Original subtitles

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

The only Wei's Purple Peony in the garden.

It alone reigns over all the other peonies.

I think only a peony of such peerless beauty

is worthy of you, My Lady.

What have you put in my hair?

Slap yourself!

You witless fool.

My Lady is to meet Lord Lu,

yet you keep going on about being "alone."

You deserve those slaps.

Don't be angry, My Lady.

She's a clumsy speaker who doesn't know any better.

How about this twin-lotus hairpin instead?

Twin blossoms are an auspicious sign.

The design symbolizes "hearts as one".

May you and Lord Lu be of one heart and enjoy a lasting marriage.

ADAPTED FROM JIA JIN CHAI, ORIGINAL NOVEL BY XIAOJIAREN ON JINJIANG LITERATURE CITY

ELDEST PRINCESS'S RESIDENCE

At the Eldest Princess's flower banquet,

you are sure to outshine every lady and take first place.

WEI RAO OLD MADAM WEI'S FOURTH GRANDDAUGHTER

Lord Lu.

I hear the Duke's ailment has returned,

and none of the capital's finest physicians can cure him.

LU ZHUO, HEIR TO THE DUKE OF YING

I have some Dragon's Blood Wound-Healing Powder.

It's especially effective for chronic sores that refuse to heal.

The Duke fought on the battlefield for over 40 years.

My grandfather has always admired him greatly.

My family offers this medicine with no other intent

than to show our respect for the old hero's deeds and virtue

and do what little we can.

I hope you won't refuse it.

Jiede, take it.

Yes.

Please thank your grandfather for me.

When he recovers, I shall come by to

express my gratitude.

XIE HUALOU, GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE GRAND TUTOR

They say Lord Lu is stern and aloof, keeps everyone at a distance,

and avoids women in particular.

But from what I saw just now,

he was quite cordial to you.

Don't talk nonsense.

Lord Lu is already betrothed.

When it comes to family standing,

your grandfather is a renowned scholar who has served

as Grand Tutor to two emperors.

Your family's standing far surpasses that of the Wei family.

As for talent, you excel at music, weiqi, calligraphy, and painting,

and poetry and verse come effortlessly to you.

Yet I've never heard of any talent from that Lady Rao.

All she has is a reputation for beauty,

BITAO MAID AT EARL OF CHENG'AN'S RESIDENCE

but she is rarely seen publicly and is always kept hidden away.

Who knows whether the beauty is true?

And don't get me started on her birth mother.

Her conduct and character

-are the subject of endless gossip. -Enough.

Is it your place to say such things? Let's go.

Lady Wei, the other ladies are already waiting in the reception pavilion.

I'm feeling a little stifled.

I'd like to walk in the garden and clear my head.

When I was little,

I often came here with Grandmother to visit the Eldest Princess.

There's no need to show me the way.

Please inform the Eldest Princess

that I will arrive before the banquet begins.

Yes.

Weren't we supposed to enjoy the view at the waterside pavilion?

Why was it changed to here?

Her Highness said Diecui Pavilion offered a commanding view,

and the scenery would be even finer from up high.

Seize her.

What are you doing?

Who's the empty-headed beauty?

Whose birth mother is too shameful to mention?

And whose conduct and character are the subject of endless gossip?

Lady Wei, my maid spoke out of turn and offended you.

But she's blunt by nature and meant no harm.

What's the rush?

I haven't forgotten you.

You shameless wretch.

What a fine maid you've trained.

Lu Zhuo has been betrothed to me since childhood.

That makes him mine.

How dare you set your sights on him?

Shoucheng.

QI ZHONGKAI, SECOND SON OF THE MARQUIS OF PINGXI

I heard your fiancée is here today too.

You're about to leave for war.

Aren't you going to say goodbye to her?

-Mind your own business. -Come on.

Old Madam Wei guards Lady Wei Rao like the apple of her eye

and rarely lets her leave the house.

Everyone says she's a great beauty.

Just how beautiful is she?

