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Guardians of the Ancient Oath
[This story is purely fictional.]
Episode 18
Yao.
How is your new job as the governor?
Aunt, thanks for your care.
Although the position of governor
is different from military commander,
everything goes well
under the help of my staff
and my father.
You used to fight
on the battlefield in Li City.
Now you come back
and learn to deal with governmental issues.
It’s also good for you.
I want to thank Marquis Zhenbei for giving me
the opportunity to come back and care for my parents.
Marquis Zhenbei also gave me
a good lesson.
Aunt.
I used to
bury myself in work and know little
about the use of personnel,
so I was misled by wicked officials.
Now,
I should learn how to be
an good official
from Marquis Zhenbei.
We all serve the court.
There’s no method to be an official.
I only know
we shall put Your Highness
and the interests of Yo
at the first place
and dedicate ourselves to them.
Governor.
Sorry but I can’t help you.
You are both pillars of Yo.
You shall be united and work harmoniously
to make more achievements to Yo.
My honor, Your Highness.
Fine.
Look, how peaceful it is now.
Everyone, cheers.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Baili Hongyi from Marquis Zhenbei’ Mansion comes.
Are you Hongyi?
I can barely recognize you.
My respects, Your Majesty, Your Highness.
Look,
how beautiful you are now.
you should dress up like this every day
to match your beauty bestowed
by Heaven.
Yes, Your Highness.
Take a seat.
It’s about time.
I’m so happy today
and drink too much.
I feel dizzy now.
After all, I’m old.
Not at all, mother.
You are in your prime.
Hongxuan and Jinyang
love each other.
At least, I realized
one of Yuan’s wishes.
If Hongyi can also marry
a decent husband,
I will be contented.
Your Majesty. Your Highness.
I have a request.
He Yao. Just say it.
You want to do something with the luck?
Just tell us.
I propose marriage to Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion.
Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion?
He Yao. Do you want to marry...
I want to marry the lady
of Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion,
Baili Hongyi.
Yao. All the elders are present today.
Don’t make a joke of
your marriage.
No, I’m not joking.
I grew up with Baili Hongyi
from childhood.
We are friends.
I have considered
the proposal carefully.
Today is the New Year’s Eve.
Marquis Anxi asks Your Highness
for the approval
of the marriage.
Yao and Hong Yi
grew up
together from childhood.
They are both good kids
and also know each other.
It’s a good match.
Marquis Zhenbei, please approve it.
No.
I will definitely not agree
to this marriage.
Hongyi, why don't you agree?
Your Highness, I...
Your Highness. Thanks for Marquis Anxi’s kindness,
yet my sister's marriage
is no hurry.
No hurry?
Although Yo’s custom isn’t as unrestrained
as previous dynasties
and we don’t stick to convention,
Hongyi is already
22 years old.
If she still doesn’t marry,
it's your negligence of duty as her brother.
I think
we should think twice about it.
You dislike He Yao,
don’t you?
You think Yao doesn’t match Hongi?
Governor is adept with both pen and sword.
I dare not doubt it.
Why are you reluctant
to approve their marriage?
Your Highness.
I have no plan
to get married yet.
I don’t want to marry.
Hongyi.
Man and woman
are bound to marry.
As a girl,
how can you stay
in your brother’s mansion all your lifetime?
I...
When I was
at your age,
I had married
with the late king for six years.
Having babies
is the duty of women.
Hongyi grew up
with Yao from childhood.
They are close friends.
I promise we will
treat you well in the future.
Yao. What do you think?
Yes.
I will surely
treat you well.
What do you mean?
Great.
Yao. I feel relieved
with your promise.
Hongxuan. Hongyi will get married.
As her brother,
you shall prepare it properly.
Fine. Hongyi.
You are an adult now.
Don’t be shy.
I announce
on the New Year's Eve,
we’ll have another delightful event.
Marquis Anxi’s Mansion and Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion
will be bound
by marriage.
Pick a good date and hold the wedding.
Your Majesty...
Your Majesty.
Thanks for approval, Your Highness, Your Majesty.
Brother.
Thank you,
Your Majesty, Your Highness.
How was it going?
Not good.
It seems God Fire Zhu Rong
chose to forbear.
Over these years,
he has never changed.
He has always been
ignorant to
his own feelings,
and always sacrifice himself for his principles.
Ridiculous.
That’s his nature.
Otherwise, our plan
would’ve been achieved
very easily.
He’s so calm
to hand over his closest relatives
to his enemy.
Are the principles
more important
than kinship?
