Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 38
Don't look at it having nothing right now.
I've placed fertilizers under this.
After a few days,
when we planted some seed and there are seedlings, it would really look good.
With wheat and rice, the world will be in peace.
And I was wondering why a few months ago,
His Majesty sent people to Yuzhou.
So you had them move these from there to here.
Once your wheat have been harvested,
little brother bring your family to come here into the palace
and have a family banquet with us.
Uncle.
What? Is there any difficulty?
Since, General couldn't bear to eat them,
give these wheat to me then.
I...
I only have these few amount of wheat.
You want one, he also wants one, but I also want to have some myself.
Your Majesty, just yield them to me.
At the very least, give me enough to fill a few baskets
to serve as my wedding gift.
Which lady has a wanderer like you
set your eyes upon?
The legitimate daughter of the Sheng Family.
Sheng Family?
Sheng Family is good. They are scholars.
They can indeed discipline a wild person like you.
Sure! I'll grant you a basket of wheat.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
[ Sheng Manor ]
It's been several days.
Minglan is almost living in her room to convince her.
How come it still isn't working?
Every day, we also would just deliver her plain tea and simple food,
yet there are no reaction.
If this was in the past,
Ru'er would be begging me already.
How come this time, she still won't give in?
Since she was little, she wasn't this stubborn.
How about we wait for a few more days?
If we can wait, can Gu Tingye wait?
I heard that people proposing marriage to him
are surrounding his main gate to the point that even water can't seep out.
If we kept delaying and not giving him an answer, he might get annoyed and look for others.
Our Sheng Family not only let a fat lamb like that go,
we will even get horribly laughed at.
When I went out to buy things earlier,
I heard people outside talking about our marriage with the Gu Family.
How did this matter get out?
I don't know.
We've warned our servants
to not gossip outside.
Could it be those working under Gu Tingye? They are mostly barbaric soldiers
so they might have a slip of the tongue.
What else did they say?
It's the last part that's most important.
Someone said that His Majesty learned that he likes a lady from our house
and praised him for having good taste. His Majesty even desires to grant him marriage.
Grant him marriage?
Miss, it's better that you eat something first.
If you continue to do this, your health will suffer.
Eat what? My stomach is full of anger.
How can I take in anything?
Okay already. Stop annoying me.
Get out! Get out!
In my opinion, just listen to Big Madam.
Stop thinking about that Wen—
Are you marrying or not?!
I'm not! I'm not!
Just beat me to death!
Beat you up to death?
If you don't marry, the Sheng Family will be dead.
What? If I don't marry into the Gu Family,
that Gu Tingye will kill his way into our family?!
The emperor now knows that he has come to our house to propose marriage.
What?!
His Majesty even said that he has great taste
and plans to grant him marriage.
Grant him marriage?
So when an ox won't drink water, you have to forcefully press its head to make it drink?
It's unreasonable for the emperor to force his subjects to get married, right?
Rubbish! You dare to disobey an imperial decree?
Not only you, nor our Sheng Family,
even the family of your eldest uncle in Youyang,
the family of your second uncle and that of your fourth auntie in Hengxi,
our whole Sheng Clan will be executed.
How about...
How about you tell him
that I'm already engaged to be married to someone else?
His Majesty will never force an engaged woman to another marriage, right?
What if they ask which family you're engaged with?
We can't really tell your father to just casually make up things, right?
This is a crime of deceiving the emperor. It's still punishable by execution.
Then...
Then just casually look for someone
among the juzi for the coming civil examination to muddle through it.
Oh, right. A few days ago, didn't father
chose one for Fourth Sister?
I heard that Second Brother also saw him and said that he's not a bad man.
Since he knows our family,
he surely will help complete this lie.
What are you saying?
As an unmarried rich daughter, you dare to talk about
finding yourself a fake husband? Have you no shame?
Your father gives importance to his reputation the most. What will this make of that?
Okay, even if your father is willing,
if that Gu Tingye learns that you'd rather marry a poor juzi
than marry him, what will he think?
Why care about what he'll think?!
