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 31]

Miss.

Madam.

Which ones are popular?

Let me see.

This one.

And this one.

Miss, you seem unfamiliar.

Do you also live nearby?

Yes.

My family has just moved in over there.

Our ladies and madams want to buy some flower-shaped hairpins

but haven't found a reliable seller yet.

Miss.

You don't need to go elsewhere.

In this place,

everyone knows

I have all styles of hairpins.

Do you often sell hairpins at this place?

Yes.

All the ladies and madams here

buy hairpins from me.

This is the Sun Family, right?

Yes.

Then what kind of styles

do the women of this household wear?

You asked the right person.

I often visit their residence.

No one

knows better than I do.

Miss.

Let me tell you.

The third concubine

likes this one.

How many concubines are in this family?

Eight in total.

The seventh concubine

likes this one.

So,

you sent Yingchun

to inquire about Sun Xiang?

If she doesn't see it with her own eyes

or hear it with her own ears,

as an outsider,

whatever I say is not convincing.

Speaking of smartness,

Yingchun is not inferior to me.

It's just that she never had the chance to study,

but she can make her own decisions.

It sounds like

you're boasting about yourself.

I am.

Then according to what you've said,

Sun Xiang is a man who never gets satisfied

and thinks the grass is greener on the other side.

And he even wants to hook up with Miss Qin.

Qin might look

a bit taciturn,

but she's a sensible person.

It's just

that she's not as stubborn

and strong-willed as Yingchun.

If Sun Xiang comes to her again,

I will have a good talk with her.

She will listen.

The kites tangled up together.

Never mind.

Let it be.

Let them fly away together.

You nobleman!

You don't know a thing

about the plight of the down-and-out.

If we let them go just like that,

there will be no kites to fly next time.

Next time...

Next time I'll draw two for you,

as long as you don't mind

my ugly drawings.

No wonder Uncle Pingyang

likes flying kites.

Your Uncle Pingyang is an interesting man.

No wonder your Aunt Wu

is so deeply affectionate towards him.

Unlike me, so uninteresting.

I think that's a good thing.

Being as handsome as you are,

if you are also interesting,

there'd be many girls who fancy you,

I can't compete.

I'm afraid if I'm too uninteresting,

you won't like me, either.

Then I want no more

and no less.

Just stay the way you are now.

I'm the only one to you.

That's enough.

Help me here!

Make way!

Make way!

That's a surprise.

Why not try to attend the imperial examination?

My father will certainly help you

with all his might.

Newly arrived nine linked rings!

Take a look!

Tangram puzzles and nine linked rings!

All are newly arrived!

Sachets and chicken feather shuttlecocks.

Nice and fun.

Don't you have anyone else to play with?

Then I'll play with you.

It's fine.

Let's go together.

We can go to many places.

Even more interesting places.

Listen carefully.

My name is Shaoyao.

Keep up!

Your horse is running away!

Your face is covered in wounds.

This is my friend.

Friend?

Friend.

Miss, feel free to take a look.

Come and see!

Osmanthus wine and lychee wine!

Shaoyao.

Shen Huan!

Aren't you...

Aren't...

Mister, you forgot something!

Slow down.

Shen Huan.

Haven't you said

that you couldn't come to hang out with me?

Shaoyao.

I have something to tell you.

Okay.

In my heart,

you're different from everyone else.

Those people make friends with me

because of my family

or my money.

And some of them

just hang out with me to kill time.

They are okay to hang out with anyone else.

Even my parents,

they dote on me

only because

I am their son.

Just someone for them to dote on.

But in your eyes,

I am just me.

You are you.

Such a smart

and amazing person.

Shaoyao.

In this world,

you're the only one

who really thinks so.

I am going

to get married soon.

Who are you going to marry?

I can hang out with her.

She would probably not want that.

After I get married,

we can no longer

hang out together.

Then...

Then... Can you not get married?

Yes.

I don't want to marry her either.

I...

I...

Shaoyao.

I've been thinking about it for many days.

I feel that I might feel affection

for you.

What affection?

Affection!

What kind of affection?

Affection means

that I want to be with you every day.

If you aren't by my side,

I won't know

how to spend my day.

I feel the same.

So this is affection.

Then I also have affection for you.

Really?

No, no, that's not right.

What I mean is,

you and I,

just the two of us

being together.

