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 10]

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.

What illness does your mother have?

Who else is in your family?

She coughs phlegm all the time.

There is only my mother

and great-aunt at home.

Before,

my mother could still make money by doing others' laundry,

but now...

There's no need to say more.

How much money did you send home every month?

Five hundred,

including medicine costs.

Chanlu, I used to like her.

I gave her to your mother.

I failed to train her well.

Now she did something wrong.

It's my fault.

Starting from today,

within one year,

she won't be paid.

Within this year,

take five hundred from my allowance every month

and send it to her mother.

Thank you for your great kindness!

Thank you!

You may leave.

Madam,

is there any other instruction?

Qin.

Madam.

How much do you get per month?

I...

I only get five hundred.

Bring the ledger for monthly allowances

to me.

Take a look.

[Hua Zhi, five hundred]

What...

She only gets five hundred as well?

Yes.

Indeed, I should get more.

As I am taking care of everything in this family now,

I should get an extra payment

like you did before.

From now on,

I'll get an extra half guan each month.

Alright, I'm tired.

You all may leave.

Zhi.

Fix my glasses for me.

Jin'e,

what did Madam Hua say?

Your daughter

really has her mind fixed on money.

Do you know why your Aunt Xia

made such a scene?

In the past, she handled

huge sums of money every month.

But now, our family

doesn't have much money left.

I really don't understand

what she is still trying so hard to get.

Your mother's family

is a noble one with an official rank.

Your Aunt Qi and Aunt Wu

are both daughters of officials.

Only the father of your Aunt Xia

is a merchant.

So a merchant's daughter

is shallower than the others?

I don't think so.

Your Aunt Xia and her husband don't get along.

They fought all the time.

All these years,

things haven't been easy for her.

This daughter-in-law of mine

came from a humble family,

but she's born ambitious

and proud.

Also, she truly is

smart and talented.

Otherwise,

why do you think I like her?

Only for her sweet talks?

The life of a housewife

is quite tedious.

Only being in charge of the whole family

gave her something to do and something to strive for.

It made her hold her head high

in front of her sister-in-laws

and also made those servants

dare not secretly

gossip about her background.

Grandmother,

I used to only feel

that she's annoying

and laughable.

I didn't know

that she's actually pitiable.

Who is it?

You awful girl.

What do you want?

I want to ask you a favor.

You're so capable

that no one can compete with you.

How can I possibly help you?

Aunt Xia,

last night,

I went over the accounts all night,

but I can't balance the accounts.

You?

You can't balance the accounts?

I have already reported it to Grandmother

and she scolded me.

She told me to show it to you.

She also said

if there are more accounts like this,

I should let you go through them first.

Yingchun has never

managed such tasks after all.

We need your help and advice.

Right,

I need your guidance.

Her Highness commanded me

to bring you something to eat.

If she doesn't want it,

let's eat it.

Come on!

She won't tell on us, will she?

If she knows how to do that, people wouldn't call her a fool.

That's true.

Come on, try one.

Is it good?

What happened ten years ago...

What exactly happened?

This...

Mr. Dong.

Okay.

This old man

is becoming more and more strange.

Spending all day alone

and muttering to himself.

It's quite creepy.

Exactly.

I can't remember it clearly...

Shaoyao.

Shaoyao!

Come.

Come over here.

Come on.

Kids don't remember things

and the aged

can't recall anything either.

I remember now!

Sir,

Dong Da is dead.

Rattle-drum,

have a look!

Miss,

look at this!

This is good.

Slow down.

Miss, look at this!

These are all the fashionable patterns.

Miss,

please take a look.

Check it out!

Get one, please!

Wait for me!

Do you have a coin?

Please...

Young lady,

spare me a coin, please!

How could you steal from a beggar?

How could you!

Let me tell you something.

I have recently created

something new,

called Icy Chamomile.

Summer hasn't even started yet.

Who would want cold food right now?

Exactly.

I was just thinking

to get it ready.

When summer comes,

we can...

The other day,

did you go to Mr. Song's place

to watch the fire puppet?

I think I saw you there.

Shen,

would you like anything else?

No, thanks.

I'm full too.

Let's go.

Shall we?

Let's go.

Let's go.

Mr. Shen,

please wait a moment.

Mr. Shen.

It's eighty wen in total.

Put it on my brother's tab.

Put it

on my brother's tab.

On my brother's tab.

Here you go.

Baoxia,

eat first.

I'll do the work.

Okay.

Go.

