin.

Murder!

By the time Yu San entered the cabin,

he naturally assumed

that my aunt was already dead

and that the murderer

was my mother, who was holding the hairpin.

Once there

was finally someone to serve as a witness for him,

he struck the final blow

and framed my mother for the crime.

This is a total lie!

Utterly absurd!

Your Honor,

she is falsely accusing me!

Ms. Ji,

your deductions

are certainly intriguing.

Unfortunately,

besides the bloodstains on the victim's clothes,

there is no direct evidence

to prove that Li Feng committed the murder.

Meanwhile, the evidence against your mother is undeniable.

I must still sentence your mother...

Hold on, Magistrate Meng.

Li Feng, can you guess

why I'm so certain

that you are the murderer?

I have another witness.

He saw Li Feng commit murder with his own eyes.

A witness?

I, humble citizen Yu San, am willing to testify!

Your Honor, I am guilty.

I shouldn't have kept silent.

That day on the boat,

Li Feng asked me to report the case.

I wanted to row away quickly,

but I feared I'd be implicated later.

So I went to speak to Li Feng.

Who would know the moment I entered,

I saw

he used the hairpin

to kill his own wife!

You're lying!

There's both testimony and physical evidence.

What else do you have to say?

Yu San,

why didn't you say this earlier?

Do you know giving false testimony is also a crime?

Your Honor,

I just wanted

to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Besides,

this case

involves certain things...

You know what I mean.

How could I dare to speak out?

Impossible!

If no one saw it,

how could I deduce

to check the bloodstains on the clothes?

How could I infer everything

so precisely without error?

No way!

When I did it, I clearly looked back.

There was no one, absolutely no one!

"Did it?"

Magistrate Meng,

he confessed.

Ji Yingying, you tricked me!

Compared to your schemes

and heartless deeds, I fall far behind.

Ji Yingying, how dare you!

You colluded with the witness

and gave false testimony in court.

What punishment do you deserve?

The one who should be punished first

is the murderer.

Li Feng killed his wife.

His crimes are vile!

Magistrate Meng,

will you turn a blind eye

and a deaf ear to this?

Will you turn a blind eye

and a deaf ear to this?

Exactly!

You can't wrong the innocent.

Punish the real criminal!

Your Honor!

Magistrate Meng!

I had no choice.

I was forced to do this.

By whom?

Is that person present in this court?

He was wearing black clothes.

I didn't see his face clearly.

But he said if I didn't obey,

he would kill me!

What bad luck!

Just wait until I'm lucky at gambling.

I'll win everything back from you!

Mercy, my lord!

Have mercy, my lord!

Are you Li Feng?

My lord, please have mercy!

I swear I'll repay the debt.

If a man isn't dead, his debt isn't gone.

If you kill me,

you won't get your money back either!

I'm not here to collect debts.

I'm here to help you repay them.

Follow my plan,

and I'll ensure your future is secure.

If you don't obey,

then from now on,

you won't need to repay anything.

Do you understand?

I understand!

I understand.

Follow orders and I get money.

Disobey and I lose my life.

He has confessed everything.

Please, Magistrate Meng, deliver justice for the people.

Deliver justice for the people!

Deliver justice for the people!

Deliver justice for the people!

Deliver justice for the people!

Deliver justice for the people!

What am I supposed to do now?

On one side is the Crown Prince,

and on the other is the General.

I...

I can't afford to offend either of them.

But the Zhao family head has already left.

What's stopping you from delivering a verdict now?

How dare you, Li Feng!

First, you slandered an innocent,

and now you dare to deceive this court.

Guards, seize him!

Magistrate Meng!

We had an agreement!

Silence!

You can't do this, Magistrate Meng!

We had a deal!

Magistrate Meng!

I hereby declare

that Mrs. Ji is innocent

and is hereby acquitted.

That's how it should be!

As for giving false testimony in court,

Ms. Ji, you...

Magistrate Meng's fair judgment

is truly a blessing for the people

and our good fortune.

Magistrate Meng!

Magistrate Meng, you are indeed perceptive and just!

When word of this spreads,

it will surely become a celebrated tale!

A celebrated tale indeed!

If my father hears

about today's case,

he will surely praise Magistrate Meng

for handling it so brilliantly!

So brilliantly!

Sir, the people's trust is crucial.

Considering

that Ms. Ji's urgency to save her mother

and the circumstances,

this court will not pursue the matter

of giving false testimony.

This case is hereby closed.

The court is adjourned!

Great!

- Mother! - Mother!

Yingying!

Mother!

Yaoting!

Mother.

Yingying.

Mother.

Let's go home.

Let's go home.

Yingying,

while I was away,

did anything else happen at home?

I married into the Yang family.

I married Yang Jinglan.

Did you marry him

to save me?

No, Mother.

It was my own decision to marry him.

No.

That can't be.

You're lying to me.

I was still in prison at the time.

If it weren't absolutely necessary,

who would marry at such a time?

Yingying,

I'm sorry.

