01x11 - Episode 11

[bunniefuu]

This is the permit to take the ship.

Go.

I won't drag you into this again.

Let's never see each other again.

You've cast loyalty aside,

but what about filial piety?

You're drowning yourself

in sorrow and torment.

Will His Grace rest in peace

knowing this?

The dead are like extinguished lamps.

He wouldn't know anymore.

You're not as good as him.

No, I'm not.

Your Grace,

you were the Grand General

of Futing's army and its people.

The comfort and prosperity I've enjoyed

are thanks to you.

You fought with your life

to protect Futing's lands

and bring peace to its people.

Thank you.

May you rest in peace.

His Majesty has k*lled the witnesses

and closed the case with a decree.

If I don't overthrow the throne,

how else can I change any of this?

Are your eyes only used

to interrogate me?

If His Majesty really wanted

to frame Duke of Ding,

would he have spared the Jiang family

just because of a ruler?

Trust me,

His Majesty knows the truth.

He only closed the case

because the circumstances

forced his hand.

And I'm just supposed to swallow

my shame and hatred,

return to court, and climb

the ranks like nothing happened?

You've spent years away

from the capital.

You don't know much about

the current political landscape.

How can you hope to overturn the case

when the enemy hides in the shadows

and you're completely exposed?

Right now, not only are

all leads cut off,

but your ambition, resolve,

and very nature

are known throughout the court.

You're like an unsheathed blade,

its sharpness glaringly

obvious for all to see.

Don't you see?

The true strength of a blade

isn't in striking, but in restraint.

Only by sheathing the blade,

by concealing your edge,

can you observe the bigger picture

and decide your next move with clarity.

Duke of Ding fought hard with his life

to protect Futing's lands

and ensure peace for its people.

He doesn't live on just in your heart,

he lives in the hearts

of everyone in Futing.

Everything you say,

every move you make,

carries the legacy he passed on to you.

Song Mo,

listen to me,

from this day forward,

you are him.

(Blossom)

(Episode 11)

My Lord, you're here!

My Lord,

I've gathered news

from the palace regarding Duke of Ding.

What did you hear?

The eunuchs have been gossiping.

They say His Majesty kept staring at

the broken ruler and muttered nonsense,

tormented by restless dreams

night after night.

The physicians and fortune-tellers

are being summoned more frequently.

It seems His Majesty

feels guilty about you.

Why not take advantage of it?

Dou Zhao was right once again.

If it wasn't for that broken ruler,

the Jiang family might not

have been spared.

But how did she know that His Majesty,

despite his regret over

Duke of Ding's unjust death,

would still feel compelled

to close the case?

Who could the mastermind possibly be,

for even His Majesty to act against

his own conscience to protect them?

In a game of cards,

sometimes you have to lose a hand

to protect the bigger picture.

For an emperor,

the stakes are much higher,

it's the entire court, the entire realm.

During the southeastern typhoon,

His Majesty sent the

Crown Prince to lead

the disaster relief

and win public favor,

but His Grace opposed it

and took charge himself.

Could it be that His Grace's refusal

to support

the Crown Prince provoked retaliation?

Are you saying

that His Majesty concealed the truth

to protect the Crown Prince?

When Duke of Ding was

escorted to the capital,

did the princes make any move?

Only the Crown Prince

and Prince Qing came to ask about it.

There were no other movements.

My Lord, we've got a problem

at the Futing military camp!

General hasn't returned.

We can't disband.

That's right, we can't disband!

The damned court k*lled Grand General.

Why should we remain loyal?

Instead of enduring this humiliation

We might as well become bandits!

Yes! Yes!

Let's become bandits!

Such talk will get you ex*cuted.

Don't ever say it again.

General! General!

I've been stripped of my rank.

I'm not your general anymore.

I came to say goodbye.

From now on, we go our separate ways

and forge our own paths.

General, we're soldiers.

None of us fear death.

Living as cowards,

with no clarity or justice,

would disgrace Grand General's spirit!

We dream of avenging him!

We'd gladly give our lives for it!

If we knew who the m*rder*r was,

we'd have exacted revenge!

General!

If you still see me as your general,

here's my order,

Duke of Ding's Army is disbanded,

effective immediately!

What?

Disband?

Officers rank vice commander and above,

follow me to the tent for a council.

-I'm not going anywhere.

-Me too.

You all have shown

unwavering loyalty to my uncle,

so, I will not deceive you.

Though the imperial judgment

has been issued,

the true mastermind remains at large.

