Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[The Master of Cheongsam]

[Episode 12]

Princess Kang Ning.

What do you mean?

Princess Kang Ning

has been deeply favored by Grand Empress Dowager since she was a child.

Whenever there were big occasions,

Grand Empress Dowager took the princess with her.

The girl has seen the elephant.

Princess Kangning

must have been behind Lu Yuanzhi.

Everything makes sense then.

That's the trouble.

Princess Kangning is a member of the imperial family.

I'm afraid plebs like me can't compete with her.

Mr. Bai.

You're trying to provoke me.

Eunuch, you're thinking too much.

Mr. Bai, you're worrying too much.

Since the death of Princess Royal,

The Royal Highness Mansion has been nothing but an empty shell.

Formerly, the family was in favor with Grand Empress Dowager,

so the Empress Dowager couldn't excoriate them.

But now things are different.

Besides,

the husband of Princess Royal

is nothing.

He is just a dandy.

And his son

is totally a devil.

Tell me,

now he's in such a condition,

shouldn't he plan for his son

and the rest of his life?

As you say so,

it seems that you already have an idea.

Don't drink anymore.

You're drunk. Don't drink anymore.

So what?

Nobody cares about me in this Royal Highness Mansion.

Who else in the world

cares about me

but my mother and you?

You say that again.

Didn't you have a good time

with Ms. Su the other day?

Yeah.

Then how can I touch

what she likes?

What do you mean?

Even if Ms Su likes Mr. Lu,

how Mr. Lu thinks matters.

He can say it out.

Yaoyao can also speak out how she thinks.

But I'm the only one

who can't.

You're drunk. Drunk.

I'll make you some hangover soup.

Here.

No more drinking.

I have a different status from him.

How should I face Yaoyao?

How do I face my own feelings?

Mosheng.

If you want to see a girl,

just tell me.

I'll arrange it for you.

Anyway, I'll spend the rest of my life with Yuanzhi.

In my heart,

I never think of Yuanzhi as my elder brother.

He is different from you.

Lu Yuanzhi.

Who is it?

Me.

Brother.

Did you drink?

I didn't.

I just went to deliver a garment.

Why can clothes keep warm,

but they can't repay a little bit of gentleness I owe her?

Completely.

What are you talking about?

Who did you make clothes for?

Brother.

The reason I didn't make auspicious dress for the Empress Dowager

is that I like

the feeling of being free and easy.

So why, do you think,

did I fall in love with

a princess

who couldn't be free and easy?

How could you?

How has Yaoyao treated you since childhood?

You don't know that?

You don't know she likes you?

Hey, brother, you got a good push.

You, you, you

You pushed me 3 times! I counted!

Just 3 times!

9!

Do you think I'm stupid?

All you care about is Yaoyao,

and you think I don't know it.

Let's go.

Let me help you.

Doghole.

Make a human pyramid.

Choose one.

[To Respected Master Huang Zhenyang]

Who is it?

Mosheng?

Why are you here?

Yaoyao.

Why are you drinking so much again?

You can't keep drinking so much.

It's bad to you.

Yaoyao.

I haven't seen you in a few days.

Just wanted to see you.

It's your birthday next month.

I'm afraid there'll be too many people there,

and I won't be able to say anything.

How could be?

If you want to come,

who can stop you?

No one can stop me,

but I can't say it out.

I still remember when you were young.

I have been looking forward to you growing up,

now you really grow up,

but I'm afraid

you are not my Yaoyao at that time.

Mosheng.

I'm sorry.

Just see it and you'll know.

This is for Yuanzhi.

I don't know how to tell you.

I know you are nice to me.

But you know

I like

Yuanzhi.

I know.

But today I have to tell you,

he likes Kang Ning.

What?

Nonsense.

How could Kang Ning like Yuanzhi?

Besides,

who says he doesn't like me?

Kang Ning turned Yuanzhi down

because she knew you liked him.

That's why

She's the one he thinks about all the time.

You won't have a chance at all.

