Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ☯ Strange Dreamers Team ☯ @ Viki.com

♫ The fresh breeze blows through the alley ♫

♫ The fragrance of ink on you ♫

♫ The brush meandering on the paper ♫

♫ This love will last forever ♫

♫ The moonlight pours in the water ♫

♫ I can't help but start to sing ♫

♫ You play a melodious song ♫

♫ It recorded our sweet time ♫

♫ Being drunk but happy in the world (Spend the rest of my life with you) ♫

♫ Watch the wood in a deep dye (Let's ride a horse to see the world) ♫

♫ With you in my life, I'm not afraid of any storm ♫

♫ I feel safe (You whisper in my ear) ♫

♫ There is a distant call (I fell into the light of your halo) ♫

♫ It's too hard to break from your embrace ♫

♫ Immersed in wine and time goes by ♫

♫ Being drunk but happy in the world (Spend the rest of my life with you) ♫

♫ Watch the wood in a deep dye (Let's ride a horse to see the world) ♫

♫ With you in my life, I'm not afraid of any storm ♫

♫ I feel safe (You whisper in my ear) ♫

♫ There is a distant call (I fell into the light of your halo) ♫

♫ It's too hard to break from your embrace ♫

♫ Immersed in wine and time goes by ♫ [A Girl Like Me]

[Episode 8]

- Come! - Get off me!

Wait!

What's wrong? Now you know your mistakes? It's too late!

Take it.

Your Majesty!

Ban Hua! Ban Hua! I…

Your Majesty.

I… You…

- Your Majesty. Your Majesty. - Are you okay?

Cousin Luo hit me.

Jiang Luo!

Royal Father, I didn't!

You didn't? So Hua Hua threw herself to the ground?

Making trouble right after being punished.

You didn't kneel enough in front of the crown prince's manor, now you want to kneel outside Marquis…?

Look at what you are wearing!

I…

Your Majesty, I have never been hit since I was little.

But today, Cousin Luo hit me so cruelly.

Look! It's gonna leave a scar.

It must be hurt.

- Quick, call the imperial physician! - Ban Hua, you…!

Shut up! This is not over!

Don't cry. I'm here.

Yes.

Prince Luo accidentally injured Princess Ban. Call the imperial physician!

His Highness beat and injured Princess Ban.

Princess Ban's arm was broken by His Highness!

[Imperial Physicians' Office]

What? Princess Ban was beaten by His Highness Prince Luo and now she's dying?

Lead the way now!

Is… Is Princess Ban still breathing?

- What nonsense are you talking about? - Your Majesty.

Come and check her out now.

Yes.

Princess.

It's all my fault. Although His Highness

roughly stopped me from leaving, laughed at me because nobody wants me,

and cursed my grandfather with insulting words, I should have suffered in silence.

Ban Hua! You…!

Your Highness, if you are still angry, you can beat me as much as you want.

You can even take my arm.

It's all my grandfather's fault for passing away too early.

Princess, I have to say something.

As a subject, how could you get into a conflict with His Highness?

His Highness is noble.

Even if… Even if he beat you first, you shouldn't be in conflict with him.

I…

Royal Father, Ban Hua is cunning in nature! Please believe me! It's her…!

You shut up!

But… it's really her who threw herself on the ground! I didn't even touch her!

I said shut up!

Ban Hua! Can you stop acting? Wasn't it you who initiated this?

Your Majesty. Yes, it was me who initiated this.

See?

I don't believe it! Prince Luo misconducted himself.

Did you forget all the manners you have learned?

Your punishment is to go back to your study

and copy The Book of Rites 500 times.

You are not allowed to leave the study before you finish.

Royal Father! She's not your daughter, but I'm your son, Royal Father!

- Get out! - Royal Father! I…

Wang De!

Your Highness, please...

I won't let anybody bully you.

Your hairpin.

Thank you for your help today.

Even if I had been there, I don't think you would have been bullied.

I knew you were smart enough to see through all that.

- I'm flattered. - Actually, [Ban Mansion]

there are many ways to teach someone a lesson.

