Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[The Master of Cheongsam]

[Episode 4]

What's wrong, Father?

What's wrong?

I was going to ask you that!

Why did the Wu family

suddenly break off the engagement?

The Wu family has broken off the engagement?

Really?

Their lord just said it himself.

Of course it's true.

This marriage was arranged by you

from the beginning,

I did not take part in it.

You didn't do it?

Father, what do you mean!?

Just now the lord of the Wu family came over

and said he had someone check your horoscope again.

The fortune teller said you are a jinx to your husband and son.

Their family believes in this.

When the old lady of the Wu family heard this,

she got anxious and insisted on breaking off the engagement.

I thought

it was because you don't want to marry Wu Youtong

so you find someone to make it up.

Father,

how could any woman make up something like this?

If so, who would dare to marry me in the future?

That's true.

Which bastard fortune teller said this?

If I catch him later,

I will definitely beat him up.

My lord, it's already too late.

If the Wu family really break off the engagement,

then the princess will

get a bad name.

Don't you worry, aunt.

This entire mansion

is left from my mother.

Even if I can't get married,

you didn't provide for me for nothing.

Enough.

Don't take it personally.

I promise

I will find another better marriage for you.

Then I declare first, Father,

I'm in no hurry to get married.

Even if I have to marry someone,

it must be someone

I know and I like.

If there is a next time

then don't blame me for refusing you directly.

You...

I'll take my leave, Father.

She...

This...

There is no guard.

So easy.

Panxia,

bring me the clothes.

Who...

Who are you?

Lu... Lu Yuanzhi.

Why are you here?

No...

I'm taking a bath! Get out!

Let me explain.

Get out!

I didn't see anything.

I'm telling you,

I just came here by mistake.

When I found you in the bath,

I wanted to leave but it was too late.

Your Highness, please let me explain!

I didn't come here today

to see you bathe.

I came to apologize to you.

I've been to the prison

of the Ministry of Penalty.

They said you did go there.

And I made fun of you in the restaurant,

it's my fault.

I apologize to you.

I bow to you.

You... Turn around!

Okay.

Turn around!

Sorry. Sorry.

Running into my bathroom

in the middle of the night,

you just give me an apology like this?

Lu Yuanzhi, I can give an order to

execute your whole family for this.

I was afraid you would do it.

That's why I apologize to you!

I always thought

you were a rich lady before.

Who knows you are the Princess!

You can blame me

but don't get angry with my whole family.

By the way, my master was called into the palace today,

is it because of you?

Why? You're diffident?

Why you say that?

I'm here to apologize to you, right?

No wonder A girl like you, who always

talking about executing someone's whole family,

can not get married.

None of your business!

Why do I have to

accept your apology?

Lu Yuanzhi,

I won't let you off on this matter.

I'm warning you,

it's enough.

If it weren't for the fear of dragging Master into it,

I wouldn't have come to apologize to you.

Hmm.

What are you laughing at!

So, there are times when you feel scared too.

I am not afraid of you.

You are afraid of the Princess.

Unfortunately, I am the Princess.

Get out of here,

or I'll really execute your whole family.

I should not have helped you

if I knew you were like this.

What did you do for me?

Did the Wu family go to your house today and break off the marriage?

How do you know?

You're that fortune teller!

I really treat you as my own brother.

I'll just say it,

and you just to listen.

The fate of Princess Kangning

is not so good.

Impossible.

My father matched her birth horoscope with mine

and said it was good.

I mean

she has ill luck and will hurt others.

Do you understand?

Alright, let me tell you the truth.

I have a brother once proposed a marriage with her.

When he went to her home,

it so happened

that a Taoist monk was also present.

And at that time,

the Taoist monk gave a commentary for her birth horoscope.

What commentary?

She is a jinx to her husband and son!

Let's start with her childhood.

Did a relative of their family die

when she was a child?

Her mother.

Yes.

What is the relationship between the last Emperor and her?

He is her uncle.

And,

the Grand Empress Dowager loves her the most

since she was a child, right?

This is at least

a marriage with the princess from the royal family,

you have to

at least

save your life first, right?

I certainly do not want to marry him.

