You are a mark of memory.
Love comes quietly.
I paint you without knowing.
You are a diary in my heart.
Sometimes, it can be casual.
Sometimes, every word is remembered clearly.
I search to meet you by chance.
I'm most willing to lose to you.
Your love is irreplaceable.
Untie all the knots in your mind. Tell me.
This dream finally ends now.
This moment is when
the fragrance of flowers pervades the sky.
The air seems to deliver electric shocks.
The faces look elated.
Waiting as the wind blows over.
Love arrives. The whole season
believes in the fable of happiness.
Until the end.
Tomorrow is going to be wonderful.
The Chang'An Youth
Episode 1
= 150 kilometers from suburb Chang'An =
Give me that bun.
Give it to me.
What are you doing?
Come with us.
Let go of me.
Come on.
= Ten years later =
My lord,
they've come to escort the bride back.
They've passed the city gate.
Go check it out.
= Shen's Mansion =
You're awesome, my lady.
You know how to write.
Your handwriting is beautiful.
Yiyi.
What's the matter?
Starting today, I'll teach you
how to write your own name.
Hold the writing brush.
Take a look.
Tell me what you think.
A complimentary remark will do.
Too much praise
might turn my head.
What's the matter?
Did I make a mistake?
I thought I did well.
You did very well.
See?
Frankly speaking,
I'd be a better calligrapher than you
if we could write with a spatula.
Then I'd be a better cook than you
if we could cook with a writing brush.
Dieyi made a promise to me.
She promised
that she'd never leave me.
You lied to me, Shen Dieyi!
You're a big liar!
My daughter,
how could you leave your father behind?
Your beloved Childe Tang has brought up a marriage proposal.
It should have been a happy occasion.
My lord.
There's no point in living anymore.
Dieyi was betrothed
to him when she was very young.
The other day,
the Tang family sent betrothal presents and money over,
but now
Dieyi is gone.
Besides, Dieyi,
haven't you been eager
to find out about your birth parents?
How could you leave us so suddenly?
Her birth parents?
Dieyi...
Dieyi wasn't my biological daughter.
Her mother entrusted her to my care
before she passed away.
She also left this Sinan pendant
to Dieyi.
After growing up, Dieyi found out
that the Sinan pendant
came from Chang'An.
And now her dream of marrying into the Tang family
in Chang'An has been dashed.
My poor daughter.
I'm such a useless father.
We'll never be able to find out
about your birth parents.
My lord,
I'll go to Chang'An in Dieyi's stead.
No way.
I can't let you make this sacrifice.
My lord,
please let me do this.
Dieyi and you
have been so kind to me.
This is the only way I can think of to repay your kindness.
Yiyi.
My lord.
You have to make up your mind.
There's no
turning back.
I know.
Thank you.
What have I got myself into?
I can't marry Tang Jiuhua.
I can't get Lord Shen into trouble, either.
So I have to take chances.
= Shen's Mansion =
What grandeur!
Yes. It's quite impressive.
The bride and groom are made for each other.
Yes. Yes.
The bridal sedan chair has arrived.
Congratulations, Lord Shen.
We've come at the behest of Lord Tang, Assistant Minister of War,
to escort Miss Shen back to Chang'An.
Here comes the lady.
It's a long way off.
Yes.
It's such a long way off.
That's Miss Shen.
What if she gets homesick?
Father,
this is the last meal I prepared for you.
Wherever I go,
I'll always be a member of the Shen family.
Lord Shen,
it's getting late.
We should get going now.
My lord,
I shall bid you farewell now.
Please take care of yourself.
OK. Let's go.
Hyah.
Yiyi.
Chang'An is a long way from here.
I hope Childe Tang will take good care of you
when you're in Chang'An.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
You may rise, Zi'an.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
May I know why Your Majesty
summoned me?
Zi'an,
your appointment as Supervisory Censor
wasn't announced at the morning court today as scheduled,
do you know why?
I'm afraid not, Your Majesty.
You must have heard of my establishment
of Shangyi School.
I hope you'll take
the entrance examination.
Your humble servant Zi'an
became an official
to do some real work for the people.
May I know why
Your Majesty would like me to enter the school?
Recently I heard that
the imperial court has become increasingly corrupt
and that many high officials
have committed offenses against the law.
Shangyi School
enrolls students from all over the country,
whether they are from rich or poor families.
But most of the students
must come from distinguished families
with power or wealth.
