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 2
Shangyi School.
Why did His Majesty insist on setting up
Shangyi School in Chang'An, I wonder?
Right.
We've got the Imperial College.
Besides,
there're many academies throughout the country.
Is it necessary to start Shangyi School?
There are many bright young men at the Imperial College,
but they're a bit too pedantic.
Starting Shangyi School
could be a viable approach
to seeking out talents for reforms.
As far as I'm concerned,
if His Majesty plans to carry out reforms,
Shangyi School could be used
to train able generals.
In this way,
the troops of our Great Yu
will get stronger day by day
and eventually become invincible.
My silly son wouldn't sit for the exam,
insisting that a man should get married
before starting his career.
It's given me a headache.
If Shangyi School is ready to enroll students,
I'll go to any length
to enter him for the entrance exam.
Good.
Lord Tang,
your son is a fine young man.
I'm sure he'll get admitted
to Shangyi School.
Thank you for your kind words, Minister Han.
Let's go.
= Yonghua Palace =
Dieyi,
come join me over here.
Let's do some leg pressing
and jogging together.
No, thanks.
I'm busy now.
Alright.
Dieyi,
feel free to ask if you have any questions.
I've got a question.
What shall we have for lunch, pork ribs
or braised pork?
Dieyi.
I'm really confused.
Pork ribs, then.
I agree with you.
But you have to recite "The Spring and Autumn Annals" first.
I guess fish will do just fine.
A gentleman only does what is proper and righteous.
He has a clear conscience and abhors being bent solely on profit.
Waiter.
Hurry.
Mr. Wu, look.
We applied for our spot at the school,
but I wonder what the entrance exam
will be about.
There's no need to worry about it.
We'll just act
as the occasion demands.
As a last resort,
we can recruit a ghost examinee
as we used to.
Shameless scoundrels.
What did you just say?
Well,
I'll be a scholar
if I pass the exam, right?
Right.
I heard that the graduate of Shangyi School
with the highest score at the final exam this year
will be rewarded directly by His Majesty
with a post at the imperial court.
If we manage to come out on top,
we'll be able to enjoy
inexhaustible wealth
and great fame, won't we?
Inglorious rascals.
What did you just say?
Get lost.
Come on. Have a drink.
I shall congratulate you beforehand, Mr. Wu,
on your success
in the examination.
Come on, Mr. Cao.
Cheers.
It'd be a great misfortune for Great Yu
and her people if someone like you
should become an official at the imperial court.
I can't stand it any longer.
What did you just say?
He's got a sword.
Don't panic.
You're not worth its time.
This is to make up for your loss.
Thank you, sir.
= Zhuque Gate =
Come on.
Congratulations, Your Highness the Eldest Prince.
Sorry for putting my foot in it.
Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince.
You have a glib tongue.
Isn't that His Highness the Second Prince?
Come here.
Greetings, Your Highness.
I shall take leave
and not disturb Your Highness any further.
Wait a second.
Some people have no respect
for courtly manners, it seems.
Sorry, I can't follow Your Highness.
You need to learn more about the manners
expected of the royal family.
Don't be haughty because your mother
used to be a princess of the previous dynasty.
Don't forget
that I'm father's eldest son
and the one to inherit the throne one day.
Be sensible
and I might tolerate you.
Or
I won't let you off the hook
so easily.
You may go now.
I shall take leave, Your Highness.
Get a smaller one next time.
Yes, Your Highness.
Come on. Continue.
Zi'an, are you studying hard to
prepare for the entrance exam to Shangyi School?
Yes, brother.
It's wise of you to do so,
but now that
I've been appointed the Teaching Assistant in Shangyi School
by His Majesty,
you should cooperate with me
if you get admitted
to the school.
Father bid me
to coordinate with you
at Shangyi School.
Father was right.
As the eldest son of the Yang family
and the Teaching Assistant at Shangyi School,
I'm supposed to take care of you
if you do get admitted,
my little brother.
