01x21 - Episode 21

[bunniefuu]

♫ The falling snow ♫

♫ Is bitter cold ♫

♫ My sigh ♫

♫ Misted the path in front of me ♫

♫ The moonlight knows my intention ♫

♫ I just want to make a place
for me in your heart ♫

♫ I laugh and I cry ♫

♫ Quietly building a pond in my heart ♫

♫ I accept all the gifts from sorrow ♫

♫ I can't let down my regrets ♫

♫ I won't admit defeat ♫

♫ I slowly chew on
the bitterness of life ♫

♫ The fragrance remains the same
after the bleak winter ♫

♫ Awaiting spring
to color the way back home ♫

[The Double]

[Episode 21]

Third Uncle.

- Here.
- Slowly.

Watch the steps.

Careful.

There you go. Be careful now.

Miss, are we going to just leave like this?

How about we wait a bit longer?
We can go and knock on the doors again.

That's right. Maybe we spoke poorly last night.

If we go again,
perhaps some folks will help us.

Let's not trouble them anymore.

Let's go.

Halt!

Who's blocking the road ahead?

How dare you stop the carriage
of the Vice Minister of Justice!

- What's going on?
- Mr. Wei,

it seems the prison breakers are ahead.

[Wei Qian]

I've heard of rumors before.
But I didn't believe them.

In broad daylight, someone dares
to seize a death-row prisoner.

Sir, I'm the daughter of the
Secretariat Director, Jiang Li.

There are elements of injustice in
Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case.

I want to take Magistrate Xue
to the capital to seek justice.

The Jiang family will take responsibility
for any consequences.

I wish you could let us go.

- Arrest the death-row prisoner.
- Yes, sir.

Sir, can you allow me to finish speaking?

I've been ordered to execute Xue Huaiyuan.

Today in Huaixiang,
I'll only speak to the officials.

I advise you to step back, and not
hinder me in the execution of my duties.

From ancient times, serving the people
has been the duty of the officials.

Yet, you said you would
only speak to the officials.

You sounded noble,
but you're disrespecting the people.

Where can the people of Huaixiang
seek justice then?

Outrageous!

I admit I committed a crime
for freeing a prisoner.

But what about you, sir?

You don't investigate, refuse to listen to
the truth, and execute innocent people.

Is that not a crime?

I could have spared you since you're young
and don't know what is at stake

for Grand Chancellor Jiang's sake.

But you're arrogant!

How dare you openly reproach a state office?

Enough is enough!

If there's another way
to redress the injustice,

I don't need to do this,
and put myself at your mercy.

I have no other choice.

Daughter of the Secretariat Director
and Grand Preceptor, Jiang Li,

broke Xue Huaiyuan out of jail.

It's proven with concrete evidence.

I request to be taken
to the Court of Judicial Review.

I ask that the Court of Judicial Review
take my case of freeing the prisoner

and Xue Huaiyuan's corruption case
for joint trial.

Please hold a joint trial for the cases.

Incredible.

You're willing to risk your lives
to delay a death-row prisoner's death?

Is it worth it?

Yes, it is.

I have no other choice.

I must take Xue Huaiyuan to the capital.

Even if I'm in chains,
I must seek justice for him.

This is crucial,
and it cannot be changed by anyone.

Even if Grand Chancellor Jiang is here,
he cannot ignore the nation's laws.

At this point, I advise you to drop this case

and not tarnish
Grand Chancellor Jiang's reputation.

Guards!

Arrest the death-row prisoner.

Sir!

Magistrate Xue is really innocent.

We were the officers
who served under Magistrate Xue.

We can testify for him.

Our names are registered.

- We're willing to testify
for Magistrate Xue.

- We're willing to testify for him.
- We're willing to testify for him.

- Enough talk. Arrest him!
- Yes, sir!

Sir!

Get up!

- On your feet!
- Get up now!

- Let go of me!
- Don't move!

Li.

Li.

Escort Xue Huaiyuan to the execution ground.

- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.

- Sir!
- Stop it!

- Magistrate Xue was framed!
- Stop!

