Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 69

What's wrong?

Didn't I just got home a few days ago?

A fire broke out in our house.

Then?

I killed Madam Kang.

Madam Kang? That one from the Wang Family?

The daughter of the late Imperial Tutor Wang You,

my wife's maternal aunt, Wang Ruoyu.

Are you crazy?

If it was you,

when someone wants to kill your wife and son, can you endure to just give her some scoldings?

- Is she crazy? - Exactly.

If I didn't do anything that time, I fear that my wife and son would have bled right there and then.

I can only draw my sword and kill her.

Then how come I didn't get any news these past days?

Right.

I initially thought that biased Old Madam Wang

would be suing me in the morning court the next day.

Never thought that they haven't made any move until now.

During the morning court these past days, that Wang official didn't say a word at all.

The Court of Judiciary and the Kaifeng Precinct didn't send me any messages too.

I fear that they are waiting

for all fingers to form a fist,

and then hit it with me in one go.

Who cares?

Anyway, that Madam Kang had so many lives lost in her hands.

Can she really sue me?

Zhonghuai o Zhonghuai...

It's not that I want to lecture you.

You are so absurd.

Before, he almost burned down the courtyard of my Tingwei.

You all won't meddle.

Now that this Tingbing killed someone in the area he was exiled to,

you both finally remembered me.

Sister-in-law, it's not that we don't want to meddle.

Look, the Fifth House has already sided with the adjacent courtyard.

Just our family won't be able to deal with them, isn't that right?

Sister-in-law, you mustn't misunderstand us.

Actually, we so want that adjacent courtyard to fall as soon as possible,

so we can fetch our Tingbing back. Isn't it?

You won't be able to have him back anymore.

Say, he has been exiled 3,000 miles from here.

He still had to be envious and compete with others, killing a man just for a prostitute.

Not only me,

but even th gods won't be able to save him.

Sister-in-law, what then can we do?!

What can I do to your family?

And what can I make your family do?

Talk.

Sister-in-law, I've seen this tea

when I entered the palace to thank the graces of Empress Dowager.

It seems that since you've sided with Empress Dowager,

was able to obtain some tea leaves from her,

you don't want to acknowledge relatives like us anymore.

How is this me not acknowledging your family?

I fear that it was your family who doesn't recognize me anymore.

How could we?

As they say, even a strong man would require help from others.

Sister-in-law, if you have any problems,

our family would surely do our best to help you.

Thinking about how before, all of the people in this house,

who hadn't harm Gu Tingye?

Who didn't frame him with those dirty things in their hands?

Does that Fifth House think that

if they defend him this time,

he will already treat them as trustworthy relatives?

Idiot!

Right.

You two should also think about

what harm have you inflicted on him.

Those past debts have already been made.

What's the use of mentioning them now?

What if that Gu Tingye

dies?

Dies?

You're saying...

- Empress Dowager? - Empress Dowager.

Only Empress Dowager.

While Empress Dowager is still around, we must topple this demonic star.

He has the emperor in front, Prince Huan at the back.

With the rapidity of his promotions and the hotness of his temper,

how can we all still have any path to survive?

As long as he doesn't die,

Tingbing will forever stay in his place of exile.

If he dies,

Empress Dowager might

even have a conferred title for Tingbing.

Slow down.

Place it in an orderly manner.

Place it in an orderly manner.

Hence, may Your Majesty quickly make a decision regarding the border matters.

Either we open a trading market to improve the economy,

so we can go around the lost passes in and out,

and have 10 years of peace.

Or, organize our army,

increase their winter clothes to protect the soldiers in the borders from the chill,

and prepare for a huge battle ahead.

The widow of Imperial Tutor Wang You is drumming the Dengwen Drums outside the palace hall.

She says that she has grievances she wants to submit to Your Majesty.

Subject Wang, what grievances are there that would toil your old mother

to drum the Dengwen Drums during our morning court?

I...

Before, I practiced loyalty in assisting meritorious subjects in planning and managing affairs.