Put more thought into your training.

Something's happened at Diecui Pavilion!

I'd sooner see anything that belongs to me

ground to dust than share even a fraction of it with anyone else.

Xie Hualou, how dare you compete with me?

-I didn't… -Do you have what it takes?

Lu Zhuo! What's going on?

How did she just fall from up there?

DIECUI PAVILION

My Lady, someone else is here.

What are we going to do?

Jiede, guard the garden entrance. Let no guests in or out.

-Yes. -Qi Zhongkai,

please fetch the Eldest Princess yourself.

All right.

Lord Lu, please…

Save me.

Please save me. Wei Rao is trying to kill me.

DIECUI PAVILION

My Lady…

Don't make a sound.

DIECUI PAVILION

Bitao!

Bitao!

How vicious of you!

Pingxiang!

-What exactly happened here? -Pingxiang!

Why are you two ladies not at the banquet

but lingering here at the secluded Diecui Pavilion?

And how did Lady Xie fall from up here?

Your Highness!

I happened to run into Lady Xie in the garden just now.

She warmly invited me to walk with her,

then complained the sun was too harsh.

So she suggested we rest in the pavilion.

Out of kindness, I sent my maid back to the carriage for some cooling balm.

But then,

she suddenly confessed to me that

she loves Lord Lu for long

and asked me to break off my engagement to him.

Embarrassed, I tried to leave,

but she was on her knees and begged me

to give up the engagement.

I tried repeatedly to reason with her,

but she turned malicious.

Thankfully, my loyal maid Bitao stepped in to protect me,

and Lady Xie lost her footing during the struggle.

My poor maid.

Her face…

Wei Rao, you're twisting the truth and making false accusations!

You pushed me!

Your Highness, Lord Lu,

my personal maid Pingxiang can testify for me.

Pingxiang!

-Pingxiang… -She's unconscious.

I'm afraid she can't testify for now.

Lady Xie,

does this gold hairpin belong to you?

If my two maids hadn't been so alert,

they came back halfway while feeling off,

I fear I might never have seen you again, Lord Lu.

To escape blame,

you've done nothing but lie and smear my name.

Have you no conscience at all?

To save my maid just now,

I fought to wrest the hairpin away, which is how I got this wound.

Please, think carefully.

This is the Eldest Princess's residence.

I have been strictly taught by my grandmother since childhood.

How could I possibly be so vicious and reckless?

And where would I find the nerve?

I have been wronged for no reason.

Your Highness, please see justice done!

Your Highness, please clear my name!

Lu Zhuo,

which one of these two beauties is telling the truth?

Lord Lu, what do you think?

Only the Xie and Wei families' servants were in the pavilion.

No outsider was here to serve as a witness.

Both sides now tell different stories,

so even Your Highness may find it difficult to judge.

Lady Xie has clearly suffered a terrible fright

and is in quite a disheveled state.

It may invite unwanted gossip.

Perhaps she should remain here for now,

freshen up, change her clothes,

and then be escorted home.

Lord Lu, that seems appropriate.

Well, escort your fiancée home first.

Thank you, Your Highness.

ELDEST PRINCESS QINGYUAN'S RESIDENCE

Recently, the Hutuo have been raiding our northern border,

leaving border families destitute and driven from their homes.

I volunteered to lead a campaign against them,

and the army will depart soon.

When I return, I'll come to your residence in person

to call off the marriage,

and end our engagement.

You want to break off?

I've seen countless corpses on the battlefield.

The cause of a blade wound can't be twisted by mere words.

Whether she attacked you first or you wounded yourself to frame her

can be determined by measuring the wound.

The wounds are distinctive in depth and shape.

The railing she fell from

and the way she landed can also provide clues.

Ultimately, the culprit

will have nowhere to hide.

I didn't do it.

Why do you trust an outsider over me?

Such a beautiful face.

Such flawless, delicate hands.

Yet the heart inside you

is more venomous than any snake or scorpion.

