Original subtitles

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 67

That's Cheng Garden's direction.

It's not certain.

It's too dark out, and it's hard to see.

Lichong. Lichong!

Summon all the male runners of the manor and bring the fire-extinguishing equipment!

- Everyone come with me. - Yes.

What are you trying to do?

I will go take a look.

Wife, I must go see it.

It's not even certain it is Cheng Garden.

Even if it is, it's the Marquis Manor.

They will have their own fire rescuers.

Why is he still not here?

This is the inner courtyard. He can't come in with runners.

That's right. You're right. So I'll take a look outside.

Husband. Husband!

Push. Push.

I can see the baby's head.

What's wrong outside?

Nothing. It's nothing.

It's fine, Big Madam. I see the baby's head.

Breathe and push hard.

She can see the head.

Lichong! Lichong!

Yuanruo.

Come, give me a bucket. - Yuanruo!

Where are you going all in a fret?

Mother. Cheng Garden's on fire. I am going to help rescue.

You saw it, and the Fire House would have seen it too.

The fire rescue team will go there, so what use is it for you to go?

But it's already burning!

Don't forget your status and position.

You are already married.

Running to the Marquis Manor in the dark? What impropriety!

Mother. Am I supposed to watch our relatives burned to death alive and not help?

Relatives? You deem them your relatives?

We are related to Gu House.

Heng'er, you shouldn't go.

Your wife might get scared seeing the fire, so you stay with her.

You men all go. Go!

Father. She's very safe at home. Why would she need company?

I'm going!

Father, Let me just go see that she's fine and I'll be right back.

Can you block the mouths of the world?

Father!

When I needed to speak clearly and directly to her,

I did not. When I needed to wager all for her,

I didn't, and she suffered so much gossip and chilling words on my account.

Can't I just go rescue her once?

Loufu has her husband and the governor has his wife. (T/N Loufuxing, "Song of Loufu" or the Moshangsang, "Roadside Mulberry Song" by Li Bo, lines 33 and 34, Loufu refuses to accept the governor's offer of a ride)

You go, and it will just incite more tongue-wagging.

If that Marquis Gu were here, I wouldn't need to go.

But she's very pregnant and her manor is on fire.

Mother. We at least were once acquaintances,

and you've given her a bracelet and told her to be my little sister?

Mother. Even if it's just a total stranger,

would you bear to see them die without helping?

- Yuanruo. - Let's go!

Yuanruo!

Fire!

Help put out the fire!

Work harder. Come on!

The fire's getting bigger!

Hurry, hurry up!

Work harder.

Hurry and extinguish the fire!

Hurry, hurry up!

Push hard, Big Madam.

It's out. Out!

Big Madam.

It's out!

Oh, it's a boy.

A big fat boy!

Slowly...

Hurry, let me see him...

- Bring him for her to see. - Let me see him.

- Quick! - Here, Big Madam.

The baby's too cute!

Alright.

Alright.

Fat boy.

Everyone, everyone will get a reward.

Thank you, Big Madam, for the reward!

You all contributed!

Go die!

Come!

Move! Move!

Move!

You wench!

You...You... You...

Move! Who dares to come!

Pull her away.

Move!

Young Master!

Ming Lan...

You're back.

I'm back.

You're back!

- They said . . . they said you were injured. - Who?

I . . . I thought you died.

My heart shattered.

I'm back. I'm back.

Everything's fine now that you're back.

Look.

Child.

Is it a boy or a girl?

What a big fire!

I don't know how my Sixth Little Sister is doing?

She's pregnant too.

How is it?

Reporting to Big Madam.

Word on the street says Marquis Gu's wife delivered a boy safely and Marquis Gu is back!

What? Delivered a boy?

Yes.

They say her due date was around now.

What a coincidence that the Madam of Gu House delivered today in the big fire.

And Marquis Gu even rescued her amid the big fire!

The word is spreading all over the streets,

that Marquis Gu came back just in time.

It's burning down like this and she could still give birth?

Look at Father!

Look at how much he looks like me.

I gave birth to him. He looks like me.

He looks like me. Oh my.

Look at how he looks exactly like me. He looks like me.

In the future, he will surely become a leader!

I already thought it through.

If this child likes martial arts in the future,

I can invite as many martial masters for him as available.

If he wants to master becoming a scholar,

I plan to hand him to your Second Brother.

My brother-in-law.