But you told them I'm a jinx to my husband and son

then I can't even marry anyone in the future.

I didn't think about that.

I just

want to scare him off first.

I swear

I was sincerely trying to help you.

How can you be so kind?

I admit that I have a personal interest.

On the one hand, I am afraid that you will make things difficult for me;

on the other hand,

I am afraid that you will make things difficult for my family.

Because of the matter of Laner,

my Master's family has been difficult enough.

I do not want to give them more trouble.

I admit

that I did do a little less than perfect job,

but

I did solve your problem,

right?

Not bad.

You are also concerned about your Master's family.

So...

Are you forgiving me?

Why don't you say anything?

I'm telling you,

if you don't forgive me today,

I'll sit here

and not leave.

How dare you!

Alright, I forgive you.

Then it's settled,

no backtracking.

A promise is a promise.

Then I'm leaving.

By the way,

I have one more thing to ask you.

Why do you have so many questions!

What are you shouting for,

making it sound like how much I want to see you.

I'm asking you,

what the Empress Dowager like

and what she doesn't like?

Why are you asking this?

Believe it or not,

if you don't tell me, I will...

Stop!

I tell you.

The Empress Dowager is the niece of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Although she comes from a famous family,

but not quite like the Empress Dowager Cixi.

She has always liked things that are simple and elegant.

I think I heard that she especially likes flowers,

that's why her palace is full of flowers in all seasons.

She often said

that the flower character is more important than flower appearance.

So she probably likes flowers

of high moral character.

A flower of high moral character?

Eunuch Gao

repeatedly instructed us

to make the Empress Dowager's auspicious dress with care

and make sure to win over Bai Henian.

You still have to think about

the embroidery pattern on the dress.

Don't worry, I've thought it through.

For safety's sake,

we can still use the phoenix and the peony pattern.

Master, Madam.

Why are you in such a hurry

early in the morning?

I finally figured out

what pattern we should embroider

for the Empress Dowager's auspicious dress

after thinking about it for a long time.

Look.

I have inquired,

the Empress Dowager does not like anything too extravagant.

She likes simplicity and elegance.

So if our embroidery

is too elaborate,

she may not like it.

However, she is the Empress Dowager,

so the dress should give people the feeling of dignity.

That's why I drew this Hundred birds facing the Phoenix pattern.

It shows the dignity

without losing a touch of elegance.

What do you think?

Nice.

You're right.

And,

if we use the Hundred birds facing the Phoenix pattern,

at most the Empress Dowager does not like it.

If she doesn't like it,

we won't make a big mistake, right?

But if she likes it,

then we will be successful this time.

So

why don't we make it more simple.

Remove some of these flowers and plants,

and make sure to bring out the momentum of the phoenix.

Don't worry, I'll take care of this.

Master, you agree?

Good job.

Because you taught me well.

What a sweet mouth!

Master,

I also designed the pattern on the cloud collar

by the way.

Please have a look.

Let me see.

Master,

please tell me exactly

how and why

this flower is not OK.

I think it's fine!

I've told you,

to make clothes for the palace, you have to follow the rules.

Cloud collar

is traditionally round outside but square inside,

which symbolizes Heaven and Earth.

And embroidered with some seasonal flowers and fruits, lucky beasts and birds,

to symbolize the unity of heaven and man and to add happiness and longevity.

What are these!

Isn't all of what you said here?

Round. Square. How?

And these are the seasonal flowers and fruits.

As what you said.

Isn't Yulan magnolia a flower? I think yes!

Do you really understand

what I've told you?

I understand.

You just don't like Yulan,

do you?

As long as the Empress Dowager likes it, won't that be enough?

I think

the cloud collar can not be too complicated,

otherwise it will not highlight the momentum

of the Hundred birds facing to the phoenix.

I think Yulan is good.

Noble, simple and generous.

It's good enough

that you can come up with the Hundred birds facing to the phoenix pattern.

But this one is definitely not.

This time the cloud collar will be embroidered with the Ruyi pattern.

You do it for me.

Don't make any more mistakes.

Got it?

No?

Then

you don't have to come here from tomorrow on.

