Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki
The Story of Ming Lan
Episode 65
That Kang woman kept instigating and sowing discord in our family.
But who doesn't know about the character of Big Madam?
Grandmother would usually just pretend to be deaf and mute. She sometimes may say a few words, but that's it.
But, since she stuffed a concubine in here,
it agitated and angered grandmother.
She scolded her, took away her rights to manage the household, and even punished her.
She was asked to kneel at a place where people are moving about.
But this Big Madam has been so competitive all her life.
If she could have just submitted a little,
that Lin woman would have been nothing in my father's eyes long time ago.
It was really too cruel for Big Madam.
That's why, that evil woman found an opportunity to use.
No matter what, she already has a daughter-in-law and grandchild.
She should be given appropriate respect, at the very least.
Actually, if you're going to return to the root of everything,
I was the reason why grandmother's life was endangered.
It was because she was too worried about me.
She would always think for my sake.
Say, at her age,
she should be enjoying the blessings from her children and grandchildren.
She should be living her days comfortably.
She shouldn't be worrying anymore.
But at her age, she still had to suffer so much.
As her granddaughter, my heart really aches for her.
I understand.
You have me.
Don't worry.
Grandmother loves me so much.
I feel so bad.
Virtuous in Conduct
Miss, Second Miss, my good Miss,
you've been crying all day. If you continue to cry, your eyes will get damaged.
I must cry for 10 years.
He wants me to go there for 10 years.
The sky has turned ash grey...
Why don't he just kill me now?
Miss.
That vile spawn...
I've carried him in my womb for 10 months before giving birth to him.
He's heartless. He only cares about the person in Shou'an Hall.
Was it Old Madam who gave birth to him?
Miss,
you are not like that woman Kang, who can just fling her arms and leave.
Once Old Madam recovers, you still have to attend by her side.
From now on, no matter what Old Madam says or does,
you must accept it graciously. Hence,
why not just get punished cruelly? Once you return after several years,
since the matter has happened long ago, you've already admitted your mistake and has been punished,
everything then is flattened out.
After committing such a huge sin, can it really be smooth out?
I can see that Old Madam doesn't have a hard heart.
Also, as long as you've been punished,
Master and Young Master Bai will also be at ease.
Moreover, we can't really let Young Master Bai resign, right?
Just let him resign if he wants! He dares to use that to threaten me?
You mustn't say it like that.
Young Master Bai is highly favored by the emperor.
Not only you, even Master and the House of Wang are relying on him.
Didn't you see that when he said that he's resigning,
even Old Madam Wang panicked.
Furthermore,
are you putting your hopes that Changfeng can be an official? Once he does and gets promoted,
he might get a conferred title for that lowly bitch Concubine Lin.
That bitch... She aren't qualified even if she's buried now.
That's right! It's good that you understand.
Let's go back to Youyang and nurse your health.
As long as Young Master Bai's official career will go smoothly and have a promising future,
who in our old house would dare to slight you?
If your Eldest Sister-in-law will really treat you badly for old grievances against you,
just ask her then, "How many sons and daughters do you have
that's as successful as mine?"
But...once I go there, I will be in an unfamiliar place and among unfamiliar people. It will just be me.
My god...
I'll accompany you!
How can that be? You're such a honorable steward maidservant.
How could you get used to living in the province?
Why wouldn't a crude person like me get used to it?
My children have all their own families now. They can survive without me.
My husband is managing the farmstead for you.
I'll then accompany you to recite sutras and pray to the deities. Moreover,
how could a good Big Madam like you
not have a loyal lackey like me?
My heart really have been covered by pig's oil and my eyes were blinded.
Every words you told me before were good advice.
I actually didn't listen to them.
Since at the House of Wang, I've accompanied you.
Until you got married to here and became the Big Madam.
It's been decades.
Big Madam, don't cry anymore.
Let's go outside and take a stroll to relax your mind.
Look at how good the weather is.
Let's go.
Marquis Husband, are you done with the salt taxation matters?
You finally have thought about that.
