Till The End of The Moon (2023) s01e02 Episode Script

1
Rest well, Ms. Xiwu.
I'll be next door
if you need me.
Father,
I'm pretty much settled here.
I hope it puts your mind at ease.
As for the Devil God,
I have found him.
However,
I can't kill him yet
to stop the Devil God from manifesting.
The good thing is
that he is still a weak mortal.
Anyway, I made him kneel in the snow.
That will be enough punishment for now.
The wind is picking up.
I suppose
it's going to be a long night.
It's really windy out there.
Is he going to be all right?
Father, Uncle Zhaoyou, and Jiwu,
I'm not doing anything wrong, am I?
He's actually still on his knees.
When did I fall asleep?
Ms. Xiwu, you're awake.
The wind was howling so loud last night.
Did you sleep well?
What is he still doing here?
Do you see?
Isn't this his third day?
Tough guy, that one.
That's what he gets
for angering Ms. Xiwu.
I'm pretty sure he's faking it.
He's unpopular here.
If he didn't play the victim,
his life would be much harder.
Thank you so much, Ms. Ye.
-Ms. Ye has the kindest soul.
-Be careful.
She comes on the 1st
and 15th of every month
to give porridge to people in need,
rain or shine.
-Here you go.
-I'll go to the temple tomorrow to pray.
-May she and Prince Lin be married soon.
-Here. No problem.
May they have a big family!
You're welcome.
Ms. Bingchang, Prince Lin sent Zhong Tai
to drop off a letter last night.
-He said he is free today.
-You're welcome.
He would come to help out.
-He should be here any minute.
-Careful.
-I'll take over. Go tidy up.
-Thank you.
That isn't necessary.
-There's more.
-Here.
-Thank you, Ms. Ye.
-Zhong Tai also told me.
They had military training yesterday.
-They ran into Ms. Xiwu in the suburbs.
-Here.
That crazy woman
still won't give up on Prince Lin.
Mind your language.
You're welcome.
Xiwu is a married woman.
The fiasco
will only further tarnish her reputation
in the capital.
Make sure that this gossip
doesn't reach Grandmother and Father.
Ms. Bingchang!
-Don't worry about her.
-You're welcome.
-She pushed you into a lake the other day.
-You're welcome.
You got a cold.
Yet she got away unpunished.
Do not speak of it again.
-Here.
-Thank you, Ms. Ye.
-You're welcome.
-Clean this up.
Prince Lin is here!
I should get going.
Bingchang.
I've waited so long to see you.
Don't go just yet.
The sun is setting.
I'm going to get nagged
if I get home late.
Pardon my discourtesy.
I've been training troops
outside the capital.
Your father, General Ye,
created the majority
of the Sheng military's rules.
Upon my return,
I wished to spend more time with you.
Little did I know,
the Ye family's rules are even stricter.
Your Highness,
we do indeed have strict rules.
I've grown used to it.
They aren't strict enough
to control Ms. Xiwu.
She even had the Jing hostage prince
kneel in the snow.
Is Tantai Jin kneeling in the snow?
Although he is a hostage prince,
he is still a prince of the Jing Kingdom.
How could Ye Xiwu do that to him?
Forget it.
Ye Xiwu is not a rational person.
You haven't fully recovered yet.
Go home and get some rest.
Right.
I'll take my leave now.
Your vicious wife has forced you
to kneel here
for four days now.
You will die like this.
Don't you get it?
She wants you dead!
Ms. Xiwu!
Ms. Xiwu!
Xiwu,
I know what happened earlier by the lake
was unintentional.
It was intentional.
Look at you.
All dressed up for Prince Lin's visit,
only to end up being soaked through.
What a shame for you.
How does it feel?
Xiwu,
why are you doing this to me?
I have done nothing to hurt you.
Please! Say that to Prince Lin.
I don't know what you have done to him
to make him go crazy over you.
He hardly ever looks at me.
Let's not forget Tantai Jin,
my unfaithful husband.