The apparent peace
doesn’t mean there's no undercurrent.
Maybe the storm
is on the way.
Let’s just wait
and see how the show will go on.
Brother.
Haven’t you slept?
Brother, I...
Say no more.
I won’t marry you
to He Yao.
But His Majesty has given
his order in public.
Since His Majesty publicly gave the order,
I couldn’t disobey openly.
Or else, it’d be blatant disobedience.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to see His Majesty
and chat with him.
There must be room for change.
I will never marry him.
I will never marry you to him.
I’m going back first.
Heaven and earth, power of thunder.
Break!
Heaven and earth, power of thunder.
Break!
You hard bone, huh?
You hard bone!
Darn it! Hard bone!
Xiaotong.
I asked you to invite General Baili.
Where is he?
He was too busy
to come.
Then invite him again.
I won’t.
Why?
I...
I don’t want to.
You may go yourself.
How can a master invite a disciple?
Go and invite him now.
If he doesn’t come,
I won’t teach you anymore.
Master.
Go ahead. Xiaotong.
Go.
Hurry up.
Go. Xiaotong. Be good.
Go.
You didn’t sleep well, did you?
I made the tremella soup for you.
Where is my brother?
He got up at dawn
and went to the palace
to discuss with His Majesty
about your marriage.
Hongxuan loves you
the most.
He will do his best.
But...
What if
he failed to
dissuade His Majesty?
Run away.
No one can force me to marry He Yao.
Your Majesty.
Hongxuan.
Is it so urgent
that you have to meet me now?
I drank late last night,
and just fell asleep.
Your Majesty. What you said last night
terrified me.
Last night?
I said a lot last night.
Which words do you mean?
Hongyi’s marriage.
Please withdraw the order, Your Majesty.
Hongxuan. Rise first.
Your Majesty.
Hongyi doesn’t match He Yao at all.
He Yao is domineering and greedy,
not a gentleman.
He won’t be a good husband.
You are over-thinking.
All the rich masters
are kind of wild like him.
He Yao is my cousin.
What’s more,
he committed the guilt of oversight
because he was too honest
and misled by his staff.
He Yao is always afraid of Hongyi.
He will be disciplined well by her.
Your Majesty. Do you really want them
get married?
Yes, why not?
The Hes is the pillar of the state.
So is the Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion.
Two families have conflicts lately.
It’s bad both for state and people.
That’s why
I asked He Yao to propose
the marriage actively
so that the two families
can make up with each other.
Did you ask He Yao to propose the marriage?
Yes.
Your Majesty.
You know Hongyi’s temper.
This proposal is too...
Sorry, Your Majesty.
What's wrong with the proposal?
Do you mean
my proposal is a mistake,
or I sacrifice Hongyi’s happiness
for my selfish purpose?
I repeat for the last time.
Baili Hongyi will marry him!
I hope the Bailies and the Hes
can take the opportunity
to repair
their broken relationships
through the marriage,
so that it can be harmonious in the court.
It concerns
with the two families of Yo,
also the future of Yo.
I don’t allow any mishap.
I know you and your sister
are very close.
On the day of wedding,
you will escort her yourself.
If I don’t see
Baili Hongyi that day,
I will have to punish you.
By that time,
do not blame me for ruthlessness.
Why not accept my order?
You want me to punish you
for disobedience?
I accept the order.
General.
Are you contented with the gift?
You and your brother are both impatient.
Because we are
both decisive.
I’m a man
of my word.
Just be patient.
To get the man I love,
how can I be patient?
I’m willing to
give all the best things in the world
to the man I love.
Thank you.
I don’t want you to thank me.
What do you want then?
I want your love.
I want to serve you.
I also hope we can love each other.
What you like,
what you dislike,
what you care, what you don’t,
I want to know them all.
I want you to love me
without reservation
as I do to you.
I
reserve nothing from you.
But you reserve your heart.
The things you give me,
food, clothes, items,
gold and jewellery,
I don’t care them at all.
What I want is your love.
But for you,
there’s always a wall between us.
I can’t see your true heart.
I have no heart.
I don’t believe it.
However hard your heart is,
I will warm and melt it.
I will wait.
I’m willing to do anything
for you.
I, Ming Yefeng,
never turn down
others’ kindness.
I will gladly accept
what you do to me,
yet I have to remind you
I don’t like others
guess my thoughts.
Neither do I allow others to act on their own.
I’ve made an agreement
with your brother for what I want.
As long as he listens to me,
I will keep my promise.
So do you.
General!
I was commanding
like an empire, wasn’t I?