- Sir, someone framed Magistrate Xue.
- Stop it!

Magistrate Xue is innocent!

- Let him go!
- Sir, let Magistrate Xue go!

- Magistrate Xue is innocent!
- Let him go!

Let Magistrate Xue go!

Li.

Let Magistrate Xue go!

I'm Zhang, a butcher from Huaixiang.

Zhang, I have a limp.

I can't walk this path of seeking justice.

Magistrate Xue has done so much good for us.

When you were bullied,
it was Magistrate Xue who helped you.

I've come to ask you to lead the people
to speak up for Magistrate Xue.

We must have a conscience.

I'm sorry for being a coward yesterday.

Liu came to see me yesterday
and his scolding worked.

I'm just a butcher.

I may not excel in anything else.

But I have steady hands and footings.

Today, I stand firm right here.

Thanks to Magistrate Xue,
we got what we have today.

I, Zhang Sheng, am stepping up today.

I have no family and am all alone anyway.

All I have are these two butcher knives!

With these knives,
I speak up for Magistrate Xue

and the people of Huaixiang
to demand justice!

You dare to obstruct me.

Arrest him too.

If you're arresting him, arrest me too!

Yes, arrest all of us.

Magistrate Xue, we've failed you.

In the past, we were truly afraid
of Feng Yutang's cruelty.

So we stopped intervening.

But Heaven watches us all.

If we watch you suffer unjustly,
we will forever live with guilt.

What... What are you doing?

When we fled famine, without
Magistrate Xue's help, we would have died.

I must save him.

- Then why did you stop me...
- Stay at home.

I don't want you to die.

Magistrate Xue was framed.

Please judge fairly.

I see.

I will arrest every single person
who comes here today.

- Arrest them!
- Wait!

Arrest us too!

Yes, arrest us too.

- Arrest all of us!
- Dai Yun.

I'm sorry.

I was too cowardly yesterday.

Mother, why aren't we saving Uncle Xue?

There is nothing we can do.

But Uncle Xue helped you deal with
those bad men, and bought Tanghulu for me.

If you're not going, I'll go.

Wait.

Ping'an, what if they take you away
when you go to save Uncle Xue?

I'm not scared.
Mother, you shouldn't be scared either.

I live in Unit Fifteen of Qingshi Alley.
My name is Dai Yun.

I can also testify that Magistrate Xue
didn't commit corruption.

It was Feng Yutang who withheld food
and mistreated the people.

You all won't listen, right?

Today, I'll arrest all those who come.

All of you!

Don't forget me!

Mother, come.

I am Mo Wenxuan,
living in Unit Three of Qingshi Alley.

The corruption charge
against Magistrate Xue is unjust.

I'm willing to write a petition
and seek justice for him.

Seek justice for him!

- Yes, seek justice for Magistrate Xue!
- Seek justice for Magistrate Xue!

- Seek justice for Magistrate Xue!
- Seek justice for Magistrate Xue!

You all won't listen, right?

Sir, we have lived in Huaixiang
for generations.

Sir, we want to seek justice
for Magistrate Xue.

Please allow Second Lady Jiang to pass!

- Allow Second Lady Jiang to pass!
- Allow Second Lady Jiang to pass!

Miss Jiang, don't say I didn't warn you!

If you can't overturn the case, the Court of
Judicial Review and the Three Financial Bureaus

will reject it and you will also face death!

- Let's go!
- Let her pass!

- Let her pass!
- Let her pass!

I really don't know what to say.

You don't need to say anything.

You've already done too much.

We can't just watch you send yourself
to the Court of Judicial Review.

You are a noble and dignified person.

We want you to remain clean,
innocent, safe and sound.

Clean, innocent, safe, and sound.

Miss, rest assured.

We will do anything
to overturn Magistrate Xue's case.

Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!

- Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!
- Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!

- Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!
- Reverse Magistrate Xue's verdict!

My Lord, aren't you going to see her off?

Since her task is done,
there's no need for me to go.

I have something to say.

Second Lady Jiang is awesome.

Do you want to have a taste of 11 beatings?

