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(Flourished Peony)

(Episode 22)

Young Master says the mountain is secluded,

making it the perfect place to avoid prying eyes.

Sui Zhi is always so meticulous.

- Sui Zhi. - Qing.

Who is that?

Cheng Qing.

It's been a long time.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Come.

He's out in disguise.

Out here,

he is San Lang.

The regent of Luoyang conspired with subordinate officials

to seize farmland and bribed the Ministry of Revenue

to falsify records.

I've identified the occupied farmland plots

and documented them.

I've also cross-referenced tax and labor records.

I've obtained all the evidence of the Chen family's schemes.

Years ago,

you were demoted

and sent to Luoyang

as a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue.

But to me,

you've always been my Vice Censor-in-Chief.

You've endured three years of suppression, never neglecting your duties,

and now you've uncovered every detail of Luoyang's corrupt bureaucracy.

You have my deepest gratitude.

Your Majesty,

though I bring this report alone today,

the credit does not belong solely to me.

While the Chen family and other noble clans dominate the Luoyang court,

there are still many loyal and dedicated officials

working in the shadows and remaining loyal to the nation.

Record their names for me.

Their service will be rewarded.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Back when we studied together under Master Xu,

you even dared to argue with San Lang.

After three years apart,

you've grown distant.

You've walked all this way through the mountains. Aren't you thirsty?

Sit down and have some tea.

Just to mislead King Ning,

we had to send Cheng Qing here

to endure such isolation and cold treatment.

It was an unfair burden on him.

Serving the nation and the emperor,

how could that be called a burden?

Your Majesty...

San Lang,

you're the one who's had it hard as you have to

put on an act every day in Chang'an.

I've been acting every day too.

Why don't I get any sympathy?

Even when you were His Highness's study companion,

you were wild and untamed in temperament and actions.

Who else but you could pull off the role

of the infamous Flower Bird Envoy?

No one would suspect you, and you get to enjoy yourself.

You really do understand Sui Zhi best.

The Chen family's ability

to extend their influence across the Six Ministries

relies entirely on King Ning's support.

Cui Mao revealed how the Chen family acted as intermediaries,

helping King Ning buy and sell official positions.

Most of the money and land they embezzled

were also gifted to King Ning.

To take down King Ning,

we must first dismantle the Chen family.

The heavier the Chen family's influence,

the more carefully we must tread.

We have to wait for the right opportunity to take them all down,

leaving no chance for King Ning to manipulate or overturn the situation.

Official Chen is blinded by greed and knows no restraint.

The Ministry of Revenue is enabling this disaster to grow unchecked.

It may not be long before our opportunity

comes to take them all down.

I've come to encourage and inspire all of you scholars.

With the new reforms in place,

I await the day when you achieve great success,

make your mark,

and bring prosperity and stability to the nation.

Yes, Your Majesty!

So your sister used to be a maid who prepared writing tools.

That's how she taught you to read and write.

I spend most of my time working with flowers and herbs,

so how about I teach you something else?

Look here.

This.

This is called shepherd's purse.

Yes.

That one in there is called lamb's quarters.

Both of these are edible.

We can use them to fill our stomachs when we're in need.

But the soldiers often come to the back mountain.

So, we have to stay alert here.

Come, take a look.

See these yellow ones?

They're called buttercups.

There are some over there too.

They may look like water celery,

but the entire plant is toxic and not edible.

If you eat it,

it'll upset your stomach and cause blisters.

Got it?

Now over here.

This is called pea shoots.

You can make a sound by blowing through it.

Like this.

If you blow on this,

I'll know you're calling me.

Give it a try.

Draw arrows!

Nock!

Pull!

Release!

Archery inspections are held every five days

to ensure you train diligently and sharpen your accuracy.

What have you all been doing?

There's not even a single blister on your hands.

How can you expect to shoot well?

And how will you fight on the battlefield?

Bring them forward!

Since you can't focus on shooting at straw targets...

- Walk! - Let's see how you do with real people standing beside them.

Faster!

Either

you become brave warriors who can hit the mark,

or

You turn into murderers who spill innocent blood.

Hurry up! Stand still!

Shoot!

If you don't, you're stripped of your rank and banished from the camp!

Ready!

Draw arrows!

Nock!

Pull!

Pull!

Release!

Are you alright?

Let me see.

Hang in there.

Soldiers are meant to protect the nation and its people!

Yet here you are,

slaughtering the innocent instead!

I protect the free citizens of good standing.

But you?

You're nothing but slaves, worth no more than livestock.

Dying for military training

is an honor for wretches like you!

Is this how your sister died?

Take them away!

You're used to riding in carriages,

but today you're on horseback.

Take care of yourself.

If you get injured,

I'll have to come up with an excuse to appease your brother.