I'll do it, I'll do it!

I suddenly feel that

what you say makes sense.

I will definitely do what you say.

And, Master,

could you not always threaten me with this

in the future?

I'm leaving.

Teaching you a lesson is a piece of cake.

Yaoyao.

You scared me.

Why are you here?

Why are you still embroidering these?

You didn't embroider the auspicious dress?

My mother said that the auspicious dress is too important

to let anyone else interfere.

Help me embroider something.

Didn't father let you touch this?

Do you still want Master to win over Bai Henian?

Then you'll listen to me.

My plan is this:

you help me finish this embroidery

and send it to the Empress Dowager

in a box with Master's.

She can choose whichever she likes.

But will that work?

What if the Empress Dowager doesn't like it?

Why not?

She won't execute me

just because we gave her an extra option,

will she?

You're right.

If the Empress Dowager likes this,

in return,

I will take you to Tianqiao

to eat all the good food there.

Really!?

Then I want sugar figures and rabbit toys!

Anything.

Whatever you want I will get it for you.

Success depends on today.

Let's go.

I will not go.

I'm afraid

I'm not used to the rules of the palace.

You are afraid to meet Su Jingan?

Master, I've prepared the auspicious dress for you.

OK.

Master,

could I go to the palace with you this time?

I also want to see it.

You?

Forget it.

The palace is not like the outside world

where you can die if you say wrong words.

You just stay at home.

Okay,

I won't go.

[Tunyou Gate]

[Jiazhi Gate]

Your Highness,

the auspicious dess from both workshops

have been delivered,

please take a look at them.

Send them in.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, this first one was made by Bai Henian,

the owner of Sihe House.

Bai Henian used to learn from Huang Zhenyang in Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacturing Bureau.

As"An accomplished teacher has skilled students."

His skills are really good.

Not bad.

That dress was made by Su Jing'an, right?

Yes, Your Highness.

Jiang Mosheng is such a promising kid!

I have to thank you

for giving me such a good godson.

God bless!

It's true that there is a cause and an effect.

If you hadn't done

those bad things before,

now you wouldn't have lost

your good apprentice.

I've told you many times

that I have a clear conscience

about the past.

I can't help it

if you don't believe me.

If can blame me if you want,

but don't make it difficult for Mosheng.

Don't worry.

MoSheng is now my godson,

and I love him very much.

I'm counting on him with the future of my Sihe House!

I am so happy

to think that

there will be no one

to take over your Triple Cutting House.

- Greetings to Eunuch Lu - Greetings to Eunuch Lu.

Her Highness said,

summon Bai Henian to the her presence.

Yes, Your Highness.

Eunuch Lu, may I ask what it is for?

Her Highness said,

Mr.Su temporarily stay in the palace,

and we will keep an eye on him.

Eunuch Lu.

Eunuch Lu, what happened?

This is called

having a dead wish.

You can stop it?

Yuanzhi,

or you can ask around again to see if there is any news?

It's been a whole day,

how can there be no news at all!

There shouldn't be no news.

Even if the Empress Dowager selected the auspicious dress made by Bai Henian,

Master should have returned.

Madam.

Madam.

How come you are the only one who came back?

Where is the Lord?

Where is Master?

Madam, I've been waiting at the Xihua Gate all day,

but the Lord hasn't come out yet.

The palace gate will soon be closed,

so I have to hurry back to report the news.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Something bad must have happened.

Yuanzhi.

Mother, don't worry.

Don't scare yourself.

I...

Don't worry.

What about Bai Henian? Hasn't he come out yet either?

He has gone.

I also heard that the Empress Dowager chose the auspicious dress of Sihe House,

and rewarded Bai Henian.

Wuzi.

Now you take two people

to wait at the Xihua Gate.

Now!

Yes.

Mother, please think,

is there anyone else in the palace

that we know

who can get information?

Okay.

How do I know anyone in the palace?

Yuanzhi.

Follow me, Yaoyao.

You must be careful

not to make any more mistakes.

Madam.

[Bai's Mansion]

Brother!

Miss!

Brother!

Miss!

Brother!

Miss!

