Is something on your mind?
Nothing.
Why do I smell something burning?
My dishes!
Did something happen?
Qian is asking you to become her husband.
What?
Is she coming here to steal everything good?
Borrow. She's here to borrow.
To chase away the customer who is disturbing her.
Borrowing won't do.
Zhao, why are you pulling me away?
If a woman wants to borrow you away,
will you agree to it?
If the woman is gentle, I don't mind.
I dare you to talk more.
What benefits did she give you?
You sold me for just a few taels of silver?
I'd never sell you for a few taels of silver.
Indeed.
A few taels of silver are too cheap.
30 taels.
- What? - 30 taels?
Changyu is actually being kind-hearted.
Yan Zheng, why don't you help her out?
Think of it as gathering good karma.
No.
Why are you objecting?
If I can sell you for three to five taels,
I'll agree to it immediately.
You...
Changning,
let's go. We'll leave them here.
Am I less valuable than a pig?
How much money do you think you're worth?
Why didn't you ask for help from someone else?
For example, that Commandant Li.
He's not in Lin'an.
Even if he's here, I won't ask him for help.
Why should I ask an outsider for help
instead of my own husband?
Just help Qian.
Just one day.
If her Yixiang Restaurant goes bankrupt,
it's bad for our business, too.
That rice merchant called Qi
is as sticky as a piece of medicated plaster.
Once he sticks on, you can't even remove it.
He doesn't harm people but he gives people the creeps.
A rice merchant called Qi?
(Did he have any close contact with other people?)
(Seems like a rice merchant from the capital called Qi.)
Just one day?
Just one day.
=Pursuit of Jade=
(Adapted from Tuanzi Laixi's novel, "Pursuit of Jade")
=Episode 13=
(Guests From All Lands)
This way.
Yan Zheng.
With that appearance, you can pass off as a marquis,
let alone a mere manager.
Not bad. Please come here.
I'll depend on you today.
Don't worry.
Changyu told me
that you are her best friend in Lin'an.
If she wants to help you,
I'll do my best.
This way.
(Heaven-Rank Room)
Young Master Qi.
Madam Yu, have you recovered from your illness?
Young Master Qi, this is my husband, Yan Zheng.
Recently, he has been working outside.
He only came back to Lin'an today.
I purposely brought him here
to thank you for taking care of our small shop's business.
Young Master Qi,
nice to meet you.
You are Madam Yu's husband?
Of course.
Yan Zheng, have a chat with Young Master Qi.
I'll go and prepare some liquor and dishes.
Young Master Qi,
please take a seat.
Listen to our master's signal of throwing his cup.
Then, we'll kidnap that person.
Young Master Qi, I heard you came from the capital.
I wonder why you came to this small Lin'an town
to run a grain business.
Young Master Yan, you are also not a local.
Why do you run a restaurant in Lin'an?
Please forgive my wife
for not taking good care of you.
If there's any business discussion in the future,
just contact me.
Young Master Yan, I wonder how large a business deal you can do?
For example,
10 million kg of grain.
Forgive me.
Yixiang Restaurant is too popular.
There will sometimes be some jealous competitors
who are trying to cause trouble in secret.
No wonder Madam Yu
refused my request to reserve the whole restaurant.
Turns out the deal wasn't big enough.
Sure.
We'll discuss it again another day.
Where is he?
- He left. - He left?
He left so easily?
Yan Zheng,
my 30 taels of silver is well spent.
What's wrong, Master?
You'll never imagine this.
I just met a dead person
and that woman actually called him her husband.
Master, are you talking about...
Marquis Wu'an, Xie Zheng.
Xie Zheng?
Isn't he dead?
If Marquis Wu'an is still alive,
it'll be inconvenient for Lord Changxin's plan to proceed.
My father
wanted to create panic and chase away the refugees
by using bandits to steal the army rations
before reaping the rewards.
But right now,
not only is Marquis Wu'an still alive,
but he also knows that we bought 10 million kg of grain.
He is obviously well-prepared.
The final winner hasn't been decided yet.
This show is getting more and more interesting.
Back then, you purposely leaked some news
for Marquis Wu'an to investigate
the Jinzhou tragedy 16 years ago
because you knew Chancellor Wei wouldn't let him overturn the case.
You wanted to use Chancellor Wei
to get rid of Xie Zheng.
But he is still alive now.
