Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 18
It's because you've squandered off Fan wife's dowry,
and now you're coveting Gu Tingye's uncountable betrothal gifts.
You just want to sweep Yanran out the door to get a seat for Yanhong.
- How do you say . . . - This Yu Family's
generations of reputation are all thrown out by you.
We didn't mean that.
I will tell you this. Yanran's marriage? None of you have a say.
But, Father and Mother. As the sage old saying goes,
marriage is set by the parents and sealed by the matchmakers.
I'm Yanran's father so naturally I have the say.
Parent's words sealed by the matchmaker?
Great then. Get that wretched woman divorced.
Father-in-law, where did that come from?
- If you do that . . . - Chase away the matchmaker.
I'm her real father and would I actually ruin her?
This writing is still bad.
Miss, how about we open the hare brush?
Maybe if you have a better brush, your writing will be better.
That brush. Let's just keep it.
It's the calligraphy book that's not good.
Second Brother hasn't found a new copybook for me for a while.
Couple days ago, Second Young Master said he found some new ones.
That he would bring them to you.
Then have him bring them.
Yes.
Second Young Master intends to practice writing with tea?
Then I will brew another tea for you.
I don't know if you'd like young tea or dragon tea?
No need.
What's taking Sixth Sister so long?
It's been enough time to brew two teas.
Go rush her a bit.
Miss, actually there's nothing to do here. How about we go out?
Second Young Master brought new calligraphy books for you and it's not good to just keep him waiting.
As long as he's got someone serving him.
Of course it's Yinxing serving him. Others can't even snatch that from her.
She's sent here from Big Madam's room.
It's understandable that she misses her own master.
Danju, switch a different pin for me. This one isn't pretty.
Yes, alright.
The miss might be a while.
Second Young Master, it's getting hot lately.
The two maidens by you, Langhao and Yanghao,
have they made you silk shirts?
What are you doing?
This . . . how is it that Sixth Sister's yard's maids are so unruly?
Second Young Master, I'm Yinxing from Big Madam's room.
You don't remember me? I am just asking about your well being.
Nonsense!
Sixth Sister. Your maidservant. Who's in charge of them? Does she ever train them?
Why are you so angry, Second Brother?
Is Yinxing's tea service not good?
Yinxing, hurry and say you're sorry.
You've established your own courtyard and manages the affairs of the Sheng Family.
You should care a lot more about how good your maids are.
Second Brother, I wonder how Yinxing's offended you.
At any rate, she's a wreck!
Miss Yinxing is from Big Madam's.
I, I need to respect Big Madam's prestige.
Or maybe . . .
allow me to say sorry.
You're so gentle-tempered.
How will you manage?
Second Young Master's temper has hardened, and you don't need to worry about it.
Our miss won't blame you.
Next time, just serve the miss.
If Second Young Master comes again, have Xiaotao serve.
No, next time when he comes again, give me another chance.
To made amend for today.
That's fine too. Since you're from Big Madam's room, our miss won't blame you.
Miss Yanran?
It's always been customary for the parents to decide on the children's marriage. Does that mean I must marry that Gu Tingye?
But he can't be the one. What do I do?
You know about "Lady Li guarding Niangzi Pass"?
Look at this.
This was embroidered by my mother.
My mother thought, Princess Zhao of Pingyang.
Neither relying on her father or brothers, nor relying on her husband or sons
she could still defeat a hundred thousand fierce enemies.
She's a model to all women.
Your mother was quite unique.
At the time, my mother was at the brink of death.
It was Second Uncle Gu who exhausted himself to help me.
Though in the end, my mother did not survive,
and she passed away in labor when I was eight years old.
But in my heart, I am still grateful towards Second Uncle Gu.
Second Uncle Gu is actually an ardent man.
Ardent? Do you mean,
it’s okay to say yes to this marriage?
No, no.
I really can’t.
Let me tell you. Jucao looked into it for me.
That Second Uncle Gu already has 7 to 8 chambermates.
And he is intimate with prostitutes.
