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 17]

[Royal Academy]

Medicine?

The money Young Master Qin gave me

was only to take care of the second branch.

As for the other people and things,

they are beyond my control.

Madam.

This is the ebony hairpin Young Master Qin gave me.

It's more valuable than a common jewelry hairpin.

Most people won't know its value.

But I'm sure you know how much it's worth.

Can you bear to part with it?

Things are dead but people are alive.

The person my younger sister cares about the most here

is the Old Madam.

Why would I want a valuable hairpin that I cannot sell?

It's a gift from Young Master Qin.

It's a keepsake.

So just keep it.

Very well.

The Royal Academy has the medicine.

As for the money,

I'll just ask for it from Young Master Qin.

Thank you, Madam!

Thank you, Madam! Thank you, Madam!

Old Madam.

Old Madam.

You're still willing to visit me.

This is a ginseng pill.

Take it with water; it extends your life.

So Min'er will be in less pain as long as you live.

It's futile.

I know my own body.

However,

at such a place,

you still managed to get a ginseng pill.

It's because you're capable.

For the past few days,

I've been thinking.

Of all the Qiu family women,

you're the most capable.

Whether it's the case with Young Master He

or the fake notes,

you were able to resolve them.

Rest assured. I won't just watch you die like this.

You will be tortured for a long time.

Do you still think I had your mother killed?

Isn't that the truth?

Whoever is the mastermind or the accomplice between you and Father,

I consider it both your doing anyway.

Wait.

About your mother's secret,

I originally had steeled my heart

to take it with me to my grave.

But now,

you're the only one in the Qiu family who can carry the burden.

I don't want you to hate this family forever

and detach from our affairs.

What secret could my mother have?

This secret of the second branch

has been kept by you for over a decade.

If I tell the world of this secret,

even if the whole Qiu family

is executed,

it'll be considered only a light punishment.

Your mother's surname

was originally Wei.

- Her father stopped His Majesty from building the Taoist temple. - You mustn't, Your Majesty! - Hurry and leave.

The order was given

to banish her whole family.

On the way to their exile,

they ran into bandits.

Your mother and her younger brother

were fortunate enough to escape.

The Wei and Qiu families were friends.

- Your mother and her brother - Are you all right? Quickly run.

searched for a way

to reach our family. [Qiu Manor]

Is anyone there? [Qiu Manor]

Open the door!

Is anyone home?

Old Master made the decision

- to secretly take the siblings in. - I am the Wei family daughter. Quickly report it to your master.

He even gave them new identities.

Your mother was married to the second son.

We couldn't keep her brother with us

so we sent him

to the Taiying Temple.

Master Zhen Yan?

Yes.

They were siblings...

That's why they had the jade pendants.

When I see this piece of jade pendant,

I'd think about you.

After so many years,

I can't forget plants or a piece of wood at Wei Manor.

How can we ever forget that, Elder Sister?

Why was my father so furious

when he saw the jade pendant?

Did he learn Master Zhen Yan's true identity?

It was soon after Child Min's marriage was arranged.

Elder Sister, bad news.

My senior found out about my identity.

Master Zhen Yan talked to his senior

and asked him to keep the secret.

But during their argument,

they both fell off the cliff and died.

Their death caught the attention of Feng Capital Prefecture.

Your father went to Feng Capital Prefecture for information.

He was told

that this case

had been taken over by Official Yuan.

Your father thought this case was not as simple as it appears.

So in order to protect your mother and the Qiu family,

he devised a way that has some compromise.

He faked your mother's death

and secretly transported her out of the capital

to avoid Yuan Lang's investigation.

But how did she die of poisoning here?

She said

the only way

for the plan to work flawlessly

was for her to really die.

Of course, I know the reason behind it.

But

I took care of your mother over a decade.

How could I ever bring this up to you?

When she proposed the idea,

I gave her

the red safflower I confiscated from Madam Mi.

By boiling it with enough flowers,

the poison was enough to take a life.

Master.

Wife, I know you miss your younger brother,

but I'm afraid

you can't keep this item.

Give it to me.

Come.

Since I'll be leaving soon,

I want to have a word with you.

Wife,

if you want to say anything, go ahead.

Because of me,

you sacrificed your whole life.

I know.

You were in love with a girl surnamed Xia back then.

You loved each other

and were childhood friends.

I...

We weren't fated enough.

Over the years,

we had respect and love,

but there is still regret in your heart.

