Nirvana in Fire (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 4 - Episode #2.4 - full transcript
Now that they have found a witness and some evidence, they have to figure out how to get back to the capital alive.
[Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin]
[Episode 4]
It should be around here.
Boatman, please stop for a while.
Okay.
The old captain said that the water is very turbulent here. You must be careful.
Don't worry.
Marrying a soldier,
sending him off to battle, the taste of always being in fear (of him not coming back),
I know it very well.
The wealth and splendor of being a noble
would just end up as dispersing smoke and clouds.
I just hope that you can have someone in the future,
who can be with you for a long time,
and be with you until old age.
I know, Mother.
I will listen to everything that you say.
This is indeed the location. I already saw the body of the ship.
But I must dive a few more times. Remember, I will be diving longer than earlier.
Since you are able to dive that long, why then did you come up right now?
You look cold (emotionally), but you actually are soft-hearted.
I fear that you will worry if I dive too long.
[Datong Prefecture Office]
Leader Qian.
Private Assistant Qin.
You said that you will think about
the thing that I told you last night.
I just want to know if you have finished thinking about it.
Leader Qian, you and the magistrate are different.
You are alone, no wife or children.
Why must you accompany him and wait for death?
But I have served the magistrate for seven or eight years already. I...
That's right.
It was exactly because
you have served him long that's why you know more things about him than other people.
You told me that Magistrate Zhang has already destroyed all his letters with the capital,
is that true?
Looks like he still has a few of them remaining.
Where does he store these letters?
Why must you rush? If you dive too deeply, your heart and lungs will get injured.
If you can't do it today, let's just come back tomorrow.
What is this?
Material evidence.
Material evidence?
You are saying that in the different fractured areas in the ship, there was a gel substance like this?
That's right.
This was made from a mixture of black chalk powder and silkworm glue.
It is very secure,
it must be submerged for a few days before it can be separated.
That's why it is hard to notice it beforehand.
But once a collision happens,
it will become very weak.
Severing the supplies and blocking the river channels,
what they cut off are the lives of the people on the front lines!
After Ganzhou, there are at least five regions that are entirely-flat lands.
If the person guarding the city then was not Big Brother Pingzhang, if Brother Pingzhang had...!
What are they trying to do?
No matter what their plans are,
I only remember
the numerous corpses lying on the front line,
my older brother's blood splashed all over Ganzhou,
and all of those started from this.
[Secret correspondence with Minister Songl]
[Jifeng Hall]
Since the start of these events until now, Jifeng Hall and I openly have openly been involved in this matter.
The Prefecture Office surely has already guessed that you were sent from the northern border.
Because of our background,
they still can't dare to openly attack us.
But to transport the witnesses and material evidence out might not be an easy thing.
Have you thought about how to proceed?
Let us talk inside.
I have thought about it all night. There are probably two paths that we can take.
One, is to go to the nearby regional office or other nearby prefecture,
and request for enough soldiers to escort us.
But the details of this case are still not clear. Even if you go to other regional offices,
how can you be sure who can be trusted?
That's why there is second method. That is to quietly wait.
Anyway, we are able to wait.
The envoys sent by His Majesty must be on their way already. At this time, it's better to silently wait than make any move.
The second path is better.
But with a Langya expert like Duan Tongzhou around,
what I am worried about is the safety of another witness.
Another witness? Who are you talking about?
Think about it. Who has the most direct connection with the capital in this case?
The Datong Prefect Office, Magistrate Zhang.
Without him, I am worried that we won't be able to get the mastermind
hiding in the capital out.
Private Assistant, you need anything?
[Magistrate Zhang's letters to Minister Song]
Magistrate Zhang,
the reason you are still saving these secret letters from Minister Song, was it to take them out when the time comes
to frame the Teacher that helped promote you and sever your ties with him?
Minister Song will be very angry if you do such things.
Magistrate Zhang,
I urge you to just keep your cool and do what you should do.
By then, Minister Song and I will work hard,
and you might even have a chance to survive.
But if you plan to change sides beforehand...
Hope the Magistrate will not disappoint Minister Song.
I've got it. Immediately gather your elite soldiers and search that old, dilapidated house.
This time, we must not fail.
Yes.
Private Assistant Qin, since we still have a chance to eliminate the witness,
then about the magistrate, can we...
Of course.
The Magistrate owes Minister Song debts of gratitude for promoting him.
Unless we are left with no other choice, who wants to see Magistrate Zhang harmed?
Lord.
I have already seen it clearly these past days that Magistrate Zhang is not a person that can keep his mouth shut.
- Make your move.
- Yes.
[Datong Prefecture Office]
What is your business here?
Please wait for a while.
Move aside! Move aside! Catch the wanted criminals! All of you, move aside!
What's going on?
Second Young Master.
Please come in.