He has fallen prey to your charm too.
Since he loves
being the center of attention,
I'll grant him his wish.
And if he dies in the process,
all I have to do is inform Grandmother.
Ye Bingchang, I'll just level with you.
Tantai Jin is in his last days of life.
There's nothing you can do to change that.
And with the two of you gone,
I'm sure Prince Lin will like me.
What a heartless and wicked woman.
Someone is coming.
Why are there crows
flying around the house all the time?
It's such a bad omen.
It started with Mr. Tantai's arrival.
The sun has set again.
It's the dead of winter.
If he stays out there,
he may not live to see tomorrow.
As much as he deserves it,
I can't risk his evil bone coming back
or there will be hell to pay.
Mr. Tantai, I'm terribly sorry.
I didn't see you admiring the moon there.
Yes, we didn't mean to get you wet.
Come on, let's go.
It's freezing cold.
He is just a mortal man.
And he's soaked.
He's not going to make it.
Ms. Xiwu,
it's cold out here.
Go back inside.
No need for you
to come and watch me suffer.
I didn't come here for that.
I just…
I just…
Just what?
I just wanted to check if you were dead.
I would hate to collect your corpse.
Even if I die,
I'm sure you won't have to do it yourself.
Many in this world want me dead.
Probably more than I care to admit.
They might even flood in here
to congratulate you on my death.
You don't actually think
those words will make me pity you, do you?
Pity me?
Goodness, he's in bad shape.
He really will die like this.
Screw it.
You will pay for this later.
This cloak is so ugly.
I don't want it anymore.
You can have it.
I couldn't possibly.
It's yours.
But if you don't like it,
you may have Chuntao toss it tomorrow.
You…
Will there be anything else?
See, Li Susu?
He is not a creature
made of flesh and bone.
You expressed sympathy for him,
yet he was sarcastic in return.
He doesn't deserve your kindness.
Not while he's still breathing.
So save the empathy
and do something meaningful.
Patience is the key to success.
No doubt he is worthy of death,
but he is the key to the future
of the Four Continents and Three Realms.
Tantai Jin!
Drop the act.
This won't make me feel bad for you.
Why does this scenario seem so familiar?
Is this where he died
and morphed into a demon?
Tantai Jin!
Wake up!
Chuntao!
Chuntao!
Ms. Xiwu,
were you asking for me?
Yes, come in quickly!
Ms. Xiwu, is this a dream?
Or are you not right in the head?
What are you talking about?
Go boil some water! Quick!
He's dying!
Go!
Ms. Xiwu,
why were you clinging to Mr. Tantai?
Well, we are a married couple.
Don't human husbands and wives
sleep together in the same bed?
Human?
Go check the water temperature.
All right.
It's comfortably warm, Ms. Xiwu.
All right, Chuntao, you're dismissed.
Yes, Ms. Xiwu.
Did Ye Xiwu do all this to him?
If I had known he was this fragile,
I wouldn't have staked the future
of the Four Continents and Three Realms
just to get even with him.
Wake up.
Please. You're the Devil God.
Don't die. Think about
the Four Continents and Three Realms.
Tantai Jin, you pitiful man.
It's you again.
You're always there
whenever death comes knocking.
I never left.
I know.
You're inside of me.
Do you want my body?
Now is not the time.
Don't fret.
Then when will it be?
Have you run out of patience?
But I don't blame you.
For the past 20 years and more,
this body has given you nothing but pain,
hunger, coldness, humiliation,
and helplessness.
One of these days,
you will be free from the flesh.
Offer me your soul
and you will find eternal peace.
It doesn't matter.
Be it my body
or my soul,
you can have them
if you like.
I couldn't care less.
Have a bit more patience, Tantai Jin.
You must experience all mortal hardships
and drown in endless bitterness.
You will walk a dark and cursed path.
There is no escaping the pain.
And when you are at the peak of suffering
and approach the end of life,
I will come for you
and accept your offerings.