In front of Prince Luo, maybe you should hold your temper.

Don't hurt yourself again.

You mean this? It's nothing.

[Ban Mansion] I'm too lazy to figure out other ways. It's not worth it.

What's so funny?

I just feel that Princess Ban is pretty lucky.

You have a happy family and you have people to talk to.

Even if there is trouble, you don't have to face it alone.

[Ban Mansion] Of course. Family are meant to share your trouble with you.

Princess, it's just that I grew up alone,

so I'm used to facing everything alone.

But after talking to you last time, I've been trying to talk with Huahua a little bit.

It feels good.

Huahua? You tried to talk with your cat?

Fine! Whenever you need someone to talk to, I'll be there for you.

Do you still see me as a man who can be a friend?

As long as you don't fool me again, I'm not a petty person.

Thank you in advance then.

If anything I do offends you in the future, please tell me directly.

All right. You are still young. There's a lot of time for you to learn.

[Ban Mansion]

Ban Hua! This is not over! I'll let you pay for this!

As a prince of Daye, how could you say something like that?

Royal Mother, I'm glad you are here. Please go talk to Royal Father. I was really framed up by Ban Hua! I…

Luo'er, do you know why your father punished you?

What happened during the autumn hunt was already a major disgrace for the royal family.

Now Princess Royal's birthday banquet is around the corner,

why did you have to give Ban Hua a hard time at this moment?

What Princess Royal? Just a dying old woman and her time is running up.

Shut up! You are so spoiled!

How could you say something like that?

Your royal father was right. You do need to be grounded for several days.

Copying those nice books can refine your character.

Please believe me, Royal Mother! I was really framed! Royal Mother!

Your Highness, please calm down. Her Majesty loves you so much.

After some days, she'll figure out a way to set you free.

Ban Hua! When I'm out of here, I'll make you pay for this!

Your Highness, please listen to me.

Although you have Her Majesty to rely on,

now the royal court is full of the crown prince's people.

The Ban family works for him, too.

They all look down upon you.

You don't need to do everything with your own hands.

You just need someone who can root out your barriers for you

The crown prince has the Shi family,

but I also have the Xie family.

Yes.

[Xie Manor]

[Xie Manor] Oh, Eunuch Zhang!

Eunuch Zhang, so nice to see you.

Congratulations, Your Grace.

Her Majesty sent me to tell you that

the Imperial Board of Astronomy has done a divination

for Prince Luo and your daughter.

It's auspicious.

Great! Great! Did they pick the big day?

They picked several and His Majesty has the final say.

Your Grace, you can start preparing for it now.

Thank you so much, Eunuch Zhang.

Thank you so much. Servants, come here.

Go and fetch the black wooden box from my study.

Yes.

Eunuch Zhang, if this goes well,

my daughter might need your help in the future.

We are old friends already.

Here, Eunuch Zhang,

A little something for you, please take it.

Young Master, here's a letter from home.

Master has been worrying about the marriage of Her Ladyship.

Tell Father not to worry.

In the whole Daye, other than my sister,

Prince Luo has no other choice.

Yes.

[What should we prepare]

[What should we prepare for the wedding? Figure out a plan.]

It's all-natural.

Looks like Prince Luo has figured it out.

What are you doing?

Oh my dear daughter, how many more times

should I talk to you about this?

You are going to marry a prince, but you prefer to be a cook.

Are you a fool?

What happened?

Older Brother,

my meatballs are ruined.

I don't understand.

Why can Ban Hua do whatever she wants to without minding others' opinions?

In spite of several failed engagements,

she's still free and easy.

But look at me.

I'm taking every necessary precaution,

but I have no freedom at all.

I can't even make some meatballs!

Being in a noble family, there are some things we can't control.

Our marriages are just business.

I chose to break off my engagement back then but what happened?

I lost one eye, and they made a mess of our home.

Sometimes I will think,

"If I had not chosen to break off the engagement,

would the result have been different?"

Your life would be so miserable.

