Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[The Master of Cheongsam]

[Episode 1]

[In the winter of 1908, Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi died in succession.]

[At the age of three, Aisin Gioro Pu Yi succeeded to the throne and was named Emperor Xuantong.]

[The Empress Dowager Longyu reigned behind the curtain.]

[Along with Regent Zai Feng, they were ruling in the declining Qing Dynasty.]

Look at this.

Looks good.

This one.

Look at this.

It's soft.

This one suits you.

Look at this color.

Pick the styles you like first.

[Fit Cloud and Shape Water]

[By the Empress Dowager Cixi]

Good starching should be 80% warm.

Good starching should be 80% warm.

Drip water and slowly fill the basin.

Drip water and slowly fill the basin.

To make a good garment,

you must make good starch first.

Starching, cutting, edging and fastening

are all related to it.

Today's batch of fabrics

must be starched carefully.

If the silk gets starched,

it must not be used for the palace.

Yes, my lord.

My lord,

my lord, Eunuch Gao is here.

He said the Empress Dowager needs to see the auspicious dress in advance

and asked you to go to the palace right now.

Right now?

Yes.

Get the carriage ready.

I'll pack the dress myself.

Yes.

[Royal Highness Mansion]

Bad news!

My lord's drunk!

He's acting crazy there.

No one can stop him.

Please take a look.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Your humble servant misses you!

The Interior Office is to select tailors today.

We can't afford to make mistakes.

And you're drunk like hell!

I'm not drunk. Not drunk.

Look at our Chief Kang here!

Great! Great!

My lord, my lord.

Father, sober up!

We must go to the palace right away.

Palace?

The Ministry of Rites has assigned the task to you

as an opportunity

for you to impress Her Highness.

Impress?

We can't screw this up!

I still haven't kowtowed yet.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Rise! Rise!

Listen!

What a brilliant bird!

Kang Ning, listen!

I can't do anything else

but think about the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Fortunately when she was alive,

she didn't really like you.

I got to enjoy some peace and quiet at the time.

Right. The Empress Dowager Cixi liked you.

Does the Interior Office ever

refuse the tailors you select?

I...

I'm sent to administer the exam again?

I'm a lady.

I'm not supposed to have such a high profile.

Right.

Besides, Her Highness especially doesn't like me

because I used to work for the Grand Empress Dowager.

Other girls' fathers hope their daughters stay away from this.

What about you?

You're keen to make me take the risk!

If Her Highness knows about this,

I'll be in big trouble!

You're exaggerating.

I...

I feel dizzy.

What kind of wine is that?

My lord!

No need to predict.

Xuantong will only rule for another two years and a half.

Eat pork and lamb this year

and make no contribution next year.

Firecrackers! Firecrackers!

Firecrackers! Firecrackers!

The horse is frightened!

Panxia!

My lord!

My lord!

My lord! My lord!

Out of the way! Out of the way!

The horse is frightened! Out of the way!

Out of the way!

Out of the way! Out of the way!

Out of the way! Out of the way!

Stop that carriage!

Out of the way!

Get out of my way!

What's going on?

Watch out!

What's wrong?

What are you waiting for? Jump now!

Whose carriage is this?

Stay away! Stay away!

It's too dangerous.

Hey, I just saved your life.

Why did you hit me?

Who asked you to save me?

If it wasn't for you,

I would have already landed safely

instead of ending up like this.

You ungrateful bastard!

If I hadn't helped you,

how could you land safely!

You would have fallen on your face!

I'm telling you.

I don't hit you

because I saw your

Manchurian socks.

I'm not sure whether you're a man or a woman.

If I find out you're a man,

I'll kill you!

I hit you. So what?

Try me! Try me! Come on!

I...

If you dare to touch my lord,

you're gonna pay the price!

One against two, huh?

You're unreasonable!

You hit him first!

What are you pointing at?

Cut the crap!

I'm gonna take him!

Bring it on!

Yuanzhi,

didn't you tell me that

you have serious business to do today?

Right. I have an exam.

I'm telling you.

I'll let you off the hook today.

