Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 67

That's Cheng Garden's direction.

It's not certain.

It's too dark out and it's hard to see.

Lichong. Lichong!

Sumon all the male runners of the manor and bring the fire extinguishing equipment.

All come with me. - Yes.

What are you trying to do?

I will go take a look.

Wife, I must go see it.

It's not even certain it is Cheng Garden.

Even if it, it's the marquis manor.

They will have their own fire rescuers.

Why is he still not here?

This is the inner courtyard. He can't come in with runners.

That's right. You're right. So I'll take a look outside.

Husband. Husband!

Push. Push.

I can see the baby's head.

What's wrong outside?

Nothing. It's nothing.

It's fine, Big Madam. I see the baby's head.

Breathe and push hard.

She can see the head.

Lichong! Lichong!

Yuanruo.

Come, give me a bucket. - Yuanruo!

Where are you going all in a fret?

Mother. Cheng Garden's on fire. I am going to help rescue.

You saw it and the Fire House would have seen it too.

The fire rescue team will go there so what use for you to go?

But it's already burning!

Don't forget your status and position.

You are already married.

Running to the marquis manor in the dark. What propriety!

Mother. Am I supposed to watch our relative burned to death alive and not help?

Relative? You deem them your relative?

We were a relative of Gu House.

Heng'er, you don't go.

Your wife might get scared seeing the fire, so you stay with her.

You guys go. Go.

Father. She's very safe at home. Why would she need company?

I'm going.

Father.

Let me just go see that she's fine and I'll be right back.

Can you block the mouths of the world?

Father!

When I needed to speak clearly and direct to her,

I did not. When I needed to wager all for her,

I also didn't and she suffered so much gossip and chilling words by my account.

Can't I just go rescue her once?

Loufu has her husband and the governor has his wife.* [ T/N Pre-Tang ballad: Qin Mulberry Tree ]

You go and it will just incite more tongue-wagging.

If that Gu Marquis were here, I wouldn't need to go.

But she's very pregnant and her manor is on fire.

Mother. We at least were once acquaintances.

And you've given her a bracelet and told her to be my sister.

Mother. Even if it's just a total stranger,

would you bear to see them die without helping?

Yuanruo. - Go!

Yuanruo!

Fire!

Help rescue fire.

Work harder. Come.

The fire's getting bigger.

Hurry, hurry.

Harder.

Hurry and rescue the fire.

Hurry, hurry.

Push hard, Big Madam.

It's out. Out!

Big Madam.

It's out!

Oh, it's a boy.

A big fat boy.

Slow.

Let me see him.

Bring him for her to see.

Here, Big Madam.

The baby's too cute!

Alright.

Alright.

Fat boy.

Everyone, everyone will get a reward.

Thank you, Big Madam for the reward.

You all contributed!

Go die!

Come!

Move!

Move!

You wench!

You, you!

Move! Who dares to come!

Pull her away.

Move!

Master.

You're back.

I'm back.

You're back!

They said . . . they said you were injured.

I . . . I thought you died.

My heart shattered.

I'm back. I'm back.

Everything's fine now that you're back.

Look.

Child.

Is it a boy or a girl?

What a big fire!

I don't know how my sixth sister is doing.

She's pregnant too.

How is it?

Reporting to Big Madam.

Words on the street say Marchioness delivered a boy safely and Marquis is back.

What? Delivered a boy?

Yes.

They say her due date was around now.

What a coincidence that the madam of Gu House delivered today in the big fire.

And Gu Marquis even saved her amid the big fire.

The words are spread all over the streets. That Gu Marquis came back just in time.

It's burned like this and she can still give birth?

Look at Dad.

Look at how much he looks like me.

I birthed him. He looks like me.

He looks like me. Oh my.

Look at how he looks exactly like me. He looks like me.

In the future, he will surely become a leader!

I already thought it through.

If this child likes martial arts in the future,

I can invite as many martial masters for him as available.

If he wants to master in scholarship,

I plan to hand him to your second brother.

