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 33]

[Hongzhen Holy Palace]

I have come to save His Majesty! [Hongzhen Holy Palace]

Those who dare stop me shall be shown no mercy!

The time has come, Your Majesty.

The heavenly pill is finally complete.

Why does it have a bit of a pungent smell?

Your Majesty, as they say, good health medicine tastes bitter to the mouth.

The same applies to the pill.

The heavenly pill consists of the world's wonders.

Naturally, it has an extraordinary taste.

Your Majesty, I've tested the pill.

There is nothing unusual about it. Please rest assured.

You are right, Grand Preceptor.

If it can indeed prolong one's life,

it is all right even with a bit of odd taste.

You greatly contribute by concocting this pill.

Let's do it the usual way.

I will take one.

You will take one.

May we both achieve longevity at the same time.

I thank Your Majesty's graciousness.

Be careful, Your Majesty! The pill is poisonous!

That man is a Northern Liang spy! Quickly protect His Majesty!

- Hurry! Protect His Majesty! - Your Majesty, I am innocent!

- Don't slander me! - Quickly protect His Majesty!

I am innocent, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, I am innocent!

You...

He is dead.

Liang Yi, why are you here?

What is the meaning of this, Official Yuan?

Your Majesty, Liang Yi surrendered himself

with intel of Northern Liang's plot to assassinate Your Majesty.

I will explain the details to Your Majesty back at the royal palace.

Since Your Majesty has taken the Grand Preceptor's poison,

you must quickly return to the palace to get treated by the Imperial Physician.

Take me back to the palace!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Return to the palace instantly!

Search Grand Preceptor's room at once.

We must find the indenture contract.

Let's go.

What are you thinking?

I keep feeling something is off.

How so?

I can't figure out

how Grand Preceptor guessed our plans with the three lists.

How do you feel, Your Majesty?

My head feels dizzy.

My shoulders are sore.

My legs hurt too.

I feel...

I feel uncomfortable all over.

But the imperial physicians just said

Your Majesty's pulse is normal.

Could it be the half of the pill you consumed did you no harm?

The Grand Preceptor died tragically.

How could I be fine?

Your Majesty.

I heard Northern Liang is very crafty with their poisons.

Some poisons won't show clear signs even days after ingestion,

but in fact, the poison already seeped into the muscles.

Where's the emetic (induce vomit) soup?

Where's the emetic soup?

It is on the way. It will be here right away.

If you delay the treatment, beheading a hundred of your heads won't even be enough!

Your Highness, I'll go and check on it.

- Hurry up and go! - All of you are dismissed.

Are you all right?

Your Majesty.

We can be certain

that the spy within the palace is among Eunuch Liu,

Imperial Commander Yan, and the Grand Preceptor.

But what if there is more

than one spy among them?

I couldn't figure it out before.

Official Yuan's three memorandum plan was highly devised and staged.

So how did the spy see through it?

No matter how I think about it,

there is only one possibility how three memorandums were discerned.

There were two spies.

The two compared their memorandums.

It's Eunuch Liu.

- Eunuch Liu. - Eunuch Liu.

That is odd.

Grand Preceptor vomited blood and died moments after ingesting poison.

But nothing happened to Your Majesty even after half a day.

Imperial Commander Yan, His Majesty is blessed by Heaven.

Moreover, His Majesty consumed only half the pill.

We must quickly have His Majesty drink the emetic soup

before the poisonous effects kick in.

But Your Majesty...

Imperial Commander Yan has a point.

Perhaps we should observe a bit longer?

Observe what?

I'll only rest easy after I throw it up.

How do you feel?

The emetic soup has taken effect.

Hurry! Quickly come here!

The emetic soup has taken effect! Quickly!

Hurry.

- Your Majesty? Your Majesty? - Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty?

Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

The wretched Northern Liang spies

must have differing doses of poisoned pills.

That's why even after His Majesty drank the emetic soup, it was already too late.

I am guilty of a thousand deaths.