I didn't expose you in front of everyone

because I wouldn't tarnish your family's reputation

or let Uncle Wei's lifelong reputation be ruined by his own daughter.

That's right.

I pushed her.

Too bad fate wasn't on my side and you happened to catch her.

Back at Qiyang Pass,

my father carried your father out through a mountain of corpses,

only to suffer grievous wounds himself and bleed to death.

His death left me an orphan,

and now you want to break off our engagement?

In your dreams.

Your family owes me.

And so do you.

You say I'm as venomous as a snake?

How pitiful.

You are destined to share a bed with one,

and you'll never escape me for as long as you live.

Then just wait

and see how I end this engagement.

Lu Zhuo!

-Make way! -Check this out.

-Clear the road! -Sir, look at this!

Move aside!

You there, make way!

Trinkets!

Then just wait

and see how I end this engagement.

Come take a look!

Make way!

It stinks!

-My goodness. -It stinks!

Are you blind?

-Watch where you're going! -I was blind and careless

and offended Her Ladyship.

I'll clean it up at once.

Sir, don't go!

What rotten luck.

You fouled my lady's carriage.

You deserve to be taught a lesson!

-You ugly night-soil woman! -It was my fault.

Please have mercy.

It was my fault. Please have mercy.

Please have mercy.

-Please have mercy. -Give her 20 lashes. Let's go.

A-CHOU

That sickly consumptive woman

does nothing but bring me bad luck every day!

She's made me lose every last coin again!

Stop coughing! Hold it in!

Get out!

You ungrateful little wretch!

How dare you raise a hand against your own father?

You'll be struck by lightning one day!

A-Chou, you're back.

Don't mind your father.

Once he's had too much to drink, he stops acting human.

What happened?

What's happened to you?

You're covered in wounds.

Who did this to you?

Ma,

I hate this so much.

We were born never knowing a full belly or warm clothes.

We sleep at midnight and rise before dawn,

go door to door collecting swill,

scrub chamber pots, and wash clothes until our hands split open.

Why should we have to live like this?

It's my fault.

I brought you into a family trapped in such misery.

My good girl, who can refuse the fate they're born into?

I refuse!

Ma, I'm not some lowly pig or dog.

I'm a human being.

Just wait and see.

I won't spend my whole life as mud beneath people's feet.

If Heaven gives me so much as a single vine,

I'll cling to it with everything I have and climb upward no matter what it takes.

I'll get you treated

and make sure my younger siblings never go hungry or live in fear again.

I'll live like a real human being.

ZHAO

The Hutuo have invaded again,

but with Lord Lu commanding our forces,

we'll surely crush the enemy!

Victory! Victory!

Victory!

Victory!

Victory!

Victory!

Knowing how you feel,

the Dowager Lady made an exception and let you see him off.

When Lord Lu sees you,

he'll surely be overjoyed.

TRIUMPH TAVERN

Lord Lu will be victorious!

What are you looking at?

A vile shrew. Pay her no mind.

Victory!

Outside the Eldest Princess's Residence that day,

he could hardly bear to say goodbye.

He promised me he'd come to our residence

to propose once he returned to the capital.

That's wonderful news!

The Dowager Lady has been eagerly awaiting this day for so long.

I'd better hurry back and tell her,

Lady Guo, and Lady Heng'e.

We need to start preparing for the wedding.

Indeed.

I'll wait here in the capital for Lord Lu to return

so we can finally be married.

HENGCHENG GATE

Lu Zhuo,

you have no choice.

EARL OF CHENG'AN'S RESIDENCE, TWO MONTHS LATER

WEI RAO'S DOWRY LIST

GOLD, LANDS

CALLIGRAPHY AND PAINTINGS, SCROLLS, GOLD BRACELETS AND RINGS

Massaging this Hegu Point is good for your eyes.

I know you're a devoted granddaughter.

OLD MADAM WEI, MATRIARCH, EARL OF CHENG'AN'S RESIDENCE

Whenever my glaucoma flares up,

I get terrible headaches,

and everything becomes a blur.

