Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 11
Momo Kong's lessons are finished and your son finds that they were quite productive.
These last few days, the three children, in their conduct and speech,
have shown progressive prudence and composure.
That's good then.
It means I have not invited her in vain.
And the energy was not used in vain.
The three girls are idling around in the back courtyards.
Especially Molan.
That child is most fond of poetry and literature.
I am thinking,
perhaps we should have them continue to attend Scholar Zhuang's classes.
Is this your idea?
Or is someone pushing you from behind?
I just thought, for the kids to read more books,
and understand more the principles of the world, is a good thing.
You go. Let me think it over a bit more.
Yes.
Come out now. Stop eavesdropping.
How did you know I was eavesdropping?
You really want to return to Scholar Zhuang's classes too, right?
Usually, the sisters are idling together.
Today we fight over clothing and tomorrow we fight over tea and food. Troubles arise easily.
It's better for us to all rise early and sleep late, cultivating our writing and reading books.
With our energies exhausted, there's nothing left to fight.
That's not untrue.
But reading books is not the duty of women, after all.
Grandmother, if you say these words, your granddaughter must barge in here.
Go ahead.
The way I see it, the saying that reading books is useless is a lie.
If it's truly useless, why do all the men of the world rush to studying?
Can't be it's out of boredom.
I think the saying was simply an aspiration of men,
wanting women to fool and docile forever, so as easily manipulated by them.
I just knew you little clever thing would understand it.
That's it not a false statement.
Not wanting women to read books is a shortsight.
Dynasties and generations, women of great aristocrats,
which one isn't versed in books and principles since youth?
If it's true that it's useless for women to read books,
then would they let their daughters go for that suffering?
Then, Grandmother, your indecisiveness before Father earlier, it was fake too?
You want Little Madam Lin and Fourth Sister to fret for a few days?
I want the mother and daughter to know,
returning to the home academy is an opportunity not easily earned.
So they know their place.
The imperial civil service exam is approaching.
Everyone. It's time to test your skills in honest then.
Today, I will use this "Sayings of Confucius and His Disciples" as the foundation.
I'll just flip it through carelessly and point to a line.
And we can use it as the topic of our discussion.
How appropriate.
Everyone listen.
Today's debate topic is . . .
To establish the eldest heir or to establish the worthy heir? Which is better?
It's appropriate indeed.
The hottest topic in the capital these days,
is the succession battle between Prince Yan and Prince Yong.
Scholar. I fear this topic isn't apt.
Not to worry.
Even an ordinary tea house in the capital often discusses about this as of late.
With our doors closed and talking about it furtively, it's no worry.
As long as you all, do not leak it out.
Since Scholar says it's no worry, let us discuss it then.
The current Emperor has no sons.
The high ministers are all urging His Majesty to adopt from the imperial clan and establish him as the crown prince.
Prince Yong is older but his qualification is mediocre, with no achievements to speak of.
But his only asset is that he's got a horde of wife and concubines, plowing day and night.
He's exhausted himself from it and raised a whole yard of daughters and sons.
Second Brother. Watch your words. We've got maidens here.
Prince Yong is older and he has lots of children, so it's apt to select him.
What's there to battle about?
Prince Yan is only half a year younger than Prince Yong.
Though Prince Yong only has one son,
but the father and son are both intelligent and capable, and very admired by people.
To set a sage man like him as heir to throne would be a great consideration for the nation's future.
Half a year younger is still younger.
We can't surpass the order of seniority in age.
It is not right and it is not proper.
If everyone cares about talent only, then maybe possible.
But everyone cares about ranking and stations.
- So that becomes a matter. - Second Brother, you speak so easily.
This is the imperial throne. We're not talking about small households fighting over a plot of land or a shop.
If we don't get the status clear, that's causing chaos.
Changbai, what say you?
Sir.
Your disciple thinks, the main eldest should be established.
Emperor Qin deposed his eldest son Fusu.
It resulted in Qin Dynasty's collapse in its second generation.
Looking at the ancient times, so many dynasties getting replaced.
