Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 19

Momo, is it okay for you to have tofu today?

Okay, tofu then.

Buy a chicken too,

so we can make some soup for Eldest Young Master and Second Young Miss.

I even asked Old Liu to save me a fresh fish.

- Let's go now. - Be good.

Don't worry.

We're going out to play now.

Keep watch of them. Don't let them run around.

Yes, got it.

Seductress, I won't leave this door one step.

Let's see what tricks you'll come up with.

Good! Good!

Look. All these are high-quality goods.

These ones too.

Have a look. All these fabrics are not bad.

[ Du Silk Fabric Shop ]

Play here.

Wait for me.

Boss, help me watch them.

I surely will remember Third Miss Yu's dowry.

Wait. Wait and I'll get it for you. Wait here.

Aren't you Attendant Zhao from the House of Yu?

Greetings, Attendant Zhao.

It's great fortune to meet you here, since we'll be one family in the future.

Please give me the honor to have some tea with you.

What do you mean, "one family"?

I'm Xiao Cui, a maidservant serving the outside mistress of Second Young Master Gu.

It's rare to be meeting you here. Let's go have some tea in the Fan House.

Once we're in the House of Gu together, we should take care of each other.

Oh, so you're from that woman.

Your mistress is quite good.

By that time, it might be you taking good care of me.

Why must you be this courteous?

My mistress is feeling uneasy.

She only wishes that Third Miss Yu can accommodate her.

From now on, she surely will attend to her day and night, do her best to serve her, and will not slack off at all.

This is a token from my mistress.

Here.

Good thing your mistress is sensible.

Owner Wang, I'll just go have some tea!

I'll buy your fabric later.

Okay. Okay.

Attendatn Zhao, after you.

Young Miss Rong and Young Master Chang, let's go now. We'll go have some fruits and snacks at Fan House.

Sister, are we going to Fan House for some snacks?

- Right. Let's go. - They are...

These are the children of my mistress with Second Young Master Gu. They are very intelligent children.

From now on, they surely will be filial to Third Miss Yu as if they were her own.

Your outside mistress even dared to have children,

two of them?

Reputation is no big deal.

Big Madam, we both have children.

You surely can understand my feelings.

No matter what,

I can't let my own daughter gamble the rest of her life.

Yes. Yes.

You surely know about this outside mistress, right?

While you haven't cleaned up your own house yet,

you dare make connection with our House of Yu.

Marquis, our House of Yu is after all a family of scholars and educators.

Must we be humiliated like this?

Big Madam, you've said it too seriously. That woman is just someone from the streets.

Once Third Young Miss marries into our house, she'll be the official main wife.

If she wants to give her away, sell her, beat her up, or scold her,

she can do that.

Right. She can do that.

You must be kidding me then.

No matter what her background is or her status is,

whether she's being kept inside or outside the house,

as long as she has been favored, then she's a woman in the Young Master's heart.

A lady from our house hasn't entered your family yet

and we already have to manage this huge pile of a mess.

Must we do so? Of course, we can choose not to!

Let me put it this way.

This mistress is quite formidable.

This is not the first time that our House of Yu suffered from her.

If she isn't cleanly disposed of,

our Yanhong...

even if we are to care for her here in our house for five more years,

our House of Yu can afford it.

What Big Madam means is...

we have to get rid of the children too?

I don't really have any opinion.

It's just better to make it very clean.

What Big Madam Yu said is right. Just get rid of them.

Okay. We'll listen to you.

We'll get rid of her in a very clean manner

and let Third Young Miss marry into our family without any worries.

Okay. With His Excellency's and your words,

I feel more at ease now.

How about this? Let's have Second Young Master come here to be our witness and ask for his permission,

so that I can give my husband some assurance when I go back.

Big Madam, we already said that

we can get rid of her.

- Yes. - Just be at ease.

Marquis, I'm not a meddlesome person.

We also know that your Second Son

is quite a famous person here in the capital.

He is very independent!

If he doesn't agree,

let's not waste our time anymore.

No wonder Young Master came back to get these items. They look nice.

All these were my mother's dowry.

Most have been used up.

Only a few are left.

I'm thinking that since I'm getting married and establishing my own manor,

it's better to take these items back with us.