Even if he doesn't like me,

I'll marry him.

I said

he is the only person I'll ever be with.

A man is not a stalk of grass.

You must feel that

he treats you like a brother to his sister.

Yeah.

A man is not a stalk of grass.

Then he'll be able to feel

how good I am to him one day.

When there was no Kang Ning between you,

I wanted to help you.

But Lu Yuanzhi

has changed.

I don't care.

Yaoyao.

There's something I have to say today.

We grew up in the same yard

watching the same moon.

But in my heart,

I want to look at you,

and the stars.

The wind blows through the four seasons.

My heart for you will always be the same.

Mosheng.

Yaoyao.

I like you.

Yaoyao. I really like you.

What are you doing!

What...

What are you...

Master.

What happened?

What are you doing?

Master.

Yaoyao, Yaoyao.

Get up.

- Yaoyao, are you okay? - Master.

Master.

My lord! My lord! My lord!

Don't!

You, you...

I really like Yaoyao.

Go! Mosheng!

Do you have to let lord beat you?

Why are you so stubborn?

Lord! Lord!

Easy! Calm down!

Master.

My lord, please calm down.

It's Mosheng's fault.

My lord.

Where's Lu Yuanzhi?

He went out early

and hasn't come back yet.

Calm down.

What on earth is going on?

Yaoyao.

Yaoyao.

Are you all right? My girl.

[Bai's Mansion]

You...

My lord.

Your guest has arrived.

You greet the guest first.

I'll be right there.

Okay.

What happened?

You've been out all night with the smell of alcohol.

Where have you been?

Father.

I probably did something stupid.

Yaoyao may never forgive me for the rest of her life.

I thought you were

bothered by Su Jing'an's mending of imperial robe,

but it turned out to be about the woman.

Mosheng,

you know that

Su Jing'an and I are incompatible.

How could he have agreed

to let Su Peiyao marry into the Bai family?

Father.

In fact, there is a way.

What way?

Do you remember that you said before,

you have been in Su's family for more than ten years,

but you have never seen

Su Jing 'an used the Seamless Stitch.

Yes.

Then if I tell you,

Su Jing'an does't know how to do the Seamless Stitch,

do you believe it?

Before,

I remember the thing that Lu Yuanzhi mended the British Minister's dress.

And this time, he didn't fall

until he entered the palace.

Do you think it is a coincidence?

But the Grandmaster did pass

the Seamless Stitch to him.

See?

Even you think it's weird.

If he had fallen on purpose,

it would prove that it wasn't that he didn't want to mend it,

but he couldn't.

Few people have ever seen the Seamless Stitch.

In addition to the dragon robe,

it is not needed anywhere else.

He had been an imperial tailor for over ten years,

and never made a dragon robe for the previous emperor.

He didn't need to use the Seamless Stitch.

So he muddled through.

Even if he didn't get a chance to do it,

how do you know he can't?

So

I need your help.

You and I

are going to expose him.

What does that have to do with me?

But it has something to do with Yaoyao.

Are you sure Kang Ning and that punk

were already hooked up?

Madam,

I don't know how Princess thinks.

But Lu Yuanzhi has become enamored of her

for a long time.

I have asked the maids of the princess

and heard that Lu Yuanzhi has come in over the wall in the middle of the night.

Keep seeking.

I can't believe there's not even a trace.

Yes.

Madam.

Madam, I found it.

You see, it's just a dress.

We don't know what to say

in front of the lord.

Zijian visited the goddess of Luo among the flowers,

and met her under the moon in a lingering whisper.

The fairy of Yaotai is ashamed of her face,

standing gracefully in a garden full of fragrance.

bastard!

Is this for the princess?

My lord.

It's was getting hot and I was thinking of

making spring clothes for the princess.

So I asked Shimo

to get her old dress and get measured.

I didn't expect to see this.

I didn't know what to do.

It's up to you to decide.

This was made by Lu Yuanzhi for princess?

My lord.

This was indeed made for the princess by Lu Yuanzhi himself.