But over the past month,

the pork liver and cangshu congee you've been sending me

WEI CHAN OLD MADAM WEI'S THIRD GRANDDAUGHTER

has helped a great deal.

Mother, these bowls and fruit plates

have such distinctive designs.

Your recommendation was excellent.

Silversmith Zhang's craftsmanship

certainly lives up to its reputation.

Ever since the girls were born,

we've been setting aside clothes, bedding, and dowries for them.

Yesterday, I had the treasury opened and drew up the dowry list.

I've always had a soft spot for Rao.

I simply couldn't bear to see her go,

so I took the liberty of adding a few more things.

That makes 128 loads of dowry in total.

Good. Very good.

Heng'e, take a look and see if anything's missing.

You're always so thorough, Yufeng.

This list couldn't be more complete.

Rao, look at what I've prepared for you.

Do you like it?

What a beautiful necklace!

I've been searching for two years and haven't found one of this quality.

Aunt Heng'e, why not give it to me?

Fine jewels for a beautiful lady.

Come. Let me put it on you.

They suit you perfectly. Beautiful.

Aunt Heng'e, you're so biased.

What? Is Rao your only niece,

and I'm just someone you found on the street?

Chan, mind your manners.

How can you compare yourself to Rao?

She's had so little love from her parents.

Naturally, I tend to favor her a little more.

When it's your turn to get married,

I'll have something special for you too.

Chan.

You're her older cousin.

Instead of showing your younger cousin some love and consideration,

you're getting jealous over a gift.

How can you be so petty and show so little sisterly affection?

Write out Lessons for Women ten times!

I wouldn't dare give away a gift from Aunt Heng'e.

I have another fine necklace in my room.

I'll have someone send it to you this afternoon.

Please don't upset Grandmother.

Who needs you pretending to be nice?

You're all so biased it's beyond belief!

I don't want your necklace!

Chan!

She's so childish.

Rao, don't take it to heart.

Pay her no mind.

As long as I'm here,

I'll see to it that you have a lavish dowry

and marry into the Lu family in grand style.

Thank you, Grandmother.

I'll go find Chan.

Rao is certainly the more sensible one.

Those two girls quarrel every time they meet.

I really don't know what to do with them.

They're actually very close.

LOTUS ROOM

Dowager Lady, the army has returned from its campaign against the Hutuo.

Is it?

-Did we win or lose? -We won! A great victory!

-Wonderful! -Excellent!

-Congratulations, Dowager Lady! -What wonderful news!

Wonderful!

Congratulations, Mother.

His Majesty will surely reward Lu Zhuo handsomely.

We won the battle,

but I've heard people around the capital saying

that Lord Lu may not survive.

What?

DUKE'S RESIDENCE

GENTLE AS A SOFT BREEZE

Within two weeks of reaching the frontier,

Lu Zhuo drove the main Hutuo army back north.

That night, he led 3,000 cavalrymen in a raid on the enemy camp.

But somehow, the Hutuo had been tipped off and laid a trap in advance.

DUKE OF YING

We fought desperately to break through,

DUCHESS OF YING

suffering heavy casualties.

Lu Zhuo!

Lu Zhuo was struck by a poisoned arrow.

Despite his injuries, he charged into the enemy ranks

and beheaded the Hutuo's Left Wudu Marquis,

Xiahou Xian.

Our commander was gravely wounded,

but the Hutuo were thrown into disarray.

Our troops' morale soared,

and we pressed home our advantage.

The Hutuo have surrendered and sought imperial recognition,

but my dear friend…

Quick! The medicine!

Physician Zhang, my son…

-Madam! -Stay calm.

You're Lu Zhuo's mother.

Everyone in this household is watching you.

You mustn't lose your composure.

Physician Zhang,

you once served as a military physician and have dealt with the Hutuo for decades.

I believe you're the only one who can save Lu Zhuo.

HE WANNIANG, WIFE OF THE DUKE OF YING'S ELDEST SON

Tell me honestly. Can he still be saved?

