Original subtitles

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 13

- Did you say that? Did you really say that! - What did I say?

What did I say?

I once said the Emperor was too harsh with Yang Wuduan

and it ruined his entire life. You heard it from me,

and you turned around and went to tattle to the Emperor!

How could I have an older brother like you in this world?

- I... I... this... - Release your older brother!

Release him!

Speak! Why did you harm me?

I swear that nothing like this happened.

- Let go. - Bastard!

You went to the brothels and blabbed your mouth off and said those unfilial words.

You still want to blame your older brother?

I didn't say anything about this out there. I said it when I was studying in the study room!

At that time, I wasn't even twelve years old yet.

Seeing how nice your writing was,

I practiced with you every day.

When I said this, no one else was there!

It wasn't me. It really wasn't me!

Second Uncle, show some sympathy!

Father, save me!

Since young, my husband has been weak and always sick.

He can't even go on the path of an Imperial exam for a post.

Has he ever fought with you for anything?

How will it benefit him if he frames you, Second Uncle?

Let go of your hand.

Let go!

Lord.

I find it very strange too

as to why you keep framing me.

Since young until now, you made life difficult for me.

You deliberately fell, and said that I pushed you.

When you had a fever, you said that I scared you!

When I was five, you took Father's finger-guard

and said that I stole it!

Father, without differentiating what's right and wrong,

would always beat me. Why didn't everyone think about

why you, my own older brother, wanted to harm me!

You... what are you talking about?

Shut up.

This is basically not your older brother's issue. Even if he said it,

he has to have something to talk about.

If you hadn't spewed out such wild talk,

even if he wanted to go and spread it outside eight li around,

he would still need something to speak of.

So, this is how Father thinks.

This is really how Father thinks.

You don't need to show me how you have suffered,

where's your fault, have you ever admitted it?

You always push it to your older brother

or your cousins.

It's always their mess they've caused. But you are so tall, (T/N above it all, high and mighty)

and have never created any disasters?

Fine.

I understand now.

I understand everything now.

Even if my body is covered with mouths, (T/N no matter what he says)

I won't be able to go up against your prejudice.

Lord.

Enough, son.

For the past few days, you have been drowning your sorrows with wine.

I know you are very sad and haven't been talking much

but you should have a limit too.

If you continue this way, you will have a hard time with your life.

Nanny, I won't get drunk again.

How should I explain to Man'er and the children?

What's there to explain? Failing an examination is a common thing.

It's not a big deal. You can take the examination again.

I won't be able to do it again.

It was the Emperor

who personally removed my name.

He even said I can only take the examination again when I'm fifty years old.

I fear I will never have any future in this lifetime.

What? This...

Then... ask your father to plead with the Emperor.

Just say that you were young and didn't know anything.

It's useless.

My father is sure that it's my fault.

He was eager to say that it was my fault.

I'm not accomplished.

It seems like Mother deserved to die.

It also seems that I'm not fit to be the main heir of this marquis house.

Everyone in that manor believes their own lies.

They all think by doing so,

they can forget the reality that they married my mother because of money.

Mother, I'm thirsty.

Wait here.

Your father can't be an official.

Official?

He can't be an official.

The Marquis doesn't like him.

In the future, he wants to be a separate family from him.

I'm afraid he won't have a stable life anymore.

Now that it has come to this, I can only

take a chance again. Get up.

Where's the lock?

That's right.

I...

I'm really unaccomplished.

I disappointed my maternal grandfather and my mother.

They hoped that I would win top marks in the Imperial examination

and bring honor to our Bai family's name.

But I...

Because of a casual remark,

my future has been cut off.

I'm as the Gu family claims...

I'm an unfilial son!

Young Master, don't say that.

You are wrong in thinking this way.

When you were born, your mother told me that

she hoped that you would be happy and safe.

As for the rest, she didn't care at all!

Nanny.

The five of us,

Let's go to the rural area of Yangzhou

and find a place

to live quietly and in peace.

- Okay? - I will listen to you.

As long as you can live happily,

I can live any kind of life.

I'm going to the Marquis Manor to move everything out.

If the Marquis Manor can't tolerate me anymore, I don't want to stay there any longer.