Could it be
you returned to the capital without permission?
Your brother received a letter from your sister-in-law.
After reading just two lines, he went to look for me.
Only then did I know that a huge matter has happened to your family.
You...and my older brother came back without permission?!
If this gets out, that's a grave crime!
You're anxious?
Of course, I'm worried about you!
Good thing, the House of Wang got in trouble this time.
No one would dare publicize this matter. If people knew that you returned to the capital without permission,
it will be hard to cover up this thing too.
No need to worry.
I'm a capable man.
Before we left, we've already informed Prince Huan. Even if His Majesty learns of this,
at most, he'll just scold me. It's fine.
I learned that something bad happened to the family.
I learned that something bad happened to you.
I so want to put on wings and fly back here!
I couldn't care about that much anymore.
I've caused you trouble.
On my way back here, I kept thinking about one problem.
How come your sister-in-law knew to write your older brother a letter,
while you never thought of writing me one after such a huge incident happened to your family?
This matter happened too sudden
and too fast. I didn't think that much.
No.
It's because you don't trust me at all.
You don't believe that I'll rush back just for this matter.
You don't believe that I'll defend you.
The more you don't believe that I will risk everything to protect you after such a huge matter has happened to you.
Yes, I don't trust you.
I can risk my future,
but I can't risk yours.
How come your sister-in-law then risked the future of your older brother?
Because she never treated your older brother as an outsider.
She didn't worry about this or that.
She didn't meticulously calculated things. And she wasn't too cautious.
Minglan, aren't you being such a stranger with me?
You are different from my older brother.
He has enjoyed the favor of so many people.
It has always been smooth sailing in everything that he did.
What about you? It's not easy for you to finally live some peaceful and stable life.
Was able to establish a good official career.
How could I just watch as you...
Isn't it enough that you think of me and I think of you?
Of course, it's enough.
But I'm still a bit greedy.
Have you ever been very annoyed by me?
Have you ever hated me so much? Hated me to the point that you want to bite me?!
Can the two of us have a fight?
Be like that legitimate mother of yours,
make a scene and roll about. Let's give it a try, okay?
I don't understand you at all. I really don't.
Is that how that Prostitute Wei treated you?
What Prostitute Wei?
How come you're involving her here?
Did that scoundrel older brother of yours told you something?
I almost got derailed by you.
That... You... You and my older brother,
don't go casually moving around in the morning.
Once it's night fall, immediately leave the city.
It's too late.
Last night, after that Kang got caned,
Old Madam Wang saw blood and pitied her daughter.
She refused to sign the papers for her imprisonment.
Cousin Kang and your older brother got physical and were dragged away.
This morning, Zecheng especially went to Old Madam's house to get her to sign.
But, he's a very cautious man.
He probably won't leak this matter out.
That older brother of mine too is so stubborn.
How about...
I'll talk with the Kang Family.
No! You mustn't go there! If anyone will go, it should be me.
Even if I have to threaten Lord Kang with a knife on his neck, I'll get you that signature.
With your body now, what if things get physical while you're in the House of Kang,
won't that just agitate me?
Don't get agitated.
I won't go talk to the Kang's. I'll talk to my father.
Father-in-law?
For a slick person like Father-in-law,
he will look for Lord Kang?
He won't.
Tell me, what does that Prostitute Wei look like?
How would I know? We should ask men about that.
Book her next time and we'll be able to see her.
Big Madam, are you for real?
No. Sir Second Tu works under the marquis.
However you look at it,
all males that we know are connected with my marquis husband.
Should we then look for an outsider steward?
No. We can't fully trust them.
Maybe, we'll be giving others our weakness.
Why don't we go look for Old Madam to get some ideas?
You think I'm stupid. Do you want me to get punished by grandmother?
I just feel that with Old Madam's personality, she might not hit you,
and even laughingly book her for you.
I remember it now. Big Madam Yu once taught Prostitute Wei how to sew.
That's right. I can write Sister Yanran a letter.
She surely will laugh at me.