Mother,

I want to have this!

How much?

Three wen each.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Father, I want to have honey marbles!

Hurry up, let's go.

These are called honey marbles.

They're sweet with a bit of sourness.

Do you want to try some?

Is it tasty?

Careful.

Well,

you...

Why are you sitting here?

Get up.

Let's go.

Do you like it?

Come on.

Have some more if you like it.

Miss, you've had two.

That'll be six wen in total.

Stop!

You have to pay!

Put it on my brother's tab.

Hold on a moment.

Your brother?

Where is he?

Who is he?

You look like

a lady from a decent family.

How come you eat

without paying?

What's your name?

My name is Shaoyao.

Is that even a real name?

Baoxia.

It's alright.

Judging from this wound,

what killed him should be as fine as a strand of spider silk.

I think he was killed in one strike.

I'm afraid the murderer is good at martial arts.

Sir,

your sister

has gone missing.

I can't believe this.

Bringing home a kitten or a puppy is acceptable.

But you actually brought home a girl.

Look, it's going to get dark soon.

And we can't get her to talk.

We can't just leave her

there on the street, right?

Don't be afraid.

My family are all good people.

You can stay here for the night.

Tomorrow, I'll take you to look for your family.

Is that okay?

But I have a huge family.

You might have to squeeze in.

Young Lady,

I've lost my money!

Where is my money?

Are you a fool?

It's right here.

Stop chasing, stop!

It's too dangerous!

Come on, let's count.

I want to know how much we made today.

Bolin.

Boli,

time to eat!

Mother,

are you tired?

I'll do it.

No.

Look at your hands.

They're so soft and delicate.

Go spend time with your scripts.

I'll wait for you to finish,

then we go together.

Let me try it!

You two,

it's time to eat.

Let's go.

Shaoyao,

what happened?

Who is she?

This place...

This place

is really nice.

All right.

I'm glad you like it here.

I'm five years old.

How old are you?

Seventeen.

She's a big girl.

How come you just brought her home like that?

Here you go.

You can feed the chickens.

No one from her family is looking for her?

Madam Qi,

we waited until nightfall,

but no one came looking for her.

So I asked her

where she lives.

But look at her.

I thought I couldn't just leave her

on the street.

What if she really has an elder brother?

He might come looking for her tomorrow.

Poor girl.

Madam.

It's time to eat.

Time to eat.

Come on, Duo.

Time to eat. Stop feeding them.

Shaoyao.

Come on.

Let's eat.

Let's go, time to eat.

Didn't Grandmother get better a few days ago?

Why has she started coughing again?

The weather has been changing rapidly these days.

So she got ill again.

We've already asked for a physician.

Give me back my book!

No!

Let me take a look!

How did the chickens get out?

- Give me back! - Tales of Mountains and Sea...

I've borrowed it!

I want to read it!

Stop it!

It's time to eat.

Come on, hurry and sit down.

Huilan.

It's time to eat.

Come on.

Why aren't you going in?

I...

How do you usually eat?

I eat inside the house.

Alone?

Try this.

Do you want this?

It's tasty, isn't it?

Who are they?

They're all my family.

This is really good.

This is delicious!

Eat this.

This is tasty.

Can a family

have meals together now?

Even if they're not family members,

we can still eat together.

Aren't you about

to join us for a meal?

Let's go.

Come on, let's eat.

Let's eat.

I'll get you some rice.

- Here. - Thank you, Aunt Xia.

Here you go.

Chopsticks.

Come on.

Try this.

And this.

You can have as much as you want.

Go on.

Let's eat.

Have some more.

How is she?

This is a prescription.

Madam Hua has a deficiency of lungs.

To eradicate it,

we need time.

No.

No...

This won't work.

Silly girl,

what are you talking about?

Sir.

Please ignore her.

This.

Replace it with flos farfarae,

mulberry root bark,

and platycodon root.

Shaoyao,

you know pharmacology?

Flos farfarae,

mulberry root bark,

and platycodon root...

That's a remedy created by the former imperial physician,

called Nine-Immortals Powder.

A good prescription indeed.

With your suggestion,

it'll surely work better

than my prescription.

Truly amazing!

This girl hasn't even

met Madam Hua yet.

How did she do it?

I heard.

You heard her coughing.

Right?

Sir,

do you think

this prescription is what Grandmother needs?

Yes. Just get

all the ingredients based on

her prescription.

Baoxia,

go back to the capital with the physician.

Take this prescription

and get three doses from the herbal shop.

