Episode One
Most people in this world
know who they are,
how their future will be and
who they are going to spend the rest of my life with from the very beginning.
However, I don’t know any of these.
I have no idea how to survive
in this cruel world.
I have no idea where I belong
in this chaotic time.
Because I don’t remember the past,
and what the future will bring.
There is a voice
in my head saying
Chu Qiao
Who is Chu Qiao?
You need to be strong and brave
(Girl screaming)
in order to survive.
Mother.
Who am I?
Dear daughter,
from now on, your name is Jing Xiaoliu.
Who am I?
(Girl screaming)
You killed your own mother.
Catch her.
Chu Qiao, wake up.
Wake up.
Please wake up.
Chu Qiao, wake up.
(Girls crying)
Hurry up.
Let’s go.
Hurry up.
Move.
Hurry up.
(Girls crying)
Hurry up. Hurry up.
(Sounds of whipping)
Hurry up.
Sister, you are finally awake.
What is your name?
People call me “Curly”.
What is yours?
My
My name is Jing Xiaoliu.
What did you do wrong?
I caused a huge trouble.
Sister Xiaoliu, you must be hungry.
Move.
Hurry up.
What should I do? No idea.
I have no idea.
Here.
Thank you.
Sister Xiaoliu,
where are they
taking us?
I am so afraid.
I am here with you. Don’t be afraid.
(Nodding)
(Sounds of horses)
Get off. Get off now.
All of you, hurry up.
Get off quickly. Get off.
Get off and move.
Hurry up.
Get off.
Get off now. Hurry up.
Hurry up.
Move.
Go over there.
Move.
Go.
Go inside quickly. Go inside.
Go inside. Go inside.
- Where is this place? - Just Go inside.
Go inside. Go inside quickly.
There are new clothes.
Hurry up.
These clothes are of good quality.
They are so soft.
Why are they giving these to us?
Look, there are characters on the clothes.
What does this character stand for?
- I don’t know. - Me either.
Can you read this character?
No.
Sister, I think there is something wrong.
(Sounds of riding horses)
(Women screaming excitedly)
Prince of Northern Yan, Yan Xun
Thirteenth Prince of Wei State, Yuan Song
Eldest son of the Wei Household, Wei Shuhua
Second son of the Zhao Household, Zhao Xifeng
Grandchild of the third concubine of the Yuwen Household, Yuwen Huai
Look, what a crowd.
Prince Yan Xun
Princess Chun’er let you go?
Don’t you dare mention that.
You were the one
who made me broke the glass of Her Highness,
which caused me
a great deal of trouble.
Nowadays, it is a chaotic time.
The prosperity of the country and its people
should be our top priority.
However, we are still horse racing,
which would have been fine
if it were in an open place.
There are so many people here.
What if we hurt them?
That’s right.
Do you guys hear him?
(Laughing)
Let’s play
a more exciting game.
Let’s hear some screaming together.
Brother Huai,
what is prize for today’s winner?
A fine wine from Princess Chun’er.
OK.
(Laughing together)
Yan Xun,
Where is your good friend,
Yuwen Yue?
He is always like this, only following his heart.
Then there is no need to wait for him then.
Hurry up.
(Girls screaming)
Get out. All of you.
Hurry up.
Get out. All of you.
What is going on?
No idea.
I don’t even have a clue.
Get out
What is going on?
- No idea. - Hurry up.
Why are there so many soldiers?
I am scared by them.
Young Master,
we are ready to go.
Then let’s do this.
Hurry up. Move.
Hurry up.
Hurry up. Move.
Hurry up.
(Girls screaming scared)
Hurry up.
Come on, guys.
Let’s take a look.
Yuwen Huai,
why did you bring
these girls here?
I won’t bring you guys here
if it is an ordinary hunting.
Here are the hunting targets. Wolves
and these beautiful young girls.
What?
They are wearing clothes which have our names on them.
That’s right.
It is the fun part.
Each of us get some arrows.
We can aim at maids with others’ names
or wolves.
The time is finished when a stick of incense is burnt out.
When we hear the shooting of the arrow by the solider, the game is over.
Whoever has the most maids remaining,
wins.
It is too cruel.
It seems like
protecting my own maids
is more likely to win
than hunting wolves.
How interesting.
Let’s get excited.
Get excited, everyone.
(Laughing)
Brother Xifeng is right.
Using people as hunting targets.
It is certainly a unique way to play,
but too cruel.
I am out.
How about
we change the game?
They are only worthless maids.
They have their own sins.
They will die soon either way.
I am giving them a chance to live
by using them.
If they survive,
they won’t be subject to the death sentence.
Prince Yan,
is honoured Master of the Yan Household
got his title and wealth
by fighting fearlessly in the war,
by wining on the horse back
using his sword.
His bravery is well-known.
