Your medication kept me up for half the night
and you're asking me if I feel better
Get out!
Zhou Ying
Master is asking for you.
Ok
Quickly.
Second Master, you're asking for me?
Stand where I can see you
I've fired Dr. Wang Zheng Gu
From now on, you can attend to my injuries
Hmm...
I could attend to you...
...But I have some conditions
You cannot hit me or yell at me
That's right...
And I want good food, good drinks, And no chores
I'll whip you to death, you know?
Come and whip me then
If you can get up, I will let you do so
I...
Second master
If there's nothing else, I'm leaving
Hey, hold up stop right there
Do you believe I will kick you out?
Just you...
If I don't show you my power, you won't know who the young master is
Ling Long
Come here!
What is it second master?
Go get Duan Ma here to kick this maid out of our household
Oh, alright.
Wait, hold up
Don't call Duan Ma here anymore
Why not?
What were your conditions again?
Eat, drink, play, stay happy
I promise
You're not kicking me out anymore?
Nope
Why?
You don't need to know why
But you just said you will
It's alright, stop wasting your breath
I promise you no hitting, no yelling, and will let you eat & drink good, and won't let you do chores
OK, now bring your ointment and apply it for me
The Ministry of Households just added a new order
for ten thousand sheets of ointment
Just offer the same price as last year
But I heard that the Shen family
already offered theirs in advance
They bid 70% of our usual price
Isn't that lower than their cost?
Yes
Shen Sihai is losing his cool
But a single order of ointments
would only return a profit of a few thousands taels
Why would the Shen family go through such trouble
If it's not for the money, then it's for face
If that's the case...
Why don't we let him have it?
Then where does that leave the face of the East House of Wu?
Father, you've already experienced so much, yet you still can't look past your pride?
I can look past it...
...but I can't put it down
Alright, then
I have another suggestion
This one
You can't change your mind
It should have been in this one!
Play again?
One more round
This time go slower
No problem
Watch carefully
No, this one
Pay up!
Try again
No more, tomorrow
Don't be cocky, we play when I say so
Are you the boss or am I the boss?
Do you believe I will whip you?
Where are you going?
I'm going to go grab the whip
Let's see who will whip whom?
I'm just joking, I won't whip you
Come here, chat with me
Come here
have some seeds
What do you want to listen to today?
Lets talk about you
Where did you came from? What do your parents do?
Can't talk about that
Why?
If I do, people will die
Seriously?
The truth is
I...
...am a princess from the palace
My dad is the Emperor
My mom is the Empress
I was secretly stolen out of the palace
After that,
I was forced to roam the lands
You're lying to me
Of course I'm lying
Tell me the truth
OK OK
My dad isn't the Emperor
But...
...a wolf
Wolf?
I was abandoned
Dumped in the mountains at birth
It was a wolf that raised me
Do I look gullible?
I'm not the one lying to you
Then who is it?
My adopted father
He told me all these stories
I don't know who my real parents are
Where is your adopted father now?
I don't know
Ever since he sold me to your household
I haven't seen him once
Don't worry
As long as I'm here, you can stay in the Shen household your whole life
My whole life?
As long as you act more kindly
and don't be so wild
I won't mistreat you
Get your paws off me
Lunch time!
Coming!
Xing was able to sit up yesterday
without screaming in pain
Looks like Dr. Wang is has some talent
It hasn't been Dr. Wang for a while
Apparently Dr. Wang's medicine worked too slowly
but one of Xing's maids had an alternate prescription
that was much more effective
Really?
Then we should reward her well
I will keep it in mind
You know...
If Xing can change his ways after this,
at least this beating won't be for nothing
Hopefully
I have been thinking...
Xing is getting older now
He should have someone soon
That way, he would stop his escapades at the brothel
With someone at his side to talk to him
and advise him
he will gradually mature
Mother is right
Then you can keep an eye out
for a suitable maid
and get Xing to take her in
OK, I will
Give it to me!
You dare play me
Mercy, mercy, mercy
Give me!
The young master gave this to me!
Yes or no? Don't waste your breath
Here, here, here
Mercy, mercy, ma'am
Then let's choose Zhou Ying
Her?
She's not appropriate
How so?
That girl just came
she has no regard for etiquette
and she is wild
Mom, you're letting me choose. If I choose, then I want Zhou Ying
Choosing what?
Older brother
We're talking about betrothing someone to your brother
Oh, such a minor thing, just let Mother take care of it
How is your injury?