I'm afraid it's not going to be this easy.

Some people won't let her
easily take the folks to the capital.

Should we escort her all the way?

This is beyond what we can do.

There are things that we can't solve alone?

Lu Ji, prepare paper and ink for me.

- I need to write two secret letters.
- Yes, my Lord.

[Ye's Residence]

The details of the Huaixiang incident
are complex and lengthy.

Father must have heard and worried
about it for a long time.

Please present this letter to my father

and tell him Third Uncle is with me,
keeping me safe.

Please do not worry.
[Jiang Li]

Young Master, a secret letter from Huaixiang.

- Just leave it there for now.
- Yes, Young Master.

Twenty-three people from Huaixiang voluntarily
stood up, for former Magistrate Xue Huaiyuan.

Their resolve is firm and remarkable.

I couldn't just be an onlooker,
so I joined them.

Everything is currently fine.
Father, please don't worry.

Outrageous!

Since ancient times, the masses trying
to overturn the official's verdict

is like accusing the authorities
and challenging those in power.

How many times has this ended
in a futile and bloody affair?

She has no idea how serious the situation is!

Grand Chancellor Jiang, I was worried
when I heard the news in the capital.

But fortunately,
Third Uncle has been with Li along the way.

Third Uncle wrote to me,
praising her bravery and wisdom.

The people of Huaixiang are all
cheering for her, and the Jiang family.

Official Ye,

you're still young, and perhaps
unaware of the gravity of this situation.

Every cheer for the Jiang family
from the people

is like a slap to the Minister of Justice.

It's like putting my husband into trouble.

Li's actions are sure worrisome.

She didn't even inform us,
her parents, beforehand.

My dear, don't waste time worrying about her.

This isn't the first time
she has acted recklessly.

She always acts
without regard to her parents.

She even dared to obstruct the officials
from the Minister of Justice

and had the nerve
to break a prisoner out of jail.

Just wait and see.

Scheming individuals in the capital could
easily frame the Jiang family for treason.

We should send a letter to Li now.

It's already too late. Her letter has arrived.

News of her actions has spread over the court.

I'm afraid the Emperor will inquire
about it soon.

Do you have a plan to deal with this?

- Ms. Sun!
- Yes.

Send someone
to bring Jiang Li back immediately.

Grand Chancellor Jiang, Jiang Li
is leading the people to seek justice.

If you bring her back by force,
it will be hard to explain it to the people.

I'm heading south for the disaster relief work.

If you trust me, please allow me
to reason and persuade her.

I believe I can persuade her to return.

Shijie, this is a serious matter.

You are around the same age
and also cousins.

You must ask Jiang Li
not to act rashly anymore.

Your words worry me, my dear.

Can he be able to persuade Li to return?

Will the Jiang family be in danger?

We can only wait and see.

I hope this girl doesn't return
to the capital anytime soon.

If she does return,
something big is going to happen.

Ye!

- Why are you ignoring me?
- I'm thinking about Jiang Li.

Ye, take me with you.

If we work together, we can overcome anything.

Ye, take this for the road.

If you're bored, go back to your turtle.

I'm going for relief work, an official duty.

Don't cause trouble.

Ye, taking me won't hurt.

I can also give you a hand.

- No.
- Come on, take me with you.

If you don't take me,
I'm not letting you leave.

I don't have time to fool around.
Get off my back now.

- No.
- You're not getting down?

No, I'm not.

Fine.

What are you doing?
Are you playing games with me?

I just miss my sister a lot.

How could you be so heartless?

Can you really stand
to see me cry every day?

Fine! Since you're so heartless,
don't blame me for being the same.

Everyone, come and see!

Ye Shijie is an ungrateful and heartless man.

He turns his back on me and is ungrateful!

Jiang Jingrui, are you sick?

Ye, you finally realize I'm sick?

My illness has seeped deep into my bones.

It's incurable.

If you don't take me with you,
you will never see me again.

That would be wonderful.

Ye Shijie, you're so cruel!

You're so heartless, Ye Shijie.

You're heartless!

Yes, you!

