I wish our wedding day would come sooner. Then you will be forever me.
Your Majesty.
At ease.
I've already caught all the spies from Liao.
I've also recovered the other eight landscape paintings.
with our military facilities drawn on them.
Lucky Liao State didn't get them.
OK.
Also, I have concrete evidence
to prove that Xu Shumei was killed by Cheng Zicai.
Liu Yue'e just tried to take the fall for Wang Runzhi.
You decide how to deal with all this. Stand down.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
Prime Minister Wang.
Officer Su, Officer Qin.
How's His Majesty?
The imperial doctors have done a checkup for him. He's fine.
Thanks to you for exposing Qin Cao's plot and risking your life to rescue His Majesty.
You've earned a lot of credit for this.
Don't joke. My sister-in-law was a spy for Liao.
Even though she did it under duress, it's still treason.
I still don't know now to explain that to His Majesty.
Just now when I reported to His Majesty, I didn't mention her.
Your brother-in-law asked me to do you a favor.
Thank you.
No problem.
I also said Cheng Zicai killed Xu Shumei.
His Majesty doesn't want to deal with this anymore.
I'm now fully in charge of this case.
If you don't mind, I have a question.
We're always arguing with each other. We never give in to each other.
You could have seized this opportunity to get rid of me.
Why didn't you? Why have you helped me instead?
I've been working in the political arena for years.
It's so hard to have such a wonderful adversary like you.
If I got rid of you once and for all, I'd be so bored, right?
Yue'e...Damei and I have come to see you.
The temple is closing soon. You two came so late to worship?
This place is only open to the worshippers during the day.
You can't stay here overnight.
I donated a lot of money before
so the abbess made an exception and let me stay here.
You sacrificed yourself to take the fall for Sis Runzhi.
You were so noble.
Now your name is cleared. Why don't you come home with us?
It wasn't really a sacrifice or a selfless act.
Runzhi is my good friend. I would do anything to help her.
Exactly. So come home with us for a family reunion.
Mr Chen, I think you've forgotten that we already signed a declaration of divorce.
There are no ties between us. I won't go with you.
Sis Yue'e, perhaps you're still mad at me for stealing your husband.
It's my fault. You have every right to be mad at me.
If hitting or yelling at me can make you feel better, go ahead and do it please.
You really mean that?
Yes.
You asked me to hit you. I already have.
Do you feel less guilty now?
Actually my heart is like the clouds now. I don't have worries or grudges.
Everything's gone with the wind.
But I can tell that you're still troubled.
That's why I hit you twice, because I want to help you solve your problems.
I understand.
Good. I've already decided to stay here for the rest of my life.
Seriously, my health has improved ever since I started staying here.
I get less frequent attacks of the disease.
If you mean me well, don't try to talk me out of this anymore.
We respect your decision then.
Yue'e, thank you so much.
I can't believe you're the one who could let go in the end.
Master Su, you risked your life to save His Majesty.
You get credit for defending the country. What did His Majesty give you as a reward?
Gao Gui, I'm a government official.
It's my duty to protect the country and the people. Do I care for rewards?
Why don't we think about what to eat today, alright?
I'm guessing Mrs. Su is preparing braised pork tonight
since that's your favorite dish.
I won't eat that every meal even though that's my favorite dish.
Look at my tummy. I will really become braised pork very soon.
As long as I don't get a big tummy it's ok.
I can take a stroll with you whenever you have time.
Master Su, are you OK? Do you feel unwell?
I'm fine. I'm just tired.
I'll get some rest in my room. Call me when dinner's ready.
Why don't I get you a cup of tea?
Gao Gui, what's wrong with Master Su? It seems he's in a bad mood.
I don't know. At first he was chatting and joking.
But after we passed by Waterside Cottage, he got really quiet.
He didn't respond to anything I said.
It's a blessing for me to know you. You know me the best.
My biggest mistake in my life was meeting you.
I've been keeping a secret. I...love you.
Qin Cao...Qin Cao.
Boss, get us wine please.
OK.