So many met troubles after establishing deposing the elder in favor of the young.
That's not really true. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
He wasn't the eldest but after succeeding the throne,
he was able to establish a flourishing nation and army that annihilated the fierce nomads, a lifetime of achievements.
So it shows it's not necessary a bad thing not to select the eldest.
But before Emperor Jing (Han) established Liu Che (Emperor Wu) as the crown prince,
he first lifted the birth mother, Beauty Wang as the empress.
So by law, it was just and proper.
So you can see, Liu Che (Emperor Wu) ascending to the throne is actually an example of selecting the main heir.
Don't forget, Second Uncle.
Emperor Hui of Jin, the entire court knew he was foolish.
But because he was the main eldest, he was still selected.
And that is how the later conspiring of Empress Jia Nanfeng and the rebellion of the eight princes came about.
If another prince was selected to succeed in the first place, it wouldn't have led to retreating to Jiangnan.
How many idiots like Emperor Hui of Jin exist though?
Do you think, Fourth Sister,
that all the main line of children are fools?
Just because the eldest from the main life isn't a fool,
doesn't mean the second son can't be smart and clever.
Emperor Taizong of Tang was not the eldest son of the main life but he still built a flourishing era.
Examples of the younger son ruining the nation with his absurdness are many too. Emperor Yang of Sui is one.
He ruined a great nation and that's a common knowledge.
After hearing all this time, how is it that the young lord and sixth miss,
have not said a word?
Your disciple has yet to make up his mind.
Yuanruo is the sole son of his family.
On the matter of selecting by elder or selecting by merit, perhaps he can't fathom it clearly.
That is indeed so.
I think it's best to hear other people's great thoughts first.
Sixth Miss, selecting by elder or by merit.
What is your thought?
I am just a girl. I've never thought of it.
Then let's discuss it as a nation policy.
Let's just say, hypothetical, a small household,
they have a useless elder son and a clever and skilled son from a concubine.
Which should be the house master?
That's something the family master needs to toil over. it is not convenient for me to speak wildly.
Third Brother, how do you now the eldest must be mediocre?
Maybe the concubine-born son is just a hallow embroidered pillow.
The second son being hallow doesn't mean the eldest isn't mediocre.
I'm asking the sixth sister, and why do you two argue?
Sixth Sister, you speak.
I don't know what to say.
You must say something.
Say it.
Let's not be hard on Sixth Sister. She's young.
And she is not preparing for the imperial civil exam, so this topic doesn't have much to do with her.
Why should we press someone?
I think, we should hear out Sixth Miss's thoughts.
Though she is young and she's not inclined to talk.
It's possible she might be wise and already made up her mind.
She's just watching us argue til our faces red and laughing at us secretly.
Uncle Gu, if you want to speak, just speak. Why must you draw me into it?
Second Uncle.
Why do you press her too?
The more you try to protect that little one,
the more the two bigger will bicker.
So let her handle it. I think she can handle it.
No.
You don't know. Here.
In this house. She can't.
Everyone has spoken.
Sixth Miss, you should talk too.
He's calling you. He wants you to talk.
Hurry.
Actually I want to ask Young Lord and Second Uncle Gu.
I am here. Just ask me.
You two are both the legitimate heirs fo your homes.
In discussing legitimate and concubine births, perhaps you both can speak more freely than us the siblings.
But today, what I wish to ask is,
if both of you were to have
a very accomplished sibling who is of concubine-birth,
how will you place yourselves?
Who cares if it's legitimate or concubine birth?
If the concubine-born son is talented and proper in conduct,
that's a good thing.
And what if this talented and upright concubine-born brother wishes to fight the nobility title with you?
If we talk about legitimate and concubine in terms of eldest to youngest,
in my family, the eldest is my older brother and I'm second.
If my third brother is superior than me,
than of course he should inherit the title.
Second Uncle, your words error.
Your youngest brother is still from the legitimate wife, so that doesn't count.
A clan's succession of legacy is not a joke.
Your indifference to name and fortune is a small matter, and you let the concubine-birth inherit the nobility title.
