You're selling yourself to save your father?
My father is seriously ill.
We've no money to get treatment.
It’s good that you're being filial.
Take these.
Thanks for your help.
I'll buy medicine at once.
I'll follow you after I'm done.
I'll do anything for you for my whole life.
No regrets.
Whole life is a long time.
I'll just use one night of your time.
When you're done dealing for your father,
look for me at Mi Textile.
Madam!
What's the matter?
Aren't you afraid that I wouldn't show up?
Would you?
I wouldn't.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Do you like it?
I do.
It's quite fitting.
Wear this then.
- This is for me? - Of course.
But there's a condition.
From this moment on...
you have to pretend to be my daughter.
This...
Is it appropriate?
How is it not?
I'm just using a night of your time.
You can return to your father tomorrow and carry out your filial duty.
No. No.
I feel that...
you're so young and pretty.
I'm afraid that I might make you look old.
You're so long-winded.
Come.
Try calling me as your mother.
Mother.
Good daughter.
Let's take a trip out there.
Where to?
Nine-days' Wonder Winery.
Do you know why I brought you here?
It's because today is you, my daughter's birthday.
But today isn't my...
Mother, you have the final say.
Thank you, mother.
Do you know what is this winery best known for?
The Epiphyllum.
Their wines are pretty good.
"Nine-days' Wonder"...
comes from the idiom, a flash in the pan.
Come.
Apologies for the long wait.
It's widely known that I have Epiphyllum in my winery.
It's called Golden Peacock Primrose.
It's a treasure that's hard to come by.
This Epiphyllum will bloom tonight.
That's great.
There's a piece of paper tag on your table.
If anyone is interested in viewing the flower...
you can name your price on the paper tag.
Hand it over to the waiter.
I'll check them on the spot,
and pick the highest bidder and make known to the public.
This guest can follow me to the backyard.
While you enjoy the beauty of Epiphyllum...
you can have a taste of a jar of honey ale.
I've made things clear.
Please place your bid.
- Let's go. - Come.
- Please.
Please.
"Black Tortoise Seat, Vermilion Bird Seat"
I have a simple request.
So long as you follow what I say...
I won't make things difficult for you.
This really puts me in a difficult situation.
Two guests placed the same bid.
It's Vermilion Bird Seat and Black Tortoise Seat.
It’s really something that hasn’t happened for decades.
What should we do?
If we bid again...
I'm afraid that we'll not make it for the flower blooming time.
I wonder...
if the guest from Vermilion Bird Seat...
would like to share this wine with me?
Let's have a drunken party.
It's just perfect.
Please.
Enjoy yourselves. Call me if you need me.
This is...
She's my daughter.
Your daughter?
You look quite similar.
Today is my daughter's birthday.
Are you willing to have a toast with us?
What a coincidence.
Today is my birthday too.
I'll give you a toast.
May all your wishes come true.
This is Epiphyllum?
It's beautiful indeed.
When I gave birth to my daughter,
the Epiphyllum happened to be blooming.
I was so overwhelmed and in excruciating pain.
Yet, it was blooming so slowly.
It's really so heartless.
It seems like you're greatly indebted to your mother.
This is my first time seeing Epiphyllum.
I purposely came for it.
Every year on this date...
I would come here to celebrate my daughter's birthday.
It's great to have such a mother.
Where's your mother?
She's gone.
You said she's gone.
Do you mean that she has passed away?
It's none of your business.
Sorry, I've been rude.
I just feel that my mother is a compassionate person.
If you're willing to share it with us...
perhaps my mother would take you as her own daughter.
The flower is blooming.
With such a beautiful scenery before us...
let's not talk about these sad things.
Let's talk about something else.
What should we talk about?
For instance.
Let's talk about the two of you.
Who wants to kill me?
Indeed, I haven't been to Gui Hua City for a long time.
But it doesn't mean that I don't know anything.
Put your cards on the table.
Conspiring against my position as Tian Sha...
and to replace me.
Who is it?
Both of you!
Can't you wait until the flowers fall?
Today is the day you had a labor.
It's this lady's birthday too.
If you start killing each other now,
it would be disappointing.
Since it has been exposed, I might as well do it.
The battle of Tian Sha.
The shadows are not to interfere.
A beauty of the age of sixteen...
It's such a shame.
If your mother is still alive...
she would be very upset.
What a joke.
Don't you know that people from Gui Hua City are always in action?
Speak up. Why do you want to kill me?
City Master thinks that you're old.
There's a strong affinity for novelty. You're worthless now.
It's indeed very much like Cha Luo.
You know how to manipulate fragrance?
You too, isn't it?
Let's use it to determine the victory.
Little girl.
Who says I could manipulate fragrance?
What do you mean?
I've stopped manipulating fragrance for sometime.
I've lost my sense of smell.
