Original subtitles

♪Who gazes at the stars in the sky?♪

♪Heading towards the shore in a broken boat♪

♪This time, I'll hold onto fate and never give in♪

♪Family bonds are hard to maintain♪

♪Who will take me to the fearless dream?♪

♪As the wind and rain come and fade♪

♪A lone sail sways♪

♪A flower blooms alone amidst the thorns♪

♪Its petals are pierced by thorns♪

♪Yet it turned into a pair of wings flying against the wind♪

♪Everything grows through the heart♪

♪Even if dreams are lost♪

♪Smoothing out the surging waves♪

♪Breaking through the tumultuous sounds of the heart♪

♪Having the courage to resist♪

♪Embracing the chant of destiny♪

♪Only love brings light♪

♪Only love embraces the thorns♪

♪Everything grows through the heart♪

♪Having the courage to resist♪

♪Embracing the chant of destiny♪

[Blossoms in Adversity] ♪Only love brings light♪

[Adapted from the novel of the same name on cmread.com]

[Episode 9]

Madam Xia.

I heard you coughed a lot

at night.

Ms. Su is a little deaf.

I will sleep here for a few days

so I can take care of you.

Madam Hua.

Do you know about what the yard is like now?

Zhi made such a mess

that there's almost no room

for us to stay.

Ms. Qin

slipped on a fruit a few days ago

and she almost fell.

Ms. Qin

is always in a flurry.

I'm not here

to criticize Zhi.

We've been so busy

for days.

But

Zhi keeps spending our money

and there's nothing in return yet.

If she keeps going like this,

I'm afraid our money might simply go to waste.

I know

what she's up to.

I used to be a merchant too.

I know best how hard it's to be a merchant.

She's selling fresh food.

But in the Imperial Capital,

the members of the royal family

and the common folk

have seen and tasted all kinds of food.

People can't be impressed

by the mediocre food she made.

Let's see.

We don't have a signboard

or a proper shop.

Besides,

this is a word-of-mouth market.

So how can we pull this off?

Don't you agree?

Madam Hua.

Madam Hua.

She fell asleep.

Any adjustment?

Young Lady,

the recipe will definitely work.

But

how are we supposed

to bring these all the way to downtown?

They will become sticky

after a while.

I traveled with my Grandfather back then

and we passed by the Jiuyi Region once.

The people there had short hair and got tattoos on them.

They sat around to eat and drink

and they didn't have chopsticks.

They all used bamboo sticks to skewer the food

and roasted it over the fire.

It was very handy.

We have nothing

but bamboo in this manor.

This can work.

It looks nice this way.

Like a coral beaded bracelet.

Fudong.

Get a name for it.

I...

I am naming it?

Since it's the food you made,

of course you should name it.

Madam Wu said it resembles a coral beaded bracelet,

but I've never seen one.

When I was a kid,

I loved to play with marbles.

They were red and round, just like this.

How about

we name it honey marble?

Great.

Let's make a few dozen first tomorrow

and see if people in downtown like them.

We're going to sell them?

Young Lady, hawking on the streets

is quite embarrassing.

You can deduct my monthly allowance.

Yingchun and Fudong, are you going?

Young Lady.

I will do everything you ask

no matter how hard it is.

I never say no.

But about hawking on the streets,

I really...

Now I know.

Lanterns?

I can make them.

But if we are selling,

we can't compare with

Feng's Lantern Shop

and Liao's Lantern Shop.

It doesn't matter.

We're not selling them.

Alright then.

Mr. Zhong.

Make the lanterns

based on these drawings.

These are lanterns.

But

there are no upcoming festivals.

What do you use the lanterns for?

Young Lady.

Will people really buy honey marbles?

Of course they will.

I'm already thinking

about the price of each one.

It was not easy for Fudong

to make a whole pot of these.

Madam Xia.

Zhi.

Usually,

I shouldn't upset you

when you are talking happily together.

It's just

I still have to say something

that you might not want to hear.

These hawthorn fruits

taste quite good.

But we're

in the middle of nowhere.

Even if these fruits are good,

who will you sell them to?

I wonder

if you have a proper shop that can greet customers,

or if you have some connections to sell them to?

