01x34 - Episode 34

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

[Adapted from He Yanshan's novel,
Orchid Fragrance Fate]

=Episode 34=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

[The systems, culture, attire and other
dynastic elements have been adapted.]

His Majesty is more merciful
than the late Emperor.

I hope Prince Han

can let go of his ambitions.

The pain medicine is working now.

Get some rest.

I'm not sleepy.

Stay

and talk with me a little longer.

Lu Jian and his father
are both narrow-minded.

They suffered
a major setback in court today

and certainly won't let it go.

When you go out from now on,

take more people with you.

I will.

Don't worry.

Han Liang.

Third Place Scholar...

Do you resent me

for using the imperial edict

to force you to marry me?

♪Our bond runs deep♪

♪Binding us closely together♪

♪After all the questions
life has brought♪

♪This love has never
faded in the slightest♪

You don't even know
what I think or want,

yet you dared to marry me.

You really are bold.

[Six Months Later]

Your Majesty.

Tomorrow morning,

Prince Han will pay his respects
at Changling Mausoleum

[Details for Departure to the Fief]
and bid farewell to the late Emperor and Empress.

On the twentieth, he will perform
the rites at Fengxian Hall.

On the twenty-first,

Prince Han
will bid farewell to Your Majesty.

After that, he will leave the capital

and head directly to his fief.

Only three days remain

before my brother leaves.

My brother and I
were born of the same mother.

Once we part,

who knows when we'll meet again?

Fengtai.

I remember that aside from
the troops assigned by the court

from the Rear Military Command,
Imperial Guard, and Capital Garrison,

Prince Han also has 3,000 Tiance Guards
under his command.

Every one of them
is a brave and formidable fighter.

Indeed, Your Majesty.

The Tiance Guards
are stationed outside the city,

not far from the Shenji Battalion.

Before Prince Han leaves the capital,

keep a close watch on them.

It's bitterly cold.

Don't let the soldiers
go hungry or freeze

and cause trouble.

Tomorrow, I will escort several carts
of grain and charcoal there.

I'll be sure to take care

so they will appreciate
Your Majesty's grace.

Chen Qi is a veteran general
highly valued by the late Emperor.

Unless absolutely necessary,

do not come into conflict with him.

I understand.

This firearm

was just forged by the Imperial Armory.

[Golden Talisman]
It's more powerful than previous models.

I grant you special permission
to carry it with you.

You need not go through Chen Qi
or the firearms supervisor.

Military regulations state

that firearms cannot
be taken out of the camp.

Your Majesty

truly shows Deputy Commander Lin
exceptional favor.

Your Majesty has shown me immense grace.

I would give my life to repay it.

[Mahavira Hall]

[Today is Lanxiang's birthday.]

[May the Bodhisattva bless me.]

[May I soon find where
Lanxiang's remains are buried.]

[May I offer incense to her in person.]

[And bring my parents some peace.]

Young Lady.

Master, please use this silver

to keep an eternal lamp burning.

Amitabha.

Thank you for taking us in, Master.

Thank you, Master.

Sorry to trouble you.

Don't mention it.

Come on.

Master, you're truly compassionate.

Thank you for taking us in.

This way, please.

Thank you so much.

Let's go.

Thank you, Master.

The benefactors
who were speaking just now

are villagers from outside Xizhi Gate.

All the dogs in their village
died suddenly overnight.

They say ghost soldiers passed through
and the place is haunted.

So some of the villagers want to stay
at the temple for a few days

for peace of mind.

Take care, young lady.

Young Master, what are you doing here?

Don't you want to ask

what I'm wishing for?

Whatever you wish for,

I hope your wish comes true.

Today

is your birthday.

We were on the boat
for your birthday last year

and couldn't celebrate it properly.

This year,

I came back early,
especially to be with you

and give you
a proper birthday celebration.

Thank you for going
to all this trouble, Young Master.

My lady.

Please.

[May we love each other
and grow old together.]

[Lin Family Retreat Outside the Capital]

A toast to the birthday girl.

Don't drink too quickly.

The liquor will go to your head.

Take it slowly.

This cup is to you, Young Master.

Thank you

for bringing me
to the retreat especially

to celebrate my birthday.

I'll drink it all.

Take your time.

Did something

upset you today?

No.

A daughter's birthday

is the day her mother
suffered to give birth to her.

I just

miss my parents in Jinling.

Didn't you just receive
a letter from your father?