That's why you married Madam Liu,

who resembles Miss Xia, without telling your family.

Wife,

it was my fault.

No.

It was my fault.

As long as I see you as my benefactor,

I can never fervently

make you my husband.

Wife...

You've always fretted

that I've spoiled Yan'er.

Six years ago,

when she came to this family,

I recalled when I first entered the manor.

Greetings, Mother.

I want to read.

Father, I will read what men read.

I don't want her to be like me,

and live in fear her entire life.

Wife.

Have some tea.

Here.

Wife.

What did you drink?

Red safflower soup.

Words alone are not proof!

Why should I believe you?

You're a smart girl.

Think about it. Try to recall your parents' past,

and you will be able to draw your own conclusion.

I have no regrets in dying,

but I can't bear to witness the Qiu family declining like this.

This is our Qiu family's heirloom that was passed down for generations.

I'm giving it to you,

and I'm leaving the Qiu family in your care.

I don't mind if you hate me,

but you must never hate your father

or the Qiu family.

Whether or not your father

could clear his name in the future,

you must lead the Qiu family women

and live on.

Grandma.

Old Madam, quick.

Take the medicine.

Old Madam.

Hurry. Quickly.

You must live on.

Old Madam...

- Old Madam. - Madam! Madam!

Please, I beg you, let me see Old Madam one last time.

Can I?

- I beg you. - Can you...

Can you give us some time to pay our last respect to her?

I can't just change Royal Academy rules because I want to.

- Madam! - Madam!

Master Wang, please give us some leniency one time.

Didn't you hear what Madam said?

We can't change Royal Academy rules.

I beg of you!

- Master Wang! - Quickly go back. Go back!

Please!

Old Madam!

Bring in the dismissed official.

Kneel.

Qiu Yi,

you've read your three brother's statements.

The counterfeit money of 200,000 we found in your house is right here.

You embezzled the fund, disrespected His Majesty,

and slandered Imperial Court.

Ironclad evidence is as high as the mountains.

Do you admit your crimes?

Official Yuan,

since the ironclad evidence is as high as the mountains,

does it really matter whether I admit my crimes?

We are currently giving you a chance.

You are a mere fourth-rank official. How would you dare do this?

Who are you taking orders from?

Come clean.

I'll repeat what I said.

I never embezzled any money.

I never took orders from anyone.

Qiu Yi, don't expect those on the shore to save you

just because you keep your lips sealed.

Bring in Qiu Family's three sons.

Bring in Qiu Family's three sons!

Quickly.

Move!

Hurry up!

Move.

Kneel.

Elder Brother.

Third Brother. Fourth Brother.

Let's cross examine each other.

Qiu Hong, you speak first.

I've been wronged!

My lords, please uphold justice.

My second brother has served the imperial court for decades.

His sleeves sway in the breeze (free of corruption and bribery).

We only gave the statement because we were tortured

while in prison.

I-I-I agree!

- Elder Brother. - Second Brother, no need to say more.

We understand.

Qiu Family is at the critical moment of life and death.

We four brothers are ants on the same rope (in the same boat).

We must be of one heart, to live and die together for us to have a sliver of hope.

I-I agree!

Fourth Brother. Third Brother.

- Second brother. - Second Brother.

Official Qiu, this is your doing.

You must admit it.

Firstly, we found the money from your house.

Secondly,

we have the imperial merchant, Hu Wan, as our witness.

This is unbelievable!

Each branch argued as chickens flying and dogs jumping (chaos) due to the fake notes.

But when in court, they talk of loyalty and unity.

I don't believe this Qiu family is an egg without any cracks.

When we seized the house,

a person claimed he wasn't a Qiu family son.

What was his name again?

Qiu Di, fourth branch Madam Mi's son.

[Royal Academy]

Miss, we've brought you the clothes.

You really know how to choose the timing, Madam.

Come in.

Come in.

Did anyone bully you lately?

Everything has been fine.

The weather is cold so you should wear more clothes.

Lord Liang.

[Shi Xiao Xiao, Royal Academy's leading courtesan]

Sorry, Lord Liang.

We will leave right away.

Put the clothes down.

Don't just stand there like a fool when you're in the ladies' rooms in the future.

Aren't you usually very witty?

Madam, who is that woman?

Miss Shi?

She is the most famous lady in Royal Academy.

Even I must show her some respect.

By the way,

the thing you asked for.