Do you mean that too?

Just the two of us?

Well, not really.

I can be together

with Yanxi and Zhi.

I can also hang out with Duo.

But I don't want Bolin

because he always cheats.

Shaoyao.

We're not talking about the same thing.

How come it is not the same thing?

By being together,

I mean,

you and I,

the two of us being together.

Just the two of us.

No one else.

I...

Aren't we

together now?

That's not what I mean.

I...

Then what exactly do you mean?

Take your time.

Shaoyao.

I think

this is as far as we can go.

Go?

Goodbye.

You already have eight concubines

and you want me to be the ninth?

You already know?

Your first wife

left two children behind

and you haven't thought of telling me?

That's right.

I have a son and a daughter.

But I am impressed

by your talent,

so I would like you

to be the mother to the two children.

There is no fault in that.

As for my eight concubines,

that's not a big deal.

As long as you please me,

what does it matter

even if I have a harem filled with concubines?

A woman can have everything with a man's love.

Miss Yingchun.

You must have heard of it, haven't you?

But if you fail to please me,

even if you are my only concubine,

you will still have a hard life.

Tell me.

Am I right?

Yes.

Yes, you're right.

So

don't blame me for this, Miss Yingchun.

If it were another man,

he wouldn't tell you

any of this.

You could only find it out

after you become his concubine.

Get out!

Miss Yingchun.

Will you give it

a second thought?

Not in a million years.

Young Lady.

What did he say?

He was lying through his teeth.

I pretended to be a customer

and went to three of his tea shops.

His shops are highly mismanaged

and are running at a severe loss.

I also went to his residence in the Imperial Capital

and inquired about how things were in his family.

Young Lady.

Now I know why in the first place you sent me to look into him.

Thank you.

You finally came to your senses,

Yingchun.

Who would do business

with a man like him?

Right.

In his dreams.

Let's go reconcile the accounts.

Alright.

Kick it this way.

This is the imperial garden.

How dare you fool around here?

You've got some nerve.

Please forgive us.

We won't do this again.

Give them back their shuttlecock.

On such a lovely spring day,

if I were their age,

I would do it, too.

Let's go.

Greetings, Grandmother.

Yanxi.

Look at this garden.

What a charming scene

with everything thriving.

Yet within this year,

I have lost another son

and two grandchildren.

Grandmother.

I hope you won't blame me.

What is there for me to blame you for?

We were born into the royal family,

so we must obey the kismet

and the Emperor's will.

Look at this Imperial Palace.

It is where we live,

but it is not where we belong.

The descendants of your Gu Family

are related to each other by blood.

But that's not what makes a family.

I have nowhere else to go.

But Yanxi,

you are different.

You are 23 this year, aren't you?

It's time to get married.

Be it the Imperial Palace

or Lord Ling's Mansion,

it's bleak everywhere.

Find someone who can bring you happiness.

What?

You've already found one?

You see right through me, Grandmother.

My mother gave me this as my dowry

when I entered the Palace.

Now I pass it to you.

If you already have a girl that you like,

give it to her

as a betrothal gift.

Thank you, Grandmother.

Lady Qin.

What's the matter?

That Mr. Sun.

Lady Zhi won't buy tea from him.

Do you know why?

I never inquire

about your business matters.

Why should I need to know?

Because he was so full of lies.

He has eight concubines

and two children.

He just wants a woman who can take good care of his children.

Yingchun.

Thank you for telling me this.

Look. I threw that in.

What are you all doing here?

You are so annoying.

Who upset you?

Get lost!

All of you!

[Peach Blossoms and Green Willows in Spring]

[Peach Blossoms and Green Willows in Spring]

This little vixen!

They will be out soon, I guess.

Run slower.

Come.

Slow down.

Go that way.

Are you okay?

Don't cry, little boy.

Do you want some pastry?

[Sun Mansion]

Does it taste good?

Yes.

I will buy you more next time.

Okay?

Okay.

Thank you, miss.

Master, she...

Does it taste good, Xin?

Yes.

Miss Qin.

Father.

Mr. Sun.

I have never thought

destiny brought us together again.

You are Xin's father.

You brought him back?

No wonder I could get along so well with Xin

even though we just met.

He wouldn't stop crying

unless I promised to walk him home.

Xin.

Say thanks to this miss.

Thank you, miss.