Your parents are both in good health,

and business at the shop is going well.

They told you not to worry about them.

You're right.

This retreat

was purchased by Grandfather

when he was Minister of Personnel.

It's rather remote,

but it has a hot spring
that's very good for your health.

It's bitterly cold outside.

Let's stay here for a few days

so you can relax as well.

What about everyone
back at the residence?

Since we came to the capital,

without Concubine Zhou
watching her day and night,

Suhua has clearly
become much more cheerful.

Jinlan is in better spirits, too,

and his health seems better
than in previous years.

With him at the residence,

it won't matter if we
don't go back for ten days

or even half a month.

Being a little tipsy

is just right.

If I drink any more,
I'll really get drunk.

Then I'll start talking nonsense.

That would spoil the mood.

Today

is your birthday.

Why not get drunk for once?

That's right.

Today is my birthday.

Lanxiang.

I'm drunk.

I'm going back.

Did I do something wrong

to upset you?

You went to all this trouble
to celebrate my birthday.

How could I not appreciate it?

If anyone was wrong,

it was me.

I shouldn't have drunk so much.

♪Spring slips from the
branches once more♪

The longevity noodles are here.

♪All the joys and sorrows come and go♪

♪While loss leaves winter in the heart♪

♪Though all the world may fade♪

♪Time rolls on as
countless lives rush by♪

♪Night winds wander
through the halls of long ago♪

♪No page could hold the
longing words can never show♪

♪Every joy and sorrow
in this fleeting life♪

♪Fades into the past
as new wounds rise♪

♪While whispers of perfume
linger beneath the eaves♪

[Spring Tidings from Solitary Hill]

Why does it sound

like someone's performing opera?

You heard right, Young Madam.

Young Master specially invited

the Xiaofurong Troupe from the city
so you could enjoy some opera

and get some proper rest.

Ting Lizi is here?

Young Madam is back.

I didn't know
the troupe leader was coming.

Forgive me for not welcoming you.

Young Master Lin
is paying me well enough.

Whether you welcome me or not,

I don't really care.

Young Madam.

You haven't been to the troupe
for quite some time.

I've been thinking

of asking you for a reward.

What could possibly
be worth paying you for?

Last month, I went out
of the city with the troupe

to perform for Commander Tian.

I went to the latrine along the way

and ran into Lu Jian.

He was acting furtively,

like he had something to hide.

You once asked me to hire
some th*gs to beat him up,

so I recognized him from a distance.

It looks like

Lu Jian has found himself
a powerful patron in Prince Han.

You should be careful.

Thank you for the warning.

Shunqing and I have made up.

Sit down and enjoy the opera.

Wait over there.

[All the dogs in the village
outside Xizhi Gate]

[died suddenly overnight.]

They say ghost soldiers passed through.

Didn't they report it
to the authorities?

They did.

The Wanping County Office
refused to handle it.

Later, the villagers took the matter
to Shuntian Prefecture.

I heard Judicial Officer Dai

personally brought constables there.

[They didn't find anything.]

[Dai Rui...]

I remember

Commander Tian of the Tiance Guards
is an avid opera lover.

He especially enjoys your performances.

Whenever I visit
the troupe on the fifteenth,

you're never there.

You're always performing
for the Tiance Guards.

You remember correctly.

Commander Tian's mother is from Suzhou.

He grew up listening
to southern opera with his mother.

Every month, he has me perform
at his residence for a day

to satisfy his craving for opera.

The fifteenth has just passed.

Did you perform
for Commander Tian this month?

I heard Prince Han
is leaving for his fief.

I figured Commander Tian
would have to go with him,

so I thought he'd surely ask me to
perform a few more times before leaving.

But to my surprise,

he hasn't invited me
to perform even once.

I thought another troupe

had stolen my business.

I suppose he's been
too busy with official duties

to enjoy any opera.

He's about to leave.

There shouldn't be much
left to keep him busy.

I really must thank you
and Shunqing this time.

I just remembered something urgent
that I need to go out and take care of.

I'm sorry you came
all this way for nothing.

You'll still be paid as promised.

Lizi.

Please wait
until I return before leaving.

All right.

We'll wait for you to return
before we leave.

Young Madam, you're going out?

Where are you going?

Did Young Master go to
the Tiance Guards today?

Yes.

Jiugao said His Majesty ordered him

to deliver grain and charcoal.

Xiaolian.

Have a carriage prepared immediately.

