Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 49
I told you not to intervene in this matter.
Either way, I will be lenient with the punishment of those brothers of yours.
How come, you just won't listen to my advice?
Even if you want to beg for leniency, you could have just told it to privately.
Why must you talk in front of everyone in the imperial court?
Tell me, should I be giving this imperial grace or not?
If I give it to you, since you've started the trend, and everybody comes to beg me,
how are we still going to investigate this case?
If I don't give it to you, outsiders will say that we're not united.
All our steps would be difficult from now on!
Indeed. You were usually a very sensible person.
How come you've become muddled now.
Quickly kneel and ask for punishment.
May Your Majesty forgive me.
Just to clean the name of my birth mother, Lady Bai,
that her biography and praises be written in our ancestral book,
and to ask for a posthumous title for her, I have no choice but to save my Gu brothers.
May Your Majesty just keep a blind eye on this matter
just for my sake. Please confer me some graces.
If not, this official position of mine
becomes meaningless.
I know that you had a hard past life.
What graces have I not given you?
What I'm angry at is you acting by yourself without regard for others.
Your Majesty, the reason I begged for leniency
in front of all the other high officials in the imperial court
is because I was afraid that you'll be criticized at by them in the future.
If Your Majesty would be lenient to our Gu Clan in private,
I fear that others will say that you're being biased on me.
This is better. In front of everyone,
they saw me pressuring you.
His Majesty then has no choice to agree so as to not lose face.
You are always on the right.
So letting others see how we lose harmony is a good thing?
Your Majesty, as long as you know
that I'm united with you in heart and morality, that's enough.
The opinions of others are not important.
Fine. Fine. Leave now.
This...
Then...about the Gu Family matters...
I've already agreed in front of everyone.
Can I still take it back?
Just this once. No more next time.
Or else, I'll remove you from your post and let you go farm in Yuzhou!
- Thank you, Your Majesty! - Thank you, Royal Father!
I told you that it will word. You won't believe me.
Let's go.
Your Majesty, please don't be mad.
Your Majesty.
When did you arrive?
I was here since earlier and just waiting outside.
Your Majesty, please taste the dish that I've personally made.
I don't have the appetite. You eat it yourself.
Your Majesty, I've worked to make this the whole day.
Just leave it. I'm unable to eat.
Your Majesty, you just took back the jade seal from Empress Dowager.
General Gu indeed is meritorious for suggesting the plan.
But now, he has become so arrogant and despotic.
What more in the future?
What being united in voice and breath? I think
that he's only united in voice and breath with Prince Huan.
Shut up! Get out!
Your Majesty, don't be mad.
Leave! Leave!
Yes.
Your Majesty, calm down! Calm down!
[ Kaifeng Precinct ]
Third Young Master!
Nanny Xiang.
Quickly, get into the carriage.
- Thank you. - Hope your Young Master Gu won't see us again.
Hope your words will come true.
Tingwei!
Mother!
- My son has suffered. - Mother...
Did you get flogged?
Mother, I heard...that eldest brother has died.
Didn't the doctor say that his health has been getting better?
Was it because we were imprisoned,
eldest brother's health worsened out of anger?
Why do you still have time to care about him?
Did you get torture?
Were you starved?
Thank you to Second Brother, I'm quite well.
Brother Bing got mauled, but they've also been released.
The one from the Fifth House has been released with you.
Tingbing from the Fourth House, on the other hand,, got sentenced to be exiled.
Just let the Fourth House fight it out with Second.
Let's not worry about it.
What's there still to fight about?
Second Brother is currently holding great power.
There were so many people who got implicated in this rebellion case.
For me to come out of prison is good karma accumulated by our ancestors.
You're so useless.
This is clearly that Young Lord Qi
going against that Gu Tingye.
You're just sitting in your house,
- but disaster still fell from the sky. - No...
Didn't they say that it was because I took in
those female attendants that were initially bought for the rebel prince?