This is Gu Tingye! Don't you know him?
He was rebellious since he was little. Even his father—
Now, he's even a savior of the past and present emperors.
He has fame and achievements obtained through bloody battles.
You dare to hurt his dignity? What good consequence can you get from that?
Just moving his fingers, he can pinch to death a poor juzi.
I fear that in the future, no matter who you marry,
it can't be guaranteed that he won't make it difficult for your husband and his family.
This person bears grudges forever.
Okay already. Stop crying.
How come my life is this hard...?
Once you marry him,
you'll enjoy, glory, splendor, wealth, and fame. You might even get an imperial mandated title.
Big Madam, Miss is a simple and honest child.
She surely won't harm others for her own benefit just like that girl from Linqi Pavilion.
Even if it's for her parents and siblings,
for the Sheng Clan, she will figure it out.
The heaven really has eyes.
Let me tell you,
that when Molan
did that immoral act,
dragging all the ladies of our family to die with her,
and instead got married into a count house,
I really felt that the heaven was unfair.
My heart was like being fried in oil, I kept being unable to sleep every night.
Now, I know that
the deities are still guarding me.
Never thought that the marriage of my Rulan
will end up with a marquis house.
Just thinking about it is making me so happy.
Big Madam, your hard work has paid off.
Have you been having good appetite and sleep these past days?
Big Madam, your face is full of spring atmosphere. Is there some happy news?
Thank you from the blessing from you, I'm just about to report it.
It must be about Rulan's marriage, right?
You and your husband are willing to marry Rulan off to Gu Tingye?
Wasn't Rulan against it?
She has been locking herself up for several days already.
I've tried to convince her for these past days.
She has already agreed.
It's just that she's still a bit shy and won't come out to see people.
That Gu Family has a complex family situation.
Gu Tingye also has unstable mood swings.
You two have really decided
to marry off a spoiled and straightforward person like Rulan to him?
Everything was just leisure gossips of people in the capital.
Changbai has been friends with Gu Tingye for so many years.
He knows his character very well.
Even he says that this man is dependable.
An older brother will never harm her little sister, right?
As long as you two are willing,
I have nothing to say.
Fifth Sister, you really have decided?
Even the emperor is granting this marriage, what else can I do?
I'd rather die than put Brother Jing in danger.
How can there be any danger?
Must I disobey the imperial decree then?
That Gu Tingye seek vengeance even against the littlest grudge. He surely will remember this.
If I don't agree to his proposal,
what if he go trouble Brother Jing?
I'd rather marry him and suffer for a lifetime,
than let him make the life of Brother Jing difficult.
It won't come to that.
Second Brother has been friends with him for so many years.
Even if doesn't give any consideration to the monk, he would to Buddha.
Second Brother is a scholar.
How could he see through the facade of a rash soldier?
And you, he was just able to help you a few times when you were little.
So many years have passed. What if he has gotten worse?
It can't be.
It probably isn't. He has helped me a lot of times.
To put it plainly, I'm sparing the rat to save the dishes. (hold back in taking action against an evildoer to save good people)
Maybe, Gu Tingye is indeed not a person who holds grudge. But, what if?
Brother Jing is a scholar who doesn't have the physical strength to defend himself,
and he has no power or influence.
How could I allow him to bully Brother Jing?
Sometimes, I would think
that if we are not humans,
if we're cats or dogs,
are bugs or grasses,
we'll be able to live and fly together, be so carefree. How good is that?
Sometimes, when I would see a cat in the garden,
I would envy it so much.
Must you have him and no one else?
You don't understand. Let me ask you this.
If you're able to have Brother Yuanruo,
don't you want it?
If I'm able to have him, then just forget it.
No. If you really love someone,
it has to be him. If it's not him,
you won't be able to sleep or eat.
You think of him when you're sitting,
or when you're walking.
You think of him when you're embroidering flowers,
or when you're playing polo.
When you make teas or light fragrances, you will think of him.
You will forever think of him.
Sister, I really couldn't understand.
There are so many things happening in this world.
We all should keep looking forward.
You surely will forget him.