Should we tell Wei Yan
his whereabouts
and use Wei Yan to kill him again?
No.
We sowed discord between them
just to remove Wei Yan's support.
Marquis Wu'an has never been our enemy.
Now that the uncle and the nephew are destined to oppose each other,
and Marquis Wu'an ended up in the countryside,
we can use this opportunity to win him over.
Take my East Palace Seal
and lure him with my identity as a former Crown Prince.
Yes.
About Madam Yu...
Her?
Just find someone to keep a close eye on her.
(Yixiang Restaurant) Guests, please come inside.
Please come inside.
Guest, please come inside.
Get me another jar of liquor.
Sure.
Young Lady Fan.
Changyu.
Come here.
Take a look.
This restaurant is so busy
thanks to you.
How is it my credit?
Since your husband came to Yixiang restaurant,
that man called Qi has never disturbed me again.
I'm fully focused on running the business.
Isn't it all thanks to you
for making this restaurant so busy?
Come with me.
I wonder what dishes Chef Li are making on Chinese New Year's Eve.
What do you plan to eat at night?
Chinese Cabbage with Tofu
and Stir-fried Pork.
Go.
Greetings, Mother. Greetings, Lady Fan.
Sit.
What is Changning doing at home?
I miss her.
Why don't you come to my house
and play with her after Chinese New Year's Eve?
Mother, can I go?
Sure.
Just once.
Changning said
she wanted to show me the family heirloom at her house.
Family heirloom?
I think she's talking about the cleaver.
I don't think that's necessary.
That's amazing.
It's a cleaver?
I still have something to say to Lady Fan.
Go and study first.
Let's go.
Qian,
aren't you too strict towards Bao'er?
Not at all.
I just want my son to be the best.
Changyu,
tomorrow is Chinese New Year's Eve.
I'm sure all of you will be busy.
I wish you all the best in the new year.
I'm not a child.
Why are you giving me red packets?
Girls like us
are forever young.
Come. Let's go drink some liquor.
Drinking liquor in the afternoon?
Women drink according to their mood.
When we drink doesn't matter.
When are we going to drink if not now?
(Celebration in Abundance)
Qian,
the last time I had so much fun
was the day I married Yan Zheng.
Changyu,
you've been married for a while now.
Are you satisfied
with your husband?
Does he only look good on the outside?
What do you mean by "good"?
Yan Zheng is the best.
The best of all.
Is he that amazing?
I'll find someone
and beat up Madam Kang.
She said both of you didn't consummate your marriage.
You're talking about consummating our marriage?
What else?
Madam Kang and her foul mouth.
It's fine. I can afford to compensate the people I beat up.
Don't worry.
Qian.
Actually, she was
not totally wrong.
How so?
One day,
Madam Zhao locked both of us up in the room.
Next,
both of us had a fight.
Are you two for real?
Actually, I know very well
that he will
leave sooner or later.
I've asked him directly and indirectly many times.
His answers are still the same.
That husband of yours
doesn't seem like an ordinary person indeed.
It's fine.
If he insists on leaving,
get a child from him before he leaves.
Think about it.
If your son is as handsome as he is,
it'll also be a blessing.
That won't do.
Doesn't doing that feel like a jerk?
If you can't sacrifice a child, you can't trap a wolf.
That's not right.
If you can't feed the wolf, you won't get a child.
Don't worry.
Leave this to me.
(Xigu Lane)
Manager of Lin'an Rice Shop, Zhao Xun, is here to visit.
It's cold.
Aren't you going to invite me inside, Marquis?
Marquis.
Marquis?
(To Always Have Food)
How did you recognize me?
I used to run my business in Jizhou and Yanzhou.
I was fortunate enough to see you before.
So?
Why do you visit me today?
The Xie family is loyal.
Everyone in the country knows that.
However, Heaven is unfair.
They are always being harmed by despicable people.
I feel pity for you, Marquis.
I don't know what you mean.
The reason why you were pursued by Chancellor Wei
is that you were investigating
the Jinzhou case 16 years ago.
Who are you?
16 years ago,
in that East Palace fire,
I was a fortunate survivor.
The treacherous Wei Yan is holding all the power
and helping the puppet emperor.
We are a group of people
who want to set things right.
So,
do you have proof?
Back then, Crown Prince Chengde and your father
died together in Jinzhou.
After that, the emperor abdicated the throne
and the East Palace caught on fire.
