Original subtitles

♪Having survived the winter I'm expecting the flower season♪

♪Smiling in a spring breeze I'm immersed in it♪

♪Whose breath warmed my cold heart♪

♪And stirred up ripples♪

♪A figure may be reflected in my eyes♪

♪Bring back numerous memories♪

♪Through my life I've endured hardships for love♪

♪With you My mind is still and peaceful♪

♪Don't blame fate and providence♪

♪And the merciless fortune♪

♪Wandering in the world of mortals like it's a game♪

♪Risking my heart♪

♪Isn't to be regretted♪

♪I'll exchange it for the love of my life delightedly♪

=A Dream of Splendor=

=Episode 37=

The darkling skies and yellow earth.

Amid great chaos had their birth.

Amid great chaos had their birth.

The sun and the moon wax and wane.

The sun and the moon wax and wane.

All over the universe the stars span.

All over the universe the stars span.

The darkling skies and yellow earth.

Amid great chaos had their birth.

Amid great chaos had their birth.

The sun and the moon wax and wane.

I'm not a good mother.

Though I knew he didn't suffer a lot

on his way to the capital,

I shouldn't

have thrown him to you

shortly after our reunion

just because I'm busy doing business.

If he is a three-year-old toddler,

you should take care of him.

But he is turning 14.

You have to pay poll tax for him next year.

If he still clings to his mother,

he'll be mocked by his classmates.

And what do you mean by "throw him to me"?

Your son is my son.

I'll try my best to make him a useful person.

You must stick to your word.

Then give me a reward.

Sir.

Could you give us the privilege

to see the beautiful performers?

It's my call, not his.

You should call me Mrs. Du first.

You...

Hello, Mrs. Du.

Hello, Mrs. Du.

Good.

All right. Go to class. You're late.

If you don't behave,

she'll throw you into the river.

They freaked me out.

Changfeng,

thank you.

Now I think

coming to the Eastern Capital,

opening our own restaurant

and getting to know you

have been the best things

that ever happened to me in the 30-odd years of my life.

I'm lucky to have met you, too.

We're in the academy.

I have to go.

Let me walk you out.

You come and go like a shadow.

Why don't you stay in the office?

Why are you here?

I miss you,

so I come to see you.

We've just separated for less than four hours.

This morning when I went shopping with you,

I found there was much good stuff in the shop.

I remembered what you said yesterday.

So I bought some

and had them delivered home.

Shall we go home together and have a look tonight?

Tonight?

Definitely not.

I must go home tonight.

If Sanniang and Yinzhang find out about us,

they'll laugh at me.

If we get married right away,

we don't have to worry about that, do we?

Who told me yesterday

that he couldn't be with me?

You blushed?

I find that you're good at

taking care of children.

So I took a longer view.

That's why I blushed.

All right. Just amuse yourself.

I'm just saying...

Did I agree to marry you?

I just made up with you.

I'm busy with the restaurant.

I'm happy.

What if I get bored of you?

Aren't you afraid?

It seems that

Chi Pan has made you happy these days.

What if he has?

It's great.

You know

I'm dull and boring

and usually occupied with work.

If he diverts you from boredom,

I would be overjoyed.

Aren't you afraid?

I hate him so much.

I've never paid any attention to him.

I've never regarded him as an opponent.

He doesn't deserve it.

Of course,

I know you don't think much of him,

do you?

Pan'er.

I want you to know,

whether you marry me now

or in the future,

or you don't even marry me,

I'll wait for you.

I know you're magnanimous.

You can let go of the hatred,

but more or less, it leaves a shadow in your heart.

I want to be with you.

I hope as time goes by,

your inner wounds will gradually heal.

What's wrong?

Are you going to cry?

No.

I'm just too happy.

Why would I cry?

By the way,

there's an important thing you need to know.

The Night Revels incident has come to an end.

His Majesty found an excuse

to transfer Qi Mu to Suzhou.

So he was demoted?

What about Ouyang Xu?

He was appointed as the Administrative Assistant of Xinzhou.

So he got a sideways move instead of demotion?

But he was the initiator of evil.

