Original subtitles

♫ Wearing peach blossom makeup, I boil tea over the stove ♫

♫ With a pure heart, I embroider the brocade of time ♫

♫ On the short paper, affection flows in the silent moonlight ♫

♫ I only wish that by my side, is my love ♫

♫ Cool autumn wind blowing, I gaze far leaning against the railing ♫

♫ Sunset glow over the green hill, in formation wild geese are flying ♫

♫ Covering a thousand miles on horseback, for whom is he longing ♫

♫ He returned home in dreams ♫

♫ I will never forget that you held my hands ♫

♫ In your warm palms, we braved winds and waves ♫

♫ Unexpectedly, after we traveled so far and turned grey-haired ♫

♫ I am still by your side ♫

♫ Hearts burning, we look into each other's eyes ♫

♫ Feelings overflowing, they don't need to be hid ♫

♫ No matter how time passes and life changes ♫

♫ Together, we will grow old ♫

[The Sword and the Brocade]

[Episode 40]

This wine smells so good.

Here is another toast to you.

Now that I'm thinking back,

late Her Ladyship

carried so much clout at home.

Pitiful concubines like me

don't matter to His Lordship.

Madam, there are things you don't know.

You only saw the apparent clout

of late Her Ladyship.

You have no idea how miserable she actually was.

What do you mean?

His Lordship respected her so much.

Even though he took

her maid Biyu as his concubine,

he barely visited Biyu to protect

her feelings.

There's another level of truth

to the Biyu situation.

What level of truth?

Back in the day

when late Her Ladyship was pregnant with Zhun,

she couldn't bed His Lordship.

She wanted to stay in His Lordship's favor,

so she made Biyu his concubine.

I see.

By the way, Madam, I'm only telling you this.

Don't let any outsider know.

Rest easy.

I'll keep this secret.

But

it makes me wonder.

His Lordship

didn't even regard Qiao Lianfang highly

who comes from a predominant family.

Why would he fancy Biyu?

Biyu refused

to be his concubine at first.

So late Her Ladyship used a little trick.

What trick?

Biyu had a younger sister.

Biyu had a younger sister?

I never knew that.

Late Her Ladyship used Biyu's younger sister

to threaten her.

She asked Biyu to climb into His Lordship's bed

when he was drunk.

His Lordship didn't know what happened

until he woke up the next day.

He had no choice

but to take Biyu as his concubine.

So that's what happened.

No wonder Biyu wasn't favored.

It turns out His Lordship was forced.

That's why His Lordship never

entered Biyu's room again.

The plan of late Her Ladyship

ended up a debacle.

She blamed it on Biyu and lambasted Biyu

from time to time.

Unexpectedly, Biyu was so weak

that she couldn't stand jeers.

Jeers?

People jeered at her, calling her shameless.

They said she voluntarily climbed

into His Lordship's bed to gain higher status

and met with rejection.

You know, nobody can stand that kind of insult.

Besides, she was a weak person.

She couldn't get past herself.

So she hanged herself, you know.

Biyu has been depressed all that time.

But she didn't tell me anything.

Then again,

His Lordship

shouldn't have treated her so coldly.

He should have shown his care for her.

She was his concubine, after all.

If she hadn't lost all hope, she wouldn't have

committed suicide.

You're right.

But have you seen

His Lordship devote himself to anyone?

It's why late Her Ladyship decided to make Biyu

his concubine to stay in his favor.

I don't think so.

His Lordship cares a lot

about Her Ladyship now.

He cares her for now.

But we don't know

what will happen in the future.

Enough talking.

Let's drink some more.

Nanny Tao,

get up and drink.

- Drink. - Nanny Tao.

Truth be told,

Luo Yuanniang and Xu Lingyi

forced Tong Biyu to kill herself.

We need Nanny Tao to speak the truth

for Amber to believe it.

Once Amber learns the truth,

she'll make waves in the Xu family

out of loyalty to Her Ladyship,

which will facilitate your plan.

Is that girl capable of such a thing?

Don't underestimate her.

Her Ladyship trusts her very much.

I'm pretty confident about this.

Madam.

My elder sister...

Late Her Ladyship and the Luo family

used me to push her.

Since His Lordship took my sister as his concubine,

he shouldn't have ignored her and cut her dead.

