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]

[Final Episode 34]

Liu Quan was executed this morning.

Around the same time, Her Highness hung herself in the palace.

She left a letter claiming she missed the late Emperor and chose to follow him to the afterlife.

The Crown Prince...

No.

His Majesty has ordered a formal funeral for Her Highness.

Understood.

You don't seem surprised at all.

Are you here to ask that question?

Not me, but I'm asking on behalf of His Majesty.

His Majesty wants to know if you are willing to lead Firewood Office.

His Majesty has always admired you.

He knows you secretly put the operations in motion.

He says as long as you are willing, you will be reinstated immediately.

Of course, if you want a different position, feel free to ask.

His Majesty will consider it.

It seems the new Emperor must not be underestimated.

However, I plan to resign.

Liang Yi, you can reply after thinking it through.

It's not only a great honor, but it's also a big chance to realize your ambition.

If you're determined to implement reform, it's a great time for us to work on it together.

I'm afraid I must let you down this time.

Do you still hold a grudge over Song Jin's death?

I've set aside my prejudice against you;

can't you let go of the grudge for the good of Imperial Court?

Song Jin's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

After all, it was Liu Quan who set me up at the start.

I cannot eliminate a loyal high-ranking officer over my personal grudge.

So why did you choose this?

I decided to resign since the new Emperor will have wider vision and goals.

Imperial Court needs officers who are honest, upright,

and praised by the people, not a man whose name was tarnished.

Relay my message to His Majesty.

I not only won't return, I request His Majesty to disband it entirely.

I wish for the future that our world no longer needs a Firewood Office (clean deadwood officers).

You're an honorable man.

I feel ashamed.

There is one more thing.

Go to the Baxia Village in Xiuwu County.

Find a couple.

The man is called Zhao Mingli; the woman is called Yue Ying.

Who are they?

The He family worked with me as I had evidence against them.

The He family ordered to have Zhao Mingli's daughter killed.

Yue Ying is the key witness of this murder.

I kept them hidden so I can settle the score later on.

I understand.

I will bring the He family to justice so the dead may rest in peace.

You have my thanks.

I was wrong about you when I stood against you.

I apologize for that.

Official Yuan, not at all.

Your job now is to become His Majesty's aide to bring a time of peace to Dashuo's people.

What? Are you resigning?

Yes. What's wrong? Do you find it odd?

But what else can you do if you aren't an officer now?

You told me I could keep writing novels.

I was just encouraging you.

I took it very seriously.

That makes us peers.

Not only that, we will be partners.

What do you mean?

You want to see what the world has to offer and learn every curious story.

We will do it together.

Are you sure?

Over the past few days, I thought about traveling with you.

The Imperial Court doesn't need me to push reformation.

All that's left for me to do right now is keep you company.

Are you doing this on a whim?

Will you go back on your word?

I turned down His Majesty's offer; I can't go back now.

But what about your mother?

We can take her with us.

She loves you.

She will like our plans.

Are you saying you don't want this?

I do! I do.

I do.

You are far more likable now than when we first met.

Well, I prefer being obnoxious.

♫ 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'll keep picking on you until you're likable again.

♫ I will fly over the lands together with you ♫

♫ Even if everything becomes silent ♫

♫ Moonlight shines down brightly late at night. The moon is pale and stars are few ♫

What is our first destination?

Let's go to the forest.

Where is it?

The forest.

Why the forest?

♫ 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 ♫

We might not come back for a few years

so I came to bid all the elders goodbye.

It's always good to widen your view of the world.

Stay safe on the road.

Yan'er, take these amulets with you.

Thank you, First Uncle.

I have some secret savings for you to use on the road.

He is Marquis Wei Yuan. H-He doesn't need y-your money.

Keep it.

Both of you, thank you.

Yan'er, you could take me with you.

I'd like to explore the world with Yan'er.

My lord, your legs will fail you as soon as you reach Mount Yanliu.

Qiu Yan, keep this purse.

It's a keepsake.

Mine too. You can keep mine as well.

Thank you, Sisters Qiu Mei and Qiu Ying.

Qiu Yan, I'm already helping the First Madam with bookkeeping.

She says I can be in charge of the accounts when I'm ready.

Don't worry, I'll study hard and become a scholar like our father.

I'll redeem our family name.

However, I was too ignorant before.

It's all right.

I understand.

You must learn to become an outstanding and righteous person.

The future of the Qiu family rests on your shoulders now.

We are counting on you.

If y-you have any questions, f-feel free to ask me.

I can be your teacher.

I know.

Where is Madam Liu?

Madam.

I said I wouldn't see you.

Why are you here?

You're leaving. Therefore, touching words are meaningless.

I'm just a little disheartened.

I wasted many years raising a daughter.

Perhaps I might never see her again.

