Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Special Lady]

[Episode 18]

Junior Zhou,

actually, Xiao Yu and I are not...

How come it's you?

Aren't you here for me?

You can say that I'm here for you.

What do you mean?

I want to say

thank you.

Thanks.

What?

I didn't hear you clearly.

I said...

thank you.

Thank you.

I didn't expect that you would be so shy sometimes.

Good.

You've learned to say something nice.

I...

I'm always clear about what to love or hate.

Don't underestimate me.

After all, you helped me

and the academy.

I...

should thank you.

You protected me from the ball.

Are you okay now?

I think he threw that ball with so much strength.

Zhu.

I think you underestimated me by saying that.

Could that small ball hurt me?

Really?

It hurts.

Just compensate me for the medical fees.

Okay.

I'm glad that you're fine.

Don't worry.

I won't threaten you with this accident.

Go.

Ask Junior Zhou out for me.

Hurry up.

I knew that you came here not in order to thank me.

So you came because of him?

Don't leave.

Go ask him out for me.

Let's talk about it tomorrow. I'm sleepy.

Xiao Yu.

Do you know that people of the academy

are spreading a very ridiculous rumor about us?

I know.

For example, as you're hugging me like this now,

if someone sees us,

the rumor will become more ridiculous.

If he really misunderstands you because there are many rumors,

do you think you can explain it to him clearly?

Song Zhu.

Do you think you know him well?

Of course I know him well.

I bought his paintings

and read his poems.

Besides, both of us are students of the academy now.

Have you forgotten this?

We had soft drinks and had a lake tour together.

How can I not know him well?

I wonder whether you know what kind of person he is.

What do you mean?

It's the same as the meaning just now.

As you said,

it's just the facade.

Have you ever probed into his inner thoughts?

Do you know his background?

Do you know where he has lived

and whom he has been in contact with?

Do you know

why he came to the Yiyang Academy?

I...

You don't know all these things.

You talked as if you knew him well.

I don't know him well, either.

That's not right.

You live in the same dorm with Junior Zhou.

You are the closest to him.

You should know him better.

That's just what you think.

If one day,

you find that he is hiding something from you,

what will you do?

He's hiding something from me?

Xiao Yu.

Do you dare to say that

you don't have any small secrets?

Look.

You have some small secrets, too.

So,

don't worry about others.

Mind your own business.

It's okay that you won't ask Junior Zhou out for me.

No problem.

I'll figure out a way myself.

I won't keep talking to you about this.

You will never know my secrets.

[Song Mansion]

-Yueniang -Good morning, Sister.

During holidays,

you usually sleep till late in the morning.

Why are you up so early today?

I have something to do today.

Sister,

can you do me a favor?

What is it?

Lend me a new dress

and help me put on makeup to make me look gorgeous.

Yueniang.

Are you going to do something important?

I...

Sister, stop asking about it.

Didn't our mother make you a new dress?

Just let me wear it first.

If you don't tell me about it,

I won't help you.

Qinruo...

I often go to her home for tutoring, don't I?

She thinks that my clothes are shabby,

so I want to dress up nicely

and impress her.

Shabby?

Qinruo said something like that?

Our Song Family always attaches little importance to clothing.

How can you compare yourself with her?

Sister.

Just lend me a new dress first.

Zhou...

Zhu.

Morning, Junior Zhou.

Morning.

Junior Zhou, are you going to review the lessons?

Junior Zhou,

have you heard any gossip recently?

The exam is coming.

I have no time to care about other things.

That's good.

Look. Do I look good in this dress?

Yes...

Senior Song, if there's nothing else,

I need to go review the lessons.

If you have the time to think about this,

you should study more instead.

Junior Zhou.

For the question I asked you last time,

I haven’t finished hearing your explanations.

A few days ago, I was reading

Qu Yuan's Nine Songs—Madam Xiang,

and I was still touched by the following lines.

I'm looking around while stepping on the waterweeds.

I'll have a date with a beautiful girl tonight.

Why did the birds gather on the waterweeds?

Why is the fishing net hung on the tree?

The angelica is green by the Yuan River and the Orchids are beautiful by the Li River.

Well...

Well...

Yuan,

Angelica,

Li,

and Orchids.

How do you explain these four words?

I mean...

I...

Zhu.

