Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 32
Yuqing Monastery
We doing this is is also not a good long term plan.
When I went out today, I almost got recognized by servant guarding the gates.
My knees wobbled from the getting scared.
I'm even unable to get up the carriage.
Moreover, we're doing it in a temple, right under the eyes of deities and immortals.
I'm afraid.
Not only you,
even I have to think of all kinds of excuses just to be able to leave the house.
If it's not some poem meeting, it would be someone's birthday.
I even have to handle those friends of mine to help me cover up the lies.
This matter is more nerve racking for me than to you.
How could it be the same?
If one day, this matter gets found out,
you will just get scolded and laughed at for a few days.
While I...my whole life will be ruined.
What do you want me to do then?
Didn't we agree
that you'll go to your mother and ask to marry me?
Anyway, the one she likes is a lady from our house too. Marrying any of us is just the same.
You don't know
that since your Sixth Sister kept giving excuses
that she's sick, my mother has already understood your family's intention.
Now, she couldn't even bear to hear the word 'sheng'.
A few days ago, a servant of mine accidentally said it and got a severe scolding.
If I go against her wish, she would surely scold me upon the mention of it.
You're not saying it then?
What about me?
I'm a daughter of a rich and reputable family. I've already given you everything,
yet you're this irresponsible.
I better just go kill myself.
Okay already.
Don't be like this. If you act like this,
my heart feels like it's being cooked in oil.
Sheng...
- Father.- Sheng...
Shameful thing! You've tainted the reputation of our Sheng family!
- Father! - Servant!
- Father!- Tie that wench up! Tie her up!
Father!
Quickly go and tie her up!
Father.
Husband.
Husband. Mo'er was just confused for a moment.
Forgive her this time.
If you want to hit anyone, just do it to me.
You're not confused.
First, you found out when the House of Count of Yongchang
would go to the temple to pray, what route would they take and what time,
and then bribed people inside and outside to help you out.
You asked your maidservant to wear Molan's clothes numerous times, so that it would appear that someone is inside her room.
What great determination.
What good method. You're something.
You...all admitted it?
Mother!
Mother! Mother!
She fainted again. How come she's not having enough of it?
Father! All this were done by me.
My mother didn't know anything. It has nothing to do with her.
If you want hit or punish anyone, just do it to me.
Mother! Mother!
Fainting again?
Servant! Drag her out!
Wait.
She is indeed pretending.
- Husband...- Mother.
Husband, we also were left with no choice.
Seeing how Mo'er is getting older every year, but there are still no good marriage prospects.
Big Madam and Old Madam are not doing anything about it.
Damn you!
Let's not talk about Old Madam first. When did Big Madam say that she won't take care of Molan's matter?
Even if she doesn't, aren't I still here?
I've repeatedly told you that I've already found a good choice.
Must she personally go out to look for a man?!
No... During the polo games at the Jinming Pond,
it was that Young Lord Liang who liked Mo'er first, and forced her...
Bullshit!
You still have the nerve to make excuses?
Don't say anything anymore,
so our ancestors won't hear it
and feel embarrassed because of you two.
Since Mo'er didn't know to love herself,
a thing that only brought shame to our family, it's better to just beat her to death!
- No, if you're going to beat her to death...- Mother...
If you're going to beat her to death, you better kill me first!
She's your own flesh and blood.
Husband...
I've been your concubine for twenty years. I endured the humiliation and supercilious looks.
For the sake of my sincere love for you, just spare her, okay?
- Husband.- Informing Master, Young Master Changfeng is kneeling outside.
He said that he wants to beg for leniency for Mistress Lin and Fourth Miss.
Husband, Husband, just...
Even if you don't want to give considerations to our past affection,
for the sake of Feng'er,
if you really kill his biological little sister,
won't that harm your relationship with him?
All the mistakes were committed by me and Mo'er.
Feng'er has already changed his ways and has been focused on his studies for half a year.
It would be the exam soon. If anything bad happens at this time,
it would also affect the reputation of the House of Sheng! Husband...