Ye Shijie!

Pack up and get in the carriage.

I'll go and pack right now!

Let's go.

Wait! Aren't you going to wait for me?

Ye Shijie!

Your Majesty, this drought
spans several counties,

affecting tens of thousands of people.

But rest assured.

The surrounding counties
have enough grain in their reserves.

The only issue is the lack of manpower
to transport the grain.

I am urgently arranging people to
ensure the disaster does not lead to famine.

Official Li, I trust your capabilities.

Two years ago, you managed
the southwest floods effectively,

saving many lives and easing much suffering.

You are indeed a pillar of the nation.

I entrust my people to you once again.

I will do my best, Your Majesty.

Official Jiang,

do you have anything to say to me?

I am deeply worried.

My daughter freed a prisoner in Huaixiang.

Her behavior is truly reckless.

I have failed in educating my daughter
and I deserve to be punished.

Official Li.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is the punishment for freeing prisoners?

Your Majesty, according to the law,
the punishment is death by beheading.

Official Jiang, I have reviewed
the memorials reproaching you.

They contain plenty of harsh and sharp words,
directly accusing you of unpardonable crimes.

They are too severe to read.

I am extremely concerned.

Secretariat Director Jiang, you're an
official entrusted to me by the late emperor.

I cannot bring myself to punish you
without understanding the situation.

I have decided to meet your daughter
before making a decision.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Princess Wanning's Residence]

Do you know your mistake?

Do you know your mistake? Do you know?

I'll beat you to death!

Her Highness entrusted you with the
matters of Huaixiang because she valued you.

But look at what you've done.

Do you think you have lived up
to the trust of me and Her Highness?

Do you know your mistake? Do you?

Get up! Get up!

I'll beat you to death! I'll beat you to death!

Grand Chancellor, stop beating him.

This child is pitiful.

Your Highness,
I also have faults in this matter.

Please punish me as well.

Grand Chancellor, come in quickly.

Yes, Your Highness.

Kneel here and reflect on your actions.

Your Highness,
I'll leave his life in your hands.

You may decide how to deal with him.

Someone, quickly dress him up
and take him away.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Meixiang, serve the tea.

Yes, Your Highness.

Grand Chancellor, please take a seat.

I dare not.

I said, sit.

Let me pour it.

I don't deserve it.

Grand Chancellor,
this tribute tea is of high quality.

It's fragrant, Your Highness.

Try it.

It's overflowing, Your Highness.

The gold mine in Huaixiang is gone.

If you were in Lord Cheng's hands,
you would have been dead by now.

If it weren't for your years
of loyal service to me,

I wouldn't protect you.

But now, you've left me with this mess.

Grand Chancellor,
what am I supposed to do now?

Your Highness, Jiang Li may still be alive.

But she has committed a serious crime
by freeing a prisoner.

I see this as an opportunity
to bring down the Jiang family.

It's like cutting off
one of the Emperor's arms.

What if we can't bring them down?

If the truth about the gold mine comes out
when Jiang Li returns to the capital,

I won't be able to protect you.

Then what do you...

Meixiang, the tea is already cold.

No, it's not.

It has not turned cold.

But His Majesty brought
this matter up in court today.

It might not be wise to k*ll her now.

Grand Chancellor, you must drink
the tribute tea while it's hot.

Please rest assured, Your Highness.

I will personally take action this time.

Jiang Li will never return, and I will
make sure the Jiang family suffers after that.

I guarantee it.

Oh, don't.

Don't disappoint me again.

Has Shen Yurong come to see me these days?

Your Highness, he hasn't.

He can still maintain his composure.

Let's see how long it'll take for him to come.

Second Lady Jiang is truly astonishing.

She's actually bringing an unfamiliar county
magistrate to submit a complaint to the palace.

That's right. I wonder... Mr. Shen.

- Prepare the carriage.
- Yes, sir.

Wait.

No need.

- Here, enjoy.
- Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Mister, thank you for letting us rest here.

You see, there are so many of us here.

We don't ask for any quality food.

As long as it can fill our stomachs,
we'll take everything you have.