He frequents entertaining halls and brothels.
You saw it at the polo match that day.
The one by him was that Madam Wei of Wide Cloud Terrace.
Yes, I did see.
Before my mother passed away,
I was the legitimate heiress of head mistress.
I had no worries and raised precious like gold and jade.
But now.
I'm just a baggage from the previous marriage who's easily frightened.
My grandfather is angry at my father because of me.
My grandmother is sighing day and night.
They doted on me all my life.
Now at their elderly age, they have to bear this hardship.
Minglan, it's all my fault.
I've caused the family to be in disarray and I owe my grandparents.
If there's no other way,
I will just close my eyes and marry him!
Stop this nonsense.
But Grandfather is already so elderly.
He can't endure this kind of havoc.
And my grandmother is crying.
If something, if something happens to them?
Stop crying.
We are both motherless since childhood.
We depended on our grandparent's pity to grow up.
But that's even more reason for us not to give up on life so easily.
If you really close your eyes and marry,
and your life is stifling later on, wouldn't Imperial Tutor still be broken hearted by it?
Don't worry. Imperial Tutor survived a career through the royal court.
He's not someone to mind such a petty matter too much.
He and your father are real father and son, connected by blood.
In a few days, they'll be fine.
So don't think too much and put your heart on the tip of your chest.
- That's true. Ming'er. - Don't cry anymore.
I'm so glad to have you.
Why are you crying though?
It's because of you. You got me crying too.
You're so bad.
That means, back then, this man from Gu House,
he helped you.
Yes. At the time, I ran on the street and ran too long.
I was about to cough up blood.
Thankfully, I ran into Second Uncle Gu, hence, I was able to get a physician to my home.
Magnanimous and an ardent, swift man he is.
Today, we'll light a couple extra incense lamps.
Beg the Taiyi above to protect our family,
for peace and lasting harmony.
Alright. Let's go.
Go find Yanran. We'll go get a fortune read.
The miss's spouse star has no master star.
So it needs to be borrowed from the opposite palace.
The opposite palace has a sun. The sun as master of spouse palace will transform the luck to better.
Transform to better means good, isn't it?
It's supposed to be good.
It's a regret though that to have the sun seated in the spouse palace, will delay the marriage.
I imagine it will drag out a while.
Alright then.
I'm put to ease then.
Now calculate my husband and my son.
When will they talk again?
Greetings, Imperial Tutor.
May Imperial Tutor hear this junior out.
You thought if you sought me out here, I would consent?
You better kill that thought.
You oppose to granting this marriage and I can imagine the reason.
It's good you know.
In the past, this junior has made many mistakes.
Wanton and unrestrained.
Indeed unworthy for you to entrust Elder Miss Yu to me.
What do you mean?
The old matters of the past had their circumstances.
Many things were not really my doing and may Grand Imperial Tutor decipher.
So you mean the rogue behavior you made in the past,
were all done while others bound you to do it?
Of course not all so. I did have a debauchery past.
Just that last time at the polo match, I saw Elder Miss Yu.
I saw how she wagered her life over her late mother's item.
It reminded me of my own loss of mother at young age.
Because of this shared misery, I felt very close to her.
And I made up my mind to beg marriage with her.
From now on, I will change myself for the new.
Without any connection to the prostitutes or brothels.
I'll only keep one kept woman.
From now on, I shall devote to cultivating myself without any other concubines or mistress.
This junior has some private assets from maternal home in Yangzhou and I'm willing to double the betrothal gifts.
Prepare them for Elder Miss Yu as a show of my sincerity.
We are a generation of honest scholarly nobles.
We do not covet your wealth.
I mention wealth because I feel guilty.
In terms of merit,
I feel too ashamed.
At the last imperial exam, I did not roster and I fear I have no prospect in the future in that.
Your family is a noble family of military generals.
You already have a merit-based nobility title, but you went to take the scholarly exam?
Yes.
Then, how far did you get?
Just shy of the court exam (top grade imperial exam).
