Original subtitles

[Flourished Peony]

[Episode 26]

You cooked so much. I can't finish it all.

If you want to thank me,

I prefer money.

You forgot your manners again.

Fu and Chuanyu are waiting to eat this.

Aren't you tired?

No, I'm not.

Can we stop?

No way!

Great, I can drink again.

Here's to our perfect cooperation.

Here.

What are you thinking about?

The wish I made when I came to Chang'an

is about to come true.

What wish?

You'll naturally know when it comes true.

You've finished the millet case successfully?

Did you get what you wished for?

Of course, I must get what I want.

Wenqing.

Mudan.

We are eating.

Come on in and join us.

No, thanks.

I've been busy with my work.

I heard about your mishap yesterday.

I arrived late.

It's alright. I'm fine.

How can it be good for you to be with him?

Mudan, you and I are related.

I don't mind that you were an official servant.

I don't care that you were in the barracks.

Nor will I mind that you're Mr. Jiang's servant.

I know you were forced into all of this.

So, what are you trying to say?

I'm willing to take you as a concubine

to save you from all of this.

Li Xing.

Before, I only thought

you were just a bookworm.

I didn't expect you to

be so self-confident.

You stay out of this.

Mudan, I don't have romantic feelings for you,

but I never look down on you.

I mean,

once you marry me,

I won't let you suffer again.

The civilians and the pariahs don't intermarry.

You can't marry her.

I can buy you first.

Rest assured,

I won't treat you like a servant.

Anyway, let me help you

go through the difficult times.

You will always be my cousin.

Wenqing, are you drunk?

- Mudan. - I--

- Mudan. - I never drink--

Liu Chang?

- I've finally seen you. - I don't want to see you.

Get out of here.

Mudan,

don't you want Shuai either?

- Mudan. - You leave.

Mudan, when you were in the barracks, I wrote to you.

Why would you rather be a servant

than let me help you get rid of your servant status and marry me?

That is because you are unfaithful.

Mudan, he is about to marry the County Princess,

a noble woman.

And you, as a lowly servant, can't even be a concubine.

If his wife intends to kill you, how will you protect yourself?

No, to save my father's life,

I have no choice but to marry the County Princess.

Mudan, do not get me wrong.

Show some respect.

Don't listen to him.

Mudan, I've already rented a house.

As long as you're with me, I'll protect you.

I won't let anyone hurt you.

You won't have to be a servant anymore.

Your father was corrupt.

And you've sold out your marriage

and sided with bad officials for your career.

Though Mudan is a merchant, she has her pride.

She never likes someone unfaithful like you.

You don't like her.

Why do you compete with me then?

I am her cousin.

She is now trapped in a difficult situation.

How can I stand by and do nothing?

My family has a good reputation.

I will marry a virtuous wife.

So, Mudan should be with me. That's the best for her.

Wenqing, Liu Chang is out of his mind.

Why are you as crazy as him?

Have you even asked me what I think?

- Jiang Xiaohua. - Well--

Haven't you understood yet?

With your current status,

there's no need for your opinion.

In fact, the person they should be asking is me.

I have the indenture for buying He Weifang.

The highest bidder gets it. Make your offer.

Get out of here.

It's already a mess.

Can you stay out of this?

Come on. I'm helping.

I am telling them what to do.

Why does Mr. Jiang always make fun of Mudan?

Lady He is getting Mr. Jiang into trouble.

Nonsense. You watch yourself.

Yes, she's making trouble.

Without me, how will you explain it all?

The two of you, don't flatter yourself.

I'm doing very well. I don't need anyone to help me.

Get out of here.

Sober up.

Listen, Mudan.

- Mudan. - Mudan.

I understand.

Are you afraid of Jiang Changyang's power?

So, you dare not speak?

No worries. Although I'm not rich,

I'll raise enough money to redeem you.

Mudan, whether I am drunk or not,

what I said is all sincere.

Jiang Changyang is dissolute and unruly.

Li Xing is dull.

You and I are the same kind of people.

- Mudan. - Leave!

- Get lost! - Mudan.

- Get lost. - Calm down, Mudan.