This dress

was hidden in the closet by the princess.

She didn't want anyone to see it.

Bastard!

My lord.

The princess is not a child anymore.

Yes.

In previous years, she was said to be in mourning for the Grand Empress Dowager,

and we couldn't do anything with her.

But now I see her

flirting with Lu Yuanzhi,

what if something really happens?

How dare she!

My lord, calm down.

Let's figure it out

before it becomes a trouble.

I will have the Triple Cutting House torn down right now!

and I will kick Lu out of Beijing!

My lord.

If you do so,

everyone will know

our princess is flirting with a lowly man.

Yes.

You keep saying

you'll marry her off to a good family

Yes.

in order to help our family.

Of course.

That's it.

From this day on,

you tell the housekeeper Yu

to keep her under the guard.

Don't let her step outside the house.

Who can do that to your daughter?

Besides,

what if the Empress Dowager

asks to see her?

I can't do this.

I can't do that.

Tell me, what should I do?

Yesterday, the wife of the prince decided to see the Empress Dowager,

That old man Zhang Jinshan

had a good idea of killing two birds with one stone.

Sit.

He said...

Look,

the clothes sewed with

our British Empire sewing machine

are so well-proportioned and beautiful,

without a single seam,

and ten times faster than your hand sewing.

Hey, the foreign thing is interesting.

This is the advantage of sewing machines.

Brother Wu,

this foreign thing is interesting.

Within a few seconds,

the clothes are finished.

Even the best machine is used by people.

Besides, we tailors

measure, buy cloths, cut and sew.

Every step is indispensable.

That thing

can't measure for you.

What thing?

Mr. Su, say something.

The Englishman got some sewing machines,

and in just a few days

they have taken half our business.

Besides,

they even open their shop opposite your Triple Cutting House,

it's obvious that they want to challenge you.

Yes, Mr. Su.

You have to think of a way.

Yeah.

Everyone.

I understand what you say.

We Triple Cutting House had a hard time recently.

But I think

This foreigner's thing is just a temporary novelty.

So everyone calm down.

Calm down.

That's easy for Mr. Su to say.

Triple Cutting House is big,

you do business of the nobility.

You don't have to worry.

But we can't.

If we lose business in a month or two,

let alone three or five,

we'll have to shut down,

don't you think so?

Yes, Mr. Su.

We can't hold on like this.

So what do we do,

Mr. Qiao?

I think

there are two ways for us.

First, each of us will have two sewing machines

like the British do.

No.

I can't use that.

Besides,

The sewing machine

is not that easy to get.

It's expensive.

I agree.

We rely on our hands.

The

The machine is not something we should use.

Well, in that case,

we can only take the second way.

Drop the letter of challenge tomorrow.

Set up a arena at the Triple Cutting House

and let Will bring a sewing machine to compete

to see who makes the finer clothes.

That'll work.

Right.

Though nowadays the business is flourishing,

but the profit is too small.

I came to China to do business,

not to run a charity.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

I know.

But don't worry.

Doing business...

You have to lose money before you earn money.

Based on my knowledge of the garment-making industry

in Beijing,

in less than six months,

more than half of the stores

will go out of business because of you.

At that time, if you want to raise the price,

no one can stop you.

Mr. Bai.

Eunuch Zhang was right about you.

You really know how to do business.

Are you interested in working with me?

You know.

The majority shareholder

of my clothing store

is our noble businessman, Duke John Zhu.

Your Sihe House was seized anyway.

Mr. Will,

you don't have to worry about

my Sihe House.

We settled this already.

Our cooperation

is that I help you get a foothold in Beijing.

You help me prove one thing.

As long as Mr. Su can prove in the arena that

the stitches of our hand-made clothes are more symmetrical than

those made by sewing machines.

And the handwork is finer.

Everybody will know that

our hand-made clothes are better than

those made by sewing machines.

Right.

And then business will come.

Yes. It's a good idea.

I think what Mr. Qiao said is a good idea.

