Original subtitles

[Glory]

[Episode 8]

What?

For a mere servant,

Miss Rong is interrogating me now?

Who said Mr. Lu

is a servant of the Rong family?

Steward Cheng,

does our household have his indenture contract?

No.

Since there's no indenture contract,

he is a free man.

Mr. Yang, you should speak with more respect.

What does it matter if he's a free man?

People get hurt and die in martial arts arena all the time.

My shoulder was injured too.

Blood had soaked through my clothes.

Who can I complain to about this injustice?

Just a scratch,

and he's hiding behind a woman

while lording it over everyone.

What kind of man are you?

Well, you...

You hurt someone and still speak such vile words.

You're far too arrogant.

A real man is one who poisons his blade

and schemes tirelessly to kill?

Such a real man, being so ruthless and vile,

I think,

I'd better off not being one at all.

This is clearly a false accusation!

Yang Dingchen,

no matter how wronged you feel,

you should just talk about it.

Don't frighten my cousin.

Truth is only revealed through debate.

Resorting to force is a vulgar descent.

Mr. Yang,

do not be impudent here.

Take this.

No way.

Manzhu, go invite Doctor Zhao, hurry.

Yes, Miss Rong.

Stop putting on an act.

When did I ever poison my sword?

It's you, pretty boy, who's lying!

Let go! Let me go!

Miss Rong.

This is slander and a setup.

You can't believe him.

Show him.

Yes.

You issued the challenge yourself.

The weapon that caused the injury was your favorite sword.

We have the doctor's testimony and physical evidence too.

How could anyone frame you?

Would someone really frame you

by risking their own life?

Perhaps someone

is lying behind our back.

It's you?

It's you?

Or you?

Fine.

You're all ganging up

against me alone.

When a thousand fingers point at someone,

even the innocent can drown in spit.

Those with clear consciences

don't fear midnight knocks.

If you truly have nothing to hide,

why fear confronting us?

Only mad dogs bite randomly.

You...

I'm kindly enough to try to help you.

How does it have anything to do with me?

This is evidence.

We can testify as witnesses.

Once we go to court,

you'll surely be charged with attempted murder.

According to our dynasty's law,

those who plot murder shall be beheaded.

Those who injure but don't kill shall be hanged.

See? How should this be handled?

Miss Rong.

I have treated you with sincerity

and came to propose with honest intentions.

You must believe me.

I was set up by someone.

If you apply the poison,

then you are

a scheming, treacherous villain.

If you were framed,

you couldn't even protect your own sword,

so how could you protect Miss Rong and the Rong family?

Either you're evil or incompetent.

Is this Mr. Yang's sincerity?

You...

Miss Rong.

The Rong and the Yang families have business dealings

and deep connections.

How do I matter?

Let's pretend this never happened today.

I can endure this slight injustice.

Don't ruin the friendship between two families.

Mr. Yang.

If it weren't for the histories

and connections between our two families,

I wouldn't be the one handling this case.

Miss Rong.

Young Master, think twice.

We have witnesses and evidence.

If this goes to court,

it will cause a scandal throughout the city.

You'll not only fail in marriage but'll also experience more disgrace.

Think and act wisely, Young Master.

I told you,

I'll handle this matter.

No need for you to worry.

Take good care of your wound.

Yang Dingchen, don't you still understand?

Do you want to be bound and sent to the County Office?

Miss Rong, since you choose to listen to only one side,

I have nothing more to say.

You injured him.

Are you just leaving like this?

I apologize.

I'll have someone deliver

the compensation money.

Thank you all for standing up

for justice.

Young Master.

It's you?

Who is he to you

that you personally treated his illness

and even gave him the longevity pill, Young Master?

What a waste!

We're both guests at Rong Mansion.

Our meeting is destiny.

When I clearly have

good medication to cleanse poison and heal wounds,

how could I turn a blind eye to him?

What kind of person do you think I am?

Young Master, you're too kind-hearted.

Not all guests are equal.

That freeloader at Rong family

is just a penniless outsider,

how could he be compared to Young Master?

You are Lady Rong's

personally chosen grandson-in-law.

Don't talk nonsense.

Don't run!

It's only a matter of time.

Come here!

Mr. Yan, help!

My Young Master wants to kill me!

If you didn't add the poison, then who did?

Come here now!

Mr. Yan, please show mercy

and save me!

You won't come?

It must be this wretch

who resented Lu for releasing the snake

and caused all this trouble.

