Original subtitles

[Brocade Odyssey]

[Episode 34]

Your Highness, are you saying

you want my soldiers pretend to be from Nanzhao

then fight against themselves?

I am but a regular prince with no actual power.

I do not have my own army.

Thus, General Niu,

I trust that you shall muster sufficient forces

and see to this matter personally.

What exactly do you want?

I want you as an ally.

Naturally,

this is an assault on the city, after all.

There shall be spoils of war to divide.

By chance,

I have certain belongings left in Yizhou.

General Niu, I trust

that you might see them safely returned to me.

What you truly desire

are the skilled artisans of Yizhou's brocade industry, is it not?

This is why I say that

you know me best.

Yizhou has long been a cradle of talent.

So long as Huanhua Creek exists,

and so long as you remain,

its gifted artisans will persist,

rising stronger

with each setback.

Yet, this chance you have now

is but

once in a lifetime.

Let me caution you, General Niu,

indulge as you may,

but do not overstep.

To go too far would only sow seeds of discord,

deep and lasting,

between Datang and Nanzhao.

Such a rift wouldn't be good.

Worry not, Prince Bai.

It is my own city.

I would not bear to destroy it.

Very well.

Ah, how comforting it is to have someone to long for.

No matter how far your journey takes you,

home will always remain where you left it, waiting steadfastly for your return.

You are envious of me?

General Xue.

This...

The commissioner is busy.

He is not able to see you for now.

Just rest easy and wait here.

I am now a fugitive.

The commissioner

would do well to tread cautiously.

Fret not.

The day will come when your name shall be cleared.

I am in no haste to clear my name.

However,

Prince Bai has met with Niu Jin in Yizhou.

With Niu Jin commanding an army at his disposal,

their alliance would surely

lead to a disastrous misstep.

I can only hope the commissioner makes his decision without further delay.

It is precisely because of Niu Jin's army

that the commissioner

cannot act in haste.

Just wait here patiently.

General Xue.

No.

I must make a trip back to Yizhou.

You were just caught

and now you want to run again?

The commissioner surely has his reasons

for keeping watch at this time.

I, too, must make my own preparations.

Fang,

I must trouble you to serve as a hostage.

Help me pass a message to the commissioner.

If Yizhou remains safe,

I shall return swiftly to face my punishment.

You must return soon.

I am not happy staying here.

Worry not.

Wait for me to come back.

I will bring wine for you.

Take any chance

to run.

Forget about the rest.

Remember,

even if you must humble yourself and submit,

you must survive.

Survival is all that matters.

Grandfather,

please forgive me.

I truly did not know

there were still things in this world

worth caring for.

I want you to live.

You are the smartest and most talented man

in our family.

The Zhao family will only have hope

if you remain alive.

Get up!

Get up!

Remember!

Let him go!

Staying alive is your top priority!

Come at me if you want!

Bai Sheng,

do not think that I do not know you are behind this!

I know you are here! Show yourself!

Mr. Zhao,

I hope you have been well.

Nanzhao's Prince Bai.

No wonder you could spend so much money.

You only wanted someone who could weave brocade.

You could have just taken me with you.

Why did you capture

my whole family?

Many believe that

you care for only one person.

Yet,

I think you truly care

for the entire Zhao family.

But there is something

you have wrongly accused me of.

Of all your family,

is it only you that I desire.

It is your fault

for being so talented.

As for the others...

Deputy General Niu

will surely find other uses for them.

What do you want to do?

What do you think?

Why ask the obvious?

When we reach Nanzhao,

you will see Ji Yingying.

My promise to you

will then be

considered fulfilled.

She will not leave with you.

Every wolf is stubborn

before it is tamed.

As for me,

whether I can tame her

will depend on my own skill.

She is not a wolf.

You are. You are the wolf.

Ms. Ji,

I did not let you down.

Mr. Yang is safe now.

Good.

Very good.

Thank you.

You are welcome.

I wonder how Yizhou fares at this moment.

I have come to an agreement with the main brocade merchants

to protect our own workers

and remain indoors.