It's up to Mr. Su now,

whether you are willing to represent us.

Let those foreigners take a good look at

the spirit of our Chinese costume.

I heard Mr. Su

has inherited the Seamless Stitch

from Mr. Huang Zhenyang.

It must be very easy

to defeat

that sewing machine

with the Seamless Stitch.

This involves a lot of things.

Apart from the fact that the Seamless Stitch is only for the royal family,

it is not sure

whether Will will accept the challenge.

In my opinion, this...

Mr. Su.

Are you afraid of losing?

If the Seamless Stitch is going to lose,

we might as well

close the door early.

Do you think so?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

We are not afraid of them.

That's true.

Yes, we are not afraid of them.

Yes.

Mr. Su.

We will not lose.

It seems that you must take up the challenge.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to convince them.

As you expected,

at the mere mention of the Seamless Stitch,

Su Jing'an's face changed.

He was reluctant to accept the challenge.

Over the past twenty years,

relying on the Seamless Stitch,

I don't know how much fame and benefits Su Jing'an has gained.

If I am right

and the whole thing is a hoax,

I'll see how he's gonna stay in Beijing.

But it doesn't make any sense.

Your master only had two apprentices, you and Su Jing'an.

If he didn't pass the Seamless Stitch to you,

then he must have passed it to him.

How could he not know it?

Well,

we'll have to let him uncover the mystery.

What if Su Jing'an refuses to take up the challenge?

What can we do?

It's not up to him.

I've got someone

to spread the word all over the capital,

saying that Su Jing'an is going to challenge Will from England.

Now the whole city

is waiting the Seamless Stitch

to defeat England's sewing machine.

If he doesn't take up the challenge,

what will happen to him?

He'll lose all reputation, too.

My lord.

You haven't slept well these days.

Why did you get up so early today

without calling me?

Why should I call you?

These days you were uneasy.

It is hard to get more sleep.

I couldn't sleep well either.

Since Mosheng...

My lord.

Yaoyao' marriage, we should plan early.

But these days，

I don't think you've ever concerned about this matter.

Doomed love...

These three kids are the same in my heart.

I didn't think of it that way.

Whether you think of it or not doesn't matter.

Yaoyao's reputation is a big deal.

Actually,

my favorite is Yuanzhi.

But now...

Since Yaoyao has grown up,

it's time to find a husband for her.

Do you think Mosheng...

No, Yaoyao has already told me that was a mistake.

Her fell down by herself.

Even if there is no such thing,

Mosheng is impossible.

Mosheng is Bai Henian's adopted son.

If Su and Bai two families cause trouble again

because of children's affection,

it will become more and more chaotic.

Mosheng used to be discreet.

Now I am a little disappointed in him.

What about Yuanzhi and the Princess?

My lord.

My lord.

Mr. Zhao came here. He said he had an emergency.

Take him some tea. I'll be right there.

Yes.

You are a mother.

You can't choose which one to abandon.

It must be rough for you.

But remember,

the Princess is a royal relative.

No matter her father or the Empress Dowager,

they would never let her marry a common people,

considering royal's decency.

That's just wishful thinking on his part.

[Royal Highness Mansion]

From the God's Blessings, the Empress Dowager Decree.

Princess Kang Ning has been by my side for many years,

who is cautious and virtuous, kind and courteous,

gentle and beautiful.

Duke John Zhu of the English Empire

sincerely seek a marriage alliance.

The first, is to help them attain their aims.

The second, is for the friendship between two countries.

Therefore,

Princess Kang Ning is betrothed to John Zhu.

All the rites

will be handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Board of Astronomy.

Hereby announces.

Princess.

What‘s up? Are you too happy?

Please accept the edict and express thanks for great favors.

Princess.

Eunuch is calling you. Go to accept the edict.

Eunuch, may I ask?

Why did the Empress Dowager grant me a marriage all of a sudden?

A man should get married on coming of age, and so should a girl.

The Empress Dowager loves the Princess.

