Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ☯ Strange Dreamers Team ☯ @ Viki.com

♫ The fresh breeze blows through the alley ♫

♫ The fragrance of ink on you ♫

♫ The brush meandering on the paper ♫

♫ This love will last forever ♫

♫ The moonlight pours in the water ♫

♫ I can't help but start to sing ♫

♫ You play a melodious song ♫

♫ It recorded our sweet time ♫

♫ Being drunk but happy in the world (Spend the rest of my life with you) ♫

♫ Watch the wood in a deep dye (Let's ride a horse to see the world) ♫

♫ With you in my life, I'm not afraid of any storm ♫

♫ I feel safe (You whisper in my ear) ♫

♫ There is a distant call (I fell into the light of your halo) ♫

♫ It's too hard to break from your embrace ♫

♫ Immersed in wine and time goes by ♫

♫ Being drunk but happy in the world (Spend the rest of my life with you) ♫

♫ Watch the wood in a deep dye (Let's ride a horse to see the world) ♫

♫ With you in my life, I'm not afraid of any storm ♫

♫ I feel safe (You whisper in my ear) ♫

♫ There is a distant call (I fell into the light of your halo) ♫

♫ It's too hard to break from your embrace ♫

♫ Immersed in wine and time goes by ♫ [A Girl Like Me]

[Episode 33]

[South Gate]

[South Gate] Open the Door!

At the behest of His Majesty, I'll follow the general to the battle as a military advisor.

I don't need an advisor.

You might not need one, but it's an order from His Majesty.

I'll risk my life for Your Grace.

General, it's an imperial command. You've to take it.

Commander Wang, he is in your charge. He reports to you.

Yes.

Your Majesty, the army camped five kilometers off the capital.

Your order has been well carried out.

Has it?

Let's see if they can escape this time.

Commander Wang.

- General. - Get out.

It's an urgent matter.

Stand there and no one steps further.

For this expedition, Jiang Luo decided to prevent you from going back.

What did you mean?

The late emperor had foreseen that Jiang Luo might stage a coup.

Besides the testamentary edict, the late emperor also entrusted me an object that could be critical.

The Tiger Tally?

The late emperor told me in case of any change of government,

I must first protect your lives, so we could have the opportunity to reclaim what we lost.

Jiang Luo will kill the Bans to warn the others.

Minister Shi wanted this, too.

- So— - So, Jiang Luo gave me an army, but he was not expecting me to kill enemies;

instead, he wanted to embarrass me.

That's why I had to follow you.

Damn it. They wanted us to die.

We don't have enough supplies to sustain even three days.

Really?

- What's up? - Look.

That's ridiculous.

General, there must have been a mistake.

I'll send a horseman to the capital right now and ask His Majesty to send more.

- Commander Wang. - Yes.

Check how many weapons and supplies we have, and prepare dinner like before.

We must not leave soldiers to starve.

All right, I will do it right now.

Please advise His Majesty. Suppressing riots should be a serious thing.

Leave us alone.

Please provide more details, my brother,

so I can understand what you're talking about.

You may not know that the army led by Princess Fu Le is not a formal army.

They're a group of criminals.

What's worse is that the weapons and supplies are far less than satisfactory.

Really?

An incompetent army plus insufficient weaponry and food,

how can they defeat the rebels?

Brother, I am no more than a simple wife.

What's the use of speaking to me?

Count Cheng'an is also in the army.

It has nothing to do with me, either.

Haven't you ever thought about if the rebellion forces grew bigger,

the capital would be in danger?

The consequence would be tragic.

Pay attention. Yes or no.

- Yes. - No.

Yes.

- No. - Yes.

- Poor you. Poor boy. - Let me try.

Wait. Is it all right to cast lots here? It seems wrong.

- It's all right. No worries. - Yes.

- We may just have had our last meal. - Right.

What an effort it was to have us to die!

Play or not?

Come here.

- One game for one meal. - Okay, I'll try.

- Yes or no? - Yes. - No.

Who?

You're imperial guards. What are you doing here?

What made you defy the military rules?

You're gambling here when you were supposed to be on guard.

What if the rebel forces attacked us?

General, His Majesty sent us to die.

We had meals when we were in prison, but now we have nothing to eat.

- Right. - Right.

I'll solve the problem.

You're a woman. We can't rely on you.