Do you know this pub is owned by someone from our hometown?
I promise you will feel at home here.
Feel at home? Seriously?
There you go...
Thank you...
Brother Dongpo, why do you want to drink during the day? Something bothering you?
Must we only drink at night?
Don't need to ask why when I want to drink.
Come on. Bottoms up.
OK. Cheers.
What's this wine? It's so bad. How can it be drunk?
Are you serious? Is the wine that bad? Sir, you be the judge.
Both mellow and bad wine can be wonderful.
You're drinking mellow wine now.
There's no guarantee that you can do that for the rest of your life.
You may have to drink poor wine and bad wine tomorrow.
You hear that?
You think he's deaf? Of course he heard that.
Life is short
There are bound to be ups and downs, sweetness and bitterness
If you haven't tasted the different parts of life,
now will you understand its meaning?
You've stated the key point. To you, Brother Dongpo.
I've tasted the key point while drinking. Cheers.
Bro, this is to you.
Cheers.
If someday I can return to my hometown
to drink with my good friends without any worries or pressures,
that would be perfect. Cheers.
I'm tired of travelling around. Yet home is so faraway.
Swallow Cottage is vacant. Where is the beautiful girl?
Only the swallows are trapped there.
Life is but a dream.
I'm staying in my dream since there's still past joy and present sorrow.
Facing Swallow Cottage, thinking of the beautiful girl.
Someday people who come to visit my Yellow Tower will sigh for me too.
Come on.
Brother Dongpo.
What? How why is the carriage ride so bumpy?
Because this carriage only has one horse.
Let's go home quickly.
We're already home.
I want to puke again.
Don't puke...We're home.
You said we had to get drunk. You still didn't have to get so drunk,right?
Take your feet off...
Are we home?
Yes...Let go...
You two are already so drunk before dark?
No wonder I couldn't find you anywhere just now.
Go prepare some sobering tea.
OK.
What was so urgent that you two wanted to see me immediately?
Something wrong? Hey, sit properly...
Master...Xiaomei, you must stay still. Sit down. What if you get hurt, silly girl?
Get hurt? Where are you hurt?
I'm fine. I threw up a couple of times. I just feel a bit dizzy.
You still say you're fine?
Did you go see a doctor? Is it food poisoning?
It's not food poisoning. There's just something extra.
You're having a baby.
Who's calling Su Shi? I'm here.
I didn't say Su Shi. I said baby. I'm going to be a dad and you an uncle.
Dad.
Uncle.
Dad, it's been a long while. How are you? Do you have enough money or clothes?
I'll burn more joss money for you.
You better sit down.
Sit down please, honey. Dad, you mustn't spend so much.
Wait! Which doctor did you see?
Don't worry.
I asked Dr Shi to come check her pulse
OK. I trust him.
Honey, from now on, you must watch what you eat and drink.
Don't run or jump around, OK?
OK, honey.
Don't sit here Let's get some rest in our bedroom.
Sis Runzhi, you look after Brother Dongpo.
OK.
She's gone. Where is she?
Hua De Restaurant.
Waterside Cottage is vacant. Where's Qin Cao?
Only the swallows are trapped there.
Life is but a dream.
I'm staying in my dream as there's still past joy and present sorrow.
Su Dongpo's poem is really brilliant.
It's so touching.
No, I saw the original poem in a pub.
It says "Swallow Cottage is vacant. Where is the beautiful girl?"
It has nothing to do with Waterside Cottage and Qin Cao.
Don't change the words to fool us.
I didn't change the words.
Everyone in the capital knows
the love story between Su Dongpo and Qin Cao.
Su Dongpo was afraid of getting into trouble
So he replaced Waterside Cottage with Swallow Cottage
and Qin Cao with beautiful girl.
I'm tired of travelling around. Yet home is so faraway.
Swallow Cottage is vacant. Where is the beautiful girl?
Stop. You recited it wrong. It should be Waterside Cottage is vacant.
Yes. Waterside Cottage is vacant. Where is Qin Cao?
