[Yummy, Yummy? Yummy!]
[Episode 13]
The Imperial Censorate
impeaches the Vice Magistrate
for not stopping those who set up
temple music on the streets at night.
Is this true?
Your Majesty, I did discuss
with the Imperial Guards
to occasionally allow
some flexibility for night travelers.
Your Majesty, Vice Magistrate Lin
was not only just lenient.
Merchants were still doing business
in the two markets after nightfall.
What should the Jingzhao Prefecture do?
Travel is prohibited after the evening drum
and only allowed after the morning bell.
But for example, for the Mid-Autumn Festival,
the Vice Market Director
also needs to admire the moon.
No one beats the evening drum,
and the commoners don't know
that the night curfew has started.
Should we blame them?
Lin Anran, during the festival,
it was you who let the
market officials go home early
which led to the drum not being sounded.
Shouldn't we let the people go home
for reunion on the Mid-Autumn Festival?
You're leading the violation of the night curfew
and condoning bandits.
What are your intentions?
It's strange that since someone took office,
not a single thief has been caught.
Commoners who violate the curfew
are increasing daily.
Vice Magistrate Lin, what do you mean by this?
Isn't this negligence of duty
by the Jingzhao Prefecture?
Vice Magistrate, why do the commoners
repeatedly violate the night curfew?
Under your rule, the kingdom is peaceful and calm,
and bandits are getting fewer.
Take Juxian Alley as an example.
If the restaurants are careless with operations,
merchants and customers
will travel home at night.
Over time, the ghost market
will naturally emerge.
If we ban it, the commoners will complain.
But if we're more lenient and nothing goes wrong,
it'll benefit the commoners more.
It's the first time I heard of the ghost market.
It's just a market set up at night, right?
Has the Ministry of Revenue investigated it?
Your Majesty, I...
Your Majesty, these are the results that
Vice Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Revenue
went to discuss at Jingzhao Prefecture.
It's better to guide than restrict.
Slightly relaxing the night curfew
will be more beneficial to market taxes.
Yes, yes. Your Majesty,
secretly relaxing the curfew...
I know the Ministry of Rites
must follow the ancestral system
but this is not
the only governance in this world.
The state is not bound by ancient laws.
It's fine to be a bit relaxed.
The fever has subsided.
Heaven has ended my punishment.
Quickly forget all those things.
You often say unintelligible words
and say it's not serious.
But you should be careful
about saying certain words.
Drink the medicine.
If you feel unwell, just call out.
The ancestor claims he doesn't remember,
but recently, why has he become so gentle?
Demon, where are you running off to?
Looking like this,
you must've scared the ancestor.
[Xuanzheng Gate]
Don't blame me for not covering for you.
I'm just a junior person
in the Imperial Censorate.
No one told me we were going to impeach you.
I was really worried that you'd be punished,
but I didn't expect you to be so calm
and even played them.
Wait a minute.
Did you guess this earlier?
So, you were going with the flow?
Good for you.
If only I could be as clever as you.
All right.
Farewell.
Vice Magistrate Lin, please wait.
Vice Minster Cao.
Thank you for your mooncakes.
Could I invite you to my home for a chat?
After you, please.
[Cao Mansion]
[Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.
May you sail a thousand miles.]
[A bright future awaits you. Have true friends
when you return home. Be pure and sincere.]
May you sail a thousand miles.
A bright future awaits you.
Have true friends when you return home.
Be pure and sincere.
Vice Magistrate,
when I came to Yong'an to take office,
I stayed at a close friend's house.
He wrote "An Ode to a Good Friend"
and gifted it to me.
These lines were included in it.
[Happy Mid-Autumn Festival...]
I didn't expect
to see them again in the handwritten note
attached to the mooncakes from you.
Your running script
is also similar to the handwriting of my friend.
The running script is connected in meaning;
it's common to be similar.
Yunlai Tavern's poisoning case,
because of the relationship with the Shen family,
the Jingzhao Prefecture was recused from it,
but we can still go to the Court of Judicial Review.
Why hand it over to the
Ministry of Justice for the trial?
