Original subtitles

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

Story of Ming Lan

Episode 7

Take it there.

Hurry. Move your hands faster!

What are you cleaning for?

Replying to Your Excellency, Second Young Master said he's already sent a letter

to have Momo Chang who was from Bai family to come to the capital.

She's arriving today, so he said to clean a room for her.

That Momo Chang is just a wet nurse.

We haven't seen her in over a decade. Why is she coming?

Momo Chang hasn't seen me in a long time and misses me dearly.

I grew up drinking her milk.

I can't be an ingrate.

If you truly want to repay her, that is a good deed.

Just give her some silver then,

don't trouble her to make the trip.

An elder leaving her hometown will find it hard to adjust.

What's there to adjust to?

When my mother was alive, this courtyard is where Momo Chang served her.

I think having her come and be a chief maidservant is quite suitable.

She's just a wet nurse. She wasn't even your mother's close maidservant at marriage.

What does she know?

How can she be a maidservant?

I think you should report it to Big Madam,

and have her arrange personnel for your room.

Momo Chang's matter, I've already told Mother.

I bet you didn't tell her,

that you want her to be a chief maidservant?

Your conduct is improper lately and if she comes,

she'll assist you to let you indulge in wine and women more.

Father, why do you fret so much over a wet nurse?

You try all measures to keep her from coming into the manor.

Quite peculiar it is.

My Eldest Brother and Third Brother,

their courtyards' chief maidservants are both wet nurses.

How is it they can, but I can't?

Can't be that it's because my mother's birth

and even my wet nurse is more lowly than others?

How is it that every time I mention your mistakes,

you bring up these old matters to sing your own lament?

If you were a success and learned to be good,

wouldn't I feel confident in whoever you choose?

I sing my own lament?

In this manor, other than my mother and Third Brother,

who doesn't scoff at me due to my own mother's birth?

Now I haven't learned to be good,

and you even blame the wet nurse you haven't seen in years!

Fine. Whatever Father says it what it is.

Since I was little,

no matter what I say or do, it's all wrong anyway.

Then let me be wrong all the way!

You all stop!

You! Seal all the side rooms of this courtyard.

No one is allowed to live in it!

Seal each and every one!

Just leave the room for that vile thing to live. I will see where he can put her then!

Father. Why such anger?

Sealing the doors is a very ominous act. May you reconsider, Father.

Ask your brother.

Ask him what great deeds he's committed.

My dear Second Brother?

He just set up a house for a woman.

It's not such a big deal.

Many noble young masters set up houses for their mistresses and it's not just ours.

I hope it's not the reason to harm the relationship of father and son.

A mistress outside? When did he start to keep one?

Don't be angry with my dear Second Brother over this, Father.

My dear Second Brother is young and confused.

Enticed by a singer is a common happening.

Singer?

So you are keeping a commoner too?

You just couldn't contain yourself and had to make the kill?

Speak! Did you or not?

I have.

I do have a mistress outside and it's been many years too.

Father. Do you want to seal my room too?

You're not married yet but you set up house with a mistress first.

What noble daughter would marry you now?

My reputation now, even if I don't keep a mistress outside,

no noble daughter will marry me anyway.

Kick her out of Bianjing!

You are not to see her ever again.

Or else?

Or else I will beat you to death.

Then beat me. Come on!

Beat me to death, and Gu House will be more serene!

"Dear Second Brother"? You!

"Dear Second Brother"?

Your health is like this, but you only just recovered from your illness a couple of days ago.

Why do you insist on coming?

What if your illness comes back?

I've been taking medicine since I was born.

Dragging onto today, I'm only just subsisting.

I only hope my dear Second Brother can be a success.

So he can inherit the family business and lessen your worries.

Don't mention that vile thing.

At this rate, I'll never hand the family business to him.

If he won't say where that whore is kept today,

I will just beat him to death.

You can never.

Father. My dear Second Brother is a Gu offspring no matter what.

If you keep up the beating, he will die!

Stop!

Dear Second Brother, concede now.

