Ministry of Justice.
Great.
Good. I haven't seen you in only a couple of days.
You aim a lot better now. Have you been practicing?
Of course I have.
Aunt Xiaomei taught me to look down my nose and my chest. Then I'll aim well.
Eyes down the nose and to the chest.
Hey, I can't do that. My chin's blocking the view.
Dad, you're cross-eyed.
I'm not.
Brother Dongpo.
Shaoyou, it's been a while.
I'm sorry I haven't visited you since you got locked up here.
That's why I bought a pot of wine to apologize to you.
Xiaomei, you see the difference? You're not as smart as Shaoyou.
You didn't bring me anything.
Shaoyou is so smart He brought me a pot of wine.
I haven't smelled wine in a long time...
I don't want to finish it in one gulp. I want to enjoy it slowly.
Enjoy...
Look, Brother Dongpo is so nice to you. He's not mad at you at all.
He's always treated you like one of us.
What are you talking about? What do you mean one of us?
He's not just one of us, he's also family. You think he's an outsider?
Brother Dongpo, do you know...?
Listen to me. I understand.
Actually, this has nothing to do with that poem.
His Majesty is picking on me now.
Even if I had written some random numbers, he would still call it a treacherous poem.
I can't change his mind.
Even so, you still have to tell him that the last two lines were actually...
His Majesty already has an answer in his mind.
Whatever we say won't change the outcome.
Why is His Majesty so unreasonable?
What did you say?
Do you know if His Majesty heard what you said just now,
you would become the youngest prisoner on death row in history?
Brother Dongpo.
What?
If we both share the liability together...
What do you mean share?
We're lucky His Majesty is only picking on me.
I know there's a lot you guys want to say. But it's come to this now.
It makes no difference whether you say it or not.
There's no point causing unnecessary trouble.
You guys continue playing. I need to talk to Shaoyou inside, OK?
Keep playing.
Sit down.
Shaoyou, if I die and Brother Zhe can't come back in time,
you will be the only man left in the family.
You'll have to shoulder the entire family.
Perhaps it won't be as grave as you think.
I said, if. It would be best if everything's fine.
Given the development of the situation,
I believe even if I don't get the death penalty,
I will still end up in jail.
Even if I don't need to go to jail,
I will be demoted and transferred somewhere remote. Regardless, I'm doomed.
I know you're not prepared to suddenly shoulder the family.
Too bad you're the only man in the family. You're my brother-in-law too.
I think highly of you. Don't let me down.
OK.
Bro, I cherish you very much. Let's go out.
OK. We're done talking. It's late. Go home.
Mai, I haven't hugged you in a long time...my son.
Mai, listen to Dad.
When I'm not there, you must listen to Aunt Xiaomei and Uncle Shaoyou.
Don't be naughty. Be good. OK. Go home...
You're pregnant. Go home...
Goodbye.
Take care. It's OK. Take care.
Brother Dongpo.
Xiaomei...
Don't cry. You'll scare the kid.
Go now.
I'm counting on you to take care of Mai in the future.
Sis Runzhi...
Actually I composed the last two lines of the poem.
You did?
I didn't have the courage to admit it before because of Xiaomei and the baby.
Just now I went to see Brother Dongpo.
He insisted on taking the fall by himself.
The more relaxed he sounded, the heavier I felt.
I really can't forgive myself if I don't tell His Majesty the truth.
You think His Majesty will behave you if you tell him the truth now?
If he can frame Brother Dongpo, I can make a confession.
Have you considered the consequences?
Yes.
What about Xiaomei?
I don't want to let her and the baby down.
If I die, please look after them for me.
Don't be mad at Brother Dongpo.
Then I can die without regrets.
Your Majesty!
At ease.
I've come to confess and apologize to Your Majesty.
You can stand while you plead for forgiveness.
Much obliged.
You said you wanted to confess. Is it related to Su Dongpo?
How did you know, Your Majesty?
Carry on.
Actually, I had a part in writing the poem
that Su Dongpo wrote in that pub the other day. I even wrote the...
The last two lines, right?
You know that too.
I had a dream last night.
In my dream, the Fairy of Nine Heavens gave me a brush.
She said the brush can tell me everything about the past and the future.
When I woke up, I was really holding a brush in my hand.
A brush that can tell you the past and the future?
That's really incredible.
That's why I was testing it just now. It works.
So the brush told Your Majesty that I would come confess and apologize?
Exactly.