Marrying a wild woman like Ban Hua,

you would not be leading a good life.

You think so?

Maybe it's my fault for falling for her at first.

You, anyway, should look at the bright side.

Not everyone has the chance to marry a prince.

At least, the Xie family would have someone to rely on in the imperial palace.

Right?

I understand.

The only benefit of marrying a prince is a higher status than Ban Hua.

I would never be bullied by her again.

So are you envious of Ban Hua or jealous of her?

All girls from noble families dislike her,

I'm no exception.

But maybe she's not that bad like what they say.

You are having this kind of misunderstanding because you don't know her so well.

Believe me. You can find a better girl.

I'm one-eyed now.

Who would like me?

Your Grace, I don't believe it.

You've been practicing martial arts for a long time,

how could you lose to Prince Luo?

Great now. You failed to take off his clothes.

We'll never know if he's the man in black.

He's too cunning!

He wore two jackets.

Only if Count Cheng'an had come a little later, just a little bit late.

What does it have to do with him? Did he stop you?

No.

She didn't want to ruin her image.

She has disgraced herself so many times.

Why not this time? It must not be because of that.

She disgraced herself in front of other people.

But this time Count Cheng'an was there.

Of course, that's different. Are you stupid or what?

I hear your every word.

All right. All right.

It was just not a good time.

It's not that complicated. The birthday banquet is coming.

Should he cover himself with a quilt, I would tear that for sure.

But, Your Grace, if you really do that,

the grudge between you and Prince Luo will be so deep.

If he's really the man in black, what should you do then?

What's to be afraid of?

If the man in black is really as stupid as Jiang Luo,

you think he can plot anything?

I'll stifle that in the cradle.

Miss, how about this plate?

Too plain.

Take it away.

- How about this one? - Too gaudy.

Next.

- This one? - Too old, mannish.

Miss, these are the best things at our store.

You don't like them at all?

Sir, can I have a look at those?

Yes, you can take a look.

Miss, it's already been reserved.

It's gorgeous.

Sir, how about this?

I can double whatever price they offered you.

Just sell this to me. You can replenish your stock then.

Miss, I can't do that. This buyer is someone I wouldn't dare to offend.

Sir, do you know who I am?

No.

Do you know Count Zhongping's Manor?

You are Count Xie's daughter? The one who's marrying a prince?

So would you dare to offend our Xie family?

Miss Xie, please don't make this hard for me.

Mr. Guo, is the thing I ordered here?

Ban Heng?

I don't believe it!

Am I really so unlucky?

I actually met a Ban while buying a plate!

- What could I have done... - Wait a minute, Miss Xie.

...to the Ban family in my last life?

- What? - Please listen to me.

I just told Young Master Ban that you were trying to buy the plate.

He refused to let me take it, right?

No, he is willing to.

How is that possible? I don't believe it.

Why not?

I have been taught that a gentleman should be nice to ladies.

Moreover, why should I take something away from a little girl?

Are you... really that nice?

Of course.

It's rare to meet someone who has a similar taste as me.

It means you have good taste, too.

Miss Xie, it's okay if you don't want to take it.

A lot of people are trying to buy it.

No way! Now that Young Master Ban is willing to let me take it,

then I should thank you for that.

If you are willing to pay 200 tales,

you can take this nice plate with you right now.

Deal! Deliver it to the Xie Mansion for me!

All right!

Thank you again, Young Master Ban. See you around.

It looks like not all Bans are bad.

- Your Grace. Please. - There are so many.

Your Grace, these are all our best ones. Please take a look.

Not bad.

This one is nice with the peach, the crane, and the old man.

It's moral is good.

Good.

Your Grace, I have to say that this one is already reserved.

The one who picked it is a scholar who loves paintings.

Your Grace, please pick another one.

What?

I'm pretty good.

I have the taste of a scholar now!

Of course. Of course.

That's a shame. A real shame.

Now that it's for Her Highness's birthday,

I think I can give it up.

Count Cheng'an?

Now that you picked it first,

no, I can't take it from you.

