Original subtitles

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

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 10

Flower arrangement is a very deep and refined art form.

Even though I've worked for many decades in the palace, I have only a superficial understanding.

I can only be your guide.

Flower arrangement places emphasis on external form and inspirations from the heart.

Not only does it need to be beautiful but more importantly, it needs to be interesting.

If you can also illustrate some point of philosophy, then it would be transcendental.

Misses, you'll need to study and comprehend

the abstruse philosophies and mastery involved by yourselves.

Give it a try yourselves first.

The form is rather graceful,

but the color combination is lacking.

Momo, please show me.

Color combinations can be heavy and rich or light and elegant,

be cold or warm, be complementary,

or one main and the other supplementary.

Your arrangement, Miss, does not have any point which draws people's attention.

Yes, it is light, but there is no elegance.

What if I put in this one?

This one is colorful enough, but glaringly so.

Give it a bit more consideration, Miss.

Momo!

Momo, how about I switch it to these?

These flowers are already very pale in color,

if you switch in this light purple, it would be even paler and colder.

Momo...

Momo, what about this crimson one?

The color is bright and eye-catching.

If I was to choose, I would choose these two bright yellow ones.

Try it.

Put it here.

Yes indeed, it's the final touch required, Momo Kong.

Once the bright yellow flowers were added, all the flowers in the vase seemed to come to life,

without losing the light and elegant feel. Who would have thought it so?

No need to rush, Miss.

You have just started and have already made much progress. It is very good already.

Then Momo, you must swiftly teach us,

how to match it to our clothes and to people's dispositions?

I have talked much today and my throat's a bit dry.

I need to return to my room and drink something soothing.

Misses, continue with your work. No need for obeisance.

I'll be back shortly.

- Please take your time. - Please take your time Momo Kong.

Fourth Sister, you are certainly putting in a lot of effort!

You don't put effort into ladies' arts like weaving and embroidery,

instead you focus on incense preparation, flower arrangement,

things that noble and prestigious families like.

It's as if you will have need of such knowledge in the future.

As Momo Kong said, while such skills are trivial,

it's better to know it and not use it, than be ignorant and a laughing-stock.

I've always been obtuse, but I don't want to lose face for the family,

so naturally I must clarify things I'm unsure about.

Fourth Sister, if you know you're obtuse, then you should be more sensible!

Don't constantly hog Momo Kong's time.

Can't you tell the old lady doesn't want to bother with you?

That's why she lied about going back to her room for medicine. It's so that she can avoid you.

When have I hogged Momo Kong?

It's because Father told me to study diligently with Momo Kong.

He will test me on everything later on. I dare not disobey.

So what if I ask a few questions about what I don't understand?

Stop always pressing me with Father!

Momo Kong was especially invited here for Sixth Sister and I.

We are her actual students.

You? You were forcibly stuffed in here.

You got an advantage and you flaunted it.

You really did learn some low maneuvers.

You see someone with something nice, you snatch it and once you've got it, you whine about how it's unfair to you.

What are you talking about, Fifth Sister?

What do you mean, "low maneuvers"? What was "snatched from others"?

We are all born to the same father. Why is it you both can learn, but I can't?

You're just bullying me because I am a concubine-born.

Fine, fine, fine. I am just an extra.

Why bother being born into this world and be an eye-sore?

I'll just die instead!

Hey!

Crying, and crying, and crying again!

Every little thing happens, and you act like you're in mourning. Faking it again.

Why do you always cry like your own mother has died?

Last time it was clearly you who struck a blow at me,

but you faked your crying before Father and caused him to punish me.

What are you trying to get out this time?

Are you just trying to have the momo see it and deem that I'm bullying you

to get Father to punish me again?

Fourth Sister, please stop crying.

Fifth Sister, you speak a few sentences less too. If Momo Kong hears you,

she'd think our Sheng daughters are ill-mannered.

Fourth Sister, Momo Kong won't be at our house forever.

She'll leave when it's time.

Do you want to learn on the "more" side or "less" side?

Just over a bout of grudge, to delay your learning would be a loss with no gain.

Enough. No need to talk to her.

Who cares if she learns or not.

Eldest Sister married into a count's manor, but not everyone has that luck.

I advise you not to be hold such a foolish hope!

You just belittled me for being a concubine-born.

You deprecate... you deprecate me left and right with words.

Fine, fine, fine. I know I am an extra.

I'll just won't live anymore, is that alright?

Fourth Sister!

- What? Hey! - Let me just hit my head to death!

