Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by 🧵Team 7️⃣ Needles & Threads🧵 @ Viki.com

[Weaving a Tale of Love]

[Episode 5]

There is no one for me to find.

I also understand clearly and won't bother those unrelated people.

Father!

Where did you guys go?

Father, you know the answer. Where else can Mother and I go?

Of course, it was to help at Uncle's shop.

Husband, why did you come back so early today?

This is? [Shan Hu]

This little miss got lost.

Little Miss, I don't know the place you're asking.

Go ask the others. Don't stand in front of our house anymore.

I won't bother you, Sir.

♫ The world in April will be at its fullest ♫

Come on. Let's go home.

♫ The mountain temple is in full bloom ♫

Come.

♫ Don't know how it has turn this way ♫ [Western market]

Good, Good.

Good, Great!

- That's not expensive. - It is too expensive.

[Ruyi Resist Dye Shop] Come, take a look!

Come, take a look!

Try one!l

Mother!

Quickly come here!

Quickly!

Liuli.

♫ When I'm next to you ♫

♫ In the middle of the night the moon worries ♫

Mother, I want to eat the osmanthus cake that you make.

Well, Mother will go make it for you when we go back.

I also want many, many osmanthus candies.

Yes, whatever you want.

Let’s go back now.

♫ These emotions ripples through like water flowing forever ♫

♫ Just like holding your face as my deep love brims tears at my eye ♫

Comes this way, please.

♫ I hope I’m your shining star ♫

♫ Like the silk cotton tree swaying ♫

♫ in the evening breeze is romantic ♫

♫ My thoughts are silent ♫

♫ but with a sigh it becomes waves ♫

♫ It's hard to return to the past, ♫

♫ but we can use the paper from agarwood tree to write a poem letter ♫

♫ As the drizzle rain complains to the brokenhearted ♫

Little Miss likes this fabric?

Uncle.

This fabric is refined.

So beautiful but also practical.

It's truly a rare piece.

Customer has a good eye. This fabric—

This fabric is woven using my younger sister's unique method

and dyeing technique.

In this world, only Ruyi's family can do this.

Looking at young miss's face, I see some Hu people's features.

You and my younger sister really look—

I was rude.

I heard that the Number One Needle in the World Attire expert An and Ruyi's family

have a strong connection.

I bet this fabric is made by Attire Expert An.

So that the Number one needle in the world is shopkeeper's sister.

I should have been more respectful.

Little Miss, you are so young but know a lot.

My sister passed 11 years ago.

I didn't expect anyone would remember her.

You are so thoughtful, why not sit inside for a while?

I'll let the cashier bring out more of my sister's fabric.

Please, Customer look at it.

Then thank you Shopkeeper.

Please.

Mother, where are you?

Wu family's wedding dress is so beautiful.

Mother, can you make one for me?

When Liuli grows up and is about to marry someone, then I'll make you one.

Mother, I'm already grown up, I want it now.

Wait till Liuli is as tall as Mother

I will sew one for you.

All right?

Good!

Then Mother, you come here.

Then I'll mark mother's height here

so that I will grow up to Mother's height.

Mother, you need to carry me.

Come here.

Mother, I've already grown tall.

I've grown up. You've said

you would make a wedding gown for me.

Mother, you can't keep your promise.

[A'Ni]

Customer, what is the matter?

I suddenly remember that I have something else I need to attend to.

I need to leave now, and will return another day.

Customer, the fabric is here.

See them first before you go.

- Shopkeeper. - Where’s the customer from before?

Customer just went, quickly run, I'm afraid she's—

Good!

Good!

Good!

That was realy good.

That's amazing.

Right, it was amazing.

What is this one?

Amazing!

Come! Come!

This is all done!

Here take a look.

Liuli!

Liuli!

Uncle.

♫ Watching the flowers bloom and fall in the courtyard ♫

♫ How many loves, regrets, entangelments, separations, reunions must we go through together ♫

♫ Uncover the vicious cycle of the past ♫

♫ Fate has its uncertainties ♫

♫ I've spent this life with brush and ink in hand ♫

It's really you.

You’re still alive.

♫ To exchange for the certainty of a promise ♫

My Liuli is still alive.

You're still alive.

♫ The more twists, the deeper it is ♫

♫ Breaking up and making up is like an illusion ♫

♫ Resembles a traveler traveling through this life ♫

♫ Time ignores everything including obsession ♫

You are taller than your mother now.

So good. Very good.

Go, come home with me.

