Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles carefully crafted by the MEI DAXIA Team at viki.com

♫ Even though you pretend to be dashing, ♫

♫ Even though you act like an immature child, ♫

♫ Only you can possibly tease me, and cause me to smile. ♫

♫ You make my heart melt like spun sugar candy. ♫

♫ Even though you may smile like a fool, ♫

♫ Even though your moods are fickle, ♫

♫ Only I can get you to live more capably ♫

♫ and understand your humorous small talk. ♫

♫ The moonlight shines outside the bedroom, ♫

♫ as I nestle against your shoulder. ♫

♫ Raising my head, gazing expectantly toward the pearl-like moon, ♫

♫ I lower my head to submit to you. ♫

♫ In the moonlight's bright rays... ♫

♫ My heart beats wildly. ♫

♫ This is a good time for perfect happiness. ♫

♫ As a heavenly couple, ♫

♫ As a pair on earth. ♫

♫ The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd will never forget each other. (T/N Qixi Festival) ♫

♫ Paradise once again is beautifully found within your heart. ♫

♫ The breadth of the Milky Way cannot surpass that of your chest. (T/N a broad chest denotes an open mind) ♫

♫ Embracing you closely binds you into my future, ♫

♫ No matter what you say, I will never release you.. ♫

♫ You are my good time. ♫

Perfect Couple

Episode 1

Silence

Harmonious and Perfect Union

This is a plaque bestowed by the Emperor.

General Jin and Elder Master Jiang

are really favored by the Emperor.

I say, General Jin's son marrying Elder Master Jiang's daughter,

they are really well-matched in social and economic status.

I heard that It's a marriage granted by the Empress Dowager. Everyone is envious of it.

Right.

Brothers, may I ask which General Jin that is? (T/N respectful address for a man, not related in any fashion)

Naturally it's General Jin Datong.

And how many sons does he have?

General Jin has only one noble son, named "Jin Yuanbao". (T/N the name means "precious treasure" or "genius")

That's the silliest name I've ever heard!

I'll remember that when I meet him.

Jin Yuanbao!

Dirty beggar, watch where you are going!

Hey, you stepped on my foot first!

You've dirtied my shoes. Can you afford to compensate with new ones? You must be blind!

Sorry.

Perhaps, you could take my shoes?

You!

You did it on purpose, right? Who would want a beggar's rotten shoes?

Looking at you, you can't compensate me at all.

Why don't you kneel down and kowtow to me? Then I'll forgive and let you go.

- And how can such a beautiful girl like you talk so cheap? -You!

What?

Let me tell you, the county magistrate is my distant uncle's brother-in-law's friend.

Distant uncle's brother-in-law's friend?

If you kneel down, I'll let you off.

Hey!

- Stop! - My purse! Catch the thief!

The Empress Dowager's edict!

Prime Minister Jiang Xiushen's daughter, Jiang Xiaoxuan,

is gentle and obedient, elegant and refined,

dignified and wise, strong and yet gentle.

Henceforth, I specially grant her to be married to Imperial Great General Jin Datong's son, Jin Yuanbao!

May the Emperor's grace and kindness be kept in your hearts.

End of edict.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Madam.

Out of the way!

Catch the thief! Return my purse!

Miss!

Why are you screaming?

Out of the way!

Stop!

What are you doing?

Come get me!

Stop!

Stop!

Lord, you have remarkable foresight.

That Fetian Bao indeed is escaping from here. (T/N his name means "Celestial Flying Leopard")

Lord, should we take him in?

No hurry.

Let's see who is the strong backing behind this Celestial Flying Leopard.

We'll just let him run away?

Let him run, and follow him.

Get up!

Who was that?

Trying to kill us?

Dirty thief, keep running if you can.

It's your bad luck to have run into me.

Come to the yamen with me! (T/N Chinese word for "government office")

Out of the way!

Madam, please don't say that.

You are the Empress Dowager's own niece.

Blue-blooded nobility. I can't accept your gratitude.

Madam.

What do you want, Brother? You want me to stand here and watch my cousin's marriage?

I can't!