I intend to uncover the truth

and take vengeance on the real k*ller.

This path will be fraught with danger.

From now on, you can no longer

serve as soldiers in the open,

but must serve as agents in the shadows.

We knew you wouldn't abandon us!

For over a decade, we've been

stationed at the border,

knowing little of the inner workings

of the court.

That ignorance has left us

vulnerable to schemes time and again.

Now, whether it's to overturn the case

or preserve a remnant

of Duke of Ding's Army,

we must plant our eyes

and ears within the court.

General, just give the orders.

Bring the wine!

A force of 50,000 is too conspicuous.

Select the 500 most elite soldiers

to follow me to the capital.

The rest will disperse as ordered,

laying low to preserve our strength

until the time comes to rise again.

The 53,000 soldiers

of Duke of Ding's Army

are ready to go through hell

and high water for this cause!

Through hell and high water!

-Drink!

-Drink!

(Futing, Miao family's warehouse)

Stop fighting for it!

We've just been released.

We're victims in this too.

The charges of colluding with

the enemy have been cleared.

What you're doing is outright robbery!

-Don't take that way.

-Please don't take that away!

Mrs. Liu!

You only invested 10 taels,

but this bag of jewelry and jade

is worth 50 or 60 taels!

Your family didn't pay back

the money on time,

don't we deserve a little interest?

Move!

According to the law,

breaking into a house to rob

is a serious crime.

Even if you fail,

it's 20 lashes and three years of exile.

If you do succeed,

you're looking at

either exile or the noose.

And committing this in broad daylight?

That makes it even worse.

They owe us money. Isn't it only

fair that we take what we're owed?

Oh, is that so?

Fair, you say?

Is it also fair to smash things

and hurt people?

Hurting someone?

The punishment for that is even harsher.

What choice do we have?

Our goods rotted away

on those impounded ships.

Everything we worked

so hard for is gone!

-That's right.

-Yes.

I am Dou Zhao, a daughter of

the Dou family from the capital,

and also the master of the Miao family.

I will sign an agreement right now

to settle this debt in ten days.

This jade bracelet is a family heirloom,

and I'll leave it

with the authorities as collateral.

I'll pay you back in ten days.

That's your mother's keepsake.

You can't!

If you trust me,

sign the agreement.

If not,

come with me to the authorities.

Let's see who owes more,

the Miao family,

or you all with your looting,

smashing, and injuries.

I'll sign.

Me too.

Me as well.

(Dou Zhao)

Hang in there.

Luckily, the wound isn't deep.

Zhao,

I can't let you pawn

your bracelet for those people.

You came all the way

to Futing for me.

I'm grateful to you.

This is my burden to bear.

I'll go to the pawnshop

and sell the warehouse and store,

whatever it takes

to get your bracelet back.

Pawnshops wouldn't

recognize their true value.

What's a store or warehouse

compared to you?

Why don't you just pawn yourself

to me instead?

That works too.

At the going rate for a steward's wages,

I'd need to work for you

for 3,224 days.

That's about eight or nine years,

it should be enough to pay it off.

I'm kidding.

If my mother knew her bracelet was

being put to such good use,

she'd be thrilled.

Don't worry about it.

I'm the richest person in Zhending,

do you really think

I can't get a bracelet back?

Here it says the six-percent interest

was supposed to cover goods purchased,

but the accounts don't add up.

Where are the goods?

I invested it as stock in a food shop.

Investing in a food shop

during a famine year?

Brilliant move,

turning gold into dust.

We still have An Su's dowry, don't we?

You good-for-nothing!

Stop eyeing your sister's dowry.

She's of marrying age,

how is she supposed

to get married without money?

What about An Ping then?

An Ping is sitting for

the imperial exam this year.

Are you going to let him

beg his way there?

If it means paying off the debt,

then so be it,

dowry or no dowry.

My dowry exists

thanks to Zhao's kindness.

And now I'll use it

to settle the debt

and spare her from trouble.

It's not just for An Ping.

An Su, are you really fine with it?

I'm not.

Zhao.

There's still

a lot of goods on the ship.

Have you taken inventory?

Things just settled down,

and the local authorities

in Futing are still in chaos.

I haven't had the chance to do it yet.

(Dou's Residence)

Shi Shu,

Ying Xue insisted

I ask about Ming

and De Zhen's engagement.

She said if we have

my father-in-law mediate,

Grand Secretary Wu might agree.

-A letter from Mu Chuan?