He allowed others to humiliate her.

The Luo family and His Lordship

forced my sister to kill herself.

Actually,

noble families like this one

may look glamorous,

but life is tough here

and outsiders would never understand.

Even Her Ladyship, as the legal wife

gets oppressed,

not to mention concubines,

maids and servants like us.

Madam,

thank you for letting me know the truth.

I'll never forget

your kindness.

[Mansion of Xu] Ou Yanxing has left Xianling Pavilion.

He won't be related to Xianling Pavilion

in any way from now on.

I hope you'll allow Shiyi to stay

in Xianling Pavilion.

Ou Yanxing is Ou Yanxing.

Shiyi is Shiyi.

Maybe he left for a hidden agenda.

Shiyi, I hope you'll focus on the family

and perform a wife's duties

from now on.

Mother,

I don't think Xianling Pavilion

has stopped Shiyi

from being a competent matron.

Shiyi has married into the family for years,

yet she has borne no child.

This fact alone is enough

to prove she is not competent.

Shiyi is young.

She'll bear a child sooner or later.

Since you're going out of your way to defend her,

I'll say no more.

Shiyi can't take care of you wholeheartedly

because she has other duties outside home

and Concubine Qin is the only woman

you have now.

That's far from sufficient.

I plan to find

another concubine for you.

Mother.

That won't do.

I'll find several candidates

for you in a few days.

If you still think of me as your mother,

don't say no.

Alright, I'm tired.

You may go.

Don't worry.

No matter what, I won't have a new concubine.

I know your feelings for me.

But we can't

change Mother's mind.

I don't want what Mother wants.

I know.

At the end of the day,

I'm just not doing well enough.

I'm not doing things perfectly.

You're doing well enough

in my eyes.

I only hope

you'll follow your heart.

Leave everything else to me.

Great Madam pressed on Her Ladyship today.

I saw it

and it reminded me of my sister.

Although His Lordship

defended Her Ladyship today,

he did heartless things to my sister.

Who knows if he'll abandon

Her Ladyship in the future?

It's very hard to be a good matron

in the Xu family.

You lose freedom once you marry into the noble family.

Yuanniang was heartless,

so is His Lordship.

They would stop at nothing to attain their goals.

Her Ladyship is a good person.

But after she

married into the Xu family with strict rules,

she couldn't find recognition

no matter how hard she tried.

Now Her Ladyship is getting more and more depressed.

I'm really worried

that she'll end up like my sister.

She is the legal wife of His Lordship, after all.

If she doesn't make any grave mistakes,

the Xu family won't harm her.

To be honest,

I don't think life in the Xu family suits her.

Madam,

what do you mean?

You see,

Her Ladyship's eyes sparkle when she talks

about Xianling Pavilion.

She looks so happy.

Perhaps wealth and high status

have never mattered to her.

She only seeks to live as she wishes.

Amber.

You cried?

What happened?

Nothing.

I was merely worried for Her Ladyship.

Worried about what?

Were you worried

that His Lordship would have a new concubine?

Don't worry.

His Lordship won't do that.

How do you know for sure?

If you liked a man

and your parents disapproved,

would you dare defy them?

If I had known this,

I'd have advised Her Ladyship

to sign the Divorce Agreement

and leave the Xu family.

Leave the Xu family?

You're oversimplifying the situation.

A divorced woman is universally condemned.

The Luo family wouldn't take her back

if she were divorced.

How do you expect her

to spend the rest of her life?

Her Ladyship had nothing back then.

She'd rather run away from the marriage

than be confined to this house.

With Xianling Pavilion,

she is capable of standing on her own feet.

Now the Xu family is pressing on her.

Divorce wouldn't have bothered

a woman of her personality.

That's nonsense.

Besides, His Lordship treats her so well.

Why should she get a divorce?

Dongqing,

people change.

I don't think His Lordship will change.

His Lordship will definitely help her

overcome this crisis.

His Lordship. His Lordship.

You think you truly know him?

And we're talking about Her Ladyship here.

Why do you keep mentioning His Lordship?

A married couple is a single unit.

When Her Ladyship is in trouble, His Lordship

naturally enters my mind first.

I don't think so.

Dongqing, there's something

that I must tell you.