My brother-in-law.

What?

You're going to hand him to my second brother, Changbai?

You . . . why would you?

How can you be so cruel-hearted?

This? Why couldn't I?

My second brother's temperament. It's not like you don't know.

We can't bear to be hard on him so we let another be hard on him.

Right?

When he's grown, he'll surely hate you for some time.

He won't. Right?

When did you get back?

I saw our house on fire from the street .

So I rushed to come back on horse.

Yes. The house was on fire.

- I should have came back sooner. - How did Aunt Kang come in?

Someone must have used the chaos as opportunity.

Rong girl. Where's Rong?

Rong is fine.

Xian girl is such a good child.

She saw the fire and she disregarded her mother stopping her,

and sent all the hands and feet to come and help rescue the fire.

Now, Rong girl is sitting well in her room.

Don't worry now.

They said you met an assassin.

I was so scared.

Your Darling Second is so brave and mighty.

A few assassins and I already sent them off.

So don't worry.

You just birthed the child so you should sleep well.

You don't go again.

I won't go.

I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you guys.

Hurry. Get water.

Fire. Fire.

Here.

Here, come, come.

Fire. Hurry.

Fire. Hurry and come.

Don't rush.

Oh my world.

- Tingwei? - Third Young Master!

- Slow down. Don't rush. - Third!

- Tingwei! - Big Madam.

Third Young Master!

Tingwei! Are you alright?

Third Young Master.

- He's fine, right? - Thanks to Buddha.

Child, hurry and get up. This might collapse and shatter on you.

I'll move out and set my own house.

Third Young Master! - What nonsense is this?

Big Madam.

Third Young Master's place will need to be renovated.

Maybe he should go and stay in eldest young master's old place.

Wait till I move out,

and if you miss me, Mother, you can come visit me.

If you don't want to, never mind then!

Where are you going?

You, if you move out, you won't come back?

I don't think I can live here any longer.

Third Young Master.

After I move out, you and Second Brother.

Fight if you want and go at it if you want.

I have no say in it anyway!

And I don't care anymore!

Third Young Master.

I raised that child so diligently. Why is he . . .

Slower, Madam.

- Tingwei! - Third Young Master!

Mother-in-law, you really don't know how our fire started?

I heard from second house's report,

that the wind was strong and it started from a flicker that flew over from the yard next door.

Next door?

I bet that flicker is very tall and named Shitou.

What?

Gu Tingye! How dare you!

Mother-in-law.

I really don't know if you really dote on my husband or if it's fake.

To say it's fake, yet you scheme for him with so much devotion.

To say it's true,

you've never cared what he wants and what he needs.

Whatever he doesn't want, such as the nobility title,

you must shove it into his mouth to make him swallow it.

Whatever he wants, such as harmony with his siblings.

You just will never let him have an ounce or second of it.

You spineless lot with no aspiration!

I schemed for you all my life for nothing!

He's not a dog!

For you to raise him however to your like!

Miss. Miss.

Gu Tingye!

Miss.

Let's not be mad.

Alright.

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

Where's my child?

My child! Where is he?

Where's my child!

Tell Tu Second and Liu Jingli to each guard one of the two inner doors.

The rest.

Child!

Child! Child!

Big Madam, your child's here.

He's here.

What's wrong?

Wife.

Wife.

I had a dream.

I dreamed a huge fog.

I couldn't find our child.

He's here, Wife.

Me and our child are both by your side.

Don't be scared.

Your husband is here to protect you. No ghosts or monsters can come to you.

I couldn't see.

Xiaotao. Go light a calming incense.

Go.

I won't sleep. I won't sleep.

I can't sleep. I have to watch him.

Don't be scared. Your husband is here.

I'll hold the sword and watch over you two all night.

You sleep without worrying.

His Majesty isn't without understanding to force Gu Marquis to leave his house at this moment.

It's just that he's so anxious to hear about the salt matter from the marquis.

Sir. The fire in the house was only just extinguished.