If you're that worried,

why don't you come along with me?

Just go.

What exactly is so important

that you need to stay an extra day to purchase it?

Surely it's not the brightest stars and moon of Luoyang you're after.

The moon here

doesn't belong to me.

- Keep His Majesty safe. - Yes, My Lord.

I can't believe they start playing without us.

Let's go.

When my father taught me how to identify herbs,

it was to save lives.

But since I've made my choice,

I won't regret it.

We can't live every day in fear of being shot.

And we can't let them keep treating human life like it's worthless.

My abilities are limited,

so this is the only plan I could come up with.

"Will

it

Work?"

It will.

Are you alright?

- What's going on? - General.

The new recruits snuck out for a midnight meal

and accidentally ate poisonous wild vegetables.

No wonder you can't improve your archery skills.

Turns out you've been spending your nights gambling and drinking.

Serves you right!

Prepare the medicine and save them now!

General, there are too many affected.

The supplies in the camp might not be enough.

Is anyone in pain?

The wild vegetables are poisonous!

Is anyone in pain?

The wild vegetables are poisonous!

Is anyone in pain?

The wild vegetables are poisonous!

Is anyone in pain?

The wild vegetables are poisonous!

Me...

I'm in pain.

Help me!

Here, come on.

The food rations in the camp aren't enough,

so I often forage for wild vegetables in the back mountain.

Tonight,

I noticed that a patch of buttercups had been dug up.

Worried that someone in the camp might have eaten them by mistake,

I quickly returned and prepared this medicinal soup.

You know medicine?

My family ran an apothecary,

so I know a little.

Shrubby sophora,

lycoris radiata leaves...

These are perfect for detoxifying and inducing vomiting.

Did you gather all this from the back mountain?

Yes.

Using what's available and choosing the right herbs,

this will greatly help them.

General!

General, help...

- Help them. - Yes, General.

General, help.

General, help.

Help me, General.

Feed them this.

Lady Healer, thank you for saving me.

I owe you

a debt of gratitude.

Don't mention it.

I remember you. You're a lowly slave.

You're putting in so much effort to save them,

it can't be out of kindness, right?

I do have selfish motives.

What exactly are you after?

I want to stay alive.

With your sharp insight,

I wouldn't dare hide anything.

When I saw the buttercups had been dug up,

my first thought

wasn't concern,

it was relief.

Relief that perhaps my life wasn't meant to end just yet,

that the heavens had given me another chance.

If I were to die for the sake of training soldiers for the nation,

I'd have no regrets.

But, General, you've seen it yourself,

the new recruits are undisciplined

and lack proper training.

I refuse to die

from a stray arrow.

I want to prove to you

that I can be more than a useless target.

I can do much more for you and the army.

I understand medicine and plants,

can read and write, and know how to keep accounts.

Please allow me and my sister

to work under the physician.

I promise to repay your kindness

with unwavering diligence.

General,

if they hadn't delivered the medicine in time,

all the new recruits' might have been struck

with illness, leaving us short-handed.

If the Ministry of War holds you accountable,

it won't look good.

I happen to need more help under my command.

These slaves do seem clever and resourceful.

Please grant their request.

Even the weakest of women

fight to survive in desperate times.

General Yuan,

we were wrong.

We shouldn't have been lazy and neglectful.

It has ended up hurting others

and ourselves.

General Yuan,

please grant her request.

Archery inspections will be put on hold for now.

Focus on on your recovery and learning the military discipline.

If anyone is caught slacking or skipping drills again,

- you will be executed! - Yes, sir!

As for your request...

Approved.

Thank you, General!

Here's your noodle.

This Zhang's noodle that Miss He recommended

doesn't look all that special.

Since we're here,

we might as well try a taste of her hometown delicacy.

Grab a bowl and join me.

Thank you, Young Master.

Boss, one bowl of your noodles, please.

You're out of luck today.

The last bowl was just bought by that young gentleman.

Young man, I will pay three times the price.

Will you let me have this bowl of noodles?

May I ask your reason?

My friend here has an insatiable appetite,

and without a good enough reason,

he won't give this up easily.

To be honest,

I had a daughter

who fled her husband's house after being mistreated.

She tragically fell off a cliff and died.

Her body was never recovered,

and her in-laws, indifferent as they were,

arranged a new marriage even before the mourning period was over.

I fear my daughter has become

a lonely soul with no one to remember her.

So, I wanted to buy some of her favorite foods to honor her memory,

including this noodles,

some flatbreads she loved,

and a flower hairpin her mother had chosen for her.

I only hope that in her next life,

she'll be born into a kind family,

marry a loving and compassionate husband,

and live a long and peaceful life surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Back in Luoyang, the roasted flatbread you gave me

also had a layer of honey brushed on top.