If not because I gave considerations that your older brother would be taking the civil examination soon,
I would have caned you to death today!
I should have had you kneel for a lifetime last time.
Drag her out. Lock her inside the ancestral hall to kneel and repent.
If she faints, just let her be.
Whoever dares to beg for leniency would kneel with her.
Concubine Lin
would be locked up inside Linqi Pavilion and not allowed to go out by even a step. Send people to guard her.
Other people involved in this plan would be detained while awaiting their sentence.
Drag them all out!
The heaven has finally opened its eyes.
He finally had that mother and daughter suffer a setback.
And it's even a major setback that would give them no chance to redeem themselves.
Say, I should be imitating that bitch.
Have a huge cry.
Crying until I'm unable to get up from my bed,
unable to eat, unable to handle the house matters.
Let's see if husband would still pity that bitch.
By doing it this way, letting Master handle that Concubine Lin,
Big Madam didn't end up with a harsh reputation.
Let's do it that way.
Oh, right. Go and call Rulan over.
I have to instruct her not to cause any trouble in front of his father.
Yes.
Hurry! Quickly warm me a pitcher of wine.
I'm so happy!
Informing Big Madam, Eldest Miss is back.
Okay. Okay. She's just in time.
Big Madam, you just went to the Yuan Manor a few days ago to attend a banquet
and Eldest Miss is now back at her maiden house. Won't Countess nag about it?
My god! What ruckus is this all about?
Mother, this... Is the matter between Molan and Young Lord Liang true?
Talk!
How did you know?
We've surrounded that place so tightly.
Everyone had signed a death contract, hence, they surely wouldn't have leaked it out.
What tight? The servants in the Yuan Manor are all talking about it.
They said that Molan slipped while at Yuqing Monastery
and got assisted up by the Sixth Young Lord from the House of Count of Yongchang.
The two of them were intimately hugging each other, so improper. They narrated it so vividly.
I fear that at this time, the whole Bianjing already knows about it!
What? They were not gossiping about them having an affair?
What? Affair?
My god...
If the whole Bianjing knows that...
Mother, how could I still live?
- Big Madam! Big Madam!- Mother! Mother!
Big Madam!
I wasn't strict in disciplining my children. I've brought trouble to my ancestors.
I also caused you to be sick from anger.
I'm fine. I just got too angry that it affected my heart.
I heard that Big Madam has been having fainting spells.
Rulan wanted to jump into the river one moment,
the next moment, wanted to charge into the ancestral hall and kill someone.
Hualan also came back home to cry.
When things have become like this, you now come to me to ask
if I have any idea?
I was muddled.
You are an official.
You have always been very careful.
Politics is a very dangerous field,
but you were able to survive it.
However, Concubine Lin
was able to scheme on you so accurately.
This path that Molan is taking is what Lin Qinshuang took before, and she was successful in it.
I was young at that time.
Enough. The one who's young is my Minglan.
Yes.
I don't plan on going after your past,
but how many mistakes have she committed?
Every time, she would flirt with you, pretend to be obedient, pretend to be muddled or miserable, would cry or threaten to kill herself.
Every time, you would get soft. Lifting her up so highly and just lightly letting her off.
The matters before were just minor and she's just muddle-headed for the time.
A thousand mile long dike is ruined by one ant hole.
You need me to teach you that principle?
Mother, may your anger dissipate.
I don't care if I offend you. Let's get to the bottom today.
If it hadn't been your siding with Lin clanswoman each and every time these last twenty years,
spoiling her so much she doesn't know the sky's high and she's daring and wild to her whim.
If it hadn't been so, this ugly matter wouldn't have happened.
Molan should have been a good child.
But she's learned from Lin Qinshuang to forget morality over gain, to lie, and for her own little benefit,
she can spare the reputation of all women in Sheng House.
It might be better for Molan once she marries and leaves Lin Qinshuang's side.
But Changfeng is Sheng House son. If he's taught wrongly,
that's not a matter of honor or reputation anymore.
