Original subtitles

‎SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

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

Help!

Help!

Somebody!

Is anyone there? Help!

-Put out the fire! -Help!

-Hurry! -Help!

-Put out the fire! -Help!

Hurry!

Hurry! Hurry!

BOOK PAVILION

Put out the fire!

Hurry!

-Hurry! -Come on!

Hurry!

Over here! Hurry!

-Grandmother. -This…

If you still see me as your grandmother,

-then shut your mouth right now. -Over here!

Hurry up!

Hurry! Break that lock!

-Get her out! -Quick!

This way!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Why are there two Lady Raos?

You may all leave.

I was just about to tell you, Grandmother.

I was foolish and stubborn.

I tried to take my own life before the wedding.

Aunt Heng'e felt sorry for me.

She feared forcing me to marry into the Lu family

would only lead to disaster.

So she went to great lengths to find this woman to take my place.

It was only meant to be temporary.

But Aunt Heng'e kept trying to persuade me and made me see what was at stake.

Only then did I realize my terrible mistake.

I deeply regretted it.

I'd long wanted to go to the Duke's Residence and beg forgiveness.

Mother, don't blame her.

It was me. I didn't let her go.

Lord Lu was still ill,

and the Lu family was in turmoil.

If they learned the truth,

instead of bringing Lord Lu luck, it might cost his life.

That would've been a grave sin, Mother.

When we heard Lord Lu had recovered,

I was overjoyed.

I planned to secretly switch back during this visit.

But this woman wanted the wealth and status of the Lu family.

She threatened to tell everyone the whole truth.

I had no choice but to lock her up.

Humiliated and furious, she started hurling vile accusations,

threatening to ruin the Wei family's name!

I panicked, so I…

Grandmother, I was wrong. I was wrong.

Every word is a lie!

An orphan girl has no right to threaten a noble lady.

You were clearly trying to burn me alive!

Mother.

A life was at stake. How could you dare?

You knew about this too?

I was too timid to tell you.

Fine.

So you all pulled off this whole deception,

and I was the only one kept in the dark.

Do you have any respect for me at all?

Mother, we're family.

No matter how badly we've erred, we share one fate.

If one falls, we all suffer.

Lord Lu is here right now.

If he hears even a word of this,

there'll be serious trouble.

For the Wei family's century-old good name,

this must not get out.

Yes. The Wei family's good name comes first.

Mother can punish me however you want later.

But this woman cannot live.

Keeping her alive will only bring disaster.

Mother, you're too merciful to do it.

Then let me do it for you.

Grandmother! Please!

Save me! Please!

Drag her out, now!

My Lord!

My Lord!

Why the panic? Where is Rao?

My Lady suddenly felt dizzy in the garden.

I couldn't support her by myself, so I hurried back for help.

Dowager Lady!

Dowager Lady.

I'm just a helpless orphan with no family, power, or status.

The Wei family paid me 50,000 coins to marry Lord Lu for luck,

and spend my life widowed in Lady Rao's place.

We agreed that from then on, fate would decide my life,

and the Wei family would stay out of it.

But Lord Lu survived.

So they changed their minds.

They tricked me here and tried to kill me to keep me quiet.

Dowager Lady, Lady Rao and I may share a face,

but we're nothing alike in personalities or bearing.

BOOK PAVILION

Lord Lu is far too perceptive.

He and I became a couple.

We've spent every day and night together.

How could he not know the difference?

You… You've already shared his bed?

That's impossible!

Lu Zhuo only just recovered from a grave illness.

No matter how anxious the Duchess may be,

would she really let her grandson be intimate with a woman so soon?

To save herself, she'd tell any outrageous lie!

Don't believe her. Don't!

Newlyweds are always inseparable.

We'll be living closely as husband and wife.

How many moles I have on my body…

How could my own husband not know?

Shameless!

Grandmother, she became Lady Wei Rao and Lord Lu's wife.

Then what about me? Who am I supposed to be?

