Original subtitles

1

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

2

The Story of Ming Lan

3

Episode 67

4

That's Cheng Garden's direction.

5

It's not certain.

6

It's too dark out and it's hard to see.

7

Lichong. Lichong!

8

Sumon all the male runners of the manor and bring the fire extinguishing equipment.

9

All come with me.

- Yes.

10

What are you trying to do?

11

I will go take a look.

12

Wife, I must go see it.

13

It's not even certain it is Cheng Garden.

14

Even if it, it's the marquis manor.

15

They will have their own fire rescuers.

16

Why is he still not here?

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This is the inner courtyard. He can't come in with runners.

18

That's right. You're right. So I'll take a look outside.

19

Husband. Husband!

20

Push. Push.

21

I can see the baby's head.

22

What's wrong outside?

23

Nothing. It's nothing.

24

It's fine, Big Madam. I see the baby's head.

25

Breathe and push hard.

26

She can see the head.

27

Lichong! Lichong!

28

Yuanruo.

29

Come, give me a bucket.

- Yuanruo!

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Where are you going all in a fret?

31

Mother. Cheng Garden's on fire. I am going to help rescue.

32

You saw it and the Fire House would have seen it too.

33

The fire rescue team will go there so what use for you to go?

34

But it's already burning!

35

Don't forget your status and position.

36

You are already married.

37

Running to the marquis manor in the dark. What propriety!

38

Mother. Am I supposed to watch our relative burned to death alive and not help?

39

Relative? You deem them your relative?

40

We were a relative of Gu House.

41

Heng'er, you don't go.

42

Your wife might get scared seeing the fire, so you stay with her.

43

You guys go. Go.

44

Father. She's very safe at home. Why would she need company?

45

I'm going.

46

Father.

47

Let me just go see that she's fine and I'll be right back.

48

Can you block the mouths of the world?

49

Father!

50

When I needed to speak clearly and direct to her,

51

I did not. When I needed to wager all for her,

52

I also didn't and she suffered so much gossip and chilling words by my account.

53

Can't I just go rescue her once?

54

Loufu has her husband and the governor has his wife.*

[ T/N Pre-Tang ballad: Qin Mulberry Tree ]

55

You go and it will just incite more tongue-wagging.

56

If that Gu Marquis were here, I wouldn't need to go.

57

But she's very pregnant and her manor is on fire.

58

Mother. We at least were once acquaintances.

59

And you've given her a bracelet and told her to be my sister.

60

Mother. Even if it's just a total stranger,

61

would you bear to see them die without helping?

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Yuanruo.

- Go!

63

Yuanruo!

64

Fire!

65

Help rescue fire.

66

Work harder. Come.

67

The fire's getting bigger.

68

Hurry, hurry.

69

Harder.

70

Hurry and rescue the fire.

71

Hurry, hurry.

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Push hard, Big Madam.

73

It's out. Out!

74

Big Madam.

75

It's out!

76

Oh, it's a boy.

77

A big fat boy.

78

Slow.

79

Let me see him.

80

Bring him for her to see.

81

Here, Big Madam.

82

The baby's too cute!

83

Alright.

84

Alright.

85

Fat boy.

86

Everyone, everyone will get a reward.

87

Thank you, Big Madam for the reward.

88

You all contributed!

89

Go die!

90

Come!

91

Move!

92

Move!

93

Move!

94

You wench!

95

You, you!

96

Move! Who dares to come!

97

Pull her away.

98

Move!

99

Master.

100

You're back.

101

I'm back.

102

You're back!

103

They said . . . they said you were injured.

104

I . . . I thought you died.

105

My heart shattered.

106

I'm back. I'm back.

107

Everything's fine now that you're back.

108

Look.

109

Child.

110

Is it a boy or a girl?

111

What a big fire!

112

I don't know how my sixth sister is doing.

113

She's pregnant too.

114

How is it?

115

Reporting to Big Madam.