I'll just take you

as a stray dog that bited me.

Wait for me here if you dare.

When I finish my exam,

I'll be back to teach you a lesson!

Let's go!

I dare you to stay!

I dare you to wait for me here!

Don't go!

I remember you, your little Manchurian socks!

Go, Yuanzhi.

I'll stuff the socks into your mouth!

You...

Let's go.

[Name Card]

[Lu Yuanzhi]

Lu Yuanzhi.

Mr. Su, here you are.

Greetings.

Although Her Highness is unpredictable,

as long as the costume is well-made,

then there's nothing to worry about.

Costume by Triple Cutting House

will definitely not disgrace Eunuch and the Interior Office.

May I ask whether

Triple Cutting House is the only one summoned today?

Chengfeng House that worked for the Empress Dowager Cixi

and Sihe House recommended by the Hall of Mental Cultivation

are also summoned.

Her Highness said

even unfinished costumes

must be presented.

Isn't that a great disrespect?

So if Triple Cutting House doesn't do a good job,

it will be a humiliation for you,

who used to work as a tailor for the imperial family, right?

I will not go in with you.

Mr. Su, good luck.

Her Highness asked you to wait for her decision here.

Hurry up.

Brother, don't rush me.

I can make it.

Go go go!

Who are you to teach me a lesson?

Who do you think you are!

Your Highness,

it's all set.

Please select the costume.

The first one is presented by Ge Yuanmao from Chengfeng House.

Your Highness, please don't be angry.

-Greetings. -Greetings.

Here by I issue the edict of Her Highness,

Ge Yuanmao fooled Her Highness with an old costume.

Such an offense should be punished with death!

Your Highness, please think twice!

The embroidery thread for the dragon on the costume

was gone.

I've sent people to restock it.

But Her Highness asked to see the costume in advance.

An incomplete dragon is a great disrespect.

I dare not offer it to Her Highness.

Please think twice.

So you presented the old costume of the Empress Dowager Cixi

and tried to fool Her Highness.

You ask for it!

Someone!

Take him away!

Your Highness, please have mercy.

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness, please spare me!

Her Majesty, please spare me!

He talked tough,

but is actually a loser.

What are you doing?

I'm asking you!

What is this?

Mind your own business.

Give it to me.

What's this?

Give it back!

Check this out!

I saw this guy and him

switching their fabrics and scales.

They are cheating!

When did you see that?

Yuanzhi.

Don't make a scene here.

Brother, stay out of this.

Nonsense!

Do you have proof?

Proof? Fine!

Come on.

Tell me

the shape of shoulder

of the garment you're making.

What is the ratio of head width to shoulder width?

I'm telling you.

If you're able to answer,

I'll call you my master.

Right! Answer him!

What are you doing?

Come on! Tell me!

It's the Interior Office here,

not a place for you to fight.

Someone, get them all out!

Wait!

Your Excellency, that's not fair!

As tailors,

scales are crucial for us.

A little bit difference can be consequential.

If cheaters like him can qualify

to work for the Interior Office,

how would that make everybody feel?

It's not fair! Not fair!

What are you doing?

This is not your business.

So now either you go to make your garment,

or get out of here.

I...

Yuanzhi.

Didn't you sneak out

for the exam to work in the Interior Office?

If things escalate today,

I don't think that would do you much good.

If His Majesty and Her Highness know about this,

not only you will be punished,

Master will too.

Your Excellency, you're right.

I'm sure Your Excellency

will be fair

and bring shameless cheaters

like him

to justice.

Haven't I met

enough shameless people today?

Go ahead!

Who's this Laner?

He's the godson of Eunuch Zhang Jinshan,

who's Her Highness's favorite servant.

We can't afford to offend him.

Fortunately things are now under control.

Panxia, our fabrics all have marks inside.

Check later about

who switched them with Laner

and swtich them back.

Your Highness.

This costume is made by Su Jing'an?

Your Highness,

To congratulate His Majesty in power and Her Highness in court,

the Interior Office supervises

and asks Triple Cutting House to spend a month on this costume.

