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 15]

If being your daughter means I must accept my mother died mysteriously, then no! [Qiu Manor]

You...

Uncle Qiu, please calm down.

You...

Hurry and stop her!

Old Madam Qiu, Official Qiu.

I don't wish to be extreme.

However, you can't keep her here today.

Are you coming with me?

Fine, I'll go by myself.

[Hall of Elegant Minds]

Yan'er!

Old Madam, Uncle Qiu.

Qiu Yan's grief is causing her to be rash.

I hope you won't blame her.

Mother,

I'm incompetent.

I couldn't discipline Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan, what do you plan to do next?

I will lodge a complaint at Feng Capital Prefecture.

Complaining will come later.

What about tonight?

Where will you spend the night?

My house has a separate courtyard.

Why don't you stay there?

If Qiu Family looks for Qiu Yan, Duke of Ying Manor will bear the burden.

When that happens, it'll be difficult for your parents.

I can persuade my parents.

Qin Xuan, it's indeed inconvenient for me to stay at Duke of Ying Manor.

Help me find an inn.

How can a girl stay at an inn alone?

No one can help you if anything happens.

Firewood Office has a room.

Second Brother, oh, Second Brother. How could you let Qiu Yan leave like that?

With her temperament, she'll cause trouble.

Perhaps tomorrow morning...

the Drum of Remonstration (grievance) will sound.

Fourth Brother is right.

Who knows how she will slander our family.

If she wants to make a ruckus, let her.

She said she wanted the truth.

Then let Feng Capital Prefecture give her the truth.

That can also prove Qiu Family's innocence.

Otherwise, people may say we oppress the younger generation and deceive those above and below (hide truth).

All right, no need to stand there as if being fried.

Go back and rest.

The innocent know they are innocent.

A girl like her can't cause much trouble anyway.

Since Mother has said that, we now have a backbone.

We hope Mother and Second Brother will find solace.

We'll take our leave.

You should go back, too.

Mother,

regarding my wife's matter,

was it you?

Why?

Are you doubting me, too?

[Memorial Tablet of Beloved Mother in Qiu Family, Han Ruo Gu]

[Firewood Office]

Have a seat first. I'll help you clean the room.

I know you're brokenhearted.

No one else is here.

If you want to cry,

just cry.

There's no time to cry.

Qiu Yan, will you really lodge a complaint at Feng Capital Prefecture?

I can't sit by and watch them murder my mother.

What if Uncle Qiu told the truth and the physician made a false accusation?

What motive would the physician have to do that?

There's no basis to say it was a false accusation.

Qin Xuan, do you not believe me, either?

When you investigated He Feng's death and the fake silver notes, I believed in your judgment.

It has always been accurate.

Every time you find out the truth, I'm impressed and happy for you.

But this time, I don't want to believe it, nor do I want it to be true.

I hope you're wrong.

I hope Aunt Qiu's death has nothing to do with anyone in Qui Family.

Why?

Do you think I'm being unfilial, too?

You already lost your mother.

I don't want to see you lose your family too.

After Mother passed, that home means nothing to me.

You're saying that,

but you're obviously very sad.

I wish you hadn't learned of this.

Then you wouldn't suffer and be tormented.

In this world, many truths torment people.

But I'd rather be tormented the rest of my life than to deceive myself and others.

It's getting late. You should go home,

lest your parents worry about you.

Rest early.

Lord Liang.

I passed by while on night patrol.

Why are you still awake?

I was about to go find you.

I wrote this accusation statement.

Please take a look at it for me, Lord Liang.

I didn't get the chance to ask you today.

Has it ever occurred to you that if you don't lodge the complaint,

if you mourn for three years, Qin Xuan will still be unwavering toward you?

Qin Family's attitude toward you will also soften over time.

However, once you cause a huge scandal,

I fear Qin Family will further misunderstand you.

Madam Han wasn't your birth mother.

Is it worth risking your future for her?