This is the Empress Dowager's gift, it's not child's play. You can't just walk away from it.

Please say a few nice words for us.

Pardon my eyesight but, where is the Young Lord?

Please have Lord Yuanbao come out and thank the Empress Dowager!

My son...

Aunt, I've searched the manor. The Young Master is not present.

A'fu! (T/N the name is "Fu", this is the familiar address to a servant)

Madam.

- Go find the young master. - Yes.

Please, Eunuch.

If Celestial Flying Leopard cannot escape, we can't follow him at all.

That beggar is going to spoil it all for us.

Going somewhere?

- I... - Run away!

Why aren't you running? Run away!

Little Brother.

He may be an infamous thief,

but you can't take him to the government office without proper evidence.

What if you accuse him wrongly?

Exactly! Why are you accusing me?

I saw you steal a young lady's purse.

Steal a purse? Where's the girl, then?

I...eh?

She's gone.

Little Brother, roaming the Jianghu is all about fate. (T/N aka Wulin, the world of martial artists)

Since there's no witness, you had better let him go.

Right, what noble lord says makes sense! Excuse me, I'm going.

Well I said you can't!

Try to run again!

Why not let him go? If he's a bad guy, you can still get him.

And who are you? Where do you come from?

You insist on letting him go, you seem like a ringleader.

Thieves like him, reaping without sowing.

He steals a jade pendant here, tomorrow a purse.

And now, he'd try to steal a...

"Constable" token (T/N Official's identification emblem)

A token?

Constable?

You just let him go!

No! Brothers, no!

Can't we talk nicely?

- A gentleman uses his mouth... - Do you still suspect me to be the ringleader?

What's so great about constables?

Maybe you have taken some protection money from those thieves,

and purposely let him off?

Hey, brothers!

You are Celestial Flying Leopard.

Restrain and stop him!

Give it to me.

Three sixteen-year-old girls, especially those with foreign accents

Xuande paper. (T/N this is a top-quality paper made of bark)

Paper this precious is very rare.

It's sprinkled with fragrance from the Western Regions.

It's from the "Thousand Beauties Pavilion.". (T/N a brothel)

How can a little thief like you have the money

to go to such an extravagant place?

You!

Who are you?

"Three sixteen-year-old women. Especially those with foreign accents."

Is this an order for trafficking women?

You..What are you saying?

- I don't understand. - You don't understand?

Trafficking women under the feet of the Emperor. You think I will just sit by and watch? (T/N idiom for the capital city)

Who exactly are you?

Double Happiness

Jiang

- Give it to me...Xi'er, be good. - Miss,

you've tried to run away several times now. - Give it to me.

- When have you ever succeeded? - Do you think this cage can stop me?

Sooner or later, I'll run away again.

You can't do that, Miss.

If you run, we servants' lives will be ruined!

If I have to marry a stranger, my life is ruined!

Housekeeper Liu, you look so tired.

Look at you. There's dark shadow between your eyebrows.

Your eyes are dull. Weak breathing.

Shall I give you a prescription and nourish your health?

Alright.

You're willing to take my medicine?

Wait until the day when I'm totally sick and tired of this world,

then I will ask you for your prescription to escape this life of misery.

Alright, then. We've agreed on this.

If that day comes, just let me know.

Don't you want to know who he is?

It isn't an insult to you to have ended up in his hands.

The capital's top investigator, Detective Jin Yuanbao!

Jin Yuanbao?

Wrong! It's "Great Detective Jin Yuanbao".

The famous Jin Yuanbao!

- What are you doing? - I admire you!

Away with your dirty hands!

Pleased to meet you.

My dream is to be like you, catch the criminals and uphold justice!

Shifu , accept my bow and accept me to be your disciple! (T/N a great master of anything who then accepts disciples to learn from them and serve them)

- Shifu! Shifu! - Let go of me! No!

Shifu, please accept me! Shifu!

Shifu, I really admire you!

Shifu!

- Shifu! - Let go!

- Shifu, accept me! - Ma Zhong, quick!

Shifu!

What are you doing? Are you crazy?

What are you looking at? Leave!

