Original subtitles

EPISODE 11

The top scholar is parading in the streets!

Here comes the top scholar!

Has he arrived?

He's here.

He's truly handsome.

He's such an elegant young man.

ORDER

The third-ranked scholar this year is quite impressive.

I wonder if he's married.

Here they come!

Such a young and handsome talent is probably already taken.

Such big luck definitely won't fall onto your family.

I was just joking.

Why is there congestion up ahead?

The Jinshis are heading to the scholarly assembly.

The common folks have come to watch the fun.

He is so attractive.

Take my flower!

I'm so envious.

It's such a bliss to be able to marry him.

Mind the threshold as you step over.

The bride is coming out.

I'm so envious of her.

Mother-in-law.

My good son-in-law.

Come on. Please rise.

Come on.

-Come on. -They must be happy.

The auspicious time has come.

Rise the sedan chair.

-What's wrong? -Madam Li.

Well… The wedding bounty.

I almost forgot the wedding bounty. There's money for everyone.

-There's money for everyone. -Come on.

Lift the sedan chair!

Madam Li, you must be very happy

to have a third-ranked scholar as a son-in-law.

That's right. It's said that you found him

on the street.

Stop the nonsense.

There are many beggars and starved corpses in the snow.

To just get a third-place scholar from there?

It's all fate.

Let's go.

Madam Li seldom saves people.

But when she did, it has brought immense blessings.

They're so talkative.

Let's go.

-We mustn't go easy on him. -That's right.

Fellow scholars.

For my sake, please spare the groom.

No way.

He is so lucky that he got married shortly after he became the third-ranked scholar.

-We won't let him off. -Exactly.

Sang the Stone, we're looking for the groom.

What's it to you?

You want to drink, right?

I'll drink with you.

I'll also compose poetry with you to the break of dawn.

Fellow scholars, let's go.

You'll accompany us? Alright.

Let's go.

We wanted to drink with the groom.

Mother, I'm here to pay you respects.

Please have some tea.

Shouhua, we are a humble household.

There is no need for formalities.

Get up now.

Yes.

Yangxi got ready early in the morning

and went to Xingguo Temple.

I heard him say he's to attend some meeting.

According to tradition,

all the Jinshi of this year

must attend the scholarly assembly at Xingguo Temple's

East Depositary of Sutras.

Yes, it's the scholarly assembly.

It would be fine if it were someone else.

But the top three scholars have to stay within the bureau's lodging

and aren't easily allowed to stay elsewhere.

You just got married yesterday.

It must be hard on you.

Has he apologized to you?

Yes.

He has already explained.

Okay.

Okay.

Mother, please let me help you.

You know how to spin yarn as well?

I am slow, but I can learn it.

When I don't understand something,

I'll ask you to teach me.

Okay. Come here.

That ungrateful, shameless,

and wretched scoundrel!

How dare he mistreat my daughter?

We should go to Xingguo Temple, drag him out,

and give him two big slaps.

Mother is right.

Passing the imperial exams is important, but so is getting married.

There's no such thing for a bride to return home

three days after her wedding without the groom.

This is a slap in the face to our family.

You may not know this.

The scholarly assembly is also called the bureau of top scholars.

The Jinshis enter in March and give thanks to His Majesty in April.

In May, they'll have to pay tribute to first-class Jinshis

and get to know their fellow scholars.

As for paying respects to the sages and teachers,

His Majesty bestowing a joy banquet,

making name inscriptions, and so forth, they all require an auspicious date.

All these festivities will take up two months' time.

Mother, Yangxi cannot get away.

Please let me apologize on his behalf.

Mother, calm down.

Sit down.

Alright.

Just sit down.

Shouhua,

now that it has turned out like this, don't cover up for him anymore.

Chunlai has already told us all about what happened on the wedding night.

Chunlai, I told you to be quiet.

Then you should have sewn up her mouth.

Mother has prepared such a feast,

and we have been eagerly waiting with hot food.

But your husband hasn't shown up till now.

You can't just hide it.

He is now the third-ranked scholar.

He must feel high above.