-He has just risen

to the Grand Secretariat.

Most of the old allies of Duke of Ding

in the previous administration

have retired to their hometowns.

Wu Yi Fen is advanced in years.

How much longer can he hold on?

What are you trying to say?

That faction's influence is fading fast.

The Wu family's standing

will inevitably collapse.

Is there still a point to

form ties with them?

You should have Ying Xue focus on

strengthening connections

with the Wei family instead.

(Cui's Residence)

Come.

Now that you've delivered the gifts,

you can go.

If you stay longer

and catch the illness,

you'll blame it on Shou Gu again.

It's rude to kick people out

right after receiving gifts.

Even if Young Lady Zhao

isn't up to seeing guests,

she could at least say thank you.

This is the Dou family's business.

Shouldn't you consider

your identity first

if you want to meddle?

-I'll have you know

-Can I meddle then?

Grandmother.

You're causing trouble here

in broad day light.

In all these years,

you've barely delivered gifts

during festivals.

Now that both Shou Gu and I are unwell,

what are you scheming?

Mother, you've misunderstood.

I heard that Zhao came down

with smallpox,

so I specially went to the temple

to get a smallpox protection statue.

This isn't like other gifts,

it must be personally

enshrined by Zhao herself,

or it won't be effective.

Guardian idols and deities?

I've never believed in these things.

Take it all away.

That won't do, Mother.

Inviting the gods is easy, but

sending them away is difficult.

Neglecting the statue

could harm the family's fortune.

I'm sure Zhao wouldn't want

that to happen, would she?

Young Lady Zhao, just show yourself

Stop!

Smallpox patients must avoid drafts.

Cover her up at once.

Yes, Grandmother.

Fine, I'll accept these gifts

on Shou Gu's behalf.

I'm sure things are

busy for you in the capital,

so I won't keep you.

If there's nothing else,

you should leave,

and don't come back again.

Old Madam,

our mistress only came

with the best intentions.

Nanny Zhou.

Please pass the statue to Zhao, Mother.

We'll take our leave now.

-Move.

-Grandmother

Move!

What's going on?

Shou Gu

She went to freshen up.

She'll be back soon.

At this point,

you can stop covering for her.

Shou Gu is in Futing.

Futing is a highly

sensitive area right now.

What's she doing there?

Does

Does she have something

to do with the case too?

The Maritime Trade Office seized

the Miao family's merchant ship.

Shou Gu was worried

about An Su going alone, so she

Ridiculous!

You girls Absolutely ridiculous!

Alright now, alright.

Madam, are we leaving already?

Shouldn't we take a closer look?

Didn't you notice just now?

That hand was smooth and flawless.

If she really had smallpox,

how could there not be any rash?

Our trip here wasn't wasted after all.

Ah, I see.

Let's go back to the capital.

Zhao is brazen and reckless.

As a young lady from a noble family,

she not only shows her face in public,

she even went to Futing on her own.

Futing is in chaos right now

because of Duke of Ding's case.

I hear there have been outbreaks

of unrest among refugees lately.

Oh, Zhao

Master, Madam,

the Marquis of Jining's family

has invited you both

and the young ladies

to a banquet tomorrow.

We can't possibly attend a banquet now.

Since it's a specially arranged banquet,

they might want

to discuss the betrothal.

Decline it.

We'll talk about it

after I bring Shou Gu back.

Someone, prepare the carriage.

We mustn't decline it, my dear.

If word of Zhao went to Futing gets out,

not just her own marriage prospect,

it will ruin Ming's too.

How about we say

you and the girls have caught a cold,

and I'll attend the banquet alone?

Fine, I'll leave it to you.

Handle it as you see fit.

I should get going.

Yes, my dear.

This side dish is quite unique.

Is it a specialty of Futing?

I found a lot of spoiled food

when we were clearing out the inventory.

But there was a crate of tubers

from the West that hadn't gone bad.

I roasted a few of them.

They're soft, fragrant,

and a bit like yam.

But many of them have sprouted.

We can't eat or sell them anymore.

We can't eat them

But we can plant them!

If they sprout even in the damp,

dark conditions of a ship's hold,

they must be easy to grow.

If you plant them now,

you could have a harvest

in about three months.

So, don't rush to repay me just yet.

Use it to rent some unused land

and start planting.

With all the floods this year,

food is already in short supply.

If you grow enough,

not only will you feed people,

but you'll also introduce

a new food crop.

No grain merchant would turn that away.