I've gathered virtuous hall of great scholars along with the councilors of the Imperial Secretariat.

I am the eldest direct son of the honored Imperial Tutor Wang You,

with posthumous name Wenjian.

Together with Qianshu Wang Shiping of the Bureau of Military Affairs,

I am suing Gu Tingye for murdering my little sister,

the wife of Head Secretary Kang Haifeng,

the conferred lady Wang Ruoyu!

- Allow her to come in. - Come in!

Marquis killed my daughter with one stab in her chest.

Her corpse is currently still in front of her funeral altar and not yet buried.

Any coroner can go and examine her.

May I ask Your Majesty to investigate this wisely,

and make a just decision.

Informing Your Majesty, I want to say a few words to argue this matter.

I can't just listen to one side.

Do you still have any evidence?

I have material evidences and witnesses on how Marquis Gu

set up the fire in the marquis manor. They are all noted down in here.

May Your Majesty personally read it.

It means... you have witnesses then?

Yes. They are just waiting to be called by Your Majesty.

Royal Father, this matter has huge implications.

Why not listen to Marquis Gu's defense first?

Prince Huan is right. Marquis Gu, do you have anything you want to say?

May Marquis Gu allow my family's witnesses to enter the court.

Marquis Gu, do you dare to?

You think I'll be afraid of you?

Your Majesty, in examining a case, material evidence, witness, and a corpse must all be present.

Why not Your Majesty first listen to the evidences before listening to the defense?

When your Censorate report a memorial, there should be prepared written scrolls or paperworks.

Does this sudden case also belong to the matters under the jurisdiction of your Censorate?

Your Majesty, the case should be handled to the Kaifeng Precinct and the Court of Judiciary.

But since Old Madam Wang entered the court after hitting the Dengwen Drums,

the Censorate and Remonstrance Bureau are both commissioned by the government to proofread and rectify any mistakes. I have to ask.

Okay then. Let them in.

Calling!

- What are you laughing about? - The actors are coming.

You still have the nerve to laugh? Where are your witnesses?

Your Majesty.

That day, I just entered the city gates and already saw my house on fire.

I rode my horses as fast as I can to rush back to my house and just happen to saw my wife delivering our child.

That Wang Ruoyu was holding a bladed a weapon

and wanted to kill my wife while she was still weak from laboring.

Seeing how blood will soon be spilled, I have no choice but to draw my sword to defend her.

Then it means, you're admitting that you killed her.

Old Madam Wang, you didn't discipline your daughter. Of course, the heaven will discipline her in your behalf.

And who knows if the fire in my house was started by someone.

Don't you know how the fire started?

You killed the daughter of the House of Wang and tried to destroy evidences, so you started a fire in the marquis manor!

Grand Madam, do you know how the fire in my manor started?

You went to the courtyard of Tingwei to start the fire.

Someone saw Marquis Gu sending his subordinate Shitou

to start a fire in my son's courtyard.

The Wang daughter went there to put out the fire.

Put out the fire? Our government has clear rules that a soldier would be stationed in the Fire Observing Deck everyday to monitor any fire.

Once there's a fire, he must immediately report it

so the local officials would gather a team to put out the fire. There's no need for citizens to do so.

This Wang woman is of prestigious aristocratic status.

She's unable to carry anything on her shoulders or by her hands, how then will she put out the fire?

Out of kindness, in consideration that she was a relatives, she tried to save your wife.

You beast...

Don't we still know who the beast is here?

You...

You killed my mother in your house and then burned your manor just to destroy her corpse.

By doing that, aren't you afraid of getting struck by lightning?

Madam Qin is the direct mother of Marquis Gu. If her testimony isn't real,

why would she accuse her own family?

I personally saw you ordered your men to start the fire.

I was so shocked that my soul almost left my body.

You vile spawn still want to deny it?

If you all claim that Wang woman was thinking for my sake, since she was a guest in my manor,

where's the visitation card? Who entertained her?

Who served her tea and food?

Who opened the doors of my Cheng Garden for her,

and guided her through the middle receiving hall, and brought her into Jiaxi House?