The brush has already put down
what you wanted to tell me on a piece of paper.
Come over and take a look.
Your Majesty, there's nothing on the paper.
Pour some tea over it and you'll see.
I, Qin Shaoyou, wrote the treacherous poem. My conscience pricks me...
You want to tell me that Su Dongpo is innocent?
You didn't have the courage to confess.
So your conscience pricked you. You wanted to be a real man.
So you decided to come clean and tell me the truth?
The brush really works magic?
Of course...not.
How did you know everything then?
I told His Majesty everything.
Here comes the Fairy of Nine Heavens.
Sis Runzhi?
It's not worth giving up your career for a man like Su Dongpo.
You really told His Majesty everything?
Su Dongpo admitted that he had fallen for Qin Cao.
He's disloyal to His Majesty and unfaithful to me.
A person like that deserves to die.
I absolutely agree.
Do you really hate Brother Dongpo that much? You really won't let him live?
Su Dongpo wrote verses in remembrance of Qin Cao
and poems to insult His Majesty.
He's really unforgivable.
I wish I could pan-fry his skin and eat his ﬂesh to vent my anger.
Good idea! Mrs. Su has turned in her husband for justice.
She's really admirable.
I will make a public announcement that
I want to pan-fry Su Dongpo's skin and eat his ﬂesh.
I want everyone to know that whoever betrays me will end up miserably.
The three judges, namely
the Chief Justice of Dali Supreme Court, the Minister of Justice
and the Imperial Censor, have decided unanimously that
Su Dongpo is guilty of the charge of writing a treacherous poem.
He is sentenced to death by boiling.
I can smell my ﬂesh already?
That's not the smell. It smells so nice.
Master Si said you must leave after he's eaten.
I've prepared your favorite dishes. I'll stay here tonight to eat with you.
Just now, when I smelled that,
I was so scared because I thought I was already smelling my own ﬂesh.
So it's really you. Sit down. There's no table here. Sit on the bed.
Come on. Wow, I'll go ahead and eat.
Enjoy.
I thought you were mad at me and would never come to visit me.
Did it ever occur to you to ask why you ended up like this?
There's no explanation for many things in the world.
It's just inexplicable.
OK. I've answered your question. It's my turn to ask you one.
Listen Do you regret marrying me? Answer me.
Do you? You won't say anything?
That means you don't.
I've thought it over. Why don't I divorce you before I'm executed?
Then, if you meet someone you want to spend the rest of your life with,
you can marry him properly, right?
That won't be necessary. You divorced me a while ago.
I did? Really? When did I do that?
You wrote a declaration of divorce in Gu Zhuang. Have you forgotten?
I really did forgot. Does that count?
Fine. It counts if you say it does. I won't have to bother then.
This is so good.
Runzhi.
Yes?
Thank you for the meal.
Take care.
OK.
Go...Go...
Cold in the Censorate at night.
Sound of shackles in the wind.
Feeling perturbed in the dream about home.
I owe my wife since I will die in poverty.
It's sunny today.
It's the best time to go out to get a sense of the public's mood.
Prime Minister Wang, that's a great suggestion.
You work hard for the people and rule the country well.
Song enjoys peace and prosperity.
Let's go to the most popular place in the capital for an inspection then.
I know a place. It's Hua...something?
It's Hua De Restaurant, Your Majesty.
Let's go to Hua De Restaurant then.
Hua De Restaurant.
Hua De Restaurant is the most popular place in the capital. Locals love to come here.
Even people from other places come here too because it's so famous.
So the guests are from all walks of life.
Being here for a while will enable Your Majesty to ream everything.
Last time we said that His Majesty works really hard for the people.
He's won the adoration of the people.
But Su Dongpo had a treacherous intent.
He even colluded with the enemy in the hopes of starting a rebellion.
Wow...
He also wrote a treacherous poem to fool the people.
But His Majesty is smart.
He passed a heavy sentence on Su Dongpo.
That's well said...
That's not true.
His Majesty is mad that Miss Qin Cao kissed Su Dongpo before she died.
So he framed Su Dongpo.
His Majesty has so many concubines. Hasn't he been kissed before?
How would he be so petty?
The cool dragon lowers its tail and sees the boats off.
That just refers to dragon boats.
But His Majesty insisted on saying that it was an insult to him.
I wonder how educated he is.
His Majesty hates Su Dongpo so much.
It probably has to do with the legitimacy incident.
His Majesty is so petty.
He's a bad son too.