I was unable to protect His Majesty.

I deserve a thousand deaths.

Don't cry.

No one is allowed to cry.

Now is not the time to cry.

Neither... neither is it time to punish you all.

Imperial Commander Yan.

Yes, Your Highness.

Summon your men for help.

Go and lock

all the palace gates.

Have the imperial guards seal the news.

Maintain order in the palace.

Go.

Go. Hurry and go!

Yes, Your Highness.

- Liu Quan. - Yes, Your Highness.

Go find the Crown Prince.

Go to the Crown Prince's residence.

Tell the Crown Prince...

Tell him to get ready to ascend the throne.

Go.

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Stop right there.

I have Imperial Commander Yan's token. I must report urgent news to His Majesty.

Make way!

Let's go.

Close the palace gates.

No one can enter or leave without Imperial Commander Yan's orders.

- Yes, Sir! - Wait!

What happened?

Quickly tell us.

Reporting to Lord Liang, His Majesty...

His Majesty passed away.

Let's go.

Your Highness. Imperial Commander Yan.

Official Yuan and his group asked to see you.

- Let them in. - Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Where is Liu Quan, Your Highness?

I sent Liu Quan to inform the Crown Prince to prepare to ascend the throne.

What's the matter?

Because he is a Northern Liang spy as well.

You...

Didn't you guys say the Grand Preceptor was the spy?

Please order Imperial Commander Yan

to capture Liu Quan first, Your Highness.

We will explain it all to you.

Quickly alert all palace guards.

Thoroughly check all major roads within the capital.

Seize Liu Quan at all costs!

Yes, Your Highness.

Both hurry to the Crown Prince's residence first.

- I will be there right away. - Yes, Sir.

According to what you said,

both Grand Preceptor and Liu Quan are Northern Liang spies.

To be precise, Liu Quan is the spy from Northern Liang.

The Grand Preceptor is most likely

only a guise used and discarded by him.

What do you mean?

Based on Your Highness' description,

His Majesty showed no abnormalities before his death.

But after drinking that bowl of emetic soup,

he suddenly vomited blood and died.

I dare to speculate

the pill Grand Preceptor gave His Majesty was not poisoned.

However, the Grand Preceptor also ingested the same pill

and died on the spot.

After ingesting half the pill, His Majesty had no symptoms at all.

Hence...

The true poison was in the emetic soup.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

I prepared the medicine to the prescription.

I really had no idea it was poison in there!

Liu Quan was the one

who brought the emetic soup.

He must have secretly poisoned the soup

midway without anyone noticing.

- Eunuch Liu. - Eunuch Liu.

The truth has finally come to light now.

Liu Quan is the Northern Liang spy who lurked

in the palace all these years.

As for Grand Preceptor,

perhaps Liu Quan had something on him.

So he obeyed him to a certain degree.

But he wouldn't have the guts

to assassinate His Majesty.

So Liu Quan orchestrated an elaborate plan

to trick us into believing Grand Preceptor

was the spy to assassinate His Majesty.

Then he created the illusion that Grand Preceptor

died from poison in the pill,

sending His Majesty into a state of panic.

Finally, he used a bowl of emetic soup that was deemed so urgent

it was allowed to bypass all testing,

and in the end, he poisoned His Majesty to death.

This Liu Quan...

a cunning, detestable man.

Once we capture him,

I will shred him to 10,000 pieces.

The first step of his plan is already complete.

He must have escaped from the city with the indenture contract

to the nearest feudal lord now.

I pray we can intercept him halfway.

Otherwise, Dashuo will fall into catastrophe.

Your Highness, I will notify the Ministry of War at once.

I'll request additional men to closely guard all city gates.

[Northern Gate]

- Stop. - Sir.

All right. Go.

Raise your head. Go on.

Go on.

Go.

As per Your Highness' orders,

all major roads leading from the capital to the feudal lords' fiefdoms

were temporarily set up with added checkpoints.

