Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 35

Your hands are also tainted with my little sister's blood.

You choose your death method.

It's snowing.

Such a huge snowfall.

She's crazy.

- Such a huge snowfall. - She might just be pretending.

Your Majesty, it's snowing!

Your Majesty, it's snowing!

It's snowing... it's snowing!

Throw her out onto the main street!

Let her crazily shout there.

Have everyone see her,

so she'll get pointed at, spat at, and cursed at by them!

Let her experience

what my little sister endured before.

It's snowing!

Your Highness!

It's snowing!

Let's go.

Hurry.

Crawl out of here and then just keep running toward the west.

Good thing this place is not that far from the area outside the Imperial city. (T/N square palace fortress)

Just a few hundred steps, and it will already be the Xihua Gates. (T/N the western gate of the palace fortress)

Remember, don't go out through the main gates, take the narrow path on its north side.

The wall there also has a dog hole like this.

There are grasses covering it, so only a few people know about it.

If you go out from there, you'll preserve your life.

Official, what's your name?

My name is Qingyun.

Official Qingyun, leave with me.

I've worked in the palace since I was little. I won't know how to survive if I go out.

If I'm afraid, I'll just look for a place to hide.

Miss Sheng, quickly go.

If I'm able to survive, I won't forget this great favor.

Quickly go.

If I knew today would happen, I could have him deposed beforehand!

- Your Majesty. Your Majesty. - I...

There's no point cursing now.

What's important is to look for people to save you.

Yuzhou's Zhao Zongquan is nearest to the capital. (T/N this is a pseudonym for Zhao Zongshi, historical figure)

One, two, three! One, two, three!

Your Majesty, you're conferring Zhao Zongquan as Crown Prince? (T/N note he's writing it in his own blood)

Among the Imperial clan, although Zhao Zongquan is the most mediocre,

he is benevolent and righteous.

- Your... - He's the only choice.

The Imperial court officials kept arguing about the Crown Prince matter.

Who would have guessed that conferment of the heir

would be done with a knife placed at your neck.

This is fate.

You... think of a way to hand both this military seal and this decree to Zhao Zongquan.

The Imperial city has already been surrounded by the rebel army.

Who is able to go out of the palace and deliver this letter?

Who will go!

His Majesty

was usually too lenient with all of you.

He didn't scold or hit you. He even defended you when you had committed mistakes.

Now, it's time for you to pay back his kindness,

yet you all are retreating and won't come forward.

In this huge Imperial city, is there no loyal and righteous person!

I'm willing to deliver the decree.

Who's talking?

I'm willing to deliver the Imperial decree.

How old are you?

Thirteen.

With such a young age and a weak build,

how can you charge out of the enclosure of the rebel army?

I know the small alleys in the palace.

His Majesty doesn't like extravagance,

so there are palace walls that haven't been repaired for a long time.

Some dogs have created holes for them in a lot of walls.

My build is small, so I'll be able to crawl out of these dog holes.

Raise your head up.

Are you not afraid?

When I initially entered the palace,

the Tea Brewing Eunuch asked me to deliver tea to His Majesty.

One day, when I was on duty to attend to His Majesty,

I forgot to ground the tea leaves but didn't get discovered.

I thought that I was just fortunate.

Afterwards, I learned that His Majesty was actually very thirsty that day.

However, he saw that I wasn't carrying any tea with me,

and just endured his thirst and didn't say anything throughout.

Upon reaching his chamber palace, he drank all the tea of Her Highness. (T/N where he would sleep that night)

I've received great grace from His Majesty and was able to escape punishment.

Now, I'm willing to risk my life to repay him.

It's because I saw how young you were, and couldn't bear for you to get punished.

You shouldn't have remembered such a trifling matter for this long.

For Your Majesty, it's just a trifling matter, but for me, it's a major favor.

Just one word from Your Majesty, and my life was saved.

I'm willing to resolve this urgent need of yours.

Okay. Okay.

Lift your head up. You know how to repay the good deeds done to you.

If you're able to deliver this letter out,

you will earn the top meritorious deed in rescuing His Majesty!

