Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 70

A few days ago, he went to Fengxian's courtyard to make some inspections.

I harshly scolded him about it.

He even was smilingly saying that I was jealous. Why would I be jealous?

He always think for my sake, for my family.

He even locked Second Brother up.

I won't be jealous anymore.

Madam.

I...

What's wrong?

Marquis got detained in the palace!

Ming'er! Ming'er!

Madam.

Ru'an! Bring us some ginger soup!

Second Young Master.

The kitchen made your favorite sprout vegetable soup.

Old Madam even instructed to give you more.

Second Young Master, come have a taste.

- What soup? - Sprout vegetable soup. It's your favorite.

No! No! Second Young Master! Second Young Master!

Second Young Master!

Second Young Master!

Lower your voice.

Second Young Master, let go of me! Hurry!

Second Young Master, let go of me!

Let go of me!

Let go of me, Second Young Master!

Second Young Master!

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Second Young Master.

Second Young Master, please enjoy your meal.

How dare you! Unruly!

[ Shen Manor ]

General! General!

I don't care all about these! I must see my marquis husband!

Little Sister-in-law,

I personally went to beg for leniency, but no one gave a damn.

Even if you go, I fear that it won't work.

No, I must go.

You have a conferred title. You can enter the palace anytime.

I'll prepare your visitation request now and submit it.

I'm sure that there will be result by tomorrow.

It won't work!

The palace has refused five of my invitation requests already.

This...

If there's no more way, I'll just charge my way into the palace.

Don't fret.

Their Wang Family can drum the Dengwen Drums. Why can't I?

Their daughter wanted to kill me! That's the truth!

I'm the victim and witness here! I'm not yet dead!

Must I just let their family distort the truth like that

and falsely accuse my marquis husband?!

Shitou.

- Xiaotao! - Madam.

Minglan! Minglan! You can't do it like that.

You're being muddled.

His Majesty currently is just angry for a moment. If you charge into the palace and escalate this matter,

even if the emperor wants to defend him,

I fear that he won't be able to continue it anymore.

What should I do then?

Must I get trapped here outside,

in this pitch dark night,

and wait for him? Wait for him while unsure of his safety and survival?

My good sister, you're unable to enter the palace, but I can.

You still won't admit your mistakes?! Just try still not admitting your mistakes!

You're just going to rush to the Kaifeng Precinct like that?

Your mother, your grandmother, and me, we all will be painfully hurt by you!

The future of your sisters and your little brother, you don't care about them anymore?

You even are 13th on your first try in the imperial civil examination. How much of the loyal and filial virtues have you remembered?!

Correcting the mistakes of the king is being loyal!

You're the only one who understands, is that it?!

- Holding up the sky for one's family... is being filial! - You're the only who knows?!

In the whole family, you're the only most filial one?!

Being a model son is being respectful!

Just continue talking! Just continue answering back!

- Arguing for the law... - Okay!

is what integrity should be!

Let me hit you loyal, filial, respectful, and man of integrity then!

You even claim that supporting the sky for your family is being filial.

Our Sheng Family's sky wiill be falling soon!

When I was young, our Sheng Family was in a fallen state and suffered the supercilious look of others.

I made an ambitious oath that I will make our family prestigious.

I was diligent in striving hard, hence, was able to obtain a little achievement.

But I dare not slack off even for a little.

But you?

What? Our Sheng Family...

Do you want our Sheng Family to be dragged down by that Madam Kang and end up in a dire strait?

Changbai,

you are a person who is highly favored by the emperor.

Looking at how you're path will be that of an outstanding official,

you don't want it anymore?

Okay. You don't want it.

Don't you care about the numerous members of our House of Sheng too?

Drag him out.

Tie him up. Tie him up!

Tie him up!

My ancestors...

My ancestors.

My ancestors...

Your Highness, you're not believing that those damn acts were done by Marquis Gu, right?

No need for beating around the bush in testing me.

That Gu Second has indeed was too much of a scoundrel.

The emperor lately feels unwell.

To put it bluntly,

you all also know

that he deliberately incited these troubles.

He has caused the government to be in chaos.

Relying on his good relationship with my Ying, he now fears nothing.

Unable to put out the murder weapon and only expecting the emperor to defend me.

What those people from the Wang Family are saying are all lies! That Little Madam Qin has colluded with them!