I won't even be able to show my face in public again.

You've always loved me most.

Can you really bear to see me ruined for life, Grandmother?

I was wrong. I know I was wrong. I don't want her dead anymore.

I only want to take back my rightful place.

If Lu Zhuo really finds out, I'll go confess myself.

I'll kneel and beg the Lu family.

They're a noble and distinguished family.

Would they really rather have a woman who emptied chamber pots than me?

She gave up more than just her husband.

She even gave away the name her own father gave her.

How is Rao supposed to live, Mother?

Mother, you've always treasured Rao above all else.

You've cherished her for 18 years.

Can you really bear to make her hide for the rest of her life,

never able to show her face again?

You showed no fear when plotting this.

And when you tried to silence me, you didn't hesitate for a second.

From beginning to end,

you showed the Dowager Lady no respect at all.

Dowager Lady, you know right from wrong.

You can clearly see who's right and who's wrong.

I'm only an orphan asking you to do what's best and give me justice.

You… All of you… This…

Dowager Lady! Dowager Lady!

For some reason, Lord Lu is heading straight for the back garden.

Grandmother, please grant Rao this one wish.

From now on, I'll obey your every word and never defy you again.

I'll devote myself to my husband

and be a worthy principal wife of the Duke's Residence.

I'll never make you worry or feel disappointed again.

Mother, my brother is watching from heaven.

He's watching how the Wei family treats his own daughter.

Have you forgotten the vow you made?

You swore to protect, cherish, and dote on her,

and never let her suffer the slightest wrong. Mother…

Mother, decide quickly.

We can't delay any longer.

Take her away.

My Lord, all the guests came to see you.

The others are manageable,

but those nobles are proving quite difficult.

Please join us in the reception pavilion

-and spare His Lordship the trouble. -I can't go right now.

Give my apologies to your lord.

If you don't come, I won't know what to tell His Lordship.

Lord Lu! Lord Lu!

My Lord!

He seems to be heading toward the Book Pavilion.

What's wrong?

I felt very dizzy just now.

I went to rest against a tree

and came across a little green snake.

I'm fine now.

-I'll take you to Begonia Court. -No.

I'm not going.

Grandmother cares for me most.

I don't want to frighten her.

I'll head back first.

Bitao, come help me.

My Lord.

Tell Old Madam Wei

I'm feeling unwell and have returned to the Duke's Residence to rest.

-I'll visit again another day. -Yes.

Let's go.

Let go of me!

Let me go!

-Let go! -Lady Rao!

Lady Rao, calm down!

-Let me go! -Lady Rao.

Let go!

-You may all leave. -Rao.

Quick, come untie her.

-Rao. -You're not my grandmother!

What are you doing?

-All these years, -Rao!

you kept saying you loved me most!

-Lies! All lies! -Rao!

-Calm down! -If you truly loved me,

you wouldn't let some impostor take my place,

then turn around and tie up your own granddaughter!

-Rao. -How can you be so heartless?

Take her away.

Stop.

What's done can't be undone.

This is fate.

Whoever went through the wedding that day

is the daughter married out of the Wei Residence

and my own granddaughter.

If anyone else dares say otherwise,

they'll be cast out of the Wei family!

-Mother! -Grandmother!

-Grandmother! -Mother!

Wei Rao, clean yourself up.

Go see your husband.

Dowager Lady, I'll never forget

your great kindness.

Please return the golden hairpin.

Rao.

How can you speak to Grandmother like that?

Am I wrong?

All these years,

you kept me locked up like a prisoner

just because you hated my mother.

You hated that she remarried right after Father died.

Because of you,

I couldn't see Mother growing up or have anything to do with her family.

Your precious treasure?

I was nothing but a little dog you kept.

You must hate me, don't you?

Even looking at me must hurt, right?

Yet you still had to raise me and treat me well.

Otherwise, you'd have failed your son who died so young!

Rao, that's enough!