I think you admire and care about His Lordship

more than a maid should.

What do you mean, Amber?

I'm advising you to analyze your mind

and understand your own feelings.

You're being so weird today.

I'm talking to you nicely.

But you keep making insinuations.

I'll stop talking to you.

You look so happy.

Did something good happen?

How is this?

Beautiful.

Do you plan to give this to Dongqing?

How do you know?

I've known it since I noticed you were

going after Dongqing all the time.

Smart-ass.

Is His Lordship here?

He is inside.

I'll find several candidates

for you

in a few days.

If you still think of me

as your mother,

don't say no.

My Lord.

I need to discuss something with you.

- I want to marry... - I won't compromise

and have a new concubine.

But I can't defy Mother.

Is there any way to satisfy both me and her?

Great Madam Xu is right to hire me.

I know most of the young ladies in this city.

I'll find Marquis a satisfactory concubine.

Her Ladyship treats me nicely.

I can't let her go through this suffering.

If staying in the Xu family

means she must bear with this,

then wealth and high status don't matter.

She might as well...

She might as well leave.

Lower your voice.

Come here.

Look at you.

When you're antsy, you talk about leaving.

It's not a small decision.

Her Ladyship always acts reliably and cautiously.

She won't leave this mansion easily.

But with the Xu family pressing on her,

she probably wants to leave.

Even if she leaves the mansion as you wish,

she won't be able to find a footing

in the capital anytime soon.

When she is wandering around outside home

without the support of her title and status,

who will she rely on?

Go.

Your Ladyship.

Great Madam treats you so badly

and you still make clothes for her.

What else can I do?

No matter what, I should do my job.

Go now.

Your Ladyship.

Let me go, so Dongqing can stay with you.

All right.

Amber, you can go.

If you went out with that sullen look

on your face, people might think

I punished you.

Your Ladyship.

Thank you for coming, Amber.

Great Madam has gone to bed.

You can stay for tea.

Thank you for the kind offer.

But I can't stay.

His Lordship lost two undergarments recently.

I need to hurry up and find them,

so Her Ladyship won't feel anxious.

His Lordship lost some clothes?

Your place only has a few people.

You are right.

Only Dongqing and I have access

to His Lordship's undergarments.

I don't understand how the clothes got lost.

Mrs. Du, go about your day.

I won't bother you anymore.

Alright.

Great Madam,

Amber said

His Lordship lost two undergarments.

I... I suspect...

Go on.

I suspect that Dongqing took the clothes.

She did?

Do you think we should dismiss her?

If it is true,

maybe we can make good use of it.

Alright.

Go.

The embroidery on the belt is really exquisite

and the stitching is unique.

I wonder what kind of embroidery pattern

General Fu likes.

How about I embroider an auspicious pattern?

Good luck and wish fulfillment.

I think he'll like it.

Search this place.

Yes.

Mrs. Du, what are you doing?

Dongqing.

What are you hiding?

Show me.

Nothing.

I'm not hiding anything.

Isn't this His Lordship's belt?

Dongqing, why did you keep His Lordship's belt?

I... Can it be that you have

improper thoughts about His Lordship?

No, Mrs. Du!

Stop the nonsense.

Explain yourself to Great Madam.

Mrs. Du, it's not like that.

Proof is here.

How dare you say

you don't have improper thoughts about Lingyi?

Mother.

I made Dongqing handle His Lordship's clothes.

Maybe this is a misunderstanding.

We should hear from Dongqing first.

All right.

Tell me

why you kept Lingyi's belt.

Great Madam, I kept His Lordship's belt

to learn the stitches on it.

Learn the stitches?

Shiyi could have been a great teacher for you,

but you didn't learn from her.

As an unmarried girl,

you kept a man's undergarment

and claimed you were using it to learn stitches.

You think anyone would believe you?

Great Madam, I truly used it to learn stitches.

I wanted to make a... Insolent maid!

How dare you make excuses?

You think the people you serve

are so easy to deceive?

Mother.

Dongqing has been serving me since childhood.

I know her the best.

She would never

have improper thoughts about His Lordship.

You failed to keep her in check.

I haven't condemned you yet.

When this kind of thing happened,

how can I ever trust you again?

I'm wronged, Great Madam.

That belt is actually...

