Original subtitles

[The Autumn Ballad]

Timing and Subtitles by 🍂 The Autumn Ballad 🍁 Team @viki.com

♫ Winter clouds and light skies, the geese fly through leaving a trail of sorrow ♫

♫ I lean against the window and look into the distance ♫

♫ Near the deserted West River ♫

♫ I hear you singing ♫

♫ Every time our eyes meet, the longing is still there ♫

♫ Separated by thousands of mountains and oceans, waiting for the full moon ♫

♫ Just to meet the beautiful lady again ♫

♫ Going through three lifetimes with you while smiling behind the pearl bead curtain ♫

♫ In this life, I will not let you down ♫

♫ I will fly over the lands together with you ♫

♫ Even if everything becomes silent ♫

♫ In this life, I will not let you down ♫

♫ I will fly over the lands together with you ♫

♫ Even if everything becomes silent ♫

[The Autumn Ballad]

[Episode 10]

Liang Yi.

It's too stuffy.

- It's suffocating. - Are you okay?

What about me? What about me?

Calm down.

Turn around.

I lived comfortably for several decades, and now, I end up like this!

How unjust!

Seriously though, is there a secret passage here?

This is my alchemy room. There is no secret passage.

Stop fiddling around.

There's only one exit, and it can only be opened from the outside.

I didn't know they would do this to me.

You have no idea. I spent a long time concocting pills here.

I am utterly devoted to His Majesty's health.

Now that they left me here, they should be called mentor killers.

They should be viewed as lowly scum.

Ling Zheng, you ingrate!

I curse you to death!

He looks educated but is actually a simpleton.

Your arm.

It's fine.

What are you doing?

You're injured due to me. I should take care of your injury.

It's only right.

Don't.

Don't move.

Didn't you say that I'm one of your own?

Excuse me, you two.

Since we're all stuck down here anyway,

would you care to drink with me?

No, thanks.

Great.

What should we do?

Are we really stuck here forever?

Didn't you hear what the Grand Preceptor said?

There's no other exit.

And you'll give up like that?

Let's brainstorm then.

What are you doing, Miss?

It's just a stone wall, not an iron wall.

We can dig our way out.

But the wall is thick.

When a woman like you finishes digging,

we'll be dead from starvation.

Better than being sitting ducks.

Excuse me.

When will Lord Liang return?

Master Qin. I will inform you once Lord Liang returns.

If you can't wait, you can return home.

Where did he take Qiu Yan?

I have no news. How can I go home?

Where's Song Jin? Take me to Song Jin.

Everyone, stay where you are! Don't move!

Sir, you're...

I'm from Firewood Office.

Where's the consort?

I've been looking for her, too.

Lord Jin, I searched everywhere.

No trace of Lord Liang and Miss Qiu Yan.

Check for any secret passages.

Keep searching!

Yes, Master.

Stop digging. You'll exhaust yourself to death.

I wiggled out of He Feng's death trap.

Before I can even enjoy my freedom,

must I meet my end in another death trap?

No way!

Life and death are just a matter of seconds.

You don't have a say in it.

When the Grim Reaper comes for your soul,

your consent isn't his concern.

Please, don't be so nonchalant.

Are you willing to die here for your fake notes investigation?

This is my job. If my journey ends here, it's the right place.

I don't accept this.

I never had a good day.

Why should I die here?

Ever since I left He Manor,

I told myself, now that I survived,

I live every day to the fullest. I want to show those who wish me dead

how well I enjoy my life now.

My life is more tenacious than they imagined.

If you didn't lie to me, you wouldn't end up like this.

Is Qin Xuan worth the trouble?

You think I did it all just to marry Qin Xuan?

Instead of marrying, I want to walk my own path.

I don't want anyone to control me.

If you could escape and live freely, what would you do?

I heard many stories of dead women due to false accusations.

I want to clear their names.

I will write down their stories and publish a compilation

to warn future women.

You lived mostly in your home's comfort.

Why are you so interested in strangers' cases?

When little, I was illiterate but wanted to read.

To indulge me, my mother let me read crime stories.

First, I read an incomplete, hand-written copy.

I think it's "Collection of Odd Events."

I was in my house,

but my mind followed the law enforcer in the book.