Brother!

Brother!

Feiniang.

Why are you here?

I finally found you.

I asked many people all the way here before I found you.

Who is she?

This is my younger sister.

Her name is Zhou Fei.

This is the third daughter of the Song Family in Yiyang.

She's also my senior schoolmate at Yiyang Academy.

Her name is Song Zhu.

Feiniang.

Say hello to Senior Song.

Miss...

Miss Song, hello.

Hello, Feiniang.

Brother, our mother...

Feiniang.

You must be thirsty and tired after a long journey.

Go back to the dorm with me to take a rest first.

Senior Song.

I need to take care of my sister first.

Bye.

Okay.

I won't disturb you any longer for now.

Bye.

Bye.

Brother.

Did that lady want to talk with you about something?

Nothing.

Let's go back first.

Father, I want this one.

Take this little cow.

Actually, I want that one.

-I want that one. -Take this one first.

Come and look at this one.

I just want this one.

Father.

Mr. Xiao comes here regularly

to buy some pigments for Mr. Chen.

Will he not come today?

Sir, take care.

See you next time.

When did he go inside?

Mr. Xiao.

What a coincidence.

I'm sorry. All the pigments spilled on the ground.

It's all right.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Mr. Xiao,

you were so agile.

Miss Yan, when you walk on the road,

you should be careful about your surroundings.

Thank you for saving me just now.

You're welcome.

I'm sorry for my rudeness just now.

Please don't mind it, Miss Yan.

I understand.

But Mr. Xiao,

your pigments all spilled on the ground.

How about I buy another box for you?

No need.

I'm going to deliver the pigments to Mr. Chen first.

He needs them urgently.

Sorry.

Mr. Xiao.

Mr. Xiao!

Mr. Xiao, I'm going back to the academy, too.

He left so soon.

That was close.

Young Master.

That was close indeed.

Uncle Hu, did you want to scare me to death?

You appeared so suddenly just like a ghost.

How do you know I'm here?

Even Duke Yue's daughter knows that you are here.

Of course I know you're here, don't I?

Have you found a way to approach Song Xu?

Not yet.

But the exam is coming.

I can still go on figuring out a way.

Young Master, you're very busy today.

Do you know that Miss Yan waited for you

for a long time across the street?

After you showed up,

she did everything on purpose.

Uncle Hu.

Can you be serious?

Young master, deal with the serious matters at once.

Got it.

Bye.

Uncle Hu.

I have something important to do now.

Well...

As long as it's not about money, everything else is fine.

Hurry up.

Miss Yan.

Miss...

Uncle Hu!

Why did you come here

from home this time?

Our mother had an attack of tuberculosis again.

This time, she almost...

She almost died.

What?

How could this happen?

Well...

How is she now?

She has made it through.

However,

if we have no money to buy medicine in the future,

what should we do?

Why do you think that we'll have no money to buy medicine?

Didn't I send all the money I had earned by selling

my paintings back to our home?

Money?

I didn't receive any money.

The First Madam must have taken it away secretly.

How despicable.

Brother.

When our mother got sick this time,

I went to the Main House to ask for medicine.

But they gave me a few feet of white ribbons.

They even cursed our mother.

Considering that they usually treated us badly,

why did you go there to be insulted by them?

I couldn't accept it.

We're also descendants of the Zhou Family.

Just because we are children of a concubine,

we deserve to be bullied by the First Madam and the others?

If it weren't for the First Madam's scheme,

which made your admission qualification for the Imperial College

given to her won son,

you wouldn't have come all the way

to the Yiyang Academy, would you?

It's all in the past.

Don't mention it again.

Okay.

But since our home is in such a situation now,

why did you come out?

I came here because...

our mother heard that there was a women's school at Yiyang Academy.

She wanted me to ask you

whether I could also study with you here.

After you came out,

who would take care of our mother?

I said the same thing.

But our mother said that

she thought she was getting better recently.

Though I stayed with her every day,

I couldn't help her much.

I might as well do something useful.

She said she didn't want to ruin my future.

Our mother...

was really thoughtful.

Although you don't need to take an exam to apply for the Women's Academy,

it's not that easy to get admitted to this school.

As far as I know,

you'll not only need a recommendation letter from an aristocrat in the city,

but also

need a lot of money.