The palace's imperial fire rescue will be here.

To allow Gu Marquis to go at ease.

May you deliver the words for me once again.

Sir. It's not that I'm putting up air to slight you,

but it's just that the madam's traumatized and she can't sleep.

Our marquis can't leave her side.

Tomorrow morning he will go to the palace to beg His Majesty's forgiveness.

Your marquis is intending to defy the imperial edict?

Sir, my marquis has already wagered his life for His Majesty and Prince Huan nine times.

Now that his wife had to labor in fire, couldn't we be generous and allow him to spend a night at home?

Prince Huan is back too and if His Majesty wants to hear about the salt matter,

he could summon Prince Huan.

- You! - Go safely, Sir.

You!

Your Majesty, it's time to rest.

Why isn't there any news still?

How is it? Where's Gu Marquis?

It was Cheng Garden of Gu Marquis that was on fire.

Where's Gu Marquis?

His servant said Marchioness, Madam Sheng, was in labor.

She was traumatized and thankfully Gu Marquis returned in time.

And now he's easing Madam Sheng and watching the child.

I asked you. Where's Gu Marquis?

Your Majesty.

I didn't even get to enter the gate of Cheng Garden.

I didn't see Gu Marquis.

Child.

As soon as you came into the world,

you already met an evil robber!

Great. This is a training for you, coming into the world.

Though it's warm inside the room, it's windy and chilly outside.

It's great too. This is the true image of the world.

We will all be by your side.

Your mother. Your father. Your older sister.

And your old brother who's gone.

We will all be by your side.

Good child.

This is the first day you came into the world.

The sky will become bright.

Gu Marquis isn't the same as before anymore.

I am an emperor waiting for him to report to me about salt matter and I'm still waiting!

Great for him though. Clearly aware that I'm waiting for him.

He doesn't come to the palace and he doesn't return the military seal.

He went home instead to see his wife and child!

Your Majesty. Gu Marquis had his home on fire.

He is worried about the disaster and that's understanding.

On the account of his past contributions, please be forgiving.

Do I not pay heed to his contributions?

I sent him the imperial fire rescue team.

To put them under his complete disposal.

No one else in the royal court has that kind of honor.

How much more should I be kind to him? Gift him the empire?

Your Majesty, what do you mean by saying that?

Gu Marquis is a bit arrogant and unrestrained.

But be it the imperial jade seal or the issues with my siblings,

or the salt patrol over the six provinces,

which matter does he fail to succeed in full detail?

In the future, we still need to count on him.

A few days ago, we closed off the market in the frontier.

So they have to go the black market salt route.

And now, I've tightened on salt iron.

So they can't even find black market salt.

Their young chief.

He's a youngster who rose with the support of his maternal uncle.

He's in a rush to start a war with us to mark his authority.

He's pressing us to open the market and give up land.

Our days are numbered.

We'll take it easy on Gu Tingye for now.

Once he's pacified this big matter for us, I'll deal with him then.

Your Majesty's health.

It's really unwell lately. Headaches daily.

Imperial Physicians' Court came to look but found nothing.

I think since you were fine back in Yuzhou,

and now that we came to Bianjing, with so much work and worry,

it's rest that you need. Your imperial health is more urgent.

You just watch me with headache and illness day after day.

But who knows what's really on your mind!

Your son's the eldest in the palace.

Are you hoping direly that I can go away a day sooner,

so your son can ascend a day sooner,

so he can have Gu Tingye assist him a day sooner!

May Your Majesty be sage.

Your Majesty. I am only devoted to you.

Ceying, that child, also regards you as a God.

If Your Majesty suspects me ,

I can only use death to prove myself.

My health is just fine.

While we are not in war with the border yet,

I will knock down that obstacle that is Empress Dowager first.

Or else my aspirations cannot be achieved.

And the borders can't be returned to us.

And I won't have any face to see my ancestors below.

Your Majesty.

Empress Dowager is well established and vigorous.