We solved cases, revealed truth, and

punished the guilty to restore peace.

Thanks to that incomplete book, I learned to spot characters.

So you want to be a law enforcer.

Fine, I'll pray for God's will to make you a man in your next life.

No, I'm fine as a woman.

I believe one day, men and women will be equal.

We can study, work as government officials, open business, a shop,

or do whatever we want.

Although this likely won't happen in my lifetime,

for my next life or after, I want to be female

and watch it happen.

No rebuttal from you today?

That's not like you at all.

Let those about to die

say their peace.

What about you?

What do you want to do?

I don't think

you're happy doing government bidding all your life.

Song Jin.

When I grow up, my brush will be my sword.

I'll use my brush to detail injustice in this world.

I'll rid evil and keep peace,

just like my father.

[Don't hold grudges against anyone else.]

[As your father, I just want you to lead a peaceful, happy life.]

This is the last thing the Marquis left you.

His letter means nothing to me.

I cannot forgive

nor do I plan to.

As I said, my duty lies with Firewood Office.

It's just a way to achieve my great success,

nothing else.

When you said you wanted to leave Forbidden Garden,

I thought you feared the powerful

like the case of He Family.

But now, you'd rather die here than concede to Ling Zheng.

That means though you're ambitious,

you still have your own principles.

What's the matter?

If you're too exhausted to run later,

don't blame me for leaving you here.

Did you find a way out?

This is sulfur.

It's as heavy as the weight.

Saltpeter (Sodium nitrate).

Carbon powder.

Is your method making pills?

If you combine these three things in a certain ratio,

you get "black powder."

Follow me.

Touch this wall.

It's cold.

Behind it is Forbidden Garden's sacred lake.

Judging from the route they took

to bring us to this alchemy room, we are actually close to the sacred lake now.

This cold wall confirms my hypothesis.

Judging by its temperature, the wall isn't very thick.

If we can make a hole here, the lake water will burst this wall down.

But we don't have a fuse.

If we ignite explosive in close quarters, it will backfire.

What should we do then?

I have a solution.

- What's wrong? Are we in hell now? - Go, hurry.

If you don't sober up now, you will.

I...

I'm doomed anyway. Save some for me, at least.

Alchemy room.

Follow me!

[Beautiful Light Hall]

You two, stay here. The rest, follow me.

Hurry!

Come.

Are you okay?

Don't tell anyone what happened just now.

Wait..

What?

Don't you have faith in your Qin Xuan?

This is different. It's...

Come on. I saved you.

I owe you my life.

I will repay you in the future.

All right.

Let's go.

What's this?

The golden handcuffs of the Tocharians (name of a tribe),

the only pair in the world.

Do you have the key? Open it.

I don't mean to bother you, but I see someone armed coming here.

What should we do?

They are over there. After them!

Run!

Stop!

Stop, stop!

Stop!

- Run! - Stop!

Halt!

The key fell in the water.

No time for that. Just run.

Stop!

Halt!

Don't run.

Stop!

[Beautiful Light Hall]

- Run. - Hurry.

[Beautiful Light Hall]

- Stop! - Stop!

Don't let them escape!

Stop!

- Stop! - Don't run!

- Hurry. - Stop!

This way.

Don't run. Capture them!

- Run. - Capture them.

Stop.

[Beautiful Light Hall]

[Beautiful Light Hall]

B*stard!

Ling Zheng. Xuan Jing.

You traitors.

You deceived your mentor. You're inhumane.

Have you no fear of God's wrath?

Hurry.

- Is your leg okay? - You kicked me. Run.

Quick.

How quickly can they come here?

Soon.

Look at this, you two.

Lord Liang is summoning backup now.

Don't you want to kill us?

We will wait for you here.

Come kill us if you can.

Come kill me.

They are gone.

We didn't find anyone, Master.

How can two living beings disappear just like that?

Master, someone saw the red signal.

Northwest from here, 20 li (6 miles) away.

All of you, come with me.

Come.

Gather everyone.

Yes, Master.

- Are Liang Yi and Qiu Yan in danger? - Yes.

Take me along.

Come.

What?

What are you doing?

They are lighting the firewood.

What are you doing?

Ling Zheng. How dare you use such a lowly trick on us?

