Original subtitles

[Flourished Peony]

[Episode 9]

In the past, there was Tao Qian

who wouldn't bow for five dou of rice.

Today, there is the Floral Envoy

who pledges allegiance for a leopard.

It seems you

not only enjoys appreciating flowers

but also likes taming beasts.

Superficial.

I am very devoted.

I only love money.

Coincidentally,

I only love money too.

It is fitting to partner with you to make money.

Splitting the profits fifty-fifty?

Impossible.

Mr. Jiang,

I am just borrowing your capital.

All the dirty and tiring work

will all be done by me.

You only need

to lie down and collect the money.

A fifty-fifty split is fair enough.

Moreover, today.

I helped you block the unwanted admirers

and nearly got my head shot through.

You must at least

remember some of my good deeds, right?

Whether you came or not,

I can block the unwanted admirers myself today.

It was actually me

who saved your life.

- I… - Well,

seeing your cleverness in playing the part today,

you do have somewhat of a sly merchant's adaptability.

Collaboration is not out of the question.

[Fifty-fifty]

If we profit, the split is ninety-ten.

If we lose, I'll pay back all the capital.

Isn't that what you said?

A godsend opportunity, a sure win without losses.

I'm taking a bit of a loss.

If you sign this,

the promissory note for the 19 potted flowers

will be written off.

Darned official Jiang, filthy merchant.

Don't think I can't see

your grumbling under your breath.

- No. - Forget it.

It's better

to lend the money at the capital to earn interest.

No.

Mr. Jiang, I will sign.

I will sign right away.

[Jiang Xiaohua]

I'm grateful

for your appreciation.

In the future, I will surely work tirelessly

to make money.

Chuanyu.

My lord.

Come in to pack up the things. We're leaving.

Yes.

Let me pack up together with Chuanyu.

To descend the mountain a moment earlier

is to be a moment safer.

You're still in mourning

and there was the matter of Luoyang previously.

Not reflecting properly at home,

you gallop on horseback. What kind of conduct is this?

About the matter of choosing your husband,

I will make arrangements.

You needn't worry about it.

Father,

in your eyes,

Jiang Changyang accompanies by the emperor's side,

forming family ties and alliances.

Naturally, his actions will be facilitated.

But for the matter of Luoyang, he was pleased to see it.

He has no desire to marry me at all.

If it weren't for your emotions clouding your judgment,

leading to you committing a disgrace,

we wouldn't need to consider his willingness.

Well now.

This has become his excuse for evasion.

Causing you to be shamed

is my lack of filial piety.

What kind of conduct is this?

Rise.

Father, the Luoyang matter

has already caused an uproar.

If I remarry to someone else,

won't this confirm

those rumors?

But if I marry into the Liu family,

it would just be a common meeting.

Nothing is there to be criticized.

You've told me this so many times already.

Aren't you tired?

Father,

I understand,

you don't think the Liu family's status is high enough.

But looking at the whole of Chang'an,

the young gentlemen

of the noble families

are all like Jiang Changyang.

Relying on their profound family wealth,

they spend all day only knowing how to have fun.

Even if he marries an even more splendid county princess,

it would not win his loyalty.

But precisely because the Liu family's social status is not high,

they can only look up to you as their leader.

If they can be put to good use,

how would that not be considered a sharp sword?

As for other families, let them be.

Won't the Liu family

hold a grudge

for the incident of being demoted to Luoyang three years ago?

Father,

about the Liu family,

I have a clear understanding of them.

This whole family wants to climb up the ranks

and they are eager to serve you loyally.

Liu Shen

is good at amassing wealth

and acts very cautiously.

Some matters hidden in the shadows

require some people who know the ins and outs to handle.

Indeed, Father.

Zishu, having studied hard since childhood,

harbors great ambitions.

If you can provide a bit of support,

he will certainly become

a capable minister in handling affairs and strategizing.

My son-in-law

will certainly rise to high position.

Youzhen,

as you have been married for three years,

your judgement

has become much more perceptive.

You've learned to consider the bigger picture.

Alright, I'll follow your advice.

Thank you, Father.

I will send a message to the Liu family right now

to have Zishu come to Chang'an quickly

to give thanks to you in person.

Mr. Jiang, the gold and jade items in this carriage

are worth several properties in Chang'an.

