Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles by the "Are You My Soulmate?" Team @ Viki

song title

♫ Flowers falling by the river again ♫ ♫ Turning the clear waves red ♫

♫ Sparrows singing in celebration ♫

♫ Calm years pass by the silent bustling city ♫ ♫ Sitting at home ♫

♫ No one knows love's outline like I do ♫

♫ If one day the river breeze blows again ♫

♫ I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror ♫

♫ Dreams can shatter; Memories remain ♫

♫ Rich fragrance aids; Light ink writes ♫

♫ In the deep red windows lies mundane dust ♫

Are You the One

[Episode 38]

Your jewelry is exquisite.

If you like, I'll introduce you.

Very well.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Please.

You must be Princess of Huaiyang.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Aunt.

This is my niece, Gai Yurao.

Nice to meet you.

If you want to pay your respects, you should go to the West Courtyard.

It's not appropriate for you to come here today.

Yurao is accompanying me.

Miantang, you always think of yourself as a member of the Cui family.

How could you forget that I'm also the daughter of the Gai family?

Come on.

Yurao, sit here.

Your Highness, please sit.

Aunt, that's Miantang's seat.

No need to be so particular.

It doesn't matter where we sit,

Indeed. It's all the same.

Very well. Everyone, take your seats.

Home.

Are you men of Prince Sui?

Since you know, you should understand what he's capable of.

Speak.

Tell Prince Sui that if he wants to slander me

as a way to get me to join him.

In two words. No way.

I'm no chief instructor.

And I'm not going to be in the company of you punks.

If you want to kill me, go ahead.

You do not fear death, nor do you fear us killing your son?

You can't do that.

If you want money, I'll give it to you.

Five thousand taels of gold.

Five thousand taels of gold?

Five thousand taels of gold...

Son, I'm a man of integrity.

I'm afraid I can't protect you this time.

In the next life,

we'll be father and son again.

- Help! Help! - Someone's coming! Run! Go!

Save me!

- I'm here. Over here! - Leave it to me!

- Go after them! - Aye!

Xingzhou?

- Xingzhou. - Duke.

Xingzhou has more and more affairs to manage in the capital.

It seems we should start preparing a residence.

I've asked around a few places.

It's just that I'm new to the capital, and I can't tell the difference between locations.

So I would like to ask for your advice.

Which locations have you selected? Let's hear it.

One is on East 4th Street,

one is in Muyuan Garden in the south of the city,

and the other is in Bamboo Lane.

Your Highness, that's not a good idea.

I've heard that the Feng Shui of Bamboo Lane is not very good,

for one's career.

Is that so?

Lady Meng, you come from a scholarly family,

and even understand Feng Shui?

It's just something she heard.

But since choosing a residence is a significant matter,

it's better to be safe than sorry.

Madam Meng speaks wisely. I shall give it more thought.

Your Highness.

You cannot stay here any longer.

Take this.

- Don't move. - Don't move.

What are you doing?

Go. Go.

Foolish girl. Bamboo is good for officials and wealth in Feng Shui.

Why did you bring that up? Aren't you afraid of others discovering the secrets of Bamboo Lane?

Mother, how did you know what's going on in Bamboo Lane?

If you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place.

Your father discovered it.

He went to see that performer today. - He's a musician.

Call him what you will. He's a man who seeks wealth

and will flee far away once he has the money.

Don't be so obsessed.

What are you doing?

Do you not know what you've done?

That's a good one.

This must be a trap of your own making, Mr. Meng.

Is this the honor of a family with generations of officials?

- If Meng Wan knew that her father was trying to separate us this way... - Silence!

-How could Wan fall for someone like you? -Shut up.

I'll have your heads if you don't.

What treachery did you plot against the Lord during your secret meeting today?

What?

Chief Instructor, there's no need to play dumb before us.

Speak!

Are you men of Prince Sui?

Since you know, you should understand what he's capable of.

-Speak. -This is outrageous.

I have lived a life of integrity.

I will never collude with traitors.

Do what you must.

Untie them.

The situation is urgent, and I had no choice but to take this drastic measure.

Please forgive me.

Xingzhou,

are you testing me?

I had no intention of prying into your personal affairs.

I beg for your forgiveness.

The mighty Lord Huaiyang behaves like a bandit.

Your methods are as direct as they are shameless.

It's what I've learned from you.

So, in your opinion,

neither Duke Qing nor Mr. Meng are suspects?

Mr. Meng is indeed upright,

and has nothing to do with this case.

His wife and daughter are also beyond suspicion.