We should find a way out ourselves, such as gambling on some food.

- Am I right? - Yes. - Yes.

Fine! You like gambling, right?

Let's bet on it.

Fine. What's your stake? Whatever it is, I'll take it.

Bet on your lives.

Lives?

I'll challenge.

I, Ma Laosan, have never bullied a woman. Rules should be up to you.

Well, I've never bullied a man.

Let's see who is stronger.

Strength. Fine!

What?

What a cunning liar! It's not about strength, is it?

I used my brain's strength, not the stupid body strength.

It's settled. The general won.

Who will be next?

Me!

I'll challenge.

We all know the general is good at whipping, and I'd like to see the best of Your Grace.

Fine. If you defeat me, my life will be yours.

Advisor, she is going to lose. Please give her a hand.

Don't worry. She is not an ordinary girl.

Your Grace is a master of martial arts. I lost.

- But if you asked me to kowtow to a woman, you would better kill me. - Right.

We would rather be killed than listen to a woman.

- Right. - Right.

- We won't obey. - It's impossible.

Is that how you look down on women?

Zhang Meng, your mother had been sewing clothes day after day,

and in winter, she had to wash clothes by the river,

so she could earn the traveling expenses to the capital to see you,

but she was killed by bandits on the way, unfortunately.

And you, seeking revenge for your mother, had committed the crime of murder.

That's why you were in prison.

Others may look down at women, but you can't.

How can you...!

Same to Zhou Dade and Lin Wangcai, you both committed crimes

for the sake of your wives, daughters, and sisters.

Don't you want to win the war and return to your homes with merits

and reunite with them?

I've been studying martial arts and military strategies with General Ban.

If you will follow me to suppress the riots, I promise we can return to our homes.

Go back to your homes and enjoy your happy lives.

But if you won't follow me, you can leave now.

I won't stand in the way, but I do hope

you can consider it.

Don't you want a life without sneaking around every day

when you are justified and could confidently face others?

I lost the game. I admit defeat. I'm at your command.

Zhang Meng, I now command you to be a frontier soldier.

You shall fight at the forefront and win the battle to redeem yourself.

Thank you for your appreciation. I pledge to follow Your Grace at the expense of my life.

- Follow the general! - Follow the general!

- Follow the general! - Follow the general!

- Follow the general! - Follow the general!

Thanks. Things wouldn't have turned out so smoothly

to have them under control if without your advice.

I accept you as my advisor.

General...

Hua Hua, does it mean you and me...?

I am the general.

The lives of the Bans as well as everyone here are on me.

I promised them to take them home.

I've to keep the promise. I need you as we will be in a battle.

It's different between Ban Hua and Count Rong.

I understand what you have said.

What I've done back in the capital must have hurt you.

I would never deny this. But we're in a battle.

How can I leave you alone?

As you've heard, the camp is not a place for romance.

I don't care what they will say. The only thing I care about is Hua Hua.

I am not Hua when I am here. I am the general.

And you and I are the general and the advisor.

No more word for this.

Your Majesty.

Your Highness.

Didn't I send you to invite His Majesty?

Unexpectedly, His Majesty has been to the Empress Palace.

No.

I was standing behind the stairs. I saw His Majesty go in.

What?

Why are you staring at me? Look at yourself.

Your Majesty doesn't like me. Why did you take the trouble to come here?

This is my palace.

I can go anywhere I like.

Get out of here.

Take off my clothes. I granted you the title of empress.

You don't take it for free. Take off my clothes.

Did you grant me the title or just want to put me into an act?

I'll give you one more chance for the sake of your brother.

Take off my clothes.

You should ask the one who is willing to do this.

Say it again?

I mean if you love Shi Feixian instead of me,

please remove my title. Can't you be true to yourself?

What kind of man are you?

Say it again?

I'm not afraid of death anyway, and I'll not sleep with you. Kill me if you like.

Great.

You'd rather die than surrender.

And she is making a fool of me.

General, ahead is the City of Jingzhou.

What if we wait here before the signal passes?

Fine.

Depending on the supplies we have,

we may have starved ourselves to death before confronting the rebels.

Zhang Meng, bring some men with me.

You are clever, bringing men to pry on enemies before we put up tents.

General, have you found out their trace?

Look! These are edible wild herbs.

My grandpa told me they could be added to the porridge.