But when I entered the city earlier,

I learned that Mr. Zhao Senior

and their entire household

have vanished without a trace.

Vanished?

Yes.

Mr. Zhao Senior would not break his promise in this matter.

Unless...

...he is no longer able to make his own decisions.

I will send men to investigate this at once.

No.

The ones with the power to move an entire family

are not our match.

Mr. Zhuge,

please inform Governor Zhang about this immediately.

Request that he send soldiers to investigate.

If necessary,

they must report this to the commissioner without delay.

Alright. Do not worry.

Leave this to me.

The city is no longer safe.

Let our warriors have a good meal tonight.

Yes.

Victory or defeat

will be determined by this one move.

Ji Yingying,

your moon

longs to be in place

where it can meet your gaze

the moment you look up.

The Zhao family

was wiped out overnight.

How many men were needed to accomplish this?

Zhuge Hong,

write this up at once.

I am going to meet the commissioner in person.

Yes, sir.

Move faster!

Governor! Protect the governor!

That person is from Nanzhao! Chase him!

It is an honor

to be chosen by His Highness.

Those whose names are on this list

are given two choices.

You will either come with us,

or...

I will kill off those not selected by His Highness

and take you with me.

Those whose names I call

should stand behind me.

Yingxi Dyehouse's Mr. Chen.

Liuyue Dyehouse's Mr. Jiang.

Luoxia Dyehouse's Ms. Zhu.

Cailuan Dyehouse's Mr. Sheng.

Cailuan Dyehouse's Mr. Sheng.

Mr. Sheng is...

Do not tell me he is not here.

Since Ji Yingying has gathered you here

to protect you all together,

none shall be left behind.

Cowardly personality.

Often seen carrying medicine around.

Likes to bring up his mother's teachings.

Take him.

Next.

Yaoyue Dyehouse's Mr. Liu.

What are you planning to do?

Huacai Dyehouse's Feng Dalang.

Feng Sanlang.

I do not know.

You asked me why I have feelings for you

and how long they will last.

I do not know.

All I know is that

I cannot leave you.

I want to be with you

no matter where you go.

The last one.

Ji's Brocade Workshop,

Ji Yaoting.

Ting...

Mother,

they only want us to weave brocade for them.

They are not after our lives.

It is only through our survival that we shall be

reunited once more.

Ting...

Mother, fret not.

All shall be well.

Mr. Ji, stay a moment.

His Highness is concerned that Mrs. Ji's delicate health

may not bear such a shock.

Should she be troubled, His Highness would surely incur Ms. Ji's ire.

Thus,

he wishes for you to remain with her for the time being and tend to her needs.

You may proceed to His Highness with Ms. Ji later.

Oh, yes.

His Highness has a message for Ms. Ji, which he bids you to convey.

[The Yang Residence]

Ma'am. [*She is referred to as Mr. Yang's wife here.]

Breakfast is served.

Please have some food.

I am no longer Mr. Yang's wife now.

It is not appropriate

to call me that.

You will be again

when Mr. Yang gets back.

Take care of your health.

Please have some food.

Come.

Let me help you.

Yingying.

Yingying!

Mother!

Yingying.

Yaoting!

I am sorry.

I was too late.

After they were taken away,

I dispatched men to trail them in secret,

hoping to uncover their stronghold.

But we still ended up losing them.

What is the message that Sheng Fengze

bade you to deliver to me?

He said that Ji Yingying alone

is worth hundreds of craftsmen.

I would rather we forgo this deal.

Yingying!

Listen to me.

Savages are not to be trusted.

Even if you were to go to him,

they would still not release the others.

He is indeed untrustworthy.

However, Mother,

it is only by going myself

that I can gather more information.

Only then will I be able to negotiate with him.

I can then...

I know! I know all that.

My daughter

is very strong.

You are loyal to your people.

But I cannot bear to see you

take such risks for others.

All I ask is that you remain safe and sound.

Mother,

they are not others.

They are my friends, who have stood by me through thick and thin.

Sheng Fengze is a psychopath

who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

His letting Yaoting stay behind

is both a gesture of sincerity

and a threat.

If I do not go,

he will devise an even more cruel plan.