Main Administrative Office has sent all the men we can as well.

Unless Liu Quan sprouted wings, he certainly couldn't avoid them.

At the end of the day,

you still haven't managed to catch him.

I refuse to believe

that a live human being

could vanish into thin air!

I'll give you three days to capture Liu Quan.

If you fail,

you can remove your court attire and return to your hometown!

Please calm your rage, Your Highness. Official Yuan is doing all he can.

At least there is no news

of any signs of rebellion in feudal states yet.

That means we managed to stop Liu Quan midway,

except we can't confirm his hideout right now.

After this, we just need to hone our search.

I'm just thinking that

Liu Quan is cunning and deceptive.

I worry he has another secret plan.

I cannot rest easy until he is captured.

The Crown Prince's coronation is approaching.

Your Highness should put more thought

into helping His Highness stabilize the political situation.

All right.

All of you may leave.

Yes, Your Highness.

Is my mother all right?

I've already told you.

Your mother is safe and sound here.

- I want to see her. - You can't right now.

I've already found the spy as promised.

Our agreement was that you had to eliminate

threats from Northern Liang spies against the Crown Prince.

This matter concerns not only me and the Crown Prince,

but even more the nation's safety.

You must not let me down.

I will capture Liu Quan.

Your Highness mustn't forget what you promised me as well.

I never thought a day would arrive where you spoke up for me.

I'm really not used to it.

I was only stating the truth.

Pity, it's easy for you to say.

Gradually honing our search?

All these mountains and waters...

If Liu Quan hides patiently and stubbornly refuses to emerge,

we will seek a needle in the sea.

How long will it take us to find him?

Patience?

What's the matter?

Patience.

I thought that was the strangest part in this.

Why was Liu Quan so impatient?

Think about it carefully.

When Liu Quan escaped the capital,

he still didn't know we uncovered his plan to kill the former emperor.

That's true.

Absconding from the city

is practically the same as revealing himself as the spy.

He shouldn't be that impatient to expose himself.

If I were him...

If I didn't know that my scheme was uncovered by others,

I would remain in the palace.

Citing His Majesty's death as my reason,

I'd ask to retire to my hometown.

By doing so, I would be able to travel

to the feudal states justifiably.

Unless he believes the risk of exposure is even lower

than his staying in the palace.

In other words, he knew even if he escaped,

we wouldn't be able to capture him.

Is he that confident?

Perhaps he could actually fly?

Or maybe he is certain that his hiding place

is somewhere we would never search.

You mean...

That's right.

Right here.

The capital.

After he fled from the city,

he secretly slipped back in.

All of our attention

was on screening citizens leaving the city.

Instead, we neglected traveling merchants entering the capital.

So it was an easy task for Liu Quan to sneak back into the capital.

He intends to wait

until we grow weary of our fruitless, external search

and let our guard down,

before using the chance to make his move.

He indeed has no need to rush.

His aim is to disrupt Dashuo fully.

So he should at least wait

until the Crown Prince officially reigns

before he incites feudal lords to revolt.

He intends the Crown Prince and feudal lords

to fight to the death.

It seems our Eunuch Liu

is a master of deceit and misdirection.

I will arrange for men to search the entire capital at once.

[Ministry of War]

Cousin.

Didn't I say not to come to Ministry of War to look for me?

You haven't come home the past few days;

I was a bit worried.

Did Mother tell you?

Ministry of War is working with Main Administrative Office

to conduct a city-wide search to arrest Liu Quan now.

That's why I haven't returned.

Didn't Liu Quan already flee the capital?

According to Qiu Yan's analysis,

he likely slipped back in.

In any case, it doesn't concern you. Go home.

Her again.

Wait!

Do you have so little patience for me?

Is there anything else?

What if I can help you find Liu Quan's hiding place?

Wasn't this a Northern Liang spy stronghold?

Do you think Liu Quan is hiding here?

Why not?

If I hadn't brought you here,

who would think to search this place again?

Bei Xue.

