♫ The ones standing on the top of the thistles and thorns to look up ♫
♫ will see through vicissitudes of life ♫
♫ In this city where both good and evil are hiding from each other, ♫
♫ I will survive with you ♫
♫ That ray of light guides me to overcome sorrow with its brightness ♫
♫ That time when I bumped into you it means you're my destiny ♫
♫ Desires wear down the edges and corners of my heart and laugh at forever-losing leniency ♫
♫ I insist on being the grain which cannot be burn down by the wildfire ♫
♫ to feed the love ♫
♫ Standing in the center of the surges, wind are my thoughts ♫
♫ Rain is the hunting ground urging the horse to fight back ♫
♫ Lift up my head to look at the nonreturnable times at a distance ♫
♫ The torch in front of my eyes is surging ♫
♫ The sky is getting darker and darker ♫
♫ The path is getting longer and longer, I know hearts cannot waver ♫
♫ Whoever dares to be a king during the chaos of the world ♫
♫ will surely stop evil with all his might ♫
♫ Then there is hope ♫
[Princess Agents]
- Episode 4 -
The bad guy is here!
The bad guy is here! The bad guy is here!
Get lost.
There is a flaw.
You, yourself, are a flaw.
All everyone knows is that your grandfather is not your real grandfather and that he is very strict with you. But I know
that he is the only family you care about.
If your grandfather is really dead,
wouldn't you be vomiting blood, not changing clothes and not bathing, with disheveled hair, and your whole body emitting a stinky smell?
But at the moment, you look like a typical person grieving. Too typical.
You can fool others but not your best brother.
Thinking that you're smart may not be a good thing.
You clearly know that this is muddy water and you still dare to get involved. Are you not afraid that I will bring you trouble?
Sure.
If you need any help in the future, just say it.
I still am able to handle the internal battle and killings within our Yuwen clan.
I am actually very unwilling to get involved in the internal fights of clans.
And also, I am able to see clearly who are the jackals, wolves, tigers, and panthers (dangerous people).
I just don't want to be on the same team as them.
I just want to be that freely flying hawk above the grasslands of the western region. How about you? What do you want to be?
My choice...
is always when I have no other choice.
Oh, right. I heard that Yuwen Xi is planning to personally visit you,
the overly-grieving young master of the Qingshan House.
And also, using the excuse of being your elder, he plans to place someone at your side.
Be careful.
You have such great luck with women, but you only have this kind of reaction?
Hey, tell me. What lady do you like?
Sweet like the little girls selling malt candies or some family's noble and elegant lady?
Or could it be a little spicy lady in the brothel?
In terms of women, I also don't have a choice.
Then is that little wild cat doing well?
Mr. Cold is indeed cold.
Isn't this the secret medicine for wounds of the Yuwen Clan?
It's mine now.
Heir Apparent, that medicine is very precious and expensive. Our young lord can't even bear to use it.
It's enough that I can bear to use it.
Xiaoba, what is that?
This is the important item that Sister Zhixiang has been keeping on behalf of Older Sister Six.
Huh? Why haven't you given it to Older Sister Six yet?
What do you know? This item might be related to Older Sister Six's real identity.
Now that Older Brother Five is dead and Sister Zhixiang is also dead...
Xiaoba, don't you want Older Sister Six to find her real family?
I didn't say so.
Older Sister Six, you're back?
Yeah.
Ah, Older Sister Six, that—
So this is where the servants live?
Yes. Yes.
- You come often? - No.
Oh...
Move aside.
Leave! Leave!
Get lost!
Hurry and take her away!
What are you all doing? What are you doing? What basis do you have to arrest my Older Sister Six?
Madame Song is missing. Someone saw you all last night fighting by the side of the pond.
I suspect that this matter has something to do with you.
I must take you back with me to loosen your joints and muscles and make you say the truth.
Jing Xiaoliu, I advise you to just obediently go back with me.
Or else, these two younger sisters of yours
will suffer pain.
Master Siliu, what are you saying? You also said so. We are just some young brats.
How could the disappearance of Madame Song have something to do with us? She might have fled.
If you take us back for interrogation, what can you get from us? Moreover,
if you want to arrest someone, shouldn't you at least have some evidence first?
That's right.
Do I still need evidence just to arrest you? My words are evidence.
- Take her away! - Let's go.