Mother was indeed not my birth mother.

But she showed me someone does care

about me in this world.

I wanted to learn to read and write

so she taught me patiently.

I like reading investigations

so she found them for me behind my father's back.

Here.

I just received it.

It's a newly released chapter from the bookshop.

I know you're following the series.

Once in He Family, you can't find this chapter.

Wouldn't you feel your heart is clawed many times (anxious) for nothing?

What she gave me

was warmth I never got from my birth mother.

I originally thought we had a long life ahead.

I thought I could keep accompanying her.

When she grew old,

I could repay all the love she gave me.

But now...

Avenging her death

is the only thing I want to do.

As for relationships, men, or the future,

none of them are important.

Actually, Lord Liang, you shouldn't have involved yourself.

You offended the entire Qiu Family for me.

It'll only bring more obstacles to your marriage with Min'er.

Six years ago,

my father was murdered.

At that time,

I was only an official's son from a noble family.

I had no power or influence to avenge my father.

At the time,

I was tormented by remorse and self-blame day and night.

How I wished

I could destroy Heaven.

[Memorial Tablet of Beloved Husband, Liang Yuan Su]

People who haven't experienced it

cannot understand how it feels.

I understand.

Other than some wording issues,

there's a huge hole.

Why would Old Madam want to kill your mother?

According to everyone in Qiu Family,

those two always had a good relationship.

She has no motive to kill.

What if she's only an accomplice?

To a degree, all Qiu Family branches have grievances against Second Branch.

Maybe the real culprit is one of them.

When Old Madam found out, to protect Qiu Family's reputation,

she could only cover it up.

Another thing doesn't make sense.

Since Old Madam colluded with Li Zheng Yuan,

that means she already knew about this.

She had the chance to knock the mountain and shock the tiger (forewarn)

instead of pushing the waves forward (assist).

Maybe the murderer uses something against Old Madam.

But Old Madam is shrewd and thinks of the big picture.

What unspeakable secret could she have?

We won't find any leads guessing like this.

If we want to find the answer, we must investigate further.

I know!

Investigate the apothecary.

Physician Li said my mother was poisoned by red safflower.

Let's start by probing where the red safflower was bought.

No matter where we start investigating, right now is bedtime.

You can only seek well when you're rested.

But I really can't fall asleep right now.

My lord, let me stay here to revise my statement

and organize my thoughts.

That way, if I don't know anything, I can ask you.

Fine.

I still have official documents to read anyway.

I'll keep you company.

Mother.

Don't go.

Mother.

[Qin Manor]

If Mother asks where I went, you know what to say, right?

Master, I thought you didn't want Miss Qiu Yan to find anything.

Why are you still going with her?

I don't want to see her sad.

But whatever she is determined to do,

I'll accompany her even if I don't agree with it.

Young Master! Young Master!

Young Master, something bad has happened.

Madam is suddenly having chest pain.

Please hurry and check on Madam.

I'll fetch the physician now.

Master, Official Yuan is here.

Official Yuan, what brings you here so early in the morning?

There's something good I want to show you.

Official Lin, this booklet is to be handed to His Majesty.

You must not dirty it.

If I may be bold...

May I be bold enough to ask what I can do for you?

I beg your generosity and spare me.

Sparing you isn't difficult.

But...

it's such a huge deficit.

Official Lin, you need to find someone to be responsible for it.

[Qiu]

Di'er.

Di'er, open the door. Di'er.

Mother, you're here.

I bought your favorite lotus root sweet cake this morning.

Eat it while it's still warm.

I have no appetite to eat sweet cakes right now.

Something bad happened in Qiu Manor.

Qiu Yan, that crazy girl, went to lodge a complaint at Feng Capital Prefecture.

Once they start inquiry of Madam Han's death,

we won't get away with it.

Old Madam might not protect us then.

I sneaked out behind your father's back.

There's no time to waste. We must leave now.

But where can we go?

