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There is no comparison, no equal.

Master, it's late.

We must hurry on our way...

I wanted to be a loyal subject.

But reaching this height,

what's left for those scholars?

Why would they still crave official ranks?

I think I've reached

the end of my loyalty.

What do you think,

Your Highness?

(Crown Prince, Zhu You Sheng)

Back then, my uncle, Duke of Ding,

and 237 members of the Jiang family were framed and slaughtered.

53,000 soldiers of Duke of Ding's Army

were disgraced and wronged.

And today,

I wonder how many in the Eastern Palace

and the capital will be slaughtered?

You defy the throne

and aided Prince Qing in his treacherous bid for power.

Turns out this was all about

clearing the name of Duke of Ding's Army.

And you are blaming it

on me and my father.

When a ruler suspects his ministers, they are doomed to death.

(Song Mo) Are you really saying I've wronged you?

Song Mo,

I pity you.

Your revenge is misplaced.

I've lost,

but in the end, you'll lose everything as well.

Your Highness!

I would rather die

than let a traitor have his way.

General, we found it.

Congratulations, sir.

Grand General's blood feud is half avenged.

He said

I took my revenge on the wrong people.

(In the winter of the 27th year of Chengping reign,)

(as the Emperor's gravely ill,)

(General of Agile Cavalry Song Mo supported Prince Qing.)

(Under the guise of tending to the Emperor,)

(he launched an attack on the capital at night.)

(He sought to clear the name of Duke of Ding.)

Possessing over a hundred weapons in secret is a grave crime.

My Lady, did you know that Prince Qing and General Song Mo would rebel?

The capital is in chaos.

The streets are filled with rogue soldiers and refugees.

When survival itself is at stake,

(Dou Zhao, wife of Wei Ting Yu) what use is talk of law?

-Grab them! -Yes, ma'am!

Song Mo is a ruthless killer.

He even killed his own father and brother.

Now he's leading rebel troops back into the capital.

Everyone's saying he is going to massacre the entire city.

I had to run for my life!

(Wei Ting Yu, Marquis of Jining) How insolent!

Matters of the court

are not for a lowly servant like you to gossip about.

Flog him harder!

Song Mo, that traitor...

He's here for revenge.

(Chen Jia)

(Wang Ge, eunuch of Directorate of Ceremonial)

After tonight,

Prince Qing will take the throne.

General Song, you'll be credited with the greatest merit.

Allow me to offer

my congratulations in advance.

You should know

that everything I've done

is solely to clear Duke of Ding's name.

Once I meet His Majesty,

I'll hand this over to Prince Qing myself.

His Majesty and His Highness are having a private conversation.

It wouldn't be proper to interrupt.

Once His Highness ascends,

an audience will be arranged for you.

Very well.

When he becomes the new ruler,

tell him to come find me.

All troops, hear my command!

Yes, General!

We will move to the outskirts of the city

and await the Emperor's decree!

Yes, General!

(A new Emperor's unable to ascend the throne)

(and a rebel army camped outside the capital,)

(it was a stalemate that was chaos in disguise.)

(At the time, I could never have imagined)

(Marquis of Jining's Residence) (that the seemingly stable walls of this household)

(were already riddled with cracks.)

Starting tonight,

halt all banquets, entertainment, and repairs.

Tomorrow, stewards will purchase

a month's supply of provisions for the household.

Patrols will follow this route around the estate

in four rotating shifts.

Ten armed guards are to stand watch at the front and back gates,

day and night.

Post two guards outside

His Lordship's, Ming's,

and the three concubines' quarters.

Yes, My Lady.

My Lady.

His Lordship has ties to Prince Qing.

(Tuo Niang) Now, nobles, marquises,

and ministers in the capital are asking to see His Lordship.

At a time like this,

Prince Qing's faction wants to crown a new emperor,

(Dou Ming) while the loyal ministers are ready to die defending the old one,

And then there are the fence sitters,

all eager to drag His Lordship into the fray.