I'm entrusting everything to you.

Attendant! Walk her out through the back door.

Move aside.

Unruly!

I'm the Empress of our dynasty.

How could you order me around?

Disperse!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty... Your Majesty!

Who are you?

I... am a palace maid of Funing Palace. Little official (eunuch), please pull me out.

Her Highness the Empress asked me to take a message out to save His Majesty.

You're delivering a message to save His Majesty?

They're about to catch up. Don't mind that anymore. Let's quickly escape.

- General! - General...

Say it!

There's a little palace maid who took with her His Majesty's blood-written decree

and military seal, and has escaped. (T/N necessary token to move the Imperial armies)

How does she look? How old? Which direction did she go?

Around thirteen or fourteen, very thin,

and went towards the Xihua Gates.

Quickly send people to go after her.

You know the streets here in Bianjing?

A little.

The heavens are really helping me. May I ask you to lead the way

and help me out of the city. I have to go to Yuzhou.

Why are you going to such a far place?

Find Yuzhou's militia commander Zhao Zongquan to save His Majesty!

- This... - I...

I only know some of the streets here in the capital.

I don't know how to go to Yuzhou.

How about I bring you home?

I have carriages in our house. I'll be able to have you sent to Yuzhou.

Move aside! Move aside!

You... live in Bianjing?

You even have carriages in your house?

Then... why did you enter the palace and became a eunuch?

Don't be afraid. I'm a daughter of an official.

I went to the palace today to deliver food to my father and brother.

However, I encountered this kind of disaster. I had to change clothes before escaping out.

What's wrong?

When I usually go out, either I ride a carriage or a palaquin.

I'm a little lost.

- What now? - There they are!

Catch her! Catch her!

Move aside! Move aside!

Move aside!

After them!

What are you doing?

Please let us pass! Let us pass!

Get lost!

Let's separate to look for them.

Excuse us! Please let us pass!

This...

I'm dying.

You... you, quickly get up.

I fear that I won't be able to go anymore.

This is His Majesty's personally written decree.

I can only entrust it to you.

T-This... is the military seal.

You can read?

That's great.

When you find Yuzhou's Militia Commander,

ask him to use the military seal

and come to His Majesty's aid.

They're not here.

Did you see a eunuch and a palace maid?

Upstairs.

Quickly go after them!

Hurry and leave! Hurry and leave!

I will slow them a little. Quickly leave!

I beg you! Save him!

He's really a good Emperor!

I beg you!

Quickly go...

Move aside!

Go!

Don't run!

Hurry! Hurry and chase her!

Quickly go after her! Hurry!

Quickly go after her!

My horse carriage!

Move aside!

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

After her!

[ Bianjing ]

Chase her!

It's actually a lady. You can run fast.

Don't come near! Don't come near!

This lady really has guts!

Don't come near me!

We are under military order.

How about we take her back and have some fun with her?

Don't come near me! Help! Help!

Help!

What the hell!

Help! Help!

You scratched my face and ruined it.

Everyone, don't move first!

With just those few people, they're not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

Let's just allow him to do this great favor for us.

We only need to guard by my father's side.

Stupid! Stupid!

This way! This way!

Stop running.

Second Uncle. Second Uncle Gu...

- Don't be afraid. - Second Uncle!

They're all dead.

Why are you here?

I'm going to Bianjing.

I'm going to Yuzhou.

Why are you going there?

I... I am going to look for Zhao Zongquan.

I'm going to hand him the military seal and...

the blood-written decree.

Quickly take him to look for him.

What military seal? What blood-written decree?

You... have a horse.

I have no time to explain. Quickly take me there.

Don't! Don't! He's just over there.

Zhao Zongquan.

Over there.

Officer!

That is indeed His Majesty's handwriting?

Right.

Although he wrote it with his finger, but this robe fabric can't be fake.

Since that's the case,

Father is now the Crown Prince conferred by His Majesty.

No! No!

Quickly get up. Don't bow to me!

This is a good thing. Your Highness, there's no need to panic.