The moon 500 years ago
shone so much brighter.
Too bad that the Devil God's descension
blanketed the earth with a foul fog.
I haven't seen the moon in so long.
"Born from an evil origin
with an evil bone in him."
Where is that bone located?
What does it look like?
I wonder which of these is the evil one.
They all feel pretty normal to me.
What are you doing?
You're awake.
Ye Xiwu,
what are you up to this time?
It doesn't concern you.
Now that you're up,
don't play dead in there.
Go get dressed at once.
Where are you going?
To the lake.
It's still dark outside.
No, don't go.
Stop right there!
You're not going to the lake.
Not today, not ever.
Why?
You're my husband.
Kneeling out there with so many onlookers
is only going to embarrass me.
Well, I'm sorry.
I'm tired. I'm going to sleep.
Don't talk to me.
Father,
I guess you didn't expect
that I would have to sleep
with the Devil God
when you sent me here.
Why are you standing over there?
Do it.
Get it over with so I can go to bed too.
Do what?
The things that you do to me every night,
of course.
Have you forgotten?
Shoot.
He can't find out who I really am.
Please.
How could I forget?
Hang on. I'm a little parched.
Chuntao,
get me some tea!
Chuntao, help me remember.
What exactly is it
that Tantai Jin and I do every night?
You beat him.
You have become rather moody
after marrying him,
so you whip him every night before bed
to vent your anger.
Is she a psychopath?
Where is the whip?
It's under your mattress.
And how many times?
Well, I guess
it depends on your mood.
This is such a long whip.
Ye Xiwu does have a twisted mind.
Li Susu,
you can do this, right?
You slayed demons without blinking an eye.
This is for the Devil God
that you will turn into in 500 years.
Devil God,
you deserve this.
Li Susu, what are you doing?
He is not yet the Devil God.
All these beatings, insults,
bullying, and torture
can't stop the Devil God from coming.
What it really does is
make you feel worse.
I'm tired.
I'm calling it a night.
Go to bed.
Tantai Jin.
Tantai Jin?
Tantai Jin.
Tantai Jin!
Tantai Jin!
He's burning up.
Oh, no!
He knelt in the snow for four days
and was whipped.
It was too much for a mortal like him.
Li Susu, what have you done?
Chuntao!
Chuntao!
Chuntao, are you awake?
Chuntao!
Ms. Xiwu, the potion is ready.
Is there anything else?
No, that's it.
I mean it this time, Chuntao.
Go back to bed.
Tantai Jin.
Tantai Jin.
Here, drink this.
He's in a daze from the fever.
Do the mortal world's herbs even work?
Open your mouth.
He's still burning.
Whenever I had a fever as a child,
Father put a cool washcloth
on my forehead.
You're finally awake.
I knew this would work.
All right.
Get some rest.
I'm going to bed.
What did I do to deserve this?
She has changed after visiting the temple.
Did she get possessed
by some evil spirit?
YE MANSION
YE MANSION
Ms. Xiwu,
you should have slept in.
You were up late last night.
Where is Tantai Jin?
Apart from bearing punishment,
he typically copies sutras
in the Librarium.
He probably went early in the morning.
Tantai Jin,
you owe me a life debt
that you can't get out of.
Someday, you'll pay with your life.
Bear that in mind.
What time is it?
It's almost noon.
Mrs. Ye, Mr. Ye, and Mr. Zeyu
are waiting in the dining room.
-Ms. Xiwu.
-Ms. Xiwu.
So this is Ye Xiwu's family
that she sees every day.
If I want to stay here,
I'll need to get through this first.
This must be General Ye,
Pillar of the Sheng Kingdom,
Ye Xiwu's father.
And this must be Ye Zeyu,
Ye Xiwu's eldest brother.
As for these women,
they must be Ye Xiwu's stepmothers.
This old lady in extravagant clothes
must be Ye Xiwu's grandmother.
-Grandmother.
-What is with you?