Porridge with wild herbs was the favorite with the soldiers.

Search everywhere.

- Yes. - Yes.

Who is that? Stop throwing at me.

I said stop. Stop.

Stop.

Come back! Mind an ambush.

Stop running!

Stop!

Follow them! See what happened.

Hurry up!

Stop running!

Who are you?

How dare you catch my men!

I really admire General Ban

and I've been waiting for you in Zhongzhou for a long time.

Zhongzhou?

Are you the rebel, Zhao Zhong?

Yes.

What are you going to do? Please release them and we can negotiate.

If you want to save him,

you would better follow me to someplace.

General, don't mind me.

Fine. I'll go with you.

I'll find out their real strength.

Go.

If you want to save them, get your supplies packed.

I'll be waiting for you in Zhongzhou.

Come take a look at what I have.

Mr. Du,

[Xiangle Manor] I've brought some food for you.

None of your business.

Come out, Du Jiu!

[Xiangle Manor]

Miss Ruan, I've told you

I'm on my duty to protect the Bans in secret as my master ordered me.

I can't expose myself.

Yet, everyone in my family knows you are here.

What? Is it real?

[Xiangle Manor] Then I've been wasting my time hiding on the roof.

Take this.

By the way, my master sent me to ask you...

Do you have any news from the army?

Is Miss safe?

It's strange, though.

Since the army arrived in Jingzhou,

the young master has just sent me one letter

an order to protect the Bans.

She didn't mention the battle at all.

Something happened in the court

and I suspect Minister Shi has been watching you.

[Xiangle Manor]

What should we do?

We'd better stay quiet or we may alert the enemy.

All right.

I'll certainly protect you and send you back

to the general and the army safely.

Advisor, something happened.

The general has been captured by the rebel.

What did you say?

Did Zhao Zhong leave any message?

He said if we want to save them, we should send food to Zhongzhou.

No. We should report it to the court immediately.

Wait.

I have a plan to save her.

What's your plan?

Retreat half of our food guards

and tell all soldiers to feign tiredness.

- What? - Do what I told you.

I know what will happen.

Yes.

So what should we do?

Nothing.

Just wait here. Wait?

What if they can't wait and have the general...?

They need food.

The general is their only bargaining chip.

We stay here and they'll come for food.

Physician Liu, our boss has brought back many herbs.

Please take as many as you like.

That's great.

Be careful with yourselves. Don't get hurt.

Fine. See you later.

See you.

Aren't you from Zhongzhou?

What's wrong with it?

Why are they not afraid of you?

Afraid of us?

Why?

Didn't you rob food everywhere?

Did we rob food?

It's your damn emperor who robbed food from us.

Our boss wants to get them back.

If he didn't distribute food to us, we were left to starve to death.

Boss said we shouldn't talk too much with people from the capital.

- Hurry and leave. - Go.

Go!

Zhao Zhong gave them food.

That's why they called him boss.

No wonder he could fight his way

from Qizhou to Zhongzhou in two weeks.

It won't be easy to suppress them.

Boss, here she is.

Untie her.

Yes.

My pleasure to meet Princess Ban.

Do you know me?

I was an official of Qizhou.

I got paid by the government.

Of course, I know you.

You came from the capital.

The country food must not agree with you.

Baked bamboo shoots served as a meal.

They have a special flavor.

You know this?

I must have let you down.

Though I was brought up in the capital,

I've seen many difficult times.

So you don't have to be courteous.

You can torture me or kill me as you please.

Great. Your Grace should be a heroine.

Then I'll get directly to the point.

I've checked your name list.

You lead an informal army that is not eligible for a battle.

Please surrender and hand us your food.

All right.

What?

Aren't you short of food?

Pick some soldiers and I'll take you to steal food.

Your Grace must be joking with us.

Your Grace came here under an imperial command.

If you lost your supplies, you will be beheaded.

His Majesty sent me to suppress riots,

but he didn't say I couldn't share food with you.

It's no good to fight against each other.

Why not give out food and satiate your men and live in peace?

So, I can explain it to His Majesty.

If you don't believe me.

you can tie my hands and take me with you.

Good.

How come there is no guard?

Didn't the count think they would come and steal the food?

It was not long before I was kidnapped.

Why is there so much more food?

Hurry up. Why are you idling?

Hurry and move these to our camp. Yes.

Hurry.

Boss.