What do you mean, 'Your Highness'? What "Highness"!

Don't even mention those two words. I'm panicking!

Why talk about some "crown prince" now! Quickly go save the Emperor!

With just a few of us, how are we going to save His Majesty?

We must take the Imperial decree and mobilize the army under the command of the Crown Prince.

Lord, stop delaying!

If we delay it any longer, I fear that His Majesty might be dead by then!

When the father dies, the son ascends to the throne! That's just right and proper!

As an Imperial relative,

being entrusted with such a mission during this dangerous time

and forcing myself to ascend to the position will surely invite future trouble!

Father, how could you say such words?

The current Emperor has no sons!

Now, he even made a decree. Everything is being done and perfectly justifiable!

How could there be future troubles?

Have you forgotten

the "ax sounds and shadows by the candlelight' incident" of Emperor Taizong? (T/N Story told of Song Emperor Taizu, Zhao Kuangyin, dying mysteriously possibly at the hands of Zhao Kuangyi, his brother, who then also bypassed the sons of Taizu)

If in the end,

brothers will be fighting, father and sons will turn hostile to each other,

there's no point in becoming crown prince.

I'm already satisfied to live my life in peace.

Please just spare me this.

Lord, the reason that Prince Yan wanted to assassinate the person carrying the blood-written Imperial decree

must be because he knows what's written on it.

Do you think he'll let us go back to Yuzhou and live our days in peace?

Just one entrusted Imperial decree (T/N the previous decree received, ordering him to support a new crown prince)

has already invited so many assassins.

Once Prince Yan learns that His Majesty has intentions of passing the throne to you,

no matter if he chases you to the end of the world, he will eliminate the grass down to its roots! (T/N idiom regarding not just uprooting one person, but eliminating their relatives and associates to prevent "future trouble")

Prince Yan is so ruthless.

He's even able to do such a thing as forcing the Emperor to abdicate.

Why do you think he won't kill your whole family!

T-This...

Now, your life is temporarily preserved,

but the officials of Yuzhou will soon lose theirs!

Lord, please immediately decide!

Father, let's not talk about our lives first.

We still have our wives and children in Yuzhou, that's several lives.

My daughter is still less than two years old.

If Father refuses to accept this Imperial decree,

then those several lives in our family

will be gone.

Father, I beg you to save me.

Save our whole family.

Lord, while Prince Yan still has no free hand to spare,

we can give him a surprise and battle it out with him.

If we delay it any further,

wait until Prince Yan has forces His Majesty to change his Imperial edict and then come for us to kill us, (T/N make Yan Crown Prince and declare Zhao Zongquan and family as traitors)

at that point we will never be able to resist him, Lord!

Didn't you already address me as 'Your Highness'?

Why are you still calling me "Lord'?

May Your Highness give your orders!

Go change clothes. Take the blood-written decree and military seal

to mobilize the army at the main military camp at the western outskirts of the city.

Enter the capital and pacify the rebellion!

Your Highness is wise!

The two of us are really fated.

When you encounter danger and need to be saved, you will always bump into me.

You are my life-preserving deity.

Once I get home, I surely will make you a tablet to pray for your long life.

I must light an incense stick for it and kowtow to you every day.

How come that didn't sound like you were thanking me?

No matter how many thanks I say, all are just empty words.

If the heavens have eyes, they surely will give me another chance to repay you.

How?

Use my life to repay you.

Why would I want your life?

This... There aren't that many people in this world who could make me pay them with my life.

My Little Mother was one. My grandmother is another one.

Second Uncle Gu, you're the third one.

What about your future husband?

How would I know about such a faraway thing?

You don't know, but I do.

You... what do you know?

I know that you have sprained your foot. You have to recuperate for a few days.

Good thing you didn't hurt your bone. This will be healed in a few days.

Don't expose the wound on your hand to water. I'll leave Shitou to accompany you.

If I successfully pacify the rebellion, I will light two fireworks.

Tell Shitou then to take you to the palace to reunite with your father and brother.

If I fail,

I will just light one firework.

