Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 3

A guest is paying respects.

Filial sons and grandsons return the courtesy.

Lord, this way, please.

A guest is paying respects.

A guest is paying respects.

It's not that I want to criticize you,

but your in-law is not good at doing things.

He is here to deliver the betrothal gifts. Why did he bring a child along with him?

And then he didn't tell anyone about it.

A perfectly good child, just dying here so suddenly.

It's just getting us involved for no reason.

It is all my fault.

But Sir, there is no need to be worried.

He brought that person here.

The two of us, we don't know anything.

You make it sound easy.

It's a son of the legal wife in the Marquis' household that's dead. (T/N the word suggests the actual heir)

Today, the repose period is complete.

Late Eldest Uncle, your noble spirit is still present.

It's time to rest in the blessed place, and safeguard our family.

Raise the funeral banner.

Bring the funeral banner! Lead the way!

Shatter the crockery! Raise the casket!

What rights have you as the Second and Third Masters

to start the funeral procession for the First Master of the House?

Has everyone in the First Master's household died?

Who's that? Who!

You're a senile wet nurse, what nonsense are you spouting!

Eldest Young Master Bai, you are the eldest son of the Second Master.

You have nothing to do with the household of the First Master Bai.

We have someone of our own to start the procession.

Brother, why are you talking to her?

Where did this crazy woman come from? Drag her out.

- Drag her out. - Let me go!

- What are you doing? - Stop!

- Let me go! Let go! - Stop!

- Young Master Gu? - He didn't die?

Zhonghuai!

Bai Ye? What... ?

- You're not dead. - He's not dead! - It's Gu Tingye!

- This is great. This is really great! - Such merriment in a mourning hall!

What do you intend by this?

It's the Young Master Gu,

he's come back!

These bastards,

they have no respect for the law, they want to steal the inheritance!

My family is conducting funeral proceedings,

yet you come in here crying, screaming and making merry. What are your intentions?

Men, throw them out!

He's our First Household's Young Master.

You dare to kick him out?

- Kick him out! Quick. - Kick him out!

What are all of you doing? Bastards!

Young Master Ye! Young Master Ye!

Stop beating him!

Stop! Stop!

Stop fighting!

All of you stop beating!

- What are you doing?

Stop! Stop!

This is a mourning hall. Look at what it has become.

It's unbelievable that there's such a thing as Uncles from the branch family forbidding the grandson from paying his respects.

I have my late maternal grandfather's personal letter,

clearly naming me as the rightful heir! Why can I not be here?

Bullshit!

You are of the Gu family,

we are the Bai family.

Who's ever heard of someone from a different house being named as the heir!

Can it be that you intend to seize the Bai family's fortune by force

just based on the fact that your father and brother are decorated nobles?

Assembled gentlemen,

venerable elders,

please have a look at this letter and then decide.

I know my time is short.

I only hope for you to come inherit the family business,

so as to not let it be lost by others' hands.

Hence I wrote this last letter.

Your Maternal Grandfather Bai. Awaiting your return.

It's true.

This is simply nonsense.

I have never heard of this letter!

Cats can write, dogs can write too. Anyone could have written this.

You think you can take over the largest salt business in Yangzhou

with just a lousy letter like that?

There would be letters and notes left around the house,

so would all the venerable elders please be witnesses?

We can find some of the notes, compare the handwriting,

and check if it's authentic or not.

With me, I have some poems the old Master had gifted me.

I was going to burn them before the altar as an offering to the spirits.

Never thought they could be of this kind of use.

Take it.

What letter? I have never heard of this!

Before he passed away, Uncle said I was resolute and capable.

He personally handed the salt business to me.

Everyone in the Bai family saw that.

- Isn't that so? - Yes. - Yes we saw.

Yes we saw.

Uncle! (T/N specifically mother's paternal cousin uncle)

Look at my maternal grandfather's memorial tablet.

Look at him. He's looking at you from heaven!

Swear to him

that if anything you just said was false,

then the family shrine will shake with unrest,

and in death your mother's spirit will not rest in peace!

County Magistrate, we invited you to lead the funeral proceedings, how could you instead shield each other?

If you don't dare to swear, I dare to!

I, Gu Tingye, swear to heaven.

Naming me as heir, all that is true.

Should anything be false, then the family shrine will shake with unrest,

and in death my mother's spirit will not rest in peace.

Uncle, do you dare to swear to your deceased mother?