Sir.

Zhi,

you brought home a genius!

You've memorized the portrait, haven't you?

You must find her.

Yes!

Oh dear,

where on earth are you?

I can't hear it anymore.

Grandmother has stopped coughing.

You're truly amazing.

Where on earth

did you learn to do that?

From books.

I can read.

Is your father

a physician too?

Like the one you met just now?

Is there anyone else

in your family,

apart from your brother?

The ones who bring me food.

And a cat,

running around.

It was sick. I cured it.

Do you know

where your home is?

A courtyard.

So small.

No chickens,

nor ducklings.

Let's go.

Time to sleep.

What's the matter?

I'm so happy today.

I don't want to go to sleep.

Don't worry.

I promise you

tomorrow will be just as good.

Let's go.

Did you find her?

Sir,

we didn't find her.

Same here.

We didn't find her either.

Sir,

should we go out of the capital next?

Of course!

The commander didn't sleep all night.

If we can't find her,

we'll die.

Yes!

I'll have one.

Come back for more if you like it.

Alright.

If you wear this,

how is your brother going to find you?

Do you want to sell haws

like Yingchun?

Come on, five wen each.

Ten wen for two.

What is this?

This is called honey marble.

Sour, sweet, and particularly delicious.

Have a try!

Honey marble

is tasty.

Then, how much is this?

Five wen.

It is five wen!

Then let's have one.

Alright, madam.

Here,

here you go.

Shaoyao, you did really good.

Good job.

Go sell another.

Mother, I want this.

Honey marble, five wen.

Delicious.

Thank you.

Five wen.

Honey marble.

It's delicious. Five...

Yanxi!

Shaoyao,

where have you been all night?

I...

I went to their place. They have a big yard

with chicks and ducklings!

Thank you for looking after Shaoyao.

How much is this?

Five wen.

Shaoyao...

Five wen!

I'll have one.

Here you go.

One for me.

So, you are her brother?

I didn't expect

Shaoyao is actually with you.

Anything new recently?

No.

I can apologize to you.

But you have to tell me

how I have upset you.

Your sister is special.

You shouldn't have

made her wander around alone.

My bad.

This almost led to a big mistake.

Even my chicks and ducklings

have friends for company.

They run freely every day.

Shaoyao's life isn't even as good as theirs.

It's my fault.

This is your family matter.

I really shouldn't have interfered.

Thanks a lot.

Are you the same as Shaoyao?

She hasn't even seen a family

eating together.

The two of you

shouldn't live like this.

So this is why you're angry.

She must have eaten a lot of your haws, right?

It's okay.

It's just worth a few coins.

But Shaoyao

is actually a master of pharmacology

at such a young age.

Last night,

she nearly cured my grandmother's coughing

in just one night.

She is now the savior

of my entire family!

You can really cure people?

Yes, I can.

Thank you.

Yanxi, why hasn't your scar healed yet?

Haven't you applied any medicine?

Alright, Shaoyao,

let's head home.

Express your thanks to Zhi.

Thank you, Zhi.

Go home.

Let's go.

Young Lady,

bad news!

Our haws

and the lanterns

have all been copied!

Come with me.

Tell me.

How did you get out?

I wanted to see you.

The door was open, so I came out.

Then how did you meet her?

Who?

Hua Zhi.

Did she come to you?

Or did you find her?

Did she say something to you

before taking you to her place?

I was on the street.

There were so many people.

And then,

there were

animal headwear.

That haws

were so delicious.

Six wen.

And then,

she asked me where I live.

Later she took me

to a very large courtyard

with chicks and ducklings.

And...

They were

a family.

It seems she really doesn't know

who we are.

It's okay now.

Let's go home.

What's wrong?

Yanxi,

are you going to lock me up again?

No.

Next time,

I'll take you out.

We can go wherever you want.

Let's go.

What's wrong?

Even my chicks and ducklings

have friends for company.

They're running freely every day.

Shaoyao's life isn't even as good as theirs.

The two of you

shouldn't live like this.

Shaoyao,

you're not going back.

Really?

But you must remember.

Don't tell anyone your surname is Gu,

especially Hua Zhi.

If she knows,

she'll never offer you that delicious fruit again.

So, my surname is Gu?

Let's go.

Why did you come back?

I have a favor to ask.

Sure, go ahead.

Can Shaoyao

stay a few more days at your place?

Of course, she can.

But why?

Before, when I wasn't in the Imperial Capital,

she's always alone

and locked up at home.

