Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 4
When you're more recovered, I will come bring you.
Your aunt's family lives poorly but we can afford to feed you.
With your mother's care,
we were able to get two mu plots of field and a reservoir.
It's better than this dark and dim courtyard.
At least there's food to eat and air to breathe.
Your main mother and your concubine mother.
Your siblings, they are all so tough.
You are just a tender little girl.
How can you live here.
Aunt, don't mention these words again.
Alright, Auntie won't mention.
You finished your medicine.
Suck on a Liuqiu candy.
I want to see your Big Madam.
How fortunate to have Big Madam's fond care.
To arrange such a great funeral for my older sister.
In my heart, I am so grateful.
Just that . . .
I have a foolish thought that I'm here to beg your approval.
What approval or not? It's just vain courtesies.
I cherished her.
I only hope her path on the afterlife is smoother.
It's not for my big sister. It's for Ming'er.
6th little girl?
She was traumatized and she's been sick for days.
Everyday she's half dazed.
I am thinking of bringing her to the countryside to nurture her illness.
Miss Wei, if you ache for her, just stay with us a few extra days.
When 6th Miss sees you, she might get in a better mood and recover.
Indeed. Indeed.
My pitiful older sister.
She died so young.
With just one offspring left behind.
If we can't preserve her either,
how can I meet my sister in the afterlife in the future?
My pitiful sister.
Sister Wei, don't be sorrowful.
Go fetch the master.
Go.
Miss Wei, if there's any trouble, you ought to say it so we can discuss together.
It's just a matter of a few silvers. So don't exhaust 6th Miss.
Yes.
This nanny's mouth.
How prickly.
She keeps saying
as though I came to strike the autumn breeze (seek advantage).
The Ming girl is a Sheng by name.
We bring her back to raise her for a few days and what would we seek after?
Why are you stuffing my mouth with silvers and coins?
You just belittle me.
My sister above, will be so sad.
Have some tea.
Miss Wei is here.
Greetings to Magistrate.
Have a seat.
Miss Wei cherishes Ming'er. We al lknow.
But to bring her back home won't really suit.
Magistrate is sage. Our family was originally a literate one too.
Big sister studied with my father since she was little.
She understands teachings of the books and the ways.
She's not from a dinged up family.
If it hadn't been my late father dying so young.
With seven or eight mouths waiting to eat.
- My big sister was so ill-fated . . . - Your family is so well-mannered.
How can anyone not know how gentlemanly your father was.
But my family is living affluently.
Every child has food to eat.
If our family comes to a point we can't afford to feed,
we'll come and beg you and that's not too late.
My sister suddenly passed away.
I hear it was because the baby was too big and couldn't be born.
The baby died and we also feel . . .
Then, it means . . .
My sister, you can say she died for Sheng family.
You can't say that though.
Since the old days, when a woman gives birth, she steps a foot into the gate of hell.
Who knows what the result is.
How coincidental.
I also hear at the time, Big Madam and Magistrate were not home either.
Only the junior madam managing things.
Having my Ming'er, an eight-year-old baby, running to the streets to hire a physician.
Where did you hear such a thing, Miss Wei?
I am a foolish person. I thought,
Magistrate is getting promoted and he needs to go to the capital.
Big Madam must have so much to look after.
If I take her with me, I am easing your burden too.
Who knew though, that that nanny there.
She'd actually suspect that I'm trying to strike an autumn breeze (seek advantage).
Which nanny?
Just an illiterate fool.
Saying such nonsense out of nowhere.
Yes, yes.
Miss Wei, you must not care to nitpick with that fool.
We will hire the best physician for Ming'er, to board here.
And take her pulse day and night, with seven or eight maidservants surrounding her.
I will look after personally and you can be at complete ease.
As long as Ming'er is well taken care of.
Even if I die,
I am content.
That Miss Wei, how come she's not mentioning the matter about 6th Miss anymore?
Who knows.
I guess because 6th Miss's medicine costs are high.
Old Lady is back.
Sheng Manor
Was your health well on the mountain, Mother?
Was your dinner tonight fragrant to you, Mother?
Master, I brought you a bowl of pear soup too.
Thank you, Nanny Fang.
Mother. It's all your son's fault.
Please scold me.
I don't dare to scold you.