You... you are just a scoundrel.

The heavens and earth, passing spirits

and officials on duty today, they are all watching us!

Uncle, why do you not dare to swear?

I will say it then.

I... Bai Tingyu, I swear to heaven.

Naming me as heir, all that is true.

Should anything be false,

then the family shrine...

then the... family shrine...

Quiet!

He is a well-known delinquent in Bianjing City. (T/N Another name for the capital of Northern Song, Dongjing, originally known as and now again, Kaifeng)

A notable scoundrel

among the wealthy young nobles.

He dares to voice such blasphemy against the family shrine.

Have all your years of education gone to waste

that you will compete with him on how boorish one can be?

- Sorry Father you are correct. - Hypocrites, the lot of you.

Always quoting the Sage's words, (T/N Confucius)

yet you speak nothing but lies and try to fool the people.

Venerable elders and officials, I have worked in this household my whole life.

I know best where everything is.

I'll take everyone to find

where my Master's letters and notes are.

Old crone! This is the Bai's family manor!

You just wield some lies here

with a few officials holding your back.

So you want to just search and confiscate all you want?

If you want to enter this courtyard today,

you can step over my dead body!

- Return the slave contracts! - Return them to us!

- What's this? - Return the slave contracts.

Our master is gone, and you took away our slave contracts.

Return them to us.

Return the slave contract to us.

Return them to us.

Return the slave contract to us.

Alright, alright.

Stop creating a scene.

Return the slave contracts to us.

All you elders are Yangzhou's leading figures.

We went to admire the flowers at the Zen Temple last time

and enjoyed together fine wines.

How about we all go look together,

treat it as a leisure outing?

- Steward. - I'm going.

- This way, please. - Let's go. Quickly now!

Who died in the river then?

My junior manservant, Zhique.

I switched into his clothes to carry on as him.

You should have looked for me if you are fine too.

These days, I haven't had a good sleep.

I didn't know how much more treachery awaited me.

If I showed myself, I would implicate you instead.

Now the truth is out and it's alright now, so be at ease.

It's the same.

Isn't it the same?

Is it the same?

All of you elders, what do you think?

Brother Changli, what say you?

The handwriting looks similar

but it's hard to identify for sure.

I think it's impossible to identify.

Everyone assembled...

It is simply a joke!

This is the livelihood of hundreds in the Bai House.

We pray to our ancestors and our shrines four seasons.

Disciples and learned scholars and a mansion of justice.

Our men's success all depend on this.

It's not just Eldest Uncle's own asset!

- That's right. - To add further,

Eldest Uncle was sick in bed for a long time.

I believe he was confused,

so let we three houses discuss it thoroughly instead!

- That's right! - You're a bunch of filthy brutes!

You live at his house and covet his assets.

This family business,

it was all erected by my master by himself!

You saw he was well-off so you came one by one to seek refuge. When he's gone,

you plot to steal his assets and oppress his children.

Your conscience has been eaten by dogs!

Who says so?

What are you saying? How could you say this?

In order to preserve you elders' reputations,

I did not pull out another letter I have.

But it seems I have no choice but to bring it out to show you.

Lord Magistrate, please look at it.

I was born into a large clan, but lost my father at a young age.

My widowed mother devoted herself to raising me.

The uncles of the clan

schemed to seize my late father's bequeathed land of twenty mu. (T/N the mu land measuring unit varies through history in size, current value 666,5 sq m or 806 sq yards)

They tried to chase my mother and I out,

and to remove our names from the family genealogy.

Regarding this matter today, in my opinion,

the writing on this letter is most certain.

It's from Eldest Brother Bai.

If you ever need my help,

you can come to the north and find me at Lotus Village.

Everyone, I'm taking my leave first.

Elder Fan.

You can't go.

Eldest, you should look at your family genealogy.

The salt business. It's your eldest uncle's personal property.

Even if you go and drum up a royal petition,

it still won't work!

Alright, I'm leaving first.

Maternal Uncle! Return to me, your nephew, the various shop deeds and seals already taken away.

The deeds and seals. They're in the ancestral hall, in the Old Master's room.

It's hard to put together it all so quickly too.

Let's wait until the funeral and burial are done.

And I'll just give them to you one by one.

Forget it.

Tell someone to go with me.

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

Lord Sheng.

Can I trouble you to dispatch a few men to help me with labor?

Sure, sure.

You two.

Throw down the crockery and erect the funeral banner!

