Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 53

You're awake.

Why are you sleeping here?

Based on your words, as if you don't want me to sleep here in your room.

No, you should wake up now.

It isn't daybreak yet.

Let's sleep a little while more.

Regarding I...

... taking in a concubine, if you feel upset about it,

just tell me.

It's nothing, really.

When I just entered your house, I didn't know your difficulties yet,

and I still didn't fully know the situation of your house.

I was afraid that if there are too many people, it wouldn't be easy to control them.

Now,

I already know the situation of this house.

Your paternal aunt directly told it to me, and the eyes of the one from the adjacent house is watching.

I can't make a mistake.

In anyway, I know that you love me dearly.

You also had me manage the house, hence, I must keep watch of that Fengxian.

Once the situation is better, I'll just drive her away.

How come I don't feel you being jealous at all?

I'm not jealous.

Is not being jealous bad?

It's not good. I'm waking up.

The supervisor of the garden told me

that in 10 to 15 days, the work in the garden will be over.

After counting it,

the work has been dragged for 2 months.

If it gets dragged on further, I fear that outsiders will start to talk.

I'm thinking...

Once the work in the garden is done,

let's open the manor and set up a banquet.

And that will solve it.

You are the Big Madam of this house. You have the final say.

That would be a major banquet. All our close friends and the nobility will be coming.

Husband, you must make some time to stay here and entertain the guests.

Once you give out the news, people will already come to visit our house.

- Visit our house? - Yes.

Those who are unable to come during the merging of the houses,

don't want to come, or afraid that coming will invite too much attention

would visit you days before the banquet.

That early?

If it's a hot furnace, even if it's the sixth month of the year,

someone would still rush here to get burned.

You are indeed wise. I fear that...

I fear that the fire might get too strong,

and cause the furnace to collapse.

Indeed. Hence, you must guard this furnace well.

You can't just let anyone put in a fire wood.

War is an extension of the government. A banquet about merging of houses is also an extension of the government.

You must be more careful.

Now, we are in one furnace.

Let's both be careful.

You decide about the merging banquet.

You must be careful with those people from the adjacent manor.

I know.

My parents were not benevolent when I was little.

You know this.

Although my father was harsh on me,

when he loved or hated me,

all were real.

Unlike that stepmother of mine who was just putting on a mask.

But how come I'm not as fierce to my stepmother compared to how I treated my father?

Do you know why?

Because stepmother is an outsider.

Indeed.

My father remarried and had my stepmother.

When she gave birth, I became an eyesore to her.

I'm affecting their future, hence, she wishes that I die soon.

She's so hateful, but since I know that she's an outsider,

I didn't feel that much pain.

But the old marquis is your biological father.

Since I was little, my father was my sky.

He was like a sky deity. I respected and loved him.

No matter how he treated me, I'd always bear some hope towards him.

I felt that one day, he would understand me.

But until the end, when my hope completely shattered,

I felt so much pain,

because I feel that he naturally should love me.

I understand.

You don't.

You are my wife.

I understand. Although I treat you like the earth looking up into the sky,

a star looking at that moon, I respect and love you.

Let's just eat.

Did I say something wrong?

You still don't get it!

- Shitou! - Marquis! You're going to the morning court this early?!

What early? Is it still too early?!

What's wrong with Marquis? He seems unhappy?

He has been weird since yesterday.

Maybe, there are so many things to worry in the imperial court.

Shitou brought you some food again?

Fried cherries from Nanbei Shop. Big Madam, have a taste.

- This is from Nanbei Shop? - Yes.

Not bad. The ones from Nanbei Shop are delicious.

That's right!

The work in the garden would be over soon.

We would be setting up a banquet to entertain some guests. This fruit dish is not bad.

Tell the Fried Sweets Section to buy some and set it up during that day.

Okay! Okay!

That flaky crab apple flower last time was good too. Add that too.

That's right! That's right!

- Yancao! Yancao! Quickly come here. - There are a lot of people today!

- Serve these dishes in front. - Danju!

Put them according to kind.

Sister-in-law, slowly. Come. Come.

Good rascal.

Merging these two mansions really made it so huge.

What's the use of being huge? Good thing, we just renovated the garden.

Sister-in-law, take a good look at it.

Crude men like us don't really know refined things.

Sister-in-law, look and tell me if there are anything you don't like.

The mason hasn't left yet.