Why did His Majesty let him off so easily?

Take them all.

Sell them all?

Don't sell them.

He grabbed them.

Give him.

No.

The ancestral houses are the last family property.

Still, I'm going to sell them.

Do you know what kind of a place Xinzhou is?

It's located in the south of the Five Ridges.

It's a hot uncivilized land covered with miasma.

Transferring me there

from a much-honored position

is nothing less than killing me.

It must be...

It must be Qi Mu.

And Gu Qianfan.

They tried to entrap me.

That day,

His Majesty wasn't angry with me.

Why?

Why?

But even the Second Graduate

has been appointed as a regional Controller-general.

I don't care.

I just don't want to be exiled.

I don't want to suffer in the Western Capital.

I want to stay in the splendid and prosperous capital city.

I want to stay here.

So,

before I'm officially transferred,

there are still a dozen days left.

I must make the best use of the time

and seek help from my connections.

I need money.

I need lots of money.

As long as I can stay here,

not to mention the ancestral houses,

I would even

sell my life.

Master, don't do that.

- Master, what shall I do? - You can't sell them.

Don't just stand there!

Go ahead!

You can't.

Master.

Come back.

Come back!

You shouldn't sell them.

Come back!

Master.

Master, you can't sell them!

Don't do that!

Master, don't do that.

You can't sell them.

You can't do that.

Sirs,

call me if you need anything.

OK.

Sir, how do you like the food?

It's quite delicious.

Enjoy yourself.

Sir, do you like the food?

Of course.

Yinzhang, long time no see.

You're not welcome here.

Don't take me as a threat.

I've been demoted now.

I'm leaving the Eastern Capital soon.

I come here

to see Pan'er for the last time.

I want to apologize to her face to face.

She is out, and she doesn't want to see you.

Sure enough.

Would you please

give her this letter?

Please tell her,

because I broke our pledges and loved another woman,

I've been punished by Heaven.

In the future, from the wilderness of the south of the Five Ridges,

I'll wish her peace, luck,

and great pleasure.

It turns out he is Ouyang Xu.

A villain as he is,

he's quite handsome.

No wonder Pan'er...

Did he pay the bill?

The bill?

I didn't ask you to come down

because I think

you'd better not have any dealings with him.

Sure.

(The sea sees the pearl with tears beam, the field feels the jade with gleam.)

My love for her draws me back to the past,

while now I'm all lost and a bit downcast.

Does he deserve to say that?

He is probably afraid that

Qianfan and I would twist the knife,

so he shows weakness to arouse my sympathy.

Do you believe him?

He presented The Night Revels to His Majesty

probably because he tried to play up to Qi Mu.

It wasn't aimed at us.

I don't think he knows

the roles we played in this whole thing.

For him,

hitting a wall in his official career

is the worst punishment.

(Pan'er, I miss you. I'll meet you at Great Xiangguo Temple tomorrow morning.)

Pan'er, I miss you.

You freaked me out.

Don't hide it. I saw it.

Why does he invite you

to the Great Xiangguo Temple?

It's personal. None of your business.

How could you say that?

You're my manager now.

We signed a one-year contract.

If you get married and quit,

what shall I do?

Rest assured.

I'm not that kind of woman

who quits her business just for love.

I won't quit before I make Yong'an Restaurant

a sight of the Eastern Capital.

That's more like it.

Do you want to break up with Wooden Head?

It's okay if you don't.

By the way,

you don't have time to meet him

at the Great Xiangguo Temple tomorrow.

(Invitation) The people of the restaurant guild

finally realized that

all the spices in the city

are sold by us.

Tomorrow is the first day of next month.

They are going to discuss

bidding for franchise of the wineries.

The head of the guild,

the owner of Pan's Restaurant,

sent us an invitation personally.

Don't we just have the license to sell wine?

We're not qualified to participate in the bidding.

Apparently, the guild tries to draw us in.

You don't know

which restaurant would sell their franchise.

Within a year,

you and I

will get our restaurant

the license to make wine.

Isn't it exciting?

Pinch me.

I need to know if I'm dreaming.

You got to be kidding.

