Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 25

Mother! Mother! No, what are you doing? Don't be rash!

Calm down! Don't touch me! You...

I'm a xiucai! I'm a xiucai!

Stop! Stop!

You dare push me? You... dare push me!

You dare to act in such an uncultured manner?

- Stop it already! - If you're done causing a ruckus! Unruly! Get out!

You're acting in such an uncultured manner!

You're so unrefined!

Sit. Sit.

At present,

as the eldest house, we were not able to handle our family matter well,

and had to trouble you all to come here.

Sister Pinlan!

Give that to me.

Sit. Sit.

It's a registration deed.

[ Prostitute Registration Deed for Huaniang ]

Not allowing any prostitute to enter our family

is an ancestral teaching of our clan.

It's not being unreasonable and overbearing.

Your Sun Clan has to consider having descendants,

while our Sheng Family's daughter Shulan must practice filial piety.

My son said it right.

Xiucai Sun,

despite having some prestige, you frequented places of pleasure,

wanting to take in a prostitute as a concubine, tainting your cultured reputation.

You did so well.

Fellow prominent and worthy elders,

please look at this registration deed.

Everyone, please look.

This...

Isn't that a census registration deed in the possession of the Madam in charge of the Qianjin Brothel?

Correct.

Sun Zhigao, you beast.

You used my daughter's dowry to fund your brothel visits

and to buy a prostitute's freedom.

You didn't even know to spend more to end her prostitute registration deed!

Sun Zhigao,

your low-status prostitute is forcing the divorce of a woman from a decent family.

Just adding a complaint letter on top of this census registration deed,

and then submitting it to the Academician in Bianjing,

you think he will preserve your scholarly status?

Brother Gao, you were able to achieve merit at a young age.

At age twelve, you passed the xiucai examination.

That was originally an honor, a person who was able to give the Sun clan prestige.

Never thought that you've become like this.

I urge you to amicably discuss this matter with the House of Sheng first.

Clan Elder, your surname is Sun!

I understand the hardship of your House of Sun.

It wasn't easy to finally have a descendant.

How could you easily let go?

Moreover,

Zhigao has feelings for that woman.

But the children of our House of Sheng

will never lower themselves to be sisters with prostitutes.

Let's just do this.

We'll give half of her dowry to your family.

The two families will amicably separate. That's already a good closure

for these three years of marriage.

It's still Old Madam who is highly-principled.

That would be for the best.

We shouldn't destroy the good relationship of the two families.

Our family has already yielded to this level.

If your family still refuses,

I'll then sue you to the Academician with this prostitute registration deed.

Let the whole county see the dignity of your xiucai!

Half is already more than a thousand liang.

For these past days, I've been cooking and washing clothes.

My back will be breaking soon.

That person at home also keeps asking for bird's nest.

Buying a slave will also require money.

Okay already, Mother. I know.

We need money for everything.

An amicable separation then.

We've already prepared the document.

May I ask Master Secretary

to be our witness.

Wait! Where's the dowry? The list of dowry?

The list of dowry is here.

So uncultured.

[ Amicable Separation Agreement ]

May the side of the wife come to the front to sign the document.

- I'll do it. - Mother,

I'll do it myself.

Shulan!

You are not talented nor beautiful,

dull and uninteresting. You originally shouldn't have been paired with me.

When you're paired with a butcher or a farmer in the future,

remember to be more virtuous.

Spit!

You're a womanizer, unfaithful,

and immoral scum!

I feel disgusted just by giving you one more look!

You... Tell me...

So uncultured.

So unrefined. Don't get mad.

Now, you've become daring enough to talk.

More daring to take responsibility.

Those brothers of yours are not as bold as you.

I indeed was a bit too presumptuous.

But we're finally able to get that amicable separation document.

Sister Shulan was able to escape that hell.

Moreover, I was wearing a long-veiled hat, so that my whole body was covered.

I didn't see anything.

The other party also might not be able to recognize me.