Yes, brother.
Then you should study hard
for the exam.
You mustn't
let father down.
Take good care of yourself.
Thank you, brother.
It's getting late.
I must be off
to deal with some important business.
Goodbye, brother.
I can't do that. I can't.
Your Highness,
please don't make things difficult for me.
I really can't comply
with your request.
General Li,
you've known me since I was a kid.
I've no ambition for power or position,
yet my brother,
His Highness the Crown Prince, regards me as an eyesore.
I've long had a hard time living in the palace.
Only at Shangyi School
can I find peace and security.
So, General Li,
you must help me this time.
I long to study at Shangyi School.
Your Highness,
does His Majesty know this?
Well...
See?
I know Your Highness has kept this from His Majesty.
That's why I think
this is a bad idea.
I absolutely can't help you.
General Li,
I'm just keeping it a secret for the moment.
I'll tell father the truth
as soon as I get admitted to the school.
Father will approval of it, I'm sure.
General Li.
I can't.
General Li.
Just this once.
I...
Just this once.
Then...
Yes.
Just this once?
Just this once.
Then I shall pose as your nephew,
General Li.
That'll make me Your Highness's uncle, then?
Sorry for overstepping the bounds, Your Highness.
Dear uncle,
please keep my identity secret for me.
Of course I will.
Of course I'll keep it a secret
now that I've agreed to help you.
But
Your Highness,
what about your name?
Li Xinyuan?
I've deliberately
changed my surname Xiao to Li
to avoid arousing suspicion.
In this way nobody would associate me
with the royal family.
There are so many students today.
That brave fellow, the hero?
Dieyi,
what's the matter?
It's that stinky tofu again.
Hurry, hurry!
The door is open.
That student looks kind of familiar.
It's you.
Sir,
you may got the wrong person.
I've just got
an average face.
Attention, please.
The examination held today is special.
Students are not allowed to bring any personal effects into our school today.
Please cooperate with us in body frisking.
Body frisking?
It's alright.
Let's go inside.
We'll play by ear.
The frisking begins now.
Let's go.
= Shangyi School =
Your name, please.
Zhuge Liangjing.
Raise your arms.
Your name, please.
Ye Buwen.
Raise your arms.
What are these?
Birthmarks.
Get out.
Beat it.
Turn around.
Go ahead.
Next.
Raise your arms.
Your name, please.
Li Xinyuan.
Your name, please.
Lin Feng.
Turn around.
What's this?
It's a shoe lift.
What's that in your sleeve?
Get out.
Next.
- Anything else? - Your name, please.
Anything else to turn in?
Your name, please.
Zhang Zhenbang.
Take these.
Your name, please.
Anything else?
No.
No, I guarantee.
Go ahead.
Turn around.
Next.
Your name, please.
Yang Zi'an.
Come on.
Turn around.
Tang Jiuhua.
OK.
Go ahead.
Next.
Your name, please.
Shen Dieyi.
Don't touch me.
Mr. Shen,
we're just doing our job.
Please cooperate with us.
Sir,
since Mr. Shen is clearly reluctant,
how about letting me
frisk him on your behalf?
No.
Shangyi School has stipulated
that all students must be frisked
by the two of us.
As the son of the Assistant Minister of War,
I surely will play an exemplary role
instead of bending the law.
Besides, this stalemate
is only wasting everyone's time.
Hurry up.
Yeah.
Oh, right.
This money bag isn't allowed in the exam hall, I suppose?
Naturally.
How about this?
Why don't you keep it
for me?
Um...
Alright.
Mr. Shen,
come on.
Raise your arms.
Turn around.
We're almost done.
Surely he's too thin
to carry any concealed items.
Alright.
Go ahead.
After you, Mr. Shen.
Next.
What's this?
My lucky charm.
Beat it.
Your name, please.
Wang Zhaocai.