Leave.

- Wang Qiang! Ma Zhong! Take Celestial Flying Leopard to the yamen so I can interrogate him. - Yes!

Come on! Go on!

- Where's my purse? - Let's go!

It's here!

Give it to me!

Little brat! You had better learn how to behave properly.

Want it? Go get it yourself.

You!

Go on!

Young Master!

- Young Master. You are here! - What happened?

- I finally found you. - What do you need me for?

Come with me, the whole mansion is in chaos.

They're all busy doing nothing. What's the rush?

But this is really something major.

The Empress Dowager's golden plaque has been delivered to the mansion.

Madam is really anxious because you are not there.

If you don't return, we don't know what she might do.

The reputation of the general's manor is not that fragile.

As if my mother isn't used to facing big storms.

I have a case. Tell my mother I'll return after that.

Where are you going, Young Master?

To the Thousand Beauties Pavilion.

It's a reward for you because you acted so heroically.

Out of your own pocket again.

Young Master, come with me. Miss Jiang has already reached the capital.

Young Master!

Thousand Beauties Pavilion?

"Double Happiness" (Bridal Procession)

The Jin-Jiang marriage union is granted by the Empress Dowager.

Others wish they would be so lucky.

Miss, you are trying to run away all the time,

but maybe when you see that Lord Jin, you might never want to leave again.

But this is not what I want.

I want something with real feelings.

I already love someone else.

- Housekeeper Liu, the bridal procession of Jiang Mansion has arrived. - Welcome them.

Yes.

Are you a housekeeper too?

Look, there's nothing you can do now. We've arrived.

Housekeeper of the Jin Mansion, Liu Wenzhao,

I'm ordered by Madam Jin to welcome Miss Jiang.

Please rise, Housekeeper Liu.

I'm tired from traveling, and am feeling unwell.

Take me straight to the guest house.

Alright. We've prepared Hengchang Inn, the capital's biggest guesthouse for you.

Thank you, Housekeeper Liu. Let's get on with it.

Miss Jiang, feeling unwell is a symptom of an underlying cause. There're many causes,

such as not being acclimatized or it could be a cold or weakness.

I am Gu Changfeng, the top physician of Jin Manor.

I know all about medicine.

The climate here is really different from that in Nanjing.

Perhaps I can write a prescription to nourish your health?

Are you not right in your mind?

If anything happens to her, how many lives do you have to make up for it?

How could my medicine make her ill, I cure illnesses and save lives!

I know Shennong's "Materia Medica" by heart. (T/N compendium of oral traditions attributed to the "God Farmer", one of the legendary Three Sovereigns of Ancient China)

The pile of medical books I read is taller than you are.

You have to talk so much?

Escort Miss Jiang to the inn!

Yes!

- Wang Qiang and Ma Zhong! - Present!

Wait for the sound of my cup to come inside and arrest the suspect.

Yes!

All others are to hide out here.

Yes!

Thousand Beauties Pavilion

Timing and Subtitles carefully crafted by the MEI DAXIA Team at viki.com

Great!

Lord Jin, you have high standards.

With so many girls here, there's no one that you like?

Though I have lots of money,

I'm not going spend it on these ordinary women.

Are all your girls present here?

Well, there is one...

Let her come out then.

She really has many rules.

Rules?

Are they more than this?

I'll go settle it.

Come, sit down, my Lord.

Chuchu! My good daughter.

We have an important guest, come see him.

I won't.

Chuchu, you don't want to see this person or that.

I always do according to your wishes.

But this Young Lord Jin is really a god of fortune.

We can't offend him.

Come take a little look.

I'm not in need of silver taels. (T/N currency)

You might not lack silver taels,

but you might need this. (T/N a golden tael )

I'd like to see how charming the young lords in this capital are.

Show me the way, mama.

Young Lord Jin, this is Miss Chuchu.

Chuchu...

Come, sit.

Sit down.

Entertain him well.

I won't disturb you.

Have a good time.

Did I keep you waiting? Pardon me.

It's alright.

Fate is fate, no matter how late.

How do you know I am your fate?

