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 38]

What's wrong?

Jin'e.

Nianqiu.

We're still two hundred thousand short.

What?

The deadline is tomorrow morning.

But

where can we get two hundred thousand now?

Young Lady,

just sell me, please.

Sell me instead.

You should sell me.

Sell me!

Sell me!

Everyone, get up.

It's two hundred thousand we need.

Even if I sold all of you,

it still wouldn't be enough.

Besides, how could I

sell you?

My Lady,

I'll make another trip home

and see what else I can do.

You've already given me a lot.

This is not some small money.

If I drained your family's savings,

how would you live in the future?

Jin'e.

I still have some dowries left

in my room.

I'll go get them.

What nonsense?

Sui'an is so young.

That's not acceptable.

Mother, Zhi.

Qin?

You...

Qin, you...

I've become a widow.

Qin!

Sun, he...

Mother,

now is not the time to cry.

Zhi,

how much more do you need?

Two hundred thousand.

We are two hundred thousand short.

If that's the case,

I'll just give you the money.

Bring it up.

Qin,

where did you get so much money?

Mother,

now in the Sun Family,

I am in charge.

Rest assured.

I thought

there would be no one more stubborn

and harder to destroy than Hua Yizheng.

But now it seems I was wrong.

Your Majesty,

I've given all I have this time

without a word of complaint.

But there are two favors

I'd like to ask you for.

You actually want my help?

Firstly,

for every expense on the canal restoration,

I want to personally check the account.

So I can be sure that the money

is indeed used for the people.

Secondly,

the Hua Family has not a penny left.

I implore Your Majesty

to leave our old house for us to live in.

Not a penny left?

Then how will you make a living?

When our properties were confiscated,

did you ever think

about how we would survive?

That makes sense.

You started from scratch once.

Now you can surely do it again.

All right,

I grant your requests.

♪Who gazes at the stars in the sky?♪

♪Heading towards the shore in a broken boat♪

Yanxi,

where are you going?

The restoration work starts today.

Please forgive me for taking my leave.

♪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♪

I carried the water from so far away,

yet half of it has already spilled!

Poor you.

You used to laugh at Zhi

for having big feet, didn't you?

Now that you're doing the laboring,

you finally learn the trouble of having small feet, right?

Look, you still have

so many dirty clothes.

Just focus on the laundry.

I'll take a rest first.

Come on, sit down.

The skill of cooking for a whole bunch of people

was something I never mastered

back when our home was raided.

But now, I've got it done perfectly.

We've experienced a wealthy life,

and we've known what hunger feels like.

From now on,

it's nothing but living a humble life.

That won't be too hard.

Indeed.

As long as everyone in the family

can be safe,

what more could we ask for?

Exactly.

Things are much better now than before!

You see, we have a house to live in now.

No wind or rain can bother us.

How nice is that!

Yingzhen,

where's Zhi?

She...

She's over there!

She and Mr. Yan

are working over there.

To be honest,

I really didn't expect

that someone like Mr. Yan,

a young lord from the royal family,

could actually do so much

for Zhi.

That was really not easy.

You're right.

I didn't expect it either.

Be careful!

It's too heavy for you.

Don't take so much.

So many rocks.

When will we ever carry them all

and finish restoring the dike?

Carrying like this is too heavy.

Let me teach you something.

This way, it'll be much easier.

Really?

Let me try.

Wait!

You forgot something.

I'll be the rock.

Are you made of stone or what?

Go!

Let's go!

Zhi.

I think

you seem happier than before.

Yes.

I feel incredibly relieved now.

I don't have to worry

about money or the business.

All I think about now is finishing today's work

and having today's meals.

Now it's just physical work, no mental stress.

I even sleep better than before.

Look,

these rocks and timber

will become the new dike,

and the silt from the canal

will turn into fertile land.

When the canal is restored,

how happy will I be!

When the work is completed,

if I ask the Empress Dowager to arrange our marriage,

will you say yes?

♪We're like walking in the opposite direction♪

♪We keep missing each other day and night♪

♪Destiny keeps us wrapped around its finger♪

But you have no money now.

Aren't you in the same situation?

I am not the same as you.

I have this.

This is quite valuable.

What if I regret it?

Can I ask you to give it back?

Of course not.

Give it to me.

No.

Give me.

No!

Give me.

I won't!

Give it to me!

♪Waiting for you to light up my world♪

I don't understand it.

Can you read?

I can't read.

Mother said we can't afford to read.

Father said girls don't need to be able to read.

It's free.

Come here.

See, this character means "people".

Isn't it simple?

People.

I've remembered it!

What are you doing here?

I'm sorry.

Her father and I work all day long.

