(Are You The One)
(Episode 18)
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?
Your grace, thank you
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,
didn't you prepare a grand gift
for the Empress Dowager?
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 War 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 threaten
the foundation of the state.
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 War,
working alongside the Minister?
As Mother said.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Thank you, Empress Dowager.
(Won.) Such changes
(Governor committed suicide.) happened in Xizhou.
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 battlefield.
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
makes me sick.
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 War?
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?
I've 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 make nine accurate readings out of ten.
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, it's 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?
That 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.
It's 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
murder 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.
- Also. - Alright.
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 does.
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)
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 killed 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 do a 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.