At that time, let Shitou take you to your Sheng Manor in Jiying Alley by daybreak.

I can see the fireworks and can walk. You, however, will be in a very dangerous situation.

How about you take Shitou with you instead?

Are you... worried about me?

Will you die?

Blades have no eyes. Be careful!

Say something auspicious for me to hear!

It's time to go!

Then I... I will wait for your return!

With you waiting, I surely will return!

I... I... I didn't mean it that way. (T/N it's what a wife or fiancee would tell her man going to battle... )

I stayed behind not really to accompany you, Miss.

I stayed behind to make my Young Master feel at ease.

Who are the people outside the city walls?

I'm the commander of the main military camp in the western city outskirt, Shenwei General Song Zhao Zhong! (T/N "Divine Guard" - the closest Imperial Army immediately outside the capital)

I was decreed to enter the capital! (T/N No army may enter the capital without express order of the Emperor)

We just received orders from the Defense Chief of the palace

to close the city gates ahead of time, and not allow anyone to enter the city!

Where's your Imperial decree? Who ordered you?

It was Prince Yan who delivered me a letter!

He told us to enter the city and wait for further orders!

Don't waste any more time! Quickly open the gates!

Charge!

Charge!

It's easy for me to die.

But... without a conferment decree,

you will then be unable to justify your claim.

The descendants of the Imperial Zhao family can then launch a crusade against you.

Let's see how long you can maintain your rule!

- Your Highness! - Your Majesty!

Your Highness, don't be rash.

We must have an Imperial decree for this to work.

Your Highness.

If he won't write it,

I'll write it myself.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, the Imperial Army from outside has charged into the palace!

I have the Emperor in my hands!

Your Majesty!

Who dares to make any rash moves!

Your Highness...

The mastermind of the rebellion, Prince Yan, is already dead! All of you, quickly surrender!

Protect the Emperor!

I was late to Your Majesty's defense. I caused Your Majesty to be traumatized.

This is heaven's will.

Prince Yan brought havoc upon himself.

If not because that child bumped into you when she went out of the city,

the Empress and I would have died a long time ago.

This is my duty.

You.

You entered the palace when you were eight years old.

You once did a spear dance in front of me.

After doing it, you asked me for some reward money.

I've never seen a child as bold as you were.

Out of joy, I gave you that spear.

After that, you rarely entered the palace.

I haven't seen you recently.

You Majesty never forgets what you see. You are indeed a genius.

Entered the palace? What do you mean, entered the palace?

He's the second son of old Marquis Ningyuan.

He used to frequently enter the palace.

The House of Marquis Ningyuan have been meritorious officers for generations.

No wonder you achieved such great military merits during the pacification of the southern rebellion.

He has profound hereditary learning.

I got expelled out of our house by my father, and my mother's surname is Bai.

I didn't deliberately fool you, Commander. May you forgive me.

Is your leg wound okay?

Thank you, for Your Majesty's concerns. It's fine.

You still mustn't neglect it.

Call for the Imperial physician!

I remember that when you were little, you were a mischievous child.

A lot of the goldfish in the Imperial garden have died in your hands.

How come today you're holding back your words?

Your Majesty is showing great concern for me. I feel so grateful.

But I am puzzled about one thing.

Your Majesty can't bear to see even a small wound like this,

but how come with just one word from you before, you destroyed my path to officialdom?

Stop with your nonsense!

This lad has been used to being unbridled outside. He doesn't know to be tactful!

- Your Majesty, please forgive him. - Let him talk.

Just past matters. Let's not talk about it anymore.

Right. Right. Don't mention it anymore. Go.

- Let's go make an inventory of the soldiers and horses outside. - Regarding this matter...

I indeed was wrong.

I've have always ruled with benevolence and tolerance.

But because of a joke,

I destroyed the future as an official of Yang Wuduan.

From then on, I developed a contrary balance. (T/N weighing improperly heavy some words... )

Just one touch of it, and I get angry. (T/N like a finger onto a scale to move it, any mention of the topic)

At the time, this child didn't know how to shut his mouth.