Nearly recovered
Listen
you better not fool around anymore after you've recovered fully
It's time to do something meaningful
What's meaningful?
Learning to do business
You and Father can do business, I would just be a nuisance
Then go study
Father and I were discussing it a few days ago
If our family had someone in government
then we would not be in our current state
Big brother, why don't you write for a government position?
I don't have the brains for it
Exactly, so you understand. If you don't even have the brains for it, I don't either
Then what DO you want to do?
I just want to eat, drink, play, and laugh
and live my whole life without a care
Mom, look at him
Xing is angering you on purpose
Xing, apologize to your brother
Big Brother, I'm sorry
Once I'm fully recovered,
I will definitely reflect on my flaws, start a blank slate, find my way, become a new person
cease my aimless wandering and be reborn like a phoenix!
Mouthy!
Mom, he hit me
You call that hitting you?
Then what do you call it?
THIS is actually hitting you
You little... I'm going to kill you
Xing told me already
He wants Zhou Ying
That girl is too wild and too dominant
Who do you think is more suitable?
He has a maid named Ling Long
who has served him for 5 years now
She's diligent, honest, and grounded
I quite like her
We're only looking for a personal servant
No matter how dominant a personality,
she could not possibly overtake her master
Give him what he wants
If you pick someone he doesn't like,
he will still fool around outside instead of staying at home
Mother is right
Let's pick Zhou Ying then
Ling Long, steep some tea for me
Today, I'll show you a trick
There's nothing in here
An egg?
It's mine
I haven't eaten breakfast yet
It's in my stomach now
And now...
There's nothing in the bag anymore
Stingy, it's just an egg
Can't let it go? Ok ok I'll give it back to you
Take it
So magical! How did you do it? Teach me!
This secret can only be passed down to my son
Call me mommy
and I'll tell you
Do you believe I'll whip you?
Try it
I'm just joking, hurry up and teach me
Take it, figure it out yourself
Don't touch
This tea is very fragrant, give me a cup
Pour it yourself
What's wrong with you?
You haven't been promoted yet
I can get it myself
I'm going to go get tea
Let me, let me
It's alright, such a small task, how can I bother you to do it, little sister Zhou Ying
Let me, let me
Little sister?
You called me "stupid girl" just yesterday
How am I "Little sister" now?
That was my fault
You have a big heart, don't take it personally
Drink tea
Why...
...are you acting so strangely today?
You don't know yet?
Zhou Ying is here
Madame wants to talk to her
Sister, hurry, there's great news
Go, go, go
What, are they giving me a raise?
A joyous announcement, better than that!
So that's the announcement...
Nothing else will change
You will continue to serve Xing in his room
But your monthly wages will increase from 200 maces (**10 maces = 1 tael**)
to 2 taels
If you give birth to a son or two
you can be promoted to concubine
How many days has it been?
Madame and Great Madame have granted you such grace
why are you not kneeling with gratitude?
Madame,
I would rather be a regular maid
Why?
I never considered marrying Second Young Master
Silly girl, what are you saying?
It's not up to you
It's my life, I'm not allowed to consider it?
Zhou Ying
You've really thought this through?
I've thought it through
Forget personal servant or concubine
I wouldn't want to even if as a proper wife
You can go then
Madame, I'll take my leave
Madame
It's my fault
The girl has only been here a few days and hasn't been trained properly yet
But don't worry, I will definitely...
Forget her...
Get Xing here
Yes
Young master, you're back
My mom's ulcer problem is back because of you, you know?
I didn't do anything
You're outrageous!
I'm tired of wasting my breath with you
Since you don't like it when I ask nicely,
don't blame me for being less courteous
What do you think you're doing?
Exercising my right as a young master
Let go of me, get off!
Hooligan
You want to die?
Stop her!
You dare kick me?!
You dare anger my mother
Don't you know,
my mother didn't agree at first
I had to beg my grandmother to make the decision
But you, you dare to decline?
Don't you deserve to be whipped?
What, scared?
Beg me
Beg me to take you in and I'll let you go
You headbutted me, you dead girl
When I come back, I'll whip you to death
Shut the door!
The young master of Wu household, Wu Pin is here
No one is allowed to bring her food!
Let the ungrateful girl starve!
The manager of my pharmacy did tell me
about an order of ointments he wanted to take on
But I will need to ask him
exactly what price he offered
Father, no need to ask
I told him to bid that price
Wu Pin brother
Since you already know our offer,
why not bid cheaper than us?