Such arrogant words.
I was just punishing some servants. Sorry to have disturbed Heir Apparent Yan Xun.
You didn't disturb me. But with such an imposing manner, you really made me see you in a new light.
You're overpraising me and making me scared.
Why don't you teach me, too?
I wouldn't dare. I wouldn't dare.
A few days ago, someone gave me a very good horse that came from far away.
He doesn't even touch the ground when he moves. When he gallops, he flies. A really exquisite horse.
But today, he was dispirited and listless, with no energy at all. I asked the doctor and he said it was because the weather is too hot.
I concluded that it must be because someone was envious that I have such a good horse,
so he played a trick behind my back.
What do you think?
Whatever Heir Apparent says surely is correct.
Then there must be someone indeed who played a trick behind my back.
Heir Apparent is really wise.
It will be easy to handle then.
You two, drag him out.
Hit him with planks 100 times and if he still is alive, drag him back to see me.
No, Master Heir Apparent, why are you punishing me?
My horse got harmed and I concluded that it was done by you. So you must be punished.
Master Heir Apparent, I never went to your manor. How could it have been me?
Master Heir Apparent, you cannot accuse people with no evidence.
I still need evidence just to arrest you? My words are evidence.
Why are you all just staring blankly? Feng Mian, just punish him here.
Master Heir Apparent.... I beg you. I won't do it anymore.
Master Heir Apparent, I beg you...
Lady from the Jing family... I beg you.
I beg you. Help me say some good words in front of Master Heir Apparent. I beg you!
I beg you! I was wrong, Lady from the Jing family.
Master Heir Apparent already said that you should quickly roll out (leave).
What? You don't want to roll? Feng Mian!
I will... will immediately roll out. Let's leave.
Thank you for saving us, Heir Apparent.
That's all?
That's all.
Don't you plan to thank me?
I already did.
That is called thanking? There isn't even a cup of tea.
Heir Apparent, look at this room of ours. Does it look like we have tea here?
I don't care. Anyway, I'm already thirsty. You two, go.
- Go and get me some tea. - Yes.
Hey, don't go. If the house manager sees it, you two might get scolded again.
Master Heir Apparent, if you want to drink tea, then go to the main house.
Surely, you will be served with good tea there. We are all just lowly servants.
We are not qualified to serve Master Heir Apparent water or tea.
Okay!
I don't care. I...
I... will just wait here.
Heir Apparent, just wait for a while. I'll go make tea now.
Let's go.
It is your little sister who has a sharper sight.
Is this how you treat your savior? Counting today, I've already saved you three times.
I am really thankful to Master Heir Apparent.
What is really wrong with you? Putting on a frowning face like that. It's as if I owe you money.
My older brother and older sister just died recently.
Even I almost died earlier.
If Heir Apparent Yan Xun wants to hear a joke from me,
forgive me for not being in the mood today.
This is good medicine to prevent scarring. Keep it and use it.
He obviously only saved me twice.
Okay, put it here.
- Put it here. - Okay.
Slowly.
Mister, he still dared to come.
Bring the item over here.
Yes.
Old Master Xi is here!
It's been more than ten years.
For more than ten years, this place still looks the same.
This Qingshan House didn't change at all.
Still looks like how it did years ago.
Back then, my Eldest Brother would be sitting here.
Exactly on this seat.
My Second Brother was sitting there while I was sitting there.
Now, even Eldest Brother is gone.
Second Brother is also gone.
I am the only one left.
Why did Grand Uncle come today?
To visit you. Now that your grandfather is gone,
this Qingshan House doesn't have a master anymore, right?
Guarding such a huge house on your own, I was afraid that you would get bullied.
Grand Uncle, you worry too much.
Although grandfather is not around anymore, I am still here.
These servants of Qingshan House are quite obedient.
There is no need for you to worry.
You cannot say it like that.
You were originally the direct heir from Household Two.
Sixteen years ago, because your mother became crazy, you were adopted temporarily by Household One.
But I checked our ancestral books.
In our family's book of descendants,
the signature from your father the Zhuguo Commander, that would verify your identity, was missing.
Then your identity as a descendant of Household One cannot count anymore.
Child, you cannot treat the Qingshan House as your own anymore.
I owe grandfather for raising me. The matters of Qingshan House,
I will still manage them.
It's not your call whether you can lead Qingshan House or not.