116

Words on the street say Marchioness delivered a boy safely and Marquis is back.

117

What? Delivered a boy?

118

Yes.

119

They say her due date was around now.

120

What a coincidence that the madam of Gu House delivered today in the big fire.

121

And Gu Marquis even saved her amid the big fire.

122

The words are spread all over the streets. That Gu Marquis came back just in time.

123

It's burned like this and she can still give birth?

124

Look at Dad.

125

Look at how much he looks like me.

126

I birthed him. He looks like me.

127

He looks like me. Oh my.

128

Look at how he looks exactly like me. He looks like me.

129

In the future, he will surely become a leader!

130

I already thought it through.

131

If this child likes martial arts in the future,

132

I can invite as many martial masters for him as available.

133

If he wants to master in scholarship,

134

I plan to hand him to your second brother.

135

My brother-in-law.

136

What?

137

You're going to hand him to my second brother, Changbai?

138

You . . . why would you?

139

How can you be so cruel-hearted?

140

This? Why couldn't I?

141

My second brother's temperament. It's not like you don't know.

142

We can't bear to be hard on him so we let another be hard on him.

143

Right?

144

When he's grown, he'll surely hate you for some time.

145

He won't. Right?

146

When did you get back?

147

I saw our house on fire from the street .

148

So I rushed to come back on horse.

149

Yes. The house was on fire.

150

- I should have came back sooner.

- How did Aunt Kang come in?

151

Someone must have used the chaos as opportunity.

152

Rong girl. Where's Rong?

153

Rong is fine.

154

Xian girl is such a good child.

155

She saw the fire and she disregarded her mother stopping her,

156

and sent all the hands and feet to come and help rescue the fire.

157

Now, Rong girl is sitting well in her room.

158

Don't worry now.

159

They said you met an assassin.

160

I was so scared.

161

Your Darling Second is so brave and mighty.

162

A few assassins and I already sent them off.

163

So don't worry.

164

You just birthed the child so you should sleep well.

165

You don't go again.

166

I won't go.

167

I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you guys.

168

Hurry. Get water.

169

Fire. Fire.

170

Here.

171

Here, come, come.

172

Fire. Hurry.

173

Fire. Hurry and come.

174

Don't rush.

175

Oh my world.

176

- Tingwei?

- Third Young Master!

177

- Slow down. Don't rush.

- Third!

178

- Tingwei!

- Big Madam.

179

Third Young Master!

180

Tingwei! Are you alright?

181

Third Young Master.

182

- He's fine, right?

- Thanks to Buddha.

183

Child, hurry and get up. This might collapse and shatter on you.

184

I'll move out and set my own house.

185

Third Young Master!

- What nonsense is this?

186

Big Madam.

187

Third Young Master's place will need to be renovated.

188

Maybe he should go and stay in eldest young master's old place.

189

Wait till I move out,

190

and if you miss me, Mother, you can come visit me.

191

If you don't want to, never mind then!

192

Where are you going?

193

You, if you move out, you won't come back?

194

I don't think I can live here any longer.

195

Third Young Master.

196

After I move out, you and Second Brother.

197

Fight if you want and go at it if you want.

198

I have no say in it anyway!

199

And I don't care anymore!

200

Third Young Master.

201

I raised that child so diligently. Why is he . . .

202

Slower, Madam.

203

- Tingwei!

- Third Young Master!

204

Mother-in-law, you really don't know how our fire started?

205

I heard from second house's report,

206

that the wind was strong and it started from a flicker that flew over from the yard next door.

207

Next door?

208

I bet that flicker is very tall and named Shitou.

209

What?

210

Gu Tingye! How dare you!

211

Mother-in-law.

212

I really don't know if you really dote on my husband or if it's fake.

213

To say it's fake, yet you scheme for him with so much devotion.

214

To say it's true,

215

you've never cared what he wants and what he needs.

