Original subtitles

[Glory]

[Episode 16]

Is it okay to put it here?

Sure.

- Here you are. - Okay.

Let's leave it at that.

Give it to me. I'll help you.

This looks really good.

Is this okay?

Yes.

These flowers are really beautiful.

Indeed.

Let's move it a bit higher.

- Here. - How's this?

Replace that one over there.

Lady Shanbao,

every prominent family in town has sent festival gifts.

Old Madam Rong was in good spirits

and specifically went to the ceremonial gate to have a look.

Most of the gifts were seasonal fruits,

zongzi, roast goose and other common items.

The Yang family has sent generous gifts,

and Yang Yitang has such a silver tongue.

Old Madam Rong was so pleased

that she rewarded the carriers with 500 coins.

She also asked you to set aside

4 boxes of the tea gifts you had prepared

for the capital

and told the kitchen to make

some fresh zongzi

as return gifts.

Old Madam Rong also said

that these reply cards

must be written by you personally,

as a gesture of closeness and respect.

[Gift List]

So you're saying

Grandmother really likes

Yang Yitang?

Well,

I wouldn't dare to say for certain.

Mr. Yang and Mr. Yan

both often visit Chongxi Hall

to join Old Madam Rong for tea and conversation.

However, Mr. Yang

has brought a cook from his home,

who makes the most amazing goose webs.

Old Madam Rong really likes that dish,

so she often invites Mr. Yang to have a chat.

Actually,

Mr. Yang does visit more frequently

than Mr. Yan.

I see.

- Mr. Lu. - Mr. Lu.

You're here.

Yes, I am.

So sour!

Lady Shanbao, you're so busy.

Why not let me write these on your behalf?

You can just oversee my work nearby.

If anything is not to your liking,

I'll rewrite it at once.

This way, nothing else gets held up.

During the festival,

how could you possibly spare the time?

I'll just let Fusheng write the thank-you notes.

I'd like to take a look at your handwriting.

Alright.

Bring me the ink and brush.

Yes.

Do you have anything else to report?

I'll take my leave.

Why? Are you reluctant to move in?

Lady Shanbao, thank you for your kindness.

I am truly flattered.

But without an official standing,

my presence here would invite gossip and criticism.

Sleeping in the main chamber would feel rather improper.

I'd better move to the side chamber.

Enough of this.

We'll discuss it tonight.

I've taken care

of these three notes myself.

You'll write the rest on my behalf.

Then send them out after I've reviewed them.

Lady Shanbao,

the tea plantation has also sent festival gifts.

Yi brought them here personally.

She said that the Gu family and the Zhao family in Bingzhou

had sent people here again.

These regular clients from Bingzhou

are the most particular about tea,

and they place substantial orders.

I must go and meet them.

You take your time writing here.

We'll discuss it tonight?

Young Master, following your instructions,

apart from the red bean and candied date zongzi,

the fresh pork and salted egg yolk zongzi, and the ham zongzi,

we've also prepared the trendy Five Blessings Zongzi,

for the auspicious omen of five blessings coming home.

Lady Shanbao will surely be delighted.

Interesting!

Send them over.

Alright.

Wait.

I'd better deliver them

to Shanbao myself later.

Okay.

Mr. Wen,

Mr. Yang is here to see you.

Mr. Wen.

I've come at a bad time.

Sorry to disturb you.

Mr. Yang, what brings you here?

I specifically prepared some small gifts

to thank Mr. Lu,

but he wasn't in his room.

I asked a servant and learned

that early this morning,

he had moved to Hualin Courtyard.

During this festival,

everyone is extremely busy.

Shanbao

is in dire need of help right now.

It's awkward to discuss it with outsiders.

But Mr. Wen, you're considered a member of the Rong family,

so there is no need for discretion here.

I've heard that when the women of the Rong Family choose their husbands,

they follow an old custom of trial marriage.

If the couple pass the initial month harmoniously,

finding affection and happiness together,

then the marriage is set in stone

and can't be easily undone.