It's my fault for dragging you down.

Mother, don't say that.

Although marrying into the Yang family

was a matter of necessity,

I've long admired Yang Jinglan.

Though it was by chance,

I am willing.

Really?

Yes.

Before,

I only wanted to keep you away from trouble.

At that time, Yang Jinglan was also burdened with problems.

I truly didn't want to marry you off to him.

But who could have guessed

fate had its way,

and you still married him?

Did Yang Jinglan

want to marry me from the start?

Silly child,

can't you see his feelings for you?

Has he not treated you well?

He treats me very well.

He always has.

It's just

that we've always referred to each other as allies,

never expressing our true feelings.

I had planned to ask him directly

when he returned.

A few days ago,

despite traveling great distances and being covered in injuries,

he still rushed back to protect me

and marry me.

How could I not understand his feelings?

But perhaps this marriage happened too suddenly,

and was mixed with too many other things,

I can't face him

like a proper bride should.

The questions I want to ask

and the feelings I want to share

have become so hard to put into words.

I'm happy for you.

There's no rush.

No rush at all.

As long as your hearts

are connected,

I believe some words

can still be understood

even if they're left unsaid.

He and I

have a lifetime ahead of us.

Mother,

it's time for your medicine.

Mother,

once you've recovered,

we'll leave Yizhou

and move to Jiangnan.

We'll live a peaceful life as a family.

You and Yaoting go first.

I'll join you after I settle things here.

If you come with us to Jiangnan,

what about Yang Jinglan?

What about the Yang family?

The Yang family's business will expand to Jiangnan too.

I'll manage it then.

And after this year, Yang Jinglan can transfer his post.

He'll come with me.

Yingying,

are you lying to me again?

I know

you just want to send me somewhere safe

so you can go on taking risks yourself.

Even if we do go to Jiangnan,

you won't easily give up.

You still want to fight for an outcome.

Mother, I've made up my mind.

I won't fight anymore.

All I want is for you to be safe.

Madam,

Yang Jinglan is here.

He said he came to greet his mother-in-law.

Why is he here?

Yingying.

Yingying.

Compose yourself.

He's injured.

He shouldn't be moving around recklessly.

I'll go meet him first.

Do you know

what Yingying's favorite food is?

I don't know.

And what food does she hate the most?

I don't know.

What does she love to play with?

When she's upset,

what does she like to do the most?

I don't know.

Yaoting!

Look at you.

It's only been a day,

and you already miss him.

I don't miss him.

I'm just worried about his health.

That's still missing him.

Don't worry.

Your brother knows his limits.

Come,

sit here.

Yingying,

the Yang family is a prominent household.

There must be many rules.

Now that you're married,

try to manage your temper.

Don't act like you're still at home,

causing chaos all day.

No, I didn't!

Here,

take this.

If you find it hard to bear,

just fiddle with these prayer beads

and think about my advice.

If you really can't bear it,

don't wrong yourself either.

All right.

Let me help you put it on.

Thank you, Mother.

So, what do you truly understand?

I know that since I've married her,

I must be her support,

so she won't face the hardships alone.

You and she are like-minded,

with hearts that resonate.

But marriage

is more than just that.

For a husband and wife,

the various household affairs

of daily life

can wear down feelings

just as much as external hardships.

And Yingying is no ordinary woman.

Perhaps,

it will be even harder for her to adjust.

That's true,

but where she belongs

is by my side,

not with the prominent Yang family.

Once she fulfills her obligations to the Yang family,

we'll move out.

Through every meal and every night,

through every season,

I'll be with her,

love her,

understand her,

and respect her.

Even though she's now my wife,

Ji Yingying

is still herself first

before she is my wife.

Yang Jinglan,

who allowed you to come out?

[To Ms. Yang: I am Dr. Zhang. Based on my evaluation,]

[Mr. Yang's condition allows him to travel by carriage.]

Did you force him

to write this?

In your eyes,

am I truly so unrefined?

Come on,

help me up.

What are you trying to do?

Don't move.

It's my first time visiting.

I must pay my respects to my mother-in-law.

Come on, Yingying,

help me up.

But you...

Please, I'm begging you.

Take care.

As you wish.

Guo Kui,

look at me.

I've finally entered through the front door

with proper dignity.

Shut up.

Mother.

Mr. Yang, you're still injured.

No need for formalities.

Etiquette cannot be abandoned.

I hereby pay my respects to you.

The marriage was rushed,

and I couldn't inform you in time.

Please forgive me.

Good child, get up.

Before, I was so worried about Yingying's safety

that I nearly ruined your union.

Now that you're finally together,

I've come to understand.

From now on, our family will stand together

through thick and thin.

I entrust our Yingying

to your care.

Please don't worry.

As long as I'm by Yingying's side,

I'll protect her

until she...

No,

until I give my last breath.

The Crown Prince sends congratulations to the Ji family!

Mrs. Ji,

His Highness congratulates

Inspector Yang and Ms. Ji on their joyous union

and sends these gifts

to celebrate the occasion.

