Original subtitles

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 2

Last night, I dreamed of flowers falling down into the quiet, deep pool.

It is so pitiful that half of spring has passed while I haven't returned home.

"A Flowery Moonlit Night by Spring River."

Good. Zhang Ruoxu was a great talent from our Yangzhou. (T/N Tang Dynasty, circa 700 CE, one of the "Four Poets of Central Wu")

It was all taught to me by my mother.

She's a talented one.

You are her biological daughter so you take after her naturally.

Your Sixth Sister already came to wish me good health.

I made some flaky pastries for her to take back.

You go out and have some too.

I studied for many days to learn this whole thing.

Let me read it to Grandmother all the way.

You haven't had breakfast yet.

Go now.

The flaky pastries are still hot.

Fourth Miss, go try them.

Come on.

I said I wouldn't go, but you just made me go!

She's not the real mother of my father, and she hates you!

Why would she find me fitting?

She just wants to chase me out.

She's so harsh with me. I will never go again! Never!

She's your main family grandmother.

Even if your father tells you not to go,

you still should go to her to ask her well-being and tend to her.

She told you to go have breakfast, and it was because she was considerate of you.

But look at how arrogant you are instead! I don't think I can teach you well now.

Starting tomorrow, you go to Big Madam and learn from her.

Mother. Mother!

The physician said your old illness wasn't a light one.

It stemmed from depression and loneliness, he said.

These days, the children come to tend to you, Mother.

Whichever you are fond of, keep her by your side,

so you can laugh a few times watching the children play too.

I'm old and I can't handle any exhaustion.

I only wish for quiet.

It's no rush, Mother. You think about it more.

Mo'er. You're already over nine years old.

You should be sensible already.

But the bowls and cups you broke today,

that's enough for the outsiders to live on for a year.

Do you want to suffer that plight in the future?

No, Mother. I am scared!

Grandmother was watching me and I was scared.

Mo'er, don't be scared.

Your grandmother is a softy.

In the future, if Grandmother says today's a good day,

you don't say it's just rained.

If she says it's cloudy today, don't say it's sunny.

Coax her to be happy,

and she will be good to you. Alright?

Mo'er.

I hear you reprimanded Changfeng.

That's great.

One ought to love one's son deeply and teach strictly.

That's how a grand house runs.

Yes.

If it hadn't been for Sixth Miss,

our Sheng house's prestige would need to be fetched back from many li away outside. (T/N so embarrassed)

Have you gone over to see the mother and daughter?

I have languished. I will go now.

Father!

Ming'er. Why are you still here?

I wanted to see Father.

Father is going to Big Madam's room.

Tomorrow, do you want to come with me?

Father, please go see my mother.

Today I had a lot to do at the magistrate office.

A bit later and I will come to your room for sure. Alright?

Alright.

This is for you.

This was gifted to you by Grandmother, right?

Eat it tomorrow.

Go and tell your mother now.

That child. Look how happy she is.

I haven't had a chance to go.

Then your father, did he go see Old Madam today?

He said he would come today for sure.

Minglan, since your father is coming,

whatever charcoal or food matters, you can't mention a word.

Did you hear me?

Thank you.

Where's the issued order?

I am from Mistress Wei's courtyard. You don't recognize me?

We just finished the banquet and so many are passing through.

If someone steals or takes something out,

we can't be cleared of that.

A basket full of smoky charcoal from the stove. How much can it even be worth?

Some people's courtyard is just so skilled.

One can bear a baby, and one can throw arrows into a kettle!

You better be careful, or her lady might tell on you by the pillow side, (T/N "pillow talk" to Master Sheng)

and you'll be beaten up!

Thank you so much.

Or else when Master comes, we won't have any charcoal to serve him.

Sister, hurry go and back. I'll wait for you here.

Thanks.

Come.

Take this inside. Window-side. Last stall.

My father once saved an old landlady from being wrongfully accused in jail.

Her son is an accomplished high scholar.

Brother Zhonghuai, why don't you study with me and prepare for the preliminary round of Imperial exams together?

I come from a line of soldiers and my temperament has no patience.

That's quite alright.

The two of us can be one for the martial and one for the literary scholarship and together, we can govern the borders.