Minglan!

Even if my husband indeed did a grave mistake, it was only because he was too eager to protect me.

Must he not do nothing when he already saw someone trying to kill me?

What Bai Family assets, killing his father and son, all are lies.

They are only telling half of the story, and that half is even fake.

Your Highness, do you trust him?

Of course, I trust your Marquis Gu.

But now, the House of Wang indeed lost a daughter.

This matter can't be justified.

Your Highness, the Bai Family and Little Madam Qin want to destoy our house.

Break up His Majesty from his trusted aide.

- Minglan. - Your Highness.

Minglan!

Good child.

I understand your suffering. Let's just leave everything to His Majesty's wise judgment.

Go back first and wait for news.

- Your Highness. - Minglan!

- Your Highness! - What are you doing? Let go!

You can proceed with trying to case, but why must he be locked up inside this palace?

Your Highness, he... won't be fleeing.

If Your Majesty still can't be at ease,

you can just send the Jin Imperial Army to guard our house.

- Your Highness! - Minglan!

Do you still even know the law?

Minglan, quickly let go.

The law should have a proper procedure being followed.

In law, there should be punishment for the one who committed a mistake, reward for anyone with merits.

Your Highness, my husband and I

have given our all to come up with strategies

for Your Majesty and Your Highness. We've long offended the Empress Dowager.

Minglan, what nonsense are you saying? Quickly shut up!

Your Highness! Your Highness, I beg you to understand her!

I beg you to pity her for encountering such a matter when she's less than a month postpartum.

This palace is full of Empress Dowager's spies. How could he be safe here?

- What nonsense are you saying?! - Your Highness!

Madam Sheng, I know that you and Marquis Gu did a lot for us.

But now, there is indeed a kin of an important official who died.

Be obedient. Don't worry.

Go back first and wait for news.

- Your Highness! It... was my... - Thank you, Your Highness!

It was my husband who delivered the imperial decree

- for the throne succession in behalf of the past emperor! - Minglan!

Cutting through thorns and thistles, it was me who delivered that succession decree! Your Highness!

Stop saying it, Minglan!

- Your Highness! - Minglan!

His Majesty owes me a reward!

Servant! Servant! Drag this crazy woman away!

Wait!

Go back and prepare some items to visit Marquis Gu in the inner palace hall.

When I heard from you last time

that your wife loves Princess Pingyao that guarded the Niangzi Pass,

I already knew that she has the personality of riding her horse and going into battle. Now, really great.

She made a scene in my Imperial Mother's palace, leaving my mother to no choice.

She agreed to let her visit you in a short while.

Are you happy now?

She created a scene?

She really did?!

Were you there?

If I was there, I would have kicked her out.

You were not there, so why are you spouting these nonsense to me?

Quickly! Quickly! Go look for someone who was there to answer my questions!

What is there to ask about?

How could there be none?!

My wife has never acted atrociously for me.

I've never seen her make a scene!

You... quickly leave. Quickly find someone

- to answer my questions. - Have you gone crazy?

Go. Go. Go.

Quickly. Quickly.

My Ye'er has a hard fate all his life.

He lost his mother when he was young. He thought that his stepmother was a Bodhisattva.

Who knew that after wiping her face,

she's actually a monster.

His father was also harsh on him.

That extremely evil Manniang,

actually bear to deceive him.

I thought that his hard life has finally ended when he married you.

But who knew...

Who knew that those scoundrels next door just won't let him off.

These past days, I've been investigating the poisoning matter,

and was unable to find anything.

I'm so useless.

Nanny, I can save him.

I surely can save him.

Madam.

Big Madam is here. She wants to see you in private.

- Main Mother. - Ming.

Mother is worried about you.

Stop saying those useless things.

What really is your plan now?

How do you want me to think?

Everything is my fault. Mother told me numerous times

not to have any dealings with my older sister, but I just wouldn't listen.

Now, it led to a huge disaster and even dragged your marquis husband in it.

When mother learned that something bad happened to our family, she repeatedly begged father and grandmother,

hence, was temporarily pardoned to return here and visit you.

But because she was afraid that the House of Wang will get mad, so she traveled at night and cloaked in black.

Sixth Little Sister, look at how concerned mother is about you.

Yes. Yes.

On the way here, I've carefully thought about it.

What if, I just mean what if.