Mother says, as the empire,
I’m not commanding at all.
I should practice more.
Do you believe
what I did just now?
Was I commanding just now?
Your majesty really impressed me.
I know you’re reluctant to let Hongyi marry.
Neither do I.
However, it’s not bad.
She won’t marry far away,
and won’t suffer
homesickness.
You are considerate, Your Majesty.
It’s Hongyi’s bliss.
You should consider me, too.
You don’t know being an empire
isn’t easy at all.
I’d rather be
a carefree recluse in the mountains
rather than trapped
in the palace every day.
Your Majesty cares about the state and people.
I admire it.
Hongxuan.
If I have another way,
I will definitely not
marry Hongyi to He Yao.
In order to
repair the two families’ relationship,
I racked my brains
and thought up that idea.
Only two families are bound by marriage,
can Yo
be in peace.
You are a Baili,
and should consider more for Yo.
You must understand me.
Got it?
Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll keep it in mind.
OK. Go back.
I’m going to sleep.
Yes, My Majesty.
Well...
Master asks you to learn skills.
No time.
You don’t want to learn,
but don’t implicate me.
You promised
to be his disciple and learn skills.
How can you go back on your word?
Do I go back on my word?
I have no time now.
What are you doing?
Don’t drag me.
No. You have to learn.
Let me go.
Don’t get
so close to me.
Move yourself
and I won’t drag you.
You...
Let me go.
What are you doing?
General...
I didn’t see anything.
Let’s go. Lead the way.
General.
Marquis. You are back.
Is Hongyi in the mansion?
She’s been staying in her room
since she came back yesterday.
Did His Majesty cancel the proposal?
Ask her to be here.
Wait.
Pack up luggage for her.
Pack some clothes.
Don’t take too much.
Marquis. You...
I’ll do it right now.
Master.
Don’t do it alone
when I leave.
You want to conjure?
I’m leaving.
I’m a man
of my word.
I said I would teach you,
and I will.
Let me go.
We won’t play this time.
It’s true.
Just stay for a moment.
One moment.
Let me go.
My disciple. Will you stay?
Say it. How will you teach me?
I’ve prepared it.
These ultimate skills are never taught to outsiders.
As your master...
Tell me first.
Have you ever heard of
Protection Formation?
Well. More haste, less speed.
We shall learn from the basics.
Come on.
Read the book first.
I know.
Protection Formation is about Taoist’s Tao.
It’s said Tao produces one, one produces two...
Why do you ask me this?
I met one...
Forget it. Get to the point.
The point is Protection Formation
is to protect the Tao.
Of course.
It’s obvious.
My disciple.
Tao is profound.
it can’t be explained
with one or two words.
Or else,
everyone can be an immortal.
Why bother cultivating?
Anyway, if you want to know
what Protection Formation is,
you can find the answer in this book.
I don’t teach others except you.
Is the answer in the book?
Yes, of course.
Xiaotong. Stay and keep alert here.
Don’t allow others to eavesdrop.
I’ll take him to learn skills.
Master. I’m your first disciple.
He came after me.
Why did you teach him not me?
You are clever by nature.
What I teach him
is superficial.
You have learned them. No need to learn again.
Now I’ll take him in
and teach him some basics.
You stay and keep alert.
Don’t let others eavesdrop.
Got it?
Superficial?
Yes. Superficial knowledge.
You should teach me ultimate skills later.
Yes, I will.
Hongshuo.
Learn it hard.
We may compete with each other later.
If you still don’t start,
I’ll leave.
Yes, let’s get started.
Stay here.
Let’s go in and learn.
Stay here.
Let’s go.
[Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion]
Brother. What did His Majesty say?
It’s cold.
Why not wear more clothes?
Did he change his mind?
You are an adult now.
From now on,
don’t be reckless.
Learn to take care of yourself.
What are you talking about, brother?
Do you remember this?
Father ever wore this suit of armor
and repelled thousands of Lang’s cavalrymen.
I clearly remembered that
father wore this suit of armor
when he saved me that day.
It shined under the sunlight.
He brought you to the Mansion
and told me
you were my sister.
I know father and mother
had two sons, me and Hongshuo.
They wished
they could have a daughter.
Since you came to the mansion,
they’d been very happy.
Even Hongshuo said
father loved you the most.
Your sword skills
were also taught by father himself.
Later on, father
and mother both passed away.
Only the three of us were left
in the mansion.
Hongshuo was young
and cried every day.
You kept him company
and spent
those sad days with him.
From then on,
you didn’t wear female clothes anymore
and let me call you younger brother.
