Original subtitles

♪ Memories of the past are always vivid ♪

♪ They accompanied me to take every step ♪

♪ On the road ♪

♪ Going through heat and cold ♪

♪ The bumpy journeyhas rendered my longing ♪

♪ Rock solid ♪

♪ The same moonlightshines on our shoulders ♪

♪ Even if we are far away separated ♪

♪ We are close in our hearts ♪

♪ The wind blew away the past ♪

♪ I look for your distant locationon the starry night ♪

♪ In the ocean of faces ♪

♪ For you, my heart burns and races ♪

♪ Despite its turns and twists,fate is in my hands ♪

♪ May waiting convert regretsinto a happy ending ♪

♪ May solitary figuresfind right companions ♪

♪ And become a pair ♪

=Time Flies and You Are Here=

=Episode 10=

[The reality and the past are totally different]

[Bailu Academy]

Food is served.

The Wuhou mackerel is made from the mackerel caught from Lake Tai.

The fish head is sliced in half.

Along with the skin, the body is split into four.

It's cooked on low heat for 15 minutes until the gravy thickens.

It will then be cooked in bamboo.

By such techniques, the taste is much sweeter.

By the way, the chef also prepared a pot of pear milk.

Give it a try.

Isn't this just Peng Cake?

I can make it myself.

It can be done with just rice flour and barley sugar.

By the way, why isn't Minggu attending class?

Do not call her courtesy name.

That incident enraged her mother.

Minggu is grounded at home.

She was forced to master Bian Embroidery.

Bian Embroidery?

She...

What's going on?

Will she be married off?

Of course not.

Don't be ridiculous.

Minggu is the successor of Su Chang Ji.

She has to master such skill.

You're right.

Why are you so concerned about her?

Don't tell me you leaked the incident out.

Of course not.

I... I'm... I'm just casually asking.

Let's eat.

Let's eat.

That night back at Lake Nanming on Mount Kunyan... This is delicious.

I couldn't have done it better myself.

I couldn't recall what happened on the other night.

Really?

How could you not recall it?

I just couldn't.

Didn't you say that we'd suffer from hysteria if we consume fruits?

I couldn't recall anything.

Fine.

You couldn't recall anything at all.

It's okay.

What do you know of it?

Qixi Festival is coming soon.

I shall ask Mr. Liangji to send you some clothes and accessories.

Let's have fun together.

Yes, let's do it.

Minggu...

No.

Is Su Wei going, too?

I have no idea.

I shall check it out for you at aunt's place tonight.

I shall go with you.

Yes.

I shall go, too.

Yan Boyang!

Let's eat!

(Main Hall)

Since Xiaoshu has ended, you must surely be missing me.

So here I am to see you.

Yes, I am.

I miss you every day.

How has your life been

in the Commandery Prince's Mansion?

Is the Commandery Prince good to you?

Yes, he is.

He even brought me to try some new food.

It's Yuguanfei,

right?

Yes.

I shall make you that tomorrow.

Yes.

Everyone in the family misses you so much.

I heard

that the Commandery Prince has brought along lots of supplements.

There are a handful of ginsengs alone.

These are good for boosting your health

so that you'll have a grandchild next year.

Sure.

Xiaoman.

Aren't you here to see Minggu?

Don't just stand there.

Go have fun together with her.

Your Highness.

Hanchen, do you want to

have a drink?

Well... Well...

The imperial troops headed by Governor Xu Zi

are stationed beyond the south of Wujiang.

I was wondering if you're learning from Xu Zi, Your Highness?

I'm learning from him occasionally.

Here.

Your Highness.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Master.

It's done as you wanted.

I shall send it to your room.

What's this?

Well...

Old Madam got to know an ancient remedy.

Isn't Qixi Festival coming soon?

Planting some corns in a pot allows you... Enough.

What can it do?

It can let you have a son.

Old Madam has been wanting master and mistress to have a son.

They've tried various remedies.

But, it all comes down to fate.

So, old madam is trying her luck again.

Enough. Leave now.

Have another drink, Your Highness.

Here.

There is a box of antlers among the things I bought along.

Thank you, Your Highness.

They boost your virility.

My lady, I'm glad to see you again.

My lady, I miss you so much.

The Commandery Prince's Mansion is reputable and full of rules.

Lady Xie failed to live up to expectations.

I've been having a hard time there.

I really suffered a lot.

My lady, please take me back home.