If they're not compatible,

then the young man

will be respectfully sent away with generous gifts.

And the marriage will be called off.

Both parties are free to marry others, with no further ties or obligations.

I thought Mr. Lu was there for such a trial.

But it seems I was overthinking.

I'll send someone to deliver these gifts

to Hualin Courtyard.

I'll come to visit you another day.

Take care.

One, two, three.

Young Master, you made this yourself!

It's dirty now.

She doesn't care for it anyway.

Bringing it to her would just be asking for humiliation.

She clearly knows

he's a troublemaker who brings misfortune.

Yet, just because he can talk his way

out of things,

she insists on keeping him close.

She'll learn the hard way

Only then will she realize how good I am.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Yang Yitang

must be harboring ill intentions.

Think about it.

Lady Shanbao

holds such vast family fortunes in her hands.

Everyone

scrambles to curry favor with her!

If you really storm over to Hualin Courtyard

and get

into a heated argument with her,

that will ruin everything.

Young Master.

A century-old tree root can never be completely severed.

A bond forged over years can't be fake.

Young Master, as long as you remain patient,

Lady Shanbao will come around eventually.

He is actually

better at stirring up trouble than his cousin.

Before Old Madam Rong,

he has pushed Yan Bailou

completely out of the picture.

None of them are easy to deal with.

Right now, Lu Fusheng

has indeed won Shanbao's favor.

But things have reached

a fever pitch.

What good can possibly come of it?

I'm afraid

that disaster is just around the corner.

Let's see how much longer he can swagger around.

Some of the Rong family's treasures

are hidden right here in my chamber.

Turn the base of that lamp three times to the right,

and you'll know if I'm telling the truth.

What if what's hidden in the tunnel

isn't treasure,

but a living person?

Watch him closely yourself

and see if he is truly unmoved.

Yes.

Where are we going?

Jun Dai!

Where are they taking me?

Jun Dai!

Young Master, is the water temperature just right?

The water temperature is fine,

but I just bathed yesterday.

I don't think this is necessary.

Don't move!

Jasmine?

And it even has musk in it.

This is really too extravagant.

Mr. Yan and Mr. Wen

both spend

hours bathing each time.

Their inner robes are also scented.

That's the style of a gentleman from a noble family.

A little floral perfume and musk on you

is nothing in comparison.

Why weren't Yang Dingchen

and He Xingming

popular with ladies?

Because they swung swords and clubs all day,

reeking of sour sweat.

When they approached the ladies,

they drove everyone away with their stench.

Such coarse men are despised by all.

Young Master, you must never follow their example.

Young Master, the mole on your chest is an auspicious sign,

foretelling a thriving family and a bright future.

It's an exceedingly fortunate...

Shut up.

All of you, wait outside.

I'll bathe myself.

Let's go.

Young Master, I'll take my leave.

No, no, no.

How dare I disturb Lady Shanbao?

I think that my side chamber is perfectly fine.

You've had a tiring day, Young Master.

It's better for you to rest early.

My side chamber is perfectly fine.

It's already very late.

Do you intend

to sit alone there all night?

If I were to share a bed with you

and become your husband,

when you learn the truth about why I came here,

you would definitely hate my guts.

No.

This must not happen.

You don't come over.

Are you expecting me to go over

and invite you myself?

Lu Jianglai,

you must control yourself.

I already said everything

I needed to say last time.

Lady Shanbao, please show me mercy.

Don't make things difficult for me anymore.

Xiu Qiong is so careless.

When she was mending clothes,

she casually stuck the needle in her cuff.

When she was making my bed,

it fell onto my bed.

I've felt around but still can't find it.

Bring me a candle.

I'll search carefully.

All right.

Here's the candle.

Come closer.

Even closer. I still can't see clearly.

Have you found it?

A little lower.

Lower still.

I... I...

I'd better just leave it here for you.

Lady Shanbao, take your time looking for it.

Come over. Is this it?

You might as well come inside to search.

Do not look at what is improper.

