Original subtitles

=The Road to Splendor=

(Adapted from China Literature author Zhizhi's novel of the same name)

=Episode 25=

His Majesty,

the Grand Empress Dowager,

and the Empress have arrived!

(Jiuxiao Banquet Hall)

Greetings to Your Majesties: the Emperor,

the Grand Empress Dowager,

and the Empress.

Be seated.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I specially brought dancers from Shaqiong

to perform the Splendid Huayan Dance

in celebration of your birthday, Grand Empress Dowager.

Wonderful.

This pose

of playing the pipa behind the back

is rather unusual.

What does it signify?

Grand Empress Dowager,

Miss Xie is recorded in the Ganlin gazetteer three times

and knows the customs of the Gandu Circuit

very well.

May she come forward and answer?

Granted.

This is the pipa-behind-the-back pose

from Shaqiong's celestial dance.

The dancer twists and turns her body,

with her left arm

cradling the pipa behind her,

while her right hand plucks the strings backward,

as though embracing the moon.

Her fingers open and close

like a blooming lotus,

symbolizing the lotus

that rises unstained from the mud.

More than the dance,

I'm more interested

in you.

How old are you?

Grand Empress Dowager,

I am

twenty-four this year.

Then why do you still wear an unmarried woman's hairstyle?

Grand Empress Dowager,

I am

Miss Xie's fiance.

Back in Ganlin,

we were already betrothed,

but the war delayed us,

and we have yet to marry.

So...

Miss Xie is truly an exceptional woman.

Though born to a distinguished family,

she willingly followed her fiance

all the way to the frontier.

Such courage

is rare indeed.

Which distinguished family are you from?

Grand Empress Dowager,

I was born

into the Fu family of Huaying.

Is it

the Fu family of Huaying

with three chastity memorial arches?

I've heard of them.

Their women are known for chastity,

and their men for filial devotion.

Then why

did you change your surname to Xie?

Grand Empress Dowager,

when chaos broke out in Huaying,

Fifth Madam Fu

feared for her daughter's safety

and entrusted her to me

to take her away.

To keep her safe,

she had no choice but to change her surname.

If the name was changed only to keep her safe,

now

she may return to her true family name.

Grandmother,

their marriage had their elders' approval,

and hardship proved their devotion.

They are a rare and devoted pair.

I

intend to decree their marriage.

I ask

for your verbal approval as well.

This jade ruyi today

will make the perfect wedding gift.

Congratulations, Commander Zhao and Miss Fu.

Now that you've received a marriage decree,

when you return home,

be sure to tell your elders

the good news.

By the way,

there's been quite a stir in the capital lately.

They say you defied your father

and took it upon yourself

to move your grandmother's grave.

Is that true?

Yes.

Grandmother's final wish

was to be buried in our ancestral cemetery in Huaying.

You did the right thing.

As descendants,

we cannot honor only our parents

and neglect our grandmother.

(Yu Residence)

In this entire world,

I've only ever found one person

who was truly different.

And yet she...

will never be mine.

Young Master,

Ninth Young Lady

is about to be married.

Please let her go.

I truly envy her.

She can marry the man she chooses,

defy convention and stand up to her own father,

and forge a future for herself.

How could I

ever let go of a woman like that?

The Grand Empress Dowager

praised Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun

for their filial devotion.

And what did His Majesty say?

His Majesty said

the Grand Empress Dowager was absolutely right.

He even said the two were more filial than Fifth Master Fu.

That doesn't sound

like a compliment.

(A little to the left.)

(Over here.)

Let me see.

That should be about everything.

Hang them outside.

All right.

Take your time.

You two, come here.

(Coming.)

(Here.)

(This one.)

(Easy.)

(Okay.)

(Put it up over there.)

Biao.

Sen,

aren't you going to help?

I'm not the one getting married.

Sen,

Mr. Zhao lost his parents at a young age.

According to custom,

you, as his younger brother,

must stand in for his father and elder brother.

Before the wedding, he must perform the pre-wedding admonition rite.

The pre-wedding admonition rite?