Big Madam, go in and take your time chatting. I'll just wait here outside.
You clean up the mess that you've created.
I won't go to the Kang Manor for you.
For a good excuse of attempted murder to divorce his wife, I think that maternal uncle-in-law of yours
might be lighting firecrackers in his house.
Why would then he sign those papers for her imprisonment as her husband?
You must know
that once she gets in, he won't be able to divorce her.
In Maternal Uncle-in-law's harem, there's a Concubine Jin. She's really skilled.
Not only does she have sons and daughters, she hasn't lost favor yet.
This is a problem concerning their main madam.
What does a concubine have to do with it?
Father, you said it very wrongly.
No matter if Maternal Aunt gets divorced or sentenced to death,
Maternal Uncle's main wife will be empty and he surely will remarry.
If he married someone young and beautiful,
how would that Concubine Jin place herself?
What that concubine wants to see the most
is your Maternal Aunt, the main wife, maintain her status only by name.
Not only will this stop any new wives from entering the house,
she can also be the steward of the household, and her children would be receiving a lot of blessings.
That's right. Sending Maternal Aunt to the palace prison
won't really need to noisily inform everyone about it.
We can just say that she went to the farmstead to recuperate.
This can preserve the reputation of the three families.
Impossible.
Your Maternal Uncle-in-law will never listen to the words of a concubine.
Not only can that Concubine Jin instigate while the two of them are lying in bed,
she also have grudges.
She only has one daughter,
yet it got sent to Old Master Kang's side as a concubine.
Really?
Yes. Isn't Maternal Auntie Kang just bringing retribution to herself?
Now that her walls have toppled, it's just natural for someone to push it further.
Old Master Kang is already 70 to 80 years old.
Father. You must tell Maternal Uncle-in-law
that if the House of Wang insists on saving maternal aunt,
and because you are considerate about your mother-in-law,
you're almost convinced by them.
Me?
If I get convinced,
then this matter will get suppressed,
and he won't get to divorce his wife.
That's right.
Either he'll have an innocent Maternal Aunt going home
and she'll be immensely proud of herself,
or just sign the papers and send that evil wife of his into the palace prison.
Say, what do you think will Maternal Uncle-in-law choose?
Do you need to ask?
How come you've calculated it so thoroughly?
I caused this ruckus not really for myself,
and not only for grandmother, it's for our Sheng Family.
Okay. If you say that it is, then it is.
This matter must get resolved now. We are the one at the right here.
If we delay it,
father you might end up with an infamous reputation of
neglecting your legitimate mother and is ungrateful.
It's good that we've disputed this matter now.
Or else, once grandmother reaches her 100th birthday,
others might use this matter to create an issue. Even if we don't die, we'll be smelling like mutton.
Other people? What do they know?
They don't know now, but what about in the future?
What if it's someone bearing grudges against our family?
When the flower is red and the moon is good, no one would mention it.
But what if, one day the Sheng Family also gets into a juncture,
with such a good weakness to use against us,
why won't they stab us during the most critical time?
How come you know so much about the Kang Manor?
I still know a lot more.
Recently, I've been thinking about one thing.
How did my obedient daughter become like this?
Shouting for people to be beaten or killed, but not blinking a bit.
I suddenly figured it out earlier.
You didn't become like this.
You have always been like this.
You were really good in pretending otherwise.
Father.
I never bore any grudge against you because of your ungenerous treatment.
I also didn't distance myself from you just because you treated me coldly.
I feel that you should be satisfied already that I was able to do so.
It's because of your indulging,
that my birth mother got killed.
I'm a person who remembers forever the good things done to me.
Even if I have to risk my life, I will repay them.
But father,
do you still remember my birth mother?
How old would she be if she is still alive now?
When is her birthday?
What color does she love? What food is her favorite?
That time, I was very busy.
But I remember.
Not only do I remember hers. I also remember yours.
I know you more than you do.
I understand that you put importance on this family's prosperity and decline.
I understand why you don't care about the internal fights in your house.
