Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 72

Yes, she vomited blood on the streets.

She must be so mad that it affected her heart and is unbearably weak.

She just finished her first month postpartum. This isn't a sign of a long life.

I think that the emperor is really abandoning Gu Tingye as a pawn.

Even the child was fetched back from her maiden house.

She probably is afraid that she'll suddenly die, so she wanted to see her child one last time.

Watch Cheng Garden closely. If there are any movements, immediately report it to me.

Yes.

At this moment, Second Brother and Father shouldn't attend the morning court anymore. File for a leave of absence.

With how you are now, stop worrying about these.

Especially Second Brother. Stop thinking about submitting some complaint letter.

I finally understood it now.

It's not really just the death of some Madam Kang,

or if our Gu's Big Madam is an accomplice or not.

The emperor and empress dowager don't really care about the crime our Sheng Family committed.

Second Brother, do you understand?

He understands.

What about you?

Now that this matter is still a hot issue, let's allow it to grow cold first.

Anyway, he'll get exiled only after autumn. We still have time.

Let's plan it again.

You said it so right.

I repeatedly angered the palace.

State Uncle and Sister Zhang said that they'll help me convince Her Highness Empress again.

You used to plan with conviction first before making any move.

This time, you got muddled because you cared too much.

Madam, Nanny Xiang is here.

Madam's maiden family are all here.

Grand Madam, hello.

Grand Madam had me come here to ask Madam to go to her for some discussion on important matters.

Our Cheng Garden and your courtyard have nothing to discuss about.

Miss Rong, you can't say things like that. What's in line here is the future of the marquis manor.

It's not yet been settled to whom the title Marquis of Ningyuan is to be given. And Madam, your health is...

Our Grand Madam is just afraid that what if you get so ill and unable to get up from bed,

hence, she wants to have you go there as soon as possible.

Bullying intolerably.

Leave! Leave!

Such imposing manner, are you of high official status?

Leave!

Let me make it clearer then. You people have taken away the nobility title,

burned our house,

and harmed my marquis husband.

My health now has also been dragged down.

Does your Big Madam want me to die or something?!

Madam, what are you saying?

These problems happening to your house can't be blamed on my Grand Madam.

I'm urging you to just quickly go there.

Now, you've lost your conferred title status.

If you don't go,

I fear that you might end up with a crime of being unfilial and putting on airs.

This time, no one will be defending you.

Xiaotao.

Let Shitou and...

... Liu Jingli guard the Cheng Garden well.

- Only close family members are allowed to casually enter or exit. - Yes.

A dog that's threatening because of the power of her master,

- leave! - Leave!

Quickly leave!

You...

- What kind of family is this?! - You dirty woman!

Be good.

Leave!

Urgent news from the borders!

Urgent news from the borders! Quickly open the city gates!

Never expected that the war on our borders will happen so quickly.

Their new leader has ascended the throne at a young age. I heard that he's not even 17 and has a weak hold on his government.

He probably just wants to establish his imposing presence to stun his subjects and force our empire to open up the trading market between us.

That's right.

But Prime Minster and I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

They actually broke through and conquered two cities now.

Royal Father, I received a letter from Zhonghuai.

He said that he was reckless in his previous actions.

Now, he's willing to make up for his crimes and earn some merits. Willing to lead an army on an expedition.

In Prime Minister Han's opinion, if there are adequate food supply

and the borders have enough winter clothes for the cold,

how early do you think the army can set out?

Royal Father, Zhonghuai is young and strong. He has a chest full of desire to serve his country.

Must I listen to you now in assigning a commander?

You are also young and strong, have a chest full of desires to serve your country.

Everyone is saying that you're very good. That you are to inherit the throne in the future.

But currently, it's still my empire.

I feel that even if the main army can't set out immediately,

there must be a reinforcement army going there now.

Or else, if the morale of the border army becomes disorganized, then we'll surely lose.

I'm willing to share your burden and lead an army to go there.

- I... - The borders are in danger right now. Your mother is a bit afraid.

Just stay in the palace to comfort her.

Yes, Royal Father.

I currently don't have enough generals.

I earnestly ask Your Majesty to temporarily pardon Criminal Gu and assign him to me as a vanguard.

Once the borders have been pacified, he will be escorted back to be imprisoned and exiled.

Other than him, don't I have other people around me now?

Although Criminal Gu is overbearing,

he's skilled in both literary and fighting, has outstanding intelligence in strategies.

He is also very familiar with the topography of the borders.

Shut up!

Criminal Gu is bearing a heavy crime. He killed a wife of an official. I'm already generous with him for not executing him.

Just for private reasons, each of you are disregarding state laws!

I'm not doing it for private reasons! This is for our government!