I'll pay double if needed.

It's not that I refuse to sell you anything.

But we don't have enough to eat at all.

I don't know when the famine will end.

If I give you everything now,
where will I go for food later?

Please, I'm begging you.

Please help us find a solution.

Then I'll try and ask the neighbors.

Have some water.

Li.

- Let's get off the carriage...
- All right.

It's all right.

It's all right now. It's all right now.

There, there.

♫ A cat with spots jumped over Nanshan ♫

♫ Following the North Star,
she returned home to the border ♫

Don't you think you're being
overly kind to Magistrate Xue?

Even if it's to repay a favor,
you don't have to be this protective.

When we get to the capital, it might
cause trouble if the Jiang family sees this.

Third Uncle, you should know my father
abandoned me at Zhennyu Hall for ten years,

completely neglecting me.

Magistrate Xue's daughter died
trying to save me.

That's why I consider him my father.

I know you're someone who repays kindness.

But there's something I need your advice on.

What is it?

Ever since we entered Dingzhou, every household
along the way has been facing food shortages.

I asked the village chief.

He said the famine gets worse
as we travel forward.

Didn't the court provide relief
for the disaster?

They did. But it's only enough for each person
to have a bowl of watery porridge daily.

Is there another route we can take?

We could detour through Liuzhou.

But the capital is toward the north.

If we take a detour toward the west,

it will take us at least a month more
to reach the capital.

They are eager for us to take a longer route,
so they can carry out their plans in secret.

We'll stick to Dingzhou to avoid more trouble.

We are traveling in a large group,
so provisioning may be a problem.

We'll split up.

All of you are trusted by me and my father.

Today, I ask you all to remember this.

My identity now is Second Lady Jiang.

If we get to the capital
and you address me by the wrong name,

not only will we fail to save my father,
but it will also endanger our lives.

All right. We'll remember that.

Please inform the rest from Huaixiang
about my identity.

Elder Gu, you and the others
are skilled in martial arts.

Please take good care of everyone,
and ensure their safety.

Please rest assured. Take care of yourself too.

We'll meet again after we leave Dingzhou.

Safe journey.

- Take care.
- Be careful.

- Let's prepare to head out.
- Be careful.

Come on, slowly.

[South Gate]

Everyone, line up. No need to rush.
[Dingzhou]

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Next.

Everyone will get some. Please don't push.

Here you go.

Thank you.

- Move forward.
- Here's yours, granny.

Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Here you go.

- Thank you. Thank you.
- Those at the back, please line up.

Hey, what are you doing?

- It's mine!
- Don't grab it.

Third Uncle, let's go and buy
some food for the journey ahead.

The cost is not a problem.

No matter what, we must leave
this place tomorrow morning.

- All right.
- Those at the back. Keep up.

Li!

Liu Xu?

Liu Xu, what are you doing
in Dingzhou at a time like this?

My father was ordered
to escort relief supplies to Dingzhou.

So I followed along.

I thought our mission would be over
once the provision was delivered.

But Dingzhou's famine is so severe.

The city's granaries are empty, and many
disaster victims gather outside the city.

The local officials in Dingzhou are overwhelmed

and don't have enough people
to distribute the food.

So my father decided to stay,
and help distribute the food.

Is the situation really bad?

Yes, it's quite serious.

Earlier, they said a batch of supplies
was on the way.

But it hasn't arrived yet.

Without food, there might be unrest.

You have to be careful.

After all, people would do anything to survive.

I expected this when I saw the
disaster victims on the way here,

so I told those from Huaixiang
to take a detour.

It's just a few of us now.

We'll leave early tomorrow morning.

I thought we could catch up this time.

But you're leaving again.

You don't know how bored I was in the capital.

Weren't Ye Shijie and Jiang Jingrui
in the capital?

Don't even mention Jiang Jingrui to me.

All he does is upset me.

I feel like giving him a piece of my mind
every time I see him.

Ye Shijie is a bookworm.
He's always busy with official matters.

I don't really get to see him.

He just started his career.

Maybe he's not a bookworm.

He's just not interested in me.