Last year, he befriended Qiu House and spewed nonsense.
It caused you to be confined in the palace by His Majesty and you already forgot it so soon?
Which mother is on night watch outside?
My chest is very painful. May you relay the message.
And hire a doctor for me to check.
They still feed you in the prison.
His Lordship only says to confine me to the room, but he didn't list my crime.
Why in the world can I not get a doctor when I'm sick?
Little Madam, spare that. Hearing your vigorous voice,
you don't seem sick at all.
It was the master's order to not mix words with you.
If you don't concede then once Master is back,
go ahead and tattle to him about us.
Old hag. Wait till I get back up.
Watch how I tidy you up.
Now you're scared of me? Let me tell you.
In this Sheng House, no one better tries to . . .
Hong, don't look at me. Don't look.
A sick person is so ugly.
Stop pretending. Get on up.
I have something to ask you.
Do you wish to kneel and reply at the ancestral shrine in the middle of the night instead then?
Hong. Forgive Mo'er already.
Mo'er is young. If you want to beat or punish,
let this mother take her place.
Forgive her? And then?
Afterwards, of course it's to propose marriage at Liang's and set a date for the wedding.
What?
Heaven's Lord.
Your daughter committed such a foolish thing and you want me to go and propose marriage for her?
Everyone's gossiping about it out there already.
If we don't propose marriage, then our entire family loses face.
Yes. My Mo'er wasn't proper.
But that Liang house can't be something so great either.
Mo'er and that Liang young master only love each other, just like you and me!
You and me, dog shit!
How do you know this is already talked about?
Even me, I only found out after Hua'er came home.
You've been confined here all this time and how did you know?
I . . .
So it was you who spread it. Is that right?
Hong. - No wonder!
No wonder when I started to interrogate, you and Xueniang came later than everyone else.
Others out there ask me and I could only make up a reason.
I said Mo'er tripped and Liang young master helped her up and I didn't say anything else.
That way both of our families don't lost too much face and we have a step to get back down on.
That's your real daughter! This is how you waste her?
I waste her?
Hong, you keep saying you're going to get her a marriage prospect.
It's at best just selecting one from those poor scholars who need to take the imperial exam.
Mo'er is a concubine-born, so if we don't think of a way,
she might just be marrying into a poverty-stricken family and toil there bitterly for twenty some years.
And if she happens to get a loser, her whole life is done with and I'm the one wasting her?
Who's actually wasting her?
You only know the glory of a count manor.
You don't know the dangers inside.
Isn't Hualan a great example of that? And she's the legitimate daughter of our Sheng house at that!
That's because the eldest miss has no measures.
Mo'er told me.
She said that Liang young master only wanted to marry her.
As long as she brings over ample dowry,
then no one will look down at her.
How much dowry?
Who are those Liang's?
They are the top one or two wealthiest houses in Bianjing.
When Hua'er married, it was the big madam that added to it.
Your farm land and shops, they were all given by me.
Bring them all and give them to her as dowry but how much is that?
Hong. Hong.
Big Madam is the proper, legitimate mother.
Though Molan isn't birthed by her, she needs to put in a share and there's also Old Madam.
Shut that mouth!
You're a concubine.
You already live more posh than the proper wife.
You should know your place and teach the kids well.
But look at you. What has our Mo'er become?
What did you teach her?
What a great child and you've taught her to become . . .
What did you teach her to become?
Now you're still brash enough to covet Big Madam for dowry and the old madam?
Do you have any shame?
What did you say?
Hong, you think I have no shame?
Back then I was chaste.
But during the times you and I were illicit and wanton in daytime.
When did you ever think about my sense of shame?
Now I'm only trying to be devoted to my daughter.
And now you blame me for being shameless?
To the eyes of a scholar like you,
what exactly is shame?
Shuang'er.
That's what you think?
What does Hong want me to think?
You said you were afraid of getting raided.
My heart aches each time I hear it.
I ache for you as a feeble woman all alone with no one to go to.
Come now, and you say this?
Shuang'er. Let me ask you now.