You wish. That deed is being held by the Sheng Family.

Of course they'll be able to guess that it was done by daughters of the Sheng family!

Brother He promised to give treatment to that Madam in charge.

If she wants her headache to abate and be able to sleep soundly at night,

she surely won't say a word.

That Brother He is quite obedient with you.

He's a good man.

In coming back this time,

you encountered this matter of Shu'er.

You can say that you've experienced the ways of the world.

Eldest Grandmother calculated and planned everything so thoroughly.

Eldest Uncle, Eldest Auntie, and Brother Changwu

also followed the plan step by step.

Some people are quite ferocious.

Some are pretentiously gentle.

Being flexible and sacrificing some wealth can avoid disaster.

Plus that fact that I'm quick-witted, so this matter ended perfectly.

It's also thanks to the fact that the House of Sun is stupid.

They didn't even know to get the registration deed.

Hence, our family was able to handle this matter.

We just needed to remove a layer of skin, and were still able to turn back.

If your Sister Shulan

married into a noble and prestigious family and encountered such a matter,

turning back

is an impossibility, even if you pray to the gods of the heavens and earth.

She could only be tormented alive.

I understand what you mean.

Brother He is very submissive to you.

Living the rest of your days with him

would surely be relaxing.

Grandmother, I still feel that Sister Shulan was aggrieved.

Sister Shulan married into a lower-status family. It should have been a smooth-sailing life.

The lives of that Sun family all depended on her dowry.

They should have treated her in a courteous manner.

But that Sun family instead felt that the more they ordered Sister Shulan around,

the more it showed how they are not affected by wealth.

Trying to be lofty. This is called "eating soft rice with conviction". (T/N eating well off a woman intentionally)

"Eating soft rice with conviction"?

You can even come up with phrases like that?

You said it right. Your Sister Shulan was too soft and weak.

She totally didn't know to argue with them.

She was afraid to hurt that shaky pride of her husband.

Just to earn his good side, she lowered herself and kept enduring.

Your eldest uncle and eldest auntie love their daughter dearly and were afraid that she'd suffer,

so they would send over a lot of money every time the two of them fought.

They wanted to use money to buy peace.

But encountering a mother and son like those from the Sun family

who are good in taking advantage of people's weakness, they totally didn't give any importance to your Sister Shulan.

I told you about these internal family matters so as to prepare you for the inevitable.

In my heart,

I still want to choose a family with simple member relationships,

a benevolent mother-in-law, and a sincere husband.

Hope that your days won't be so tumultuous.

That you'll be able to see the end at one glance. (smooth-sailing)

But Grandmother, not everything in this world can go the way you want it to.

For example, the House of Sun.

A widow who washes clothes for a living with a son who passed the county civil examination?

In the heart of Eldest Auntie, they were a good household.

Who knew that Sister Shulan would end up this way?

It shows that whether it's a noble and prestigious family,

or a small household,

all must be managed dutifully

in a very careful manner.

Only then can it be harmonious in the end.

You said it well. I'm thinking—

Old Madam, Miss,

Eldest Old Madam isn't doing well.

Let's go and have a look.

Mother.

Mother. Who is Mother looking for?

We're all here.

Shu'er...

- My Shu'er... - Grandmother.

My Shu'er...

Who is Grandmother looking for?

It's that aunt of yours who died at a very young age. Her name was Sheng Shu.

I just hugged you like that.

I saw how you swallowed your last breath.

Sheng... Sheng Huaizhong...

You... you...

You favored your concubine and ignored your main wife.

Getting confused by beauty.

Mistreating the lives of others.

I'll go to the God of Hell and sue you!

Mother.

- Shu'er... Shu'er... - Grandmother.

I'll... seek...

seek... ven... vengeance!

Mother. Mother.

Grandmother! Grandmother!

Grandmother!

Mother!

Grandmother!

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

You wrote in your letter last time that Uncle was looking for Doctor Zhang. May I ask if there are any updates about it?