216

Whatever he doesn't want, such as the nobility title,

217

you must shove it into his mouth to make him swallow it.

218

Whatever he wants, such as harmony with his siblings.

219

You just will never let him have an ounce or second of it.

220

You spineless lot with no aspiration!

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I schemed for you all my life for nothing!

222

He's not a dog!

223

For you to raise him however to your like!

224

Miss. Miss.

225

Gu Tingye!

226

Miss.

227

Let's not be mad.

228

Alright.

229

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

230

Where's my child?

231

My child! Where is he?

232

Where's my child!

233

Tell Tu Second and Liu Jingli to each guard one of the two inner doors.

234

The rest.

235

Child!

236

Child! Child!

237

Big Madam, your child's here.

238

He's here.

239

What's wrong?

240

Wife.

241

Wife.

242

I had a dream.

243

I dreamed a huge fog.

244

I couldn't find our child.

245

He's here, Wife.

246

Me and our child are both by your side.

247

Don't be scared.

248

Your husband is here to protect you. No ghosts or monsters can come to you.

249

I couldn't see.

250

Xiaotao. Go light a calming incense.

251

Go.

252

I won't sleep. I won't sleep.

253

I can't sleep. I have to watch him.

254

Don't be scared. Your husband is here.

255

I'll hold the sword and watch over you two all night.

256

You sleep without worrying.

257

His Majesty isn't without understanding to force Gu Marquis to leave his house at this moment.

258

It's just that he's so anxious to hear about the salt matter from the marquis.

259

Sir. The fire in the house was only just extinguished.

260

The palace's imperial fire rescue will be here.

261

To allow Gu Marquis to go at ease.

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May you deliver the words for me once again.

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Sir. It's not that I'm putting up air to slight you,

264

but it's just that the madam's traumatized and she can't sleep.

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Our marquis can't leave her side.

266

Tomorrow morning he will go to the palace to beg His Majesty's forgiveness.

267

Your marquis is intending to defy the imperial edict?

268

Sir, my marquis has already wagered his life for His Majesty and Prince Huan nine times.

269

Now that his wife had to labor in fire, couldn't we be generous and allow him to spend a night at home?

270

Prince Huan is back too and if His Majesty wants to hear about the salt matter,

271

he could summon Prince Huan.

272

- You!

- Go safely, Sir.

273

You!

274

Your Majesty, it's time to rest.

275

Why isn't there any news still?

276

How is it? Where's Gu Marquis?

277

It was Cheng Garden of Gu Marquis that was on fire.

278

Where's Gu Marquis?

279

His servant said Marchioness, Madam Sheng, was in labor.

280

She was traumatized and thankfully Gu Marquis returned in time.

281

And now he's easing Madam Sheng and watching the child.

282

I asked you. Where's Gu Marquis?

283

Your Majesty.

284

I didn't even get to enter the gate of Cheng Garden.

285

I didn't see Gu Marquis.

286

Child.

287

As soon as you came into the world,

288

you already met an evil robber!

289

Great. This is a training for you, coming into the world.

290

Though it's warm inside the room, it's windy and chilly outside.

291

It's great too. This is the true image of the world.

292

We will all be by your side.

293

Your mother. Your father. Your older sister.

294

And your old brother who's gone.

295

We will all be by your side.

296

Good child.

297

This is the first day you came into the world.

298

The sky will become bright.

299

Gu Marquis isn't the same as before anymore.

300

I am an emperor waiting for him to report to me about salt matter and I'm still waiting!

301

Great for him though. Clearly aware that I'm waiting for him.

302

He doesn't come to the palace and he doesn't return the military seal.

303

He went home instead to see his wife and child!

304

Your Majesty. Gu Marquis had his home on fire.

305

He is worried about the disaster and that's understanding.

306

On the account of his past contributions, please be forgiving.

307

Do I not pay heed to his contributions?

308

I sent him the imperial fire rescue team.

309

To put them under his complete disposal.