In the future, we, Rong'er and Chang'er will live quietly and in peace.

I'm afraid

if you create a scene at the Marquis Manor,

they will arrest you, beat and imprison you. What will we do?

It's still better to have a long-term plan.

What are you afraid of? Those at the Marquis Manor can't do anything to me.

To add further, I have Shitou.

Shitou grew up in the canal gang.

If I don't succeed, my family name is not Gu.

Find a hidden oasis, and ask not the matters of the world. The man farms and the woman weaves.

Isn't that divine?

Fine. Anything is good.

I only want to be with you.

I need to go to the Marquis Manor to retrieve my late mother's items.

We can't let news of it leak out.

If not, the Marquis will never let me off.

You and Nanny can start packing up.

Wait for me to find a boat going to the south.

We will leave then.

Let's go.

There are still some clothes and shoes in the house which haven't been packed yet.

Where are you going?

Go and tidy up,

so the Young Master doesn't have to just sit and wait after his return.

Candy for sale.

Sweet and sour candy.

Mother, I want candy.

Candy for sale.

Candy for sale.

Have some candy.

Rongjie, be good.

After you have packed everything,

I will buy candy for you.

Come.

Play with your younger brother in the courtyard.

Be good. Go now.

She's at minimum from a wretched upbringing, but her chores are done so untidily.

She's so superficial. I really wonder

what he sees in her.

Have some candy.

Many different kinds of candy.

The candies that children love to eat.

Sweet candies, sour candies.

It's even sweeter than honey.

Candy for sale.

Candy for sale.

Candies that children love to eat.

Rongjie.

Rongjie.

Where's your older sister?

You can't go out! The Young Master instructed that

you can't show your face outside!

Rongjie! Rongjie!

Come back here!

Don't run. Come back.

Rongjie! Rongjie!

Rongjie.

Rongjie, where are you?

Rongjie, where are you?

Rongjie!

Rongjie.

[ Marquis Manor ]

Rongjie, look.

How powerful and dignified.

Look. When you were born,

you were a member of the family of the Marquis.

A house like that, one can't even imagine it for three lifetimes.

It's this woman.

The doorkeeper heard her saying "grandmother and grandfather".

I found it suspicious, so I went to listen more closely,

before coming to report to you.

In the future, after you enter the Marquis Manor, you will become a precious lady of the noble house.

And at the time, your mother here

will get herself a title of proper wife and lady too.

Come, I will take you there.

Go and retrieve what she dropped.

Yes.

Mother!

Release her!

- Mother. - Let me go.

Son, Rongjie is missing.

Manniang went after her. Both of them are gone!

I was about to lock the door and go look for them.

Fortunately, you are back. Let's go and find them now.

Where did they go? How long have they been gone?

I think at least a rice-cooking time. (T/N around 30 to 45 minutes)

A rice-cooking time.

She came back, left again and didn't come back?

She never came back. Is this retribution?

Stop asking. Let's get people to look for them now!

- No need. - What's wrong?

Manniang is only a woman.

She'd come back for reinforcements if she can't find the child after a couple of rounds.

She still hasn't been seen for such a long time.

I believe she's been taken.

Heavens! Who dares to just kidnap in broad daylight?

I fear it's even scarier than that.

This child was born to you and that vile one?

There's also a boy?

Yes.

Your Excellency, please don't be angry. It's my fault

I seduced Second Master,

but I'm sincere toward him.

I'm begging you, on account of the children,

please let us have a means to live.

Means to live? What is that?

I'm from a humble background and do not hope for any status.

As long as I can be with Second Master and be a concubine,

see him every day and serve him,

I will be fully content.

Dream on.

What status does he have and what status do you have

that you dare to even think of crossing into our Marquis Manor?

Bringing you here already makes me feel you've dirtied up all the tiles in this house.

Your Excellency, please don't be angry!

Kick her out and make her stay as far away as possible.

Lord, Lord.

What about the children? Didn't she just say that

there is boy too? They are our flesh and blood of the Gu family.

A whore gave birth to those children.

How could they be members of the Gu family?

How will we explain to Second Son?

Have you seen a ghost?

I'm an elder. Do I still need to explain to him?

Kick them out!

Marquis! Marquis!

