[English subtitles are available.]
Guardians of the Ancient Oath
[This story is purely fictional.]
Episode 4
When you’re defending the border,
you’ll work under He Yao.
I’m afraid he’ll scheme against you.
You must be careful.
What does His Majesty think?
Actually
if I really wanted Hongshuo
to go to that kind of place,
I wouldn’t ask him
to be a commander.
Men of the Baili family
can only be generals.
They’ve told me before.
Nothing is wrong in Li City.
It’s just that a few tribes of Lang
are competing for meadows.
My mother
just wants to toughen Hongshuo.
Don’t worry.
I understand, Your Majesty.
Actually,
I approved of Hongshuo going to Li City
with another intention.
For one thing,
Lang sent Ming Yefeng
to swagger into Ye City.
For another, they’re not behaving.
I have no idea
what they’re up to.
I’m coming of age.
When I rule myself,
I’ll still rely on
you and Hongshuo.
If Hongshuo
can obtain some information
about Lang for me,
that will be the best.
If he can’t,
he’ll have experience
of guarding the border.
If I entrust important tasks to him in the future,
won’t that be natural?
Although His Majesty
didn’t mean you to
defend the border in Li City,
he couldn’t disobey his mother.
We’ve got to be considerate.
Well...
What is it?
Forget it.
Feel free to say it.
You can’t
hide anything.
The day before yesterday
I heard some kids
singing a nursery rhyme in the city.
What was it?
How high is the city gate?
It is about one hundred meters high.
Riding a white horse and a palanquin,
the bride comes with sighing wind.
There were indeed
many abnormal things that day.
-Be careful, Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.
Before Jinyang married into our family,
some people
had been maliciously
making guesses about us.
It’s just gossip.
When Mars opposition happens,
someone will be loftier than anyone.
Mars opposition?
There was a gale that day.
It’s a Mars opposition.
This should be a coincidence.
But someone must have tried to
make an issue of the princess’s arrival
with that nursery rhyme.
They also said
Mars wanted to battle with the sun.
That night a strange assassin
suddenly appeared
after the princess
came here.
I’m afraid these two matters
aren’t a coincidence.
It’s possible that
someone behind was trying to stir up trouble.
The empress dowager bestowed a marriage on me
and then sent you to defend the border.
We need to be
more cautious about
these groundless things
so as not to be trapped
and give an advantage to some rat.
What can I do for you?
Be wary of He Yao.
You ventured to Ye City,
the hinterland of Yo,
and taught Baili Hongxuan a lesson.
We can all believe you bravely
got us out of
the ignominy of defeat
and rebuild Lang’s prestige.
Anahoi,
you should appreciate it
and give that Akhal-teke horse
to him.
General Wanqi is valiant.
My horse which is one in a million
is yours now.
Thanks for your
Akhal-teke horse.
I don’t feel I’m worthy of it.
I’ll repay you with a generous gift.
Good.
When you work together,
you can definitely revive Lang
and protect my territory.
I will work flat out.
I’ll do everything in my power.
Good. Good.
This is one of a pair of swords
made by the ancient people.
Its name is Lihun.
Father gave it to me
and asked me to hand it over to you
at a right moment.
Now it’s time you had it.
The other one of the pair
is your Liushang.
Exactly.
I know you’ve wanted it for long.
Remember. Keep on guard.
Try to avoid confrontation
with He Yao.
Don’t worry.
Even if he kicks my butt,
I won’t say anything.
With concerted effort, we’ll tackle any problems.
Lucky for you.
You’re going to Li City
which is so far away
and don’t have to be stuck
in this house.
You think I’m going to have fun?
His Majesty sent me there
to defend the border and fight.
It’s dangerous.
I can only blame myself.
I’m not a real man.
Otherwise,
according to rules of the Baili family,
your can never fight in battle
before me.
You’ve got to be content.
You’ve been
brought up as a boy.
Hongxuan and Father
doted on you.
They brought you with them when they were
defending the border,
helping out famine victims and even going hunting.
I guess
drinking is the only thing
they haven’t done with you.
Take me to drink, then.
How could you
be so shameless?
You’re going out to fight tomorrow.
Let me give you a send-off.
Where do you want to go?
Rest easy. I won’t make you drunk.
Let’s eat something nice.
No, thanks.
I’m not going.
That’s unlike you.
Wanna go to Tayun Tavern?
Nope.