May Second Young Master have some tea first in the receiving area. I have already sent someone to inform our magistrate.
Miss Lin, hurry and think of a way.
The prefecture office sent out its elite soldiers and they are operating in such openly manner.
They are clearly not just randomly searching, and are focused on a goal.
They are aiming to finish this matter fast.
Second Young Master has not returned yet. I will immediately look for him.
Miss Lin, even if you act fast, it will already be too late now.
- Uncle Tai, call all the men that came out with me. We must go and handle something.
- Your Highness...
Your Highness, you only have a few people. You will not be able to stop them.
I know that I will not be able to stop them.
But if I am able to delay them for a moment, it will be enough. Since I am already involved in this matter, I cannot just watch and do nothing.
Hurry and go!
I will try my best to delay them. Hope Pingjing can find a way fast. I will leave it to you then, Miss Lin.
Sister Yun, I must go to the prefecture office and find Second Young Master.
Who did he say he was?
The Second Young Master of Chang Lin?
Yes.
The person who will come, will eventually come.
Is it that far to walk from the back courtyard to the front?
Second Young Master's identity is special.
I am sure that magistrate just wants to formally welcome you, so he is having a change of clothes.
You...what are you trying to do?
Help! Help!
Magistrate, you need not waste your voice. I have already cleared the area outside.
There is no one there now. Now that the situation has left us with no other choice,
Private Assistant Qin thinks that it is better for the magistrate to just commit suicide.
Magistrate,
you are also an official of a territory.
If you just had any limit to what is right and wrong, you wouldn't be in your present state.
Search! Look well and search carefully!
Search the ins and outs! Search everything!
Do not spare even a corner!
Wait a minute!
What are you all doing?! Move aside!
What are you all trying to do! Who dares get near me?
Your Highness,
the Datong Prefect's Office is doing official business. What are you doing?
Everyone here, listen!
I am the grandson of the previous Emperor!
His Majesty conferred me the title of Prince Laiyang!
This winery was sold to me by the original owner, and is now a private property of the Prince Laiyang!
Anyone who dared to trespass it is belittling the power of His Majesty!
Your Highness, your words are so funny.
Fine. Let us say I indeed believe that you have bought this land,
it is then only an asset that you eventually bought, and not part of a fiefdom conferred to the imperial families.
When the local officials are doing operations to capture any criminals, you have no right to stop them from entering.
Your Highness also does not seem to have any imperial feudal estate under your name, right?
I do not find it surprising then that you do not know the difference between the two.
Second Young Master!
He has no reason to stop us anymore. Search.
Search!
Who dares to search!
Leader Qian, you are a warrior employed by the government.
You naturally know that our Great Liang has always been a land of laws.
If there is really a criminal here that committed a grave crime, may I ask what his crime is,
who ordered his arrest, and where is your warrant!
This place holds an important criminal, and the magistrate personally ordered his arrest.
Of course, we have all the proper documents, but we are just prioritizing the capture of the criminal.
If Your Highness wants to look at the complaints filed, let us just discuss it some other time.
Search!
You think that an idle lad from the capital is likely only to dare to talk, and not dare to kill anyone!
What? That already scared you?
He is after all an imperial grandson, with princely status.
Do you dare kill him?
If you let them escape back to the capital, no one can help you anymore.
Immediately make your move. Be sure to clean it up well.
- Attack!
- The magistrate is here! All of you, stop!
Stop! Stop!
Move.
All of you, stop...
Magistrate Zhang.
Are you alright?
I am fine.
The magistrate is now here.
Who among you still dares to be unruly?
The magistrate has being abducted by bandits.
Leader Qian, are you still not going to hurry and save him?
Fine, let us consider that I have abducted him.
What? You want to force me to kill him?
Yuanqi.
Fellow Datong officers, I am Xiao Pingjing from the House of Chang Lin.
I was ordered by my father to investigate the sinking of the ships at the Tiger Fjord. I am surely no bandit.
This young Prince Laiyang has imperial blood.
Of course, he surely cannot be a bandit.
Although you all are just following orders, you still should use your brains.
What kind of crime is attacking a member of the imperial family for no reason at all?
Have you all thought about that?
Who can vouch for the authenticity of the emblem that you are holding?
The Datong Prefect's Office is solving a local crime. It has nothing to do with this young Prince in the first place.
The person we are targeting is also not the young Prince.
The Magistrate of Datong Prefecture is standing here.
He has not even said a word yet.
Leader Qian is holding a government officer post, so I am willing to admit
that he has the right to order people around.
But you...
May I ask everyone here, who is willing to introduce
that person to me?
At this moment, what right and identity are you holding to talk to me like that?
Leader Qian, if you really get stunned by his few words,
then this last chance of yours will really be gone.
If you are really from the House of Chang Lin, I am sure that we are just having some misunderstandings here.