Why?

Liuli already died 11 years ago.

I am just a guilty woman's daughter who is sneaking to stay alive.

Even my father won't acknowledge me.

I know Uncle is good to me.

But I can't hurt Uncle because of this.

You are a young girl. How can Uncle be at least to let you wander outside by yourself?

Back then, I promised your mother

to let you go to the Wu Manor.

Because of that, I've regretted it for 11 years.

No matter what, I cannot let you leave by yourself again.

Then, Uncle must promise me not to tell anyone my true identity.

I don't want to hurt Uncle.

Yes, I'll do what you say.

Other than me and A'Ni,

no one else will know your identity.

All right.

Go, come home with me.

♫ There are too many bumpy roads along the way ♫

♫ The more twists, the deeper it is ♫

♫ Breaking up and making up is like an illusion ♫

♫ A bright moon that makes one's heart tingle ♫

This is how I've lived for the past 11 eleven years.

But, Foster Father and Xiao Shunzi are really good to me.

They take care of me, pamper me,

and never let me suffer.

Ever since you and your mother were arrested and taken to the palace,

I tried all kinds of ways to find news about you.

Unexpectedly, the news that came was

that you and your mother had both died.

Liuli, from now on, just stay contented here by Uncle's side.

As long as we don't tell anyone, no one can guess who you are.

Uncle, I want to go to Xizhou.

Xizhou?

Mother told me before she passed.

She grew up in Xizhou when she was young.

That's the most carefree place in the world.

The road to Xizhou is dangerous.

How can you, a young girl, go by yourself?

Besides, you don't have a permit to cross borders.

I don't think you can move around easily.

How about this then? Wait patiently for a month or two.

Wait for me to organize a caravan and take you to Xizhou.

Thank you, Uncle.

Right now, you should be renamed Yu'er.

Yu'er?

Work as a painter at my shop for now.

Live with A'Ni. Are you willing?

I am also by myself.

Luckily, Master and Madam like me and accepted me as a disciple.

Ever since I started learning the craft, I have long admired Attire Expert An.

I was so lucky as to meet Yu'er today.

Yu'er, if you don't mind, then come stay with me at my place.

This is more than I could ask.

Young Master, this is Young Master Pei.

I am Pei Xingjian. Recently,

I chatted a little with your servant.

We finally meet today. I wonder, what is Young Master's name?

I am the ninth one in the family. People call me Ninth Young Master.

Attendant, bring the best wine and dishes.

Sure.

Young Master Pei, please sit.

Young Master Pei, your poem shows a brilliant style.

Embedding the bottom phrase into the poem is especially ingenious and elicits much admiration for you.

Ninth Young Master overly praises me. That couplet is but a simple skill.

It was because your top phrase blocking my writing a poem,

I didn't want to ruin your refined interest,

so I thought of a way to satisfy both of us.

Too bad that I didn't come here today to praise you.

Please advise me.

I came for Young Master Pei's long poem.

You hid a criticism in the poem against Great Tang's imperial exam system.

Every line and every word was full of ridicule.

You even publicly wrote the poem on the sheet fabric in Drunken Fragrance Tower.

Could it be that... you aren't afraid of the authorities to question you?

This could be a punishable crime.

You mean, Ninth Young Master is from the authorities?

Are you afraid?

I wrote that poem in Drunken Frangrance Tower

precisely because I don't want to be the only one awake among all the drunken people.

I want people to critique it.

If the authorities will intervene,

then more people will pay attention to it.

This way, it can motivate the push for reforming the imperial exam system.

If this can be done, it will be what I wish for.

Why would I be afraid then?

What is your opinion about the imperial exam system? I would like to hear your thoughts.

During the Great Tang's imperial exams, the candidates write their names on their exam papers without being covered.

When the judges evaluate and score the exams, they cannot maintain impartiality.

The candidates' fame and the family's power

can influence the judges' decision-making.

This is how corruption starts.

All the major colleges are completedly controled by noble families and renowned clans.

Collusion among the accepted students also naturally occur as a result.

To maintain fairness and impartiality, they can simply seal the names on the exams.

That's the first solution. Secondly,

The Classics Comprehension section is mainly testing on Confucian classics.

First is the written test, then the oral test. Ten questions on the classics. Three questions on state affairs.

All of these only need to be memorized.

So all the ones who succeed in the exam only study by rote and lack creativity.

By contrast, the Imperial Scholar section mainly tests on poetry and politics.