What?

- You're going to hand him to my Second Brother, Changbai? - Sure!

You . . . why would you?

How can you be so cruel-hearted?

This? Why couldn't I?

My Second Brother's temperament. It's not like you don't know?

We can't bear to be hard on him, so we'll let another be hard on him.

Right?

When he's grown, he'll surely hate you for a while.

He won't. Right?

When did you get back?

I saw our house on fire from the street.

So I rushed to come back on horse.

Yes. The house was on fire! You...you..?

- I should have came back sooner. - How did Aunt Kang come in?

Someone must have used the chaos as an opportunity.

Rongjie! Where's Rong'er?

Rong'er is fine.

The girl Xian is such a good child.

She saw the fire and she disregarded her mother stopping her,

and sent all the hands and feet to come and help extinguish the fire.

Now, Rongjie is sitting well in her room.

Don't worry now.

They said...you met an assassin?

I was so scared.

Your Darling Second is so brave and mighty.

A few assassins, and I already sent them off.

So don't worry.

You just birthed the child, so you should sleep well.

Don't you leave again!

I won't go.

I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you folks.

Hurry. Get water!

Fire! Fire!

Here.

Here, come, come on!

Fire! Hurry up!

Fire! Hurry and come!

Water!

Don't rush, don't rush!

Oh my heavens!

- Tingwei? - Third Young Master!

- Slow down. Don't rush. - Third Brother!

- Tingwei! - Grand Madam.

Third Brother!

Tingwei! Are you alright?

Third Brother!

- He's fine, right? - Thanks to Buddha.

Child, hurry and get up. This might collapse and shatter on you.

I'll move out and set up my own house!

Third Brother!

What nonsense is this?

Grand Madam.

Third Brother's place will need to be renovated.

Maybe he should go and stay in Eldest Brother's old place?

Wait until I move out,

and if you miss me, Mother, you can come visit me.

If you don't want to, never mind then!

Where are you going?

You, if you move out, you won't come back?

I don't think I can live here any longer!

Third Brother...

After I move out, you and Second Brother...

Fight if you want and go at it if you want!

I have no say in it anyway!

I don't care anymore!

Third Brother!

I raised that child so diligently. Why is he . . ?

Slower, Grand Madam.

- Tingwei! - Third Brother!

Mother-in-law, you really don't know how our fire started?

I heard from Second House's report,

that the wind was strong and it started from an ember that flew over from the yard next door.

Next door?

I bet that "ember" is very tall and named Shitou!

What?

Gu Tingye! How dare you!

Mother-in-law. I really don't know if you really dote on my husband, or if it's fake.

Say it's fake, yet you scheme for him with so much devotion.

Say it's genuine,

you've never cared about what he wants and what he needs.

Whatever he doesn't want, such as the noble title,

you must cram it into his mouth to make him swallow it!

Whatever he wants, such as harmony with his siblings?

You just will never let him have a sip or second of it!

You spineless lot with no aspiration!

I schemed for you all my life for nothing!

He's not a dog...

for you to raise him however you like!

Miss. Miss.

Gu Tingye!

Miss.

Let's not be mad.

Alright.

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

Where's my child?

My child! Where is he?

Where's my child!

Tell Second Tu and Liu Jingli to each guard one of the two inner doors.

The rest--

My child!

Child! Child!

Big Madam, your child's here.

He's here.

What's wrong?

Wife.

Wife.

I had a nightmare!

I dreamed there was a huge fogbank.

I couldn't find our child.

He's here, Wife.

Our child and I are both by your side.

Don't be scared.

Your husband is here to protect you. No ghosts or monsters can come to you.

I couldn't see.

Xiaotao. Go light a calming incense.

Go.

I won't sleep. I won't sleep. I'll never sleep!

I can't sleep. I have to watch him.

Okay.

Don't be scared. Your husband is here.

I'll hold the sword, and watch over you two all night.

You sleep without worrying.

His Majesty isn't so without understanding as to force Marquis Gu to leave his house at this moment.

It's just that His Majesty is so anxious to hear about the salt matter from the Marquis.

Sir. The fire in the house was only just extinguished.

The palace's Imperial fire rescue will be here,

to allow Marquis Gu to go at ease.

May you deliver the words for me once again.

Sir. It's not that I'm putting on an air to slight you,

it's just that the Madam's traumatized and she can't sleep.