You asked me to pinch you.

You're on your own.

After today's Flower and Moon Banquet,

I'll take a break.

No way.

Think about it.

Since ancient times,

the guild has never permitted women to run registered restaurants.

Now you're the manager of Yong'an Restaurant

and the business is booming.

If you show up there,

they'll be embarrassed.

Say it.

You sold all the stuff and the title deeds

for only 400 strings of coins?

Uncle De didn't let me sell them.

He only permitted me to pawn them.

So I didn't get much money.

Master.

Master.

Master.

I shouldn't have decided by myself.

But I did it for your good,

and for the family's good.

With the pawn tickets,

we still have a chance to redeem them.

If we sell them,

we'll lose the ancestral houses forever.

Uncle De.

Give me the tickets.

I won't give you.

Old Master asked me to look after the family.

I won't give you even if

it takes my life.

Fine.

Fine.

Master, listen to me...

Who is the master

of the family?

You, or me?

Didn't you say

you just bought some?

I really intended to buy some,

not expecting that

I couldn't stop myself from shopping.

Don't worry about it.

I'll find some capable servants

to clean it up.

By the way,

last time,

the stuff you liked but were reluctant to spend money,

look, here it is.

Enough.

What?

The key of the money box.

If you keep spending money like this,

we'll be in big trouble.

Right, the key.

Chief.

Pan'er.

As you instructed,

Kong Wu picked the cutest

and most docile one out of his puppies.

You're going to keep a dog?

I don't want you to get bored.

With you

upsetting me every day,

how could I get bored?

Pan'er,

from now on, I wish our home

to be lively, bustling

and full every day, okay?

As you wish.

Here, the key.

Sir, what are you doing?

Do you have to do this?

Of course.

This is the second time Pan'er and I go out together.

Of course I have to dress up.

But isn't Pan'er and Mr. Gu...

Is Gu Qianfan a man?

He is a piece of ice.

No woman would endure him long.

He managed to make up with Pan'er this time.

What about next time?

I don't think they can make it work.

As the saying goes,

as long as you keep digging,

you'll finally sap the wall.

You're right.

It's been an hour.

Aren't you guys

tired?

He isn't tired. Neither am I.

Pan'er and I have businesses to do.

Why do you come with us?

She is my fiancée.

It's my official holiday today.

Is there any problem with me going with her?

There is.

Take another carriage if you like.

Don't take mine.

Get off.

I won't.

I'm going to sit here.

What can you do with me?

You dummy.

Do you believe I'll reveal all of your inside stories?

You dork.

Listen carefully.

Do you want your men to know

when you stopped wearing open-crotch pants?

Your ages add up

to over ten, right?

One is the commissioner, the other is the head of guilds.

Can you be even more naive and immature?

Stop staring at each other.

Let's get down to business.

Shoot.

I've thought it over.

Even if the guild invites us,

we should turn down

the bidding next year.

Why?

If we get the franchise,

our restaurant will become a registered one.

A registered restaurant just has an exaggerated reputation.

We may not benefit from it.

I've just got Yong'an Restaurant on track.

If we expand the business blindly,

we can't handle it well.

None of us know how to make wine.

We have to hire more hands and vintners.

One mistake, and our reputation will be ruined.

Business is a competitive activity.

We shouldn't just focus on expanding.

We should balance tension and relaxation.

Our restaurant has been in the limelight for over a month.

Many people are jealous of us.

What's wrong with you?

How did you drive the carriage?

You hit my stall.

Sir,

your stall takes too much space.

There's an accident ahead.

Shall we make a detour?

Make a detour?

We'll be late.

Pack up your stall and leave.

Isn't the guild right in front?

Let's go on foot.

But my boots are new.

If we're late,

they'll think we're condescending.

Go.

Who let you set up the stall here?

You get in our way,

don't you know?

How could I get in your way?

The space is for the stall.

I set my stall here every day.

There's heavy traffic here.

You shouldn't have set up the stall here.

You made my stuff go all over the street.

I've lost several days of earnings.

Pan'er, continue.

When we attend the meeting,

we mustn't be arrogant.

