Music
Since you said
you didn't privately take possession of the relief materials
open the storehouse here
and let us have a look.
Right?
Open the door.
Let us in.
Open the door.
Yell!
Keep yelling!
This is my private manor.
You want to get in?
Why?
You're mere unruly civilians.
You don't dare to show us.
You must have a guilty conscience.
Let us have a good.
Show us!
What?
You want to rebel
with such tools?
You know what?
According to imperial rules
whoever breaks into a private house will be the bandit.
I call kill all of you
got it?
Villagers.
Anyway
we're almost dying of starvation.
Qiu Gui.
If you dare
kill all of us
the victims!
Yeah. Kill us.
Kills us.
What are you doing?
Back off.
All of you, back off.
Back off. Back off.
Stop!
See? Here comes Official Liu.
Are you going to rebel?
Back off.
Stop crowding me.
Behave yourself.
No more crowding.
What are you quarreling about?
Get out of the way.
Brother-in-law.
Finally, you come.
This is the provincial governor.
We can't believe them.
We can't believe anything they say.
Yes.
Seeing is believing.
Remember!
Do remember!
Yes.
He's here. See what he's going to say.
See how he's going to put it.
He has brought so many soldiers. He's going too far.
Let's see what he will say.
See how he will explain.
My dear villagers.
It's getting late.
Why are you coming to Qiu Gui's house?
Liu Dezhao.
The royal court gave plenty of food
and money to us.
But you transferred all of it
to your brother-in-law's manor
and lied to us that the royal court didn't give enough food.
You're a liar to His Majesty.
Yes, liar.
Liar.
What are you quarreling at?
Shut up!
Liar.
Liar!
You're starting a rumor!
If people revolt
can you take the responsibility?
He said we were starting the rumor.
Your brother-in-law's manor
is filled with grain and money.
I saw it
with my own eyes.
Bullshit!
When did you see it?
You saw it?
He won't admit it.
Old man.
Do you have the third eye
that you can see through the wall with it?
Or do you
have wings
to fly over the wall
and check the storehouse?
I'm telling you.
Stop staring rumors.
Or I'll arrest you right now.
Don't listen to him.
- Yeah. - Liu Dezhao.
Don't scare me.
Two hours ago
two masters with masks
took two senior victims including me
to fly over the wall
and checked the storehouse.
In the storehouse
there're piles of grain.
Real grains!
Real rice!
Look!
Real rice!
Villagers.
Come and look!
Look!
Rice!
He really has the grain!
This is the grain
I casually grabbed in the warehouse.
Yes.
This rice
is also found
in Qiu Gui's manor.
Liar!
Why didn't you give us food?
How will you explain?
Villagers.
I'm telling you.
The two men with masks
are bandits
and even dregs of the Ming dynasty.
He's lying.
They want to take the chance of draught
to instigate a rebellion of victims.
They're not bandits
or dregs of the Ming dynasty.
They're heroes who enforce justice.
Yes.
Heroes. Heroes.
But you.
Governor Liu Dezhao.
You and those minister and merchants
who collude with you
are real bandits.
The royal court pays you.
But you lie to His Majesty and his people.
You do more harm
to our country
even than dregs of the Ming dynasty.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Yes.
You're a bane to our country and its people.
Yes.
Brother-in-law.
Fine.
Even though there are official food and money
in his storehouses
how could you say
they're relief materials from the royal court?
He's good at finding excuses!
Yeah.
Listen.
I'm the biggest grain merchant in Taiyuan.
Is that weird
when I have grains in my storehouse?
He still finds excuses.
I bought them from other places
with a high price.
What does it concern you?
He said he bought it.
He must be lying.
Was he telling the truth?
He said he bought the grains at a high price.
Yeah. How come?
You said you bought them for other places.
Tell me.
Where did you buy them?
From...
From Hubei.
Hubei?
Bullshit.
This isn't the rice from Hubei.
Instead...
it's from the north.
All relief grains from the royal court
are from the north.
He's lying again.
Liar!
Stop quarreling.
I'm not finished yet.
I have so many grains at home.
Only part of them are bought from Hubei.
The rest are from the north.
Look at Qiu Gui.
- Fine. - He has so many excuses.
When did you
buy the rice from the north?