My wife's life was in danger. The fire in my manor was burning up into the sky.

How could that weak woman have entered my inner courtyard?!

You're saying that my daughter entered your manor to kill?

She's the maternal aunt of that Sheng Madam.

Let me ask you then, what grudges does she have to attempt to kill that Sheng Minglan?!

What grudges? She just wants to kill her.

Why would my daughter go to your marquis manor to kill your wife?

Say it. Say it!

When an evil woman kills people, does she still needs reasons?

Nonsense! My mother and your mother-in-law are blood-related sisters.

You are an important government official. What reasons do my mother have

to kill her own niece?!

After killing so many people, does she still needs a reason to kill another one?

What nonsense are you saying?

Your Majesty, I—

- Your Majesty— - Your Majesty!

The murder reasons of an evil woman like that

can't be guessed by ordinary people like us. I indeed killed her.

But if I didn't raise my sword that day,

my wife would have died then. May Your Majesty give me justice!

The Dengwen Drum is an object to voice out grievances. Today, a grievance was presented.

Marquis Gu is a loyal subject attending to me.

Each of you are stating your claims, both unyielding. For the thousand year old government of my dynasty,

the Court of Judiciary will assist Kaifeng Precinct in accepting all your testimonies and evidences. Once they've organized it, they will start the trial.

- Your Majesty is wise! - Royal Father is wise! - Your Majesty is wise!

Zhonghuai!

Zhonghuai! Say something!

What really are you planning? You...

Don't mention about today's matter again.

Or else, I will sever our relationship and will never enter your Sheng Manor again.

Don't enter then? No one would care.

It's just that your main wife, my Sixth Little Sister, won't allow it.

Don't argue here.

Let's go back and discuss it properly.

Earlier, you blocked off what I was about to say in the court.

You said that you have plans. What is it?

I can't tell my plans. Just treat that I can't say it to outsiders.

This is my family's matter. How am I an outsider?

Then... I don't have any plans.

Okay.

I'll submit a report to the Court of Judiciary later.

- Shitou! - Young Master!

Move him to his carriage.

Okay, Marquis.

Father-in-law, if I say the truth in the court earlier...

I understand. I understand.

Watch him well. If he runs towards the palace hall

and do some testimony, even there are ten me, I can't do anything about it anymore.

I'll keep watch of him. Keep watch of him.

Is my wife asleep?

It's already the first part of zi time (~11 pm). She's asleep.

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

You...

Aren't you asleep already?

You still have to come home.

You can't hide forever.

I went to the Western Outskirt Military Camp.

That Xiao Duan is sloppy.

While I'm not around, he wasn't even able to train them on how to tie a horse well.

The whole capital already knows. Why must you still hide it from me?

Second Brother refuses to drag you down.

You also refuse to harm his future. I know all of it. I understand.

But, you should know to weigh the urgency. You must say it.

I can't say it.

If I say it, the future of your Second Brother will get completely destroyed.

Your future will get destroyed.

The future of your sisters will all get destroyed.

Your father and your Third Brother's future will all get destroyed.

I caused you trouble.

It was my fault.

It was... me who brought you trouble.

I...

The person form the adjacent house wants to kill me, that's why, she lured your Maternal Aunt Kang to here.

You didn't cause me any harm. It was me who's brought you trouble.

We have a house full of relatives who just won't give us peace.

It's not who dragging down whom. The two of us are together.

But if there wasn't me, without my family, you...

Without you... If there wasn't you, I'm now just a duckweed.

Every day I wake up, seeing how you're lying on my side,

I feel very contented. I feel that everything is enough.

Don't worry.

Your husband is very outstanding.

I've never lost.

Moreover, I still have the emperor as my backer.

Who can defy him, right?

I'm afraid. I'm so afraid.

I'm going now.

I'll wait for your return.

I'll cook you your favorite bamboo shoots in chicken broth.

I'm going now.

Your Majesty, the Court of Judiciary assisted the Kaifeng Precinct and did the interrogations for several days.