You're really here to stir up trouble.
I'm acting under City Master's order to supervise the battle.
Stop acting innocent.
You purposely told me that Cha Wu is a master in manupulating fragrance.
You told me to reconsider my layout.
Your layout is no different from your previous one.
If you listen to my advice...
and use the fragrance that you always carry on you,
you wouldn't end up like this.
I don't care what was your intention.
Tonight, you're my daughter.
You've promised me.
No one gets in our way now.
Let's have the ultimate showdown.
Look.
The Epiphyllum is blooming.
When I gave birth to you,
the Epiphyllum bloomed slowly, just like this.
I haven't given my all.
Again!
It's impossible.
It's ox-head sandalwood.
It's hard to come by.
It seems like you have never seen it too.
Young lady, can you tell me?
This ox-head sandalwood of yours...
Where did you get it?
It's an amulet given by my mother.
When I was one year old...
my mother has left our home.
She abandoned my father and I.
My father lied to me and said that...
my mother is the Dark Lady of the Ninth Heaven.
She's beautiful and stunning.
But we lead a different life.
She had no choice but to leave.
But one day...
one day...
she will think of me...
and my father's kindness to him.
She would come back to us.
Later on, I learned that...
she swindled all of my father's property.
This ox-head sandalwood...
is my father's and her love token.
My passionate father kept this with him.
He couldn't bear to sell it.
Is your father still around?
He's dead.
He was beyond cure.
We had no money to get treatment.
He died just like that.
Actually, I have a wish.
I want to find...
that swindler who made my father so devoted to her.
She's in Gui Hua City.
So, in this battle of Tian Sha...
you'll have to die!
My daughter.
I'm your mother.
Zheng Er.
I've finally found you.
Who are you?
Zheng Er.
When I gave birth to you...
the Epiphyllum was blooming...
with its petals falling to the ground.
At the same time, you came into this world.
Back then, you were just this tiny.
I wanted to live in seclusion.
I wanted to lead a good life with you.
But I didn't expect that...
Lan He found me in the end.
I had to leave.
When I left...
it was your first birthday celebration.
I clenched my teeth...
and waited until the petals fell to the ground.
We never see each other again.
Zheng Er, I've found you.
Let me hold you.
But...
But my mission...
I... I...
I understand.
I could celebrate another birthday with you.
I'm content with it.
Come. Go on.
I...
Come.
I'm acting under City Master's order to supervise the battle.
Now, the victory is confirmed. Cha Wu has fallen.
Kill!
Chang An has sent away your shadows.
Quickly leave.
Mother, let's go.
Mother. Mother.
Mother.
Zheng Er, listen to me.
Leave Gui Hua City.
Stay as far away as you can.
Mother!
Mother! Mother! z
Mother.
Your mother's body...
has been transported to Gui Hua City.
You knew all along.
Am I right?
Tell me.
You must have known it.
That's right.
City Master set up the trap.
She wants both of you to kill one another.
I thought that City Master likes me...
and deliberately gave me a chance to climb to the top.
Why didn't you tell me earlier?
There are spies everywhere.
I've tried my best to hint you.
The City Master that I've been trying to please...
has actually been plotting to put me in harm's way.
Whereas you, the eyesore...
has actually been trying to help me.
Isn't this a big joke?
It has played out this way.
My condolences.
The things about my mother....
What else do I not know?
Your mother's mission...
was to win your father's trust,
and swindle his money and property.
Unexpectedly...
your mother fell in love with your father.
She refused to return to Gui Hua City.
Later on, she gave birth to you.
As for the rest of the matter...
you've known all about it.
That's why...
on my yearly birthday...
she would get a girl to pass herself off as me...
and enjoy Epiphyllum together.
The sun is setting.
We should return to report ourselves.
I don't want to go back.
Same goes for me.
But we have nowhere to go.
Let's form an alliance.
Why don't we discuss the plan?
Perhaps, in the near future...
one of us would be the City Master and the other as Jue Sha.
We can then take over the entire Gui Hua City.
Your mother's final wish...
was for you to leave Gui Hua City.
But she had been running her whole life.
Yet, she didn't get to escape.
She even suffered a tragic death.
I've thought about it.
Only when I get stronger...
and hold Gui Hua City within my grasp...
I would then be able to avenge my mother.
It's a shame.
You haven't reached the top.
You couldn't see what lies ahead.
It's no match for your ambition.
I will let you see my vision and sincerity!
Master Mei.
Cha Luo's funeral arrangements have been taken care of?
Yes.
Great.
We should hit the road.
I'll get Wan Xiang.
Master Mei.
Right.
The information about Cha Wu that you sent that night was very useful.
Thank you.
But...
this can't make up for anything.
"Prince Ning Manor"
In this case...
there'll be new people taking over Tian Sha.
Yes.
I'll stay in the manor for a few more days.