This month!
Liar!
All the rice from the north
has been purchased by the royal court.
Grain shops in the north
don't have extra rice to sell.
You!
How can you explain?
Who are you?
How do you know the relief grains
are not from the north?
How do you know
grain shops in the north
have no extra rice to sell.
Don't ask who I am.
If you and your brother-in-law
feel no qualms
why don't you open the store house and show us?
Yeah, explain to us.
And give us your account book by the way
so that we can check.
Yeah, give it to us.
Open the storehouse.
Give us the account book.
Open the storehouse.
Gui'er.
He's very suspicious.
Keep a close eye on him.
Yes.
Bro. Zhu.
Open the storehouse.
Give us the account book.
They want to catch you.
Don't worry.
Skilled as I am
they can't catch me.
Fine, a martial master can be capricious.
Villagers.
In addition to grains
we also find dozens of boxes of silver
in one treasury of the manor.
Yeah, silver!
He has the silver.
Look!
Official Liu.
I'll see
how you and your brother-in-law can explain.
How will you explain?
Brother-in-law, how do we...
Open the storehouse and let us have a look.
You must explain to us.
Allow him to say something.
See how he'll explain.
Liar! Liar!
Are you finished?
Fine.
You're right.
Some official silver and grains
are stored in this place.
That's because
the storehouse of the government is in bad repair
and leaking.
Therefore
I borrowed
Qiu Gui's storehouse.
Official Liu, please open the storehouse to relieve us then.
Give us money and grains.
Yes.
Villagers.
Ask him to give us the grains.
Give us grains.
Villagers.
To be honest
money and grains
are not from relieving the victims.
They're for
station troops in Taiyuan.
What?
Grains for troops?
Villagers.
How can we use grains for troops
without authorization.
Liu Dezhao.
How could you say it's for troops?
Yeah.
How could you?
How could you say it's for troops?
I'm the provincial governor of Shanxi
and assistant minister of war.
I'm in charge of military affairs.
Can't I know
the use of the money?
You know what?
If you keep making trouble
you'll be rebelling.
Rebelling?
Somebody!
Here.
Arrest those guys
in the lead
Yes.
He's the leader. Arrest him.
Why can you arrest us?
Behave yourself.
Master, be patient.
Protect Master with Lord Suo.
Let go of me.
- Behave yourself. - Why can you arrest us?
Back off.
Why can you arrest us?
Master.
Let go of me.
Back off.
Why can you arrest us?
Master, don't act on pulse.
The scout just brought the news that
Li Dezhao transferred a team of local troops
to protect his manor.
I fear he may hurt you in despair.
Villagers.
Listen to me.
I care for you.
Don't listen to him.
Behave yourself. Don't move.
I'm baring my soul.
This manor
stores all grains for troops.
If you dare to grab it, you'll be executed.
Executed!
Those who just escaped
are dregs of the Ming dynasty.
They want to take the chance of the draught
and lead you to cause trouble.
That's rebellious!
That's rebellion!
I'll only
punish the leaders.
The rest of you
leave here right now
and I'll forgive you.
If anyone still refuses to leave
I'll treat him
as the dregs of the Ming
and execute him.
What?
Let's go. Let's go.
Leave.
Fine. All of you, leave.
Hurry up.
Let's go.
Let's get back.
Brother-in-law.
Luckily, you're here.
If you didn't come
I would have been in danger.
Hey, you.
Why are you so useless?
How many times have Guard Meng told you?
The tricks in your manor
only work for normal bandits.
They don't function to martial masters.
You didn't listen to him.
Now you realize the problem?
Fine. Fine.
I'll arrange more guards
and ask Guard Meng for new arrangement.
Why didn't he
come with you today?
I sent him to Shu Jian's house for some information.
If Shu Wanxin
wants to embarrass us
and asks the commissioner
to make things difficult for us
we will...
We will...
send her to hell for her father.
I found
you really were a bad example for me.
Brother-in-law.
How could I?
Master.
How was it going?
Not very smooth.
I didn't expect Qiu Gui to have so many houses.
After so much trouble
I finally figure out where Shu Wanxin is locked up.
I had meant to save her after it got dark.
Unexpectedly
they transferred her
even before tonight.
So I failed to save her.
