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 32]

My lord.

Yao Gai and Shi Xiao Xiao have been buried right next to Song Jin's tomb.

Liang Yi's hunters are all trained assassins,

elusive and cruel.

It seems the mastermind behind this isn't a political rival of his.

My lord, if you have suspicions, I can investigate further.

Good.

My lord, Liang Yi is here to turn himself in.

[Main Administrative Office]

My lord.

Official Yuan, the wanted criminal, Liang Yi, escaped in panic with his concubine, Su Yi Wan.

Now, I have captured and returned them

for you to deal with, Official.

We have told you all we know.

Now, you should finally realize this struggle is no longer just an inner rivalry between you two officials.

Rather, it's a conflict between the countries of Dashuo and Northern Liang.

Based on what you said,

Northern Liang spies want to eliminate Liang Yi;

they fear he will reveal Noble Consort's bloodline secret.

But something doesn't add up.

Liang Yi, before Imperial Physician Zhan sent for you, the mastermind behind this already contacted me.

Physician Zhan's dying words weren't the reason to eliminate you.

Rather, it was bait to lure you into a trap.

You were their target from the very start.

There's only one reason left why Northern Liang spies want to kill me.

They want to stop me from launching military reform

within Dashuo's Northern Army.

You're able to describe collusion and conspiracy in such dignified ways.

It's true I collaborated with different parties in secret.

But I'm uniting different forces in Imperial Court

to reform Dashuo's heavy military budget and increase its military power.

Northern Liang and Dashuo were wrestling each other many years in secret.

A war will break out sooner or later.

We have to be prepared.

So for all these years, were you sacrificing yourself for the greater good?

I don't ask for your trust.

I only wish you would realize what's at stake.

Getting rid of Northern Liang spies should be the priority.

And we need to hide this from His Majesty. We'll act first and explain later.

We all know the crown prince was always a wise, virtuous man.

He will surely be a fine ruler in the future.

But as soon as His Majesty knows Crown Prince is half Northern Liang,

his title will be revoked at best. At worst, he will die.

In that case, if I work with you,

I an accomplice to escaped fugitives, but also I'll commit crime of deceiving the emperor?

You're a loyal minister, Official Yuan.

I'm sure you'll prioritize Dashuo's needs.

Considering our complicated past,

the fact you think you can mention prioritizing the country

to convince me to join you

is too naive.

Yuan Lang.

We have fought for so long.

Let me ask you this.

Why must you get rid of me?

Because I cannot bear watching Dashuo's court

fall into the hands of unscrupulous officials like you!

Well said.

In order to fight with me,

you framed the Qiu family and killed Song Jin.

It's true I would love to kill you personally.

But after all, this grudge is between us.

Brothers argue, but they fight an enemy together.

As you said, our positions are different, but we do it all for Dashuo!

Qiu Yan and I took the risk to turn ourselves in today as we're willing to bet, though you thirst for power,

you're still a patriotic person!

Yuan Lang, we're trying so hard to convince you.

But do you still insist on being stubborn?

Since you all think so highly of me, I won't disappoint your trust.

Yuan Lang, we must raid Northern Liang merchants' storage immediately.

Before the operation, there's one more thing to do.

We must get rid of the snitch in Main Administrative Office.

What do you mean?

Previously, when you asked Shi Xiao Xiao

to lure me out of Ministry of War's jurisdiction,

those Northern Liang assassins lay in wait a long time.

Someone in Main Administrative Office is their spy.

This time, we surrendered so publicly

to make that snitch see.

If he sees us discussing privately,

he'll definitely spread the news as soon as possible.

Now, we just need to wait and see, closely monitoring

who will find a chance to sneak out of Main Administrative Office.

That person will be the snitch in your office.

[Main Administrative Office]

Lord Liang is now a witness in Main Administrative Office

and will assist us in the investigation.

If he has any orders in the next few days, follow them.

Yes!

Is everyone here?

My lord, one is absent.

It's Old Wang, who holds the torture device keys.

- Where did he go? - He's a mute so we didn't ask.