Mr. Zhao has to bow to you three times,

and you should advise him as a father should.

What? How can that be proper?

Mr. Zhao bowing to me?

That would be improper.

The Thunder God would strike me dead!

Then tell us,

what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Zhao?

I...

I...

We're brothers.

Miss Fu

was raised in a family steeped in learning and tradition.

She cares deeply about these old customs.

If you really don't want to do it,

go tell Mr. Zhao yourself.

(Virtue Blesses the Hometown)

You are so good.

This is

a wedding gift I made myself.

May your marriage

be happy and blessed.

When you marry Miss Fu,

do I really have to be there

for the ceremony to be complete?

If you don't come,

the wedding can still go ahead.

It would just be a shame.

I mean, Miss Fu

would be hurt.

Well...

That wouldn't be good.

I...

Anyway, I can't attend.

Sen, you're not a child anymore.

If you don't want to be close to me,

I won't hold it against you.

I...

But she's looked after you for all these years.

If you don't come,

wouldn't you be letting her down?

An elder brother's wife is like a mother...

That's exactly my point!

How can I let you two bow to me?

I...

Did that work?

I don't care anymore.

You...

What are you doing?

Let me finish bowing to you first.

Then we'll be even.

After I bow to you, I'll go bow to Miss Fu too.

As for the admonition rite, I...

I'll reluctantly

stand in for your elders.

Get up.

The admonition rite is when the groom kneels to his parents.

Kneel to the parents?

I'm the one getting married, so I'm the one who kneels.

It's not your place to kneel.

Chuan!

This was your idea, wasn't it?

Biao alone

could never have fooled you.

Mr. Zhao.

There's

one more thing.

About Yucheng's death...

I don't blame you.

I let it go a long time ago.

You're about to get married.

Don't let me spoil the occasion.

All right.

I'm going to beat those two up now.

Wait.

Hit them hard.

Chuan.

I need to talk to you.

Sen's here!

Sen's here!

It wasn't me!

Get him first!

Sen.

You two dared

to trick me?

You think I'm an idiot?

Don't run!

(Double Happiness)

(Double Happiness)

(Double Happiness)

(Fragrant Lamps and Bright Candles; Double Happiness)

It's such a happy day.

Why are you crying?

After watching Miss Fu and Mr. Zhao come this far,

through all those hardships,

they've finally made it to their happy ending.

I just...

All right.

You're too old to be crying like this.

(Double Happiness)

With the grave relocation coming up,

Father knows there's no hope of returning to office,

so he spends every day drowning his sorrows.

Your brother and I

are planning to take the children back to Huaying.

We've dismissed all the maids and servants we no longer need.

So now,

all these

plants and household chores

have been left unattended.

Sorry you had to see the place like this.

In two days,

Zhao Ling and I are getting married.

You actually came to invite me?

You've got some nerve.

The invitations are for my mother, brother, and sister-in-law,

because I know

you won't come.

You two...

One, a woman who eloped,

the other, a rogue and a bandit.

You married without our consent,

and still had the nerve to send me an invitation?

As for your marriage,

heaven and earth may allow it,

but your father does not.

So this marriage does not count.

You are my father,

and I owe you for giving me life.

I came today

because I still held on to a foolish hope.

My marriage to Zhao Ling

has the Grand Empress Dowager

giving us her blessing,

and His Majesty personally granting the marriage.

So how, Fifth Master,

does this become a marriage against our elders' wishes?

Bring Mother to attend the ceremony.

In other people's eyes,

you'll at least still have the title

of Zhao Ling's father-in-law.

Even if you can never return to the office,

in the years ahead,

life will still be easier for you.

(Invitation)

Zhao Ling's father-in-law...

Let me tell you something.

You didn't come here today to deliver an invitation.

You came to mock me!

Fine.

Let me tell you, Fu Tingyun.

You listen carefully.

I'll make this clear today.

Even if I never return to office in this lifetime,

you are in no position to mock me!

Whatever happens, I am still your mother's husband

and the head of this household.

You want your mother to attend your wedding?