Find a servant who grew up locally
to come with us.

Yes.

Yuchan.

Take two servants and hurry back to
the city to find Second Young Master.

Tell him...

Tell him...

Tell him Young Master wants bean rice
cooked over bean st*lks.

Have Second Young Master
prepare it at once.

Young Master wants bean rice?

When does he want it?

I don't know.

We're short on time. Hurry!

Yes.

After I leave,

have the main gate barred.

Lock the side gate tight.

Have two alert servants

keep watch outside at all times.

Don't go outside.

Stay hidden indoors.

Young Madam, the carriage is ready.

Let's leave at once. Find Young Master.

Hyah!

You two, get inside, quickly!

Hurry!

Bar the main gate.
Lock the side gate tight.

Until Young Madam returns,

no one is allowed in or out.

Understood?

- Yes.
- Yes.

[Tiance Guards]

[Tiance Guards Encampment
Outside the Capital]

[Pacification Officer Qian]
Lin Jinqi is coming to deliver supplies.

[Lower Fifth-Rank of the Tiance Guards]
He will surely enter the camp.

Once they're inside,

close the camp gates immediately.

Trap them inside.

k*ll them on the spot.

Prince Han has given the order.

Ten taels of silver for each head.



for Lin Jinqi's head.

- Yes.
- Yes.

- Let's go.
- Hurry.

Who goes there?

[Golden Talisman]

Assistant Commander
of the Central Military Command.

I'm here by imperial order
to reward the Tiance Guards.

Deputy Commander Lin, welcome.

Forgive me
for not coming out to greet you.

No need for formalities,
Pacification Officer Qian.

You've had a difficult journey.

Please come in.

The snow is getting heavier
by the minute.

The roads
will only get harder to travel.

I still have matters to attend to today,

so I won't trouble you by going inside.

These supplies
are a gift from His Majesty.

Please have the men of the Tiance Guards

carry them inside.

There's no hurry.

We've prepared warm liquor
and hot food inside the camp.

You've come
all this way through the snow.

Come in and have a few drinks.

Warm yourselves up before you leave.

Today,

I really do have
other matters to attend to.

It's bitterly cold,

and I shouldn't
keep my wife waiting too long.

Madam Lin came as well?

My wife and I have been at odds

these past few days.

I only just managed
to make peace with her.

I hope you'll understand.

I'll treat you to a drink another day.

I've long heard of your
deep devotion to your wife.

It's truly admirable.

In that case,

I won't take up

any more of your time.

When I meet His Majesty tomorrow,

I'll be sure to put
in a good word for you.

I will take my leave.

Take care.

Take care, Deputy Commander Lin.

I'll let you live a little longer.

There is indeed something amiss
with the Tiance Guards.

If you hadn't come to warn me,

I would have gone
into the camp to investigate.

By now,

I might well have been in grave danger.

But

what made you think

the Tiance Guards were up to something?

Commander Tian is an avid opera lover.

He listens to opera
every month without fail.

He's about to leave the capital,

yet he hasn't summoned any performers.

Such a sudden change in habit

must have a reason behind it.

All the dogs in a village
in Wanping County

died suddenly overnight.

The villagers say
ghost soldiers passed through.

And the official sent to investigate

was Dai Rui.

That is strange,

but what does it have
to do with the Tiance Guards?

That village lies outside Xizhi Gate,

not far from the city walls.

Even if the Tiance Guards

planned to enter
the city through Xizhi Gate,

there would be no need
to k*ll the dogs beforehand.

Besides,

the Imperial Guards defending
the city are all elite troops.

With only three thousand Tiance Guards,

they could never breach the capital.

You have a point.

Lu Jian and his father
have already sided with Prince Han

and have dealings with Tian Fang.

Lu Jian's father, Lu Ju,

is Director of the Construction Office,
Ministry of Works.

His rank may be low,

but he has access to the Archives

and could steal the construction plans.

Prince Han has already obtained
the plans for the city walls.

I'm afraid I still don't understand.

Please explain.

I once read a passage

in an ancient text

describing the walls of Chang'an
during the Sui and Tang dynasties.

To drain standing water from the city

and prevent flooding,

underground drainage
culverts were built.

The widest could accommodate a carriage.

The narrowest
could accommodate one person.

Although the walls of our capital

cannot compare with those
of the Sui and Tang dynasties,

the culverts may not
be wide enough for a carriage,

but a person should certainly
be able to pass through.