It only taints one's discerning gaze.

Do not listen to what is improper.

It only disturbs one's inner peace.

What are you reciting?

Do not speak improperly. It definitely brings disgrace.

Do not act improperly. It definitely brings misfortune.

Do not look at what is improper...

I asked you to come here,

only for fear that others might harm you.

About the mechanism in my chamber,

a twist to the right will claim a life,

but a twist to the left can save a life.

You might need it in times of danger.

Lady Shanbao, you're willing

to tell me such a big secret?

With the family's future on my shoulders,

I must think carefully at every turn.

I deliberately kept you here.

It was to test you.

I hope you will not take offense.

Now, with all doubts dispelled

and all grudges gone,

I only hope that from now on, our hearts will beat as one,

and no suspicion will come between us.

You...

It's good that we've cleared the air.

Tomorrow I'll have someone prepare a bed for you.

Tonight, I'm afraid

you'll have to make do with the floor.

By the way, Lady Shanbao,

have you found that needle?

It will be terrible if you get hurt.

Let me help you look for it.

I've found it.

Sleep now.

That's good.

Young Master.

They say the wedding night

is a small triumph in life.

It's such a happy occasion.

Why the long face?

It's frightening.

What have you found?

I've made inquiries all around.

All the serving women

in Hualin Courtyard

hold signed contracts and have family ties here.

Each family has over ten members,

with three generations serving the Rong family.

None of them match the profile of Madam Yang.

But don't worry, Young Master.

Even if she's not with Lady Shanbao,

she could well be in another courtyard.

I will personally check

every woman in the Rong Mansion

who fits the age.

That Madam Yang

is probably no longer in the Rong Mansion.

How could you know that, Young Master?

Lang Zhusheng has already searched every inch of the Rong Mansion

under the pretext of gathering evidence.

He didn't find any woman

matching Madam Yang's profile.

Even if Madam Yang had been here,

with such a huge commotion,

we would have inevitably alerted her.

I was planning to wait until things calmed down

and then seek another chance to investigate.

But now that I've moved into...

Hualin Courtyard is quite nice.

Now that I've moved into Hualin Courtyard,

every move I make

is under constant watch,

which makes things difficult.

Should I...

You little traitor,

you were exposed long ago.

You'd better lie low for now.

Otherwise I'll have to rescue you.

Haste makes waste.

If we want to find Madam Yang,

the key still lies with Lady Shanbao.

Rong Shanbao keeps a very tight lid on things.

I need to carefully follow the clues

and find Madam Yang.

Let's go!

Young Master,

where are we going now?

Prepare the carriage.

I'm going to deliver the return gifts.

[Hualin Courtyard]

Mr. Lu has always

preferred to keep a low profile.

Who is he putting on such a show for?

How odd.

This young master has such elegant manners

and noble bearing.

How impressive.

Which family is he from?

He must be

from a prominent family.

My Lord.

This is your treasured possession.

Please don't let it fall into the water.

Go. Hurry and find out

who that leading person is.

Yes, My Lord.

[Linji Prefectural Office]

Hurry and inform Lord Prefect!

I have urgent business and must see him at once!

Lord Prefect is receiving a guest.

Clerk Qing, please wait in the back and have some tea.

That's right.

It's an extremely urgent matter.

Not a moment can be wasted!

Who exactly is inside?

It's Magistrate Lang.

Magistrate Lang?

I was just looking for him.

Perfect timing!

Clerk Qing!

That's truly an all-around kitchen talent.

With all the guests coming and going at your residence,

he's more than capable of preparing a feast.

He's also good at making the hometown tofu

Old Madam loves.

The tofu is simmered in old duck broth

and then finished with a fine sprinkle of minced ham.

The aroma alone could carry for miles.

Old Madam is dissatisfied with the kitchen staff.

We've searched throughout Linji

but still couldn't find anyone to her liking.

You've thought of everything so meticulously.

It tastes amazing

and looks perfect.

My Lord.

Do not trust this honey-tongued man

who is treacherous and disloyal!