We should keep a low profile

and don't let them think

we're going to steal their thunder.

And we'd better cut the prices

of the crabs and spices a little.

Don't push them too hard.

What do you think?

Yes.

What's wrong?

Don't you agree?

No.

I just think what you've said

was similar to the ways of being an official.

Merchants and officials are the same.

Guan Zhong was a merchant as well as the Grand Councilor.

We still have business to discuss.

Why are you chatting with him?

Pull.

OK.

I'll come next time.

OK.

I gotta go.

Have a look.

Are you tired?

Let's grab a bite.

OK.

I'm hungry.

They have some good stuff.

OK.

Watch out!

What happened?

Are they all right?

How did the logs drop?

Why were they so careless?

Yes.

Are they hurt?

What if they get seriously wounded?

They may get hurt.

It's dangerous.

What happened?

What happened?

Qianfan.

And then?

Did Uncle Gu die?

Don't say the inauspicious words.

He's fine.

But Aunt Pan'er's leg was hurt.

She can't move.

So she stays in Uncle Gu's house recuperating from the injuries.

But I heard

the logs were this large,

and they dropped from a great height.

How could he be fine?

He's the Living Devil.

The devils dare not take him away.

That's just a nickname.

How can you take it seriously?

Am I right, Aunt Song?

Life is uncertain. Accidents happen.

I often feel like

I'm living in a drama.

The heroes in the Yuan dramas

are always fine even after they've been through

numerous hardships.

Commissioner Gu may be a hero.

What about Mr. Chi?

Isn't he all right?

I haven't seen him for days.

He may feel humiliated.

Chief almost sacrificed his life to save Pan'er,

but he only ran for his life.

When people of the government arrived,

he could barely talk.

So he was ashamed of himself.

Sir.

Do you come to see my mother?

I behaved in the academy recently, didn't I?

Zifang, I have businesses to discuss with Mr. Du.

Nowadays it isn't safe outside.

So I invited him over.

Mr. Du, you haven't eaten, right?

Have some.

Yeah, I haven't.

I haven't eaten yet.

Have some more.

Fortunately, Chen Lian covered for us just now.

Seriously?

Why did you come without informing me?

I was worried.

I heard something had happened.

So I went to Yong'an Restaurant.

But you closed early.

You don't have to be worried.

I'm strong.

I'm worried even if you got a scratch.

Let's get married,

or I'll always worry about you.

Didn't we agree to

get married after you're granted with a post next year?

Besides, I'm busy with the restaurant now.

How do I have time to get married?

The wedding can wait.

But I don't want to keep it a secret.

Zifang just arrived

and he still clings to me.

I don't want to

tell him until he

adapts for a while.

Changfeng,

I know you love me.

I know it clearly.

Would you keep the secret

a little while just for me?

Fine. You call the shots.

I call the shots?

Exactly.

Pan'er's feet weren't badly hurt.

But the case is complicated.

The assassins were all dead

and people with Kaifeng Prefecture arrived at the scene first,

so the Capital Security Office has no jurisdiction over it.

That's why

Chief wants Pan'er to stay with him,

in case anything happens again.

So,

Pan'er asked me to tell you

Sanniang has to take care of the kitchen.

You'll have to

take care of all the other things.

Tell her not to worry about it.

Has the Prefecture found out

who the murderers came at?

Is it possible that people with the guild were jealous

and hired the murderers?

It's possible.

(Owner of Pan's Restaurant)

You really didn't do it?

Really.

Sir,

even if I wasn't happy with you

inviting Yong'an Restaurant to participate in next year's bidding,

I wouldn't kill people in the street.

It's a felony that may lead to death penalty.

Better not be you.

The Prefecture will make a full investigation.

But we still have business to do.

Sounds fair.

Everyone, now that Ms. Song,

who only knows to play pipa,

has replaced Ms. Zhao as the manager,

we got a

perfect opportunity.

I think you're all clear about

what you have to do next.

- Yes. - Yes.

He is right.

We're at your orders.

OK. Please.

Sir, how do you like the food?

It's great.

It's delicious.

Please.

Does the meat taste good?