I won't anymore.
I won't.
Let's think about something happy.
If you marry into the marquis family,
then you will be several levels higher than Fourth Sister.
She has to bow to you when she sees you next time.
Really?
It's true.
If Second Uncle Gu gets some high official position or nobility title,
you might even also get a title,
Fourth Sister then won't be able to catch up with you even if she fawns forever.
That is indeed a comforting matter.
It's the only one now.
Big Madam will be very happy.
How come my mother can be this ruthless?
Just pushing me towards the fiery pit like this.
My Brother Jing...
Say, what could be Brother Jing doing right now?
[ Sanqing Hall ]
I heard that here in Yuqing Monastery,
there are yulan magnolia during spring and chrysanthemum during autumn.
Let's go take a look.
You're usually busy all day.
How come you have the idle time today to admire autumn flowers?
If there is a beautiful one, I'll pick it
and you take it back to gift to your little sister.
Let's go.
Did you see that? When I said that I'm getting married,
the light on the oil lantern kept flickering.
It feels as if my mother in heaven is happy for me.
This is just the start. There are still good days ahead.
It has usually been me being the older brother and you being the younger one.
Thinking about how in a few days,
I must call you older brother already.
It doesn't feel good.
Doesn't feel good?
Let's just forget about this marriage then.
What are you saying?
As long as I'm able to marry your sister,
even if I get to be degraded to a generation below you, I'm willing.
Okay. Okay.
I finally know your sincerity.
Indeed. Indeed.
Looks like the two of us don't have the fate to be together.
- There is someone crying.- If I have a choice,
- Could someone have encountered some problem?- I would choose to be with you in a carefree manner.
I can't wronged my Sheng clan. I can only wrong you.
Sheng clan?
- Young Master!- Oh, my!
- Be careful, Young Master!- You...!
What are you looking at? Go back! Go back!
- What's going on?- Zhonghuai! Zhonghuai!
This... You...
Come home with me!
You shameless beast.
What are you doing?1
What am I doing? I'm going to kill her!
The whole family should die with her!
Cry. You only know to cry.
I initially thought that you're different from Molan.
Never thought that you would do this kind of indecent scandal!
You even got discovered.
Tell me, what's the point of you living? It's better that you just die!
They are eloping or—
Grandmother, of course not.
Fifth Sister is a kind and honest person.
This marriage is known by the emperor. She willingly agreed to wait to be married.
She just went to say her farewell, but coincidentally,
that Gu Tingye also thought about telling his mother the news of his wedding.
He invited my husband to light some incense and accidentally bump into them.
This is also just bad luck.
Then..how are things in Weiruixuan?
Father tried to strangle Fifth Little Sister with a white cloth.
Her maid servant also got flogged.
But all these can't solve anything.
I heard that Gu Tingye didn't say anything and just left.
Don't really know what he would do once he gets mad.
Although Gu Tingye is a military warrior,
he is also an educated person that is steeped with propriety.
Moreover, if this matter gets out,
his reputation will also get tarnished. And given his relationship with Changbai,
I'm guessing that
he won't turn hostile against us.
But this matter with Fifth Little Sister is known to the emperor.
If it didn't push through, he surely will inquire.
With Fifth Little Sister doing a thing like that, even if my husband beg for leniency for the sake of their friendship,
I fear that Gu Tingye will still not agree.
Moreover, if this matter gets out,
our family will then...
Last time, when Molan caused such great trouble, I was able to go to the House of Liang based on my background.
But the people in the House of Gu... The House of Gu is being steward by a stepmother.
Gu Tingye and her are also at odds right now.
Even if I want to use my background again and obtain their understanding,
I fear that it won't work.
Miss!
How are things?
Sister Xique has been beaten so badly.
I heard that Fifth Miss pounced on her body and suffered some of the flogging, hence, she was able to preserve her life.
I've already left all the good medicines we have with them.
Then, how about now? What else did you find out?
Weiruixuan is being sealed like some iron barrel. No one is allowed to enter or leave.
So scary.