Thank you for giving me a ride.

It truly

has broadened my horizons.

This act must naturally be complete.

I am known for my elegance.

If people see

a woman covered in mud with disheveled hair

walking out from my camp,

that would be unacceptable.

Wipe it off.

You want this?

If you continue to dig peonies with this scrap metal,

in a few days, your hand will be useless.

Wouldn't my business

be a loss?

Mr. Jiang, rest assured.

I have already made money now.

Now I can buy proper farm tools.

In the future, I will avoid

the royal hunting grounds.

I will definitely not make you lose money.

Stop.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I didn't see you in the hunting grounds.

I heard you

ran away with a young lady.

A beauty from which family

made you so

impatient to hide her away?

She

just saw me once

and fell at the sight of my valiant presence.

Her face is flushed at the moment.

Could it be she's a spirit transformed from these mountains?

Thus she is so shy to meet people.

Your Highness, look,

it's such a pure and beautiful lady.

How could I not enjoy her exclusively?

Well,

you are usually surrounded by servants.

Yet now you're riding alone

and are smiling broadly.

It seems you have got what you wished for.

A few days ago, I learned Zishu's wife died falling off a cliff.

Today, my father consented

to my marriage with Zishu.

There are no longer any obstacles between me and Zishu.

Thank you

for facilitating this match.

Let's set off.

Mr. Jiang, what do you mean by this?

Just now, when you heard the County Princess's voice,

you looked as if you had seen a ghost.

I never thought that the one who actually saw a ghost was me.

He Weifang is already dead.

I was

just lucky.

I fell off a cliff

and luckily survived.

Creating a fake household registration has one price.

But if I help you hide it from the County Princess and Prince Ning,

that would be another price altogether.

Give me the contract, I'm raising the price.

A gentleman's promise is unbreakable.

Moreover, our contract has already been signed.

Mr. Jiang, you are a person of integrity.

You certainly wouldn't take advantage of the situation.

Moreover…

Moreover, He Weifang is already dead.

Jiang Xiaohua absolutely will not

cause you any trouble.

This trouble won't fall on my head.

Liu Zishu is coming to Chang'an.

You'd better pray for good fortune.

The Liu family has already obtained the money and power they were after.

They won't care about someone like me anymore.

Furthermore,

regardless of whether the Liu family will come to Chang'an or not

or when they come to Chang'an,

when the time comes,

I will seek them out.

But these matters no longer concern you.

In any case,

my good fortune

and your interest,

I will earn it pot by pot.

Just you wait and see.

I did as you said.

I used sun-dried fresh cow and sheep dung as base fertilizer.

These three pots have added irrigation fertilizer.

The mix ratios of fertilizer and water are

thirty-five percent, twenty-five percent, and twenty percent respectively.

The roots have indeed grown much stronger.

Very good.

Shengyi, look.

This first pot here

has some burnt roots.

This third pot,

look at the main root.

It's grown less than half an inch thicker.

This is the second pot.

This is the main root. It has grown stronger

and it has sprouted lateral roots.

It just hasn't sprouted buds yet.

Come on, let's put this back first.

Remember this.

Between taking the first pot

and the second pot,

mix the fertilizer and water at a ratio of thirty percent

to prepare the irrigation fertilizer.

With such fertilization,

will it bloom soon?

No rush, we will move these flowers

to get more sunlight.

Move them back indoors when night falls.

When changing the fertilizer,

we need to chill the roots.

I'm afraid we won't be able

to warm ourselves by the fire at night.

It's fine.

The dwarf peony is delicate.

We should accommodate it.

Okay, if it's cold at night,

we two

will sleep huddled together.

Okay.

It's raining.

You're awake, Shengyi.

How are the flowers?

Now that you're awake,

let's go have a look at the flowers together.

Come on.

Good, they haven't been too drenched.

Shengyi,

these flowers

have made it.

Made it.

Made it.

Look.

Shengyi,

do you know?

Most peony flowers have elegant names

like Ningyan Zi or Qiongtai Yulu.

Either describing the color

or depicting the posture.

How about we give this dwarf peony

a name as well?

I'm not versed in literature.

I don't know any fancy words.

But I think although this flower is small,

it has a strong fragrance.

Look, I've been busy all day

and the fragrance has clung to my sleeves.