There's really no one looking after this child.

Please forgive us.

Sky.

Sky and earth.

- People. - People.

Sky.

Earth.

- Earth. - Earth.

- People. - People.

Earth.

People.

You're so clever.

Miss, do you also want to learn to read?

You must be jesting with me.

I-I don't have the time.

When you get off work,

if we're still here,

you can come over to learn.

But by that time,

it'll be completely dark already.

Can you still see?

Therefore,

the sun always rises from the east

and sets in the west.

There's only one sun and one moon.

But as you all have seen,

there's a whole sky full of stars.

Sun, moon, star.

Sun, moon, star.

Sky, earth, people.

Sky, earth, people.

Now you try.

Sky, earth, people.

Sun, moon, star.

Sky, earth, people.

Sun, moon, stars.

Zhi!

Six.

I can teach reading too.

Why do you suddenly want to teach?

I just asked Yanxi

why so many people

cannot read,

while I can since I was little.

What did he say?

He told me

it's because

my background is different from theirs.

My life was once supported by the people.

So I was born

to bear more responsibilities.

It's not your fault.

No need to blame yourself.

Yanxi,

Zhi,

I want to teach them how to read.

Alright.

Last night, I watched the weather.

Today, there will be dark clouds.

Water, everyone!

Come have some water!

Take a break!

Come and have some water here!

Have some water!

- Here. - Here!

Come on.

Here you go.

For you.

Thank you very much.

Miss Ling,

this is how "water" is written, right?

Correct! You got it right.

Here you go.

Lady Ling,

look who's here!

What are you doing here?

To report on my duties.

Hua Ling,

apart from work,

there's something more important

I want to talk to you about.

What is it?

I...

I went home and talked to my aunt.

And I have managed

to save a little to support a family.

This time, I'm here to...

I wonder

if you're willing to have me.

You...

If you're not willing to...

How can you talk about this with me?

You should be talking to my mother

and Zhi.

Do you understand the rules or not,

you country boy?

Su Qin studied very hard.

Whenever he felt tired and sleepy,

he would poke his own thigh

with an awl.

How painful that must be!

But once he felt the pain,

he was no longer sleepy.

That way, he could continue studying.

Yanxi,

after the restoration work is done,

I want to continue making money.

You said

it's easier to only think about finishing today's work

and having today's meal.

Now I feel it's not enough.

I want to raise a lot of money,

as much as it takes to restore the canal.

You want to build academies?

I want to build many, many of them.

Each one should be bigger than this one.

Your Highness, please leave.

His Majesty

doesn't have time for you at the moment.

It's alright.

I'm just here to pay my respects.

Please just convey my regards.

I'll go home then.

Greetings, Lord Hui.

It's going to rain.

I never knew

lights could be so beautiful at night.

Even more beautiful than the stars.

Perhaps it's because

those lights in the past

had nothing to do with you.

Now, they're illuminating

the common folks

who're restoring the canal with us.

We all rely on each other now.

Yes, indeed.

I used to feel

that a room, a window,

a study desk

and a candle were all I needed.

That was my whole world.

But now I have no place to read

and no time to care.

Yet I feel that my world

has grown broader.

You were

Lady Zhi of the Hua Family,

and now,

you are Lady Hua of the entire Daqing.

This is life.

If you don't keep moving forward,

you really won't know

what you'll become

and whom you'll meet.

When I followed Grandfather

all over the world,

I never thought

that one day I would meet you.

How amazing.

Then have you ever thought

that when the work is done here,

and when the family moves up north,

what our life will be like?

We should

all board a ship then,

heading north along this canal,

watching all the scenery along the way.

Zhi,

when the canal is restored,

let's get married.

Is that okay?

♪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♪

[Astronomy Institute]

The Dubhe Envoy's prayer for rain was successful.

She will be rewarded.

Changqing.

Your Majesty.

How long has it been since Yanxi last entered the Palace?

Your Majesty.

The young lord visited just last month.

Last month?

I heard that recently, the young lord

has been really busy with the Security Bureau,

sharing your concerns.

Within this year,

the times he came here

could be counted on one hand.

His every visit

was for the Security Bureau business.

He didn't even have a meal with me.

The little eagle I raised

has his wings grown strong.

Once I let him go,

he won't fly back.

[One Year Later]

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Zhi, wait a moment!

This is for you.

- Bravo! - Bravo!

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Hua Zhi!

Please calm down, Your Majesty. Your well-being is paramount.

Your Majesty,

the funds for building the dam and dredging the canal

were gathered from everywhere by Hua Zhi deliberately.

She made a big fuss out of it,

inciting public criticism against you.