Their chief tailor Su Jing'an made it himself.

What a wonderful tailor!

No wonder the Empress Dowager Cixi

only wore costumes made by him.

Even he was asked to finish it two days in advance,

he still managed to do a good job.

Very impressive.

Your Highness,

Su Jing'an

served the Empress Dowager Cixi for a long time.

No wonder

the color and pattern

are what the Empress Dowager Cixi liked.

I'll send him back then.

Wait.

He managed to innovate out of the old color and pattern

without violating etiquette.

That's clever.

Your Highness,

In my opinion, currently

the palace is home to

too many previous servants.

But now

you're the Empress Dowager of the great Qing empire.

Across the land one rules,

a change of monarch comes with a change of courtiers.

It's time to make a change now.

Yes. Then Su Jing’an...

Here by I issue the edict of Her Highness.

Su Jing'an has superb skills.

The dress he made is excellent.

One hundred taels of silver and a plaque are conferred to him

to reward his contribution.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Mr. Su, this way please.

Eunuch,

has Her Highness seen

the costume offered by Sihe House?

Her Highness's tired and will not see it.

Mr. Bai, you can go back.

It's out!

My lord, how's it going?

What?

My lord.

That nosy bastard Lu Yuanzhi!

Please, calm down.

Yuanzhi, Mosheng!

I'm here!

Come here!

My lord.

My lord.

What are you going to do?

Just wait and see.

I'm gonna teach those bastards a lesson.

Hey girl, little beauty!

What's going on?

They're fighting!

How dare you hit me!

So what! You bastard!

You deserve it!

How dare you!

Brother, let's go!

Let go of me!

Take her!

Let go!

Get out! Out!

Bastard!

My lord!

Let go!

Let go! Now!

What are you doing?

My waist! Waist!

Waist! Waist!

Mosheng, Yuanzhi!

Behind you!

Let go!

Yuanzhi, come on!

You bastard!

No no! Easy! Easy!

How dare you bully my sister!

I'm warning you!

Don't come any closer!

Let go! Let go!

Behave yourselves!

I'll kill you!

It's these two jinxes again.

Don't come any closer!

I'll disable his hand if you move.

Let go! Let go!

Brother!

Don't come any closer!

He bit me!

Beat them up!

Don't come any closer!

Wait!

Laner.

Everybody's watching here.

There are so many of you

against a girl!

And now all of you are fighting

against two of us.

I won't give you a hard time.

I'll be easy on you.

Let's fight one on one.

You hit me three times, and I'll hit you once.

You dare?

Be a man!

Look at these people!

He doesn't dare to!

One hit versus three.

And you don't dare to do it. What a shame!

What about this?

You two have a fight

immediately.

The winner

can take the silver here on the ground.

If you're not going to fight,

then get out of here.

This is Sihe House's dividend this month.

Please take a look.

Come here. Take a seat.

Thank you, Eunuch.

Well, I've brought you something.

Mr. Bai, I know you worked hard on the costume.

I didn't want to leave it for those servants to destroy it.

Eunuch,

Her Highness really didn't take a look at it at all?

I had planned to

present your costume as the last one to impress Her Highness.

However...

Come on! The third hit!

Yuanzhi!

How could you hit his face!?

How dare you! Bastard!

Let me see.

Well.

Yuanzhi.

I didn't know it would bleed.

You've hit your three punches. Now it's my turn.

Come here.

Are you going to hit or not?

My lord! My lord!

My lord! My lord!

Run! Run!

How are you, my lord?

My lord, we should go.

Slowly! Slowly!

My lord! My lord!

That way! That way!

Stop there!

My lord.

Don't let those two on the carriage get away!

Go get him!

Go!

Get off the carriage!

Stop!

Stop there!

Mosheng.

Didn't you say that you'll never fight?

I won't let anyone hurt you.

We'll never call him a coward again.

There's someone selling kites!

The Empress Dowager just doesn't want people to talk about her

on how harshly she treated the people who used to serve the Grand Empress Dowager.

Mr. Bai, don't take her words too seriously.