As for Duke Qing,

even with his son's life at stake, we couldn't get anything from him.

As an official of such high rank, that man seems to be penniless.

-Guess he's clean. -Penniless?

Is there something wrong with that?

Today, I saw the concubine of Guo Yi.

Gai Yurao's clothes are made of dark-patterned cloud satin,

and her jade bracelet, though unremarkable at first glance,

is made of extremely rare Tushan jade from Xijing.

I've only seen it once in a while on an escort mission.

There are likely fewer than three pieces in the capital.

Yurao, your bracelet is quite fine,

but it doesn't seem transparent enough.

I have a few similar ones at home.

If you like, I'll give one to you another day.

Even if this bracelet isn't the finest,

it was a gift from Yi, who put it on me himself.

His affection outweighs the value.

As long as his feelings for me are sincere,

the quality of the jade matters not.

My brother-in-law truly knows how to cherish his woman.

But Gai Yurao doesn't recognize its worth, and merely considers it an ordinary piece of jade.

If she knew the true value of that bracelet,

she wouldn't dare to flaunt it so boldly.

Honey, well,

as Duke Qing is upright, and Guo Yi has no official position,

where did the money come from?

I didn't bring my sister any gifts this time.

It's my fault as a younger brother.

In the next few days, I'm going to ask Guo Yi

what my sister likes and where I should go to buy it.

I've heard that before your eldest sister got married,

Nanny Li and Nanny Zhou were quite close.

Tomorrow, let's give Nanny Li a half-day off

so she can have a drink and catch up with Nanny Zhou.

My Chamber of Radiant is the largest cosmetic shop in the capital.

There's a wide range for you to choose from.

Hello.

Show us all the latest items you've got here.

Certainly.

There are so many varieties of cosmetics in the capital.

Brother, help me pick something.

You must be well aware of my sister's preferences.

Then...

This one.

This looks good.

It has a hidden part.

It contains four colors of lip balm, and a powder box in the center.

Fu will love it.

Mr. Guo has good taste.

This Five Blessings is a new product.

Since you're a regular customer, I'll only charge you five guan.

Five Blessings.

Great. It has a good meaning as well.

By the way.

Among the cosmetics that Mr. Guo bought, for his wife previousl

for his wife previously, are there any of excellent quality?

There are. - But those were for...

Just bring them out, and stop talking nonsense.

He's not very good at talking. In fact, these are quite nice too.

You...

Brother, you do have good taste.

My sister always says that new things can't compare to the old.

She's a sentimental person.

Instead of giving her these trendy items,

it's better to gift her something that brings back fond memories.

Okay. This is it.

All right. Mr. Guo, it's a bit more affordable now. One guan cheaper.

Now it's just two taels of gold.

Same arrangement as before?

Of course. Put it all on my tab.

No way. That's inappropriate.

I'm buying this gift for my sister. How could I let you pay for it?

No, no. I insist.

We're family. No need to be so formal.

Since it's for Fu, it's only right that I cover the cost.

From now on, if you have anything that catches your eye in the capital,

just put it on my tab.

You're too generous.

Well, I won't refuse then.

Please

get five boxes in different colors to make a "Five Blessings" set.

- All right. - Wrap them up.

These are quite interesting.

Your taste is truly unique.

Truly unique.

What a sin.

When Fu got married, her dowry filled two entire boats.

But now, not even half of it remains.

Isn't she in charge of the household?

How could Guo spend her dowry so recklessly?

He has others bring the bills directly to Fu,

and take the money from the household expenses.

Although she manages the household,

the key to the storeroom is still with the Duke's wife.

In the end, the money spent can only be covered by her dowry.

Why didn't she tell Duke Qing?

Fu knows the Duke's family is of significance,

and doesn't want to escalate the matter, which could affect the relationship between the two families.

So...

So she just holds her tongue.

Have you heard anything else?

Oh, right. Nanny Zhou mentioned that three months ago,

Guo started reducing his expenses, and stopped borrowing money.

It seems he did some business and earned some money.

Fu even thought that maybe he'd mend his ways,

and wouldn't use her dowry anymore.

But after a few days, he was at it again.

The money he's spent on Gai Yurao is worth over a thousand taels of gold.

What kind of business could he have done in such a short time to earn so much

that he doesn't even care about the dowry anymore?

Three months ago, the unrest in Dongzhou was quelled.

And this month, he started using her dowry again.

Why?

His Majesty found out about the chief instructor,

and Prince Sui became wary.

So, Guo Yi's business outside suddenly came to an abrupt end.

If you were Prince Sui, who would you appoint as the chief instructor?