Your Majesty, Noble Consort Liu is outside begging to see you.

She says she made some new snacks for Your Majesty to try.

Let her in.

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

I didn't know Empress was here too.

I see I made too few of the snacks.

It's alright.

Empress is going back soon.

I bid you well in leaving, Empress.

Yes.

I take my leave.

Your Majesty!

Why are we so mad? Who got you angered?

Hurry now. Send in the snacks for His Majesty to try.

Under the skies, is there an older brother like you?

A prominent minister of the court. The emperor's esteemed subject.

You! You! You had your man go to your younger brother's yard,

to kill and to set fire.

I . . . I have to go to the emperor to report you.

I will go to His Majesty to report you.

Did that happen?

I never even heard of it.

I only know that the fire in our yard was flown over from next door.

You . . . - That happened?

Yes. I heard someone lit up sky light and it dropped.

The air is dry in the winter. Better to be careful of candles.

Yes, yes. I shall always be prudent.

You guys think you can just deny and it'll be fine?

Let me tell you! Someone from my yard saw it.

Your bride, Sheng woman. Her maternal aunt, Kang-Wang.

She came to your yard.

Summon her for me. Summon her. I will talk to to her face to face.

We compare our stories and the truth will be exposed!

She can't come.

It's so late.

What is it? You're keeping the guest for dinner?

Enough!

Stop this act of yours.

This Kang-Wang?

She was staying just fine locked up at Sheng House, ready for prison.

Why did she run into my yard?

You can tell me clearly on that.

Since everyone's well aware.

You still prepared your lines to put up a show here?

Why don't you get yourself over at South Tune House to sing your opera?

I'll tell you the truth.

The one from Kang House? I already slashed her to death.

You killed her?

She wanted to kill my wife and child.

You repay a loan with money and you repay a life with a life, Grand Madam.

What you're scheming about?

I know it very clear but you guys don't know what I'm scheming.

Let me tell you.

In the future, if another tries to harm our Cheng Garden,

what happened to the Wang surname is their ending!

She's a noble wife of an offiicial.

You killed her?

Find two people to go and carry her corpse out.

Grand Madam, you think about a response to Wang House.

Grand Madam.

Grand Madam.

What are we supposed to tell Wang House, Grand Madam?

Grand Madam.

So what if he's a marquis?

My Wang House isn't a nobody either.

I would rather just beat that bastard to death now.

Lord Wang. Lord Wang, let us hand it over for indictment.

He's heavily favored by the emperor right now.

We bind ourselves together and we're still no match to him.

He almost burned my son to death too.

Then let him beat me to death in your house!

Stop there!

Mother.

Mother. Don't go. Watch your health.

Flesh that dropped from my body.

Be it alive or dead, I must see it for myself.

Mother. Mother. - Mother.

Preserve your health, Mother.

Old Madam, may your grief be consoled.

That Gu Tingye is a devil like none other.

He almost killed my son too.

These two cases of human lives. What do you plan to do, Elder?

Me and our Gu House. We concede to you on all.

My house owes you for this kindness.

It's such late hour of the night.

My house has met with a matter of funeral and we are not apt to keep you.

Eldest, you walk her out for me. - Mother.

Mother! This!

Old Madam.

Can't be that you're scared?

I heard my daughter disturbed you at the marquis manor for many days.

You've suffered exhaustion. You should rest now.

Send our guest out.

So you're scared!

Old Madam Wang! You're Old Madam Wang!

Your house is the house of Imperial Tutor Wang who was granted to the Imperial Shrine!

The flesh that dropped from you died.

And you can't even care?

Grand Madam, this way.

Old Madam.

You have lots of children but I only have Tingwei.

You're scared of Gu Tingye's power and you don't dare to report him.

I am not scared!

Trouble that courts disaster!

If that Wang House doesn't fare, we will be quite low on power.

Jian, have fourth and fifth house come to my hall.

Go.

I told you many times already.

Go rescue your younger sister. Be it to snatch or rob her.