In your dreams!

You will not see your mother!

And I said so!

You won't see her!

Zhao Ling's father-in-law?

If he won't let me see Mother,

why can't I just force my way in?

Ninth Young Lady,

Fifth Madam specifically asked

that you not quarrel with Master over this.

You and your future husband have come too far

to risk more trouble now.

If you openly fight with your own father,

Madam will be the one who suffers for it.

Mother...

I

pledge the fortune of this life and the next

in exchange for my daughter Tingyun's

marital bliss

and a life free of hardship.

Madam and your uncle

have each prepared a dowry gift for you.

Though Madam can't personally see you off as a bride,

you'll still have all the honor and ceremony

a bride deserves.

This bridal sash is from Madam.

I've chosen a young woman for you.

She's attractive

and gentle by nature.

Why not

take her into your household as a concubine?

A man should take a concubine only if he is still childless at forty.

I shouldn't give anyone grounds to criticize me.

Jingxiu,

between mother and son,

there's no need for such formal excuses.

Back then,

I chose the Fu family's Ninth Young Lady for you

because I thought she was best for you.

You insisted on marrying Fan.

Though I disapproved,

I still let you have your way.

But all these years,

do you really think

I don't know what's missing in your heart?

You and Madam Fan treat each other with respect,

but there's always been a distance between you.

I'm not so old-fashioned.

If I hadn't seen how unhappy you are,

why would I bring another woman into your household?

I only hope

you won't keep grieving over that magnolia.

(Xie Residence)

(Double Happiness)

(Spirit Tablet of My Late Father, Zhao Wenyuan)

(Spirit Tablet of My Late Mother, Lady Li)

♪The past brushes by like a falling leaf♪

♪How I wish I could stay a little longer, but I can't♪

♪I turn away, afraid no one will ever come home to me again♪

♪If we can build our future together, no storm can chill my heart♪

♪The warmth of your hand in mine♪

♪Still makes us want to believe♪

♪One promise for a lifetime, echoing long after we part♪

That scoundrel

actually has the nerve to come.

Grab your weapons.

Shut the gates.

If he dares force his way in,

drive him out.

Yes.

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Hold the gate!

Open the gate!

Hold the gate!

If that bandit really breaks in,

beat him back out!

Beat him senseless!

Open the gate!

Hold the gate!

(Fu Residence)

Come on!

Come on! I'll kill you!

Zhao Ling!

You bandit.

You wastrel!

You dare use force to defy the law!

The Fu family has upheld learning and propriety for generations.

As a fourth-rank official,

you...

break the law you serve.

If you dare take one more step,

I'll shoot you!

Come on!

Please forgive me, Mother.

I understand

you didn't want us to cause any more trouble.

But after everything that's happened,

even if the whole world condemns me,

I won't let you and your daughter

carry this regret for life.

Knowing you cherish her this much,

I can finally rest easy.

When I gave you the jade bracelet,

part of me

trusted that you were a good and honorable man.

The rest was a gamble.

Looking at you now...

Heaven has been kind to me.

My gamble paid off.

In my own life,

my marriage brought me little happiness.

I was weak by nature

and failed

to set a good example for my children.

My only wish is that the two of you

will always be of one heart

and weather every storm together.

Please.

Stop!

Zhao Ling.

For what you've done today,

the censors will impeach you

and you'll be cursed by all!

She belongs to the Fu family.

If you insist on taking her,

I'll kill her right now!

Scumbag.

Since you have no love or decency left,

don't blame me for showing you none in return.

Biao. Chuan.

Escort my mother-in-law home!

This way, please.

You...

How dare you!

If you walk out that gate today,

don't ever come back!

I've drunk horse blood and slept among corpses.

I've survived countless battles.

Why would I fear the whole world cursing my name?

Careful, Mother.

Tingzhuo,

my sister is getting married.

As her elder brother,

how could I not see her

into her bridal sedan?

Thank you, Tingzhuo, Shen.

Please.

(Fu Residence)

(Double Happiness)

The groom is here!

(Xie Jewelry Shop)

The auspicious hour cannot be missed.