Let go of me.

- Rongjie! - Tingye!

Who dares to lay a finger on her!

You still have the cheek to come back?

What are you trying to do?

I will admit her into the family.

One who sings for a living.

She doesn't even qualify to hold your shoes for you.

It's even more shameless for her to be your mistress and you want to accept her into your family?

Who will want to marry you in the future?

If no one wants to marry me, I won't marry.

Father, wouldn't you be happier?

You don't even care about your future,

but you commit these acts that shame our clan?

In your eyes, ever since I was born,

I was already shameful to the clan.

A bit more is no trouble.

Second Son.

Manniang, stop crying.

Don't shed your tears here.

- Let's go. - Stop there!

- Second Son. - If you dare to step out from that door,

I will beat you to death!

Men!

Lord. Lord.

Starting from today,

I won't take any more of the Gu family's unjust beatings.

I have one more question.

How did my mother, Lady Bai, die?

What nonsense are you saying?

Wasn't it the case that my mother saved your Gu House with her dowry?

She was subsequently forced to death by you.

Utter nonsense!

My mother was tricked, that's why she married into the Gu family.

No one tricked her.

My mother knew she was tricked,

that's why she died from bleeding in childbirth.

No one tricked her!

Father, I will never believe what you say again.

Second Son!

Who wagged their tongue at him?

My heavens. When Second Son is furious, he's not afraid of deities and ghosts.

He's so scary.

If Third Son didn't go out to drink,

he would cry from fear.

He's so mighty and tough.

If he and I had been born by the same mother,

I would be at ease to put all matters of this house into his hands.

Pity fate isn't so kind.

He had to be given birth by the whore that killed my mother.

My Lord, don't worry about not having anyone to succeed the title.

I've already looked into a nice girl for you.

Forget it.

My body is like a reed in wind. Don't ruin another.

I'm already so guilty that you had to marry me.

I have encumbered you.

No. Being married to you

is the biggest blessing to me in my lifetime.

I will listen to you, no matter what.

It was tough to knock Old Second down.

Let's not speak these deflating words.

I have a good appetite today.

Go and instruct the kitchen

to add a couple more dishes to dinner.

Minister Sheng, may you hold your step.

His Majesty has ordered me to deliver words to you, to have you remain in the the palace.

Lord, this way, please.

Interior Officer, do you know what this is about?

I dare not ask about this.

His Majesty has given instruction for you to wait here, Minister Sheng.

You're not permitted to leave.

It's already near noon.

Why isn't the Lord back yet?

The Imperial court would have usually ended by this time.

He must delayed on the way here.

Mother, look. New shoulder belt I got.

The style is the newest in the capital. Is the color combination pretty?

Flowers are about to bloom in the warm spring.

Count of Yongchang's Madam Wu is about to put together a jiju match and chuiwan too. (T/N Ancient Chinese form of "golf")

It'll be perfect to wear these then.

You only care about amusement every day.

It's time for you to marry and you are still like a child.

Game matches and making acquaintances are also to ease getting marriage prospects.

I lacked etiquette before Madam Wu last time.

This time, it'll be perfect for me to retrieve back the embarrassment.

You don't know how to play jiju and your chuiwan skills are just so-so, so stop your delusions.

I have never cared about losing or winning.

What matters is for them to see my composure as the legitimate daughter.

This won't do. It's almost lunch time

and your father is still not back.

If he's delayed and can't come home to eat,

he should send someone to tell us.

It's not right. It feels not right.

Miss.

So how? Father's not back yet?

Dongrong is back. He said he never saw His Lordship come out, so he could only come give us news.

Weirui Balcony is in chaos already. Big Madam is trying to find out from all outlets.

I hear he was summoned away by himself by the interior officer.

Summoned away by an interior officer?

Can it be His Majesty's intention then? But Father is just a fifth-ranking minister.

He's never be in attendance with His Majesty alone.

If he were to be detained, they would've detained a few other peers.

Father is alone there now.

Something's not right.

Then it's bad?

Stop talking nonsense. This matter is not that simple.

What's urgent now is to send people to go find out the reason.

Big Madam says the same. She would send the whole family out to find out if she could.

Second Young Master went to look for the Second Master of the Gu family too.