Now, I have returned,

but I seldom stay at home.

You are right.

This kind of life

shouldn't continue.

There are many young girls in my place.

My mother and aunties will take care of her.

She'll be safe with us.

She can stay as long as she wants.

I don't know how I can thank you enough.

Take care!

For my sister's food and lodging,

I pay you three hundred wen per month.

Is that alright?

Yes, that's fine.

Are you really taking that?

It's not even enough!

As her elder brother,

don't forget about her.

When you have time,

come and spend time with Shaoyao.

Okay.

For such a big favor,

I really don't know how to repay you.

If there's anything I can help with,

please let me know.

If you really want to help,

are you free right now?

Yeah.

Since you have said so,

you're not leaving.

Yingchun, Baoxia,

I'll leave it to you.

- Sure. - Alright.

Let's go.

Are you tired?

I'm fine.

I could handle two more carts.

This is the last batch of haws.

For the next batch,

we'll have to wait until autumn.

Look at you.

When doing this heavy work,

you look so happy about it.

I don't always receive

simple tasks like this.

It does make me feel refreshed.

It's getting late.

Let's head back.

At this hour,

dinner should be ready at my place.

Come home with us.

Sure.

Shaoyao,

let's go home.

Don't look at me. Watch the road.

It was sunny just a moment ago.

And suddenly, it is raining.

Isn't life ever-changing

just like this?

Yesterday, Shaoyao came here

and said this place is nice.

Today, when I took her out to sell haws,

she kept looking back.

She didn't want to leave.

I asked her why.

Guess what she said?

What?

She said she wanted her brother

to take a look at this place too.

This place is indeed very nice.

You and Shaoyao

haven't seen each other for a long time, right?

Ten years.

I was in the Northern Land.

Now my father and brother are there too.

So is my grandfather.

He's over sixty.

I don't know

if he can survive the cold.

The good people are protected by the heaven.

When I was in the Northern Land,

I always said that to myself.

Now,

these are the only words I have

to comfort you.

Am I

causing you inconvenience?

For the sake of the money,

it is not very inconvenient.

Fudong is getting the food ready.

Dinner will be served in a moment.

Good.

Yingzhen,

is there a history

between Zhi

and that young man?

Is that why she brought his sister home?

And now they are chatting outside.

Aren't you going to have a look?

I don't think so.

Zhi doesn't understand those things.

Come here for a moment, Shaoyao.

Come on.

Sit down.

Shaoyao,

what does your brother do

for a living?

Yanxi.

See you tomorrow.

Go home.

See you tomorrow.

Let's go.

Sir.

You're amazing.

How did you know he would be here?

I took a guess.

Really?

I knew someone was following me earlier today.

Right after Dong Da died, they set their sights on Shaoyao.

This must have something to do

with the fire back then.

Take him back.

Yes.

Wait a minute.

Blades?

Search him.

No threads.

There's more than one assassin.

Go back.

We're a step behind.

That man fled into the manor!

Search him.

Do you like the pastry

newly made by Fudong?

I like it.

Zhi!

- Zhi! - Zhi!

Don't!

Zhi!

Zhi!

One more step forward,

she will be beheaded.

Zhi!

Please don't hurt her,

please!

Zhi!

Let go of her!

Sir,

just tell me what you want.

Sir.

Sir, please let go of her

and take me instead.

She is young.

Let go of her.

Let go of her.

Madam!

Mother, go to your room!

Hua Zhi!

Madam Hua!

Let go of her.

We'll give you anything you want.

Everyone, shut up

and make way.

Mister,

you might not know

that the Security Bureau never cares about human lives,

especially the lives of sinners like me!

My life is worthless to them.

Having me as a hostage

will do you no good!

You do have self-awareness.

If this crossbow of mine

is fully drawn,

not to mention a woman,

even an ox or a horse

could be pierced through.

No, please no!

Stop!

Don't.

Don't do it!

Not to mention her,

even if you strangle everyone here

to death,

I wouldn't let you go.

Zhi!

The day your mansion was confiscated,

you cooperated well.

Now, I suggest you do the same.

Just do nothing and wait for death.

Move,

don't get in the way.

Is he trying to save my life?

I am now

killing you both.

You can keep each other company.

Take the body with us.

- Yes. - Yes.

Wait!

Thank you

for saving my family.

You should thank yourself.

Let's go.

- Zhi! - Zhi.

Zhi!

Are you alright?

Zhi, are you okay?

♪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♪