Today I must

punish him severely.

Get out of my way!

Quickly, invite the doctor over!

Miss... Miss Rong!

What are you doing?

You're as cunning as a fox,

how could you be completely off guard against Yang Dingchen?

If you really got poisoned,

show me your wound.

I...

I risked my life for you, Miss Rong,

and finally removed your thorn.

You should be thanking me, Miss Rong.

Yet you're suspicious of me?

I just want to check your wound.

Why are you so nervous?

Men and women should keep their distance.

Miss Rong, you absolutely can't do this.

If others were to see this,

it'd be most inappropriate.

Our family doesn't have such rules.

Let go.

Hurry! He's vomiting blood!

I'm afraid he won't...

Doctor Zhao!

In my presence,

examine his wound again.

Miss Rong.

You...

Do you really not trust me at all?

Miss Rong.

Lady Rong requests Young Master

to go to Chongxi Hall immediately.

See?

Your tricks may fool others,

but they won't fool my Grandmother.

That's truly bringing trouble upon yourself,

and cutting off your own path to survival.

Is Lady Rong really that frightening?

Grandmother despises nothing more than men

who stir up trouble out of jealousy.

It's a disaster that you can't escape.

Let's go.

I, Fusheng, pay my respects to Lady Rong.

It was my fault.

I saw that he was all alone in this world,

with no family to rely on,

so I couldn't help but take extra care of him.

This angered Yang Dingchen

who became extremely dissatisfied.

In the competition, Yang Dingchen poisoned his blade,

which nearly killed Mr. Lu.

Fortunately, Mr. Lu was forgiving enough

to spare us from this legal trouble.

Grandmother.

Wait.

I have a few questions for him.

This has nothing to do with you.

Stand aside.

Is everything truly as she described?

I'm grateful to the Rong family for taking me in,

and for Miss Rong's kindness and compassion.

I can't be more grateful.

Who knew trouble would arise out of nowhere,

causing Mr. Yang to become jealous

and bringing about this disaster?

I deeply regret what happened

and sincerely apologize to Lady Rong.

Grandmother, he's seriously injured.

Let him sit while he speaks.

I dare not deceive you, Lady Rong.

Everyone suspects Mr. Yang.

Though there is indeed evidence,

I still have my doubts in my heart.

I've been wanting to inform Lady Rong

and Miss Rong a long time ago.

Mr. Yang publicly challenged me.

Everyone knew that

he wanted to compete with me.

If someone really died in martial arts arena,

Mr. Yang would be held accountable.

Though I'm not familiar with

Mr. Yang's temperament,

given the outstanding candidate the Yang family has put forward,

he is unlikely to be a fool.

Only because he saw you as a servant of the Rong family,

whose life and death are at his master's discretion,

killing a servant

would never cost him his life.

That's possible.

But more likely,

someone wanted to use him to do their dirty work,

killing two birds with one stone.

Let them in.

Lady Rong.

My lack of guile made me

an easy target for foul play.

I implore you, Lady Rong, to uphold justice on my behalf.

Tell Lady Rong exactly

what you just told me.

Don't worry. Just tell the truth.

Yes.

At that time,

I was upset

that the other servants were drinking and gambling,

leaving only me to polish the master's sword.

Chang Hong stood up for me

and tried every possible way

to trick me into giving him the sword.

He is from my hometown

and we've always been close.

How could I know that

he plotted against our master behind his back?

It was him who applied the poison.

It must be him!

Was the pain of the whip not enough for you,

or do you wish to try the water dungeon?

Even if you had nine lives,

once you're in the Rong family dungeon, you will talk.

Now, who asked you to do so?

I...

Mr. He, how cruel of you.

Mr. Lu has done nothing to you,

yet you're so vicious.

He not only

wants Lu Fusheng's life,

but also wants me to take the blame.

I issued my challenge

fair and square.

I disdain resorting to

stabbing people in the back with underhanded tricks

Miss Rong,

now you know you've wronged me?

Take them away.

Go.

I did it.

So what?

I've been waiting for your Rong family's son-in-law selection.

If one wants to be the final winner,

they must give it their all.

Isn't that right?

You're truly shameless.

When did I ever tell you

that if you eliminate all your opponents,

you could become

my husband?

Those who turn upon each other

when forced into close quarters are the serpents and scorpions.

What sets humanity apart from mere beasts

is our capacity for knowledge and wisdom,

our understanding of propriety and shame.