No matter where we go, we must leave the capital.

The farther, the better.

I brought enough money from home for the journey.

It's enough for our future expenses.

But, Mother,

you've worked hard and suffered grievances in Qiu Family for decades,

all for what?

Wasn't it for us to get part of Qui Family's fortune?

If you leave with your tail between your legs,

it's not worth it.

Besides, Feng Capital Prefecture might not find us out.

Di'er, I know you're not satisfied with this.

But this is life and death.

There's no room for chances.

Listen to me. We must leave today and get out of the city.

Let's go.

You don't need to go anywhere anymore.

Fourth Aunt, I really misjudged you.

H-How did you find this place?

We searched every apothecary in the capital.

We learned someone recently purchased red safflower.

An apothecary shopkeeper mentioned a person

with a black mole on the chin.

I instantly thought it's you.

You returned to the capital from study abroad

and didn't show your face at home, being all sneaky.

So it was to kill someone in our family.

What happened next is much simpler.

You didn't return to Qiu Manor so you likely stayed at an inn.

With your mole

it was easy to find where you were living.

Who are you?

- Song Jin. - Take him away.

Yes.

- Mother. - Di'er.

- Mother. - Please...

You two can speak now.

Th-This...

If you want to blame anyone, blame that girl, Qiu Min.

She ratted me out to Old Madam.

Old Madam found the real story behind Di'er's birth.

I wrote a letter to tell Di'er, who was studying abroad.

So he secretly came back to the capital to plan

our way out.

Was your way out to poison my mother?

Second Sister, you've misunderstood.

Why I bought red safflowers was not to poison Second Aunt.

But to..

But to...

Speak.

It was to frame you and Qiu Min.

Di'er gave me the red safflower

to add it into the plum wine,

and find a chance to make you two drink it.

But I never wanted to kill anyone.

I just wanted to teach you two a lesson.

I asked, and you won't die from a bit of red safflower poison.

It'll only...

cause damage to a woman's body.

If it's serious,

it'll be hard to conceive children.

If it's as you said,

how did my mother die from red safflower poison?

I really don't know.

I only brought the red safflower to the manor and hid it in my room.

But it disappeared in one day.

I have no idea who took it.

I didn't dare make it public.

It wasn't until you caused a scene with Old Madam yesterday

that I found your mother died from red safflower poison.

You say you two are innocent, not guilty of anything.

Then why did you run with Qiu Di today?

I knew that Di'er and I,

no matter what we say, couldn't prove our innocence.

If we didn't run, would we still be alive in the future?

I don't believe a single word Madam Mi said.

The only possible murderer is her.

Min'er and I ruined Qiu Di's future.

So she wants revenge for it on my mother.

If it was Madam Mi, what kind of information is she holding

against Old Madam then?

This...

I haven't figured it out yet.

There's one more thing I can't figure out.

Li Zheng Yuan said your mother had internal heat symptoms from unhealthy influences.

However, her pulse was normal.

How do we explain this?

Other than red safflower poison, they must've secretly given

my mother another medicine before that

to create the illusion of a strange disease.

This way, no one would question if she died from illness.

Where's the other medicine?

Master, let me torture them for a bit.

I'm sure they'll reveal all.

It's not Firewood Office's case.

A public case has its own rules.

Even torture

must take place at Feng Capital Prefecture Prison.

Not only would our personal findings be invalid,

we'd also be charged for abusive torture.

Since we have evidence that Madam Mi and Qiu Di bought red safflower,

as well as Li Zheng Yuan's testimony,

I'll report this to Feng Capital Prefecture tomorrow.

Only by forcing Old Madam to confront me

can we know the whole truth.

But we still don't know many things.

Besides, I have a Royal Court meeting tomorrow.

This can't be delayed. Madam Mi and Qiu Di almost escaped today.

If Old Madam realizes Madam Mi never returned,

she'll surely be alarmed.

Attend your Royal Court meeting. I'll go myself.

