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[General And I]
[Episode 3]
Don't make any sound.
Or I'll kill you.
Are you set up for matchmaking with General Chu Bei Jie?
Yes.
Do you already have someone else on your mind?
You're not willing to marry Chu Bei Jie?
No, no!
Young Master Chen is waiting for you at the river by Banshan Temple.
- You'd better go to him. - Yes.
But...
I still have to play the zither.
I'll play the zither for you.
You'd better discuss with Young Master Chen what you should do next.
I understand.
Young Master Chen must have sent you to rescue me.
Yes.
You'd better hurry up.
Thank you for helping me, lady warrior.
Could she be dead?
She's not. She's only passed out.
You'd better get going.
I'll get going now.
A bosom friend of the same taste in music is hard to find.
The tune clearly reveals the gloominess.
Young lady, you play the zither like no one else.
However, why is there a touch of sadness in your notes?
This tune, "Longshuo," was composed by Lady Zhao Jun
when she missed her hometown while she was away at the border.
It's only normal that it delivers a sense of sorrow of being away from home.
When the heart is in sorrow, the music played is depressing.
The sound of the zither reflects that of one's mind.
Do you also carry sorrow in your heart?
One plays without any intention
but the one who listens overinterprets it.
Who in this world has no sorrow?
Why would a stranger probe into someone else's mind?
Young Master, you seem to know a bit about music.
Unfortunately, you behaved too frivolously.
What a sharp tongue.
I am Chu Bei Jie. May I ask if I could get to see you in person today?
I know that you're a great hero.
You have fought hard in battles for years
and rendered great military services to Great Jin State.
However, we are total strangers.
Moreover, we are alone here in this room.
I'm afraid that it's inappropriate for us to meet today without a chaperone.
That is most reasonable.
I won't impose on you since we're not meant to meet today.
I'll be sure to send a visiting card to your residence to see you.
By then, I hope that you'd give me the honor of talking to you.
I take my leave.
Please halt, General.
I have a question that I've long been meaning to ask.
I could seek no answer for it.
Since I've now come across General Chu, I have to speak my mind.
What is the question?
You lost without a fight at the Battle of Puban City.
It's very bizarre.
It seems that the battle wasn't what you set out for.
Who would have expected you to know
affairs of the world when raised in private quarters?
My father is very knowledgeable and I've heard about it from him.
I'd like to hear your opinion.
In the Battle of Puban City, Young Prince of Jing An took on
your 100,000 men with his 8,000 men.
However, he actually won and returned to Changzi City.
On the same day, he was convicted of treason by King of Yan.
In a matter of hours, Prince of Jing An and his household were all wiped out.
These two events seem to be somehow related.
Miss Hua seems to think differently from others.
Should Young Prince of Jing An be alive
would you have him killed?
Is there a reason not to kill him?
Of course.
I believe that you didn't kill Prince of Jing An's entire clan
out of your personal interest.
You must have done so to put an end
to the suffering of Yan State and Jin State's people.
If peace could really be attained between Yan State and Jin State
Prince of Jing An's Manor would have been sacrificed for a worthy cause.
You'd be considered a hero who blessed the people with peace.
However, I've heard that Great Jin State
is recruiting soldiers for the second time
to prepare for a northern conquest.
If you couldn't stop this conquest
what you did was but a massacre of innocent lives.
With every person of Yan State you kill
the more hatred you build up between both states.
Prince of Jing An's family no longer exists in Yan State.
Why can't Chu Bei Jie stop killing?
It is you.
It really is you.
I knew that you are no mute.
But I didn't expect you to be so witty and sharp-tongued.
The valiant Prince of Zhenbei dressed up as some wealthy young master?
That is not so easy to pull off.
How did you know that I would be here?
Is it so hard to get information from your manor?
You really are very smart.
If I'm right, you must be the skilled strategist
who commanded the battle of Puban City
on the city walls with your zither playing.
Do you have an alternative plan in mind before you negotiate with me?
Jingsi Tower is already surrounded by the archers I hired.