To be exposed without feeling ashamed,

yet rather projecting your own flaws onto others

and gloating about it.

When the heart is crooked, no deed can succeed.

When the character is warped, no enterprise can stand.

If this is the family motto of the He family,

no wonder your Huqiu Tea

falls short of others.

What gives a wretched, short-lived

bastard like you the right to lecture me?

Say that again.

Your wound...

I'm fine.

The fault lies entirely in

my momentary indignation and rash words.

I can't blame others.

Miss Rong,

Mr. He and Mr. Yang

are both here as candidates.

Please, do not let more discord arise

because of me.

Let's not pursue this matter further.

Mr. He,

I don't blame you.

You may leave now.

You just let that go?

If kindness answers malice, what answers kindness?

How can you, Mr. Lu, indulge

such a vile creature

who shows no remorse?

Do you intend for Lady Rong

to keep him around

to harm Miss Rong in the future?

Your false magnanimity is your own affair.

Don't be generous with what isn't yours to give.

I haven't forgotten the grudge of being falsely accused.

But what makes you any better?

Which of your underhanded deeds

is clean?

How about I just

expose them all right here and right now?

Wasn't it all your instigation to begin with!

What are you all talking about?

Mr. Yang and Mr. He

were invited by the Rong family

to attend the Tea God Festival.

After enjoying the ceremony,

both of you will leave the Rong family.

There was never any matter of marriage proposal.

Alright.

I'm tired too.

Please make yourselves comfortable.

How wise are you, Grandmother.

Allow me to respectfully see you out, Grandmother.

Lady Rong!

He Xingming was born to be wicked,

plotting against people behind their backs.

But I've done nothing wrong.

Why am I also being dismissed?

Lady Rong!

Miss Rong!

I've been utterly devoted to you.

Wouldn't you even

say one word on my behalf?

You know Mr. He's nature well,

but you still get close to him.

This is just like bargaining with a tiger for its skin.

You know perfectly well

what you're after.

I...

Being impulsive and jealous is one thing,

being easily influenced by instigation is another.

Grandmother naturally dislikes this.

This is Chongxi Hall.

Please leave immediately.

Don't disturb Lady Rong's peace.

So the two of us

have been working for nothing.

We both end up wounded

while a third party reaps the benefits.

So many strive and scheme with all their might,

but none can match your cunning.

I, He, concede defeat.

Young Master.

Thank you, Mr. Yan, for righting this wrong

and upholding justice.

In this world,

it's rare to have good people like you.

That servant ran into me himself,

so I then reported to Lady Rong for a thorough investigation.

If you want to thank someone, thank Lady Rong.

Everyone, leave.

- Yes! - Yes!

Miss Rong, I...

Why are you upset again, Miss Rong?

I'm still injured.

Just now you were barely breathing

as if you were about to die.

But in front of Grandmother, you were perfectly fine.

You knew from the beginning

it was He Xingming's scheme.

Why didn't you expose him?

How dare you still go fight in the arena?

I took an antidote beforehand.

The wound only looks frightening,

but it's not actually serious.

I took the disaster meant for Mr. Wen,

but that was only a stopgap measure.

Until the root of the trouble is removed,

how can there ever be a single day of peace?

Unfortunately, Yang and He

come from prestigious families.

Lady Rong values them highly,

and you can't easily drive them away either, Miss Rong.

With this self-sacrifice strategy,

it would be easier to drive them out.

Were you so confident

that Grandmother would drive them out?

When you're choosing a husband,

you'll certainly need to choose someone of

good character and true integrity.

Today in the hall, those two

showed their ugly nature with false accusations.

What examiner in the world,

upon seeing such students,

wouldn't fail them both?

Aren't you afraid Grandmother might get angry

and drive you away too?

You're banking on me to protect you,

right?

You are the most deceptive man

I have ever met.

Your truth is mixed with lies, and your lies are mixed with truth.

There isn't a single honest word from your mouth.

Perhaps even this injury

was part of your plan.

Why don't you stand up?

I...

It was a lie that my life was in danger,

but it was true that I sacrificed myself to get the target.

You saw the wound with your own eyes, Miss Rong.

How could it be fake?

I sacrificed myself all for you, Miss Rong.

It's one thing for you not to thank me,

but how can you bring yourself to blame me?

With those two nuisances gone,

no one will stand in your way.

Miss Rong, you'll be free

to choose a husband as you wish.

I understand.

Then I wish Miss Rong

to find a good match and success in all things.