Admit your mistake to Father already.

With an older brother like you,

I have many mistakes to commit.

What?

You pretended to stop the discord,

but in reality you wanted to expose to Father that I keep a woman outside.

You colluded with those from Fourth and Fifth houses,

all to find out where I've installed the mistress.

You didn't achieve it after many tries so you thought of this,

to have Father force me.

Stop. Oh no. Stop.

My dear Second Brother is spouting nonsense from the pain. Stop!

I will tell you. You don't need to bring the Third and Fourth in.

Even if your elder brother said it on purpose,

that's because you're lacking, and he wants you to repent.

But you frame him with your eyes open.

You are truly hopeless!

Father.

If I won't tell you even if I die today,

will you really beat me to death?

If it's not on the account that you have the Imperial exam pending,

I would beat you to death today!

After the exam...

after the exam, I will ask you the whereabouts of that whore!

First Brother.

Long time no see and your measures are getting more skilled.

Forcing me to confess didn't work.

So you wanted to agitate Father to beat me to death instead?

What great grudge do you have against me?

What wild words do you speak here?

You and I are not enemies.

Whether we are enemies or not, you are aware in your heart.

Just that, you didn't get what you wanted today.

I'm quite sorry about that.

The days are many to come, so you can play your tricks on me all you want.

I am thick-skinned and thick-fleshed. Even if I get twenty strokes of beating a day,

I will still live longer than you!

You!

Nonsense!

Don't worry. Father can't bear to beat me to death.

Stop your dreaming.

Young Master, Young Master.

You're so soft-boned. (T/N no backbone, to stand up for herself)

I had to argue alone with Father.

You said nothing.

Back when you fought to bring back Big Sister's betrothal goose, you were mighty and fierce with touhu!

So resolute! What happened to it?

You were raised by Grandmother for a few years and you're a soft-boned one like this now?

Fifth Sister, you said so many things, but did Father believe a word of it?

I testified for you, and did Father believe a word of that either?

Fifth Sister, you're used to smooth days.

But since little, I knew circumstance is stronger than people.

No matter what we say, Father would believe her.

What's the use of saying a lot?

You're just soft-boned.

Molan will ride over you forever with the way you are.

We were just having to kneel a bit.

You spouted a few more words, and we have to kneel for three days now.

Why then?

You want me to swallow my pride and endure? No way!

Molan, that little whore. Flipping the truth with lies.

We cannot coexist. I will never give up!

Fifth Sister, listen. How loud is the wind outside?

We need to kneel here for three days!

And you're concerned about the loudness of wind outside?

Silly Sister. If the wind is big, it will be cold.

Nanny Liu.

Is it the middle of the Hour of the Rabbit yet?

Not yet. Still an hour left.

Has the minister released Ru'er and her?

Master went to court.

He's not back yet.

I won't sleep anymore. I'm going to go see Ru'er and the other!

Even if you don't sleep, Fifth Miss still needs to sleep.

How can she sleep kneeling?

Hurry. Hurry.

Take it.

Hurry though. Have Big Madam hurry.

So many eyes are watching.

Nanny Zhi. This house stil belongs to Sheng.

The name isn't "Lin".

You misunderstand, Sister. I mean, Big Madam is watching.

The Old Madam is so cold-hearted.

See how she dotes on that Ming girl normally?

She got whipped twice and has been kneeling for fourteen to sixteen hours!

But the Old Madam doesn't even come look?

Yes.

You didn't sleep soundly at all last night.

But then again, the Old Madam isn't the Minister's real mother.

So naturally she's not the Sixth Daughter's real grandmother either.

How much can she really dote on her? Just putting on the appearance of it.

What a relief that the Old Madam didn't ask me for Ru'er back then,

or my heart will be fried now!

MThe Fifth Miss is the legitimate daughter of Sheng House, so the Old Madam wouldn't treat her the same.

What's the difference? Even her own father doesn't dote on her.

Would her father's main mother dote on her instead?

Greetings, Mother.

How leisurely for you.