If one day, I can fight on the border

to recover our land that's lost, I would die without any regret.

Young Master!

Hurry and leave, Young Master.

Zhonghuai, save me.

Father!

Mistress!

Master.

So Mistress Wei already heard of it.

Shuyi, you didn't see it by the front courtyard yesterday.

Minglan did a great job playing touhu.

Just a petty game

for amusement.

Master is speaking of it with so much zeal.

I regret so much I didn't go take a look.

Hualan told me to bring you that.

She said she will come tomorrow personally to thank you and the daughter.

Master, please wash your hands.

Sister Xiaodie, how many jin of good charcoal did you exchange for?

Only a bit over a jin. It will be gone after one night.

Father is here. Tomorrow and the day after, we'll have charcoal.

Go, let's make tea.

That Minglan you raised is such a good child.

She earned respect for the entire family yesterday.

it's all because she's learned a lot from Old Madam lately.

I only hope that she doesn't put to shame Old Madam and Master's love.

Whichever girl Old Madam comes to be fond of,

it would be that child's blessing.

Indeed it is.

You've come to my house for so many years already.

But I never actually knew you know how to play touhu?

It was all taught to me when my father was still alive.

Just a country people's trick.

It's not worth mentioning.

A gentleman should have six talents and shooting is the fifth. How can it be a small trick?

Master, try the seven treasure drum tea from our room.

This is all the charcoal we have in our room.

It's cold in here so Father, drink it and sweat.

It is pretty cold in the room.

A woman's body is feverish while pregnant.

Though it's already snowing outside now,

my body is still sweating.

Even this little bit isn't needed. I only hope they will extinguish it.

Even so, beware that the windows are shut so you don't catch a chill.

Since Master feels cold, why don't you go back first?

There are so many things for you to tend to lately.

You can't catch a chill either.

Tomorrow I will bring Sixth Miss to pay respects to Grandmother,

and give thanks for Eldest Miss's gift.

Fine then.

Father. My mother is lying to you.

Minglan.

- She's lying to me? - Minglan!

Lying to me about what?

We never get the charcoal we are supposed to be issued, Father!

Father, have pity.

Yesterday Mother was shaking from the cold.

Your daughter had to hold her to sleep.

The talk of a small child can't be deemed real.

Father, come look. Yesterday Sister Xiaodie went to the kitchen to get charcoal.

They stuffed all the ones that can't be burned inside the room.

A whole room full of smoke. This here is the last bit!

After tonight, we don't even know if we'll have any tomorrow.

There are so many matters to tend to in the house. What do you know?

Father, come look.

The drum tea was from us saving it for a long time too.

Only when a noble guest like you comes,

that we spare to bring out a bit to drink.

The flaky cakes Grandmother gave us need to be stored for guests later too.

We don't even get enough to eat for our meals!

You never said this to me.

Mistress Wei says you are busy toiling with work.

She hides and won't allow us to tell you a thing.

It's all due to Ming'er being a food craver.

You can't treat her words as real.

Is this really true?

No.

Look at me and speak.

You were compromised.

I am not compromised.

I only hope that Master, you don't startle everyone.

In this manor, I am still the master!

Does it hurt?

Mother, don't cry. Father said he will seek justice for us.

That helper with last name "Bai" is quite skilled.

He actually pulled our Little Bai out of the study to go out and play. (T/N Changbai)

Did you find out anything?

Or have Caihuan go and find out?

Yes.

Don't you see me that I came steaming with anger?

Acting like nothing's happened.

Ask the entire city of Yangzhou,

is there another Big Madam like you?

What?

There's only one in my manor.

You wanted to be virtuous, so you insisted on buying her to enhance my prestige.

Now you come and be jealous of her.

You're just ruining a person for no reason.

You don't even give her food!

What other households have Big Madams like you?

Wei Shuyi?

She dares to mess with me too?

What?

Seeing how that Mistress Lin is favored and her daughter is useful, she wants to climb over me too?

Your Sheng House is sure a dragon stepping in so much mud!

I can just quit being this Big Madam here and wash my hands and be your concubine here instead!

You don't need to be so wild.

If you have any conscience--

Conscience? You can say that? Who's the one who lacks it?

You!

I just came from there. That room is like an ice cave.