After attending the solemn funeral of my grandmother here in Youyang,

I remembered the lonely tomb of Little Mother in Yangzhou. I've set up already set up her memorial tablet

in Yuqing Monastery in Bianjing with incense and candles lit for her. If Auntie goes to the capital, you can go visit it.

Lastly, I wish you good health.

I heard that because Youyang is a remote region, there are no postal shops.

Take this money.

Give it as a tip to the lad manning the docks.

Tell him to immediately send this letter out.

- Yes. - Quickly go.

[ Sheng Manor ]

Auntie, with such huge snowfall, the weather is cold and the ground chilly.

The trip will be very slippery.

Just let the children go instead.

Mother-in-law would understand your intentions.

Just stay behind.

[ Funeral Procession for Old Madam of the Eldest House of the Sheng Family of Youyang ]

Protect the coffin!

What's going on?

- Little Sister! - Let's get down together. Upon getting down, run!

Where's Minglan? Minglan!

Minglan!

Where's Minglan? Minglan!

- Where are you going? - Minglan!

Where's Minglan!

- Minglan! - After them!

Where did Minglan go?

Let go me! My father is an official of the government!

My brother is passed the Imperial civil examination!

- Let go of me! Let go! - Brat, are you crazy!

It's me!

Second Uncle Gu!

If you continue to poke like that, my leg will get disabled from it!

Auntie.

Is everyone okay?

Has Mother been buried?

What happened?

It's very chaotic out in the streets.

The coffin of Mother was entrusted appropriately to a decent family.

We can only go out of the city once the soldiers have left.

Where's my Ming'er?

Where's my Miss?

Sixth Miss is missing!

She got separated from us. We couldn't find her after searching the whole day.

First, the bandits entered the city.

Afterwards, a troop of soldiers came. They said they were being led by some captain.

- Shut up! - Those bandits—

How could you leave Ming'er behind and come back here by yourselves!

- Auntie. - Go! Go on!

Go and find my Ming'er!

- Auntie. - Men! Men!

Men, go and search! Search!

Go quickly! Hurry up! Hurry!

She was gone for a long time...

Quick!

Here, Sixth Miss.

Drink something warm.

You must be freezing.

Second Uncle Gu, you've joined the army?

That's right. I'm thinking that since there's an uprising, this is a good chance.

I sent someone to get me a recommendation from a friend in Yuzhou,

and then joined the army.

Young Master! Young Master!

Yongquan's streets have now been pacified.

Sixth Miss?

How are the front gates?

Just as you predicted, the western gates was left as a loss by those bandits

and they've escaped toward the front gates.

We now only need to take care of the path ahead and our mission is complete.

Tell them that I ordered this. Once Youyang has been pacified,

tell them to follow me for some food and drinks from the local magistrate's office.

Thank you Yuhou. You've achieved great success. (T/N Military rank primarily charged with guarding the mountain passes)

We are quite fated with Sixth Miss.

Get out of here, Brother!

Second Uncle Gu, why are you still just a yuhou?

Are you saying that my position is too low?

Absolutely not! I just feel that

if you want to get promoted from yuhou to a deputy commander,

you went to the wrong place.

Why do you say so?

Although there are disturbances in Youyang now, this is just temporary.

There really aren't any major military battles.

If you come here, you can't really achieve any military merit.

If you are on the front line fighting, won't you get promoted more easily?

Do you know why

I'm not on the front line?

Naturally, it's because you are too proud

and offended your superior.

I indeed offended my superior, but it wasn't for being too haughty.

Then... it's because you've achieved victory in a very fast manner,

and thus are blocking someone else's path.

Am I right?

I thought that you'd go back to Bianjing,

or maybe join the army of the House of Gu?

Never thought that you'd join the Imperial army.

Looks like I had it wrong.

In this world, if you rely on a mountain, it might topple. If you rely on people, they might flee.

Meritorious deeds that I myself earned through one sword, one spear,

I find that to be an honor.