- Get out of the way, you guys! - You can't barge in, Miss!

Who are you?

I'm really in a hurry.

Brother.

Let her go.

Yaoyao.

I said I had something to discuss with you,

but they just wouldn't let me in.

She didn't say what she was going to do. I...

Forget it, you may leave.

Yes, Young Master.

Let's go.

What happened?

What can I do, brother?

Father may be in trouble.

Panxia.

I'm here!

What are you doing here?

What about you?

Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you?

You've gone too far!

What on earth do you want?

I need to talk to the princess about something urgent.

Take me to her.

She's not the one

you can see whenever you want.

Go away.

Or I'm gonna yell.

Then do it.

That can bring everyone here.

Then I'll just tell them

the princess disguised as a man

in the...

How dare you?

Let's go.

Lu Yuanzhi, one day I'll poison you and make you a dumb.

Princess.

Why did you bring him here?

Don't curse. I made her do it.

Of course I know that.

Lu Yuanzhi, what are you doing here?

I need you to do me a little favor.

No way.

You haven't even asked me about it.

There's nothing good about the favor you asked me for.

Why would I help you anyway?

Fine, no help, huh?

Then I'll go to Sanqing Garden tomorrow.

What for?

To do storytelling.

Chapter one.

Our princess brought a servant girl with her to Zuichunfeng.

Chapter two. The princess met a strange man in the middle of the night,

and invited him to bathe with her.

I dare you!

To bathe?

Shut up.

Here is the thing.

What? Just tell me.

You go back to tell Shiniang not to worry.

I'll try to ask Bai Henian.

How have you been?

Pretty good.

Brother Yuan learns from my father in Triple Cutting House.

My father always scolds him.

But one day,

I heard him say to my mother

that Brother Yuan is so talented

that it wouldn't take him long to catch up with you.

Brother Sheng,

you don't have to worry about us.

You're the one my mother's most worried about.

She's afraid you'd get bullied by the Bai family.

I thought you and Yuanzhi saw me last time.

I'm fine.

Just don't lie to me.

Although I don't like you to

work for Bai Henian,

Brother Yuan said that

it can make your life easier in the Bai's house.

As long as you're okay,

I'll be relieved.

My silly girl.

I appreciate your kindness.

It's getting late. You'd better get back.

Why don't you come in?

We're almost home.

Don't bother.

I still have to enquire Shifu's whereabouts.

You should go home.

Then I'll just go.

You said that Boss Su entered the Palace of Eternal Spring

and never came out.

Yes.

If the Empress Dowager

doesn't like the dress made by Master,

she can just put it aside.

Why did she keep him?

What's going on now?

There's no word from him.

I figured since you're the princess,

you'd have easy access to the palace.

I wonder if you could go in there

and find out what's going on.

Well?

What do you mean by being silent?

Are you gonna help me

only if I get on my knees today?

I'm not pushing you.

You really want me on my knees?

Fine.

This is for Master.

I'm not ashamed.

Satisfied?

Well, I'll go.

Not for you,

but for your Master's sake.

Whatever.

Could you find out

what happened first?

Well?

You...What do you mean by being silent again?

I'm on my knees.

You just promised me that, right?

I'm not like you.

The palace gate was closed.

I'll go first thing in the morning.

What are you looking at?

Nothing.

I'm waiting for the morning.

My lord.

You look so happy today.

It's rare.

I haven't had that much fun in years.

Here.

Get me some more wine.

You've had enough, my lord.

I'll send someone to make you some hangover soup.

No. No. No.

It's a rare happy time. Just bring me the wine.

Go now.

Yes.

Young master.

You look so happy today, father.

It must be because the Empress Dowager has chosen the auspicious clothes of Sihe House.

Even you can see that.

There is something even more delightful.

What is it?

Well,

the Su family came to see you, didn't they?

I guess their house

is a mess right now.

Then I'll come straight to the point.

How is my Master?

Is he still at the palace?

Here comes the wine, my lord.

Leave us.

Su Jing'an was detained when I left the palace.

I don't know what happened after that.

But there is one thing that really makes me happy.

Do you know what it is?

The Empress Dowager said it herself today

that from now on, all her clothes

will be made by us.