Smelling it is comforting.

Wait.

Look,

fragrance fills the sleeves.

Why not just call it

[Huai] Huai

[Xiu] Xiu

[Xiang] Xiang?

Huaixiuxiang.

This name

refers to the petite stature of its plant,

small enough to be concealed in a sleeve,

and praises its pleasant floral fragrance.

Royal families often enjoy the aroma of incense.

Now with this Huaixiuxiang,

even peddlers can afford to enjoy

such an elegant delight.

[Huaixiuxiang]

Everyone, take a look.

Affordable peony Huaixiuxiang.

The size of the potted plant.

With abundant blooms and a rich fragrance.

80 wen per pot.

150 wen for two pots.

Everyone, have a look.

80 wen for a pot of peonies.

Any respectable peony

would cost at least a few hundred wen.

Yes.

I've never heard of a peony

of the variety called Huaixiuxiang.

Any peony

is usually found blooming in gardens

with large clusters of blooms.

With this size of your potted plant,

can it bloom?

Or are you just selling bare roots?

Rest assured, everyone.

For a businessperson traveling far from home,

integrity is the foundation.

80 wen means 80 wen.

Shengyi.

These are all genuine peonies.

- Every single plant blooms splendidly. - So beautiful.

Madam, come here.

Little boy, come forward and have a look.

Is this not a peony?

Yes.

Although Huaixiuxiang is small in size,

its color and shape are beyond reproach.

It is the king among flowers.

Its fragrance is truly unique. Take a sniff, isn't it?

It really is a peony.

- Smells good, right? - It's a dwarf peony.

- Really fragrant. - It can actually bloom

and the flowers are blooming so nicely.

It's really amazing.

Not just the name has changed.

Even the appearance

has been completely transformed.

The previous dwarf peony

was small, ugly, and still cost 50 wen.

Now this one is completely renewed.

With abundant flowers, it's only 80 wen!

This flower is not easy to cultivate.

Once sold out, I'll pack up the stand.

Don't hesitate if you're interested. First come first served.

- I'll take two pots first. - Madam, are you buying?

- Yes. - Alright.

I'll take one pot.

I'll take one too.

- Can I get a discount for buying more? - Yes.

I'd like to order ten pots.

Can you restock by tomorrow?

Of course. If you want to place an order, come here to sign up.

I'll restock within three days.

Kid, can you carry that?

- Sure. - Here.

You're strong.

- I'll buy one pot. - Alright.

- I'll buy one pot too. - Quickly, I want to order ten pots.

- Okay, ten pots, right? - Ten pots.

Those who want to order, come to me.

You can restock ten pots by tomorrow, right?

I'll restock within three days.

- Sure. - Ten pots.

The medicine indeed worked.

The cold symptoms are much better now.

You must not be careless either.

This decoction is ready. Don't forget to drink it.

Okay, I'll drink it in a bit.

Never thought selling flowers would be more profitable than selling liquor.

Today is only the first batch.

In a few more days,

we could earn hundreds of strings.

However, once we pay back the interest,

there won't be much left.

Shengyi, how about we rent a house first?

But we still owe interest

to the Floral Envoy.

No rush, it's not the end of the month yet.

The initial phase of the business

is when we need to spend money.

We need to purchase more flowers

and tools as well.

I've done the math.

Excluding these expenses,

it's enough to rent a house.

The land prices in Chang'an are high.

Renting a house is a significant expenditure.

We have just started doing business.

Wouldn't that be too extravagant?

This house is situated in a low-lying area next to the river.

The dampness is really too much.

Moreover, when it rains,

the roof leaks.

Over time, these peonies will surely not be able to withstand it.

Furthermore, even if the peonies can endure,

I can't bear to let you suffer with me.

If one falls ill,

no amount of money earned can be enjoyed.

As long as the two of us work together wholeheartedly,

we will eventually be able

to earn back all this money.

Ladies,

you've seen the finest residences

I have on hand.

Isn't there one that you fancy?

Sir,

we have already stated our requests.

But what you have shown us

is not what we want in a residence.

Actually, those were quite nice.

But those by the river or lake,

although picturesque,

are damp,

sit low, and are prone to flooding.

The detached homes,

although clean and refreshing,

lack sufficient fertile soil

or open space.