Where was she transferred?
I heard
she would be sent to the provincial governor.
I think she must be in his house.
But I don't know
the topography and location of his house.
So I come to you first.
They gave Shu Wanxin to Liu Dezhao?
Didn't she tell them
who she really was?
I suppose not.
Maybe she knows
Liu Dezhao is the foe of her father.
So she didn't expose herself.
If Liu Dezhao sees her
will he recognize her?
I don't think so.
The daughter of ministers
seldom appears in public.
She can't have exposed herself to Liu Dezhao.
That'll be fine.
Master.
You'd better not show up
in case people here
recognize you're not the nanny
Shu Wanxin took from her family
and alert Kangxi.
I see. I'm leaving right away.
He's strong in martial arts.
Will he be one of us?
Master, this isn't our code.
Sis. Wan, it's me.
I come to get you out.
Sis. Wan?
It's him!
What should I do?
I know nothing about Shu Wanxin's lover.
If he sees me, he might see me through.
Then keep quiet. Wait and see.
Sis. Wan.
Why don't you talk? It's me.
I know you're in there.
Sis. Wan.
I know.
Your father just died.
You must be very sad.
You hate Liu Dezhao
and you hate me, too.
For helping him
and not saving your father.
I'm sorry for you.
But Sis. Wan.
Wu Sangui killed your father.
It has nothing to do with Official Liu.
Master.
I know who he is.
Who?
Meng Xianghe, guard of Liu Dezhao.
He came for condolence today
together with local ministers.
Official Liu was too busy with political affairs
to come for the condolence.
So he sent us for the condolence
and to greet you.
Unexpectedly
Shu Wanxin's lover
is the bodyguard of her father's foe.
Sis. Wan.
Come out and leave with me.
I'll explain to you
when we get somewhere safe.
Sis. Wan.
If you don't come out
I'll break in.
Don't break in.
Wanxin.
You have a special identity now.
If someone sees us talking by the window
I'm afraid you'll get involved.
Let me in and talk with you.
No way.
You can't get in.
I don't want to see you.
You helped the evil guy.
Liu Dezhao killed my father.
He's my
deadly enemy.
Sis. Wan.
The murderer who assassinated your father
has nothing to do with Official Liu.
Shi Qinghong, the subordinate to Wu Sangui
poisoned your father in the hostel.
He did poison my father.
But the hostel manager poisoned him, too.
Didn't Liu Dezhao
instigate him?
Sis. Wan.
I never lied to you.
Official Liu instigated the hostel manager.
But the manager was framed up as colluding with bandits.
A box of silver was found in his home.
Official Liu arrested all his families
and forced him to kill your father.
I was out of town to catch bandits.
So I failed to stop them.
I know you hate me.
No, I don't hate you.
But...
Though Shi Qinghong poisoned your father
he had just done that before the hostel manager did.
In my heart
Liu Dezhao was one of the murderers
who killed my father.
If you're true to me
kill Liu Dezhao for me
to revenge my father.
Sis. Wan, we pledged to marry.
Your father should be mine, too.
It's also my duty to revenge him.
Liu Dezhao does all kinds of evil.
Even if it weren't for revenging your father
I should have killed him to enforce justice.
But you know...
he saved my parents.
Before my parents died
they asked me to protect him for ten years.
That's why I vowed to protect him for ten years.
The vow ends in one month.
What about one month later?
Will you revenge my father for me?
Though the vow ends
I can't kill him myself.
Otherwise
my parents won't forgive me in the heaven.
But I won't protect him against my own will.
He has done so many evil things.
I believe he'll get what he deserves.
Since you don't want to revenge me
leave me!
You don't need to say anything.
I'll revenge my father.
Sis. Wan.
Don't think of taking revenge.
Liu Dezhao
wants to buy the commissioner over.
But he knows you will not let go of him.
With you around
the commissioner will not collude with him.
So he had evil intent against you.
If you stay here
you can't go back to the palace safely.
You mean...
Liu Dezhao sent you to kill me?
Exactly.
Sis. Wan.
You forced me to kill Liu Dezhao.
He forced me to kill you, too.
I won't hurt any of you
even if I have to die.
Sis. Wan, I've arranged a secret place for you.
Leave with me.