But you will bring shame to your ancestors and your clansman.
Shame?
If the concubine-birth is talented and virtuous, he will accomplish big.
Bringing honor and glory to the clan and the ancestors.
If the legitimate heir is useless and lack in virtue, and he squanders off the family assets,
the ancestors will see some honor then?
If the concubine-birth is talented, he should just assist the legitimate-birth.
There's no need to upset the order and isn't that perfect solution?
Young Lord. You regard human nature too highly.
A talented man will surely be prideful. He will not submit as an underling.
According to your saying, it will only court absolute division and discord between the brothers.
I fear by then, the nobility title will be lost too.
Many in our time like to discuss success with achievements.
And that's what's stirred the concubine-births to hold foolish delusions.
If everyone in the world can respect status and etiquette,
have division in seniority and honor the legitimate elder,
then how would division between brothers and collapse of families would even occur?
If Yuanruo truly believe that,
I must urge you to do a lot of good acts.
So you won't be reborn as a concubine-birth in your next life and suffer endless bitterness.
We are discussing for amusement so everyone should be friendly.
Sixth Miss, you had the two young masters talk so much.
But have you not set your conclusion on whether to establish by seniority or by merit?
Having no conclusion is my conclusion.
Virtuous or not virtuous. That is easily disguised and hard to distinguish.
But as for legitimate or concubine and elder or younger, that's very obvious and not subject to debate.
If the concubine-birth is truly virtuous, he would not for the sake of his own ambition, to ruin his clan.
But on the other hand, if the legitimate elder clenches authority and is able to keep the concubine-birth restrained,
so that he is not daring to usurp, then he can preserve their perpetual prosperity as well.
A man of character must be loyal to the king and love his nation.
It might be better to be a simple subject instead, to be spared from meaningless fights.
Look. Just one sentence from her.
And she shoved the two of us in a bind.
Having us argue nonstop while she watches idly.
She has always been so clever.
Sixth Miss is so young, yet you have such an insight.
What a rarity.
Alright. Alright. Very spectacular.
I'll be easy on you and leave no homework then.
What insight?
She's just glossing over things.
Be a simple subject instead?
Why go for meaningless fights?
Minglan truly said that?
Yes.
The child has rare insight.
When did she start to understand that logic?
Sixth Sister has always been mindful.
She is just disinclined to talk.
It seems she was raised well by your grandmother indeed.
Isn't that Buwei from Qi Ducal Manor?
I suddenly remembered I left behind a book.
You didn't. I counted and all the books are here.
I left it.
Miss, if you don't wish to see the young lord, I can just chase him away.
You needn't stammer and run back.
Go tell him especially? That will just show us . . .
It will show as though I am fond of him.
Let us just sit here and leave him hanging.
He will know to retreat when it's difficult.
I will not retreat in difficulty.
You. Weren't you at . . .
I am used to your cleverness, and you would think,
that I would be waiting by the path necessary to return to Shuoan Hall.
That's why I created the diversion.
Don't worry. I've already looked through the surroundings.
No outsiders are present. We can talk at ease.
There's nothing to say. Xiaotao, let's go.
Sixth Sister. Sixth Sister.
Young Lord, are you trying to make things hard for me too?
No, it's not like that`.
I wanted to ask you why you didn't want the brush pen.
Is it because it's not nice?
No.
Why don't you understand?
Any item that befalls into my hands.
It will not last as long.
Instead of that, it's better to have nothing.
And I'll feel light entirely.
You mean, they snatched it from you?
Then that's great. Next time, when I have something nice, I'll come and give it to you in furtive.
I won't let others know.
Young Lord. I had thought you were sensible.
But why don't you understand still?
Let me speak to the clear today instead.
The better you treat me, the bigger the trouble for me.
Trouble for you?
Young Lord, you are a rare talent.
A man of great character.
Knowing you exist in the world,
already makes me very content.
Don't regard me as trouble. I will protect you.
Don't be scared. In the future. In the future!
Miss, it's winter and it gets dark so early.