Thank you, Madam.

Min'er.

Just cry if you want to.

They won't let us burn joss papers here.

Here,

take these three pieces of Osmanthus cakes,

and place them on the courtyard's west side.

Old Madam loved desserts.

If she could see this,

she would know that you cared.

Qiu Yan!

Qiu Yan!

Qiu Yan!

You servant!

You dared to secretly sneak silver needles into Miss Shi's clothes!

Since you hold a grudge against me, you want to harm the woman I chose!

My lord, this must be a misunderstanding.

She wouldn't dare do this even if you gave her the guts to do so!

You slander me without any proof.

Perhaps you failed to impress Miss Shi

so you came here to play the hero who saves her!

You dare talk back to me.

- Come here! - Lord Liang!

- This must be a misunderstanding! - Come here!

- My lord! - My lord!

- Come here! - Beat me to death if you dare!

- Lord Liang! - Lord Liang!

- You shameless scoundrel! - Lord Liang!

- Help! - You vile woman!

- Help! - I'll make you pay today!

Liang Yi, are you even a human being?

Vile woman!

You seem vigorous to say those words.

Life here must be very decent.

I made use of your intimate time with Shi Xiao Xiao to act it out.

Thank you, my lord.

You let Qiu Family women work as servants to preserve their honor.

You also put on a good play with me.

Yuan Lang might not believe us, but he has nothing to hold over us.

Don't stop.

Use this, use this!

Here, hold this.

Liang Yi, let go of me!

- Sister! - Help! Help!

Let's see if you can be vile again!

- Let's see if you can be vile again! - What were my father's charges?

Embezzlement

at a public trial yesterday.

Officially, your father's charge is embezzling money

used to purchase wood needed to build His Majesty's Immortal Temple.

- The Imperial merchant, Hu Wan, can prove it. - That's impossible.

By my investigations these past few days,

the call to impeach your father came from Ministry of Works' Lin Chang Zhi.

He has always been very close with Hu Wan.

He acquired a sum of money lately,

and it was the same amount as the money Yuan Lang found in your house.

Are you saying Lin Chang Zhi embezzled the money

and conspired with Yuan Lang and Hu Wan

to frame my father for their crime?

Lin Chang Zhi was just a cover.

The mastermind behind this is Yuan Lang.

My father was just the Vice Minister of Works.

Why is it all quiet now?

His target is you.

Yuan Lang didn't want me to marry your family member

and he set up your family

so I'll be alone in Imperial Court with no support.

If Firewood Office launched a joint raid with Main Administrative Office,

the second branch is the first target.

How did you and Father sneak out from the second branch's courtyard?

No one surrounded our courtyard at that time.

Maybe too many rooms and courtyards are in our house

so they got confused and overlooked it.

So he purposely let Min'er and I go during the raid that day

so he can charge you with abetting us.

Yes.

At the trial, Yuan Lang pushed to interrogate your father,

hoping your father would sell me out.

Luckily, your father is wise and righteous.

He admitted only to embezzling.

He admitted it to protect you.

Qiu Yan, I've let your family down.

Yuan Lang moved first to catch us off guard.

I must be extra cautious now.

Lord Liang, please have mercy on her!

I beg you, please let my sister go!

Min'er, don't beg this kind of scum!

Let him beat me to death if he dares!

Let go of me! Let go of me, Liang Yi!

When did you find the keys?

I just found it and haven't had the chance to tell you.

Only the Firewood Office has this.

I carry it every day.

Many eyes and ears are in Royal Academy. There's bound to be rumors about this.

It'll be hard for you to clarify it when the time comes.

I worried we couldn't resolve it.

Done.

My lord?

If you're dissatisfied with anything, just let me know.

I'll just educate her properly!

If she really dies due to you, it'd be an embarrassment for all of us.

Liang Yi, let me go!

Let me go!

I'll spare you today for now!

Just you wait and see!

If you dare cross me again, I won't let you see a full corpse!

My lord! My lord, please don't be angry.

- I will teach her a lesson. - Sister, are you all right?

- Did Lord Liang hurt you? - What are you doing? Go back to work!

Everyone, disperse!

Lord Liang said

our father was framed for corruption?

Then can we beg him to save our father?

Though he withdrew his marriage to you,

he was caught in this, too.

So he pretends to have a fallout with us.

For now, I fear we can't rely on him to clear Father's name.

There's one more thing.