Ms. Ji,

there is a carriage at the entrance.

Who is it?

The carriage was empty,

but I did find this.

Leave us.

Yes.

This belongs to Pin.

Pin...

That carriage was sent by Sheng Fengze to pick me up.

Mother,

I must go.

I will go with you.

As you said,

he is a psychopath

who will stop at nothing until he achieves his goal.

And he wanted both of us from the start.

Why should I stay behind

and make things worse?

Besides,

I know you will not simply let this go.

If your plan succeeds,

I will escape with you if I can.

And if...

...we are unfortunate enough to be caught and made to work as coolies,

I will be there to look out for you.

Mother,

please give us your permission.

Mother, please give us your permission.

Farewell, Mother.

Let's go.

Ms. Ji,

is there anything I can do?

I will have guards follow us in secret

and leave messages for you whenever possible.

I hope you can track down those craftsmen

by following our trail.

Understood.

One more thing.

I am still uneasy

about the disappearance of the Zhao family.

The governor was attacked.

I hope you can assist Chief Sang

in uncovering the truth swiftly

and restore peace to Yizhou.

Understood. Leave it to me.

I will do the best I can to protect Yizhou.

Ms. Ji,

you two must take care.

Farewell.

Farewell.

Yingying,

the carriage does not even have a groom.

Where are we heading to?

Yaoting,

we cannot let him manipulate us.

Your Highness.

Our carriage is back.

But it is empty.

There is only a note.

I took hostages.

She chose the location.

We each have a card up our sleeve.

This is only fair.

Ji Yingying has always been very cunning.

She must have set up a trap

to lure you into the city.

This is a trap.

You must not go.

Do you think he will really come?

He is so confident.

Everything is going according to his plan.

Why would he not come?

I suppose

Ms. Ji still knows me the best.

Long time no see.

Sadly,

there are only two chairs

in my courtyard.

I am not able to have extra guests.

Mr. Ji,

please.

Yaoting,

wait for me outside.

You must be careful.

Ms. Ji, please.

How many people do you think I can exchange for?

How many do you think?

Half.

Half of the craftsmen you captured.

This price is rather steep.

I am offering myself

in exchange for those who already belong to Yizhou.

You know well who has profited from this.

The amount I have spent to capture these people...

On average,

it should be about 100 gold pieces each.

I could have caught more

to spread my costs thinner.

Who would have thought that you, Ms. Ji, would be so clever?

Aside from the Zhao family,

you managed to hide the others without leaving a trace.

No.

I was still too slow.

From the moment you stole the pattern...

From the moment Mianzhou's brocade workshop was set up...

I should have sensed something was amiss.

Exactly how many craftsmen am I able to exchange for?

I think

we should call it a business deal

rather than a hostage exchange.

Since you can lead

merchants thousands of miles

to Tubo to sell brocade,

surely you can also lead craftsmen

to Nanzhao to weave brocade.

Perhaps

this is just another way to expand trade routes.

This is not an expansion of trade routes.

This is capturing us as slaves

and forcing us to admit that we stayed willingly.

Look at you!

You are fully aware

that you are the prey

and I am the hunter.

What more is there for you

to negotiate with me?

If I truly had nothing,

why would you bother negotiating with me here?

You could easily tie me up and take me with you.

Let me amend my terms.

Release three groups of people.

Keep talking.

Those who are above 50 years old.

Those who are weak and sickly.

Those who have elderly parents.

Elderly parents?

That is not the minority.

How about those with elderly parents and are also an only child?

Release them.

Very well.

I will agree to your terms.

However, you must pay the deposit first

before I can feel secure in releasing them.

Oh, Ms. Ji!

You still are not sincere in working with me.

What did you do?

Yizhou

is about to fall into chaos.

Kill!

Sheng Fengze!

No.

Your lot from Nanzhao

could never muster this on your own.

Where did you gather so many men?

You are so clever, Ms. Ji.

You should be able to guess who I am working with.

Niu Jin.

Kill!

Kill!

Close the doors!

Your Highness,

Yaoting!

Niu Jin never made it to Yizhou.