Why discuss it with us?
Offering a cheaper price would be the easiest strategy
but what benefit does that bring
to either of our families?
You mean to say,
the Shen family will not suffer any losses
but your Wu household will suffer greatly
In business, there will always be loss and profit
The East House of Wu can afford this level of loss
But this kind of competition
is both meaningless
and detrimental to our families' friendship
What do you suggest?
I think, instead of having a bidding war
that will hurt both of us
our families could become partners
Partners how?
Our families offer a new price together
You mean,
we back out?
It doesn't matter who backs out, as long as the final offer
profits both of us
The idea has potential
however...
if someone backs out, it should be the Wu family
Our Shen family will not back out
Yuesheng brother still insists on the initial price?
Yes
Yuesheng brother, even if we do back out,
you will still lose money with your price
Your Wu family may be able to afford the loss,
but our Shen family can as well
Moreover, this is an opportunity to serve the kingdom
a little loss is insignificant
Yuesheng brother's patriotism
is truly admirable
but business is business
Maintaining good quality and appropriate pricing is the best long-term strategy to serve our kingdom
Alright, my boy
I understand the purpose of your visit today
I will consider it and give you an answer
how's that?
See the guest out!
Then, sir, Yuesheng brother,
I'll take my leave
Yuesheng, please see him to the door
After you
Young master, you've eaten so little
I don't want to eat more
You want to drink something?
No!
Get her a bowl of rice
Hungry yet?
Tian Shi! Tian Yu!
Search thoroughly!
Has anyone gone out? --No one, young master
Lock the doors! Don't let anyone leave!
She must still be in the courtyard
You guys go look in the front yard
You go check in my brother's yard
She must be found!
Follow me
This way
Wu Pin brother, I'll not see you further
Safe travel --Take care
It's you
Find her yet? --No, young master
Behind the trees, in the hedges!
I beg you, take me out with you
Once I find her, I'm going to whip her to death
Xingyi, what are you on about?
Big brother, nothing, just lost a maid
Ridiculous
Once I find her, I'll whip her to death
Let's go
Lift
Hey, wait
Stop right there
Is something wrong?
Mr. Wu
I want to check your sedan
Is this a new rule at the Shen family?
Our family doesn't have this rule
Call it a sudden idea of mine
And what if...
I won't let you?
You don't let me check, I won't let you go
Xingyi!
Outrageous!
Apologize to Wu Pin right now
Apologize!
Sorry
Brother Wu Pin, this little brother of mine is immature
He offended you, I'm sorry
If 2nd young master is really concerned, why don't you have a look?
You're funny, please
So, I can leave?
Yes
Good bye
Look how lopsided that sedan is? That maid must be in there
I see it
If you see it, why not let me search it?
That Wu Pin has a 5th-level government ranking
That's the same level as a regional governor. You dare search HIS sedan?
A 5th-level official can't steal other people's maids!
Offending government officials will result in severe punishment
What are you arguing about?
Father
Nothing...
Yuesheng
Come here
Wait for me in your courtyard
Tian Shi, Tian Yu, come with me
You guys keep searching
Yuesheng
What exactly is your attitude
towards that meeting with Wu Pin?
Father, I have my thoughts
With the price you've bid, we'll lose over 1000 taels
Even if we lose 5000 taels,
it will be worth it
Thank you so much for today
Why were you in the Shen household?
It's a long story
I have to go
Can you ask your men to stop so I can get off
Not now, you can't --What's wrong?
So persistent
If you get off now and are caught, you'll be dead for sure
and me...
I'll be accused of stealing people's maids
Then what do we do?
Let's get inside my East House of Wu first
Alright
Thank you
Father
I remember you once said
The Wu family relies on support from some officials in government
to monopolize the provision of military supplies
That's right
But I've heard that due to the investigation of Hu Xueyan (**wealthy businessman in 1860-1880s**)
the East House of Wu may not come out unscathed
They might be investigated as well
You think this is an opportunity?
The other day, I heard the Ministry of Households would be placing a new order
So, I wanted to give it a try
If we don't get it, we don't lose anything
But if we do get the order, even if we lose money,
we can use this to break
the East House of Wu's monopoly
And we can foul their reputation
of being Jingyang City's top business family
When you put it that way...