Eunuch Zhang.

If I was thought to be bad at my job

or

you were thought little by the Empress Dowager,

then I have nothing more to say.

But you were the one who recommended me.

The Empress Dowager didn't even look at me once.

Su Jing'an was able to receive special treatments

from both the former and the current Empress Dowagers.

You were generous enough to stand him.

But I'm afraid I'm not.

Stand him?

The Grand Empress Dowager favoured Su Jing'an,

which even benifited Eunuch Gao from the Interior Office

who recomended him.

But when it comes to me,

I was even inferior to the servant who took care of her dog.

At that time,

I could do nothing even if I wanted to.

But things are different now.

I will stand him no more.

Eunuch Zhang!

Eunuch Zhang. Something bad happened!

What happened?

Chen, hurry up!

Coming!

Please, Mr. Lu.

Here's yours.

It is recorded that Wu Song had three bowls of spirit and got wasted.

But you're eating three bowls of the stewed pork offal.

I don't understand

why you are eating so much.

Chen, you surely know nothing.

Just now,

I, being so strong,

fought with more than ten bruisers

for more than ten rounds.

The first bowl was for nourishing

and I have just started my second bowl to take a taste.

What about this one?

This?

My master surely will beat the crap out of me.

So I need this one to help me get it over with.

I see. Enjoy yourselves.

See? I told you so.

He is eating stewed pork offal at Chen's.

You scared the crap out of us.

I thought you were caught by the police.

It's impossible for I am the White Stripe In The Waves of the west town.

Stop eating. Let's go fly kites.

I think we should forget about

the kites and the stewed pork offal.

Master was called in the palace.

Let's go home now before he gets home.

The palace?

Yes.

Then we have nothing to worry about.

According to Master's personality,

he would definitely show the Empress Dowager

and brag about the perfect dress he made.

He definitely would not come back home until it gets dark.

Yeah.

Your Highness.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Look how humorously he answers himself.

Guanzi, a little help here.

Your Highness, please take a look.

This dress

is made of high-quality fabric woven from peacock feathers.

Hum.

Take a look at the upper part.

There are patterns of beasts and golden phoenix.

Every golden phoenix has

an East Bead in its mouth,

which means that Qing

is prosperous and the people are at peace.

Ouch. My mouth hurts.

If my father sees you like this,

he will try his best

to catch you and beat you up.

With his old legs?

Even if he catches me,

I will still ask if his legs are OK.

Congratulations to Triple Cutting House and Mr. Su.

We all hope you, Mr. Su, can do your best in the future.

Please take the plaque.

[Golden Needle Jade Ruler]

We're leaving now.

Take care.

Eunuch Gao, thank you. Here.

Jing'an. A reward from the Empress Dowager

is such great news.

Congratulations!

Thank you.

I need to take a look.

Here. Go up.

Splendid.

[Golden Needle Jade Ruler]

Put it inside. Put it inside.

Who is holding a funeral?

-Yeah. -So ominous.

It'll bring bad luck.

Who is holding the funeral?

So unlucky.

On such a red-letter day,

they just had to ruin it.

Why are they doing this?

What's happening?

-This is absurd. -Yeah.

What are you doing?

What are you doing here?

My lord.

Hey.

This is the gate of the Triple Cutting House.

Shouldn't you put this coffin somewhere else?

Did you guys make a mistake?

What's happening?

Who is that?

Eunuch Zhang. I am sorry.

Could Eunuch Zhang tell me

what this is for?

Mr. Su.

Now you are appreciated by the Empress Dowager.

Surely you will have a meteoric rise in the future.

I have a case now

and I would like you to help me seek justice.

You're joking, Eunuch Zhang.

People from the Criminal Department will come to hear the public case.

I can't do the job for them.

Of course people from the Criminal Department will do the job themselves.

But you are the only one

who knows this criminal's whereabouts.

Eunuch Zhang.

What on earth do you want?

My son, Laner, had just got out of the palace today.

Just on Xi'anmen Avenue,

he was beaten to death by your apprentice,

Lu Yuanzhi.