Make way!

Make way!

Coming through!

Our wedding

will be grand.

You'll have an eight-bearer bridal sedan,

with music and fanfare all the way!

Mr. Zhao

always keeps his word!

Wonderful!

What...

What's gotten into Mr. Zhao?

Those are all things

he promised me before.

(Double Happiness) Today, I, Tingyun,

bid farewell to my maternal family.

First, I thank you, Mother, for raising me.

Second, I thank you, Uncle, for all your help.

There's no need to thank me.

You're my own niece.

Tingyun,

remember this.

The Xie family

will always be your home.

After you marry Zhao Ling,

being a good wife and raising children

comes second.

What matters most

is that you take good care of yourself.

Alright.

Tingzhuo.

Tingyun.

You came.

Where's Mother?

Don't worry.

Zhao Ling has taken care of everything.

(Double Happiness)

(Double Happiness)

Congratulations.

Would you like

to ride in a bridal sedan for once?

Whether I wanted to or not,

I've already ridden in one twice.

Wonderful!

Wonderful!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

(Xie Jewelry Shop) May you soon be blessed with a son!

Good!

Wonderful!

(Bilan Teahouse)

Looks like there's a wedding.

Come on, let's go!

Let me see.

What a celebration!

It's Commander Zhao's wedding.

Miss Wu, look!

That's Miss Xie's bridal sedan.

What a grand procession.

(Double Happiness) The bride and groom have arrived!

Mother.

Your husband loves you dearly.

He didn't want you to have any regrets,

so he brought me here especially.

Mother, you trusted me

and entrusted Tingyun to my care.

Tingyun has stood by me with her wisdom and counsel.

I owe everything I've achieved today to her.

I, Zhao Ling,

have always been alone,

with neither father nor mother.

Today,

I wish to honor you as my own mother.

True filial devotion

can bind hearts more deeply than blood,

and chosen family can be dearer than kin.

Today,

I humbly ask you, Mother,

to preside over our wedding.

To honor chosen family above blood itself...

that is

the mark of a true gentleman.

Commander Zhao

is truly a most devoted son.

The auspicious hour has come!

Let the wedding ceremony begin!

(Double Happiness)

I commissioned a craftsman in Suzhou

to make this riding tack for you.

May you always

ride a fine steed

and rise to great heights.

Thank you, Mother.

Tingyun,

besides your lavish dowry,

there's one more special gift

I want to give you.

In this life,

a surname is like the clothes we wear,

only something others see.

Whether Fu

or Xie,

it only tells

where you came from.

But your own name

can speak to the path you choose

and

the person you wish to become.

On this happy day,

I

would like to give you a courtesy name:

Quanhui.

Would you like that?

May it mean a life blessed with both fortune and wisdom.

When you were born,

your grandmother named you

Tingyun.

It meant that within the family home,

all things would flourish.

But I never liked that name.

I never wanted your bright future

to be tied to the fate of one family.

I never wanted you to carry such a heavy burden.

All I wish

is for you to live as your heart desires,

blessed with both fortune and wisdom.

Thank you, Mother.

The ceremony is complete!

To the bridal chamber!

Wonderful!

It's been ages since we've seen a celebration like this.

Exactly.

Miss Xie looks so magnificent today.

She's like a fairy straight out of a painting.

Yes.

Listen to you.

You're still calling her Miss Xie?

You should be calling her

Madam Zhao now.

Exactly.

(Double Happiness) For the past five years,

thanks to your guidance, Madam Wang,

Tingyun

would always write

home about you.

Between every line,

I could see your influence on her.

Riding,

studying,

teaching...

everything she learned

was thanks to your careful guidance.

It's just that...

as her mother, I...

Fifth Madam,

please don't say that.

Without you, her own mother,

who gave her life

and such strength of character,

how could she have become the woman she is today?

The way I see it,

Madam Zhao is who she is today

because of both of you.

One gave her life,

and the other gave her a future.

She couldn't have done without either of you.

Isn't that right?

Absolutely.

Come, everyone.