You're sure to know the inside story
if you associate with them often.
Your Majesty is very wise.
I'll make public your appointment as Supervisory Censor
when you've investigated this matter thoroughly.
I'll do my best, Your Majesty.
Don't let me down.
I heard
the young master of the Tang family
is nicknamed "Childe Wastrel."
He's said to be a regular of the brothels
who loves playing the lute with the singing girls.
He's Lord Tang's son.
Could he really be such a wastrel?
Yeah.
And I heard about something else.
Some say
Childe Tang
is a cripple with a pockmarked face.
Our poor young lady.
Guards.
Take a look.
What happened?
Don't just stand there. Do your job.
Who the heck are you?
Don't...
Don't come any closer.
Back off,
or I'll kill the bride.
Hyah.
- Hyah. - Hyah.
What shall we do?
I have no idea.
Hyah.
= Outside of Chang'An =
Shall we stop here, Yiyi?
Thanks, guys.
Thank you, Yiyi.
Yiyi.
It's...
It's too generous a reward.
It's just a small gift.
Take it.
Give it to me.
But Yiyi,
I've got a question.
You could have just given them the slip.
Why did you take the trouble
to ask us to disguise ourselves as bandits
and abduct you
when you've almost reached Chang'An?
Yeah.
Are you an idiot?
Wouldn't it implicate Lord Shen
if I ran away in Yaocheng?
When my carriage reached Chang'An,
Lord Shen wouldn't be implicated
in what happened in Chang'An.
You're so smart, Yiyi.
That was very thoughtful of you.
Oh, Yiyi,
what's that disguise for?
Yeah.
It's my plan B.
If you should fail
and if I'm escorted to Chang'An,
I'll pretend to be ugly and insane to scare Childe Tang away.
Take care.
OK.
Thank you, Yiyi.
Goodbye, Yiyi.
Let's go.
Dieyi.
I've managed to run away
without implicating Lord Shen
or having to marry your lover.
I'll investigate the Sinan pendant for you
after things calm down and I get a job in Chang'An.
= Tang's Mansion, Chang'An = Childe Tang, they say
this dance tonight is your last dance with us.
Is it true?
Yes, it is.
I'm going to get married soon.
My bride is the girl of my dream.
Although I love music and dance,
nothing else matters
compared to her.
Young master.
Bad news.
What happened? Why are you so flustered?
Young mistress was abducted by some bandits.
What?
What are you writing?
Jiuhua.
It's a love letter.
Give it back to me.
A love letter.
Give it back to me.
You can't catch me.
It's out of your reach.
Give it back to me.
My lord.
Come on. You're big girls now.
Act like a lady.
Dieyi.
I miss you so much.
Dieyi.
Miss Shen.
I pray that you'll be safe.
- Dieyi. - Miss Shen.
Young master, we've reported it to the government.
They'll investigate the case.
If master should find out
that you sneaked out again,
he'd give you a good beating.
We'd better go home.
Go home?
How could I go home?
Dieyi's life is uncertain.
How could I go home?
Miss Shen!
Dieyi!
Miss Shen!
Where are you, Miss Shen?
Miss Shen!
- Miss Shen! - Dieyi!
Young master.
Are you alright, young master?
Don't fuss over me.
Go find Dieyi.
Don't just stand there.
Move your ass!
Miss Shen!
Where are you, Miss Shen?
Miss Shen!
Miss Shen, where are you?
Miss Shen!
Where are you?
Miss Shen!
Come on.
This way.
Miss Shen.
This way. Search the place.
Miss Shen.
Oh, no.
Where did it go?
I thought it was here.
Great.
I've finally found you.
Miss Shen.
= Post House =
Oh, no. Oh, no.
I've no choice but to marry Childe Tang now.
No.
I can't do this to Dieyi.
Here she comes.
Greetings, Childe Tang.
Darling.
I've come to take you home.
Darling.
I sprained my ankle while searching for you last night.
Otherwise I'd have been the first to find you.
You're not mad at me, are you?
Help your lady out of the sedan chair.
Take it easy.
Darling.
This long journey
must have worn you out.
Come on.
Take this off to get some air.
Why are you wearing this weird makeup, darling?
Are you looking for your mom? [The "Niang" in "Niangzi (darling)" sounds like mom in Chinese]
Your mom is waiting for you at home.
What's going on?
Sorry, Childe Tang.
My lady fell seriously ill on her way here.