I understand your talent, ability, pretenses, and coldness.
The more I understand that you are fickle
and easily wavered.
Only the most core interest can move you.
Father, our family
should just continue to live our days in a muddled manner.
Why ask so much?
That Kang woman being kept in our house to recuperate
would eventually be a burden to us.
She must be tightly guarded. Leave no room for slacking off.
In my opinion, it's better that she get sent to the palace prison as soon as possible.
But, she's currently injured.
If we send her to the palace prison, she surely will die.
The House of Wang and us will then have animosity between us.
Sixth.
Sixth, you must be tired.
If you are, then just go back and rest.
Don't force yourself. It's not good for your health.
Grandmother, have you seen the prostitutes here in Bianjing?
It's fine. This is very hot.
Your husband and second brother mustn't stay in their houses anymore.
Their official duties aren't done yet and they were not decreed to come back.
They privately returned to the capital and even brought a small troop with them.
Regardless of who submits a memorial about this, it is a grave matter.
Right. Right. What grandmother said is right. The matter has been resolved.
Father has already obtained the signed letter from the House of Kang.
Second Brother has also obtained the signed letter from the House of Wang.
I'll have them leave by chou hour (1-3 am) tomorrow.
No, not chou hour. That's so late in the night.
There are not much people in the streets by then. There are 7 to 8 of them travelling, and all are buff men.
Even if the guards in the city wall won't recognize them, it will leave an impression.
Yes. You said it right.
I'll let them go when the sky turns dark. Anyway, there are a lot of people leaving the capital by then.
Go back now!
The more I think of it, the more I think that it was you.
Did you mention about Prostitute Wei to my wife?
For so many years, my relationship with Prostitute Wei has been clean. You know that.
Why must you mention her to my wife?!
You're causing our family to be in turmoil.
Don't you want her to get anxious?
Now, she is.
She surely will be asking around about her. That's exactly what you wished, right?
Sheng Changbai, can't you take it if my life is going great?
If your little sister fights with me about this, I won't forgive you!
I heard that Prostitute Wei is skilled in writing short poems and singing.
She stunned the capital with her rendition of the Wulingchun. She can even write lyrics.
Really?
Everyone is saying that she has a gentle and refined personality, able to clearly understand a person's heart.
No matter what problem you have,
if you go to her, you'll feel more calm and stable.
How did you know all these?
I asked the guards this morning.
If you told the guards, then won't my marquis husband knows?
He will know it eventually.
The group of Marquis Gu and Lord Sheng have left the capital.
It seems they're heading south towards Prince Huan.
They haven't finished with their official tasks, yet they came and went so fast.
Not only did they return to the capital without being summoned, they even brought a small troop.
Was it a troop?
Yes. 7 to 8 in their group. All are good fighters.
Just coming and going like that. Totally no respect for the law.
Marquis Gu is indeed a bit arrogant. Your Majesty, don't be mad.
That scoundrel, he's too savage!
Your Majesty, don't be mad anymore. Be careful of your headache acting up again.
Okay already. You go back first.
That crazy woman in the back courtyard...
Always cursing and shouting all day, like some pig or dog.
Causing us to have to deliver her food despite the already tiring work here.
She would even scold me too. This is really such a degrading task.
How about this? You are old, hence, precious. I'll do all the hard labor.
Fine. Fine. You do it.
Translation and Timing carefully crafted by the Mei Daxia Team at Viki
You...
You dare let me eat food that even dogs or pigs won't eat?!
If you throw your food again, you won't have anything to eat today,
tomorrow, until the day after that.
Big Madam, you think about it by yourself.
My father has served three emperors. His memorial tablet is being worshiped in the royal ancestral hall.
You people dare to trample on me like this?
You actually eat food like that?
I think your leg injury has recovered almost completely.
In just two days, you're going to the palace prison.
By then, not only will you not see white rice, you can only eat candies.
Thank you. Thank you.
Be careful! Be careful of the dung!
I will never go to prison!
Sheng Minglan, you little bitch!