No matter what the reason is, at least release our magistrate first.
I am just afraid that even if I am willing to let him go, the Magistrate might not be willing to go back.
Am I right, Magistrate?
Yes, yes. Yes!
Brothers, you all saw it! The Magistrate is clearly being threatened by him!
You and the Young Prince keep talking about government laws. If we are really going to follow the laws,
no matter how noble your status are, what right do you have to detain an important government official?
Regarding the power to arrest anyone, no need for this officer to worry about it.
Uncle Yuan?
Second Young Master.
Arrest all these people now! Move!
Yes!
Lin Xi!
You must be careful.
Stop!
Do not let him escape!
Good thing, Miss Lin will be accompanying on this journey. Everything will be fine.
Second Young Master, did you have a good sleep last night?
It is fine to interfere, but he even sent you, Uncle Yuan, to personally come here.
Royal Father does not really trust me.
Enough.
The Old Prince just felt that the envoys that His Majesty will send are scholarly ministers.
Let us not talk about how slow they will be traveling, they surely will also not bring too much people.
In the end, they will also need to borrow soldiers and horses from the neighboring prefectures.
- What if...
- I know.
As the area is closer to Datong, the chances of them conniving are higher.
That is why Father just sent people from far- away Qizhou to come here. Am I right?
The Old Prince and heir apparent were on their way back to the capital, and just so happen to pass by Qizhou.
General Ji of the Shanliu Army has quite a high ranking, and also has good leadership skills.
Even the Old Prince has heard of his military merits.
He naturally thought of sending him to here to help Second Young Master.
Second Young Master, General Yuan.
I have led my men to search for him overnight, but did not find any trace of him.
I think that Duan Tongzhou has already escaped the city.
He is among the Langya expert martial artists, one of the best.
It is natural that he would not be easily caught. General Ji, you have worked hard.
No need for such words, Second Young Master.
These people severed the supplies of our front line, such despicable acts.
I am also a military person. Being able to be asked of this favor by the Old Prince, and be able to make a contribution
is actually my honor.
Miss, are you going to accompany Second Young Master to travel to the capital?
Yes. Doctor Cheng suffered quite a lot of shock these past days.
It is better that I accompany them to the capital.
There is one thing that I want to ask for your permission.
Sister Yun, please say it.
I have long heard that the capital is a prosperous place, but never had the chance to see it.
Sister Yun, if you want to come with us, then please do.
Thank you, Miss.
If you knew that this would happen, why bother doing those things?
Second Young Master, I think that such things couldn't have been devised by him.
Did he ever mention who the man in the capital that is behind all this?
Since he almost got killed before, he has rarely spoken.
Uncle Yuan, send someone to deliver this quickly to the capital, to inform Father that we are on our way back to the capital.
Yes.
It is fine if he does not talk now. As long as we are able to safely arrive in the capital,
the Ministry of Justice surely have ways to make him talk.
Yes...
the critical point is being able to safely enter the capital.
General Ji, I fear that we will not be having smooth sailing back to the capital.
Second Young Master, do not worry. I surely will do my best to defend everyone.
I initially planned to tour the different landscapes on this trip of mine.
Thinking about it now, it seemed to have happened so long ago.
If you ask me, you should have gone out and had a stroll a long time ago, and stop just staying inside the capital.
I am different from you. I only have a widowed mother at home.
If I frequently travel, my mother will naturally get lonely.
Second Young Master.
It is Second Young Master.
General Ji.
Looks like Second Young Master is also like me, unable to sleep at ease if we do not personally check the prisoner.
Miss Lin Xi!
It is already very late. Miss Lin Xi still has not rested?
General Ji.
- Miss Lin.
- Second Young Master.
You two just chat. I will just go over there to check.
We have traveled quite fast. Can Miss Lin and Doctor Cheng take it?
We doctors frequently travel, so you do not need to worry.
That day was Yuanqi's first time to kill someone, that is why he was a bit down all throughout the journey.
But for matters like this, one must get over it by himself. The advice of other people will not really help.
Consoling words are mostly empty words.
If he has a friend by his side now, it is still better than having no one.
I know that you are very picky, but there are really no good wines along the way.
Just make do and drink this.
I just know that blood is warm.
But never thought that it will be this warm.
Pingjing,
have you ever...
What stupid question am I asking?
Although you do not have any military status, you have been in two military battles already.
Brother Pingzhang has been bearing heavy responsibilities since he was ten years old.
Compared to you two,
I just killed one person,
yet my hands are still trembling up to now.
Really so useless.
Yuanqi,
the usefulness of a person...
is not measured by him daring to kill or not.
I understand that principle.
If a similar matter will happen again, I still will help out.
["Ji" (General Ji's personal banner); "Liang" (national banner)]
Second Young Master, we have to be careful and cautious on our journey, we haven't slept well yet.