Have you always seen married daughters as spilled water that can't be returned?

How am I a waste of your time?

I knew it!

You still hold a grudge against me!

That's not true.

I hated you, but it's because you favored my brother.

But now, I'm the master of my own destiny.

That hate perished long ago.

Are you saying you have forgiven me?

It doesn't matter much now.

Madam.

We might not have many chances to meet again in the future.

But whatever happens, thank you for raising me.

As you had hoped,

I've earned a place for you in the Qiu family.

Between you and me,

we are even.

I came here to give a proper goodbye.

If you don't find me cold and heartless,

you can wish me good luck on the road.

Qiu Yan,

I know I haven't treated you fairly in the past,

but what choice did I have?

I know very well

how hard it is to be a woman.

All the pain and suffering you went through,

I've experienced all of it.

I was in pain, too,

but I made it through nonetheless.

I understand.

This is why someone must make it out first.

Madam,

take care.

Do you still refuse to call me your mother?

Godspeed.

Your body will heal faster if you walk from time to time.

Be careful. Maybe you should go inside.

I'm all right.

You'll be the person I worry about most after I leave.

The physician says I'm making a good recovery. I'll be fine in a month.

That is not what I meant.

I'm talking about you and Qin Xuan.

Well, you have nothing to worry about.

What do you mean?

If I truly love him,

I should care for him

instead of being selfish.

I thought my love for him was purer than yours,

but I was just selfish.

After what happened, I know he still cares about me.

That's all I need to know.

I can't trouble him anymore.

Will you give up?

Let fate take its course.

After being at death's door,

I opened my eyes to many things.

I finally realized

what I cared about the most wasn't Qin Xuan,

but you.

Do you remember when you first came to our family?

I gave you a bottle of osmanthus fragrance.

You asked me why I would give you a present.

I told you, I want nothing. Why are you giving me this?

It's because I like you.

Liar!

You smile at me and call me your sister because your mother wants you to do so.

You don't like me; why must you pretend?

Aren't you tired of it?

No. I really like you.

I don't care who you are, what you do, or what you say.

I remember.

I made you cry, and Qing Dai had a fight with me.

But I wasn't lying back then.

I have a lot of sisters,

but they are actually my cousins.

But now, I have a real sister.

We are from different mothers; we're not that close.

At that time, I knew

you were different from my other sisters.

Over the years, I've envied you.

I almost forgot that I used to like you.

I wanted to become you.

I looked down on you,

but at the same time,

I found your life brighter than everyone else's.

I hated myself for not having your courage and strength.

I hated that you never treated me with respect.

I'm sorry, I...

Don't apologize.

I hate myself for that too.

I didn't want to live in your shadow.

I pray to have that one opportunity,

even just for once, to outmatch you at something.

If mother could see you now,

she'd blame me for not keeping you safe.

I like myself much better.

Qiu Yan, I want that flower.

- This flower? - Yes.

I certainly look better than you now.

I'm sorry, but your sister

must bid you goodbye now.

From now on,

you must take care of yourself.

Anywhere else?

You can go back first.

There's something I want to see to personally.

Sure.

Stay safe. I'll wait at home.

[Fengjing Prefecture]

Yuan Lang?

What do you want?

Use whatever identity you want.

Let's get down to business.

Hand over whatever you're surrendering to Fengjing Prefecture.

I won't make it hard for you.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

You stole the evidence from my study I had

of Lin Chang Zhi embezzling state funds.

I know you want to use it to take me down. [Case file of Lin Chang Zhi's corruption]

You want to prove I covered up his misconduct

and set up your father.

I am responsible for your father's death.

However, I'll make this clear.

I only took down your father so I could take down Liang Yi.

I never thought your father

would die in a foreign land.

I know you hate me.

But with the new Emperor,

this is my chance to gain his favor.

I can't miss this opportunity

due to my past mistakes.

You can make up whatever righteous excuses you want.

I only know my father died because of you,

and I will avenge him.

I knew you wouldn't comply.

What?

Do you want a fight?

That won't be necessary.

As I said, I won't make it hard for you for Liang Yi's sake.

I will make you hand over the evidence on your own.

How so?

I know a secret about Liang Yi.

I pondered the entire case these past few days.

I found two disconnected dots.

I dispatched my men to investigate.

To my surprise, I acquired a new piece of information.

Do you know who killed Liang Yi's father?

Fine. I know what you want.

It seems you've learned the secret as well.

Yes,

but I must pretend to not know anything.

If Liang Yi ever finds out,

it'll be too much for him.

Now you know who has a stake in it,

that makes things easier.

Hand over the evidence, and I'll take that secret to my grave.

It's fine if you choose otherwise.

Feel free to hand it to Fengjing Prefecture.

You get to avenge your father.