- Fourth Sister! - Hey, you let go!

Hurry and come help!

Let me hit myself to death!

- Miss. You can't! - You all shouldn't mind her. She can't bear to die.

Fourth Sister!

What in the world has happened?

It's so late, and class hasn't been dismissed so the girls can eat?

And the Fourth and Fifth Misses were fighting, with crying and screaming.

Momo Kong is punishing them to transcribe the "Fragrant Invitation". (T/N This may be Huang Tingjian's poem)

Fifty times per person and no one is dismissed until they're done transcribing.

Each hall's servants are hiding outside.

No one dares to go in the room to plead for the misses.

This time, Sixth Miss is having to be punished along the two older sisters again.

Unfair again.

Perhaps you'd like to go take a look?

I invited her to come teach my granddaughters the rules.

How can I break the rules myself first?

That old sister of mine is most fair.

She won't wrong anyone.

This is good too. Giving them a lesson.

Later on, they will walk fewer crooked paths too.

[ Fragrant Invitation ]

Master. Master.

Master.

Momo.

I've disturbed everyone today.

Originally, this matter needn't startle so many.

But since Old Madam entrusted me, I don't dare to languish in my duty either.

Hence we've disturbed Your Lordship and Madam.

Also, since Miss Mo is raised in Mistress Lin's room,

I've caused you to come make a trip too.

Momo, please speak at ease.

I imagined there were fast mouths on the way

that reported the fighting that occurred this afternoon to the three of you.

Though it's a petty matter of the women's quarters, the Misses are all grown.

Some things must be made clear as to right and wrong.

They need to be aware that a thousand li long embankment can be collapsed by one ant-hole.

If minor errors are not punished, they will brew into larger ones.

You delinquents! To incur such shameful acts!

Kneel, all of you!

The floor is cold. Let's not freeze the Misses' knees.

Attendants. Lay cushions down for the Misses.

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

You lack knowledge of etiquette and speak nonsense.

How are you different from the coarse village women?

What face do you have left to be descendants of Sheng House?

You're at least all girls. If you were boys,

you'd hardly spare yourselves from fighting over house and inheritance in the future.

And this is would be the calamity that divides the brothers!

There is no sincerity if we don't apply the house punishment.

You needn't be upset, Your Lordship.

Blind punishment isn't appropriate either.

The Misses must come to realize where they've erred.

I am the momo that's teaching the Misses.

So to be loosely said, I am a half a teacher as well. (T/N "shifu" - they are her disciples, a heavier meaning)

How about letting me to ask them?

Momo, your refined knowledge the top-notch.

Even the noble ladies of the palace back then were at your disposal for asking and scolding.

So these delinquents? Momo, please ask at your pleasure.

Do you all know your mistakes?

We do.

You all say you know your mistakes, but I think this may not be so.

In this world, most matters can't escape from reason.

I am someone who's never been fond of saying one thing on the surface but another beneath it.

It will just cause misunderstanding.

So today, before each other in person

and before your parents, let us speak to clear this at once.

Then let's start with the cause.

Fourth Miss, raise your head. I will ask you.

Fifth Miss said you are always snatching the younger sisters' thunder.

Hogging my lesson time. Do you acknowledge this?

It's all my fault.

I had thought, it's a rarity that Momo Kong is here,

so I wanted to learn more

so I can earn honor for my father and for the family.

I didn't think.

I didn't think I'd incurred the displeasure of the younger sisters instead.

It's all my fault.

Fourth Miss, you are smart and sharp and outstanding in all matters.

But today, I must advise you.

Don't let your intelligence

regard everyone else as fools.

You must be aware that the smart man can be ruined by his intelligence.

You erred in two things.

First, a mistake in speech.

When you argued with your younger sisters, you should not have

kept saying "concubine-born" and "main wife-born".

Though I have not been in this house for very long, I can see clearly.

Fourth Miss, ask your own conscience.

How does your father treat you?

Though you are a concubine-born daughter,

you are allowed to be raised under your birth mother with no worries of clothing or food.

One word of discord, and you whine and cry wildly about dying.

Is this the behavior of a grand house?

Secondly, you held bad intention.

You keep saying you want to learn.

You want to earn honor for your family.

Do you mean then that you're the only daughter of Sheng family?

Only through your earning of honor will the Sheng family be honored? Then what about your younger sisters?

They needn't learn and they needn't earn honor then?

Fourth Miss, I know you always push yourself to be the best,

but every person has their own fate.