Stop talking nonsense.

Why are you here?

I wanted to know, too.

Even Zhao Xiaoqian is here.

Something big has happened to you.

You're just keeping it to yourself.

Aunt has really grounded you.

Now, it isn't just that.

My mother wanted me to learn Bian Embroidery.

I'm not allowed to step out of the house until I've learnt it.

You're still doing the embroidery.

Isn't Qixi Festival coming in another two days?

Initially, I was thinking of giving Zhong Ziyan this as a gift.

You're giving him a pouch as a gift on Qixi Festival?

Are you really...

Aunt was so upset about Yan Boyang's case.

You're giving Zhong Ziyan a gift.

That's not appropriate.

Aunt is going to beat you for that.

It could be worse.

If my mother knows about this, she could even send me to a convent.

So you must never tell anyone about this.

Even if all of them don't know about this,

you still must learn Bian Embroidery.

Aunt won't let you out of the house if you haven't learnt it.

Now that you must focus on learning that,

how are you going to meet Xingzhou?

This is what bothers me the most.

I actually know

that I couldn't possibly be together with Zhong Ziyan,

but I just can't let it go.

If I don't say it,

I think he'll...

My lady,

His Highness

is urging you to go back.

Qixi Festival is coming in three days.

I shall hand over you the fan on that day itself.

I have to go now.

Xiaoman.

Don't tell Zhao Xiaoqian about this first.

I'm afraid Xingzhou would guess what I'm going to do.

Don't worry.

You can count on me.

I'll go now.

Why aren't you leaving?

Just take good care of Xiaoman.

(Lotus Garden)

(Lotus Garden)

Mr. Liangji.

What is His Highness doing?

Who do you think he learned that from?

Let me ask you.

Find a clay pot before Qixi Festival.

Plant some corn seeds and see them grow.

Do you know what this means?

Wishing for a son by planting the seeds.

His Highness is wishing for a son?

Keep your voice down.

It'll embarrass him if others know about this.

Do you know you could get yourself killed?

Let's go.

What kind of embroidery is this?

I've never seen this before.

I don't know.

I have no idea.

Are you hungry, my lady?

If you're hungry, I can cook you some noodles.

Why are you so nice to me today?

You'll surely be thinking I'm being mischievous if it was before.

If you're nice to my lady, I shall do the same to you.

Let me cook you some noodles.

Where are you going?

I'm going to cook my lady some noodles.

Why aren't you wearing the jewelry that Liangji gave you?

Have you really forgotten everything?

What are you talking about?

I just remember that I ate some fruits.

And that's all I can recall.

What are we going to do?

Today, Old Madam Su was even mentioning

that we're giving birth to a baby boy.

She didn't say that.

Aunt said it and that was nonsense.

Don't take it seriously.

What have you brought home today?

It's nothing.

When you're going to the academy tomorrow,

wear the rhino horn hairpin.

I love to see you wearing the gift I gave you.

(Residence of the Su Family)

Sir, you are...

I'm Yan Boyang from the Bailu Academy.

My courtesy name is Zhanzhi.

I'm your lady's classmate.

Our teacher has given us some homework.

I'm here to inform her.

Look.

You're Mr. Yan.

Yes.

The men are learning needlework in the academy?

Yes.

The picture of a wonderful country is made by needlework, right?

Just a moment, Mr. Yan.

I'll inform my lady.

- I won't be long. - Just go.

What brings you here?

I was just passing by.

So I thought of dropping by to see you.

You still have the audacity to see me.

You almost got me into trouble.

Your mother won't stop you from going to the academy, will she?

No.

So, what should we do?

No worries.

So long as I can go out and make a wish on Qixi Festival,

then she'll let me go to the academy.

Make a wish?

You're lying to me again.

Yes, I lied to you.

My mother dotes on me.

How could she stop me from going to the academy?

So long as you and Director Xu don't say a word, then it'll be fine.

Don't worry.

Well, let's go out and have fun on Qixi Festival, too.

What would you want to do the most if you're allowed to go out?

I want to to go for the lantern riddles.

Lantern riddles?

Why are you asking me this?

You'll be late for the class.

Go now.

There are actually many famous poems about Qixi Festival.

Xie Tiao of the Southern Dynasty wrote an ode above Qixi Festival.

I lament the short moment of Qixi Festival,

and how I wish we could spend more time together."

There's a famous quote from Yang Yi, too.