Our Marquis can't leave her side.

Tomorrow morning he will go to the palace to beg His Majesty's forgiveness.

Your Marquis is intending to defy the Imperial edict?

Sir, my Marquis has already wagered his life for His Majesty and Prince Huan nine times.

Now that his wife had to go through labor in a fire, couldn't we be generous and allow him to spend a night at home?

Prince Huan is back too, and if His Majesty wants to hear about the salt matter,

he could summon His Highness, Prince Huan!

- You! You! - Go safely, Sir.

You!

Your Majesty, it's time to rest.

Why isn't there any news still?

How is it? Where's Marquis Gu?

It was Cheng Garden of Marquis Gu that was on fire.

Where's Marquis Gu?

His servant said the Marquis' Wife, Madam Sheng, was in labor.

She was traumatized, and thankfully Marquis Gu returned in time.

Now he's comforting Madam Sheng and watching the child.

I...asked...you.

Where's Marquis Gu!

Your Majesty! I didn't even get to enter the gate of Cheng Garden.

I didn't see Marquis Gu.

Child.

As soon as you came into the world,

you already met an evil robber!

Great.

This is a training exercise for you, coming into the world.

Though it's warm inside the room, it's windy and chilly outside.

That's great too.

This is the true image of the world.

We will all be by your side.

Your mother. Your father. Your older sister.

And your older brother who's gone.

We will all be by your side.

Good child.

This is the first day after you came into the world.

The sky will become bright.

Marquis Gu isn't the same as before anymore.

I am the Emperor waiting for him to report to me about salt matter, and I'm still waiting!

It's great for him though, he's clearly aware that I'm waiting for him!

He doesn't come to the palace and he doesn't return the military seal.

He went home instead to see his wife and child!

Your Majesty. Marquis Gu had his home on fire.

He is worried about the disaster, and that's understandable.

On the account of his past contributions, please be forgiving.

Do I not pay heed to his contributions?

I sent him the Imperial Fire Rescue Team,

and put them at his complete disposal!

No one else in the Imperial court has had that kind of honor!

How much more kind should I be to him? Give him the empire?

Your Majesty, what do you mean by saying that?

Marquis Gu is a bit arrogant and unrestrained.

But be it the Imperial jade seal or the issues with my siblings,

or the salt patrol over the six provinces,

in what matter does he fail to succeed in full detail?

In the future, we still need to count on Marquis Gu.

A few days ago, we closed down the market at the frontier,

so they have to go back to the black market salt route.

And now, I've tightened on salt and iron both,

so they can't even find black market salt.

Their young chief.

He's a youngster who rose with the support of his maternal uncle.

He's in a rush to start a war with us to mark his authority.

He's pressing us to open the market and give up land.

Our days are numbered.

We'll take it easy on Gu Tingye for now.

Once he's pacified this big matter for us, I'll deal with him then.

Your Majesty's health

is really unwell lately.

Headaches daily.

Imperial Physicians' Court came to examine, but found nothing.

I think since you were fine back in Yuzhou,

and now that we came to Bianjing, with so much work and worry,

it's rest that Your Majesty needs. Your Imperial health is more urgent.

You just watch me have the headaches and illness day after day...

but who knows what's really on your mind!

Your son's the eldest in the palace.

Are you hoping direly that I can go away a day sooner, (T/N euphemism for dying)

so your son can ascend a day sooner,

so he can have Gu Tingye assist him a day sooner!

May Your Majesty please be wise!

Your Majesty. I am only devoted to you.

Ceying, that child, also regards you as a god.

If Your Majesty...suspects me,

I can only use my death to prove myself.

My health is just fine.

While we are not in war at the border yet,

I will knock down that obstacle that is the Empress Dowager first,

or else my aspirations cannot be achieved....

and the borders can't be returned to us.

And I won't have any face to see my ancestors below!

Your Majesty.

Empress Dowager is well-established and vigorous.

Your Majesty, Noble Consort Liu is outside, begging to see you.

She says she made some new snacks for Your Majesty to try.

Let her in!

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

I didn't know Her Highness the Empress was here too?

I see I made too few of the snacks.

It's alright.

The Empress is going back soon.

I send you off with respect as you depart, Empress.

Yes.

I take my leave.

Your Majesty! Why are we so mad?

Who made you so angry?

Hurry now! Bring in the snacks for His Majesty to try.