The villagers said ghost soldiers
had passed through.

It wasn't really a haunting.

The Tiance Guards had slipped
into Wanping County under cover of night

and hidden their troops
in the drainage culverts.

They k*lled all the dogs in the village

first, to keep their barking
from drawing attention,

and second,

to frighten the villagers away
so they could act freely.

A matter that should have
been handled by the county office

somehow ended up
with Shuntian Prefecture

and was assigned to Dai Rui.

That was also to cover up
the hidden troops.

No wonder Pacification Officer Qian
wanted to k*ll me.

It's because the Tiance Guards' camp

is already empty.

Deputy Commander Lin.
You've had a long journey.

Please come in.

It's not just the Tiance Guards.

Prince Han went to the late Emperor's
mausoleum today to bid farewell.

The Changling Guards
are stationed there.

Some of their commanders must
be tired of guarding the mausoleum

and persuaded by Prince Han
to join his rebellion.

With the Tiance Guards inside
and the Changling Guards outside,

they can attack from both sides.

The Imperial Guards will have
little chance of stopping them.

The Imperial City is in danger.

Stop the carriage!

Jiugao.

Young Master.

Ride back to the city at once.

Go to the palace
and see Chief Steward Wang.

Ask him to inform
His Majesty immediately!

The Imperial City
must be heavily guarded.

Yes.

I should escort you back to the retreat,

but Vice Commander Chen
of the Shenji Battalion

once fought alongside Prince Han.

They were comrades-in-arms. I must
hurry back to the Shenji Battalion

in case Vice Commander Chen
leads the battalion in rebellion.

Your duty comes first.

Don't worry about me.

Nanke, come with me
back to the Shenji Battalion.

The rest of you,
escort Madam back to the retreat.

- Yes!
- Yes!

If Prince Han leads the Changling Guards
against Xizhi Gate,

they'll have to take this road.

Take the smaller road.

Once you return to the retreat,
stay inside with the gates shut.

Wait for word from me.

Sun Yong, let's go!

Hyah!

Young Master!

Take care!

♪The golden sunset♪

♪All things fall silent♪

♪Fearing to disturb this moment♪

♪My restless heart♪

♪Seeks a place to anchor♪

♪I wonder if the past
has ever been heard♪

♪I no longer blame the moon♪

♪For withholding its light♪

♪I only pray that those I've known♪

♪Still live and thrive♪

♪No longer let the world's
wind and snow fall♪

♪And leave the grass
and trees covered in frost♪

♪I only wish that
where the lights grow dim♪

♪You and I will walk there together♪

Lin Jinqi!

If you want to slap me,

wait until I come back!

[Deep Roots, Lasting Grace]

This tea smells wonderful.

Jinlan, can you guess

what I put in this teapot?

Astragalus.

Crabapple.

Red dates.

You have a keen nose.

My nose has been steeped in
the smell of medicine for years.

It's hardly that keen.

I remembered you
took my pulse this morning

and said I was low on qi.

And I happened to be craving apples,

so I knew you'd use them
to replenish my qi.

The snow will be deep tomorrow.

I'll ask Xiulai and Xiuwan to join us.

Let's build a snowman together.

All right.

Second Young Master.

Second Young Madam.

No need to rush. Take your time.

Young Master wants

bean rice cooked over bean st*lks.

Who told you to say that?

Young Madam told me

to hurry back
and tell you those exact words.

I don't know what they mean either.

Burning bean st*lks to cook the beans.

What Lanxiang means is that

brothers are turning
on each other for the throne.

Prince Han is going to rebel.

Don't panic.

The more urgent things are,
the calmer we must be.

Suhua.

Take Fufang with you. Tell Xiulai
and Xiuwan that my heart condition

has suddenly flared up
and bring them to the side gate.

Tell them they're accompanying me
to see a physician.

We're leaving the residence?

Where are we going?

Once the rebels enter the city,
they're bound to loot everywhere.

The court's powerful families
will be their first targets.

We should stay out
of their way if we can.

As for where we're going,
I've already made plans.

Don't worry.

But Jinlan,

your health...

I'm fine.

I've been in better health
this year than in years past.

I can manage.

I still need to discuss with Butler Yang

how to keep the servants safe.

Go find Xiulai and Xiuwan.

We'll meet at the side gate.

All right.

Yuchan.

Go to the servants' quarters
and find several sets of clothes.

The plainer, the better.

Once you have them, go straight
to the side gate and meet us there.