[Sealed by Main Administrative Office in the Xinchou Year of Chengzhao]

Sir, the seal was tampered with.

Someone went in there.

Stay outside.

Qin Xuan?

Liang Yi?

Qiu Yan?

Why are you both here?

That's what I wanted to ask you.

Why did you guys come here?

Qiu Min thought Liu Quan would hide here so she led us to inspect it.

Qiu Yan thought so, too.

Liu Quan might take advantage of our blind spots

so we came to recheck.

Elder Sister is clever indeed.

You think one step ahead of all.

But it seems I over-analyzed.

Liu Quan isn't here.

- Have you checked inside the house? - Yes.

If that's the case, let's return.

Wait.

Could it be he sensed you guys would be coming

so he escaped first?

We observed the place a long time before we entered.

We can be sure no one entered or left.

Maybe Liu Quan returns to stay the night.

We could wait for him here.

These are placed differently from last time.

Come and take a look.

I remember these crates weren't here last time.

Liang Yi.

There's a secret door.

It's a cellar.

I'll go down first.

Slowly, Liang Yi.

Be careful, Qiu Yan.

All right.

Bei Xue, stay here.

Understood, Sir.

Be careful, Sir.

Slowly now.

You found your way here, after all.

Liu Quan.

Since there is nowhere else for you to go,

give up and surrender.

Don't move.

Don't be afraid.

It's only a jar of wine.

I already can't escape.

Let me finish this jar of wine.

Look at all the fine wine

from Northern Liang stored here.

It was so many years since I drank some.

Don't you want to hear my story?

I can tell you my tale

as I enjoy my wine.

Once I go to court,

I won't be saying anything.

Fine.

Go ahead.

When I was twelve,

I joined Northern Liang's spy organization.

I was sent to Dashuo on an infiltration mission.

So I managed to make my way into the palace,

and I became a eunuch.

I was smart, and I worked hard.

In only a few years,

I outshone the other eunuchs.

After that,

I went to great lengths to find an unorthodox fortune teller.

First, I had him pretend to be

a transcendent being who descended into the mortal realm.

Then

I created the opportunity

for him to coincidentally meet the emperor of Dashuo.

That old emperor desired longevity

so he was easily tricked by that person.

Good.

So the old emperor made him the Grand Preceptor

and helped him create the Hongzhen Sect.

As for me,

with the Grand Preceptor's recommendation,

I soon became the emperor's personal eunuch.

So back then, the entire Wei clan was tragically erased by the late emperor

for advising His Majesty to abolish the Hongzhen Sect.

You were behind that as well? [Xuan Temple]

Grand Preceptor got the emperor to issue that decree.

I had nothing to do with that.

What about my father's death?

Your father, the late Marquis Wei Yuan,

inadvertently found that Noble Consort had Northern Liang blood in her veins.

[Memorandum]

So he placed her indenture contract

inside a secret memorandum to present to the old emperor.

But he didn't know that all these years,

all secret memorandums

had to go through my hands first.

I realized the graveness of the matter.

So I secretly hid the indenture contract

and purposely let Noble Consort see the secret memorandum.

She acted as I expected.

She destroyed that secret memorandum,

and sent someone to assassinate Marquis Wei Yuan.

Of course,

to make it easier for Noble Consort to make her move,

I was the one who secretly arranged

for Duke Lu to shoot the Marquis Wei Yuan.

You tried to kill me after you found out

I was secretly pushing for military reform.

That's right.

After the incident with the goddess,

I noticed you were secretly working with the He Family,

instating and promoting

young, capable officers among the border troops.

It was at that time

that I saw you in a new light.

I never expected that beneath your mask,

you were actually hiding a loyal heart, Lord Liang.

So I saw you as a target who needed rapid elimination.

Otherwise, once your military reforms are in place,

when our Northern Liang marches south to hunt its prey,

we will face iron partitions and brass walls (indestructible barrier).