You're afraid people will call you heartless.

Rao!

You're afraid they'll condemn you behind your back.

It's all an act. You're a hypocrite!

Stop it!

Mother!

Please, stop.

Rao, are you all right?

Stop it.

I struck a nerve, didn't I?

You sided with an outsider against your own granddaughter.

Father won't rest in peace after seeing this.

I curse you.

-I hate you! -Rao!

Will you please stop?

Enough!

Stop breaking your grandmother's heart!

Mother.

Please don't blame her for feeling betrayed.

But I don't understand either.

Why would you do this?

I spoiled you too much.

I indulged you until you forgot your place.

You keep calling her a chamber-pot woman,

but the truth is…

You're nowhere near as clever as she is.

Do you know what she told me in this room?

Rao, get up. Please, get up. The floor is cold.

You…

You…

I'm not really Lady Wei Rao.

My name is A-Chou.

I'm just a servant who empties chamber pots on the streets.

They found me to marry into the Lu family in Lady Rao's place.

What…

A… A substitute bride?

How could they do something so reckless?

Absurd. Absolutely absurd…

Dowager Lady, please don't upset yourself.

I come from a humble background.

I'm no one of importance.

But even the lowliest creature clings to life. I only want to live.

Dowager Lady.

The marriage between our families was arranged by the Empress Dowager.

If this secret gets out,

the Duke of Ying and Earl of Cheng'an's families

will become bitter enemies.

The Wei family will be guilty of deceiving His Majesty.

It's a crime that can never be pardoned.

If we don't want the whole family executed,

this secret must stay buried.

Not a word can get out.

So I dared to secure myself some protection.

Protection?

I hid a silk handkerchief among Lord Lu's belongings.

It explains in detail how I became the substitute bride.

If she dies in the Wei Residence today,

the Duke's Residence will send men tomorrow to demand answers.

Sending a lowly servant as a substitute bride

is an insult to the Lu family

and a grave offense against the Imperial Family!

The entire household will die with you.

They'll come demanding answers!

I was wrong about her!

That wretched woman is far more cunning than I thought!

Enough!

You kept indulging her reckless behavior

and nearly got the entire family killed!

Are you satisfied now?

Mother.

She won't reveal the secret, will she?

She's a clever girl.

And she acts decisively.

Didn't the servants say so?

She even managed to fool Lu Zhuo.

As long as you don't push her too far,

she won't risk her own life.

Grandmother only cares about the family.

But what about my future?

There can only be one Lady Wei Rao,

and she is the principal wife of the Duke's Residence.

What you gave away with your own hands

wasn't just your status as the Wei family's cherished daughter.

You also gave away a powerful, high-ranking husband,

and all the wealth and honor

you would've enjoyed for the rest of your life!

It's fate.

Fate.

I don't want to accept it, but I have no choice.

And you…

You…

Mother, have mercy!

Please leave your own granddaughter some way to live! Mother!

We could say she came from Yizhou,

from the Dowager Lady's maternal family.

Since she looks so much like Lady Rao,

she brought the Dowager Lady comfort,

so the Dowager Lady took her as a god-granddaughter.

As long as we keep the servants in line,

there shouldn't be any trouble.

I lost my head and said things that hurt you, Grandmother.

I was wrong.

I know I was wrong!

I truly know I was wrong!

Mother! Mother!

Mother.

Never forget the lesson you learned today.

Stay in your room and reflect on what you've done.

Don't cause any more trouble.

Mother…

DUKE'S RESIDENCE

You may all leave.

Why don't you burn incense anymore?

Before you were married, you used an incense burner in your room,

and even scented your clothes.

I heard you even had a special incense cage made for your bedding

and wouldn't sleep until the bedding was fully scented.

Yet since marrying into my family,

I haven't seen you use one even once.

He's suspicious.

Back home, I was very particular and never settled for less.

But now I'm married, and you've been ill.

How could I care about makeup, perfume, or incense?