Informing Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, a state's military matters is of grave importance.

If it will be beneficial to our borders, our House of Wang can temporarily not go after the crimes of Gu Tingye.

That's right. You think...

So it means that you all think that I have no one to use,

and will just let that Gu Tingye have a grasp on me?

Your Majesty!

I'm willing to use my official status as guarantee!

Your Majesty, I'm also willing to use my official status as guarantee.

Criminal Gu indeed committed a grave crime.

Although we need him to join our army, it's not really to allow him to wander around and be carefree.

I think we can just demote him to be an ordinary citizen without achievements, join the army as a foot soldier, so as to make up for his crimes.

Your Majesty, the battlefield is a dangerous place. Having an additional help means having additional hope.

How many soldiers need not uselessly die because of it?

Okay. Okay.

Thank you, Your Majesty!

- Thank you, Your Majesty! - Thank you, Royal Father!

Old Geng, if he escapes,

I'll have you answer for it!

Your father... he is over there.

Father!

- He has left? - Yes.

You have something to say?

I don't understand.

Why did Empress Dowager let the House of Wang

to especially facilitate his inclusion in the army for the expedition? It will only invite future troubles.

He was being imprisoned by the emperor's side.

He has relatives and friends all over the capital.

It's not easy for Empress Dowager to make any move.

But if anything bad happens to him in the battlefield,

who else will say anything?

Then it means that we just need to wait for good news now?

This military disaster came at the right time.

It will end soon.

Big Madam Zhang is here.

One more mouthful.

Why is she still drinking medicine?

Madam suffered some trauma during her first month postpartum.

It wasn't easy to finish her first month, but then fainted outside the palace.

How could she not suffer any damage?

Imperial Physician Zhang has checked me. There's no big problem.

He just asked me to rest more.

I'm just a little tired.

Your Majesty, our elite soldiers... have all perished.

The elite soldiers... have all... perished?

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Imperial physician! Send for the imperial physician!

Call the imperial physician! Hurry!

Afterwards, there's no more news about Marquis Gu.

My father said that he recklessly moved forward because of rushing to gain merit and pursued the enemies upto 50 miles from their city.

It's still not known if he has fallen into a quicksand or an ambush.

Anyway, that team of his...

None of them was able to return.

I've hidden this from you for several days.

Now, we also lost any news from my father and his men.

I'm afraid...

Sixth Little Sister...

Don't scare me, Sixth Little Sister.

Breathe. Breathe, Sixth Little Sister.

- The doctor! Call the doctor! - Yes.

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

Fill up all these water urns.

Okay. Okay.

Tell them to set it up more densely following the southern wall. They must fill up those parts in the back.

Okay. Yes.

- Move faster! Fill up the urns! - Yes. Yes.

Put jars on the southern wall too!

Fill up all the water urns. Hurry.

Mother! Mother!

Mother... I heard from people outside that Second Brother...

Second Brother is gone.

The adjacent house is already preparing funeral clothes.

The general situation will be decided soon.

Are you happy?

Mother, with Second Brother getting in trouble,

was it you?

The House of Gu is all yours now.

All yours now!

No, I don't want a house like this!

If something bad happens to Second Brother,

I'll then submit a memorial asking Second Brother's child to inherit the Marquis of Ningyuan title!

Hold that!

You...

Lower the palanquin.

Madam. Madam.

People from the palace are here to promulgate an imperial edict.

Are they from the palace of Empress?

Doesn't look like it and they didn't ask that the long altar with incense burner be placed.

Who came?

I don't know them. They all look unfamiliar. Their leader claims to have a surname Huang.

I don't remember any Eunuch Huang in the palace of Empress.

Sorry for making you wait.

I wasn't feeling well these past days, hence, wasn't able to get up as soon as possible.

Big Madam, no need to be courteous. This matter is too sudden.

Her Highness Empress is rushing that it be done,

hence, no need to pay attention to these etiquette anymore.

May Big Madam quickly come to the palace with us.

Her Highness has important matters to tell you.

Okay.

We've already prepared a soft carriage for you outside.

Madam, let's quickly go.

Sir, your face is quite new to me.

There are a lot of servants in the palace.

It's understandable if you haven't seen me before.

Yes. It's because I have limited knowledge and experience.

Empress will usually send Chief Eunuch Han whenever she sends me imperial graces or messages.

After not seeing her for some time, may I know if she's been doing well?

Empress has two chief eunuchs by her side.

One has a surname Ma, the other Wu.

Was there anyone with a surname Han?

Are you trying to test our words?

Can you even fake people from the palace?

If you don't believe us, let your needlework old maidservants here check then.

See if our clothes and accessories

are from the palace or not.

No need for that.