That's the He family's exclusive roasting method.

We don't usually share it with outsiders.

You're in for a real treat today.

The color of this flatbread is different from what other places sell.

Where did you get it?

It's not store-bought.

I made it myself.

This is our family's unique roasting method.

Before baking, I brush it with flower honey,

and after it's done, I brush another layer.

It gives it a caramelized and crisp flavor that's one of a kind.

We can give up the noodles,

but without them, we'll go hungry.

Will you trade a few pieces of your flatbread for the noodles?

Of course.

Thank you for letting me have the noodles.

My daughter is still waiting for me,

so I'll take my leave.

Sir.

Don't be disheartened.

Since her body hasn't been found,

she might have been saved by some wandering healer or adventurer.

Perhaps she's living a happy life in a hidden paradise somewhere.

If you stay strong

and live each day with an open heart,

who knows,

you might just reunite with her one day.

Thank you for your kind words.

If my daughter knew of this,

she would surely

be grateful to you as well.

Master He

just wanted his daughter to marry well and live in comfort.

If he knew what's become of Miss He now,

I wonder how he'd feel.

It's true that he loves his daughter,

but it's also true that he doesn't

understand her.

Grab the stuff and let's go.

Yes, Young Master.

It may hurt.

Hang in there.

Done.

You developed tetanus

after being struck by that arrow.

This is a wound medicine I managed to get from the physician.

Apply it several times a day,

and you'll recover soon.

The physician will go into the city to buy supplies the day after tomorrow.

I'll be going with him as his assistant.

When we're there, I'll find a way to contact my friends in Chang'an

and have them come to rescue us.

Young Master.

- Young Master. - How did it go?

The moment those officials hear the name of the Imperial Stable,

their expressions turn cold,

let alone agreeing to rescue someone from the military camp.

Qiu Shi.

Deliver this letter to the camp personally.

Tell Mu Dan that I'm working on a way to get her out,

and she must take care of herself.

When she's out,

I'll help her regain her free citizen status and marry her.

I'll protect her.

Tell her to wait for me.

Also,

this is a safety talisman I got at Mount Zhongnan.

Please give it to her along with the letter.

Yes, Young Master.

Tear up the letter and send it back to the Liu Residence.

I don't need to tell you what to say, do I?

Yes, Your Highness.

And about He Wei Fang...

Don't worry, Your Highness.

She will repay the pain you've suffered by a hundredfold.

Stop!

She hasn't done anything wrong! Why are you beating her?

This slave was acting suspiciously,

and she was found with wound medicine on her.

She must've stolen it.

Of course we have to beat her to death as warning to the others.

She didn't steal it!

That medicine was given to her by the military physician.

If you don't believe me, ask him yourself!

Don't be afraid.

I'll take you to the physician.

It's alright. I'll carry you there.

Come, I'll carry you to the physician.

Another one dead.

Carry them out and toss them later.

Why was this person beaten so badly?

What did she do wrong?

She did nothing wrong.

She never even knew her own name

or who her parents were.

From the time she could remember,

she was sold from place to place alongside her sister.

Because they offended someone powerful,

she was poisoned mute and thrown out of the estate.

When they were on the brink of starvation,

they were caught and sent to the authorities

simply for stealing a bowl of porridge.

That's how they ended up here.

What crime

is hunger?

What fault is there

in seeking medicine to heal?

It was this world that treated her unfairly.

She didn't deserve to wear the slave's rough cloth

and be left here

to rot in the wilderness.

I couldn't save her...

But at least I can cover her with my clothing

to give her one final shred of dignity.

We'll take the bodies out of the camp later.

You can come along

and send off your friend.

Thank you.

You're He Wei Fang, right?

The General has ordered

that there's a banquet in the camp today,

and the kitchen is short-staffed.

You're to report there immediately to help.

What do we have here? A lovely little beauty.

Now, missy,

stop working.

Come have some fun with us.

You're soldiers under General Yuan, aren't you?

Wandering off without permission, looks like you're drunk.

I'll go invite General Yuan here.

What's the rush?

Once we've had our fun,

we'll call him over to join us.

You're resisting?

Stay away!

Who are you?

Stop!

Jiang Chang Yang.

Thank you.

It can't be.

You're so cunning.

You wouldn't just...

My Lord,

this slave died a gruesome death.

She was gravely ill a few days ago.

Perhaps it's best not to sully yourself with the sight.

Hurry, hurry! Something's happened to the Lady Healer!

Go help her now!

Whoever dares to harm her,

I'll be the first to make them pay!

I can't breathe...

Help... Help me!

Can't breathe?

Cut open your throat, and you'll be able to breathe just fine!

Lady Healer,

are you all right?

I'm fine.