The servants of the Marquis Gu said that they indeed saw Madam Kang trying to kill someone.

But the servants of Grand Madam Qin instead said

that Madam Kang went there to help.

Because both are trusted aides of the two houses,

and they are contradictory, hence, for now, we can't consider any of their testimonies.

Just continue investigating then.

Based on the current situation, we can't abandon the soldier to save the general.

The old subjects from Yuzhou has successively suffered false accusations. This is a tactic to sow discord.

Your Majesty is wise. You surely can discern it.

If you really remove Zhonghuai from office,

who then will take his position as the capital commander?

You and Your Highness are both living deep in the palace. Who can you really be at ease with?

When the Court of Judiciary asked about the murder weapon, Marquis Gu couldn't hand it out.

He said that it got lost amidst the chaos of the fire.

The Court of Judiciary then said that they are unable to close this case.

- I think— - It's now a he says, she says situation.

Marquis Gu is unable to say Madam Kang's reason for attempting to murder his wife.

The House of Wang is also unable to provide any evidence

that Madam Kang didn't try to kill the marchioness.

How then will this case be closed?

Just continue looking for witnesses and evidences.

That Second indeed is usually sloppy.

But he never did any of your orders in a mediocre manner.

Saying something disrespectful,

that salt taxation inspection.

My wife wouldn't dare to let me go.

But his wife was pregnant,

yet he just left like that!

And it's because of that that this trouble started.

Your Majesty! My emperor!

I don't understand anymore.

Why can't he be forgiven?

Your Majesty, the wife of Imperial Tutor Wang is almost in her seventies.

She's holding her written complaint and refuses to leave the trial hall of the Kaifeng Precinct.

The several members of the whole Wang Family

are blocking the local court's gates and earnestly asking that the murderer be heavily punished.

The local magistrate has repeatedly urged them but to no avail. It has also invited numerous bystanders.

I just fear that public opinion is powerful enough to melt metal.

Who told you to come here and say those words? The Empress Dowager?

Right now, everyone can see it clearly

that it was Empress Dowager masterminding all these behind the curtains.

During the salt inspection last time,

it was her who trapped me and General Shen.

She—

She wants to break your arms.

Your Majesty, I'm talking in behalf of the government.

Marquis Gu is a new subject. The one he killed is the daughter of an old subject.

If you show any bias,

it will surely push subjects to distance you.

- Did you wipe my shoes clean? - I did already, Young Master.

Big Madam was watching me when I did it.

It's only Big Madam who cares for me. You're always being lazy.

Marquis will surely not bear to.

Yuanruo, why did you suddenly come to the line of the generals?

When I was helping to put out the fire, I saw Madam Kang.

What?

I told her to be careful of the fire

and not loiter around.

Who knew that she will go to the direction of the inner courtyard.

I found it fishy so I followed her.

I then saw that instant when she raised her knife to kill.

Let me ask you,

what was that woman wearing?

Clothes?

The matter was very urgent that time. I didn't notice.

You surely can remember the color of her clothes, right?

Dark blue.

Then... it's dark grey.

You guessed that based on her age,

majority will be wearing dark clothes.

Hence, you thought of those two colors.

Let me tell you, that when you came to put out the fire that day,

Madam Kang has already died.

If you still can see her, then you must have met a ghost.

I'm the only son of the Duke Qi of the State, and is a deputy minister of the Remonstrance Bureau.

Someone will surely believe my words.

Yuanruo.

You are an honest gentleman.

You're not good in lying.

Say, with just these two questions of mine, you were unable to answer it.

If you meet those strict and oppressive officers

who has went through more than 80 murder cases a year,

how would you handle them?

Not only would they ask you about the color of her clothes,

they would even ask you about her hair pins, her maid servant,

walked which path, in which direction did she go,

what bed do I have in my house, where is it placed.

Can you answer all of them?

I hate them for falsely accusing you.

Yuanruo.

I know that you sincerely want to help me and my wife.

You don't mind fabricating testimony for it.