If the Empress Dowager truly loves me,

she won't grant me a marriage

without asking me.

So...

Your princess is blaming the Empress Dowager.

Please calm down, Eunuch.

She definitely didn't mean that.

Please thank the Empress Dowager for us.

No need for that.

I'll thank the Empress Dowager by myself.

Princess, please think twice.

This is the Empress Dowager's grace.

This is the Empress Dowager's grace

or someone can't tolerate me.

Please forgive us, Eunuch.

I, Na Hetai, accept the edict for the Princess.

The Royal Highness Mansion won't forget the grace.

We can't be vague about this matter.

We don't stir up troubles, but we aren't afraid of troubles.

But now,

the knife is on your neck.

We can't just let them kill us.

There is too much discussion now,

saying the Triple Cutting House is going to challenge

Will's clothes store.

And they even mentioned the Seamless Stitch.

Do you think it was civilians who were nosy?

I'm afraid someone pulled the strings

from the beginning to the end.

No matter it is manipulation or nosy,

things can't be like this.

If you're stuck here,

you'll be a worm crawling into the wine jar,

being caught in the middle.

You mean...

If the Triple Cutting House take the initiative,

we can still get the upper hand.

Yes, you finally woke up.

I brought you this tea. And it was useful.

Fighting with foreigners,

it's not about winning or losing.

It's about appropriate advance and retreat.

We open the door to do business.

We believe in the golden mean and that harmony brings wealth.

You see.

On one side, is foreigners.

On the other side, is imperial power.

You never know,

the interests and the current situation involved here.

We have to survive in the gap between the two sides.

[Tunyou Gate]

I bow in respect before the Empress Dowager.

Rise.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Princess Kang Ning is about to get married.

I want you to make her wedding dress personally.

Yes.

The Princess is both talented and beautiful.

I don't know who is so lucky

to marry the Princess as his wife.

John Zhu, Duke of British.

He and the Princess had known each other from an early age.

He's always been in love with our Princess.

For the sake of the friendship between two countries

and the Princess,

Her Majesty grant this marriage.

Don't worry, Your Majesty.

I'll make the Princess satisfied.

Besides,

I heard Your Highness couldn't sleep well at night recently.

I specially made a nightgown for you.

Why do I smell a scent?

Your Highness never like burning incense,

so I added a soothing fragrance

to the piping.

You are really clever.

If all ministers of the court

can perform their duties as loyally as you,

I wouldn't have to worry so much.

I dare not deserve this.

I'm just a tailor.

I am not comparable to court ministers.

But...

Go ahead.

Even though I am just a tailor,

as a citizen of the Qing Dynasty,

seeing foreigners flaunting their power

at the feet of the emperor,

I am very angry.

Stop.

Why are you short-tempered?

None of the steadiness of a princess.

I don't want to tie you down.

But you must promise me.

Stay at home

till you get married.

What if I say no?

What's wrong with marrying that Englishman?

Now in Beijing,

the most powerful people are the foreigners.

Aren't they better than

those unlearned dudes?

It's amazing that he likes you so much

and ask the Empress Dowager for a decree.

What's more,

you'll have an Englishman behind you.

Look at you.

Don't make me sound like

I am selling my own daughter.

I am telling you.

I've seen that Englishman.

He is also a modest gentleman

and he promises he'll be nice to you.

You've seen him.

When did you see him?

The Empress Dowager's decree just came.

How could you know the Empress Dowager asked me to marry him?

Or...

You asked the Empress Dowager for this decree?

Yes.

I asked the Empress Dowager for this decree.

What's the matter?

I am thinking about my daughter.

Is there anything wrong?

If you really care about me, Father,

you should discuss it with me.

Discuss what?

How can you and that Lu Yuanzhi

get together?

I am telling you, no way.

Your Highness.

Englishman Will opened a clothing store

opposite the Triple Cutting House.

He placed a sewing machine in the doorway,

saying our country didn't have a good tailor

could beat that sewing machine.

Those words were extremely humiliating

and hard to hear.