How about Huaman Tavern?
Now is not the right time
for us to go as we please.
Don’t make Hongxuan worry.
When have you become
so boring?
After I leave,
if you run into trouble,
no one will carry the can for you.
When have you carried the can for me?
Be careful.
It’s sharp.
It’s a good sword.
Luckily you’re a girl.
If you were really a boy,
the whole house
would be smashed up by you.
Alas,
after you leave,
I’ll be alone in this house.
How shall I spend my time?
Now you know the good of my company.
You hung around with Hongxuan before
and always ignored me.
Hongxuan is married now.
I can’t hang around with him.
With our sister-in-law,
this house will only be more lively.
Perhaps after some time
we’ll have a nephew.
As his aunt,
you’ll be busy then.
Hongyi,
will you miss me
after I leave?
Of course I will.
You’re the only younger brother I have.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, be careful.
Master, Fusong reported that
things were ready.
That’s quick.
It’s your order.
They didn’t dare to delay.
Good. Stand up.
I have a question.
That’s rare.
Go on.
I read the list
and found a large number of armors
for horses among this batch of weapons.
Is Yo
going to recruit cavalrymen?
Tao Shen,
how many years have you
served in Duke Pingyuan’s Mansion?
The ancestors of the Tao family
have served the Baili family already.
I’ve taken orders from you
since I was born.
Have you felt
aggrieved or resentful at
something I asked you to do?
Have you ever attempted to figure me out?
I dare not.
I just know
I need to go all out to
do what you ask me to.
What if that thing
may kill you?
I’m willing to
sacrifice my life for you.
Okay.
I’ll tell you.
This batch of weapons
is not for the Yo people.
I’ll do your bidding.
Take them
to this person.
Make sure nothing goes wrong.
Yes.
Also,
find out
whether the princess
has met someone in the palace
before she went here.
Investigate this woman.
Yes.
Go.
Ming Yefeng.
Don’t think
I don’t know what you did
in Ye City.
I didn’t expose you
because I was afraid of upsetting my father.
Don’t let me have something on you
or I will catch you
with your pants down.
So you have
reported back already.
You’re not waiting here
to congratulate me, are you?
Congratulations.
You won Anahoi’s horse.
General Wanqi,
aren’t you afraid
you’ll invite jealousy and death
after presenting yourself too much?
We Lang always
demand the brave hold high positions.
I am not
an incompetent.
Isn’t it natural
for me to be envied?
You just won
Anahoi’s horse
and he sent someone
to ask my father to drink with him.
What do you think they want to do?
Why?
You wanna buy me drinks?
I’m just looking forward
to a confrontation between two powerful men.
In my opinion,
you’d better concentrate on
assisting the Prime Minister.
So long.
Is there any news?
Yes.
Come in.
General Wanqi.
Where do you come from, love?
Master ordered me to
serve you.
Dance.
Did you just go to see
Prince Anahoi?
Yes.
Ming Yefeng returned to Shuchi
in glory from Ye City today.
What do you want to say?
You’re always close to the prince.
What did you drink with him tonight for?
I watched Anahoi
growing up.
You think it’s inappropriate for him
to buy me drinks?
No, I don’t.
What do you think
of things that happened recently?
Ming Yefeng was repeatedly cited
by the king for his service.
You think he has the upper hand?
Isn’t that the case?
Previously Anahoi
was defeated several times
and completely lost face.
You’ve been battening down the hatches.
You supported Prince Anahoi
and put me in the army.
Aren’t you doing things with both hands?
Now Anahoi is at a disadvantage,
what are you going to do?
Anahoi hasn’t failed yet.
Do you really think
he can command Lang?
Only he
is the prince of Lang.
The throne
is always taken by the competent.
Father, perhaps we should
work out a long-term plan.
He’s not coming?
The grassland is attacking by pests.
Master is fighting them with his people.
Since when has he
had to handle trifles like that?
Master is always considerate towards his people.
Tell him.
There’s no way he can fob me off.
Master is sincere.
So you need to
show him your sincerity, too.
I didn’t see his sincerity.
Master wants to
see you in Qianlingpo
a month later.
He’ll tell you a good idea.
You’re of great wisdom and bravery.
I hope
you and Master will pull together.
Get out.
Yes.
Qianlingpo.
Are you going to Qianlingpo?
That place
is their core zone.
It’s close to Li City and borders Yo.