Xin is such a good child.

[Reflect Carefully and Practice Earnestly]

What's that sound?

I don't know.

That tea merchant,

Sun Xiang.

He comes to propose a marriage.

To whom?

I wasn't quite convinced

about what Yingchun said before,

so I had someone ask around.

Everything Yingchun said was true.

Why do you still make this choice?

Qin,

we are no longer

in dire straits now.

You really don't have to marry

a dishonest man like him.

Mother.

You don't have to worry.

I don't care

how many children he has

or how many concubines he has.

After I marry him,

if I can be virtuous

and take good care of the children,

I'm sure he will treat me well.

Aunt Xia.

Ms. Qin.

I want to have a few words with her.

Zhi.

I know you always

want the best for me.

However,

I know what I am doing.

Qin.

If you have any doubts or hesitation

about this marriage,

I will step in

and return all these things.

I won't let him make things difficult for you.

Zhi, it's nothing like that.

I can't be more sure about this marriage.

I know that Mr. Sun

might not be such a perfect match.

But...

I'm nowhere near perfect, either.

Even before

our family was raided,

there have never been any noble descendants

proposed marriage to me.

And now,

we are just a merchant family

without any court officials.

I am just a concubine's daughter

and inferior to you and Ling.

Qin,

we don't care about who you are born of in this family.

Do you really want to marry such a person?

If I don't marry him,

I probably won't have a better choice

in the future.

Zhi.

I am just a normal girl.

I am not

as capable and smart as you are.

Speaking of which,

I owe you an apology.

What's to apologize for?

I thought once,

since you called off the engagement with Mr. Shen Qi,

maybe I could...

He is truly a good man

and the best match I can ever possibly have.

But

a person like him

won't consider marrying a person like me.

You are overthinking.

You just haven't been in the right place at the right time.

Could you just be more patient?

No.

The madams in our family

didn't even know

what their future husbands looked like

before they got married.

And I have known

what Sun Xiang looks like.

That's good enough for you?

Yes.

He's neither old nor ugly

and his business is thriving.

Besides, he's willing to marry me through a proper betrothal process.

I have thought it through

calmly.

Mr. Sun

probably is the best person I can get to marry.

Qin.

You don't have to regard marriage

as the ultimate goal of your life.

Aunt Xian got a divorce and she turned out fine.

Besides,

we are your family.

You can also rely on us.

Zhi,

I am getting married.

Don't say something inauspicious like that.

Wish me well.

Now I know what getting married means.

Shen Huan is also getting married.

Where will he be taken in the bridal sedan chair?

Young Lady.

Several orchardists

have delivered the fruits to our backyard.

Let's go and take a look.

Let's go.

Have you finished counting?

Just halfway through,

but I forgot everything after I saw you.

Why are you here?

I came to figure out

how you would arrange the wedding affairs.

But I was too busy to catch up.

What do you think?

I think

something is not right.

I'm all ears.

Usually,

the elder sister gets married first

and the younger sister comes later.

You have such a glib tongue.

Hua Zhi.

This is for you.

This must have cost you a lot more

than your monthly allowance for months.

It cost

way more than that.

But I don't care. I want you for the rest of my life.

Where did you get this from?

It was given by an elder

as a gesture of goodwill.

It's late now.

How could she be so arrogant?

Sister-wives.

You see?

It's been so late.

And she hasn't shown up.

This new madam

is quite something, huh?

The sun's already high in the sky,

and she hasn't gotten up yet.

Exactly.

Although the Hua Family is no longer what it used to be,

they were once a prestigious family.

How come she is so ill-mannered?

You may not know

that this new madam

is actually born of a concubine.

Is that so?

I thought she was the daughter

of that formidable Madam Xia.

No.

She was born to a concubine of Madam Xia's husband.

Speaking of that concubine,

she is also a laughingstock herself.

Come on, tell us about it.

Come on, spill it.

This concubine...

Greetings, Madam.

Did I tell you to sit down?

Master has entrusted

your indentured servitudes to me

and I have already reviewed them

early this morning.

That was

why you came here so late.

We wondered

why you

got up late.

From now on, do not interrupt

when I speak.

Yes.

Ms. Zhang.

Ms. Li.

Ms. Xue.

Ms. Hong.

You

should be Ms. Wang, right?

Frankly speaking,

Master keeps you as his concubines

for the sake of bearing offspring.

