Original subtitles

‎SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

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

My Lady, you've been gone so long.

I've come to welcome you home.

What's so urgent?

The silkworm house has been fully thatched.

We're all waiting for you to return.

By custom, the owner must be the first to enter a newly built house.

Look out!

Protect Her Ladyship!

Go! Now!

Your Ladyship, you promised me.

You said you'd forgiven me.

I haven't. I hold grudges.

You have to keep being good to me.

You have to stay by my side.

Only then will I forgive you.

Bitao…

You've suffered so much, My Lady.

So much.

Your adoptive mother, your birth mother, and the Wei family.

They've all been so cruel to you.

And so have I.

For my own selfish reasons, I betrayed you.

No, you didn't, Bitao.

You're different. You're not like them.

Those people never treated us as human.

Every time I saw you win, it felt so, so good.

Don't look back. Keep climbing.

Fight your way to the top.

Everyone who's mocked you will one day grovel at your feet.

I will.

No one can stand in your way.

I can't bear to go.

I wanted to see it for myself.

To see your future…

-Your future… -I'll make it happen. I will.

Bitao…

Bitao.

Bitao!

Bitao.

Bitao.

-Bitao… -Rao!

-My lady. -Bitao!

Your Ladyship.

Bitao!

Bitao!

ZHUYU ESTATE

My Lady, you've been gone so long.

I've come to welcome you home.

Bitao!

Wei Rao, you're awake.

Those bandits…

-Have they been caught? -We caught them all.

We used severe measures. They confessed as bandits from the South Mountain

who had come seeking revenge.

I've sent men to escort the Fourth Prince back to the palace.

As for your maid,

I've had someone arrange her funeral.

Thank you, General Qi.

Wei Rao, in fact…

General Qi, I'd like some time alone.

I'll leave you, then.

If you need anything, let me know.

You two may leave too.

‎ADORNED WITH AUTUMN'S FRAGRANCE

HERITAGE PRESERVED, GOODNESS PROCLAIMED

Has Her Ladyship stayed in her room all this time?

She won't come out or see any visitors.

FLOURISHING LIKE THE PINES

You saw it yourself.

She even turned away Lady Li's people.

No matter what we say, she refuses to see anyone.

What do we do?

I'll make her want to come out of that room.

Hurry!

At this time of year, there's plenty to do on the estate.

-How can you hide in here, lazing about? -Grandmother, what brings you here?

Come on! We'll be too late!

-Where are we going? Too late for what? -Come along. Follow me.

-The fields need work in winter too. -Take it slow.

Before the snow comes,

you must plow this entire stretch of land nice and deep.

Cover the vegetable beds and wheat rows with straw.

The tools have been used all year,

-so get them repaired too. -Turn the soil over there again.

-What's real hardship? -All right.

Let's go.

An empty stomach. That's hardship.

Give the people

a decent year and a good harvest,

and they'll have smiles on their faces.

There are over a thousand mouths to feed

in and around this estate.

Just spend a few days

working in the fields.

-I guarantee you have no time to be sad. -Those lands are done.

Food and land are our real lifeblood.

Over here.

Come.

This is hard physical work.

Can you manage it?

I've done all kinds of backbreaking work, but I've never worked the fields.

We used to be too poor to own any land.

But I promise you, Grandmother,

I'll work hard.

-Good. Get to work. -We're not done yet.

Here, give it to me.

-Bring the ox over! -Let's move.

All right!

This is good soil.

Turn it over again.

Lady Shou'an.

Lord Lu, what brings you here?

Have your wounds healed?

I happened to be passing by.

-Thanks to Imperial Physician Liu, -Turn it over again.

I'm much better now.

Come.

This one?

Give me a hand.

You shouldn't be doing this.

Let me help.

No, leading the ox is easy enough.

If you really want to help,

go plow the field.

All right.

Give it to me.

I wouldn't dare trouble you, My Lord.

Afraid my wounds haven't healed?

-What's this? -Hold it steady.

-All right. -Are you worried about me?

Put it here.

Since you're so eager to help, you can handle the plow.

I've seen others drive the ox and plow at the same time.

With your martial skills,

a little task like this should be no challenge.

I'm flattered.

I won't disappoint you.

Surely you know the field must be cleared before plowing, right?

I'll leave the weeds and stones for you to clear away.

Bring me a basket.

I really am getting old.

I'll leave you two to it.

Work hard. No slacking.

Come.

Grandmother…

Over here.

Come.

Be careful.

Turn the soil over here again!

Some more?

Come.

Coming!

Careful!

Be careful.