These soldiers saw that I was alone in the kitchen

and tried to take advantage of me.

Thankfully, karma struck.

They suddenly collapsed from paralysis, saving me from them.

Scoundrels!

How dare you lay a hand on Lady Healer!

Guys, beat them to death!

Let's see you try anything again after this!

You tried to take advantage of her?

You're dead meat!

Please stop!

Please stop! Please!

You're smiling?

If the heavens hadn't intervened

and struck them with paralysis,

you'd have died here.

When have the heavens ever intervened?

The only reason I'm alive to see you

is because someone risked their life to warn me.

He Wei Fang will be in the kitchen tonight.

General Yuan has ordered us to torture her to death.

We will get it done.

Who's there?

- Go after her! - Yes, sir!

Yuan...

After...

You.

Is the soup ready?

The soup is still cooking.

Why don't you serve the other dishes first?

Alright, hurry up then.

She was dying,

yet she still tried to warn me

with her last bit of strength.

And I will never be able

to repay her kindness and sacrifice.

Now that you're safe and sound,

her sacrifice

wasn't in vain.

But not everyone

can be safe like you.

He Wei Fang is my estate's gardener.

If you kill her,

who's going to tend to my flowers? You?

She was convicted and sent to my camp.

That makes her mine to command.

You're just a court entertainer.

You have no authority over military affairs,

let alone the right to punish me!

You said it yourself,

I'm just a court entertainer,

one favored by His Majesty.

So, I get to hit anyone I want to hit,

and kill anyone I want to kill.

I'm an officer,

and she's a slave.

I don't believe you'd dare kill me for her!

For her?

Oh no, I'm doing it for my flowers.

You really are bold, aren't you?

But tell me, how many generals are there in all of Chang'an?

And how many Flower Bird Envoys?

Who do you think your backers would choose to protect?

Is it you or a chance to gain favor with His Majesty?

General Yuan,

now you finally understand the fear

slaves live with every single day,

never knowing when a blade might pierce our throat

and end our lives in silence.

Now,

do you want to live,

or do you want to die?

I...

Live.

I want to live.

Why did you try to kill me?

He's promoted by King Ning himself.

Who else has the power

to command him?

Send him to the Ministry of War

and ask Minister Zhang how they're running things over there.

Negligent leadership, unchecked cruelty,

and he dared to defy even me.

Have they no respect for His Majesty now?

And if the Minister asks how he should be dealt with?

He's their man;

let them decide his fate.

But if I don't get some justice for this,

I might just take it up with His Majesty myself.

Yes, Young Master.

Take him away.

It was the county princess?

Are you surprised

that she would act against you?

She knows I have no interest in Liu Chang.

Why would she go so far as to try to kill me?

Perhaps Liu Chang did something again

that made her hate you.

Even if General Yuan was sent to the Ministry of War,

he won't admit he was acting under her orders,

will he?

Of course.

Unless he wants his entire family dead.

Whether it was Yu Lu

or the mute girl,

I couldn't hurt the true mastermind even a little.

Serving as a slave in the military

is already a near-death sentence,

yet you still managed to carve out a sliver of hope for yourself.

An ant is small

and can be easily crushed,

but if enough ants gather,

they can gnaw through even the highest tower.

I don't even know your name.

How will I honor your memory?

Remembering her

is the best way to honor her.

King Ning has controlled the Ministry of War for years.

I've been waiting for a chance to deal with this deep-rooted corruption.

News of me storming the camp to save a woman

will spread throughout Chang'an in no time.

Using you as a justification,

I get to cleanse the Ministry of War's filth

and appoint a just and capable officer to take charge.

It's only a shame

that I didn't arrive sooner

and couldn't save the mute girl's life.

But you've saved

the lives of the other slaves.

On their behalf, thank you.

All the pea pods are here.

May your next life

be filled with abundant food

and a voice that resonates far and wide.

Jiang Chang Yang.

H-how did you know I was in the camp?

Did you hear it from Da Fu after you went back?

How are they doing?

I didn't even have time to return home.

Teacher told Miss Yun to deliver a letter to me.

Even in the middle of your own crisis,

you thought to warn him to escape

and didn't reveal anything about Wanguan Hall in court.

Of course they're grateful to you.

Miss Yun found out it was the county princess who orchestrated this,

so she knew saving you wouldn't be easy.

Teacher wrote to me and urged me to return as quickly as possible.

He said that if I couldn't save your life,

I shouldn't bother going back to see him.

Please thank Lord Xu and Miss Yun for me.

I pushed two horses to their limits to get here.

Aren't you going to thank me?

Thank you, Lord Jiang.

With your thanks,

my trip here wasn't in vain.

You've seen me off far enough.

I'm leaving now.

Lord Jiang.

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