Everything points to Wei Yan's doing.
Your father and the Crown Prince died together on the battlefield
and their bodies were hung on the gates for three days by the Beijue people.
Don't you want to avenge them, Marquis?
The moment you started reinvestigating the Jinzhou case,
you were being assassinated
and drifted here, Marquis.
Does that not count as a form of proof?
Not enough.
We also found out
that Wei Yan sent his assassins
all over the capital and 17 prefectures
to kill more than ten people.
They were all retired retainers
who used to work for Wei Yan.
What is here in the Fan residence
that is worth deploying the Wei family's Mystic Iron Assassins?
It's the chancellor.
He asked me to find a letter.
(So, Fan Er used to work for Wei Yan.)
(That was why he was assassinated.)
Marquis,
Wei Yan is powerful.
He intends to take over the whole country.
If you want to defeat him,
don't you need any assistance, Marquis?
How can I trust you?
How can you trust me?
Pay me a deposit.
What deposit?
10 million kg of grain.
What do you think?
It seems like he indeed knows
that I've been gathering grains from Jizhou and Chongzhou.
We bought from all kinds of places.
The grains passed through more than a hundred grain merchants' hands.
How did he find out the exact amount?
I do want to ask you about this.
Forgive me. I've neglected my duties.
However, it's a good thing that he's willing to make an offer.
This is a business after all.
We can only begin the discussion with an initial offer.
10 million kg.
Master,
we have acquired most of
Chongzhou and Jizhou's grain.
I'm not asking you to pay him all in one go.
Father has never cared about me.
The position of Crown Prince also belongs to Sui Yuanqing.
However, if we can get Marquis Wu'an to help us,
we will have a higher chance of winning.
If Marquis Wu'an
doesn't believe in your identity
and betrays us after getting the grains,
what should we do?
Betray us?
Where else can he go?
Do you think he will serve Wei Yan again?
As long as he is sincere in helping me,
I can even grant him
all four prefectures of Northwest as his fief,
let alone 10 million kg of grain.
Understood.
I'll get to it right now.
Wei Yan.
You will soon
be bitten by that ingrate
you raised yourself.
Chancellor.
While investigating Grand Tutor Li and the rebel faction in secret,
I found out
that Marquis Wu'an's reinvestigation of the Jinzhou matter 16 years ago
was instigated by Lord Changxin's faction.
If Xie Zheng didn't exist in this world,
Lord Changxin would lose its greatest threat on the battlefield.
The Sui family
is ruining my plan.
There's one more thing.
Li Huai'an has been summoned by Grand Tutor Li back to the capital
for some reason.
The Princess Royal has returned to the capital.
That old man wants the marriage to happen as soon as possible,
so he was in a rush to summon his eldest grandson back.
Ignore him.
Send a letter to He Jingyuan immediately
and ask him to guard Lucheng with his life.
That is where the final battle will take place.
- Pull it. - Tanghulu!
(Chinese New Year's Eve)
Happy Chinese New Year.
Eat, everyone.
Coming.
Madam Wang, Happy Chinese New Year.
- Happy Chinese New Year. - Look at mine.
Allow me to greet you.
Third Uncle, Happy Chinese New Year.
Happy Chinese New Year.
(Chunfeng Tofu Shop)
Go.
Horizontal stroke.
Horizontal stroke. Vertical stroke.
Vertical stroke.
Horizontal stroke. Turning stroke. Left and right falling stroke.
Changyu, Yan Zheng is teaching me how to write.
Good girl.
Do you know how to write Chinese New Year Couplets?
In the past, my mother was always the one who wrote them.
Yan Zheng, do you know how to write them?
Bring the paper to me.
All right.
You ground too much ink.
In that case, write a few more.
Write some for Madam Zhao
and put some on the frame of the doors of this house
for a good omen.
Sure.
♪Quietly locked my heart♪
♪And hid you in my very soul♪
♪The moonlight is as quiet as me♪
♪Spreading glow♪
♪Reflecting the mottled shadows in my heart♪
♪The flame that seemed like love♪
♪Remained so little♪
♪Let me hide in your embrace♪
♪I pray our love♪
♪Will stay tight and never part♪
♪I'm willing to spend my whole life♪
♪Waiting faithfully♪
Did I touch you?
It's fine. There's just too much ink.