As for me,

I'll watch Liang Yi spend the rest of his life in pain.

At least my effort to bring him down will be worth it.

Wait.

[Main Administrative Office]

As decreed by His Majesty,

Yuan Lang of Main Administrative Office

has eradicated the Northern Liang spy who tried to harm the nation.

You contributed to the nation's safety.

Yuan Lang shall be promoted to Minister of Civil Service Affairs,

effective now.

The end.

I am grateful for this promotion.

As decreed by His Majesty, former Inspector of Firewood Office, Liang Yi,

committed a heinous crime to murder the late Emperor.

He was framed by the Northern Liang spy.

Now, the spy was captured and executed.

Liang Yi is cleared of all charges to correct prior misunderstandings.

However, Liang Yi conspired with fellow officials to eradicate dissidents.

Such actions are a disgrace to Imperial Court and the people.

Liang Yi will be stripped of his title and rank

to deter his crimes.

Firewood Office will be disbanded

and its staff will be reassigned to Main Administrative Office.

The end.

I have sinned, and I accept my fate.

Old Madam.

What brings you here?

I'm here to visit you.

Zhou told me you didn't step out of the house all day.

We are leaving tomorrow.

I am exhausted from packing the luggage.

I need some time by myself.

Go back to your work.

Let me brew you some tea.

Never mind, I just brewed this.

- I'll get you a new pot. - Never mind.

Let me help.

Old Madam, you must not take your own life!

What is this nonsense?

The person Her Highness ordered

to poison Liang Yi's father wasn't Physician Zhan;

it was you.

How did you find out?

Judging by Her Highness' cruel demeanor,

Physician Zhan wouldn't have lived this long if he was the murderer.

The other person with opportunity, who was trusted by Her Highness,

was none other than you.

You've always known Her Highness was from Northern Liang.

Am I right?

I am the most heartless woman in this entire world.

I murdered my husband with my own hands.

Due to me, my son lived in delusional hatred

after losing his father.

If you regretted it,

why did you bend to Her Highness' coercion?

There was no coercion.

I did it willingly.

You don't know the story.

Her Highness and I

lived within tall palace walls.

We were two young handmaids,

and she worked her way up to become Noble Consort.

We went through so much together.

Have you not considered Liang Yi's feelings?

He is your son. How can he ever face this truth?

A person must be responsible for everyone in her life.

This is simply overwhelming.

I wanted to keep Her Highness safe.

I had to become a vile, heartless wife and cruel mother.

It pained me to do so, but I'll never regret it.

If you knew all along,

why didn't you tell Liang Yi the truth?

I don't want him to suffer as I do.

I tell myself I must bury this secret to the end for him.

No secret can be kept forever.

He will know the truth someday!

He won't. I'll have it all arranged.

What you need to do now is stay alive.

- I can't do that! - You must!

You owe Liang Yi as much!

Old Madam! I'll get the physician.

It's too late.

I've taken the Anling poison.

Old Madam!

- Qiu Yan. - Old Madam.

You do not understand.

I am not a heartless killer.

Every day of my life has been full of guilt and fear.

Every day is suffering.

I know

I will forever be a sinner

to my son.

When I watched you

pack your belongings,

getting ready to live a peaceful life,

I felt that

I don't deserve to have that life.

Old Madam, please.

You can only redeem yourself when you live.

Dying won't change anything.

Old Madam!

It's too late.

You are the only one who can keep Yi'er from the pain.

This is the end for me.

You must let me end my suffering.

Old Madam! Liang Yi can't live without you!

My lord...

Your Highness...

I am going to see you soon.

Old Madam!

Young Master.

I'm home.

I'm home.

Mother?

Has Wan'er been here?

Mother?

Mother?

Mother?

Mother?

Mother.

No!

Mother!

Don't leave me!

Liang Yi, I poisoned your mother.

Hate me if you must.

I can't let my father's death be in vain.

All and all, it was you who threw

the Qiu family into your power struggle with Yuan Lang.

That was why my father died.

I am a daughter of the Qiu family.

I love you,

but I still can't bring myself

to spend the rest of my life with the man who killed my father.

Revenge was the only way.

That is the only way to sever my attachment to you.

[Liang Manor]

Do not come after the Qiu family.

Come at me if you must.

But first, you must get to me.

[Liang Manor]

I'm leaving you the key to the handcuffs.

Take your half of the key.

[Liang Manor]

[Pavilion of Work]

Master, I'm back.

My stiff brain can't understand a thing unless you tell me.

Yi'er. Over here! Pull the string for me.

Do you think they can see the kite from the palace?

♫ Reading through books ♫

♫ Can’t forget about meeting each other under the moon ♫

My lord, let me tag along for your investigation.

I have writer's block; I need new ideas.

Come here.