Who knows if you're cursing me in your belly.
I don't know where you got the news.
To have you rush back to face a full load of cases.
I don't dare. I am guilty.
Do you remember I said this to you?
How did your older brother die so young?
I remember.
My only son.
Just dying in that whore's hands.
- Mother. - Now your son.
Your son!
Exactly the same, he was sent to die.
Mother. It's all my fault. Your son is useless.
You're very useful.
You're too useful!
If you were useless, you would go along with custom,
and let the legal wife be the priority and let the main wife rule.
You wouldn't pamper your concubine to defame the wife and cause the house to be in havoc.
I know.
Your real mother, Little Madam Chun, it wasn't easy for her to raise you.
Though I was the main wife,
I had a hard time preserving myself back then and I failed to protect you guys.
Hence, you are so fearful that Lin Qinshuang and the kids would experience the pain you suffered then.
So you give her fields and you give her stores. All to a concubine.
Your Big Madam is
Mother is compassionate towards me and every word you say is what's in my heart.
Mother. Big Madam has an explosive temper.
I am scared of her. That's why . . .
Get on up. Drink some pear soup.
There's order to all things.
You're worried about your main wife's temper but you should have a way.
Coax her, or persuade her, or scare her.
You should always do it by order.
but how did you handle this?
Everyone in the house is supposed to have their own duty.
Since you pampered the concubine and languished in your treatment of your main wife,
then respect and order and main and concubine, orders to all were not distinguished.
Those wicket servants. They saw that Qinshuang was inexperienced.
That she doesn't know how to manage the house.
So they gather together all the days to play.
I beat them harshly and sold them off.
What I mean by this
it's fine if you really don't understand,
and it's fine if you just don't want to accept it.
I don't care anymore.
But two lives!
There's some words that I have to say even if I offend you.
Whatever you say, Mother, your son will follow suit.
This is all your little madam Lin's chores.
She managed the chores this way and it shows she's not capable.
In this household, it's you, Mother,
who can really manage well.
Don't try to stuff me with that either.
At this age, just recovering from an illness too.
How do I have the mindset to manage the house?
Just let me live for a few more years.
Your main wife sent off Little Madam Wei with so much respect and dignity.
And extinguished Wei family's anger.
Your main wife did well.
If Mother says that she's good then of course she's good.
I know.
She speaks with prickly words and you find them unsavory.
but think about it carefully
She was the youngest child of the main wife from Wang House, growing up with much pamper and care.
But due to your mismanaging of the house.
Pampering the concubine to dishonor the main wife. The entire Yangzhou officialdom has been laughing at her for years.
She has endured until today and surely she's full of anger.
Go tell her
That 6th girl, we don't need her to toil to watch over.
just let me handle it.
Go ahead. I should be resting.
Minglan is fine with Hualan.
And she's sick. We don't want her to pass her illness to you.
Mother, if you like raising children
then raise Molan. She's very filial, I hear.
Your Lin Qinshaung watched Little Madam Wei to death.
And I disregard the orphaned daughter.
To bring that Lin Qinshuang's daughter to me to raise instead?
Alright.
Is there another place on earth that you get rewarded and promoted when you commit an offense?
Your son. I was just thinking Molan is gentle and clever.
You wouldn't be too tired from it.
Do you think if a person from the Wei Family comes
really for the sake of asking the 6th girl back?
She just speaks in circles.
To tell you if someone is watching over 6th girl well, then all is well.
or else We must be careful.
That . . . Hualan is keeping Minglan and living in the main wife's courtyard.
How is that not good care?
You... you...
These wicked servants. They lived in the manor for years and know everything.
They could be taken to Bianjing with us and dispersed there where no one knows the story.
But you just had to choose now to beat and sell.
You piled up grudge and first with your concubine dead, next with your servants sold off,
who wouldn't guess it's peculiar?
If someone is jealous of your promotion,
and drags them to testify against you in a petition.
You still think you can promote smoothly and go to Bianjing?
What a mess. I was too reckless indeed.
What Mother said is correct.
I was shallow. May you teach me more.
How thou loves your child is how thous should honor how others love theirs.
This book. Magistrate, you might as well read it carefully again.
Mencius
Yes.
Take a good look at it.
Tomorrow is the burial.
I hear you bought a very good coffin for her.