And those facing the street

just have far too much pedestrian traffic.

After all, looking for a house is about convenience, right?

The conditions you're asking for are too harsh.

Do you really want to live on a smelly mudflat?

So there really isn't

the type of house we're talking about?

There are some, indeed.

Be careful.

This soil is full of decomposed leaves,

with just the right amount of moisture.

It's our ready-made fertilizer.

Let's rent this house then.

Don't rush, wait a moment.

This courtyard is indeed large,

but it's too dirty and run-down.

How can anyone live here?

It is a bit dirty and worn here,

but the price is really cheap.

Moreover, this is

right next to the residence of the Floral Envoy.

Having the powerful as neighbors for support,

bandits would never dare to cause trouble at your door.

This Floral Envoy is reckless and unrestrained

with a notorious reputation.

This infamy far exceeds that of wandering bandits and brigands.

Who would dare to be his neighbor?

Although the Floral Envoy

is arrogant and absurd

and has made a bit of a fuss,

he has never committed the atrocity of forcing himself on the daughters of the common people.

Besides,

this place is right next to the back courtyard of the Jiang Mansion.

It is very far from the main house.

It's absolutely quiet and safe.

You can be at ease.

It's no trouble.

This matter is of great importance.

Allow us to discuss it properly.

If we become neighbors with Jiang Changyang,

as long as we manage our relations well,

in the future, whether it's to extract money

or buy on credit,

it would be very convenient.

Let's go.

Look,

we two weak women,

living next to such a scoundrel official,

really are a bit frightened.

Indeed.

Unless

the price is cheap enough.

Exactly.

Leave it to me.

Absolutely cheap.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Zishu.

Greetings, Your Highness.

You've arrived in a hurry

and traveled hastily on the road.

You must be exhausted.

It's no trouble.

After I settle in at the posthouse,

I will visit Prince Ning's Mansion.

Why must you make this trip?

Weisheng kept his promise.

He would rather die embracing the column.

I have said that I would wait for your return.

I hoped the first old friend you see

when entering Chang'an

would be me.

Let's go to Prince Ning's Mansion.

You've already come to this place.

Won't you go in and have a look?

Let's go.

[Liu Mansion]

[Liu Mansion]

I know you miss the old home.

Returning to Chang'an, you'd surely pass by here.

That's why I came here specially to wait for you.

We respectfully welcome Your Highness and Mr. Liu home.

Wasn't this mansion

sold when we

left Chang'an?

I have said it before.

The old scenes of Chang'an remain as yesterday

and my heart remains the same.

As long as you are willing to come back,

we can start anew.

Youzhen, thank you.

As long as you are happy.

The government-arranged posthouse is humble.

Now you can live comfortably in your old home.

That would put my mind at ease.

The Ministry of Revenue where you will serve

has already been arranged by my father.

There aren't many vacant official positions nowadays.

So you will serve as the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue.

It's just a temporary measure.

You will surely be promoted in the future.

Youzhen, as I've stated in the letter,

I will certainly pass the imperial examination with distinction this year

and rightfully secure an official position.

I began my learning at the age of five.

Only by seeking office through the imperial exams

and relying on talent for promotion

will my heart be truly at ease.

If I were to complacently enjoy this granted position,

how could my colleagues genuinely respect me?

Zishu, your ambitions are lofty,

which I naturally understand.

But even if you do excel in the imperial examination,

you would still have to start from a local

position like a county magistrate.

As a minor official,

you won't be able to unfold your great aspirations.

With a higher rank,

you will better exhibit your strengths.

Isn't that so?

You're full of talent.

I think becoming an Additional Secretary

is a waste of your abilities.

Besides,

I truly do not wish to part with you again.

This is for you.

With this,

[Notice Chang'an] you may enter Prince Ning's Mansion as you please.

Zishu,

you've finally returned.

In the days to come,

I will have something to look forward to.

[Notice Chang'an]

[Ministry of Revenue]

Mr. Liu, please come in.

Mr. Hu, after you.

I've had someone

clean and refurbish this room anew

and added a few scholar's furnishings.

Mr. Liu, see if it meets your satisfaction.

You are my superior.

How could you be so polite to me?

I am but an Additional Secretary of the sixth rank.

According to protocol, I should share a room with other officials and Additional Secretaries.