310

No one else in the royal court has that kind of honor.

311

How much more should I be kind to him? Gift him the empire?

312

Your Majesty, what do you mean by saying that?

313

Gu Marquis is a bit arrogant and unrestrained.

314

But be it the imperial jade seal or the issues with my siblings,

315

or the salt patrol over the six provinces,

316

which matter does he fail to succeed in full detail?

317

In the future, we still need to count on him.

318

A few days ago, we closed off the market in the frontier.

319

So they have to go the black market salt route.

320

And now, I've tightened on salt iron.

321

So they can't even find black market salt.

322

Their young chief.

323

He's a youngster who rose with the support of his maternal uncle.

324

He's in a rush to start a war with us to mark his authority.

325

He's pressing us to open the market and give up land.

326

Our days are numbered.

327

We'll take it easy on Gu Tingye for now.

328

Once he's pacified this big matter for us, I'll deal with him then.

329

Your Majesty's health.

330

It's really unwell lately. Headaches daily.

331

Imperial Physicians' Court came to look but found nothing.

332

I think since you were fine back in Yuzhou,

333

and now that we came to Bianjing, with so much work and worry,

334

it's rest that you need. Your imperial health is more urgent.

335

You just watch me with headache and illness day after day.

336

But who knows what's really on your mind!

337

Your son's the eldest in the palace.

338

Are you hoping direly that I can go away a day sooner,

339

so your son can ascend a day sooner,

340

so he can have Gu Tingye assist him a day sooner!

341

May Your Majesty be sage.

342

Your Majesty. I am only devoted to you.

343

Ceying, that child, also regards you as a God.

344

If Your Majesty suspects me ,

345

I can only use death to prove myself.

346

My health is just fine.

347

While we are not in war with the border yet,

348

I will knock down that obstacle that is Empress Dowager first.

349

Or else my aspirations cannot be achieved.

350

And the borders can't be returned to us.

351

And I won't have any face to see my ancestors below.

352

Your Majesty.

353

Empress Dowager is well established and vigorous.

354

Your Majesty, Noble Consort Liu is outside begging to see you.

355

She says she made some new snacks for Your Majesty to try.

356

Let her in.

357

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

358

I didn't know Empress was here too.

359

I see I made too few of the snacks.

360

It's alright.

361

Empress is going back soon.

362

I bid you well in leaving, Empress.

363

Yes.

364

I take my leave.

365

Your Majesty!

366

Why are we so mad? Who got you angered?

367

Hurry now. Send in the snacks for His Majesty to try.

368

Under the skies, is there an older brother like you?

369

A prominent minister of the court. The emperor's esteemed subject.

370

You! You! You had your man go to your younger brother's yard,

371

to kill and to set fire.

372

I . . . I have to go to the emperor to report you.

373

I will go to His Majesty to report you.

374

Did that happen?

375

I never even heard of it.

376

I only know that the fire in our yard was flown over from next door.

377

You . . .

- That happened?

378

Yes. I heard someone lit up sky light and it dropped.

379

The air is dry in the winter. Better to be careful of candles.

380

Yes, yes. I shall always be prudent.

381

You guys think you can just deny and it'll be fine?

382

Let me tell you! Someone from my yard saw it.

383

Your bride, Sheng woman. Her maternal aunt, Kang-Wang.

384

She came to your yard.

385

Summon her for me. Summon her. I will talk to to her face to face.

386

We compare our stories and the truth will be exposed!

387

She can't come.

388

It's so late.

389

What is it? You're keeping the guest for dinner?

390

Enough!

391

Stop this act of yours.

392

This Kang-Wang?

393

She was staying just fine locked up at Sheng House, ready for prison.

394

Why did she run into my yard?

395

You can tell me clearly on that.

396

Since everyone's well aware.

397

You still prepared your lines to put up a show here?

398

Why don't you get yourself over at South Tune House to sing your opera?

399

I'll tell you the truth.