It's middle of the Rabbit Hour and I don't dare to be lazy.

I am on my way to the study hall to study.

Where is Fifth Sister?

Why don't I see her?

Oh, I forgot!

Sister is serving the ancestors at the family shrine.

That's good too. Let my sister learn,

so later on when she's at the marriageable age,

she won't have a private meeting with a male from the outside and shame our family.

Shut up!

You little whore!

Look at how you can't endure anger, Mother.

You'll have lots of anger to endure in the future from Fifth Sister.

Yunzai.

Let's not be tardy to Scholar Zhuang's lesson.

Yes.

Speak.

Master has returned from court.

Did he say anything?

H-He went to Linqi Pavilion.

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

You're too harsh too.

Fifth Miss is so tender, and Sixth Miss too.

She is the Old Madam's pearl in her hand too. (T/N Treasured girl)

If she kneels to injury, the Old Madam won't forgive you easily.

It's just a matter of a maiden stealing a look of a young man.

You can do that at the Dragon Boat Festival and you can do that at the Lantern Festival.

It's not so bad.

Even Mencius said, "A child's desire is toward his parents.

But when he's conscious of the attractions of beauty, his desire is toward the young beauties."

Let it go.

Let it go?

If you don't teach and train her well now to have her temper fixed,

what will she become in the future?

Mother is most reasonable and understands training, so she will surely not blame me.

It's just that Minglan girl. She's quite docile,

so this is a bit unfair to her.

But that Rulan. Clearly she did wrong, but she won't acknowledge it!

She insists in framing Mo'er instead!

So let her keep kneeling.

But Fifth Miss is still young.

You should dote on her more.

Big Madam has sent someone here,

saying she invites the Master for a chat.

Quickly invite her in, and tel her he will be right over.

You are the boss of me now?

I wouldn't dare. (T/N "Your servant")

Tell her to wait.

I'm eating, and I have matters left to attend to.

You are just

too generous and merciful.

Merciful mothers ruin sons.

Your leniency is placed mistakenly!

When it comes to treating the children well or not, it takes great consideration.

If there's a merit, you reward. If there's a mistake, you punish.

Or else, it's no different than ruining her.

You've taught your Mo'er well.

But we need the main wife to teach her Ru'er well too.

What you said makes sense.

[ Weiruixuan (Lush Balcony) ]

His Lordship says he has matters to attend to after eating.

He wants you to wait, and he'll come when he's done.

In that whore's room?

Of course he's in that whore's room.

Where else could he be?

Madam, don't be mad.

She's just a seductress.

The house management rights are still in your grasp.

His Lordship is very angry, and after his anger's dissipated,

it will be easier to beg leniency when he comes then.

I never thought...

This family of prestige, of generations of nobility,

would come to this pampering of the concubine to the slight of the main wife like this.

If I had known, Mother really shouldn't have agreed to this marriage!

I wouldn't have married here!

I already found out from the maids.

Sixth Miss is kneeling at the shrine as punishment by Minister Sheng.

Madam.

Big Madam sent someone to Linqi Pavilion to ask to talk.

But His Lordship was still angry and wouldn't go.

I saw the tonic Big Madam got for Sixth Miss,

indeed it's pretty good, and Sixth Miss will suffer less.

Big Madam put some thought into it.

Our kitchen said at lunch time, they will send over the braised white jade fish Sixth Miss loves along with jasper rice.

What she eats isn't what's important right now.

Send over a couple good pads.

She's just being punished alongside the other, so she doesn't need to do this so seriously.

That child is just so honest.

The other one's already laying down, and she's still kneeling.

Tell her not to be such a hardhead.

Earlier you said to just let her kneel, but now you ache for her?

Go, go on!

Master is here.

It's already lunch time.

You are indeed such a nobleman with so many affairs.

So many delicious dishes.

Salted meat and tofu with lotus seed stew?

Great dish. Add a bowl for me.

I'll do it.

These things are from Jinhua. (T/N city in Zhejiang Province)

In this weather, perfect for making it a stew.

Come, Minister.