How dare you!

In front of Magistrate Lang,

how dare you speak so recklessly!

My Lord,

I swear I'm utterly loyal

to you.

Without solid evidence,

I wouldn't dare to make false accusations.

Just now, as I went to fetch the painting for you,

I ran into an acquaintance on the street.

It nearly stopped my heart.

Do you know who it was, My Lord?

It was the Imperial Inspector from the capital,

Lu Jianglai.

He's not dead!

After making some inquiries,

I've learned that he is

the Rong family's future son-in-law,

basking in all their glory and favor.

When the Yang family's young master died,

Magistrate Lang personally went to the Rong Mansion to investigate.

He must have met his old colleague face to face then.

But he remained silent,

hiding the news completely.

Can he deny his ill intentions?

No wonder you're stuck as a petty official.

All you're good at is sowing discord

and turning people against each other.

You lack Mr. Lang's meticulous thought

and long-term vision.

He is ignorant.

Please don't take offense.

I don't deserve such praise, My Lord.

Clerk Qing's direct admonition

shows clearly his utter loyalty

and unwavering devotion.

My Lord, he's truly worthy of the repeated promotions

and trust you've bestowed upon him.

Clerk Qing, you worry too much.

I've already reported this matter to Lord Prefect.

It's said this man suffered severe head injuries,

becoming completely dull.

He didn't even recognize me anymore.

I originally planned to eliminate this potential threat,

whether it was true or not.

But he's under the protection of the Rong family now.

It's not easy to make a move against him for the time being.

My Lord,

to end this trouble for good,

we must deal with the source.

We absolutely can't let him live!

Lord Lu, the Imperial Inspector from the capital,

has already turned to dust and ashes.

Dead men tell no tales.

Even if the man from the Rong Mansion

parades around official circles,

I say he is an impostor,

and so he is.

We can convict him

of impersonating the Imperial Inspector,

take him out

and carry out the execution.

But...

The Rong family has dominated Linji for centuries.

Even the Provincial Governor treads carefully around them.

We cannot act recklessly.

Zhusheng.

That Ding-ware white-glazed flower vase

you presented was an excellent choice.

The Provincial Governor was quite pleased with it.

We still need

to secure its matching pair.

No need to trouble yourself over this, My Lord.

I've already sent people to search for it.

I'll take my leave now.

Fool!

You're a damn loose cannon.

What use are you to me?

My Lord, I'm truly sorry.

I deserve to be punished.

Enough.

I know you're loyal to me.

You've made a good point.

Keeping him alive will eventually bring disaster.

He must be eliminated as soon as possible.

What's your plan?

My Lord.

Why not...

[Rong Mansion]

Watch this!

Take this!

She is your own blood sister.

She indeed scolded you a little harshly, but it's not a big deal.

Are you truly going to hold a grudge against her?

There are no lasting resentments between sisters.

If this gets out, people will laugh at you for being petty-minded.

Look,

she's urging Yunyin

to apologize to you

in front of Grandmother.

If you don't accept the apology,

it'll make you look ungenerous,

unwilling to forgive your sister.

Since childhood,

she has been playing the same old tricks.

Come on.

Hurry up and go.

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival.

Our whole family has gathered here to celebrate this festival.

With this cup of wine offered by Grandmother,

I offer my sincerest apology to you.

Shanbao, with your great magnanimity,

please don't hold a grudge against me over the matter

with Yunwan.

These days, you have been upset with her,

refusing to see her.

She was frightened,

filled with nothing but regret.

But she was too stubborn to swallow her pride and apologize.

Grandmother always says that sisters within our family

are bound by the deepest love and shared blood.

Nothing can truly sever the connection between us.

Just drink this cup of wine,

and we'll still be

loving sisters.

As for what happened in the past,

let's never speak of it again.

Please sit down.

That's what I call magnanimity,

the kind of quality a true leader has.

Didn't I say so?

Lady Shanbao...

Yunyin, I haven't had a game with you in ages.

Let's stick to the old rules.