My father is an official who served three emperors and his memorial tablet is being worshiped in the royal ancestral hall.
I will never go there!
That bitch Maternal Aunt Kang dared to poison grandmother?! Hacking her numerous times isn't even too much punishment.
But how come we didn't know?
This is also not something to be proud of.
It was father and second brother who made the judgement.
We've hidden it to as much people as we can.
Even Third Brother doesn't know it still.
Indeed. It was also when Nanny Liu was sent by mother to us did we know about this.
That evil woman Maternal Aunt Kang, I so want to beat her up right now.
Talking about hitting and killing people, you're even pregnant.
I think I'll be giving birth soon in these next few days.
Sixth Little Sister, wasn't mother punished too heavily?
I'm giving birth soon. If she's not around, I'm a bit scared.
Can mother delay going to Youyang by a few days?
Fifth Older Sister, you should be telling this to Second Brother.
It was him who decided on Main Mother's matter.
Even father can't dare say any word.
Why don't you talk to Second Brother in my behalf?
You're the youngest in the family and Second Brother's favorite.
Second is close with Marquis. He surely will give him considerations, right?
You're right too.
Why don't I ask grandmother first?
She's after all the victim here.
It was also her who struggled at the brink of death.
Why don't you ask grandmother?
See if she's willing to see Big Madam.
Let's stop talking about these idle matters.
I can see how big both of your abdomens are now.
Looking at them and counting the days, Rulan might give birth earlier than you.
I heard that Fifth Brother-in-law personally inquired about the midwives.
Your days are really not bad.
What he can handle are just these measly things.
As long as my mother-in-law won't keep putting on airs all day,
asking me to stand under the sun as punishment, everything else is actually bearable.
They might be matters between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law, but at the bottom of it all, it's still a matter between husband and wife.
As long as Fifth Brtoher-in-law has s mirror-like heart,
Fifth Sister will surely not suffer.
Indeed.
Good thing, your husband's mother has passed away.
But seeing how marquis isn't in the manor,
you still have to be more careful.
What she said is so right.
You should have told me that Danju is getting married off today，
so I could have organized it in your behalf.
You even personally exhausted yourself.
It's not good if your child's health gets affected.
Thank you sister for caring.
Actually, everything was planned half a year ago. It's no big deal.
Danju is my trusted aide. She surely must be married off from the marquis manor.
Now, I still am able to personally organize events like this.
This is also a fate between us as master and servant.
Big Madam, it's almost time.
Danju said that she wants to bid you farewell.
This is your slave contract.
Inside this is your residence certificate. It has been processed in the magistrate office.
From now on, you're not anymore a slave.
You're already an ordinary citizen. You must have a good life.
Don't cry. Today is a joyous day. Your make-up will get destroyed.
I remember back then that Miss loves to eat rose flaky pastries the most.
You also love to read books while sitting on the railing of the corridor.
That's right. You even sewed me
a fabric wrap overnight
and tied it on the railing, afraid that I'll jumped down.
But that wrap wasn't done sturdy enough. It ripped open,
causing you to fell on the floor.
Afterwards, Nanny Fang scolded me
for not dissuading you when you're already sitting in an unstable manner,
and even came up with rotten ideas.
She said that she'll punish me.
My bones were in pain afterwards
and had to lie in bed for three days.
You then cried by my side for three days.
Once I've recovered, you instead fallen ill.
Afterwards, you promised me that you won't sit on the railing again.
You even asked me to do a pinky swear.
Miss... I really can't bear to part with you.
You... Live your days well.
You still are going to bear children, and have a harmonious and beautiful life.
Let me bow to you then, Miss.
Quickly get up. Quickly get up.
Be good.
- Be good.- Let's go.
Stop crying! Your make-up is getting destroyed. Look at that.
Come. Raise the carriage!
Since you can't bear to part with her, why not just let her stay?
Just look for an able butler to marry her.
She and Xiaotao were with me since I was little.
As long as she can have a good marriage life,
I'm also at ease.
Marrying an able butler is also good grace.