Of course, my words don't count.
But if it was His Majesty who ordered me to take charge of the Qingshan House, then my words count.
The imperial decree is here!
So you have someone helping you.
She even got you an imperial decree.
An outsider is showing this much care. How can I, being your elder, not show you care, too?
Yue'er, you are not young anymore and are now the master of Qingshan House.
You must need a woman to serve you, right?
Come. Come. Let me gift you one. Jinxin, come, come.
Mr. Yue.
Yue'er, why aren't you talking?
If you don't talk, I will decide for you.
It would indeed be impolite of me to refuse your good intentions.
Not only will I accept what Grand Uncle is giving me,
even those sent by my three brothers from the Second House,
the one granted to me by Zhao Jieyu, from the palace,
and all those other women that our different relatives and friends here in Chang'an are insisting on giving me,
I want them all.
Qingshan House will be full of pretty women soon. What do you think?
No way! How can a young man like you live so promiscuously?
Your health is important. Your health is important.
It's enough that I am giving you one.
All are good intentions from my elders.
How can I refuse them? What about this?
Rather than letting me choose, why not let them compete instead? The winner will be the one to serve me.
One, I am still able to accept the affection of Grand Uncle.
Second, it doesn't offend other people. What do you think?
I am an expert in choosing beautiful women.
Other than Jinxin, all bronze and silver bell servants must join.
They're the ones who were always around you. Let's not treat them unfairly, so as not to miss out on a precious pearl.
Sure.
Anyone who wants to join can join.
Are you satisfied now?
Of course.
The more lively it is here,
the more I'm satisfied.
If he weren't an elder of the Yuwen Clan, I really would kill him.
Yue Qi, inform everyone.
I am going to choose a bed chamber maidservant.
Yes.
Old Master Zhuo was buried today. Everyone is saying that it was Linxi who caused his death.
In their eyes, the lives of Brother Linxi and Sister Zhixiang might even be inferior to a piece of paper money.
If Mr. Huai finds out about the matter with Madame Song, we will surely die.
Looks like we can't continue to stay here in Yuwen Manor. What should we do?
Mr. Yue is so cold and heartless. Old Master Zhuo just died and he is now choosing a bed chamber maidservant.
All men are the same.
Too bad that we are iron bell servants.
Or I would go join the selection. What if I was chosen? I would then kill him in his sleep and take revenge for Older Brother Five.
Only by entering Qingshan House can we hide from the claws of Yuwen Huai,
protect my little sister, and have the chance to take revenge for my loved ones.
A weak plant like that is actually able to fight against the sturdy rock.
Even if I am an iron bell, I will still try to get though it.
Next one.
What is your name?
- People from Hongshan House are also here to join? - Jinxin.
That was the person Old Master Xi insisted on including.
Since Old Master Xi already said it, it was also bad for Young Lord to refuse him. So he reluctantly accepted her, probably just to make up the numbers.
- Okay. - Even someone like that is wishing to climb up to the bed of Mister?
Just let her stay here for a day. Anyway, after the competition tomorrow, she surely won't be staying.
- Why is she here? - That's right. - She is an iron bell servant.
That's right.
Why is she here?
What are you planning on doing?
Mister.
What is it?
Mister, that little sister of Linxi, Jing Xiaoliu, also came to join the competition.
She is outside and won't budge. She said that if you don't let her join, she will keep on kneeling.
An iron bell servant also wants to join the selection? She is overestimating her abilities.
Just let her kneel as long as she wants.
Yes.
♫ I can't learn to admit defeats, maybe I can only bear them ♫
♫ It's hard to know the cruel of a human's heart, let me dare to rise and fall ♫
♫ I can't see the path ahead clearly, I can only take a step forward ♫
♫ Even if the game ends, I still have all my pride ♫
Mister already said that only bronze and silver bell servants can join the selection.
No matter how long an iron bell servant like you kneels, it won't work.
♫ Who protects his belief, is also someone who wants to be protected ♫
Fine. Let's see how long you can last.