I heard from Sister Yanghao that Second Brother has already
delivered a letter to the Gu Family in behalf of Master tonight.
I don't know what he wrote in that letter.
That Gu Tingye! He's really a calamity star!
Anyone who associates with him will get in trouble.
Actually, Fifth Sister just wanted to...
...to bid some farewell and have some closure.
How come it would be so unlucky that he just happen to...
...bump into them?
Even if father's letter is eloquent and flowery, it won't help.
No matter how you look at it, this situation is hopeless.
It's can't be resolved.
In my opinion, we can't blame the other party too.
Who told our misses to each be willful and bold like this?
The one who will suffer the misfortune will still be you. What if the He family...
If the He family will not want me because of this matter,
just let them be.
Anyway, I'm not interested in marriage.
I'll just listen to grandmother. Listen to the plans of the heaven and where my fate takes me.
Don't even think about it!
And you are even her father.
You dare come up with an idea like that?!
What kind of person is that Gu Tingye?!
You're going to fool him?
Can he accommodate any flaws in his eyes?!
Mother, we really are left with no choice.
Yesterday, I've already asked Changbai to discuss with Gu Second the matter of canceling the marriage.
Gu Second is actually easy to talk to.
Based on Changbai and him having some friendship,
even the marriage is canceled, people will just talk some more.
Maybe, the lofty ones
would even admire us for not connecting with a newly favored noble.
But Gu Second said
that this marriage
has already been set in front of His Majesty.
Then...
...will His Majesty hold a blade and force my granddaughter to marry?!
Go tell them that my Minglan has expressed her wishes
of becoming a monastery nun!
Mother. Mother.
Gu Second only announced that he's marrying the legitimate daughter of our Sheng Family. He didn't say any name.
Minglan has already been registered under me.
She's also considered to be a legitimate daughter.
We just need to announce to the public that it's Minglan who is marrying into the Gu Family, Rulan is agreed to be married into the Wen Family.
Rulan is agreed to be married into the Wen Family. This way, both our families...
- Oh, wrong, the three families will all look good.- Correct.
You...
You wish!
You...
As the Main Madam,
you never thought about Ming'er if there are any good things.
When there are any noble families coming to ask, you only mention Ru'er.
Now that a problem occurred, you remembered Ming'er?
You two...
One is extremely selfish.
Only thinking about her own birth daughter.
The other one...
...is blinded by greed! Only thinks about position and wealth!
You are a pair of dangerous beast, black-hearted husband and wife.
Thinking of stealing Ming'er away from me?
Unless you kill me with one punch!
Mother! Mother, you're right to scold us!
But no matter what,
you should consider Hua'er's reputation!
Hua'er's days with her in-laws are already not good.
Good thing, her husband is still quite considerate.
But her husband is currently working under Gu Tingye.
If this matter doesn't end well,
then...what if Gu Tingye vent his anger on her husband?
What will Hua'er do?
Hua'er also grew up by your side.
You can't just dote on Ming.
Last time, when that damn rascal caused trouble,
you all also wanted me to consider Hua'er.
Now that Ru'er brought trouble, I still have to consider Hua'er.
Hua'er has such huge reputation.
She's after all officially wed into the count house.
Will they dare to divorce her and give her back to us?!
Must we sacrifice the future of her little sister
just to make her feel better?
You all call Hua'er to see me and I'll ask her myself.
I think she dotes Ming'er more than you two.
Mother, you said earlier that I should just tell His Majesty
that Ming'er is going to be a nun.
Those words are tantamount to the crime of deceiving the emperor. I dare not.
If you think this matter can be easily resolved, I'll then write you a letter requesting for an audience with His Majesty
and you just go there to explain it in my behalf.
You!
Old Madam, stop being mad.
Old Madam, drink some ginseng soup and calm your anger.
Don't panic first. Let grandmother come up with an idea.
The marriage between you and the He Family is almost finalized.
Doing this is wronging you.
Did Second Brother hear wrong?
Gu Tingye...
Gu Tingye wants to marry me?
He can't be wrong. It's true.
Please let me pass. Let me pass.