Minister, try these dried bamboo shoots that are new.

Caihuan came to me earlier saying you wanted to speak to me.

The Minister must be exhausted from work and it's cold outside.

Have some hot soup and food with tea.

We can talk after you eat. There's no rush.

If it's about Rulan,

you needn't bring it up.

Rulan should get some teaching too.

What does Rulan need to learn?

You are just pampering her too much, and she's so spoiled and lawless.

I ask her one question and she pushes me back with ten.

Not even half a sign of a noble lady's poise.

Minister, you are her father.

She respects and loves you.

She was wronged and of course she would cry to you.

She's a tender little maiden, and she's been kneeling for over twenty hours!

Her knees are black and purple!

Minister, spare her this time.

I only wanted to have her kneel for six or eight hours at first.

But she's scared of punishment and kept saying it was Mo'er's fault, but look now!

She can lie with her eyes open. How outrageous is that?

Have her keep kneeling!

She kneels for two or three days, naturally she'll concede to her mistake.

Rulan is unruly and wild, you say.

But Hua'er is law-abiding?

Hua'er is law-abiding, of course.

Why are you mentioning Hua'er though?

Who doesn't envy that I have this great daughter Hua'er?

Back then, you described Count Zhongqin's house as so good,

and when they dismissed us at the betrothal, you said to endure.

Hua'er married in there and she's harassed all the time by that mother-in-law who's biased against her!

Now she's already got four or five concubines crammed into her manor!

This is the great marriage you sought for Hua'er!

Hua'er is Hua'er, and Ru'er is Ru'er!

How do you mean I'm not good to Hua'er?

Yuan family is great in every way. It's only that Big Madam Yuan,

she has bias for that eldest and disregards our Count!

That's what the problem is!

That elder Count of the Yuan House is still sensible!

If you're talking about Ru'er, then stick with Ru'er.

Don't bring the other idle talk into it.

Hua'er is so considerate and she knows how to run a house.

She is well known for it among the Bianjing ladies.

Changbai is so young, but already passed the provincial exam.

All your colleagues praise him.

Did those two children spring out of a rock then?

They were raised by me, one bit of poop and urine at a time.

You did indeed go through three letters and six courtesies, (T/N formal matchmaking and proposal)

with the gate open and welcomed me in as your main wife.

Minister. Minister...

Alright, then rise.

I dote on our Hua'er the most.

I toiled and fretted to find a good marriage for her back then.

How could I have known the Yuans had that fierce and biased mother-in-law?

Tell me, when they got married, she put on such a good act.

We couldn't tell at all.

Don't worry.

Alright. Sit, sit.

Think about it.

Our son-in-law.

How great is he? Patient and reasonable.

He's got himself a new post too. A promotion!

Later on when they move out, Hua'er will have her share of wealth and honor.

Right?

Minister.

Minister. You dote on Hua'er.

Dote on Ru'er too.

How do I not dote on Ru'er?

You! You, how..!

How is it that you just don't understand?

The Big Madam of Count Yongchang loves to talk about marital matches.

Rulan and Minglan showed such discourtesy before her.

Now you just want to let her go without punishment?

When the word gets out later on, what good family will come to seek marriage?

Don't you understand this reasoning?

My God.

These matters are supposed to be your lot to toil over.

But now I'm having to put in the thought for you!

I really don't know what you're doing!

This coquetry act, it turns out,

needs natural talent too.

I, for one, can't do it.

I'm going to the Old Madam!

Big Madam is here to inquire about Old Madam's well-being.

Oh my, it's so cold out, so why bother coming?

And we don't need to abide by such common courtesy.

Mother.

What's wrong? Come, sit and tell me.

Mother. May you talk to the Minister.

Spare them.

Pitiful two maidens.

They were raised so preciously like jewels by us.

They never had any of their skin rubbed raw.

Now they've been kneeling for over twenty hours and their knees are black and purple.

The shrine is cold, Mother.

They are so tender. How can they withstand the northern wind?

Minglan is shaking from the cold already.