Do you know what that means?

That means that you will be

the Empress Dowager's tailor

and Sihe House will have a bright future.

Isn't that worth a toast?

Father, what about my Mas...

Mosheng.

How have I treated you

during your days in my house?

Very well.

Then I have a question for you.

If I were detained today

and Su Jing'an's clothes was chosen,

would you be that worried?

Mosheng, you're a Bai now.

Su's family has nothing to do with you.

If you don't understand that,

your life

is going to be really hard.

Well, I'll leave you to it.

Wax gourd! Wax gourd!

A civilian like Lu Yuanzhi

made a princess run errands for him.

You're too softhearted.

I'm not doing it all for him.

But he was right about one thing.

Even if the Empress Dowager does not like Su Jing'an's work,

she has no reason to detain him.

If she was offended,

she just needs to give an order to punish him.

It's a strange situation

that whether he is alive or dead

remains unknown.

In this case,

it is odd.

And Su Jing'an also works for Eunuch Gao.

If he's in trouble,

Eunuch Gao may be involved as well.

If Eunuch Gao falls,

the workshops of Interior Office

may have Zhang Jinshan in power.

By then, whether my father

can keep his job

will be hard to tell.

That's why you're so anxious

to find out about Su Jing'an.

It's all for my lord.

He can ignore it.

But I can't.

We have a whole family

that's counting on him and his job.

Don't worry. Your Highness.

When we get to the palace,

I'll go to Madam Hehuan.

At least we're from the same town,

so maybe I can figure something out.

I didn't expect that

Su Jing'an would make a scene like that.

I'm so happy. Here.

Here, have another drink.

Yeah.

Mr. Bai.

I have something to say that you may not want to hear.

The dress presented by Su Jing'an

was really well made.

Yeah.

That was made by Su Jing'an I suppose.

Yes.

Your Highness.

He is really talented,

and did not let me down.

Your Highness,

Su Jing'an also presented cloud collar,

which is also very exquisite.

Bring it in.

Yes.

Do not be angry, Your Highness.

I was worried.

I didn't expect him to perform such a stunt,

which did us a favor indeed.

He thought he was ingenious,

but it unexpectedly violated the Empress Dowager's taboo.

What?

It's because of the cloud collar.

The Grand Empress Dowager's name was Yulan.

But you embroidered Yulan magnolia on the cloud collar for the Empress Dowager.

Do you mean you want her

to live under the pressure of the Grand Empress Dowager all her life?

Is it that serious?

You told me that

the Empress Dowager likes flowers which symbolize nobility.

That's why I chose Yulan magnolia.

I didn't know

the Grand Empress Dowager's name was Yulan.

Whatever you say is of no use now.

The Empress Dowager believes that Su Jing'an

deliberately embarrassed her

just because he had served the Grand Empress Dowager.

But this has nothing to do

with Master.

I decided it all by myself to

put the cloud collar in.

You really are capable of anything.

Although the Empress Dowager was the niece of the Grand Empress Dowager,

she did not win her favor.

All these years at the palace,

she's been cautious and nervous.

When she finally became the Empress Dowager,

who'd have thought

that the object reminding her of her sorrow

was presented directly to her.

Su Jing'an is having a death wish!

Sir,

have you heard that

what the Empress Dowager wants to do with him?

What can I do now?

I...Is Master all right?

What do you mean by shaking your head?

It's hard to tell.

As far as I know,

the Grand Empress Dowager is the one she fears most in her life.

So after her demise,

people like me

who served her

were dismissed.

At this time,

Su Jing'an sent the cloud collar to her.

I don't think the Empress Dowager would let him off easily.

In my opinion,

she hasn't decided what to do with him yet.

But there has to be a reason.

I think

she is afraid that people would say that

she mistreated the Grand Empress Dowager's servant.

That's why she locked him up with no punishment nor letting him go.

Well. Who knows how long he's gonna be locked up.

Maybe one day

the Empress Dowager will be happy and offer him freedom.

What, don't you have confidence in me?

[Su's Mansion]

Please punish me, Madam.

It's my decision that put Master in trouble.