What if you and your marquis husband amicably separate after his marquis title has been taken away?

Then this child will become the son of a criminal.

I know that my words might be harsh,

but as a mother, you must think more for the sake of your child.

Main Mother, I know everything

that you're saying now. It's hard even for a person that's very close to me to mention them.

You even risked danger to come say it.

You are thinking for my sake.

I told you. Your Sixth Little Sister would understand.

Your marquis husband hasn't been sentenced of any crimes yet.

Amicably separate now and live in our manor,

and you'll still be a daughter of the Sheng Family and the child a Sheng descendant.

Changbai currently is quite successful in his career. He surely will have a good future ahead.

With this child having the protection of his uncle,

no one would dare criticize him.

If you love Gu Second, once this matter is over,

you two can still get back together. But if it won't end,

you're still able to preserve the child.

This child is also his child.

That's right.

I know that what you're saying are all sincere words.

But since we're married as husband and wife,

we then should be of one voice and one breath, one heart and one fate.

Child, it's fine for our family to suffer some hardships.

But your child is still too little.

Mother, in the past, it has always been him protecting me.

Now, let me be the one to defend him.

Ming'er, your marquis husband dotes on you so much.

If he knew what you're doing, his heart will surely ache.

I have made my decision.

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

Never thought that they will provide you adequate charcoal heat.

Looks like you won't need this animal skin blanket anymore.

But still keep it. You can cover yourself with it when you feel cold at night.

I fear that you won't be needing that chess set anymore. I'll just take it back with me.

Those books...

... are all southern opera songs.

Just read them for some fun. It's different from the books you have here.

This...

I was afraid that you're cold.

It's better that I just take them back with me.

I'm cold right now.

A few days ago,

I heard that you went to the place of Her Highness Empress and created a scene.

Yes. You're happy now?

I know that you're anxious for me. You even thought of charging into the palace.

I'm happy. I'm happier than wearing any animal skin cape.

I won't bring anything the next time I come then.

I'll just roll over in front of you.

This was personally made by your birth mother.

That time, she didn't know

that you will become my husband.

If she knew that you're going to be her son-in-law,

she surely would have embroidered a tiger on this.

You're more energetic when you were young.

Do you still remember how I was back then?

When we were playing touhu, I thought,

"Can this little girl really play?"

Never thought that you can throw so accurately.

I remember that...

I remember how you looked when you were

looking for a doctor for my mother.

I've always remembered.

I also remember that.

In my heart, I've always been grateful to you.

But afterwards, I realized that there are too many things that I should thank you about.

The person that I should be most grateful to is your mother.

Because she gave birth to you.

I asked Second Tu and Shitou to search the whole Bianjing.

They couldn't find any traces of Eldest Bai and Manniang.

They are the best dagger.

Now, I've gotten locked up in here.

How could they let you find them so easily?

They did so many sins.

We'll eventually find them.

They surely will leave some clues.

Let's amicably separate.

I've written the separation letter.

Even the separation of assets,

I've also written it and left it with Prince Huan.

I'll leave Shitou and Second Tu to you.

Let them protect and take care of you and our child.

That lad, Shitou,

likes your maidservant Xiaotao.

The two of them have mutual affection.

You... try to be the matchmaker and just fulfill their wish.

You want to divorce me?

Amicable separation. It's not divorcing. Just amicable separation.

Once I get released, I'll marry you again.

What did you say when you married me?

You even said that you'll be my sky and earth.

Now... you're saying that you're divorcing me?

Presently, the House of Wang, House of Qin,

and the Remonstrance Bureau have Empress Dowager's forces.

Among the ordinary citizens, the gossip about me has also been spreading like wildfire.

They say that I'm arrogant and overbearing, that I brag about my great contributions,

just casually killing people, and couldn't be tried for my crimes.

The emperor... is also currently...

He fears and doubts Prince Huan, so he surely fear and doubts you too.

Right.

Hence, you feel that your noble title will surely be removed and you'll get imprisoned.

Hence, you insist on amicably separating with me.

Empress Dowager is hell bent on toppling me.

His Majesty is also wavering.

What did I tell you before?

I told you to be careful.

Stop being so unrestrained just because you have some old affection with them.

But you just won't listen.

I'm wrong.

I'm wrong. I can't continue being wrong.

We must amicably separate now.

No way!