What should I say about you?

How can you still smile?

What being aloof and free?

I think you're just lazy and negligent.

Look at all of them,

using every trick they could think of

and make every effort to win her favour.

You're always so passive,

when will Bao

ever see your good qualities?

If I were truly a good match for Miss Rong,

and even if I were just

a silent and motionless stone,

when she grows tired from walking,

she would still stop to lean against me.

If I were not for her,

and even if I were to

attend to her every need daily,

trying everything to please her,

it'd be like pouring cold water on stone.

Even a thousand years of devotion

would still be in vain.

Go away, leave. Your presence irritates me.

Take care, Lady Rong.

Lady Rong,

I think that Lu guy

isn't one to behave himself.

Since Bao likes him,

let's keep him and observe more for now.

I watched her grow up.

She's always been obedient and sensible.

She knows what matters.

If there's anyone to blame,

blame Bailou for not fighting for her.

I'd like to see

how long he can endure this.

Yes.

Miss Rong

understands your intentions best.

She definitely will not let you down.

I thought I could delay a while longer,

but that damn Lu has ruined everything.

Now I must act earlier.

I failed in my duty to guard,

please forgive me, Young Master!

My little Jifa, stand up.

Get up.

What are you afraid of?

That He Xingming is cunning and ruthless.

After suffering this setback,

he won't let it go easily.

Just keep a close eye on him for me.

Report to me instantly if anything abnormal happens.

And that'll make up for your mistake.

Yes.

But... But Young Master,

Lady Rong

has already asked you to leave.

Are you really not going back?

Lady Rong hasn't given a final word yet.

There are still three days until the Tea Ancestor Festival.

Who's the final winner is still a mystery.

What are you up to?

Miss, do you remember?

This is where we first met.

The night was deep and the dew was heavy.

Miss,

you should rest now.

Let's go.

Miss is having nightmares again?

Miss.

- You blind thing! - Let go!

Watch where you‘re going!

Miss.

Don't be scared.

Mum is here.

Who's there? Breaking in at night!

You frightened our Miss.

Who are you?

I'm not finished questioning you.

- What are you running for? - Go away!

Go! Hurry!

In the middle of the night,

Mr. Yang,

you're chasing after my little sister.

What exactly are you doing?

Miss Rong, please calm down.

That He guy

was acting suspiciously at night.

I was following him

and entered this garden.

I wanted to catch the intruder for you.

But who knew this guy

just vanished in the blink of an eye?

Miss Rong,

not even a "thank you'?

I was sincerely trying to help you.

Mr. Yang, please.

My respects to you, Young Miss.

Has anyone come by tonight?

We've been standing guard as ordered

and haven't seen any strangers.

Miss Rong,

we've searched around the tea forest

but found no trace of Mr. He.

Miss.

It must be Yang Dingchen, bitter about being expelled.

So he's deliberately causing trouble

and trying to implicate others.

Whether it's true or false,

before the Tea Ancestor Festival Ceremony,

anyone who dares approach the Tea King Tree,

no matter who they are,

will be arrested and punished.

Yes.

No, there is still one more place.

Young Master.

It was the Rong family

who stole our Huqiu Tea's business.

I'm the one who took your business.

If you want revenge, come after me, Rong Shanbao.

It has nothing to do with my Grandmother.

You lost fair and square.

Coming here to make trouble?

Even I feel embarrassed for you.

Rong Shanbao.

If this grievance can't be unraveled,

nor a bond forged through marriage,

then I'd rather be your lifelong enemy.

You forced me to do this.

Mr. He.

Well,

Mr. Lu can't sleep either at night,

so you're taking a moonlit stroll?

The tea trees in this garden thrive well

thanks entirely to the Four-Eyed Sweetwater

ancient well in this old estate.

Especially this Dragon Eye well,

whose water is crystal clear and inexhaustible,

and its sweetness is said to be unmatched in the world.

Even the most precious tea cultivars

transplanted from a thousand miles away

can take root within seven days when irrigated with it.

I fear someone with ill intent

might come skulking in the dead of night to do mischief.

If the Dragon Eye is ever damaged,

forget about the precious Tea King Tree,

but the entire tea plantation would be ruined.

What are you hiding

in your sleeve?

Come closer and check it out.

Who's there?

Let me go!

You dare undermine the root of the Rong family,

and you think you can walk out of here intact?

Do you want to know what I did?

There're so many things in this world

that can make tea trees die of disease.