Madam Xia is always so thoughtful.

So please enlighten me.

Do you have a plan?

I don't know what to do.

But I do know

you can't set up a stall on the street like the last time

when you were selling Spring Festival couplets.

That's exactly

what I have

in my mind.

She is arrogant now.

She talked in a different tone

since she took charge of the family.

I don't have any shops

or connections.

That's why in the past few days,

I went to the city first thing in the morning.

I observed very carefully

to check out the number of customers

and how people would like to spend their money?

So what is your conclusion?

Tomorrow is our

first day of opening.

We must be there right at the gate of the academy

when the school is over.

We're a sinful family after all,

so we'd better act in a low-profile way.

So,

we can use this flower

as our sign.

Pair up in two.

Who will be with me?

Zhi, you're joking, right?

We are a decent and educated family.

Let alone Ling and the other ladies.

Even a maid

doesn't want to lose her dignity.

Hawking on the streets?

What would people think of you?

How are you supposed to marry a noble man?

That's also exactly

what I have in my mind.

Yingchun, Baoxia.

We will be wearing the lanterns on our heads

to conceal our faces.

That could draw less attention.

It's just two people in animal headwear

selling the haws.

Who would know who we are?

Keep your distance.

I did.

Do you think this will work out?

Go, hurry up.

I don't know.

Time to go home.

The kids are coming.

Go.

No, you should go.

Come on.

I am not going.

What...

You...

Look, what are they?

A cat.

This is a goldfish.

I want to touch it too.

Stop.

Let me touch it.

Honey marbles.

It's delicious. Try it.

I want one too.

Do you want to try it?

It's so delicious.

Give me one.

It's not for free.

You need to pay later.

My steward will come to pay you.

Listen to me.

Okay.

My treat.

I want some too.

Okay.

I want some as well.

Fudong and Baoxia

brought home with a total of 117 wen

after six hours.

Let's take a ballpark number.

You can have 10 percent of the income

as your wages.

Thank you, Young Lady.

Here.

Take it.

You work hard, so you earn your share.

No one can deny that.

If you hadn't been pulling my sleeve...

I would have been...

I didn't pull you.

Who knew?

We have a lot of work to do.

Mr. Zhong has already made

many lanterns for us.

Right.

His hands are hurt.

I'm sending him his share too.

Let's go have a look.

Go.

Look at me.

Honey marbles.

Sour and sweet honey marbles.

Sour and sweet honey marbles.

Would you like to try some?

Look at the bustling street.

Honey marbles.

Sour and sweet honey marbles.

What's all this noise about?

Honey marbles.

Honey marbles.

What is that on your head?

That's rare.

They look like fruit vendors.

Let's go find out.

Look at this headwear.

Sour...

Let's go.

Honey marbles.

Sour and sweet honey marbles.

My money.

Catch that thief.

Stop right there.

A thief.

So stupid.

Exactly.

Right. He has...

Agree.

He...

stole my money.

Whose money is this?

I...

Well...

You don't want your money back?

He looks

fine.

Please give it to me.

Thank you.

I...

He got in my way.

I... I wasn't helping you.

Don't... don't get me wrong.

I wasn't helping you.

Don't... don't get me wrong.

Soaking the haws

makes my hands even turn white.

Look at them.

Come on, dry your hands with this.

Okay.

Yingzhen.

Where have you been?

I can't help much.

So I went to Mr. Zhong

and helped him cut some lantern paper,

and applied some paste to them.

We're short on lanterns.

There are haws

all over the ground outside.

And now you're moving them inside the house?

Yingzhen, Huilan.

Why are you also joining them?

What else can we do?

Anyway, I have to earn some money

to buy stationery for Boli.

Look at you.

Money is all you care about now.

Where is Ms. Qin?

Where did she go?

She?

She went into the kitchen in the morning.

Right, Yingzhen?

Young Lady.

When will it be the end

of this kind of rough life?

Are we to sell haws for a lifetime?

Hang in there.

We need to keep doing this

for at least three months before taking a further step.

We need the whole Imperial Capital

to know about us and our honey marbles.

Three months?

Young Lady.

Hearing the beautiful sound of the money,

I think that three months is nothing.

I could do it for another three years.

Let's go.