The successful ones must possess both talent and diligence.

There is a sying: Classics Comprehension at the age of 30 is old, but becoming an Imperial Scholar at 50 is young.

This is the reason why.

Therefore, put less emphasis on Classics Comprehension, and put more emphasis on Imperial Scholars.

This is the correct direction to reform the imperial examination system.

Excellent!

Good wine and good wishes are here!

Customers, please enjoy.

A thoughsand cups are enough when you meet a confidant. I want to drink heartily with you today.

We won't finish till we're drunk.

I'm very sorry. There is suddenly an urgent matter at home, and I have to immediately go back.

We will meet again five days later, still at this place, to merrily drink

and talk about current affairs. Alright?

Attire Expert Zhuo! Attire Expert Zhuo!

Shopkeeper

Where is Xiao Douzi?

Why are there only one person?

It's been over two days from the transfer date ordered by the Directorate of Eunuchs.

I don't go rush him, it's so that he won't get too proud.

Does he really think the Bureau of Imperial Attire care about him?

If it weren't for me, he would have already been kicked out of the palace.

How could he still be staying in the palace?

Now that I sent people to remind him,

he is still putting on airs?

Replying to Master,

Physician Dou... Physician Dou has disappeared.

What did you say?

Sun Decheng said, the day he received the transfer order from the Directorate of Eunuchs,

he told Physician Dou to come to the Bureau of Imperial Attire to report to duty.

But Physician Dou didn't seem willing,

and argued with him.

He got really drunk and was never seen again.

Sun Decheng and the people at the Courtyard of Misfortune couldn't find him.

So they thought he was upset with those at the Courtyard of Misfortunate

and had already reported to duty at the Bureau of Imperial Attire.

What kind of nonsense is that?

I think Sun Decheng is regretting and doesn't want to let his person go.

I asked around a little. A few days ago,

the people at the Courtyard of Misfortunate were indeed making an uproar searching for Xiao Douzi all night.

It doesn't seem to be faked.

Sun Decheng asked me to tell Master

that, as soon as he gets news about Physician Dou, he would let him come to the Bureau of Imperial Attire.

He also asked Master to apply strict discipline for him.

[Memorial Tablet for Attire Expert An]

Attire Expert An,

all that I can do now

is to drag the time as much as possible

so that Liuli can leave Chang'an soon to stay safe.

The life outside the palace

will be relying on Liuli herself.

Attire Expert An's spirit in Heaven,

please protect Liuli

so that she can live a peaceful and happy life,

and not to follow your old path.

[Hall of Immortal Nectar]

If something bad happens to His Majesty, what will happen to us?

Don't cry. Even if you want to cry, you can't cry here.

It will be a severe offense.

Eunuch Gao!

Why did His Highness suddenly cough out blood when he has been in good condition?

A few days ago, His Majesty already felt pressure and pain in his chest,

but he wouldn't let the servants spread the news.

This servant couldn't help it, so I dispatched someone to quietly tell the crown prince.

The crown prince has been staying by His Majesty's bed chamber and hasn't left at all.

Early this morning, His Majesty suddenly coughed blood.

The crown prince ordered Imperial Physician Zong to treat His Majesty.

All noble ladies, please stay calm.

All noble ladies, the imperial physician has repeatedly reminded us

that His Majesty needs to rest in quiet.

Everyone, please go back.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, Your Majesty.

Why didn't you tell me that you're like this?

I am fine.

I just didn't want all of you to worry, so that's why I didn't tell.

This son and subordinate greets Your Majesty.

Greetings, Crown Prince.

Eunuch Gao, please wait.

[Hall of Immortal Nectar]

According to palace rules, any of the concubines who had not had children,

after His Majesty reaches 100 years (T/N: euphamism for death)

will be sent to Ganye Temple.

I wonder, does this palace rule ever had an exception?

This rule was established from ancestral times.

There is no exception.

But there is always an exception for everything.

Man will conquer nature. Isn't that the saying?

[Hall of Immortal Nectar]

I sincerely ask that Your Majesty allow me to stay

to serve you for the crown prince.

Your Majesty, Ming'er is feeling sorry for his imperial brother

and is afraid that Crown Prince will be too tired,

that's why he wants to substitute the crown prince to serve Your Majesty

so that the crown prince can take a rest.

Mother, you are wrong.

This son and subordinate is concerned about His Majesty's safety.

Forteenth Younger Brother, what do you mean by that?

Your Majesty has been ingesting elixir pills daily in recent years,

to seek better health and long life.