You don't even give her any charcoal. When she's pregnant at that!

Master. My mistress, Big Madam here... .

She is quick-tempered.

But I still remember. Due to talk of marriage for Eldest Miss,

so many matters and she has to serve Old Madam for her illness too.

So she talked to you and gave the keys and tablets

all to Mistress Lin to manage.

Mistress Wei's allotments are under her care too.

Master, if you go and ask her,

it should be more clear than asking Big Madam.

Thanks to your help yesterday.

Today you come and tell me this also,

so I really don't know how to thank you.

It's all my duty.

Xueniang, escort Brother Dongrong out well for me.

Yes, Mistress.

Mo'er, continue to read.

Your son lost my Hualan's betrothal goose.

And you yourself embezzled Mistress Wei's food and charcoal.

This is what you call a mountain upon another mountain. (T/N faults on top of faults)

You can't just accuse me without proof to defame my innocence.

Defame your innocence?

She has no charcoal or tea in her room.

If it weren't for the magistrate going over there getting a chill there,

that dumb thing was still hiding it for you.

You're trying to force her to die,

and kill the magistrate's child in her belly too?

I really don't dare to deceive you.

Everything issued is recorded in the ledgers.

- Xueniang. - In case the servants aren't thorough,

she's instructed me to watch over the distribution personally.

Since Mistress Wei is with child,

we've even issued her two extra baskets of charcoal monthly.

My lady even put together her own money,

to add two bird's nests for her every month.

Just her own money.

It wasn't recorded in the ledgers.

But may Master and Mistress not be played by the petty-minded.

I... I will go and fetch the ledgers now!

So you're saying everything was issued whole?

- Your servant doesn't dare deceive. - I really don't dare to deceive. It was issued in its entirety.

"Don't be played by the petty-minded?"

Then it's Mistress Wei who's framing you?

No. Sister Wei is most kind.

In the middle might be where the issue is.

Madam. I have a foolish thought.

You know it's foolish but you will say it still?

Madam. Let my mistress explain.

Speak.

My Mistress surely distributed the allocations.

But Mistress Wei surely never got to use it.

The items can't just disappear into thin air.

They might be located at someone's place.

Hurry, hurry, hurry. Here.

Here. Here.

Yes, yes. Pull.

Again.

Zhonghuai.

Zhonghuai, where are you?

It's dark and we can't see clearly. We've been fishing for him for a while.

We only found you two.

Zhonghuai. Zhonghuai, where are you?

Zhonghuai!

Find it.

Hurry.

Go.

Master.

Master, I've looked into it.

At first the Sheng house won't say so, I had to use a few coins before they would tell me.

They met a thief from within and they're searching their courtyards.

I got it. Go now.

That's some great family indeed.

They deducted our stuff but they come and search us?

None here.

- What are you doing? - Sister Xiaodie.

- Let me go. - Sister Xiaodie.

It was found under her bed.

Be still.

Sister Xiaodie.

- Sister Xiaodie. - These aren't mine.

Not mine.

We really do have a thief in our house.

You thief of a whore.

You covet your own mistress's stuff.

And you said it was my Mistress!

Thanks to Master and Madam being so wise and decisive

with skills to investigate,

or else my Mistress Lin will die from the wrongful grudge.

Have pity.

Master Hong, I have not failed you.

It was definitely not Xiaodie's doing.

What are you doing?

I . . . opened the door for her two days ago.

I saw her carry a basket of charcoal out.

You are His Lordship's ink servant.

Why would you go and open the door?

He knocked over the ink two days ago, and was punished by sending him to watch the door.

Father, I told her to take the smoky charcoal

to exchange them for gray charcoal.

Or when you come to our room, we wouldn't have any fire.

- Father. - Master.

Good child. You are used to being deceived by her.

She took so much stuff today.

How can you know it all?

These things I've never seen or known of.

- I really didn't take them. - It's not her.

You stole your master's stuff and wrongly accused your superior.

You should be dragged out and beaten to death.

She's from my courtyard.

Just where do you have the place to speak up?

Mistress Wei, save me. It really wasn't me.

Mistress!

Master, Xiaodie has always been loyal to me.

She's very thorough in caring after me.

There must be another story to this.

Big Madam, you are kind and smart.