Who is that annoying guy?

From the Security Bureau.

I know who he is.

Come on.

I hate this thing.

Aren't you ashamed?

Young Lady.

I've thought it through.

There's nothing shameful about earning money.

From now on,

I'm not wearing this thing.

Let's go.

Don't you know about that?

Those girls from the Hua Family

have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.

I even went to their stall

and checked on them.

Sir.

What I'm worried about

is that those ladies from the Hua Family

would stir up trouble by using food-selling as their disguise.

We can't let our guard down.

I saw them.

There's nothing on their sign

but a flower

painted on it.

My point is

Miss Hua

is indeed a smart lady.

Why didn't she just write her surname? [*Hua means flower in Chinese]

For one thing,

the Hua Family has been incriminated,

so she doesn't want to draw any unnecessary attention.

For another,

their customers are mostly children

and a little pretty flower

can impress them.

Sir.

Do you agree

with what I'm saying?

That's it?

You talked for so long

and yet you didn't buy some to try?

Do you want to eat the haws too?

My sister wants that.

It was sold out quickly.

Your sister likes it too?

Well,

have you finished running 30 laps yet?

No.

Then go ahead.

Sir...

I have still a lot of work.

I'll...

I'll get it done.

This table is not good.

Replace it with a smaller one tomorrow,

Yes.

Come sit with me, Yanxi.

Uncle, I remember

you were busy with state affairs before.

Back then, during meals,

there was just a low table placed beside.

Even if you were dining,

you would also test me on my studies.

In those days,

you grew up so quickly

and became so tall.

But you still sat by such a small table,

being my accompany.

Changqing.

Bring back that tea table

back in here.

Yanxi and I

will still dine like that in the future.

Yes.

I'm old.

I can't eat too much meat for my health.

You should eat more.

Venison?

I remember it was your favorite.

I remember

it was you who taught me how to hunt deer.

Start a fire in the hunting land,

then we could cut the meat and drink the blood.

Now I'm too old

to ride a horse.

Well,

Yanxi.

Ever since you took over the Security Bureau,

you have done a great job.

It was just

that there were not enough killings.

I know

that you are a kind

and decent kid.

However,

don't show mercy to anyone who gets in your way.

By doing so,

you will have less trouble

in the future.

I see.

An old man

just loves to preach.

I've said enough. Let's enjoy the dinner.

How is the investigation going

about your mother?

Not a clue.

Eat up.

Two wen.

Come on!

Here, take this.

Thank you.

I will have one, please.

Two wen.

Here you go, thank you.

Two wen.

Here, take it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'll have one too.

Here.

Thanks a lot.

Young Lady.

The man from the Security Bureau.

I don't care who he is.

If he wants my marbles,

he will pay up.

Don't cut in line!

That person is an inspector of the Security Bureau

and you've had a dispute with him before.

No wonder he looks so familiar.

Just take it.

You only gave me a stick.

Judging by the way he looked at you,

he probably recognized you.

Thank goodness he didn't make things difficult for you.

It is you I should thank.

What brings you here?

I heard a new kind of fruit is for sale

on Willow Street

and there's even a flower painted on the signs.

No risk, no gain.

But it's not good for business

in the long term

if you keep a low profile like this.

It all depends on

what His Majesty is thinking.

I wish I could ask him in person.

Enough talk.

Try it.

This might just be

the one you picked the other day.

You're not a fan of sourness, right?

I've never had it before.

Then wait three more days.

You can come back

after we make the haws sweeter.

Father, I want to eat this.

Miss,

how much for the haws?

One wen each.

I'll take one.

Just one?

Have it, kid.

Father, we can share.

I don't like it.

You go on.

Mister, please wait.

One wen for two.

This one is for you.

Thank you, Miss.

Thank you, Miss.

It's our turn now.

Eat slowly.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

I wonder

what it is like between the fathers and sons

among the common folks?

Probably they are just like us now.

The young kid listens to his preachy old man

when they're eating.

I really am getting old.

How would you know

the situation amongst the common folks?

Being in the royal family,

we are meant to be different

from those ordinary people.

You come to have a meal with me

from time to time.

That's enough for me.

Won't you lose money doing business

with such a generosity?