Brother,

now do you think I should go home or...

Calm down first.

You've just arrived in Yiyang.

In these several days, I'll find an inn for you first so that you can live there.

I'll figure out a way

for your admission to this school.

Since our mother wants you to study at school,

I won't let you go back like this.

Look at you.

Your face is dirty.

I'll take you to wash your face later.

Have some snacks first.

It's delicious, Brother.

Feiniang.

You've suffered a lot these days.

I'm so useless as your elder brother.

I failed to give you and mother a rich life.

Brother, don't say that.

The First Madam and the others should be blamed. It has nothing to do with you.

When you become the Number One Scholar in the future,

you can feel proud of it in front of the First Madam and her people.

Okay.

Brother,

I think all the members of the Yiyang Academy are nice.

I didn't know the way just now.

I asked the young men and the young ladies all the way here

before I found you.

Since all the people here are so nice,

I think they also treat you very well, right?

It turns out that the talented scholar Zhou...

Give the letter back to me.

is an illegitimate son.

They all treat me very well.

Don't worry.

That's good.

Our mother is always worried about you.

She has talked to me about it several times.

She always feels that you only told her the good news without telling her the bad news.

I saw it with my own eyes today.

I'll go back and tell our mother that

all the people here are very nice,

and my brother lives a better life here than at home.

Then I can make our mother stop worrying.

Okay.

Yueniang, you're back.

Our mother told me to ask you to have lunch.

Sister,

I went to Qinruo’s home to review lessons today.

I'm a bit tired.

I want to take a good rest.

I'll have lunch later.

There won't be lunch for you later.

Don't say that I didn't inform you.

Got it, Sister.

Song Zhu, you are so useless.

What you wanted to say was so important, but you only said half of it.

I wonder...

But Mr. Zhou is so smart.

He must know what I wanted to say.

I wonder what he thinks about it.

I should stop thinking about it.

My head hurts.

Greetings, my dear teachers.

What's the matter?

Sir.

I...

Sir.

My younger sister came all the way here today.

She wants to study at school.

I...

I sincerely hope that you can let her stay here

and be an associate student in the Women's Academy.

Your younger sister?

Does she have a recommendation letter?

No.

Mr. Chen.

Isn't it easy to get a recommendation letter?

Just ask him to find a classmate to write this letter.

It's not difficult to get a recommendation letter,

but the tuition fees at the Women's Academy are quite high.

Zhou Ji.

Has your family prepared for it?

Well...

I...

I'm trying to find a way to solve this problem.

I wonder whether you can let her stay in the dorm of the Women's Academy first?

I'll raise money for her tuition fees as soon as possible.

I'll also ask someone to write the recommendation letter as soon as possible.

The academy has always attached much importance to the rules.

If I let your sister enter the academy in advance today,

and if in the future, someone criticizes us

for being unjust and unfair and breaking the rules,

What should we do then?

Mr. Zhang.

His sister came all the way here to find him.

It's inconvenient for her to be alone.

I don't think we should be so rigid.

Every family has its own problems.

But if we break the rules this time,

and if in the future, everyone can come and tell us about their sufferings,

how can we maintain the academy's rules?

That makes sense.

I'll stop talking.

Is the academy still short of a person who does chores?

My sister used to do such chores as

cooking and cleaning at home.

You can ask her to do some chores first.

Doing chores is not a long-term solution.

For both you and her,

this is not a good thing.

If you really care about your sister,

just find a way to let her get admitted to the school.

I understand.

They think it's unfair and unjust

and breaking the rules to let Feiniang get admitted to the school.

But if Feiniang were not an illegitimate daughter,

and I had power and influence,

I'm afraid the teachers wouldn't have...

such attitudes.

What fairness and justice?

It's just an excuse to despise those lowly people.

Zhou.

Xiao.

Why are you back so early today?

You didn't go to the Wenjing Hall?

No, I didn't.

Xiao.

Can you do me a favor?

What is it?

Just tell me.

My younger sister came to see me today.

She said that our mother wanted her to study at the Women's Academy.

That's a good thing.

In this way, you can see your sister every day.

As you know, in order to get admitted to the Women's Academy,

it's necessary to have a recommendation letter.

So I wonder whether you can

ask your father

to write a recommendation letter to our dean.