Old Madam went up the mountain to visit an enlightened man.

And your father went to Runzhou to bid farewell to Big Madam's maiden home.

These days, you can relax more.

When Old Madam is back,

you go and serve her then.

Fourth Sister is hovering around there though.

Your father wants Miss Molan to go there.

But until now, Old Madam still hasn't said so.

It seems she doesn't want her to.

Big Madam cherishes Rulan.

Surely she won't spare her to go.

Perhaps ultimately you're the one to get it.

I won't leave you.

Xiaodie is not here.

I feel uneasy.

If you go to Old Madam, I will be put at ease.

Our room isn't bad at all anymore.

What are you really worried about still, Mother.

These days, treasured foods are flowing in like water.

Reason has it that one ought not to accept rewards undeservingly.

And when the ordinary is changed, it's a demonic sign.

Ming'er. To influence the family, become the foster-child.

One should gauge for the far-reaching future.

Do you know what this means?

The empress dowager cherishes the young master.

Mother, you want to tell me I shouldn't be greedy for comforts in the room.

That I'm disregarding the future.

No matter what you say, I'm not going!

I've never seen a monkey more stubborn!

I told you not to stand out,

but you didn't listen to me.

I told you to go and be raised by Old Madam.

And you won't listen to me again!

Father is iron-bound to have Fourth Sister be raised by Grandmother.

If I fight with her, I'd just incite Father's annoyance.

Even if I win, Father will loathe me and Mistress Lin will begrudge me!

Big Madam would laugh at me.

And if I go to Grandmother's courtyard, how can you live here alone?

You're such a pig-head--

Mother. Mother.

Mistress!

Mistress, it's big trouble. Mistress Wei is in labor!

Ten months of pregnancy and labor in one day.

Mistress! Slow down!

Harder!

Mistress!

Push hard. Harder!

The water is not enough. I'm going to check the fire.

How's Mistress Wei?

The baby is too big.

I'm going to check the fire.

We have the kitchen watching the fire. Why would you go?

The kitchen doesn't know and they can't boil it well. Let me go take a look.

Really?

Little Mistress! Do you know about labor or do I?

Xiaotao, escort Nanny there. Nanny, don't lose your way.

- I know the way. - Nanny, come with me.

Sixth Miss, don't panic.

A woman needs to go through this.

Or else why would the saying tell us it's a leisure to be a man?

Quick, take Sixth Miss to look for Fourth Miss,

or she will be shocked.

Yes, Mistress.

Sixth Miss. Go with me to see Fourth Miss.

We've got Mistress Lin here.

I'm staying here!

Water.

I want to drink water.

There's no more hot water. I'm going to boil some.

It's fine even if it's cold.

Just a lick is fine.

You can't! A woman in labor needs hot water to warm the belly.

If you're shocked by the cold water, your delivery might be harder.

Mistress...

I am so thirsty.

It has been two hours

and not her first born either. Why isn't it out yet?

Don't be anxious, Mistress. Did you forget? When you bore the Fourth Miss,

you took all day too.

And you got through it nice and sound anyway.

- Miss! Miss, this is bad. Nanny has gone missing! - What?

I showed the nanny the way to the kitchen and we almost got there,

but when we made the long turn, I looked,

and that nanny disappeared suddenly!

That whore. She must be scared of getting implicated and fled.

What's taking so long for the hot water? We need it for drinking and for use.

And no cakes either! Mistress Wei is almost out of energy!

That bunch of cheap slaves. They can't even boil water in time?

Zulou. She's rushing them.

Those cheap whores in the main kitchen!

If they don't rush more, they will be flogged twenty strokes and sent to the brothel!

Let them be riddled with problems then!

Sixth Miss!

Stop this wild madness.

Xiaotao, take our Sixth Miss to play with Fourth Miss. Hurry up!

Sixth Miss.

Mother. Mother. Mother, come eat a bite.

Why are you so anxious?

She's out of energy for labor and she eats some cakes.

That's all very natural.

I...

Mistress, breathe.

Use more strength later.

The rag is rancid. Take it out to air it out.

Quick, have a bite.

The midwife.

Go find the midwife.

The midwife said she wanted to boil water and then ran away!

We haven't seen her since.

It's too late then.

Too late.

Mother. Eat another bite.

Get some energy.

Go to my room.

Look for Nanny Zhao or Nanny Li.

They are elders. They understand delivery.

Go now.