"On the peaceful Qixi Festival,

the heavenly carriage appears in the love-filled occasion.

Silk is weaved on the loom,

and sent as gifts to the people on earth."

Qixi Festival isn't only celebrated by lovers,

it's also a time where weavers pray to their goddess.

Since you're all ladies,

you should know something about this occasion.

The tradition of showing off your needlework and cooking skills.

Can anyone tell us about this?

There's a story about the lucky spider.

On the seventh day of the seventh month,

a tiny spider is caught and kept in a little box.

The box is opened up at dawn, and the spider web is observed.

Its thickness is judged to determine the level of blessing.

A thick one means one is blessed with good needlework skills.

On a lesser scale, one isn't blessed as much as the former.

Worst, one isn't blessed at all.

There's another story where all ladies hold colourful threads

and attempt to thread the needles under the lamp.

Whoever can thread seven needles continuously shall be blessed.

What about those who can't do this?

They won't be so lucky.

There's a poem that goes like this.

"It's easy to thread a needle under the moon,

but not so in a windy situation.

Let's wait till the following day and we shall know who's the best."

There was even a case where the ladies would visit each other

the following day to comment on their skills.

Xiaoman.

Tell us about it.

There's a tradition in my hometown.

On Qixi Festival, we hang some wild flowers on cow horns.

We call that the cow's birthday.

Legend has it

that the cowherd and weaver girl were separated by heaven.

The old cow let the cowherd strip off its skin,

and he stepped on the skin to reunite with the weaver girl.

Doesn't it sound laughable?

Exactly.

It's so hilarious.

Come look for me after the class.

Sit down.

You've never been distracted in class.

What happened?

Tell me about it.

Minggu is grounded at home by my aunt to learn Bian Embroidery.

I wish to learn it, too.

I want to help her.

Just look at yourself.

So young yet full of tricks.

How about this?

Remember Zhu Momo?

She used to be a rich man's daughter in the capital.

She is skillful in Bian Embroidery.

If you want, I can try persuade her to teach you.

Really?

Did I ever let you down?

Whether it's Bian or Shu Embroidery, I'm glad to be of help.

Don't forget your purpose of attending the academy.

Don't neglect your studies because of that.

Got it.

Thank you, Congwen.

Little Xie!

Let me see.

Don't call me that.

Then what should I call you?

You got a name during the coming of age, and it's Fu An, right?

Fu An.

Fu An.

Nice name.

Well, let's go then.

There's a water puppetry show at Taiping Tavern.

I shall take you there.

No!

What's wrong?

I'm meeting Minggu today.

Su Family will send a carriage to pick me up.

I have to keep her company at home.

Really?

Fine.

Let me send you there.

It isn't safe for you to be alone here.

Anything can happen... It's okay.

Don't worry about me.

Just go and have fun.

I'm not a child anymore.

When my mother was at my age, she had given birth to my older brother.

- But... - Anyway, I'm yours.

No one will dare hurt me.

Just go now.

If you want a brother, I can fulfil your wish.

- You're a lecher. - Let's go.

He took advantage of me.

Why am I married to a lecher?

Xiaoman.

Congwen.

(Bailu Academy) Let's go.

Please give way.

Please give way.

Please give way.

Please give way.

Please give way.

Are you all right?

Thank you, Congwen.

Come and take a look!

Xie Xiaoman?

Why is she together with Congwen here at an entertainment site?

What is she doing here?

Stop.

(Brothel)

Sir.

Welcome.

This way, please.

Xie Xiaoman is a married woman.

She's also just a concubine, but she's always sticking to Congwen.

No.

I have to tell the Commandery Prince.

No.

You're a lady.

You better not let others know that you're telling tales.

(Brothel)

You had better be smart.

You'll see.

I won't get myself into trouble and I can make the Commandery Prince

completely detests Xie Xiaoman.

Master.

She is...

Master.

I'm the daughter of Magistrate Xie Jing of Wu County, Xie Ruying.

It happened that when I was about to check out

the silk at Su Chang Ji with my friends,

I accidentally saw your good pal.

The Commandery Prince's concubine was here, too.

She dropped her hairpin.

She left in a hurry, and I wasn't able to catch up with her.

Master, since you're a good friend of the Commandery Prince,

perhaps you can return this to her.

Isn't the Commandery Prince's concubine attending Bailu Academy?

Why can't she just hand it over to her first thing tomorrow morning?

It's a lady's method.