Turn them away.

But if I refuse to see them,

I'm bound to offend them.

Bring it in.

I'm sick.

Gravely ill.

My Lord, you're too busy tending to your ailing wife

to receive guests.

That's far too improper.

What use is propriety when the world is falling apart?

Nothing matters more than life and death.

With a coffin in place,

they will leave you alone.

(Blossom)

(Episode 1)

Purchase 200 pounds of silver frost charcoal.

Since His Lordship and Ming like calligraphy and painting,

stock an additional 100 feet of jade paper.

Also, have the stewards from the estates and shops

report back after lunch.

Yes, My Lady.

My Lady.

Here.

My Lady, you almost died

when you had a miscarriage last year.

Your priority now should be

taking care of your health.

You cannot overwork yourself.

How can the matron of a noble family not take on responsibilities?

Serving my husband,

looking after the concubines and their children,

managing over a hundred servants in this household,

along with dozens of estates and businesses,

there's no end to it.

And that's not even counting the endless social obligations.

You're so unwell,

yet His Lordship hasn't shown the slightest concern.

Fifth Young Lady came all this way

claiming she'd help care for you,

but she has been nowhere to be seen.

She's from another mother, after all.

-No heart... -Tuo Niang.

My Lady, look.

Spring hasn't even arrived,

and the white magnolias are already blooming.

This is the first time I've seen magnolias blooming in the snow.

If my mother were here,

she'd surely be delighted.

If Seventh Madam were still with us,

you wouldn't have to bear all this burden alone.

What is that smell?

Medicinal herbs.

The fragrance is strong.

Looks like Ming hasn't been slacking off.

She must be brewing medicine for me.

You're right, My Lady.

Don't bring up the matter of different mothers again.

It will upset Ming if she hears it.

Yes, My Lady.

The medicine might have burned.

Don't worry.

The doctor said she doesn't have much time left.

Once she's gone and the mourning period is over,

I'll marry you.

He's not wrong.

Our marriage was arranged by our parents,

with no affection between us.

If they really love each other,

after I pass,

his marriage to Dou Ming

will benefit both our families.

-It'll be a lasting alliance. -Oh, My Lady...

Let's go.

But what if Father refuses?

After all, her mother and mine were sworn sisters.

And her mother died because of my mother's affair with my father.

Mother...

I can't believe she's the reason Mother died.

All my efforts to run this household,

and in the end, I've paved the way for my enemies.

The kitchen is on fire.

-Call the servants. -Yes, My Lady.

You can trust me.

Don't you know me by now?

Even if I have to go through hell,

I'll marry you.

No one can tear us apart.

What's that noise?

The kitchen is on fire!

Bring water! The kitchen is on fire!

Fire in the kitchen!

My dear, it's my fault.

Please don't hurt Ming.

I won't hurt her.

In fact, I should thank you both.

You've saved me from living in ignorance.

-Sister... -Don't call me that.

I never expected love from my husband

or the bond of sisterhood,

but you both

couldn't even spare me the smallest shred of decency.

Tell me, how did my mother really die?

That was before I was born.

I've only overheard the elders mention it.

I don't know the details.

I will get to the bottom of it.

But as for what's happened today,

we will settle it here and now.

You...

I have been married into this family for ten years.

I've poured my heart

into managing the household,

never once failing Wei Ting Yu or Dou Ming.

Even amidst the chaos in the capital,

I pushed through my illness to protect this family.

And yet,

they committed adultery in broad daylight in the kitchen

and cursed me to an early death.

A heartless man is unworthy of trust,

and the daughter of my enemy cannot be family.

When this disgrace and betrayal are brought to the court,

you will all be my witnesses.

From this moment on,

I am no longer Marchioness of Jining.

My Lord!

My Lord, Her Ladyship has left the residence.

You think I don't know that?

Didn't I ask you to guard the door?

Why are you still standing there? Go fetch our clothes!

Yes, My Lord. Please excuse me.