You all are indeed from the palace.

I just fear that you're not really working for the Empress.

In the palace of Empress, the main chief eunuchs are indeed Wu and Ma.

But both are now old.

His Majesty then assigned a Steward Han to replace them.

Since a year ago, the palace maids and lower ranked eunuchs have long started calling him Chief Eunuch Han.

If you really work for Empress, how can you not know this?

Since you know, why aren't you respectfully addressing him as Chief Eunuch?

Unless you're not really working in her palace.

An imperial edict was issued asking you to enter the palace. You dare not go?

- I'm not going! - You...

Are you rebelling?! You're rebelling!

I'll go back to the palace and report that your House of Gu wants to rebel!

You...

- Don't move! - You dare arrest people from the palace?!

You... We are here with a verbal decree!

- Quickly let me go! - You better behave!

Or else, I'll have your whole clan annihilated!

Immediately send people to deliver messages to the different high officials.

Someone's trying to fake imperial edicts to abduct officials and their families into the palace and threaten the government with them.

- Tell everyone not to believe it! - Yes!

- Yes, Madam. - Drag them away!

- Move! Move! - Take them away!

- I can walk! - Move!

It's zi time now (11 pm to 1 am).

Big Madam, something seems to be happening outside.

Instruct the kitchen to put oil in pans and heat them.

Send people by the courtyard's wall and put a block of stones every 20 steps.

And then put the heated oil by the wall.

Leave two people with every piles of stone.

Yes.

Take care.

Hurry! Hurry! Go! Go!

Inform everyone to strictly guard the corner doors.

Watch the walls on the backyard and don't let anyone enter by climbing over them amidst the chaos.

- Yes. Yes. - They are killing people...

Father! Father!

It's dangerous to stay outside!

They are killing people!

Father. Hurry. Close the doors!

Quickly close the doors!

They're killing people.

Take all the children to Weiruixuan to hide!

- Right. Right. - Guard the main gates well.

Hong'er!

Mother, why did you come here?

This... is this a mutiny?

His Majesty is critically ill, and there's an urgent situation now in the borders. Someone then made use of the chaos to revolt.

- They've started killing people out in the streets. - Did you hear me?!

- Ming'er! What about my Minglan? - Changbai, what about Ming'er?

- Ming'er. - Where's Ming'er?

Grandmother, don't worry. Zhonghuai left his men in Cheng Garden.

All have been in the battlefield. Their security is better than ours.

What about our house? Those evil people won't come in our house, right?

As long as we tightly guard our doors and not recklessly go out,

we will be safe.

Guard the main door well!

It's better that we go back to our room and hide.

Any part of the courtyard that's not lighted,

you all light a torch there.

Don't let any of the evil person come in. Open the stock room in front of the stable.

All of you who are young and strong, go get a torch.

If anyone dares to break through our doors, kill them!

Yes!

[ Gu ]

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

The imperial edict is here!

People from the Gu Manor, aren't you going to hurry and come out to receive the decree?

Nonsense!

It has always been palace eunuchs who promulgate decrees.

Just listening to you and one will know that you're not form the palace. You must be a liar.

Quickly leave!

His Majesty has given orders that since evildoers are revolting,

the situation has become urgent! We were especially ordered to go house to house

and escort noble families to the palace to hide.

Hence, we didn't bring any palace eunuchs with us.

My house has high and sturdy walls. We're not afraid of evildoers!

Thank you for His Majesty's good intentions, but we won't go anymore!

Gu, you better just listen to my words!

What if the rebels enter your house? You will die.

My madam already said

that life or death is all fated. She will not bear any grudges.

We swear to survive or die with House of Gu!

You dare disobey an imperial decree?

Not knowing to appreciate a goodwill.

Break open their doors!

Yes!

Charge!

- Release the arrows! - Release the arrows!

Close the doors!

Leave someone alive!

Nanny, I'm afraid.

Rong'er, don't be afraid.

Your father is a great commander that is peerless in bravery.

You are the daughter of a general. You should be like them, unafraid of anything.

I'm afraid of fire.

We have people guarding all the courtyards and walls.

No one can enter. Just carry your little brother and amuse him.

Okay.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Brother-in-law, you work so fast.

In just a tea time, you've already occupied the imperial city.

It's just that the people sent out to fetch those officials and their families

still hasn't returned. I fear that we still haven't won yet.

It's just a matter time before that happens. Anyway, the palace is now under our control.

My husband won't be able to escape now.

That's true indeed. What next?

Is there any movement inside?

Nothing's happening inside. I've knocked a few times, but no one's opening the door.

Should we just break the door? Just give your order and I will let them break them open.

Wait.

Go and invite Empress Dowager to come here.