But now the capital is only a five day's journey away.
We can soon let down our guards a bit.
General Ji, I'm afraid the closer we get to the Capital,
the more we can't let down our guard.
That's right, that's right.
The mastermind behind this will be much stronger with the capital-surrounding state's troops than in Datong.
Once we reach the road in front where the area is quite open, let us have your men rest for a while.
Alright. We'll do as you say.
Don't we say that the doctor's will look after themselves? You dare expose yourself to this winter's wind?
Don't worry Second Young Master, my body is strong, so I won't get sick and delay your itinerary.
I really sometimes don't understand it. Why is every action I take, you always think the worst of it.
Could it be that I've offended you before?
I know, you're not angry with me already.
Put it on.
All along the journey, he has not said a single word.
Actually I've been thinking about a question all along the way.
Thinking about it over and over, I still can't understand.
What question?
Why is it Leader Qian?
Although Duan Tongzhou is highly-skilled in martial arts,
it is not easy to escape from being surrounded heavily by soldiers.
During that dangerous moment, he took a risk and attacked. First, he charged towards Magistrate Zhang.
But afterwards, he turned around and killed Leader Qian. Why?
That time, I and a lot of people were around Magistrate Zhang.
Plus the fact that you and General Ji came to our aid in time,
could it be
that he was worried he would fail completely, so killing one is still one?
With his ability, it is actually not hard for him to kill Magistrate Zhang.
But why did he give up on Magistrate Zhang, and turn around to kill Leader Qian?
With Magistrate Zhang still alive, what is the use of Leader Qian being dead?
What really is the reason that he must do such a thing?
Duan Tongzhou is fourth in ranking among the Langya experts.
I looked at the case records of the imperial doctor. Your seasonal illness has already been cured.
From now on, you must study your writing more.
I will obey.
Your Majesty,
Crown Prince this time not only suffered from seasonal illness, there were also evil spirits that entered his body.
After High Priest Puyang entered the palace to calm his spirits, good effects were immediately seen.
His sleeping and eating also improved a lot.
Being a crown prince is a heavy responsibility.
You setting up altars here in the palace and ordering the members of the inner palace to pray scriptures, I have allowed all of it.
But Empress,
if you want Crown Prince to have good karma, then you cannot just keep thinking about him having good karma.
In the battle of Ganzhou, how many soldiers died?
The heir apparent of the House of Chang Lin almost did not survive.
Don't Empress have any intentions of praying for their blessings?
What His Majesty said is very right. I also discussed this with the high priest before.
I plan to light a thousand long-lasting, divine lamps in the Qiantian Garden of the Imperial City
to pray that the hundreds of deities bestow us blessings,
to commemorate the heroes who have died for the country, and to pray for the heir apparent's safety.
I have already made all the arrangements.
It is just because Your Majesty was quite busy with official work,
so I didn't dare to disturb you just to ask for a decree to proceed.
It was my negligence. Hope Your Majesty can forgive me.
You have said it too seriously. No need to ask for my forgiveness. Yuanshi, sit down.
Since you have thought of it, I feel comforted. Just do as you planned.
I will accept the decree.
Second Young Master, what's wrong?
We have been on alert throughout this journey. The other party should be making their move soon.
[Meng Qianxue, the wife of the heir of the House of Chang Lin]
Are your hands cold?
We only just entered the winter season and there are already two braziers burning by my side. How can I be cold?
Isn't it all because you and Father would not allow me to move around?
That other than exercising my fingers, I am unable to practice anything else.
You suffered gravely this time. Of course, you cannot randomly move around.
Fine.
I am calculating their travel.
Don't know to what area has PIngjing traveled to at this moment.
Are you worried
that something bad might happen to him on his way back to the capital from Datong Prefecture?
No.
It is not 'might'.
There surely will be something that will happen.
♫ The long, slow song rises like wind flowing through the corridors reaching the imposing, opulent and bright Imperial Hall ♫
♫ Memories of that certain year, when far-away borders blazed with fires of war, in vast fields of ice and snow ♫
♫ From this world, the many slanders pass through the vermilion gates, over the palace walls ♫
♫ Beneath iron armor, together with silken skirts and silver spears, hair grows hoary as though with early frost ♫
♫ Hoping for the day when we can sincerely join hands in a faraway place without a second thought ♫
♫ Fiery liquor consumed at the end of the world, at the limits of exhaustion, is a feast! ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Good bows hoarded; likewise, so as not to injure, sigh against the way of heaven when stored indefinitely ♫
♫ Clouds of fear calm shameful waves, the night air stops their bickering by starlight ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Good bows hoarded; likewise, so as not to injure, sigh against the way of heaven when stored indefinitely ♫
♫ Clouds of fear calm shameful waves, the night air stops their bickering by starlight ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Hoping for the whole world to remain at peace, quench the fires of war ♫
[Episode 4]
It should be around here.