When she's conveyed to the interior prison, hijack her.

But look at how great you are. Scared of wolf and tiger.

Today you say the plan isn't thorough enough and tomorrow you say the guards are too tight.

Great now. She's dead.

You two got your wish. You don't need to risk anymore.

Mother's words,

leave no survival path for us.

All these years, what was her conduct?

You should know that.

Our Wang House. That Sheng House. And even the Sheng House in Youyang.

For this evil woman, how many rotten cases did we all clean up for her?

How many lives were carried out of her Kang Manor?

Dead from child labor. Dead from beaten after breaking teacup.

The ones tossed out in hemp bags.

And this time as soon as we came back,

she used us to almost kill the Sheng Old Madam.

Mother. She was set out to ruin us all.

Now she's dead and it's a relief to the whole family.

You are also a mother?

One rotten fruit that isn't picked out will rot the entire basket.

Mother.

Your sister isn't a fruit.

She's your blood kin from the same womb as you.

Mother! - Get lost.

You are a thing that only divides sibling love.

Enough. You say one thing less too.

Come, come.

Alright.

You go and rest first. I'll discuss everything with Mother.

Hurry. Escort the madam.

He really killed her?

I escorted the coffin back personally.

My Tingbing got exiled a thousand miles out by him.

What else is impossible?

Of course he'll kill or harm whoever he wants now.

The old madam at Wang House.

She asked me to give her an answer.

I am a widow. What justification can I give to anyone?

He dares to kill the noble wife of an official. He dares to kill is own brothers.

Tomorrow, who knows who he wil kill.

It's always been the case that the Kang Madam would wrong someone.

No one's ever seen anyone wrong her.

I actually don't believe what you're saying.

If you want to investigate, go ahead.

But I'm going to be upfront with my words.

Our house was snubbed for years.

Finally we're getting some rising colors.

If this big tree falls,

and we lose our protection,

then in the future, how will we live our lives?

That is something I'm not clear on.

He's cleaned up your house so of course you'd regard him as your savior.

My house never ate his protection.

Our Tingbing is exiled for ten years!

That's not how you say this though.

It was Tingbing who rushed to write his name on the rebel prince's roster.

And he even crossed out our kid's name.

Shut up. Womankind.

You all fled and shoved it all on him.

Now you say he was snatching your merit?

Sister-in-law.

If you say that, it's as though Tingbing

deserved to be exiled by Second.

I was reckless.

Sister-in-law. Please don't mind me.

My sister ran out by herself.

She should've came back right away.

So we could protect her. She ran over to Gu House.

Then it's sending herself into the net.

Your sister was heart-broken.

She was heart-broken that her brother, you,

and me, her mother, couldn't protect her.

So she preferred to go to the enemy's territory instead of returning home.

When she left, how despaired she must have felt.

This Qin woman.

If she were truly good to your sister. The first day she went to the marquis manor,

this madam should've sent words to us. Why did she hide it all along?

She waited until the person is dead to send the coffin over.

Saying it was Gu Tingye that killed her.

When he killed her, where was she?

Her marquis manor is just an arrow away from Cheng Garden.

Just one wall apart and she says she saw nothing.

You believe her?

She wanted to use my sister

as a weapon?

We can't count on any of them, I fear.

Miss.

Did you see?

That Gu Tingye. He's daring enough to burn Tingwei's yard.

Big Madam, don't be scared now.

He really wasn't trying to kill our third young master.

He just wanted you to be busy rescuing him.

So you can't go and scheme against him anymore.

He's killed a noble lady of an official now and he's ripped his face altogether.

If I don't eat up this Gu Tingye,

then once Wang House gets a grip,

and they find out how many things I instigated in between, they will eat me up instead.

It's not so bad if they ate me.

But what about my . . .

That foolish child of mine.

What will he do in the future?

I understand it all.

Since this is the path we're on, he has to die for me to survive.

Go.

Go summon the Bai House from Yangzhou.

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? ♫