You'll be in danger if you stay with me.

Even if you don't want to think for yourself, think for the sake of your grandmother.

She just recovered from her illness.

Just for this matter, if she gets agitated and mad, what then?

What storm has my grandmother not seen?

There are still our child, Rong'er, Nanny Chang.

I can only depend on you.

I've thought about it.

If I die,

the child will be raised by Brother Changbai.

Before, you also... want Brother Changbai to be our child's teacher.

By doing that, we're not really troubling them.

What die?

We still haven't even give our child a name.

I already did.

His name is Tuan'er.

Your child and I will wait for your return to reunite with us.

Tuan'er.

Okay.

Okay.

Are you still amicably separating?

Are you still amicably separating?

Amicably...

Amicably separate.

The future days are long.

If we're unable to get past this obstacle,

we also won't in the future.

This child can't really forever live in a blessed and happy house like Cheng Garden.

Being able to see how the real world is upon being born is good too.

But Gu Tingye, you better think about it clearly.

Once we amicably separate and you decide to turn back,

I won't have you anymore.

If you won't have me, who will you have?

Yuanruo is already married. Not wanting me...

In this world, not only his ducal house of Qi has a young duke.

There's one in the ducal state of Zhen and in Prince Ru Manor.

Prince Ru's son is only 12 years old this year.

Prince Ru Manor...

If you sign the separation letter, you... I...

We... Let's distance ourselves from each other afterwards.

You have no right to meddle with my affairs from now on.

Moreover, Brother Hongwen isn't married yet.

I remember that day, in the polo field,

when I proposed marriage to you,

I told you that I won't let you suffer from now on.

But you... Since you married me, the grievances you suffered

were more than before.

Sometimes, I would think that I shouldn't have obtained you by deception and force,

making such a huge circle just to marry you.

If you are currently married to Qi Heng,

or to He Hongwen, maybe, you would only deal with harem fights.

It won't be as bloody and stormy

like my Gu Family.

I didn't marry other people.

I only married you.

Okay.

Okay.

It's still better to marry me.

Am I right?

Don't be too anxious.

Prince Huan and your marquis husband have such good relationship.

Even for the sake of brotherhood,

he surely will beg emperor and empress for some leniency.

It's better not to talk about such favors for now.

Let's just talk about this case full of false accusations.

If only we can find a witness or evidence, as long as we can find only one,

we can then delay the time.

That is an imperial decree. An imperial decree.

Gu Tingye, listen to the imperial decree.

I decree

that Gu Tingye, the Deputy Commander of the Palace Command,

belonging to the Wukang Military Rank; the Yangzhou Governor responsible in monitoring

and handling the affairs Yangzhou, given the duty to manage the military matters of Yangzhou;

the High State Pillar, Marquis of Ningyuan,

conferred with lands encompassing 1,900 tenant households for his merits,

conferred lands with 300 households because of his noble title;

because of saving the past emperor, he became a right hand man;

he has repeatedly achieved great merits for the state, in payment for his grand salary;

he doesn't think twice in serving loyally as a way of giving back to the imperial favor he honorably enjoys.

Every time he is unbridled, he would rely on his power for harboring and waiting for an opportunity.

He is rash and careless, eventually killing an officials'wife.

As an official, he was corrupt, forcefully seizing the assets of normal citizens.

There were documents presented and complaint letters written.

There are overflowing signs of his evil deeds, and his infamous reputation is widespread.

Lacks self-repentance and claims to be innocent.

Full of rudeness and arrogance that's been unheard of.

He brought disgrace to the marquis title,

a real taint to a clean governance.

The conferred titles of Gu Tingye

and those of his wife and child are being taken away and destroyed.

Gu Tingye will be imprisoned and then exiled as a servant 2,000 miles from here after the autumn.

Marquis, please accept the imperial decree and thank His Majesty's graces.

No...

- Sir! Sir, he's innocent! Sir! - I am accepting the decree.

Sir! He's innocent!

Sir! Marquis Husband! Marquis Husband!

Yuanruo.

Mother.

It's already late.

Where do you plan to do while wearing such dark clothes?

I'm seeing a friend.

You don't know how to lie since you were young.

It's written all over your face.

Since mother knows,

why then must you still ask?

Sheng Minglan is now someone's wife.

Whatever happens to her husband

is not your business.

