Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by Peony Whispers Team @Viki.com

[Flourished Peony]

[Episode 24]

Generally, the birthday banquet for the noble is undertaken by the flower guild.

Do you know why this time such a bargain would fall into the lap of someone like you?

Madame Tang is extremely picky,

No shopkeeper in the flower guild dares to accept the job.

Huamanzhu has not joined the flower guild.

Even if you mess this up, it won't implicate them.

To them, you are merely an excellent scapegoat.

You, you and Lv Wanrong plotted against me together.

I am merely a domestic servant now.

I don't have such great ability to make Guild Head Lv join hands with me.

He, just like you, was in the dark from beginning to end.

You deliberately let me hear the news about the birthday banquet, leading me to the flower guild.

You used everyone just to drive me to my death. Your thoughts are so wicked.

No one forced you to take this business.

You ended up in this situation all because of your greed.

Dusk.

Curfew is imminent.

Cherish your last hours.

Lady He.

Lady He, may you not bear grudges for past offenses.

Please help me get through this difficulty.

Lady He.

Lady He, the birthday banquet begins in the afternoon.

If you don't leave now, the flowers in vases won't be salvageable.

Lady He, please show mercy and spare my life.

I beg you.

Now you know to beg me.

If you want me to take action, that's possible.

But you must agree to my three conditions.

Missing one, no discussion.

Fine, state them.

First, immediately return Huamanzhu.

All earnings from the birthday banquet go to me.

Of course, I can wait for you to botch this up and lose your life…

Fine, I agree.

Second, apologize to Shengyi by kowtowing.

Mudan.

She has thin fortune. To kowtow to her, I don't know if she can bear it.

When you used to beat her in the past, did you ever ask if she could bear it?

This humiliation is what you deserve.

Who are you trying to fool?

Let me tell you, Wang Qing,

the wounds on Shengyi's body, the blood at the corner of her mouth, an eye for an eye.

How this apology should be made, you better think this through clearly.

You don't have much time left, kowtow.

Mudan, you don't have to do this for me.

I am telling you to kowtow.

Darling, I was wrong. Please forgive me.

Darling, I was wrong. Please forgive me.

Darling, I was wrong. Please forgive me.

Darling, I was wrong. Please forgive me.

Enough.

Don't cry.

Since Shengyi has chosen to reconcile with you,

from now on, I hope you will behave properly and treat her well.

If you dare to belittle or insult her again, even if you hurt a single hair on her head,

I will make you suffer ten times, a hundred times worse than today.

Do you understand?

Yes, I dare not do it again.

What is your third condition?

How about these flowers? Can they still be used?

They should be able to be revived.

We don't need to buy new flowers from the florists anymore.

Wang Qing has been gone for so long, and he has brought back such a young lady as you.

Where is he?

Wang Qing is useless. He specifically asked Mudan to save the flowers.

She is the former owner of Huamanzhu. She can nurture any flower.

So it's Lady He.

Lady He is no longer the owner of Huamanzhu.

There is no need to force it.

Silang is friends with Mr. Jiang.

If this birthday banquet, through your hands, encounters a mishap, I fear…

Huamanzhu has already returned to my ownership.

Whether Madame Tang's birthday banquet can be adorned with flourishing flowers,

I care just as much as you do.

Time is pressing, I hope you trust me and follow my lead.

These flowers have wilted due to lack of water.

It is necessary to immerse with water deeper than the flower stems

so that all these flowers can fully absorb the water.

Fu, go and check, see if there's any water that has been left standing overnight.

If not, fetch more from the deep well.

Madam, please boil more water.

I'll do it right now.

The water must be clean.

Given my special circumstances currently, I can only trouble you

to send someone to the Tang Mansion before the curfew to fetch more top-quality charcoal.

Alright, I'll send someone right away.

Quickly!

- Yes. - Yes.

The summer heat is stifling.

When these flowers are transported to the garden outside the city,

please place ice blocks around the banquet hall.

Okay.

What is this?

This is my secret recipe, which can clear the flower stems.

Rest assured, tomorrow, these flowers will surely be as fresh as before.

Fu, just burn this.

Look, do you see it?

Look at this change. ♫ Flowing into a scorching long river ♫

This branch is fine.

♫ Youth sets its own wandering path ♫

Okay.

Madam.

♫ Let not the secular world constrain ♫

♫ How can they guess with mundane eyes ♫

♫ Smiling as the storm stir the dust ♫

♫ Still cherishing the moon of my hometown, yearning to meet again ♫

♫ Never withering ♫

♫ Do not fail the varied fragrance ♫

♫ Let not the secular world constrain ♫

♫ How can they guess with mundane eyes ♫

♫ Smiling as the storm stir the dust ♫

♫ Still cherishing the moon of my hometown, yearning to meet again ♫

♫ Never withering ♫

♫ Do not fail the varied fragrance ♫

Mr. Tang.