Did you ask Grandmother to come?

Lu Zhuo, you said it yourself that our marriage was a mistake.

The sooner we ended it, the better.

I've changed my mind.

You're going back on your word?

Back then, I risked my life to clear obstacles for you.

You swore you'd repay my kindness.

Now you've turned your back on me.

Who's really going back on their word?

You…

AS THE SUN RISES

You must be exhausted.

Now I really understand why you don't like Lu Zhuo.

While you were there, he worked so hard at plowing.

The moment you left, he found an excuse and slipped away.

My poor old back nearly broke.

You don't believe me?

Lu Zhuo is stubborn and keeps his word.

He wouldn't leave a job half done.

You're just teasing him.

That's right!

He really did work hard.

He plowed the field and harrowed it too.

Anyone watching would have taken him for one of our tenant farmers.

Come.

Look.

Where did you find such an adorable puppy?

Lord Lu gave it to me.

Of course it's adorable.

How could you accept a gift from him?

You know perfectly well…

I don't know anything.

I just know that a young man gave me this lovely little dog.

Besides, he gave it to me, not you.

What's bothering you?

So you'd sell out your own granddaughter for a puppy?

Never.

Even a mountain of gold wouldn't be worth as much as you.

As for Lord Lu,

don't let him sweet-talk you into getting back together with him.

What's so great about presiding over the Lu household?

If you ask me, if you want to marry again,

take a husband into your own household.

Choose someone young and handsome.

Wouldn't that be 100 times better

than marrying into some great noble family?

I'm in no mood to think about that.

Then what are you thinking about?

Revenge?

You know?

Anyone with eyes can see it.

But don't even think about it.

She may lack virtue and intelligence and be narrow-minded and despicable,

but she belongs to the Han clan.

So does the Empress Dowager.

For that reason alone,

His Majesty would never depose the Empress.

My child,

I know you've suffered so many wrongs.

But for now, you mustn't think of revenge.

Promise me, will you?

I'll do as you say.

ZHUYU ESTATE

Lord Lu, that was thoughtful of you.

Thank you for coming to Xianzhuang to let me know.

You're wise and worldly, Lady Shou'an. Wei Rao respects you deeply.

Only you can talk sense into her.

I should be thanking you.

I'm not so sure.

Ever since childhood,

Rao has endured hardship and faced so much scorn.

Naturally, she's learned to hide her feelings.

I'm afraid she'll say one thing and do another.

I'll keep an eye on her.

Lord Lu, have you really thought this through?

This won't be an easy path.

You may have nothing to show for it.

Turn back while you still can.

I wanted to turn back too.

But I struggled with it for so long.

I finally realized

I could no longer turn back.

Luckily, I never leave things half done.

However difficult this path may be, I'll follow it to the end.

Very well.

Take good care of her.

Thank you, Grandmother.

I'll remember it.

My Lady, Lady Li urgently summoned you to the palace.

I wonder what she wants.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Noble Lady Wu'an, you're in quite a hurry.

Where are you going?

Your Majesty, Lady Li has summoned me.

-I'm on my way… -Never mind who summoned you.

Palace rules dictate that all titled ladies visiting the palace

must first pay their respects to Her Majesty.

I'm unfamiliar with palace rules.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

Perhaps you don't realize how strict our palace rules are.

Even a maid who accidentally drops a jade cup

must have her nose, lips, and tongue cut off.

Entering without paying your respects to me

shows grave disrespect to the imperial family.

Tell me, how should I punish you?

I know you've suffered so many wrongs.

But for now, you mustn't think of revenge.

I've been rash and ignorant.

Please show mercy, Your Majesty.

Back then,

you were so glib before the Empress Dowager

with all your clever arguments.

At the tournament, you humiliated me in front of everyone

by refusing to marry.

How smug and arrogant you were.

What's this?

One maid dies, and you're scared out of your wits?

Since you're young and ignorant of the rules,

your maid can take your punishment.

Have mercy, Your Majesty! I was wrong!

Have mercy, Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty… -How dare you look Her Majesty in the eye!

Servants are punished for their masters' mistakes.

Even His Majesty couldn't accuse me of being harsh.

Noble Lady Wu'an,

wouldn't you agree?

I alone am at fault.

My maid knew no better.

Please, Your Majesty, punish me and spare her.

So you do know how to act obediently.

You're much more perceptive than your mother.

Never forget how lowly you are.

Know your place, and you'll live longer.

ZHAOYANG PALACE

My mother is worried about you.

She wants you to stay with her in Luoyang for a while.