No, the marbles aren't worth much.

Then in a couple of days,

please keep one for me

when you make new honey marbles.

Wrap it up in the paper

painted with flowers.

Alright.

Do you buy that for your family?

I want my uncle to taste it.

Look.

Madam is turning the haws into works of art

even though she is just pitting them.

Let's get to work.

Let me see it.

Let me see it.

Please.

Go inside the house first.

Go inside.

Come on.

Aren't they adorable?

Absolutely.

So adorable.

Three.

Four, five.

Where did all the poultry

come from?

You bought them?

That was quick.

I know I'm amazing.

We have to wait until they grow up.

Does that mean

we will have eggs to eat?

Zhi says

that we keep buying eggs of poultry,

and it costs a lot of money,

so we should raise them ourselves

and consider it as a pastime.

How many chickens and ducks are there?

Don't lean forward.

You shouldn't bend over.

Mind your belly.

Baozhu.

Here's yours.

Let me see.

Come on, let me see.

Yinzhu.

Fudong.

How much did you get?

Not as much as what I got before the family hit a downfall.

But it's way better than I got last month.

Why are you leaving? Show me.

Stop nosing around.

I am telling you.

One of us is paid the most.

Who is it?

It's an open secret.

Fudong, of course.

Isn't that so?

She took a whole guan.

If it were not for her,

we wouldn't have had our pay in the first place.

She gets more than the rest of us

because she deserves it.

Baozhu.

Let me see how much you've got.

I don't care about the others.

I only want to know your share.

How much did you get?

Show me.

That ungrateful girl!

What's wrong with her?

She just gave me half a guan.

I know, right?

Go.

Madam.

She is stealing.

I can catch her red-handed.

Keep it down.

I will deal with her when the right time comes.

How lovely!

Let's hurry up.

We can head home early after we finish it.

We can have a good meal, then.

Young Lady, look at this.

Young Lady, take a look.

This one is pretty.

Hua Zhi.

What are you doing here?

I'm heading somewhere.

What are you picking?

The pastries we made sold well

the other day.

Fudong wants to improve the recipe better.

So she asked me

to pick these green leaves

and dye the dough.

Their fragrance will burst in your mouth.

So it's my off day

for being a hawker today.

I'll have a taste of your new pastry then.

The other day,

you said you wanted to buy some pastries

for your uncle.

Fudong made a type of honey cake.

It's fragrant and soft.

My grandmother and Ms. Su love it.

Come to Willow Alley tomorrow.

Take some to him.

Thank you then.

Do you need a hand?

No.

You need to provide for your family.

I can be on my own.

See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

What are these?

There is a Willow Street in the city

specializing in sweet pastries.

These are their newly made honey cakes.

You have been long in the palace

and rarely get to try

the food of the common people.

So I brought you some.

Yanxi.

You earn not much in the Security Bureau.

Uncle.

This only costs five wen per portion.

Five wen?

I have never had a pastry

that only costs five wen.

Great.

Very sweet.

Go on, share with me.

Go on.

Your Majesty.

May I have one?

Well...

Yanxi bought this for me.

You don't get to eat.

Go away.

Your Majesty.

Lord Xian is here.

Greetings, Father.

Your Highness.

I heard you've had a loss of appetite recently.

These fruits from Ruihe Restaurant

are unrivaled in the Imperial Capital.

I told

their head chef to make some appetizing cakes

for you specifically.

They are still hot.

Please try.

Take it back.

I don't feel like eating.

Your Highness.

These cakes

are made by the Hua Family, right?

You're quite discerning.

I heard a few days ago

that those sinful ladies showed no repentance

and now they've even become peddlers.

How can you

bring these things into the Imperial Capital?

What's the big deal?

Just some pastries

made by some ladies.

Don't make a fuss about that.

I think Yanxi is right.

They've given up their dignity

and started to sell things on the street.

That means they degraded themselves to commoners.

Yangong.

You are just narrow-minded.

That's why you care.

I will reflect on myself, Father.

Your Highness.

The pastry...

Throw it away.

Yes.

Wait a moment.

What a waste to throw it away.

I just came back here

and have not yet tasted

the pastry from Ruihe Restaurant.