This is Old Wang's abode.

- Search this place. - Yes!

It's in Northern Liang's language.

That Old Wang usually looks like an honest man.

I didn't realize he concealed himself so deeply.

My lord.

Old Wang was captured per your order.

He's outside now.

Come.

Give him a brush and paper.

Make him confess all his espionage.

Yes!

My lord, Old Wang is illiterate.

He is indeed mute, but his illiteracy is fake.

If you keep pretending, you will have only torture awaiting.

Someone, come!

Take him away and interrogate him!

Yes!

Get up.

Come.

Wait.

What?

We just met Old Wang.

At the time, in order to find a key,

he needed to hold the bundle of keys this far away to identify it.

This shows he has bad eyesight.

He needs to hold something far away to see it clearly.

So how could he write in such tiny handwriting?

He is not the Northern Liang spy.

Instead, someone framed him.

In that case, that spy sure is capable.

Not only could he find our plan in advance, but he also improvised

to frame Old Wang, who cannot defend himself.

I have an idea, but I need your help, Official Yuan.

How can I help?

You can claim Main Administrative Office fights eye for an eye

and send a secret agent to Northern Liang.

Then by saying you want the person with the best handwriting,

you'll ask all to copy this note.

We just have to find the person with similar handwriting.

I'll arrange it now.

Official, all copies are here.

Are these everyone's?

Yes.

I think one person is missing.

Impossible. I did a headcount.

You haven't written yet.

Everyone has to do it without exception.

Right, Jiang Yun.

Go write a copy as well.

Yes.

Stop writing.

Stop pretending.

You've already exposed yourself.

I said "stop" in Northern Liang's language just now.

You understood it.

I don't know what you're saying.

Those who don't understand the Northern Liang language would look at me out of curiosity.

Only those who understand Northern Liang would purposely avoid it

and subconsciously stifle their curiosity.

Jiang Yun.

Only a person wearing a mask a long time

would suppress instincts at every given moment.

I was too focused just now so I didn't react in time.

Liang Yi, do you want to frame me just through this? That's too ridiculous.

Official.

Looks like Liang Yi and that woman are, as expected, up to no good.

They are trying to sow discord between us.

That alone is not enough, of course.

The real proof is actually in this paper.

Imitating handwriting is just a cover.

The real trap comes after.

I will copy this letter first.

I'm sure with my technique, even the spy won't tell the difference.

I will modify one character slightly.

I'll change the Horizontal here to a Throw (character strokes).

People who don't know Northern Liang characters will only

imitate the model exactly. Naturally, they will write it as a "Throw."

But the spy, who actually knows Northern Liang characters,

will be so focused on preventing handwriting similarity,

and he will think it's the copy he wrote himself.

So he won't examine it very closely.

He will naturally place a "Horizontal" here out of habit.

This stroke here.

Do you have anything else you want to quibble about?

Come!

Jiang Yun.

Was it you?

You worked for me so many years.

Why?

Why did you do this?

Put him in jail.

Yes!

Speak.

Confess now! Confess now!

You disguised yourself as a Dashuo person and spied many years.

Due to our shared history, I'll be a bit more lenient on you.

Come clean immediately.

Kill me!

Do you want to die and be a national hero?

You know what Main Administrative Office is capable of.

I will use every torture method on you once today.

I confess! I confess!

I confess.

This spot west of the city is Northern Liang's hideout.

My lord, Miss Qiu Min is here.

Cousin.

Why are you here?

I... I went to Ministry of War to find you, and people there

said Official Yuan of Main Administrative Office required your assistance for a few days.

I worried he might make things hard on you so I rushed here.

I have urgent business here in Main Administrative Office.

Please return home.

Is Older Sister here, too?

It's a complicated matter.

I'll explain to you later.

Wherever she is, you will be there, too.

She can help you with every case.

Why can't I?

Qiu Min.

Northern Liang assassins normally hide within civilian buildings.

There are not many of them,

but these assassins are well-trained and can fight multiple enemies at once.

We can win this only through wits, not force.