Instead, he waylaid the Commissioner en route

and now lays waste to the city,

masquerading as forces of Nanzhao.

I suppose it's an utter chaos out there.

I fear you yourself might be in peril.

I fear your dealings have gone awry.

Not only have you slaughtered the common folk of Yizhou,

but you now bear the blame for assassinating Yizhou's commissioner as well.

If he intends for me to shoulder all these crimes,

his surest course would be

to silence me with death.

Nanzhao traitor, Sheng Fengze!

Open the door!

Charge with all your might!

Come!

You know better than I do!

Once Niu Jin's men break in,

no one inside will be left alive.

Nanzhao traitor!

Chase after him!

Kill them!

[Yizhou Governor's Residence]

Get inside!

You will be safe once you are inside! Hurry!

You are alright.

Don't cry. Your father and mother will come for you.

You must be strong.

Guards!

Bring him in.

Come on, little boy.

Go!

Hurry up!

Yang Jinglan!

Yang Jinglan!

Yaoting!

How are you? Where is Yingying?

Yingying... Yingying got taken away by Bai Sheng.

Niu Jin's men are still after them.

But... But I do not know where they are headed!

Bai Sheng... When was this?

Just a moment ago.

Yaoting, it will be alright.

I will bring Yingying home safely.

Take care of yourself.

I am off!

You must be careful!

The Nanzhao traitor dares to assassinate the commissioner!

I, Niu Jin,

swear upon this sword today

to defend the peace of Yizhou

and share the same fate as its people. Attack!

General,

this city is teeming with our own men.

Are we going to kill them all?

Our men?

Are not those who ravaged the people of Yizhou

soldiers of Nanzhao?

Every one who plundered Yizhou's folk

shall be wiped out!

Let no Nanzhao traitor survive! Attack!

Those who are above 50 years old,

those who are weak and sickly,

and those are are an only child

who have

elderly parents...

The people you want me to release

are all here.

There are hundreds and thousands of Yizhou craftsmen captured.

I do not need to count them to know that

this cannot be all.

Those have likely

already reached Nanzhao.

I cannot release them, even if I wished to.

Sheng Fengze.

I will honor the promises

I made to you.

If you choose to break your word,

I cannot guarantee the safe return of these people

to Yizhou.

Yizhou's brocade shall be passed down through the ages.

As long as you remain,

the brocade shall endure.

Ms. Ji, thank you!

Please rise.

Yingying!

Yang Jinglan!

♪Upon my brow,♪

♪a winter's snow descends♪

Yang Jinglan,

with the universe as our mediator

and the land as our witness,

I, Ji Yingying,

take you as my husband today.

By fate, we are reunited,

never to be parted again.

♪Drying the tales of countless dreams♪

♪You are the thread that binds my soul♪

Ji Yingying,

with the universe as our mediator

♪A fated tether, whole to whole♪

and the land as our witness,

I, Yang Jinglan,

♪If you will hold fast to our sacred vow♪

take you as my wife today.

Even if we are seas apart,

I will always bring you back home!

♪I care not if you are fate or trial♪

♪This love remains steadfast, unbeguiled♪

♪Though my days♪

♪may bathe in crimson streams♪

♪I will never falter, nor abandon you♪

♪No fear of ashes, no dread of the end♪

♪Only that my heart you still not comprehend♪

♪You will never stand in storms alone♪

♪For I am yours, forever your own♪

♪Wipe off the tears♪

♪As they slip from your eyes♪

♪We hold each other in quiet embrace♪

♪Petals drift in river's grace♪

♪Within this world we abide♪

♪This love of ours will never cease♪

♪Though time may past, moments will fade♪

♪I wish all your dreams will come true♪

♪If tomorrow will come for you and me♪

♪No life nor death could break me now♪

♪I care not if you are fate or trial♪

♪This love remains steadfast, unbeguiled♪

♪Though my days♪

♪may bathe in crimson streams♪

♪I will never falter, nor abandon you♪

♪No fear of ashes, no dread of the end♪

♪Only that my heart you still not comprehend♪

♪I yearn to be with you, as wind and snow♪

♪For I am yours, forever your own♪

Commissioner Mu has tragically fallen in battle.