I guarantee the officials

won't be able to figure it out.

However,

I have an antidote myself.

Tell me your price.

I want

to share your bed.

Shut up!

Rong Shanbao, how about it?

Have you made up your mind?

You claim to love the tea plantation above all else

and always put your family first.

What difference does it make who you're with?

When it comes to intelligence, strategy,

martial skills, and abilities,

I'm ten thousand times

better than your cousin.

And that Lu Fusheng,

who does he think he is?

Why he can,

but I can't?

How dare you humiliate me?

You'd better decide quickly,

or all the tea plants

will die.

Even if you grew a thousand eyes and hands,

you couldn't save them in time.

Send word immediately.

Seal all the wells in the estate.

From tomorrow, bring water from outside for irrigation.

So be it.

I'm the only one

who can make Miss Rong hate with

such piercing agony,

yet remain beyond your power to kill.

I could even say this is your unique,

perverse form of favor,

which is something others could never achieve.

For that, I have gotten my worth's fill.

In my life,

I hate being threatened most of all.

Mr. He is very drunk tonight.

I'll leave him to you.

Help him sober up properly.

Rong Shanbao! Rong Shanbao!

Hurry! Let me go!

Sure, right away.

Gag his mouth.

- Yes. - Yes.

What are you doing?

Let me go!

You don't understand her temperament

nor your own heart.

No wonder despite all your advantages,

you still failed completely.

Poor man.

Lu Fusheng!

Lu Fusheng!

Let me go!

Lu Fusheng!

[Rong Mansion]

Fortunately, we discovered it in time

before disaster struck.

Now it's pouring outside,

and he's still abandoned in the tea plantation.

What if...

That is a

hundred-year-old Longjing Tea Tree King.

Every year, Grandmother leads us in personally

picking and processing the tea

to be presented as tribute to His Majesty.

It's imperial tea?

It's more than just imperial tea.

Three days from now,

Grandmother will be under that tree

paying tribute to the Tea Ancestor.

This day is also the most

important day of our tea business.

If you had been half a step late tonight,

the hopes of thousands of tea farmers

would have been destroyed in an instant.

How malicious this man's intention is!

The He family has shown good will repeatedly

and voluntarily sent him for selection.

Grandmother also wanted to take this opportunity

to end the feud and reconcile.

Who knew He Xingming harbored evil intentions?

If he really succeeded in this,

the Rong and He families

would be locked in a fight to the death.

Right now,

we're just making him suffer a little.

I've already been lenient.

Everyone says Miss Rong

was born to have the "Tea Bone".

When the Tea King Tree was in trouble,

Miss Rong could sense it before anyone else,

and turn misfortune into good fortune in times of crisis.

This is a good omen.

On the day of the Tea Ancestor Ceremony,

everything will surely go smoothly.

Let's hope so.

It's getting late.

You should rest early, Miss.

Rong Shanbao...

Sooner or later, you'll fall into my hands.

You'll beg for death

in dire pain.

You can never get rid of me.

I'll never let you go.

Even I become a ghost, I'll haunt you.

Rong Shanbao...

[Tea King Tree Sacrifice]

Before the Tea Ancestor Festival Ceremony,

anyone who dares to approach the Tea King Tree,

no matter who they are,

will be arrested and punished.

Our Rong family

has planted

a Tea King Tree that's over 100 years old.

In today's tea industry,

many places still preserve

ancestral Tea King Trees.

For example, in Zhenyuan, Pu'er,

there's a 2,700-year-old

wild Tea King Tree.

In West Lake's Longjing Village,

there're 18 Tea King Trees designated by Emperor Qianlong.

And the Mother Tree Da Hongpao in Wuyi Mountain, and so on.

Tea farmers in some regions

even hold annual ceremonies

during specific seasons or before and after tea picking

in front of these Tea King Trees

to worship and pray for blessings.

They pray for abundant tea harvests

and smooth picking processes.

For instance, tea farmers in Wuyi Mountain

hold a mountain-calling ceremony

every year during the Awakening of Insects season.

The tea is sprouting!

Before Grain Rain, when it's time to pick tea,

they shout together again:

Time to pick tea!

This set of rituals

passed down from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period

is the mountain-opening tea ceremony,

which has been preserved until today.

As for the Zhenyuan area in Pu'er

with its 2,700-year-old Tea King Tree,

generations of local tea farmers and merchants

also offer incense and wine to it.

They sing blessings for it

with utmost devotion.