So I was told by your exotic perfume.

You're the one I was looking for.

I also have been waiting for you, Lord.

With my eyes on you, you can't get away.

Jin Yuanbao isn't a good man indeed!

Drinking and embracing women all day.

Wait until I, Yu Qilin , get you. I'll teach you a proper lesson. (T/N a qilin is a mythical hooved chimeric creature, said to portend the arrival or departure of a great sage or ruler)

My face looks like a brush now, yet it can't hide my good looks.

Apparently...

I look much more domineering now.

Whip.

Candle.

Red rope.

What is this?

What "young ladies"?

This is... what "silver taels"?

This is my room, Young Lord.

Don't be in a rush to lock the door.

I'd like to call for some food and drinks.

With me, you'll have enough to eat.

Where is Yuanbao?

Didn't he know about today?

How can he still be out this late?

Replying to Madam, he said he was investigating a case.

He will come back after that.

What is more important than the plaque bestowed by the Empress Dowager?

Where did Yuanbao go?

Tell me!

- Thousand Beauties Pavilion. - What?

Be gentle, adulterous couple.

Lord, the night is short. How about we...

Don't be anxious.

Good tea is meant to be savored. If you drink it in one gulp, it's akin to drinking like a horse.

And you, Miss Chuchu, are my good tea for tonight.

I want to carefully and completely taste all of it.

Disgusting!

You must surely savor the goodness of me.

Of course.

Miss Chuchu's fragrance goes straight to the soul, lingering for days.

Are you from the Western Regions as well?

Of course, Lord.

Those feeble woman of the Central Plains , how could they handle such a hot fragrance? (T/N the main part of China)

It must be hard to get into your room.

I think it must be only those closest to you

who may enter your room.

You keep asking me questions.

Aren't you not happy with me? I won't force you then.

I'll ask mama for another girl for you. (T/N brothel proprietor)

Miss, don't get me wrong.

From the moment I saw you,

all other women on earth are just dirt to me.

Naughty boy.

Not so fast. The night is still young.

Why don't you do a little dance to liven things up?

Dance?

I'd like to see if your waist is really as delicate as tender leaves in third month. (T/N spring month, based on lunar calendar)

And if your charming eyes are really as deep as the waters in spring.

Disgusting.

Alright.

May I know, besides being a courtesan in the Central Plains,

are you also interested in other businesses?

Like selling jewelry and purses and such?

I'm only interested

in eating you.

Miss Chuchu hasn't answered my question yet. Are you, or not?

You guess.

What are you afraid of, Miss Chuchu?

That the officers will come and arrest you?

They have no basis to arrest me.

At our mansion we have this celebration.

The guests are all high-ranking noblemen.

Too bad our female servants are so ugly.

It would be great if we had ladies as pretty as you.

Do you know where I could find such pretty ladies like you?

Men are so bad.

You are always looking for fresh fruits.

Fresh fruit is all around you.

That's for later, because tonight you are mine!

Miss Chuchu, you've been here so long, you must know many pretty ladies.

Why don't you introduce them to me?

Where can I find such girls?

Looking at the pan while eating from the bowl, you are such a spoilsport.

Let's not talk about others today, just talk about you and I...

Young Lord, did you come alone tonight?

Naturally I am here alone.

Don't tell me that you have hidden some other guest?

Of course not.

You are the only one I am serving tonight.

But it's getting too late tonight.

You should go back to rest, Young Lord.

Sounds like an order to leave.

Miss, you seem to have a lot on your mind and secrets.

Don't go. Don't let him go.

Who are you?

You wench!

Didn't you say that you'd only love me your whole life?

Didn't you say that you would serve only me?

Who exactly are you?

And you, who exactly are you?

Who are you to dare to touch my Chuchu!

I am telling you, if you want to touch my lover, first see whether my fist agrees or not!

What are you doing?

Concealed weapons.

Right, you pewter spearhead that shines like silver , I'm going to beat you up.(T/N good-looking but incapable

Chuchu, you have such bad taste! How can you like...

Wang Qiang, Ma Zhong!

such a gigolo?

Run!