- Get out of here! - I…

- Get lost! - Mudan.

Mudan.

- Mudan. - Listen to me.

I'll surely treat you well.

- Mudan. - Mudan.

Mudan, please hear me out.

Mudan.

Mudan.

Why have you closed the door?

Mudan.

Open the door, Mudan.

Mudan.

Mudan, listen to me.

Mudan. I like Mudan.

Shuai is the cutest.

I can't believe this.

This is so absurd.

I think it's quite interesting.

In this case,

[The one who marries first is a dog, Suizhi] I'll win the bet soon.

You wish.

I've come to realize

the people around me, including you,

are all crazy.

The best thing to do is make money.

Am I right, Shuai?

After coming to Chang'an,

I always felt that I had earned a lot.

But when I want to buy a place,

I realize I haven't earned enough money.

Our business is too small.

It's not that we earn too little money.

It's that the land prices in Chang'an are too high.

Fu.

Has your mother agreed

with my idea?

Sure, she has.

Great, before we head to the pawnshop tomorrow,

I will draft the contract.

I take the risk of the mortgage loan myself.

I won't let you--

What are you talking about?

We're afraid of losing money.

I'm just worried that you're too tired.

You're borrowing so much money to buy such a big place.

What if something goes wrong and we can't repay the money,

losing Huamanzhu?

Aren't you afraid?

Of course, I am.

But to expand the business, how can we not take any risks?

The pawnshop lends us money

because our business is good.

Your mother agreed decisively

because she was already sure

Huamanzhu was meant to grow big.

If we acquire Fragrance Garden,

we will have more space to try new varieties.

And we can rent it out to host banquets.

We will make a lot of money.

How much?

Very much.

Okay, as soon as we borrow the money, we'll go straight to Fragrance Garden.

[Fragrance Garden]

Mr. Lv.

Lady He.

You have a good eye.

It's a pity that you are late.

I've already bought this place.

Mr. Lv, the flower guild has properties all over Chang'an.

I suppose you don't have to have this place.

Could you transfer it to me?

Even if I agree,

I'm afraid

you can't afford a pavilion in Fragrance Garden.

Don't underestimate us.

What's inside here is bullion.

Fu.

That's all you have, isn't it?

It's borrowed from the pawnshop?

Since you're the master of this garden,

I want to do this deal with you.

Can we have a word

in Fuguilou?

You haven't been in Chang'an for long.

It's not easy for you to borrow so much money.

However, you're not rich enough.

Most of the merchants can't afford a private garden.

I advise you to buy a smaller garden in remote places.

Frankly speaking, this garden means a lot to me.

I just want to buy it.

What should I do to make you sell it to me?

In the cultivation of famous flowers,

you've indeed outperformed the flower guild.

However, the flower guild has a large business.

You should understand

that no matter how talented you are, not everything will go your way.

I can't sell this garden

to you. Excuse me.

How about we ask Chun for help?

No, we can't force anyone to make a deal with us.

We can't put Chun on the spot.

Don't worry.

Anyway, we've waited for so long already.

I can wait a little longer.

Should we return this money to the pawnshop?

Even if we don't buy Fragrance Garden,

we still have to open branch stores.

Since we've borrowed the money,

we must find a way to earn interest on money.

Let's first deposit the gold

and watch shops in the East Market.

Let's go.

[Fragrance Garden]

New alcohol on the market today.

Welcome to have a try.

[Huamanzhu]

Today, Huamanzhu is opening in the East Market.

Everyone, please come in.

[Opening]

Where did you get the money for this?

Did He Weifang give you money

behind my back?

Speak.

Speak!

You like embroidery?

Look.

It's broken.

It's broken.

You bitch.

Wang Qing.

I want five of them.

Alright, please pay here.

I'll deliver it to your house later.

- Thanks. - It's been loaded for you.

Thank you.

Mudan.

Chun's beauty cream is selling well.

We're making a fortune.

What's wrong?

Nothing. I remember

when our first store opened,

Shengyi used all her savings

to redeem this jade pendant

as a gift for me.

If she is here,

she should be the one managing this store.

I'm wondering how she is doing now.