If you were to leave here alone
you wouldn't have a chance with all the arrows launched at you.
What do you have in mind?
I just want you to make me a promise.
Let He Xia off.
A promise?
You mean to say that I'm already at your mercy?
Have you recovered from your injury?
You...
You're such a troublemaker.
Young Prince of Jing An, we meet again.
How is that young lady related to you?
You're not fit to know about her.
No one in my family fears death. Do whatever you wish with me!
Leave.
I will let you off just this once.
Why?
You're not fit to know about it either.
Could it be because of her?
How are you related to her?
You're not leaving?
Before I change my mind...
Chu Bei Jie, bear this in mind.
You will surely regret that you let me off today.
Where is that man?
If you really had hired archers
the outcome of our combat would have been different.
What have you done to him?
As you wished.
I let him go.
You're so bold.
You dare to approach me alone.
Are you really not worried that you'd be killed?
Since I'm already here, I never thought of making it back alive.
All you have left is courage.
If you wish so much to help others
shouldn't you take better care of yourself?
I've said it.
Since I've saved your life, you're mine.
You are not to die if I won't allow it.
What other tricks do you have?
Unleash them all!
A bird would fly home at sunset even if it is exhausted.
However beautiful the scenery, it changes in a fleeting moment.
What is beautiful today might no longer be tomorrow.
You're still worried about He Xia?
General, you have kept your promise and let Young Prince of Jing An go.
I'm deeply grateful.
Just this once.
I only did it for your sake.
Who can tell what the future holds?
I'll take you to a place.
Where is it?
Who can tell what the future holds?
Don't you think that we have met somewhere in the past?
General, you would actually start off with such a remark
at the sight of such beautiful scenery?
Is that not done in poor taste?
Did you travel with your father beyond the Great Wall when you were young?
I am but a maidservant in Prince of Jing An's Manor.
I grew up in the manor.
I do not know who my parents were.
Prince of Jing An and Supreme Princess might be my masters
but I did regard them as otherwise.
I saw them as my parents.
Although I'm grateful to you for sparing my young master's life today
I will never forgive you for what you did to his entire family.
Once I get the chance, I will still kill you.
Even if you don't get a chance, I will make you one.
I look forward to seeing you each time.
Allow me to thank General in advance then.
You don't seem like an ordinary maidservant.
Is that so?
My robe is torn. If you wish to thank me, shouldn't you demonstrate your sincerity?
You carry your sewing kit with you?
Yes.
Our young master was very mischievous when he was a child.
His clothes would often rip.
That's why I'd bring my sewing kit with me to patch his clothes up.
As time went by, I got used to it.
He Xia is one fortunate man.
He actually had a clever, loyal, and thoughtful person by his side.
Return one's favor with favor.
My masters were kind to me.
I'm just repaying their kindness.
Speaking of which, I have someone to whom I owe my gratitude as well.
I just don't know if I'd ever get a chance to repay her in this lifetime.
Let's go.
How do I get down?
On your own.
You didn't really bring me here for the scenery.
You just want to dump me here.
All right then.
Since you patched up my robe, I'll take you home.
Take me home?
What home?
- We're all here. - Master.
Everyone in Hua Residence is here.
[Master Hua, Madam Hua] Go and find your young mistress!
- Yes, Master! Hurry up! - Go and search for Young Mistress!
What is going on?
- There are so many torches. - Stop talking.
Civilian Hua Fu Quan wasn't aware of the prince's visit.
Please forgive me for not having welcomed you in!
Please get up, Master Hua.
Yes, yes...
Bring her in!
- Young Mistress! - My daughter!
Father!
- My daughter! - Father!
- Go to your mother quickly! - Mother!
This is...
- General... Your Highness... This is... - My daughter.
- What happened? - I...
Master Hua shouldn't be asking me.
Ask your beloved daughter instead.
My dear, where have you been?
Tell me quickly!
I...
Have you been kidnapped by criminals?
Father, I wasn't. It's not like that.
Where... Where were you then?
Tell me quickly. You...
All she did was meet up with a few lovers.
How is that hard to tell your father?