-Oh my gosh. -Beaten to death?

Today I brought him here

to seek justice from you.

Open it.

Yes.

You...You!

What are you doing?

You!

My lady!

My lady! My lady! My lady!

-My lady! -My lady!

My lady! Are you alright?

My lady!

Carry her back in.

Wuzi. Get a doctor here.

Yes!

Get out of the way!

Where is Lu Yuanzhi?

He went for the selection at the Workshops.

He left early in the morning.

Eunuch Zhang, everything happened so suddenly.

I have no idea what exactly happened.

Now Lu Yuanzhi is not home.

I'll ask him when he gets back.

If he really beat your son to death,

I will not let him off the hook.

If he really beat my son to death...

Things could not be more clear.

Mr. Su, you are only saying this

to protect the murderer.

Are you handing him over or not?

No?

Good. From now on,

Su's will be the mourning hall of Laner.

Here. Set up the table.

Eunuch Zhang!

You can't do this.

You can't go in. Don't!

Back off! All of you!

You can't go in. What are you doing?

My lord.

Eunuch Zhang surely has his way of doing things.

Su Jing'an must be so distressed.

Su Jing'an is quite a vain man.

He never gets involved with any other eunuchs in the palace.

Zhang Jinshan has been pissed at him for a long time.

Do you think that he really put a good word in front of the Empress Dowager

for the Sihe House?

But.. What a pity!

What's the pity, my lord?

Su Jing'an has two apprentices.

There's such a big difference between them.

Jiang Mosheng

is his true assistant.

He is surely going to be the successor of the Triple Cutting House.

And as for Lu Yuanzhi,

he's got no talents.

If I were Su Jing'an,

I would have never offended Zhang Jinshan for him.

You can't get in there!

Eunuch Zhang.

The Empress Dowager rewarded me with this plaque.

I can let your son's coffin go over my body.

But can it go over the plaque?

He's right.

Please think twice.

Ok. Su Jing'an.

You are threatening me with Her Highness, aren't you?

Fine.

But my son is watching from above.

If I don't revenge for him today,

I'm afraid he cannot die in peace.

Eunuch Zhang, could you give me a few days?

When I find Lu Yuanzhi,

I'll take him to the Criminal Ministry to turn himself in.

Please?

OK. Your apprentice, Lu Yuanzhi,

boxed with Laner

saying that the loser should make three kowtows.

Now that my son is dead

and Lu Yuanzhi is out,

then you, Su Jing'an, should make those three kowtows

to Laner for your apprentice.

I'll spare you three days if you do so.

You!

What?

Are you doing it or not?

No?

Then I'll let Laner wait here

until Lu Yuanzhi comes back.

Are you doing it or not?

Eunuch Zhang.

Out of respect for the dead,

I will give your son kowtows

for Lu Yuanzhi.

Is he really going to do it?

My lord! My lord! You can't get down on your knees.

Get away!

-He shouldn't do it. -Yes.

Su Jing'an. Remember my words.

If three days later,

you still can't hand in Lu Yuanzhi,

then there will not be

only one coffin here.

Are we clear?

Hurry up! Before Master finds out.

Master.

Speak! Who let Yuanzhi in the palace?

Me!

Me!

It was me!

I'm impressed by your “unity”.

Do you know how much trouble you have caused?

Zhang Jinshan is looking for you three all around.

He is asking for the head of Lu Yuanzhi

to revenge for his son's death.

Death?

We only had a fight.

He...He's dead?

Impossible.

Father, Laner shouldn't be dead.

Yuanzhi only gave him a punch.

Besides, Laner bullied me first.

Shut up!

Lingshuang.

Take her back to her room.

Without my permission,

no one should let her come out.

Yes.

Eunuch, is there anything important

that you want to see me so late?

This is?

My son died.

He was not a well behaved boy.

But he is still my son.

As his father,

I think I still should

throw him a nice funeral.

I'm counting on you, Mr. Bai, with his shroud.

I know what you mean.

The more grand the funeral is,

the more anxious it will make Su Jing'an feel.