Boatman, please stop for a while.
Okay.
The old captain said that the water is very turbulent here. You must be careful.
Don't worry.
Marrying a soldier,
sending him off to battle, the taste of always being in fear (of him not coming back),
I know it very well.
The wealth and splendor of being a noble
would just end up as dispersing smoke and clouds.
I just hope that you can have someone in the future,
who can be with you for a long time,
and be with you until old age.
I know, Mother.
I will listen to everything that you say.
This is indeed the location. I already saw the body of the ship.
But I must dive a few more times. Remember, I will be diving longer than earlier.
Since you are able to dive that long, why then did you come up right now?
You look cold (emotionally), but you actually are soft-hearted.
I fear that you will worry if I dive too long.
[Datong Prefecture Office]
Leader Qian.
Private Assistant Qin.
You said that you will think about
the thing that I told you last night.
I just want to know if you have finished thinking about it.
Leader Qian, you and the magistrate are different.
You are alone, no wife or children.
Why must you accompany him and wait for death?
But I have served the magistrate for seven or eight years already. I...
That's right.
It was exactly because
you have served him long that's why you know more things about him than other people.
You told me that Magistrate Zhang has already destroyed all his letters with the capital,
is that true?
Looks like he still has a few of them remaining.
Where does he store these letters?
Why must you rush? If you dive too deeply, your heart and lungs will get injured.
If you can't do it today, let's just come back tomorrow.
What is this?
Material evidence.
Material evidence?
You are saying that in the different fractured areas in the ship, there was a gel substance like this?
That's right.
This was made from a mixture of black chalk powder and silkworm glue.
It is very secure,
it must be submerged for a few days before it can be separated.
That's why it is hard to notice it beforehand.
But once a collision happens,
it will become very weak.
Severing the supplies and blocking the river channels,
what they cut off are the lives of the people on the front lines!
After Ganzhou, there are at least five regions that are entirely-flat lands.
If the person guarding the city then was not Big Brother Pingzhang, if Brother Pingzhang had...!
What are they trying to do?
No matter what their plans are,
I only remember
the numerous corpses lying on the front line,
my older brother's blood splashed all over Ganzhou,
and all of those started from this.
[Secret correspondence with Minister Songl]
[Jifeng Hall]
Since the start of these events until now, Jifeng Hall and I openly have openly been involved in this matter.
The Prefecture Office surely has already guessed that you were sent from the northern border.
Because of our background,
they still can't dare to openly attack us.
But to transport the witnesses and material evidence out might not be an easy thing.
Have you thought about how to proceed?
Let us talk inside.
I have thought about it all night. There are probably two paths that we can take.
One, is to go to the nearby regional office or other nearby prefecture,
and request for enough soldiers to escort us.
But the details of this case are still not clear. Even if you go to other regional offices,
how can you be sure who can be trusted?
That's why there is second method. That is to quietly wait.
Anyway, we are able to wait.
The envoys sent by His Majesty must be on their way already. At this time, it's better to silently wait than make any move.
The second path is better.
But with a Langya expert like Duan Tongzhou around,
what I am worried about is the safety of another witness.
Another witness? Who are you talking about?
Think about it. Who has the most direct connection with the capital in this case?
The Datong Prefect Office, Magistrate Zhang.
Without him, I am worried that we won't be able to get the mastermind
hiding in the capital out.
Private Assistant, you need anything?
[Magistrate Zhang's letters to Minister Song]
Magistrate Zhang,
the reason you are still saving these secret letters from Minister Song, was it to take them out when the time comes
to frame the Teacher that helped promote you and sever your ties with him?
Minister Song will be very angry if you do such things.
Magistrate Zhang,
I urge you to just keep your cool and do what you should do.
By then, Minister Song and I will work hard,
and you might even have a chance to survive.
But if you plan to change sides beforehand...
Hope the Magistrate will not disappoint Minister Song.
I've got it. Immediately gather your elite soldiers and search that old, dilapidated house.
This time, we must not fail.
Yes.
Private Assistant Qin, since we still have a chance to eliminate the witness,
then about the magistrate, can we...
Of course.
The Magistrate owes Minister Song debts of gratitude for promoting him.
Unless we are left with no other choice, who wants to see Magistrate Zhang harmed?
Lord.
I have already seen it clearly these past days that Magistrate Zhang is not a person that can keep his mouth shut.
- Make your move.
- Yes.
[Datong Prefecture Office]
What is your business here?
Please wait for a while.
Move aside! Move aside! Catch the wanted criminals! All of you, move aside!
What's going on?
Second Young Master.
Please come in.
May Second Young Master have some tea first in the receiving area. I have already sent someone to inform our magistrate.