I will definitely find someone and bring her back here.

Nanny Zhao!

Nanny Zhao! Nanny Li!

What's wrong, Sixth Miss? Nanny Li's grandchild is sick. She has gone home.

What about Nanny Zhao?

Miss Gan of the kitchen invited her to go drinking and she's not back yet.

This...

- Xiaotao, this... - Sixth Miss!

What are you trying to do?

Momo Zhao! Momo Zhao! (T/N Nanny or most senior staff)

Sixth Miss is here again? The water has already been delivered!

Momo Zhao!

What's that smell?

She coveted my green plum wine, and she's drunk now.

Sixth Miss, why are you looking for her?

It's raining. It's raining!

I'm the Jade Emperor's fairy, I will punish your offenses!

Quick, support her standing up. Hurry!

Are you all dead? Just watching?

Hurry.

Let's go.

Quick.

Hurry up.

- She's slipping. - It's raining. It's raining!

It's raining.

Nanny Zhao!

- Nanny Zhao! - What is she doing?

- The hot soup and the rolling rain! - Nanny Zhao!

Don't go, Fairy!

Nanny Zhao!

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

Excuse me Madam, who is a skilled practitioner in the city for labor?

Lute Alley, Longevity Hall.

Ming Lan! Ming Lan!

What's wrong? Who bullied you?

I need to go to Longevity Hall.

Get in the carriage now!

Move aside.

- Hurry up.- I'm so cold.

Quick.

Move aside.

- Hurry up. - Move aside.

Stop the carriage!

Untie the horse for me.

Hurry and find a fast horse to brace on and go to Longevity Hall to escort some people.

Where is the physician? Hurry and save a life!

He's at the back having his afternoon nap. Sit over there and wait for him.

Master Physician! Master Physician!

- Where did that monkey come from to make such loud ruckus? - Hurry and save a life!

Hurry up. Leave now. Don't wake him up.

Come, leave.

Lord Magistrate Sheng's house. May the physician hurry and save a life!

The physician is inside!

Somebody help! You can't barge in.

I'm warning you! Master.

I'll go get a prescription first. Get my medicine box!

Don't just stand there. Go!

This... this horse?

Get on the horse!

Take care, Teacher.

This is Magistrate Sheng's daughter. Watch her well for me.

My horse carriage will come to fetch her.

Bring the medicine and bring two clerks to come to Sheng House.

Go!

This thing with your house is no small matter.

Open the door!

These old bones of mine are all jolted to pieces.

I usually only ride on donkeys.

This horse is too high. Too high!

What are you doing?

Isn't that breaking and entering?

In broad daylight? Climbing over the wall?

The door is open.

Master Doctor, let's go!

Slow down.

You old turd! How dare you barge into a woman's corridor.

You're just a common man and you dare to barge into an official's manor?

Attendants! Come quickly and take this man to the officers.

I'm from the Gu family, the Marquis Manor of Dongjing.

You better not mistake in your recognition.

in full broad daylight, you speak nothing but nonsense.

Let the physician go in.

You can't. It's a woman's matter.

How can we let a male physician come in?

Her breathing is so weak. It's already too late even if I go in now!

You're a man. What are you trying to do?

Are you trying to taint the woman's honor?

You must preserve the woman in labor!

Move aside.

Pitiful child. Go and see your mother now.

Mother.

- Doctor. - Sixth Miss.

Child, it's not going to happen.

When you came, it was already too late.

The child is too big and it can't be born.

It just dragged your mother to death along with it.

You called me here too late!

The baby in her belly won't be able to make it.

Child, look at your mother.

Mother.

Come here.

Lady, I'll prick a few needles into you.

Breathe and whatever you want to say, say so slowly.

Mother.

- Is it..? - Mother.

Mother.

Mother.

I don't have much time left.

I'm very cold.

Warmer?

It has been tough for you.

How did you find the physician?

I ran into the Young Master who played touhu with me.

Second Master Gu. He rode the horse.

And on his horse, he brought the physician here.

You must thank him properly.

That knee guard. I've already finished embroidering it.

Take that and give it to Master Bai.

He helped you. You must thank him.

Alright.

I don't have anything much else either.

That scroll, with Lady Li watching over Niangziguan. (T/N One of 18 daughters of Li Yuan (Tang Gaozu), aka Princess Pingyang, who aided her father's coup; originally "Weizeguan", renamed "The Women's Pass")

I embroidered it well.