Well...

If it's not convenient for you, I'll think of another way.

It's not like that.

Zhou.

The problem is that my father

is away from home now.

I may not know when I can

get in touch with him.

So...

I understand.

How about I ask Ding Miao and the others for you?

Don't bother.

I’ll find another way.

Zhou, apart from the recommendation letter,

I can help you with anything else.

You must tell me if you have any difficulties.

Let's solve the problems together.

Okay.

Xiaoyue.

Is what you've just said true?

Mr. Zhou's paintings are being sold at the market again?

I've seen his paintings and signatures before.

How could I be wrong?

Besides, you didn't see

how pathetic he looked.

No one bought his paintings.

What a poor guy.

What are you talking about, ladies?

The atmosphere is so lively.

It's a secret.

We won't tell you.

We won't tell him.

Teaching Assistant Xiao,

I have some questions for you.

Come on. Let's go on talking about it.

Let me tell you.

Hurry up.

Zhu.

Teaching Assistant Xiao,

I want to ask why Mr. Zhou suddenly sold his paintings.

Did something wrong happen?

Selling paintings?

I don't know about this thing.

But his younger sister came to the academy to see him yesterday.

She said she wanted to study at the Women's Academy.

He told me about this last night.

He wanted my father

to write a recommendation letter for his sister.

Did you agree?

No.

Why didn't you agree?

I can't find my father.

I'm not able to help him.

Yueniang, what's the matter?

Mr. Zhou's younger sister wants to get admitted to the Women's Academy.

He wanted him to ask his father to write a recommendation letter.

But he refused to write it.

He's very unkind.

It's not that I don't want to help him.

But I can't find my father.

You just don't want to help him.

So this is the reason why

Mr. Zhou's sister came to see him?

I happened to see his sister that day.

His sister

looked pretty and cute.

Her name is Zhou Fei.

Unfortunately, my father is the dean. He can't recommend her internally.

Otherwise, I'll go ask my father for help.

Don't worry, Mr. Xiao.

I'll ask my father to write a recommendation letter.

By that time, just go back and tell Mr. Zhou

not to worry about it.

Miss Yan is such a generous woman.

It's just a piece of cake.

If I can help you and Mr. Zhou,

I'll feel very happy, too.

But why did Mr. Zhou still need to sell his paintings?

Did he do that because of the tuition fees?

Alright, Yueniang.

It's not a big deal.

Leave it to me.

Mr. Chen is here.

Let's go back to our seats.

Hurry up.

Everyone, you've seen your grades.

In the first part of the Book of Songs,

this poem is about two ospreys chirping towards each other at the same time,

as well as depending on and loving each other.

It evokes the idea of a lady accompanying a gentleman.

In the following chapters,

the act of picking Nymphoides Peltatum

evokes the idea about the protagonist's love and pursuit for a woman.

So, people usually think that

this is a poem about men and women...

Miss,

are you looking for someone?

Xiaofang, do you know her?

No, I don't know her.

Have you seen her before.

No, I haven't.

I don't know her.

Who is this?

I've never seen her before.

Why did she leave?

She left?

That girl who stood there just now is Junior Zhou's sister, isn't she?

This is not okay.

She's just a little girl.

Just do her a favor.

What kind of favor is that?

This favor is to break the rules.

Sister,

I can't help you with this.

Brother.

Although this girl named Zhou Fei

is Mr. Zhou’s sister,

I have to remind you that

it's okay to be naughty and play with each other at ordinary times,

but the Song Family values rules the most.

Our father will never

make an exception in this matter.

Brother.

Brother.

The exam is coming.

Go back to review the lessons.

Brother, if you don't agree,

I won't go.

If you talk about this again,

I'll report it to our father.

I'm leaving.

I hope that Mr. Zhou can find another way.

Though I want to help him, I'm able to do so.

What?

You went to the Women's Academy?

The teacher almost caught me on the spot.

Why did you come to the academy for no reason?

Didn't I ask you to take a good rest in the inn?

I...

I was bored and wanted to take a look at the academy.

However, Brother,

the Women's Academy is really good.

The books there are so interesting.

If I can sit

in such a spacious and bright classroom and study there,

how good it'll be.

I'm useless as your brother.

Brother.

Don't say that.

I...

Actually, the Women's Academy is not that good.