You do have a good appetite.

Thank you, my brother.

Floral cloth.

Take a look at the floral cloth.

Let's take a look.

Calligraphy and painting.

Come and see.

Up for sale.

Why didn't you make a sound?

You were reading.

I'm killing time here.

[The Mathematical Treatise in Nine Sections]

Were you solving math problems

to kill time?

This book is very interesting.

Here you are.

The pastry from Ruihe Restaurant.

It's very expensive.

Did you buy it?

It was a gift from someone.

Study the recipe when you go back.

You can learn

from the best.

Fudong has always wanted to try the pastry

of Ruihe Restaurant,

but we can't afford it.

One serving costs half a guan if I remember it right.

This one here

might cost even more.

Look at the sky.

I'm afraid it's going to rain.

We can only take the pastries back home

and have the family share them.

Baoxia,

cover the pastries.

It's raining so heavily.

Don't push.

♪When all the lights were taken from the world♪

♪You are my only shimmering star♪

♪You save me with everything♪

♪Protecting me by my side♪

♪Refusing to give up♪

♪Never give up♪

♪Just to seize♪

♪The light of hope♪

Stop the cart.

Smash the stall of the Hua Family.

Yes.

Smash the stall.

Your...

What?

She is the owner.

You want to buy pastries?

I don't mind if you take them all.

Except for the cart.

Young Lady, don't...

Don't go.

Mister.

It is one guan for this whole cart of pastries.

Would you like to pay now or put it on the tab?

Perhaps you haven't brought enough money.

That's a lot of money.

I cannot make change for this.

Keep the change.

That's very generous of you.

What are you up to?

Please come again if you like them.

Wrap them up.

Here you go.

What are you looking at? Get going.

Go.

Do you know who that person is?

You almost scared me to death.

I don't know.

Never mind. You'd better not know.

[Yunlai Restaurant]

Won't you have a taste?

Too sweet.

It is very sweet.

Quite tasty.

I really didn't expect this.

You even came up with

such a self-degrading trick,

fraternizing with that criminal lady.

Self-degrading?

What else?

If that's not what you wish for,

do you wish

for her pretty face?

Not even close.

No wonder Father adores you.

You don't care about the rules

and how people think of you.

You are nothing like

a careerist coveting power.

I'm afraid Father

also thinks this way.

If you say so.

Gu Yanxi.

You have no idea

how much I envy you.

I knew.

Back then when Uncle

taught me how to read,

you often held your ink and brush

and stared inside, longing to join in.

So I knew.

However,

I am indeed different from you.

Because I am not the heir to the throne.

No matter how I behave,

it makes

no difference.

Look at this scar.

Something like this

would never happen to you.

Do you still remember Qi Ruhai?

How could I forget?

He was a good stooge.

And he died because of you.

That's right.

Do you know who is behind

this illicit minting?

And who told Qi Ruhai

to frame me?

It wasn't me.

Many officials in the Court thought it was you.

So,

it's impossible to clear my name now.

Alright then,

that was me.

I know it wasn't you.

Because there's only one person

who can make Qi Ruhai

die without any complaint.

That man makes you live in fear.

And he forced me to scar my face to prove my innocence

and leave the Northern Land forever.

I see.

So that's how it is.

Gu Yanxi.

It turns out

that you're as miserable as I am.

Don't think that way.

We both lost something,

but also we gained something in return.

Let's drink wine?

I never drink.

Gu Yangong.

You're so depressed living a life like this.

It takes one to know one.

It seems

although we were born into the royal family,

perhaps the common folks

are happier than us.

We are rich in wealth,

but poor in soul.

Life is nothing but a temporary stay.

We are destined to wander.

You see,

even the beggars on the streets

and thieves in prison

have their loved ones.

But you and I

have got nobody, right?

What we said today stays in the room.

I owe you a favor for that.

We didn't

say a word today.

Heading back to the palace?

I'm heading to Lord Ling's Mansion.

Since you don't like pastries,

I'll take some off your hands.

You're back, My Lord.

What are you having here?

My Lord,

this is the pastry

Xi bought for me.

He's been so busy.

He's just such a filial kid.

You see?

My Lord,

would you like to try some?

Alright.

How is that?