Timing and Subtitles carefully crafted by the MEI DAXIA Team at viki.com

Wang Qiang! Ma Zhong!

Here, you!

Any more tricks? I can take them all!

Which faction are you from? Why do you have to take off my clothes?

I don't belong to any faction. I just want to take off your clothes.

The officers and constables are here!

Thousand Beauties Pavilion

Let go.

Let go.

Let go!

You let go!

Help!

Wang Qiang, Ma Zhong, help me!

Go ahead, yell all you want. There's no one coming to rescue you.

Help!

Young man! You look like a decent man,

I'm gonna strip it all off

to see if you're a Zhang or a Li! (T/N idiom regarding the leaders "long" on qualities versus those "short" and lacking...)

Come down!

How about it? Are you still going to run?

Go ahead, run. Go find someone to help you.

How come they are still not here?

Lord!

Don't chase any further.

You won't be able to catch up.

With your skills, you can't beat him.

Then do we just let him escape like this?

That's right.

Prepare the ink and brush.

Yes.

How is it?

All good.

No one's coming.

Did you see it?

Don't remind me. I was this close.

I was just about to take off his pants

to see if there is a birthmark or not.

Look here, my long hair has become this short!

What a waste to give it away for your beard!

Forget it. We have to find another method.

Finding Aunt Yu's son won't be that easy.

How about returning to Emeishan and then think of something? (T/N Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China)

I am not going back.

You know my mother took me from the forest and painstakingly raised me for twenty years.

Is there anything harder than this?

I'll definitely find out if Jin Yuanbao has a birthmark or not!

Then I know if he's my mother's biological son.

If I can't verify that, I will never go back.

But you already tried to check it a few times.

What if you get caught?

Getting hit is a small matter.

You could get beheaded for this!

Are you afraid? Go back, then!

Afraid? I, Pang Hu, don't even know the word "afraid". (T/N "Plump Tiger")

Tell me, what's next?

Come up with ideas to sneak into the General Jin Manor.

Celestial Flying Leopard has met Chuchu.

This Xuande paper is the same as Celestial Flying Leopard's.

This Western Region perfume is what Chuchu is wearing.

It seems Celestial Flying Leopard is a secret messenger for Chuchu.

But judging from Chuchu's reaction,

it seems like she did not know that man

because he let Chuchu go just like that,

but tried hard to strip off my clothes.

Could he be after your good looks?

Shut up!

He was obviously after me

but I don't know what he wants.

Wang Qiang and Ma Zhong, go to the yamen

to get a bounty notice for Chuchu and that man.

This matter is becoming more and more interesting.

We've reaped some results today,

but if I go home any later, my mother will be angry.

- Back to the manor. -Yes!

General (Jin) Manor

Young Master, you have finally returned.

Madam is awaiting you in the main hall.

Awaiting?

Are you reprimanding me as my cousin or as our housekeeper?

I wouldn't dare.

Then why are you here?

The wedding clothes have arrived.

Madam wants you to try them on. If it doesn't fit, the tailor can fix that tonight.

You are all more nervous for that wedding than I am.

Show me then.

Young Master, these are the capital's best fabrics.

It's especially made for you, by the Royal Family's master tailors.

- Are these really the best fabrics? - Yes.

They were especially chosen after comparing various textile shops.

Why aren't we buying Yun brocade ? (T/N fabric developed during Yuan Dynasty using extensive precious metal threads)

Yun brocade?

Yun brocade is woven with gold, silver and copper

threads, sometimes interwoven with bird feathers.

It consists of fourteen thousand silken threads

in order to make all the complicated flower patterns.

In the whole process of making it,

every detail becomes a miracle of heavenly perfection.

Don't you think Yun brocade would suit my wedding robes?

Yes, but there wouldn't be enough time to make it then.

Not enough time to make it?

Who are you?

Let me remind you, you are the housekeeper of General Jin Manor!

Aren't you afraid people will ridicule you with these words of yours?

Isn't this what you all hoped for?

That this Jin-Jiang marriage union be our greatest celebration?