Don't look at Chuntao
unless you want her to be punished too.
Gosh, Ye Xiwu is such a troublemaker.
What has she done this time?
Come here.
Gosh, please don't cane me on my palm.
What in God's name are you thinking,
walking around
without a cloak
in the dead of winter?
Look at her.
She's hardly wearing anything!
My poor darling.
You are surrounded
by a bunch of incompetent people.
At the end of the day,
family is all you have.
Here.
Wear this. It will keep you warm.
Thank goodness. That gave me a scare.
Now this is so much better.
Chuntao, fetch some pelts
from the storage room.
Xiwu could use
a couple more winter coats.
Certainly.
Grandmother,
I would love a white fox fur coat too.
Do you?
Ask your father for it.
Father, can I have a white fox fur coat?
In your dreams!
Have you no shame, Ye Zeyu?
As my eldest son,
you are supposed to train to fight,
guard the borders,
and contribute to the country
as your younger brother does.
Instead, you mess about with your gang,
wasting your time on having fun!
Look at you.
No decent girl in the capital
would fall for you.
-That's harsh.
-The food is getting cold.
Eat up.
Darling,
go sit by your father.
-Go.
-All right.
Easy.
Father.
Darling,
try this.
I know you've been in a bad mood lately.
I specifically ordered the kitchen staff
to make your favorite dishes.
The servants told me
that you were up late having a bath
and brewing a potion.
-You must be tired staying up all night.
-Here you go.
-Eat this.
-You must eat more to fuel up.
Right, here you go.
Here, have some more.
-Eat some meat.
-Eat this.
Don't take that personally.
So…
Have this too.
This is the familial love
-as described in books.
-Eat more.
These were made just for you.
They're all your favorite foods.
-Father, don't worry.
-Give her braised pork.
These people are good to me.
The tofu soup is amazing.
Just like you.
I understand
from the Marchioness of Order yesterday
that everyone in the capital
is talking about how Xiwu pushed Bingchang
into the water.
The news spread far and wide.
Let them talk. Words can't hurt.
It will harm her reputation.
What is done cannot be undone.
Besides, Xiwu is already married.
But Father,
before Xiwu got married last year,
you said,
"Let her throw tantrums.
She won't get to have them
after she gets married."
And now this.
How is she always right?
Keep quiet. Eat your food.
Ye Xiwu, now I know
why you are such a spoiled brat.
Actually, I've given it a lot of thought.
I shouldn't have pushed Bingchang
into the lake.
I want to go
and apologize to her today.
Mother,
are you hearing this?
Isn't Xiwu so thoughtful?
-Is this considered thoughtful?
-I know.
Xiwu has always been kind and dependable.
I'm proud to have her as my granddaughter.
These people really spoil her rotten.
You can skip the niceties though.
It's not necessary.
What if Bingchang still has a cold?
We wouldn't want you
to catch it.
-It's okay, Grandmother.
-Grandmother is right.
If Xiwu did make an apology,
it would be a slight to our sisterly bond.
Bingchang.
Sit, Xiwu.
I'm sorry, Grandmother.
I haven't felt well enough
to greet you and Father
for the past few days.
And I apologize for interrupting the meal.
I didn't think it would take me so long
to get freshened up
after giving out porridge to the needy.
You heard her, Xiwu.
Even Bingchang says so.
No apology is needed.
Bingchang,
sit next to Zeyu.
Yes, Grandmother.
No wonder Jiwu…
Prince Lin, I mean,
and Tantai Jin like her.
She's beautiful,
gentle, and has a kind soul.
Nobody could ever hate her.
I don't see Tantai Jin.
Why isn't he here eating with us?
Do you honestly think
you're one of the masters here?
You eat the food,
yet you don't help with anything.
Yes, you can't just do nothing all day.
What do you want?
What do I want?
Well, the boys and I
spent all afternoon doing chores.
There's a pile of dirty dishes over there
that has been used by the family.
I see you laze around all the time.