You, Yan Xun,
are his son.
There is an old saying.
Like father, like son.
Do you really want to
destroy your father’s reputation?
The sword of our Yan Household
can kill the disloyal
and the rebels,
but I cannot use it
to kill innocent girls.
I am not concerned about ruining my father’s reputation.
(Smirking)
Don’t waste time with him.
If Prince Yan Xun is out,
we can just kill
all of his maids.
There is no need to argue.
Let the wolves out.
We better wait.
Yuwen Yue is not here yet.
Yuwen Yue is probably
enjoying the company of some beautiful girl.
the heir of the great Yuwen family, Yuwen Yue
You are back, Young Master.
The night is almost over.
I have been waiting for you.
I know you don’t like the cold
so I have warmed
the bed for you.
Life is short.
Are you sure you are going to sit there?
Why are you staring me like that?
It will make me shy.
If the person who sent you here
witnesses your act,
he will be disappointed.
What are you talking about?
I don’t understand a word of it.
What do you know then?
I know many things.
Why don’t I show you?
Please don’t let a girl
make the first move.
If I make the first move,
how can you show me how skilful you are?
OK then.
When did you make me?
From the very beginning.
What did I do
that gave me away?
Everything.
Every move you make is a flaw.
Why didn’t you call me out?
I have survived a lot of assassinations.
However, it is the first time someone tried to kill me using a honey trap.
It is always the same.
Nothing special.
Come back here.
Young Master.
I have poisoned you.
It is in the incense burner.
Don’t you want the cure?
You are the one who is poisoned.
It looks like Yuwen Huai will be disappointed again.
Yueqi, get me a horse.
Yes, Young Master.
Let the wolves out.
(Men yelling)
(Girls screaming scared)
Sister.
(Wolf howling)
Run towards there.
Run. Hurry.
Hurry.
Are they treating us like hunting targets?
We are human beings.
How can I…
Yuwen Huai, how dare you.
It’s easier to aim at the maids.
If you want to win,
you must kill the maids first.
How about
we kill Yuwen Yue’s maids first?
He is late after all.
Run.
Yan Xun, please save them.
Hurry up.
Yan Xun.
Let’s go.
Princess Yan, you are good at shooting.
Let’s compete
to see whether I can shoot maids faster
than you shoot wolves.
Hide yourself.
Princess Yan,
this one is quite interesting.
(Sound of two arrows colliding)
Princess Yan,
this is no fun.
Don’t you want that fine wine?
I am not interested in that wine,
but I want this maid.
Don’t you dare hurt her.
Let’s see how long she can survive.
She is a natural.
Impressive.
Guys, let’s get on the horses.
(Girls screaming)
Hurry up.
Get up.
Hurry up.
Let’s run to the sand dune.
Hurry up.
Come here.
All right. The solider shot the arrow.
Game over.
No one is allowed to shoot.
Sister, I can’t run anymore.
Keep running.
They are determined to kill us.
Hurry up. Run.
Hurry up.
Sister,
I am so tired.
Curly.
Thank you, sister.
Yuwen Huai.
So many people are dead now.
Is this the game
you desire?
Interesting.
Even though Yuwen Yue didn’t show up,
his maid survived
in the end.
She is just a guilty maid. She must die.
Brother Huai,
sometimes even you may miss.
(Laughing)
The game is over.
Your fate is in your own hands.
It is a miracle she can survive
in this.
Young Master Huai.
You use such a good maid
as the hunting target.
It looks like your household, Hongshan Court,
is full of talents.
Nonsense.
He made a mistake.
She is such a clever girl.
Now he is giving her to someone else.
She now belongs to Yuewen Yue.
It’s just like the old saying,
go for wool and come home shorn.
(Laughing)
Zhao Xifeng. Shut up and
watch your mouth.
Are you angry now?
Since she survives,
we shall keep our promise and
pardon her.
She is a guilty maid.
How am I supposed to pardon her?
You are the one
who cheated in public.
No wonder
you can’t keep your promise.
All right.
I, as the Prince of Wei State,
hereby
pardon her.
You are leaving now?
Let’s go as well.
Clean up the bodies.
Yes, sir.
Let go.
Move. Move.
Move.
Don’t touch me.
Yuwen Yue is indeed impressive.
Little girl, what’s your name?
Until one day I don’t need to
humble myself in front of you,
I won’t tell you my name.
Move. Move.
You are the most arrogant maid
I have ever met.
Prince Yan Xun.
Take her back carefully.
Don’t you dare hurt her.
Yes.
That Wicked girl
made Young Master Huai unhappy. How dare her.
You will pay for what you did one day.
Mister Zhu, the butler.
Why do you need to see me
in the late night?
That girl is certainly something.
She is the only one who survived in the hunting.
She is not a maid at our household.
Because of her,
Young Master Huai lost his bet
and he is really upset.