Mr. Tang.

Lady He.

Please look.

Well,

this is very good, very good indeed.

The flower vessels chosen by Wang Qing are not good.

I'm not very skilled in flower arrangement.

- Well… But you need not worry.

Before coming here, I had spoken with a florist who excels at flower arrangement and made arrangements.

I will take note of all the floral materials here and inform him.

He will choose the appropriate vessels based on the floral materials.

It absolutely won't miss the auspicious time.

That would be good.

Rest assured.

Fu, as soon as the workshop door opens, I will go ask for the flower vessels.

It's up to you concerning Wang Qing.

Rest assured, I will definitely watch over him to vent this anger for you.

Rogue merchant Wang Qing framed his wife,

conspiring to seize others' property.

He reaps the consequences for being without sincerity and trust.

Today, Huamanzhu returns to its original owner.

Fairness to both young and old.

Rogue merchant Wang Qing framed his wife,

conspiring to seize others' property.

He reaps the consequences for being without sincerity and trust.

Today, Huamanzhu returns to its original owner.

Fairness to both young and old.

Lady He, truly a master of your craft!

You flatter me.

Hurry up.

Yes.

He's been paraded through the streets all day.

Truly rotten to the core, serves him right.

Rogue merchant Wang Qing, conspiring to seize others' property.

Louder.

Rogue merchant Wang Qing, conspiring to seize others' property.

He reaps the consequences for being without sincerity and trust.

Today, Huamanzhu returns to its original owner.

Fairness to both young and old.

Shengyi.

You have returned.

I just saw you waiting for me at the gate.

I thought you were willing to come back.

Only by seeing you return victorious with my own eyes can I be at ease.

Now, I have no more concerns.

I take my leave.

I just don't understand.

You clearly know what a despicable scoundrel Wang Qing is.

Why do you still refuse to leave?

What good would leaving do?

What I seek is different from what you seek.

Like most women, I desire a husband, I desire children.

But I can no longer bear children.

You never told me that.

Some pain, only those who experience it can understand.

You are not the only woman in this world unable to bear children.

After you leave him, you may well meet a good man.

Whoever I meet again, can it be guaranteed they won't look down on me?

Why care how others view you?

It's about cherishing yourself.

This is the biggest difference between you and me.

You cherish yourself.

But I extremely loathe myself.

Shengyi, you…

Because I am lowly and cowardly,

I have never had a choice.

I despise being born into such a family.

I despise myself for never resisting

before being married off to such a brute.

I despise myself.

As soon as I return home, I'd turn back into Qin Wuniang.

I despise myself even more for ruining everything after receiving your sincere love.

But what I hate the most…

What I hate the most is that I am a woman.

Once a woman is despised by her husband,

why is she then despised by the whole world?

I am sorry.

I should have realized earlier

that you were tortured so painfully by conventional norms.

I regard you as a sister.

But at this moment, it seems I have never understood you.

You have not wronged me.

It is I who have let you down too much.

I have despised myself for too many years.

I can't change it.

There is no wrong in us being women.

It is those who hurt you and belittle you who are wrong.

This world has evils like Wang Qing.

Naturally, there will be good people worth entrusting yourself to.

Even if there are none,

as women, we can rely on our own hands to diligently and steadfastly work.

You still have me.

You have Chun and Fu. We are with you together.

Let's start over from the beginning.

I have said so much.

But you still decide to leave, right?

Okay.

In this case, as you are the second shopkeeper of Huamanzhu, I must give you the money.

Keep it close for your use.

Mudan, you've already done enough for me.

There's no need to say these things between us.

For Huamanzhu's success today, I am aware of all your contributions.

Keep this money well.

Make sure Wang Qing doesn't find it out.

There is another item.

I intended to keep it to give to you when there's a chance in the future.

In this case, I will bring it too.

Shengyi, wait for me.

Shengyi.

Shengyi.

Shengyi.

This name really sounds nice.

[Huamanzhu]

Thank you, everyone.

Although our Huamanzhu made a name at the birthday banquet in the Tang Mansion,

noblemen are still rare.

It's the common people who are in the big world.

In the future, our business will still rely on individual flowers and boxes of incense powder.

Don't entertain thoughts of deceit and trickery.

Understood.

The jasmine, gardenia, and wild roses we improved before

have a long bloom period and robust flowers.

They can be used as affordable potted plants.