Sister Wei had a tough life.
She only had a few years of leisure days at our home.
But she's gone.
So I want her to go more at ease.
When she reaches the other world, she can enjoy some ease.
Since also,
since if it weren't for us going to my maiden home to bid farewell,
if it hadn't been both of us gone,
then the servants would've been better managed.
And this wretched scene wouldn't have played out.
Sister Wei is too pitiful.
I have nothing to say then.
If we dig deeper, it's my fault that I got promoted.
If it's not for us moving to Bianjing,
then we wouldn't have gone to your family's at Runzhou to bid farewell.
It's due to her lack of luck.
I will be honest. Your temper is shabby.
Look how petty you are.
Your temper is indeed not good.
However, you are the most kind-hearted.
Look at how you arranged Little Madam Wei's funeral.
You can see it.
You are so kind.
So burning.
I think you have toiled.
But let's have you manage the house still.
Why do you mention this suddenly?
Qinshuang's got such a gentle temperament.
She can't be firm enough.
Those servants aren't scared of her and she can't manage them well.
Normally, if things go well, you don't think of me.
But when things are tiring, you come to me.
You are my proper wife that I begged to wed with betrothals and matchmakings.
Other than you, who can I depend on with ease?
Right?
Longterm Inn
[ Wei Clanswoman of Sheng House of Yangzhou ]
Mother. Mother.
I hear from Big Madam,
that Master hasn't gone to Little Madam Lin's all these days.
Little Madam cries asking to see Master but she didn't get to.
This time, I think there's hope.
Not so fast.
Pour some cold water in a hot pool.
It's not something that can cool so easily.
Mother.
Pitiful child.
She didn't even get to see the final time.
The path is still long ways to go.
We just trot through slowly.
May you announce to Master and Mistress that I'm delivering cherry cakes.
Miss, just our thought.
Hey, you!
I eat Mistress's food and watch Mistress's doors.
I already said Master and Mistress have retired and it means they are retired.
I learned this from Mother Liu. Did I do well?
- Mother. - Little Madam.
Mother.
Little Madam.
Please quiet down.
Big Madam is looking to pick up every fault of ours.
What fault did we have do?
Father. Father doesn't want us anymore?
Shut up!
Mo'er. Your father won't abandon us.
Your father must cherish us.
Or else who else can I depend on?
Mother.
Your studying is of utmost importance. Take care, Young Master.
Don't worry, Nanny. I will come visit you in Yangzhou in a few years.
You raised me since I was little. In a few more years, I'll be bigger.
- I will bring you with me to the east capital. - Young Master.
Little Madam told me to thank you on that day and I forgot.
This, this is for you.
Your great kindness and grace. I shall ever forget.
Don't do that. Don't. It's just my given duty.
Thank you.
♫Embroidered letter sent to me to turn me around ♫
♫ Last night's wind and rain still have not sobered me from the wine ♫
♫ When I asked someone they rolled up the blind ♫
♫ Don't you know, don't you know, that the green should grow and red should languish? ♫
♫ Last night's wind and rain still have not sobered me from wine ♫
♫ When I asked someone they rolled up the blind ♫
♫ Don't you know? Don't you know? ♫
♫ The green should grow and the red should languish. ♫
♫ Last night's wind and rain still have not sobered me from wine. ♫
♫ When I asked someone they rolled up the blind ♫
Ming'er is good.
Ming'er is my Grandmother's good granddaughter.
Remember this.
As long as your grandmother's by your side, you fear nothing.
My Ming girl has someone who loves her.
♫ Don't you know? Don't you know? ♫
Let it out.
It'll feel better once you let it out.
Presiding at court and asking the way.
With love he taught the dark and soiled.
Listen. Do you hear the zither sound?
I do hear it. Little Madam Lin is playing the zither.
She's still trying play phoenix.
She can play it a thousand times and the official won't go to her room still.
My skills is really quite far from 6th girl's.
I hear 6th Miss often just sits in Old Lady's room.
Sometimes all day long.
She doesn't cry or whine or talk.
By the way, she's not played kettle toss for a long time too.
6th Miss doesn't say a thing.
She went back to her room and hide. She's going to turn into a idiot soon.
Stop talking nonsense.
We are on the boat now.
You can't avoid your father who will check your homework.
