Original subtitles

=Guardians of the Dafeng=

=Episode 20=

If you solve the Sangbo Case,

you'll escape the death penalty.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Dirty beast!

Do you not understand what I say?

Stupid Loong!

Your Majesty,

be appeased.

Don't be mad at an animal.

When I asked why it lost control just now,

it ignored me!

The Loong

wouldn't go wild for no reason.

Why did it

quiet down all of a sudden?

Maybe it vented out its anger,

or it didn't

want Princess Lin'an to get hurt.

About

that Copper Gong Xu,

I'm curious.

Do you really favor him?

He's capable enough

to serve the court.

Pass my order.

Step up security in the Imperial City.

No one

gets in or out

before the curfew's lifted.

Yes.

Did you just say Duke Zhenbei

hadn't returned to the capital for years?

Yes.

Call him back

next spring.

(Haoqi Tower)

I still can't reach Heng Yuan.

Neither can Mr. Jinlian or No. 4.

He killed Earl Pingyuan to find his junior

and disappeared after the Sangbo Explosion.

I believe

he was involved in that case, too.

I have a guess.

When his junior, Heng Hui,

eloped with Commandery Princess Pingyang,

it's highly likely that he used an energy-concealing weapon

that came from the Azure Hall.

I'd like to go there to confirm it.

That hall is the Tianyu Sect's base in the Dafeng.

It's too far away.

Rou.

Lord Wei.

Go to the Azure Hall

to check

if they have any energy-concealing weapons,

and

if Heng Hui and Heng Yuan went there.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Nangong.

Lord Wei,

I'll meet with Jinlian later

to locate Heng Yuan as soon as possible.

Who knows

Princesses Huaiqing and Lin'an

both favor you?

Princess Lin'an

even put on a show to recruit him.

Never would I

see that coming.

Knock it off, Uncle.

Do you think that's good?

I had an adventurous day,

full of twists and turns.

Hadn't I played by ear,

now, I might be in the Municipal Jail again.

Ningyan,

you're a catch.

There were two sisters marrying one husband.

Now, you're serving two sisters.

Who will you choose?

Princess Lin'an

is spoiled,

and she tricked me,

but she saved my life, too.

Does she want you to be her kept man?

If so, you'll rise high.

Do you think a kept man is an honor, Father?

She meant to help me.

I've known her for a while.

She might be simple

and willful,

but

she's pure,

kind,

loyal,

and protective, too.

She treats me well.

Do you like her?

Uncle,

being an Imperial Guard is a waste of your talent.

Had you written novels for that bookstore in the alley,

you would've long been successful.

Don't tease me.

You're old enough to marry.

I care about your happiness.

Our family is humble.

A princess is so out of his reach.

What about Princess Huaiqing?

She is

calm

and collected,

deep, and intelligent.

If I choose her,

few in the state will dare bully us again.

The future of the Xu Clan

will also be guaranteed.

Whoever you choose,

you're still two-faced, aren't you?

I prefer the word "capable"!

Ningyan,

serving those two together

must be exhausting.

I'm worried about you.

Why don't you

introduce me

to Princess Huaiqing?

I'll be her slave

for the future of our family!

Mother,

Father wants to be Princess Huaiqing's slave!

- Shut up! - Mother!

Shut it.

There you are.

Here I am.

Have you recovered since we met days ago?

You must be No. 3.

Nice to meet you.

I am No. 3...

No. 3's brother,

Guardian, Xu Qi'an.

You must be No. 4.

No. 4 of the Realm Sect, Chu Yuanzhen.

You're No. 3's brother?

Where's he?

He can't show his face?

As you probably know,

my brother studies at the Yunlu Academy.

The Spring Exam is approaching.

He's studying at school all day,

so he can't be here.

But don't worry.

He's told me to take care of this matter.

Right, Jinlian?

No. 4,

message No. 6 and see if he's there.

No. 6, are you there?

No.

Wait,

what was that?

Messaging.

That can only be done in the mirror, right?

How did you know?

My brother told me.

Hey,

when was that new function available?

Why didn't you tell my brother?

The Jade Mirror

allows private chat.

Back then, I was severely injured and weak,

so that function was temporarily deactivated.

It's been

reactivated only recently.

Reactivated.

Deactivated.

Private chat.

Yes.

Look.

No. 2, wake up to practice.

Or I'll kill you.

Not if

I kill you first.

Alright, alright.

Get back to business.

No. 4 and I have been locating Heng Yuan,

but as of now,

we only know

he's still in the city.