Alright, stop thinking about it.

Alright.

I'm just feeling sentimental. No worries.

Lady He, a lady asked me to hand this to you.

She congratulates you on the opening.

Thank you.

You take a look.

One day, I'll embroider more for you.

No matter how sweaty you get,

you'll always have a clean handkerchief to use.

It's from Shengyi.

[Huamanzhu]

I hope not to be a woman in the next life

but to be a peony that blooms against the wind.

[Huamanzhu]

There is a letter.

Mudan, no one else can help me.

I have to ask you for help.

Please inform my family of my situation.

If my brother Liulang comes to you,

please treat him kindly.

Not good, something's happened to Shengyi.

Quick, Fu.

In this life, I have two wishes.

First, may everything go smoothly for you.

Second, may Liulang be healthy.

Take care.

You husband killer.

Now that you've turned yourself in, why not kneel and confess your guilt?

The deceased, Wang Qing, got what he deserved.

Although I killed him, I did justice.

Nonsense, you are insane.

Someone!

- Yes. - Yes.

Are you committing crimes again?

How dare you. This is bodacious and intolerable.

This is intolerable?

[Rightness]

A lowly person

has to be trampled and crushed by the ways of the world.

That should be intolerable.

I've been suffering

at the mercy of others.

In the end,

I have to be killed by this unjust world.

I couldn't choose how to live.

But I can choose how to die.

She killed herself.

Make way!

Shengyi!

- Shengyi! - Shengyi!

Shengyi!

Shengyi!

- Shengyi! - Shengyi!

Shengyi!

Shengyi!

Shengyi!

♫ A man should protect his family ♫

Wuniang, with me, you may still live a hard life.

But I promise you.

No one will dare to bully or insult you again.

Are you willing to live with me?

♫ Looking into the distance in the wind ♫

♫ As a daughter ♫

♫ My family didn't love me ♫

♫ After growing up, I ran away ♫

♫ Yet I felt ashamed to meet anyone ♫

♫ Tears filled my eyes ♫

♫ Covering my face ♫

You are no longer Qin Wuniang.

You are Qin Shengyi.

♫ I used to have a good man ♫

♫ We were lovers ♫

♫ But now, we're strangers ♫

Shengyi!

- Shengyi! - Shengyi!

- Shengyi! - Shengyi!

Shengyi!

Shengyi!

♫ It's been a while ♫

♫ Since we met ♫

Shengyi.

Next spring, Huaixiuxiang will blossom again.

Then, I will come to see you again.

[Qin Shengyi]

You must often come into my dreams

to talk with me, okay?

♫ I've been suffering as a woman ♫

Shengyi.

Well,

may you be happy and live well

in your next life.

♫ Since we met ♫

♫ Since we met ♫

If Li Xing sees books being burned in my mansion,

he will write poems to curse me for disgracing the literati.

Shengyi's story has been written in books.

Outsiders have vilified her as a cruel woman,

wishing to see her executed severely.

How could I watch those who are ignorant of the truth

slander and misunderstand her?

So you bought the books and burned them.

If Shengyi knows it,

she must be gratified for what you did for her.

The last time I met her,

she just stood there.

She talked to me a lot.

Then, I realized

that I was lucky to survive.

Not everyone has the opportunity to choose.

Many people silently disappeared

like Shengyi.

Yet no one cares about them

and laments for them.

The women in this world are like this cup.

Whether it's filled with sweet water or bitter one,

it has to take it all.

And the people holding the cup don't even need to ask.

They can just spill the water

and throw away this fragile cup.

Are you referring to the men?

No, I'm talking about this unfair world to the women.

So you want to write stories for this?

Yes, I want to write a story about Shengyi

from a woman's perspective

to let the people know about the sins of Wang Qing

and the difficulty of being a woman.

What about the ending?

Have you thought it through?

Qin Wuniang is dead.

But Qin Shengyi will get a divorce and gain independence

and live happily in the story.

I hope such an ending

will give courage to the women who are suffering

and encourage them to cherish themselves

and value their own lives.

And I will manage Huamanzhu well.

I want everyone to know

that we women can also achieve great things.