As for the expensive ones, cymbidiums, roses, and lotuses,

be sure to explain clearly to the customers before selling

that they have a short bloom time and are difficult to care for.

But their value lies in their rarity.

Only Huamanzhu can cultivate them.

If the customers have any doubts,

we must not, for the sake of selling flowers, lie or deceive people, understood?

Understood.

People who are willing to spend money on these flowers want something different from others.

Most of them don't care about the length of the bloom period.

You're right.

Mudan, I've used our new summer flowers to mix a few new kinds of incense powder.

Come and try the scent later.

Okay, we can then come up with more elegant names for them.

Madam, I think the flowers used in the sachets can be changed accordingly.

What do you think?

I'll go with your suggestion.

Tomorrow, I'll go to your place to see the newly cultivated Thousand-Petal Lotus.

This flower attracts insects more easily than other lotuses.

If I am not around, I hope you two will be extra careful.

We conduct regular patrols at night.

We will never let such precious flowers be harmed by insects.

Thank you for your efforts.

I suddenly met with a misfortune before.

I have yet to settle the monthly payments for everyone.

But you bear no grudges and still wish to do business with me.

I'm very grateful.

I hope that in the future, everyone can work together with me with one heart.

Once I open a new store,

I will increase everyone's monthly earnings by twenty percent, is that okay?

Good, thank you, Miss.

You're kind and trustworthy.

We have no worries about food and clothing following you.

Naturally, we will be fully dedicated. Please be assured.

Thank you all for your hard work.

Put some effort into it, grind it fine.

Okay.

Pat it.

Gently sift it in a circular motion.

♫ If the heart were like water ♫

♫ The shadow of youth is ever-present ♫

♫ Still cherish the moon of my hometown ♫

♫ To meet for long ♫

Mother, it won't be long,

I will definitely take back our Fragrance Garden.

Just wait and see.

Every time Mr. Liu takes the horse for a walk,

Your Highness would come to this desolate place to watch him.

However, he does not say a word.

Why should Your Highness of noble birth suffer such grievances?

Zishu is proud by heart.

He was demoted to the Stables Bureau.

It was my father who forced him to face reality.

He acts this way because he harbors resentment in his heart.

I don't blame him.

It's just that Zishu will one day understand

that this place is not where he belongs.

As long as he turns back,

I hope he can see right away that I am waiting for him.

Your Highness.

Careful, have you hurt yourself?

This is a pitfall trap.

It was probably dug by hunters in the mountains.

Your Highness, I support you.

Your Highness, be careful.

Careful.

Such a deep trap must be intended for capturing very ferocious beasts.

In these mountains…

We sneaked out without bringing guards.

We simply can't climb up by ourselves.

If we encounter wild beasts… What shall we do, Your Highness?

Why are you panicking?

We are so close to the mountain village.

If we shout loudly, someone will surely come. Shout!

Yes.

Is anyone there? Help!

County Princess Ji'an is here. Come quickly to rescue!

Help! Is there anyone out there?

Louder! Keep shouting!

Help! Save me!

County Princess Ji'an is here. Come quickly to rescue!

Help! Is there anyone out there?

County Princess Ji'an is in danger. Come quickly to rescue!

Help! Is there anyone out there?

Help! Save us!

Save us!

County Princess Ji'an is in danger. Come quickly to rescue!

Help!

Your Highness, what should we do?

It's getting darker. If we still…

What's the use of crying?

If you don't want to die here, keep shouting. Shout loudly, quickly!

Save us! Is anyone there?

County Princess Ji'an is in danger. Come quickly to rescue!

Save us!

Help!

Her Highness is in danger.

Save us!

Biyu, someone's coming!

Help me up.

- Your Highness. - Quickly!

Be careful, slowly.

Slow down, Your Highness.

Her Highness is here.

Her Highness is here.

No, it's not a person.

It's a wolf.

Biyu.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, we won't die here, will we?

Surrounded by beasts, fear of unpredictable life and death.

She ought to experience this thoroughly.

Finally got to vent the spleen.

The wild wolves dare not jump down easily.

At most, they'll just scare them.

This bit of suffering is nothing compared to what you endured in the military camp.

If you ask me,

she should be put in a sack and beaten up directly.

Striking others with your fist will hurt your own hand.

Besides, Fu's fists are so precious.

Why waste it on such a person?

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

The County Princess's status is noble.

With just a message, everyone in the mansion will come to her rescue.

But the mute girl was nameless and unknown.

She wrongfully died tragically in the army.

Apart from me,

who else would remember her?

Your Highness!

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Go fetch the paper kite.

Yes.

It was the birthday of the Eastern Capital's caretaker a few days ago.