He made the empress dowager and the princess
stay in a Buddhist dining hall for good.
He's shown no filial affection.
This is outrageous. So my people see me like this.
Hey, don't rebut the story or I'll have to ask you guys to leave.
Those people are rebutting for the sake of making a rebuttal.
If you guys rebut the story again,
I'll ask the emperor to kill your whole family.
People shouldn't speak up in case their family members get killed?
Why don't you ask His Majesty to kill everyone then?
He claims he loves the people like they're his own children?
If you loved your son, you wouldn't even hit him with a cane,
let alone kill his whole family.
What's wrong with you?
You're still arguing? Let me teach you a lesson.
Don't throw that.
I'm throwing it at you.
Your Majesty, you could get hurt if we stay here.
Why is there so much public resentment? People start fights so easily.
Everyone has the right to write poems. Su Dongpo did nothing wrong.
Do you guys agree?
Right.
This is wrong. His Majesty is the emperor. His words count.
You just follow orders without thinking.
That's why there are internal problems and external threats to Song.
We should tell His Majesty the truth. Do you guys agree?
Your Majesty, the people are occupying this street.
Why don't we take a detour?
There's prosperity due to His Majesty. Now you want to oppose his decision.
Do you want the administration and society to become chaotic?
If His Majesty could be more magnanimous and receptive to comments,
would there be chaos?
Right...
Let His Majesty hear what we want to say. Your Majesty, we have grievances...
We have grievances...
The people are occupying so many roads. What should we do now?
What grievances?
Your Majesty, it's too dangerous to stay here.
Why don't we go back to the palace and talk about this?
Your Majesty, apart from those on the streets outside Hua De Restaurant,
lots of people are arguing with each other at Xihau Gate and Jinshui Bridge too.
There's conﬂict everywhere.
It's that serious?
Your Majesty, please grant your approval
to deploy soldiers and suppress the commotion.
Your Majesty, you mustn't do that.
That's right.
Our soldiers only fight our enemies, not our own people.
If we don't send troops to restore order,
I'm afraid the situation will get even more chaotic.
Shut up. This is your fault.
You took me to Hua De Restaurant and put me in danger.
You're even asking me to hurt the people? Get out. I don't want to see you. Get out.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Prime Minister Wang, what's your suggestion regarding the chaos?
Su Dongpo's poems are very popular. People really love them.
The only way to solve this problem...
is to let Su Dongpo live
to charm people's discontent.
Letting him live is no big deal.
But I already said that I wanted to pan-fry his skin and eat his flesh.
How can I eat my words now?
That's true. The emperor means what he says.
You said you wanted to eat his ﬂesh.
If you retract that now, your authority could be undermined.
Right.
Today Su Dongpo will be executed.
I remember that when we decided his case, you were all eager to find him guilty.
Now I'm picking five of you as representatives to try Dongpo's flesh.
Will the newly appointed Chief Supervisor to the Imperial Kitchen come forward please?
Your Majesty, I'm Wang Runzhi, Chief Supervisor to the Imperial Kitchen.
At ease.
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
Su Dongpo slandered the administration and insulted His Majesty.
He was sentenced to boiling. I've prepared five pots of Dongpo's meat.
I said I wanted to pan-fry his skin and eat his ﬂesh.
I will fulfil my promise now.
Li Tian, Lu Zhong, Li Zhe, Qian Feng and Jiang Wanli,
you will taste the five different dishes of Dongpo's meat on behalf of all the officials.
Officers, please go ahead or the meat will get cold.
Officer Li...
You passed out when I asked you to eat?
Drag him out. Wake him up and ﬂog him 20 times.
Let's see who else will pass out.
Officer Qin, come forward and try Dongpo's ﬂesh.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I'm warning you guys,
whoever refuses to eat will be pan-fried and stewed. Eat.
I'm warning you guys,
whoever refuses to eat will be pan-fried and stewed. Eat.
How does Dongpo's flesh taste?
The meat is crispy yet tender. It's mellow but not greasy.
It's also crispy and not sticky. It tastes like pork.
That's because I used my secret marinade.
Before I stewed it, I first pan-fried the skin.
Then I stewed it over a gentle ﬂame for two hours.
When the meat was cooked,
I put it in a steamer for an hour before it was finally finished.
You're right. Actually this is stewed pork. We given it the name Dongpo Pork.
Your Majesty has elevated the stewing of pork to a higher level.
It also shows your forgiveness and magnanimity.