Su Dongpo really can't forget her.
Your Majesty, you mustn't take this seriously.
Actually the phrase
"Waterside Cottage is vacant and where is Qin Cao"
was modified by the storytellers. They just made it up.
Made it up? Modified the phrase? How would I not notice?
Your Majesty, Officer Su wanted to protect Song.
That's why he exposed Qin Cao's identity as a Liao spy.
I believe Your Majesty understands that he's loyal.
You think I didn't know that Qin Cao was a spy?
But she had already turned because she had been moved by my true love for her.
Su Dongpo was jealous of our true love.
He couldn’t have her. So he destroyed her.
Yes...
That's why Qin Cao died; because Su Dongpo wouldn't let her go.
He's even written a poem about her now? He's such a hypocrite.
Liao intended to invade Song. Thanks to Prime Minister Wang
all the spies in our territories were caught in a short time
so the crisis ended.
I just did my job.
Back then the imperial guards did a great job protecting Your Majesty.
They deserve to be duly awarded.
You take care of this then, Prime Minister Wang.
Officer Qin, thank you for hurrying to the palace to inform us back then.
You deserve credit for protecting the country.
You will be promoted to Imperial Archivist.
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
If there's nothing further, the meeting is adjourned.
I have something to report.
What is it?
I've been so busy lately that I'm physically and mentally exhausted.
I'm afraid I can't carry on anymore.
So I would like to ask Your Majesty
to grant me permission to resign and return to my hometown.
Officer Su, you want to resign
because Officer Qin was promoted to Grade Four but you weren't rewarded?
I can't believe you're so petty.
I dare not. Actually I'm bothered by personal reasons.
I'm totally worn out. That's why I want to resign.
It has nothing to do with rewards.
I won't approve your resignation. I will grant you three days' leave.
Get some good rest at home. Come in again in three days.
Don't ever tell me again that you want to resign.
Adjourned.
Your request to resign has really antagonized His Majesty this time.
You must be more careful from now on.
Actually His Majesty was just using this as a pretext for Qin Cao.
Just listen to me. Be careful and prudent at work from now on.
Don't cross His Majesty anymore.
Otherwise I'm worried you'll get your family into trouble.
Cheers.
No one can predict His Majesty's decisions.
He did that to you...
Not just me, but everyone. It's because he's lost his mind.
He's not conscious...
I can compose poems.
Are you serious?
Give me the first line...
If you can be a poet, then I can be a doctor.
You know how to check a pulse? Me too. I learned to do it in Silk Village.
You're big. But you don't have hair? It's even so smooth. Can you feel his pulse?
A little.
What have you got?
Something.
I've got everything.
Really?
I'm famous because of wine. I forget...what? I forget my worries though I'm sick.
No guts to be a low-ranking official.
The cool dragon lowers its tail and sees the boat off.
Amazing. You managed to give me the second line
Nice poem, Brother Dongpo. Very good...
Nice start. Very good.
Cheers.
Hey, Hong Si. Cheers.
Get up.
Get up. Get out of the way.
Brother Dongpo is talking to you.
Leave me alone.
Get back in your seat.
Let me jot it down while I can still remember.
OK...
Hey, Qin Shaoyou, what were your two lines? I don't remember. Tell me.
No guts to be a low-ranking official.
And the next line?
The cool dragon lowers its tail and sees the boat off.
Thank you.
Sees the boat off...
I've got nothing to do with the secular world.
Nothing makes me scared or perturbed.
So Grandpa had great literary talent.
Of course! I learned it from him too.
I have Miss Qin Cao to thank for returning your grandpa's works to me.
Otherwise there would be a missing piece in your grandpa's calligraphy collection.
Not necessarily.
Mom.
Your Waterside Cottage poem is passed around verbally.
But it's still so famous.
Mai, go to your study to do your revision.
OK. Dad, Mom, I'm going to go study now.
OK.
Good boy.
Honey, Mai is growing up. Don't talk nonsense in front of him.
Nonsense? I was just stating a fact.