You have no shame.

What should we do?

We can't get down.

- Take this, Qiu Yan. - Thanks.

Stop tearing. We don't have time.

Cover your mouth.

The Forbidden Garden of Hongzhen Sect. [Hongzhen Holy Palace]

We don't have much time now.

Let's go.

All trespassers will be executed. [Hongzhen Holy Palace]

[Hongzhen Holy Palace]

Over here. Rescue them.

[Beautiful Light Hall]

Qin Xuan. We're here!

Don't worry, Qiu Yan. I'm coming to save you.

Charge!

Excuse me.

Are they Lord Liang's people?

Yes.

Upstairs now!

Master Jin.

Back off now.

Master!

- What are you doing? - Follow me. Hold me tight.

Are you ready?

Don't be afraid. Here we go.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Thank you for saving me.

Qiu Yan. Are you okay?

Qin Xuan, how do you know we were here?

Master, sorry, I'm late.

Your wound...

I'm fine.

I focused too much on rescuing you.

The head of the Hongzhen Sect died.

You did the right thing.

Let's talk once we're back. Take them back first.

Come.

Take all of them back.

All of you, take them back.

Come. Get up.

Come.

Hurry.

Careful.

Watch out!

Qin Xuan. Are you all right?

I just killed someone for the first time.

Qiu Yan. Check Tao Zhu Gong.

He is not the assassin who killed Xiao Tie.

The crossbow is on his right arm.

Xiao Tie's killer shot with his left arm.

So Xiao Tie's assassin is someone else.

They still slipped away.

Treacherous Disciples!

Did I not treat you kindly enough?

All of you betrayed me. [Beautiful Light Hall]

My lord, you are still alive.

Official, they almost killed me.

Fortunately, the officials came and saved me.

Why are the Forbidden Gardens here?

Did I not give you everything?

It seems we got the Imperial Court's attention.

How should we answer to His Majesty?

We can't hide it anymore. Let's explain.

Greetings, Grand Preceptor.

His Majesty was shocked to hear of fire.

I was sent here to investigate.

Why are you also here, Lord Liang?

Well,

my cunning disciple started a revolt.

Fortunately, Lord Liang intervened in time.

The disciples were all apprehended.

A Forbidden Gardens fire is a serious matter.

Grand Preceptor, please go to the palace with me and explain to His Majesty.

Grand Preceptor mentioned traitors.

Come forth. Tie them and carry them away.

Imperial Commander Yan.

Besides a revolt, the Firewood Office is investigating a fake bank notes case involving these criminals.

Can you hand them to Firewood Office?

Lord Liang, His Majesty wants to handle this matter himself.

Perhaps we can keep them and let His Majesty decide later?

What do you think, Lord Liang?

How upright of you, Imperial Commander Yan.

Oh, this girl is a maid in Wanyan House.

She's unrelated to the case. She merely guided us here.

Please allow me to see her back.

Lord Liang is telling the truth.

This girl does not work in Forbidden Gardens.

It's just a trivial matter. You decide, Lord Liang.

See you, Grand Preceptor.

Lord Liang. I'll not forget what you did today.

It is my duty.

Come. Take them away.

He can switch his mood so quickly,

as if he wasn't the drunkard from just then.

The ministers of Six Ministries are all like this.

What he said to the Imperial Guards will take care of those people in Wanyan House too.

Song Jin, did you locate their treasury in your search last night?

Yes, Lord.

But we couldn't find the ledger.

When I stole the fake note, I came across this small book with tons of names and dates on it.

Ping'er. Where is the book now?

My father should have it.

As well as the other fake notes that weren't used yet.

Let's head to Wanyan House with Ping'er before the Imperial Guards seal that place.

Qiu Yan.

This is...

I'll explain to you later.

Then I'll go with you.

Master Qin. My master is here for serious business.

We should wait for them in the Firewood Office.

I only trust them.

Qin Xuan, you should head back with Song Jin.

Lord Liang and I will be back soon.

Wait for us in Firewood Office.

Be careful.

Let's go.

- I'll wait for you in Firewood Office. - Okay.

Father.

Father.

Father.

- Father. - Ping'er!

- Father! - Ping'er!