...it does seem cost-effective
There's more, Father
If we really do complete the order
we must publicize our profits
That way, once the news reach the ears of
those officials on whom the East House of Wu typically relies
they will surely grow suspicious
of their previous years' pricing and profits
And then,
we'll have successfully cast a bone between them
Yuesheng
You plan to strike them at the core
The East House of Wu just relies on the powers behind them
If we can crumble that support,
surpassing them will only be a matter of time
Open up! The young master has returned
Second young master, what now?
You two keep watch
What if she leaves through the West gate while we're here at the East gate?
A maid? She couldn't run through all the courtyards
What if she left through the Center gate? --The Center Gate of Wu doesn't open for just anybody
Stop making excuses
Keep a careful watch
Just stand guard
Halt
Lower the sedan
This is your home?
This is East House?
Oh my,
your home is huge!
Oh yeah, did you find your brother eventually?
Don't mention it
And your mom, has her health improved?
And your little brother?
Don't mention any of them
So how did you end up at the Shen household?
I was sold to them
Then what are your plans now?
I plan to go...
I plan to go find my family
Zhang Ma!
Young master
You two go ahead
Young master --This is...
I'm his buddy
A woman can't be "a buddy"
She's a friend, a friend
Friend?
It's alright, Zhang Ma
She will stay here for a couple of days
please make some arrangements, treat her well
OK
Settle here for now; you can leave in a few days
when it's safer
Thank you,
Thank you, young master Wu
Come with me
Shen Yuesheng rejected you right away?
Yet Shen Sihai seemed to waver
He said he'll consider it first then respond
That Shen Yuesheng...
Either he is a fool,
or he thinks further ahead than his father
When you deal with him in the future,
pay extra attention
Yes
Father,
there's another thing...
Speak
Second young master has returned
Find someone to relieve Tian Shi and Tian Yu --Yes sir
Big brother
I told you to stay in your room, where did you go?
You haven't caused enough trouble today? You had to go to East House?
If you had let me search Wu Pin's sedan, then the rest wouldn't have happened
If you had searched Wu Pin's sedan,
then we would have made enemies of the East House of Wu
So what? Do we fear them or something?
Just for a maid?
That maid...
...isn't like other maids --What's so different about her?
Look at the trouble you cause all day
If it's not some woman, then it's some maid
Can you grow up?
Well if you put it that way, I'll cause some real trouble next time
You wouldn't dare!
Call back your people now!
And let that maid go for free?
So she's gone, what's the big deal?
Don't worry, it won't be for free
Pathetic
You...
That maid belongs to the Shen household
Alive or dead, she's the Shen household's business
You were rash to meddle with it
And to cause resentment with the Shen family
over a maid you don't know
is also unwise
Father,
you're right to reproach me
I lacked proper consideration today
But at the time, there didn't seem to be another option
Where is the girl now?
I asked Zhang Ma
to arrange for her to stay in the guest room
Father
you won't send her back to the Shen household, right?
I, Wu Weiwen, have toiled in Jingyang long enough that,
barring anything else,
I can ask Shen Sihai for a maid
without resistance from him
But right now, I cannot bow my head to him
and Shen Sihai can't afford to lose face
We're at an impasse
How about this...
we'll leave the matter for now
and find a more opportune time to resolve it
The Shen family also put in an offer?
That's right
At a very low price, too
They intend to acquire the order
He's eager to jump into a trap
we dug for Wu Weiwen
A death wish
Please --Please
Mr. Shen
Our "Long Sheng He" business is new in town
and we're still feeling our way around
I hope Mr. Shen can advise us in the future
Mr. Du, you speak too kindly
Our Shen family makes a living on small business
hopefully Mr. Du can look after us in the future
Mr. Shen, you are too modest
In all of Jingyang,
the only family that could compare with the East House of Wu
is yours, Mr. Shen
My family's business is all small capital with small gains
how can we compare to the East House of Wu
But I heard...
your two families are currently competing for an order of military supplies
Mr. Du is very well-informed
To tell you the truth,
My boss is the younger son of the Emperor's brother
So, he has some prestige at the Ministry of Households
Naturally, news from there isn't secret to us
You're a royal businessman
I've been disrespectful
Not at all. We are merely the Beile's orderlies (**Beile = title**)
Mr. Du, I'd like to consult you
Between my family and the East House of Wu,
who do you think is more likely to win?
First Young Master,
if I were you,
I'd rather back out
How so?
Competing is futile
You mean to say,
it's already been decided?