Liu Shen didn't go but sent two large boxes of congratulatory gifts.

The gifts are so valuable, far exceeding his annual salary.

When entertaining in Luoyang,

he was using the daughter-in-law's dowry to supplement.

How long has it been since he came to in Chang'an?

He has gotten so rich already.

Truly a big rat eating my millet.

Liu Chang was demoted,

but his father's position as the Minister of the Imperial Treasury is so securely held.

It must be with the tacit consent of Prince Ning.

We must find out where Liu Shen's money comes from.

How to start bringing down Mr. Chen

depends on whether the Liu family is impenetrable.

Yes.

Lady He, you've come.

Is Mr. Jiang here?

Mr. Jiang has instructed, he is currently…

Mr. Jiang, this is…

A new slingshot prepared for the children.

Just right to test if it can be pulled.

You plant flowers on ordinary days, so your hands are indeed strong.

It's just the aim is too poor.

Do you have poor eyesight?

Among thousands of people,

I spotted your extraordinariness at first glance.

Is my eyesight not good?

It's just that I have never practiced this.

If I practice, I might not miss.

Rather than picking a date, it's better to just make it happen.

Let's practice today.

Zhaocai.

My lord, spare my life.

You are not usually one to torment your servants.

What's the matter today?

My aim is poor. How is it torment?

You know it in your heart you won't hurt him.

But he doesn't know that.

He must be feeling frightened.

If you can't bear to watch, let it be.

Mr. Jiang, I've just recently gotten back Huamanzhu.

The interest for this month isn't that much.

Please be patient with me.

Rest assured, next month, I definitely won't disappoint you.

Also, the money for the previous purchasing from my hometown is all in there.

Besides… I want to retrieve my own indenture.

I want to drink wine and chat with Mudan.

You go fly this paper kite.

Fly it higher.

If you can win a smile from Mudan, there will be a reward.

Yes.

What are you flying there? Go down and fly it.

Yes.

Do you have a grudge against this lad?

You guess.

Chuanyu.

Mr. Jiang, the money with which you bought me,

I've also put it in there.

It's placed here.

Mr. Jiang, when you're free,

could you go to the authorities to change my household registration?

I understand, the favor of getting a decent register is another matter.

You name a price, I will definitely make up the amount next time.

You previously said we were good friends.

Today you're acting so distant.

It's not the first time dealing with documents for a decent household register.

I'm not short of this bit of money.

Yes, it's just that even brothers must settle accounts clearly.

With give and take, only then can a friendship last long.

Moreover, a big favor like getting a decent register,

I really do not know how to repay you.

I can only give you money.

You left the military camp.

The County Princess and the Liu family will surely know it.

Do you want the decent household register or do you want your life?

With me here, they wouldn't dare lay a finger on you.

You should keep a low profile and focus on making money for now.

When the time comes, I will return the indenture to you.

Thank you very much for your protection.

Please take care.

How do I make a reservation for the cymbidium?

This wild rose is really beautiful.

I would like three pots of jasmine.

Please follow me.

- Please keep it well. - Okay.

I like this one as well.

Fu is in good health.

This rash on the hands isn't caused by internal heat.

It's because the hands are in contact with these moldy ears of corn all day.

That's why they become red, swollen, and itchy.

These corn kernels are small.

As long as the amount of moldy corn mixed in is controlled,

it's basically indistinguishable,

not to mention washing the corn would remove any trace of mold.

Fortunately, you have discovered it.

Otherwise, we would still be kept in the dark.

What about these powders and the incense powder from the outer room?

Fortunately, the daily usage of this incense powder isn't much.

We must quickly recall the incense powder we have sold before.

Mudan, it's right to recall them.

But with such an occurrence,

people might not dare to come to Huamanzhu again.

We'll return the money and explain properly to everyone.

If we can't obtain forgiveness, there's nothing we can do.

We did what we could.

As long as our conscience is clear.

I'll go and collect all the incense powder from the outer room.

Thank you, Madam.

Which conscienceless person has come to harm us this time?

I feel this matter isn't so simple.

Chun, you said before

recently there have been many more patients with diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Yes, but I have asked them one by one about what they had eaten.

It seems there was nothing abnormal.

Thinking about it, ordinary people mostly eat corn as their staple.

They naturally feel there is nothing wrong with food they are accustomed to eating

and wouldn't specifically report it.

Could this be why I've never been able to find the cause of the illness?

I'll go with you to confirm it.

See if those people ate corn from the same source.

Fu, stop scratching.

It's itchy.

Sesame seed cakes.

Make way, please.

Make way, please.

Sheep liver cakes.