Are you moving on?

I only like people who like me back.

As for those who are not interested in me,
I won't waste my time on them.

Open the door.
We want to see Second Lady Jiang.

- Open up!
- Second Lady Jiang.

Master, what do we do now?

- How did they know Li was staying here?
- I have no idea.

Could the lady who found
this place for us leak it out?

Either she or the folks leaked it out.

Impossible.

Master, why don't I ask Second Lady Jiang here
to calm them down?

No, Li can't show up right now.

I'll handle this. Open the door.

- Second Lady Jiang.
- Someone's coming.

Everyone, let's go and see Second Lady Jiang.

What a crowd.

Are you trying to rob us?

No. We dare not, mister.

We just want to see Second Lady Jiang.

Who told you she's here?

- I... I heard from someone.
- From whom?

I really heard it from the beggars.

They said Second Lady Jiang is brave

and willing to help
the magistrate of Huaixiang seek justice.

So she can definitely help us.

All of us agree to come and see her.

We want to ask Second Lady Jiang
to help us get some food.

- That's right.
- Please help us, Second Lady Jiang.

- Second Lady Jiang!
- Second Lady Jiang!

Shut up!

You're being misled, get it?

Leave. We don't have food either.

Second Lady Jiang!

Mister, please have mercy on us
and give us some food.

My child is only a year old.

I don't have to eat.

But please save my child.

Please, I can go without food.
Please help my child.

Please, I beg you.

Please help my child.

Give us some food.

Please.

- Go and get some mantou.
- Yes, Master.

Mister, please help the children.

Get up now.

Mister, please.

Please, I beg you.

Please, mister.

We don't have much food either.

We can only share some with the children.

Those able-bodied adults should leave now.

Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude.

- Thank you, mister.
- Thank you, Second Lady Jiang.

- Thank you.
- Thank you, mister.

Li, what are you doing?

Third Uncle, did you give
the disaster victim food?

I gave the children some mantou,
and chased away the rest.

You shouldn't have given them food.

I know we're running out of food.

I did leave some for us.

Besides, I can eat less during the journey.

That was not what I meant.

No matter how much food we have,
you shouldn't give it to others.

The moment we give them food, we won't
be able to control the crowd later.

The disaster victims have been hungry
for a long time.

Once they catch on and come again
as a group, we won't be able to leave.

Don't worry, I'm here.

Anyone causing trouble won't get away with it.

Then what if it's the whole city's victims?

How will you handle it alone?

I...

Before the news spreads,
we must leave now.

I'll have Liu Xu help us to leave the city.

If the people asking for food today are from
Huaixiang, will you still be this indifferent?

Third Uncle, what do you mean?

I thought you were kind-hearted.

You took the risk to save
the people of Huaixiang out of gratitude.

But now, it seems it's not the case.

Your attitude changes when
it comes to other people.

It's about priorities.

The priority now is to hurry back
to the capital.

We can't let those who
depart early wait in vain.

Never mind. You've always been decisive.

I'll just do what you say.

Tong.

Time to go.

Let them pass.

Li, be careful once you leave here.

If there's an emergency,
write to me immediately.

Take care. I'll see you in the capital.

You should go now.

Third Uncle, let's go.

All right.

[Dingzhou]

Is that Second Lady Jiang's carriage?

- Yes, it is.
- It's Second Lady Jiang's carriage.

- Miss Jiang!
- Miss Jiang.

Drat.

We're in trouble.

Miss Jiang.

It's Second Lady Jiang's carriage!

It's Second Lady Jiang's carriage!

What do you want?

What do you want?

Get up!

Listen to me.

There's no Second Lady Jiang here.

I don't even know who Second Lady Jiang is.

You're lying! Second Lady Jiang is inside.

Yes, there must be food in the carriage!

Everyone, go and get it! There's food inside.

Back off!

- Tong.
- What are you trying to do?

Miss Jiang!

- There's food inside!
- Get out of the way!

If you continue, I won't be nice anymore!

- It's going to topple!
- Third Uncle, are you all right?

It's Second Lady Jiang! It's her!