At 50 coins per jin for white flour,

one mu of land could

yield around 300 jin.

With ten mu of land in a year,

that's over a hundred taels of silver!

That's a great idea.

Let's do it your way.

What good stuff you've got there?

Ji Yong,

you scared us again.

You got food here.

Try it.

Not bad.

But it can be sweeter.

Young Master Ji, why are you

wearing such a scary mask?

It attracts fortune.

I'm here to bring you money.

You've made the deal? What's the price?

Who's the buyer?

Want to see it? Beg me.

-Please.

-You actually begged?

Well, that's no fun.

Look.

The Ministry of Works

is paying so much for the ship!

The court has never

bought civilian ships before!

If it weren't an unprecedented move,

I wouldn't have bothered.

I submitted a proposal

to Minister Mu Chuan

advocating for reforms

in maritime trade,

selling civilian ships to the government

and consolidating overseas trade

under the court's control.

This way, we can ease people's burden

and replenish the national treasury.

Thank you, Young Master Ji.

No need to thank me. Mu Chuan only

agreed to see me because Dou Zhao

sent the invitation

under the Dou family's name.

-Zhao

-No need for thanks between us.

Now that the crisis is over,

let's go back together tomorrow.

Zhao,

I can't go back with you.

Every year during sailing season,

I'd come here with my parents

to oil and polish the ship.

From a small boat to a big ship,

now it's all gone in an instant.

It's time for me to grow up.

You're staying in Futing to

help with the family business?

Zhao,

I won't let you down.

What I've lost today,

I'll earn back in the future!

Alright!

Let's wish for our wishes to come true,

and for the days ahead to be

peaceful, free, and full of joy.

Peaceful, free, and full of joy!

Free, and full of joy!

Greetings, Minister Mu.

Greetings, Minister Mu.

(Minister of Work, Mu Chuan)

This way, please, My Lord.

This idea of selling the ships

is priceless.

I owe you a huge favor.

What favor? It was just a game.

The fun I had was worth

more than any fortune.

Besides, I won Mu Chuan's favor

with the proposal.

He submitted it to His Majesty

under his name.

In return, he recommended

me for the position

of secretary at the prince's residence.

That role is low-ranking

and full of tedious responsibilities.

You'd have to guide

and advise the prince

while also reporting regularly

to His Majesty.

It's a thankless job

that pleases no one.

The harder the job,

the easier it is to stand out.

I prefer to work smart, not hard.

I'm not about to let myself rot away

like those unsold goods on the ship.

Since the Crown Prince isn't favored,

I might as well take a bigger gamble

and support another prince.

You're going to Prince Qing's Residence?

The Crown Prince's mother, Empress Shen,

came from a humble background

and passed away early.

He doesn't have many allies

among the court officials.

Prince Qing, on the other hand,

is known for valuing talent,

holds military power in Liaodong,

and his mother, Empress Wan,

is favored by His Majesty.

With me on his side,

his chances of surpassing

the Crown Prince are much higher.

I once heard that Prince Qing's

rebellion succeeded

thanks to an extraordinarily

brilliant strategist by his side.

Could it be him?

If Ji Yong goes to Liaodong

to assist Prince Qing,

will he meet a tragic end again

because of it?

I'd advise you

to think it through carefully.

I'll be straight with you.

Prince Qing is rebellious,

he'll overthrow the throne one day.

Don't forget why you entered

officialdom in the first place.

If he rebels,

wouldn't that align perfectly

with my original intent?

You've known all along

What happens in the future,

heaven knows, earth knows,

I know, and you know.

I observe the world

without being controlled by it.

Princes and kings, in my hands,

are nothing more than tools

to a greater vision.

The court is decayed,

foreign enemies are poised to strike,

and all I want is someone

who recognizes my worth

and grants me the power to enact reform.

Healing individuals is a small matter,

healing a nation

is where my true strategy lies.

I can extend this dynasty's life

by a hundred years.

Minister Mu, they're here.

So, there are the tubers

you mentioned in your letter,

the ones that doesn't spoil easily?

The people of Futing call it a potato.

Many of the other goods were

ruined after the delay,

but these remained intact.

Looks like this crop

is far more valuable than

the rest of the cargo on the ship.

Here.

This strawberry ice cream

is only available in Futing.

Once I go to Liaodong,

there'll be no chance to have it.

Didn't you say that ice cream

is too cold for the stomach

and can make you feel lightheaded

if you eat too much?