You told me
as long as we three brothers were together,
Duke Pingyuan’s Mansion
would never decline.
Rest assured, brother.
We three brothers
will surely overcome all difficulties.
Hongshuo is right.
We’ll surely overcome
all the difficulties.
From then on,
I’ve been telling myself
as long as I’m with you,
you and Hongshuo
will never suffer from unfairness.
Though you lost parents,
you have me, your elder brother.
I will protect you.
Brother.
What’s wrong with you?
Why did you bring up the past things
all of a sudden?
If father and mother were alive,
they’d do their best
to make you happy.
I believe
if father were standing
in front of you now,
he’d make the same decision as I do.
Brother.
What did His Majesty tell you?
Hongyi.
Kneel and kowtow to father.
What did you talk with him?
Leave here.
His Majesty insisted on marrying you
to He Yao.
I’m incapable,
but I won’t let you
marry that rat.
Leave
before it’s too late.
I...
Leave.
This is the only thing
I can do for you,
also the last thing
Duke Pingyuan’s Mansion can do for you.
Leave now.
Right now.
Don’t come back again.
Metal...
What is
Walk through Walls and Earth?
Walk through Walls and Earth
is one of ancient secret skills.
The tip is...
What you said is in the book.
Can you show me?
No. Ancient secret skills are not child’s play.
Tao is extremely easy and simple,
delicate and subtle.
We should proceed step by step.
You just start the learning.
You shall learn from basics.
As for cultivation, more haste, less speed.
Keep that in mind.
Let’s call it a day.
I have business to do.
Good day.
I haven’t finished the teaching.
Don’t leave.
I haven’t finished the teaching.
Don’t...
My respects, Your Majesty.
The sun doesn’t set,
yet you seem drunk, General Qiantong.
Did I call you wrong?
The King lost his son
and got old overnight.
He’s already unable to lead Lang.
And your biggest enemy Anahoi
has been earth.
The related clans supporting Anahoi
pay allegiance to you now.
General Wanqi. You have no rival
on this grassland anymore.
If not you, who will take the throne?
Although it seems
peaceful,
thorns are everywhere from here
to the throne in King’s camp.
Each step
comes with swords and arrows from the dark.
General Wanqi. Be very careful
Do not die.
General Qiantong.
You don’t have to worry about me.
I’m not
that ambitious as you think.
What I do
is what I should.
I have no interest in those
don’t belong to me.
Anyway,
you helped me.
I won’t forget that.
If General Qiantong tells me clearly
what you want,
I may pack you back
in the future.
If I tell you
I want nothing,
do you believe me?
It’s well-known on the grassland that
Ming Yefeng is greedy
and has wild ambition.
You occupy your own things,
and also grab from other.
If you tell the world
you want nothing,
will the people believe it?
Besides you,
Gao Yi is the same as you.
Hongyi. Remember.
The world is big.
When you leave the city,
you can go anywhere you want.
No need to tell me.
I won’t know,
neither will His Majesty.
When you travel around,
be sure to keep calm.
Do not offend others
or stand up for others rashly.
Be sure to take good care of yourself.
When this matter is over,
I’ll write to you.
Never do that.
From today on,
you aren’t Baili Hongyi,
but a common girl
in the world.
Brother.
Bury the name Baili Hongyi
in your deep heart.
You have nothing to do
with the Bailies anymore.
There are some clothes
and some money in it.
Be very careful.
Do not expose it publicly.
If I leave,
what about you?
No need to
worry about me.
I’ve prepared a horse outside the city.
Leave now.
Marquis.
His Majesty and His Highness has given the order.
Now Hongyi left.
It’s a blatant disobedience.
Are you afraid?
No, I am not.
You did a lot today.
Go to rest.
Yes.
Father.
You won the battle again.
What gift do you bring back
to me?
Father.
Mother.
Who are you?
Hongxuan.
Hongshuo.
Her name is Hongyi.
From now on,
she’s my daughter and your sister.
From now on,
you are family.
Family?
Baili Hongyi.
Are you Hongxuan?
Yes.
From today on,
you are my sister.
You three siblings
shall love each other forever.
-OK. -OK.
Good.
From today on,
you aren’t Baili Hongyi anymore,
but a common girl
in the world.
Bury the name Baili Hongyi
in your deep heart.
You told me
as long as we three brothers were together,
Duke Pingyuan’s Mansion
would never decline.
As long as I’m with you,
you and Hongshuo
will never suffer from unfairness.
Although you lost parents,
you have me, your elder brother.
I will protect you.