Miss Lin, hurry and think of a way.
The prefecture office sent out its elite soldiers and they are operating in such openly manner.
They are clearly not just randomly searching, and are focused on a goal.
They are aiming to finish this matter fast.
Second Young Master has not returned yet. I will immediately look for him.
Miss Lin, even if you act fast, it will already be too late now.
- Uncle Tai, call all the men that came out with me. We must go and handle something.
- Your Highness...
Your Highness, you only have a few people. You will not be able to stop them.
I know that I will not be able to stop them.
But if I am able to delay them for a moment, it will be enough. Since I am already involved in this matter, I cannot just watch and do nothing.
Hurry and go!
I will try my best to delay them. Hope Pingjing can find a way fast. I will leave it to you then, Miss Lin.
Sister Yun, I must go to the prefecture office and find Second Young Master.
Who did he say he was?
The Second Young Master of Chang Lin?
Yes.
The person who will come, will eventually come.
Is it that far to walk from the back courtyard to the front?
Second Young Master's identity is special.
I am sure that magistrate just wants to formally welcome you, so he is having a change of clothes.
You...what are you trying to do?
Help! Help!
Magistrate, you need not waste your voice. I have already cleared the area outside.
There is no one there now. Now that the situation has left us with no other choice,
Private Assistant Qin thinks that it is better for the magistrate to just commit suicide.
Magistrate,
you are also an official of a territory.
If you just had any limit to what is right and wrong, you wouldn't be in your present state.
Search! Look well and search carefully!
Search the ins and outs! Search everything!
Do not spare even a corner!
Wait a minute!
What are you all doing?! Move aside!
What are you all trying to do! Who dares get near me?
Your Highness,
the Datong Prefect's Office is doing official business. What are you doing?
Everyone here, listen!
I am the grandson of the previous Emperor!
His Majesty conferred me the title of Prince Laiyang!
This winery was sold to me by the original owner, and is now a private property of the Prince Laiyang!
Anyone who dared to trespass it is belittling the power of His Majesty!
Your Highness, your words are so funny.
Fine. Let us say I indeed believe that you have bought this land,
it is then only an asset that you eventually bought, and not part of a fiefdom conferred to the imperial families.
When the local officials are doing operations to capture any criminals, you have no right to stop them from entering.
Your Highness also does not seem to have any imperial feudal estate under your name, right?
I do not find it surprising then that you do not know the difference between the two.
Second Young Master!
He has no reason to stop us anymore. Search.
Search!
Who dares to search!
Leader Qian, you are a warrior employed by the government.
You naturally know that our Great Liang has always been a land of laws.
If there is really a criminal here that committed a grave crime, may I ask what his crime is,
who ordered his arrest, and where is your warrant!
This place holds an important criminal, and the magistrate personally ordered his arrest.
Of course, we have all the proper documents, but we are just prioritizing the capture of the criminal.
If Your Highness wants to look at the complaints filed, let us just discuss it some other time.
Search!
You think that an idle lad from the capital is likely only to dare to talk, and not dare to kill anyone!
What? That already scared you?
He is after all an imperial grandson, with princely status.
Do you dare kill him?
If you let them escape back to the capital, no one can help you anymore.
Immediately make your move. Be sure to clean it up well.
- Attack!
- The magistrate is here! All of you, stop!
Stop! Stop!
Move.
All of you, stop...
Magistrate Zhang.
Are you alright?
I am fine.
The magistrate is now here.
Who among you still dares to be unruly?
The magistrate has being abducted by bandits.
Leader Qian, are you still not going to hurry and save him?
Fine, let us consider that I have abducted him.
What? You want to force me to kill him?
Yuanqi.
Fellow Datong officers, I am Xiao Pingjing from the House of Chang Lin.
I was ordered by my father to investigate the sinking of the ships at the Tiger Fjord. I am surely no bandit.
This young Prince Laiyang has imperial blood.
Of course, he surely cannot be a bandit.
Although you all are just following orders, you still should use your brains.
What kind of crime is attacking a member of the imperial family for no reason at all?
Have you all thought about that?
Who can vouch for the authenticity of the emblem that you are holding?
The Datong Prefect's Office is solving a local crime. It has nothing to do with this young Prince in the first place.
The person we are targeting is also not the young Prince.
The Magistrate of Datong Prefecture is standing here.
He has not even said a word yet.
Leader Qian is holding a government officer post, so I am willing to admit
that he has the right to order people around.
But you...
May I ask everyone here, who is willing to introduce
that person to me?
At this moment, what right and identity are you holding to talk to me like that?
Leader Qian, if you really get stunned by his few words,
then this last chance of yours will really be gone.
If you are really from the House of Chang Lin, I am sure that we are just having some misunderstandings here.
No matter what the reason is, at least release our magistrate first.