The entire Ji family bows in gratitude for His Highness's generosity.

Please, rise.

This is a gift

that my senior prepared for me.

Please accept it, Mrs. Ji.

The Crown Prince has prepared so much already.

Your husband

is using the Crown Prince's name

to make up your betrothal gifts.

Now let's see

who dares say your marriage isn't proper anymore!

Though I stole you as my wife,

what other wives have,

my wife

will have as well.

I'll make sure you get

everything you deserve.

Slow down.

Here.

They're still so careless.

My mother and brother insisted

that I bring these small items.

They're just everyday things I use.

They're afraid I'm not used to the Yang family.

If you ever need anything else,

just let me know.

I'll have someone get it for you.

I don't need it.

Could you go slower?

Yang Jinglan.

Fine.

Why are you staring at me?

Because you're beautiful.

Yang Jinglan, can you say something?

It's too quiet.

All right.

Why don't you ask me

about me and the Crown Prince?

Fine!

You're an inspector

and carry the Crown Prince's orders.

So, you're one of his men?

More or less.

What do you mean by "more or less"?

You dare to eat my chicken?

That'll be 500 taels. Cash only.

A guest is always welcome.

Don't be so stingy.

Aren't you curious

about who I am?

Looking at your attire,

you're either rich or noble.

No ordinary person would come

to such a godforsaken place.

You must be following orders from that old man.

Do you know

that the old man you speak of

was once the Crown Prince's tutor?

I didn't know before.

Now I do.

Turns out I'm not the only person that the old man's messed with.

If you lie with coal, you get blackened.

The Crown Prince must be terribly crooked, then.

Who is it?

Greetings, Sir.

He's your teacher?

Old man, how many students have you taken in?

In my entire life,

I've only taken you two as disciples.

Especially you, little rascal,

you've been more than enough for me to handle.

How could I possibly have the energy for anyone else?

So he is...

the Crown Prince?

Call him Senior Brother.

[The Crown Prince]

The old man is dead.

I cannot let this grudge go unanswered.

Please, Your Highness, grant me this.

Rise.

Do you think I haven't thought of avenging our teacher?

If it weren't for my pleas,

he wouldn't have met this end.

But now,

the court is in chaos.

The Military Commissioner is holding his own army.

And Yizhou is not even under my jurisdiction.

Our teacher's death

may be a warning to me.

If Your Highness give me the chance,

Yizhou

can forever remain the Emperor's Yizhou.

You want to help me break this deadlock?

So,

you're not only the Crown Prince's subordinate

but also his junior brother.

And Yizhou's fate is tied to the standing of Chang'an?

That depends

on what I can uncover.

How do you plan to investigate?

Niu Jin knows my identity now.

He'll undoubtedly be more cautious in the future.

But his past deeds

would leave traces.

Now that he knows

I've looked into Nanzhao,

he wouldn't dare

to tamper with anyone tied to that line

for fear of exposing himself.

Niu Jin produces the Shu brocade,

Nanzhao buys the Shu brocade,

so who transports

the brocade?

From Yizhou to Nanzhao,

there are numerous checkpoints.

To avoid detection,

one must disguise themselves.

You want to investigate foreign merchants?

You're smart!

But with so many foreign merchants,

how will you narrow it down?

I have someone in mind.

I've thought of someone too.

- Bai Sheng! - Prince Bai of Nanzhao!

Prince Bai?

Sheng Fengze.

Sheng Fengze...

Bai Sheng...

Could they be the same person?

It's possible.

But based on his age,

he would have been just a child

the year my father had his incident.

That doesn't add up.

However, if he's only involved in smuggling,

why would he personally travel such great distances to Yizhou?

And later, when he approached me,

what was he after?

♪Fallen petals, scattered on the ground♪

♪Love awakes, but it fades before it grows♪

♪Like dust in the creek, it slips away♪

♪Time just spins, tearing at the seams♪

♪I walk through the pain, but I still chase the dream♪

♪The road is ahead, but it feels so unknown♪

♪How can we, so small, fight against this tide?♪

♪Holding on tight, as the ropes pull me inside♪

♪To show that the soaring crimson is mine to own♪

♪Red like a vow, that's burning slow♪

♪Silent red, where all my memories go♪

♪Throw the thread, and let the heartache show♪

♪Drowning in this, can't let it go♪

♪Red like flames, that burn through my soul♪

♪I walk these miles alone, through sleepless nights.♪

♪Love in the wind, alive, it's everywhere we've been♪

♪Red blooms bright, but it dies all alone♪

♪Red like a vow, that's burning slow♪

♪Silent red, where all my memories go♪

♪Throw the thread, and let the heartache show♪

♪Drowning in this, can't let it go♪

♪Red like flames, that burn through my soul♪

♪I walk these miles alone, through sleepless nights.♪

♪Love in the wind, alive, it's everywhere we've been♪

♪Red blooms bright, but it dies all alone♪