I am Su Jing'an's apprentice

and I am also a part of the Capital Chamber of Commerce of Garment-Making.

I dare ask Your Highness

to allow the Capital Chamber of Commerce of Garment-Making to

compete with Will

to save face.

Even though I didn't see the sewing machine,

I know what a foreign machine can do.

Are you sure you can win?

I dare not deceive Your Highness.

In fact, I'm not sure.

But my master, Su Jing'an, can.

He had inherited

the Seamless Stitch,

which can easily win a machine.

OK.

The face of the garment-making industry

also matters to the face of the Qing Dynasty.

I can trust his craftsmanship.

If the Seamless Stitch

can win foreign machines,

it will be a tribute to our national pride.

Your Highness is right.

But the Seamless Stitch is only used for the emperor.

Unless Your Highness agree,

my master wouldn't dare violate the taboo.

If he takes up the challenge this time,

we still need Your Majesty's permission

to avoid being criticized by the world.

I'll write the imperial edict.

Although you are a servant in the palace,

you still remember your duties as a son.

Very good.

Thank you, Your Highness.

My lord, the master is really innocent.

Shut up.

She and that guy Lu Yuanzhi contacted privately.

I'm sure you helped in the middle.

I'll deal with you later.

Father, I swear to you

Lu Yuanzhi and I have never crossed the line.

And I...

I have no affair with him.

Father, please.

Can you ask the Empress Dowager to recall the imperial edict?

OK. Fine.

Since you two have no affair,

wouldn't it be better if you marry John Zhu?

Anyway, the imperial edict was decreed.

The dice is cast.

Stay at home

until you get married.

Someone!

My lord.

Put a guard at the door.

Keep the Princess inside.

I'll ask the Empress Dowager

to allow Sir Duke to send people

to guard the Royal Highness Mansion.

Not an ant can come in here.

Yes.

Father.

My lord.

Princess.

Yuanzhi, what are you doing?

[Winter Robe of the Empress Dowager: Three, Customized According to the Dynasty]

Royal costume.

Aren't you always disinterested in these?

You wouldn't even read it when my father told you to.

That's my personality.

If someone pushes me,

what I want to read, what I don't want to read,

what I want to do, what I don't want to do,

I will do nothing.

Why are you willing to read it now?

I found out that what I read was very important.

For example, the book is all about stitches

and cutting.

I can read it.

What kind of stitches are you studying now?

Since I mended that foreigner's clothes

by accident last time,

I am wondering,

if I could work out a set of stitches

that can mend the clothes well without showing the stitches.

What are you doing?

Why not come to my father directly

and ask him to teach you the Seamless Stitch?

Fine. Fine. Fine. Don't mention those words.

When he heard those words,

he wanted to eat me.

Never mind. I'm not going to the palace anyway.

I just work from home.

I don't learn.

Yes. The palace is not as secure as home.

You and Father cut clothes in the future.

Mom and I embroider.

I am so happy at the thought of it.

Yaoyao.

Your happiness should not be working at home.

Mosheng is serious about you.

You know that?

I asked him to come over that day.

His face suddenly turned red.

If I didn't force him,

I don't know when he will speak his mind out.

What are you talking about?

It was you who asked him to come over that day?

Yes.

Miss.

Miss.

Miss.

Master.

I just went to the cabinet to match the silk thread for Miss.

And I heard a news

saying that the Empress Dowager granted the Princess Kang Ning a marriage.

Marriage?

Yes, it was said that it'll be thrown early next month.

With Duke John Zhu.

Early next month.

There are only a few days left.

You.

Lingshuang.

Yuanzhi likes Kang Ning,

right?

Brother.

Yuanzhi.

Brother.

You came here for Princess Kang Ning, right?

Brother, please accept my worship.

You don't have to do this.

Keep today's matter to yourself.

Don't worry, I'll help you.

Brother, you knew I would come over?

Brother, thank you.

I don't want you to thank me.

I want you to do me a favor.

Yaoyao.