Not at all, Your Grace.

Just see it as my respect for Her Highness.

Count Cheng'an is truly a fine young man.

Okay. I'll take it then.

But I can't just take it for granted. How about this?

I'll treat you to a drink at the best restaurant in the capital.

Well…

I wouldn't dare to reject this invitation. Please.

That's the spirit I like. Let's go!

Send the painting to my manor.

[Togetherness like Ox Yoke]

Your Highness.

His Majesty sent an imperial physician

to feel your pulse.

Your Highness,

I'll just send him away.

I know him

the best.

He'll never give up before he gets what he wants.

Please.

Your Highness, after knowing that you have been under the weather lately,

His Majesty is so worried, so he sent me here to take a look.

Now that it's His Majesty's edict, please do what you should do.

Thank you, Your Highness. I'll feel your pulse now.

Grandma!

Hua Hua.

Imperial Physician Wang, is Grandma all right?

Her Highness's pulse is smooth and steady.

She's fine.

Maybe because of the cool autumn weather, she's not so spirited.

I'll make some prescriptions that can help with that.

Tell His Majesty that I'm well.

He's so busy with state affairs, don't worry about me.

Yes. It's my duty.

Imperial Physician Wang, I'll show you out.

- Grandma. - Hua Hua.

Your birthday is coming.

What gift do you want?

I just want you to visit me more often.

That'll make me very happy.

That's easy.

Grandma, I've been preparing for the banquet lately.

Maybe I should move to your manor for a while,

so I can make the preparation better.

Hua Hua, your grandmother hasn't been feeling well lately.

You should let her rest well.

The imperial physician just said that Grandma was all right.

Mother, why don't our whole family move here for a while? All right?

Can we?

Okay, of course.

Of course.

[Ban Manor]

Stick. Stick. Tiger!

I lost.

Father!

You are drunk again? Don't let Mother see you.

I drank… a little.

Don't be mad, Princess.

You are drunk, too?

Several hours have passed, and Princess is still so smart!

She's my precious daughter.

- I had a pleasant talk with Uncle Ban. - Right, pleasant.

That's why we drank a couple of cups.

Wait, Uncle Ban? When did you become so familiar?

- Of course. - Just tonight.

I learned after a couple of drinks that Marquis Jingting and my father

were childhood friends!

We were old acquaintances.

We have missed so many chances to drink and have fun together.

Yes, that's right.

Okay. Okay. All right. You'll have the chance.

Come on. Drink with me in my manor.

Uncle Ban, I feel so good drinking with you.

Me too.

I don't want to part with you tonight!

Me neither.

Princess, aren't you joining us?

It's a firm no.

Listen to me, Count Cheng'an.

You can't drink again.

Otherwise…

Otherwise, what will you do to me?

I'll beat you to death!

Xia.

Xia.

Where is my daughter?

She's gone? It's even better.

Come on! Let's drink in my manor.

Come on.

Young Master, after you went to the Ban Mansion,

I found this in Princess Royal's Manor.

It looks like Her Highness is badly ill.

I don't think she has much time left.

In this case,

she went through the imperial physician's checkup

with the help of this drug.

But Her Highness has been ill for a long time.

Why did His Majesty suddenly send an imperial physician today?

His Majesty's thoughts are beyond our guess.

Her Highness's condition must be very serious,

or she wouldn't have used this drug to go through the checkup.

Young Master, should we do something?

Of course.

You know what?

The Princess Royal is Uncle Ban's mother,

and Princess Ban's grandma.

And Princess Ban's grandma

is also my… my grandma.

Here.

Grandma. Drink!

Young Master, the Tiger Tally is missing now.

Because of the Shi family's negligence,

His Majesty is giving them the cold shoulder.

Maybe we should release this message out

and let the Ban family and Shi family go against each other,

so we can benefit from the chaos.

We might even catch the princess's manor off guard and find the Tiger Tally.

No. We are not sure if the tally is really in the princess's mansion.

If you ask me, we should tell His Majesty about this to win his trust.

I think...

this problem

has another solution.