The rice and wheat vendors at the West Market

have actually adulterated the grain with moldy corn.

Eating such moldy corn every day will cause serious health issues.

Who on earth is committing this atrocity?

How is it?

The rice from the East Market is fine.

The rice from the East Market is fine.

The East Market is frequented by the nobility

while the West Market is our common people's marketplace.

I didn't expect them to be profiteering like this.

Who are they?

We must act quickly.

Okay, Master Liu.

Master Liu, take care.

I previously hired someone at the black market to follow Liu Shen continuously.

Liu Shen is very close to the market official who oversees both the East and West Markets.

This market official has held his position for many years and has never made a mistake.

Therefore, I did not pay attention to it previously

until I discovered the moldy corn.

I sent someone to investigate carefully.

Indeed, since Liu Shen became the superior of this person,

not just rice and wheat,

the West Market has seen an increasing number of inferior goods.

The agricultural tools newly purchased by the flower guild broke in less than half a month.

My father originally thought it was the buyer's fault

that out of greed for a small profit, they bought substandard goods.

Thanks to your warning.

Now that you are aware of the truth, what are your plans?

Are you planning to report to the officials?

The evildoer is a high-ranking official.

My father is also powerless.

He says that merchants should not fight with officials.

The guild head prudently protects himself. It is truly a move made out of helplessness.

It is understandable.

But I…

It's too dangerous, you mustn't do anything foolish.

It was just like this back then.

The Liu family passed off fake tribute medicine as high quality,

delaying my chance to treat my mother.

Now, they have not restrained themselves.

Instead, they intensified their efforts.

They completely disregard the livelihood and wellbeing of the common people.

As long as such a corrupt official holds office for one day,

all of us have to live in fear for that day.

Liu Shen, I will not let him off.

I am a healer.

Watching people swallow moldy corn, becoming weak and frail,

it is truly unbearable.

Mudan, I am willing to do this foolish thing with you.

Rest assured, I will not be like an egg striking a stone.

When I need you, I will naturally tell you.

My lord, Prince Ning is gathering wealth excessively.

It seems only Shuo Fang and Fan Yang, the two Military Governors sharing his mindset is not enough.

He wants to win over more Military Governors.

The grand ambition of Prince Ning requires smoothing things over everywhere.

Naturally, he spends money like water.

My lord, through the hands of Liu Shen, we could topple Prince Ning's money bag.

Will it alarm Prince Ning?

If conducting a thorough investigation from top to bottom,

Prince Ning would surely become suspicious.

But if we investigate Liu Shen's crime through the case of moldy corn,

we could work our way up and implicates his relationship with Mr. Chen.

The marriage arrangement between Liu Chang and the County Princess is no more.

Starting from the Liu family, it would be easiest for Prince Ning to clear himself.

We are in the shadows.

We just need to speak a few good words for Prince Ning when the time comes.

Then he would not suspect that this purge was directed at him.

My lord, the way you speak differently to different people

has become increasingly refined. I admire it.

All you know is to eat yourself.

You don't even think to feed me one.

My lord, please.

My lord.

How did you come at this hour?

The prey we are watching has been targeted by others.

Who has no foresight?

Jiang Xiao… Lady He.

It seems she, just like us,

has also set her sights on this big fish.

These waters cannot stay calm for long.

These days, the shop is busy, which is very exhausting.

I did not prepare late-night snacks.

I hope you can forgive me, Mr. Jiang.

How did you know it was me and not Zhu Fu?

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by Peony Whispers Team @Viki.com

'Fragrance Recital' - Zhang Zining

♫ On the endless road to Chang'an, the zither and lute's melody echoes from afar ♫

♫ Plum and willow trees greet the Spring, as splendor returns this year ♫

♫ Copper battlements shine atop the palace as songs and dances fill the air and glasses are raised ♫

♫ Idle clouds and drifting duckweed, with a thousand flowers blooming ♫

♫ Time flows gracefully, with moments gathering in the fading mist ♫

♫ Let the years pass, carried by the wind toward long-held desires ♫

♫ If the heart remains as still as water, youth becomes eternal ♫

♫ Still cherishing the moon of my hometown, yearning to meet again ♫

♫ The distant night sky, scattered with stars, reflects the gentle moon ♫

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

♫ With my heart as a lantern, I fear not the journey through distant mountain paths ♫

♫ The jade flute's music fills a fleeting life with meaning ♫

♫ Time flows gracefully, with moments gathering in the fading mist ♫

♫ Let the years pass, carried by the wind toward long-held desires ♫

♫ If the heart remains as still as water, youth becomes eternal ♫

♫ Still cherishing the moon of my hometown, yearning to meet again ♫