01x18 - Episode 18

[bunniefuu]

song title

♫ Flowers falling by the river again ♫ ♫ Turning the clear waves red ♫

♫ Sparrows singing in celebration ♫

♫ Calm years pass by the silent bustling city ♫ ♫ Sitting at home ♫

♫ No one knows love's outline like I do ♫

♫ If one day the river breeze blows again ♫

♫ I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror ♫

♫ Dreams can shatter; Memories remain ♫

♫ Rich fragrance A*DS; Light ink writes ♫

♫ In the deep red windows lies mundane dust ♫

Are You the One

Episode 18

Fly. Fly.

Fly.

Fly. Fly.

Your Majesty.

I'm Shi Yikuan.

Greetings, Your Majesty,
Empress Dowager.

Wishing Your Majesty boundless fortune,
and the Empress Dowager longevity.

You used to be the Chief Commander,
in charge of Qingzhou.

Now, you're in the capital.
Are you used to it?

Whether it's Qingzhou or the capital,

it's all under the Emperor's rule.

Whether as a commander
or as a minister,

I serve to manage troops for His Majesty

and relive his worries.

Take a seat.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Your Majesty.

I want some sugary cakes.

You. Get some for me.

Are you the leader of Mount Yang,
now under imperial pardon?

Thanks to your grace for accepting us,

so we can have a chance
to return to the right path.

Take a seat.

Thank you.

How handsome.

Seems the minister got a fine son-in-law.

It's all thanks to your favor.

Ziyu,

Seeing the imperial wealth,
I now feel it's inadequate.

Bring it up.

The vital of the North Sea lies in Mount Ling.

A mountain can only hold one stone.

I think the Queen Mother
nurtures all,

just like you granted rebirth to Mount Yang.

So, I present this statue to express

my determination to submit to the court.

How could I ignore your sincerity?

- From now on...
- The Grand Empress Dowager arrives.

Grand Empress Dowager.

Grandmother.

Grand Empress Dowager usually stays secluded.

Why today, do you take an interest in coming here?

How thoughtful of you

to remember today
is the late Crown Prince's death anniversary.

You even prepared a banquet.

This...

But the dishes are too heavy.

The colors of the clothes are too bright.

Change them.

Today, the Minister of w*r assumes office.

I specifically summoned him.

The late Crown Prince
died suddenly at a prime age,

leading to today's situation where you rule
on behalf of the young Emperor.

Today, instead of mourning him,

you are here holding a banquet with a minister.

People will talk.

Empress Dowager, aren't you afraid?

The late Crown Prince was kind
and an example for all.

No one dares forget his death anniversary.

The Empress Dowager
summoned Minister Shi to remind him

to be a kind official,
like the late Crown Prince.

As for the dishes and clothes,

while extravagance is inappropriate on
such a day, neither should we be too frugal.

If the common people
think the treasury is empty,

it might cause instability and

How dare you!

The Grand Empress Dowager hasn't spoken yet.

Who allows you to speak?

I didn't expect such talent
from the underworld.

Your Majesty, you value talents.

How about appointing him as a secretary

in the Ministry of w*r,
working alongside the Minister?

As Mother said.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Such changes happened in Xizhou.
[Won. Governor committed suicide.]

According to the letter, Governor Sheng
likely took his own life out of guilt.

I don't care whether he felt guilty.

Either way, A Gushan was defeated,
bringing glory to the Qi Kingdom.

But it's a pity that

Cui didn't die
on the b*ttlefield.

His victory was merely luck.

So what if it was luck?

He'll still enter the capital
triumphantly to present prisoners.

Just the thought of having
to reward him

If he is rewarded again,

I fear the people will only know
Lord Huaiyang

and forget the Emperor.

How dare he!

A lord of a different surname.

I will never let him enter the capital
and threaten the Emperor.

Shi Yikuan.

I value you so much.

What do you think?

I do have a plan,
which I wish to discuss with you.

Greetings, Grand Empress Dowager.

Weren't you appointed
as a secretary in the Ministry of w*r?

Why such humility?

Without the decree, I dare not overstep.

In "The Great Perfection of Wisdom Treatise",

it says, "Worst thing happened."
"Best thing didn't."

"Burned by the fire of regret,"
"one falls into the evil path."

Have you read the scriptures?

Only scratched the surface.

Come closer.

Lift your head.

Why did you become a bandit?

Parents died early. Nothing left to rely on.

I just wanted to survive.

I see a kind face, a bit familiar,

but sadly,

you're just a person who follows power,

like your father-in-law Shi Yikuan,

flattering and showing off

in front of the Emperor.

I have seen too many of your kind.

Your reprimand is justified.

Today, I remind you.