One cup per loss.

What do you say?

You're on!

Lady Shanbao,

it's just for fun.

No need to take it so seriously.

A bet is all about wins and losses.

If you can't afford to lose, then don't join in the game at all,

lest you become a laughingstock.

It seems that Yunyin can't continue.

Yunxi, you should take her place.

Well...

Yun'e was right earlier.

On such a grand festival,

it's so nice that we finally have time

to relax and play together.

What a perfect picture of harmony and joy.

Grandmother will be

over the moon to see us like this.

No one is allowed to spoil the fun.

Exactly.

No one is allowed to spoil the fun.

The tiny cup is barely enough for one sip.

I've decided.

Bring the large cups!

Please.

A wonderful performance,

both in playing and singing.

Reward them.

Yes.

I have no relatives or friends in Linji.

Who could possibly want to see me?

Just go ahead.

You'll find that out soon enough.

They're here!

His illegitimate children have come calling.

Now the real drama begins.

This...

You...

- Father! - Father!

- Father! - Father!

- Father! - Father!

What a shameless wretch!

How could he do such a thing?

My dear, thank heavens.

We've finally found you.

- Father! - Father!

My dear.

My dear, it's me!

- Father! - Father!

Father!

- Let go of me! - Father!

I'm not your father!

- Father! - You must have been mistaken!

- Father! - Let go of me!

- Father! - Father!

What's going on?

It's not a good idea to drink too much realgar wine.

[Realgar wine is toxic. Do not attempt this in real life.]

Too much of it makes me dizzy.

I'll let the sisters have their fun.

Come,

walk with me in the garden.

All the past grievances and wrongs

were stirred up by outsiders.

That He fellow spread gossip

and sowed discord,

causing Yunwan's death

and even tearing our sisterhood apart.

You have every right to hold a grudge.

Back then,

the family fortunes built by our Rong ancestors

were also ruined by outsiders.

We should learn from the past

and remain vigilant at all times.

Today, regardless of who's right or wrong,

I shall drink three bowls of wine to offer you my sincere apology.

I have long known all your thoughts.

I simply chose not to expose them before.

If we must discuss why a kingdom fell,

it was the two queens

who were at each other's throats,

which gave outsiders an opening

to seize the realm.

If we sisters continue

to be at odds like this, pulling in different directions,

our family fortunes

will not endure for long.

In the past, for the sake of our shared blood,

I never took such things to heart.

But after what happened with Yunwan, I've learned

that indulgence only nurtures future calamity.

From now on, if anyone dares to step out of line again,

I will enforce the family law first

before any talk of sisterly affection.

We sisters share the same family roots.

We should be of one mind in safeguarding our family legacy,

as one inseparable body.

No one gets to run the whole show.

What's going on?

My Lady, there's a commotion at the gate.

Looks like there's quite a show going on at the gate.

Come on, let's go and have a look.

Lady Shanbao, they're just ahead.

Father,

I've missed you!

Lady Shanbao.

What's happening?

I truly do not know any of you.

Lady Shanbao.

Let go of me!

Today, a woman

came to the gate with her children,

making a scene in the street.

She claimed to be Mr. Lu‘s wife from his hometown.

Stop calling me that!

Lady Rong Shanbao.

Lady Shanbao.

- Young Master, this... - Lady Rong Shanbao.

You're from a noble family,

with both power and influence.

Please

don't strip me of my husband.

If you take him away from me,

I'll be completely hopeless in this life.

I might as well take my children

and drown ourselves in the lake.

This is such a humiliation

for Lady Rong Shanbao!

Don't listen to her nonsense!

This is all a misunderstanding!

This is a complete disgrace

for the Rong family.

Stop making a scene here

and ruining my reputation.

I don't even know you!

Lady Shanbao, it was entirely my fault.

I should have taken her to the mansion for questioning.

There are too many onlookers here.

This farce has gone too far.

Even if we were to tie them up now,

it would be hard to silence the gossip.

That's true.

It is better to settle this matter right here.