Oh, my Ping'er. Where were you last night? [Wanyan House]

Many officers surrounded Wanyan House yesterday. I looked for you everywhere.

Father, I...

When I was stealing some fake notes yesterday,

I bumped into these two Firewood officers.

They said they would pardon me.

Greetings, Officers. [Wanyan House]

Thank you for giving my daughter another chance.

Save that for later.

I heard from your daughter that you kept the fake notes she stole?

Indeed.

The fake notes are all in my home.

I will show them to you now.

Ping'er, a client from yesterday gave us some delicacies from Daoyu Pastry.

I know you like them a lot so I saved them for you.

Come with me, Officers.

Inside, please.

The living place of a servant.

Please don't mind it, Officers.

Please give me a moment.

I'll retrieve the cash notes now.

Have a seat.

Have some tea.

Thank you.

Watch out!

Ping'er. Ping'er. Don't, Ping'er.

Leave me be!

Ping'er.

Father?

Father.

Father.

Father.

Who are you?

Your sworn enemy.

I don't even know you. Did we cross paths?

Huizhou Magistrate, Dou Ying.

He was killed because you framed him.

Do you remember him?

I investigated many officials.

This does not jog my memory.

I will never forget that, because Dou Ying was my father.

Master, I searched everywhere.

He must be the bodyguard who saved you.

A crossbow on his left arm,

he must be Xiao Tie's assassin.

What is Ling Zheng to you two?

Why did he do Ling Zheng's bidding?

We wandered to the capital.

We had no shelter and no food.

I'm good at drawing so I devoted myself to forging fake notes.

Unfortunately, Master Ling Zheng found out.

Young Girl.

How dare you scam me with fake notes?

Follow me to the court.

- Boss. - Come!

I'll pay for her buns.

Thank you, Master. Thank you, Master.

- Thanks, Master. - All right.

Fresh buns!

Did you draw this?

He said I was talented so he hired Xiao Tie to tutor me. [Heng Gui Banknote, Five Taels]

My bodyguard was good at fighting.

To protect me, he did Ling Zheng's bidding.

He hid you two in Wanyan House.

A perfect hiding place,

I must say.

I don't regret being someone's pawn.

The only thing I regret is I failed to take your life just now.

Liang Yi. You accused my father of embezzling one million taels.

My family was ruined due to you.

I will return to haunt you as a ghost.

You want revenge.

Have you thought about his life?

The Dou family hired him.

He would give his life for us.

He didn't want to avenge Dou Family.

Otherwise, when he assassinated Xiao Tie,

he would have killed me too.

I think he was happy being your father.

I don't care.

[Daoyu Pastry]

You said Lord Liang killed your father.

But you killed your other father yourself.

He left these snacks for you.

He never ever took a bite.

Do you not remember the Dou family's case?

Why do you ask?

You and I are both people who seek justice.

I don't think you're this forgetful.

Year 22 of Chengzhao.

Huizhou Magistrate, Dou Ying, accepted bribery, sold governmental positions,

and embezzled public funds.

In his house, we found 10,000 gold taels,

500,000 silver taels, and many precious objects.

I remember every case I solved.

Master, I checked everywhere.

If her father was guilty, why didn't you tell her the truth?

Children only see the best of their parents.

Why ruin that illusion for her?

By the way, when Ping'er was about to attack me, you stopped her in time.

How did you know she would make a move?

Wanyan House is filled with perfume.

But the perfume Ping'er wears is different from their workers.

The perfume pouch she carries

is from Liu Xiang Perfumery in West District.

The perfume pouch from there costs at least one tael.

You buy a new one every two weeks.

Or the fragrance fades.

If Ping'er truly robbed due to poverty,

why would she carry a luxury like that?

I didn't know you were that well-versed in feminine products.

My sister, Qiu Min,

is obsessed with perfume pouchs from Liu Xiang Perfumery.

She always talks about it so I know the subject well.

Wait. What were you implying?

You think I'm not womanly enough?

I just want

to thank you.

I saved your life, and you saved mine.

We're even now.

Very good.

♫ The roof's eave blocks the moon, letting through only a shimmer ♫

♫ Your sweet smile warms my heart ♫

♫ As if the night haze were a silk garment ♫

Who would have thought that in one day, some may not live to see the sunrise.