A simple person like you won't understand it.

Let's go to Taiping Tavern.

Mr. Li.

Yanniang.

Lady Xie.

Congwen used to always mention you.

I didn't expect that you're such a lovely person.

I saw her fiddling a fan in the class today.

I found out that she's keen in learning Bian Embroidery.

Since you're a master in embroidery,

so I've brought her here to learn from you.

Mr. Han is just next door.

Why don't you go greet him?

Mr. Han is here?

I shall go see him.

You may go ahead and study.

Sit down.

Bring me threads and needles, Qiongqiong.

Yes.

I heard that you're married to the Commandery Prince of Julu.

Is he nice to you?

Yes, he is.

He may look arrogant, but he's actually a sincere man.

He treats me well.

Lady Xie's just fine.

Let's worry about Mr. Li, okay?

What happened to Congwen?

I'm sure you've heard about the case

where Jia Zhixing wrote a poem on the boat.

His poem has certainly displeased Sir Xu Qiaozhu, the chancellor.

Now he's in jail.

Being a nostalgic person, Congwen just wanted to be helpful.

Now isn't the time to have a finger in the pie.

Moreover, he's dealing with Chancellor Xu who's a powerful official.

I'm worried that he's got himself into trouble... Yanniang.

Don't tell anyone about me.

(Water Puppetry)

I won't join you on Qixi Festival.

I have something on.

Really?

What's it?

Tell me about it.

It's just that I have something on.

You're all here.

Get up.

You... Boyang.

Your Highness.

Where's your sweetheart?

Get lost.

Any idea what this is?

What's this?

This rhino horn hairpin is Hanchen's gift to Xiaoman

for attaining adulthood.

Where did you get it?

A pretty lady may have dropped it so I kept it.

You don't say.

This place is certainly full of brothels.

The Commandery Prince's concubine is absolutely attractive.

I agree with you.

Give me the hairpin.

Don't tell anyone about this.

Sure.

Drink eight cups of wine.

Then I'll return the hairpin to you.

Hanchen.

Hanchen.

I won't tell anyone about the hairpin.

But you, Zhao Xiaoqian, the adopted son of an official,

the Commandery Prince of Julu.

His Majesty has personally bestowed the name, Hanchen, upon you.

You've been a genius since young.

You could recite the Classics of Confucius since you were seven.

Don't you remember that we even made a deal to join the army?

Now we've become men.

But we're spending our time on a lady.

It's pathetic and ridiculous.

Duke of Yongguo could hardly recognize you with the way you look now.

Nobody could sleep well at war.

The general has a full head of Grey hair after years of war.

The soldiers weep as they're all homesick.

Lady Xie.

Zhu Momo.

Wait.

I heard that the Commandery Prince wanted you to go out with him

by wearing the rhino horn hairpin a couple of days ago.

I wonder why you aren't wearing it now.

Where is it?

Hurry.

Get him some tea to sober up.

Hanchen.

What did Zhu Momo say just now?

She wanted to know the hairpin's whereabouts.

Where is it?

I was visiting Minggu today, right?

She liked it.

So she asked to keep it in order to make a same one for herself.

Really?

Hanchen.

No one shall follow me.

Let go of me.

Come over here.

Come here!

Take off my clothes.

You..

You don't know your place.

Let me show you things that a concubine should do.

Take off my clothes and bathe for me.

Do you hear me?

Bathing me and helping me get changed is what you should do

as my concubine.

What?

What's the problem?

Do you think you can just excuse yourself?

Let go of me.

Really?

I think I've been too kind to you.

Others' concubines are always finding ways

to serve their husbands well.

And you, Xie Xiaoman?

What have you done besides lying to me?

Have some water.

Just calm down.

Here.

You two had a fight?

Sometimes, I just think

that our marriage is a farce.

What has it got to do with me?

But sometimes, he's really nice to me.

We actually shouldn't hold the responsibility for each other

in our marital agreement.

That makes me rethink whether I should be nice to him, too.

And whether I should really treat him like my husband.

However, things aren't as simple as we think.

I was truly nervous

when I looked at him today.

Enough of that.

What about you?

Have you finished making the pouch for Zhong Ziyan?

It's almost done.

Do you know anything about the poem written by Jia Zhixing?

I know a little bit about it.

According to my elders at home, he did it on impulse

and displeased the chancellor.

He's got himself into trouble at this critical juncture.