The capital may be prosperous, but its scenery is no match for Luoyang's.

SPLENDID AS BLOSSOMS

If you leave now, you'll still be in time for the Peony Festival.

Everyone in the city, young and old, will put flowers in their hair.

Music will fill ancient temples and grand homes.

It'll be far more peaceful and pleasant than here.

I wish I could go with you.

Rao,

I'll have Shuo escort you.

Would you like that?

There's something I want to ask Your Ladyship.

Since you entered the palace,

you've spent over a decade striving for power.

Don't you want to be Empress?

-Rao… -The one standing in your way

is the Empress Dowager.

The Empress is the Empress Dowager's niece.

Though she's jealous of others' talents and unfit for her position,

she's protected by the Empress Dowager and the Han clan.

Filial piety is the foundation of our rule.

His Majesty cannot defy the Empress Dowager,

so the Empress's position is unassailable.

Apart from the Empress,

the other powerful consorts are Lady Zheng and Lady Wang.

DEW AND BLOSSOMS

Lady Zheng's father and brother have both served as Grand Commandant.

Her family is illustrious and highly respected.

Her son,

Prince Duan, Liu Shou, can wield both the pen and the sword.

Compared with the Empress's adopted son, Prince Jing,

he has greater support among court officials.

His Majesty particularly favors him.

AUSPICIOUS DAYS, JOYOUS GATHERINGS

The Wang family is wealthier than any other.

When Lady Wang entered the palace,

she gave His Majesty ten copper mines.

She spent a billion coins on gifts to her servants alone.

Her son, Prince Fu, Liu Ding,

is seeking a wife whose family can bolster his position.

The Empress has the Empress Dowager's backing.

Lady Zheng and Lady Wang have either noble lineage or vast wealth,

and their sons are highly capable.

None of them is easy to contend with.

-I don't want you dragged into this. -But I already am.

Is my sister here?

I want to see her.

Your…

-Rao! -You promised me, Your Ladyship,

that I'd never be wronged again.

She was only a maid.

If you want, I can give you a hundred or a thousand more.

But you mustn't put yourself in danger.

In your eyes,

she was just a lowly maid.

But she was the one

who stayed with me through my most uncertain and difficult days.

To me,

she was closer than you,

my own birth mother.

Do you still hate me?

Mother.

Mother.

It's getting late. Rao shouldn't stay in the palace too long.

I'll escort her out.

Tomorrow, you'll escort your grandmother and your sister to Luoyang.

I'm not going anywhere.

I'm staying in the capital!

Is it really wise to stay here?

Wei Rao, stop right there!

I'll settle this score sooner or later.

She'll only complicate things by staying.

Go persuade her.

Make sure she leaves the capital soon.

Rao.

BAIHU HALL

Rao.

Rao, you shouldn't have argued with Mother.

She only wants what's best for you.

Your Highness,

look at my maid's face before you say that.

Must I really hide in the countryside near Luoyang

just to escape this danger?

If you're angry, take it out on me.

-As for Shou's meals and daily routine… -How can you blame Mother?

That's no way to show filial piety!

You've always been the one who's enjoyed Mother's love.

I've never had any of it.

Rao?

You aren't the one facing blades and arrows.

No wonder you make it sound so easy.

Even if you're jealous,

you shouldn't make a scene in public and damage Mother's reputation.

You're coming with me. I won't let you get away with this. Come!

-Liu Shuo! -Come on!

Let go of me!

-Rao! -Go check on her.

Rao!

Come on. Careful.

Are you hurt?

Liu Shuo, how dare you!

No wonder His Majesty is always scolding you for being rash.

This is disgraceful.

I'll be sure to tell His Majesty and have you properly punished.

My dear,

you can't leave the palace looking like this.

People will talk.

Why don't you come to my chambers and tidy yourself up?

Then I'll have your cousin escort you home.

Come on.

DEW AND BLOSSOMS

Of all His Majesty's children,

Liu Shuo is the most unruly.

He's like a wild horse,

with no talent for letters or arms.

His Majesty has admonished him time and again,

but he never changes.

You are a forgiving girl.

Don't hold it against him.

He and I were born of the same mother,

yet my cousin Shu cares for me more.

I thought that once I found my birth mother,

I'd have someone to protect me.

I never imagined she'd refuse to stand up for me too.

Perhaps Lady Li has her reasons.

Your cousin has told me the whole story of your birth.

What I don't understand is,

are wealth and power really worth so much?

How could a mother bear to see her own daughter

treated so cruelly?

She's far too heartless.

If I had a sweet, lovely daughter like you,

why, I could never love her enough.