Besides, incense often contains medicinal herbs.

I feared it might interfere with your medicine.

So I stopped using it.

Is your hand better?

Physician Zhao worked wonders. It's much better.

Qi Zhongkai.

He's the second son of the Marquis of Pingxi.

We've always been close.

He heard I'd recovered and wants to hold a banquet for me.

I've been feeling exhausted.

I can't be bothered with all that ceremony.

Write back and politely decline for me.

What's wrong?

I'm not sure what rank Lord Qi holds or how I should address him.

He's General of Ningshuo.

But when we write to each other, I address him by his courtesy name.

Shunqin.

Go ahead.

My Lord.

My Lord, the Dowager Lady heard you were back.

She wants you to see her at once.

No rush.

SHUN

Judging by her old handwriting,

she must've been hot-tempered, narrow-minded, and impulsive.

SHUNQIN

Her strokes are softer now, and lack some strength.

Similar, but not quite.

But her right hand was injured before.

My Lord.

You are a noble lady who grew up in comfort.

Why do you have calluses

and so many scars on your hands?

Why won't you answer me?

What secret are you hiding from me?

If you're still hiding anything,

I won't forgive you.

Why must you press me so hard?

Don't you know my family background?

My father's family isn't my only family.

There's also my mother's family, scorned by society.

My maternal grandmother is Lady Shou'an, His Majesty's former wet nurse.

My own mother…

She…

Grandmother doesn't want me seeing my mother's family.

But Lady Shou'an is my maternal grandmother.

How could I not be close to her?

She was born a farm girl and often grew homesick and depressed.

His Majesty granted her an estate and farmland outside the capital.

With my wedding approaching,

I didn't know when I'd see her again.

So I often visited her behind Grandmother's back.

I helped her raise silkworms and weave cloth.

Sometimes I'd even help with farm work.

As for these scars…

I was just being a busybody.

You…

My Lady knew you weren't sleeping well,

so she dried the herbs herself

and stitched this herbal pillow by hand.

That's how My Lady's hands ended up with so many cuts.

Stop right there.

What else do you need, My Lord?

Never mind. Leave it here.

The herbs need to be dried again every three days.

Bring it back after I've replaced them.

Bring me a bamboo basket.

People don't change their true nature.

No matter how beautiful this woman is or how well she hides it,

never forget how vicious and cruel she was when she killed.

Don't be fooled by a beautiful monster in a pretty disguise.

Do not disturb His Lordship while he's reading.

Bitao, thank you for bringing Lord Lu.

You got me out of a desperate situation.

It was your quick thinking, My Lady,

that got you safely out of the Wei Residence.

You even thought of Lady Rao's old scar on her hand.

I have something important to show you.

This…

This is my indenture contract.

BITAO'S INDENTURE CONTRACT

When I was in the room,

I told Old Madam Wei everything.

To appease me, she asked what I wanted.

So I asked her for this.

This is what masters use to keep servants under their control.

My Lady, are you really willing to give it to me?

BITAO

There.

No one can control you with that contract anymore.

Get up.

SUBSTITUTION BRIDE, A DEFIED DECREE THE HANDKERCHIEF STANDS AS PROOF

My Lady, you know how to read?

People from all walks of life lived in our tenement.

Literate storytellers,

aging courtesans, concubines and illegitimate sons

cast out after the master of the house died.

I begged each one of them.

Some kind souls would teach me a thing or two.

With no pen or ink, I wrote with twigs in sand.

After ten years, I learned to read most things.

To keep anyone from finding out,

I'd already practiced copying Lady Rao's handwriting.

After all that, My Lady, you finally made it through.

Silly girl.

Even if Old Madam Wei lets me stay,

Lady Wei Rao won't let this go.

Lu Zhuo despises me,

and the Lu family is a powerful clan with too many eyes and ears.

One wrong move, and if anyone sees through me,

I'll be the first to lose my head.

Then what will you do, My Lady?