400

The one from Kang House? I already slashed her to death.

401

You killed her?

402

She wanted to kill my wife and child.

403

You repay a loan with money and you repay a life with a life, Grand Madam.

404

What you're scheming about?

405

I know it very clear but you guys don't know what I'm scheming.

406

Let me tell you.

407

In the future, if another tries to harm our Cheng Garden,

408

what happened to the Wang surname is their ending!

409

She's a noble wife of an offiicial.

410

You killed her?

411

Find two people to go and carry her corpse out.

412

Grand Madam, you think about a response to Wang House.

413

Grand Madam.

414

Grand Madam.

415

What are we supposed to tell Wang House, Grand Madam?

416

Grand Madam.

417

So what if he's a marquis?

418

My Wang House isn't a nobody either.

419

I would rather just beat that bastard to death now.

420

Lord Wang. Lord Wang, let us hand it over for indictment.

421

He's heavily favored by the emperor right now.

422

We bind ourselves together and we're still no match to him.

423

He almost burned my son to death too.

424

Then let him beat me to death in your house!

425

Stop there!

426

Mother.

427

Mother. Don't go. Watch your health.

428

Flesh that dropped from my body.

429

Be it alive or dead, I must see it for myself.

430

Mother. Mother.

- Mother.

431

Preserve your health, Mother.

432

Old Madam, may your grief be consoled.

433

That Gu Tingye is a devil like none other.

434

He almost killed my son too.

435

These two cases of human lives. What do you plan to do, Elder?

436

Me and our Gu House. We concede to you on all.

437

My house owes you for this kindness.

438

It's such late hour of the night.

439

My house has met with a matter of funeral and we are not apt to keep you.

440

Eldest, you walk her out for me.

- Mother.

441

Mother! This!

442

Old Madam.

443

Can't be that you're scared?

444

I heard my daughter disturbed you at the marquis manor for many days.

445

You've suffered exhaustion. You should rest now.

446

Send our guest out.

447

So you're scared!

448

Old Madam Wang! You're Old Madam Wang!

449

Your house is the house of Imperial Tutor Wang who was granted to the Imperial Shrine!

450

The flesh that dropped from you died.

451

And you can't even care?

452

Grand Madam, this way.

453

Old Madam.

454

You have lots of children but I only have Tingwei.

455

You're scared of Gu Tingye's power and you don't dare to report him.

456

I am not scared!

457

Trouble that courts disaster!

458

If that Wang House doesn't fare, we will be quite low on power.

459

Jian, have fourth and fifth house come to my hall.

460

Go.

461

I told you many times already.

462

Go rescue your younger sister. Be it to snatch or rob her.

463

When she's conveyed to the interior prison, hijack her.

464

But look at how great you are. Scared of wolf and tiger.

465

Today you say the plan isn't thorough enough and tomorrow you say the guards are too tight.

466

Great now. She's dead.

467

You two got your wish. You don't need to risk anymore.

468

Mother's words,

469

leave no survival path for us.

470

All these years, what was her conduct?

471

You should know that.

472

Our Wang House. That Sheng House. And even the Sheng House in Youyang.

473

For this evil woman, how many rotten cases did we all clean up for her?

474

How many lives were carried out of her Kang Manor?

475

Dead from child labor. Dead from beaten after breaking teacup.

476

The ones tossed out in hemp bags.

477

And this time as soon as we came back,

478

she used us to almost kill the Sheng Old Madam.

479

Mother. She was set out to ruin us all.

480

Now she's dead and it's a relief to the whole family.

481

You are also a mother?

482

One rotten fruit that isn't picked out will rot the entire basket.

483

Mother.

484

Your sister isn't a fruit.

485

She's your blood kin from the same womb as you.

486

Mother!

- Get lost.

487

You are a thing that only divides sibling love.

488

Enough. You say one thing less too.

489

Come, come.

490

Alright.

491

You go and rest first. I'll discuss everything with Mother.