Marquis, you're being too courteous. Was it your wife who handled all the renovations?

She did them all. What do I know?

Come. Come.

Make way! Please look at where you're going!

A carriage from your manor.

Husband, greetings!

This one must be the Marquis Gu that older sister frequently mentioned when she was still alive. Am I right?

Greetings, Marquis. Congratulations on the merging of your houses!

This is the Third Little Sister of my deceased wife. She got taken in as my concubine a few days ago.

Since General already has a concubine attending to you,

forgive me for going home to rest then.

Sister-in-law, you mustn't.

Sister, just be at ease and go back.

I surely will attend to husband well.

You really want me to go back,

but why must I leave? I'm not the one who's embarrassing myself here.

Sister, you mustn't blame husband for this.

- It was me who insisted on coming after seeing the invitation. - Wife!

What's going on here? You're slapping the face of the Zhang family here.

In an official banquet, you've brought a concubine?

This is against etiquette.

Fifth was afraid that her pregnancy might get unstable, hence, she especially asked me to apologize to you

for she can't come anymore.

And Changbai went to attend to his duties in Hanlin Academy.

He said that your husband knows that he doesn't like events like this,

hence, he especially didn't send him any invitation. Really so considerate.

- When they get together, they would have endless talks. - Yes.

- Congratulations. Congratulations. - You're welcome.

How come you invited her too?

There were originally two invitations. One is for Countess Wu.

The one is for Fourth Brother-in-law.

But when my messenger arrived in their manor, they said that Fourth Brother-in-law

accompanied Countess Wu to Luzhou to buy paintings.

The invitations then didn't reach them.

I'm sure you calculated the days well before sending the invitations.

A few days ago, my marquis husband especially told Fourth Brother-in-law

that the painting that Countess Wu wants is in Luzhou.

You husband and wife did it deliberately.

But the next day, my mother-in-law sent an invitation

to that Fourth Sister of mine.

Your mother-in-law is quite famous.

She's quite powerful among the wives of nobility.

I remember that when Count Yan's house did a separation of assets, she was even especially invited to be a judge.

Good thing, she's only a stepmother. Or else, your days

would be harder than mine.

Yes. If not, their family wouldn't have any decision

- on this asset separation matter. - No such thing.

I'm not that resolute.

Since the Kang Family entered the capital, I had to return home every 3 to 5 days,

and I would always see auntie being a guest in our house.

Big Madam and her sister have a close relationship. It's not surprising.

Have you forgotten how she criticized you?

Or else, what must I do?

They just gave me undeserved doting and asked me to be their witness.

It was quite a harmonious event. They discussed things and settled the matter quickly.

I was just...

... a freeloader for 2 days.

Steward Ge said that the kitchen is ready. Just give the instructions and the meals can be served.

It's just that Grand Madam's servants have tried to peek numerous times, but they were stopped every time.

I fear that they might cause problems.

Tell our different house sections and departments to inform the stewards of the different section and departments of the other manor

that today is just an act.

After we're done with it, everyone would be having a good rest.

We surely will return to them the management of this manor.

Yes.

Little Sister, I'll get going now. You just stay busy.

- Mother. - I'll just leave for a while.

What's wrong?

Mother, you too.

How could you stay with them and talk so intimately?

Congratulations Auntie in the merging of your manors!

With the event being this huge, I fear that you'll get exhausted.

Don't be so courteous.

Forgive me for having a poor sight. You are...

This is Madam Shen.

She's the wife of the young lord of the ducal house of Duke Qi of the State.

Before, I've seen you from afar during the funeral of Marquis Yu.

I fear that you were handling so much things then, hence, you didn't see me.

So, you're from the House of Princess of the Second Rank.

Although our two houses are relatives, it's already beyond the 5th degree.

No need to call me auntie. Addressing me that

is really embarrassing me.

Please come in and sit.

I heard that you love to joke around since you were little.

Hearing them would make people feel having a breath of fresh air, and unable to contain one's joy.

But I'm quite a useless person.

My husband kept being depressed and unhappy.

However, I don't know how to advice him.

Madam, Fifth Madam was calling us earlier.

There's no Fifth Madam over there.

Men aspire to travel far and leave their mark.

Heng'er is currently at the stage of repaying his country with service and seeking to improve himself.

Although I'm a woman, I know that there are so much affairs to handle in the imperial court.

Heng'er is just worried about government matters. It's a good diligent act.