I'm not in the mood to argue with you.
I know you're not in any mood. What do you expect from me?
How long do you want me to play deaf, blind and dumb?
I wasn't there when Qin Cao died.
But everyone in the capital is talking about that now.
She even kissed you before she died. How come you never told me that?
It was such a big deal. Would you have forgotten?
Qin Cao is gone now. It doesn't matter whether it's a big deal.
If it really wasn't a big deal at all,
you wouldn't have called out her name in your dream.
It was just a dream. What does it mean?
You claim there was nothing between you two.
But actually you miss her. You had fallen for her.
You two were in love, right?
I don't want to quarrel with you.
This is so bad.
It's so bitter and salty.
This is Mandarin thick fish soup. How could it be bitter?
Sorry! I'll cook it again.
Sis Runzhi.
You're here. Have a seat. What did Dr Shi say?
I'm fine. Honey worries too much.
He wants me to see Dr Shi every other day
to get my pulse checked.
Miss Xiaomei eats a lot.
Just now she ate a bowl of noodles after seeing Dr Shi.
Now she's hungry again.
That's why I came to Spring Wine Restaurant
to have Sis Runzhi's Mandarin thick fish soup before I go home.
I don't know what's going on.
Sis Runzhi screwed up even while preparing Mandarin thick fish soup.
Do you know what happened?
Last night Brother Dongpo was drunk when he came home.
Sis Runzhi didn't take care of him.
She rarely behaves like that.
Right.
This morning they seemed angry at each other Mrs. Su even said she would come in earlier.
She left Master Su behind.
This is so weird.
She looks so pale.
Master Feng, this is the stuffed duck that you ordered.
Hey, what's this?
Stuffed duck.
It's a chicken. Look. It's even rare.
Sorry.
You can't even tell a chicken from a duck. This is way too much.
We will never come eat here again.
I'm sorry. This meal is on the house.
Of course it is. Let's go.
I'd like to cancel my order for Mandarin thick fish soup too.
We want to cancel our reservation for tomorrow evening too.
No...
The food is so bad. Let's go.
Guys...You want to leave too? Just now you guys said...the food...
Why are you leaving?
Guys...
I started cooking when I was five years old.
No one has ever said my food is bad. Today it's not tasty. It's even bad.
I can't even tell a chicken from a duck. And it was even rare.
Come on. Perhaps your hands haven't healed yet.
So you made some mistakes.
Right.
You don't need to find an excuse for me. I know my own problem.
What's going on?
Right.
Is it about Brother Dongpo?
Did he patronize prostitutes again?
Please don't talk about it anymore.
Sir...please have a seat.
Get out of the way.
Your Majesty, the lines are really
"Swallow Cottage is vacant. Where is the beautiful girl?"
You think I'm blind?
The cool dragon lowers its tail and sees the boat off? Good. Nice line!
Runzhi, pray earnestly and Guanyin will bless you.
Guanyin, you grant people safety and fortune.
Can you make master forget other women too?
Runzhi, could you be worrying too much?
I'm not. I asked him face to face.
What did he say?
He didn't answer.
That amounts to an admission that he truly fell for Qing Cao.
Why are all your rivals in love dead?
Right. I want to know why too.
If they want to compete with me, bring it on.
I would accept it if I lost.
But now none of them is alive. I don't even have a chance to fight them.
Because an imaginary person
is always the best and perfect since she's no longer there.
I was too simple-minded back then. I just knew that I loved him very much.
As long as I could be with him, I was already so happy.
I didn't mind even though he had someone else in his heart.
But actually it doesn't work that way.
When you love a person, you don't want to share him with anyone.
Every time I feel he's thinking of another woman, I'm so hurt.
I've been there before.
How would I not understand how painful it is? But heed my advice.
It's not worth succumbing to your impulse and giving up on Fat Po.
What does it matter whether it's worth it or not? Why can't I give up?
It's hard for two people to meet.
It's even harder for them to become a couple.
You may rank third now.
But you're the only one who's with him and sleeps next to him every night.