His exact location remains unknown.

Couldn't you locate him with the mirror?

Theoretically, yes,

but he,

or No. 6's Jade Mirror

seems to

be shielded.

It can be shielded, too?

No. 3's brother,

did you call us

because you found something?

Do you still remember

Heng Yuan said he killed Earl Pingyuan

to find his junior?

So what?

I came across the news

that his junior, Heng Hui,

carried an energy-concealing weapon

when eloping with Princess Pingyang.

Then that weapon to conceal energy

was very likely to be

used by Zhou Chixiong.

Really?

If so, was Heng Yuan's disappearance

related to the Sangbo Case?

We aren't sure yet.

That's why we have to find him quickly

to put together the truth.

So

what's your plan?

I don't have one,

but we can go to this place

to try our luck.

(Earl Pingyuan's Mansion.)

Earl Pingyuan's Mansion?

Yes.

Heng Yuan came here once to look for Heng Hui.

Maybe he'll come again.

Let's go and check.

Maybe...

Maybe we'll find leads to his whereabouts.

Let's go.

(Earl Pingyuan's Lineal Son)

Young Master!

Young Master,

all the trading in town has been suspended.

The women and children sent over

are staying where they are.

I suggest

we wait until things blow over

and then send them away.

Stay put for now.

Don't draw the Guardians' attention.

What about the authorities in town?

Any actions so far?

Not yet.

You may leave.

Stay alert.

Yes.

Liven it up.

No sooner is Earl Pingyuan buried

than his son is indulging in decadent music.

What a dandy.

His lineal son seems to have taken over that group of traffickers.

Lord Wei has already known that.

I'm sure things are under his control.

Those people are in his hand.

Lower your voice.

- Be quiet. - What are you doing?

No. 4,

no, Mr. Chu,

watch your sword case, please.

What's wrong with it?

It's fine. It's my fault.

Look,

this is a covert operation.

Your huge case might give us away.

Let me put it on the side.

Sorry, you can't.

Enough.

Can you two be quiet?

He's carried that case for 10 years.

You want to take it off him?

In your dreams!

10 years?

Yes.

Over the years,

my sword's been in its scabbard

in its case on my back,

nourished by Qi force day and night.

Once it's powerful enough,

I'll battle No. 2.

I see. "Ten years it takes to grind a sword.

Its frosty edge has yet to be tested."

Exactly.

"Ten years it takes to grind a sword.

Its frosty edge has yet to be tested."

"Ten years it takes to grind a sword.

Its frosty edge has yet to be tested."

Brilliant!

Spot on! It speaks to me.

What's the next line?

Xu...

Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an,

Mr. Xu,

what's the next line?

Could you tell me?

Next line?

Yes, there's one,

but I forgot.

Please think again.

I don't remember it.

- If I knew, I'd tell you. - Stop it.

We got company.

Who is this?

Go away!

Who are you?

A debt collector.

It's you.

No way!

I saw you die with my own eyes!

I crawled back from hell

to take revenge on you!

I'll track down all of you

and...

A mummy?

This hand was the evil object in Sangbo.

One Chop to Kill All!

(If one chop fails to kill it,)

(then...)

Run!

Are you safe? Have you got out?

Look up.

Jinlian?

Look down.

Wow!

They're amazing!

That thing is too powerful.

It's formidable.

We aren't its match.

I've talked to No. 4.

We'll go back to the sect for safety.

Wait. You aren't one of the sect members.

Why do you have the Jade Mirror?

(Oh no! I was careless.)

(I forgot that.)

My brother has to focus on

the upcoming Spring Exam.

He let me keep the mirror for now.

- Stop! - Who are you?

It's me!

Mr. Xu.

An assassin broke into Earl Pingyuan's Mansion

and killed everyone.

I ran into him while investigating

by His Majesty's order.

He's formidable. Don't act rashly.

Alert others now.

Yes.

Chief,

we looked everywhere

but didn't find Earl Pingyuan's lineal son's body.

Tell them to stop.

I think

other than the killer, someone else was here.

Who discovered the massacre first?

They did.

- Gold Gong Jin. - Gold Gong Jin.

When you came,

did you see anyone suspicious in this area?

No, sir.

Actually, we didn't discover the massacre.

It wasn't you?

Who was it?

Copper Gong Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an?

Where is he?

(Heng Hui)

Lord Wei,

everyone in Earl Pingyuan's Mansion

was killed. No one survived.

When were they killed?

Who killed them?

Just now,

when I went there for investigation,

I witnessed everything.