This is truly improper.

You are the prospective son-in-law of Prince Ning.

I should be polite to you.

The Ministry of Revenue has no decent vacant rooms.

This room was previously used by me.

Mr. Liu, just don't disdain this room

for being old or worn.

In front of His Highness,

please put in a good word for me.

Mr. Hu, there's really no need for this.

I've just arrived, solely to study and gain experience.

As I associate with my colleagues,

if there are things I don't understand,

I will need the teachings of you all.

His Highness has said

you are well-informed and knowledgeable.

We must not treat you lightly.

Mr. Liu, you flatter me too much.

Is there any other assignment at the moment?

Please give your orders, Mr. Hu.

You are jesting.

There's no need to trouble yourself.

Just make yourself at home

and act freely.

Just do whatever you want.

Mr. Hu, I am not a good-for-nothing idler

who bullies others by flaunting power.

Although favored by His Highness,

I wish to do my utmost to serve the public diligently.

Could I trouble you to fetch the records and documents

from previous years for me to review?

I would like to familiarize myself

with the duties that fall within my purview.

Alright, I'll go fetch them right now.

Please wait a moment, Mr. Liu.

Thank you for your trouble.

What's the point of holding such a position?

Now I've become someone who exercises power under false pretenses

and usurps others' nests.

You will become the son-in-law of Prince Ning.

Besides, you're a newly appointed official.

Others are merely fearful and envious.

My lord, why bother yourself with that?

Qiushi,

it's not for the sake of others,

but I do not wish to let down my own aspirations.

The office I hold

is not attained in a proper manner.

But if I manage to accomplish some achievements,

the cold stares and idle talk

will dissipate on their own.

In the future, I must rely on my own talents

to rise to prominence.

After finishing the duty and returning home,

I feel I have nothing to do.

It's perfect that Mr. Hu

is inviting us to Huanyun Tower

to drink and enjoy dance performances.

Shall we call that newcomer, Liu Chang?

He's already taken

Mr. Hu's room.

Do we need to go ingratiate ourselves?

Indeed.

Working together

is already tiring enough.

After finishing the duty, I certainly don't want

to continue to act servilely.

Let's just enjoy ourselves.

- Let's go. - Go.

Come.

Go.

Shengyi.

Shengyi.

Come quickly.

These are ready-made.

So many.

Really nice.

These can all be used.

Can all be used.

Shengyi,

let's not throw away these mats.

They can be used for shade later on.

Lay it down.

Okay.

Be careful.

Just put it on the ground.

Come on.

There's still a lot more.

Shengyi, help me.

Slow down.

Get out of the way.

What is this?

Can it be opened?

Well…

[Land Deed]

So my house

isn't next to the back yard of the Jiang Mansion.

My house is the back yard of the Jiang Mansion.

I invested money in your business.

Now I haven't made a single penny of profit,

but you switched houses first.

I changed houses in order

to be able to make money better.

Mr. Jiang, look.

This sludge is best for planting flowers.

Rest assured, your profits at the end of the month

will be delivered to you in full.

Mudan,

there's trouble.

What happened?

Too bad, the house broker has quit and is gone.

He must have absconded with the money.

Darned house broker.

A lone girl bravely enters Chang'an.

Before she achieved great things,

she had been swindled out of her money.

Truly bringing tears of compassion.

Mudan, you mustn't be discouraged.

You have to learn from this

and work even harder to make money.

After all, my ninety percent profit

cannot be shortchanged at all.

Sure.

Chuanyu,

let's show some tenderness for the ladies.

With just the two of them, moving is really too slow.

Send some people to move all their stuff

out of here.

Yes.

Chuanyu, hold on.

Mr. Jiang, it is my oversight that led to being deceived in this matter.

But your Jiang Mansion

bears the fault of mismanagement, right?

When the house broker brought us to see the house,

he sure seemed well-acquainted with the place.

I didn't see any of the Jiang Mansion

staff keeping watch.

Indeed.

Isn't it?

My lord, you have forgotten.

In the past two years,

you suddenly took an interest in brewing wine.

So you bought this neighboring courtyard

to use as a wine cellar.

But after a few months, you wanted to raise deer

and you neglected this courtyard.

Over time,

perhaps the servants grew lazy

and slackened in their upkeep.