Get out of the way!

I dare you to get close again!

Everyone, don't believe him.

We can't let ourselves die from hunger.
There must be food in the carriage.

Let's go and get it.

Go and take it!

It's better than starving to death.

What are you waiting for? Go!

We're giving out food!

Everyone, look! We're giving out food!

Where?

Hot, fresh buns!

Buns!

Come quickly!

They're filled with meat.

- Where?
- Buns.

- Come and see.
- What now?

Hot, fresh buns!

- These have fillings!
- Really?

- They're really buns.
- They're delicious!

Come and get some before they're gone.

- Buns!
- There are really buns!

- Buns!
- Give it to me!

They'll run out if you're late.
Come quickly!

- He's giving out food!
- I want buns!

I want buns!

- There's enough for everyone.
- I want one.

Don't snatch. All right, here you go.

Third Uncle, are you all right?

- Shijie.
- Jiang Li, go now.

We'll cover you.

- Thank you.
- It's nothing.

Be careful on your way back.

Mine! My bun!

Give it to me!

- No, stop!
- You old fool!

You two... Stop it.

Go away!

- Be careful.
- Why did Magistrate Xue come down?

- Stop it!
- Magistrate Xue.

Stop it.

- Be careful.
- No.

Don't run. Don't run.

Go away!

- I want buns.
- Be careful.

- No, don't!
- Magistrate Xue!

We have to leave now.

- No.
- You can't go there.

- Let's go.
- Come on. Get in the carriage.

Let's go.

No.

Don't leave.

Don't leave.

Are there any more?

- Give it to me!
- It's mine!

- It's mine.
- Give it to me!

It's mine!

Father, aren't you tired of
reading all these petitions?

Do you want to take some rest?

Do you know the relationship
between people and officials?

People are the foundation of officials.

That's what the texts say.

Then tell me what it is.

To me, the people are just like you are to me.

I like what the people like.

I hate what the people hate.

This is what it means
to be the father to the people.

As an official, all the people are my children.

Stop it!

- It's mine.
- Take more.

No!

We're out of buns.

We're out of buns. We're out of time, Jiang Li.

We're almost done here. You must leave now.
Or else you won't be able to leave.

That's right.

No.

- Then we'll stay.
- You're not leaving?

But...

Return to the city.

- Don't take mine!
- Give it to me!

Don't take it! It's mine!

Father, even when you're not
clear-minded, you still care about the people.

How could they harm someone like you?

I won't let them get away with this.

Li,

I shouldn't have given the people food.

I almost put you in danger.

It was not your fault.

What happened today
seems to have been orchestrated.

If they were really ordinary people, how
could they know our whereabouts so clearly?

Someone must have instigated them.
They don't want me to leave Dingzhou.

I found out there are many small paths
leading out of Dingzhou.

We can go through the forest.

I don't plan to leave.

What do you plan to do?

Third Uncle, you were right.

They're all people.

Not different from those from Huaixiang.

Miss,

Official Ye and the others are here.

We're lucky to have you today.

What are you two doing in Dingzhou?

Li Zhongnan is here for disaster relief,
and His Majesty ordered me to assist him.

Li, Grand Chancellor Jiang
received your letter and was furious.

He was going to drag you back.

But when he heard you were passing through
Dingzhou, he let me come to check on you.

When Father found out about this,
he was fuming, right?

Well, it's good to let First Uncle know.

With so many disaster victims
and so many mouths to feed,

if you don't ask for his help,
how will you solve it?

Right?

Well, there is not much we can do.

Li Zhongnan is in charge of disaster relief,
and the food is in his hands.

Even if Father wanted to help,
he couldn't bypass Li Zhongnan.

Otherwise, he'd be accused
of hindering the relief efforts.

Then all the more reason for you to leave.

It's too late to leave now.

My whereabouts have been exposed.

With the disaster in Dingzhou unresolved,
and the people outside the city gathering,

I can't leave with Magistrate Xue.

Li, Luyang isn't far from here.

What about I go back to the Ye family
and think of a solution?