He can't really play butterflies with you or draw your eyebrow make up everyday, right?

With you two respecting and loving each other; your family being united, prosperous, and without problems;

that is the best kind of proper path.

Am I right, my niece-in-law?

Right.

If you kids are living well,

elders like us will be at ease.

Auntie, you said it right. But how could my husband compare to that of uncle?

He's now highly very popular and powerful, like he's riding his horse during springtime.

Look at the number of people in this event.

Second Uncle's official fortune is going so smoothly.

You have also been conferred a title.

As they say, a full moon would start to wane, a water filled jar would start to overflow.

Uncle and Auntie are currently like the high noon sky.

You two must be careful.

Since Fourth Sister tried to socialize with you,

she surely have told you a lot about my matter.

Auntie, you are the gentlest and most refined.

Everyone says that marrying into the marquis manor for me is climbing a higher branch.

Just today, in a few short hours,

there were already 7 to 8 noble wives who told me that I was fortunate.

But who knew that in this manor,

I had to first send away all those concubines that had been idle here for a long time.

Also, take care of the only child

that was left by a ferocious outside mistress.

Second, I must handle

this stepmom with such good outside reputation.

Inside this manor, there are also wicked servants who would bully their master,

and farmsteads who tampered their accounting books.

I'm just an illegitimate daughter.

I have no one to rely on. When I entered this manor, it was also hard for me to walk by a step.

Tell me, if I'm unable to leave all those behind,

I would be dying from problems in living my days.

I also heard from mother-in-law

that the marquis manor isn't that peaceful.

In this world, the required standards on women was placed too high.

If women like us would still make things difficult for ourselves,

we indeed won't be able to continue living our days anymore.

Madam, don't you think that you're telling me too intimate matters

despite our shallow relationship?

A lot of problems are created by shallow talks despite having a deep relationship.

Let us be frank with each other now,

so we can at least have a level of expectation for each other.

In the future, there then won't be any disappointments.

Be frank?

What if after being frank,

you get to wake up from your dream of golden millet? What then?

Tell the chief steward to add two more tables for the male guests in the western courtyard.

Tell the ushers to pay more attention. Don't let Glorious Grand Master Liu

and Lord Gao of the Imperial College sit in the same table.

The two families just got involved in a lawsuit a few days ago.

Don't let things get too ugly.

Yes.

She won't be able to handle everything by herself. You two go help her.

Big Madam, let's go rest.

I'll go ask for a bowl of tofu pudding to quench your thirst.

- Xiaotao. - Yes. - You...

You...

Go and look for Young Lord Qi.

Young Lord Qi?

Tell him that that I want to talk him. Let him wait for me at the western corridor bridge.

Miss, this doesn't look appropriate.

He already escalated the matter to his wife.

If I still stay vague, I fear that a major problem will happen.

Don't worry. I know my limits.

Little Sister Kang, that was really interesting.

So lively.

How come this fried cherry of yours taste different?

Old Sister, don't talk about that anymore. Just put it down and don't eat it.

Why?

That Second Daughter-in-law of mine said that I'm old and was afraid that I'll get tired.

She then took over the organization of this banquet.

Don't know which shop in the streets she had these fried cherries made.

Anyway, it's not anymore that one we usually buy fried sweets from.

Now, in this house,

I'm not the one who decides anymore.

If you find any fault in this banquet,

please just give me respect and be more tolerant.

For an illegitimate daughter like her to marry into your marquis manor

is already great fortune.

How could she still be so unruly and make senseless dins like this?

You are really too kind. You're too kind to others.

You're indulging them to the point that they are disregarding natural morality.

I'm old and I've lost my support.

It's now this second daughter-in-law of mine who's in-charge of our manor.

I also get to be idle, while she indeed need to learn by experience.

Your Second loves his wife so much,

and is currently the right hand man of the emperor.

My sister-in-law is really regretting it.

If she knew that he'll change his ways in such nimble manner,

she would have married off that niece of mine to him.

She then wouldn't be coming home every 3 to 5 days

to complain to her mother how her husband is a scoundrel.

It's not that I'm being talkative.

If your niece did marry into this house,

she might not have days as great as that of her current daughter-in-law.

This... what do you mean?

My niece lost her mother ever since she was little.

That biological little sister of mine who was the legitimate wife initially wanted to raise her by herself.

But never thought that child didn't want her,

and just turned around to run towards the room of the Old Madam.