Cao Rong from the Ministry of Justice
is still a Vice Minister.
Because he's too upright and impartial,
he made many enemies.
There must be connections
in the imperial court backing Yunlai.
Let's use this case to test whether Cao Rong
is truly upright or just pretending.
Wasn't Cao Rong a friend of your father?
Do you want to deal with him?
When the Cui family got into trouble,
he didn't say a word.
Wouldn't it be risky to approach him rashly?
I didn't find anyone
speaking up for the Cui family back then.
But I managed to look
at the files from the Ministry of Personnel.
After the Cui family case, Cao Rong was demoted
for five years without a valid reason.
I'm guessing he may have been punished
for speaking up for Father.
Pardon my rudeness.
Your appearance somewhat resembles
the wife of my old friend.
My old friend was Cui Rangzhi from Qingyang.
His wife was the third daughter
of the Lu family in Xiuzhou.
Vice Magistrate, do you know them?
The Cui family from Qingyang?
They were criminals who sold official positions
You were once their friends?
How could you know about that case?
Cui was Jingzhao's magistrate back then.
His crimes were obvious and shocking.
I'm the Vice Magistrate of Jingzhao Prefecture.
Is it odd for me to know
about an old case with solid evidence?
What kind of bullshit is this?!
Rangzhi would never do such a thing.
Before the Court of Judicial Review could review the case,
Rangzhi died tragically in prison.
He was definitely framed.
If that's true,
why didn't you speak up
for the Cui family back then?
You've just touched my sore spot.
Back then, I was just a clerk in the Chancellery.
No one listened to me.
I kept petitioning, was eventually demoted,
sent to Lingnan,
and ended up with a broken family.
Living alone, I now have nothing to lose.
Seven years.
It took me seven years to return to the capital.
I tried all ways to join the Ministry of Justice,
and finally obtained this current position.
I want to wait for the right moment.
One day,
I will clear the name of Rangzhi's family!
It seems that you're indeed his close friend.
If there's new evidence that can clear his name,
but it'd risk your life and fortune,
what would you do?
My life and fortune are long...
By asking this,
you must be related to the Cui family.
Do you have any new evidence?
What would you do?
Hurry. Let's go and see His Majesty.
Vice Minister Cao, calm down.
You only need to go with me
to clarify things in front of His Majesty.
I will bear responsibility for whatever happens.
I'm no longer the clerk I used to be.
If I show my resolve by hitting my head
against the pillar, His Majesty won't ignore this!
Vice Minister Cao, calm down.
Why should I stay calm?! It has been 17 years.
I should have broken my head
for the Cui family long ago.
Vice Minister Cao, don't! Vice Minister Cao!
Vice Minister Cao!
Why can't I?!
Why are you holding me?
Vice Minister Cao.
Sir.
- The pastries are here...
- Let go.
I'm Cui Che. Greetings, Uncle.
A'Che?
Are you really A'Che?
I never expected that in my lifetime,
I could see my friend's son again.
Sit. Sit down.
I tested you just now. Please forgive me.
It's all right.
It's good that you're cautious.
Child, you've suffered a lot these past years.
How did you survive?
Prince of Zhao saved me when I was young.
Prince of Zhao?
Why would he help you?
Prince of Zhao corresponded with my father
and regarded him as a confidant.
When the case occurred,
he sent people to find me.
At that time, Li Sheng,
the Prince of Zhao's eldest son
was about to be appointed as the heir apparent
but he died of an illness.
And I bore a resemblance to Li Sheng
and could comfort the Prince of Zhao.
Thus, he took me in and raised me.
Luckily, it was the Prince of Zhao.
If it had been me back then,
even if I had saved you,
I couldn't have given you
an identity to move around freely.
Uncle, don't say that.
After that case,
the Cui Residence in the capital
was investigated, sealed, and demolished later.
I even went to Qingyang, but your old house
was also razed to the ground.
I really thought you were...
Great.
You've grown up.
I didn't plan to disturb you
but I don't have any evidence now.
I really need your guidance for the road ahead.
Child...