♫ Only your appearance ♫

Is it the first time you saw blood shed?

It must be tough on you.

Not at all.

I've seen blood when I was little.

As just a little girl, where did you see blood?

♫ Looking in your direction ♫

♫ All the images flood my mind ♫

Let's go back now

and take off the handcuffs.

Qin Xuan is waiting for us.

♫ As I trace your eyebrows ♫

[As Loyal as a Subject]

♫ I am willing to wait a lifetime for you ♫

♫ If everything could return to the past ♫

♫ Turns out life was never headed toward a deep abyss ♫

Have you seen the ocean before?

Never.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

♫ Seeing loved ones parting ways ♫

Hold me tight.

♫ I hope the story goes your way ♫

♫ I remember your promise ♫

[Distant waves of Ice and Snow]

♫ I am willing to wait a lifetime for you ♫

You're saying that Firewood Office barged into my Forbidden Gardens, and

crossed arms with Ling Zheng's people, to save you and Liang Yi?

It is my incompetence

that allowed outsiders to barge into Forbidden Gardens

and destroy the place of worship and Your Majesty's pills.

I am at fault.

I await my punishment.

Ling Zheng was the main culprit, and he was captured.

God has preserved justice.

Since God delivered the judgment, I shouldn't.

You were scared for half a day.

Go home and rest.

Train your disciples well too.

It's fine if my pills are destroyed.

But if we disturb the gods, and they decide to punish our subjects,

it will be too great a sin for both of us.

Understood, Your Majesty.

Dismissed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, do we let Firewood Office do the followup?

Have you found the person

I asked you to?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Done.

Why break the chain?

Is there no key that can open the handcuffs?

Tocharian Golden Handcuffs have a sophisticated design.

You cannot replicate the key.

Breaking it open by force will only cause injuries.

The Firewood Office doesn't have a spare key?

The Tocharians only gave us one.

If we want the key to open it, we need a Tocharian blacksmith.

You're saying that we need to send someone to the Tarim Basin to find a blacksmith?

How long will a return journey take?

Around two months.

Master, news from the Imperial Court.

His Majesty assigned the fake notes

and the Forbidden Gardens case to the Main Administrative Office.

The Firewood Office has been handling this case.

The case can be concluded soon

so why hand it to someone else right now?

I'm not surprised.

Song Jin charged into the Forbidden Gardens to save me.

That's a serious crime on its own.

His Majesty did not admonish us.

He just wants us to cease what we're doing.

So be it then.

Song Jin.

Transfer all evidence that you found in the Wanyan House's treasury

to the Main Administrative Office.

Go now.

Wait.

Can I have a look at them first?

If the thief from my house bought fake notes from Wanyan House,

he must have left a trace.

And now, the fake notes ledger is nowhere to be found.

I want to see if I can find something from the evidence pile.

Or else, today will be in vain.

[5, 11, 7, 6, 7, 8]

So much evidence.

Which one belongs to the Qiu family?

Everything we confiscated has been labeled.

It shouldn't be hard for you to find what you're after.

[Firewood Office]

[Firewood Office]

Who's there?

The Main Administrative Office is here to collect all evidence

regarding the Wanyan House case.

[Yuan Lang: Head of the Main Administrative Office]

Timing and Subtitles by 🍂 The Autumn Ballad 🍁 Team @viki.com

♫ The roof's eave blocks the moon, letting through only a shimmer ♫

♫ Your sweet smile warms my heart ♫

♫ Your sweet smile warms my heart ♫

♫ Only your appearance can bring color to the silk ♫

♫ Looking in your direction ♫

♫ As I trace your eyebrows ♫

♫ I am willing to wait a lifetime for you ♫

♫ The roof's eave blocks the moon, letting through only a shimmer ♫

♫ Your sweet smile warms my heart ♫

♫ As if the night haze were a silk garment ♫

♫ Only your appearance can bring color to the silk ♫

♫ Seeing loved ones parting ways ♫

♫ I hope the story goes your way ♫

♫ I remember your promise ♫

♫ I am willing to wait a lifetime for you ♫

[Produced by Quhe Film Pictures Production (Beijing) Co., Ltd.]

[Produced by Shanghai Tencent Penguin Film Culture Communication Co., Ltd.]