Wang Jinbao.
Turn around.
Your name, please.
Dugu Muxue.
Next.
Your name, please.
Raise your arms.
Gao Zhenglian.
Turn around.
Next.
Give this to me.
Li Mingzheng.
Next.
Let go of it.
Let go of it!
Go ahead.
What a nice place!
Hello, Chief.
Gentlemen.
Be quiet, please.
Shangyi School
is holding this entrance examination today
to select students endowed with literary and martial virtues
and versed in the Six Arts
so as to prepare promising talents
for the Great Yu Empire.
Profound learning is a requisite,
but frail scholars
won't be able to serve the country.
Therefore, unlike the Imperial College
or the Imperial Examinations,
Shangyi School sets
a fitness test as the first test on our students.
Fitness test?
Our fitness test today
is a long-distance race.
The starting point is the school's training ground.
Students shall pass Chang'An Street,
the outer corridor of the palace,
the palace gate
and then return
to Shangyi School, the finish of the race.
A post is set up at the palace gate,
where the students shall get stamped.
Miss Shen is here.
Students passing through Zhuque Gate
are required to get stamped there.
The top 80 students can carry on,
while the last 20
will be eliminated.
A combination of your scores on literary test
and fitness test will be your final score.
Students who cheat in the test
will be disqualified
and
be placed in confinement for 15 days.
I thought the test
was about poetry and literature.
What a surprise.
It's indeed quite novel.
But you've got me by your side.
You'll cope well, I promise.
The entrance exam to Shangyi School
isn't something you could just cope with.
It's none of your business.
Stinky tofu!
What did you just say?
Stinky tofu...
It's you.
It's me.
So what?
You...
Catch me if you can.
Your Majesty,
it's all set now.
Shall we get started?
Let's get started.
Dieyi,
do you have confidence?
No.
Don't push me.
- Run. - Brother.
Let's go.
Go for it. Go for it.
Run. Go for it. Run!
Go for it. Go for it.
This won't do.
I must think up a strategy.
I can't run any further.
I'm too tired to run any further.
I'm exhausted.
Dieyi.
Why are you drinking water now?
We're lagging behind as it is.
But I'm so thirsty, Jiuhua.
I have to drink some water.
Then make haste.
OK.
Dieyi, come on.
We must hurry.
Brother.
Brother, look.
How could a weakling like him get admitted
and be our schoolmate?
A weakling like you
should go home and learn embroidery instead.
Who are you talking about?
You, of course.
Toy boy.
You...
Bring it on.
How dare you belittle me?
Let's have a competition. Come on.
Dieyi.
Wait for me.
Let's outrun him.
Did they just run here?
Or fly here?
It's 2.5 km from Shangyi School to Zhuque Gate.
A round trip is 5 km.
If I ran too fast on the first leg of the race,
I'd exhaust myself
and I'd be physically down on the return trip
and then I'd get eliminated.
I'll make sure I'm in the top 80 on the first leg
and reserve energy for the return trip.
Then I shall speed up
and make it into the top 60.
Dieyi,
how come you're not a bit
out of breath?
I used to work out
a lot.
Wonderful.
We're sure to pass this fitness test.
We must outrun her.
You bet.
Oh, no.
I was so busy competing with the two idiots
that I forgot I shouldn't pass the fitness test.
Dieyi,
are you OK?
Jiuhua,
I've got a cramp in my leg.
What are we going to do?
You go ahead.
We're taking a test.
Wait for me at Zhuque Gate.
I'll meet you at Zhuque Gate.
Go!
See you soon.
Go.
No. 42.
No. 43.
No. 44.
No. 45.
Stamp it quickly.
No. 72.
No. 73.
Here I am at last.
No. 74.
No. 74?
No. 75.
No. 76.
- Stamp it now. - No. 77.
- No. 78. - I'm so tired.
Dieyi,
you better hurry up.
Hurry.