♫ Before the sunset, I hope for your big smile ♫
♫ To bestow warmth upon my fingertips while being tossed about by the wind and rain ♫
♫ I can't learn to back off a little. I fall and am wounded horribly ♫
♫ There is sorrow, happiness, joyfulness, and anger in my life but I've only cried for you ♫
♫ I can't see the path ahead clearly, I can only take a step forward ♫
♫ Even if the game ends, I still have all my pride ♫
♫ I can't forget because I care too much, I'd rather to be lost on the earth ♫
♫ Whose naivety and blindness are toppled by another's tenderness and softness? ♫
♫ Before the sunset, I hope for your big smile ♫
♫ While being tossed about by the wind and rain ♫
You still won't leave? Why are you still here?
If you won't leave, I will have to carry you out.
Wait!
Why did you come?
I am Jing Xiaoliu. I am earnestly asking Mister to have mercy
and let me join the competition to serve Mister.
Lift up your head.
Give me one reason why I should make you an exception.
As long as I stay in Mister's life,
I can preserve my life.
That is your reason?
If you want to stay in Qingshan House, there is only one path.
Become my bed chamber maidservant.
Yes.
Do you know what it means to serve by the bed chamber?
Replying to Mister, I don't know.
Will you be able to cater to your master's pleasure in his bed?
Yes.
You personally saw me kill your older brother
and are still willing to serve by my bed,
where has your pride gone? Tell me.
I don't have the right to talk about pride.
I only beg Mister to give me a path to survive.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers Team @ Viki.com
Yue Qi,
spread my order to allow iron bell servant, Jing Xiaoliu,
- to join the selection this time. - Yes.
Get up now, recuperate, and join the selection tomorrow.
Come in.
Mister.
What is it?
I have something to report. I just received news.
Yuwen Yue made an exception and let that Jing Xiaoliu,
that brat who kept foiling our plans,
join the maidservant competition.
Jing Xiaoliu?
That girl...
Just kill her to avoid further trouble.
Mister, I still have another thing to report.
- Say it. - Yes.
The cook in our manor reported to me that on the night that Madame Song went missing,
the three Jing sisters had an argument with Madame Song by the pond.
Afterwards, she heard someone falling into the water.
Then why didn't you report this to me immediately? Were you planning something else?!
No. No. Mister, I wouldn't dare. I wouldn't dare.
- I just felt that Mister had been very busy lately. I wouldn't dare— - Don't say it anymore.
Just those indecent affairs of yours, you think I don't know?
No such thing. No. No. Mister, have mercy!
- Mister... - Enough...
This little girl... even Madame Song was unable to deal with her.
She isn't some normal person.
Mister. Thank you, Mister.
Mister, I feel that if Jinzhu is not successful in front of Yuwen Yue,
we can send Jing Xiaoliu instead.
We can treat her as a card.
And also, Yuwen Yue killed her older brother, Linxi.
She will surely look for a chance to seek revenge.
Let us just wait and see a good show.
Sister, it is still your beauty that stands out from the crowd.
Idiot is here. Idiot is here.
- Idiot is here. Idiot is here. - How come she is here? - That's right.
Fool. Fool.
Who are you calling a fool?
Although this chain of yours is gold, you also don't have freedom like me.
You must be very bored.
Sister is a good person. Sister is a good person.
I am free now! I am free now!
Aren't you being too bold?!
- She didn't even think of her status first. - That's right. - What is she thinking?
You dare to touch my clothes!?
Mister is here! Mister is here!
What a scandal for you two to dress like this. Hurry up and change your clothes.
Mister, although this girl has no knowledge of martial arts, but she has quick reflexes and reacts fast.
She didn't waste a single move. She is indeed good for learning martial arts.
Mister, this is the name list from the old master of Household Three.
Playing all kinds of instruments and singing. Entertaining others with musical theatrics. There is nothing they're not good at.
- What do you think? - I want a personal bedchamber maidservant.
I do not want a brothel prostitute!
Mister has given the order! The test today is to select a person who can make tea,
knows how to serve ink and pen, and knows how to play chess.
There are three rounds. Those who lose two rounds in a row will be disqualified.
Those who make it to the end will go through one more test to decide the winner.
The white player goes first.
The black player can also go first.
Go on!
Why are you two not moving?
I don't quite understand.
You don't understand? Then you'll be disqualified.
Aren't there two more rounds?
How could these maid servants from outside compare to your tea-making skills, Older Sister?
You will definitely win.
That's right. I didn't learn my tea-making skills in vain.
Next group.
- Nothing will go wrong with Qingshan House if we go in and take one look! - Just one look!