If it weren't for our family finding him, taking him in,

pouring dose after dose of good medicine into him,

and nourishing him with pork and chicken, he'd have long become a starved corpse.

Shouhua, you are just too kind-hearted.

If it were me,

I'd rather turn my face and make a big fuss

to ruin his so-called good name.

Sisters, calm your anger.

It's all my fault.

The Du family proposed marriage to me, the third daughter.

But it was Shouhua, the eldest daughter, who got married.

Du Yangxi has a proud nature.

I presume he resents us for the matchmaking gone wrong

and takes it out on Shouhua.

So what if the bride was changed?

It was his own mother who agreed to it in person.

I didn't bully him or deceive him.

If he disapproved, he should have done something earlier.

Shouhua, it's totally up to you now.

If you want to seek justice, we'll go to their door right away.

He's dishonest. We should confront his mother.

Exactly.

Let's ask her why her son has to insult us like this.

Listening to the maid's overstatement of the issue,

you want to seek retribution.

This is making a mountain out of a molehill.

Since I chose to marry him,

I can bear this bit of grievance.

Just be at ease.

I'll deal with him slowly in the future.

Shouhua, don't be hard on yourself.

Do you really have a plan?

Rest assured.

Shouhua.

Shouhua.

Kangning,

between sisters, words of apology are not necessary.

I feel aggrieved for you.

Kangning,

with books, a zither, flowers, and a small courtyard,

I'll be content for the rest of my life.

If it weren't for Mother and you sisters, the place by the statue of Buddha

in a mountain temple would be my final refuge.

I do not covet worldly love.

If my husband can grant me some respect,

I will respect him in return and live my days peacefully.

How I wish Father were still alive

and you had never married into the Wu family.

That scoundrel, Du Yangxi.

Doesn't he know how lucky he is?

How dare he treat you so coldly?

There is no need to feel aggrieved for me.

I am no longer that naive little girl.

The worldly love?

I don't want it at all.

Kangning,

my heart has always been calm and peaceful.

This is the best way.

The Du family treats you so badly,

and you have endured it.

You said you had a plan.

You didn't say that to deceive us, did you?

It'll be several more months before they're officially assigned.

Master Sang is staying here for the time being.

The clothes and bedding in the west chamber need to be sun dried regularly.

Later, go ask Lingyao

if Master Sang has any dietary restrictions.

Have you got it?

Yes.

Stay calm.

I will be staying here for a long time.

I plan to first change the furnishings in the house.

Be careful, my lady.

Pay close attention.

Don't let it be damaged.

Don't worry, my lady. That won't happen.

Young master, slow down a bit.

Master Du has returned.

Slow down.

Lift up your foot. Lift it.

We're almost there.

My lady,

Master Du was invited by some old friends.

Master Sang is drunk.

So, Master Du ordered me to take him back first.

He…

-Quickly help him inside. -Okay.

Chunlai, go summon a physician quickly.

Okay.

-Yuanming, come this way. -Yuanming, welcome.

Have a seat.

Come on. Have a seat.

This is not appropriate.

Yuanming, before you became the third-ranked scholar,

I had never slighted you in the least.

Otherwise, I wouldn't invite you over today.

Look. You're married to Shouhua,

and I have taken Kangning as my wife.

Our close friendship is enriched by our connection as in-laws.

As your brother-in-law, I want to treat you to a drink.

Are you really going to reject me?

Exactly. Just sit down.

The Pan Restaurant's released a wine.

Please rest assured and enjoy a few cups.

Maybe you can write us something. We've decided on the wine's name.

"Inquiring the Third-Ranked Scholar". What do you think? Isn't it clever?

Yes, it is.

But I have to attend the scholarly assembly.

I can't risk making my fellow scholars wait for me.

Please excuse me.

Sit down.

I'm going to be frank with you.

I didn't invite you for a drink today.

I had anticipated this.

You two are acting as intermediaries

for Li Shouhua, right?

Since you know the situation, just agree to it and spare us the extra talking.

I can understand why Fan is doing this.

But Chai, how come

a dignified man like you would also be so terrified of his wife,

that you want to mediate?

What do you mean?