Forget about our belongings.

Staying alive matters most right now.

Yes.

[Shenji Battalion Encampment
Outside the Capital]

[Chen Qi, Lower First-Rank]
Prince Han is going to rebel?

[Vice Commander]

The Tiance Guards
have entered the Imperial City

[Commander of the Shenji Battalion]
through the underground drainage culverts.

The situation is critical.

Vice Commander Chen,
please make a decision at once

and lead the troops
to reinforce the city now.

[Palace Eunuch Supervising
the Shenji Battalion, Fourth-Rank]

[Imperial Horse Directorate]

Deputy Commander Lin.

Don't make such alarming claims.

Prince Han is about
to leave the capital for his fief.

Why would he suddenly rebel?

Without an imperial edict or orders
from the Ministry of w*r,

moving troops without authorization
is a serious crime.

In my view,

we should first send someone

to Xizhi Gate to investigate

whether this is true.

Vice Commander Chen has a point.

But we cannot ignore
Deputy Commander Lin's warning either.

Chen Qi.

Are you planning to rebel?

So what if I am?

The late Emperor won this realm

through rebellion.

If the late Emperor could rebel,

then Prince Han

can do the same.

Do you hear the g*nf*re?

Let's go see what's happening.

[Golden Talisman]

Chen Qi colluded
with Prince Han in rebellion

and k*lled the two supervising eunuchs.

He has been ex*cuted on the spot.

Soldiers,

will you follow me
to suppress the rebels

and earn military honors?

[Shenji Battalion]

[Garrison Supervisor Li,
Fifth-Rank Right Deputy Director]

[of the Imperial Horse Directorate]

Earn military honors!

- Earn military honors!
- Earn military honors!

- Earn military honors!
- Earn military honors!

Soldiers, heed my command.

Follow me to the armory

and collect your firearms.

- Yes.
- Yes.

Lin Jinqi colluded with the rebels

and attacked his superior,

murdering Vice Commander Chen
and the two supervising eunuchs.

Soldiers of the Shenji Battalion,

seize him at once.

Follow me into the capital
to defend the Emperor.

Prince Han is twisting the truth.

Don't be deceived by his lies.

Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master, wake up!

Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master, wake up! Young Master!

Drag him away and behead him.

Chop up his body

and feed it to the wild dogs.

Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master, wake up!

Young Master!

Young Master!

Anyone else who dares defy me

will meet the same fate as Lin Jinqi.

Those who follow me

into the capital to defend His Majesty

will be promoted three ranks
and rewarded with 100 taels of gold.

[Wei Bao, Prince Han's Personal Guard]
Enter the capital

[Fifth-Rank Company Commander]
and defend His Majesty!

- Enter the capital and defend His Majesty!
- Enter the capital and defend His Majesty!

Once we have the firearms,

follow me into the city
to suppress the rebels.

- Yes.
- Yes.

The armory is just ahead.

But to collect the firearms,

we still need the key

and the authority tokens
of the two supervising eunuchs.

k*ll anyone who refuses.

How was this door opened?

Deputy Commander Lin
had the key and authority tokens.

He was ordered to inspect the firearms,

so we opened the door and let him in.

Lin Jinqi?

Wasn't he... wasn't he dead?

Prince Han is twisting the truth.

Don't be deceived by his lies.

Drag him away and behead him.

Chop up his body

and feed it to the wild dogs!

Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master!

Anyone else who dares defy me

will meet the same fate as Lin Jinqi!

=Against the Current=
[Next Episode's Preview]

♪I no longer blame the moon♪

♪For withholding its light♪

♪I only pray that those I've known♪

Lin Jinqi ruined my plans.

Only his death will satisfy my hatred!

♪Spring slips from the
branches once more♪

♪Flowers bloom unseen,
as they have before♪

♪All the joys and sorrows come and go♪

♪While loss leaves winter in the heart♪

♪Though all the world may fade♪

♪Time rolls on as
countless lives rush by♪

♪Night winds wander
through the halls of long ago♪

♪No page could hold the
longing words can never show♪

♪Every joy and sorrow
in this fleeting life♪

♪Fades into the past
as new wounds rise♪

♪While whispers of perfume
linger beneath the eaves♪

♪Let the cold wind rage,
let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces,
let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to
guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade
as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream,
there's no return at all♪

♪Let the cold wind rage,
let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces,
let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to
guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade
as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream,
there's no return at all♪