Only in this way can you be safe.
Somebody.
Stop shouting!
Nanny, it's me.
Meng Xianghe.
It's you?
How dare you come?
She is now the consort of His Majesty.
If the commissioner sees you
what will you do?
So the man in black
is the lover of Imperial Concubine Li out of the palace.
Nanny, don't worry.
I'll leave after having a word with Wanxin.
What can you talk about?
If you really want to help her
don't ever come back to her.
You know what?
She's not only
Imperial Concubine Li of the third-rank.
But is also pregnant.
What did you say?
She is...
Imperial Concubine Li is pregnant?
Why didn't I know?
Sis. Wan.
Don't come over.
Shall I call for help?
Her lover
can avoid all the guards and sneaked in.
He must be strong in martial arts.
Maybe I'll die if I shout.
Even if I ask the guards to arrest him
this is humiliation to the royal family.
His Majesty trusts Shu Jian and his daughter.
I'm afraid I'll end up worse.
It's better to save trouble.
So you didn't
refuse to forgive me
because of your father's death.
You betrayed our vow.
You won the love of His Majesty.
Now...
you're even pregnant.
Listen to my nanny
and never come back to me again.
Sis. Wan.
You changed. You said
you'd rather die than serve His Majesty.
You said you would try every means to escape and come back to me.
Yes.
I was too weak.
I wasn't powerful enough to stop your father from sending you to His Majesty.
Nor could I save you from the palace.
But I still remember our vow.
I've been asking for you information.
I fear if you kill yourself someday.
I will not survive alone.
But I never expect you...
Bro. Meng.
Leave here!
Before we're seen.
Otherwise, it'll be bad to you and me.
I don't fear to be seen.
If someone sees me
I'm confess I come to assassinate you.
Then I'll give the name of Liu Dezhao.
Kind of revenging you.
When Liu Dezhao and I are executed
all is finished.
Why are you doing this?
Hurry and go.
Before we're seen.
Are you worried about me
or about yourself?
Do you fear you'll lose the love of His Majesty
if someone sees you?
You're the consort
enjoying great wealth.
Sis. Wan.
I don't believe
you have become so heartless
for the wealth.
You...
Don't.
Do you like the life like a prisoned bird?
Sis. Wan.
Come with me.
I found a secret place for us.
You will like it.
Trust me.
Trust me, Sis. Wan.
Don't push me.
I'm doing this for you.
Don't push me.
Sis. Wan, I'm not pushing you.
But you must leave with me.
You'll die if you stay.
Your father is dead.
You don't have families.
If something goes wrong
who else can defend you?
Even if I protect you
from the assassination of Liu Dezhao
have you thought of it?
When you go back to the palace
can you defeat those cruel consorts?
Stay off me.
Sis. Wan, leave with me.
You play marital arts?
Liu Dezhao, the damn minister.
I want to kill him right now.
Master, voice down.
In case
Liu Dezhao has spies here.
That explains when you're angry.
Liu Dezhao makes irresponsible remarks and bring both force and reason to bear.
He takes our people as nonentities.
He even doesn't respect me and the royal court.
You're far away from him.
Master.
Have you get rid of Liu Dezhao's subordinate?
I got rid of him before I entered the town.
But I got something new.
I'm afraid you may get angrier.
What happened?
Get in and talk.
Master.
How is Imperial Concubine Li? Is she fine?
Her Grace has fallen asleep.
After you.
You're not Sis. Wan.
Who are you?
What did you do to her?
Well done!
I didn't expect a girl like you
to be so strong in martial arts?
Who the hell are you?
Where is Sis. Wan?
She's fine.
Master, show some mercy.
Get away.
He has seen you through.
We must kill him.
Master.
He isn't our enemy.
He's a loyal
and love-struck man.
Please spare him.
Silly girl!
If you let go of him
we will be exposed.
No.
Give me some time.
Let me talk with him.
I can convince him.
Victims told me that
some friends and relatives of theirs
did business on grains
and wanted to sell some rice in Shanxi
to help relieve the draught.
Unexpectedly, main passages
including water transport and government-financed road
were blocked by Liu Dezhao with the excuse of suppressing bandits.
Whoever transfers grains to Shanxi
must pay high tax and toll.