How about we sew tomorrow so you don't ruin your eyes?
The two elders are about to enter the exam courtyard.
They are industrious, rising early and resting late.
I need to rush to finish these two pairs of knee guards.
And gift them, or else I won't be able to finish in time.
Two pairs of knee guards, Miss?
Then, I have a pair here and Xiaotao is making a pair.
So why do you sew a pair in your hands too, Miss?
Young Lord is going to the exam too.
Can't be that, this pair of knee guards are for him?
You. What great nonsense is that?
I haven't made this stuff for years and wanted to make a pair of knee guards for practice.
So stop the nonsense.
The clothing for the exam court.
It can't be double-layered. It has to be single-layered. Add a few more in here.
Be thorough with the four writing utensils. We can't have a lacking.
A thicker blanket there.
Spring has started but actually it's the spring chill is fierce.
Last year at this month it still snowed. The tribute yard is very cold.
You've never been in the tribute yard, so how to you know it's cold or not?
Your father told me before.
You enter that courtyard, and once they close the gate and lock the doors,
you're all alone to eat, drink, shit, piss and sleep. No one can enter.
Even if there's a fire they won't open the door. Your progress will be destroyed.
How can there be writing on this? It's big trouble if they find it through searching.
Fine. That blanket seems thick enough.
It will do.
Bai'er, since he was little until now, he's not left me for this long.
He's sure to suffer.
Older brother has long finished preparing.
He's more thorough than the entire family so stop fussing.
How can I? Your brother toils in studying.
Someone has to be thorough for him.
Big Madam. These are knee guards sent from Sixth Miss.
- They said she made it personally for Second Young Master. To shield himself from the chill upon wearing. - Knee guards?
Sixth Miss said though it's getting warmer now,
at night time it's still severely cold.
So she dug out some thick velvet from the storage and made a pair of knee guards.
Hence, even if the night dew is strong, his knees can be protected from the chill.
Quite delicate work.
So does only my brother here have this knee guard,
or does the one in Linqi Pavilion have it too?
They said everyone has a pair.
She's not offending anyone. Pleasing both sides.
Your own brother is going to the exam yard and you did nothing, except to talk so leisurely.
Look at her.
Her speech and conduct are both thorough.
No wonder Old Madam likes her.
These years, even the minister is starting to like Ming girl more and more and you don't even try to learn from her.
Am I like her though? I'm birthed by the legitimate line.
Shut up. You're not allowed to say that stuff again.
Small Madam. Sixth Miss made knee guards especially for Third Young Master.
What's this stuff?
Just shoving it here.
If I put that dumb stuff on, I"ll be laughed to death by others.
It's not that cold in the tribute yard.
This Little Six.
She's at least stronger than that dumb one in Weirui Balcony.
It's just a pity.
She can't change her cheap sour ways ingrained in her.
To send such embarrassing items here.
My son. You must do well for us.
Pass as a candidate for palace graduate (highest level) and come back. Then in the future,
no one can block us three.
Mother, just rest assured.
Scholar Zhuang even said.
At my age, to be able to pen such essays is not easy.
Many examples of much older men.
Still lack compared to my knowledge and composition vigor.
Also, even if I actually don't pass,
I have so many acquaintances all this time.
Heirs of grand aristocrats. So I won't worry of not having a connection.
You're not allowed to speak nonsense. You've got the big exam tomorrow.
Don't speak ominous words. Alright?
Miss. Weirui Balcony and Linqi Pavilion are in total chaos.
More bustling than a family that's moving.
Big Madam and Small Madam Lin would love to just drag the storage to the tribute yard if they could.
I keep getting called to help with getting stuff.
I'm exhausted.
But don't ever call out your exhaustion in front of others.
Or your toiling gets you no points.
Yes.
By the way, Young Lord is going to the exam tomorrow too?
Miss?
So what if he does. It has nothing to do with me.
Miss.
Young Lord from Qi Ducal Manor is here.
Saying since he's studied so much at our home academy all these years,
he came especially to bid his gratitude.