It also seems to have something to do

with Chancellor Xu's involvement in the disaster relief.

The matter has got worse.

He's likely to get executed.

What about Congwen... Congwen?

What about him?

There's a hearsay.

He seems to be implicated.

He's actually helped me a couple of times.

I'm a little worried about him.

Well, Xiaoman, Hu Momo has given me something.

Let me show you.

Look.

See how cute it is.

It's striving to make a web.

Haven't I given you Wick?

I've given it a new name.

Guess what it is.

It's Deng Qiao'er.

How do you like it?

Just take a look of it.

Just forget about the unhappy things.

(Brothel)

Well, you were talking about Congwen.

What's going on with him?

It's nothing actually.

Don't worry.

I'm sure you know about the poem written by Jia Zhixing.

Mocking Chancellor Xu is a big deal.

That really affects the victims' impression on him.

The victims are feeling disturbed due to that.

Worse still,

some are even taking the chance to take down their opponents.

I'm afraid they're stirring up trouble.

Now the rumours are shrouded in mystery.

Fear is everywhere.

The only thing I'm worried is that

he might insist on helping Jia Zhixing no matter what.

You know Congwen well.

He's kind of an egghead.

If the matter gets worse, he might land himself in jail.

That's impossible.

Congwen has a close relationship with the officials.

Does that matter?

Self-interest is the only thing that matters in politics.

He's ignorant of this

and yet he wants to intervene in Jia Zhixing's case.

Now, we shall have to leave it to chance.

We must do something.

You need to talk him out of it.

He has to wash his hands off it.

I'm but just a courtesan.

How would he listen to me?

It has to be you.

Me?

Do you know that your husband, Commandery Prince of Julu,

gets the official intelligence in advance every seven days?

I have an idea.

Copy and bring me the intelligence.

Then I'll know

what the imperial court thinks about the case of Jia Zhixing.

This also gives Congwen a way to counteract it.

What do you think?

Does it work?

But Commandery Prince...

Do you really want to see Congwen go to jail?

All you need to do is just copy and bring the intelligence to me.

(Studio of Artlessness)

(Zhao Xiaoqian, )

(I know)

(I shouldn't have done this behind your back, )

(but this is a matter of life and death for Congwen.)

(I hope you'll understand.)

(I shall make it up to you one day.)

Is there anyone around?

The coast is clear.

I shall keep an eye out for anyone that comes.

Just go ahead and copy it.

Was he truly upset with me?

Yes.

He had a sleepless night.

Did he mention anything about me?

Did he say anything about banishing me?

Why would he do that?

Shi Deng'er dare not do that.

You mean, Shi Deng'er?

Didn't you ask about him?

He was sulking yesterday.

He kept on sulking the whole night.

You're talking about Commandery Prince?

He's caught a cold.

It was quite serious.

Mr. Liangji was taking care of him the whole night.

Did he get sick?

Zhu Momo.

Hongsu?

She's home? How dare she!

She's never left Studio of Artlessness since she was home.

I wonder why.

Where's Commandery Prince?

He's resting in the room.

Go.

Bring some men and come with me.

Let's see what Xie Xiaoman is up to.

I'm seeing Zhao Xiaoqian now.

You mustn't tell anyone here that I'm back, especially Zhu Momo.

♪ Ask the moon whether it has seen ♪

♪ The other end of the earth ♪

♪ Your feelings fluctuatelike the moon's wane and wax ♪

♪ Have they ever been the same? ♪

♪ Carried by misty clouds,the moon came into your eyes ♪

♪ As a substitute for me, it appeared ♪

♪ Cast our eyes over the bustling street ♪

♪ Don't shed tears when we part ♪

♪ Since our parting,I have been recalling your look ♪

♪ Every night,I miss you too much to sleep ♪

♪ In my heart,I stored our affectionate past ♪

♪ As time went by, it faded like smoke ♪

♪ In my ears, rings your old whisper ♪

♪ Every night,I look forward to meeting you again ♪

♪ On the day we brushed past each other ♪

♪ We got tied by a permanent bond ♪

♪ Since our parting,I have been recalling your look ♪

♪ Every night,I miss you too much to sleep ♪

♪ In my heart,I stored our affectionate past ♪

♪ As time went by, it faded like smoke ♪

♪ In my ears, rings your old whisper ♪

♪ Every night,I look forward to meeting you again ♪

♪ On the day we brushed past each other ♪

♪ We got tied by a permanent bond ♪