Aiding the tiger will eventually
lead to being harmed by it.

Old friends can't be seen.


The Hanjiang River flows east.

For the innocent diseased,

I will find
the culprit and let them pay with blood.

I will avenge you.

I hope you can rest in peace soon.

What is happening over there?

This morning, the Governor's wife
invited a ritual.

- Now they are distributing porridge.
- A ritual?

Don't you know?

The Governor died in his mansion last night.

Governor Sheng died? How did he die?

- No one knows how he died.
- Coming.

Maybe he died from overwork.
He suddenly passed away.

I'll head over there first.

What a sin.

Tomorrow, the team will enter Xizhou City.

I hope you will help us
and not make things difficult for my brothers.

Mr. Lu, rest assured. I know what to do.

I'm a night watchman in the city.

After midnight that day, I was patrolling.

The escort team hit me.

It's strange enough to escort goods at night,

but they were ferocious and hit me without saying a word.

Are you sure it was an escort cart?

I'm sure. Their escort carts and the chests they carried
had special markings.

I couldn't have mistaken it.

Is there anything else unusual?

Well...

The cart was particularly heavy.

The wheels struggled to turn.

No idea what they were transporting.

On the side of the cart,
something was dripping.

I couldn't see what it was,
but it smelled fishy.

Huang Gui. Take him down.

Get an artist to draw everything he described.

Deploy to search the city, inside and out.

Yes.

The dripping was human blood.

As you said, the Pingyuan
Escort Agency was slaughtered.

It rained that night.
Water pooled on the road.

Even if there was blood, it wouldn't show.

There's something else
I need your help investigating.

[Qinchang Gate]
With one character, I can tell your fortune.

Yin and yang, five elements.
Nine out of ten readings are accurate.

Young lady, would you like to try it?

There are many swindlers.
Madam, don't be deceived.

As you said, you're nine out of ten accurate.

It means one of them is inaccurate.

What if I get that one?

Then I won't take your money.

Please write a character.

[Liu]

Done.

Liu means willow.

The willow casts shade.

Shade also means darkness, mostly signifying adversity.

I presume you've been

worried and tired
recently, even facing life-threatening danger,

causing concern among your family.

Sir, you've grasped the cause
but not the outcome.

As the saying goes,
"The bond of willow is in the tune."

It reflects the bond and longing
between me and my family.

Even in peril,

I'll find a way out and survive against the odds.

The dark willows will bloom.

Sir, do you read palms?

Of course, my real talent.

What do you seek?

Family fortune.

Your palm lines are strong.

From what I see,

your family is healthy, no illness or pain.

Though life is hard, with you here,

they can endure until
the clouds part and the moon shines.

I only wish for my family's safety,

a roof
over their heads, and enough to eat.

I also await a moment of reunion.

That is certain.

Sir, your reputation is well deserved.

Thank you, Madam.

Master, could you do a reading for me?

Your face shows good fortune,

but in your life, there are three misfortunes.

You are now facing
the greatest misfortune.

Amazing.

Truly amazing.

Well, Master. You can even see the
misfortune I'm facing right now.

What should I do?

Well. Don't worry.

Just write it down.
I'll burn it before the deity.

It will surely turn bad luck into good.

Alright, alright. Well.

Good, good.

Xiaolu, the beggar in the north
is my informant.

Have him leave a mark near the escort agency.

Qingcheng Tavern in the east of the city.

Your first time in the capital.
Where do you want to go?

My father warned me
to be extremely cautious in the capital.

I'll just stay at home.

That's a pity.

There are so many
good foods in the capital.

Sugar cakes from Taoran Alley.

Yellow bean rolls from Linyu Pavilion.
Braised fish from Xisi.

Roast lamb in bread.

I'll tell Minister Shi to take you to
Zhuxuan Tavern in Shili Village.

They have a famous green wine,
clear and fragrant.

Thank you, Young Master.

[Mansion of Crown Prince]

You seem very familiar with the capital.

I used to roam the martial world
and stay in the capital.

Now, it's like revisiting an old place.

How is it?
[Escort]

My Lord. We found the escort carts
in the wasteland of the western suburbs.

But the boxes are all empty.
The bloodstains were cleaned.

Clearly, they dumped the bodies.

My Lord, these are yamen's sketches
of the 21 members of the agency.

[Qiulin Xian]

So many people.
They couldn't have gone far.

Order a continued search. Search everywhere.

Find these people for me.

Yes.

[Noodles]

[Qingcheng Tavern]

Madam. What's special about this noodle shop?

Why don't we go to
the busier one across the street?

The one is just an ordinary eatery,
but this one serves authentic Xizhou cuisine.

Their chicken blood noodles are famous.