Your Majesty!
You have contributed much to the administration in the past.
I absolve you from the offence of insulting the emperor.
You will be demoted and transferred to Huangzhou
to be the assistant commissioner of the militia.
Don't make anymore mistakes.
Carry on making a contribution to the government.
Much obliged, Your Majesty. I will do my very best.
Sis Runzhi asked the prime minister to save you.
She knew His Majesty trusts me.
So she guided His Majesty to say
that he wanted to pan-fry Dongpo's skin and eat Dongpo's ﬂesh.
Then the prime minister went out with His Majesty
to experience public sentiment.
He asked people to put on a show to make His Majesty change his mind
and use Dongpo Pork as a graceful way to back down.
I boasted that I was smart. Actually Dongpo Pork saved my life.
It was really close this time.
We must go pray at Chancellor Temple.
Xiaomei, save the trouble.
It's OK because I can be with you all again, right?
Where's your Sis Runzhi?
She said she was going to visit you the other day.
We haven't seen her since then.
Do you know where Runzhi is?
She came to say goodbye to me. She didn't tell me where she was going.
I really can't help you.
Why did she leave without saying goodbye to me?
I think she's given up on you completely.
She doesn't want to leave any clues for you to find her.
If she's given up on me completely, she wouldn't have tried to save me.
She values love. She's your wife. She would do her best to save you.
Actually I only admired Qin Cao, nothing else. Runzhi's different.
We share so many unforgettable memories.
She's forever the woman I love most.
Too bad I don't even have a chance to tell her this.
Su Dongpo, I hope you've really figured it out this time.
Love comes and goes. Just let it be.
Prime Minister Wang, thank you for squeezing time to see me off.
I really don't know what to say except to tell you how grateful I am.
A simple word of thanks from Su Dongpo is worth a thousand words.
I used to argue with you all the time.
But you am get mad at me. You even saved my life.
Our political views may be different. But it's nothing personal.
Anyway, I must say this once again.
When you carry out your reforms, you must do so step by step.
Don't push it so hard. You must remember that.
I will pay attention to that There's something I want to tell you too.
Please go ahead.
Setbacks are just a form of training to make us stronger and more persistent.
See you.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, Prime Minister Wang.
Shaoyou, I'm entrusting everyone in the family, including my son, to you.
Also, Xiaomei's pregnant.
You must spend more time at home and keep her company from now on, OK?
Don't worry. I will take care of everyone. Good.
You two, what's the matter? You can't hold back your tears already?
I thought you two were big girls already. So you're still kids.
Let me tell you,
don't ever think you're a big girl just because you're married.
To me, you're forever kids.
Remember that getting along with your spouse is an art.
Don't keep everything to yourselves. You must talk to your better half, OK?
OK, Brother Dongpo.
Don't worry, Brother Dongpo.
Jichang is kind and gentle. It's hard to pick a fight with him.
He's always kind and gentle. Try to pick a fight with him for fun.
I've already sent people everywhere to look for Sis Runzhi.
But she still hasn't been found yet. I think she's already left the capital.
Perhaps this is the end for Runzhi and me.
Master Su, it's going to rain. Why don't you get back in the carriage?
I've been riding in the carriage all day. I want to stand here for a while longer.
Please don't be upset.
People say your wish will come true if you throw a copper coin into the pond.
Are you serious? You believe that?
Throw a copper coin into the pond and your wish will come true?
Then there wouldn't be beggars in the world, silly boy.
You're just spending a copper coin to buy yourself a hope.
It's well worth it.
OK, go back to the carriage
or you'll blame me when you get wet and fall sick. Go. Go ahead. Go.
Spend a copper coin to buy a hope. That's a bargain.
I hope I can get back together with Runzhi soon.
It seems this place has been vacant for a long time.
You're a government official. It's really beneath you to stay here.
A generous heart is better than a spacious dwelling.
A clear conscience is better than a clear room.
Come on. There's a nice landscape, stone table and stone chairs.
That's good. Just relax.
This house is so messy. It's uninhabitable.
It's a bit messy.
But there are tables and chairs. Why is it uninhabitable?
You better stay in an inn tonight
Let me clean the house first Then you can move in tomorrow, OK?
Gao Gui, the situation is different now.
I'm just an assistant commissioner of the militia now, OK?
My stipend is meagre. We must be frugal.
Come on. Let's clean the house together and make it a nice home. Come on.
Don't listen to the rain hitting on the leaves in the forest.