If we change places,

I might not be able to do what you're doing.

Let's not talk about this first.

What are you planning?

I have the merit of saving the emperor.

What must I be afraid of?

Open the palace gates!

Bow!

Enter the palace!

Big Madam, it's time for your medicine.

Another medicine for supplementing my blood and qi?

Madam! Madam! Don't drink first!

- Madam. - Informing Big Madam,

when Xiaotao was raising the pot after cooking the medicine earlier,

Nanny Chang just happen to come in and get Rong'er some pear soup.

She then noticed the dregs of the medicine concoction.

Madam, before my maiden family has fallen, we are owners of a pharmacy.

I can identity a lot of medicinal herbs.

When I saw the dregs, I immediately think that something is wrong.

I was able to find these.

These... what are these?

In our province, we call this blood depleting herb.

With it, any blood and qi supplementing medicines won't work.

You can't see the effect immediately. But if used it chronically,

it surely will harm your main qi channels.

A person will be like the withering leaves during the autumn, become thin and pallid.

No, I didn't know how such things got placed inside the medicine.

When I cook the medicine, I never leave midway nor snooze off.

I even carry a big needle all the time.

It's to poke myself whenever I feel sleepy.

Look.

Madam, you must quickly tell Marquis to investigate this.

This matter must be investigated, but it can't be him.

If those people from the military comes, those evildoers

will surely get scared out of their wits.

They investigating would be more useful than just us investigating.

Now that there are too much trouble floating around,

the Kaifeng Precinct, the Court of Judiciary, the Censorate, and the Remonstrance Bureau,

how many eyes are monitoring my Marquis Husband right now?

If any problems happen here in the inner house,

it would just be adding a knife or a spear against him.

What do we do then? How about when I make the medicine tomorrow,

I'll just do it here inside the room using a small oven and pot?

Rather than stopping the soup from boiling by scooping some out, it's better to just take away the logs from the cauldron.

- Nanny. - Yes?

I'm asking you to peek into each room in this manor one by one.

You mustn't leave any traces that you've checked them,

so as not to alarm the enemy and allow them to escape.

I got it.

Since this person chose to poison me at this instance,

it surely has connections with the matters happening in the manor.

- Xiaotao. - Yes. - Return to the Sheng Manor to live for a few days with me.

Let us give them some space to show their flaws.

Okay.

Prime Minister, in the crime of Marquis Gu killing Madam Kang, there are new complainants.

All the complainants are standing below the steps right now. Why differentiate between old and new?

Prime Minister Han is trying this case in behalf of His Majesty.

I, Xiong Benli of the Censorate,

is filing a complaint against Marquis Gu of using his power to bully other people,

and forcefully took away the assets of the Bai Family.

The different houses and farmlands

amount to a total of 2 million taels.

Someone also wants to accuse Marquis Gu of abandoning her after dallying with her and killing his own son.

Now, she is bowing outside and awaiting to be called as witnesses.

The eldest son of the Bai Family and the whole Bai clan of the southern village

are also bowing outside while holding their written complaint.

So good.

You're coming back to your maiden house to complete your one month post partum?

I just miss the teas and soups made by Nanny Cui.

Before going to the morning court, my Marquis Husband told me that

there are a lot of problems right now.

He told me to come back home and live here for a while.

As long as grandmother is by my side, I can have less worries and focus more in recuperating.

Have to ask grandmother and Second Brother

to feed me for a while then.

Your Second Brother is currently being locked up at home.

He would be causing a ruckus all day.

Your father won't allow him to go out.

He hasn't attended the morning court for half a month already.

I fear that since he won't be having any salary,

we won't be able to feed you.

I haven't seen how Second Brother looks like being locked up.

After lunch, my Marquis Husband and I will go visit him and laugh at his embarrassing state.

Marquis? He will also be coming?

Will he also be staying here?

If I come back to live, of course, he must too.

Grandmother, don't worry. I'll ask him to pay some kitchen fees.

Silly child. These are just jokes.

How can our house not afford to feed you?

Marquis is very obedient to you. I know that.