Firewood Office has a colorless, odorless sleeping gas.

It makes the target lose consciousness right away.

With our people and this gas, it shouldn't be a problem.

However, Firewood Office was raided.

I have no idea where those things went.

Everything from Firewood Office is in our storeroom.

Raiding Firewood Office sure enriches Main Administrative Office's reserves.

Without you and Firewood Office, these new gadgets

would be given to Main Administrative Office anyway.

They merely came back to their original master.

What time is it to be bickering?

Everyone, I still have one concern.

The residential area by the west is highly populated.

If those ruthless killers are forced into a desperate move

and seize our Dashuo commoners as hostages,

it makes the matter more complicated.

We need to find a way to evacuate the civilians

while also not alerting the Northern Liang assassins.

The people living in the west of the city are impoverished and come from all trades.

We can post a notice on the street

that the government gives emergency relief to poor commoners

and will hand out free rice per capita.

Then all residential area members will go.

Good thinking.

All right.

Let's do it then.

Qiu Yan.

Stay here and wait for me.

All right. Rest assured.

Line up properly.

Two lines.

Don't shove.

There's enough for everyone.

Come. Line up properly.

Come.

Make two lines. Queue properly.

Don't shove, don't shove.

Hurry and claim free rice!

If you're slow, you won't get any! Hurry!

There won't be any if you're slow!

You two, leave from the east.

Yes.

You three, leave from the north.

Yes.

Why do you pressure Qin Xuan so hard

that you've followed him here?

Sister, you put it so lightly.

If I don't come here, how can I see him?

Did you ever see Mother

go to Ministry of Works day after day in search of Father?

In the public eye, it's inappropriate for him to avoid you directly,

but your eagerness will backfire.

Why not give him more time to accept you gradually?

When it comes to romance, I'm not as calculated or understand as much as you.

I'm trying to help you!

I don't need your help.

Where are you going?

I don't want to be in the same room with you, all right?

What are you doing?

Don't worry. I am an efficient killer.

Did you purposely let us capture you?

Using Old Wang as scapegoat had many pitfalls so I prepared to be exposed.

What?

You're allowed to fight fire with fire, but can't I?

What about Liang Yi and the others?

What will you do to them?

Those who know our secret must all die.

If you despise her this much, why do you keep imitating her?

Weren't you trying to copy her the day you analyzed the case for me?

Sadly, you're inferior to her.

You can never be like her, no matter how much you imitate her.

Qiu Min.

Min'er.

Qiu Min. Min'er.

Min'er.

[Main Administrative Office]

Min'er.

[Main Administrative Office]

I thought something bad happened to you, too.

- Thank goodness. - Sister.

What happened?

Jiang Yun escaped from prison.

They were countering our actions all along.

An ambush was set in place at the hideout Jiang Yun told us.

Cousin is still there. We must save him.

We can't.

We don't have any manpower now.

Then...

Then what do we do?

Think quickly!

You ruthless killers!

Won't you surrender at once?

Take them down!

Report, one Northern Liang spy is still alive.

- Bring him back for questioning. - Yes!

Take him away!

Official Yuan, why is Liang Yi here?

The goddess told me this was a hideout where they made counterfeit money.

Yet I found no objects relevant to counterfeit notes in the house.

What exactly is happening?

Wanted criminal, Liang Yi, is now a criminal under the Main Administrative Office assisting us in the investigation.

This is a grave matter. Later, I will submit a memorandum to His Majesty to explain it all.

For now, just pretend you are unaware of this.

I will naturally compensate you for this, Official Tong.

How did you know we were ambushed?

It was all part of Jiang Yun's plan.

Northern Liang assassins would lie in wait here to ambush while he

already prepared escape from Main Administrative Office prison.

As soon as you all left, he would silence me.

Did Jiang Yun plan to kill you?

Then are you injured?

Let me check.

Thank goodness.

Where is Jiang Yun then?

He's dead.

I killed him.

It's all my fault for being deceived by Jiang Yun to come here.

I left you in Main Administrative Office.