With such agility,

even the cavalry army of the Qidan Ethnic Tribe can't catch her.

She's really so rebellious.

Whenever I go to the Sheng Manor,

this illegitimate daughter would act in a legitimate daughter manner.

Her other sisters all can't dare to offend her.

I also was just too talkative and scolded her a little.

Never thought that she would turn hostile against me.

I was thinking that someone should stand up and discipline her, right?

After getting on the good side of her grandmother,

she was able to obtain the house key and manage the house.

She was even able to become superior to my biological little sister, the main madam of their house.

I'm old. I'm unable to support this family anymore.

I also get to have some quiet and peaceful time.

But just for some quiet times, if you keep on yielding,

your future days would just be harder.

Niece, you're an only daughter of Duke Ying of the State.

How could you understand the difficulties of being a stepmother?

Now that the old marquis is gone, Eldest has also died,

Second inherited the nobility title, and I'm not his birth mother.

Everything I say is wrong.

Everything I do is a hindrance.

Forget it. Forget it.

How come the wife of Eldest, Madam Shao, didn't come out today?

With the temper of that wife of Second,

and the fact that she's used to being in charge,

has really scared the wife of Eldest.

She developed some qi deficiency and palpitations.

I then just asked her to rest more in the inner courtyard,

so she won't get scared again if she comes out.

The more you all stay weak, won't she get more domineering?

Does my dynasty not have any laws anymore?!

Forget it. Forget it.

I've already lived half of my life.

As long as I endure these grievances,

Eldest's wife and his daughter

can then have better days.

If she dares to provoke me, I surely will spit on her.

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

Sixth Little Sister.

Young Lord, hello.

How about... you just call me Yuanruo?

I risked the destruction of my reputation

to have you come here for a talk, and not really to reminisce about our past.

As long as it's you who's calling,

I'm fine with anything.

I think the Gu Family and Qi Family are technically relatives.

Although it's long been beyond the fifth degree,

you should still be calling us uncle and auntie.

What do you mean?

You also addressed my marquis husband as second uncle before.

- You want me to call you... You want me— - In terms of seniority,

I count as your elder.

You're so cruel.

How come I can't see Big Madam anywhere?

I also can't see Xiaotao.

Those madams have turned into powerful monsters after years of experience.

They surely won't want any good for Minglan.

Go search for her and don't let her get bullied.

Okay. I'll go right away.

Everyone is saying that I'm living a good life now.

That I've fallen into a jar of honey.

There are even people saying that an illegitimate daughter like me getting raised by my grandmother

is because my birth mother lighted high incenses to the deities before.

But I'm willing to abandon these luxurious life.

What nobility title and carriage, conferred title and mansions?

I'm willing to use all of these in exchange for my mother's life.

As long as she can be revived,

I'm willing to stay forever in that narrow room in the Sheng Manor.

I'm fine with not having any good food or clothes, having no charcoal fire,

as long as she can come back.

As long as I'm allowed to lie down on her knee again,

I'm willing to do anything.

I know. I understand everything.

You don't.

My mother will never return.

She can't come back anymore. She can't resurrect.

No matter what I do, it's impossible that she'll be back.

I still have a lot of days to live.

When a person dies, he can't resurrect.

When time passes, it will also never come back.

Young Lord,

we're both already married to other people.

We can never turn around anymore.

- Yancao! - Yes? - Come here.

Have you seen our Madam?

I didn't.

Go. Go.

How come I can't see my Sixth Little Sister?

I saw her going to the the courtyard in the west.

That courtyard is cold, remote, and has only a few people. She must have went there to rest.

How about I go call her in your behalf?

Forget it. I'm sure that she's tired in organizing such a huge event.

I'll go look for Eldest Sister for a chat instead.

Yes.

Young Master.

I heard from the servant of Molan

that Big Madam is resting in the western courtyard.

She must be tired. I'll go check on her.

You heard these words from Molan?

Right. Molan said them.

I am regretting it everyday!

I would gather 3 to 5 things to do at the same time.

I dare not stop.

Because if I stop, I would think...

... why?

How come when my family were against it,

I couldn't have worked harder?

How come I must wait until I passed the imperial examination

before I went to your house to propose marriage?

Why did I...

Why must I...

... show off

and earn the liking of that Princess of the third rank?

I also hate. I hate Prince Yong and his family!

They were tyrannical and overbearing.

They took my father as hostage.