For such a trifle matter, at most, you could just be punished immediately.
Must it still reach the Ministry of Justice?
Let's go home.
Slowly.
Take this away.
Let's go.
You've now been pardoned.
And your eldest brother is gone.
I must think of a way to go out, move around,
and find you a job.
At home, just focus on your studies.
At this important time, stop going to those places of pleasure to jeer and cause trouble.
You hear me?
Eldest Brother is gone.
- Second Brother must be— - He still must pretend to be grieving.
We've all pretended,
but Second Brother never did.
[ Marquis Manor ]
- Please contain your grief. - Thank you, Young Lord.
I'll take my leave.
That marquis has such deep thinking.
He was indeed a talent.
Too bad, his life was too short.
If he continued to lead his family, then the Gu Clan...
The weather is really good today.
Stop the carriage!
What's wrong?
I want to get down and walk. Walk all the way back to the manor.
I'll accompany you then.
A few days ago, Gu Tingye made a ruckus
in the court meeting to beg for leniency in behalf of the Gu Clan.
His Majesty didn't want to pardon those Gu criminals because he wanted to scare away those who intend to do the same crime.
But with Gu Tingye doing such a scene,
His Majesty has no choice but to give him this favor,
so that he won't lose the loyalty of a man who served him before he was emperor.
But by doing that,
the emperor lost a key moment.
Empress Dowager has one more weakness
of the emperor in her hand.
But the emperor still approved his request in the end,
and swallowed his anger.
So this consoling decree today was so full of hidden meaning.
It sounded something wasn't right.
No wonder Gu Second and his wife didn't attend the funeral.
They might be in anger and fear inside their house now.
This is an argument inside the court meetings.
It's not a business that women should meddle in.
Although His Majesty is angry,
he's only mad at Gu Tingye.
Yes. For matters of the imperial court,
women shouldn't comment.
The weather is really good today.
Let's drink some tea before going back.
Husband still couldn't forget that Big Madam Sheng.
Tormenting the husband of that Big Madam Sheng
to vent my anger will be good too.
Miss. Miss.
Although you've been raised in a luxurious manner,
you actually had a hard life.
Good thing, you were able to have
a capable and filial son like young master.
He was able to earn you a posthumous title!
No one would dare belittle you now.
Belittle your father.
Belittle our Bai Family.
Miss.
I'm also old.
For a major matter like getting scolded by His Majesty,
you didn't even tell me when you got back.
If not because I noticed that there was something wrong with the consoling decree,
you wouldn't have still told me.
The greatest wish of my mother and grandfather in their life was to be rid of the merchant status.
Now that she has been conferred a title, my wish has been fulfilled.
So what if I have offended the emperor?
What?
I did save him and his son's life after all.
I risked my life to save them.
His Majesty and I have a relationship that transcends life and death.
Isn't that enough to earn my mother a conferred title?
Since time immemorial, subjects who became arrogant from being satisfied with his achievement,
usually didn't end up well.
Just be at ease and follow me.
I guarantee that nothing will happen to you.
You really don't fear anyone, even the emperor.
Say, how come a very cautious person like my Second Brother
would be friends with you?
Even if His Majesty can't control me, you can.
Son!
- Husband... - Once you leave, what about me?
Okay already. It's getting late.
If we still don't leave, we won't be able to reach a lodging inn during the night.
Sir...!
Father! That asshole Gu Tingye!
He did this deliberately!
All the other Gu members got pardoned,
but how come I'm the only one sentenced to be exiled?
Isn't it all because our connections are more inferior?
Isn't it because our relationship with their marquis manor is not as good as the Fifth House?
How come only my younger brother got sentenced?
Their Fifth House also had interactions with the rebel prince.
His house not only gave out beautiful women and girls—
Shut up!
Husband! Husband!
That vile spawn Gu Tingye is deliberately
making things hard on us!