Jiuhua, don't.
No. 79.
We made it.
That was a close shave.
Go for it.
Go for it. Go for it.
It wasn't me.
Never mind.
It wasn't me.
Please give me a hand.
Are you alright?
- Dieyi. - Let me help you.
We've no time to meddle.
No, I can't ignore this.
Alright.
Go for it. Go for it.
Are you alright?
Now we need to speed up.
Are you alright?
Are you OK?
Jiuhua.
Go for it. Run. Go for it.
No. 1,
Dugu Muxue.
No. 2,
Yang Zi'an.
Hurry.
No. 48,
Li Xinyuan.
What now?
I've got a stomachache.
Stomachache?
What happened?
Perhaps the water I drank wasn't clean.
I told you to go easy on it.
But it was so sweet.
Sweet?
No. 57,
Kong Liangyun.
No. 57 and No. 58?
No. 58,
Zhang Zimo.
We must hurry.
Let's go.
No, I can't.
- I've got a stomachache. - Hang in there.
I can't run any further.
Come on.
No!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
No.
No!
No.
No!
No.
No. 59,
Yuan Guqia.
Finally.
No. 60,
Tang Jiuhua.
No. 61,
Shen Dieyi.
No. 60 and No. 61?
Why?
You're just one place behind.
One place behind.
Dieyi.
Why?
What a pity, Jiuhua.
How could this happen to me?
Heaven,
please give me a second chance.
Poor me.
Just one place behind.
Don't feel sad for me, Jiuhua.
Study hard.
The fitness test is over.
Please line up, students.
What am I going to do?
Please hold out your hand for our examiners to check the stamp.
You're out.
You've passed.
You're out.
You've passed.
You're out.
You've passed.
You're out.
You've passed.
Why am I out? I've got a stamp here.
You're out.
You've passed.
You're out.
You've passed.
You're out.
You've passed.
Our inspection shows
that 11 students
failed to acquire a stamp,
and are thus eliminated.
And 10 other students' stamps
are not up to standard.
They're also eliminated.
The remaining students
shall fill the spots in order.
Fill the spots?
Hooray.
Besides, during the fitness test,
we set up some
hidden tests.
Tests like helping an old man up
- or helping a pregnant woman. - Oh...
We helped an old man, Dieyi.
They were aimed at testing your character.
We've come to the conclusion
that only two students,
Shen Dieyi and Tang Jiuhua,
passed the hidden tests.
- Therefore, their fitness test scores... - Bravo, Dieyi!
shall climb 25 spots.
Seriously?
Awesome, Dieyi.
Heaven, you seldom responded
to my prayers since I was a kid.
Why were you so attentive this time?
I'm so grateful.
- Yes. - So grateful.
Heaven,
thank you so much.
If only you were so attentive at other times.
Students, congratulations
on passing the fitness test.
And now
we shall begin the literary test.
The literary test.
Yes. The literary test.
Those who make it into the top 26
in the combined scores on fitness test and literary test
shall be admitted
to Shangyi School.
Please get well prepared.
I will be well prepared.
= Shangyi School =
Why haven't they announced the topic of the political essay yet?
Right.
We've been kept waiting.
Yeah.
Your Majesty.
Greetings, Chief.
This
is the topic of the literary test today.
Now you can
get started.
You must hand in your paper as soon as the joss stick goes out.
Here we go.
Tang Jiuhua,
we can leave after handing in our paper, right?
I think so.
When will the results be announced?
In over three days, I think.
Your time is up.
Now hand in your papers.
Stay here for a moment, everyone.
Stay here for a little while,
and you'll soon get the results.
So soon?
Tang Jiuhua,
didn't you say the result would come out after three days?
It was only my guess.
Then why did you sound so sure?
It's not important.
Dieyi,
are you alright?
I just want
to get into a hole...
I'm OK.
Fine birds and sweet herbs symbolize loyalty.