Go away! Hurry and leave!
Heir Apparent Yan Xun!
You two can follow me in.
Please, Heir Apparent. Please, young misses.
Good! The first step of tea-making is the art of water!
In order to drink tea, water must be chosen. This girl knows to use fresh well water.
She has the aura of a recluse living in a bamboo forest. Not bad.
Mr. Cold, I'm seeing redness on your cheeks today. You're having trouble with beautiful women.
Then Heir Apparent, hurry and admire the flowers.
- Prepare a seat. - I'll take you up on your offer.
Who made this tea?
It was me.
Tell me. How did you brew this tea?
Mister, please look. I used well water to brew the tea.
But afternoon water is too fiery.
So I used mint leaf to brew it together.
It managed to brew away the fierceness of the water.
Good.
Has guts but also has a detailed heart. Learns on the spot and uses it immediately.
Shouldn't she win this round?
Heir Apparent has opened his golden mouth. It is settled then.
This is great!
Those who lost two consecutive rounds must leave immediately.
What's next?
This is a piece of Buddha scripture in Sanskrit.
I will give you one incense stick's time to memorize it.
You will have another incense stick's time to write it down.
Let's see who can perfectly, without a single error,
write down this scripture by memory.
This... This... What should we do?
Older Sister Six is illiterate!
Yes.
Time's up.
What is this girl doing?
Mister, she clearly cannot write, and doesn't know how to grind the ink for her brush.
But right now, it's obvious that she figured it out.
Mister, these two have the best results.
Who wrote this one?
It was me.
That's not possible.
She was always looking at others. She only started writing at the end!
She probably copied off of others!
She copied? Who did she copy?
Why is her's perfect, and yours are all full of mistakes?
- Perhaps... she peeked at this scripture ahead of time— - How dare you!
This is the Avatamsaka sutra of the Huayan school, which was brought here yesterday by Ba Luo Tuo, Zen master of Tianzhu.
It was his first time stepping into Northern Wei and Avatamsaka sutra of the Huayan school has never been revealed.
By accusing her of cheating, are you saying our Qingshan house has poor security?
I would not dare to!
Tell me. Why didn't you sign your name?
Perhaps, she really is illiterate.
If she is illiterate, how can she serve Mister?
I did not hear the rules say that we had to sign our name.
The rules just said we had one incense stick's time to memorize, and one incense stick's time to write it down.
You're twisting the words and forcing logic.
I did not do that. I am just following orders.
The rules said that, and so that is what I did.
Is there something wrong with that?
All right. I will give you one more chance.
If you can sign your name, I will consider you the winner.
- Will you keep your word? - Of course.
A man must keep his word once he says it.
The winner today is Jing Xiaoliu!
This is wonderful!
- Everyone can leave! - Yes.
How impolite. Why are you standing there?
Tell me. Why did you want to become my bedchamber maidservant?
Mister, I promised my Elder Sister that I'd take care of my little sisters.
Is it worth it?
Of course it is.
Okay. Then I will promise you.
If you can pass all my tests, I am able to spare them.
Thank you, Mister.
Come and help me shave.
Yes.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers Team @ Viki.com
♫ The wild wind blows the moonlight into confusion ♫
♫ My life is like being expelled, the flame is hidden in my heart ♫
♫ Who will laugh at my rough interior ♫
♫ My wings are destroyed by fate ♫
♫ I fall into the bottomless abyss, memories are sealed ♫
♫ The wind and snowfall are unbridled ♫
♫ Even if I am trampled, I won't look up to you ♫
♫ What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger ♫
♫ This breathing is heat, this heartbeat is light ♫
♫ Bit by bit, it brews the power for all my life ♫
♫ The boiling in my eyes lights up the hope ♫
♫ No matter how many wounds I have ♫
♫ I'm willing to burn the flame in my heart to shine through everywhere ♫
♫ To melt the coldness of the secular world ♫
♫ if only the bright moon knows my thoughts ♫
♫ If there is a long path and eternal darkness, so what? ♫
♫ I want the boundless flame of the heart to be boiling again ♫
♫ To burn into a light ray of the horizon ♫
♫ I'm reborn after a fire bath, fragrance fills the heaven and the earth ♫
♫ The red spider lily blooms again ♫
♫ To burn into a light ray of the horizon ♫
♫ The red spider lily blooms again ♫