If I go and play at Grandmother's place, Father wouldn't dare to go there.
The official has been in my place for almost six months.
That whore came a few times and she was blocked by you.
I don't see His Lordship say anything
so I think he's tired of her.
Once we are in East Capital, I will find the opportunity to sell her at a far away place.
If we don't see her again, wouldn't it be more comfortable?
- I fear it won't be as good as you think.
Why?
First Missus frequents Old Madam's room to see Sixth Missus and
would often see Molan there as well.
Changfeng likes to go see young master Bai,
I've never seen them so diligent before.
They must be seeking information about Master's whereabouts.
Was there any sound of the zither?
Don't think so.
Bring some puff pastries and cherry cakes to go see His Lordship.
Yes.
Hong Lang, please let me see you.
Master. You're a magistrate.
Even on the petition court you let them explain a few words.
I heard you were sick.
I can see that you have good vitality.
It's late in the night and you still have the energy to create a ruckus here.
Head Mother, please don't be angry.
Please show some mercy and let me go in to ask the Lord a few questions.
If I can't say anything, I will knock my head and die here.
You don't need to use this tactic to die here.
I won't be tricked by you.
If you want to die, jump off the boat to make it a quick death.
Lord, I waited on you for many years and raised two children for you.
If you want me to die today, I will jump off immediately.
Even if I'm died, you should let me become an innocent ghost.
You servants. Are you still alive? Drag her away now.
Why don't you allow me to speak?
Are you afraid that I would reveal everything?
What dirty water are you spewing at me?
Quit trying to cause rowdy here. What am I scared of?
Aren't you going to drag her away?
Lord. Lord.
I have suffered a lot.
I can't be falsely accused by others without any causes or reasons.
Even if I die, I must become an innocent ghost.
I planned to leave some dignity for you.
If you insist on speaking, make it clear then.
Do you mean Little Madam Wei killed herself?
The people in Sister Wei's room had untidy hands and feet, and Master saw to it himself to dismiss them.
and your lordship dismissed them.
I sent my own maidservant to go serve her.
Tonics and food, clothing and wares. I chose all the best.
Everything was the best.
Just the astragalus, jujube and angelica alone were such an expense.
The bird nest was also from my personal account.
Each and every single one.
Lord, you could see this when you were in the house.
Even if I were to meet Sister Wei who's in the underworld,
I will still dare to testify to her face.
What a sharp tongue you have.
If I die by being falsely accused,
I won't be able to talk.
As long as I still have one last breath,
I will still want to fight for my innocence.
Two whole lives die in your hands.
The great midwife and great maidservant you got killed her!
Be my sage lord. I already found the midwife way in advance. Everyone told me she was the best.
And instructed me to a good midwife.
They said that she was the best.
I even gave her five silvers to thank her
and asked her to come immediately on the day of the delivery.
But when she was here, Sister Wei's baby was too big and she couldn't give birth.
She lost courage and ran away.
I forced the maid to hire another midwife
but who knew there weren't any in the vicinity.
I went to the capital before I could find one.
I am someone without dignity and without resolute measure.
But I never had any ulterior motive, my lord.
This is strange.
You went outside to hire someone else
but why did that Sixth Missus ran out to do that too?
My lord. You and Mistress both left the house.
Old Madam went to pay respects to the Daoist Spiritual Master.
The servants wanted to take it easy.
They were gambling, drinking and didn't serve me.
I joined the family only for a few years
but those old women have been here for many years.
Though I manage the house, I couldn't set rules and couldn't control them.
The servants refused to do anything.
Lord, don't even say that I'm useless.
Even if Sixth Missus personally call for Head Mother and the rest,
she wouldn't be able to get anyone.
Lord, Head Mother, you are my benefactors.
The imperial land. The spirits on heaven all can see.
I'm telling the truth.
If I harmed Sister Wei,
then let me be clubbed to death and never ascend to the world beyond..
You should be a story teller with that crafty mouth of yours.
In the way you've put it
not only you had no fault in the matter of Wei losing two lives, you actually contributed to a merit.
No, I was wrong.
I committed a big mistake.
I shouldn't have been such a lenient housekeeper.
At the most crucial moment, I couldn't command the servants into actions.
And I shouldn't have just stood and watched how I couldn't dispatch these wicked servants.