Am I not bright or great enough?

How am I not a dignified man?

-Kangning, my darling. -Get out.

Kangning. Kangning.

Let me explain.

This is all your fault for making my elder sister unhappy.

Don't expect things to go your way.

Kangning, listen to my explanation.

Go sleep somewhere else.

Kangning?

Kangning?

What are you laughing at?

Yuanming.

I too am a newlywed.

How can you bear to implicate me and let me get cold-shouldered every day?

It's because the Li family doesn't keep their promises.

Chai, I'm not blaming you.

If the Li family wanted to marry Kangning to you,

they could have just told me the truth.

I wouldn't insist on marrying her.

Yet the Li family couldn't bear to lose either you, a wealthy man,

or me, a Jinshi, as their sons-in-law.

They talked my mother into agreeing to this scheme of substitution,

wishing that all of Bianjing's fine young men would be theirs.

-How can I not be annoyed? -Yes, you are right.

As a parent, Madam Li did have her own plans

and has wronged you.

But Shouhua has never offended you enough to deserve this humiliation.

Indeed.

Back then, Shouhua had a reputation in Luoyang for her character and beauty

and was sought after by many.

How about you go meet her first?

As an old saying goes, nothing forcibly done is going to be agreeable.

Even if she's a celestial maiden descended to earth,

my heart remains as unmoved as a rock.

-Tie him up. -What are you doing?

-Get up. -What are you doing?

How dare you touch me?

-Deqing. -Coming.

-Quick. Get him up. -Stop.

-Move. -Listen to me.

-What you are doing is… -Move.

-Move. -This is not proper.

Can't you see where you are?

And you're telling me it's not proper? Move.

Before dawn tomorrow, don't let Master Du come out,

-even if he climbs the wall. -Understood.

Mother, I'm back.

It's me who chose your wife for you.

I find her good in every way.

If you are not satisfied, you can just blame me.

You absolutely shouldn't

have cold-shouldered your wife.

If you dare not return again, don't even bother to come home again.

Go see your wife first.

Yes, Mother.

It was actually her painting.

It turns out I underestimated her.

CLOUDS CONNECT TO VAST WU GORGE AFAR MOONLIGHT TURNS SNOWY PEAKS COLD WHITE

ANCIENT CYPRESS ODE TALL CYPRESSES STAND FIRM AND OLD

I told you not to be so honest.

When other people toasted, you simply drank

all the wine coming your way.

Now you know how uncomfortable it is, right?

It's all because of you, Du the Eel.

You were so slippery and hard to grasp.

So, they all came at me.

You stubborn stone.

If it weren't for your words

to be too blunt in front of His Majesty in Chongzheng Hall,

your ranking wouldn't have dropped from first to sixth all of a sudden.

To not dismiss you on the spot is already an act of mercy of His Majesty.

I will go heat some water.

Andao,

when did you secretly marry a wife?

Everything here is meticulously arranged.

It makes me, an outsider, have no place to exert my efforts.

She is indeed a very good wife.

Master, you have returned.

Mother learned that Master Sang got sick from drinking.

So, she instructed me to bring over hangover soup.

Please sober up before you eat.

The food after a hangover shouldn't worsen it.

I dared not prepare wine and meat for lunch.

There's only plain porridge and a couple of side dishes.

It's all simple, home-cooked food. Master Sang, please have some.

If you need anything else, just tell me.

Thank you. Thank my godmother on my behalf.

I-Is she my wife?

She is not my wife anyway.

Did my wife make this?

How would I know?

I am just like you, spending every day at the scholarly assembly.

How would I know if she cooked this?

The clothes on you

and the boots on your feet are all new.

They must have been prepared by my wife as well.

It cannot be wrong.

My mother is blind and can't do that.

The things in this room must have been prepared by my wife.

I, as her husband, haven't enjoyed any of it.

But you, my sworn brother, have taken all the benefit.

Sang the Stone, so I married my wife for your sake?

Oh, heavens!

Someone has a home but doesn't wish to return,

having fun at the scholarly assembly every day.

Yet I have no home to return to,

suffering greatly among a pile of men every day.