Dongqing.

You're the head maid of the matron,

yet you have the nerve to covet the master.

According to the Xu family's rules,

you should be sold.

No, Great Madam.

Mother.

You are right.

I didn't discipline her strictly.

Please show mercy and let Dongqing stay.

I'll discipline her strictly in the future.

Great Madam.

I beg of you to calm down.

Dongqing broke the family rules.

She should be sold.

But

Her Ladyship values Dongqing so much.

It'd hurt her if you sold Dongqing.

Let her stay,

and Her Ladyship will be grateful to you.

You can find another way to punish Dongqing.

Shiyi.

I know

Dongqing has served you since childhood

and you don't have the heart to sell her.

Alright.

You all pleaded for her.

And I'm not a heartless person.

Raise your head.

She has comely looks.

Now

I need to settle this matter

for the whole family.

Otherwise, nobody will obey

the Xu family's rules.

Shiyi.

You have three days to consider.

You either leave Xianling Pavilion

and help Lingyi take Dongqing as his concubine

or

Sell Dongqing

in accordance with the Xu family's rules.

Make a choice.

Great Madam,

this has nothing to do with Her Ladyship.

Why are you pushing her?

I just...

Lock Dongqing up in the firewood room.

She won't leave the firewood room

without my permission,

unless she wants her legs broken.

Servants,

take Dongqing to the firewood room.

Nobody will believe me

no matter what I say now.

Go.

Your Ladyship.

The food is getting cold.

Grab a bite.

Dongqing is trapped.

I have no appetite.

Great Madam has pushed you on every matter.

Now she even threatened you with Dongqing.

She has gone too far.

Amber,

watch your mouth.

I can stay silent.

But it's true.

I never expected Dongqing

to have improper thoughts about His Lordship.

Her thoughts have been used against you.

I don't believe that Dongqing

has improper thoughts about His Lordship.

If not,

why would she keep His Lordship's belt?

Even if Dongqing made a mistake,

how did Great Madam learn of this?

Something feels off to me.

Dongqing

has always been spoken.

It's possible that someone saw through her

without her knowing it.

Anyway, I won't let Dongqing be sold.

Your Ladyship,

don't worry too much.

This matter hasn't been settled.

Things still might take a favorable turn.

But this family has so many rules,

which depresses you.

Life in Xianling Pavilion is much happier.

I can't believe Great Madam used Dongqing

to push Her Ladyship.

Her Ladyship values Dongqing so much.

She can't bring herself to sell Dongqing.

I guess Great Madam will get her way this time.

Not necessarily.

Her Ladyship is not the type of person

who would compromise easily.

But if she defies Great Madam repeatedly,

the Xu family might not tolerate her.

The Xu family might not tolerate her?

How do you know it's not the other way around?

Alright. I'm tired.

You may go.

Yes.

When I've turned His Lordship

and Her Ladyship against each other,

my plan will succeed

and my pain

will probably reduce.

[Virtue of Modesty and Patience]

You have three days to consider.

You either leave Xianling Pavilion

and help Lingyi take Dongqing as his concubine

or sell Dongqing

in accordance with the Xu family's rules.

Make a choice.

Don't worry.

Leave everything else to me.

What are you doing?

Please do me a favor.

Hurry up.

Thank you.

Amber.

Her Ladyship told me to bring you food.

Eat it.

Her Ladyship

cares about me even now.

Amber.

Please explain things to Her Ladyship for me.

I've never loved His Lordship.

I...

I took his belt

to... No matter what, the fact is

you kept his personal items.

Time is limited.

Let's make this short.

Great Madam is hell-bent

on using you to push Her Ladyship.

She won't let you off easily.

Explaining is useless right now.

Her Ladyship has always respected Great Madam.

Why is Great Madam

pushing Her Ladyship like this?

I'd rather they sell me than let Her Ladyship

face the dilemma.

I actually came to talk to you about this.

This might not be a bad thing.

What do you mean?

I saw Great Madam hire a matchmaker

to find His Lordship a concubine

a few days ago.

Great Madam is determined

to find His Lordship a concubine.

A man can't decline his elder's gift.

If Great Madam continues to push His Lordship,

he won't neglect his filial duties

and disobey Great Madam.

What should I do then?