Zhang Meng, protect the general.

General, are you okay?

General, the advisor was thinking of capturing Zhao Zhong in exchange for you.

Yet you are one step ahead of us.

You've come back yourself.

General, it's no use in keeping him alive.

Why not kill him and we pack up and return to the capital.

Wait.

I thought you were different from those shameless mandarins.

Yet all crows under the sun are black.

You were just acting good.

Sorry, I can't keep my promise to withdraw troops,

but as for distributing food to save people,

I will keep my promise.

Bullshit!

Zhang Meng. Li Hu.

Go.

Go!

Go!

I'm sorry.

I didn't come to your rescue immediately.

Did they hurt you?

I'm fine. I'm back anyway.

Fine.

How did you know we would ambush at the granary?

Food was their target.

If you couldn't have thought of it,

you would better take your leave and return to the capital.

You don't need to send me away.

We've captured the head of them.

If we attack them right now,

we can go back and report to His Majesty tomorrow morning.

Zhao Zhong is not a wicked man.

And so-called rebels are just commoners who need food.

I don't want to attack the city.

Then, what do you want?

I want to help victims of the famine

in Zhongzhou with our military supplies.

Count Cheng'an,

you didn't fool me with bags of earth, did you?

Where did they come from?

Do you remember the treasure you and your brother buried?

You stole them.

It was not stealing.

I safeguard them.

Lord Zhao, the general has told us about your situation.

Here are all supplies we have.

If you are willing to surrender,

we will send them to Zhongzhou immediately

and will not pursue your crime.

How can a traitor be freed of guilt?

Count Cheng'an, you don't have to play tricks with me.

If you can feed my men,

along with other commoners there,

I will bear all including the crime of treason.

You are a man of loyalty and righteousness.

You should not die.

From this day on,

you will be the Vice Chief of the Army.

We need you to help with the relief work.

Vice Chief Zhao Zhong is at your command.

It has been two weeks since the army departed.

Why did they stop at Jingzhou?

General Ban is brave and Count Cheng'an is intelligent.

Please rest assured, Your Majesty,

I think not before long the news of victory will come.

How?

Why do you also think Count Cheng'an is reliable?

I don't think so.

Your Majesty,

if Your Majesty is worried about

any misconduct by General Ban,

I have a suggestion for you.

What's your suggestion?

I advise Your Majesty to have the Bans in the Imperial Palace.

Ask them to live here for a while,

so you don't have to worry about what General Ban could do.

And she will certainly be grateful to Your Majesty,

suppressing riots and returning safely.

Haven't they had themselves hidden?

Haven't you heard of that?

Your Majesty, I know where they are hiding.

Good.

I'll leave this matter to you.

Make sure you can invite them here.

Yes, Your Majesty.

- Your Grace. - What panicked you, Yun?

Your Highness, the Noble Consort is heading here.

That's all right. What's the matter with you?

Your Majesty, have you recognized this?

Why do you have this?

We found this from Ban Heng.

Your Majesty,

may I know why, a personal item of yours

would be found on Ban Heng?

None of your business.

Is there any unknown relationship

between Ban Heng and Your Majesty?

Nonsense.

There is nothing between us.

We are like sisters.

I won't tell others.

I just want to remind Your Majesty...

If you care about him,

you'll need to find a solution for him right now.

Because once my grandpa with the guards has arrived at the Ban's door,

it will be too late for you to do anything.

What?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you can't go.

Noble Consort, Her Majesty didn't compete for anything.

Please leave her in peace.

What are you talking about?

I've never thought of taking her life.

But only one phoenix

can rest in the Moon Palace.

Yun, take care of yourself.

My heart is his.

I have to leave this troublesome place.

These years...

Thank you...

I'll go.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Where are you going?

- Hurry and leave. - Please tell me what has happened?

The Bans will be taken hostage

and forwarded to the Imperial Palace as a threat to Her Grace and Count.

It's unbelievable he has come after us when we are in such a terrible state.

[Xiangle Manor]

At the command of His Majesty, the Bans are invited to move into the Imperial Palace.

- What should we do? - We have no time left.

Go to the back garden.

Everyone, follow me.

Hurry!

- Hurry! - Hurry up.

[Xiangle Manor] Minister, this...

Bang the door open.

Stop.

Grandpa, I thought after our family had been through ups and downs,

you would have changed.