You see,

It's not just my fault, right?

No matter whom we blame,

this is an internal matter of our Jiang Mansion.

Now you've taken my house.

Who dares to take

and who could take your house?

Mr. Jiang, just look,

this courtyard is deserted.

It's utterly useless to you.

But if rented to us,

we could turn waste into treasure.

The profit

will be doubled.

Yes.

Mr. Jiang,

we are all people who love money.

You surely wouldn't want your money

to go to waste.

Threatening me?

I meant no such thing.

Anyway, I will pay the rent on time.

By the way, Mr. Jiang,

your Qiongtai Yulu has been moved to the mansion, right?

I've been busy with the move these past few days.

So I had no time to check them.

Don't know if any flowers are blooming.

Right, Mudan needs to regularly

tend to the Qiongtai Yulu for you.

Now that we have become neighbors,

if there is any problem with the flowers,

Mudan can tend to them at any time.

Isn't that convenient?

Yes, if we leave,

both sides suffer a loss.

But if we stay, it's the best of both worlds.

Firstly, the business

will be done right under your supervision in the future.

You can be more at ease.

Secondly, I assure

your backyard will bloom splendidly.

Along with this desolate courtyard,

everything will take on a fresh new look

without losing dignity.

You are so smart.

You certainly won't refuse such a good deal, right?

Since you say

you staying could satisfy both sides

and double the profit.

Then it seems my ninety percent profit

shouldn't be a problem, huh?

Absolutely no problem.

Chuanyu will come to collect the money at the end of the month.

Not a penny less.

Not a day late.

Otherwise, I'll have someone move you out.

Understood.

I wish you

a pleasant stay.

Right now,

I am both your creditor

and your landlord.

Jiang Xiaohua,

behave well.

Take care, Mr. Jiang.

Which blind house broker

dared to cheat with my house?

Tell the Mr. Ren

to seize him within three days.

Have him spit out all the money.

Then he has to be punished and serve.

Yes.

Shengyi,

didn't we agree to hire someone to hoe the weeds?

Why did you do it yourself?

These workers complain that weeding is tough labor

and demand a high price.

We don't have much money.

Let's just do it ourselves.

Indeed, the house repair

and the purchase

of fertilizer and gardening tools

have cost quite a bit.

We really don't have any savings left on hand.

Let's handle it ourselves.

I'm not afraid of hard work.

You go tend to the flowers.

Leave this place to me.

How can I? Right now, from head to toe,

I have boundless energy.

Let's do it together.

Purslane.

Why did you only dig up this much? Look at mine.

- You're even carrying a basket. - It's so cheap.

Just dig as much I can.

Mudan,

eat something.

Okay.

What's the matter?

There's something I don't understand.

I'm not sure if I should ask.

Ask away.

Since the purslane can be used as medicine for sale

and we need money,

why not pick and sell it ourselves?

Charging ten wen to let people pick as they please,

isn't that giving outsiders a bargain?

Although purslane

is valuable,

it's not nearly as valuable as peonies.

It seems we've lost some money on medicinal herbs.

But in reality, it has bought us

more time

to profit sooner.

Since I was little, I've been

doing business with my father.

The first thing I learned was

that sometimes,

time is more precious than money.

♫ In endless Chang'an, the zither's melody distant ♫

♫ Plum and willow trees bask in the sunshine, as splendor returns with the year ♫

♫ Copper palace battlements, songs and dances, glass goblets ♫

♫ Idle clouds and duckweed, a thousand flowers burst forth ♫

♫ Time passes gracefully, affairs settle like fading smoke ♫

♫ Let the years go by, carried by the wind to early desires ♫

♫ If the heart is like water, the bloom is ever-present ♫

♫ Still cherish the moon of my hometown, to meet for long ♫

♫ The distant night sky strewn with stars, reflecting the lovely moon ♫

♫ The peony's magnificent beauty fills the fragrant garden ♫

♫ With a heart as my lantern, I don't mind the distant mountain paths ♫

♫ The flute's sound, a fleeting life's wishes fulfilled ♫

♫ Time passes gracefully, affairs settle like fading smoke ♫

♫ Let the years go by, carried by the wind to early desires ♫

♫ If the heart is like water, the bloom is ever-present ♫

♫ Still cherish the moon of my hometown, to meet for long ♫