He brought gifts for each young master and miss.
Delivered to each room.
Miss. This was brought here by Buwei personally.
He said Young Lord, when he sent him to purchase items for the imperial exam,
he had him procure a nice brush pen for you.
And there are other little things in here.
To have you pick out all you want.
Buwei also said, this purple hare brush,
no one else has it.
Where is the young lord right now?
He went to pay visit to Master and now he should be at Old Madam's room.
Miss, maybe we sneak out and take a look?
Look at what? He's taking the exam tomorrow. Don't distract him.
There are too many items and I can't take them all.
I'll just pick out a few to honor his good will.
The rest, let's have him take back.
You two go out first and thank Buwei for me.
Alight. Let's go, Xiaotao.
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
May you pass the exam quickly, to put to worth the toils you've put in these years.
Afterwards.
Thanks.
Second Son.
It's so late but you're still going out?
You might get a cold. You're going to the tribute yard tomorrow.
Tonight, just stay home and rest.
Whatever you need tomorrow.
Pen, ink and clothing. Carriage and servants. I've prepared them all for you already.
Early tomorrow, the whole family will send you to the tribute yard.
Wouldn't that be nice?
If he wants to go, let him go.
I was going anyway. You needn't chase me out, Father.
I'm chasing you out?
Your mother says to remain at home.
But you insist on going to some brothel with your rogue friends.
And it say it's me who's chasing you out?
Say a couple words less.
He's going to the tribute yard tomorrow.
Forget it. Don't plead for him. He's already gone.
How can we be the boss of him?
Second Young Master.
Tomorrow at the exam, you'll surely place top.
For you and the two kids' sake,
I must pass with high remarks.
You are the mountain for my children and me.
With you, I fear nothing.
Here.
Tonight, just stay in my room and don't leave.
The two kids are already asleep.
They are with the nanny. It's no trouble.
Young Master. You've got the big exam tomorrow.
Tonight, you should drink less alcohol.
Yes, Nanny. I'll go over to the study to sleep soon.
Tomorrow, I'll escort you to the exam yard.
I'll chant and pray for you outside.
Woman, you can still chant and pray for him at home.
And you've go tthe two kids with no one watching them.
Once Young Master enters the exam yard, he should have nothing weighing him on mind.
So you shouldn't distract him.
Nanny is right.
Those restless ones at my family.
They're looking for you everywhere, wanting to seize something against me.
You must not go tomorrow for sure.
Second Young Master.
After you pass the exam with top marks,
you won't just abandon me, right?
For you and the two kids, I've already gone to a deadlock with my family.
If I stop here in the middle of it,
then the sufferings would have been in vain.
My maternal grandfather was a merchant.
Since I was young, I knew not to engage in a losing deal.
Qi Ducal Manor
The four writing utensils are in this box.
The ink and tray are wrapped in oil paper.
Please be careful when you open the oil paper so you don't soil your hands.
If ink taints the exam paper, that's big trouble.
Sixth Miss of Sheng Family, after taking the hare brush,
did she send word with you?
She just tipped me a few coins and took a few little items.
She said to thank the young lord for her and nothing else.
Think it through again.
I didn't even see the sixth miss in person.
Even if she wanted to tell you something, she didn't have a way to send it with me.
That sewing shop is quite diligent.
I told them to make two pairs of knee guards and he shoved an extra pair in for me.
And they used velvet for it.
That old sewing shop sure knows to flatter.
[ Yuanbao ]
Yuanbao.
Yuanruo.
Let me ask you. After you received the knee guards, where did you place them?
I put them in the basket.
Other than the knee guards, I also bought pens, ink and trays.
I put them all in the basket.
I sent them to Sheng House for Sixth Miss to pick out and then brought them back.
What are you smiling about, Young Master?
She has me in her heart.
She does have me in her heart.
[ Four Eras in Highest Rank ]
Miss, I hear,
Duke Qi rented the biggest inn on this street.
What exam taking is this? It's like celebrating.
Don't talk nonsense. Matters of Qi Ducal House aren't something for us to discuss upon.