Come.

♫ 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 ♫

♫ Sharing the same pillow with you, waiting for you to dress up for the day ♫

[Pavilion of Work] ♫ We are connected together ♫

♫ The night stops and the red candles linger under the moon ♫

♫ We will soar up. Our love is within the red sleeves ♫

♫ Accompanying you to see the dazzling lights ♫

♫ 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 ♫

[Grace by the Imperial Edict] ♫ Until we grow old ♫

♫ For ten miles, the spring breeze is gentle as we gaze lovingly at each other, never ending ♫

Liang Yi, don't give up just yet.

Carry your hate for me and live on.

♫ In this mortal realm, you are my only love ♫

[Pavilion of Work] ♫ 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 ♫

[Northern Gate]

[As Loyal As a Subject]

Fresh buns, try some.

Sir, I heard you publish detective novels here.

This is my manuscript.

See? I have to go through all of these.

Get in line.

Mine is different.

Sit.

Mine is a work of painstaking effort which took years to complete.

The story is very thrilling. I know it will sell well.

Everyone who came in said the same thing.

Forget it. Leave the manuscript there.

Give me your address. I'll go through it later.

If it's decent, my staff will contact you.

Little ducky into the pond...

What are you talking about?

Little ducky went into the pond.

What are you writing?

I'm writing my address.

[The Autumn Ballad by The Solitary Moral One]

This is...

This is the current bestseller. It's the last copy we have.

I'm taking it.

Sure.

Very well.

It's time to go, Bao.

💖 Thank you to our Channel Managers:🍂 bjohnsonwong and tess6 🍁

👑 Thank you to our Chief Segmenter: ✂️ bepina

💖✂️ Segmenters: sabrinafair, nicefly09, nmelova, porkypine, plc_958

💖✂️ Segmenters: kitty100, hana_860, lyam_88, s14950, sofija_534, miss_rochester, tess6, matoon

Did you want me to come all the way here to talk about this?

This is very important.

It's affecting the sales amount of your books.

There are rumors saying The Solitary Moral One

was an interrogator His Majesty used to demote officials.

As you know, the scholars are very picky.

Because of the rumor, people are not buying your books anymore.

There is nothing I can do.

Maybe you should change the pen name.

You can stop selling the books, but don't change the name. That's non-negotiable.

I don't understand. Why the persistence?

Many writers go by multiple pen names.

How about this? Pick a new name yourself.

I won't change the name.

I wrote the books [Mazong Village beside the road]

for those who know this name. [in north part of the city, by Qiu Yan]

Just write a new name.

[Mazong Village beside the road in north part of the city, by Qiu Yan]

[Qiu Yan]

🍁 Chief Editor: worthyromance 🌹 General Editors: mirjam_465, damiechan, addictedtobooks, my_happy_place

💖 Translation Editors: baby_panda76, maeliyang, ana_812, lotus012, pandali_666

🎀 Thank you to Other Language Moderators and subtitlers.

Where is the person who sent in the manuscript?

Thank you for looking after him.

You let me stay at your house. It's the least I can do.

Very well. Thank you. Let's go, Bao.

- Did you have fun? - Bye bye, Xiao Bao.

See you later.

Come on!

Candied hawthorns!

Sweet, savory candied hawthorns!

Candied hawthorns!

Did you see a girl who was carrying a book?

She was headed for the mountain.

Candied hawthorns!

♫ The person in the mirror wipes away heavy makeup ♫

The constable thought he was the most amazing fighter in the world.

But in the end, he realized that he had nothing at all.

He thought about the girl who got away.

He knew she was innocent.

The way she was set up was full of flaws.

The constable saw right through the scheme.

He wanted to see her again,

but he had no way to know where the girl had gone.

He could only wait.

♫ Even if everything becomes silent ♫

♫ The dense fog gradually disperses, letting in sunlight ♫

♫ I gently hold on to your clothes ♫

♫ 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 ♫

[The Autumn Ballad by The Solitary Moral One]

♫ I will fly over the lands together with you ♫

I want to be with you until the end of time.

Liang Yi, when you handcuffed me, our fates intertwined.

The handcuff is proof of it.

I will always be by your side as our hearts beat as one.

You must do the same for me so my love will not go unanswered.

♫ Holding hands through the seasons until hair turns white, watching the snow ♫

♫ Separated by thousands of mountains and oceans, waiting for the full moon ♫

♫ Just to meet the beautiful lady again ♫

[The Autumn Ballad by The Solitary Moral One]

♫ Going through three lifetimes with you while smiling behind the pearl bead curtain ♫

Whatever perils await us,

nothing can separate us.

♫ I will fly over the lands together with you ♫

♫ Even if everything becomes silent ♫

🍀 Thank you to all our viewers from 🍂 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.]