Let's raise our cups

and give thanks

to heaven for blessing them with this happy union.

Congratulations!

Lord Wei, please.

Everyone, drink up.

Zheng San.

Everyone,

today

is my wedding day.

Thank you all for honoring us with your presence.

If anything has been lacking in our hospitality,

I ask for your understanding.

Congratulations, Mr. Zhao!

Congratulations, Commander Zhao!

Cheers!

Cheers!

Everyone,

thank you for coming.

I'm drinking.

Here.

Give it to me.

Come on.

Tingzhuo.

Fill it up. All the way.

I drink to you.

After all these years and all we've been through,

we finally ended up as family.

Thank you, both you and Tingyun,

for forgiving a coward like me.

Cheers.

Cheers.

I've made up my mind.

Your sister-in-law and I

are going back to Huaying.

Maybe I'll farm,

or open a small private school

and teach.

Either way, I don't intend to return to the capital.

Don't try to talk me out of it.

I've made up my mind.

This toast

is to you.

She's my only sister.

From now on,

I'm entrusting her to you.

If

you ever make her suffer in the slightest,

I'll travel day and night

all the way from Huaying

back to the capital

just to teach you a lesson.

You remember that.

I will

remember your warning well, Tingzhuo.

What a joyful celebration!

Quite a crowd too!

Zhao!

Zhao!

Mo!

Congratulations!

Thank you!

Commander Wang!

Commander Wang!

Zhao,

we've been racing

all the way back for you.

We finally made it back to the capital

before you entered the bridal chamber.

Good thing we didn't miss your big day.

You haven't missed a thing.

Then we'll have a few extra drinks.

That won't keep you from your bride, will it?

General Mo.

Your timing is perfect.

Commander Wang,

you finally made it in time to celebrate the wedding.

Good!

Commander Wang,

please, take a seat.

Tonight,

let's drink till we drop!

Please, Commander Wang.

Please.

No one leaves sober tonight!

Come on!

Come on!

Fill them up!

Tonight,

drink to your heart's content!

All right!

Then no one leaves sober!

You got it! Come on!

Cheers!

Master Zhao

is close to Commander Zhao and his wife.

Why isn't he here today?

He's a man of spiritual cultivation.

It wouldn't be appropriate for him

to attend a worldly banquet like this.

Right.

It wouldn't be appropriate.

Yes.

That makes sense.

Even His Majesty

didn't send anyone with a wedding gift.

Eunuch Lian isn't here either.

Well...

I haven't heard anything about that.

Lord Wei,

a toast to you.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Go back where you came from!

My mother may have brought you into this household,

but that doesn't mean I'll accept you!

(Next Episode)

(I gave you more than enough time.)

(I gave you more than enough chances.)

(You were the one)

(who failed to make me love you.)

The most urgent matter right now

is the drought!

If your delays

leave us short of funds,

I

will hold you personally responsible.

Zhao Ling was reprimanded in public.

(Xie Residence) They're newly married,

and already this has happened.

I wonder

if she'll regret her choice.

As long as he loses the Emperor's favor,

our plan

will succeed.

♪The past brushes by like a falling leaf♪

♪So light, yet my steps still pause for you♪

♪Through every rise and fall, our memories remain without regret♪

♪Carved into the rings of time♪

♪How I wish I could stay a little longer, but I can't♪

♪I turn away, afraid goodbye will fill my eyes with tears♪

♪Etched deep within my heart, yet buried without a word♪

♪The warmth of your hand in mine♪

♪Still makes us want to believe♪

♪One promise for a lifetime, echoing long after we part♪

♪For one fleeting moment, I found you in the crowd♪

♪Without a word, you lit up half my life♪

♪In silence, a love too deep for words♪

♪Kept close within my heart♪

♪From now on, no one else is worth waiting for♪

♪I turn away, afraid no one will ever come home to me again♪

♪If we can build our future together, no storm can chill my heart♪

♪The warmth of your hand in mine♪

♪Still makes us want to believe♪

♪One promise for a lifetime, echoing long after we part♪