Those disreputable people

shall never cross the threshold of the Rong Mansion.

In my opinion,

to be Lady Shanbao's husband,

one must be a man of impeccable character,

exceptional in both talent and appearance.

A man of dubious origin

and disreputable conduct,

who already has a wife and children

yet dares to falsely claim he is unmarried,

ought to be handed over to the authorities

and charged with marriage fraud.

What a pitiful sight!

Just look at how she's weeping.

It speaks of a life of sorrow and misfortune.

Don't worry.

Lady Shanbao is fair-minded.

She would never act for selfish gain.

Knowing you've come all this way with your children to find your husband,

she could never be

the one to break your family apart

and sever those ties.

- Mother. - Mother.

- Mother. - Mother.

- Mother. - Mother.

This woman does look pitiful.

She has traveled so far with her children to find her husband.

This matter must be properly resolved today.

We must find a way to verify the truth.

We cannot let outsiders say

that you forcibly took another woman's husband.

If this affair

reaches Grandmother's ears,

he will never be

allowed into the Rong family.

Lady Shanbao, he is your man.

However you settle this matter,

there must be proper procedure.

Ms. Luo.

You claim he is your husband.

What proof do you have?

I'm a chaste woman with no one to rely on.

Would I truly ruin my own reputation to falsely accuse someone?

If you refuse to acknowledge me,

today I will just

kill myself before the gate of the Rong family,

just to prove my innocence!

Right!

My husband has a red mole on his chest.

What are you doing?

How dare you!

If I weren't

his wife,

how could I know such a detail?

Lady Shanbao, if you don't believe me,

a simple examination will prove the truth.

If I have told a single lie,

may I be struck by ten thousand arrows

and die a terrible death!

- Have him examined! - Have him examined!

We should have him examined.

Better to have him examined.

The truth will be known after the examination.

That woman is crying so bitterly.

It surely cannot be an act.

My man is not for outsiders to see.

And he certainly won't undress in public.

Jun Dai,

you're Mr. Lu's personal attendant

and a servant of the Rong family.

You tell us.

Lady Shanbao, I dare not speak.

If you still hold back the truth,

you'll be punished as well.

I dare not hide anything.

It's true.

- It's true! - It really is true!

He seems like such a decent guy.

Who would have thought?

What more is there to say?

It's settled.

What sort of nonsense is this?

I told you so.

Just send him to the authorities.

Lady Shanbao.

Close the gate.

Lady Shanbao!

Lady Shanbao, I beg you to see the truth!

Someone must have set a trap to frame me.

You must allow me to defend myself!

How dare you still lie through your teeth and talk back?

The only reason you haven't been turned over to the authorities

is Lady Shanbao's mercy.

Get lost.

What a scoundrel!

Just days ago he was parading around the streets.

Now he's done for.

- Mr. Lu. - He deserves it!

You are no longer welcome in the Rong Mansion.

Why not come home with me?

We'll put our past grievances aside

and make a fresh start together.

- Father. - Come back.

Come home with us.

- Father, come back. - Father.

Father, please come back.

- Come back, Father. - Father.

[Bathing Products in the Ming Dynasty]

Jasmine?

And it even has musk in it.

In this episode, Lu Jianglai

was made to bathe with fragrant toiletries

before meeting Rong Shanbao.

Bathing products in the Ming Dynasty

were quite diverse.

Ordinary folks mostly used

low-cost cleansers such as plant ash

and soap pods.

Officials, merchants and wealthy families

opted for Feizhuzi and Yizi.

Among them, Yizi

already worked

much like modern soap

and was even made in scented varieties

like sweet osmanthus and rose.

[Bath Beans]

However, due to high production costs,

it was exclusive to the upper class.

A formula for fragrant soap recorded in an ancient book

from the Ming Dynasty

exemplified

the sophisticated craftsmanship of soap-making in that era.

Blended with botanical fragrances,

it served both cleansing and perfuming functions.

Would you like to try

the same type of bath beans used by Mr. Lu?