492

Hurry. Escort the madam.

493

He really killed her?

494

I escorted the coffin back personally.

495

My Tingbing got exiled a thousand miles out by him.

496

What else is impossible?

497

Of course he'll kill or harm whoever he wants now.

498

The old madam at Wang House.

499

She asked me to give her an answer.

500

I am a widow. What justification can I give to anyone?

501

He dares to kill the noble wife of an official. He dares to kill is own brothers.

502

Tomorrow, who knows who he wil kill.

503

It's always been the case that the Kang Madam would wrong someone.

504

No one's ever seen anyone wrong her.

505

I actually don't believe what you're saying.

506

If you want to investigate, go ahead.

507

But I'm going to be upfront with my words.

508

Our house was snubbed for years.

509

Finally we're getting some rising colors.

510

If this big tree falls,

511

and we lose our protection,

512

then in the future, how will we live our lives?

513

That is something I'm not clear on.

514

He's cleaned up your house so of course you'd regard him as your savior.

515

My house never ate his protection.

516

Our Tingbing is exiled for ten years!

517

That's not how you say this though.

518

It was Tingbing who rushed to write his name on the rebel prince's roster.

519

And he even crossed out our kid's name.

520

Shut up. Womankind.

521

You all fled and shoved it all on him.

522

Now you say he was snatching your merit?

523

Sister-in-law.

524

If you say that, it's as though Tingbing

525

deserved to be exiled by Second.

526

I was reckless.

527

Sister-in-law. Please don't mind me.

528

My sister ran out by herself.

529

She should've came back right away.

530

So we could protect her. She ran over to Gu House.

531

Then it's sending herself into the net.

532

Your sister was heart-broken.

533

She was heart-broken that her brother, you,

534

and me, her mother, couldn't protect her.

535

So she preferred to go to the enemy's territory instead of returning home.

536

When she left, how despaired she must have felt.

537

This Qin woman.

538

If she were truly good to your sister. The first day she went to the marquis manor,

539

this madam should've sent words to us. Why did she hide it all along?

540

She waited until the person is dead to send the coffin over.

541

Saying it was Gu Tingye that killed her.

542

When he killed her, where was she?

543

Her marquis manor is just an arrow away from Cheng Garden.

544

Just one wall apart and she says she saw nothing.

545

You believe her?

546

She wanted to use my sister

547

as a weapon?

548

We can't count on any of them, I fear.

549

Miss.

550

Did you see?

551

That Gu Tingye. He's daring enough to burn Tingwei's yard.

552

Big Madam, don't be scared now.

553

He really wasn't trying to kill our third young master.

554

He just wanted you to be busy rescuing him.

555

So you can't go and scheme against him anymore.

556

He's killed a noble lady of an official now and he's ripped his face altogether.

557

If I don't eat up this Gu Tingye,

558

then once Wang House gets a grip,

559

and they find out how many things I instigated in between, they will eat me up instead.

560

It's not so bad if they ate me.

561

But what about my . . .

562

That foolish child of mine.

563

What will he do in the future?

564

I understand it all.

565

Since this is the path we're on, he has to die for me to survive.

566

Go.

567

Go summon the Bai House from Yangzhou.

568

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

569

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."

570

♫One morning, a flower opened and approached a willow tree,

beautifully fragrant and mistaking him for her lord♫

571

♫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♫

572

♫In the palace, you are constantly brave and growing thin,

from on high, your cold tears of distress flow♫

573

♫Brocade letters delivered to me dismiss me, only suddenly to recall me,

not for many years can I see you other than stealthily♫

574

♫Last night, gusty winds and rain

during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect♫

575

♫When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up

and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before.♫

576

♫Don't you know, don't you know,

there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫

577

♫Last night, gusty winds and rain

during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect♫

578

♫When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up

and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before.♫

579

♫Don't you know, don't you know,

there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫

580

♫Don't you know, don't you know,

there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