If back then, if I were just a poor scholar without no money.
Would you still say that?
I would.
As long as Hong wants to hear it,
Shuang'er will say whatever you want.
You . . . - What?
What, so Hong is going to hit Shuang'er?
Shuang'er. I have placed you in my heart for over twenty years.
What did you treat me as? What?
What did you treat me as?
Hong, you have such a big heart.
Mo'er's matter is already so big.
And you've got the leisure to
reminiscent about the past with me?
Fine if you hate me and fine if you resent me.
Even if it's for Minglan and Rulan's reputation,
instead of chatting about this with me now,
go and propose marriage instead!
You're threatening me. You're threatening me!
I didn't threaten you. It's all for Sheng House sake I think of.
Liang manor wiling to marry Mo'er.
It means, they already had a marriage prospect long ago.
They already engaged to marry.
So if they got a bit close, it's no big deal.
Or else, I fear, Minglan and Rulan,
both those daughters won't be able to marry.
Forget the poor scholar even.
Even a wild man in the mountain might not marry a daughter from this kind of house.
Sheng house loses face and Changbai loses face.
If Changbai loses face,
his wife, Hai clanswoman. Will she have any honor left?
I want your Wang House. Sheng House.
And Hai clan, and even Old Madan's house.
You all figure a way out for me.
Wench!
Momo Kong once said this. A family.
Together is their glory and together is their demise. If this marriage prospect for Molan can't be done,
we will all die together then.
Heaven's Lord.
Shameless.
Mother, at least have some porridge.
If you don't eat anything, your body can't bear it.
Can't bear it? Can't bear it?
I will take a knife then.
And kill that Lin clanswoman first and then myself.
I have no face to meet others anymore.
Get this idea for her own daughter?
Seduce a man? And then go around to spread rumors?
She's set on pulling my Rulan to die with her if she can't marry off her own daughter to a rich house.
Quieter, Mother.
You keep saying dying and that's too ominous.
And Sixth Sister just persuaded Rulan to go with her.
Your crying will startle her and she's going to throw ruckus.
So what if a ruckus?
This is all calamity planted by your father.
I can't take care of it anymore. Let him take care of it.
Mother, don't speak out of spite.
Husband and wife should go through calamity together.
Father must already know by now what Lin's true colors are.
In the future, he won't take her side and spoil her anymore. Trust me.
And this Rulan. She still has to marry.
In the future, she still needs to live well in her in-law's.
Hua'er.
Tell me. Your mother-in-law reprimanded you again?
Tell me the truth or I will go to your in-law's and throw a ruckus now.
She just came up with an excuse that I didn't have a good post-partum.
So I need to rest.
And then she took Shi away.
I can't stop her.
That child, he's gone to someone else's room now.
Are they even reasonable?
No one thought,
no one thought, yesterday,
those cruel nannies in the courtyard just left Shi to nap alone.
They all went to drink liquor and play. No one watched him.
That child is just starting to crawl.
He accidentally knocked over the smoke pan.
And the burning ash all fell on him.
What?
Luckily my daughter misses her little brother.
So she will go see him everyday and she saw it.
She rushed to swipe away all the fire and pulled the child out form the fire.
Shi is doing okay.
But my daughter's hands are all blistered and she can't touch anything.
Mother.
Mother, this life. When will it ever get better?
If this Molan matter can't be pacified,
in the future, you, Ru'er,
even Changbai too. None will be cleared.
That slut, Lin Qinshuang.
She calculated so perfectly. So fiercely.
Hua'er.
I even admire her. - Mother.
Tomorrow, I will go propose marriage at Liang's.
To calm this matter down.
A daughter like her comes out from Sheng House.
And you didn't even beat her to death yet.
And you even came here to discuss marriage for her.
What a merciful heart you have.
She should be beaten to death actually.
But one hand doesn't make a loud slap by itself.
The young master of your house isn't without fault either.
We have shamed, indeed.
But a heredity noble like your house will suffer shame and loss of reputation as well.