Heavens, you are so unjust.

How can you blame me for that?

When have you ever seen a stubborn stone bloom?

-What are you doing? -Come on.

If you show off to me again, I'll hit you every time I see you.

Sang the Stone.

Sang the Stone?

Open the door.

Sang the Stone?

Sang Andao.

Since when does a guest take over the host's role?

Open the door.

I'm still hungry.

Open the door.

Did you hear me?

Open the door.

Master Du must not have eaten yet.

Go check in the kitchen.

Yes.

He can starve.

I will remember your teachings, Mother.

I'll go back and apologize to her now.

When others paint the jade rain flowers, they emphasize their delicate beauty.

With these few strokes of yours,

you've captured their soft yet resilient beauty.

The painting shows the spirit of a recluse in the mountains,

which is extraordinary,

living up to the flower name of "the indifferent being".

Please forgive me, Master. The mistress did not allow food storage.

There's not much left to eat in the kitchen.

Please bear with it.

I will go to make a fire and cook right away.

It's just…

that the firewood delivered today is all damp.

The smoke will be very thick.

I'm afraid the fire won't be started by midnight.

Don't bother.

Attending banquets has made me bored of it.

I just love eating this.

It's light.

And it's still hot.

It's delicious.

It's late at night.

You must be tired from attending banquets these days.

You should rest earlier.

Master, the bed is ready.

You should rest early.

Shouhua?

Shouhua?

Shouhua. Shou…

Shouhua, it has been hard on you these past few days.

I have some heartfelt words I want to say to you.

Shouhua, are you alright?

Chunlai. Chunlai.

What do you want, Shouhua?

I can do it for you.

I wouldn't dare trouble you.

Chunlai. Chunlai.

I'm coming.

It's cold at night. I know you tend to cough at night.

I've prepared the radish juice already.

My lady, you've had this odd condition since you were young.

You're generally fine during the day,

but you suffer from chest congestion and coughing when night falls.

Medication doesn't seem to help.

Each year, only after this season passes do you get relief.

I'm afraid tonight will be hard for you too.

I'm worried I'll disturb your rest, Master.

Shouhua. Shouhua. Shouhua, you…

Master, you'll have to thank His Majesty at court.

It will be bad if you get sick too.

You'd better go to the east chamber

and share the room with Master Sang.

Yuanming…

What, Yuanming?

Upon seeing your wife in person, your worldly desires are stirred?

Chai…

speaking of the love for beauty, everyone has it.

But my wife's beauty lies not in her appearance

but in the elegance of her soul.

Before I saw her in person, I saw her writing.

She emulated my handwriting,

yet she transformed it completely, turning iron into gold.

When I am not at home, she shows filial piety to my mother

and takes good care of my friend without a single complaint.

Such forbearance and grace are indeed rare in this world.

I have been narrow-minded.

I owe her an apology.

But if I've grievously offended her,

I don't know how to apologize to her.

Du,

I advise you to kowtow to her in apology at once.

We kneel to heaven, earth, and our parents.

How could I kneel to my wife?

If this gets out in the future,

how am I supposed to face the people

if I were to become an official?

Kneeling might be easy,

but standing back up afterwards might prove difficult.

But my cousin--

So, Yuanming,

you want to find a way that satisfies both ends.

What do you mean by satisfying both ends?

It means you want both the beauty and your dignity.

Wanting both the beauty and my dignity?

Please enlighten me, Chai.

I heard from my wife

that Shouhua is fond of literature.

Yuanming, have you forgotten

what you are best at?

What am I best at?

Shouhua.

Put it here.

No fire is allowed on Cold Food Day.

Mother feared the Du family couldn't handle it.

She led us in preparing these all day.

We cooked wheat porridge,

steamed zitui cakes, and stewed meat.

You won't go hungry if there's no fire for a few days.

They are frying sanzi in the kitchen now. I will bring some to you later.

Have some porridge first.

Why have you come again?

I'm worried with you here.

My lady, Master has sent a letter.

Give it to me.

TO SHOUHUA

Take a look.

The bright moon is so luminous,

shining on my gauzy bed curtains.

