General and I (A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to Be Appreciated / 孤芳不自赏)

Prince Consort, this way, please.

Prince Consort, these are the remains of the ship.

Young Master, how is it?

This is too severely damaged.

No traces can be found.

Prince Consort.

There are 14 corpses.

12 of them are identified.

They are the 12 water bandits of Hexi.

These water bandits are notorious in the west of the river.

They take lives as easily as they would pick one's pockets.

Who knew that they would be killed here?

The fishermen said that it was very windy on the river

the day when the ship was on fire.

They just saw a spark and the ship was then aflame.

They could even hear yelling on the ship.

Then there was a thunder-like sound and the ship exploded in flames.

Then it...

When I got here to take a look

these 14 corpses were already burned beyond recognition.

Open it.

Do you like it?

What did General Gui Yan investigate here?

Reporting to Prince Consort.

I didn't meet General Gui Yan.

They must still be alive.

Take care, Prince Consort.

Here.

Young Master.

We already searched all along the shore, but we didn't find anything.

Both of them must be alive.

It's just that we couldn't find any clues.

Young Master, isn't it good that Sister Ping Ting isn't dead?

I'd rather she be dead than in the arms of Chu Bei Jie.

Prince Consort!

Prince Consort!

Prince Consort!

Greetings to Prince Consort! I've finally found you!

The princess ordered me to pass on a message to Prince Consort.

Her Highness will arrive in Huarong in two days.

Why is the princess coming to Huarong?

Her Highness took Prime Minister's advice to visit Jin State through Huarong.

Prime Minister Gui is too cocky.

It's unsafe in Jin State now.

He showed no regard for Her Highness's safety by advising her to visit now!

Where is the princess?

I'll go and fetch her now.

Prince Consort, fret not.

Her Highness said that she will meet you in Huarong.

Huarong?

Where would Her Highness stay in Huarong?

Prime Minister arranged for her to stay at his private manor.

- Prime Minister's private manor? - Exactly.

Master Pao!

You've traveled long and far.

It's been hard on you.

- General Gui, finally. - This way, please.

Young Master.

Where have we seen him before?

We know him?

Master Pao, this way.

Let's talk inside. Let's go.

I remember it now.

Isn't that He Da Pao?

He's the richest arms dealer in Great Yan.

Why would he show up at the Gui family's private manor?

Let's go and take a look.

General Gui is too polite.

You're too polite.

You even prepared so much good food.

Let's drink. Here.

A great sight to behold, fantastic wine and beautiful women.

Young general.

You really do lead a good life.

What am I compared to Master Pao?

You make a vessel of gold a day.

I usually lead a thrifty life.

Only when Master Pao visits am I a bit extravagant!

When do I make a vessel of gold a day?

General, you should know how things are.

It is now utterly chaotic in the world.

When there's a change in the dynasties and reigns

it's always the merchants who have a hard time.

Here.

Everything and everyone in a new reign is new.

Everything needs to be taken care of.

As for me, I am His Majesty'smoney pouch.

When he runs short of money, he reaches into my pockets.

Be good.

Whatever money I made, I have to give it away.

Life really is tough.

I don't even wish to keep running my business anymore.

I might as well go home to farm.

Master Pao, please don't.

Am I not here to offer you money today?

Carry them in!

Open and show them to Master Pao.

What does General mean by this?

How could we not treat Master Pao generously?

Please accept this small token of ours.

General Gui's hospitality is too much to reject.

I will then have to accept it.

Take them away for Master Pao.

You may all step out now.

General is so generous.

What is the matter?

Master Pao, most of the money Bai Lan State spent annually on

purchasing military supplies went into your pockets.

We've paid our fees and now Bai Lan State is in trouble

Yan State can't just sit on the sidelines.

You're referring to dragging Jin State's army here to fight against Liang?

Master Pao, you're a sensible man.

Jin State's army is very powerful.

How could we dare to offend them?

I heard that Chu Bei Jie was killed on his way back.

Whoever did it, Bai Lan State will be implicated anyway.

This grudge between us and Great Jin won't go away.

Ever since our princess returned

my father has been worried sick because of her.

However, she listens to no one but that foreign pretty boy.

See, she's made a blunder now.

That pretty boy you mentioned is a wanted criminal of Great Yan!

The princess sleeps with him every day, so she certainly won't end well.

You won't be able to lay a finger on him.

Our king will surely take care of him in one day.

Exactly, Master Pao.

Give me some advice.

Don't worry.

Our Majesty will help Bai Lan State.

The key lies in staying faithful once you've chosen your ally.

Have you not heard that after Chu Bei Jie was killed

Jin State is in chaos now?

It's hard to tell if Sima Hong will live a day longer.

Don't keep thinking about getting one hand full

but eyeing the embrace of another.

Yes, Master Pao.

Our king said that we will take over those passes you opened up to Jin State.

Master Pao! I can't make such a decision.

You're not in the place to make decisions?

There's no point in wasting my breath on you.

My time is very precious.

Master Pao!

Master Pao! I've already given you the money.

You have to get the deal done!

Should Jin State attack us, you will have to deploy your army!

Master Pao!

I now finally understand why Gui Chang Qing is reluctant to go to war.

All these years, he's actually spent so much money

purchasing weapons from Great Yan.

In fact, he's submitting protection fees to King of Yan through He Da Pao.

It isn't just that.

The Gui family has controlled Bai Lan State's finances for years.

Both Bai Lan State and Yan State must have benefited from the deal.

If so, after all this exploiting of the military funds

who knows what weapons he actually bought

and how many of them?

None of that is known.

If anyone actually looks into what the military has

who knows if Bai Lan State really has any military supplies?

I knew that the Gui family monopolizes Bai Lan State

but little did I expect it to come to such a great scale.

Isn't Huarong Gui Chang Qing's hometown?

The princess will arrive in Huarong in only two days.

We should make the best out of these two days

to investigate Gui Chang Qing.

Why have you returned if Brother Bei Jie and Sister Bai didn't?

If it really was just like what those people said on the streets

I...

I will drive you out of here!

Are you just going to keep nagging?

I already told you that His Highness and Madam are fine!

Moreover, His Majesty isn't that sort of a person.

His Majesty... His Majesty has already gone crazy!

It wasn't azoth he's been taking.

It's poison!

Miss Zui Ju, do you believe just anything you hear?

How could you believe those rumors?

Is your brain working?

Do you know that there's no smoke without fire?

I wonder how Sister Bai and Brother Bei Jie are.

Whether they are dead or alive...

Why are you still standing here?

Go and look for them now! Go!

Enough! How am I to look for them?

Listen up. I'm a military man.

I can't take any action without orders from His Highness.

You... Why are you so rigid?

What matters more? A military command or their lives?

Some Chu Mo Ran you are.

Chu Mo Ran indeed!

You're like a block of wood!

Who's a block of wood? You are!

What are you doing?

I... I didn't do anything.

What are you laughing at?

Who are you?

What is it? You don't recognize me already?

Brother Bei Jie! Sister Bai!

You're still alive! This is wonderful!

They aren't dead! This is great!