If I were him,

I'd pick a family member of a political rival.

Catch them off guard and cause internal strife.

The so-called traitor is Duke Qing's negligence in guarding his own son.

Exactly.

That's a blind spot.

You can't see it coming.

But we don't have concrete evidence yet, so we must be careful not to alert them.

It doesn't matter.

If there's no evidence, I'll make them bring it to me.

I'll break his leg and see if he'll give it to me.

My eldest sister

has endured so much for me, and the entire family.

She does it for you,

just as you want to stand up for her.

But if she knew you were acting so impulsively for her,

she'd be upset.

Yes.

You're right.

There must be another way.

Of course.

Guo Yi is your sister's husband.

Whatever his fate,

your sister naturally has a say in it.

The powder from the Chamber of Radiant.

It is as famous as the Scent Store in the South.

I've seen this kind before. It's expensive, is it?

Well, there's money to be spent.

One box would be enough. Don't be wasteful.

Sister,

it wasn't me. It was my brother-in-law.

At least he's thoughtful.

But let's not give him too much credit.

If you think about it, it's all your money anyway.

You... Why did you...

Did Liu Miantang say something to you?

I know all the grievances you've suffered over the years.

Sister,

Miantang and I have discussed it.

We'll make sure he slips up.

But in the end, he's still my brother-in-law.

I must hear what you think.

Ever since that Gai Yurao came,

there's been no affection left between Guo Yi and me.

He gave Gai a great deal of favor, yet in front of others,

he acts like we're the perfect couple.

The Duke's wife turns a blind eye,

and I can only swallow my bitterness.

Xingzhou,

I once thought patience was my only option,

that I'd have to muddle through life this way.

Thank you for showing me there's another way.

Don't say that.

As long as I'm here, everything will get better for you.

How has His Majesty been treating you lately?

The same as usual.

A few days ago, he even had people prepare for my birthday.

The same as usual?

You're being modest.

From what I see, he seems to be showering you with affection.

You were nearly made Empress, weren't you?

Your plans are my priority.

I dare not think of anything else.

I know you're filial.

But he's been pressing me hard,

almost accusing me of insubordination at the Three Bureaus.

I'm here today to remind you not to be lulled into complacency by him.

I understand.

My husband said that we've been living in the West Courtyard for quite some time

and haven't hosted a banquet yet.

That's inappropriate.

So today, I brought a small gift for my eldest sister and Yurao.

I hope you can forgive me.

Nanny Li.

Sister.

Yurao.

I'm new to the capital and don't know what to give.

I had to ask around at other noble families,

and chose two hairpins according to the proper etiquette for the wife and concubine.

Sister, this night-glowing pearl is quite a rarity.

There shouldn't be more than two in the entire capital.

Hope you like it.

I do.

Such a dazzling hairpin. Any woman would love it.

I like it very much.

Yurao, I'm sure you've never seen a pearl with such luster, have you?

I...

I don't want it.

It's important to know your own worth.

There's a difference between what you want but can't have,

and what you can have but don't want.

This is the only heirloom of the Cui family.

You must take great care of it.

I definitely will.

Sister, you must keep this a secret from the Consort Dowager.

Sorry. I apologize.

I don't have any night-glowing pearl hairpins here.

You don't?

Isn't it the best jewelry shop in the capital? - That's right.

If you don't have it, where is the other one? - Yeah.

Forgive me, madam. I truly haven't seen it.

That's a pity.

- Well, then, let's... - Looking for a night-glowing pearl hairpin?

Who are you?

I'm a traveling merchant from Beizhou, and I happen to have a night-glowing pearl hairpin.

I wonder if it's what you're looking for.

Exactly.

What are you doing?

Since I'm dealing in your shop, I'll give you a share of the profits.

Please, take a look.

Truly unique.

But unfortunately, it's already been ordered by a lady for three hundred taels of gold. -Three hundred?

If I offer five hundred taels, will you sell it to me?

Certainly.

Honey. Am I being too indulgent?

No.

If you like it, you have to pay more to get it.

However, five hundred taels of gold isn't a small amount.

That's true.

I see.

After all, the money is in Fu's hands.

I don't want you to have to ask her for it.

Although she's in charge, she's using the family money.

Why would I need to care about her opinion?

All right. Get me a brush and paper.

- Sure. - Wait a minute.

What did you say? Aren't you paying now?

This is how it's done. Don't worry. Duke Qing's Mansion always pays.

You can go there tomorrow and find Nanny Zhou.

Very well. Please.

This way.

[Contractor: Guo Yi]

I've heard that your mansion was attacked.