The woman I admired most was my aunt.

I thought she was the most carefree.

I start to admire you now.

You can stand by.

Yet you're brave and merciful to others.

I am not as great as you say.

All women share the same fate.

Only by supporting each other can we survive on our own.

[Huamanzhu]

Here it is.

Thank you.

Welcome to come again.

Take care.

Recently, not a rich man has come to order flowers.

Previously, two orders were canceled.

Have a look.

The rent in the East Market is more expensive than that in the West Market.

What should we do?

Fu, you watch the store.

I'll go ask these customers

why they no longer buy our flowers.

Rose.

Mr. Jiang, Mr. Tang.

Are you here to buy something for a banquet?

For his favorite dancer's birthday.

Help him choose some rare flowers.

Deliver them to Huanyun Tower in three days.

Alright, what color does the dancer like?

Are there any aversions to fragrances?

The brighter the color, the better; the stronger the scent, the better.

Understood, please take a look.

Mr. Tang was right.

Indeed, hardly anyone visits this shop.

Mr. Tang, have you heard something?

Did Liu Chang see you a few days ago?

Well…

The County Princess held a floral banquet a few days ago.

She invited all the noble ladies in the city

and hinted to them deliberately

that whoever bought flowers from Huamanzhu

would be barred from her house.

That's so absurd.

Liu Chang got drunk that day.

What does it have to do with me?

The County Princess is besotted.

She can't get his man's heart.

So she takes it out on you.

Suizhi, I came only because of you.

I know. Pick your flowers.

Fu, take care of him.

The earnings from today's order are mine.

This is blossoming well.

I take five of them.

Okay.

And five of the purple ones over there.

Okay.

The County Princess has given this new shop a hard time.

Do you have any plans for this?

She can stop the ladies from buying my flowers.

However,

she can't stop them from going to some places that need flowers,

not to mention those places frequented by all sorts of people.

Next to the East Market is Pingkang House.

Besides Pingkang House,

there are many taverns and dance houses.

Mr. Jiang, you know it better than I do, right?

A crisis means an opportunity.

It seems my worry was unnecessary.

You are my business partner.

I know, besides the Huanyun Tower,

you also bought a tavern from the nomadic people.

Anyway, fresh flowers are needed for decorations.

How about you order them Huamanzhu?

I can give you a ten percent discount.

It's not my style to refuse a discount.

However, I want a 20 percent discount.

You never let me down.

You're as mean as ever.

I haven't asked you for more monthly dividends.

I'm already being reasonable.

Okay, a 20 percent discount.

It's a deal.

As you say,

I'll deliver flowers at the beginning of each month.

If more flowers are required during a festival,

I will prepare them in advance.

If you have any demands, feel free to tell me.

I heard the flowers at Madame Tang's banquet were highly praised.

Huanyun Tower wants some new flowers.

Do you have any good ideas?

Don't touch it.

Hand!

The guests here like new stuff.

Could you take me to see the dancers?

Each lead dancer has her own signature flower,

and the flowers change during the performance.

Different flowers every night. What do you say?

Good idea. It's worth a try.

Please.

Stop slandering me.

Everyone ate those pastries yesterday.

How come you're the only one who got sores?

Yunniang.

No one is harming you.

Did you not properly remove your makeup

before going to sleep?

I was drunk and forgot.

You have to put on makeup every day.

If you don't take it off before you go to bed,

and the next day

you put on new makeup,

gradually,

your skin will become bad.

Ladies, this powder is coarsely ground

and contains heavy amounts of lead.

If you use it daily,

your skin will get worse.

The dancers must put on makeup to perform.

Good makeup powder is expensive.

We can't afford to use it every day.

Since we have orders from Pingkang House,

dance houses, and taverns,

our business in the East Market is getting better.

But the revenue has dropped by 40 percent compared to before.

There is nothing else we can do.

Anyway, let's focus our efforts on this.

We attract more customers

so that our business in the West Market can also get better.

To my surprise, you found a business opportunity

in Huanyun Tower.

There are many business opportunities to be found.

For instance, we need bath beans for facial cleaning and bathing.