Under the skies, is there an older brother like you?

A prominent minister of the court? The Emperor's esteemed subject!

You! You! You had your man go to your younger brother's yard,

to kill...and to set it on fire!

I . . . I have to go to the Emperor to report you!

I will go to His Majesty to report you!

Did that happen?

I have never even heard of it.

I only know that the fire in our yard was blown over from next door.

- You! - Is that what happened?

It's true! I heard someone lit up sky lanterns and they fell!

The air is dry in the winter. It's best to be careful of candles. (T/N lit candles are place in the lanterns)

Yes, yes. I shall always be prudent.

You people...think you can just deny this and it'll be fine?

Let me tell you! Someone from my yard saw it.

Your bride, that Sheng woman! Her maternal aunt, Kang of the Wang Family!

She came to your yard.

Summon her for me. Summon her! I will talk to to her face to face.

We'll compare our stories, and the truth will be exposed!

She can't come.

It's so late.

What is it? You're keeping the guest for dinner?

Enough!

Stop this act of yours, Grand Madam.

This Kang-Wang woman?

She was staying just fine locked up at Sheng House, ready for prison.

Why would she run into my yard?

You can tell me clearly about that.

Since everyone's well aware of this,

you still prepared your lines to put up a show here?

Why don't you get yourself over to Southern Music Hall to sing your opera?

I'll tell you the truth.

The one from Kang House? I already stabbed her to death!

You killed her?

She wanted to kill my wife and child!

You repay a loan with money and you repay a life with a life, Grand Madam.

What you're scheming about?

I know it obviously, but you people don't know what I'm scheming.

Let me tell you. In the future,

if another tries to harm our Cheng Garden,

what happened to the Wang surnamed woman is their ending!

She's the noble wife of an official!

You killed her?

Find two people...to go and carry her corpse out.

Grand Madam, you think about a response to Wang House.

Grand Madam.

- Grand Madam. - That bastard!

What are we supposed to tell Wang House, Grand Madam?

Grand Madam.

So what if he's a marquis?

My Wang House isn't a nobody either!

I would rather just beat that bastard to death right now!

Lord Wang. Lord Wang, let us hand it over for an indictment.

He's heavily favored by the Emperor right now.

We could bind ourselves together, and we would still be no match for him.

He almost burned my son to death too.

Then let him beat me to death in your house!

Stop right there!

Mother?

Mother. Don't go. Watch your health.

Flesh that dropped from my womb.

Be it alive or dead, I must see it for myself.

- Mother! Mother! - Mother!

Preserve your health, Mother!

Old Madam, may your grief be consoled.

That Gu Tingye is a devil like no other.

He almost killed my son too.

These two cases of human lives.

What do you plan to do, Elder?

I...and our Gu House. We concede to you on all.

My house...owes you for this kindness, Grand Madam.

It's such a late hour of the night.

My house has met with a matter of a funeral, and we are not able to keep you here.

- Eldest Son, you walk her out for me. - Mother.

Mother, this! This..!

Old Madam.

It can't be that you're scared?

I heard...that my daughter disturbed you at the Marquis Manor for many days.

You've suffered exhaustion.

You should rest now.

Show our guest out!

So you're scared!

Old Madam Wang! You're Old Madam Wang!

Your house is the house of Imperial Tutor Wang, whose tablet was granted admission to the Imperial Ancestral Shrine!

The flesh that dropped from your womb died,

and you don't even care?

Grand Madam, this way please.

Old Madam! You have lots of children,

but I only have Tingwei.

You're scared of Gu Tingye's power and you don't dare to report him.

I am not afraid!

She's trouble that seeks disaster!

If that Wang House doesn't help, we will be quite low on power.

Jian, have Fourth and Fifth Houses come to my hall.

Go.

I told you many times already.

Go rescue your younger sister, be it by snatching her or stealing her back!

When she's being conveyed to the palace prison, seize her!

But look at how great you are. Scared of both wolves and tigers!

Today you say the plan isn't thorough enough, and tomorrow you say the guards are too tight. (T/N no action, excuses)

That's just great now. She's dead.

You two got your wish. You don't need to risk anymore!

Mother's words,

leave no survival path for us.

All these years, what was her conduct?

You should know that, Mother.

Our Wang House. That Sheng House. And even the Sheng House in Youyang?

For this evil woman, how many rotten cases did we all clean up for her?