If I'd known it would come to this, I should've listened to my mother!

I should've put stronger poison into her medicine

and gotten rid of her for good!

What are you standing there for?

If she takes this to the authorities,

neither of us will ever have peace again.

Don't worry.

My family's century-old reputation

won't be ruined by her.

Such towering ambition is wasted in vain.

A lifetime's passion is never unchained.

Young Lady, it's snowing heavily.

This isn't snow.

Tuo Niang, give them some food.

The land is in ruins, the nation on the brink.

Life is unpredictable.

My departure this time

marks our final farewell.

The willows are alive,

spinning the top.

The willows are green,

ringing the bell.

The willows sprout,

play...

Tuo Niang.

I was still young when my mother passed.

Can you think of anything unusual about that time?

Your father had just passed the imperial exams.

And it was also the birthday of your cousin.

Your mother ordered me to take you

to share the good news with your uncle, Zhao Si.

When we returned, your mother had already passed away.

Soon after, Wang Ying Xue married your father.

Tuo Niang, watch out!

(He has a spear that shatters the earth.)

(He is a young man with white hair...)

Song Mo?

Young Lady, are you hurt?

Young Lady...

Did you hear that?

If you don't stop crying,

I'll send you to the big bad demon, Song Mo.

He eats children.

I'm not crying!

Give me the food.

Go home.

(He doesn't seem as cruel as the rumors say.)

General, since you know your infamous name

can stop children from crying,

(Ji Yong, Reverend Yuan Tong) you should

try to commit less sins from now on.

The carriage belongs to Marquis of Jining's Residence.

(Lu Ming)

With the capital in chaos,

why have you come here?

I'm going back to my hometown.

Given your condition,

the journey is too harsh for you.

You might as well

just return to to heaven instead.

Come to the temple and rest,

warm yourself with some hot medicinal soup.

Hold on.

In such times,

(Lu Zheng) how can we shelter people we barely know?

Lu Zheng.

-Soldiers, hear my command! -Yes, General!

Move to the back mountain of Wanfo Temple!

Yes, General!

I mistook you for an enemy scout earlier.

I apologize for the offense.

Lu Ming,

repair the carriage and escort Her Ladyship to the temple.

Yes, General!

Young Lady.

The carriage only contains valuables.

The snow makes the roads treacherous.

What's so urgent

that you had to travel in your poor health?

It's a private family matter,

not something we can share.

General has treated you with kindness,

offering shelter from the snow.

Yet you still refuse to be open.

-Are you hiding something? -Lu Ming.

Young Lady...

My Lady, surely you know

that the fate of the nation will be decided in these few days.

In such times, when survival is at stake,

everything must be carefully examined.

-General... -Tuo Niang.

It's nothing particularly important.

I just feared that, should I speak of it,

it would offend your ears.

Marquis of Jining and my half-sister

have been committing adultery

while I've been ill.

I caught them today.

I intended to divorce him immediately,

but there is no one in the Office of State Affairs who can process my case

due to the chaos in the capital.

So,

I have no choice but to return home and report it.

I see.

Forgive my rudeness,

My Lady.

Your apology is not needed.

I'm no longer Marchioness of Jining.

My surname is Dou,

and I'm the fourth child in my family.

A man can leave a woman easily,

while it's harder for a woman to leave a man.

The sooner you see someone's true colors,

the sooner you can cut ties.

Young Lady Dou,

you are the luckiest among the unlucky.

General, you control the new dynasty

and hold unparalleled power,

yet why has your hair turned gray,

and your eyes filled with regret?

General!

General...

Forgive me.

I'm a dying man who has squandered his efforts

on those who do not deserve it.

Indeed.

We have squandered our efforts

on those who do not deserve it.

It will soon be dawn.

I'll have my men escort you back to your hometown, Young Lady Dou.

Today's celestial signs are strange.

The comet enters the Purple Star,

an omen of disaster and turmoil,

yet we also see shooting stars streaking across the sky.