I should have personally gone to request the physician
and midwife.
I made a big mistake.
But...but saying that I had the intention to harm Sister Wei,
I will die without closing my eyes.
Above everything, I'm also from a good family.
- A human's life is precious. - I know that too.
You shrewd. You are cunning and persuasive.
Mistress, you say that I'm cunning and persuasive,
but I've always fully devoted my whole heart without regards to anything else.
Or else, I wouldn't have just tossed the chance to be a main wife with others,
and come here to be His Lordship's concubine.
Others laugh at me, mock and belittle me,
I know about this.
I have always been infatuated with you.
I can't control my deep love.
Jiejie, I know you don't like me.
I dare not defend myself.
Jiejie, just regard me as a slave and give me a small room to huddle in.
As long as I see the Lord,
Even if a thousand people curse me and ten thousand spit at me.
I will have no regrets.
Older sister, please take pity on me.
Regard me as a toy and let me serve you.
Older sister, I bow to you. I'm begging you, older sister.
- I will bow to you. I will bow to you. - Shuang'er.
Get up if you have anything to say. What is this?
Older sister, I'm begging you. Take pity on me.
You beat or scold me. Don't regard me as an evil woman.
Get up.
No, older sister.
Older sister, I'm begging you.
In the future, if there isn't anything I don't understand,
you can scold or beat me.
I will obey you.
I'm really infatuated with the Lord.
Older sister, I'm begging you. Please be kind to me.
Sister. Please allow me an inch of a place to stay.
I'm begging you, older sister.
Shuang'er. What's wrong?
Shuang'er, Someone, come in now.
Come in now.
Little Madam.
Call for the physician.
Get the physician now.
She...she is an evil demon.
She is an evil demon.
This evil demon.
It's fortunate that you met me now that I can support you.
If it was when I was young,
at that time Sheng House was kept hostage by that whore.
My mother and I could only exist in a crack.
Before I was seven years old, not an inch of my skin was in tact.
Luckily, Old Madam secretly protected me.
If not, I wouldn't be alive today.
Husband Lang.
You and your mother have suffered.
It's a pity that she passed away too soon.
You have never enjoyed any blessings.
Hence, I will never let you and your child
live like my mother and me.
- Husband Lang. - Your body is weak. Lie down now.
You are doing nothing and just watching. Don't lose anything.
Where is Bai'er?
Bai'er, how are you?
Once you have settled down in your home, come and find me. I will take you on a tour of the city.
Come.
Second Brother.
- I'm taking my leave then. - Alright.
Tingwei has grown taller and is so heavy too.
Mother, why did you personally come?
You...left a letter and ran to Yangzhou without saying anything.
Your father was angry for several months.
Since he's angry, I won't go home then.
Or a good beating awaits me. He might even bind me.
Mother, I will go home in two days.
Where will you be staying then?
With that child earlier? But he's only just moved to Bianjing.
Bianjing has so many great places so surely I can go somewhere.
I take my leave.
Tingye.
Third Brother, slow down.
Second Brother, come back with me and help me dig up the bird nest.
I will fly the kite with you when I'm back.
Slow down.
A few days ago, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the two lakes sent report.
Saying in sporadic places, there are signs of locust disaster.
If there is truly a locust epidemic,
then our thousands of fields will harvest not a grain.
Down there. Anyone from Jiang and Zhe regions?
I, General Secretary,
newly appointed to high minister.
I just came to the capital from Yangzhou yesterday.
I know you. You write well.
Speak.
I have seen locust plague a few times.
As long as when they're still young,
you keep around a few extra ducks and herons, to let them eat them off,
then it's not much of a threat.
Your Majesty, I have another urgent matter to report.
Today we only discuss the locust matter.
You don't change the topic now.
All things under the skies have their roots.
All for the sake of reproduction and carrying on.
If it's about that,
you can come and report to me in the study.
Your Majesty.
two days ago, I made a plea to seek Your Majesty's attendance at the study.
Your Majesty and I discussed the old times.
Another day before, Your Majesty and I discussed in the study.
I am just too anxious and I cannot pay heed to dignity now.
It takes ten years to grow a tree and hundred years to train a man.
Your Majesty should appoint an heir sooner as best measure.
Are you pressurizing the palace?
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
♫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?♫