I'm sorry.

It's not your fault.

The Northern Liangs are too cunning.

Does it hurt, Cousin?

It's fine.

Thank you.

My lord, you're finally back.

I returned to Main Administrative Office after distributing rice, but I didn't see Qiu Yan and Qiu Min.

Then I heard Jiang Yun escaped, and you were ambushed.

I was worried sick.

Where is Lord Liang?

That man confessed.

Northern Liang's plan to reveal Her Highness' indenture contract

after Crown Prince ascends the throne was to release news that he

is a Northern Liang, in order to incite feudal lords to rebel against the new Emperor.

When Dashuo is rife with in-fighting,

Northern Liang will take advantage and invade.

A huge crisis awaits Dashuo.

The key to their plan is that indenture contract.

The good news is the contract is still held by the snitch in Imperial Palace.

Then if we can find him, we find the indenture contract.

What the spy did already revealed his identity.

If he could hide the evidence in the memorandum

and design a way for Noble Consort to see it,

he must be someone His Majesty trusts deeply with access to memorandums.

The men His Majesty trusts most are Grand Preceptor, Imperial Commander Yan, and Eunuch Liu.

Whenever His Majesty reads memorandums, he always allows their presence.

In other words, it's one of them.

Also, since it's just one-way communication,

that person still doesn't know the assassins' hideout was dismantled.

In that case, I have an idea.

Although they can read the memorandums, their positions are different.

The time and place where they handle the memorandums will vary.

If we can let them see different memorandums, they will disseminate different messages.

We can then use this to identify the snitch in the Imperial Palace.

To make the snitch from Northern Liang circulate info, we must create bait he cannot resist.

I will submit three memorandums.

All contain a suggestion to His Majesty to send a secret agent to Northern Liang.

I will attach a list of candidates so the three memorandums contain three different lists.

Then I'll submit two of them to Noble Consort in advance.

Her Highness must work with us and bribe the eunuch in charge of delivering memorandums to His Majesty.

The first memorandum will be submitted to the palace alongside other memorandums from the ministers.

Eunuch Liu organizes the memorandums in order of importance inside His Majesty's Imperial Study.

The bribed eunuch will replace the first memorandum with the second before Liu enters the Imperial Study.

After receiving the memorandums, the bribed eunuch will hand them to Imperial Commander Yan for checking.

The bribed eunuch will use the third memorandum to replace the second before he enters the temple.

Grand Preceptor will read the memorandums out loud to His Majesty.

That way, these three individuals will come in contact with three different memorandums.

We just have to wait for the spy to release the carrier pigeon.

[Memorandum]

"Your Majesty, profit is important for the friendship of two nations."

"Northern Liang merchants often travel to the capital to trade."

"Today, I discovered a group of Northern Liangs..."

Everyone is asleep.

Why are you awake?

You are also awake.

Let me keep you company for a while.

Let's sit.

In the Royal Academy,

you told me

that after a person died,

they would become stars in the sky

that illuminate the living souls on the ground.

Tell me.

Will Song Jin forgive me for the decision

I have made today?

Song Jin grew up with you.

He certainly understands what you're trying to achieve.

I believe Mother and Father will understand my decision, too.

What?

You can kiss me, but can't I kiss you?

When I was chased by Jiang Yun,

I thought I would surely die there.

At that moment, I really regretted

that I never once took the initiative to kiss you.

The carrier pigeon is here.

Qin Xuan.

[For Eunuch Liu, Grand Preceptor, and Imperial Commander Yan respectively]

It's Imperial Commander Yan.

[Map of Luojing]

If we want to arrest Imperial Commander Yan secretly, we must find a way to get rid of his guards.

Otherwise, we aren't guaranteed success. Instead, we might alert the enemy.

We need to find a way to lure him out alone.

I'll do it.

Official Yuan, you worked with the Northern Liangs before.

If you go to him rashly, it'll raise his suspicions.

Liang Yi, you're a fugitive now so you can't go, either.

Are you sure you can do it?

Cousin! Cousin, wait for me.

Cousin.