The Ye family just suffered a major setback,
and hasn't recovered.

Besides, gathering food, and transporting it
here in such a short time is nearly impossible.

The Ye family has been in business for decades.

So they can handle this.

Don't worry. I'll head back now.

Be careful.

- I'm heading off now.
- Thank you.

If the Ye family can't help,
it will be a dead end.

Even if it's a dead end, we need to know why.

We already know someone is behind this.

So we need to find out who
the person behind this is.

With Second Lady Jiang in Dingzhou,
all the disaster victims are heading here.

Dingzhou's situation is critical now.

Official Li, do you have any solutions?

The drought has affected a wide area,
spanning several cities.

Right now, the disaster victims
have all gone to Dingzhou.

The relief plan I made
before is no longer applicable.

After the morning audience,
I will discuss it with Grand Chancellor Jiang

and quickly report a solution to you,
Your Majesty.

Hand it to me as soon as possible.

Every day of delay
means more suffering for the people.

- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.

Chancellor Li.

Chancellor Li.

What are you doing?

We've both been doing this job
for most of our lives.

A food distribution plan is already in place.

It just needs to be adjusted
to fit the current situation.

Does it really need to take that long?

I'm not as anxious as you are, of course.

After all, it's your second daughter
who caused the trouble.

That's not fair.

The relief efforts in Dingzhou
are your responsibility.

If people starve to death,
aren't you afraid of His Majesty's wrath?

Of course, I am.

I used to be.

But now, Second Lady Jiang is there.

She brought the disaster there.

If His Majesty wants to punish someone,
he'll start with your Jiang family.

What does it have to do with me?

So you don't care if people starve?

That's not true.

There's actually a batch of grain in Yunxiang.

Not far from Dingzhou.

But the mountain roads are treacherous.

It's not easy to transport
the grain from there.

Just be frank.

If Second Lady Jiang wants to
return to the capital alone, it'll be easy.

But if she wants to take someone else back,
it will be a long and bumpy road.

With so many people on the road,
transporting the grain will be difficult too.

Are you saying that unless she stops taking
the people to submit a petition to His Majesty,

you won't solve the issues caused by famine?

I never said that.

But it depends on how you interpret it,
Grand Chancellor Jiang.

But the longer this drags on,

the more disaster victims will gather in
Dingzhou, and the danger will increase.

I suggest you go back,
and talk some sense into your daughter.

It's said Second Lady Jiang didn't even flinch.

She stood up and said,
"Justice is evident and should prevail."

Is there no place for justice?

If Huaixiang's grievances can't be heard,
and Luyang can't help, then follow me.

Even if the path ahead is filled with danger, I
will take you to the capital "to seek justice!"

Well said!

Your Highness...

Well said.

Reward him.

Yes, reward him.

Chancellor Li.

- Yes, Your Highness.
- You've mastered the art of using rumors.

You sure know how to exploit
the common folks' love for drama.

Thank you for your praise. I'm simply
giving them a taste of their own medicine.

Doesn't Jiang Li love to use the name of
Second Lady Jiang to spread her cause?

This time, I'll let her use it
to her heart's content.

To defeat her,

first, we satisfy her ego.

♫ If there are no happy memories ♫

♫ How can we traverse
the forbidden land of sorrow? ♫

♫ Two cold and unfeeling bodies ♫

♫ Holding hands,
can we get through the snow season? ♫

♫ In the cold wind, in the long night ♫

♫ Embracing the remaining warmth ♫

♫ The depth of the sea, unfathomable ♫

♫ Can it bury yesterday's sighs? ♫

♫ Continue to love,
cherishing it with my life ♫

♫ Continue to live,
even with only a glimmer of hope ♫

♫ Whether in sorrow or joy,
I believe in you ♫

♫ I'd rather be trapped
in the world's extremes ♫

♫ Continue to live,
exhausting all courage ♫

♫ Continue to love,
until the breath runs out ♫

♫ Traversing half a lifetime
of loneliness, just to meet you ♫

♫ After the hardships,
never to part again ♫

♫ After the hardships,
never to part again ♫