You can't.

The more we wait, the longer they have to cover their crimes.

Master, how about I go with Miss Qiu Yan?

Lord Liang,

may I speak to you in private?

Lord Liang, Qiu Yan has been away for two days.

I don't know where she's been staying.

Qiu Yan is staying at Firewood Office.

She's safe.

Official Qiu, rest assured.

Good.

If Qiu Yan needs anything, please inform me immediately.

I'll have someone send it over.

Official Qiu, you love your daughter very much.

I'll convey your message.

However, I must remind you.

The one you're betrothed with isn't Qiu Yan, but Qiu Min.

I hope you can also be more considerate of Min'er.

Relaying His Majesty's decree, "Today's Royal Court meeting is canceled."

"His Majesty summons the Head of Firewood Office"

"to meet in the Imperial Study."

Meet about what?

[Feng Capital Prefecture]

[Feng Capital Prefecture]

Liang Yi,

I heard that these days,

at your future in-law's, chickens are flying and dogs are jumping (chaos).

What happened?

Replying to Your Majesty, Official Qiu's wife died of a bizarre cause.

The daughter, Qiu Yan, finds it strange.

She left home to investigate after a family disagreement.

I recall that Qiu Family's second daughter

was once betrothed to Young Master of He Family.

Then I think the marriage was annulled.

Your sister-in-law is really something.

I heard Second Miss of Qiu Family has always been rebellious.

Before, she wouldn't keep her chastity after her husband's death.

Now she filed a report at Feng Capital Prefecture against her grandmother.

I never expected Lord Liang,

who is always self-restrained and proper,

would let his sister-in-law act rashly.

Not only did you hide Qiu Yan at Firewood Office,

you also mobilized Firewood Office's men

to probe all the city's apothecaries and inns.

Treating Firewood Office as your own house is an abuse of power.

Is what Official Yuan said

true?

Yes.

My lord, I'm wrongly accused.

My lord, please investigate thoroughly.

My lord, we've brought Old Madam Qiu and Official Qiu.

My lord.

Old Madam, please rise and speak.

My lord, I'm the one who ordered someone to take red safflower.

Go on.

My fourth son has always had the habit of stealing.

He even stole something from my room before.

As a precaution, I placed a servant girl at Fourth Branch.

I had her observe every movement within Fourth Branch.

She found that Madam Mi was hiding red safflower

and notified me at once.

I asked her to steal the red safflower for safekeeping.

I planned to deal with Madam Mi after Madam Han's funeral was over.

But I never expected this girl, Qiu Yan, would get involved.

If that's the case, the most suspicious is you, Old Madam Qiu.

My granddaughter claims

someone used red safflower to kill my daughter-in-law.

But that statement is complete nonsense.

What do you mean?

Please lend me a set of cookware.

Bring the cookware.

Everyone knows

a small amount of red safflower can cause a miscarriage,

and a large amount is fatal.

But few people know the lethal dose

far exceeds the miscarriage dose.

With that said,

red safflower can cause a person to miscarry,

but if you want to use it to kill someone...

I would like to ask you, my lord.

When you see a bowl like this, who in their right mind

would be willing to drink it?

If you don't believe it, summon the physician and ask him.

Qiu Yan, what else do you have to say?

What if someone forced my mother to drink the poison?

Official Tong, if my wife was forced by someone to drink poison,

she would have told me before she passed.

I hope you can investigate this thoroughly.

Yan'er, if you still think of me as your father,

stop harassing others.

Come home with me.

I won't allow you to taint your late mother's reputation any further.

My lord, I still have a witness.

Physician Li Zheng Yuan, who treated my mother, told me himself

my mother's body had clear signs of red safflower poisoning.

It wasn't an infectious disease.

Old Madam told him to make up the so-called infectious disease.

Summon Li Zheng Yuan for questioning.

Summon Li Zheng Yuan!

I, Li Zheng Yuan, greet you, my lord.