I hear Liu Dezhao's brother-in-law Qiu Gui
is not only the biggest local grain merchant
but also the president of Shanxi Chamber of Commerce.
I think
they must have controlled the entire grain market.
They stop other grains from coming into Shanxi
so that they can make a fortune of national calamity.
We must kill Liu Dezhao
to enforce justice.
Don't get angry, Master.
Master, don't get angry now.
I think Liu Dezhao acts in the way
first soft and then cruel.
First he lies.
When the lie doesn't help
he'll play the hardball.
Now, Liu Dezhao controls
ten thousand local soldiers.
I'm afraid when he knows
you know everything evil he has done
he will do something desperate
and hurt you.
What do you mean?
I can only deal with him after getting back to the palace?
I can bear with him.
But how can the victims wait?
They can't wait!
If they wait, many people will die of starvation!
How about this?
Let's steal the grains and money they embezzled
and give them to the people.
You want to rob the government?
Lady Attendant.
Don't be kidding.
Yeah.
Obviously, you sound like
you're kidding.
Not to mention
robbing the government storehouse is capital crime.
But can we
snatch food from them?
Aren't we seeking our doom?
We have only a few of us.
But why can't we snatch them?
In the past, my brother and I...
We used to...
To what?
Snatch food from the government storehouse?
No.
I'm just boosting.
Seriously?
Haven't you done anything against the law?
I can't lie to you.
But...
When we saw
some avaricious officials
we sometimes wanted to teach them a lesson
and snatched something by the way.
But nothing harmful.
Nothing harmful.
Master, don't listen to her.
When we were wandering around
we had to do some
little tricks.
But we didn't' have a choice.
We have never done anything
against the law.
Junior Long.
Junior Long, why are you staring at me like me?
You scare me!
Well done.
If I were your brother...
If I were as powerful as your brother
when I met a jerk like Liu Dezhao
I wouldn't let go of him, either.
I'm freaking out.
But Junior Long
if you want to find out who is to blame
it's because of you
who fail to control your subordinates.
They suck blood of the people
and crash them.
People are forced to rush into danger.
Yihuan.
Even if we're not in the palace
you must also watch your words
in front of Master.
Yihuan is right.
The people are forced to rebel.
It's the fault of the royal court.
It's my fault.
Bro. Meng, have some water.
Don't worry.
Shu Wanxin is still alive.
I'm Xue Qingcheng.
A good friend of Shu Wanxin.
She wanted to come back to Taiyuan for you.
So, I asked a famous doctor to disguise me as her
and went to the palace in her place.
This is the token she gave me.
You should recognize it.
Then where is she now?
Since you're the guard of Liu Dezhao
you must know his brother-in-law
Qiu Gui, don't you?
Qiu Gui grabbed a girl
in Huaiyang Village a couple of days ago.
Do you know?
Dr. Li and his families
do a lot of evil things.
I'm too weak to stop him.
So I pretend to see nothing
and never ask.
You almost made a big mistake.
The girl he took away
was Shu Wanxin.
I had meant to save her.
Unexpectedly
Qiu Gui sent her to Taiyuan
and would like to give her to Liu Dezhao
for fun.
Bro. Meng.
Don't get excited
in case you might alert people here.
I was discussing with my master
on how to save Shu Wanxin
when you suddenly came.
Bro. Meng.
I'm telling the truth.
You must trust us.
I trust you.
I heard Qiu Gui saying
he got a very beautiful girl
who was a virgin
and would give her to Liu Dezhao for fun.
Liu Dezhao said he was too busy with the commissioner
to enjoy the girl.
I didn't expect the girl to be Sis. Wan.
Bastard!
Since they're bastards
why are you still protecting him
for the private reason?
It's important to be loyal.
But in terms of major issues
you're helping the evil guys.
I'm not Shu Wanxin.
But I believe
what I told you
was what she wanted to say.
Thank you for your instruction.
Allow me to think about it.
Excuse me.
Who are you?
Why do you go to the palace in the name of Wanxin?
Sorry we can't tell you.
Anyway
you have two options.
First
we'll kill you.
Second
you can cooperate with us to save Shu Wanxin.
Then you can leave with her.
We'll never meet again.
Whatever we do
has nothing to do with you.
Songgotu.