Now

she's been teaching privately outside her family academy,

attempting to win the hearts of people with these small benefits.

Your Majesty has been merciful to her,

yet she shows no signs of restraint.

Your Majesty?

Do you think

that killing is the best method?

Good to see you, sir.

Miss Hua,

kneel and listen to the decree.

By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees,

Hua Zhi, daughter of the Hua Family, known for her family's virtue,

has engaged in canal-restoring using her family's wealth,

helped the local villagers and earned praise for her noble deeds.

In recognition of her virtues,

she is hereby appointed as a lady astronomer

at the Astronomy Institute.

The honor is conferred upon her and will last forever.

That is all.

I accept this decree.

A lady astronomer?

What does that mean?

Mother,

the Astronomy Institute is an official agency within the Palace,

responsible for forecasting the weather.

And lady astronomers

are officials in the Astronomy Institute.

Isn't that what you love

to do most?

This is good news indeed!

Really?

Things are finally getting better for Zhi.

Yes, indeed.

It's what I love to do the most.

So how long does she have to work

as a lady astronomer?

Right.

You don't have to

move into the Palace, do you?

Miss Hua,

please follow me to the Palace at once.

His Majesty wishes to see you in person.

Yanxi,

I've finally climbed up

to pick that star,

which was the hardest to reach.

But suddenly, the star disappeared.

What should I do?

One single line from him

made everyone's efforts

turn into nothing.

As we've said before,

if you have wings,

you might as well fly away.

Now, I can be your wings.

We both should

make the choice once again.

In this world,

even death doesn't scare me.

So what am I afraid of?

I don't want to part with you anymore.

Servants of an emperor

must be pure and clean,

and so shall a lady astronomer.

Once you step into the Astronomy Institute,

you cannot leave until your hair turns white.

You will be watching the weather and predicting the future here.

Do you understand?

At the time the decree was received,

I already knew

that once I walk into the Palace,

I won't be able to leave

for the rest of my life.

You indeed are Hua Yizheng's granddaughter.

So smart.

Your Majesty flattered me.

It seems that you don't care.

Your Majesty,

the reason why you keep me here in the Palace

is definitely not about me.

Hua Zhi,

you are a bit too clever.

Your Majesty, do you really think

holding me captive in the Palace

will turn him back

into your obedient nephew?

Will this make him stop being stubborn and stay loyal to you again?

He sees you as a father

and faithfully stays by your side

to ensure your safety and comfort.

Do you not want him

to be like that?

Do you only want

a puppet without a soul?

Soul? That is truly foolish.

The Security Bureau is the sword of Daqing,

and Yanxi is the one wielding it.

That is what I truly care about.

Yanxi treats you differently

from the others,

yet you use him

like everyone else.

So what?

Your Majesty,

you have given your heartfelt sincerity in the wrong way.

The heart of a sovereign

cannot be traded for true love.

How dare you.

How dare you!

You are as unbridled

as your grandfather!

Alright,

you have a heart of true love and I do not.

But how can you prove it?

Are you going to cut open your chest

and show it to me?

You really underestimate me.

I will not kill myself.

A year ago, also in here,

you told me

about the stories when you were young.

Since then, I have known

that the feelings between Yanxi and I

are not only beyond your comprehension

but is also unattainable for you.

What did you say?

Even if I can never step out

of the Palace again,

Yanxi and I

will still be under the same sky,

gazing at the same stars.

A hundred years later,

we will return to the dust together,

cherishing each other, unwavering until death.

Do you really believe

that these walls

can imprison two souls?

From this day on,

Zheng Hu and Chen Qing

will lead the Security Bureau.

There can be no slackness.

Commander,

what are you going to do?

Whatever I do or say today

will be my sole responsibility.

It will have nothing to do with the rest of you.

That's not true.

No matter how dangerous it might be,

we will go with you!

Commander,

I dare not say

that you're like a brother to me.

But ever since you came to the Security Bureau,

we have gone through thick and thin together.

Wherever you go,

we will all follow.

To be burned, to be killed,

we won't even blink an eye.

We swear to follow you unto death!

Follow you unto death!

Follow you unto death!

Follow you unto death!

This is my personal business.

You each have a family to care for.

There's no reason for you to be involved.

I appreciate the loyalty.

But the Security Bureau and the Daqing Nation

still need to be guarded.

Remember this,

you are not anyone's weapon,

nor anyone's dogs.

As grown men,

you must choose a path of integrity.

His Majesty has spoken

that he will not meet with you.

You should leave as soon as you can

to avoid unnecessary complications.

Your Majesty,

the young lord...

He broke into the Palace.

Good.

Since he has fought his way in for you,

then you shall come with me.