Li Zheng Yuan,

did you personally see signs of poisoning on Madam Han's body?

Don't be scared.

Just repeat what you told me.

I'll assure your safety.

With me on your side, speak without worries.

Replying to my lord, I...

I never said Madam Han died from red safflower poisoning.

Did Old Madam Qiu ever tell you to make up Madam Han's illness?

That didn't happen either.

You clearly told me that before!

My lord, please uphold justice for me!

Before, it was because Miss Qiu Yan and Lord Liang of Firewood Office

intimidated me and even used my daughter to threaten me.

I was scared and had no choice.

That's why I said the nonsense they wanted to hear.

Do you know the consequence of lying in court?

I know.

But everything I said is the truth. There's not a single lie.

Liang Yi, is there anything you would like to explain?

I couldn't bear to see my future mother-in-law die of an unknown cause.

That was why I thoughtlessly mobilized Firewood Office's men.

I have nothing to say. Your Majesty, please punish me.

You have a betrothal with Qiu Family.

It is only normal

to help them out.

However, don't do this again.

While the Misses of Qiu Family are in mourning,

you are not to meddle in Qiu Family's affairs again.

Rise.

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.

Shouldn't we do something about Lord Liang using the physician's daughter

to threaten him to testify?

I'll have someone release Li Zheng Yuan's daughter.

No need.

I've already sent someone.

Eunuch Liu.

- Father! - My child!

- Are you all right? - I'm fine. Are you all right?

Li Zheng Yuan, I've returned your daughter safe and sound.

Song Jin, when the hearing is over,

don't stop them from going home.

Do you hear me?

Yes.

Now the case is clear. I'll announce my verdict.

According to law and order, Qiu Yan's complaint against Qiu Family

for the murder of her mother is a false charge.

By law, falsely accusing relatives is punishable.

I sentence you to 20 floggings.

My lord, Qiu Yan couldn't control herself due to grief.

That's why she caused a scene.

Twenty floggings are too many for a young lady.

I can't bear for that to happen.

I hope you can show her some mercy.

Since Old Madam Qiu has pleaded,

forget it.

As a last kindness, seeing your grief,

I'll spare you the pain of flogging.

I sentence you to recite the Filial Piety Commandment

at Qiu Manor's entrance 1,000 times, as an example to others.

Court dismissed!

Thank you for your mercy, my lord.

Mother, is your chest feeling better?

I'm fortunate you were here.

Master! It's bad! Feng Capital Prefecture...

What?

My chest hurts again.

Mother, stop pretending.

Your aunt sent someone to inform me

that Qiu Yan lodged a complaint against Old Madam,

I knew you wouldn't sit still.

I won't allow you to get involved in their mess.

Stop right there!

If you dare step out that door today,

I'll have your father beat you to death.

You can punish me however you want.

You...

[Qiu Manor]

Kneel.

Start reciting.

Qin Xuan?

Young Master Qin, the law is strict.

I suggest you don't look for trouble.

I'm fine.

Qin Xuan, what are you doing?

I'll accompany you.

Hurry and recite it!

"Parents have the duty to educate their children."

"Children have filial duty to parents."

"There is a natural order of seniority."

"Disrespecting elders is to live in vain."

[Qiu Manor]

"You shall not sit while your parents stand."

"You shall not walk before your parents."

"You shall not disobey your parents' orders."

"You shall not call your parents by their names."

"You shall not neglect your parents."

"You shall not argue with your parents." [Qiu Manor]

Why are you two still standing there?

- Close the doors. - Yes, First Miss. - "You shall not move when your parents are present."

- If you make a mistake, you should be punished. - "You shall not be arrogant from your parents' love."

"You shall be more filial when your parents complain."

"You shall reflect on yourself daily without fail."

"Eternal reincarnations for generations to come."

"Parents have the duty to educate their children."

"Children have filial duty to parents."

"There is a natural order of seniority."