- Yes. - Great.

Ms. Song, long time no see.

Long time no see.

Ms. Song.

Hello, Ms. Song.

How do you like the food?

Good. It's good as always.

Without Ms. Zhao,

you take care of the restaurant all by yourself.

You're great, really.

Yes.

I'm flattered.

Please enjoy yourselves.

OK.

Thanks.

She is capable.

Yinzhang, how is it going?

Are you okay? Can you make it?

I'm okay.

Don't worry about the kitchen.

They've learned from me for a long time.

They know how to cook.

It doesn't matter if I leave for a while and give you a hand.

Take a seat.

I thought before

it was tiring playing pipa all day in a private room.

Now I know

it's more tiring being a manager all day.

The guests worry about

Pan'er and Mr. Chi.

Do you think

we'll have troubles?

I managed to comfort them.

We got trouble.

What's wrong?

What happened?

We got a takeaway order from Princess Changle's mansion.

He Si delivered the food just now.

But before long,

they filed a complaint about our Orange Crab.

They said the crab was stinky.

What?

Stinky?

Look.

The food delivered by Yong'an Restaurant is stinky.

How dare we eat there again?

Their food is expensive.

Really?

I've been to Yong'an Restaurant.

Their food is delicious

and not very expensive.

Yes.

Do you think the imperial clan

would wrong them?

Stop groaning.

I'm the manager of Yong'an Restaurant.

Let me talk to your steward.

(He's coming.)

(Listen to what she's going to say.)

You finally came.

How dare you sell us a smelly crab!

Don't rush to any convictions.

You said

we delivered bad food.

Where is the food?

Check it out for yourself.

They have evidence.

Are you sure this was from our restaurant?

Of course.

Do you want to deny it?

Please.

Who is this?

The medical officer.

Medical officer?

Why do you take a medical officer?

Stinky crab is poisonous.

If someone is audacious enough

to frame our restaurant,

as the manager, I'm surely obliged to report to the government

and ask the medical officer to check it out.

(Exactly.)

(It's getting more interesting.)

(Yes.)

Ms. Song.

Did he find anything?

Everyone, please check.

Is the crab roe orange?

Yes, it's orange.

- Yes. - Yes, it is.

Exactly.

Check it carefully.

- Red. - It's red.

- Yes, it's red. - Red.

You're right.

The dish

wasn't cooked in our restaurant.

Someone swapped it.

(Learn from wise)

Drop the crap!

Listen to me.

Only female crabs

have red roe.

Male crabs' roe is bright yellow.

Our guests who have

tried the dish

all know it.

The aquatic product guild can testify for us, too.

We've never

bought a female crab from them.

To ensure the flavor of the dish,

in the city,

only our restaurant

cooks with precious Jiangnan crabs.

Others all use ordinary river crabs.

Their meat is totally different.

The medical officer can find out easily.

Everything is clear now.

Let him go.

Yes.

Ms. Sun, they tricked us deliberately.

They colluded with each other.

Isn't that the manager of Wang's Restaurant?

Don't run.

You tied me up.

I must get even with you.

How dare you trick us?

We have the evidence now.

You'll be sued.

Does the imperial clan

have the right to punish ordinary folks at will?

I'll ask the censors

when they come to our restaurant.

Ms. Song,

it was a misunderstanding.

We were tricked.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Welcome to our restaurant to try the new dishes.

Sure, we'll support you.

We'll definitely go.

Do you see it?

Thanks to the misunderstanding.

Pure gold, weighs eight liang. [*liang: equals 50 grams.]

The steward of the princess

put it on me personally.

If it were me,

I'd be willing to be tied up for ten times.

Well, I was afraid that without Ms. Zhao,

we would lose the backbone.

It turns out Ms. Song

is great as well.

Sure.

Don't just flatter me.

We were framed up because we were not careful enough

when we delivered the takeouts.

Though the customers apologized again and again,

they insisted it was just a misunderstanding

and they hadn't taken bribery from Wang's Restaurant.

Think about it.

The registered restaurants

stooped to such low-down tricks on us.

We don't know

if they have other tricks.