After bathing, we need skin powder

and hair balm.

When we women go out to meet friends,

we need to put on makeup and lip rouge.

Look at these bath beans.

They are sold in the West Market.

But they are too expensive for the common folks.

If we can develop cheaper bath beans,

it will benefit more people.

Perhaps we can improve the bath beans

based on the old formula.

Great, that would be wonderful.

When my family had no money,

my mother didn't use bath beans for bathing

and left them to me.

At that time, I thought

if only the bath beans could be cheaper.

I do business because I hope

that whether poor or rich,

everyone can enjoy the beauty.

But Jiang Changyang was right.

Most people are toiling for their livelihood.

They have no time to watch the useless beauty of these flowers.

Growing flowers requires patience.

Take me for example.

If I'm too tired from practicing medicine,

I won't want to attend to the flowers.

I once biasedly thought

that beauty had only one form.

Now, I think a clean appearance and a fresh scent

reflect the common folk's love for beauty.

The thousands of common folks

are our biggest patrons.

As long as we develop good makeup goods

and establish a good reputation,

making our goods available for everyone,

the County Princess, or even the Princess, can't give us a hard time.

Even if the nobles never come again,

our business will not be closed.

That's right.

Zhu Fu doesn't have the fragrance of incense

for the rich.

Chuanyu, come closer.

My lord.

Is the fragrance on me too strong?

Not at all.

Perhaps I've grown accustomed to it after being with you for so long.

My lord, smell me.

Smell me.

See if I smell good.

You've bathed?

Fu gave me three bath beans.

She asked me to tell her which one I liked more

after I've used them.

She's using you as a tester, you fool.

Anyway, my lady doesn't give you one.

I've heard Fu say

that Lady He has been dressing up these days.

She puts on skin powder,

hair balm,

and lip rouge.

You know,

a woman dresses up for a man she likes.

So, I guess

Lady He has met a kind

and considerate man in her store.

Jiang Changyang, what's wrong with you?

You scared me.

[Who marries first is a dog. Suizhi.] I'm here to remind you.

Prepare the money you're going to lose.

I'm not getting married.

What makes you think I'll lose?

Then why are you putting on makeup?

Huamanzhu is about to launch makeup products.

I'm trying them on my face.

I need to try them one by one.

Just forget the bet.

If you scare me again,

I'll close that back door

to stop you from coming again.

Take a look. Which color looks good?

♫ If the heart is like frost ♫

♫ Congealing so much of the past ♫

They all look good.

Never mind. I shouldn't have asked you.

♫ If love is like frost ♫

♫ Can this ten thousand miles of roaming winds and waves ♫

♫ Finally touch a sunny day ♫

Ever since Cheng Lang took office in Eastern Capital,

the land occupation of the noble has been curbed.

The farmers in Luoyang have reclaimed their land.

They're farming hard

for the autumn harvest.

The case of the Chen family involves many people.

Still, we failed

to find any solid evidence of their collusion with Prince Ning.

Your brother is cunning.

He's extricated himself completely.

But the peace of a nation

relies on the officials, farmland, money, and the army.

Now, all the corrupt officials who occupied the land have been removed.

The nation is becoming increasingly rich.

We have made substantial progress.

Next, we just need to focus on the last step.

Accusing Prince Ning is just around the corner.

Since Prince Ning's daughter got engaged to Liu Chang again,

Prince Ning has started to connect with the nobility.

Now, he can no longer wait.

He wants to interfere with the appointment and removal of officials.

If we push him too hard,

I'm afraid he will be suspicious.

Rather than stopping him,

it's better to give him one position.

Which position is on your mind?

Deputy Transport Officer in charge of channels.

After Mr. Hu was removed, Lu Chu took his place.

The Deputy Transport Officer has real power,

but Lu Chu can stop him from making waves.

Exactly, if he takes any action,

we'll get the evidence of guilt directly.

Lady Mudan works really well with you.

Seems like you two are old friends.

She has helped us so much.

Have you thanked her for me?

She works well with me?

That's because it's all well-planned.

Well,

she prefers a bar of gold than thanks.

♫ 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 Fragrance 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 ♫