Your Grace,

this is a poison the Hutuo use for hunting.

Lord Lu has fought alongside you since he was 12.

He should have known how dangerous it was.

He should have returned to the capital immediately

to have the arrow removed, the infected flesh cut away,

and the poisoned blood drained with needles.

Then he might have survived.

But he returned far too late.

I'm afraid his chances of survival are slim.

Zhuo can still be saved.

I'll pray to the gods

and kneel at all 180 temples in the capital.

Even if I have to try every remedy there is,

I'll find a way to save him!

BEARING THE SUN'S RADIANCE

Mother was just instructing the servants to prepare gifts

so she could visit you at your residence.

But unexpectedly, you've come to see us first.

You didn't even send word ahead,

or we would have arranged a proper welcome.

Our families have been close for generations.

Once our two children are married,

we'll practically be one family.

Why bother with such formalities?

My dear, I've taken the liberty of coming here today for one reason alone.

It's about their marriage.

Our families had an understanding

that once Lu Zhuo returned victorious, we would hold the wedding.

I've already chosen an auspicious date.

The 12th day of the fifth month.

That's only five days away.

Your Grace, isn't that rather rushed?

Indeed.

For families of our standing,

preparing a girl for marriage can take three to five years.

My dear, there's no need to pretend you don't understand.

Wei Rao can afford to wait,

but my grandson cannot.

Lu Zhuo was wounded in battle and is now bedridden.

The priest from Zhaotai Shrine told me himself

that Wei Rao has an auspicious destiny

and is blessed with both fortune and wisdom.

If she marries him to bring him good fortune,

Lu Zhuo will surely pull through.

The wedding date was also chosen by the priest himself.

Let me make you a promise today.

As long as Wei Rao agrees to marry him,

whether Lu Zhuo wakes up or not,

our family will forever be indebted to her.

If my grandson isn't fortunate enough to have such a blessed wife,

she may choose any other young man in the Lu family

and marry whichever one she wishes.

If she insists on leaving the Lu family,

I'll give her an additional 10,000 liang for her dowry so she can remarry.

I understand now.

The Duke of Ying's family has loyally served our nation.

Lu Zhuo is a hero wounded in battle.

What I'm about to say may offend you,

but I have to say it.

Lu Zhuo is gravely ill, and no treatment has worked.

Everyone in the capital knows it.

This granddaughter of mine lost her father as a child.

And now you're forcing her to bear the stigma of widowhood so young.

You're practically sending her to her death!

Mother, please calm down.

There are ways to put this more tactfully.

We shouldn't damage the bond between our families.

I don't care about that now.

Your eldest grandson may be precious,

but that doesn't make my granddaughter expendable.

Back then, I had to bury my own son.

And now, you expect my granddaughter to marry Lu Zhuo

in hopes of curing him?

LOTUS ROOM

I simply cannot agree.

You lost your son, and that was a terrible tragedy.

But three of my four sons died, and the remaining one was left disabled.

Who can I turn to with my grief?

I blame neither Heaven nor anyone else.

Such is the fate of the men in my family.

But Lu Zhuo fought for our country and its people.

Without his courage on the front lines,

would your family enjoy peace and prosperity today?

To save my grandson's life,

even if I have to use my family's influence,

I'll make sure your granddaughter's bridal carriage enters our gates!

If there's any retribution,

even if I must endure thousands of cuts,

I'll bear it alone.

As for this marriage,

Old Madam Wei, you have no choice but to agree to it.

Reporting!

An attendant from Changle Palace

has arrived with an edict from the Empress Dowager.

Open the main gates.

Set up the incense table.

Follow me to receive the Empress Dowager's edict.

Well.

Rao, checking out your dowry?

Lady Chan, you can't just barge in.

-Lady Chan… -Can't I have a word with my cousin?

All these jade ornaments and gold bracelets,

yet you may never get to wear any of them.