So I'll leave it to you.

Alright, Mother.

How pitiful you're so little.

And you have to survive in this courtyard.

I keep telling you,

don't stand out.

You just refused to listen to me.

I was wrong.

I will listen to you in the future.

I will listen to you.

Remember this.

Look at me.

In all things,

survival is of the utmost importance.

Did you hear me?

Mother, I will remember.

I will always remember this.

What did you call me?

I can't bear to.

I don't want to call you "Mistress". (T/N She is a concubine and not the official "Mother" of her own child)

Mistress...

Mistress Wei.

Well done.

This is the way.

When I'm no longer here in the future,

you will be left alone

in this courtyard.

You will be the only one.

Your daughter will go to Grandmother's.

Alright.

Mother! Mother!

Mother! Mother...

From now on, I will never have Mistress Wei.

I don't have my real mother either.

You will be alone in the future.

You must cherish yourself.

Ming Lan!

Sixth Miss!

- Ming Lan! - Hold her!

Go and get water now.

- Yes! - Go now. - Hurry and get help!

You dumb bastard!

How many maidservants do we have that we need that midwife to go and watch the water boil?

She bullied you for being born such a fool!

You even believed such lies?

Lin Qinshuang was your first master,

but I'm your real boss!

You're a lead maidservant.

But you went and get yourself controlled by that whore Zuluo?

You are a damned fool!

Why didn't your parents give you half a brain at least?

Mother.

You are here.

I have something to say to my mother.

Tell her to leave first.

Get lost!

I haven't cried yet. Why are you crying?

Cool down.

Listen to that.

This mess of cow manure!

I exhausted myself to stuff her into Lin Qinshuang's courtyard.

But she's so useless, and gives me this instead!

She's forcing me to see the King of Hell soon. (T/N dragged along down/killing her)

I'm innocent, Master. I'm innocent, Master!

She's my servant.

It's all my fault. Please tell Dongrong not to beat her anymore. Tell him to stop.

Master.

- That damned midwife! - Beat her!

I'm wrongly accused, Master.

Beat her until the number is complete!

Master, I finished giving her twenty strokes of flogging.

Useless whore!

Drag her out and give her back to her parents!

May your anger dissipate, My Lord.

Master. Mistress.

It's totally my fault.

I am young and inexperienced.

I just didn't know that a baby that's so big,

can't be born.

I failed to save Sister Wei.

May your anger dissipate, My Lord.

May your anger dissipate, My Lord. May your anger dissipate, My Lord.

May your anger dissipate, My Lord.

Mistress Lin!

Shuang'er. Shuang'er!

What's wrong, Shuang'er?

Get the physician.

Yes.

Shuang'er. Shuang'er.

How are you going to arrange Mistress Wei's funeral?

She was just a concubine sold here. What funeral?

Just go and order a coffin from the side street.

In consideration of her death being a result

from her trying to expand Sheng House's heirs.

Find a scribe with good penmanship to write a tablet,

and give her maiden home five taels of silver. Have Mother Liu arrange it.

But Mother, as the head mother of this family,

arranging the concubine's funeral personally is the approach.

Or else the word will get out,

and Sheng family's reputation will be unsightly.

Fine then. I'll make myself an example to that whore.

Have her see what it means to be the Big Madam of a house!

By the way, Hua'er,

This time when I went back, your uncle gave me two strands of pearls.

Mother, sit down now.

Forget the pearls.

Just listen to me.

You must not throw any tantrums in the courtyard in the future.

If Father comes to look for you,

you just say how pitiful Mistress Wei was and how unlucky.

As for the rest, don't say anything.

Then... I shouldn't ask for the keys and tablets to manage the house?

Don't ever talk about this.

We should console Father during this period.

That whore Lin Qinshuang caused this havoc.

Why can't I ride on this chance to get back the house keys and tablets?

Mother, listen to my advice.

These days, don't think about packing up

and the trip to Dongjing. Just put your devotion

into managing the funeral.

How should I do it?

Bury the Wei clanswoman generously.

Treat Mistress Wei's family generously.

Did Master Hong ask me for the keys and tablets?

It's not that.

Master hired a new physician for you.

Dongrong is with him. Waiting outside the door.

Invite him in now.

Thank you, in regards to Zulou and Miss Gan.

This is to thank you from her.

It's just my duty. How cordial you are, Sister.

Mistress Wei's family sent someone here.

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? ♫

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