If you go there in person,
it’ll be dangerous.
Qianlingpo. Li City.
I must go.
If you leave Shuchi again,
Anahoi will take advantage of it.
He’s brave but witless.
With his temper,
he’ll cut off his nose to spite his face.
He won’t be a problem.
But just now General Qiantong said
Anahoi was joining hands with Xilidu.
Xilidu is really
an old bastard.
He always harbors evil thoughts.
Their alliance
will be more interesting.
What’s mysterious
is Gao Yi.
Although he’s Xilidu’s son,
his way of doing things
is quite a contrast to his father’s.
He could openly
come towards me.
There must be reasons behind it.
I have no idea
what this family are hatching up.
In light of that,
it’s more dangerous for you
to go to Qianlipo.
Compared with Shuchi,
Baize is more important.
I must capture it.
Keep a watch on the Baili family.
The other people
in Yo are no problems.
As long as I dispose of the men of the Baili family,
it’ll be a breeze to take control of Yo.
Yes.
[Yiwang Hall]
I’m leaving,
yet you hid and drank here.
I caught a cold.
Don’t be infected.
Off you go.
You still drank after catching a cold?
When you have a cold,
you gotta drink and drive the coldness away.
You don’t understand.
Oh, yes?
I will help you
send for a physician.
No. No.
I’ll get well after having two more sips.
Off you go now.
I have a cold.
If I infect you
and Li City is so far away,
the consequences could be serious.
Hongyi,
I don’t know
when I’ll return from Li City.
You
must behave.
You ask me to behave?
Don’t speak like that, you brat.
That’s no way to speak to your elder brother.
You’re just two years older than me.
Stop putting on airs.
But I’m still older than you.
That’s true even if I’m just two days older.
Given your tone,
you don’t seem to
have a cold.
I feel dizzy.
Don’t talk to me.
Off you go.
If you’re late,
you’ll be punished.
If you miss me,
remember to write to me.
Okay. Okay.
Wait for eight or ten years.
Go.
Cheers.
Wait for me to come back.
Go.
Idiot.
Commander Baili.
Everyone,
it’ll be an arduous journey to Li City.
I wish you could
take care of my brother.
Don’t worry, sir.
We’re his subordinates.
It’s our duty to safeguard him.
Mu Qi,
we grew up together.
I’ve wanted to lead troops
with you long ago.
You went into the army a few years earlier than me.
From now on,
you’ll be my right-hand man.
Don’t worry, Commander Baili.
I’ll fight tooth and nail.
Mu Qi,
there are raw recruits
who are going with us.
I’m afraid they’ll fail to acclimatize themselves
when we’re heading north.
Our march mustn’t be hurried.
Let’s call it a day
and pitch camp ahead.
Yes.
The commander ordered that
we encamp ahead.
Yes. Encamp.
Yes.
Check the roads.
Come on.
Let’s have some pancakes.
You must be hungry.
Thanks. Thanks.
Let me tell you.
My pancakes are especially good.
Indeed they are. Thanks.
No problem.
Here you go.
Let’s go.
I have plenty of them.
Thanks.
Wow, can I have another one?
Here you are.
I want one, too.
Here you go.
What are you doing?
Sir.
You just joined the army, didn’t you?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Work hard.
If you don’t,
I’ll make you suffer.
Yes, sir.
He’s a nice man
but he has a temper.
Work hard, bro.
Is it enough?
I’ll punish you.
Wanna have another piece of pancake?
Mu Qi.
Yes, sir?
Go and pick on that soldier
but don’t go too far.
That one.
Okay.
Hey, you.
Go and move the wood.
But just now an officer asked me
to feed the horses.
Do you obey him
or me?
Go now.
Stop.
Did you leave the hay here
so that I’ll help you feed the horses?
But you asked me to move the mood.
Feed the horses and then move the wood.
Quickly.
How dare you
order me around?
This is irritating.
Am I moving
so many woods alone?
Don’t talk rubbish. Do it now.
Don’t dawdle.
If everyone does the same,
can we finish making camp?
You must move
all of the woods today.
Commander Mu.
I’ll help you, bro.
Don’t worry.
Add one for me.
You’ll get used to it.
Soldiers have to do everything.
You fetch water.
I’ll move the woods.
Thank you.
Your Majesty.
I didn’t see it.
Let’s do it again.
You can’t take it back, Your Majesty.