This is a matter of both families getting injured.
In that case, let's turn weapons into jade and silk instead.
If our two houses become in-law's,
then the idle talk will disappear like smoke and clouds.
In-law's?
A heredity noble house like mine.
You are asking me to take which one from your house?
Yes. Molan's birth is a bit low indeed.
But you were fond of our sixth girl before too.
She's a concubine-born too.
So it shows you're magnanimous and doesn't nitpick pettily.
I understand what you intend.
You're holding a pan with poop to beg me and that's not easy.
Then let me pour out what's in my mind too.
What I am fond of, isn't legitimate or concubine.
It's Minglan's brightness and sanguine disposition.
Whether she's legitimate or concubine-born, I like her either way.
But your fourth girl is different.
What she's about? I have some ideas.
And you have some ideas too.
Yes. My sixth acted like a criminal.
But I'll say something I shouldn't.
If it were Minglan, she would definitely not have committed such lewd act.
You are wanting to exchange Minglan with Molan.
Isn't that slapping me in the face?
You just said it's not easy for me to bring this up.
Now for my children's sake, I am begging you with my head lowered and voice down.
It's because I'm out of option.
Wouldn't I know your difficult position?
This matter is like having swallowed a fly.
It's disgusting whether it's alive or dead.
Fine then. Since you've mentioned, I am not inclined to deny you easily.
How about this? Let me propose a compromise and tell me what you think.
May you go ahead and speak.
If Sheng can marry both daughters over.
Minglan as the proper wife and Molan as concubine, then it's perfect on both sides.
It would fulfill my wish before.
And it will resolve your urgent shame too. Isn't it good?
Harmonious Wind Sweet Rain
Dream on!
That wench caused this heaven-offending disaster.
And that's your own retribution!
You two want my Minglan to go clean up your mess?
Keep dreaming!
Old Madam, don't get angry. You're an elderly.
It's not worth it to get yourself sick.
Minglan lost her mom at such an age of eight! So scrawny like a kitten!
She almost died and I brought her to my side and raised her till now.
I taught her to be versed in principles and books and raised her to like a flower.
It's not for you to just waste her to your will!
That Sixth Liang is a loafer worse than Second Gu.
He's got someone pregnant and they're in a fret to clean up.
And they need to get a proper wife to put on display first.
That's why they were in a rush to ask for Minglan.
That Liang House. They want Sheng daughter over to use as a spear!
Molan makes herself a slut and wants to go over and fight with a horde of women, and I don't care!
You want to push my Minglan into a fire pit?
Over my dead body!
Molan, if she can't marry into Liang manor,
then Rulan and Minglan's reputations are done too.
Don't try to scare me with that.
That Molan committed this ugly act that's so shameless.
And they go propagate about it to force us to help.
I say just pull her out the door.
Whoever wants her can take her.
Or beat her to death with wild canes.
And we can get ourselves a reputation for being a strict family.
My Rulan and Minglan are still good girls!
You're already a prisoner.
What noble air are you trying to put on still?
So what if I'm a prisoner?
No matter what, I'm still Sheng house's fourth miss.
Father's flesh and blood.
Mother went to discuss marriage with Liang House.
Madam Wu. She won't take you.
She won't take me?
Then does Sheng House still care about its reputation?
Old Madam says to beat you to death.
And Sheng house honor can still be preserved.
Beat me to death?
Two lives will be lost. Do you dare?
Don't pull any tricks on me.
Lin's slutty ways won't work.
Why would I lie about this?
Sister-in-law, if you don't believe me either,
get me a doctor here.
Take my pulse and he'll know.
Do you have any shame left?
Shame?
Does shame feed you or can you use it like silver?
This matter. If Liang house finds out, even more reason not to take you.
And mother-in-law already made a trip.
And she was turned back by Madam Wu.
We can't show up at Liang again.
Even if we did, it won't work.
But we still have Old Madam.
She's the daughter of Marquis of Yongyi.
Forget the Liang's. Even in the palace she has some say.
What is Old Madam's status?