The killer is a man in a gray robe.

He's above the 4th Rank.

I'm no match for him.

I believe he's carrying

the thing once sealed in Sangbo.

What makes you say that?

Earl Pingyuan's lineal son

died in the same way as those Imperial Guards.

Take a look.

Is he that killer?

(Heng Hui)

Yes.

He's Heng Hui?

The Azure Hall had an energy-concealing weapon

that went missing a year ago.

Abbot Panshu of Tianyu

kept that secret to not cause himself trouble.

Heng Hui left the Azure Hall

almost at the same time.

In that case,

Zhou Chixiong did use that weapon

to get away.

How did Zhou get Heng Hui's weapon?

Heng Hui came back and killed so many people.

I'll track down all of you

and...

He's back for revenge.

He said he'd continue to kill.

Revenge?

Lord Wei,

there might be more

to Princess Pingyang's elopement.

Go on.

I found that a year ago,

His Majesty meant to let Duke Yu in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile,

His Majesty fumed.

Officials attacked Duke Yu.

Then he passed away in distress.

A year later,

Heng Hui came back

and killed Earl Pingyuan's lineal son.

The Earl had a group of traffickers,

able to send people out of town in secret.

Do you mean

it's actually a power struggle

between civil officials and the nobility?

Do you know

after Pingyang ran away

and Duke Yu died,

who benefited the most under the table?

You're right.

It concerns tons of officials' transfers.

Lord Wei,

Earl Pingyuan's Mansion...

Jiang Lyuzhong,

come closer.

Any update on the group of traffickers

you're investigating?

I've been digging into them

without alerting any forces or authorities.

Since Earl Pingyuan died,

they've been lying low.

No one is going after them,

so they remain in the capital.

I see.

Looks like

Earl Pingyuan's lineal son

did take over that group.

It's time to crack it.

Yes.

You may leave.

I have other things to attend to.

Good night, Lord Wei.

How dare you steal my case!

Don't be mad, Gold Gong Jiang.

I know you're investigating the Earl's case.

It's closely linked to the Sangbo Case.

If we work together

to solve them,

you'll gain merits, too, right?

Hey,

do whatever you see fit.

If you need my help,

just let me know.

Thanks a lot.

You're welcome.

Were you injured?

Heng Hui hit me.

Sorry about that.

(Duke Yu's Mansion)

(Duke Yu's Mansion)

Princess Pingyang might be involved in the Sangbo Case.

That's only my speculation so far.

Lin'an.

(Endless Fortune)

Ever since the Sangbo Ceremony,

Her Ladyship has been bringing you up.

You've finally come.

Lin'an.

Aunt.

When was the last time

you came here after Pingyang left?

No one eats the pomegranates

on the tree.

A while ago,

the heavy rain

knocked off many of them.

Come in.

Aunt,

this is...

I have nothing to do.

I copy Buddhist sutras

to kill time

and pray for my husband and daughter.

It's been a while since your last visit.

Her Ladyship misses you and Princess Pingyang every day.

Here.

Try the newly picked pomegranate.

Is it sweet?

When Pingyang

was 10,

her father had the tree

delivered from the South.

She's always been a picky eater.

She said other pomegranates were sour.

Only those

from that tree were her favorites.

Are pomegranates on that tree

from the South really that sweet?

I think

she liked them

simply because she planted

that tree herself.

She loved the tree

but wouldn't come back to see it.

Does she

still hate me and her father?

Aunt,

even if parents and children fought,

they'd make up overnight.

She doesn't hate you anymore.

Then

when you hear from her again,

please tell her

this year's pomegranates are sweet and juicy,

and let her know...

I'm no longer mad at her.

Were her father alive,

he'd forgive her, too.

I just

want her to come back

to visit me.

Uh,

actually, a while ago,

I received her letter.

She said she went to...

Zhongzhou.

The scenery there was beautiful.

She didn't want to leave.

She...

She was afraid His Majesty was still mad.

That's why

she didn't come back.

In that case,

I can go there to visit her.

I'm free anyway.

Aunt...

♪Brings whom to my side♪

Zhongzhou is far.

It'll take over a month to get there.

When you arrive, she's probably left.

♪Thankfully, you came as the autumn wind♪

♪Turning my frown upside down♪

♪With you, what is there to fear♪

How about this?

When I

write to her next time,

I'll persuade her.

♪I only wish for Xu's safety♪

Sure.

Alright.

I...

I'll ask Butler Li

to prepare

new clothes and jewelry

for her to wear when she

- Aunt, - comes back...