From now on, I don't need to live for anyone.

I just wish that I can have a carefree and happy life.

Why are you offering me a toast?

I admire you.

If...

If I can live for myself,

my life won't be in vain.

As long as you want to, you can.

I... I can't.

You can.

I can't.

Young Master! Young Master!

We've cleanly swept away the bandits ahead.

Guess what? I heard that this area is the old hometown of Sixth Miss' family.

I heard that her family has asked help from the local magistrate to look for her.

Since... the bandits have already been removed from the streets,

quickly go home then.

Young Master,

you're not escorting Sixth Miss?

I won't any further.

Thank you for saving me and understanding.

Shitou, give me your xiujian. (T/N "sleeve arrow" - a dart launched by flicking the sleeve or throwing)

Take this xiujian with you.

If you meet any bad people along the way, throw it at them.

You can then save yourself.

What is this?

A xiujian.

You could aim perfectly in playing touhu.

How could you miss in shooting a xiujian?

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

Don't make a sound. If you do,

I'll hack you to death! Leave behind your valuables.

I... Don't move!

- You... - Stop right there!

Don't come near me!

I...

Y-Y-You... Don't come near me!

Stop right there!

Heroine, spare my life!

Heroine, spare my life!

Young Master, all your shots are on target. Always so precise. Such high-level archery skills.

Are you seeking Sixth Miss for a reward?

Bullshit!

I almost missed earlier.

That damned little brat!

I just praised her as being refined and open-minded earlier.

Upon turning around, she became like that.

She really thinks she's some divine archer?

When did you say that she's refined and broad-minded?

- You didn't hear it? - Were you saying it in your heart?

Young Master, if you ask me, if you're this worried about her,

you should have personally escorted her home.

Why must we sneakily

follow behind her and shoot xiujian to protect her?

You don't understand the matters of the internal household.

If she gets seen by others

associating with a male outsider during a funerary mourning period, that's a crime.

Then...

Wouldn't it have been better if we had her change her mourning clothes first?

Nonsense.

If she changed her clothes and gets seen by those nitpicking people, they surely will gossip.

It's better this way. It will be more convenient for her.

It's still Young Master who thinks more thoroughly.

This has the same principles as fighting a battle.

It's just that their battlefield isn't on the back of a horse.

What should we do, Sister?

Second House Old Madam--

- Second House Old Madam, Big Madam, and Master are all so anxious. - Miss, you're back!

Good thing Miss, you're back!

- Grandmother! Grandmother! - She's back.

She's back!

- Miss! - Minglan, you're back!

Minglan! Little Sister, are you alright?

Ming'er!

Grandmother!

Grandmother!

Grandmother!

Grandmother, are you alright? I'm back.

Why did you just come back now?

Why did you just come back now?

- Grandmother. - It's good that you're back.

Quickly come here.

Ming'er.

Ming'er.

Grandmother.

You're finally back.

- Thank you, Bodhisattva for your blessings. - You scared us!

It must be Eldest Old Madam's soul in heaven

who blessed this child to come back home safely.

Last time, when we met some bandits,

I already felt that something bad might happen.

Never thought, that trouble would really come to us.

Our Youyang is so far from the southern border,

yet there are indeed rogues here. Is the world getting chaotic?

We initially planned to leave after the New Year.

But with the current situation, I fear that we can't wait anymore.

Grandniece-in-law, once your mother-in-law gets buried tomorrow,

we'll go back to the capital.

People from the local magistrate came to report that some of the bandits have been killed,

while some have been captured and won't pose any threat.

Why don't you stay for a few more days to recover from the trauma before leaving?

Yes.

It's not only because of the bandits.

I fear more that there might be turmoil in the Imperial court.

Auntie, I won't ask you to stay then.

I surely will find you a good boat.

No, water travel is too slow.

It's better to travel by land.

[ Sheng House ]

Young Master, we're on the same travel path as Sheng House back to the capital.