Say, how could our son endure such kind of pain with his health?
Husband, think of a way to save him, okay?
Let him go.
I won't accept any favor from that Gu Tingye.
Let's go! Go!
Son!
Husband! Husband!
Intelligence similar to Sun Wu (a personality during the Three Kingdoms Era), has the talent to govern,
has pure air like that of Tong Mountain,
has been taught the classics of Huang Shi,
achieved valiant and imposing merits, has an upright character,
rose in the military ranks through his own hard work, very earnest in his useful advice.
Although he has achieved high merit, he didn't grow boastful.
Although he's salary is abundant, he's able to humble down himself.
Hence, I'm promoting such a talented general
with the fate of being a marquis.
I'm especially conferring him the title Golden Purple Glorious Grand Master,
High State Pillar General, inheriting the Marquis of Ningyuan title.
His official duty will still be the same.
His wife, Lady Sheng,
is virtuous and gentle in temperament, graceful and beautiful in appearance,
is pure and fragrant like a dense growth of osmanthus, has intelligence like a flowing river.
It has become natural for her to give out benefits.
It is a natural for her to be benevolent and filial.
She's being especially conferred the title Lady of Yongjia Commandery.
This decree is to be promulgated.
Marquis, Marquis' Wife, please thank the His Majesty's graces.
I'm especially grateful to the graces of His Majesty!
Congratulations Marquis and Marquis' Wife.
I now have a conferred title.
How could I have earned a conferred title?
Why can't you?
But...how old am I just now?
I heard that the deceased Big Madam Qin only got her conferred title after she died.
The current Big Madam Qin had to go through two generations of marquis
before being conferred a title lately.
Even my grandmother doesn't have one.
Because my father didn't save a voluntary corps commander while in the wilderness,
and he also didn't fight and killed enemies inside the palace,
of course, they won't be able to get a conferred title.
My mother got conferred at title because of giving birth to me.
You were conferred a title because you married me.
It was clearly His Majesty's grace.
It was clearly me who went to the palace to help you get one.
Little stupid.
Marquis. Madam. People from there have come.
Ye'er,
you're too unfair towards the Fourth House!
Brother Bin has been sickly since he was little.
Your Fourth Aunt-in-law has spoiled him too much and didn't let him suffer even for a bit.
But you just have to let him get exiled.
It's not me who wants to exile him.
It was His Majesty who exiled him.
Making connections with a rebel prince, just for that one grave crime,
exiling is already a light punishment.
How about we let your Di'er go then?
This...how could you talk like that?
Don't be mad.
Fifth Uncle, Second must have did his best already.
Uncle, stop scolding him.
Ye'er, now that the Fourth House is lacking a son now,
they surely will be lacking some support
for the future days.
Ye'er, you must comfort and take care of them more.
Big Madam Qin, you're the person that I can't clearly read the most.
With you being such a good actress,
it's really a waste of talent for you to stay here in this marquis manor
and not join the southern opera troupe.
How could he speak like that?!
When you disregarded law and natural morality before that your father had to beat you up,
this mother kept defending you.
You dare to insult her like this now?!
It's fine. It's fine.
You...
He just have such stinky attitude.
Fifth Uncle, why do you keep defending your sister-in-law,
my stepmother? What's the reason behind this?
- This... Shameless! - Second Brother!
You even dared to insult me too?!
- Second Brother. - Do you still treat us as your elders?!
- Second Brother, what nonsense are you saying?! - I'm so mad!
What? You're also helping them to scold me here in my house?
I heard that eldest brother revealed the matters that the family
did to wrong you.
- But my mother— - Third!
Looks like Second doesn't plan to give me any dignity.
- Let's go. - Mother.
- Sister-in-law! Don't go! - Mother-in-law!
Don't cry anymore. He just have a stinky temper.
Don't put it to heart.
He's deliberately being mean to me.
What sin have I done?
I was totally submissive
in raising such a son!