The unrest in the capital

certainly corresponds with the comet's entry,

but the shooting stars...

They might signal fortune lies within misfortune.

You two are intertwined in fate.

You overestimate me, Reverend Yuan Tong.

I am just a powerless woman,

merely a passerby seeking a bowl of medicinal soup

and sheltering from the snowstorm.

How could I possibly be entwined with General Song's fate?

What is this?

Prince Qing won't even show up to tell me the truth?

General Song,

no matter how great your achievements,

after what you did,

His Highness has no choice

but to give you a death sentence.

Those who take the throne

are equally cold and ungrateful.

Duke of Ding fought on the frontlines for 15 years,

only to be framed for treason

and have his entire family executed.

Prince Qing hasn't even taken the throne yet,

and he's already setting out to eliminate his allies.

Doesn't he fear what people will say about him?

General Song, don't worry about that.

If this gets out,

it'll be nothing but a scandal of Marquis of Jining's family.

What does it have to do with Prince Qing?

Don't you agree, My Lord?

By order of Prince Qing,

Song Mo has grown arrogant with his merits.

He seduced Marchioness of Jining, Dou Zhao, and ran off with her.

Wei Ting Yu, you...

With all the evidence, they shall be executed to set things right.

He's shifting the blame onto a woman.

Prince Qing is even more shameless than his father.

General Song,

if you surrender the imperial seal

and end your life now,

His Highness may leave you with a whole corpse.

Too bad.

I'm far too petty

to leave you with a whole corpse.

Kill!

My Lady, please come with me to the back mountain.

Come on, we have to go.

When Prince Qing stopped me from seeing His Majesty,

I knew then he intended to kill me after using me.

-Eunuch... -I gave him a chance.

If he had kept his promise and come to meet me,

I would've let him live.

But instead, he went to the Western Mountain palace.

It proves that my efforts

to deploy Duke of Ding's elite troops there weren't in vain.

What benefit would killing me bring to Song Mo?

Even if he wants to take control of the regency,

(Prince Qing, Zhu You Ting) I will grant it to him.

-Kill! -Kill!

Prince Qing

is probably a corpse by now.

Empty threats.

Seize him!

Eunuch Wang...

-Prepare for battle! -Prepare for battle!

Kill!

Young Lady...

Careful.

Duke of Ding's Army has always been skilled in battle.

Now that we've been surrounded, what are we going to do?

Don't worry. As long as your wife is dead,

no matter how capable Song Mo is,

he'll just be a general who has committed a crime.

My Lord!

Young Lady, run!

I'm going to kill you!

You're just a weak woman,

who can you possibly kill?

Tuo Niang!

General!

General, I really didn't know Wei Ting Yu would do that.

I'm poisoned.

My time is running out.

I only regret that I can't clear

Duke of Ding's name before I die.

Instead, I've dragged you into this

and led you to bear this disgrace, costing you your life.

You saved my life

in the fields last night.

It's me who have brought you trouble.

Come, let me take you away.

Yuan Tong...

Reverend Yuan Tong!

Yuan Tong.

(Chronicles of the World)

Go.

Go.

-That way. -Let's go together.

I don't matter.

Within misfortune lies fortune, you two are bound by fate.

The course of destiny is now in your hands.

Go now. Go!

They're over there! Get them!

Watch out!

(To live as a woman is to live at the mercy of others.)

(A lifetime of joys and sorrows controlled by someone else.)

(It is not only in marriage that one is bound,)

(even rulers and ministers are no different.)

(One moment you're favored,)

(the next, you're sentenced to death.)

(Throughout my whole life,)

(I never had a moment)

(Record of Truths)

(where I could choose my own fate.)

You're finally awake.

You were so absorbed in your reading,

you bumped straight into the mirror frame.

I...

How...

Shou Gu?

Young Lady?

-Shou Gu. -Young Lady.

(Zhao Gu Qiu, Matron of Dou Family) You're awake.

Mother?

Tuo Niang?

You're still here!