There's nothing wrong about it.
You usually treat them so well.
Seeing how you're in pain, she should have taken the initiative to stay.
Okay. Okay.
You don't know anything. Stop saying nonsense.
Although her words were nonsensical, she's also thinking for your sake.
You have so many maidservants by your side. If everyone will be married off,
and you're going to manage them all like this, how can your body take it?
Only her and Xiaotao.
I heard that a few days ago, Eldest Miss and Fifth Miss
stayed in the House of Gu until sunset before leaving.
Just to send off a servant to get married?
A servant getting married off.
A marchioness and a two noble wives went to send her off?
Will you believe it if anyone told you that?
I really can't think of a reason why.
For problems in our maiden house,
everyone knows about it, except me.
It shows that they don't treat me as a daughter of theirs anymore.
Sister-in-law, that Liang Family is also a lair of problems.
Now that I have no children, it's really hard for me to make a footing.
Hope grandmother can help me contact Old Madam He, who's an expert in obstetrics, so she can examine me.
If I'm fated to have no child,
I'll accept it.
I heard that Liang Sixth treats you very well.
By saying those words, you're bringing him shame.
Sister-in-law, it's still you who has a good fate.
You met a man like our Second Brother, who has both integrity and talent.
I'm unable to tell anyone the hardships I suffer there.
We both are wives. I'm sure you understand my hardships.
There's no need for little sister to be rushing too.
No matter which concubine bears a child, they will all be under you.
Maybe, my husband ans I are really not fated to have many children.
These past years, none of the pregnancies of these concubines were able to be carried to term.
Two years ago, it wasn't easy to finally have a child born, but it didn't survive long.
Until now, when my husband thinks about it, he can only sigh.
Sister-in-law, just pity me and let me see grandmother.
We're one family. No need to say such words.
Too bad, grandmother has been sick a few days ago.
Don't know for how long she needs to recuperate.
It might delay your matter.
It's better for you husband to just request an imperial physician to have you checked.
Grandmother is sick?
What's going on? The more I should go visit her.
It's no big deal. She is old.
We eat different grains. How can we not get sick?
She'll be fine after resting.
Fourth Little Sister, it's getting dark.
Go back once you see your brother.
Sister...
This tea was made well.
After marrying into the House of Liang, your talent for refined crafts have really improved.
Since I married into the Liang Family, I seemed to not be a daughter of the Sheng Family anymore.
I don't know anything about what's happening here.
Even with grandmother getting sick, I wasn't able to practice my filial piety by her side.
Older Brother, why is grandmother sick?
Didn't father already report it in his leave of absence document?
Didn't your husband hear it?
It says that there was a thief in our house
that traumatized grandmother, causing her to be ill and bedridden.
But I don't believe it.
What's there to not believe about it?
If grandmother is really sick,
why did Wang Ruofu return to our hometown in Youyang?
Aren't you suspicious about this?
Older Brother, since Little Mother died,
only the two of us are real biological siblings here.
How long do you still plan to hide this from me?
I'm not the only one. Isn't there still this child?
This is my legitimate daughter.
Which is also your niece. We're still a lively family.
Enough.
What event hasn't our grandmother, the only daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi, not seen?
She got traumatized by just a thief in our house?
If you really believed those words, you're really foolish.
I think that you don't need to take some civil examination anymore.
Little Sister, for people like us, what's the use of knowing too much?
If you like, just frequently come here to visit your niece.
This can count as being reunited.
I think that ugly wife of yours
has stirred your heart and brain into becoming nothing.
Think about how you were before.
You gambled and drank with those high officials and noble person. How splendid was your life then?
Now, you're just staying at home and is just a juzi.
Little Mother and I are both very competitive people.
How come I get to have a good-for-nothing brother?
And you only get to have a daughter like that. I don't really know what you're happy about.
I'm already contented to have this child.
But looking at you, even if you become the Countess, you won't be happy.
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.♫
♫Don't you know, don't you know, there must be flourishing leaves and fallen flowers?♫