You never try to bring her joy or act filial to her.
Now you've committed a heaven-ruining disaster and you want her to be your sword and spear?
I had thought,
it was Lin that taught you bad.
But you were born this way.
You're
greedier and more shameless than your mother.
Greedy? How so?
Greedy for wanting something that's not mine?
So? You married into a count house and that's proper.
But if I marry into a count manor, I'm being greedy?
Why?
Just because you and I came out from different mothers' bellies?
Big sister. You are two faced.
And you are suited to mention shame before me?
This is not a matter of legitimate or concubine birth.
Sixth sister's birth is worse than yours but Liang house only wants her and they won't take you no matter what.
Why? Have you ever thought of it?
Let's go.
Why are you dragging me? Someone like her.
It's useless even if you hit her.
She must be bluffing. You can't just get pregnant so easily.
I must get a doctor. - You mustn't.
If that doctor's mouth isn't tight and leaks a word or two out,
then we've ruined our two sisters.
What are you doing now?
Actually, it doesn't matter too much if it's real or not.
A man and a woman have had skin contact and who will think on the better side?
You can never clear it no matter what.
We're being forced to dead end by someone like her? And my grandmother is implicated too.
Why doesn't God strike her to death with thunder?
I'm going to my mother.
That prostitute is that wild?
She is dead set on I don't dare to beat her to death then?
Molan, that girl, she's gone to the extreme with us now.
She knew I would succumb.
And I have to consent even if I don't consent.
You needn't consent, Grandmother.
It's useless if you say no.
She's pushed us to a cliff.
If Grandmother has to cower over this vile matter, I would rather never marry.
Nonsense. How can a woman not marry?
These years, I've saved up some private money and there's no problem for living to my old.
Second brother is a good person and second sister-in-law is also generous.
They won't kick me out.
Minglan is willing to serve Grandmother forever.
Serve Grandmother till the very end.
After a hundred years, I could become a nun too.
At any rate, I can plan for myself.
This girl. What crazy talk is she saying?
How can a woman not marry? That's laughable by others.
So what if others laugh? As long as I don't care about it.
Stop nonsense, kid.- When Molan caused this incident, your second brother said,
family should never tolerate an evildoer.
If . . .
If Minglan and Rulan really can't marry,
the siblings will still live in harmony forever here.
What is this nonsense you and your husband discuss?
Is this a place for you to talk?
You don't marry but Rulan still needs to marry!
Rulan doesn't marry?
Then what about Hualan at her in-law's?
Her mother-in-law always gives her a hard time and it's not like you don't know that.
Shi got snatched by her mother-in-law.
Zhuang's hands were burned and injured saving her brother.
My Heaven's Lord. Why are my days so bitter?
Lin Qinshuang. That witch.
When will she stop harming my children?
Stop crying.
Children's debt.
If I don't clear it, I can't die.
In that case,
I'll stake this old face out.
And make a trip to Liang House.
What? You came to spectate my fallen state too?
You all don't need to be jolly so soon.
I'm just confined for the time being .
Just who is high and who is lower in the future.
That's not for sure.
Grandmother told me to come tell you that Liang agreed.
Even heaven helps me.
Not putting to vain the painstaking plotting by me and Mother.
Sheng Rulan.
You are always saying legitimate day and night.
From now on, I'm going to be the wife of a count manor.
She will have to look up to me forever now.
Congratulations, Fourth Sister, to marry into a high house.
My mother said this.
Old mom wants to control the son.
If what the son wants is what the parents want . . .
Then the son is said to be filial and obedient.
If they don't agree, then the son won't care about being filial.
He will only think for himself.
Father was like that and Sixth Liang is the same.
His mother always wanted the sixth girl.
In the end, she still has to be docile and welcome me in.
Liang house isn't some great blessed place.
Madam Wu is fierce and sharp.
Sixth Liang . . .- Everyone must admire me so much.
I go there and I'll be the proper wife.
Who can fight with me?
Sister, you've reached high and may you take care.
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki
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.♫