Everyone on the street knows. Not just me.
They do look as though they're celebrating.
The emperor dotes on Princess Pingning the most lately.
His family is so grand beyond the speakable.
That's true.
So it just shows that one needs to have a mother who is the proper wife to be the best.
It's nearly time. Let them go in so they don't miss the exam time.
May you two brothers place gold, success with one stroke.
May you two leap over the Dragon Gate (pass the tough exam) and pluck from the Toad Palace (success in imperial exam).
Then I shall wish for the two brothers, at the exam place,
drink lots of water and rest a lot.
What's that you're saying?
You don't know how to say anything auspicious?
I just said what came to mind.
Then, I'll say . . .
Two brothers, it must be stuffy and tiring at the exam yard, and water can kill the fire.
Once your mood is better, your essays will be written nice and pretty, as though helped by the divine.
Sixth Sister's words are true. We shall both drink a lot of water.
You never like to smile but you actually smiled, Second Brother.
Then, let us borrow Sixth Sister's great words.
Done talking?
Go on.
Isn't that the second young master of Gu Marquis Manor?
How come he doesn't even have a horse carriage?
He's the one with least limelight.
If that young master wants to grab the limelight,
I fear even the ducal manor can't cover it.
[ Quietness ]
The courtyard is locked for three days during the exam period.
No one unrelated is allowed entrance.
Within a hundred steps outside the tribute yard,
no one related is allowed to loiter.
Over there.
This?
Confucius stated, one should not rely on devil or illicit gods.
You've got three gods you're praying to. Which one are you pleading to?
Too much oil doesn't ruin a dish and too much cordiality won't ruin a person.
Don't worry about which god. Just as long as I offer more incense.
And they will watch over our Changbai naturally.
If Changbai is truly talented, he will pass the exam for sure.
If he's just an ignorant fool, even if you go to Buddhist realm,
and kneel before the Buddha himself,that's still useless.
Useless or not, at least I've offered my earnest.
Look at Duke Qi and the wife.
They even went to Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense and donated thousands of money for fragrant oil.
I am just praying to god at home and nothing extravagant and this still won't do?
Minister, you come and pray too.
- Pray. - I'm not praying.
- I told you . . . - Do we keep these things you don't want for Second Brother?
Let me see.
- You pray now. - Go on.
Dear various gods, watch over my sons, Changfeng, Changbai.
So they pass with high remarks on first try.
Let our Sheng family honor our ancestors and bring glory to clan.
May the divine spirit watch over.
Minister, just pray already.
For your son, it's nothing bad.
Go on. Pray what?
I have work to do.
Why don't you eat?
Second Son is taking the test. I made a wish.
I'm fasting from baths and burning incense to pray for blessing.
I only eat two meals a day.
You've already spoiled him rotten.
Even if you treat him even better, he still won't shine.
He's only a child still.
No matter how he wrongs,
I will still, on Sister Bai's behalf,
dote on him more.
Minister, don't nitpick with that child either.
When others go to the exam yard, they call and embrace.
But he goes without as much as a notice.
Where does he regard this father of his?
I imagine it's because Second Son is worried you'd might worry.
And he didn't want to call the attention.
it's not like you don't know that child is always so thoughtful.
Ji Kang and Ruan Ji, these great literary scholars.
Which one isn't poetic and passionate?
Not like you. So just like him be.
Just a petty son and how can he be compared to Ji and Ruan?
Don't stick gold to his face now.
Since he passed the preliminary to make it to the exam, I'll be easy on him for a few days.
After the exam, I'll deal with him.
Try this. I made this especially for you.
Hurry and eat.
Little chicken eats rice gain.
Feed it slowly.
And a big bean.
Good. Play well at home with Nanny.
Where are you going?
I just feel anxious.
So I wanted to go to the temple and pray for Second Young Master.
What did he say before he left the door?
He said for you to stay at home and watch the kids, and don't show your face.
So you don't get discovered by people from Gu House.
Go back. These few exam days, you just stay home.
Put the rice in.
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?♫