So do me a favor
and wash those dishes
before you eat.
-Is that okay?
-Exactly.
-That's right.
-Thank you, Mr. Tantai.
Go on, Mr. Tantai.
Go. Thank you a bunch.
Come on, guys.
Time for lunch.
Gather around.
It's lunchtime.
Yes, coming.
-Get me a bowl of rice.
-Give me the pot.
-I'll help myself.
-Here.
-Yes, all right.
-Gosh.
There.
Here you are.
So Tantai Jin hasn't eaten with us
ever since he came here.
He has his meals in the kitchen
with the servants?
That's right.
You hate his guts.
Having him around ruins your appetite.
But from what I hear,
he isn't getting enough food.
The servants take their cue from you.
They watch what you do
and they imitate.
Serves him right.
He's a devil after all.
But he keeps his distance from me.
I can hardly keep an eye on him.
Where is the kitchen?
Let me tell you something.
Some people
may seem to be in a higher social class.
But deep down, they are inferior.
That's so true.
What is it called again?
A broken-down noble.
A broken-down noble!
Even we are living
better lives than he is, aren't we?
That's right.
-Guys, let's dig in.
-Yes, come on.
-Go on, eat up.
-This smells so good.
Delicious.
I'm not going to lie.
His life is absolutely pathetic.
He may as well take his own life.
So Ye Xiwu
has been encouraging the servants
to treat Tantai Jin like a doormat.
I couldn't agree more.
He should just end his miserable life.
Go.
Delicious.
There's a fly buzzing around.
Where did it come from? It's winter.
What's wrong?
Are you okay?
Have some water.
Are you all right?
Are you okay?
I just swallowed that fly.
I can't eat anymore. Carry on.
I'm leaving too.
-You guys eat.
-Let's continue.
Come sit right here.
I'm done for the day.
What bad luck.
Come on.
Ms. Xiwu.
-Ms. Xiwu.
-What brings you here?
Look, Mr. Tantai is…
Tell me what Tantai Jin did
to be told to kill himself.
Ms. Xiwu,
I put Mr. Tantai on dish duty.
In the bucket was ice that we collected
from the frozen lake last night.
By the way,
I also splashed icy cold water on him.
He survived the cold night.
I'll make sure his hands soak long enough
that he loses his fingers!
And we didn't save him any food today.
Only a bucket of swill.
So is this how poorly
you people have been treating him?
Human beings are all equal.
But some prefer to stoop low
and be stuck in service.
They walk all over weaker people
to feel better.
Do you seriously take pleasure
in watching others struggle?
Ms. Xiwu, don't take this so seriously.
We were just trying to avenge you.
You have our absolute loyalty.
You've been utterly rude to Tantai Jin
because you know he's alone and unaided.
Should the Ye family fall one day,
you would do the same to me and my family,
wouldn't you?
-No!
-No!
-Absolutely not, Ms. Xiwu.
-Absolutely not, Ms. Xiwu.
-I'm sorry, Ms. Xiwu.
-Please forgive us.
Please forgive me, Ms. Xiwu.
-We're so sorry!
-Please forgive us!
Forgive us, Ms. Xiwu!
Do not eat that.
Ms. Xiwu,
one will die without eating.
It's awfully dirty.
Who knows what the servants put in it?
It will make you sick.
I've eaten far worse.
Why didn't you defend yourself
when they said those things to you?
You're a prince.
Why do you let them push you around?
Don't you have any dignity?
Dignity?
It means nothing to me.
For me, personally,
this bowl of rice matters more.
Ye Xiwu!
Come with me.
I cannot survive without food.
But if I had kept my dignity,
I would have died long ago.
Shut up. You're coming with me.
Eat this.
And I'll let you go.
You're too skinny and feeble.
A cold could kill you.
Now you're pulling the same trick twice.
I would be a fool to fall for it again.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Sit down.
What trick?
Make yourself clear.
You asked if I had dignity.