A beauty is well matched for the sovereign.
What foolish flattery.
Hu Mingyi
shall get a C.
Who's that exam marker inside?
I guess
he's a very rigorous doctor.
I pray the heavenly breeze could blow far and wide
so that every household shall embrace spring.
The sight of a single plant reminded him
of the well-being of the whole nation.
A promising young man indeed.
Li Xinyuan
shall get a B.
I behold my faraway hometown pityingly,
the chrysanthemums should be in bloom on the battlefield.
A young man who keeps his motherland in mind
will become an asset for Great Yu one day.
Dugu Muxue
shall get a B.
A flowering plant is destined to wither away.
Peach trees and plum trees are no match for pines.
That's a novel argument.
Short-lived blossoms
are no match for perennial pines.
Things that are deceptively beautiful
can't last for long.
Excellent.
Yang Zi'an
shall get an A.
He got an A?
He's so awesome.
Cool.
I'm done for.
Utterly done for.
Your Majesty.
Oh, no.
It's the emperor of Great Yu.
Where is Shen Dieyi?
Shen Dieyi,
step forward.
Where's Shen Dieyi?
Your humble subject Shen Dieyi bows to Your Majesty.
Is this yours?
Answer His Majesty's question.
Yes, it is.
Your Majesty, may I ask
what this is about?
Take a look and you'll see.
What?
You call this a political essay?
What impudence.
Guards.
Take Shen Dieyi away
and thrash him 30 times
for contempt of the examination.
Your Majesty,
may I know what offense I committed?
What did you draw on the paper?
Your Majesty,
I drew some ears of wheat.
Wheat?
Chief only told us
the topic of the test is this plant.
He didn't say that we must write
and that we mustn't draw.
That's mere sophistry.
Take him away.
Your Majesty is being unfair.
Do you know what you're talking about?
Why do you call me unfair?
I'll have you executed
if you fail to talk sense.
Mine was similar to Mr. Yang's argument.
While he got an A,
I'm going to get thrashed.
Naturally I call it unfair.
Go on.
As Mr. Yang remarked,
"A flowering plant is destined to wither away. Peach trees and plum trees are no match for pines."
He maintains that short-lived flowers
are no match for pines.
But I believe even a most beautiful flower
can't compare with an ear of edible wheat.
I'm not versed in gardening,
but I know that
common people hardly care
how rare orchids are,
how upright plum blossoms are
and how noble-minded
chrysanthemums are.
What concerns them is a meal to fill their stomachs
and a bumper harvest.
That's why in my eyes
even the most beautiful flowers
cannot compare
with an ear of wheat
that can be ground into flour
and be used to make wine.
Besides, Your Majesty brought
a plant to the examination hall today
as the topic of the literary test
and gave Mr. Yang's paper an A.
It must have been an exhortation for us students.
What exhortation
do you think I had in mind?
That we ought to
empathize with the people
and to make real progress
instead of giving empty promises.
My idea
coincided with Mr. Yang's argument,
but what I did enraged Your Majesty,
and thus I deserve punishment.
I'm willing to be expelled from the hall
and be disqualified from the examination,
but I implore
Your Majesty
to spare me the thrashing.
Good.
Well done, Shen Dieyi.
Shen Dieyi unquestionably came first
in the entrance examination to Shangyi School.
And I'm also impressed
by the political essays
some other students handed in.
They're diamonds in the rough.
I believe they'll become
glittering diamonds
after studying hard
at Shangyi School.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
= Tang's Mansion =
Good heavens.
How could you have let Dieyi pose as a man
and sit for the entrance exam to Shangyi School?
Dieyi,
I don't want to blame you,
but you're a girl
and what you two did
was nothing short of lese-majeste.
Dad,
studying at Shangyi School has been your...
I mean... my dream.
Once admitted to the school,
I shall spend four years there.
I'm a bit worried about leaving Dieyi at home on her own.