It's better to let His Lordship take you

as his concubine than another woman.

What are you blabbering about?

Sit down.

I'm not blabbering.

If His Lordship takes another woman as his concubine,

she'll bring trouble to Her Ladyship

whether His Lordship favors her or not.

Think about Qiao Lianfang and Concubine Wen.

They brought a lot

of sufferings to Her Ladyship.

You are different.

If His Lordship takes you as his concubine,

you won't compete with Her Ladyship

or harm Her Ladyship.

You're the best candidate

to be His Lordship's concubine.

You want me to be His Lordship's concubine?

No, no.

His Lordship won't approve.

Her Ladyship won't approve either.

Her Ladyship is very fond of you.

Just tell her

you've loved His Lordship for a long time.

She'll approve.

Once she approves, His Lordship won't object.

Maybe Great Madam will feel happy enough

to let Her Ladyship return to Xianling Pavilion.

But I'm forever indebted to Her Ladyship.

I can't do this to betray her.

Dongqing, how come you still don't understand?

You'll be helping Her Ladyship this way.

If His Lordship takes another woman

as his concubine, Her Ladyship will face

more hardships.

I'm sorry, Dongqing.

Your betrayal is the only thing

that can make Her Ladyship

weary of the life in this mansion.

It's the only way to make Her Ladyship

leave this troubled place.

I believe

you'll make the right decision

for Her Ladyship.

If I become His Lordship's concubine,

then General Fu...

Open the door.

His Lordship sent me here

to ask Dongqing some questions.

- Yes. - Yes.

General Fu.

Why are you here?

Yes.

Why am I here?

You've never cared about me, right?

What... What are you doing?

Let me go.

All this time,

you called me General Fu

and never hesitated to speak your mind.

You never did anything to degrade yourself.

I saw you as a pure-minded girl.

Then you got hurt.

You bled a lot.

I became anxious and worried.

And I realized what you meant to me.

I love you.

I...

I went out to buy this yesterday.

I had so many things to say.

I wanted to tell you about all my feelings.

I wanted to marry you.

But I didn't know

you've been loving His Lordship all this time.

If you don't love me,

why did you approach me?

No.

I've never loved His Lordship.

I've always...

You are different.

If His Lordship takes you as his concubine,

you won't compete with Her Ladyship

or harm Her Ladyship.

You've never loved His Lordship?

Then why did you keep his belt?

You love His Lordship,

yet you've approached me.

What are you up to?

Do you consider me

your second choice

in case you can't marry His Lordship?

That's right.

I wanted to be His Lordship's concubine.

But he didn't like me.

So I had to settle for the second-best option.

You can't compare with His Lordship,

but you're a high-ranking official nonetheless.

You can give me

the wealth and high status I seek.

But now I have a chance

to be His Lordship's concubine.

I don't care about you anymore.

You greedy woman.

Yes.

I am a greedy woman.

Forget me.

Fine.

Fine.

I judged you wrong.

Let's act as if we never met each other.

General Fu.

I was unfair to you.

But I had to break your heart

for Her Ladyship's sake.

Just forget me.

♫ In the cold darkness of midnight, a sigh is heard ♫

♫ Who picked up the paintbrush to draw loneliness? ♫

♫ In my life, I can draw everything but lovesickness ♫

♫ The mountain city is waiting for the rain ♫

♫ I am waiting for you to pass in my memory ♫

♫ The sky is in a more lonely color than your face ♫

♫ The wind rises and the candlelight flickers ♫

♫ The thin clothes can't stand the cold days ♫

♫ Full of twists and turns, fate is untold ♫

♫ I ground my thoughts into ink ♫

♫ But I still can't sketch your contours ♫

♫ But I still can't sketch your contours ♫

♫ Who picked up the pen to disturb the heart ♫

♫ Who visited to remind me of the past? ♫

♫ If feelings can be kept in mind, but cannot be confessed ♫

♫ I won't escape from whatever end ♫

♫ In the dim lantern light, with you there is me ♫

♫ Who picked up the pen to set free lonely tears? ♫

♫ Whoever visited my life, only you stayed every day ♫

♫ If the moth doesn't fly into the fire ♫

♫ How can it be said to be persistent? ♫

♫ Coming to the end of your story, there is me ♫