Later on, pick a few

and put them in the chest for the betrothal gifts. My mother would have wanted that.

Young Master,

this fabric doesn't look good.

I fear that it can't be used as a betrothal gift.

When did your eyes learn to be crafty?

From now on, I don't have any "Little Mother" anymore. (T/N Mistress Wei is not the official "Big Mother")

This is for you.

I will never forget the great favor you did for me.

We won't give this away. Store it well.

Okay.

Second Young Master, the Marquis is meeting a guest in the front receiving hall.

He asks that you go there to give a response.

- Father. - Send away your outside mistress and her children.

Send them away today.

What?

Dear Second Son, Big Madam Yu already knows about it.

It's better that you drive away that lady and her children.

Only by doing that can your marriage with the Yu family proceed.

Mother, don't rush.

Big Madam, you've already known about Manniang beforehand.

Why did you suddenly visit today?

If there are already two children, that's another story. (T/N her daughter's children may be snubbed for them)

Big Madam, let's talk in private.

Young Master, let's just talk here.

The Marquis and Big Madam Gu can also serve as our witnesses.

May Big Madam investigate it wisely.

My outside mistress is weak and can't take care of herself.

If I let go of her, I fear that she might die.

In consideration of how the heavens takes pleasure in the welfare of living things,

for the sake that she has given me two children,

just let her into my house and give her a status.

I'm willing to transfer three salt farms

under the name of Third Miss as a compensation.

Three salt farms?

Indeed. Each one earns nine thousand liang a year. (T/N another word for Song currency, aka a "tael")

May Big Madam please be merciful.

Young Master, if you hadn't said those words earlier,

I still would have made you drive that woman and her children away,

and Hong'er would most likely be married to you.

But after you have spoken those words,

I think we should just cancel this marriage.

Why?

Three multiplied by nine is twenty-seven. That's twenty-seven thousand liang of silver,

all just to give her a status?

What do you mean, "outside mistress"?

She clearly is your life.

But Hong'er is also my life.

In this muddied water of your house,

it's better that she not come anymore.

- I'll take my leave. - Big Madam Yu!

Big Madam Yu, please stay! We can discuss this matter further.

We surely will send away the woman.

Second Son, quickly agree with it!

Why do you need him to agree?

The order of the parents, the advice of a matchmaker..

Servant! Servant!

What are you doing?

Take some men to Tianshui Alley and bind that woman.

You can't!

Do you want that lowly bitch

or this compatible marriage?

Father, she's not a lowly bitch.

If you don't drive her and her children away,

don't ever step into my house again!

If I'm not even able to assume responsibility for this matter, why would I bother getting married?

You... This... Damn you!

Big Madam, Big Madam, don't lower yourself to Second Son's level.

He's still a child.

Since my husband already agreed, then... !

Then it surely will be done!

My husband has already agreed!

Kneel down.

Get on your knees!

You asked us to seek marriage from the House of Yu. I thought you had mended your old ways.

What kind of house does Imperial Tutor Yu have?

A house of scholars with a renowned clean and respectable reputation!

If you two are married, our family will be rid of the reputation of being a crude warrior family.

We'll be able to rise up with the scholars. Such good marriage fate.

But you're muddled... you're muddled because of a woman!

You're disobedient and unfilial!

Is it I who is muddled because of a woman

or you being smart because of money?

Is it I who is disobedient and unfilial,

or you never really giving me a chance

to fulfill my filial duties to my mother for even a day?

Based on what you said, your parents and siblings have all wronged you. Is that it?

Was it then the wind or rain that raised you when you were born?

This house is the wind

and rain.

For so many years,

whatever I said was wrong,

whatever I did was a mistake.

Sometimes, I would think

that since you think of me as a sin, why bother giving birth to me?

If you're not a sin, you think you're some reincarnation of a Bodhisattva?

Go and search the whole capital! See if you can find another house

with an unbearably naughty and stubborn son like you!

You've already completely tainted our family's reputation!

Stop right there!

How come you've become such a scoundrel?

For a legitimate son of a highly-favored meritorious house with a noble title,

there isn't even one house in the capital who is wiling to marry their daughter off to you!

Your grandfather married off your mother to our house exactly because of this noble title!