I only learned about the details
after I came here and took up post.
This case involved the Ministry of w*r
and the Sixteen Guards.
It seemed to shake the foundation.
That's why it was severely dealt with.
With evidence in hand, the official reported
the case directly and pointed out your father.
It couldn't be overturned.
I saw these in the case file.
He claimed that he failed
to buy an official position from my father
and was even ambushed.
He could only protect himself.
The evidence he had was extremely detailed.
My father's position was immediately removed
and he was imprisoned.
Later, he committed suicide in prison.
Everyone out there said that
he died of fear of punishment.
That junior official also died from drowning.
Even Fifth Master Xiao,
who was in charge of the case,
fell off his horse and has been
in a coma for years.
Fifth Master Xiao?
The Prince Consort of the Princess Royal?
Yes.
The names of all those
who handled the case were erased.
I inquired at many places
and finally confirmed it was him.
[Yunshui Manor]
Young Master! Young Master.
A secret letter from the Prince of Zhao.
[You've been close to Princess Fuhui.]
[Get more details about the candidates
of the Ministry of w*r.]
He wants me to probe Princess Fuhui
on the candidates in the Ministry of w*r.
When you wanted to come to the capital,
he was very anxious
as he couldn't find anyone to help you.
How does he know people in the capital now,
and could find out about the Ministry of w*r?
Vice Minister Cao said Princess Royal's husband
was handling the old case.
That Fifth Master Xiao,
who has been in a coma for years?
Yes.
Since he could find out, it's not a secret.
Given His Highness' age,
he must have witnessed that case.
He should know about this.
Although he doesn't know that
I want to overturn the case,
why has he never mentioned Fifth Master Xiao?
If you want me to say...
I think...
I can't think of a reason.
I'm not asking you.
By the way, the Princess Royal
holds the Shen siblings in high regard.
Ask them to make some dishes later.
I'll take them to the Princess Royal
and use this chance to ask about her husband.
Has the fever subsided?
I'm fine now. I'm strong as an ox.
Vice Magistrate, why do you want to see me?
It's a bit awkward to talk about it.
The Jingzhao Prefecture didn't prepare
any mooncakes for the Princess Royal.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has just ended.
I need to visit her.
It's inevitably awkward.
You ordered many mooncakes from our restaurant.
Why didn't you gift some to her?
You couldn't have forgotten, right?
No wonder.
The Princess Royal sent many invitations
to Yunshui Manor.
It was either the poetry gathering
or the flower show.
So, they were all actually for a date.
The Princess Royal has had
many close advisors lately.
If you deliver mooncakes for her to eat,
- maybe what she really wants to eat is...
- Shen Shaoguang.
Well, I'll make savory ham mooncakes for you.
You can say the ham needed time to cure.
That's why they're delivered late.
The Princess Royal is unconventional.
She'll like the rare savory mooncakes.
Although the festival is over,
showing enough respect should be fine.
Thank you.
Your talent for distorting facts
may make you a better official than me.
I'll take that as a compliment.
This is made specially
from about 7 to 8 catties of a pig's hind leg.
After shaping, it was repeatedly cured
and air-dried for a month.
After washing it, it was dried,
fermented, and stacked.
This is the simplified version.
Elaborate ones are cured for a year in autumn,
and ready in summer.
Some people even prefer two-year-old
or three-year-old legs.
Let me have a bite.
Say "Ah".
Why is this ham so delicious?
It's even better than fresh meat.
If this is so good,
would those two-year-old or three-year-old legs
be more delicious?
Of course.
The cured ham has a mellow aroma
after years of fermentation.
How can it be compared to fresh meat?
Mellow aroma after years of fermentation?
What does that mean?
Fresh meat is like a young man.
Tender and too direct, but it lacks some soul.
When using fresh meat to cook,
it's easy for the flavors
of the seasonings
or other dishes to overpower it.
But an aged ham is like a mature man
who's experienced and has settled down.
When cooking with it,
its flavor will dominate and cover other dishes
without shaking the foundation.
But I think the older the ham is,
the more flavorful it becomes.