I could only dream of having one.

From now on,

if anyone wrongs you, come straight to my chambers.

I can at least offer you some comfort.

DUKE'S RESIDENCE

Careful.

My Lord.

You must be tired.

-Take care. -See you next time.

Who was visiting?

Someone from the Qi family, the Marquis of Pingxi's household.

Fresh vegetables!

Please make way.

Get your fresh greens!

-Here you are, sir. -Thanks.

What? He really went?

Of course. Plenty of people saw him.

Good!

Good!

BENEVOLENCE SPREADS FAR AND WIDE

What's made you so happy, Grandmother?

You're beaming.

Wanniang, tell your dear son why the Qi family came to visit.

The Marquis of Pingxi wishes to marry

Noble Lady Wu'an on Zhongkai's behalf.

Out of respect for the long friendship between our families,

they came to sound us out first.

What?

Don't worry. Actually…

Actually, they were worrying over nothing.

Lu Zhuo is so magnanimous.

Even if Wei Rao marries General Qi, he'll have no objection.

After all, one is the ex-wife of an convenience marriage just to bring luck.

The other is a brother-in-arms who's faced death alongside him.

If they tie the knot…

Did you agree to it too, Grandmother?

As long as Wei Rao is willing,

even Lady Li would have no objection.

Who am I, an outsider, to have a say?

Zhuo! Lu Zhuo!

Where are you going?

Mother, why must you tease him?

When the Qi family came to sound us out, didn't you send them away?

You never agreed to anything.

He acts so hard-hearted and stubborn in public,

then secretly goes and plows her fields.

Even kept it from his own family.

Look how anxious he is now.

Serves him right!

Bravo!

THE FRAGRANT ORCHID

You may all leave.

CAISHU HALL

Why have they stopped?

Even the finest performance is pointless if no one appreciates it.

Wei Rao, what's troubling you that you can't tell me?

A lowly night-soil woman is now Noble Lady Wu'an,

with a generous stipend and a fief.

It's what so many people dream of.

What more could I want?

Wei Rao,

I want to marry you.

You…

I know, to protect yourself,

you've had to keep both Lu Zhuo and me on your side.

I'm happy to help you,

but I wish I have met you earlier.

Alone at midnight,

I used to lie awake, thinking over and over.

If you truly loved each other and were truly husband and wife,

however much it hurt,

I could hide my feelings.

But he actually let you go.

Clearly, you meant nothing to him.

Only then, I feel I can confess what is in my heart.

General Qi, you don't really know me.

Before I met you, I didn't even know myself.

I foolishly pictured my future wife,

hoping she'd be gentle, virtuous, poised, and gracious.

But once I met you,

I can no longer picture her as anyone else.

What if I say no?

If you say yes, I'll do everything I can to keep you safe.

If you say no,

it means I haven't done enough.

I'll try a hundred, even a thousand times harder.

Even when my hair turns gray and my teeth loosen with age,

I'll be waiting for you to say yes.

FLOURISHING LIKE THE PINES

Rao,

the proprieties come before everything.

Even I have to bow to them.

You must do the same.

Never forget how lowly you are.

Know your place, and you'll live longer.

The proprieties?

I know nothing of them.

All I know is debts must be paid, and murderers must die.

She holds human life so cheap.

She's unfit to be Empress.

However high she sits as Empress,

I'll drag her down from her throne.

It's Jinzi.

It's running all over the place again.

Bring it here.

Yes.

Come out!

Jinzi!

CAISHU HALL

Jinzi?

Jinzi?

Come out, you wretched dog!

What's wrong?

That stupid, filthy dog ran off with my earring.

Go catch it.

Lord Lu gave that dog to Her Ladyship.

She adores it.

How can you…?

Don't use Her Ladyship's name to pressure me.

All of you, go look for the dog.

Catch that dog right now!

That wretched dog.

Gejin!

Come out, you wretched dog!

Jinzi!

How dare you sneak in here so late at night?

What?

Qi Zhongkai can visit, but I can't?

How dare you!

Guards!

Everyone knows Lord Lu is honorable and upright,

a true gentleman.

Yet you sneaked into a lady's chamber at night.

Aren't you afraid it'll ruin your reputation?

Why are you laughing? Have you lost your mind?

Go ahead. Call everyone here.

Let the whole world know

Noble Lady Wu'an and her former husband are having a midnight tryst.

-You…! -Your Ladyship!

Your Ladyship!

Your Ladyship!

Your Ladyship, where's the intruder?

It's night, and the candlelight is dim.

My eyes played tricks on me.