Aren't you disappointing their family's plan?

Was it I who wronged her,

or your Gu family?

This house... these pillars, tables, and chairs,

and the spear you used to hit me, all of them are still here because of my mother?

In the past, she had such an extravagant dowry.

Who could she not marry that she must marry into your Gu family?

You think that in this world, only the Gu family is a marquis house?

What the hell do you know!

One day, when you're in my position,

when you're risking your life just for your family, you'll then understand what it means to have hardship!

Father, your life is hard.

Was my mother's life not?

She was carried out of this house...

after being forced to die by others!

Who isn't carried out after dying?

Someday, when I die, I'll also get carried out from here!

You keep saying that it's for your mother...

With your current act of being a young ruffian running amok, a hedonistic son of a rich man,

you think your mother would be happy if she saw you?

When have you treated me as your father!

Fine. Leave.

No, I won't leave.

Get out!

For so many years,

I've heard a lot of stories.

I don't know which one is true or false.

I wanted to ask you, but I didn't have the courage.

I wanted to ask you, but I didn't dare to.

Father...

today, I want an answer from you.

I don't want to tell you anything.

I don't want to even say a word to you.

I've already completely lost hope in you.

Just do what you want.

Leave.

Father, when I was little,

you've hugged and doted on me.

I won't trust others, just you.

Today, before the heavens and earth, (T/N as witness to the truth)

tell me... that everything they said was false!

Father...

Father...

Have you ever missed my mother?

Even once is enough.

Have you ever thought about that unborn child?

Once is enough.

Father!

Father!

Father! Father!

Sister, if you just leave like this,

then there will be really no hope

for Second Son's marriage anymore.

In this world, being a stepmother is the hardest.

And you're even a softy.

This Young Master of yours is like a demonic star incarnate! (T/N inauspicious astrological sign of a person)

Servant! Servant!

- Dear Second Son? - Mother! Mother!

- What's wrong? - Father, he coughed up so much blood!

You can't blame me for that! I'll take my leave now!

- Go and get a doctor! Quickly! - Yes!

Second Son! Second Son!

Go and get Doctor Li of Renciji ("Benevolent Aid") Pharmacy. Hurry!

No, wait!

Go to the Imperial Medicine Academy and ask for an Imperial physician. Go quickly!

Okay! Let's go, Shitou!

Big Madam! Big Madam!

The situation is bad. Eldest Young Master asks that you quickly go back.

I fear that a disaster will happen today.

Yes.

Be careful.

Father! Father! What's wrong with you?

Father, wake up!

Wake up, Father!

It's me, your eldest! Your eldest son is here, Father!

Marquis! Marquis!

- Marquis. - Father.

Marquis.

Move aside! Move aside, all of you!

Thank you.

- Shitou, take the doctor back to our manor first. - Okay.

[ Marquis Ningyuan Manor ]

Old Madam, hold on to us. Be careful.

How is my Elder Brother? Elder Brother!

Elder Brother!

[ Imperial Medicine Academy ]

Father! Father!

Eldest Brother, Mother,

Father..?

Let me in! I brought the doctor!

Move aside! It's important to save the person!

Let me in! Let me in!

I've brought the doctor! Why won't you let me in?

- Let me in! I've brought the doctor! - Move aside!

Move aside! Move aside!

Let me in!

What are you all doing? Who dares to block me!

- I've brought the doctor! - They won't let me in, Young Master!

Get lost! Get lost!

Go away!

Let me in!

Get lost! Let me in!

Let me in!

- Eldest Brother! - Move aside!

You even have the nerve to come back?

Why are you hitting me? Why are you blocking my path!

Just for a lowly bitch,

you angered Father to the point of coughing up blood! What else do you want!

I've brought a doctor back!

Where is he?

- Where is the doctor? - They were still here a while ago, Young Master.

I've brought a doctor and an Imperial physician!

We have a doctor in our house. No need for you to worry about that.

If you dare anger Father again,

go in then!

What is the situation?

The inner courtyard has been surrounded so tightly.

I didn't see the two Masters from the Fourth and Fifth Houses.

Even Old Madam Gu of the Third House isn't making any move.

Has I been called?

Not yet.

Young Master, I feel that no one calling you is a good thing.