May Mother please beg the Minister.

What you said, how do I not know already?

But I am still not the Minister's real mother after all.

I'm his legitimate mother, and he's the head of the house.

It is not appropriate for me to be wordy.

Let's not talk about legitimate or concubine.

Even if the Minister's real mother, Mistress Chun, were still alive,

you are still the legitimate mother and the Minister would never go against whatever you say.

This is ash made by mixing lychee shells in the incense.

Then you add the soaked wood.

And I think the aroma will be great indeed.

Whatever fragrance you make must be good.

Mother, everything else is fine.

But Minglan, that girl is weak-boned.

How can she withstand this northern wind?

Minglan, if she had been practicing her writing nice and well in her own room,

then nothing would have happened.

But she just had to go out and mix with trouble. Her father did right.

Mother. Hua'er isn't living well at Yuan House.

Ru'er suffers here.

My heart is like... like it's fried by oil!

Hua'er's matters are on my mind.

Really?

Madam Wu of Count Yongchang's House.

She doesn't come later and she doesn't come sooner.

Do you think she really came to see me?

She must have heard that Old Madam Zhuang of He House of Baishitan is coming to the capital.

So she came to check especially.

House of He? Imperial Physician's manor?

Indeed. That Old Madam is my bosom friend from my boudoir days.

Then, how is she linked to this?

Her husband's family is the head of the Imperial Physician's Court.

Her maiden home is surnamed Zhuang, specializing in women's medical care.

Then that Old Madam knows about women and pregnancy?

If she didn't, why would I urge her to come?

Usually, Hua'er is considerate of reputation.

And she is not at ease to invite a physician with fanfare.

Once the Old Madam Zhuang of He House comes,

we'll say I'm sick and have Hua'er come home,

and we'll have it nice and tightly hidden to get her pulse checked.

If the Count's Manor comes and speaks of trouble again,

we'll show them our daughters aren't so easily bullied.

Thank the heavens and earth, thanks to Buddha and the enlightened ones!

As long as they are well-cared of, I concede anything.

It's fortunate that we're all in the capital now.

Hualan has a maiden home that can hold her up.

With your care,

her days will flow as smooth as wind and water now!

Hua'er, of course I will watch over her.

Hua'er is prudent and considerate.

She's so good, yet she suffers at the mother-in-law's.

What about our Ru'er then? Her temperament is coarse.

She can't withstand provocation or any compromise.

And she lacks the consideration that Hualan has.

You ought to let her suffer some bitterness at home,

so she's tamed and trained,

and so she can cultivate herself.

Ru'er is still young and she's still got the temper of a child.

Hua'er's mother-in-law is prickly, and that's that.

But Hua'er still comes up short compared to the knowledge of the noble manor.

When it comes to floral arrangements and tea-tasting and lighting incense acts,

her handiwork isn't proper.

That strict sister-in-law of hers laugh at her mostly in these areas.

Their family is a line of military officers.

What elegance do they know? They're just picking trouble.

If you say that, that's wrong.

These petty actions. Though they are not of any grand use,

when it's in an aristocratic family, it's a different story.

It's already hard for Hua'er. Just think how Ru'er can be spared.

If it's really for the child's sake you have in mind,

you ought to grind that temper of hers down.

Mother, you mean . . .

When I used to reside in the palace,

there was a junior palace maid by the surname Kong.

Momo Kong of the palace?

Yes.

If you can bear with it for Rulan, I will invite her to the house,

and have her give the two girls some lessons.

If there's anything wrong they do, we'll have Momo Kong

beat them with sticks all she wants!

First, to grind her temper.

And secondly, we can regard it as a punishment.

Then that Minister of yours can't say a word anymore.

This is that tactic called, "besiege Wei to rescue Zhao". (T/N Second of the 36 Stratagems, The Art of War)

Mother, you shouldn't be a lady in the boudoir.

You should lead the soldiers for battle! If you were a general,

then the Gaoliang River wouldn't be in the hands of others! (T/N battle of 979 CE, vs Liao, now in Beijing)

Your mouth knows how to flatter too?