I've pondered it lately.

I was wrong about our mother's passing.

She died of illness.

I refused to face reality

and wronged Father and Old Madam.

Elder Sister.

You finally came to your senses.

I knew it.

Father and Old Madam

definitely would not have just watched Mother pass away like that.

It's just that you understand

they will never return again.

Elder Sister!

Don't cry.

Pull yourself together.

[Zhaoji Horses and Carriages]

[Cuiwen Store]

Young Master Qin.

You have half an incense stick's time (half an hour). Please don't delay it.

Thank you.

You've suffered.

This is nothing.

Compared to beatings I got as a child,

Madam Wang is not as scary.

I spent money to gather information about Uncle Qiu's case,

but I've got nothing so far.

But don't worry.

whatever the outcome for Uncle Qiu's case, I'll take you away with me.

I've already made up my mind.

When this is all over,

I'll pay for your deed.

You, me, Qiu Min and Madam Liu, we'll all go to Yuezhou.

You grew up there, right?

- We can open up a bookstore there- - Qin Xuan.

I didn't come here today to listen to your future plans.

I'm not leaving with you.

From now on,

don't come looking for me again.

But why?

I don't want to suffer with you in a poor backcountry.

I approached you back then

since I wanted to be a lady of Duke Ying Manor.

But now, I've no chance to marry into Duke Ying Manor.

You want me to elope with you and become a lowly merchant;

don't you find it laughable?

How is Royal Academy any different?

Those who come here have power and status.

With my insight and capability, I can quickly find a good husband.

I can be a pampered concubine in a life of luxury.

♫ Waiting for you to dress up for the day we are connected together ♫

I know you are not like that.

This is when you need me most. Why do you say such things?

Believe whatever you want.

Don't forget what Liang Yi said to you back then.

I hate him

because he saw right through me.

♫ Accompanying you to see the dazzling lights ♫

Okay.

If you really were so heartless,

you could lie to me to the end and find yourself more lovers.

But before you find the right man,

allow me to keep you safe.

♫ I’ll draw your eyebrows with indigo flower powder until we grow old ♫

What you said was full of flaws.

If you had no feelings for me whatsoever,

you should have severed all ties with me.

But you asked me out

since you couldn't bear it and wanted to see me again, right?

Young Master Qin, you have quite the wishful thinking.

The fate between us is at its end.

A sincere heart is something I've never had before.

♫ As we join hands for a lifetime together ♫

♫ Never changing ♫

♫ Meeting you when I was young, I already settled my heart on you ♫

♫ I can only wish to lay on the same pillow with you ♫

♫ I’ll draw your eyebrows with indigo flower powder until we grow old ♫

♫ For ten miles, the spring breeze is gentle as we gaze lovingly at each other ♫

♫ Never ending ♫

♫ As we join hands for a lifetime together ♫

♫ Never changing ♫

It's the first I've seen one push her patron away.

I quite admire you having a backbone.

But from now on,

don't blame me if you get mistreated.

Let's hurry back now.

Quickly follow, hurry up!

Master Wang, where are you taking us?

You bunch, get up. No need to do that job anymore.

From now on, they will clean the toilet buckets instead.

- Thank you, Master Wang. - Thank you, Master Wang.

All right, go now. Go do something else. Go on.

Every dog has his day. It's your turn now.

I can enjoy this fortune today.

This...

Master Wang! Master Wang!

I'm good at washing clothes,

especially those expensive fabrics.

I never do damage when I wash them.

Let me return to washing clothes.

Stop complaining.

Laundry duty?

What else do you want to do?

How about a trip to Heaven?

Hurry to scrub the toilet buckets!

It stinks here. There's no end to this.

My lord, Young Master Qin wants to see you.

Leave us.

How can I help you?

When you arrested Qiu Yan and Qiu Min, I got angry and was rude to you.

Don't take it to heart.

I thought about it afterward.

You could do only that in your position.

You had no choice.

Did you specially come to apologize?

Not really.

I came since you're a jury in Uncle Qiu's case; I want to ask you something.

What is happening with the case?

What are the charges? Are they severe?

It's an imperial investigation. Don't ask.

No one else is here besides us.

Can you leak me some information?

No.

Liang Yi, consider it as my begging you!

Qiu Yan saw me yesterday, wanting to end everything with me.

I know she did it to not implicate me.

But I am a grown man; how can I just watch and do nothing while the woman I love suffers?