So you used my father's death to lure me in,

secretly colluded with Yuan Lang,

and convicted me of treason.

That was my only failure.

I had thought I could have you killed on the spot that time.

But I never thought your guard

would actually sacrifice himself to let you escape,

forcing me to mobilize the Northern Liang assassins

to kill you, that I had hid for all these years.

It's a pity.

One wrong move makes all moves wrong.

In the end,

I lost everything as well.

That guard, his name is Song Jin.

"Song Jin"?

I will remember that name.

But you must admit

that my scheme to kill the emperor

was certainly something.

You guys tried to test me with those three shoddy lists.

- But Grand Preceptor came to me - What is this?

with his list on the day itself.

I figured out your ploy at once.

So I thought

I would first lead you to eliminate that crude Old Yan.

As long as you exclude the lists we held,

all that's left would be that crude Old Yan's list.

As for Grand Preceptor...

I didn't tell him about my scheme to poison the emperor.

Because he wasn't from Northern Liang,

he wouldn't dare to.

I simply added a little Anling poison

in the tea I gave him.

That dosage wouldn't kill him instantly.

However, if agitated,

he would spurt blood and die.

Poor him.

He finally realized

he was only a pitifully abandoned pawn

right before his death.

What do you think?

Isn't my story a fascinating tale?

All right.

You've said what you have to say.

You've drunk the wine as well.

Come with us.

In the end,

I plotted and schemed,

but I never expected

that you guys would be able to catch me.

Impressive indeed, impressive.

But

did you guys really think

that I would be telling stories here

for leisure?

Take these arrows! All of you must die!

Qiu Yan!

[As Loyal As a Subject]

Xuan'er, what exactly is going on?

Bei Xue, explain to my mother.

Madam, please.

Madam, please come with me. I'll explain it to you.

Physician. How is she?

I've already stopped the bleeding.

If she makes it through her critical condition depends if she can make it through tonight.

Thank you, Physician.

We found this on Liu Quan's body.

Liu Quan was already handed over to Yuan Lang to deal with.

I've completed what you asked of me, Your Highness.

Very well.

As expected, you didn't disappoint me.

I've already ordered people to send your mother back to your manor.

You'll see her once you return.

As for regicide (kill a king) and treason,

the Crown Prince will decree to officially vindicate you

after the enthronement ceremony.

Don't worry.

I keep my promises.

I won't go back on my word to a subject.

[Liang Manor]

- Young Master. - Young Master.

Yi'er!

Yi'er!

Mother.

I've implicated you.

Yi'er.

What matters is your safety.

[Autumn Waters]

Her Highness looked after me.

I didn't suffer a bit.

I'm fine.

I rest easy knowing

you're all right, Mother.

Qin Xuan.

Lord Liang, please come inside.

How is she?

The physician says

it depends on her making it through tonight.

Move.

Kneel.

Let him be.

That's the direction of his hometown.

- Yes, Sir. - Yes, Sir.

Great Liang.

Your subject, Que Qing,

shall return now!

Do it.

[Seller: Hei Lao San. A Northern Liang girl, Qian Yu]

[Day 13 of the eleventh month of the first year of Chengzhao]

I was so young

back then...

You're awake.

Qiu Yan. Qiu Yan! Min'er is awake!

I'll get the physician.

Min'er. Min'er.

Are you feeling better?

Does it still hurt?

Just wait a bit longer.

The physician will change your bandages very soon.

[Qin Manor]

I already sent word to Qiu Manor.

Cousin Min will stay here until she recovers.

Take good care of her.

Don't worry.

I'll leave my younger sister in your care.

Qiu Yan, let's go.

It's all over at last.

Are you going to leave the capital again?

It's a rare chance for me to be back.

I think I'll stay a bit longer.

Besides,

Old Madam must have received quite the shock.

I want to spend more time with her.

Qiu Yan, I was thinking about it.

- With you, I want to- - Lord Liang.

I have a few things I wish to ask you. Would you do me the favor?

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.]