Excuse me.
Young Master! Young Master! Your name is over there!
[ No. 12 - Qi Heng ]
It's a pass! Young Master passed!
I passed! I passed!
13th place! I passed!
I passed! Thanks.
Mother! Mother!
I passed!
Okay. Okay. This is great.
You finally
didn't study in vain.
Our Qi Family finally have some celebratory news.
Quick, go ask Duke of the State to return home.
Hang red lanterns and light the fire crackers.
Mother, don't be busy with that first.
I'll instruct the servants to handle those matters.
There is one thing now that I want to beg mother.
Mother, I...
I understand.
It's all my fault.
I made you get married just for a few months
and become a widower.
Now,
you can be said to now have an achievement.
If we go propose marriage this time, it won't be aggrieving Minglan.
I will go take a bath and change my clothes now.
I'll go to the Sheng Family and settle this marriage.
This is snowflake wine that your brother-in-law personally made. Have a taste.
With rusty leaf garjan as the main ingredient,
costus root as accompaniment. You feel very refreshed upon drinking it.
It is indeed worthy of its name, snowflake wine.
Big Madam!
Big Madam, we have a problem.
Why are you being panicky?
Young Master kept crying. No one could make him stop. His nanny already went to see him but failed.
Big Madam, quickly go look.
- What's wrong with Shi'er? I'll also—- Don't go anymore.
They are just exaggerating. Sit down and eat.
It's fine.
Let's go.
How come Eldest Miss didn't let you see your nephew?
Eldest Sister of course has her reason.
Xiaotao. Have a taste.
The cooking and flavoring of the fish was really done well.
It's just that the fish quality is a bit lacking.
If you want live fish, I'll go catch you a few ones in Youyang River!
So, Eldest Sister also invited you.
Why can't your Eldest Sister invite me?
Technically speaking, I'm even you brother-in-law's superior.
I cam here to visit my little nephew and niece.
This is also just normal human behavior.
My nephew is currently crying. You go take a look.
Let's finish our chat first before going. It won't cause too much delay.
I have nothing to say to Second Uncle Gu.
Say, we're about to get married.
Stop calling me Second Uncle.
I'm not agreeing with it!
My grandmother has also not agreed yet.
This matter might not push through.
Angry now? Please wait.
I know that you are mad.
But I feel that this matter should be discussed out in the open.
Keeping it to yourself isn't a good idea.
Sincerely treating each other is the proper principle.
Saying the truth to a person who speaks the truth
is what treating each other sincerely means.
Saying the truth to a person who's lying
is called being stupid like a pig.
You think I'm stupid?
How sure are you that I'm not telling the truth?
This...from where should we start?
Let's start when you proposed marriage to our family.
You didn't plan to marry my Fifth Sister from the start.
You are targeting me, am I right?
You were able to get that?!
You are indeed the person I want.
I only guessed it when you came here today.
But it's too late.
Our whole Sheng family has fallen to your devious trap.
Last time, I saved you from the river.
What?
I saved you and you gave me an advice.
You told me to stop wandering and give Rong'er a home.
Since then, I've decided
to marry you as my wife.
That was a matchmaker.
Could that person be here to propose marriage?
Looking at him, he seems to be just a normal scholar.
How could he compare to our Young Master?
Big Madam, don't worry.
Indeed.
You say that you want to marry me. You could just directly propose marriage.
Why go around such a big circle?
Just for this matter, my Fifth Sister almost lost her life.
If I directly go propose,
will your grandmother agree?
It's not easy to agree to a marriage proposal,
but rejecting one is so easy.
All kinds of reasons can be used as an excuse.
Moreover, my character before was indeed dishonorable.
Your grandmother has just strong personality.
If she insists on refusing, I fear that your father
won't be able to do anything about it too, right?
You know yourself quite well.
It's good for a person to know himself well.
Do you know about the matter about the He family? My grandmother already agreed—
Already agreed to their proposal.
If you know, why did you still propose marriage?
Do you even know the feudal ethical codes and moral principles?
It's your family's matter to marry off the ladies in your house to whoever.