- The Imperial grace and kindness bestowed is bringing glory to our ancestors, right? - Yes.

Let me tell you, no matter if I want to marry or not,

I only want everything to be the best, of the highest quality,

including people, do you understand?

What you said is right.

These are not bad, keep them for your own marriage.

Harmonious and Perfect Union

Greetings to you, Mother.

Rise.

Thanks, Mother.

Were you investigating a big case today?

I wouldn't dare. I arrested a small thief.

I suspect that there is a bigger conspiracy behind him.

- So– - Enough!

You can talk non-stop about cases.

Don't you know what today's occasion is?

I know.

Raise your head.

Look at this plaque.

Harmonious and Perfect Union

I see it.

Do you know who wrote this?

The Empress Dowager.

Today, everybody was gathered at the door

to welcome this plaque from the Empress Dowager.

And where were you?

Mother, I can't take upon these words as written by the Empress Dowager.

Why? Why can't you?

When the Empress Dowager bestowed the marriage, I already said so.

Miss Jiang and I are strangers to each other.

I cannot accept this kind of marriage.

Tomorrow's wedding ceremony is just child's play.

It's not a harmonious and perfect marriage.

I've gathered information.

Miss Jiang is gentle and virtuous.

She's beautiful and her age is compatible with yours.

What else can you ask for?

What I ask for is real love.

Love?

Yes, Mother.

Mutual understanding, supporting each other.

As for appearance, age, background, none of that matters.

You mean to call the marriage off?

Warrant notice

Who drew these portraits?

Look, he did a bad drawing of the eyelids!

Do they look like mine? It doesn't look like me at all!

Right, is my nose that flat?

- Plump Tiger, tell me, is it that flat? - They look alike.

- Miss... - It must be her.

What a lousy painter!

- She'll get recognized! - He should be whipped!

Throw him in the river!

Miss, stop it, run away, they've discovered you.

We have to go.

I am a person with feelings and emotions.

I don't want to be manipulated like a toy.

How impudent!

This is a marriage granted by the Empress Dowager!

Young Master, what Aunt is doing is for your own good.

Also, everyone is looking forward to this marriage.

It's something to be happy about, no matter what, isn't it?

Cousin, shouldn't you get busy with something?

Why are you still here?

I got it, I'll go take a look.

Today, everyone in the streets watched how the golden plaque was brought to us.

Miss Jiang is already in the capital.

Everybody in the capital is expecting this marriage of the Jins and the Jiangs to take place tomorrow.

Don't tell me you want me to publicly call this marriage off

just because Young Lord Jin doesn't want to get married.

Mother, I'm not living for other people.

What the world wants, is the world's business.

I only want to live my own life.

Even if I agree with your wish and call off this marriage,

you can't expect the Empress Dowager to withdraw her Imperial decree.

Then I will go to the Empress Dowager, walking and kneeling on my knees,

and ask her to withdraw her Imperial order. I will request to go against the edict.

You!

Come with me.

Timing and Subtitles carefully crafted by the MEI DAXIA Team at viki.com

♫ If love is decreed by fate to cross our paths, ♫

♫ why must it be so very painful? ♫

♫ Has something covered your eyes, ♫

♫ so you no longer cherish my efforts? ♫

♫ If love is about mutual protection, ♫

♫ why are there so many grievances? ♫

♫ Has something blocked my footsteps, ♫

♫ that left me no longer caring about your helplessness? ♫

♫ Even if heaven itself has set the marriage partner, there will be a lot of hardships. ♫

♫ The right couple need not worry about the extremes. ♫

♫ To concede to love is not to lose. ♫

♫ Holding you firmly by the hand, I want to spend all my time with you. ♫

♫ If love is about mutual protection, ♫

♫ why are there so many grievances? ♫

♫ Has something blocked my footsteps, ♫

♫ that left me no longer caring about your helplessness? ♫

♫ Even if heaven itself has set the marriage partner, there will be a lot of hardships. ♫

♫ The right couple need not worry about the extremes. ♫

♫ To concede to love is not to lose. ♫

♫ Holding you firmly by the hand, I want to spend all my time with you. ♫