I went there merely on the spur of the moment.

Feiniang.

Wait for some more days.

When my paintings are sold,

I'll make sure that you can study at the Women's Academy.

Really, Brother?

Have I ever lied to you?

[Wenjing Hall]

I'm not quite familiar with this verse.

Just go ask the teacher later.

Zhou.

Xiao.

Xiao,

why did you have the mood to come to the Wenjing Hall today?

It was just an sudden impusle.

I’m going to draw.

Zhou,

I forgot to tell you this.

Miss Yan has asked me to tell you that

she's willing to help your sister get admitted to the Women's Academy.

Really?

Look. Isn’t that Mr. Zhou?

Why did he come to the girls' dorm so late?

Right.

Stop looking. Let's go.

Look at him.

Senior Yan.

Junior Zhou.

Feiniang.

Come here.

This is Senior Yan.

Bow to her.

Hello, Miss Yan.

This must be Junior Zhou's sister.

Senior Yan,

I specially came here to thank you today.

Thank you for helping my sister.

Feiniang, thank Miss Yan.

Thank you, Miss Yan.

You're welcome.

It's nothing. No need to thank me.

You want to help us and you're so generous.

I don't know how to repay your kindness.

Junior Zhou, you don't have to do this.

By the way,

don't worry about

the tuition fees, either. Just leave it to me.

Well...

How can I ask you to help with the school fees?

Well...

What's wrong with that? It's not a big deal.

No.

No, Senior Yan.

It is embarrassing for me to accept your money.

How about this?

I'll return the tuition fees to you by installments on a monthly basis.

No. Don't return the money to me.

I'm not the one who will give you the money.

It's my father who will give you the money.

Why will you give it to me?

Besides, Junior Zhou,

no need to treat me as an outsider like this.

Since we are classmates,

we should help each other.

I'll owe you a favor first.

In the future,

if you need my help,

you must tell me.

How about...

If you think that

you owe me a favor,

why don't you agree to fulfill a small request for me?

Senior Yan, please say it.

Can you draw a portrait for me?

Of course.

When do you have time?

No hurry.

I think Feining has just entered our school.

You and she must be busy with many things.

How about

we wait till you're free?

Okay.

You can ask me to do it anytime.

By that time, we can also ask Yueniang to do it with us.

And Mr. Xiao, too.

We can go to the suburbs together and find a beautiful view.

I'll listen to you for all the arrangements.

Okay.

I have to go.

Feiniang.

Say goodbye to Senior Yan.

Goodbye, Miss Yan.

If you need anything at the Women's Academy,

just come to me directly.

I'm leaving.

I can finally see Mr. Xiao.

I'm so smart.

Brother.

When you become the Number One Scholar in the future,

don't forget Miss Yan.

Of course.

Let's go.

Senior.

What

is the matter?

You don't have to be so polite, Mr. Zhou.

My name is Jin Xiaoyue.

You can call me Miss Jin.

I don't think it's appropriate.

It's okay.

They all call me that.

This must be Mr. Zhou's sister,

Miss Fei.

Feiniang.

Greet Senior Jin.

Hello, Miss Jin.

Good girl.

Don't be afraid.

Mr. Zhou.

I've heard that Miss Fei is going to enter our academy, right?

My dorm is still empty.

Why don't you ask her to move in tomorrow?

Miss Jin, here's the thing.

Only until today

did I know that Feiniang could enter our academy.

We came in a hurry.

Just wait till we go back and pack up the things.

That's okay.

Senior Jin, we have to go.

Take care, Mr. Zhou.

Miss Fei!

Remember to come to me.

Brother.

I'm a little scared of that young lady.

Senior Jin is willing to help us,

and she's doing this for our own good.

Feiniang.

You should be kind to others after you enter our academy this time.

Understand?

Don't worry, Brother.

I will do it well.

You're a good girl, Feiniang.

Let's go.

Zhang.

Wang.

Zhang.

Zhang.

Okay.

Zhang.

Where is Mr. Zhou?

I thought he would come to review the lessons.

Qingzhou...

Qing...

Qingzhou...

Junior Zhou!

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

What a coincidence.

Are you here to review the lessons as well?

Well...

Well...

For the poem I read last time...

Actually, I want to say that...

I want to say that...