You can trust me.

I know how to do with the funeral.

You can count on me.

Mr. Bai.

Words cannot come out of

the mouth of the dead.

But words that come out of

that of the living

could turn into killing knives.

Mr. Bai.

Please trust me.

If the living wants to keep living,

he will certainly keep his mouth shut.

You are a smart man.

But you are not decisive enough.

All I wanted today was to humiliate them

with my son's death.

13 years ago,

I first met you at Jiangning Wharf.

You had not eaten anything for two days by that time.

You picked up the wallet I left at the wharf

but didn't steal anything.

You were beaten by a few beggars,

but still waited for me to take it back.

You told me your parents were dead

and you had no one.

I brought you home.

I taught you things and I hoped you would be a useful person.

But...

I will never forget about

the love and care you two gave me.

You have not been the best behaved,

but I never punished you hard.

Unexpectedly, the indulgence of the past

has caused the catastrophe of today.

Lu Yuanzhi, listen to me carefully.

From now on,

your life is all on your own.

Master,

are you really going to hand me over to Zhang Jinshan?

There is a great chance

that I will be killed by him.

You saved my life.

I take you as my father.

If you insist on doing this,

I will say nothing more.

But I still want to argue that

I only gave him a punch.

I really don't know how he died.

You still don't repent.

Whatever.

That's all for you and me as master and apprentice.

Mosheng, send him away.

Master.

Master.

If you still think of me as your master,

then leave now.

I have had Wuzi

pack all your things.

You will hurry back to Jiangning tonight.

Brother.

You... You're...

Soldiers there.

Wait.

Go.

You really want to send me away?

There are no other ways.

Before Zhang Jinshan finds you,

leave now. Go!

I can't go.

If I go, things will be harder to explain.

But if you don't go,

all Master's hard work will be in vain.

Hurry!

Master!

-You... -Yuanzhi!

[The flowing water and the setting sun are limited by the ages; bitterness and sorrow last for hundred years.]

[Tomb of Deceased Son, Laner]

Forgive me.

Where did the blood come from?

Brother, this is not a good place to stay.

I'll go first.

If there is a chance,

I'll come back to see you.

Let's say our goodbyes to our lord.

Burn more paper money for him.

My lord, please don't blame us.

We're only servants.

You should blame Eunuch Zhang for being too cruel.

Shut up! Do you wanna get killed?

Did you...Did you see that?

I...I saw it.

Could it be our lord?

Nonsense! Hurry up.

My lord.

Zhang Jinshan called you here in the middle of the night

only to make the shroud for Laner.

This doesn't sound good.

It's not just about a shroud.

He was trying to keep my mouth shut

and let me put on a show with him.

It's okay.

As long as spending money can make Su Jing'an miserable,

anything will be worthy.

Who's there?

Lu Yuanzhi?

What is he doing here?

Who's there?

I'm not...

Who are you? Speak!

Anyone here? I ask to see your lord.

Anyone? Anyone?

Shut up.

I want to speak with your lord.

Lu Yuanzhi? Tell them

I'm not your accomplice.

I have nothing to do with you!

We're innocent!

Enough.

Everyone here thinks himself is wronged.

We'll find out tomorrow after the court.

Get in there!

Mister, we cannot be in the court.

Come here!

What are you doing?

Answer me one question.

When I punched Laner,

you saw that he didn't die, right?

What? Did they arrest you

for Laner's death?

How do you know that?

He's really dead?

He was fine.

I told them he didn't die.

And the injury was nothing serious.

You saw that as well.

How could he have died?

Isn't this your second question?

It's okay if you don't want to answer.

The bed here is big enough anyway.

If it really doesn't work, the three of us will sleep together.

I am not a deep sleeper.

Yes, he wasn't dead.

I knew it.

Can you two help me get a testimony

in court?

Nope.

I've already answered you two questions.

Now it is your turn

to think of a way to get us out.

She just told you

that I was a rascal.

How could you believe everything I say?

However,

if you two are willing

to give me some help,

I do have a way of getting you two out of here.