You...
Have you been to see that Young Master Chen?
Did you or did you not?
- Tell me quickly! - I...
I did.
I have sinned!
- Father! - Your Highness! General!
This is all my fault. I...
I haven't disciplined her well.
I shall surely teach her a lesson.
Please spare her life this time, Your Highness!
Your Highness...
Since Miss Hua is devoted to Young Master Chen
why don't you just marry her off to him
so that the lovers could live happily ever after?
No!
She doesn't agree with that and neither do I!
I could overlook this matter
but Master Hua has to make me a promise.
Sure!
Yes! As long as Your Highness agrees to spare my daughter's life
I will surely be deeply grateful.
I'm relieved to hear Master Hua say so.
- Bring her in. - Bring her in?
- This is... - This sister...
- Who is this? - This is...
Master Hua.
This is very simple.
You won't have to risk your life.
From now on, this young lady will be your goddaughter.
You have to treat her well.
In three days, I'll be here to fetch her.
Should anything go amiss, I will take your life.
We can leave today.
Why would you wait for three days and implicate the others?
If you dare to run away
I will have the entire Hua family executed!
Please spare us, General!
Please spare us! General...
General, are you one who would take innocent lives?
Whether I take innocent lives or not isn't up to me to decide.
It's you.
There's a different charm to you when you glare at me.
Are you still going to run away?
As a matter of fact, you already knew who I am.
Yet I do not know your name.
You don't have a name?
Since that is so, I'll give you one.
Why don't you take my surname, Chu?
Bai Ping Ting!
Bai Ping Ting...
From now on
no one is to enter or leave this residence without my permission!
Yes!
General!
General, take care.
- Madam. - Mother.
- Madam, don't panic. - What should we do?
I'll go over to her.
Young lady. I'm begging you.
Your identity or status doesn't matter to me.
General already entrusted you to us.
Dozens of lives in Hua Residence are now in your hands.
I...
I just hope that you could stay here safe and sound for three days.
By then, the Hua family will surely...
I will surely use all of my wealth.
I will give you great betrothal gifts to marry you off in splendor!
What do you think about that?
Chu Bei Jie is going to marry me?
Yes.
Don't you know that?
In Great Jin State, if a man truly wishes to marry a woman
he will remain celibate for her three days in a row before the wedding.
Exactly, young lady.
It really is you.
Bai Ping Ting...
We meet again.
Go away. Go now.
Get away.
- Go away. - Please save my mother!
She is very ill!
Ignore him.
Please save my mother!
She really is very ill!
You can have this.
Get lost!
That woman has contracted plague from the foreigners.
We won't save her.
It sounds awful!
Teach me then?
I can't play the zither.
But my mother plays it better than you do.
Your mother?
Yes! She plays the zither the best in the world.
Nonsense.
My father is the one who plays it best in the world.
Father, look!
I found a little boy.
My daughter, don't go over to him!
My daughter!
There's a strange sighting in the eastern skies.
The big star is like the moon, and all other stars follow it.
All evil avoids it as malice clouds the sky!
We have to leave now!
Father, don't be scared. He's just a little boy!
Here you go.
Go!
Garrison commander of Puban City Luan Shu greets Prince of Jing An.
I have come late to your rescue. Please forgive me!
How did you know that I was here?
Miss Bai sent a letter in advance.
She said that Your Highness would surely come to Puban City.
I have reformed Puban City's defense and recruited new soldiers.
These days, we have been searching and patrolling around Puban City
so as to welcome Your Highness sooner.
Didn't Miss Bai come with you?
Sister Ping Ting has been captured by Chu Bei Jie.
Now... her whereabouts are unknown.
Both Jin and Yan State knew of your arrival.
We have had several conflicts.
Your Highness should come with me to Puban City quickly
to avoid encountering further danger.
Hold on.
Since Ping Ting knew that I'd come to Puban City
why did she appear in Jin State instead?
Miss Bai is utterly loyal to Young Master.
She must have her intentions for taking a risk.
Chu Bei Jie might be a ruthless devil
but Miss Bai is very intelligent.