The Daoist master who refined the elixir pills said,

the pills that Your Majesty has taken

can be negatively affected by alcohol

and similar filthy things.

His Highness, Crown Prince, has an elegant hobby.

He enjoys to drink and write poetry with the literati and intellectuals.

I even heard that His Highness recently frequented Drunken the Frangrance Tower outside the palace.

This son and subordinate has quit drinking alcohol for over a year for Your Highness's sake.

To ensure the safety and health of your sacred body,

I sincerely plea that Your Majesty allow me to substitute the crown prince

to serve by Your Majesty's bedside.

Zhi'er, Min'er, you both can step down for now.

It's enough to have my beloved consort to stay by me.

Uncle, after praying to Buddha, I'd like to go find someone at Simen College.

Simen College is closed today for exams.

It's best that you go there another day to find this person.

After we pray to Buddha, I'll tell A'Ni to take you to a place that you'll definitely like.

I recognize that. It used to be a small temple,

but it wasn't called Da Ci'en Temple.

It's good that you still remember.

Eleven years ago, it was indeed a small temple.

Later, to commemorate his mother, Empress Wende, the crown prince

establislhed this Ci'en Temple here.

Buddhist Master Xuanzhuan, who had returned from his journey to the west, is personally in charge.

It is now the most popular temple in Chang'an.

So, is the original statue of Buddha still inside?

Yes, yes. The Buddha here is most wonderously effective.

Shouyue.

Shouyue, you are so hard to invite.

It seems that you don't give respect to me, the son of the Duke of Hedong,

but give respect to the Buddhist Master at Ci'en Temple, right? [Pei Ruzhuo]

Shouyue greets Young Lord

and greets everyone else here.

Zilong greets Elder Brother Shouyue.

Please. [Pei Yan]

Please.

I'm going to ask for a cup of tea from the Buddhist master in residence,

and also contribute some incense money.

Da Ci'en Temple has an excellent scenery. You can stroll around.

Just don't go far.

Thank you, Uncle.

So strange. Nowadays the Hu women don't hustle for customers in the Western Market

but come to the temp to examine portraits.

Could it be that the society is really change?

So strange. Nowdays the noble son doesn't discuss the people's welfare,

but to dicuss a woman's private affairs.

Thie society has really changed.

My Lord, My Lord, you've met your match.

What a fierce talking Hu woman!

You've offended this lord, how dare you just leave?

What you said before, do you dare to say it again?

I've offended you. Farewell.

Stop right there!

Shouyue, are you taking a pity on a precioius female?

It's such a nice spring day, why bother to get annoyed with such miscellaneous matters?

Let's all go to find the Buddhist Master. It's more important to drink tea.

We're in no hurry to drink tea.

Weren't you so sharp just now?

What, you simply say you've offended and want to leave?

Are you afraid?

I wonder what else you have to say.

You, a Hu woman, while no one else was around,

You are writing on the walls.

Are you trying to steal the famous masters' work?

That's right.

Good that you admit. Thiefs should be convicted of crimes. What else do you have to say?

I originally thought you were a learned noble son.

I didn't expect to be mistaken.

- So you are actually illiterate? - What did you say?

You are illiterate, so you obviously have not practiced calligraphy by copying.

Otherwise, when you practiced calligraphy by copying, you became a thief too.

Impudent! How does a Hu slut

dare to be rude to the son of Duke of Hedong!

So what you're the son of the Duke of Hedong?

I may be a Hu woman, but I'm not a slut.

You keep talking about Hu sluts, do you know who is being commemorated in this Da Ci'en Temple?

And for whom the temple was built?

Please excuse me for not staying arouond.

I came to the Da Ci'en Temple today

for carry out my master's order. I don't dare to delay.

Excuse me not being able to stay with Your Excellecy and other others to continue our amusement.

- I bid farewell. - You...!

Buddha, everyone says you protect good people.

My mother is the best and kindest person in the world.

Now, my mother is in trouble.

I'm very worried about Mother, and I'm also very afraid.

I don't know if the future is

fortunate or disastrous. Buddha, please show a sign.

Buddha, I have no other wish,

but only worry that Foster Father and Xiao Shunzi will be drag into trouble for me in the palace.

I wonder if they will be able to stay safe.

Buddha, please show a sign.

Young lady, you've got a stick, why not take a look?

Eleven years ago, Buddha gave me a good stick,

but I was happy for nothing.