But this doesn't necessarily apply to men.
Of course. Look at my older brother.
He's old enough but has yet to settle down.
- Deliver it to Sushui City.
- All right.
But I think Vice Magistrate Lin is different.
Although he's young, he's experienced,
- steady, and sophisticated.
- Young Master, what's wrong?
Yes. He's experienced, steady, and sophisticated.
He just can't hold his liquor.
But it's a good thing.
Is it good for an official
to be able to hold his liquor?
Just eat.
I'm eating.
So delicious.
They...
Lady Shen is talking nonsense.
Don't you have good alcohol tolerance?
Besides, how would she know?
I don't care whether she knows or not.
But she is right.
You're experienced, steady, and sophisticated.
But she just agreed to break off the betrothal
and she's praising you now.
Does she regret and wants to marry you?
She doesn't like me at all.
That's good. We can't repeat the same mistake.
But why do you seem to grind your teeth
when you said that?
Stop overthinking things.
Just deliver the letter.
Young Master, did you mention Vice Minister Cao
in this reply to Sushui City?
I didn't.
The Prince of Zhao is a savior
but he's also a vassal prince.
In the past, I thought he loved the people
but lately,
I've some doubts, too.
Let's use this wood and leather to make a box.
It can hold mooncakes,
and can also be used for daily usage.
The Princess Royal has everything nice.
We must use a surprise tactic to win.
You're so smart. I'll follow your advice.
You appreciate me a lot.
Why not give me a few gold bricks as a reward?
I'll write a promissory note, then.
Here's a pen. Write it.
I'm just joking.
How could I ask you for money
when I already owe you so much?
I'm glad that you remember.
Actually, I've a question I want to ask you.
All right, go ahead.
Your family is the most harmonious
that I've ever seen.
Even if there are conflicts,
you ultimately care about each other.
I wonder if you've ever deceived your family.
This has happened many times.
Yangyang loves to eat candies secretly.
When my grandparents were alive,
my grandfather would hide some money.
He shared half with me.
I helped him to deceive my grandmother.
As for my brother,
he deceived our family even more.
He even hid his divorce with his ex-wife.
But you all still eventually found out.
We pretended we didn't know from the start.
We even lied to Yangyang and said
her mother went on a long trip.
But Yangyang came home one day and said
she knew her parents had separated.
I also know something that my family doesn't know.
My sister-in-law has a new lover.
That new lover is quite rich.
My older brother felt inferior
and didn't even try to stop her.
He even helped her move to be with her new lover.
He told me this when he was drunk.
I didn't dare to tell my parents
or he'd get beaten up again.
You must have something on your mind.
That's why you asked if I've deceived my family.
If you want to talk, I'm your tree hole.
If you don't, I'm still your tree hole.
I have a trusted elder,
but I suddenly realized
he seems to be hiding something from me.
And I'm also hiding many things from him.
I don't know why this elder is doing this,
but I know you're a kind person.
You wouldn't harm others.
There must be a good reason if you decide to lie.
Or perhaps, it's a white lie.
Lies can be white?
You'd only lie for a good reason.
You once told me we judge actions,
not intentions.
You haven't harmed others yet.
There's no need to judge yourself.
It will be done soon.
How is it?
Lady Shen is so dexterous.
She can even make such a bag.
Vice Magistrate, take a look for me.
Is this how it's carried?
Does it look good?
How nice.
What a clever girl.
Lady Shen made these mooncakes, too. Right?
Yes.
I heard that Shen's Restaurant made these.
The filling is pork.
Why isn't it greasy at all?
It's especially savory, fresh,
and mellow in scent.
Lady Shen specially cured the ham for you.
I really like Lady Shen.
I wonder what kind of husband is worthy of her.
I hope she won't end up all alone like me.
You said that you're alone.
I've a question, but I fear it might upset you.
Do you want to ask about my husband?
Are you curious about me?
I don't have any taboos.
I don't have feelings for Fifth Master Xiao.
My father wanted me to marry him. So, I did.
We lived separate lives after the wedding.
I don't know why, but one day,
a man who wasn't good at riding
insisted on riding a horse.