Think about it. If something bad has really happened, they surely will call you.

Right.

You said it right.

Shitou, you said it right.

I'll just wait here.

So that when Father improves,

he won't see me and won't get mad.

Go now.

Have you heard about it?

Something major has happened at that Marquis Manor at the side of the narrow lane

of Yujie Street! All the officials have gone there.

What happened?

- What has happened? - The Marquis coughed out blood from being angered by his son.

That son got driven out, but he charged in again.

That image was like something being told by a storyteller!

It's like how they capture pirates in stories.

Which son?

I don't know which one. Anyway, he is a strong lad.

I saw him when I was passing by after buying food from the market.

One against a group!

He almost got beaten up on the street!

- I didn't know. - There were so many people looking.

There's even such a thing?

- Was it Second Young Master? - Shut up.

Go in front and ask around.

- Don't let anyone know who you are. - Yes.

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

I heard that the Marquis has died.

What do you mean, "you heard"?

When I bought some jasmine flowers, I especially went there to look.

They are now hanging white cloths on their gates.

What's the use of being a rich family?

Having such an unfilial son.

Pity for that main madam in charge. She's even just a stepmother.

Miss Qiu! Miss Qiu is back.

Did you find out any news?

Say, that house is weird.

Don't know from where they come from.

I can't find Young Master nor Shitou. A white cloth was hung on the gates of the Marquis Manor.

The Marquis... is dead.

He's gone like that? How did he die?

People in the streets are saying

that he... was made furious and died because of our Young Master.

Died due to anger?

Momo, do you feel better? Let's go eat at Fan House tomorrow.

The dishes there are delicious.

Once you've eaten them, you will feel better.

Little Miss Rong, if from now on,

we won't be able to eat at Fan House anymore,

can you take it?

Why? Why can't we go to Fan House anymore?

Momo,

don't scare the children.

Whether I'm scaring the children or not, you clearly know.

Just for you, Young Master has been expelled out of the Marquis Manor.

What remains is just his surname.

For a place like Fan House where the dishes are at least three to five liang silver each,

you think we still can eat them?

What kind of status does Darling Second Master have?

How could he let his children not have anything to eat?

You grew up with a hard life in the streets.

I worked as a nanny.

But our Young Master was raised with a golden spoon.

He has never lived as a commoner for a day.

Even if I have to work my old bones to the limit,

to wash people's clothes and get them fire logs,

I will still try to provide Young Master his deserved luxurious treatment.

You also should think about it.

Embroidery, sewing, selling vegetables, or mending things,

see if you have any handy skills

that can earn us some money to add to our living expenses.

Tomorrow, go over our bedding.

Go and gather any handkerchiefs, satin, or leather you can find,

then sell them in the streets.

Darling Second is the legitimate child of the Marquis.

Who dares to expel him out of their house?

Don't scare people.

If you don't believe me, just ask him once he's back.

Have they called me?

Not yet.

That... the servants are asking if you're hungry.

How about I serve you food, and let's just continue to wait after eating?

No, it's already dark.

Let's go.

Wait! Stop right there!

You... Why are you dressed like this? (T/N white sashes, a sign of mourning)

The Marquis, His Excellency...

You!

With so many doctors,

not one was useful.

With you being so useful,

how could the doctors be of any use?

- Move aside. Let me see. - Leave.

You're so useful.

Kill me in front of your father's bed too!

Marquis...

No...

You've always been so bold.

Your father was unable to control you.

I am unable to control you.

You should go.

You can go anywhere you want.

You can marry anyone you want.

From now on, your Eldest Brother and I

won't say anything bad about you anymore.

Mother.

Mother.

I don't want to listen to any words from him.

Leave!

Mother.

Look. Look at this blood on your back!

Each drop is from your father.

Before he died, he was even calling your name.

You indeed stayed outside and wouldn't come back in!

You are so heartless!

No, it's not that I didn't come back.

Mother asked me to call the Imperial physician.

When I returned, I got blocked off outside!

Auntie, I've been staying in the side hall waiting to be called!

When did I ask you to invite the Imperial physician?

Even if we're going to invite an Imperial physician, it should be Eldest Son inviting him!

You angered your father to the point of coughing up blood.