They do have new tricks.

We're running out of wine.

Zhaodi went to Li Qing's to purchase.

But they wouldn't sell us.

They said if we want wine,

we have to exchange it with

all our curcuma and styrax.

Why should we?

They bully us in a flagrant way.

I'll go confront them.

You can't do anything.

Yes.

We need Mr. Chi to solve it.

Why? He still won't leave the house?

I'll go.

Get out. I don't want to see anyone.

Release the snake.

Snake!

Where is it?

Where is the snake?

Song Yinzhang, what do you want?

I was sleeping.

Are you insane?

I'm not, but you freaked out.

I didn't!

I was sleeping.

Except bullying the soft and fearing the tough,

what else can you do?

No wonder Pan'er disapproves of you.

Now you disapprove of me, too.

The first time I met you,

I was so scared that I even cried.

But just now,

I almost made you cry.

Don't you think it's hilarious?

Pan'er's father was a general.

She used to see dead bodies in childhood.

Gu Qianfan is the commissioner.

He lives a dangerous life.

To admit they're bolder than you

is really that shameful?

You worry about being laughed at.

Your restaurant is going to close down,

but you still hide in your house

like a turtle hides in his shell.

If the restaurant really closes down,

not only me, but the people all over the city

will laugh at you.

Wait, stop there!

What did you say?

What happened to the restaurant?

The Wang's Restaurant failed in framing us.

Now Li Qing won't sell us wine.

They ask us to exchange it with spice.

The rascals!

They tried to kill Pan'er.

Now they even try to get me in a corner.

Let's see.

What are you going to do?

Someone!

The restaurant guild can only

stop the registered restaurants in the city

from selling us wine.

Can they stop those outside the city?

I'm going out of town to purchase wine.

I'm going to show them

how wealthy I am.

Sir, sir.

You haven't put on your clothes.

Aren't these clothes?

I'll just wear these.

You can't.

Don't, sir!

It's all right.

What are you doing?

Zifang, let me explain.

Zifang, I and your...

Shame on you!

- Zifang. - Zifang.

Zifang.

Fu Zifang.

Don't come over.

Don't come over,

or I'll jump down.

Zifang, don't be silly.

Come to me.

Shut up!

I don't want

a woman of loose morals to be my mother!

You have an affair with another man!

Shameless!

You...

Zifang!

Yinzhang!

The river is shallow. He won't be drowned.

Zifang!

What's there to see?

The mother is teaching her ungrateful son, a swine.

Leave, people.

Just leave.

I'm not a swine.

Yes, you are!

- When you were in Qiantang, - Leave!

your mother raised you and took you as the apple of her eye.

How did you pay her back?

Since you came to the Eastern Capital,

your mother has forgiven all your faults,

provided you with the best food and clothing

and sent you to the best academy.

She's been a loving mother.

But are you a dutiful son?

Yinzhang, stop.

But she is my mother.

She is wrong to fool around

with the indecent man.

Fu Zifang,

listen carefully.

I'm your teacher,

the Presented Scholar,

an official appointed by the imperial court.

I'm not an indecent man.

Your mother has a pure heart and spirit.

She is virtuous, frank,

amiable and respectable.

A gentleman and a lady

falling in love

is the most beautiful thing in the world.

There's nothing to be ashamed of.

The reason why we didn't tell you

is because you just arrived and you're young.

We're afraid you can't take it.

Still, I don't allow it!

♪A feeling of depression♪

♪Falls on those will part just like moonlight♪

♪How can we forget each other♪

♪Wind blows and time flies♪

♪When the splendor fades away only the smell lingers♪

♪In the corner of memories there are sad moments♪

♪Emotions go on and on♪

♪Because time is short but love is hot♪

♪Stars wink for you♪

♪Romance is crazy about you♪

♪Who even waits for you♪

♪Until the end of her life♪

♪When I look back one day♪

♪I'll let go of everything♪

♪I'll hold your hand and never let you down♪

♪Ah Ah Ah♪

♪When our eyes get wet with tears for each other♪

♪Ah Ah Ah♪

♪I'll enjoy a simple life with you♪