Shy of the court exam?
That means, you've already passed the metropolitan level.
I heard from Lord Chen,
that this Gu Tingye...
...indeed took the civil exam.
So it means, he was only a rogue in his teens.
Since he started to study at White Deer Cave Academy,
until he made the preliminary exam, that's only 6 to 7 years.
At his speed? That's a rarity.
That Gu House. There's step-mother and step-brother.
And he's not favored by the marquis.
That's a wolf den and our Yanran is tender since she was little.
She's so amiable and gentle.
How can she endure that ferociousness?
On that, he's as clear as mirror on it.
He's preparing to divide and establish on his own.
So then, those messy things in his home?
They won't need a mention anymore.
Well, hearing how you speak, you seem to want to consent?
I beg you. Let me see Elder Miss Yu.
I just want to see her.
Let me see Miss Yu.
I want to beg her for mercy for survival.
You're completely alive already.
Let me see Miss Yu.
Miss, the precinct isn't far.
Go report then.
Go to the side gate.
Let me go in and see Miss Yu.
Beg her for a survival.
My lordship and her ladyship went to pray at the Buddhist temple.
What about Imperial Tutor?
He's at the palace so only the old madam and miss are home.
That woman kept saying she wants to serve me tea.
Asking me to pity her and give her a status.
Or she'll kneel forever.
My grandmother got so angry she coughed up blood and fainted.
Whatever did I do that was so wrong?
After I care my grandmother to better health, I'll go be a nun at the monastery.
We can't let that woman drag on like this.
But we can't chase her away.
We tried and she started to kneel in the alley crying.
At any rate, my reputation is gone.
I only hope to salvage my grandmother.
Leave her outside then.
Leaving her outside is too shameful.
Grandmother, you are awake.
Wait. Wait.
Wait for me to shoot her out.
Shoot her out.
Alright. Alright.
Have her go.
Since we can't chase her away, let's get to the bottom of it.
- Go back. Go back. - Let me meet Elder Lady Yu.
Go back first.
Our old madam says for you to go in and respond to her questioning.
We'll talk out here then.
This big mansion
Who knows if I can come out alive if I go in.
In broad daylight, it's better to talk here.
- You! - Miss Yu!
Pity me.
Miss Yu. Miss Yu.
Pity me.
Are you extorting us?
Chase her out.
No. I won't go.
You can't snatch my man and chase me out too.
Give me a chance to talk.
I won't go.
Drag her in.
I won't.
No, no. I won't go in.
May Your Ladyship take my tea and give me a survival path.
You and I never met before and with no link. I can't take your tea.
Go now.
What do you mean no link?
Second Young Master came to your home to beg marriage.
And in the future you will be my mistress in charge.
If you won't allow me, there's no place for me in this big world.
I'd be better to die here to spare myself from the humiliation.
Big Madam, give me a survival, please.
Give me a survival.
- Hurry and get up. - Big Madam, give me a survival.
You get up. I won't let you die.
Hurry and get up.
Give me a survival.
Hurry and get up.
Who's kneeling?
My maiden home is surnamed Zhu.
Second Young Master usually calls me Manniang. I'm born to a bitter fate.
I don't think it's bitter at all.
Usually a woman, even if she's ate herself the gall of a bear, she wouldn't dare to make a scene at Imperial Tutor's.
We tell you to leave, and you don't leave. We tell you to come in and you don't come in.
You'll only cry outside. How interesting.
Miss, you are noble and refined. I am a foolish thing.
I've never seen a mansion this big and I was scared.
You're scared?
Usually, when a house takes a concubine or mistress, it will be asked thoroughly first.
But great for you. You first come and sob out to the sky.
What's your name and clansname and where's your home?
Your birthplace? You don't report any of that.
And you want my sister to take your tea? Where's the part you're scared?
I am foolish and hadn't thought of it.
Miss can just ask me.
You're from Gu House?
- No. - Then you're kept outside.
Yes.
Who are your parents and siblings and where do they live?