Therefore, it's fine that I don't get a stick.

Young lady, you don't understand. Praying for a stick or asking for fortunetelling

is not what this Budda's specialty.

He is most miraculous in wishing for luck for one's father.

Wishing for luck for father?

Yes, as long as you name your father's name

in front of the Buddha,

tell Buddha where he lives,

Buddha will bless your father

to be safe, healthy, and not encounter illness or calamity.

Buddha, please protect Kufi Yanzhong in the Chonghua Neighborhood.

Protect my father to be healthy and safe, not have illness or calamity,

and happy for his whole life.

How is it? Have you found out?

Sir, rest assured. Just now at the temple,

I already found out everything about that Hu woman's background.

Come, come.

[Hall of Immortal Nectar]

Fourteenth Younger Brother, please stop.

Your Highness, Crown Prince, do you need anything from me?

I heard that your manor lately has been quite lively, so many people like in a market.

Your are assembling many students from the Imperial Academy and the Chongwen Hall

as guests at your manor. Is this true?

That's true. But I didn't invite those people.

It's because they heard that Crown Prince intends to reform Great Tang's imperial exam system, they are worried.

That's why they rushed to come to my manor.

The current imperial exam system has many problems.

That's why reform must be implemented soon.

The Imperial Academy and Chongwen Hall are the highest institues of education in Great Tang.

Their students are either aristocrats or nobles.

If this continues, how will Great Tang be able to select the truly talented people?

Doesn't Fourteenth Younger Brother understand?

Your Highness, Crown Prince, whatever you said, I do understand.

But do you know

our Li family is Great Tang's highnest aristocratic clan.

To protect the privileges of the aristocrats and nobles,

it's the same as safeguarding the Li family and our dynasty.

Fourteenth Younger Brother, you are young, but how can you be so narrow-minded and obstinate?

The imperial exam system favors the aristricarts and the nobles. It will harm them instead of help them.

Your Highness, Crown Prince,

is the one person who has the least qualified person in the world to say this.

Why aren't I qualified?

The reason that Your Highness became the crown prince, the heir to Great Tang's throne,

it isn't because Your Highness possess outstanding talents and meritorious achievements.

It's only because you are His Majesty's son. Furthermore, regarding talents,

you are probably not the most outstanding among all the imperial princes.

The reason that you are the crown prince,

it's because you are the biological son of the late Empress.

That's why you received favortism from His Majesty.

Your Highness is the one who is the biggest beneficiary

of receiving gains without hard work.

How can you turn it around to criticize me for favoring the aristicrats and the nobles

and blocked the future of the sons of lowly families?

I didn't expect that Fourteenth Younger Brother

to view His Majesty this way,

and to view me this way.

Just turn the corner up ahead, you'll be there.

This is it.

[An Residence]

Come.

[Harmony Brings Luck]

I remember it now.

When I was young, Mother brou;ght me here.

A'Ni, I'll have to trouble you for a few days.

This was the An family's old home.

To really talk about it, you are the true owner.

I am the one who borrows it to stay.

It's my luck to live with you.

Go, let's go inside.

This old home is now my dressmaking studio.

That's the bedroom there. We'll sleep there from now on.

Liuli, you can rest assured in staying here.

If you need anything, just tell me. I'll get them for you.

A'Ni, can you loan me some money?

I am penniless now.

It's inconvenient to go outside.

I'm so muddled. I should have thought of it already.

Liuli, go ahead and take these coins.

I don't need so many!

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by 🧵Team 7️⃣ Needles & Threads🧵 @ Viki.com

♫ Watching the flowers bloom and fall in the courtyard ♫

♫ How many loves, regrets, entanglements, separations, reunions must we go through together ♫

♫ Uncover the vicious cycle of the past ♫

♫ Fate has its uncertainties ♫

♫ I've spent this life with brush and ink in hand ♫

♫ Writing about what love is ♫

♫ Borrow from the relentless of the night ♫

♫ To exchange for the certainty of a promise ♫

♫ There are too many bumpy roads along the way ♫

♫ The more twists, the deeper it is ♫

♫ Breaking up and making up is like an illusion ♫

♫ Resembles a traveler traveling through this life ♫

♫ Time ignores everything including obsession ♫

♫ With the candlelight flickering indefinitely ♫

♫ After the fire, there was only one thing left ♫

♫ A bright moon that makes one's heart tingle ♫

♫ After the fire, there was only one thing left ♫

♫ A bright moon that makes one's heart tingle ♫