"Disrespecting elders is to live in vain."

"You shall not disobey your parents' orders."

- Third Miss, Second Madam is no longer here. - "You shall not call your parents by their names."

- Madam Liu doesn't dote on Second Miss at all. - "You shall not neglect your parents."

- She's afraid of being embarrassed and won't come see her. - "You shall not argue with your parents."

- No one will intervene for her anymore. - "You shall not sit while your parents stand."

- Third Miss, why don't you go beg Second Master? - "You shall not move when your parents are present."

Sister is a stubborn person.

It's harder for her to kneel and admit her mistake than to kill her.

However, this is punishment from Feng Capital Prefecture.

It'll be in vain even if I go.

[Hall of Elegant Minds]

"You shall not be arrogant from your parents' love."

"You shall be more filial when your parents complain."

"You shall reflect on yourself daily without fail."

"Eternal reincarnations for generations to come."

"Parents have the duty to educate their children."

"Children have filial duty to parents."

"There is a natural order to seniority."

"Disrespecting elders is to live in vain."

"You shall not disobey your parents' orders." [Memorial Tablet of Beloved Mother in Qiu Family, Han Ruo Gu]

"You shall not call your parents by their names." [Memorial Tablet of Beloved Mother in Qiu Family, Han Ruo Gu]

"You shall not neglect your parents."

"You shall not argue with your parents."

"You shall not sit while your parents stand."

"You shall not walk before your parents."

"You shall not move when your parents are present."

"You shall not be arrogant from your parents' love." [Qiu Manor]

"You shall be more filial when your parents complain."

"You shall reflect on yourself daily without fail."

"Eternal reincarnations for generations to come."

That's it, Qiu Yan. That's 1,000 times.

She's already recited it 1,000 times.

I-I think she's still short two times.

Young Master Qin, don't try to trick us.

I've counted it very clearly!

Forget it, forget it, forget it.

If Young Master Qin says it's 1,000 times, it is.

Let's go back and report this.

Qiu Yan? Qiu Yan!

Sister.

Qing Dai, let's help her back inside.

[Qiu Manor]

Cousin Qin, are you all right?

I'm fine.

I'll leave Qiu Yan to you.

[Qiu Manor]

Let's hurry and help Second Miss inside.

Third Miss.

Someone, come help.

Be careful.

Yan'er.

Mother?

You're back?

Yan'er, does it hurt?

You're still young.

If it hurts, just say so.

Mother, as long as you're with me, it doesn't matter how bad it hurts.

Yan'er,

I can't stay by your side.

From now on, you must take care of yourself.

Don't insist on resolving everything alone, understand?

- Take care of yourself. - Mother.

- Take care of yourself. - Mother!

Mother! Mother!

How did I get back here?

You fainted at the entrance.

Qing Dai and Qiu Min carried you in.

Otherwise, you'd still be causing trouble.

As a girl, don't you feel ashamed?

Come and eat something.

What are you doing?

Li Zheng Yuan was threatened and changed his statement in court.

I...

I'm going to lodge a complaint to the emperor.

You forgot the pain once your wound healed (unlearned lesson).

Was being punished at the entrance not enough?

I couldn't go out all afternoon due to shame.

Yan'er, your legitimate mother has passed.

But your birth mother is still alive.

She was different from you.

How was she different?

Even if we're different, I'm still better than her.

I forbid you from talking like that about Mother.

Did you think your legitimate mother

was the world's most noble, gentle woman?

Let me tell you.

She was just an ordinary woman.

Actually, she can't even compare to an ordinary woman.

- Say that again. - I will say it.

I bet even in your dreams, you never expected the legitimate mother you saw as noble was having an affair

with a monk behind Master's back.

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 ♫

♫ As if the night haze were a silk garment ♫

♫ Only your appearance can bring color to the silk ♫

♫ Looking in your direction ♫

♫ All the images flood my mind ♫

♫ 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.]