My parents died early on and I only had one brother and we relied on each other to survive.
But later he passed away too.
What line of work did he do while he was alive?
He did labor, moving things at the dock.
- That's a proper line of work then. - Yes.
She sang opera at Six Happy Troupe.
Since he worked at the dock, how was he acquainted with Six Happy Troupe?
While he was alive, he did some odd jobs there.
And you?
Me?
I . . .
I sang there too.
But I only sang for a few days.
My sister can't decide on your status.
You go and beg the Gu House yourself.
Gu House dislikes my low birth and they wouldn't take me in.
And I have no choice now.
So I came to beg you for pity for a survival.
You knew very well Gu House won't allow you but you come and force my sister.
She's not even married to him!
And you want my sister to defy her in-law's first?
What a great intention you hold.
Miss. Saving a life builds you a seven-tiered Buddhist pagoda.
My life is clenched in your hands.
After you're married, I will serve you with respect.
Shut that mouth.
What upon marriage? What serving with respect?
We've not seen any matchmaker or betrothal. What link does my sister have with Gu House?
You spew nonsense and slander my sister's chaste reputation.
I just want you Yu Family to give me a survival.
You must push me to no survival?
Fine.
Then I'll just die here.
To prove my innocence.
No.
Let me go. Let me die here.
I'll die here.
Let me go. Let go.
I'll die here.
Let her go.
Let go.
You could have clearly married a common man and live a peaceful life.
But you choose to be a kept woman of a grand house.
And since you chose to be a kept woman, you did so contently.
Come now to seek death and who are you putting the show for?
Men might like this act of yours.
But in this back courtyard, who can't tell you're pretending to be feeble to attack strongly to get your way?
This act of putting two different faces.
Miss. Why do you slander me?
You're not the one slandering us?
You bully yourself here to force my sister to allow someone who's deemed ill-fit by the Gu House.
By that you throw my sister into being unfilial.
You disturb the Yu House and chase a ruckus for others to gossip.
That's throwing my sister into unrighteousness.
You keep saying mistress and concubine.
That's ruining my sister's chastity.
You slander out of the blue and try to ruin my sister's life.
What great grudge do you hold against the Yu House?
And what great grudge do you have against the Gu House too?
Miss, that's not what this is about.
Shut that mouth. Either you roll out of here yourself.
Or they will bind you and throw you out.
You choose one.
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at viki.com
If it weren't for your sixth girl helping bravely,
that foolish granddaughter of mine.
She'd be eaten up by that whore by now.
That girl was spoiled rotten by me.
To be so oppressive in your home.
You should've beaten her out.
I hope she didn't ruin your family and Gu House's marital prospect.
Gu House? Who's Gu House?
I've never heard of them.
My Yanran was long betrothalled to a boy in our hometown of Xuzhou when the moms were pregnant with them.
Just that the boy, a few years ago, his mother passed away.
So Yanran's been delayed in Bianjing.
Now, the boy's passed the mourning period.
So in a few days, my husband and I will return to our old home.
Watch they get married and this worry of mine will be done.
Elegant Serenity
These days, how are the house managing?
Big Madam did a good job managing.
So the ledgers are clear and balanced.
I am just following her policies as my predecessor.
Just doing some usual things.
But I've learned a lot nevertheless.
You've managed the house for a few days and you've got your temper running instead.
You endure it here in your own courtyard.
But you go to another's house and sing a big score.
You're right. I was too propagating.
You are sincere in acknowledging your wrong?
Actually I am not.
Then tell me what you really think.
I weighed things on my mind.
And some things, they seem so demure but they are treacherous.
Some things, they look so treacherous but they are so peaceful.
That woman. She thought I was a Yu daughter.
And we'd never meet again and she can't accuse me. That's the first point.
This matter is not a proud matter.
Yu House would not only not propagate about it.
They would keep it shushed and hushed tightly instead.
So I won't be exposed.
That was point two.
Imperial Tutor is going to Xuzhou soon.
This matter will just be buried more so.