I mistook a tree's shadow for a person.

All is well. You may leave.

-Yes. -Yes.

Lu Zhuo, why won't you leave me alone?

I've come to talk to Your Ladyship about a deal.

What kind of deal?

The Empress schemed to force you into marriage

and killed your beloved maid.

Knowing you, you must hate her bitterly

and be desperate for revenge.

Go on.

Han Liao conspired with the Huta.

He leaked military secrets,

nearly killing me and costing me soldiers and officers.

I won't rest until he's dead.

If the Han clan is our common enemy,

why shouldn't we work together?

Qi Zhongkai can't help you achieve what you want.

He still answers to his father and elder brother.

Neither in the Marquis of Pingxi's household nor in the army

does he have the final say.

I'm different.

In all the world,

I'm the only one who knows what you want.

And I'm the only one

who can help you get it,

Wei Rao.

Why?

Don't hesitate any longer.

I have everything you want.

If you need me, just come to me.

I'd do it gladly.

You came all this way just to tell me that?

I had to.

I was afraid someone would offer you a little favor,

and you'd run off with him.

There.

It's your turn to choose.

Do I even have a choice?

Where on earth is it hiding?

That wretched dog.

Chilan.

Have you found Jinzi?

Chilan!

Gejin.

What's wrong? You look so pale.

I'm fine. I'm just terrified of the dark.

Have you seen Jinzi?

I thought I heard Jinzi just now.

But then it was gone again.

Right.

Gejin.

Jinzi!

Jinzi?

How do you propose we form this alliance?

You're fickle and cast people aside once they've served their purpose.

I can't trust you, unless…

Unless what?

Unless we remarry and become husband and wife again.

Then you'll have to prove

what you're capable of first.

Where's Chilan?

Oh, that girl. The day's just started,

and she's already off somewhere shirking her duties.

She's not like that.

You needn't attend to me.

Go and look for Chilan.

-Yes. -Yes.

I'll go at once.

I remember giving you a gold necklace set with sapphires.

Later, when you pawned your jewelry,

you picked out that piece and returned it to me.

I thought perhaps you didn't like it.

So I had a finer one made for you.

See if you like this one.

General Qi, the truth is…

If you're going to turn it down, please don't say it.

If you want a husband to join your household,

I have an elder brother,

so marrying into your family would be no problem.

Lu Zhuo is the Duke's heir, though.

Can he do that?

Such groveling, General Qi.

Aren't you afraid your father will die of anger?

I knew you'd be scheming behind my back again.

Your Ladyship, don't fall for his tricks.

He's been like this since childhood.

Now, he seems modest and easygoing,

but behind closed doors, he's full of tricks and schemes.

Behind closed doors?

As if you haven't played your share of tricks.

I'm honest and aboveboard.

What tricks have I played?

Do you think Wei Rao is that shallow?

You're one to talk.

Don't think I don't know you've been watching her,

trying to win her over by staying close.

You can't hide it from me.

Your Ladyship!

Your Ladyship, something terrible has happened.

Her Ladyship is here.

Chilan!

Chilan…

What happened?

Someone fetching water found her in the river this morning.

She may have slipped and fallen in.

Pull her out of the way.

Chilan!

Nothing between her fingers.

-No sand or waterweeds. -Nothing in her mouth either.

What does that mean?

If she'd been alive when she fell in, she would have struggled,

and there'd usually be weeds or sand lodged between her fingers.

Unless…

Unless someone threw her into the river after she was dead.

What happened here?

Who did this?

Who could've done this?

Without my permission, no one here is to leave.

How could this happen?

Who did this?

-How could she end up here? -Right.

It's Jinzi.

What's wrong?

That silly girl lost the jade bracelet Your Ladyship gave her.

She cried all last night.

How embarrassing.

Here.

This is to replace it. Don't cry.

Thank you, Your Ladyship.

It belonged to Chilan.

Why is it near the cellar?

Bring me all the workers who've been digging the cellar over the past ten days.

-Yes. -Yes.

I'm innocent, My Lord!

It was you?

It wasn't me.

It really wasn't me!

I'm innocent, My Lord!

How dare he?

How could anyone do such a thing?

How could he commit such an murder?

How could he do that?

Lu Zhuo, I leave this man to you.

Whatever methods you use,

before sunset today,

I want to know why he killed Chilan, who'd done nothing wrong.

There's no need to wait till sunset.

-He was nice fellow, but why? -Indeed.

-I'll have your answer within an hour. -How could he do such a thing?

‎NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED ‎IN THE MAKING OF THIS SHOW