You will surely investigate the truth out.

May Master and Madam find out the truth.

Sister Wei, you are a softy.

She dared to steal from the house today

and blamed it on Big Madam.

Who knows what she might do to you tomorrow?

You'll lose a maiden doing chores in your room.

Starting tomorrow I will compensate you with two or three.

Nonsense! I have always been loyal to my lady. You are accusing me wrongly!

Wrongly? Wrongly? Stuff her mouth,

so she doesn't startle the Master and Madam!

Each with their own insistence, we can't get to a clear point!

Let's petition to the official then.

Official? Good to petition to the official then.

I am the official. Petition to who?

I have a thief in my house, but I should go and sing about my bad luck so the entire surroundings know?

As they say, if there's a kitchen in the house, don't worry about the chef not being fat.

Even the chef with oil won't dare to drink all the oil.

I think this incident is quite peculiar.

If I get to the bottom of it. there is a thief in this house no matter what.

The entire Yuan clan is staying in this house.

And you want the bailiffs to come search the house?

Tomorrow the entire family won't need to see anyone ever again.

May Master come to a decision after a clear investigation.

We've been quiet in the house for years.

We've never had this happen.

Xiaodie's incident.

Everyone is a suspect.

Suspect of what?

Did you lack items?

Did she have extra items?

You're the one who wanted to state your bitterness and say you lack things.

Now the stolen goods are all here.

You, the bitter mistress, wants to blame me come now?

This courtyard has this huge laughable case,

all due to you.

And you all. You mismanage the house and this happened.

Master is right to scold.

Laughable?

What is laughable?

This is laughable? I am the laughable one!

Quiet down.

I am all of Yangzhou's laughing-stock!

Which big madam is like me?

Which concubine acts like that whore?

This Sheng house. Entire Sheng house. Pampering the concubine to the demise of the wife?

It's already been the laughing-stock of Yangzhou City!

Big Madam, may your anger dissipate.

Big Madam.

I admired Master.

Master only pitied that my family came to ruin.

I came to rely on Old Madam's help with nowhere else to go.

Big Madam.

Your bastard child Changfeng almost ruined my Hualan to death!

You just haphazardly beat him a few strokes of flogging and that was your answer?

You shrew woman! Shrew woman!

She almost had Feng'er beaten to death.

And you want our son to pay his life over an animal?

Today's incident is...

all because of her!

It wasn't me. It really wasn't me, Master.

Take this whore that steals from her mistress and defames her superior,

out of here and beat her to death, and don't dirty up this yard.

Mistress Wei! It wasn't me.

Master. Even though she wronged...

Mistress Wei, it really wasn't me!

Though she wronged... .

Old Madam's illness is just recovering,

and two ago, Eldest Miss had her engagement.

And I'm with child.

Killing her is a small matter,

but jinxing Old Madam and Eldest Miss's luck is a big matter.

It is a virtue to cherish life.

We have celebrations in this house.

May Master, on the account of the various noble ones,

do not beat her to death.

Just kick her out and it will do.

Father. Don't beat someone to death.

I am scared.

I said the Yuan family dismissed us,

but you wouldn't listen. You had them disembark the betrothal gifts.

Now the Yuan family is still in this house.

The engagement isn't even over.

And you want to beat and kill amid Hua'er's great happy time.

Is there another father like you on earth?

You fear to be laughed at?

I am not fearful of being laughed at.

- We petition to the officials! - Hurry and petition! - What petition?

Master, hurry and petition.

Get lost.

Master. Our Second Young Master was beaten!

What?

Hurry.

Look.

Over there.

Master Ming, you're finally here.

Brother Sheng, what an urgent call by the magistrate.

I almost fell off the carriage.

Master Ming, a grave trouble.

Sir.

Did you find the child? From Dongjing?

He's the Second Young Main Master of Marquis of Ningyuan Manor. Tell me!

His real name is Gu Tingye, but for ease of travel,

he changed his name to "Bai Ye".

If he meets misfortune, I will never be able to carry that blame!

May everyone please help. Everyone please help!

My Count of Zhongqin Manor will surely remember this.

I thank everyone. Thank you!

What did you say?

That is the main son of the Marquis' house?

What do we do?

Shut the city. Seal it. Move it!