Let's see exactly how capable

is this good nephew of mine.

Gu Yanxi!

Gu Yanxi!

Let me go!

Do you want him to be executed by dismemberment?

Do you hate me?

Now, I hate you

even a thousand times more!

Gu Yanxi!

Do you know what you are doing?

Let me go!

Let me go!

♪Do you remember the moment we first met?♪

Let go of me!

♪In the memories♪

♪We plant the bud of time♪

Yanxi! Yanxi!

♪Casting them to the edge of the sky♪

♪Beneath the solid ice♪

To measure the orbits of stars, ♪Beneath the solid ice♪

To measure the orbits of stars,

you'll need your counting rods.

How could you forget them?

♪It warms the world within my eyes♪

You won't like

those in the Palace.

♪Always hanging up in the sky season by season♪

♪We always struggled while being apart♪

Why are you so silly?

♪I can't let go♪

♪Having no strength to free myself♪

Changqing,

have him locked in Shen Pavilion.

Without my permission,

he is not allowed to step out!

♪My love for you♪

Go away!

Don't touch him!

Go away!

Go away!

Go away!

Yanxi!

♪I will spend my life devoting to you♪

Gu Yanxi!

♪Will love be fulfilled?♪

Gu Yanxi!

♪Love is like the gathering mist♪

Gu Yanxi!

♪A long long period♪

He took the risk of being cut into pieces

just to deliver a few wooden pieces!

Hua Zhi,

you're quite impressive.

You turned my Commander of the Security Bureau

into that.

[Shen Pavilion]

Get everything settled

and then leave.

Your Highness,

His Majesty sent me

to bring you medicine.

Your Highness,

I'm a little older than you,

so please listen to me.

A man

must first stay alive,

and then wait for hope.

Changqing,

thank you for sending the message.

I'm not exactly a heartless person.

It's just I could not persuade His Majesty.

I couldn't help you.

Thanks to you,

I managed to see her for the last time.

Even if I die,

I will have no regrets.

Your Highness,

please don't give up.

There will always be a way.

Take the medicine and eat the food.

Don't skip any meal.

When you recover,

even though the Palace is vast,

you two shall have your ways of reunion.

Ms. Haining,

the lady astronomer has arrived.

Come in.

[Astronomy Institute]

Your duty from now on

will be to serve the Dubhe Envoy.

Go ahead.

She is right there.

Miss Hua,

good to see you again.

I heard that earlier today,

there was bloodshed in front of Chenglu Palace.

Gu Yanxi actually risked his life

to break into the Palace to see you.

I've always found it strange.

Your looks

are rather unremarkable.

So what exactly do you have

to make Gu Yanxi

so utterly devoted to you?

It turns out that in this world,

there are puzzles that even you can't solve.

You're a lady astronomer now.

From this point on,

the past shall no longer concern you.

You'd best be aware of that

and serve me with diligence.

It's been a year since we last met.

I can tell that you're no longer alone

and in His Majesty's favor.

During the past year,

I successfully brought rain three times.

His Majesty has bestowed wealth upon me

and allowed me to have my maids back

and leave the Palace as I please.

What a pity.

Miss Hua who once had a high-powered career

has now become

a serving girl.

Truly, fate is unpredictable.

Why are these people free to come and go?

By the grace of His Majesty,

the maids of Dubhe Envoy

are allowed to leave the Palace freely

to purchase the materials needed for the praying ceremony.

Go to the Security Bureau

and get Chen Qing for me.

You are now grounded in Shen Pavilion.

How can you meet with outsiders?

Has His Majesty defined my crime?

Did he say I'm no longer the Commander?

No.

But...

As long as His Majesty did not sentence me,

I am still the Commander.

How dare you

defy my order?

Please do not make things difficult for me.

I'm responsible for watching you.

I truly cannot bear the consequences.

If you can't make the decision,

then get Changqing for me.

Do not affect my official duties.

Yes, sir.

The Commander wishes to see Chen Qing.

I...

Just do what he said.

His Majesty only ordered him not to leave the Shen Pavilion.

Aside from that,

you should let him have what he wants.

After all, he is seriously injured.

If his condition worsens,

His Majesty will surely punish you.

Understood.

Go ahead.

Commander,

are you alright?

We're all worried sick about you.

I'll live.

Come.

Those boxes

seem to be of a foreign style.

Find out

what exactly they purchased

and brought into the Palace so frequently.

From the names to the weight.

Find out everything.

Also,

monitor every move of Haoyue.

Watch her closely.

Yes, sir.

I'll do it immediately.

Once there's news, I'll come to report to you.

Commander,

take good care of yourself.

♪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♪