We ask for all secular troubles ourselves.
Just now you asked me why I chant and recite the scripture every day.
It's for my heart. Do you understand, Officer Su? Goodbye.
I managed to run into honey here. That means were meant to be.
Officer Su, please come in with us.
What's my offence?
Su Dongpo has committed a serious crime. He must be taken to court.
I've committed a serious crime?
Fine. No problem. But I need to do something urgent right now.
I'll go see the magistrate after that.
Arrest him.
Hey, let go of me...Honey...
Hey, you better release me.
Do you know it's a serious offence to unlawfully imprison a government official?
You won't release me, right?
I'll really take the case to Dali Supreme Court.
I'll even file a complaint with His Majesty in the assembly.
Then you'll all be punished. Do you hear me?
Here comes His Majesty.
Are you kidding?
His Majesty came as soon as I mentioned him? Your Majesty, it's so good to see you.
You don't need to go to the assembly. I'm here.
Your Majesty, I haven't done anything wrong. I'm innocent.
I'm famous because of wine. I forget my worries though I'm sick.
No guts to be a low-ranking official.
The cool dragon lowers its tail and sees the boat off.
Cool dragon. A pale dragon. Lowers its tail. It's weak.
I'm the dragon. You're saying I'm going to die soon?
Isn't that treason?
You don't think I wrote that poem, do you.
I found that poem in a pub. We read hundreds of your memorials.
How would I not know it's your handwriting?
There's concrete evidence. You can't deny it.
I remember now. When I wrote that poem, I was really drunk.
But you must still have been a bit sober.
This shows you harbor a malicious intention against me.
You smeared me by calling me a dragon with its tail lowered.
You cursed me by saying I'm pale.
No, Your Majesty.
That's not what cool dragon means. It means strong and cool.
You know what you've done.
I really don't know.
You want me dead.
Why would I think that?
Your Majesty is the real dragon. You're a god.
Even if I wanted to curse Your Majesty...
You're finally admitting it?
No, I'm not done...
Why are you doing this to me?
I just wanted to say...
Everything in the world belongs to me. Why do you want to steal my things?
I loved Qin Cao deeply. Why did you steal her from me?
She was the only woman I ever loved so deeply. But she didn't love me.
I was already so upset by that. Turns out she loved you!
That's why you must die.
I didn't do anything with Qin Cao.
Your Majesty, I'm innocent. Please listen to me, Your Majesty.
His Majesty used the treacherous poem as an excuse
to put Brother Dongpo in jail.
He could be executed anytime. Only you can save him now, sir.
Shaoyou, speaking is like playing chess. You must think carefully.
If someone heard what we said just now,
we'd be beheaded.
Thank you for your advice, sir.
I also went to see the poem. It's really Su Dongpo's handwriting.
There's concrete evidence. He can't deny it.
He wrote the poem while he was drunk.
He was upset after a few drinks So he vented his grief in the poem.
He didn't mean to defame the government or insult His Majesty.
That's just a matter of opinion. Take the poem Chrysanthemum, for example.
Scent of chrysanthemum all over Changan; petals of the flower all over the city.
It seems to be praising the beauty of chrysanthemum when they're blooming.
But obviously Huang Chao already had the intention to start a rebellion
after he had failed the Imperial Exam.
But you understand Brother Dongpo better than I do.
How would he be such a person?
Su Dongpo is stubborn.
He speaks his mind freely. He's not afraid to offend people.
But he's loyal to His Majesty.
Exactly. He's loyal to His Majesty. So why would he write a treacherous poem?
His Majesty is calling it a treacherous poem
He insists on saying that. What can we do about it?
Hey, where have you been?
Wow.
Do you need to be so scared? Did you do something bad?
You scared me.
Don't talk about that. Come on. Come with me.
Where are you taking me?
What? You think I'd sell you out? Come with me. Come on.
Hey, Master Qin and Hong Si are over there.
Excuse me...Look at it yourself.
You dragged me here to look at that? I know already.
No, look. Stop...I said stop.