That was point three.
So, I was able to carry out my nerves and commit to it.
In the end, this is their own matter in Yu House.
But you showed for her.
And if it gets known to outsiders,
you're a piece of mud trying to save a piece of gold and you'll only get yourself harmed.
I know this matter was not advantageous to me.
Though they say women must be prudent with their words and conduct,
and they can only have a safe and sound life if they do so.
But when I saw this happening, I couldn't take it.
I can't just sit atop leisurely watching Sister Yu,
because she's too virtuous and too gentle,
that she gets pushed into a firepit burning alive to death.
That's not how good people should end up.
You did not only stood up for your sister Yanran.
You were standing up for yourself too.
You are afraid in the future, you will meet this same happening as what happened to Sister Yanran.
Sister Yanran is a legitimate heiress of a noble house.
But she still lives precariously. And I'm . . .
As long as I am alive,
that day will never be!
Miss, Miss Yanran is already far out.
Let's go back.
Miss isn't happy. Get her to be happier.
Miss, there's a shop with a new snack.
It's honey glazed pastry flower. I've never tried it.
Let's try it before we go home.
It's so good.
Are you coaxing the miss to happiness or coaxing yourself?
If miss is happy, I am happy. If miss likes it, I like it.
As long as it's food,
I've never seen you not like it.
Miss, those people in our room. When can we deal with them?
Let's wait a bit more.
You can only cook rice when the stove is hot.
The stove is cold still and even if you put the cauldron on, you still can't cook yellow millet.
One can say that I've helped your mother before.
I've still got the knee pads you gifted me out of gratitude.
But I've never relied on the favor to coerce a recompense.
It was entirely out of respect to your brother and my friendship.
But you? You repay the favor with a grudge.
You disturbed my marital prospect and ruined my match.
Why did you do that?
Go peel some lotus seeds. We'll eat it on the way back.
- Miss. - Go on.
So fierce.
Second Uncle asks me many questions and I'd like to ask you one as well.
Why are you trying to marry the miss from Yu House?
You're a baby girl and what am I supposed to discuss with you?
I didn't know before either but that day, after meeting your kept woman,
I realized everything to the clear.
What can you understand?
Sister Yanran is amiable and gentle.
To have her as your proper wife, your kept woman will be allowed.
Women aren't like you men.
Your world is wide, free for you to soar and roam.
Our life is only limited to a few things daily.
I thought it through a few times over and over.
If I can guess it too, imagine the others.
Though my intention isn't pure,
I've still painstakingly made up my mind.
After I am married, I will naturally behave with restraint.
I will live my life peacefully with my main wife.
She and I are both motherless.
If she can treat my kept woman kindly, I would naturally not treat her ill either.
You're so young so what do you understand?
When you're at the age of marriage talk, you'll know then.
All the things in the world need to be weighed.
Old Madam Yu coughed up blood from anger even.
Do you even know, Second Uncle?
What?
Imperial Tutor at first wouldn't consent to the marriage.
But for some unknown reason, he suddenly changed his mind.
He was about to consent.
Did it never occur to you to think, why on this favorable state,
that your kept woman would suddenly come to Yu House?
She's from a low birth and she's always been feeble.
She's scared that after I marry an esteemed daughter of a noble house,
she'd have no place allowed and of course she'd go and cry for a pleading.
Then how did she know where Imperial Tutor's manor was?
And she could force the old madam to cough up blood.
And forced my Sister Yanran to take her concubine tea.
Low birth might be true.
Always feeble, I think not!
I understand now. To people like you,
that's how you see her.
And that's how you see me.
Second Uncle Gu.
You've saved me before and I am very grateful.
I just want to give you a sincere reminder.
That kept woman of yours. Zhu Manniang. I don't think she's a good person.
She went and cried her grievance at Yu House and she's not a good person. So you keep Qi Heng fished and you're good?
What did you say?
Isn't it true though?
The young lord has you in his heart.
You can fool others maybe but not me.
You to him? You loosen your reins only to grasp them better.