No matter what,

I have to secure my place

in the Lu family.

Madam.

It seems you've won her trust.

The fastest way to gain someone's trust

is to share a secret that dare not see the light.

It's a shame about Governess Wu.

Why pity such a fool?

You handled this very well.

What should I do next?

Please instruct me, Madam.

Just stay by her side and do nothing.

When I need you,

I'll make the arrangements.

No matter what,

I'll help you.

I've found out everything.

The Dowager Lady has trouble chewing and loves golden osmanthus.

These osmanthus cakes you made are sure to please her.

Rao.

Have you lost your mind too?

Why bow to that vicious woman?

What?

Have you gone mad, Changning?

How dare you insult me!

A noble lady who won't even greet her elder sister-in-law,

but calls her a vicious woman to her face?

Either you've suddenly gone mad, or no one ever taught you manners.

Changhui seems perfectly well-mannered.

So the problem must be you.

You vicious witch!

Pretty on the outside, but rotten to the core!

You were jealous of Hualou's beauty and talent,

so you shoved her down, and nearly killed her!

Keep shouting, and I'll tell Grandmother and Aunt.

Then let's see how you survive in the Lu family.

Sister, please stop.

Why would I push her for no reason?

Wasn't it because Hualou had feelings for our cousin?

-Shh… -So you got jealous and tried to kill her!

So Lady Xie has feelings for my husband.

Wei Rao!

-My Lady! -Rao!

-Wei Rao! Let go! -Rao!

Wei Rao, let go!

Wei Rao!

Watch out!

Lu Changning.

Your behavior is disgraceful.

Go copy the family rules 100 times!

Brother!

You're still defending that vicious woman?

She clearly tried to hurt Hualou!

I'm punishing you for your disrespect and forgetting your place.

Go kneel in the ancestral hall for two more hours.

Brother!

Anyone who dares plead for her can kneel with her!

You vicious fraud!

Sooner or later, I'll expose you for what you are!

What are you looking for?

-Your fox tail. -Shunqin.

Enough with the fooling around.

Weren't we here to talk business?

Come over here now.

We're all family here. No need to send the ladies away.

Sister-in-law, join us.

These are all for me?

Everything you picked at the shop yesterday.

I had them delivered.

Thank you, My Lord.

And thank you, General Qi, for bringing them yourself.

Everything's arranged?

Don't worry.

I recovered so quickly thanks to Rao's devoted care.

The Qixi Festival is in two days.

The streets will be lively.

I'll take you out.

Grandmother ordered it. I can't disobey.

You should get ready too.

I'm glad you care, My Lord.

They should die! All of them!

Rao!

Rao!

Let me see.

Did you hurt yourself?

Aunt Heng'e, you have to help me.

You want me to get you out?

What are you planning?

Grandmother thinks if she keeps me locked up,

there's nothing I can do?

Unless that wretch hides in the Duke's Residence forever,

the moment she steps out,

I'll send her right back where she came from!

SEVENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH

Doesn't this puppet look like Lu Zhuo?

Looks like you.

I know this area well.

See? That fire performer isn't even a tenth as good as me.

There's a shop ahead with delicious festival pastries.

QIXI FESTIVAL PASTRY

Miss, take a look. Which ones would you like?

I'll wrap them up for you.

They look so fresh.

They were all made today.

This one and this one.

Of course.

Here you are, Miss.

Tonight, let me wish you good fortune.

May these festival pastries bless you with even greater wit and skill.

Thank you, General Qi.

What are you dawdling for?

Aren't you going to toss the fortune needle?

It's just ahead.

Zhuo, don't you have something important to do?

Go take care of it.

Keep an eye on her.

Come take a look.

Fresh festival pastries.

-Come take a look. -You're not Wei Rao at all.

Lu Zhuo went to war at 13.

What would he know about telling women apart?

But I grew up with 15 or 16 female cousins.

I can spot your flaws easily.

I'm listening.