My mother just told me off.
Don’t you do that.
Fine, fine, fine. I lost.
How come there aren’t
servants around you today?
We’re playing chess and having tea.
What do we need
those people for?
The other day I saw
a maid beside you.
She has rosy lips and white teeth.
It’s hard for anyone to forget her.
Rosy lips and white teeth
Who are you talking about?
Maids around me
are all burly.
Their faces are as black as charcoal.
They’re all so ugly.
None of them look good.
Is there really not a person with rosy lips and white teeth,
whose eyebrows are like swords
and who looks weak
but a bit evil?
Hongxuan,
are you talking about some singer?
Eyebrows like swords?
Which maid will look like that?
And she’s evil?
You know,
my mother often says
maids can’t be too pretty
or they’ll have unrealistic thoughts.
But I did see
the maid
following you.
How come you’ve never seen her?
You saw such a person
beside me?
On my wedding day,
that person even
tried to protect you.
How come I didn’t know?
Is she my heavenly protector?
Heavenly protector?
I read it on a book
that emperors are Polaris coming down to earth.
Now that I’m a deity,
I ought to
have a heavenly protector.
You believe
demons and deities?
If she’s not my heavenly protector,
is she a demon?
Is she really a demon?
That’s not believable.
I think it’s hard to tell.
Deities and demons
are made up by Taoists
to fool those who are ignorant.
How could you believe them?
I haven’t come of age and I’m also a child.
You said Taoists made them up.
Are the Songs of Chu and Goddess in the Mountain
made up as well?
Are stories of Madame Xiang
also nonsense?
People in Chu didn’t know much about nature.
When it rained, they said there was a rain god.
When they saw marks on bamboos,
they said they were Madame Xiang’s tears.
Those are not believable.
Birds nest on curved branches. An empty hole invites the wind.
You have to believe them.
Perhaps
someone is really protecting me.
Do maids in your palace
all work for the Empress Dowager?
Hongxuan,
you keep asking
about the maid.
Do you...
No. You just got married
and your wife was bestowed by my mother.
Don’t go too far.
If Jinyang knows
what you said,
I’ll have a tough time.
I didn’t expect you’d fear your wife.
Your Majesty,
another round?
Why not?
I’ll take it seriously this time
and I won’t spare you again.
Okay.
Work hard.
If you don’t,
I’ll make you suffer.
Hongyi,
I don’t know
when I’ll return from Li City.
You must behave.
Don’t speak like that, you brat.
That’s no way to speak to your elder brother.
Bro, what are you doing?
You’re so slow.
We’re here to labor.
You can’t dawdle, can you?
Okay. I’m here.
My sister
asked me to help others.
You’ve worked all day.
Go back and have a rest.
Let’s go.
Here.
Hongxuan, have dinner first.
Thank you.
Hongyi is still sick.
Shall I get her here?
That’s not necessary.
Tell Mr. Baili yourself.
He’ll punish you.
Mr. and Mrs. Baili,
Mi... Miss...
Speak clearly.
It seems Miss Baili has stealthily gone to
Li City with Mr. Baili Hongshuo.
Mr. He, no one can stop
Hongyi from going out.
Don’t punish her.
Leave us.
Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Baili.
Hongxuan,
shall I send someone
to take Hongyi back?
She shouldn’t have gone far yet.
That’s not necessary.
Hongyi has been to many places with me
and father since little.
It’s not a big deal
for her to go to Li City.
But she’s a girl
and has to mix with the troops.
She was raised as a boy.
Now that she dared to sneak out,
she’ll know how to deal with it.
Don’t you worry about her?
There’s no need to worry.
She and Hongshuo
are going to Li City together.
They’ll look after each other.
I don’t think
they’ll be in danger.
I have affairs to handle tonight.
Go back first.
Take this.
How can you
walk or fight if you’re hungry?
Thanks.
What is it?
It’s awful.
Grass ball.
Don’t worry. It’s edible
and it can make you full.
Is it that awful?
Look at you.
You must have been spoon-fed
and you can’t bear hardships.
Why do you
always stay alone
not talking with the others?
I... I...
We’re out on a march
but not at home in Ye City.
We joined the army
to overcome difficulties.
If you’re ordered to keep watch at night,
you must be careful.
We’re close to the land of Lang.
They’re very cunning.
You’ve got to stay alert.
I’ll give you one more grass ball.
Take it.