She's become kind of delirious
after recovering from her illness.
She's sick?
Dieyi.
Are you alright?
You're getting married.
You're getting married as well.
Congratulations on your happy wedding.
You should have taken good care of her!
Um...
Dieyi.
It's OK.
When we reach Chang'An,
I'll ask my dad
to get the best doctor for you.
I'm sure you'll be cured.
You're my bride
no matter what you become.
Now help your lady into the carriage.
Let's go back to Chang'An.
Yes, sir.
He must be insane,
willing to marry such an ugly girl.
My trick didn't work.
I'll have to think up a new plan
when I reach Chang'An.
= Zhuque Gate =
Your Highness, are you really going to attend Shangyi School?
I've made up my mind.
But...
His Majesty and Her Highness Consort Yang won't agree.
I'll keep it a secret from father for now.
As for mother, I'm going to tell her right now.
= Chang'An =
Look how Childe Tang's eyes
are glued to our lady's carriage.
So this is Chang'An.
This is Chang'An?
Childe Tang?
Yes.
This is Chang'An.
Our mansion isn't far from here.
Dieyi,
he's a silly lad,
but he's really devoted to you.
I'd better slink away as soon as possible,
or it'll be harder for me to get away
when we reach Tang's Mansion.
I'm hungry.
You're feeling better now?
Hang in there. Our mansion is only a few blocks away.
We've prepared many delicacies for you.
Are you an idiot?
I won't be able to escape
once I'm in your mansion.
But
I'm starving.
I feel that I'm going to faint.
Alright.
Let's stop by
a restaurant ahead,
OK?
OK.
Dieyi,
does our Chang'An cuisine
agree with you?
It's passable
except for two dishes.
Miss,
please don't shoot your mouth off.
Our restaurant is a century-old brand in Chang'An.
Our chef
used to be an imperial cook.
An imperial cook?
Well,
I shall give you some tips on cuisine.
This Delectable Drumfish
is supposed to be preserved in midsummer
after being eviscerated.
It can be put on the table in more than half a month,
when the fish is oily
and tasty.
One can tell at a glance
that yours hasn't been preserved
long enough.
Besides,
I was wondering
why you had to select crabs
as an ingredient at this time of year.
You knew sugar-cured crabs
are live crabs cured in sugar,
but can't you tell male crabs from female ones?
Only female crabs can be used for the curing.
An imperial cook indeed.
You're making a fool of yourself.
You... You!
You're so mean.
Dieyi,
you're so smart.
Of course.
Who am I?
I am...
You've got
a sore throat?
Not yet acclimatized to Chang'An, perhaps.
Dieyi,
you were just saying
that you are...
I am...
the daughter of Lord Shen in Yaocheng.
I'm no stranger to all sorts of delicacies
and entertainment,
right?
Right.
Tang,
I've got to powder my face.
Wait here.
Tang?
Stay where you are.
I can manage on my own.
Powder her face?
The Dieyi I knew
wasn't so harum-scarum,
but she's quite cute like this.
How could she have disappeared?
Dieyi.
Could it be that she got into some trouble?
You two, go search for her immediately!
You must find her.
Yes, young master. Let's go.
I can't believe this.
You even didn't take good care of your lady!
Don't just stand there. Go look for her.
Yes, Childe Tang.
Dieyi.
It's so yummy.
Yummy.
Mung beans.
Here comes the cart. Make way.
This is most improper.
Ouch.
Oh my vegetables! What a mess!
Where are your manners?
Behave yourself.
Now you want to escape?
Chang'An is our capital
where the law is stern and clear.
Your disturbing the marketplace in Chang'An
deserves punishment.
You're all talk and no action.
You should be giving me a helping hand
instead of giving me a lecture.
You're chopping logic.
You're talking nonsense.
You're unreasonable.
You're blathering.
You're talking black into white.
You...
Your argument is like the Yama King's cloth for sale.
My argument is like what?
You've no idea, huh?
Your argument is like the Yama King's cloth for sale:
only the devil will buy it!
Vulgar.
So you're resorting to verbal abuse now.
You're handsome but dumb.
Listen up.
Don't let me see you again.
Drat.
What a grumpy loser! You stinky tofu!
Dieyi.
Where are you?
Dieyi.
This trigram tells a strange prophecy:
You meet and then part ways, neither friendly nor aloof.
The world is small.
You're destined to meet but not fated to be together.