Why not shout and walk slowly?
Holding a stick and wearing straw shoes. That's better than riding on a horse.
Who's afraid of that?
There's rain and mist. I've always liked wearing a raincoat.
The cold wind in winter makes me sober. It’s chilly.
The setting sun shines on me over the hill.
Looking back at the place where trees moaned in the rain. So serene.
Go home. No wind, no rain. Nor is it sunny.
What does the verse mean?
If you had gone to jail and cheated death like I have,
you would then understand that you need to let go sometimes.
You don't care about being an official. But you care where Mrs. Su is.
I'm hungry. Get me some food.
Yes, sir.
Huangzhou.
Officer Su...We want to see Officer Su...
No visitors today.
Officer Su...
Gao Gui, why is it so noisy outside?
Some restaurant owners have come here. They're famous in Huangzhou.
They know you've been transferred here. They want you to promote their restaurants.
Show them in.
Officer Su, your golden tongue is so well-known.
If you say something positive about my restaurant,
it will become really renowned.
Please come to my Moon Watching Restaurant a few times a month.
I want to invite you to my restaurant
to write a poem about our signature deep-fried tofu.
Officer Su...
Wait a second. I know what you want.
Unfortunately, my tongue is useless now. I can't help you.
You're being modest, Officer Su.
I will pay you money every month as remuneration.
As long as you'll come, all the food and drinks will be on the house.
Officer Su, just tell us what you want. I promise you'll be happy about my offer.
That's right. Please do us a favor, Officer Su.
Listen to me please. I love to eat.
Where there's good food,
I will definitely be there, even without invitation.
But my tongue has already retired. I eat but don't know the taste.
If I'm lying to you about this, I will give up my last name Su.
Gao Gui, show the guests out.
Please go home.
Sorry for the intrusion. Goodbye, Officer Su.
It smells so good.
I was told that a government official had moved in next door.
I bought this especially for you, sir.
Thank you...What's inside the pot? It smells so good.
It's Dongpo Pork.
Dongpo Pork?
It's nice.
That's the smell. Madam, where did you buy this?
I can't read. I just know it's shop 7 on the Main Street.
Shop 7 on Main Street.
Sorry...
Honey...
Are you inside? Honey.
Honey is getting married today?
Honey,
the smell of the Dongpo Pork that old lady gave me
told me that you made it.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You do. You know everything.
You knew I would be demoted and transferred to Huangzhou.
So you came here first.
You know I love Dongpo Pork.
So you asked the old lady to lure me here with it, right?
You know no shame.
Right. I know no shame. I, Su Dongpo, know no shame.
You're not the person inside that wedding sedan-chair.
That means I still have a chance.
What has that got to do with you? I may not be getting married today.
But that doesn't mean I won't tomorrow or will never marry in the future.
You still cook Dongpo Pork.
That shows you haven't completely given up on me.
You still miss me, right?
No. I hate you. I hate you so much.
I want everyone to take a bite of your skin and eat your ﬂesh every day.
If that can make you forgive me, go ahead. Eat me.
You're crazy.
I'm letting you, go ahead. Eat me.
Go away.
If you won't eat me, I'll eat myself then.
Are you crazy?
I don't want to talk to you.
Ever since you left, I haven't been able to eat or rest.
I lost interest in everything. Do you know why?
I was so self-centered and pompous.
I thought nothing could tie me down.
But after I married you, I had given you my heart without even knowing it.
Then you left and took my heart with you.
You've always been heartless.
I was before But I have a heart now.
Tell me what I must do to make you come back to me. Please tell me.
Fine. Tell me what I said the day you let me marry you.
Do you still remember?
As long as you let me stay and serve you, I will be happy.
If you don't believe me, I can enter into a contract with you.
From now on, you may go wherever you like
and do whatever you want to do.
I won't ask any questions.
This won't change in 50 years,
500 years or even 5,000 years.
Why are you so good to me?
Because I love you. I love Wang Runzhi.
I've been carrying this flower pin all along.
I knew I would see you again someday.
Put it on for me. What are you waiting for?
Honey.
You're so bad.
Hit me harder. I like that. Harder.
I hate you...I miss you so much.
Me too. I will never let you leave me again.
When will there be a full moon? I ask God while I'm drinking:
What year is it in heaven?
I want to ride the wind home. But I fear that it's too cold up there.
Dancing with moving shadows. It's far from the scene of the human world.
Turning to the red chamber...