I have to go back to the Palace

to attend to a few things.

Lin'an,

please help me

bring Pingyang back.

You have three days

to solve this case,

or you'll be dismissed!

(Report)

Please be appeased, Your Majesty.

Cultivators

cultivate their minds, too.

Don't ruin your state of mind.

Your Majesty,

the Guardians have let go of the culprits twice.

That's malpractice.

I suspect

Wei Yuan is colluding with the enemies.

He's a traitor.

He must be dealt with seriously.

Magistrate Chen,

what do you think?

While the Sangbo Case's under investigation,

a massacre happened at Earl Pingyuan's Mansion.

Your Majesty, please don't be mad.

You should stay calm.

Let's hear

what Lord Wei

has to say first.

Your Majesty,

I believe

those two cases are

part of a bigger case.

I've found out

who killed Earl Pingyuan.

(Zhang Feng, Minister of War)

Who was it?

The case also involved Princess Pingyang who went missing a year ago.

The tip-off the Guardians received

shows that her disappearance

might've been planned by court officials

in order to

bring down Duke Yu.

What exactly happened?

Your Majesty,

please

make others leave.

That eunuch

dared to ask us to leave.

He's up to no good!

Minister,

if what Lord Wei has to say is classified,

it's understandable

to clear the room.

We're high-ranking officials.

How classified is it that even we can't hear it?

I bet

he's showing off to us

how much His Majesty favors him!

Lord Wei,

good day.

Lord Wei.

Lord Wei,

who is that cold-blooded killer that massacred

all those in Earl Pingyuan's Mansion?

Mr. Zhang,

it's confidential as it's linked

to the Sangbo Case.

However,

the Guardians

have been tipped off.

The truth will soon come out.

You'll know it then,

Minister.

I see.

Eunuch Yang,

what did Wei Yuan say

to His Majesty just now?

This case

is being handled by Copper Gong Guardian, Xu Qi'an.

Lord Wei simply said

what Xu Qi'an had told him.

Xu Qi'an?

What's taking you so long to pack up?

Can you hurry up?

Hurry! Box it!

Master,

don't be too mad.

We're doing it as fast as we can.

Where is our son?

It's been a while.

Why hasn't he come out?

I've rushed him a few times.

He'll be out soon.

Calm down.

Hurry up! Come on!

- Son. - Did you ask for me?

Pack up your valuables.

We need to get out of town now.

(Zhang Yi, Zhang Feng's son)

Go now!

Hurry!

- Yes, Father. - Go.

Stop.

The Guardians are working on a case. No exit.

Officer, we're going out for business.

Please let us go.

Here's something for you.

The suspect is on the run.

No one is allowed in or out.

I'm the Minister of War, Zhang Feng.

I have state affairs to attend to.

No delay is allowed!

Let us through now!

It's His Majesty's order.

Please think twice, Minister Zhang.

Have some tea.

Thanks, Lord Wei.

Lord Wei,

the Minister of War, Zhang Feng, meant to leave with his family.

Our people stopped them just now.

I see. You may leave.

The fish took the bait?

Your plan was brilliant.

We simply baited...

We simply baited the trap.

The suspect fell right into it.

Hadn't you, a little Copper Gong,

figured out the power struggle behind this case,

Zhang Feng wouldn't have fled in haste after hearing the news.

Yes.

But

did the mastermind go to such great lengths

to release that thing from the lake

only to help Heng Hui take revenge?

Given his ability and rank,

he wasn't qualified to join the Sangbo Case.

My original theory was

court officials were behind the Sangbo Case.

Releasing that thing

was to stage a revolt.

Besides,

I even thought

that thing was...

What was it?

Tell me.

The former Supervisor.

What do you think now?

Heng Hui's appearance proved me wrong.

What baffles me is

if other forces are behind Heng Hui,

they released that thing for what?

Speculation is of no use.

Once we seize him,

let's see what he'll tell us.

(Jewelry, Mirrors)

I've set up a portal

at the Minister of War's Mansion.

Who are you?

(Yang Qianhuan) People

(Bureau, 4th Rank Formationist) in the capital should know me.

Hey, Mister,

you've drawn my attention.

You think I'm there,

but actually, I'm here.

A 4th-Rank Formationist.

You're low-ranking.

How dare you stop me!

"You're low-ranking. How dare you stop me!"

Well said!

You sound so mighty.

I'm greatly inspired.

You're low-ranking. How dare you

4th-Rank Fighters turn a blind eye to my trouble!