Seal the city. Even if you flip Yangzhou upside down, we must find him!

Hurry!

Did you hear? How can this happen?

All the alleys of the south gate,

you must search each, one by one.

Yes.

And here.

We already searched here and nothing.

Alright. Look more. Dispatch more.

Search throughout the south.

Yes.

Go. Separate ways.

Over here.

Managing the house is a toiling matter.

And she's been startled, so she's upset and her vital energy is riled.

She needs to recover quietly for a few days with some medicine to restore her energy and it will be alright.

I will do as you say.

We also have a Wei clanswoman who is a pregnant concubine.

May you take a look and we will thank you handsomely.

That's easy.

This Mistress Wei. She was startled today too.

She had bleeding a few days ago too.

If there's another thing wrong, don't tell her.

Just tell me instead.

If we startle her more, she will be overly-upset and it may harm the child.

No one can afford to carry that blame then.

Yes, yes.

Xueniang. There's no one by Mistress Wei now.

Select a couple clever ones and send them to her.

I think Zhulou and Lulou are pretty good.

Maybe we just send those two?

Then tell them nicely that

they will be serving her from now on.

They can't be indecisive and they don't need to heed attention to me anymore.

If they are not fully-devoted to Mistress Wei,

then later on they will have to pay the price for it.

Yes, Mistress. I will remind them.

Sir.

Sir, you needn't worry.

Just take a good look at Mistress Wei.

Look. Have you seen him?

Have you seen him?

Look clearly under the water.

- Nothing here. - Nothing here either.

Nothing here.

Look more. Look.

Nothing under the water.

Look again.

How is it there?

Nothing.

You hurry and go.

They are all rough people who launder and iron.

A child like you might be swiped away by someone.

My mistress told me to come and give you this.

Why did you bring this to me?

She said you got nothing good serving her,

and instead you suffered, and that you only have an uncle left.

She's afraid he might sell you when you go back.

Does Mistress Wei trust me?

She trusts you. She said you were implicated because you work for her.

She told me to give you some money to lean on.

It's fine. I don't want anything. It's going to be dark and scary soon so go now.

No, no. My mistress said I must give it to you

or else I shouldn't come back home.

Your mistress is tricking you. She's the biggest softy.

Go now. Go on!

Tell Mistress Wei when you get back... .

tell her that I don't regret having served her.

She said to give it to you. If I don't,

I shouldn't go back then.

Hurry and go! Go!

Go now!

Sister Xiaodie, I'm going.

You take good care.

- That looks like him? - It's him. That's right.

How is he soaked like this?

Hurry now. Cut his jade off and get our reward.

Hurry now.

Look at those chickens and ducks and charcoal.

Mother. If I hadn't spoken up before Father,

our room would still be cold.

Just a pity that Sister Xiaodie can't be with us.

Sister Xiaodie wants to tell you,

she doesn't regret having served you.

Sister Xiaodie, will she ever come back?

We brought trouble to her.

Sixth Miss!

Let this servant do it.

You lazy bones. You can't let Sixth Miss boil the astragalus tea alone.

Sixth Miss, go play. Let me take care of things here.

Go, go. Accompany Sixth Miss to play in the yard.

Mistress, just instruct me with your orders.

The weather is cold and icy and he floated downstream.

He's got injuries all over his skin. There's no blood on the wounds and the flesh is flipping out from the skin.

He struggled a bit in the water and died.

He was soaked for long time and he's bloated.

His face is unclear now. May you not be startled.

Eek!

How can I answer to the Marquis' house?

How do I answer to them?

Great elders of the gentry.

In two days, it's an auspicious day and we can hold the burial.

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki

♫ One morning, a flower opened and approached a willow tree, beautifully fragrant and mistaking him for her lord ♫

♫ Even if drinking in water in the morning, red clouds have half a day of sunshine, the wind and rain do not affect them completely ♫

♫ In the palace, you are constantly brave and growing thin, from on high, your cold tears of distress flow ♫

♫ Brocade letters delivered to me dismiss me, only suddenly to recall me,

not for many years can I see you other than stealthily♫

♫ Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect ♫

♫ When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before. ♫

♫ Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers? ♫

♫ Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect ♫

♫ When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before. ♫

♫ Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers? ♫