Why don't we let them know and we can travel together?

It's more bustling to have more people.

What's there to bustle about?

They are all womankind. How inconvenient is it to add to them?

Also, I need to bring Rongjie back to the capital.

Sixth Miss was right.

If Rongjie continues to drift around homeless like this with me,

she'll become a wild girl for sure.

I don't know what bad luck the Sixth Miss clashed with.

How come she keeps running into bandits?

It's not that she keeps running into bandits, but that the bandits are rampant everywhere.

All here.

Rest and let them do it.

- Nest rolls. - Sit.

Young Master, meat.

Father! Why aren't we eating at the food stand?

Father's out of money now.

Finish it up.

Then let our horse go faster.

I want to see Nanny Chang sooner.

Rong'er, it's getting cold now.

The wind's blown your father a headache. I can't ride that fast.

Blow, blow, blow. No more ache. Headache's flown away.

So good. Rong'er is Father's good girl.

Father, do we need to go slowly?

To escort that big sister that fell into the river?

That's not a big sister.

Her older brother is your father's true brother, Uncle Sheng. Do you remember?

So you need to call her "aunt".

Auntie?

Young Master. Sixth Miss calls you Second Uncle Gu.

Miss Rong calls Sixth Miss, "aunt".

That hierarchy is all messed up.

Go stay wherever it's the coldest!

Thanks for the reward, Young Master.

Auntie. Auntie.

Auntie.

Grandmother, the soup is ready!

Alright.

I'm coming.

- Dust. - Is there?

Wipe it.

If I were you, I wouldn't try to mess with those at the bottom of the hill.

Buddy, I am from the Canal Gang with the family name "Shi".

If you give me the courtesy today to let go of the fat goat, my Canal Gang will repay this courtesy.

Shitou.

Good girl. Father's going to fight, but don't get scared.

Careful, Father!

Go.

"Memorial to Yueyang Tower."

"Qinli, fourth spring in reign, (T/N Emperor Renzong of Song)

Teng Zijing was relegated to Baning County. The second year,

the government was apt and the people lived happily and peacefully,

and renovated Yueyang Tower.

Expanding from its old scale,

engraving the great poem of Tang talents.

- So allow me to commemorate it with this prose. - Kill him!

As I see it, the beauty of Baling County is in Lake Dongting. Connecting the far mountains to Yangtze River.

Majestic and surging. Broad and boundless.

Bright morning sunshine melting into evening mist. Changes in season in a variety.

This is the most spectacular sight from Yueyang Tower.

Past descriptions about it are already very detailed.

And then going north to Wuxia, going south to reach the two rivers Xiao and Xiang,

most depressed travelers and grieving poets would gather here.

Would their feelings in admiring the scenery be the same?

Drizzling rain continues to fall, the sky was cloudy for several months.

The cold wind fiercely blows, the muddy waves rage up to the sky.

The light of the sun and stars fade out. The body of the mountain ranges is obscured.

Merchants and tourists can't proceed with their travels. Sails are toppling down, boat oars breaking up.

When dusk comes and the sky gets dark, there will be howling of tigers and sad cries of gorillas being heard.

If you go up this platform now, afraid of getting hurt by people's words, getting mocked by evil people.

My eyes are desolate, and I can feel that deep sorrow in my heart."

If you can relay a message from me

to all your brothers to let that fat sheep go,

we all can peacefully have our New Year then.

They're here.

Let's go back to the city.

Okay, Young Master.

Let's go.

Father.

Thank you, Father.

Let's go. Quickly go back.

Okay. Okay.

- You must be tired. - Are everyone okay?

Nanny, I'll go open the gates.

Give that to me.

Go away! Go and beg from other people's houses!

Bodhisattva didn't bless our home anyway!

Who are you?

Young Master.

Nanny, I'm back.

Nanny.

Ye! You're back!

Nanny, you're back!

Quickly go inside.

- Let's go. - Get inside.

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? ♫