Today's matter appeared as though Fifth Miss started it,

but in actuality, it's very linked to you.

These last ten days or so, you have been always fighting to be at the top, and be a standout in everything.

Any sign of displeasure and you sob mournfully, and blame your birth as a concubine-born.

Does your behavior pay any regard to your sisterhood

or any regard to the kindness of your father?

Father, I didn't.

Earlier you've said I'm the Old Madam's old acquaintance.

So I will be thick-skinned and speak a few more words.

A family with lots of children has to have the parents play fair

in order to achieve a serene house of harmony.

Though the sisters should concede to one another,

it has to be both that concede.

We can't always have one side concede always.

After time passes, that will likely bring about suspicion between the sisters and the parents.

Minister Sheng, do you agree?

You are right, Momo.

Today, Fifth Miss was quite mighty.

Arguments among sisters are a common occurrence.

You angered your older sister, then you added oil to fire with no filter to your words.

Pricking at what hurts her.

You must know that the source of a disaster is the mouth.

Your temper needs to be changed,

or it will court a big disaster in the future.

As I see it, you should be punished more severely than your sisters.

I know my error. I won't dare ever to speak more nonsense.

Sixth Miss, you must surely deem yourself without wrong today,

and thus you shouldn't be implicated. Is that right?

Then let me teach you a principle today. A family of siblings

are tree branches attached together. Together is their glory and together is their demise.

If you're glorified later on, your entire family is glorified.

If you shame yourself, the entire family is shamed with you and no one is spared.

Today, though you committed no wrong,

your older sisters both erred, hence you've erred without committing a error.

I will punish you along them soon. Do you concede?

Momo, Ming'er didn't do anything wrong.

And she's the youngest too and weak-bodied.

How about just giving her a few words of reprimand?

She's the most sensible and obedient usually.

She'll remember your words to heart in the future.

No. If we spare her solely today,

it will nurture an air of indifference among the siblings.

And later on, if something happens to one sibling, what if the rest just stand and watch?

She must be punished.

Punish. Punish her then.

The beatings Miss Ming receives today,

is to let the sisters know what it means to be one family.

Momo is right. I deserve to be beaten.

You sisters argue and fight.

A little thing and you turned into a great big fight and chaos.

Compared to the small households where food and clothing are sparse,

fighting over fruits and clothing to wear. How do you differ?

You must know if a house wants to flourish,

it requires absolute joint effort of the siblings.

So many great houses in the past came to ruin from the inside.

May the Misses be wise.

Today, I punish you each ten strokes of beating to the hand.

Hold on please, Momo.

Momo, please don't mind.

Though this isn't a place for me to speak,

I feel guilty and I must speak to ease it, and I ask for your understanding.

Today's happening was rooted in Mo'er's insensibility

and she's the cause of the trouble.

Especially for Sixth Miss. At such young age, she's having to suffer a beating alongside Mo'er,

it's really too unbearable for me.

How about having Sixth Miss' ten strokes

be taken by Mo'er on her behalf?

Mistress Lin's words are erroneous.

I am punishing the Misses together.

It's to amend affection among the sisters.

If they suffer a beating together today, they can start afresh tomorrow from it.

If we pardon one and punish another, wouldn't that court more suspicion?

Mistress Lin has great intention,

but it lacks moral orthodoxy.

Yes, your words are right.

It's my ignorance.

But today, she's implicated with the older sisters into a beating.

I just can't bear it.

It's all my fault that I didn't teach Mo'er well.

Momo, perhaps you should just punish me too,

to make some amends?

This act again.

I see that Mistress Lin really does need to learn some rules.

Your words are getting more ill-fitting as you speak.

You said you should be punished because you hadn't taught Sister Mo well.

Then Sister Ru was taught by Big Madam.

Miss Ming was raised by Old Madam.

Should both Big Madam and Old Madam be punished too then?

And I, as the teaching momo,

even more so I can't be spared from punishment? Is that what you mean here?

- No, no. I didn't mean that. - Mistress Lin.

I must say a word to you today too.

A person's value is in self-awareness,

but you are ignorant of two things.

You know what your status is.

When I am discussing with the Minister and Madam, should you or should you not barge in to talk?

Thankfully I am an old acquiantance of Old Madam.

If it were another person, you'd cause the laughter of others in saying Sheng House has no rules.

The second mistake is that you committed the error knowing it was an error.

First you say you shouldn't speak, but you chose to speak anyway.

You keep saying you are ignorant.