She also has her own scouts along the way.
I believe she will surely make it out safely.
Young Master!
We should bring the soldiers to rescue Sister Ping Ting!
We'll go to Puban City.
- Gather the troops! - Yes!
"Spring days are lengthening out."
"Plants and trees grow full of verdure."
"The oriole's cry comes jie-jie."
"Our wives go in crowds to gather the white southernwood."
"Yao-yao go the grass insects."
"And the hoppers leap about."
"While we do not see our husbands, our hearts must be full of grief."
"Let us but see our husbands and our hearts will be at rest."
Do you feel most at ease after having met your beloved today?
I thought that Sister Bai would be taking a nap.
Who knew that you're waiting up just to tease me?
It's no wonder that the general fell for you at first sight.
He's so eager to make you his wife.
Even as a woman, I also find your every frown and smile is unique.
He didn't even ask if I want to marry him.
In all of Great Jin State, which woman wouldn't want to marry Great General?
If I hadn't already fallen for someone else
I would have looked up to him as a hero.
Didn't you take my place in playing the zither for the matchmaking
out of your admiration for Great General?
Now that my father has taken you as his goddaughter
I will get to visit you very often after you're married.
I'm afraid that we won't get to meet so easily.
Why?
Do you find me too shallow and uneducated?
I might perform slightly poorly in handicrafts and music
but I can still read and write.
By the way, I could understand
that romantic verse you just recited.
Doesn't it just mean that one misses her lover in spring?
"Bringing Forth the Chariots" talks about endless wars in the nation.
The soldiers were far from their homes.
They had no choice but to leave their loved ones behind.
Should they return in victory one day
they hope to find that spring is still in season and their homes are intact.
Sister Bai.
Some new fabric with nice patterns was sent over.
Let's pick some out to make new clothes.
You will soon be married.
My family is at least the biggest silk merchant in Jiangnan Region.
You can't just wear such a plain white outfit.
Ping Ting, let's just go for a walk.
Since Prince of Zhenbei brought you here
you haven't even left this room.
All right then.
Let's go.
Great General gave orders for Miss Bai to stay in the room until the wedding.
The imperial decree for the marriage will arrive today.
Would you make my Sister Bai get married without a gown?
There are so many thing to prepare for a bride before the wedding.
Can you take the responsibility
if Sister Bai can't get on the wedding sedan?
Let's go.
All right now, don't make things difficult for the guards.
We will see what we can do when the general gets here.
Should anything happen to me in Hua Residence
the guards will be held responsible.
Ping Ting!
This is a wedding, not an imprisonment.
You will get sick if you stay indoors all day.
And you! Look at you!
You have my house all fenced up!
Are you still worried that she can escape from here?
Step aside!
- This... - What should we do?
Inform General Mo Ran right away.
Madam has gone toward the textile room.
- Do we need more men to follow her? - Yes.
This way, please.
General, after you.
General, you...
General...
All right.
Wang Qi! Wang Ba!
You are all dismissed.
- Yes. - Yes.
This is our prince's birth date card.
We will leave this matter to you.
What His Highness wants is to simplify all ceremonial rituals.
The proposal, engagement, and such are to be done today.
We will come for the bride on the third day.
Three...
We are military men.
Please forgive our manners.
I will...
I wouldn't dare think so.
Is it really all right to have someone married in my daughter's name?
His Highness is marrying Miss Bai.
His Majesty wants him to marry Miss Hua.
- Yes. - Hence...
Miss Bai has to be Miss Hua.
The daughter of the Hua family.
Since you took her in as your goddaughter
how is she married in the name of your daughter?
General, although that is true...
- Master Hua. - But the Hua family... I...
If I remember correctly, the Hua family has been
royal silk merchants for three generations.
- Yes, three. - Do you want an easy life
or will you defy orders?
You should know how to weigh your pros and cons.
Yes! Yes, I do!
General Mo Ran.
Does she behave differently?
No.
Our future Madam has a mind that is hard to read.
Get our men to keep a close eye on her.