Silly. If you get sick,

I'll just treat you.

Eat up.

Real men drink wine and eat meat.

Look at that grown man

eating dainty sweets fit

for women and children.

So now taste preferences

come with gender labels too?

How childish.

You two might drink and eat meat,

does it make you conquer battlefields

or govern a nation?

How arrogant!

Young Lady,

he's clearly not a suitable match!

Right, unlike you two,

you're perfect for each other.

You

Don't be mad. Let's drink.

Drink.

-Here.

-By the way,

I got this for you.

The snow in Liaodong is heavy,

and there are many hunting pits.

I've noticed you always

squint when you look at things.

I figured your eyesight isn't great.

I went around the capital

and found this for you.

Consider it a parting gift.

You even noticed that?

Looking up close now,

you're actually not that ugly.

Alright, I'll give you

something in return.

I always save the strawberry

on my ice cream for last

because I can't bear

to eat them right away.

I'll give it to you now.

Shou Gu.

Father?

-Are you alright?

-What are you doing here?

If we had come any later,

you'd have probably turned

Futing upside down by now.

-Uncle Shi Shu.

-You really are something.

Disgracing the family

and running off to elope.

You found yourself

the perfect match, huh?

Shou Gu,

a young lady like you traveling

all the way to Futing on your own,

do you have any idea

how worried we've been?

Father, Uncle Shi Shu.

This is Ji Yong, a cousin of

the Cui family from Jian'an.

He's also the official in charge

of Maritime Trade Office's cases.

Ah, so you're Master Ji's son.

Greetings, uncles.

You've truly gone to great lengths

to disgrace our family's name

all the way here in Futing!

I came to Futing to help the Miao family

out of their predicament.

I'm the investor

of An Su's family shipping business.

I couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

What morals and obligations

outweigh propriety and decency?

An unmarried young lady like you

are supposed to be staying at home

preparing for marriage,

This is disgraceful!

The Miao family were

mere tenant farmers on an estate.

Now they're merchants,

a world apart from you.

You don't have a friend like her.

Didn't our own Dou family of

the north rise from being peddlers?

Later, to establish hierarchy,

we divided into the Eastern

and Western Dou branches.

Should we also disown our ancestors

for their humble beginnings?

You You dare debate

family heritage with me?

-You're out of line!

-Shi Shu

Calm down, Shi Shu.

Uncle Shi Shu,

Dou Zhao contributed strategies

to resolve the maritime trade crisis.

She is considered a servant

of the court. You can't hit her.

Stay out of this.

Ungrateful child!

Do you even know your grandmother

has been sick for days because of you?

What happened to Grandmother?

What's wrong with her?

Your grandmother fell ill

from missing you too much.

Ying Xue is taking care of her now.

Wang Ying Xue?

You're so full of ideas and so capable.

What does the death of a family

even mean to someone like you?

Uncle Shi Shu,

I've learned my lesson now.

Traveling to Futing was a mistake.

I'll accept any punishment you see fit.

Please just allow me to return

home quickly to care for Grandmother.

Deliver this letter

to the local authorities

and make it clear that

our family's legitimate daughter

was never in Futing.

Got it.

Father, Uncle Shi Shu,

I know Grandmother's condition best.

This can't be delayed.

Why don't we set out tonight?

Now you feel the urgency?

Your mother is looking after her now.

There's no rush.

But your father and I

have traveled a long way,

pulling countless strings,

all for the sake of protecting you.

I understand completely, Uncle.

I will hand over all my private assets

in Futing to the family

to atone for my mistakes.

What nonsense!

Do you think your father and I

came all this way just to

take over your meager assets?

That's not what I meant.

I'm willing to return home,

stay under house arrest,

and fully submitting to

the guidance of my elders.

Shou Gu means well.

Shi Shu, why don't we set out now?

We've traveled far

and deserve a few days of rest.

But fine.

We'll rest tonight and leave at dawn.

Thank you, Uncle.

Sir,

what can I get you?

We could've stayed overnight in Wu Town,

but she insisted on

traveling without rest.

Now we're stuck

in the middle of nowhere!

Shi Shu, have some water and calm down.

Shou Gu is just eager

to see her grandmother.

She's just really worried about her.

Since everyone's tired,

let's set up camp here for the night.

Master Shi Shu, Master Shi Ying,

there's a military camp just ahead.

Are you Master Shi Shu and

Master Shi Ying from the Dou family?

Yes, that's us.

And how are you, sir?