A pampered beauty like her has snow-white skin.

But you…

Your eyes may be beautiful, but your complexion gives you away.

The real Wei Rao has arched brows and piercing eyes,

the look of someone proud and headstrong.

Your eyes are lively and sharp,

the look of someone clever and cunning.

The real Wei Rao moves with delicate grace.

But your steps are firm and steady.

You're clearly not the same person.

Then look at my hand. How is it different from hers?

What are you doing?

My husband considers you a trusted comrade, a sworn brother.

Yet while he's away, you dare speak so rudely to his wife!

You're not the only one who can read faces.

I can too!

Your eyes are deep-set and hollow, your brows slant and your eyes leer.

You have the hungry stare of a lecher!

So you're a shameless scoundrel,

two-faced and treacherous, trading honor for a woman's favor.

How lecherous!

How dare you stare at your sister-in-law's figure?

Have you no shame?

You even dare flirt with your sister-in-law?

Absolutely shameless!

Nonsense! I'm this handsome. How are my brows and eyes crooked?

You…

Help! Someone's been killed on East Street!

Murder! Call the authorities!

Just as expected.

Lord Lu is injured. I need to help him.

Protect Lady Lu.

Retreat! Hurry!

I've waited long enough for you.

Where do you think you're going?

Where is she?

Didn't I tell you to watch her?

Search over there.

My Lady, they're gone.

Qi Zhongkai is trouble too.

I'll have to be even more careful when dealing with him.

Come take a look!

Beautiful floating lanterns!

My Lady, look.

People are making wishes with lanterns over there.

-Come take a look! -What a lively scene.

Floating lanterns! Come see!

-Bravo! -Bravo!

He's spitting fire!

One more!

-Bravo! -Bravo!

-Bravo! -Bravo!

Nothing for me here.

Sure!

Heaven above, please keep Mother and Hongxian safe.

Move! Get out of my way!

-Move! -Hurry!

-My Lady! -Everyone down there, get out!

Who is that?

Move!

Get out!

Move, now!

Lady Rao! Lady Rao!

-You can't do this! -How dare you betray me!

Bitao!

Grab that wretched woman!

Aren't you so clever?

Don't you always have a trick up your sleeve?

You even fooled Grandmother into believing you

and locking me inside.

You thought you could replace me

and become the daughter-in-law of the Duke's Residence?

Dream on!

If Lu Zhuo learns the wife he married

is nothing but a filthy, lowborn chamber-pot woman,

he'll be sick to death!

You fraud, stealing another woman's place! Heaven made you lowborn.

You should've known your place and stayed in the gutter your whole life!

You tried to steal a life that was never yours.

This is what you get!

Die! Just die!

She's not breathing.

Look! What's happening over there?

What happened?

Did someone fall into the water?

Lady Rao!

Hurry! Hurry!

Quick!

-Over there! -Hurry up!

Hurry!

Someone save her!

You're noble! You're so important!

Heaven gave you so much,

yet you threw it all away!

Now you want it back?

You don't get to have it both ways!

Want to see who wins?

Me, who grew up fighting through the gutter,

or you, who grew up surrounded by luxury?

Let's see which of us is harder to kill!

Help! Somebody help!

-My Lady! -By the river!

-My Lord! -Somebody help!

-My Lord! -Murder!

My Lord! Help! My Lord!

My Lady!

Don't say a word.

If he finds out, we're both dead.

-Over there. -Be careful!

Come on! Catch that!

Here! Can you reach it?

Grab on!

Careful.

Come on!

My Lady.

What happened?

M-My Lady was here releasing a lantern and praying

when she was attacked by robbers.

They weren't satisfied with stealing her valuables.

They tried to abduct My Lady too.

But when they heard you were coming, they got scared and fled.

Have the city guards search the entire city. Let's get back first.

You're still injured. Let me.

Clear the way!

Make way! Make way!

‎NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED ‎IN THE MAKING OF THIS SHOW