The horse threw him off a cliff,
and he never woke up again.
I was actually quite relieved.
He wasn't good at riding,
yet he insisted on riding a horse?
The horse threw him off a cliff?
Yes.
Everyone out there said I trained that horse
and that I caused him to be ill.
If you wanted to k*ll someone,
you would do it openly.
If you wanted to tame a horse,
it's because you wanted to be
the master of the wild horse.
It would never be because of some conspiracy.
Even my older brother, the current Emperor,
once questioned and doubted me.
I didn't expect that, in the capital,
only you would understand me.
Recently, those visitors with gifts
did that to find out about the arrangements
for the Ministry of w*r for next year.
You're quite patient.
You haven't even asked yet,
but I like you. I'll tell you.
Thank you for the guidance.
The former Minister of w*r
was chosen by my sixth brother.
The Emperor and I dislike him.
He's being sent to Tubo as an envoy.
We won't have to see him for a long time.
Although it wasn't announced,
if you want to prepare a gift,
the wives and daughters of the
Military Commissioner and Imperial Attendants
are visiting friends and relatives in Yong'an.
Your sixth brother?
The Prince of Zhao?
He's still in contact with the imperial court
and even recommended officials?
These were bestowed by the Princess Royal.
[Princess Fuhui Mansion]
She said when we see the fish tokens,
we are to permit you
to enter and exit her mansion freely.
Thank you for her grace. I can go back on my own.
Vice Magistrate, please understand us.
This is the order of the Princess Royal.
Please board the carriage.
Vice Magistrate, you're not yet 30 years old.
You're young and already the Vice Magistrate.
You're truly young and promising.
You're upright, handsome, and elegant.
These are what the Princess Royal
appreciates the most.
The Princess Royal invited you several times.
She has taken a liking to you.
If you're willing,
you can become one of the Three Lords soon.
[Yunshui Manor]
Vice Magistrate.
Vice Magistrate, please consider what I said.
After all, it's the wish of the Princess Royal.
With her support and your character,
you'll have a bright future.
You're overpraising me.
Vice Magistrate, take care.
Grandpa, I don't understand what they're saying.
Let's go. Let's go to the restaurant.
- Something big is happening. Hurry.
- What's wrong?
Hurry, hurry up.
Handsome! Handsome!
[Temporarily Closed]
Don't be so quiet in there!
Come out and let us see you!
Handsome, let us check if you're fine
and we'll leave!
[Handsome Shen's Sayings]
- Handsome!
- Handsome!
- Handsome!
- Handsome!
Come out and meet us.
Are all women in the ancient era that crazy?
A'Yuan, hang in there.
What should I do? This...
This is too crazy.
This...
After that poetry gathering,
the Princess Royal gave an order.
Someone really came to gather what I said
and compiled them into a book.
And many bookshops recently
started to use the woodblock printing technology.
It's less time-consuming than manual copying.
So, its dissemination speed just shot up.
Plus...
my personal image is not bad, right?
These women now are really not picky.
But you must persuade them
not to block the entrance.
Don't let this affect our business.
Mom, what do you mean by "picky"?
What's lacking now
is an understanding of aesthetics.
They have such good taste.
Don't worry.
I will manage my Gongcai fans.
Gongcai fan?
Let me warn you, Shen Shaojie.
These women like your fake image,
not the real you.
Don't do anything inappropriate to them
just because of this.
- Do you hear me?
- Yes.
Our family forbids using feelings as deceit.
Am I that kind of man? Am I?
Mom, am I the same as those celebrities?
Besides, I meant all those words I said.
Don't worry, Mom.
I'll keep a distance from my fans.
I belong to everyone.
I can't be possessed by just one woman.
Just give it a rest.
You don't look like an idol,
but you already have an idol's burden.
I thought you might improve
but you've regressed instead.
What do you mean by this?
You're all here.
Something big has happened.
You simply won't believe it.
Why is the entrance so crowded?
Why is the restaurant closed?
Are we not doing business anymore?
It's all because of Shen Gongcai's fans.