Greetings, my lords.

We are troops stationed

at the outskirts.

The camp ahead is

a rest area our army

has prepared for

travelers on the road.

You can rest there without concern.

We wouldn't dare impose

on the military's duties.

Serving you well is part of our duty.

Food and wine will be brought shortly.

Please don't refuse.

Thank you then, General.

This way, please.

You must be weary

from your long journey.

Thank you for your trouble.

You're welcome. Enjoy.

This meal is quite lavish.

It's almost too lavish,

doesn't feel like something

a military camp would prepare.

-Thank you.

-Let me fill your glass.

Thank you.

Young Lady, traveling in such a rush

might have upset your stomach.

It's best to avoid

these heavy, greasy dishes.

I'll go see if they have

some light porridge.

Oh

Officer, may I know what time it is now?

It's the hour of the Yin,

Young Lady Zhao.

Young Lady Zhao?

They're Futing soldiers.

If I'm not mistaken,

they're the Duke of Ding's Army.

What's the Duke of Ding's Army

doing in Hanzhou?

I'll explain later.

(Yuzhou)

Travel permit, please.

Where are you sending these?

The market.

Thank you.

Master Shi Ying, they say as bandits

have been rampant in Yuzhou City,

we need a travel permit

to enter the city.

We left in such a rush.

We haven't prepared any travel permits.

Su Lan,

I bet someone has

made arrangements for us.

Call Gao Sheng over.

Young Lady.

Tell the guards that your masters

are the officials from Ministry of Rites

returning to the capital on assignment.

See if that gets us through.

Have you checked the goods?

All good.

Sir, could you allow

my master to pass first?

What's your master's official position?

Dou Shi Shu, an official

from the Ministry of Rites.

Lord Dou from the Ministry of Rites?

Yes.

Clear the way! Let them through!

Clear the way!

When we passed through

Yuzhou City before,

we've never been given such priority.

What's going on here?

My Lord,

they say it was an order from above,

that Lord Dou from the Ministry of Rites

is to be given priority passage.

Really?

Believe me,

this has nothing to do

with either of us.

Young Lady, the wheel is stuck.

Why have we stopped?

Young Lady Zhao's carriage is stuck.

They're coming to rob us!

Shou Gu!

Give me a hand here!

One, two, three!

One, two, three!

One, two, three!

Who are you?

We're villagers from around here.

The roads here are uneven.

When it rains,

carriages often get stuck.

We're just here

to lend a hand pushing them out.

Thank you all.

Su Lan, give them some silver pieces

as a token of appreciation.

We're not here for rewards,

just to help.

There are more of us ahead.

Wishing you a safe journey,

Young Lady Zhao.

Let's go.

How do they all know

to call you Young Lady Zhao?

Don't say anything. Get in.

I rarely travel far,

but seeing this now,

we're really living in a time of peace.

What time of peace?

They're here

specially for your daughter.

God knows how she got involved

with those unsavory people.

Young Lady Zhao is

a kind and generous person.

Heaven is always looking out for her.

You must be joking, Shi Shu.

How could Shou Gu possibly know them?

Let's keep moving.

Shou Gu.

Shi Shu.

Aren't you going in to visit Mother?

Are you really going in the estate?

What about your work at

the Ministry of Revenue?

But Mother is still ill.

And we're not doctors.

Seeing us won't make her better.

She's got Shou Gu

and Ying Xue to take care of her.

Father, Uncle,

I'll go see Grandmother now.

Since the marriage agreement

has been signed,

you should now focus on

fulfilling your duties

and prepare yourself for the wedding.

Marriage agreement?

Didn't your father tell you?

While you were in Futing,

your father and mother

signed the marriage agreement for you.

It was a pressing matter.

I had wanted to discuss it

with you after you returned,

but Ying Xue went ahead

and signed the agreement.

Shou Gu!

Dou Shi Shu and Dou Shi Ying

are shallow and heartless.

Unlike you, My Lord,

you escorted Young Lady Zhao

all the way here

without even letting her know.

She made it clear

she didn't want to see me again,

so there's no need to disturb her.

As long as she can see

her grandmother a little sooner,

that's what matters.

Zhao,

I'm so glad

to see you home safely.

Song Mo k*lled his father

and brother this same year.

Could there be another reason,

besides avenging Duke of Ding,

that caused such a drastic change

in his character?

My personal guards are in danger,

and my mother has just died.

I've stepped into a deadlock,

and what I need now

is the strength to fight.