You have no way either?

What's my status?

A Gu House scar. Since I was little, at annual festival rewards

when going to the palace to give thanks, eight or nine out of ten times I wasn't allowed to go.

I only fear...

Who else knows about this?

That fierce older brother of mine. His maternal family is Marquis of Dongchang.

A distant relative of Her Highness the Empress.

He actually has opportunities to be in His Majesty's audience.

That's right.

Come back!

Come back. What's the hurry?

Come here. I want to talk to you.

If you and I had no acquaintance whatsoever, he'd help you.

Now, I fear

he will act like he's sincere but behind you, he'll stab you.

Who else could it be?

Could your father?

Princess Pingning.

She grew up in the palace and she's naturally closer.

That's right.

Okay, I'm leaving.

No need to see me off.

Be careful.

You are still not leaving?

Look at the time now and you are still thinking of me? Go now!

I'm leaving.

Father.

Father.

Coming. Rongjie, come here.

Your Uncle Sheng's father's in trouble and he's fretting.

If something were to happen to your father, would you be anxious?

Father, don't let anything happen to you.

I will finish the kite for you later.

And you'll have me in your clench forever.

Danju.

What a coincidence. I came out to buy incense coils and I ran into you, Brother Buwei.

What do you mean? I waited for you for a long time.

What's wrong?

It's about your master, of course. My young master heard Minister Sheng's incident.

He feared Sixth Miss might fret, so he had me come out to tell you news.

Grandmother. Grandmother!

I heard that Father...

Mother, help me!

The Minister is in trouble! The Sheng family is in trouble!

Shut up. Stop talking nonsense.

If there's anything, speak slowly.

You said it was nothing earlier.

You said maybe a peer or colleague invited His Lordship for wine.

But Changbai, he heard from Princess Pingjing's family,

that His Majesty is angry and locked many in the palace.

Tell me, if someone is locked up for ten days to half a month,

wouldn't he starve to death?

Ridiculous. Even if he were a criminal,

there's no reason to die from starvation too.

Did the Princess say what the reason was?

She didn't.

Don't worry. His Majesty is kind and magnanimous.

There was no tea in the Imperial Garden and he didn't want the workers to be reprimanded.

So he would rather keep quiet and bear it, and go have tea at the Empress' palace.

A man like him would not carry out matters recklessly.

Also, since the founding of our dynasty, never was there a scholarly minister getting killed.

What are you worried about?

I haven't seen him. It's going to be dark soon!

You are the mother of the family.

Now with trouble pending, you must bring out your bearing as the Big Madam!

What's the use of just crying in disarray?

Since the Master isn't here,

even if there's trouble,

you have to be extra vigilant and watch the house tightly.

Don't let some cat or dog sneak in.

Don't create any chaos here too and be mocked by others.

It just shows she's not his real mother.

There's that division there!

If the Minister were her real son, with him gone so long, it would only be strange if she's not worried sick!

Now she comes and reprimands me for having no forbearance instead?

What a lousy way to be the main mother!

Don't be angry, Big Madam.

Old Madam has seen a lot and she's not one to speak grandly.

She says it's nothing, then she must have some measure of it.

Also, if something were to happen to Master,

then that's a big calamity to the entire Sheng House.

One loss is total loss, and Old Madam wouldn't gloat.

That's true, but she's much too calm.

And bringing in other stuff too.

Saying I need to watch the door and the servants.

I don't need her to teach me.

I've been the Big Madam for decades and I don't know how to manage the house?

Also...

Old Madam. She said I need to bring out the bearing of a Big Madam?

That's right. The Lord is not at home.

I'm the head of the house.

If Linqi Pavilion tries to do anything sly,

and I discover it,

wouldn't that be a rare great chance for me

to take care of that whore!

Is my brain fried by pork fat? How come it took me so long to think of this?

Old Madam, she doesn't seem to mean this.

If she were to stay demure there's nothing I can do.

But if she makes a stir from wind on grass,

I will definitely bring out my bearing as Big Madam.

Earlier, before Big Madam came in,

what did you want to tell me?

Nothing, it's nothing.

Young Lord. He had someone bring news

to tell me about Father.

I thought you didn't know, so I came especially to deliver the news.