Young Lord, what happened between us is that the heaven made fools of us.

Sixth Little Sister,

it's good that you understand.

Only you can understand.

I...

I... was just afraid...

... afraid that you'll hate and bear grudges against me.

I have never hated or bore grudges against you.

I know that it wasn't easy for you. I understand.

Why? Why did you not hate me?

Why must I hate you?

As a son,

of course you must think for the sake of your parents?

Moreover, you also didn't know that in the future, there would be a huge change in the palace situation, that Prince Yong would get killed.

At that time, you were left with no choice.

I know.

No, you...

You... should hate me.

You should hate me.

Young Lord,

if we keep looking back all our life,

we won't be able to live our days.

I met your wife today.

I also can see how much she treasures and loves you.

I also cherish my present life. My marquis husband treas me very well.

Have you ever loved that Marquis Gu?!

Was he ever like me, not sleeping throughout the night in thinking about you?

Have you ever missed him like that?

Whenever you think about him,

have you ever cried so hard while thinking about him?

No, you never!

You ne—

I also didn't cry bitter tears for you.

You kept filing complaints about him in the morning court.

Have you thought about my feelings?

Good thing, he's a sensible person.

If he's an unreasonable oppressive person, how could I live my life?

Have you thought about those?

Yes, you are the treasure of your Qi Family.

You can do whatever you want.

But I'm just alone.

I must live my future days hers in the marquis manor.

Are you really doing it just to vent your anger

or for me? Have you really thought about it well?

I...

Of course, I'm doing all of these so you can be better.

But it has to be me who says what's good for me for it to be really good for me.

What you think doesn't count.

But it's also not important if it counts or not now.

All of these have ended long ago.

Only you are refusing to let go.

That Young Lord, even he's now a scholarly official

and has joined the morning court, his temper and character

are still so child-like.

Just doing whatever he thinks.

I said that I don't hate nor bear any grudges against him, yet he instead got angrier.

Could it be he wants me to hate him? Bear grudges against him?

I saw Young Lord getting very upset near the end of your conversation.

I also know that he's in pain.

But if he keeps being this hesitant and keeps procrastinating,

does he want to be buried with all these past affairs?

Scolding him earlier, waking him up earlier,

would be beneficial for him, for the Qi family, and for his wife.

What about Marquis?

Marquis?

If he stops filing a complaint against Marquis in the morning court,

that would be good for Marquis already. If it's good for him, then it's good for me.

Our future days can then be lived in a more peaceful and steadier manner.

The sky has already changed. A concubine dared to attend a banquet like this.

What could people from a poor and desolate place like Yuzhou know?

Only they can be so shameless as to let concubines come in an event like this.

Lower down your voice. That group of people there is all from Yuzhou.

- So what? - I'll shoot!

Bianjing is still the capital of this empire.

It's not Yuzhou.

Madam Shen, you're here quite early.

Is General Zheng already here?

Let's continue playing.

I won't play this with you anymore.

Let me tell a joke.

Didn't that Zhang woman married into the Shen family for more than half a year now?

But I've never seen them sleeping together that often.

And she still want to get pregnant?

Totally dreaming!

- You lowly wife, you dare to slander your legitimate main madam? - What are you doing?

Who do you think you are?! You dare pull on my Miss?!

Nanny Fen!

Sister-in-law.

What did you say earlier?

Big Madam.

I didn't say much earlier.

We were just guessing if you know to say our Yuzhou dialect,

if you've drank our wine.

Our Yuzhou have large herrings and mulberry forests.

Too bad, the lands are barren and the weather is cold.

We only have low-quality silk there.

Remotely poor and desolate.

Shut up.

Correct. Remotely poor and desolate.

But people like us grew up wearing things like that.

Not only them, even the biological sister of General,

me, my sister,

General himself, and the present Empress.

Big Madam, you were born here in Bianjing.

You were born in a nest of good fortune. You don't know anything.

Only I know how to make the favorite flaky pastry of General.

Only I know about the home town of General.

Enough. Lessen your words.

You are just a vixen.

- Who are you calling a vixen?! - Sister-in-law.

Say that once again! Say it once again!

When the event is too huge,

it can't be helped for some people to have grudges against each other,

some people to have debts of gratitude with each other.

Those from Yuzhou and Bianjing

are both people that can't be offended.

If one's house can't secure its footing,

this banquet would really look ugly.

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? ♫