I am just afraid that even if I am willing to let him go, the Magistrate might not be willing to go back.
Am I right, Magistrate?
Yes, yes. Yes!
Brothers, you all saw it! The Magistrate is clearly being threatened by him!
You and the Young Prince keep talking about government laws. If we are really going to follow the laws,
no matter how noble your status are, what right do you have to detain an important government official?
Regarding the power to arrest anyone, no need for this officer to worry about it.
Uncle Yuan?
Second Young Master.
Arrest all these people now! Move!
Yes!
Lin Xi!
You must be careful.
Stop!
Do not let him escape!
Good thing, Miss Lin will be accompanying on this journey. Everything will be fine.
Second Young Master, did you have a good sleep last night?
It is fine to interfere, but he even sent you, Uncle Yuan, to personally come here.
Royal Father does not really trust me.
Enough.
The Old Prince just felt that the envoys that His Majesty will send are scholarly ministers.
Let us not talk about how slow they will be traveling, they surely will also not bring too much people.
In the end, they will also need to borrow soldiers and horses from the neighboring prefectures.
- What if...
- I know.
As the area is closer to Datong, the chances of them conniving are higher.
That is why Father just sent people from far- away Qizhou to come here. Am I right?
The Old Prince and heir apparent were on their way back to the capital, and just so happen to pass by Qizhou.
General Ji of the Shanliu Army has quite a high ranking, and also has good leadership skills.
Even the Old Prince has heard of his military merits.
He naturally thought of sending him to here to help Second Young Master.
Second Young Master, General Yuan.
I have led my men to search for him overnight, but did not find any trace of him.
I think that Duan Tongzhou has already escaped the city.
He is among the Langya expert martial artists, one of the best.
It is natural that he would not be easily caught. General Ji, you have worked hard.
No need for such words, Second Young Master.
These people severed the supplies of our front line, such despicable acts.
I am also a military person. Being able to be asked of this favor by the Old Prince, and be able to make a contribution
is actually my honor.
Miss, are you going to accompany Second Young Master to travel to the capital?
Yes. Doctor Cheng suffered quite a lot of shock these past days.
It is better that I accompany them to the capital.
There is one thing that I want to ask for your permission.
Sister Yun, please say it.
I have long heard that the capital is a prosperous place, but never had the chance to see it.
Sister Yun, if you want to come with us, then please do.
Thank you, Miss.
If you knew that this would happen, why bother doing those things?
Second Young Master, I think that such things couldn't have been devised by him.
Did he ever mention who the man in the capital that is behind all this?
Since he almost got killed before, he has rarely spoken.
Uncle Yuan, send someone to deliver this quickly to the capital, to inform Father that we are on our way back to the capital.
Yes.
It is fine if he does not talk now. As long as we are able to safely arrive in the capital,
the Ministry of Justice surely have ways to make him talk.
Yes...
the critical point is being able to safely enter the capital.
General Ji, I fear that we will not be having smooth sailing back to the capital.
Second Young Master, do not worry. I surely will do my best to defend everyone.
I initially planned to tour the different landscapes on this trip of mine.
Thinking about it now, it seemed to have happened so long ago.
If you ask me, you should have gone out and had a stroll a long time ago, and stop just staying inside the capital.
I am different from you. I only have a widowed mother at home.
If I frequently travel, my mother will naturally get lonely.
Second Young Master.
It is Second Young Master.
General Ji.
Looks like Second Young Master is also like me, unable to sleep at ease if we do not personally check the prisoner.
Miss Lin Xi!
It is already very late. Miss Lin Xi still has not rested?
General Ji.
- Miss Lin.
- Second Young Master.
You two just chat. I will just go over there to check.
We have traveled quite fast. Can Miss Lin and Doctor Cheng take it?
We doctors frequently travel, so you do not need to worry.
That day was Yuanqi's first time to kill someone, that is why he was a bit down all throughout the journey.
But for matters like this, one must get over it by himself. The advice of other people will not really help.
Consoling words are mostly empty words.
If he has a friend by his side now, it is still better than having no one.
I know that you are very picky, but there are really no good wines along the way.
Just make do and drink this.
I just know that blood is warm.
But never thought that it will be this warm.
Pingjing,
have you ever...
What stupid question am I asking?
Although you do not have any military status, you have been in two military battles already.
Brother Pingzhang has been bearing heavy responsibilities since he was ten years old.
Compared to you two,
I just killed one person,
yet my hands are still trembling up to now.
Really so useless.
Yuanqi,
the usefulness of a person...
is not measured by him daring to kill or not.
I understand that principle.
If a similar matter will happen again, I still will help out.
["Ji" (General Ji's personal banner); "Liang" (national banner)]
Second Young Master, we have to be careful and cautious on our journey, we haven't slept well yet.
But now the capital is only a five day's journey away.