Now, you also want him to be obedient to you.

- Yes. This is way better

than how you used to be so cautious and careful in grasping him.

This is how a good married couple should be,

what good days are.

Stop right there!

You heartless and ruthless man!

You killed your own son! How can you have the nerve to still live in this world?!

- How could you still have the face— - Unruly!

Kneel and answer the questions!

You dragged Chang'er away from me and caused him to die from illness.

You can harm me, but why must you curse your own son to death?

He killed my older brother,

forcefully took me into his manor,

and then had me bear him two children.

He took away my daughter and even kicked me out of his house.

I wouldn't.

He then killed our son.

He just killed our son right in front of me!

Heaven!

You crazy woman! Do you know that by doing this,

you're going to destroy Rong'er's life?

A sinister tiger will never even eat his own son.

Just to drive me away, he...

... killed my Chang'er right in front of me!

Prime Minister, this woman must be crazy!

She is indeed crazy!

You used your power to bully other people!

Do you still want to fool the emperor?!

It's as if he can't do such a sinister act.

Before, he caused his father to die in anger inside the marquis manor.

Who in the whole Bianjing doesn't know about that?

Shut up! You mediocre idiot who only relied on imperial blessings to survive.

What right do you have to mention my father?

What if it was me who mentions your father?

Prime Minister, I'm the third wife of the late marquis.

That day, it was because of this woman in this court

that Second and my husband had an altercation.

He didn't want the direct granddaughter of Imperial Tutor Yu and insisted on marrying this woman.

The old marquis scolded him as being disobedient and unfilial.

Prime Minister, I only had a minor argument with my father.

Gu Tingye and his father

were quarreling in a rage. His father was so mad that he vomited blood right there an then.

I and the daughter-in-law of Imperial Tutor Yu saw that with our own eyes!

When my father vomited blood,

you and that Madam Yu weren't there.

If you don't believe me, go and call Madam Yu to be a witness.

Prime Minister, towards this

Marquis Gu that I've personally raised,

I doted him more than my own son.

But he angered his father to his death and even started a fire to burn down Gu Tingwei's courtyard.

That is trying to kill his own little brother!

Shut up. You are distorting the truth!

You are not worthy to mention my father.

Since I was little, you praised me excessively so I would fail.

You sowed discord between me and my father.

In this life, my father and I got destroyed all because of you!

Prime Minister, when did that Gu Tingye

give any importance to the master-subject or father-son relationship?

You killed your father and your son.

So it's a habit of yours to kill your father and your son.

Prime Minister,

all these accusations are complete nonsense.

All are aimed at garroting Marquis Gu.

I'm willing to personally handle this case

and clearly find the truth behind it.

Prime Minister,

I'm willing to assist in this matter.

You are the son of the emperor.

You've grown so tall and buff.

Do you know where my son is?

My son...

My son is buried under the ground.

Prime Minister, don't listen to slanders!

Assholes! All are just spouting nonsense!

You all are using your power to bully others! You all are distorting the truth!

Gu Tingye! You killed your own son!

You... killed your own son!

You still dared to mention Chang'er?!

It's just right and proper for a killer to pay with his life.

I want you to pay with your life. You killed my son.

I want you to pay with you life. I want you to use your life in exchange for his!

- I'm going to kill you! - Stop! Stop!

That woman said it right.

- I'm going to kill you! A life for a life! - Stop! Stop!

- Stop! This is inside the main palace hall! - Stop! That's being unruly while in front of the royal throne!

- Quickly let go! - Zhonghuai! Zhonghuai! - That's being unruly while in front of the royal throne! - A life for a life!

- Stop! - That's being unruly while in front of the royal throne! - Let her talk!

Those two are crazy women!

You...

Do you still have other things to say?

Your subject... oh, wrong. This lowly person,

this lowly person wants to file a complaint.

I'm accusing Gu Tingye

of fabricating a letter

to forcibly seize my Bai Family's estate

and took away our salt farms. May Your Majesty

wisely judge on it.

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? ♫