Do you remember that night? The three of us were drinking together
Then Officer Su wrote a poem on that table He wrote the first part.
You composed the part that insulted His Majesty. What's the matter?
Weren't you drunk back then?
I was still a little bit sober. Actually, I wasn't that drunk.
This is serious. You mustn't tell anyone about it or I'll be doomed.
That means what I heard and saw was true?
You want Officer Su to take the fall alone?
Actually you should...
What good would it do if I make a confession?
We'd just go down together.
Who would figure out a way to save Brother Dongpo then?
Qin Shaoyou!
Honey.
Are you human? You'd do that to Brother Dongpo?
Honey...Please let me explain. Please listen to me.
I don't want to listen to your explanation.
Chun Hua, go inside.
Honey, please don't leave. Listen to me. It's not what you think.
I was really drunk that night.
I wouldn't have remembered that I composed part of that poem
if there wasn't this problem now.
That's not a treacherous poem at all. His Majesty is picking on Brother Dongpo
and insisting on saying that the last two lines are insulting him.
All the more reason you should tell the truth,
so His Majesty won't pick on Brother Dongpo.
I considered that. But now is not the right time.
Now is not the right time?
So is it the right time after Brother Dongpo gets executed?
His Majesty is still so angry.
I want to tell him the truth when he's calmed down.
You used to be bold.
You weren't afraid of booby traps, cliffs, poisonous snakes or even epidemics.
Why are you so timid and selfish now?
I have changed. I'm not as bold as I was before.
It's not because I'm worried about my own career.
It's because I'm someone's husband now. I'm even going to be a father soon.
I can't just consider myself now. There are you and the baby you're carrying.
I can't afford to make any wrong moves.
If I do something wrong and offend His Majesty,
I might become his next target.
I don't want our baby to be born without a father.
What about Brother Dongpo then?
Trust me I will do everything I can. I won't let anything bad happen to him.
Brother Dongpo, if Wang Anshi agrees to make a fair comment,
His Majesty will give him face and pass a lenient sentence on you.
That won't help.
His Majesty is insisting on doing this. He won't listen to anyone.
Sis Runzhi.
Honey...You've lost weight.
That's a wise comment.
I've never seen anyone gain weight in jail.
Of course I've lost weight.
Brother Dongpo has become funny in jail. Sis Runzhi, you must get him out soon.
Don't do anything or you might make the matter worse.
What do you mean do nothing?
His Majesty has been picking on you for a long time already.
Will you be fine sitting here doing nothing?
His Majesty is mad.
When he's calmed down, he won't be mad at me.
And he'll release me. Trust me.
What's the matter with you?
It seems like you don't want us to help you.
Of course it's nice if there's someone to help me.
But it depends on who's trying to help.
I'm your wife. It's my duty to help you.
I won't regret it even if His Majesty punishes me for it.
I'm afraid I'll regret it.
Why would you regret it?
I don't want to owe you a big favor for helping me.
I'll never be able to return your favor.
I'll feel so much pressure. How could I be happy then?
Do you really think that?
Let me be honest, this is your fault.
If you hadn't nagged me all the time and put me in a bad mood,
I wouldn't have gone drinking.
You know I write senselessly when I'm drunk.
I've gotten into trouble now, right? Isn't it because of you?
Sis Runzhi, Brother Dongpo's locked up. He's in a bad mood.
That's why he's saying these things. Please don't be mad at him.
I've been in jail before. I understand.
It's good you do. Let me take this opportunity to ask you.
Are you still mad that I consider Qin Cao a good female friend?
What's your point?
I've been in here for days.
I think of Qin Cao every moment. I even dream of her.
What? It seems like you didn't hear what I said.
I said I've really fallen for Qin Cao.
OK. Thank you for your honesty.
Of course. We're husband and wife. Isn't it good to be honest?
Look. Don't ask me anymore stupid questions when you already know the answer.
You guys look after him. I'm leaving.
Sis Runzhi...Brother Dongpo.
Brother Dongpo, did you need to be so candid?