Carry this pouch with you.

You're facing a Northern Liang spy this time.

There's a safety charm inside, just for peace of mind.

If I die, it may be my release.

Be careful.

I'll wait for your news at Main Administrative Office.

Come with me.

Why would I go?

I left you alone in Main Administrative Office last time, and you almost lost your life.

That kind of thing can never happen again.

From now on, no matter what, you must be in my view.

Let's go.

Imperial Commander Yan.

Young Master Qin.

Imperial Commander Yan, a conflict broke out between Ministry of War and Imperial Guards.

The Ministry of War is in huge chaos now.

I fear it might snowball bigger. If His Majesty finds out, it will be troublesome.

Please, Imperial Commander, will you go control the situation?

Go first. I'll come later.

Yes!

Why did they fight?

It was just a misunderstanding.

Ministry of War had a budget cut this month so they couldn't give good equipment to the Imperial Guards.

Imperial Guards weren't aware of this reason and thought Ministry of War embezzled the money.

The Imperial Guard in charge of logistics caused a scene in a fit of anger at Ministry of War.

As soon as the two parties met, they started fighting due to a single disagreement.

Here, please, Imperial Commander Yan.

Young Master Qin, who is the leader of Imperial Guards?

They didn't give us a name.

They just said he was in charge of logistics.

But the one in charge of logistics was convalescing at home recently.

Perhaps I misheard.

What does he look like then?

Like a brute, nothing special.

You brat! Where are you taking me?

Who are you?

Let go of me!

Liang Yi!

Pardon me, Imperial Commander Yan.

What do you want?

I will report this to His Majesty, and you will all pay dearly!

Yuan Lang, are you colluding with traitors now?

Do you also want to betray your country?

We already know what you're up to.

Stop pretending.

What do you mean?

Imperial Commander Yan, you're the Northern Liang spy.

What Northern Liang? What spy?

I see you've all gone crazy!

This morning, a carrier pigeon was sent to the Northern Liang spy hideout.

It was Official Yuan's proposed list of secret agent Dashuo candidates to place in Northern Liang.

Other than us, only you saw this list.

If you're not the Northern Liang spy, how did Northern Liang get this info?

Nonsense.

I have no idea what secret agent list you're talking about!

It's no use, no matter how you deny it.

If you won't confess, I'll bring you back to Main Administrative Office. I have methods to make you tell the truth.

Wait.

You said you received a carrier pigeon this morning.

But I was in Imperial Guards Camp last night. I never went back home.

This morning, I came to the palace directly from the camp.

I was escorted by guards the whole way.

Where would I get a chance to send a carrier pigeon?

If you don't trust me, verify it with the Imperial Guards Camp.

While you're at it, see

if my Imperial Guards camp even has a place to raise pigeons!

Are we really mistaken?

If he's not the spy, then the spy is either Eunuch Liu or Grand Preceptor.

One of them saw through our plan and framed Imperial Commander Yan.

That's not right.

If the person saw through our plan and knew we seek the spy,

the best way to hide is to stay put and not send out any info.

Sending out info confirms the spy is one of those three.

Framing Imperial Commander Yan would reveal the situation too quickly.

One less person would be on the suspect list so he would expose himself even further.

If doing this wouldn't ease suspicions on him, why would he do it?

Imperial Commander Yan.

What is on Eunuch Liu's and Grand Preceptor's itinerary today?

Apologies for the offensiveness of our actions today, Imperial Commander Yan.

But this matter concerns His Majesty's safety; I ask for your understanding.

Last night, Grand Preceptor said he managed to concoct a new pill.

He invited His Majesty over to follow the ritual and consume it.

This morning, Grand Preceptor and Eunuch Liu escorted His Majesty to the Chinese alchemy room.

Could the Grand Preceptor wish to harm His Majesty?

The Northern Liangs can only execute their plan after His Majesty's demise.

Now the snitch knows he's about to be exposed, he's surely executing the plan preemptively.

So the Chinese alchemy room is the trap prepared for His Majesty.

Hurry!

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.]