Nanzhao's Prince Bai harbors great ambition.

He may return at any moment.

To safeguard the people of Yizhou

and avenge Commissioner Mu,

I offer myself

to temporarily assume the role of commissioner.

Are there any who oppose?

The commissioner should be appointed by the government.

General Niu, your actions seem most unseemly!

Niu Jin!

How dare you kill generals without cause?

Today,

I shall uphold the military rules in the name of the commissioner!

I shall temporarily assume the role of commissioner.

Are there any who object?

Greetings, Commissioner Niu!

Greetings, Commissioner Niu!

Greetings, Commissioner Niu!

[The Niu Residence]

Commander,

someone saw Yang Jinglan

entering the city during the battle.

Will he affect our plans?

No.

Mu Hui is dead.

I have taken command of Jian'nan's troops

and entered Yizhou with my army.

The government

has no choice but to acknowledge me as commissioner now.

Yang Jinglan is powerless to stop me.

But Sheng Fengze...

Get our men to send word to Nanzhao.

Yes, sir.

Commissioner Mu learned that Nanzhao's men had entered the city

and hastened to send cavalry.

However,

he fell into Niu Jin's ambush.

Lieutenant General Li betrayed us

and joined forces with Niu Jin.

The commissioner's troops

were all wiped out.

Commissioner Wu

gave his life to ensure my escape.

Many other brave warriors aided me along the way,

and that is how I narrowly survived.

There is one more thing

you may not know.

It was not the Nanzhao troops

who attacked Yizhou.

It was Niu Jin who masterminded it all.

There is no justice.

There is no justice!

These two fake Nanzhao soldiers

were captured by me amid the chaos.

General Xue, you may take them to the capital

as proof of this treachery.

Very well.

I shall make my way to Chang'an.

Even at the cost of my life,

I will ensure that Niu Jin's heinous deeds

are laid bare before all the realm.

I will petition His Majesty

to rid the empire of these traitors.

Mr. Yang,

Jian'nan is overrun with Niu Jin's people.

Why not come with me

to Chang'an?

Once the government issues the command to bring down Niu Jin,

I shall lead the troops to Nanzhao

and rescue your wife.

Your plan is indeed sound.

However, it will take time for the government

to move against Niu Jin.

My wife is currently surrounded by the enemy,

and I cannot afford to wait.

Nor will I wait any longer.

I am familiar with Nanzhao.

I will go with you.

The fewer who sneak into Nanzhao,

the better.

You mean the fewer who go,

the fewer will perish.

Sheng Fengze is a wily and treacherous scoundrel.

How is your journey to Nanzhao any different from walking into hell itself?

The difference is that

you will ensure the safe passage of General Xue and Zhuge

to Chang'an.

We will work together.

You will assist my escape from Nanzhao.

You always have a way with words.

I can never win in any argument against you!

I will stay.

Stay where?

I will stay in Yizhou.

Zhuge...

I know what you want to say.

Firstly, the journey to Chang'an is fraught with peril,

and I'm without the skills of a warrior.

I do not wish to be a burden to you.

Secondly,

those brocade families who were not captured by Nanzhao

will surely return to Yizhou.

Yizhou cannot stand without the Shu brocade,

nor can it do without a brocade officer.

Thirdly,

when you return

to set matters right in Yizhou,

you will need someone within the city

to act from the inside.

It is, therefore, most prudent for me

to remain behind.

Yang Jinglan, I am no longer your subordinate.

You have no right to command me.

Indeed,

you are no longer my subordinate,

but as a friend,

I beseech you

to exercise caution.

Work within your means.

I will.

Very well, let us each go our own way.

In due time, we shall meet again in Yizhou.

Ms. Ji, why are you not asking me today?

It is not that I am unwilling to speak,

but we are leagues away

from Yizhou.

Even if I were to tell you,

it would be of no use.

There is no need

to add to your burdens.

Where are Ms. Zhu and the others?

They traveled faster than we did

and should have arrived by now.

Perhaps they have already settled.

♪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♪