I didn't expect it to be so serious.

The family's coffers

had been completely drained by the two wars.

My mother even had to pawn her trousseau.

We borrowed a lot of money from Lord Zhennan just so I could get married.

It's so hard...

for me to say.

But now the repairs to the mansion require a lot of money.

As the head of the family, it's so hard for me to raise money.

It's truly embarrassing.

A man doesn't easily shed tears.

Xingzhou.

You truly are a filial child.

It's not your fault that you're short of money.

Well...

I'll let Fu do her filial duty, and take her dowry to help her brother.

No, no, no.

That's not right.

Xingzhou, just accept it.

We don't covet the daughter-in-law's dowry.

Fu's dowry is hers to manage.

I believe Fu is a sensible person.

She will surely be willing to help.

Thank you, Duke.

But I'm sorry. I need one more favor.

If word of this gets out,

it will damage the reputation of my family.

So, please keep this matter discreet.

Of course.

I understand.

You really went all out for this act.

Let me tell you, lying with a straight face isn't hard.

The hard part is not laughing when you see the Duke's serious face.

Today, I heard from the eldest sister

that the money Guo Yi owes this month is already at this amount.

I was thinking, why not add fuel to the fire?

Honey.

Honey.

We've been in the capital for so long,

and I haven't taken you out to show you around.

Where would you like to go?

I'm new to the capital. I'll take your advice.

Good girl.

I'm here.

- There he is! - That's him. Get him to pay.

- Give me my money! - Pay up!

Pay up now!

- Money! - What's that for?

Do you know who I am?

A debt must be repaid. Give me back my five hundred taels of gold!

- And mine! - When did I owe you money?

- And mine! - Pay up!

Pay up now!

It's you.

Fine. Fine.

- Just you wait. - Pay up!

I never say I won't!

What?

You gave your entire dowry to your mother's family?

The Mansion of Lord Huaiyang was damaged.

My brother couldn't gather the money for repairs,

- so he had to take it from my dowry. - What?

Have you lost your mind?

You gave him all the money, so what about me?

I had no choice.

Father approved it. - Father?

He came to me in person about it.

I couldn't possibly tell him

that you've been using my dowry to cover household expenses.

You...

What should we do now?

The debt collectors are at the gate.

Look what they did to me. They beat me up really hard.

I...

Tell me. What should I do?

Don't worry. I have a plan.

You vile woman.

How dare you do this to me?

Insulting the head lady. It's not too much to have you sold off.

Don't you dare.

Guo Yi won't let you off.

Guo Yi is right here.

Yi?

Honey.

Gai's profligate spending has caused so much trouble for the family.

If Father finds out, you should know what will happen to her.

Yi. Yi.

Say something.

Yi bought those pieces of jewelry, for me out of affection.

- Don't... - Yi.

Why are you just standing there? Yi, please.

- Stop yelling. - Yi.

What if my father finds out about this?

Yurao, let's just deal with what we've got here.

Give me that night-glowing pearl hairpin.

Return it and we'll be fine.

Ma'am, I found it.

How did the pearl get shattered?

- No. - What happened?

- It wasn't me. - No. How...

You...

How vicious. You wretch.

You framed me!

It's...

You've brought disgrace to the master,

and acted recklessly. How dare you argue?

- Nanny Zhou. - Yes.

- Slap her. - Yes, ma'am.

No, don't!

I'll find a way to get the money.

You don't need to worry about it.

I hope you keep your word.

Nanny Zhou. Let's go. - Yes, ma'am.

Wait.

We're closing for the night. Please come back tomorrow.

It's night already?

Let me light a lantern for you.

I have many kinds of lanterns.

Which kind would you like?

Well, a long-lasting home lantern, then.

[Landownership Papers]

[Draft]

We've already closed.

- Don't move. - What are you doing?

- Don't move. - Don't move.

- What do you want? - Shut up.

[Landownership Papers]

That's right. It's the traitor's property.

Who was that? What's he got to do with you?

I confess.

About three months ago, he started selling me the deed to the house.

I don't even know his name.

I just called him the chief instructor.

After Guo Yi met the debt collectors,

he didn't go back to his study, or any other suspicious place.

Where would he hide the ledger?

Sister, think carefully.

Has Guo Yi shown any unusual behavior recently?

I can't think of anything else.

He seldom comes to my room.

I don't see him often, So I haven't noticed anything unusual. [Quiet]

[Tolerance]

There is one place we haven't searched yet.

You mentioned that my brother-in-law takes me seriously.

He even mounted my calligraphy works.