Since you know you're ignorant, why do you still barge into

the matter of the Misses' teaching?

You clearly knew everything, but you still defied it all.

It's adding another offense of committing knowingly.

Can't be that you think because you are raising a few children

that you are above the rules?

Big Madam and the Momo are here.

Is there a place for you to talk?

Look how you've raised the child and you still have the face to speak here?

Back off, and stop embarrassing me here.

I punish you each ten strikes on the hand.

When you go back, finish transcribing the "Fragrant Invitation" poem fifty times.

Whoever isn't done transcribing by tomorrow, do not come here.

Today's punishment incident, you are not allowed to discuss on the outside.

You must preserve the honorable reputation of the Misses.

Go now.

Yes.

Punish.

Father.

Did you take the book box?

I've got it. You needn't worry, Miss.

Did you not ache enough earlier?

You still remember about your belongings.

The momo said fifty copies of "Fragrant Invitation" and I need to finish transcribing it tonight.

Such a thick stack. How can you finish transcribing it?

I just have to do my best.

One extra word written is better than one word less.

Momo Kong beat you and you're not mad at her?

And you seek more suffering for yourself?

She did it for Sheng House's sake.

The elder already spoke of that principle clearly.

Put out your hand for me to see.

Does it hurt?

It hurts.

Since it hurts, why didn't you cry earlier?

I've erred and deserved the punishment. There's nothing unfair.

Good child. You are a good child indeed.

Momo Kong said something that enlightened me earlier.

No matter if it's managing the house or teaching children. It should all be a level bowl of water.

If you suffer anything unfair in the future, come tell me.

I will stand up for you.

All is well for your daughter now.

I thank Father deeply for the care.

Father. Father, save a life! Father!

What happened? Why this fretting?

Momo Kong dismissed the punishment meeting.

But Big Madam won't let Mistress Lin go, and insists she kneel and take a beating!

Father, help Mistress Lin!

What?

Master hasn't even spoken more than two words to you and he's summoned away again.

It's no loss.

The time I needed him has already passed.

Miss.

[ Sheng House ] (lantern)

Old Madam asks you to come see her.

Alright. I will put away the items and change, then come.

You can't. You can't. Big Madam, what are you trying to do?

Can't be that you're using private punishment unauthorized?

It's all my fault, so on what basis do you punish my mother?

Funny. A concubine is a servant.

It's due to His Lordship's and my mercy that we allowed you to be raised by her.

Now she's undisciplined in teaching her child and disregarded the master, bringing shame to whole family,

as the Madam of the house, why can't I beat her? Beat her!

No, no.

Move. You can't hit her.

Big Madam, you can't.

What are you doing?

Father.

Stop crying.

The Lin Clanswoman is at fault, but why must you do so before the child?

Did you forget what the momo said, Minister?

Grand families all collapse from within!

Undisciplined in managing the house and inept in teaching children?

That's to bring endless future disasters!

It's all due to the Minister's bias and spoiling that we've come to this plight.

She's the slave and I'm the master. I have to pick a place to discipline?

Big Madam said the three of us, mother and children, are spoiled by Father.

So Madam means Father is at fault too!

You oaf born to a concubine! What face do you have to speak here?

Get lost! Hit her!

- You can't. You can't. - Be merciful, Madam.

Mo'er. Mo'er.

You lot of concubine and illegitimate children.

You sure know how to put on a good show.

- Hit them all! - Who dares!

This is all for Sheng family's sake.

You're just venting out your own grudge!

Sheng family? Sheng family is nothing to your eyes!

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

Grandmother, Momo Kong is so admirable.

You got beaten, and a principle was hammered out?

She knew we committed mistakes, but she didn't rush to air it.

She just let Fourth and Fifth Sisters fight in the open and covertly.

Until today when the fire was lit,

when she then stood out to take charge, to point out the faults and punish severely.

That has your admiration? Then you ought to study diligently.

This skill of patience in grinding with water isn't something everyone can do. (T/N slowly shape things)

Someone like Big Madam has never achieved it in her life.

Momo Kong's most noble act

is that she prepared far in advance the cushions for kneeling,

the stick for hitting the hand and even the iced towels for after the beating,

she had them bring them in too.

Even if Father was present and wanted to make a plea for leniency, there was no room for it.

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

T/N In the following song, "Don't You Know, Don't You Know?", Lines 5 to the end are the poem by Li Qingzhao, a famous female poet of the Song Dynasty, the poem is titled "Spring Ends".

♫ 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? ♫