Here.
Where is the nearest troop of mine?
You mean?
I can bear with them, but the disaster relief can't be held up.
I must deal with Liu Dezhao and relieve the people.
Master
before we left the capital
the empress dowager secretly told me that
we could go to the border of Shanxi and Hebei
for a troop of army led by Yu Bazan
in case of accident.
The army has 30,000 soldiers
and is well equipped.
All the soldiers are of our nationality.
Fine.
Set out early tomorrow morning
with my gold metal
and several guards.
I'll stay to contend with Liu Dezhao.
When Yu Bazan comes with his army
I'll execute Liu Dezhao right away.
But Your Majesty...
What?
It'll take me at least ten days to get the army.
Before we leave, the empress dowager urged us
to always protect you.
If you don't go
they can hardly move Yu Bazan's army
even with my token.
Yes.
But Your Majesty.
When I leave
you'll have only a few guards around.
If you have a conflict with Liu Dezhao
I'm afraid they can't protect you.
What are you afraid of?
My brother and I are here.
We can protect him.
Sister.
We can't take responsibility
for Master's safety.
We'll listen to Lord Suo.
Songgotu has to listen to me.
Do as you're told.
Go get the army.
Yihuan and Dr. Li are with me.
Yes.
Well.
Thank you for the trouble, Miss Yihuan and Dr. Li.
Don't worry.
I'm leaving tomorrow.
Thank you for sparing me.
See you.
Wait a second.
Master.
Qingcheng.
Do you think we can trust him?
Liu Dezhao
saved his parents
and helped him.
He promised to protect Liu Dezhao for ten years
before his parents died.
Even if
he witnessed all evil things Liu Dezhao did
and have been suffering
he still keeps his promise.
He's worthy of our trust.
Hope we can save Shu Wanxin smoothly
and send them out of Taiyuan.
That'll be great to everyone.
Qingcheng.
Why did the nanny said you were pregnant?
Because of Yihuan.
To deal with the nanny
Yihuan lied.
What a naughty girl Yihuan is!
Qingcheng.
I still worry about Meng Xianghe.
Why don't I track him secretly?
If you have something for me
send me the signal.
Yes.
Who is it?
Your Majesty.
It's me.
Me.
Miss...
What was wrong with me?
Nanny.
You fell asleep.
You must be too tired.
I seemed to see...
Stop!
I don't want to see him.
Never speak of him again.
I see.
You're making a right decision.
You...
You shouldn't think of the past.
You should serve His Majesty wholeheartedly.
You'd better have a son.
Oh, Miss.
I cooked some chicken soup for your nourishment.
I'll get you some.
Shu Wanxin's parents are dead.
But Meng Xianghe loves her so much.
The nanny cares for her with a true heart.
She's happier than me.
Songgotu!
You're freaking me out!
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
I'm leaving early tomorrow morning
for the relief troops.
In the daytime, I fail to tell you something
with the presence of Lady Attendant.
So I come here
to report to you secretly.
I know.
You worry about Yihuan and her brother.
Your Majesty.
Oboi warned me several times
to keep an eye on
Lady Attendant and Dr. Li.
He said they might have evil intents
when they were of unknown origin.
I see. Oboi reminded me, too.
But didn't you say
Oboi was driving a wedge between us?
Yes.
But it's better to play safe.
The origin of Lady Attendant and Dr. Li
are mysterious.
What if they really have other intentions?
We should be on guard.
They two
come from the secular world.
They masters
are skilled ones living in mountains.
It's understandable
when they don't like to tell us about their origin.
Besides
they've been loyal to me all the way here
having made no mistake.
If they want to assassinate me
they had the chance when Oboi tried to kill me.
Why did they
risk their lives to protect me?
If I keep an eye on him
I'll disappoint them.
You make sense, Your Majesty.
But caution is the parent of safety.
If we're in the palace
I shouldn't have worried.
But we're now out of the palace
we must take precautions.
Your Majesty.
Don't forget.
They're of unknown origin.
I know.
You worry
if they're spies from the Anti-Qing Alliance.
To be honest
I'm a little worried, too.
But I've thought it over.
If they really are spies
they had many chances to assassinate me
on the way.
Why did they give up?
It means
they have a bigger intention than killing me.
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