They're his fans?
What about mine?
Dad, get to the point.
Yes, that's right. Yangyang and I just saw
the Princess Royal's servants
escorting Vice Magistrate back to his house.
From what we heard, it seems
the Princess Royal has taken a liking to him.
- What?!
- What?
Grandpa, what does "taking a liking" mean?
Let's have an emergency meeting.
A meeting.
Let's have a meeting.
Speak up, everyone.
Everyone, listen to me first.
Actually, I think this might not be a bad thing.
Think about it.
If our ancestor really ends up with her,
his status will sh**t up immediately. Right?
We'll become descendants of the Princess Royal.
That's a blessing for his descendants, right?
Gongcai, is your mind just a mess?
What's the matter?
Who are we?
We're the descendants
of the Lin and Shen families.
If Ancestor Lin has the Princess Royal,
can he have descendants from the Shen family?
If he doesn't have descendants
from the Shen family, the past would change.
And the future would also change.
Would we even exist then?
Yes, that's right. I forgot about that.
That's not acceptable.
They can't be together.
If they are, we will all cease to exist.
If I'm gone, what about my fans?
They would be so pitiful.
You must have been deluded by your fans.
- It's indeed like this.
- But according to the theories in sci-fi movies,
history can't be changed.
Since we already exist in the future,
it means our ancestor will meet
another Lady Shen and marry her.
A'Ji, she's the Princess Royal after all.
Her status is there.
Moreover, she wouldn't marry him
or limit his career development.
There are many benefits.
The nature of humans... Listen, it's hard to say.
Our ancestor is not that kind of man.
But what if the Princess Royal
takes him by force?
By force?
Everyone, I think we're now at a critical moment.
Everything that happens now
could affect the future.
First, we must put aside internal conflicts
and unite against the outsiders.
We must resolutely prevent
our ancestor from going to the Princess Royal.
We must prevent him from flying
to a place of greater happiness.
It makes sense.
[Shaoguang's Food Notes]
[Xuanwei Ham: Yunnan's Xuanwei Ham as fillings]
[This mooncake is savory and sweet.]
Timing and Subtitles brought to you
by Love @ First Pancake
Team @Viki.com"Thousand Emotions" - Bo Yuan
♫ A ray of afterglow from the hairpin
falls on the eyebrows ♫
♫ The wind sways,
the bell hangs under the clouds ♫
♫ Each single chime tugs the heart ♫
♫ True love can only be felt,
without being expressed ♫
♫ You’re the obscurity, you’re the clarity ♫
♫ Seeking stars in the fog,
seeing your shadow under the moon ♫
♫ Hesitant to speak, overwhelmed with emotions ♫
♫ Can our path ahead be without suspicions? ♫
♫ I mistook everything I saw as cold as ice ♫
♫ I let the dusk dyes my cheeks
red with embarrassment ♫
♫ Even holding my breath can’t stop ♫
♫ Exposing my burning heart ♫
♫ You’re the noise, you’re the silence ♫
♫ I implicitly embrace you into this life ♫
♫ Hesitant and unsure,
sincerity is hard to deceive ♫
♫ Worldly rules and taboos,
how can I give them up? ♫
♫ Rushing to you, I’m confused
and hopelessly addicted ♫
♫ I still regard it as a tryst ♫
♫ The heart stirs, the wind blows away
the lightest ripples ♫
♫ It’s the hidden place
for thousand entangled emotions ♫
♫ Saved enough of a lifetime,
I rush to greet you across the miles ♫
♫ From now on, the roaming heart
returns to its hometown ♫
♫ To draw near what seems beyond reach ♫
♫ To change life and death, we won’t ever yield ♫
♫ Perhaps the relationship is not ideal ♫
♫ But love will forever ♫
♫ Compensate for our mutual cherishment
and understanding ♫
♫ Saved enough of a lifetime,
I rush to greet you across the miles ♫
♫ From now on, the roaming heart
returns to its hometown ♫
♫ To draw near what seems beyond reach ♫
♫ To change life and death ♫
♫ We won’t ever yield ♫