Should we take what he says seriously now?

You two, stop whispering in front of me.

Try this.

Open up.

Sweet, huh?

Today, I drank with Marquis Jingting.

And he told me that one day

Princess Ban went out to have fun in the subursb

when she was little,

she saved a homeless old lady

who was trying to commit suicide.

A homeless old lady? What does he mean?

I think he's implying that we dress up as homeless old ladies,

and get into the Ban Manor by winning their sympathy.

I never noticed that you have this kind of hobby.

You… Wild guesses are a disgrace.

- Here, give it to me. - Here.

- Princess, look at this. - This cannot do.

- Princess, how about this? - Not good.

- Let me see. - How about this?

- Be careful. - No way.

- Your… - Quickly.

- Pass. - Give it to me.

Count, look at this.

No!

Use some heavier material.

We need the best fine gauze, as thin as possible.

No heavy ones.

What? You have different opinions?

No. But please think twice.

Fine gauze is not elegant enough.

Then… brocade!

Luxuriant and very stylish now!

Popular things can't last long.

And I think brocade is still not elegant enough.

Neither fine gauze nor brocade.

What should we use then?

How about the velvet fabric?

This is too plain.

How is this going to draw attention?

If you ask me, none of these will work.

We'll make a new fabric.

We'll use gold threads to embroider those auspicious words.

We'll make sure it sparkles!

That's a good idea.

But think about it,

I don't think we have enough time for that.

His Majesty said that the standard

should be equal to that of Empress Dowager's birthday.

What's wrong with spending a little money?

Princess, the government advocates thriftiness.

Even if it should be equal to Empress Dowager's birthday,

we should not seek to overspend

or it might be controversial.

Thriftiness, huh?

All right! If the budget isn't enough,

our Ban family will cover it. All right?

Yes, and no.

His Majesty issued an edict, saying that the expenses of this banquet

would all be covered by the Imperial Household Department.

Princess, are you going against the imperial edict?

Rong Xia!

You are making trouble, right?

I'm just doing my job.

Please don't misunderstand it.

Tell me! Who should we listen to?

- Well… - You are the assistant minister of Ministry of Rites,

I'd like to hear your opinions.

Well…

Please do tell.

Princess. Count. In front of you two,

there's no place for me to make the decision.

I'm very busy here.

If you still can't make the decision,

maybe you should continue looking.

Director.

Princess. Count.

I don't care about the other pastries.

Add some Longjing Cake here.

What is Longjing Cake?

Count, Longjing Cake needs fresh tea leaves as a material.

The tea leaves can't be older than three days.

The water it uses is rainwater from 24 specific days throughout the year.

And it uses flour made of the core of malts

and the essence of all kinds of glazed fruits.

It's just a pastry,

yet it costs the essence of four seasons all over the world.

That's too extravagant.

Rong Xia!

You can simplify anything. Velvet is fine, too.

You can make the decision for those things.

But Longjing Cake must be added.

No way.

Her Highness's birthday banquet is not a family affair, but a state affair.

Every detail of it represents the royal family.

Please do not insist.

I understand your feeling,

- it's just that… - You know nothing!

Count, please don't mind.

Although Longjing Cake is precious,

there's a story behind it.

Back then, the Longjing Cake was Old General Ban and the Princess Royal's

token of love.

That must be why

Princess Ban insisted on having it.

I don't want to go to

Ban Family's banquet at all!

So what if I'm grounded?

Your Highness,

Director Wang said that somebody has copied the book 500 times for you.

Who's that?

I think… I think it's Princess Ban.

Send this letter to Rites Director's Office,

How could I not contribute to the Ban family's banquet?

Yes, I'll go right now.

Wait!

Send those gifts to the Xie family

and tell them I carefully picked them myself

for Xie Wanyu.

Yes, I understand.

Older Sister, let me see yours.

Your flowers are like real ones.

They are gorgeous!

Look at mine, they are ugly.

Don't say that.

You just have a quick temper

and are always distracted by the beautiful flowers.