Anxiety prevents my sleep.

I get up and pace, holding my clothes.

Though the scholarly assembly is joyful, every day I long to return home early.

I hesitate again and again.

To whom should I confide my thoughts?

Du Yangxi knows he was wrong and is trying to make amends to Shouhua?

My lady, Master is waiting for your reply.

He is not the only one who can write.

Shouhua also possesses fine literary skills.

Shouhua, come on.

Send him a reply,

so that he knows

that there is also someone who loves reading in our family.

As if we cared. If he truly knows his mistake,

why doesn't he apologize in person?

Is his dignity worth more than others'?

Mother said that he is a third-ranked scholar.

Even His Majesty praises him as talented and handsome

and of boundless future prospects.

Shouhua is going to become a high official's wife.

What's wrong with giving way once?

A lady can be magnanimous as well.

What does this mean?

Lingyao?

I get it. Look.

-What is this? -What else? It's a blank piece of paper.

You're wrong. Yuanming is here, mourning the bright moon,

while Shouhua is home, weeping like the rain.

Yuanming asks, "To whom should I confide my thoughts?"

What will Shouhua reply?

Shouhua replies, "Deep affection is spoken without words."

Isn't this just right?

Does she really mean this?

Alright, she does.

Chai, having read thousands of books,

I'm afraid it's still hard to understand a woman's heart.

She wants to say, "Deep affection is spoken without words."

She didn't write a single word?

Yes. Doesn't this correspond to your letter perfectly?

Under the green gauze window, I opened your letter.

All I saw was a piece of blank paper.

I suppose you have no other intentions

but to tell me about your unspoken longing.

Alright.

Legend has it

that once upon a time in Fuzhou, there was a scholar

who wrote a letter to his wife far away in his hometown.

He accidentally placed blank paper into the envelope.

As a result, it brought forth a letter

in reply with endless affection.

Now, I'm following this example.

I hope she can also understand my feelings.

The profound affection is so touching.

Lingyao.

Yes?

Send this letter quickly.

Okay.

Yuanming, once Shouhua sees this letter,

you'll be able to enter the bedroom tonight.

Then I must thank you, Chai.

You are welcome.

Chai, you've misled me.

Chunlai,

go to the west chamber and invite Sang to dine with us.

Okay.

Godmother.

No need for formalities. Just sit.

Before you passed the exams, you two shared everything,

be it a quilt, robe, or pancake.

That is what sworn brothers and close friends in adversity are.

Later, when you become officials,

you should also be of the same branch

and exchange what you learn.

From now on, don't have meals in your own room.

Come out and eat with us.

I told you long ago, but you've been a stickler for tradition.

Now that Mother has spoken, you should listen to her.

Okay, I will listen to you.

Shouhua, you got up early to prepare the meal.

Thank you.

Here.

Here, Mother.

The stove won't be lit for the next three days.

If you want to eat something, just tell Chunlai to buy it.

The Wang's Eatery's cheesecake

and frozen ginger and black bean dish are both very good.

Then, let's not light the stove in the mornings anymore.

That way, we can save on firewood and save you the trouble.

Thank you. I'll do it myself.

It's a few days before you're appointed officials, right?

Yes, we'll be officially appointed around June.

Why have you drunk so much?

I haven't drunk much.

You clearly have.

Don't talk.

Slow down.

Slowly.

Take a seat.

Sit, master.

CLOUDS HIDDEN

Why did the top two scholars come to compete in poetry?

And when they lost,

they forced the winner to drink.

Obviously, they couldn't sit tight when seeing

that you're favored by His Majesty.

A little jealousy is common to all.

Now that I've helped them vent the anger,

we will still be close fellow scholars

who can help each other out

after we are granted official posts.

This is the officialdom.

Have you finished the task I gave you?

Master, the set of ancient books you ordered to sell

has been intercepted by the lady.

The lady says,

although the scholarly assembly's expenses come from His Majesty,

the participants have to subsidize too.

Per tradition, the top three scholars of the first class

need to put out the most money.

Jinshis from other regions don't know the rules

and often make jokes of themselves.