The decree for the marriage will arrive soon.
Nothing must go wrong.
Yes.
Young Mistress.
Sister Bai, look.
I planted all these flowers.
It's the first time that they have bloomed so well.
Over there and there as well.
Are they pretty?
Ping Ting, look.
They are all decorating the residence.
They are preparing for the wedding bestowed by the king. Do you like it?
- Young Mistress. - Get back to work.
Sister Bai, I'll show you around over there.
- Sure. - Move it to that side.
- Put those here! - Here, take these.
- All right. - Is this all right?
- Get me a lantern. - Sister Bai.
Isn't our courtyard huge?
Look over there.
That is the gallery.
Hang it up here.
Be careful when you hang it up.
Look at those trees!
We had them transported from foreign lands.
All the flowers and stone sculptures are done by the best craftsmen.
Are they pretty?
Sister Bai?
Sister Bai!
- Let's go. - Sure.
Sister Bai, you've never seen such a huge dyeing room?
Look!
Look over there.
These are all made with the best materials.
We finish the production process in here.
It's an elaborate division of work.
Sister Bai, we'll have a look over there.
The final product is out.
Do you like them?
Touch them.
It's because of such fine silk that the merchants in the Western Regions
wanted to invest in merchants of the Central Plains.
It means that people in Western Regions like our silk, right?
My father said so as well.
He said that if any king could start a trade route into the Western Regions
he could have the world.
The terrains of the nine states...
Positions of mountains and rivers...
Those who seek it are chosen by the gods of the heavens.
Since ancient times, that is the calling of a king.
I'd like the beauty to use the brush and name the region.
[Gaochang]
The capital of the Western Regions.
Land of abundance.
Should there be a day when routes are connected to the Western Regions
and goods are shipped across Tengri Tagh Mountains
merchants would no longer have to go through hardships and heavy snow.
Those banished could return to their hometowns.
Ping Ting.
Ping Ting, we shall live out our years together
so your wish will also be that of mine.
Promise?
Promise.
Ping Ting?
What is the matter?
I'm all right.
It just brought back some memories.
Ping Ting, pick out a few fabrics that you like.
We can make your wedding gown after we get your measurements today.
When Prince of Zhenbei comes here
you can also show it to him.
He will surely like it very much to see you so beautifully dressed.
Ping Ting?
Why are you displeased?
My mother said that marriage matters the most to a woman.
From now on
your happiness and sorrow are all in the hands of your husband.
Let's go.
Hua Residence is guarded air-tight.
There is only one way to get out of this place.
I remember that in Jin State the bride should prepare
a plain outfit for her husband as an engagement gift.
Exactly.
Don't worry, we already had that made for you.
Can I take a look at it?
Of course!
I thought that you're not willing to marry Great General.
The imperial decree is here!
- The imperial decree is here! - The imperial decree?
The decree for the bestowed marriage is here.
I didn't think it would be so soon.
Ping Ting.
Once the decree is read
you will truly become the wife of the general.
By the mandate of the gods, will of the people, and law of Great Jin
General Protector Chu Bei Jie
excels in both civil and military services
contributes to the safety of our nation and border.
He is the pillar of Jin State.
He was conferred with the hereditary title Prince of Zhenbei.
He has reached a marriageable age.
A virtuous woman is chosen as his spouse.
It's been known that law-abiding merchant Hua's daughter
is virtuous, gentle, and fair.
She is a compatible match for Prince of Zhenbei.
Hence she will be conferred as Princess Consort of Zhenbei.
The wedding date shall be chosen on another day.
10 vessels of pearls are bestowed as a gracious gift of the king.
Commoner thanks His Majesty and accepts the decree!
Yes, yes.
Here.
- Master Hua. - Don't...
You're too kind.
Master Hua, you're now the prince's father-in-law.
Your identity is now different from what you used to be.
It's getting some good luck from the Hua family for me to help you up.
- Right? - Yes, you should get some good luck.
Good luck it is.
Eunuch Wang.
This...
- Sure, sure. - Just a small token.
[In Puban City]
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