The Bans have fallen to such a situation.

Why don't you leave them alone?

I am carrying out His Majesty's oral command.

Do you want me to disobey His Majesty?

He is a merciless man.

But you are the Left Prime Minister.

You should stop him instead of helping the bad.

- Why are you doing this? - You must be spoiled.

In the court, one has to move up or he will fall.

Jin'er, I hope you can learn this lesson.

Bang the door open!

Your Majesty.

They are dead?

I knocked on their door.

But before the door was opened...

- Shi Chonghai... - Ban Hua is leading an army outside the capital.

She has just left and you brought her whole family to death.

What if she knows what you've done?

Do you think we haven't got enough rebels?

Please calm down, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, the new house of the Bans is located on the outskirts of the capital.

All commoners at the spot have been jailed.

If we are careful with it, nobody will know it.

Do you mean we can prevent Ban Hua from knowing it?

Jingzhou is far away from the capital.

Your Majesty just needs to give a command

to order her to kill the rebel Zhao Zhong within two weeks,

and she won't turn her sword to us.

Lord Xie, you could only conceal it

for a short time.

When Ban Hua and Rong Xie return,

they need to demount the weapons to face His Majesty,

and we can ambush them and kill them in one blow,

removing the threat forever.

Good.

It's a good thing.

Allow her and her family to be reunited.

[Zhongzhou]

[Ban]

Lord Zhao,

[Zhongzhou] are they the best you mentioned?

You really surprised me.

I was a scholar-official.

If I had the best warriors, I wouldn't have to steal food.

Please excuse me for bragging.

Open the door, boys!

Your boss has come back.

[Zhongzhou] Boss,

why did you turn to a shameless mandarin from the court?

Don't talk nonsense.

General Ban has brought us food.

Hurry and open the door.

Food. Open the door.

Open the door!

[Zhongzhou]

These sweet potatoes could support us for some time.

Where do they come from?

Akeqi sent them.

Akeqi?

Thanks for your help.

When did you find Akeqi?

Why didn't you tell me?

You were transporting the food.

I haven't had time to tell you.

If you need to contact Aipo State,

you could leave the matter to me.

Your face is dirty.

General, a baked sweet potato to you.

The food is limited. I'll share it with the advisor.

Young Master! Your Grace!

Young Master, you were right.

Jiang Luo came and wanted to capture them.

However, thanks to the scheme by Wang Qu and Lord Shi,

we have saved them all.

No worries.

Have a look.

The Bans were settled in a small house in trees on the outskirts of the capital.

I also have guards around the building to protect them.

They are safe so don't worry.

The phenomenon in the court is strange and unpredictable.

You need to be very careful.

I'll be fine as long as my parents and brother are safe.

I do hope Jiang Luo

can wake up to the situation soon,

to see what has happened to the commoners

and take action to end the famine.

No.

How an annoying boy like him

could have died?

- Ban Heng. [Xiangle Manor]

- Ban Heng, come out! - Miss!

[Xiangle Manor] What are you doing?

Ban Heng, come out!

It's dangerous there.

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ☯ Strange Dreamers Team ☯ @ Viki.com

♫ Paper kite, blue tile, Begonia in midsummer ♫

♫ Make jasmine tea in the room ♫

♫ Sing a song and fiddle with Pipa ♫

♫ Her bright smile and gloomy expressions ♫

♫ Crimson clouds flew into the house ♫

♫ Can't control the feelings It's all in the dream ♫

♫ The rain pours down on a sunny day, washing out all the affections ♫

♫ Faith is like a flower ♫

♫ We promised to live a free life ♫

♫ But can be flicked away like dust with fingers ♫

♫ Only want to live a carefree life with her ♫

♫ Travel around the world while we are still in our youth ♫

♫ Nothing is impossible in the dream ♫

♫ Go to the end of the world together ♫

♫ The fleeting life is just a moment ♫

♫ With no fear, willing to take her hands to see the big world ♫

♫ We promised to live a free life ♫

♫ But can be flicked away like dust with fingers ♫

♫ Only want to live a carefree life with her ♫

♫ Travel around the world while we are still in our youth ♫

♫ Nothing is impossible in the dream ♫

♫ Go to the end of the world together ♫

♫ The fleeting life is just a moment ♫

♫ With no fear, willing to take her hands to see the big world ♫