♪I pray love won't be like♪
♪Grains of sand falling into the sea♪
You write so well.
What a pity.
It's fine.
I can just stick them in front of Changning and my room.
(Ice thaws, springs awaken) Ice something.
Springs something.
(Snow vanishes, grass sprouts) Snow something. Grass something.
Ice thaws, springs awaken.
Snow vanishes, grass sprouts.
When my mother used to write Chinese New Year Couplets,
she also didn't like
writing the same auspicious phrases.
Do you like them?
Can you draw?
Just a little.
That's good enough.
If you sell calligraphy and painting,
you'll surely make a lot of money.
I don't draw paintings that don't suit my mood.
I want to write, too.
You can write the horizontal scroll.
Changning, write a horizontal scroll.
What should you write?
What should I write?
This one will do.
(Get Rich)
What do you think of this horizontal scroll?
Just like
a dog's tail attached to a saber's fur.
It means very good, right?
Just right.
Because I wrote too well.
I'm great.
Oh, the falcon.
Good falcon.
Let's celebrate the Chinese New Year together.
Putting the falcon's claw marks on it.
Our whole family will be together.
Look.
(Get Rich)
Zhao.
Lower.
Good.
Stop moving. That's good enough.
- All right. - Let's take a look at Changyu's place.
Good.
Dear,
what do you think?
The calligraphy is so nice.
I've never seen such good handwriting.
Did he write these?
I guess.
Can an illiterate person like you know this?
I might be illiterate,
but I know that the handwriting is valuable.
Look how neat and orderly
the words are.
They are obviously valuable.
Mister Zhao. Madam Zhao.
This Chinese New Year Couplet is well written.
Who wrote this?
These were written by Changyu's husband.
Changyu's husband.
Changyu.
Your husband writes good Chinese New Year Couplets.
Compared to that juren, Song Yan,
it's way better.
Otherwise, why would we say
that Changyu has good taste?
Can you write one for me, too?
- Yes. Please write one for us. - All of us.
Madam,
sorry.
We don't have any more couplet papers.
Couplet papers?
We have many red papers left behind from previous years.
Our house, too.
- Me too. - My house has some, too.
Sure.
Bring your papers here.
Sure.
Let's go and get some red papers.
Sure. Thank you.
See you later.
Let's go.
If you don't want to do it,
you don't have to agree to it.
You don't need to do it for me.
I'm willing to do it.
Just now, you said
you wouldn't draw if it doesn't suit your mood.
Does it suit your mood now?
Grind the ink.
Changyu.
Lady Zhuang.
Here's our own rice candy.
It's a snack for Changning.
- This... - Take it.
Changyu, I heard your husband is writing couplets for other people.
I haven't written this year's couplets,
so I came here shamelessly.
I didn't bring any gifts.
Here's some fresh tofu for you.
Madams,
please take a seat.
Sure.
- Thank you. - I brought these red papers.
Sure. Thank you.
Harmony at home brings peace on all sides.
- He writes really well. - All right.
It's done.
Lanterns light each door to celebrate a prosperous year.
Spring rides the ox's back across the greening fields.
It means there will be a bountiful harvest
next spring
and everyone in the family will be happy and healthy.
The wind and rain darken the sky.
The rooster crows without cease.
Now that I have met the noble one,
how could I not rejoice?
(This poem means)
(rain pouring down in torrents when the sky is dim)
(and the roosters crow in a panic.)
(In this chaotic moment,)
(I turned around)
(and saw her immediately.)
Just like the clouds in the sky are cleared,
and a ray of light shines on me.
It's full of warmth
and brings joy to me.
(When I heard him recite the poem back then,)
(I only thought it felt nice)
(but I didn't know why.)
(Just now,)
(when he turned around and looked at me,)
(at that moment,)
(the whole yard was silent.)
(It felt like the snow fell more slowly.)
(Even the breeze)
(feels soft and no longer hurts.)
(Just like the sun in the winter.)
(Shining straight on me.)
(Turns out, when a person is happy,)
(the heart will make sounds.)
(Just like the crackles made by firewood)
(when I sit by the stove,)
(so light and warm.)
Your hand hurts, right?
I'm fine.
How stubborn.
Are you here to ask for couplets, too?
In the past,
the couplets were written by my eldest grandson, Kang Dan'er.
Later, he committed a crime.
He was arrested and turned into a laborer.