I won't leave uncle and auntie for lunch anymore.
- The lunch... - Grand Madam!
Husband.
- Fifth Uncle! - Husband, don't be mad.
Fifth Uncle! Fifth Auntie, so sorry.
Husband.
Mother too. Why must you insist in coming with Fifth Uncle in this trip to get insulted like that?
Not really great. Second Brother is mad, and he refuses to mind me too.
How could I still expect him to find me a good job now?
You're placing your hopes on him?
He's your bitter rival!
Although we did fight before,
we're still siblings. Also, Second Brother dotes me since I was little.
Now, he's also just mad at you a little.
Good thing, he's not a petty person.
I reckon that his anger would have dissipated in a few days.
Are you my real born?
Get in the carriage!
On our way there, that Gu Tingye has already inherited the marquis title and conferred with other more titles.
It was even promulgated by the close eunuch of His Majesty, Eunuch Li.
How high is the honor being given to him?
That noble title was supposed to be yours.
Have you never thought of stealing it back?
You even thought of being a lackey of that Gu Tingye.
Your father and I were both tough people. How come we end up having a son like you?
I also want to inherit a noble title, but I should be qualified to do so.
Second Brother is currently a favored powerful official of His Majesty.
Now, he has inherited the title and isn't a bedridden sickly person like eldest brother.
Presently, he is at the prime of his manhood, as strong as a bull.
He and Second Sister-in-law are also so much in love.
Just looking at it and you know that they'll have children soon. It will never be my turn.
What do you mean by favored and powerful?
Do you know the matter about him getting scolded by His Majesty?
What? What's going on?
You don't even know this?
What's the use of you hanging out with those disreputable friends of yours?
But, Second Brother
is currently a popular highly favored new official. How could His Majesty—
What do you mean by highly favored new official or currently popular?
It means that he wasn't favored before, but is now. He wasn't popular before, but is now.
It's not strange for His Majesty to scold him.
What's weird is this news got out so fast.
It means that His Majesty didn't care.
So, if he didn't care, how could he be a favored one?
Remember this. There's no such thing as being favored or not.
There is only should be used or not by the emperor. Do you un—
Mother, so what if Second Brother is the head of our house?
In the past, you and him were like a benevolent mother and a filial son, I also was highly doted and cared for by him.
What's wrong with days like that that you two must torment each other?
Fine. Anyway, it's not only us
who wants him dead.
No need to look for weaknesses.
They will come on their own.
Stop the carriage. Stop the carriage!
Third Young Master, Big Madam did all of these for your sake.
Just continue to instigate my mother.
Third Young Master!
Big Madam.
Today, since we got conferred positions and titles,
this Big Madam Qin of mine,
oh, wrong. She has now a conferred title. I should call her Grand Madam.
Technically speaking, we still have provide for her.
That Grand Madam Qin
is so cunning and craty.
Usually, she would act so gentle and kind.
The whole Bianjing is praising her.
But actually, her stomach is fool of teeth.
Right.
I've thought about this matter that you said.
Don't call me that.
What should I call you?
Second Uncle?
Shut up!
You and I are not related by blood.
Why must you call me Second Uncle just like Yuanruo?
Why can't you call me like how your Second Brother calls me?
Or, call me Darling Second.
That's so disrespectful.
It's better to call you husband.
Under that little face of yours, how are you still respectful towards me?
Quickly, call me Darling Second.
I really know how to deal with your stepmother.
Don't worry.
Let's break down the walls between our manors.
Put a garden on that area and do some more renovations.
On the outside, it's two families uniting as one.
But in reality, we're living in one,
the two of them,
and sister-in-law, are living in the other manor.
It's still the same as before.
If you are still worried,
I'll ask the carpenter to add an additional dividing door,
but that will make the travel farther.
Call me Darling Second.
Say it one word at a time. Try it.
Second...
Darling Second!
You call it well.