Yes.

We must have the verbal decree of Empress Dowager, so we can justify our actions.

Yes.

Come! Surround it!

Yes!

Big Madam!

Big Madam, Second Tu sent a message to say

that Nanny Xiang opened the inner gates and guided a group of assassins to enter.

They've all been captured.

They've been interrogated and confessed that with them,

there's still one person dressed as a maidservant in our manor

and was wearing a veiled hat, who was following by Nanny Xiang's side earlier.

Wearing a veiled hat?

Yes.

It means that people in our courtyard knows her.

Where did that person disappear?

At the second gate. She wasn't seen at the Mingzhen Corridor anymore.

Oh, no! Oh, no!

You bitches that wants to die! You dare do a sneaky move on me?!

- Shitou and Xiaotao come with me. You stay behind and help Jingli. - Yes.

I'll tore your little house down!

I'll capture you alive, then rape you, before killing you!

Storm the gates!

Could the evil people in front be coming?

What's going on? What's going on?

- It's you? - Get lost!

Mother?

You ungrateful little bastard.

You dare to hit me?!

Why are you defending that little scoundrel?

I'm going to kill him and seek vengeance for your brother!

Mother!

Little brother...

Little brother...

Little Brother...

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother...

My mother is dead!

I don't have a mother anymore!

She's dead.

I don't have a mother anymore!

They're using cloud ladders to storm their way in. The main gates will be lost soon.

Cloud ladder?

No wonder they started fires first.

So they were stealing the cloud ladders.

With it, any high defense can be conquered.

- Shitou, quickly take the children and escape first. -Okay.

No! If you take two children, it will easily attract attention.

Put out all the fire and let's all go to the secret chamber.

Okay. Let's go.

Nanny, let's go.

Hurry! Hurry! Go up!

Hurry up! Hurry and go up!

Hurry!

Shoot!

Shoot!

Quickly go up!

Hurry and get up!

Rise!

Charge!

Your Majesty, be careful of getting cold.

- Your Majesty! - How are things?

Your Majesty, Funing Palace Hall has been surrounded.

How many are they?

It's dark, so I can't see it clearly..

Around more than a hundred. All are wearing Jin Imperial Army uniforms.

We wanted to go out, but we got pushed back.

The leader said that no one is allowed to leave.

With just those Jin Imperial Army in the palace,

it's impossible that they could have surrounded Funing Palace Hall.

Your Majesty, the whole capital is in chaos.

They seemed to have attacked using cloud ladders.

How can there be cloud ladders in the palace?

It's from the Fire Rescue Team.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Royal Father, Royal Mother, don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Help! Someone is killing people!

Move! Move!

Enter the city!

Save the emperor!

Enter the city!

Save the emperor!

Shitou, move these away.

Okay.

How come there's still such a place?

Don't talk anymore. Quickly go in.

Shitou, stay inside and protect them well.

- Come. - Okay, Madam.

Nanny, be careful. Slowly.

- Shitou. - Give me Tuan'er.

There are food and water inside.

If I don't come to look for you, don't come out.

- Okay. - Come.

I will stay with Miss until death.

If you don't let me go with you, I'll tell people about this place.

Okay.

Mother!

Mother!

What did you call me?

It's full of soldiers and very chaotic outside.

Our whole family must stay together!

Mother!

Rong'er, don't be afraid.

I surely will protect you well.

Mother...

Don't be afraid.

Mother.

- No! I want to be with mother! - Come, listen to your mother. Rong'er!

Rong'er, listen to your mother.

Come. Come, listen to your mother's words.

We will be meeting the leopards and wolves soon.

Are you afraid?

I am.

Let's go.

Let's go.

You bunch of treacherous and wild people without an emperor in your eyes!

You dare use the name of Her Highness Empress and Empress Dowager

to deceive the prime minister!

- What punishment must— How dare you!

Shut up!

Her Highness has issued a decree that if there are people who persistently refused to enter the palace for hiding,

they will be killed without leniency!

How dare you, madman!

You dare to kill a current high official of the government out in the streets?! What punishment must you be dealt with?!

Ma Hui! Ma Hui! Come out here!

- Ma Hui! - Execute him!

Father!

Commander Gu! Commander Gu, you're not dead!

You didn't die.

Commander Gu!

Commander Gu is back! Commander Gu is back!

Commander Gu!

Prime Minister, rest for a while!

I still have to handle some affairs in front! Have to take my leave first!

Commander Gu! Commander Gu is alive!

Commander Gu! Commander Gu!

Commander Gu, you're still alive! Commander Gu!

Commander Gu!

Commander Gu!

Marquis Gu! Marquis Gu!

What really is going on here?! What's going on?!

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? ♫