We can soon let down our guards a bit.
General Ji, I'm afraid the closer we get to the Capital,
the more we can't let down our guard.
That's right, that's right.
The mastermind behind this will be much stronger with the capital-surrounding state's troops than in Datong.
Once we reach the road in front where the area is quite open, let us have your men rest for a while.
Alright. We'll do as you say.
Don't we say that the doctor's will look after themselves? You dare expose yourself to this winter's wind?
Don't worry Second Young Master, my body is strong, so I won't get sick and delay your itinerary.
I really sometimes don't understand it. Why is every action I take, you always think the worst of it.
Could it be that I've offended you before?
I know, you're not angry with me already.
Put it on.
All along the journey, he has not said a single word.
Actually I've been thinking about a question all along the way.
Thinking about it over and over, I still can't understand.
What question?
Why is it Leader Qian?
Although Duan Tongzhou is highly-skilled in martial arts,
it is not easy to escape from being surrounded heavily by soldiers.
During that dangerous moment, he took a risk and attacked. First, he charged towards Magistrate Zhang.
But afterwards, he turned around and killed Leader Qian. Why?
That time, I and a lot of people were around Magistrate Zhang.
Plus the fact that you and General Ji came to our aid in time,
could it be
that he was worried he would fail completely, so killing one is still one?
With his ability, it is actually not hard for him to kill Magistrate Zhang.
But why did he give up on Magistrate Zhang, and turn around to kill Leader Qian?
With Magistrate Zhang still alive, what is the use of Leader Qian being dead?
What really is the reason that he must do such a thing?
Duan Tongzhou is fourth in ranking among the Langya experts.
I looked at the case records of the imperial doctor. Your seasonal illness has already been cured.
From now on, you must study your writing more.
I will obey.
Your Majesty,
Crown Prince this time not only suffered from seasonal illness, there were also evil spirits that entered his body.
After High Priest Puyang entered the palace to calm his spirits, good effects were immediately seen.
His sleeping and eating also improved a lot.
Being a crown prince is a heavy responsibility.
You setting up altars here in the palace and ordering the members of the inner palace to pray scriptures, I have allowed all of it.
But Empress,
if you want Crown Prince to have good karma, then you cannot just keep thinking about him having good karma.
In the battle of Ganzhou, how many soldiers died?
The heir apparent of the House of Chang Lin almost did not survive.
Don't Empress have any intentions of praying for their blessings?
What His Majesty said is very right. I also discussed this with the high priest before.
I plan to light a thousand long-lasting, divine lamps in the Qiantian Garden of the Imperial City
to pray that the hundreds of deities bestow us blessings,
to commemorate the heroes who have died for the country, and to pray for the heir apparent's safety.
I have already made all the arrangements.
It is just because Your Majesty was quite busy with official work,
so I didn't dare to disturb you just to ask for a decree to proceed.
It was my negligence. Hope Your Majesty can forgive me.
You have said it too seriously. No need to ask for my forgiveness. Yuanshi, sit down.
Since you have thought of it, I feel comforted. Just do as you planned.
I will accept the decree.
Second Young Master, what's wrong?
We have been on alert throughout this journey. The other party should be making their move soon.
[Meng Qianxue, the wife of the heir of the House of Chang Lin]
Are your hands cold?
We only just entered the winter season and there are already two braziers burning by my side. How can I be cold?
Isn't it all because you and Father would not allow me to move around?
That other than exercising my fingers, I am unable to practice anything else.
You suffered gravely this time. Of course, you cannot randomly move around.
Fine.
I am calculating their travel.
Don't know to what area has PIngjing traveled to at this moment.
Are you worried
that something bad might happen to him on his way back to the capital from Datong Prefecture?
No.
It is not 'might'.
There surely will be something that will happen.
♫ The long, slow song rises like wind flowing through the corridors reaching the imposing, opulent and bright Imperial Hall ♫
♫ Memories of that certain year, when far-away borders blazed with fires of war, in vast fields of ice and snow ♫
♫ From this world, the many slanders pass through the vermilion gates, over the palace walls ♫
♫ Beneath iron armor, together with silken skirts and silver spears, hair grows hoary as though with early frost ♫
♫ Hoping for the day when we can sincerely join hands in a faraway place without a second thought ♫
♫ Fiery liquor consumed at the end of the world, at the limits of exhaustion, is a feast! ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Good bows hoarded; likewise, so as not to injure, sigh against the way of heaven when stored indefinitely ♫
♫ Clouds of fear calm shameful waves, the night air stops their bickering by starlight ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Good bows hoarded; likewise, so as not to injure, sigh against the way of heaven when stored indefinitely ♫
♫ Clouds of fear calm shameful waves, the night air stops their bickering by starlight ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Hoping for the whole world to remain at peace, quench the fires of war ♫