Drink some tea.

Class again?

I don't have to go to the Academy Master's class, but here comes a court momo?

I . . . Nanny Liu!

How is my fate so bitter?

Nonsense.

This court momo is someone who served many consorts and noble ladies in the Imperial palace.

Her knowledge is much higher than many aristocratic madams.

A bird can fly higher with the phoenix. (T/N good company yields better improvement)

So go learn some palace rules and practices from her.

Once you're married later on,

your husband and mother-in-law will respect you more.

Does that really require a court momo to come?

Grandmother was raised in the palace for a while too.

Those rules, she knows them too.

Do you really want your grandmother to come teach you?

No.

Hurry and put away that lamenting face and mouth of yours.

After putting on the medicine, go and bow to admit your misdeeds to your father.

You're not allowed to cry and whine.

Whatever your father says, you'll listen quietly.

I don't know, but to this Court Momo Kong's lessons,

Fourth Miss isn't actually going.

Our Miss and Fifth Miss were framed by her.

But she got herself called out as being good.

She doesn't need to suffer any punishment.

And she can go to the academy every day and see . . .

You don't know if Fourth Sister will still go to the academy.

Miss, what do you mean?

Xiaotao, lighter.

Here, let me do it. Your hand's too hard. Let me.

Miss. You need to think for yourself more.

Academy Master!

Academy Master, I've got a relative coming from Yangzhou.

These days, I'll need to go meet her at the dock and settle her residence.

So I'll need to pardon myself from you for three days.

Don't worry. Whatever lessons I miss, I will catch up as fast as I can.

By talent, you are already outstanding.

You've passed five or six years of studying all in one go.

But because you have this talent, you ought to work harder.

However you miss classes for many days.

You've already been absent five or six times.

If you languish in studying because you're talented,

when it comes to the Imperial exam, you will lose out.

The Academy Master is right.

But I am laboring with family business and I have no choice.

The Imperial exam is a grand matter in one's life.

No matter how busy the family affairs are, you cannot stop putting your ink on paper!

You're a smart man.

Don't let yourself get so distracted by outside matters.

Or it will be too late to regret later on.

Reconsider.

The Academy Master's words are like gold.

Your pupil will remember to heart.

Alright, go.

Every family has issues.

At this rate, how many from this hall can place with top grades?

Zhonghuai, don't worry.

I will note in detail everything Scholar Zhuang teaches us these few days.

I will send a manservant to deliver the notes to you.

No need. I will have Shitou come fetch it at your home.

I don't know who's going to be at home.

What if your item falls into the hands of someone,

and it's either burned or trashed? It's better I find one I trust to go get it,

so I can be at ease.

Is your home a tiger-wolf den?

Your parents and siblings all with schemes of their own?

How ridiculous.

I come from the tiger-wolf den, so I'm a tiger-wolf too.

I am no longer the gullible child from before. If one wants to take advantage of me?

Not a chance!

Then, you just be careful with all things.

You got beaten again?

Young Lord!

What are you doing with your head strained to the side?

I'm afraid your neck can't come back around.

How is it that the three maidens did not show themselves today?

Could it be that the three are all ill together?

Not that.

Our family invited a court momo to hold lessons at home.

A momo from the palace?

Yes. A few days ago, the girls fell down in the front hall, right?

So my father thought,

it's better to invite someone to the home to teach them.

I was present then.

It's not such a big deal. You all didn't beg leniency for them?

What's there to beg leniency for?

It's better to have them hold lessons at home instead of the trouble of coming to the academy hall.

Then they won't learn books anymore?

The daughters of officials in the capital do not practice that.

If you get to the bottom of it,

it's my father that rules at home.

Eldest Master's servant is following us,

evading and hiding. What is he trying to do?

I'll dismiss him, so he is out of commission for some eight or ten days!

He's just carrying out an order so you needn't do so.

If we injure him, it'll come to haunt us later.

That room can then make a novel out of it. (T/N elder brother's household)

What do we do then?

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? ♫