How many lost lives were carried out of her Kang Manor?

Dead from childbirth. Dead from being beaten after breaking a teacup.

The ones tossed out in hemp bags!

And this time as soon as we came back,

she used us to almost kill the Sheng House's Old Madam!

Mother. She was set out to ruin us all.

Now she's dead, and it's a relief to the whole family!

You are also a mother?

One rotten fruit that isn't picked out will rot the entire basket!

Mother?

Your little sister wasn't a fruit.

She's your blood kin from the same womb as you.

- Mother! - Get lost.

You are someone that only divides sibling love.

Enough. You say one thing less too, okay?

Come, come on!

Alright.

You go and rest first. I'll discuss everything with Mother.

Hurry. Escort the Madam.

He really killed her?

I escorted the coffin back personally!

My Tingbing got exiled a thousand li away by him.

What else is impossible?

Of course he'll kill or harm whoever he wants now.

The Old Madam at Wang House.

She asked me to give her an answer.

I am a widow.

What justification can I give to anyone?

He dared to kill the noble wife of an official.

He dares to try kill his own brothers.

Tomorrow, who knows who he will kill!

It's always been the case that Madam Kang would wrong someone.

No one's ever seen anyone wrong her.

I actually don't believe what you're saying.

If you want to investigate, go ahead.

But I'm going to be upfront with my words.

Our house was snubbed for years.

Finally we're getting some rising colors.

If this big tree falls,

and we lose our protection,

then in the future, how will we live our lives?

That is something I'm not clear on.

He's cleaned up your house, so of course you'd regard him as your savior.

My house never took his protection.

Our Tingbing is exiled for ten years!

That's not how you say this though.

It was Tingbing who rushed to write his name on the rebel prince's roster.

And he even crossed out our child's name.

Shut up. You women!

You all fled, and shoved it all onto him!

Now you say he was snatching your merit?

Sister-in-law. If you say that,

it's as though Tingbing deserved to be exiled by Old Second!

I was reckless.

Sister-in-law. Please don't mind me.

My Little Sister Kang...ran out by herself.

She should've came back right away

so we could protect her. Instead, she ran over to Gu House.

That's sending herself into the net?

Your sister was heart-broken.

She was heartbroken that her brother, you,

and I, her mother, couldn't protect her!

So she preferred to go to the enemy's territory instead of returning home.

When she left, how much despair she must have felt.

This Qin woman.

If she were truly good to your little sister,

the first day she went to the Marquis Manor,

this Madam should've sent word to us.

Why did she hide it all along?

She waited until the person was dead to bring the coffin over.

Saying that it was Gu Tingye who had killed her?

When he killed her, where was she?

Her Marquis Manor is just an arrow's flight away from Cheng Garden.

Just one wall apart, and she says she saw nothing!

Do you believe her?

She wanted to use my sister as a weapon?

We can't count on any of them, I'm afraid.

Miss.

Did you see?

That Gu Tingye. He's daring enough to burn Tingwei's yard.

Grand Madam, don't be scared now.

He really wasn't trying to kill our Third Young Master.

He just wanted you to be busy rescuing him,

so you could't go and scheme against him anymore.

He's killed a noble lady of an official now, and he's ripped his face altogether. (T/N reputation)

If I don't eat up this Gu Tingye,

then once Wang House gets a grip,

and they find out how many things I instigated in between, they will eat me up instead.

It's not so bad if they eat me.

But what about my . . .

that foolish Third Son of mine?

What will he do in the future?

I understand it all.

Since this is the path we're on, he has to die for me to survive.

Go.

Go summon the Bai House from Yangzhou.

Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com

T/N In the following song, "Don't You Know, Don't You Know?", Lines 5 to the end are the poem by Li Qingzhao, a famous female poet of the Song Dynasty, the poem is titled "Spring Ends."

♫One morning, a flower opened and approached a willow tree, beautifully fragrant and mistaking him for her lord♫

♫Even if drinking in water in the morning, red clouds have half a day of sunshine,

the wind and rain do not affect them completely♫

♫In the palace, you are constantly brave and growing thin,

from on high, your cold tears of distress flow♫

♫Brocade letters delivered to me dismiss me, only suddenly to recall me,

not for many years can I see you other than stealthily♫

♫Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect♫

♫When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before.♫

♫Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫

♫Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect♫

♫When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before.♫

♫Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫

♫Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