Anyone passing by Xizhou must try it,
lest the trip is not wasted.

Plus, this place has limited daily servings.

We might not even get any.

[Qingcheng Tavern]

- Search.
- Yes.

- Check under the floorboards.
- Yes.

My Lord. Nothing inside.

This was the last house.

- Search the back hill.
- Yes.

My Lord!

- Open it.
- Yes.

Come!

This mark appeared in front of
the escort agency.

- Could it be left by Qiao Xian?
- No.

Qiao Xian wouldn't expose himself by
leaving a mark to reveal his whereabouts.

Besides,

this meeting signal belongs to Mount Yang.

The crabapple flower.

This reminds me of someone.

Who?

Perhaps this person is
also looking for Qiao Xian.

There are twenty bodies here.

One is missing. the leader of the agency, Qiulin Xian.

Post his image across the city.

Qiulin Xian is wanted.

Yes.

[Wanted]

[Qiulin Xian as shown]

Alright. Go rest now.

Honey, why are you back so late?

I was busy with official duties,
so I got delayed.

Again with the official duties.

Even the Lord isn't as busy as you.

I heard you went out
drinking and shopping.

Did you have fun?

Don't mention it.

Today, I was eager to
eat chicken blood noodles,

but when I got there,
they were all sold out.

- I'm so disappointed.
- What will you do?

I'll go early tomorrow and wait.

You're really relentless when it comes to food.

Not just food. In other things, too.

If I want something,
I'll find a way to get it.

As long as you want it,

I'll find a way to get it for you.

By the way.

Honey. On my way back today,

I saw wanted
posters all over the city for that fugitive.

Qiulin Xian. Who is he?

He's an escort.

What crime did he commit?

He's involved in the agency's m*rder case.

The Lord is determined to investigate.

I have to help with the investigation tomorrow.

How will you investigate?

It's official business. I can't tell you.

You only need to know to stay indoors.

Don't go out. Just be safe.

You're amazing, honey.

For a month, you've already been a centurion.

And now, Lord Huaiyang has

entrusted you with this big case.

I'm so fortunate.

Why would I ever leave the house?

I'll just stay home and
wait for your salary.

I just played Go with the Lord

and got to know him a bit.
He's just helping me out.

Dear.

I sense you're hiding something in your eyes.

Is there something you want to tell me?

It's useless to say.

It's about official duties. I can't say.

Consider it idle chatter at home.

It's harmless.

Suddenly, I remember everything.

Really?

Do you want to hear?

What did you remember?

I recall the old days when the family

worked in escort services.

Really?

Tell me more.

The escort teams always had
to be on guard against thieves.

So they wouldn't show
themselves in busy places.

If they sensed danger,

they'd disguise themselves, merging with the crowds in inns,

eating and living with the locals.

These martial world folks can endure hardship,

using the poor as cover.

Thieves wouldn't easily notice.

Let's sleep.

This place was a village for border prisoners.

Last year, there was a plague.

The Governor's decision was
to leave them to their fate,

so they ended up in this state.

My Lord. Thick smoke
is rising from the house.

Let's go.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

- Burn more paper. Fewer ghosts.
- Kneel.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts. Burn more paper...

- Don't.
- Ghosts.

My Lord, he's not Qiulin Xian.

- Go. Hurry.
- Burn more paper.

Attract fewer ghosts.

Burn more paper. Attract fewer ghosts.

Tell them not to waste time on this.

Even if he was sent by Qiulin Xian,
he's just here to mislead us.

- No need to interrogate him.
- Yes.

[Qingcheng Tavern]

Madam, the shopkeeper said
there's no chicken blood noodles today.

Let's eat something else and come tomorrow.

Do you really have to eat it?

Chicken blood has been known
to ward off evil and disasters.

Consuming chicken blood
can erase enmity and disaster.

That day, I made a vow
in front of the Ruyi Tree.

I must eat these chicken blood noodles.

Should I go order something else?

Sir, bring us a few
signature dishes from Xizhou.

- Please make it quick.
- Alright.

Also.
If there are other noodle dishes,
bring them too.

No problem.

Nanny Li. Please go call the coachman.

I'll take a walk to digest a bit.

Alright.

Miss, take a look
at these flower-patterned fabrics.

Look at this. All new designs.

This one suits your complexion.

Spare some money, please.

Miss, someone is watching you.

I know. How did it go?

Your suspicion was correct.

No one touched the crabapple at the tavern.

But at the teahouse next door,

a man goes there to have tea every day,

staring at the second-floor window
of the tavern.

It's this man with the straw hat.

Follow him. See where he stays.

Be careful.

Mr. Cao.

Lord Huaiyang has found the twenty bodies
from the escort agency.