Why are you acting like a little girl?

It's all my fault.

Madam went to pray to the Buddha to bless Master

with success in the imperial exams,

and I went with her.

I should've kept watch over Young Lady.

Success in the exams?

Is this the eighth year of the reign Chengping?

Yes.

But I clearly lived through a lifetime.

Just now,

the temple was filled with Jiying Guards.

I died right in front of the mirror.

Young Lady...

Sometimes, a dream seems so real that it feels like reality.

But still, it's just a dream.

You got too caught up in the stories,

and bumped your head.

The story is just a story, but you are real.

Record of Truths?

It's a book left by a carefree recluse,

meant for someone destined to find it.

Looks like you're that lucky one.

Thank you, Master Yuan Tong.

You're Yuan Tong?

Mo!

You're finally awake.

Mo,

I couldn't wake you up from a nightmare. I was worried sick.

Fortunately, the abbot calmed your spirit and treated you.

(Duchess of Ying, Jiang Hui Sun) How do you feel now?

Mother,

I had such a long dream.

But now I can't remember

anything from it.

It's just as well.

All living beings

have the wisdom and nature of the Buddha within them.

It is only because of delusion and attachment

that they cannot attain enlightenment.

Thank you, Abbot.

But I feel like there are things

I shouldn't have forgotten.

On the day of triumphant success, the spring breeze brings joy,

But the magnolia withers in autumn.

The aspiring ones soar with the wind,

yet regretful, they choose the coldest branches in the best of times.

Triumphant in the imperial exams,

yet why does it speak of withering and decline?

Shou Gu.

What are you reading?

Is this book that interesting?

He made it...

He made it?

Madam!

Madam!

Master made it!

Master made it onto the list! The seventh in the second division!

This is wonderful!

Shi Ying's hard work

has finally paid off.

Shou Gu,

how did you know your father succeeded?

-I... -This temple is so miraculous.

You even came to pray for

Young Lady Wang Ying Xue's family matters before, Madam.

Wang Ying Xue?

After studying diligently for years.

Father finally succeeded in the imperial exam that year.

When we were celebrating,

Mother fell ill.

Mother? Are you all right, Mother?

Soon after she died,

Wang Ying Xue married into the family and became my stepmother.

After all, her mother and mine were sworn sisters.

And her mother died because of my mother's affair with my father.

Gao Sheng, prepare the horse.

Yes, Madam.

Tuo Niang, take Shou Gu

to the Zhao residence to deliver the good news to my brother.

-It happens to be Zhang Ru's birthday... -No.

It's been such a long time since I saw Father.

Why not invite Uncle and Zhang Ru to our home

to celebrate together?

Uncle is an Imperial Censor

with the power to impeach officials.

His reports even go directly to His Majesty.

Father's future career will benefit from connections.

When did you become so knowledgeable about such things?

Alright then. I haven't seen my brother in a long time either.

Please invite him then.

When I married into this family,

I buried a jar of Huadiao wine for Shi Ying.

It's finally time to open it.

I must thank the gods.

Give it to me.

Walk slowly.

Tuo Niang, the imperial exams were held in the capital.

Is Wang Ying Xue also living in the capital?

Yes.

Young Lady Wang's father was demoted,

and her family fell on hard times.

She had to sell cotton and rice to support her family in Chaxi.

When Master was studying in Chaxi,

Madam even asked him to bring some money for Young Lady Wang.

Quickly, invite Uncle over.

The sooner, the better.

Yes, Young Lady.

The past cannot be changed,

but the future can still be made.

Since Record of Truths

records this so-called fate,

and now that I possess it

and can foresee the ending,

I can change it.

Mother,

however difficult or dangerous it may be,

I will protect you.

I won't let anyone hurt you.

When Dou Shi Ying was studying,

he committed adultery!

If you pressure my sister again,

I'll risk my life

to make sure we go down together!

If you really won't forgive me,

grant me a white silk ribbon so I can hang myself then.

If you really want to die...

Here.

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