The lady has already prepared the money for you.

And the hangover medicine as well.

Here.

Prepare some tea.

Du can compose poetry among talks and laughter

and answer fluently.

Not only His Majesty favors him.

Even Minister Yu personally invited him to share a carriage.

It is said that Minister Lu also asked about his marriage

and intended to betroth his grandniece to him.

His future official career is far beyond our reach.

He possesses both character and literary talent.

It's a pity that he's too impetuous.

He's got engaged before even passing the exams.

Who knew he would marry a daughter from a tea house?

-A tea-selling family? -Yes.

It's such pity.

Who is here making groundless comments and spouting nonsense?

Has the way of the sages taught you to gossip about others

behind their backs?

You spoke out of justice. Thank you.

Your righteousness is admirable.

You're welcome.

I am Yan Zimei from Luoyang.

Those two men were speaking nonsense just now,

and that was indecorous.

That prompted me to rashly rebuke them.

Master Du, no need to thank me.

Please.

Please.

What did you say?

I noticed that he was elegant in speech,

free and easy in his temperament, and chivalrous,

so I wanted to make friends with him.

I didn't expect him to get drunk

and speak of a strange matter.

Slow down.

Yan, you said you would take drinks for me.

But it turns out you're a lightweight too.

I'm embarrassed.

Yan,

one who appreciates beauty will admire the young and promising.

It's only human nature.

Though you and I have met by chance, we hit it off right away

and find much in common.

There's no need to be secretive about it.

Are you afraid I'll laugh at you?

I see you as a bosom friend from another life.

I'm sorry we didn't meet sooner.

Alright.

Then I won't hide it from you any longer.

This handkerchief was a gift from a beloved one in the past.

I bare not part with it for a moment.

She and I pledged ourselves in secret and vowed to grow old together.

But my father was strict and resolutely disapproved,

so we parted ways, breaking my heart.

Later, she married some other man and became a widow early on.

Then she followed her family to Bianjing.

Besides taking the exams, I came here to find her as well.

You have a wide circle of friends.

I wanted to ask you to inquire for me.

So, Yan, which family are you asking about?

He said it's the Li family

at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in Luoyang.

That family has five daughters.

The eldest is the one he's looking for.

It's absolutely impossible.

Stay calm and don't be hasty.

Fuhui got married and came to Bianjing for you.

You don't know the background of the Li family well.

On what basis do you vouch for them?

Sit down.

Yuanming, this matter is of great importance.

What do you plan to do?

I don't believe that man.

But they've approached us on their own.

So, I plan to counter their scheme and discover the truth.

But I must state beforehand that my wife is the one

to grow old together with me until death do us part.

If she had an affair with some other man

or turned her back on her lover,

then she is not the one I desire.

You are going too far with your words.

Even for the most perfect couple, all ends when one dies.

No such thing as never parting, even in death.

For husband and wife,

when the wife passes, the husband should not live alone either.

This is what true love is.

If either party of a couple can easily let go, abandon, or discard,

they shouldn't have become a couple at first.

Cousin…

what Shouhua wants is a spouse to share life with.

How come she ends up with him?

I think this is going to be bad.

Gentlemen…

I have laid out the whole matter

because, firstly, some matters aren't proper for me to handle personally.

I'd like to ask for your help, Chai.

And secondly, I would like you two to be my witnesses,

in case someday, in the future, people accuse me

of being ungrateful and heartless.

I'm just afraid

that you two might not be discreet

and let slip any information.

You…

You can investigate as you like, but what do you take us for?

Even with a knife at our throats, we would rather die than speak.

He is right.

If those women can band together,

why can't we also form a sons-in-law alliance?

If I sold you out, how could I face anyone or continue to run the Pan Restaurant?

Good.

It's a deal.

-It's a deal. -It's a deal.

Fuhui, this is the sugar wheat cake you wanted.

I've run all over town

and finally found it near the Four Kings Temple.

Today, at the shop,

Mother saw you and Master Du

entering the Pan Restaurant one after another.

You aren't planning to form an alliance and rebel, are you?

Subtitle translation by: Grace Zhao