Why still go?

Mother, don't have skewed thoughts.

Now, Marquis of Ningyuan has been found guilty.

Who aren't avoiding passing through the gates of the House of Gu, so they won't get implicated?

How come you must get involved in this muddled water?

I believe that Second Uncle is innocent.

Stop right there.

Mother.

Why are you here?

Husband, don't you know why I'm here?

What?

You also want to stop me?

You also don't believe me?

What stopping and not believing?

Husband, you said last month

you'll have less documents to handle tonight.

We agreed that you'll take me to a meal in Fan House.

When did I say that?

What did you say?

Husband has forgotten it because of being too busy.

But for fun things like that,I didn't forget.

There's a new shop inside Fan House that has a new snow wine.

They used the first snow from last year.

I'll bring mother some back later.

it will be warming to your stomach for this winter once you've heat it.

What have you been busying about all day?

You should be accompanying your wife more.

You would even forget about such things?

If husband goes back with your promise again, I'm going to make a scene and cry hard this time.

Change your clothes first before leaving.

It's so late and you're wearing such dark clothes.

Be careful of getting trampled by others.

I'll get you some clothes.

Husband, you don't look happy.

Change the route!

We're not going to Fan House. Go to Cheng Garden.

Husband, you've been restless today.

But I know mother-in-law's temper.

She will never let you out of the house.

Are you happy now?

I'm happy too.

My virtuous nephew and nephew-in-law weren't afraid of getting implicated in our family's case,

and even came to visit me and my child.

I am very grateful.

The two of us were classmates once.

The House of Qi and House of Gu are also relatives. It's just proper that we do this.

Madam Sheng, you must take care of your health.

You still must keep everything propped up.

I've seen your house's Grand Madam and the other two houses several times.

They are quite hard to deal with. You must be very careful.

I understand.

I've already decided

to write a complaint narrating my painful grievances

and then beat the Dengwen Drums

But beating the Dengwen Drums will escalate this matter until it's irremediable.

If Sixth Little Sister trusts me, then hand me the complaint letter.

I'll submit it in your behalf.

If beating the Dengwen Drums won't work, I'll bow in front of the Imperial Ancestral Hall.

If they weren't afraid to escalate this matter, so am I.

How can you be this muddled?! That's exactly going against the emperor!

Empress Dowager surely will be so happy to light firecrackers in the inner palace.

I'll submit it for you.

I surely will personally hand it to His Majesty's hands.

This is an affair of our Gu Family.

It should be our people going forward to seek justice.

If we pass it through other people's hands, it make us look insincere.

I also don't want to implicate you.

Let's not talk about how to submit the complaint letter first.

May I ask if Madam has any new reasons for filing your complaint?

What?

This case has been discussed for several days and has been abuzz in the whole capital.

All the details have been gone over in the court.

If you don't have any new stand, even if you are able to appear in front of His Majesty,

it will all just be some old issues, just big talks that's being turned and re-mentioned.

Even if His Majesty has intentions to save him, he won't have the strength to.

Madam,

you have never been a person that's reckless and rash. How come this time...

I... didn't think that much.

I just feel that, even if I'm to risk my life,

I must fight my case until the very end.

You're being muddled because of caring too much.

If we don't have any new evidence,

it's better that you don't complain.

What Hezhen said is very right.

Sixth Little Sister,

we must aim to make a sure hit. Don't act recklessly.

That House of Bai,

and... that person...

Zhu Manniang.

Right. We'll help you find them.

If we find any evidence, then let's gather them.

These past days, someone's been poisoning me.

I still haven't found out who he is.

What?

This is a good thing.

I understand.

These people who is harming and those that harmed my marquis husband

- must be connected. - Even if there's none,

as long as you grab hold of a chance, then pester His Majesty with it.

This case now is chaotic. As long as you stir it more,

we'll then have time to collect evidences.

It's way better than bringing up past details in front of the emperor.

You said it so right.

Sixth Little Sister, the reason you're unable to catch them

is because they're hiding in the dark, while you're out in the open.

Why not put some disorder in your house? The more disordered, the better.

The more disordered it is, the more that person would want to make a move. If he doesn't make a move,

that person behind him will also force him to do so.

Even if I don't want things to be chaotic, someone will try to smash things and make it so.

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 ♫

♫ 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? ♫

♫ 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? ♫