You head back to Gui Hua City and keep an eye on Cha Luo.
But don't get into a dispute with them.
I understand.
Is there any news from the salt industry?
As expected by you.
The elders of Han family have no time for the salt industry.
It has been handed over to Han Xiu's younger brother, Han Yue.
But Han Yue has been investigating on his brother's death.
He transferred the business to the Alliance Chief, Fang Ge.
Fang Ge?
He's a troublesome guy.
Should I deal with him?
No need.
I guess he has arrived.
I, Fang Ge, would like to seek an audience with Prince Ning.
I heard that Prince Ning is blind.
It turns out you can play chess?
I was just groping it for fun.
Please.
Huan Tan once said this.
The game of Go can be treated as art of war.
An expert pays no attention to the fight,
but the ambush.
You'll gradually gain the upper hand by closing in on the enemy.
Prince Ning set up a good trap,
and succeded in the assassination of Lord Han Xiu.
I came to ask Prince Ning.
What is your intention?
Mencius has once said this too.
Playing chess is but a small skill.
But if you don’t concentrate on it,
you wouldn't be able to master it.
I'm just an idle prince.
I merely have tea and play chess every day.
I just find solace in it.
Based on what you said...
the assassination of Han Xiu has nothing to do with you?
You're right.
The order to assassinate Han Xiu,
indeed came from Gui Hua City that belongs to me.
You killed my close friend.
What's your explanation on this?
Gui Hua City deals with murder as business transactions.
Alliance Chief, what kind of explanation do you need?
Who ordered it?
Tell me.
Name me your price.
Alliance Chief Fang.
Don't make such a joke.
Gui Hua City has a place in the martial world...
not solely because we're jack-of-all-trades,
but because we abide by the rules.
We don't reveal the identity of the hirer.
That's our first rule.
Are you really going to refuse my request?
I can't make any comments.
All right.
I'll not put you in a difficult situation then.
I can settle for the second best.
Hand over Han Xiu's assassin.
He who helps others helps himself.
Besides, you still owe me a favour.
Tell your prince.
This Gua Jian herb is my welcome gift for him.
He owes me a favour then.
Alliance Chief Fang, can you let me think about it?
If you don't hand over the assassin...
I wouldn't be able to give Han family an explanation.
Not only I'll keep holding on to it,
other sects in the martial world would cause a disturbance.
Since Gui Hua City based itself on the martial world...
it's inevitable for it to identify itself with it.
Otherwise...
it’s not impossible for it to be crowded out or even eliminated.
I need sometime.
How many days do you need?
One day?
One month.
That's too much!
Please listen to my explanation.
Alliance Chief Fang.
I know that you want to use this murderer...
and give an explanation to the martial world and Han Yue.
But Cha Luo was the one who conveyed the order,
to have Lord Han Xiu assassinated.
I merely know that the young lady is a Di Sha.
But I don't know which is she, out of the twelve Di Sha.
Whether you believe it or not...
it's not up to me.
But handing over a Di Sha can ensure Gui Hua City's safety.
Why should I lie?
That's why I asked for a month's time.
I'll use this one month's time...
to find out who assassinated Lord Han Xue.
I'll personally deliver her to your residence,
and hand her over to you.
All right.
I'll give you a month's time.
City Master.
It's fine.
I had a dream.
How was the battle of Tian Sha?
Cha Wu has fallen.
It's as expected.
Have you made the subsequent arrangements?
Yes.
Reporting to City Master.
These are the poisonous winter cicadas retrieved from Cha Wu's body.
There are twenty in total.
Cha Wu is killed.
I am deeply saddened by it.
But Gui Hua City could only tolerate the strong...
but have no compassion for the weak.
You've done well on this.
I shall declare it.
Wan Xiang will be Tian Sha, effective immediately.
Wan Mei contributed in the supervision.
She can keep her position as Di Sha.
Thank you, City Master.
Divide these twenty poisonous winter cicadas into two.
Each person takes half.
City Master.
I merely supervised it. I dare not take credit for it.
The poisonous winter cicada belongs only to Tian Sha.
Wan Xiang should get all of them.
An unruly person...
talks about rule-abiding now?
I wasn't being unruly.
It's because I'm lack of experience.
I didn't know what it means to be the strong one.
Now...
I've experienced life and death once.
Besides, City Master has many times given me advice.
You said that Gui Hua City belongs to the strong and the victorious.
Whereas there's only death for the weak.
So, I've finally understood what it means now.
Although I'm merely a Di Sha...
I don't see myself as the weak.
I'll climb up to the position that I deserve with my own ability,
and pledge my loyalty to City Master.
You become pretty now.
So are your words.
All right. We'll do as you wish.
All twenty poisonous winter cicadas go to Wan Xiang.
All of you are dismissed.
- Yes. - Yes.