[ Sanqing Monastery ]
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
Is he here yet?
Not yet.
Where is he?
We've agreed to meet here.
Big Madam has a pious heart. Buy some incenses.
Incenses are good.
The gods will bless you and all your wishes will come true.
Go away.
Big Madam, you don't want incenses?
These are good incenses from Yangzhou.
What's your name?
Bai.
I want to invite Big Madam to meet someone.
If the person is right,
you can then decide to buy my incense or not.
I can go meet the person,
but I don't want her to see me.
It's really true that only the salt merchants
can find this woman.
We've always sent men to monitor Gu Tingye.
When this woman entered our territory,
she got invited to live in our manor.
You have really put a lot of heart into it.
He used his identity as the legitimate son of a marquis to steal my family's assets.
I'm not only diligent in trying to kill him,
I'm diligent in everything that I do.
Go.
Eldest of the Bai Family, just wait for our good news.
I will quietly wait here for your good news then.
Okay already.
Go now.
Tingye, going to the morning court meeting?!
I'm also going to pray to Buddha. Let's travel together!
Shitou. Let's go.
Okay.
Mother-in-law, hope you are well.
I am well.
Second! Second!
Even if you don't acknowledge me,
you shouldn't kill me!
Second! For you refusing to acknowledge me and wanting to kill me,
I accept my fate.
But...you can't refuse to acknowledge your son!
What's going on here?
Second...
- This... - Second!
Isn't this that outside mistress of Second?
Second!
You are also an educated and well-balanced person.
You should know about this reasoning.
You must increase your tolerance.
Why is Buddha's abdomen so huge?
That is because he can tolerate people and matters.
Mother-in-law, what are you saying?
This little temple of our can't accommodate such a huge Buddha.
Good child. Don't get yourself a jealous wife reputation
at such a young age.
She came from a hard life,
and has not much foundation.
Isn't it still you who has the final say?
Just let her into your house.
Oh, right. Doesn't she still have a child
that's under your care?
Go! Call the Miss to see her birth mother!
That child is also quite pitiful.
When father-in-law was alive, he was resolute to not let her into the House of Gu.
The whole capital knows about this.
Father-in-law has just died not long ago.
Mother-in-law, have you forgotten about it?
She gave birth to a son, hence, provided merit to our Gu Family.
What mother-in-law said is very reasonable.
Madam Zhu, go call Chang'er and just let me raise him.
I've never imagined in my wildest dreams
that the main wife of Darling Gu will be you.
At the Yu Manor before,
you scolded and ridiculed me in behalf of Eldest Miss Yu.
Could it be because you have selfish intentions of having Darling Gu to yourself?
I'm not as smart as you.
I fully listen to my family when it comes to marriage matters.
Whoever my family tells me to marry, I will marry that man.
How can there be so many considerations?
There is still such a matter?
This is my family business.
If you have nothing else to do, you can go to the temple to light incenses.
See if Bodhisattva will bless you that all your wishes will come true.
- Shitou! - Here!
- Escort the guest out! - Yes!
Please go this way.
Yes, this is your family matter.
Ye'er, don't forget.
Our dynasty governs through benevolence and righteousness.
You are also a high official of this government.
It's better not to escalate this matter
too much.
Darling Gu! Don't you want our child anymore?
Where is Chang'er?
If you allow me to enter your house,
place my name in your family's genealogy,
he naturally can see you already.
[ Jiaxi Abode ]
The only way that can work now is to pretend to comply.
Falsely agree in letting her into the house.
Once Chang'er appears,
it will be easy to do the other things.
I think that Madam Zhu is very scheming.
She's not that easy to deal with.
The condition she requested now is for you to sleep with her for a night.
In the future, don't know what other conditions she'll come up with.
Must we agree with them all the time?
You...
What about me?
Other than weighing the pros and cons, and thinking of a plan,
do you have other things to tell me?
I do. The conditions she's asking now are still easy to comply with.