You've got him strung to your hands like a kite.
You pull on it and he comes.
You loosen it and he has to go.
A great grown man and made rubbish by you!
What? You speak nonsense!
Me and him. We've not said an extra word, never crossed any line.
You're filthy minded and you see people with filthy eyes.
For your own life. So that you can have an easier life, you go and try to ruin my Sister Yu.
And now you slander me.
If I had known earlier.
I shouldn't have gone to Yu House to harm Miss Yu.
I should've came to your Sheng house to cause harm.
What do you mean by that?
What do I mean? If I insist on marrying you.
That father of yours. He wouldn't marry you off to me for me to cause damage?
You dare? Do you believe I will fight you to death?
Fight? With what?
The world has cliffs and water to jump into. Where could I not fight?
I'll be a Buddhist nun. I'll be a Daoist nun. I'll marry to Mt Dragon.
I'll farm cows and fields and I'll never marry you!
Shove it! That gambling and brothel-visiting rogue?
The kept woman even showed up here.
You want to marry Yanhong there? You can get that idea?
No, I mean.
Wife. This, you should think of it as this.
This Gu Tingye is the legitimate heir of the marquis house.
He has one elder brother but he's always so sickly.
He might be done at any time.
So this Gu Tingye might inherit the nobility title in the future.
Let's take a step back. Let's say that Gu Tingye can't inherit the nobility title.
He's got so many shops in his hands. Hundreds of silvers in profits.
Our Yanhong marries over and she'll have prestige and honor.
You scratch through the capital and how many can compare?
Yancao, is the work here alright?
Good.
Twenty one taels of official silver. Nanny Liu, come double weigh.
What's there to check?
Miss Cuiwei is most capable.
Nanny Liu and Miss Caihuan don't come often.
How about having a meal with Miss Jiu'er today before you go?
I don't have that scope.
I need to go and respond to Big Madam.
Then let me escort you out.
No need. You're busy so stay and tend to them.
I've been employed here for so long. Can't be that I don't know my way back?
This way.
Nanny Liu, there's not much going on with Miss Six.
Mother, can you just let me come back instead?
Go back and do what?
Just stay nice and good by Miss Six.
Mother.
She's a wood-brain and not much to see. Let me come back.
Yinxing, Big Madam chose you to come.
If you don't try your hardest, we'll try our hardest.
That Young Master Changbai would come to visit Sixth Miss before.
He'd bring some copybooks or ink sticks.
But nowadays he's stopped coming.
He begrudges that Yinxing doesn't serve well.
Sixth Miss didn't say anything and just told Yinxing to say sorry.
But later on, once,
Yinxing kept him isolated in the yard.
I heard she asked him for a handkerchief and joked with him.
That chit.
Bai'er and Hai Family's marriage is pending.
That whore is so delusional?
Who says she isn't.
Young Master didn't make a big deal out of respect for Sixth Miss's prestige.
That sixth girl is such a weak bone. She can't even deal with that loser.
And she wants to manage the house?
You ruined the marriage prospect with Elder Miss Yu.
Now they're switching to having the third miss marrying here.
I hear she was raised precious as gold and jade.
She's very fierce and unyielding.
Whether you'll survive will just depend on you now.
I am always carefully serving you.
I don't know why you dislike me.
You can seduce the men.
But you can't fool the women who make their living in the back courtyards.
We won't talk birth or family.
Do you even have the disposition of a main wife?
I am a low birth.
But I still have to live in this world.
Nanny. God gave me a life.
I can't just go die, right?
Where are you going?
I'm going out to buy some needle and thread.
Good then. Mine are dull too. I'll come with you.
Xiaocui.
Come clear this.
Coming.
Help me up.
You're going out?
Nanny says to tell her before you go out.
Xiaocui, take it.
Xiaocui, you know I'll outlast the nanny in the end.
You give me a good future,
and you are giving yourself a good future.
In the future, you and me, under Third Miss Yu's,
our live will be easier.
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?♫