What?

Xi went out again?

I heard His Majesty called him back.

Why is he so busy

even though he doesn't even have a job?

Qi Ruhai was dead.

Yanxi is always absent.

I know what he did.

This old man.

He's put my son

in a place

that is shady and notorious.

Madam.

These past few days

I've been watching that girl.

Every three days

she takes the stolen honey

and hands it over to an outsider.

When's the next time?

Tomorrow night, I think.

She is too young

to manage a big family.

She is just too naive.

Tomorrow night

I will have her hand me over

that household ledger with her own hands.

Wait and see

she will be embarrassed in front of the whole family.

Chanlu.

Miss.

I...

You are

just an ungrateful lowlife.

How dare you

betray all of us?

Everyone comes out.

What's wrong, Jin'e?

Yingzhen,

you have no idea, right?

This girl

is about to sell all the honey

to the outsiders.

Madam.

Madam, help.

Aunt Xia.

What is going on?

She stole

the honey of the cooked haws.

She met with someone

in the middle of the night

and delivered it outside the manor.

Why are you coming out?

Be careful with your baby.

Go back.

They...

It's fine, go back.

She is

one of Madam Zhu's maids.

So I am

in no position to deal with her.

Since you take charge of the family now.

Tell me

what we should do with her.

Chanlu.

Speak up.

I did wrong.

You can punish me in any way.

If this is true,

why bother with punishment?

Just kick her out.

Since this isn't a false accusation,

you should at least tell us why.

Lady Zhi,

my...

My mother needs to take medicine all year round.

I can pay for the medicine

with my monthly allowance

in the past.

But ever since we came here...

Lady Zhi,

I made a mistake.

You are too young

and Yingzhen is always nice to the maids.

I can see why Chanlu had the guts to steal.

Right.

Jin'e.

Zhi is too busy.

She has to arrange

our food and everything day after day.

Let alone she has to

keep an eye on her business in the daytime.

After she comes back, she needs to do the accounts

until midnight.

It's normal when someone steals under her watch.

Exactly.

You have too many things to do,

so you've got no time for household affairs.

Chanlu is

one of Madam Zhu's maids.

Well,

even if Zhi

knows about this,

you just can't punish her right away

because she's one of your mother's maids, right?

From what I see,

you two

seem to have planned this early.

Stay out of this.

Madam Qi.

I'm not picking sides here.

But to be honest,

if Madam Xia were still in charge of the household ledger

none of this would ever happen.

Zhi,

do you agree?

Madam Hua said

she heard you fighting outside

so late.

You can

go to her room

and make things clear.

Zhi.

Ask away.

Fudong.

You've known for a while

that Chanlu was stealing honey.

I already entrust you with the kitchen.

Why didn't you say anything?

She's one of your maids.

How dare she

get in the way of your mother's maid?

Our family now

has to work hard to put food on the table.

You're the peddler on the street,

and Fudong is a pastry chef in the kitchen.

You've got so many people to provide for.

I understand it's difficult

to make everybody happy.

Yes.

I've heard that those maids of Zhi

got better paid than the others.

I've got

plenty of time anyway.

I would like to share the burden,

so we can worry less.

Madam,

what do you say?

Before,

for this kind of inside job,

I would have disabled your hands

and kicked you out.

Madam, please don't.

I won't do it again. I promise.

♪Not a patch of land is wasted♪

♪No tea plant is left withered♪

♪The sky drops rain, birds eat worms, and chickens leave manure♪

♪Using effort and sweat to water and nourish♪

♪The tea leaves may be rustic♪

♪But the taste is of spring♪

♪Ah, in the early spring, we pick the tea leaves♪

♪Ah, let's enjoy the abundant spring together♪

♪Not a patch of land is wasted♪

♪No tea plant is left withered♪

♪The sky drops rain, birds eat worms, and chickens leave manure♪

♪Using effort and sweat to water and nourish♪

♪The tea leaves may be rustic♪

♪But the taste is of spring♪

♪Ah, in the early spring, we pick the tea leaves♪

♪Ah, let's enjoy the abundant spring together♪

♪Ah, in the early spring, we pick the tea leaves♪

♪Ah, let's enjoy the abundant spring together♪