Traditionally, a widow mourning her husband

must wear the coarsest hemp clothing

for three years.

Take my advice.

Pack plenty of coarse hemp for your wedding,

so you won't be caught unprepared.

What did you say?

Don't tell me you still haven't heard, Rao.

Lu Zhuo's injuries are beyond treatment.

He's at death's door.

Your bridal carriage may have barely entered his residence

before you find yourself a widow.

You pretend to be so dutiful and proper,

but you abuse your maids and commit all sorts of vile acts.

Only Grandmother falls for your act.

Like mother, like daughter.

Just look at you.

You were born to bring misfortune to your husband,

just like your birth mother.

As if brought death upon Second Uncle weren't enough,

she shamelessly chased wealth and status.

A vulgar woman through and through.

I never turned on you before

because you were still useful to me.

But you crossed me first this time.

What are you going to do?

Go get Grandmother and Mother!

-Show them her true colors! -Yes.

She's trying to kill me! Murderer!

BEGONIA COURT

Mother, don't worry.

-Sisters bicker all the time. -Hurry!

-Let's hurry. -It's nothing serious.

Grandmother!

What happened?

Grandmother!

Wei Rao's gone mad!

She's trying to kill your granddaughter!

What's gotten into you two?

Someone help!

-Help! -Help!

My Lady…

-Someone, please! -Get in here and save her!

Get her down!

What are you doing?

Get her down! Hurry!

Lower her! This is terrible!

Quick! Get her down!

Are you all right?

Rao, what were you thinking?

You foolish child.

What are you waiting for?

-Go get some water! Hurry! -Yes.

Here, drink slowly.

Have some water first.

You foolish girl.

What on earth has happened to you?

You could have told me.

I could have sought justice for you,

and your grandmother could have helped you!

Why would you resort to taking your own life?

Ma,

I only came to comfort her.

But when she heard she had to marry into the Lu family,

she suddenly turned on me

and started hitting and cursing me like a madwoman.

I'm her older cousin!

Grandmother!

Kneel.

Get on your knees!

You thoughtless girl.

Your grandmother kept it from her to protect the family.

How dare you blurt it out and upset her?

How utterly reckless and foolish!

You've caused so much trouble.

Hurry up and apologize.

Look what she did to me!

She's always putting on an act, pretending to be innocent,

and you all fall for it!

-Every single time, you take her side! -Enough!

Go and kneel in the ancestral hall for three days and nights.

No one is to bring her food!

Yes.

Everyone, leave us!

Rao… Rao…

Grandmother,

I've been ill-fated since childhood,

with no parents to love me and no brothers to rely on.

I've survived this long only because of you.

But Lu Zhuo is already at death's door.

If I marry him, I'll end up a widow.

People may start saying that the women of the Wei family

bring death to their husbands,

which will tarnish our family's name and my cousins' reputations.

I… I'd be better off dead!

Rao! Rao…

Rao…

Ma,

my second brother loved Rao more than anyone when he was alive.

She's his only child.

What does it matter how noble the Lu family is?

If they want to be heroes,

let them do it themselves!

Why drag innocent Rao into this?

Besides,

Rao's birth mother already has such a reputation…

You be quiet too!

Never mention that woman to me again!

If I had any other choice,

do you think I'd sacrifice Rao?

But the Duke's family has outmaneuvered us.

They've secured an edict from the Empress Dowager.

Do you expect me to openly defy it

and send our entire family to the scaffold?

An edict from the Empress Dowager?

Rao, for the sake of our household

and the safety of the entire Wei family,

you should forget you ever had me as your grandmother!

Ma…

Grandmother…

Ma, please save Rao!

Grandmother!

Ma!

I can't count on Grandmother anymore.

Aunt Heng'e, you've always cared for me the most.

Will you help me?

How?

Aunt Heng'e, I don't want to be a widow.

Rao,

don't worry.

Even if I have to search the entire capital,

I'll find someone to marry in your place.

‎NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED ‎IN THE MAKING OF THIS SHOW