Xiaoliu.
Listen to me.
Put her in the woodshed.
Take “good” care of her.
What do you mean exactly?
How about this?
No. She needs to suffer.
Listen carefully.
Punish her hard.
Let her suffer
so that she would wish she could die.
Understood?
(Laughing)
Of course.
What kind of world I am living in?
Those rich lords
are scarier than wolves.
People’ life means nothing to them.
I will make you pay for
what you have done someday.
Xiaoliu, it’s me.
Your fifth brother.
Don’t you recognise me?
Xiaoliu.
It’s me, your fifth brother.
My fifth brother?
You have left home for years.
You don’t remember us, do you?
Here.
Why are you hurt this badly?
Here.
Be careful.
How did you survive
in the hunting?
That is such a dangerous place.
I heard thirty maids went there,
but only you survive.
Where are your wounds?
Let me take a look.
I am fine.
Xiaoliu, I am so sorry.
It is all my fault.
I couldn’t protect you.
Don’t blame yourself.
It is not your fault.
You must be starving.
I bring some food for you.
Eat, please.
I am not hungry.
You need to eat.
You almost died and are badly wounded.
If you don’t eat, you will die.
I don’t want to eat.
Here. Xiaoliu. Have some meat.
It is your favourite.
Here.
Here. Eat it up.
I don’t like the fat.
Are you willing to eat now?
Here. Eat, please.
Here.
Eat, please.
Is it delicious?
It is.
Good.
It makes me happy to see you eat,
even happier than eating it myself.
It is really tasty.
It is the most delicious food
I have ever eaten
in my whole life.
Please, you are too young to say that.
Don’t say that.
When we were back home,
it was your favourite dish.
You always gave me the fat.
Xiaoliu,
don’t worry,
I will make sure you can live happily
someday in the future.
No one can hurt us again.
Do you trust me?
Of course I do.
Eat up.
Eat them all up.
I stay in Qingshan Court.
I am the personal attendant to Young Master Yuwen Yue.
I am in the middle rank of servants
who can wear copper bells.
Sister Zhixiang and Xiaoba
are here as well.
How are they?
They are fine.
Sister Zhixiang and Xiaoba
will take care of you.
I will get some medicine for you.
Linxi.
How is Xiaoliu?
Xiaoliu is badly wounded.
Sister Zhixiang,
there are many medicine in the Yuwen Household.
Some can cure, and others can kill.
However, we are only servants
who have no access to medicine at all.
You have just become the personal attendant to
Young Master Yue,
but Yuwen Yue is cold-hearted.
You better not ask him for it directly.
I heard Zhu Shun and Miss Song
saying they will torture Xiaoliu.
They would kill her.
What should we do?
Mister Zhu, the butler in the Yuwen Household,
has full control over the Household.
If he wants to hurt Xiaoliu,
he definitely can.
I will think of something.
Sister.
Don’t worry about me.
Our top priority is to cure Xiaoliu.
I need to go now.
Impressive.
So are you.
In the hunting game, you never missed once.
You are not fooling around anymore?
Well.
I can still fool around
with a speciality.
Shooting and riding.
Those are the basic.
I am a prince after all.
I need to be skilful.
Otherwise, how can I live
so causally in Chang’an,
a city full of talents.
Hang on a second.
If you didn’t go to the hunting ground,
how did you know about what happened?
Seriously though,
I think you probably already knew.
Princess Chun’er is going to throw me a birthday party.
All that fuzz.
Please help me
get away with all that.
Why should I help you?
Because you are good at
these infightings
and scheming.
I am not used to this kind of things.
I am too prudent.
How am I supposed to
do that, right?
However, I can only rely on you
regarding my birthday party.
You mother is
the Empress Dowager’s favourite adopted daughter.
You father is
a close friend to the Emperor.
Although you are not directly related to them, you are still an important figure.
Throwing a birthday party for you
makes sense.
I just don’t want to let Chun’er
throw me a birthday party.
She is innocent and sparky.
I always think her
as a younger sister.
However, she always wants to be my side.
As your wish,
let’s have the birthday party at the Yuwen Household.
I will be the host.
I shall invite every dandy like you
in town.
Make sure there are enough people
to distance you from her.
That sounds good.
Right,
I need to give you back this.
Don’t say I owe you one
in the future.
Tell me,
why did you save that girl?
It is not something you usually do.
If there is something on your mind, just say it.
Yuwen Yue,
there is something wrong about you.
You have a crush on her?
She is just a maid.
If she is just a maid,
why don’t you give her to me?
That girl is rather interesting.
She has sharp eyes and is a fighter.
She is like one of those wild cats
back home in the steppe.
She even fought against wolves.
If you want,
she is yours then.
If you want,
she is yours then.
Watch out. Otherwise, I really will take her.