Am I going to have a strange encounter today?
Hush.
Keep quiet.
Who is it?
It's my friend.
Don't make a fuss.
Leave us alone.
Yes, my lord.
Let's go.
Thank you.
Dieyi.
Young master.
Hey, you two.
Have you found Dieyi?
Then keep on looking.
Yes, young master.
Young master.
What about you two?
Have you found her?
No.
Keep on looking.
Yes, young master.
Dieyi.
Hello.
Hush.
You look flurried, mate.
Are you in some sort of trouble?
Hush.
You two.
Have you found your lady?
No.
Not yet.
Follow me.
Dieyi.
My lady.
Dieyi!
My lady.
Hello, bro.
Hero.
Brave fellow.
Young hero.
Childe.
Brother sounds better.
Thanks for your help, brother.
I'm alright.
Take care.
Sorry. Sorry.
Um...
I hope
we'll meet again someday.
So long. Bye.
Hero? Bro?
Could she be the girl in the prophecy,
the one I'm destined to meet but not fated to be with?
There must have been some mistake.
You can be apprenticed to the carpenter in south Chang'An.
After serving your apprenticeship
you'll be able to live on this trade.
Then you can support yourselves
instead of begging for a living.
Hello, everyone.
Lord Tang has opened
many soup kitchens in Chang'An
to help the impoverished victims.
Apart from getting daily rations,
you can also get registered at the government office
to cook porridge and do cleaning
in exchange for a small payment.
Someone's giving away money.
Someone's giving away money over there.
Hurry.
Someone's giving away money.
Ignore him.
Let's go.
Come on.
This is for you.
Hurry.
- This is for you. - Thank you.
Here.
Don't rush.
Everyone's got a share.
I want some, too.
Me, too.
I want some.
Thank you.
This is for you.
Everyone's got a share.
I want some, too.
It's you.
It's you again.
Let go of my hand.
Your alms can't solve
their problem.
You're doing them more harm than good.
Only you could talk such nonsense.
What I'm doing
helps ease their pressing problem.
Don't rush.
Everyone's got a share.
Thank you.
Here you are.
So you are a thief.
What are you talking about?
You're holding my money bag.
I...
What a stinky tofu!
Well...
You must have dropped it earlier,
and I picked it up by mistake.
Don't worry.
I'll pay for your loss.
Excuse me. Wait a second.
Stop chopping logic.
I said I'd pay for your loss.
All jobs are equal for people firm in spirit.
A man should strive to improve himself.
Begging for a living
and loafing around
isn't a long-term solution.
Sir,
you look like a scholar.
You know that all jobs are equal for people firm in spirit
and that a man should strive to improve himself.
So you must know the two previous lines.
Tell me.
You don't know, do you?
The two previous lines are:
The north wind stirs my thin robe and chills the buns I'm peddling,
yet I can only afford to worry about the poor sales, not about my health.
How could a rich young man like you
understand the plight of a bun peddler,
who was shivering in the cold wind
but only feared that nobody would buy
his cold buns?
Your point is too far-fetched.
The rich never smudge their fingers with mud, yet they all live in large mansions.
Those who are dressed in fine silk are never silkworm breeders.
You're just a conceited pedant
who has his head in the cloud.
You speak of nothing but virtue and morality,
but your lecture on self-reliance
is nothing but empty talk.
You...
Yeah?
It is more helpful to teach people how to fish than to just give them fish.
You can help them for now,
but you can't help them forever.
I'm done reasoning with you.
You can't outargue me, can you?
You can't outargue me.
The poems Dieyi taught me really came in handy.
Or I'd have lost to that conceited pedant.
No.
He's not a conceited pedant.
He's a stinky tofu.
Chang'An is such a metropolis.
Where shall I begin the investigation into Dieyi's birth parents?
I'd better find an inn first.
Dieyi,
there you are.
What are you doing?
Dieyi,
did I do something wrong
that you wanted to run away?
Tell me. I can change.
No.
You didn't do anything wrong.
It was my fault.
Dieyi,
why are you dressed like this?
Oh, no.
What shall I do?
Dieyi,
are you feeling unwell again?
My...
My head hurts.
Don't just stand there.
Go help your lady.
Yes, Childe Tang.
Dieyi,
everything will get better
when you go home with me.
Let's go.
My lady,
let me help you with your bag.
= Tang's Mansion =
What's the matter with your fiancee?