We need to get her out of Royal Academy as soon as possible.

Liang Yi, we've known each other for years.

Treat it as helping me.

Can you?

Then what plan do you have in mind?

I already spent some money and pulled some strings.

I haven't devised a plan to save him yet.

You have many ideas and good martial arts. Even if you must bust him out, you can.

"Bust him out"?

His Majesty ordered the perpetrator arrested.

Firewood Office captured him, and now you want me to bust him out?

Qin Xuan, considering you are my friend,

I'll pretend you never said that today.

But if you dare to think that again, I'll immediately arrest you.

Are you really unwilling to help?

Qiu Min was your fiancee!

I already withdrew the marriage with the Qiu family.

Otherwise, how would His Majesty let me investigate my in-laws?

If I bent the laws for my benefit, my position at Firewood Office would have long been replaced.

After all this talk, your black gauze cap (of imperial officials) is more important.

Liang Yi.

Over the years, I watched you become more cold, selfish, inconsiderate and hard to approach.

I defended you and had hopes for you.

But now, it seems

I was wrong about you.

In your eyes, the Firewood Office chair is more important than anything!

I should never have called you a friend.

Then I congratulate you for finally seeing the true me.

Fine.

From now on,

you and I are no longer friends.

My lord. Why didn't you tell Young Master Qin our current predicament?

That's between Yuan Lang and me.

He deals with problems by killing them.

It's best for Qin Xuan to know nothing.

How will you save Miss Qiu?

Yuan Lang failed to convict Qiu Yi so he waits for me to react.

Qin Xuan doesn't know only by defeating Yuan Lang can we save the Qiu family.

Misses Qiu Min and Qiu Yan will suffer a bit.

I don't know of the others, but Qiu Yan won't let herself suffer.

Thanks.

We ran out of buns.

These buns are for stray cats in the backyard.

Take them away.

Second Sister, aren't you tired from all the work?

Do you need me to share some food with you?

Thank you, Younger Sister.

Don't you have any shame?

Don't get smug. Master Wang trusts me the most right now.

And you've lost favor with Madam Wang.

If you want to have a better life, you must beg me.

Godmother! Godmother, what brings you here?

- Madam Wang. - Greetings, Madam Wang.

Who cleaned the toilet buckets today?

Her.

Why does the new toilet bucket delivered to my room reek of stench?

You worthless brat!

I gave you only a little task, and now you're giving me trouble!

Don't worry, Godmother. I'll teach this brat a lesson.

Madam Wang.

I've noticed lately there is blood in your toilet bucket.

I dared to guess you suffer from... hemorrhoids and constipation.

I have a prescription that works wonders.

Your body is so delicate, you can't apply it directly on the skin.

I coated the toilet bucket so you can absorb the medicinal effect whenever you use it and recover.

How thoughtful of you.

You're the pillar who supports us.

Only when you're well, can we be well, too.

She's quite a smart, witty girl.

As of tomorrow, you don't need to clean toilet buckets anymore.

You'll serve the forecourt ladies.

Thank you, Madam Wang.

But Godmother, this brat is too cunning.

She deserves to clean toilet buckets two more days.

My girl is indeed smart.

Second Sister, when did you learn medical skills?

How would I know any medical skills?

But it's true Madam Wang has hemorrhoids.

Having that sickness, I bet it's embarrassing to tell the physician.

So I just made up the prescription.

She wouldn't go confirm it anyway.

My Yan is smart.

Even though we'll be forecourt servants, it's better than cleaning toilet buckets.

If you end up catching the eye of some Young Master, then-

You're never satisfied with what you have.

I advise you to know your place and stop making me angry!

I said I don't want to see anyone!

Miss Shi, it's me, Qiu Yan.

Madam Wang sent me to serve you.

Come in.

Yes.

I thought Madam Wang came to persuade me to meet that Baron Zhang again.

Miss Shi, you're a delicate lady.

Don't be upset over that useless man.

"Delicate"?

I'm just duckweed drifting along the tide.

If that's the case, who cares if it's Baron Zhang or Baron Li?

Just meet them all. Why offend the madam?

You're a sensible person.

If you stay by my side, I'll keep you safe.

I am here to serve you, Miss Shi.

I won't cause you any trouble.

So you won't need to protect me.

You're not humble nor arrogant.

I like your temperament.

I'll leave all the work here in your hands.

Thank you, Miss.

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.]