But not only did you not repent on your mistakes,

did not kneel by the steps to ask for his forgiveness,

you...

you even ran outside to get drunk!

You beast!

- Beast! - Mother! Mother!

You killed your father!

You even dared to return to our house to act atrociously?

Get lost. Get lost!

Quickly pack up your things and leave!

Not sending you to the local court to be sentenced is already being lenient to you!

Mother, this is not true.

Stop pressuring my Second Brother.

He just quarreled with Father a little. He didn't mean it!

Get lost.

Mother...

You people want...

You all want to drive me out of the House of Gu?

Drive me out of the House of Gu?

You... look at Father!

Look at him!

Not only are we expelling you out,

don't even think of seeing Father's memorial tablet!

Don't even think of touching Father's tile basin, let me tell you, Gu Tingye!

It's because Father doted on you, loved you, and indulged you,

that's why, he brought death to himself today!

If you can just obediently leave,

we'll just tell everyone outside that you went out to travel.

This will preserve everyone's dignity.

Eldest nephew, if this matter gets reported to the government,

we will tell them the truth.

I fear that you and your mother's name

will get removed from the genealogy book!

They all said that being a stepmother is hard.

I pitied you for not having a mother ever since you were little.

I doted on you more than my own son.

Whatever you asked for, I gave you.

I covered for every mistake that you've made.

The Marquis kept telling me that a benevolent mother will harm her child.

He was right.

He was right!

Now that you've committed such a huge blunder,

you even are pulling me to lie with you?

Do you want me to continue harboring you!

Marquis, I'm the one who harmed you!

I'm the one who brought you harm!

Mother, stop saying it.

I understand.

Since I was little, you gave me whatever I wanted.

Whatever mistakes I made, you helped me.

So it seems you were Duke Zhuang (Ji "Wusheng"), while I'm Gongshu Duan. (T/N ca. 700 BCE royal brothers of Zheng State, mother preferred the second son, but in the end, the elder traps the mother and second brother and takes it all)

You tolerated and nurtured an evildoer.

I understand now.

Second Brother.

Tingwei, are you involved?

What? What do you mean?

Okay. You're not involved.

She's the only one.

Second Son, if you have a heart,

bow to your father by his bedside.

Treat it as paying respect.

Eldest Sister-in-law, you are too soft-hearted! (T/N it's "kind" of her to let him say farewell by bowing to father)

Inside this room, every one of you

have been living your days by acting.

I've long wanted to leave.

You disgust me.

Since you don't want to live here,

Father also told you to get lost before he died!

Why are you still not leaving?

Father... really said that?

You think he would still ask you to stay

and give you an inheritance?

Second Brother!

Second Brother, you...

He's finally gone...

Zhonghuai! Zhonghuai!

Zhonghuai!

Zhonghuai! I heard about what happened to your family. I immediately...

What has happened?

Changbai...

Zhonghuai,

you've let the wind blow on you the whole night.

It's already zi hour. You should go home. (T/N 11 pm to 1 am)

Where else can I go back to?

I'll take you wherever you want to go back to.

"The carriage travels out of the royal palace of Ye. (T/N short for "Yecheng", capital of Cao Cao's Wei State)

Hunting by the bridge at the eastern ford.

Setting up a fine net.

Once released, it caught two hornless deer."

I have no place to go.

I caused my father's death.

- I caused my father's death. - It wasn't you.

It was me!

From the start, I hated him for being biased!

Afterward, I hated him for killing my mother!

Every time I saw him, I only wanted him to look at me a little bit longer!

Wanted him to smile at me a bit.

But every time...

we would end up arguing.

Only now did I know...

Only now did I know...

"Setting up a fine net, a wicker trap floating like clouds."

That's why I'm telling you that you're not the one who killed your father!

This is a net, a bamboo trap!

Both you and your father weren't able to see past it!

No.

I'm the one who killed my father.

You...

This matter isn't the fault of my stepmother and brother.

I don't have a father now.

I caused my father's death.

I also don't have a mother.

My mother is a monster!

I now don't have parents, I have nothing anymore!

I have nothing anymore...

Don't you still have a home?

In Tianshui Alley, you still have a home.

Right.

I still have two children.

I still have a home.

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? ♫