By the way, do you know that Count Rong

was ordered to arrange Princess Royal's banquet?

Ban Hua and Count Rong are together every day.

The whole capital is talking about that,

how could I not know?

Princess Ban is so free and easy.

Although unmarried, she can be together with a man day in and day out.

That's really courageous.

Courageous.

Compared with Ban Hua,

we do lack some courage.

We don't dare tell the people we like about our feelings.

Younger Sister, what's wrong with you today?

You are praising Ban Hua?

Well…

Miss Xie, Prince Luo sent me

to bring you some gifts.

Isn't he unwilling to marry me?

What are the gifts for?

You misunderstood, Miss.

His Highness is absolutely sincere to you.

It's Princess Royal's birthday.

His Highness worries that the gifts the Xie Manor prepared would not be magnificent enough,

so he wants to help with it.

However poor our Xie Family is, we don't need his subsidy.

Go back and tell him that we can't take

- his generous gifts! - But...

It looks like Prince Luo is really unreliable.

Ruan Jinjin. Ying Bangbang.

Whenever I need you, you are not around.

Hello?

Where is this place?

Who's mourning hall is this?

[Ban Family's Ancestors' Tablet]

[General-in-chief of the State's Tablet] [Princess Royal Dening's Tablet]

Grandma!

Princess!

Why are you here?

Grandma,

I can't fall asleep alone.

I want to sleep with you.

Okay.

Okay. All right.

Greetings, Your Highness.

His Majesty ordered me to arrange Your Highness's birthday banquet.

I have something to discuss with Your Highness.

Daye is full of young talents.

Why did His Majesty pick you over everybody?

Your Highness,

I'm just lucky for being favored by His Majesty for doing everything cautiously.

Everybody in the imperial court is cautious.

Are you being lucky or...

holding other intentions?

Excuse me, Your Highness. I don't know what you mean.

When the Xie family broke off the engagement,

although you were not related to the Ban family,

you stepped up and saved Heng'er.

The thing about Hua whipping Shen Yu,

it was also you who helped the Ban family in the imperial court.

For those things, I just did what a righteous man should do.

I admire you for your righteous doings.

But rumors are going around in the capital

saying that you and Hua Hua are having a really pleasant cooperation.

And that's also why His Majesty appointed you to help arrange the banquet.

What do you think His Majesty's intention is?

I wouldn't dare to guess His Majesty's intentions.

But I think you are pretty bold!

I've been with three emperors and seen a lot of people.

You are deliberately approaching the Ban family.

What's your purpose?

Over ten years ago, after Old General Ban passed away,

the Bans lost power overnight.

And, Your Highness, you voluntarily stepped down from a high position.

Why was that?

Please allow me to ask you something, Your Highness.

Do you still remember

what happened then?

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ☯ Strange Dreamers Team ☯ @ Viki.com

♫ Paper kite, blue tile, Begonia in midsummer ♫

♫ Make jasmine tea in the room ♫

♫ Sing a song and fiddle with Pipa ♫

♫ Her bright smile and gloomy expressions ♫

♫ Crimson clouds flew into the house ♫

♫ Can't control the feelings It's all in the dream ♫

♫ The rain pours down on a sunny day, washing out all the affections ♫

♫ Faith is like a flower ♫

♫ We promised to live a free life ♫

♫ But can be flicked away like dust with fingers ♫

♫ Only want to live a carefree life with her ♫

♫ Travel around the world while we are still in our youth ♫

♫ Nothing is impossible in the dream ♫

♫ Go to the end of the world together ♫

♫ The fleeting life is just a moment ♫

♫ With no fear, willing to take her hands to see the big world ♫

♫ We promised to live a free life ♫

♫ But can be flicked away like dust with fingers ♫

♫ Only want to live a carefree life with her ♫

♫ Travel around the world while we are still in our youth ♫

♫ Nothing is impossible in the dream ♫

♫ Go to the end of the world together ♫

♫ The fleeting life is just a moment ♫

♫ With no fear, willing to take her hands to see the big world ♫