The truth is,
I don't think you have it either.
Fine.
If you want me to repeat myself,
I'll say it again.
I'm listening.
Your sister, Bingchang,
met up with Prince Lin
at the royal feast six months ago.
They were strolling hand in hand.
And you?
You were desperate to break them up
so you could have Prince Lin.
You got your hands on a stupefying drug
named Love Fury.
You were going to drug Bingchang
and Prince Liang,
hoping they would sleep together
under the influence.
-Unexpectedly, Prince Liang cornered me
-Prince Liang.
That was quite a feast.
Even the maids and the eunuchs
can have some exquisite food.
You had nothing to eat tonight,
hadn't you?
Lucky for you,
I have a big heart.
Have a pastry.
Thank you, Your Highness.
How clumsy.
I don't know if you have heard,
but my country and yours are at war.
If anyone reminded my father
of your existence,
he might just behead you
as a sacrifice to the gods before battle.
I've just remembered.
You like your food broken into pieces.
Is that broken up enough?
Yes.
The next thing I know,
my head started spinning.
Then you came out of nowhere
and wrapped your arms around me.
I had accidentally eaten drugged food
meant for Prince Liang.
Oddly enough,
you had eaten
the one meant for Ye Bingchang.
Many in the palace witnessed it.
Your father had no choice
but to arrange for us to tie the knot.
To celebrate the love
between the daughter of
General Ye, Pillar of the Sheng Kingdom,
and Tantai Jin,
the third prince of the Jing Kingdom,
marriage has been bestowed upon them.
Then one day, you told me the whole story.
Since then,
you've been mocking and torturing me
purely for fun.
And you have become increasingly twisted
and cruel.
Gosh, Ye Xiwu.
You are unbelievable.
So, Ms. Xiwu,
what have you done
to my food this time?
Nothing.
Really?
Are you doing all this
just to make sure I have enough to eat?
What is wrong with that?
Let me tell you something.
Don't even think about
starving yourself to death.
Now watch me.
Are you happy now?
From today on,
you will have all of your meals here.
Chuntao will bring food to you.
You will eat whatever she puts before you.
Don't you dare eat
those disgusting, nasty food scraps again.
This rice does seem safe to eat.
What has gotten into her?
I guess this is the first decent meal
that you've had at Ye Mansion.
Have you noticed
that this woman
has been a little too sane these days?
Is she going soft in the head?
Well,
maybe she has come up with other ways
to play her twisted games.
They have me.
If I die,
let's just say
they can't get away with it.
You are right.
She does behave unpredictably.
You can't stay here much longer.
The problem is,
where else can you go?
By the way,
I bumped into a couple of crows
from Jing Kingdom.
The Jing Kingdom?
I was born there.
What a coincidence.
Have you ever been to Jing Palace?
It's the worst place in the world.
They told me
they saw a shaman
performing some ritual.
They smelled a decaying body.
There were also uptight ministers
pacing the hall.
It must have been the king of Jing.
The man I ought to call Father
is dying.
I'm stuck here.
None of that is my concern anymore.
Father, I have an important report.
Lin, your timing is perfect.
I just got an urgent message.
Tantai Wuji
is at death's door.
Tantai Minglang will succeed the throne.
That hostage prince, Tantai Jin,
seems to have outlived his usefulness.
From what I've heard,
Tantai Minglang is a ruthless man.
He may not have empathy for his siblings.
We might be giving him what he wants
by killing Tantai Jin.
I knew you were a smart one.
Now, if I spare Tantai Jin,
he will be a thorn in his brother's side
for as long as he lives.
I'll summon Tantai Jin to the palace.
I want to sound out his opinion.
If he has ambitions,
I could send him back to Jing first
to muddy the waters
and then have him killed amid the chaos.
But if he is unambitious,
he will be of no use to me.
We will then send
a male of a similar age to Jing
to trick Tantai Minglang into thinking
that is his brother.
Sometimes, honesty
isn't always the best policy.
Father!