Yet you all

failed to live up to expectations.

Only the late Madam

left behind two children.

What about you?

Ms. Hu.

Yes.

You are the master's first concubine.

The only thing that you should care about

is to bear offspring for the master.

But what you do all day

is gossip about nonsense

with this bunch of yentas.

What's the use of keeping you here?

You're right, Madam.

You're right, Madam.

Let me make it very clear.

If you can't bear children

or be disobedient,

which upset the master,

I will do what I have to do.

If any of you ever annoy me,

I will sell her

and find the master

new concubines that are both young and pretty.

Do you think

the master will say no to that?

Madam, please don't sell us.

Madam, please don't sell us.

Master.

Come in and take a seat.

Come on.

This spot is dirty.

Swipe the dust over there.

Quickly.

[Resolve and Purpose]

Yingzhen.

Fudong visited us three days ago

for the first time after she was married.

Hua Qin is on her way back now.

You should be happy about this.

Why do you sigh?

Huilan.

How would you know the bitterness in my heart?

You've never raised a daughter.

I am thinking

Zhi and Rong will get married

one day.

You think too much.

Is Hua Qin here?

Madams, it's someone from the Palace.

The Palace?

The Palace?

What? What's the matter?

Madams, there's nothing serious.

They say our pastries

are too famous.

Even the Empress Dowager couldn't stop praising them.

So they want the head of our family

to bring some to the Palace.

That's wonderful!

Rise.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

The last time I saw you,

you were so heartbroken.

I'm getting old,

so I need to seize the time and do whatever comes to my mind.

I woke up this morning

and ate the plum cakes made by the Hua's.

And then I ordered someone to summon you to the Palace.

But it's already past noon

when we meet each other now.

There are many rules in the Palace.

It's indeed not easy for Miss Hua

to pay a visit here.

Miss Hua.

Come closer.

Did Yanxi give you this bracelet?

Yes.

You must know

his identity.

How nice!

When you are young,

you are just afraid of nothing.

When Wan was young,

she was also full of life and vigor

and did whatever she wanted.

Back then,

we had a pact

that we would only talk about romantic themes.

Pretending that

we have never got married,

been other people's wives,

or given birth to children.

We just pretended

we always stayed at seventeen.

Therefore,

until her death,

I had never even thought about

meeting her descendants.

You are not surprised at all

after you heard what I said.

You must have

read our letters.

Yes.

When my grandmother was alive,

she would often have me read the letters.

I have also transcribed those letters.

You are making me blush.

When your grandmother and I first met,

I was troubled

by marriage affairs.

Lady.

It's not that bad to marry him.

And besides, His Highness...

Don't mention him.

Who is there?

Who is coming this way?

What an audacious scoundrel!

Get out!

Don't get mad.

I thought it was empty here.

Who are you?

I am going to hunt outside the city.

Just passing by.

Later,

she stayed with us and wouldn't leave.

We stayed there to hide from the heat.

And for the first time,

I mounted a horse.

Even though at that time

I still didn't dare to take the reins.

Time flew.

I married the late Emperor.

Then I bestowed Zihuang Residence

to Wan.

I see.

Every summer,

my grandmother would live in the Residence for a while

and she allowed no one to follow.

While she was alive,

there wasn't a day she didn't miss you.

But that didn't change anything.

The moment I entered the Palace,

to live freely just

became an empty hope.

I can barely see my family

for the rest of my life,

let alone friends.

As Yanxi's grandmother,

if he can have a girl like you by his side,

I feel happy for him.

But as the friend of your grandmother,

I must remind you

it will be harder for you

in Lord Ling's Mansion.

But still,

if you were held back by worries

when you were young

and even afraid to give your heart to someone,

then

you would regret it when you are old.

So

what did you tell my grandmother?

I said I believed in you

and myself.

Good.

You are always fearless

and nothing can hold you back.

Come with me.

♪We're like walking in the opposite direction♪

♪We keep missing each other day and night♪

♪Destiny keeps us wrapped around its finger♪

♪Twilight is the sun's gentleness bestowed upon the moon♪

That is kind of a coincidence.

I was the one who dug out the wines.

And in the end,

I was the one who owned them.

Now

I should give them back to the original owner.

You were the one who redeemed them.

I felt so regretful at that time.

Never feel regretful.