He sympathized with the injustice that Yang Wuduan encountered.

I got upset, and failed him.

And I even said that I wanted you to become like Yang Wuduan,

only being able to take the exam again at age fifty.

After saying it, I also found it inappropriate.

But because of pride, I didn't take it back. (T/N only the Emperor can take back his order or word)

Never thought that today, you didn't mind this past grudge and came to my aid.

I should apologize to you right now.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you said it too seriously.

For me to stand before you today and question you is so disrespectful.

With Your Majesty willingly pouring your heart out to me, I feel so grateful!

Right.

Your Majesty's graces is as high as the sky and as vast as the ocean.

You must remember it in your heart.

Yes.

Second Son Gu, I still can remember the words

you wrote in your essay.

You said you want to imitate Duke Fan Wenzheng. (T/N Fan Zhongyan, great statesman, scholar, genius)

That you want to inherit his aspirations and continue his cause.

Then, from now on,

you must assist Zhao Zongquan and his family

in defending the country and reviving the Imperial court.

I, your minister, surely will repay with my life (T/N this amounts to an Imperial order)

in reviving the Imperial court of Your Majesty and defending Your Majesty's territory!

Old Second is a good child. For you to be what you are today, (T/N a familiar way to say Second Son Gu)

is all thanks to his protection.

From now on, you must treat him kindly.

My dynasty has always favored the scholars more than the military warriors.

But no one must dare slight the House of Gu!

- I surely will. - Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you should go rest.

Since this morning, you haven't taken a nap.

I must personally write the conferment decree before I can be at ease.

Prepare the brush and ink.

Prepare the brush and ink.

They succeeded! Shitou, look!

They did it!

I told you to not worry. You just wouldn't believe me!

You had to wait for my Young Master to light the fireworks before you would believe it.

Be careful.

Come, quickly get up into the carriage.

Come...

I was able to coincidentally charge into the palace and save the Emperor today

all thanks to your Sixth Sister.

Could it be that when she was escaping,

she bumped into the palace maid that was delivering His Majesty's blood-written Imperial decree?

Indeed.

I've already arranged for my servant to escort your Sixth Sister home.

But... in front of His Majesty earlier,

I didn't mention her name and didn't report her merit.

I only mentioned that palace maid Ruichu.

I was afraid...

I understand. I understand.

You were also thinking for my little sister's sake.

Right now, the rebel army is still within the capital.

They are killing, raping, and looting.

If the news of my little sister escaping the palace gets out,

I fear that it won't be good for her reputation.

It's just that...

your House of Sheng will have missed this good meritorious chance.

It's fine. This merit belongs to that

palace maid who sacrificed her life.

My little sister just coincidentally bumped into her.

- Yes. Yes. - Since she was able to save His Majesty

and preserve her reputation, that's the best outcome.

Right. Right. Quickly go back to rest.

- Let's quickly go home. - Right. Right.

When you go back, remember to instruct your Sixth Little Sister

- to not tell anyone that she went into the palace, including her grandmother. - Okay.

Okay. Okay.

How come you've become such a nag after fighting wars?

Drink some more.

Here. Drink one more mouthful.

Your Majesty!

[ T/N The Song Emperor who has just passed away historically is the fourth of the northern dynasty, Emperor Renzong, Zhao Zhen, after 41 years in reign, 1063 CE ]

[ T/N The new Emperor was given a pseudonym earlier as "Zhao Zongquan" - changed his name from Zhao Zongshi to Zhao Shu in 1062 CE, Emperor Renzong's cousin's son, ascending the throne historically as Emperor Yingzong. ]

[ T/N The son who traveled with him in the drama was given the pseudonym, "Zhao Ceying". Historically, this is Zhao Zhongzhen for those of you wishing to follow the timeline of the dynasty and story here. ]

Wishing Your Majesty good health!

Long live Your Majesty! (T/N literal meaning, "Ten Thousand Years", the traditional salute to the Emperor)

This is good news! We have a chance now!

Slower.

That's great.

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? ♫