The mounting...

must have been done by him personally, right?

Such ironclad evidence is right there in plain sight every day.

This ledger implicates seventeen officials,

including Chief of the Court of Judicial Review, Minister of Justice, and Deputy Censor-in-Chief.

These are the officials in charge of the Three Bureaus.

Yes.

Even if we hand over the evidence along with Guo Yi,

the officials of the Three Bureaus won't proceed with the trial.

Prince Sui's influence in the court is far greater than you realize, Your Majesty.

They are truly a group of corrupt bureaucrats.

They can't be easily replaced even we know their doing.

The Three Bureaus are so interconnected that one move affects the whole system.

Replacing them won't make a difference.

The leaders are corrupted, and the situation inside can be imagined.

It has exceeded my expectations.

Let me think about it.

[Respect and Simplicity]

His Majesty can't do anything about Prince Sui now.

It's all my fault.

I shouldn't have dragged you into this, causing you such distress.

Don't underestimate me.

I didn't realize it was all for naught in the end.

I can't even get the case to the Three Bureaus.

Had I known it would be like this,

I would've left you in Zhenzhou.

A scolding from you would have been better than what's happening now,

where there's not even a way back.

- Look at my lantern. - It's beautiful.

I like the pink one.

- Where did you buy it? - We bought it at that stall around the corner.

- Let's go take a look. - Let's go.

Look how carefree they are.

Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

I remember back in Mount Yang,

whether it was the Shangsi Festival or the New Year,

we would always use sky lanterns to halt the battles.

Once, I caught one of your men, thinking he was a deserter.

When I checked his cart, it was full of sky lanterns.

I thought to myself, even with the battle so intense,

this Lu Wen still has the leisure to watch sky lanterns.

Of course.

There's more to life than just battles and hatred.

I fought with you

so that those around me can live a peaceful and stable life,

with feasts during festivals, new clothes to wear,

and the joy of witnessing grand lantern displays.

I guess.

I know you've long been worried, and prepared for battle,

but I don't want you to forget that worry and toil are not what we are after.

We should enjoy our lives.

So,

no matter what Prince Sui or Three Bureaus may do,

spending a happy holiday with our loved one is what truly matters right now.

- Take a look. - Buns. Tasty buns.

These are the specialties of Xijing.

It's all good stuff. It's good for you.

- I'd like a bag of walnuts. - Okay.

Thank you.

- Thank you. - Okay, take care.

- Madam, have one of these. - Yes, please.

- Try this. - Thank you.

- Is that enough? - Thank you.

Honey.

Come one.

Excuse me.

If you want couplets, I'll write them for you at home.

This scholar's calligraphy is the finest around.

There's no way you can compare.

Although it's neat, it's too uniform.

The horizontal strokes lack arrangement, and vertical lack hidden strength. [All]

It's far inferior to yours.

With such insight, you must be a good calligrapher.

Please enlighten me, madam.

What's the matter? Are you afraid?

Enjoying lecturing others? That's absurd and insulting.

Exactly.

All right.

- Let me borrow your brush. - Please.

Since he is curious about my wife's calligraphy,

why not show them a little?

Come on.

Please.

Writing together?

Nothing good could come from that.

I'm a bit selfish.

I can't let other men see my wife's calligraphy.

Let's just write last year's New Year's greeting.

[Year]

The way you wrote it is excellent.

Truly well done.

♫ Calm years pass by the silent bustling city ♫

[Days]

♫ If one day the river breeze blows again ♫

♫ I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror ♫

[Like this]

May each year bring us days like this.

I'm so surprised.

- All right. Fold it. - His calligraphy is so good.

♫ Lies mundane dust ♫

Your calligraphy has really improved.

- Thank you. - Much appreciated.

Timing and Subtitles by the "Are You My Soulmate?" Team @ Viki

"A Lifelong Promise" by Cai Ziyi

♫ The boat drifts, bringing back the sunset ♫

♫ When we reunite, we still joke about the cause and effect ♫

♫ Who passed by, the crab apple falls with a turn ♫

♫ Loving rightly but choosing wrong With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions ♫

♫ Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ Under the moon, the couple's hearts are united with the stars ♫

♫ Long hidden in the eyes, flickering in and out ♫

♫ Let go of the flowers blooming in the yard last night ♫

♫ Let go of the waves in the stream in half a lifetime ♫

♫ Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly ♫

♫ My lifelong wish is to reach the sky and many more ♫

♫ Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow ♫

i>♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight, can stay together ♫

♫ Time flows as we dream through four seasons ♫

♫ I wish to accompany you on this long journey forever ♫