Now, they're searching the city for Qiao Xian.

Increase our manpower.

We must capture Qiao Xian before Lord Huaiyang.

Yes.

[Hong House]

- Sir.
- Come on.

- This way, sir.
- Come in, sir.

Come on.

Sir.

Take care, sir.

Take care.

Are you going out again?

Do you know your wanted
posters are all over the city?

There's a bounty for you.

That's why I can't stay in one place for long.

If you need money, you can turn me in.

What nonsense are you talking about?

They won't find me.

Bye.

My Lord, your plan worked.

The merchants aren't
interested in the bounty.

When they heard they'd have
to pay the suppression funds,

they started providing leads.

Go. Bring them in.

Yes.

[Face-Reading Hall]

Master. I just want to know

if my accumulated
merits are enough to offset my sins.

Too many lies.

It's difficult.

I've been looking for you for a long time.

Heaven has eyes.

You finally sit before me.

Uncle. I've forgotten the past.

What have you been through?

It's a long story.

Everything started on Shangsi Festival night.

[Qiulin Xian]

Do you recognize him?

- No, I don't.
- Nonsense!

I clearly saw
Qiulin Xian leaving your room.

The cinnabar.

I bought it to copy scriptures.

I spilled it by accident.

What was originally kept here?

Nothing.

Then how do you explain this long mark?

Maybe something fell on the floor.

I don't know.

Huang Gui.

What does this sheet look like to you?

It looks like...

After I woke up,

I only remembered that I was to marry Cui Jiu.

That's the man I now call
my husband every day.

But he's not Cui Jiu.

I didn't know that at the time.

I even mistook him.

He used my amnesia, deceiving me
into thinking we had a marital relationship.

He trapped me in a house in Lingquan Town,

but he also believed that
I was Lu Wen's concubine,

so he used me as bait to capture Lu Wen.

[Face-Reading Hall]

[Face-Reading Hall]

- Let's go in.
- Yes.

Miantang, you are naturally sharp.

Do you know who this Cui Jiu really is?

I'll find out who he is.

I'll settle the score with him.

As for how he used me in the past,

I'll repay him in full.

But right now, I have
more important things.

The person who k*lled
our escort brothers

is the one who severed my tendons and
caused my fall and amnesia.

He's now searching for you, Uncle.

Until he's dead, I won't find peace.

Master, is there really no way to remedy this?

Well...

Master.

Honey.

Why are you here, dear?

Master, today I accompanied the madam
to have face-reading.

Are you here on official business?

Yes.

How accurate is the fortune-telling?

Very accurate.

He said you are kind-hearted,
honest, and straightforward,

and that your official career will be smooth.

He even predicted your promotion.

Come on, honey.

Master.

While your official career is promising,

I'm afraid your noble star conflicts
with the solitary star,

making it difficult to rise to great heights.

Honey, since we're here,

why don't you ask the master to check our marriage compatibility?

It won't take long.
You won't delay your work.

A face reading?

You two are a match made in heaven.

That seems accurate.

Now, I want to know about
the future of our marriage.

Then please draw a lot.

[Lot 1: Most Auspicious]

[Lot 18: Most Inauspicious]

Most inauspicious.

What does it mean?

A clear path ahead, but suddenly it turns dark.

Don't pursue what's unclear.

A crumbling wall returns to dust.

Even with divine help, it won't stand.

If this lot is interpreted for marriage,

it foretells difficulties.

Do you have any secrets between you?

- I don't.
- No.

Then it must be the lot falling to the ground,

affected by the earth's energy.

If we interpret it by the lot's words,

you may love each other,

but without honesty,

you will drift apart.

Is there any chance to turn things around?

This is fate.

However, fate can be changed by people.

As long as you are sincere with each other,

there will be a chance to win each other back.

Dear, I will be honest with you.

I will too.

song title

♫ The boat drifts,
bringing back the sunset ♫

♫ When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect ♫

♫ Who passed by, the crabapple
falls with a turn ♫

♫ Loving rightly but choosing wrong ♫ ♫ With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions ♫

♫ Everyone travels far,
seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part ♫ ♫ Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together ♫

♫ Long hidden in the eyes,
flickering in and out ♫

♫ Let go of the flowers blooming
in the yard last night ♫

♫ Let go of the waves in the stream
in half a lifetime ♫

♫ Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly ♫

♫ In this lifetime,
my wish is to the vast sky ♫ ♫ There are many more ♫

♫ Everyone travels far,
seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part ♫ ♫ Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together ♫

♫ Time flows as we dream through four seasons ♫

♫ I wish to journey with you forever ♫ ♫ Year after year ♫ ♫ For many years to come ♫