After that,
Song Yan helped me.
Now, Kang Dan'er is 18 years old.
He's a coward.
I'm hoping
that my youngest grandson, Hu,
can be smarter than his brother.
People are
only living on hope
every year.
Perhaps the next year
or the year after that
will be better.
Sit down.
What do you want to write?
I hope there's no more war,
so the Kang family
can have descendants.
I hope my grandsons
can grow up safely
without parents.
All right.
Greetings, Mother.
Why do you
summon me here?
It's Chinese New Year's Eve, where family members gather together,
yet I still need a reason
to summon you just to meet you.
That's not what I mean.
Mother, may peace endure and health always accompany you
in the new year.
You and Marquis Wu'an had a marriage agreement before you were born.
When Marquis Wu'an was still alive,
he was young, mighty, and had gained many achievements.
He was supposed to be a good husband for you,
but you said you only treated him like a sibling
and wouldn't take him as your Prince Consort.
However, your soul got attracted
to a stupid game of chess now.
Mother, what do you mean?
Since you returned to the palace,
you've been acting sick and delaying your meeting with Li Huai'an.
I've asked someone to arrange
for both of you to attend the Lantern Festival.
Mother!
The members of the Gongsun family cannot join the imperial court.
These are imperial regulations
and must not be defied.
As the Princess Royal,
you can't put the country at risk
because of a game of chess.
I am not a pawn of yours.
I'm not going to be controlled as a piece in the palace's game.
You only care about the family's glory
and imperial regulations
but have you really cared about my joy and sorrow?
Anyway,
you can no longer meet anyone from the Gongsun family in the future.
Just give up while you can.
If there's nothing else,
I'll be leaving, Mother.
Shu!
Where are you going, Your Highness?
I'm going to hang myself.
Do you want to accompany me?
(Though people value tender words and deep feeling,)
(the bird longs only for the freedom of flight.)
- Happy Chinese New Year. - Happy Chinese New Year.
Let's eat.
(Blessing) Let's eat.
It smells nice.
Smells nice.
Thank you.
Here you go.
So delicious.
Delicious.
- Eat it. Quick. - So delicious.
Here it comes.
Let's drink again.
Let me fill my cup.
Fill my cup.
I'll also drink a little.
- No, you are still injured. - Drink a little.
This liquor is fine.
Drink tea instead.
The physician said
you can't drink alcohol before you are fully recovered.
I also want to drink.
You also can't drink alcohol, Changning.
Here. Drink tea with Yan Zheng.
Come on.
Yan Zheng.
Why don't we...
There are fireworks!
Let's go watch the fireworks.
- Let's go watch the fireworks. - Let's go watch the fireworks.
Changning, slow down.
What did you say?
I didn't hear you.
I said I still wanted to drink.
Come on. Let's go upstairs.
Let's watch upstairs.
Good liquor.
Don't drink too much.
I'm very sober.
I won't get drunk drinking this.
Let me pour you a cup of tea.
Have some tea to sober up.
Are you looking down on me?
My father can drink a jar of baijiu.
I can drink half a jar at least.
This liquor won't make people drunk.
Here. Drink.
You are really drunk.
I'm completely fine.
Happy Chinese New Year.
If you can't feed the wolf,
you won't get a child.
What child?
♪Hooves in a war-torn land♪
♪Who remains in wind and snow?♪
♪How many lives♪
♪Hang by a single thread♪
♪Smoke rises from our homeland♪
♪Who can stand apart from the world?♪
♪The sun sets, I say nothing♪
♪Autumn colors fall♪
♪Who steps lightly on maple leaves and leaves♪
♪Rain on parasol trees♪
♪Swallows carry mud beneath the eaves♪
♪The warmth of life in this ancient town♪
♪Who was I meant to meet♪
♪We vowed to stand through life and death♪
♪May our oath be fulfilled♪
♪I hold our fate with care♪
♪I will not let go♪
♪Yet war drums and pounding hooves♪
♪Shatter the ending♪
♪In this mortal world we come and go♪
♪You turn away, brows drawn♪
♪You leave with your sword♪
♪Taking every secret with you♪
♪I hold our fate with care♪
♪I will not let go♪
♪Yet we always meet♪
♪On battlefields in flames♪
♪In tangled destiny, the memories you gave♪
♪Are gentle as jade♪
♪After countless battles♪
♪May we return to where we first met♪