But if in the future, we meet a condition that you can't agree to,
what should we do then?
Easy to comply?
You feel that spending a night with a woman in one room is easy to comply with?
I know that you think her heart is like a serpent and scorpion (too evil), hence, you don't want to agree.
But she...refuses to reveal the whereabouts of Chang'er no matter what.
You...if you stay with her for a night,
maybe, you'll be able to get some information from her.
Easy to comply with?
You even felt that it's easy to comply with?!
That is your son, not mine.
Why are you venting your anger on me?
Darling Gu,
she finally let you come here.
Quickly leave.
Sit down.
How has your life been
since you left?
Don't know how much sufferings I've endured throughout our journey.
These are scars left by me washing clothes and doing sewing works for others.
I would then think...
It's all my fault for making such wrong decisions.
I caused you to dislike me.
Just treat this as my retribution.
When you left, you took away quite a lot.
Why must you still wash clothes and do needlework?
I've told you that my older brother is a scoundrel, but you wouldn't believe me.
He plundered my money.
He would go to brothels and gamble. As if I have an abyss-like amount of money.
In a few days, they've all been spent.
Chang'er is also just a child.
He lives like a prince at home, not needing to worry about food or clothes.
Just to provide for him, I'm willing to do any job.
I'm willing to endure any hardship.
Chang'er is still a child.
He indeed shouldn't suffer.
In a few days, just move him into my house,
won't that be better?
Darling Gu, you've already decided on
the date of our marriage?
The day after tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day.
If you don't find it too hasty, we'll set it on the day after tomorrow.
I don't mind. I don't mind.
Chang'er is still little. I'm thinking of
sending someone to fetch him, so he could watch our wedding.
Why must he come?
Once my name has entered the genealogy of the House of Gu,
he can come anytime.
Once you entered my house on the day after tomorrow,
I'll invite the elders of our Gu Clan
to write your name on our genealogy book.
It's just I don't know if...
...two days is enough to fetch Chang'er to come here.
He won't be able to come.
No matter how many days more, he won't be able to come.
If I don't see my name being entered into the genealogy book of the Gu Clan,
I will not talk.
Darling Gu, it's getting late.
Let's go settle down.
You used to be very submissive to me.
Now, you would block every question I ask.
Why must I still take you in as a concubine?
Darling Gu, don't be mad.
I only ask to enter your house as a concubine.
Once I enter, I surely will be submissive to you.
You're treating me like this when you haven't entered my house yet.
Once you've entered, won't you be climbing up my head?!
Fine. Fine.
I'll tell them that there will be no joyous event on the day after tomorrow.
It's better to just keep those almanacs and red ribbons away.
Darling Gu! Darling Gu!
What?
You want to talk now?
I'll talk.
Come nearer to me.
You bastard!
Men!
Young Master!
You still want your son?
Chang'er has long died! He has long been dead!
You're lying!
The grasses on top of his tomb
is already three meters high!
Tie her up! Take her away!
He has long died!
You still want your son?
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
T/N In the following song, "Don't You Know, Don't You Know?", Lines 5 to the end are the poem by Li Qingzhao, a famous female poet of the Song Dynasty, the poem is titled "Spring Ends".
♫One morning, a flower opened and approached a willow tree, beautifully fragrant and mistaking him for her lord♫
♫Even if drinking in water in the morning, red clouds have half a day of sunshine, the wind and rain do not affect them completely♫
♫In the palace, you are constantly brave and growing thin, from on high, your cold tears of distress flow♫
♫Brocade letters delivered to me dismiss me, only suddenly to recall me, not for many years can I see you other than stealthily♫
♫Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect♫
♫When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before.♫
♫Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫
♫Last night, gusty winds and rain during my deep slumber did not spoil the wine's lingering effect♫
♫When I asked someone, they rolled the blind up and told me that all the crab-apple trees are as before.♫
♫Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