But if Dieyi joins me in Shangyi School,
I'll be able to protect her.
Besides,
Dieyi happened to hold the same view.
You forced me into it.
Dieyi,
what did you just say?
Lord Tang,
please don't be angry.
I'm not going there, then.
Don't worry.
You're not going there?
Now that the results have been announced,
If Dieyi doesn't attend school,
she will be committing lese-majeste, dad.
You're taking a huge risk.
Dad,
the imperial court will investigate the case
if Dieyi fails to attend school.
Our family would get implicated, then.
Well...
But if Dieyi disguises herself as a man
with me by her side protecting her,
nobody will find out about her identity.
After four years' study,
I'll return home a learned man.
Then I'll serve the imperial court worthily.
Please help me achieve my dream, father.
You...
Thank you, father.
Thank you, Lord Tang.
Dad,
I'll take that as a yes.
Dad, you agree with me, right?
My plan to delay marrying Tang Jiuhua
by tricking him into entering Shangyi School
has proved a total failure.
I guess I'll have to go there with him
and later find a chance to sneak away.
It'll be a worthwhile risk to take
if I can help Dieyi get some clues.
♪ The first ray of sunshine falls down, ♪
♪ illuminating the shapes flying against the wind. ♪
♪ The vigorous free spirits. ♪
♪ The courage to tear the sky. ♪
♪ Time goes by, never giving up. ♪
♪ The youthful requests ♪
♪ break free from the shackles of mind. ♪
♪ I won't flinch even if tears run down my cheeks. ♪
Dear students,
I'm Dr. Lin and I'm in charge
of your daily life at Shangyi School.
Feel free to consult me if you need help.
OK.
Follow me, please.
Come on.
♪ Fiery faith burns with hot blood. ♪
♪ Get ready to go all out. ♪
♪ Let our dreams shine now. ♪
♪ My dream keeps me young. ♪
♪ Keep running. ♪
♪ It doesn't matter if the road ahead is turbulent. ♪
♪ Rise to the challenge. Don't beg for mercy. ♪
♪ Don't fail the days of youth. ♪
You're now standing
in the garden of the Hall of Boundlessness.
Next
I shall take you on a tour of the Book Depository.
Follow me, please.
= Book Depository =
This huge number of books
will take us eons to finish reading.
Shangyi School has the largest
book depository in Great Yu.
This is just a fraction
of its collections.
A fraction?
I wonder if they've got anything other than
Confucian classics, history, philosophy and literature.
Mr. Dugu,
Shangyi School is home to far more collections than these.
There are indexes on every shelf.
There are all categories of books,
even including mythical stories.
These are ancient books.
They're just put here for everyone to flip through.
I bet they could be sold for a lot of money.
The value of ancient books
cannot be measured by money.
Mr. Yang,
Dieyi meant that these books are precious.
Besides, as the champion of the literary test,
he must have read many books.
Those who talk glibly
are rarely true gentlemen.
Ancient books are valuable,
but for the impoverished commoners,
having enough food and clothing is more important.
But of course,
a bigot like Mr. Yang
who never deigns
to think about others
considers only himself as a true gentleman
and others as villains.
Right.
You are born with a silver spoon, Mr. Yang.
Of course you only need to think about the spiritual aspects.
And you need not worry about lack of materials.
Naturally you are full of empty talk and preaching.
You...
Dear students,
your dorm arrangement has been released.
Dieyi,
let's go and take a look.
You can't outargue me, can you?
Stinky tofu.
Every dorm room accommodates two students?
It seems we are in the same room.
Dr. Lin,
I'm used to living alone.
Could I have a room to myself?
This isn't your home, lad.
Ours are all double rooms,
and according to school regulations,
each term you'll get a new roommate.
No way.
Dieyi,
forget it.
You're not going to have
a room to yourself, I'm afraid.
Why don't you share one with me?
You wish.
Would you rather share a room
with some other man?
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.