Everything you lost

will eventually

find a way to return to you.

I am still in the mourning period

of Lord Ling.

Even if the Empress Dowager intervenes,

His Majesty will not agree to grant our marriage.

We can only wait a bit longer.

I'm not in a hurry,

nor am I afraid to wait.

In three years,

perhaps my grandfather and the others would have come back.

♪Never give up♪

It's just that I have to tell another lie

if I want to take the wines back home.

Aren't you good at telling lies?

I believed you every time

when you lied.

You are the one to talk!

Be careful with these things.

Move them carefully.

Don't break them.

[Hua Mansion]

Be careful.

Now we have some extra money,

so I think I can't leave the wines

that Uncle Pingyang prepared out there.

So I redeemed them all back.

That's very nice of you, Zhi.

The wines

are prepared

as Zhi's dowry.

I think somebody

is going to get married soon.

Yuniang.

Go ask her

when Mr. Yan will come to propose the marriage.

Has he discussed it with Zhi?

Yes, go on.

Zhi's choice of men

surprised me more

than that of Qin.

Jin'e, rest assured.

As long as Mr. Yan

loves Zhi with all his heart,

nothing else matters.

What?

What do you mean by that?

Nothing.

You.

Just be a happy mother-in-law without knowing too much.

If it were another girl,

she wouldn't marry a man like Mr. Yan

no matter what.

Why?

What are you drawing?

Can't you tell?

Look.

These are the eyes.

This is the nose.

And with this stroke here,

I draw the mouth.

Can you tell now?

A monkey.

No, it is not!

This is you!

Me?

Doesn't it look like you?

I'd say this is you.

That's what you look like.

No...

When have I ever...

It looks exactly like you.

When have I ever...

You got something on your nose.

Shaoyao.

Why are you

sitting here all alone?

Zhi.

Is it necessary for everyone to get married?

If you can't see someone after he's married,

then,

it's a good thing or a bad thing?

It depends.

Different people have different answers.

It takes time

to tell.

All I can say is that getting married is a big deal.

A big deal.

A big deal.

I used to think

that marriage wasn't such a big deal.

Married or not,

I could always be myself.

But now it seems

that it's not the case.

If you choose the right person, it's fine.

But if you choose the wrong one,

life can be unbearable.

Unbearable?

Can you be more specific?

Shaoyao.

What's wrong?

Shen Huan is getting married.

You must feel upset inside, right?

Zhi.

He looked

very sad.

So it upsets me too.

That's all?

Yes.

Maybe.

I don't know what to do.

Can you tell me

what I should do?

If he was sad,

he would

live an unbearable life.

You can give him some gifts

as mementos.

When Qin

got married,

we also gave her gifts.

[Harmony Brings Prosperity]

The marriage of the Shen Family

was arranged in such a hurry.

The betrothal gifts have been prepared

in just a few days.

You see?

The carriages with the betrothal gifts have arrived.

He is going to marry

the daughter of the Jiang Family who is in charge of canal transport.

If I were him, I couldn't wait either.

Shen Huan.

Shen Huan.

Shen Huan.

You go ahead first.

Yes.

Shaoyao.

The chess.

Take it back.

You don't want it anymore?

Besides,

the pawn was lost before,

so I've carved a new one for you.

So in the future,

you can continue

to play elephant chess with others.

Zhi said that getting married was a big deal,

so I made this for you.

Just accept it, okay?

I've been working on it for several days.

Thank you.

See you.

What brings you here

today?

A year ago,

Hua Zhi came to break off the engagement.

You were a person who never drank,

and that day was the first time you got drunk.

Why bring this up out of the blue?

Qi.

Now I finally understand

why you wanted to get drunk

on that day.

That was different.

I was the one whose engagement was called off,

but you were about to get married.

I don't like that Miss Jiang.

How should I put it?

Actually,

when I was engaged,

I didn't know anything about Hua Zhi.

And I didn't know

whether I would like her.

So

perhaps in the future,

you'll come to like Miss Jiang.

You can't be so certain.

You are already emotionally unavailable.

Fine.

I won't ask who she is.

Just tell me.

Does she feel the same way?

Even if she doesn't,

does that mean

I can ignore my feelings

and marry another person?

For instance,

you still like Hua Zhi,

but if our parents require you

to marry someone else,

will you do it?

♪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♪