Dad,
Dieyi isn't usually like this.
She fell seriously ill on her way here.
Then...
Then she's in this state.
She fell ill?
Is she well now?
I suppose not.
I'm not sure.
This is ridiculous.
I know you're habitually inattentive.
But this concerns your future wife.
She is either well
or still unwell.
What do you mean by "suppose"?
Dad.
Dieyi is exhausted
from the long journey.
So she's a bit under the weather.
I'm sure she'll recover after a few days' rest.
Knock it off.
Take Dieyi to freshen up
and get changed.
Yes, madam.
Tang Jiuhua,
marrying Miss Shen has been your obsession since you were young.
I'm not going to oppose it.
And I'll let you off
for bringing Miss Shen to Chang'An
without our knowledge or permission.
But
what about the thing you promised me?
My promise?
You mean the entrance exam to Shangyi School?
I'm off to study for the exam now.
My lord, Hua'er has grown up.
You don't have to worry about him so much.
Calm down.
You've spoiled him.
Miss Shen is here.
Dieyi.
You can go now.
Yes, young master.
Dieyi,
look.
Do you like this gift?
I prepared these
for you.
It must have cost you a few copper coins.
A few copper coins?
Surely these goods of first quality
are worth much more than a few copper coins.
If you like them,
I'll ask my men
to get you some more from Suzhou.
No.
I just don't want you to be ripped off by vendors.
It doesn't matter.
I do shopping for fun.
Money is no object.
Authenticity is no object, either?
Authenticity?
Dieyi,
do you mean this stuff is fake?
No.
I was referring to myself.
I thought you've recovered,
but now it seems that I'd better get you a doctor
for a thorough checkup.
No.
Come on.
I was going to discuss something serious with you.
But now I think
I'd better take leave now.
Take a good rest.
What if I'm not Shen Dieyi?
If you're not Shen Dieyi,
then
who are you?
I'm...
Come on.
Don't exert yourself.
I'll come to see you tomorrow.
Shen Dieyi is dead.
Dieyi,
don't talk nonsense.
Death comes to all.
What are you going to do
if it's true?
If death comes to all,
I'd like to die before you.
Come on.
Don't be afraid.
I've already waited for 10 years.
Four more years is nothing.
You don't have to rush to push me away.
What do you mean, four years?
Didn't you ask me to help you figure out
the owner of this Sinan pendant
so as to identify your birth parents?
I only found out
this Sinan pendant came from Chang'An.
This kind of jade ware was very popular years ago.
Nearly every nobleman in Chang'An had a piece.
Given its huge number and the years that have passed,
it's really difficult to identify
the owner of this Sinan pendant.
But
I've figured out a solution.
We'll be able to get more clues
after we attend Shangyi School.
Shangyi School?
Think about it.
Students at Shangyi School
are descendants of notable families,
sons of wealthy merchants
or informed men of the underworld.
We'll get more clues
by investigating them.
Besides, didn't you mention in your letter
that you'd like to be a student of Shangyi School?
I've already entered you for its entrance exam.
I'm sure a smart girl like you
will be admitted.
Besides,
we'll keep each other company
for four years at Shangyi School.
Oh, right.
I almost forgot to tell you
something most important.
Women are not allowed
to attend Shangyi School.
So I altered your gender in the census register.
You'll have to be dressed like a man.
You must keep it a secret.
If someone discovers it,
you'll be beheaded on a charge of lese-majeste.
What?
I have to be dressed like a man?
No way.
I'm not going there.
OK.
Then let's
get married.
Get... get married?
No, no.
Childe Tang,
I was a bit confused just now.
After careful consideration,
I think I should attend Shangyi School.
Alright.
So
it's settled, then.
OK.
I'll go prepare study materials for the exam.
Exam?
If he gets admitted
and I don't,
our engagement
will naturally be broken off.
Then I shall help Dieyi
find out her birth parents.
Look back at that day.
Memories slip through time.
Caress your face in the air.
For a moment,
it's partly visible.
Thinking about you day and night.
Many scenes
come to mind.
Time stops.
Hard to sleep.
How I wish to tell.
From the day I met you,
my world has been all about you.
Maybe
every time we pass by each other,
we do it because destiny says so.
How to bury the past between me and you?
How I wish to tell.
From the day I met you,
my world has been all about you.
The figure
blurs in the wind.
The smile is flowery.
Right now, all I want to say is
I love you.