It's my matter to propose marriage or not.
Why must there be a need for feudal ethical codes or moral principles?
Moreover, even if your older brother learns of this,
he won't comment much.
You and the He family are not fated to be together.
If not because you interfered, how could we not be fated?
Because there is a cousin Cao.
Hence, it's destined that you two can't be together.
You also know about her?
How could I not know?
You also arranged this?
How is that possible?
Since I returned to the capital,
I've been asking around for news regarding your family.
I also know that your grandmother
is very close with the Old Madam of the He family.
That He Hongwen also frequently visits your house.
In my heart, I understood it more or less.
Afterwards, His Majesty asked me to fight a war for him.
I couldn't make time to handle this matter.
I then can only think of a way to deal with He Hongwen.
Afterwards, I heard that He Hongwen
has a female cousin he grew up with.
And she's even been exiled.
That night, I was so happy that I couldn't sleep.
And then, the Cao Family got pardoned.
The parents of that Cao cousin
married her to a sergeant.
That family refused to let her go. They cried and fought
to not let their family enter the list of those pardoned families.
I gave out some money to buy her freedom.
Let someone instruct their family not to return to their home province
and directly return to the capital.
That Cao little sister didn't disappoint me.
She pestered He Hongwen to the point that he's unable to escape her grasp.
I...then was able to have time
to be focused in fighting my battles.
In just 10 to 15 days after the pardon,
the Cao family already arrived here in the capital.
Only you could have done that.
That's right.
The Canal Gang transports goods. Then in transporting people,
won't it be a piece of cake?
Princess of the second rank, this...
You could have just come.
Why the need to bring so much things?
- Are your husband and Young Lord doing well?- Both are doing well.
Yesterday, Yuanruo went to look at the results and was able to pass the civil examination.
It's all thanks to his studying days in your house.
Shouldn't I bring some items to show our gratitude?
In a few days, we're holding a banquet in our house.
Hope your family can come to drink some wine with us.
I indeed should congratulate you and Duke of the State.
But, I can only thank you for the invitation.
Recently, our family is quite busy.
We have to prepare for the wedding of my two daughters. We really won't be able to go out.
- Two daughters?- Right.
Talking about marriage fate,
it can be as far as the horizon or as near as being in front of you.
Before, we couldn't find any prospect.
Suddenly, these two daughters each have one now.
It's a happy matter, but also tiring.
Minglan's marriage has also been settled?
Which family is it?
Princess, you never heard?
Isn't it already known throughout Bianjing?
She is to marry that Gu Second Master who pacified the unrest in the west.
Gu Tingye?
Isn't he set to marry Rulan?
Everyone is saying that he's marrying the legitimate daughter of the Sheng Family.
When Minglan returned to our home province in Youyang,
Old Madam has already decided to put her under my house.
Hence, she can be considered to be of legitimate Sheng line.
Then...Gu Second agreed?
Why won't he?
Although he's a favored subject by His Majesty and a just a new appointee,
he's very sensible and reasonable.
He's unlike other people who is too bothered by details.
He also never looked down that his future father-in-law is just a five-rank official.
He even said that
he looks down on those opportunists.
When they see someone getting in power, they would pound at him like a fly smelling some stink.
Our family has always been loyal and devoted, not moved by honor or disgrace.
We are way stronger than those people who only knows to
climb higher branches, currying people of power and stepping on those who are not.
To say something that shouldn't be revealed to outsiders,
it was even Gu Tingye who personally came to our house
and mentioned this marriage to my son.
After hearing that Rulan has been set to marry someone else,
he immediately said that Ming'er is fine too. As long as it's a Sheng daughter, she surely would be a good lady.
This son-in-law is really quite a nice lad.
He can talk and can do things.
You can say that our family has endured a long time and finally turned into gold,
having some good days after a long suffering.
Princess, stay behind and have dinner with us.
Big Madam, no need to be so courteous.
It's getting late. I'll go greet Old Madam and will return to my manor.
There are still some matters at home that I must handle.
I won't disturb you anymore.
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.♫