He's thoughtful.

Grandmother, I'm a bit scared.

Don't be afraid.

How did Young Lord find out?

Naturally he heard it from his mother, Princess Pingning.

He can bring the news to you,

that proves it's not so dangerous after all.

Your father is a

minor minister who is prudent in conduct and speech.

What mistake can he make?

Even if there were minor mistakes, it'll be fine after His Majesty vents his anger a bit.

I just fear nothing's happened on the front end,

but the back end is on fire.

I hope our family

can get through this trouble safe and sound.

Mistress, is Fourth Miss better?

She's young. When she encounters something like this, she will cry miserably.

If I act like her, how would I survive?

How is it? Did Landlord Xu sign?

Landlord Xu says he must meet you in person,

and he'll sign and pay after meeting you.

What?

How did you manage this? You take this stack of deeds and you can't find a buyer?

It's precisely because it's so many shops and fields, and the merchants in the city all share news.

I'm just an unfamiliar face and a second or third look,

and they'll know I'm not the owner.

We only have Landlord Xu who is willing to discuss with me now.

And he insists on seeing the real badge, so he can confirm it wasn't stolen

before he's willing to stamp his fingerprint.

Mistress, maybe we just forget it. The Master is a blessed man.

Nothing may have happened even if he's locked up in the palace.

What do you know?

My father back then, he also didn't come home one night and the second day after, he was jailed and then exiled!

My mother and I were sold.

It was only through favors that we got into Sheng House.

This kind of incident must not happen again.

Then... we just keep them with us for now?

If something happens somehow, it's not too late to get away then?

You've never seen what a raid looks like.

These shops and these fields, they are all registered and accounted for.

Even if you bury the deeds, they can still uncover them and confiscate.

We need to do it now.

Now, we exchange them into unregistered money bonds.

Keep them in hand, and that's how we can preserve it.

Now, you go tell that Landlord Xu

to prepare the money and the contract.

- As soon as I arrive, we sign and pay. - Now?

Go now.

Go now. Go now!

You are here. Come.

This way, please.

Come, this way.

Come, this way, please.

Come, please sit.

This is my lady of the house.

- Come, sit. - No need.

I hear you insist on seeing the badge before you sign.

I'm here, so please sign.

How should I address you, Madam?

Which house's noble lady are you?

Landlord, I didn't ask your name and you needn't ask mine.

I think the name on this house and land deed,

It's best you don't mention it either.

If you have no intention to sign,

I'm leaving first.

Hold your step, Madam.

Madam, don't be angry.

I am paying with real gold and silver.

If the deeds in your hands are clean, then it's great.

I just worry if there's anything amiss.

So may you let me know,

so I can be put to ease.

I'm paying quite straight-forwardly.

If later on, there's more business . . .

I'll lower the price another level.

Let you get a nice profit.

If you agree, then say yes immediately.

If not, I will turn around and leave.

Let's do this. Two levels. Two, and I'll sign now. How about it?

What kind of person did you find? He's such a hassle!

- He's taking advantage. - Madam, Madam!

- What are you doing? - Come back, come!

Let's talk again.

Take your hands off me.

- Open the door. Landlord Xu. - Come, come!

- What's there to talk about? - Come here.

Don't touch me!

- Come, let's have some tea. - Mistress, Mistress!

Who are you? What are you doing?

Why are you capturing me?

Let me go.

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki

T/N In the following song, "Don't You Know, Don't You Know?", Lines 5 to the end are the poem by Li Qingzhao, a famous female poet of the Song Dynasty, the poem is titled "Spring Ends".

♫ One morning, a flower opened and approached a willow tree, beautifully fragrant and mistaking him for her lord ♫

♫ Even if drinking in water in the morning, red clouds have half a day of sunshine, the wind and rain do not affect them completely ♫

♫ In the palace, you are constantly brave and growing thin, from on high, your cold tears of distress flow ♫

♫ Brocade letters delivered to me dismiss me, only suddenly to recall me,

not for many years can I see you other than stealthily♫

♫ Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect ♫

♫ When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before. ♫

♫ Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers? ♫

♫ Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect ♫

♫ When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before. ♫

♫ Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers? ♫

♫ Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers? ♫