It is my fault.

Does it help to punish you now?

Mother, I also have a part in it.

I embroidered that cloud collar.

Let's go to the palace and tell the Empress Dowager

that father has nothing to do with this.

Whether it was made by you or your father

is the same.

I've been worried

ever since he served the Grand Empress Dowager.

People said that he worked for the imperial family.

How successful and honourable!

But "kings and bears often worry their keepers".

He had been cautious all these years,

for fear of something like this.

But you...

Now your father's life

depends on the Empress Dowager's words.

Eunuch Lu.

Eunuch Lu.

I ask to see the Empress Dowager.

Boss Su.

A man

needs to be tactful.

When the master changes,

so must your heart.

Otherwise, you might as well follow your former master to die,

and you'll be remembered for your loyalty.

Eunuch Lu.

Could you tell me what I'm guilty of?

If I have to die,

I need to know what I die for.

You were the favorite of the Grand Empress Dowager.

Of course you would take the Empress Dowager lightly.

No. No.

Why else would you

embroider Yulan on the cloud collar?

Yulan magnolia?

Impossible.

It's absolutely impossible.

Eunuch Lu, I ask to see the Empress Dowager.

But the Empress Dowager doesn't want to see you.

Well...

Well, I ask to see Eunuch Gao.

Eunuch Gao?

He's unable to protect himself now.

Why does he have time to talk to you?

Listen up,

if anyone dares to disturb the Empress Dowager,

he shall die.

Take him away.

No!

Hey! Hey!

Eunuch Lu!

You haven't eaten all day, Brother Yuan.

Mother asked me to bring you something to eat.

Yaoyao, I found a way to save Master.

Really? What is it?

I'm going to find someone right now.

I need you and Madam

to get everything ready.

What...

Get what ready?

Mosheng,

you're a Bai now.

Su's family has nothing to do with you.

If you don't understand that,

your life

is going to be really hard.

[Su's Mansion]

It's nonsense!

Don't underestimate the Empress Dowager.

Her Highness will never be fooled by you.

Well, I can't wait to die.

I can only make every possible effort.

Then do it yourself.

I can wipe out the past.

But this time,

I can't die with you.

Lu Yuanzhi.

Don't push your luck.

What am I supposed to do?

I'm desperate,

so I can only bet my life on this.

Don't drag me into the trouble.

What do you mean by that?

Fine.

Since you said that,

then I'm gonna say everything

I need to say.

You can never

keep a secret.

You are also responsible for

the pattern on the cloud collar.

You're the one who told me that

the Empress Dowager likes noble flowers.

That's why I embroidered the cloud collar.

But I didn't tell you to embroider Yulan magnolia.

When we are in front of the Empress Dowager,

maybe I'll exaggerate the details

which cannot

be made clear then.

Lu Yuanzhi, what do you mean by that?

Threaten me again?

I'm not threatening you,

I really want you to help me.

This is a matter of life and death.

Your Highness,

as long as you are willing to help me,

no matter Master is dead or alive,

I will be grateful to you for a lifetime.

Seriously.

I'll make you an immortal memorial tablet in our house.

And I'll burn paper money and recite sutras for you every day.

Lu Yuanzhi.

Are you wishing our princess an early death?

How can you always misunderstand me?

Your Highness,

keep a clear mind.

Lu Yuanzhi,

have you ever thought that

your Master violated the Empress Dowager's taboo.

It it remains a secret,

he'll be the only one to die.

If not,

and things happen to turn out badly,

both you and your Master will die.

I've thought about it,

and if I can't save Master this time,

I'll die with him.

Don't look around.

I can't believe she's a woman,

and a princess.

Don't talk. You may be seen by others.

Your Highness.

Please tell the Empress Dowager, Kang Ning asks to see her.

Your Highness.

I promised Madam Hehuan

to bring her embroidery.

Since we seldom enter the palace,

you may go then.

By the way,

take the two of them to see.

Yes.

The Empress Dowager is in council with officials at the moment,

so I'm afraid she won't be able to see you.

I received two nice pots of flowers

that I want to present to the Empress Dowager.

Please tell Her Highness my intention.