01x15 - Episode 15

[bunniefuu]

Leave me.

Your Highness, you're

still indulging in this?

Aren't the most tempting things

always those with a little harm?

I was even hoping we could

share another puff

of orchid tobacco.

I came in haste,

so I didn't bring any with me.

You can use mine.

I wouldn't dare.

I quit it

when you were away.

You're always saying you wouldn't dare.

Yet you're the only one

in the world bold enough

to lecture me.

Congratulations on returning safely

from Lizhen.

If there's nothing else,

I'll take my leave.

I haven't dismissed you!

I was hoping to hear you play

the zither again, like in the old days.

Just as I've quit smoking,

the zither

has long been left to gather dust.

That's Marquis of Jining's signal flare.

Young Lady.

Young Lady Ming is missing.

Madam has sent servants

to search everywhere,

but it's been two hours,

and no one has seen her.

Dou Ming left after she was eliminated.

She hasn't been seen since.

Could the two of them be together?

The Imperial Guards are nearby.

-I'll go request reinforcements.

-My Lord.

Marquis of Jining values

his reputation above all else.

This matter can't be made public.

Let me go with you instead.

(Blossom)

(Episode 15)

I'll go take a look first.

Please join me a bit later.

How could you be so careless?

I didn't notice earlier.

It's nothing serious.

Young Lady Zhao?

Zhao?

It's not what you think.

I was just upset about the elimination,

and then I happened to see a rabbit.

Please don't blame Young Lady Ming.

We saw a rabbit.

We wanted to set it free.

Yes, we walked the horses here.

We didn't ride together

or cross any boundaries.

What happened to your foot?

I sprained my ankle.

It's nothing serious.

This place is quite remote.

None of you can ride back,

-so you'll have to ride with me.

-I'm fine.

-Take him back first.

-Take her back first.

You and His Lordship are engaged.

It's only proper for you

to share the ride.

Once you're back,

you can send someone to fetch me.

So it's still against decorum.

Even with an engagement,

you're not yet married.

So that's still improper.

Since His Lordship and I

are kindred spirits,

I'll take him back instead.

Kindred spirits?

It's just a dislocated joint.

I admire your refined demeanor,

though your constitution

is a little fragile.

Once you report to Imperial Guards,

I'll train you myself.

Thank you, My Lord.

Wait, Imperial Guards?

Young Lady Zhao,

are you alright?

Oh, gosh! I'm so, so sorry!

Lord Dong, the hunt is over.

Why did you sh**t us?

Everyone, I apologize.

Lord Song was wearing brown,

and I mistook him for a bear.

I fired the arrow in a moment of panic.

I'm terribly sorry.

Young Lady Zhao, are you alright?

Zhao, are you hurt?

I'm fine.

Where could she be?

-Father, Mother.

-Ming!

Where have you been? Are you alright?

I went into the woods for

some fresh air, but I got lost.

Luckily, Zhao found me.

Nanny Zhou, walk Ming back to her room.

I'll take her back myself.

-Alright.

-Come, Ming.

-Did you get hurt?

-No.

What were you thinking, child?

Stop.

You competed for the first place

and sought imperial favor.

When will you stop

embarrassing our family?

You even offered to serve the court?

Do you really think you're that capable?

You think I don't know

you were just trying

to delay your marriage

to Marquis of Jining?

Also,

you even gambled, as a woman no less!

Are you trying to drag your

entire family down with you?

Don't think staying silent

will make this go away.

Where are you going?

Walking off like you've lost your soul.

Stop right there!

Why isn't she talking back today?

Not that I'd want to hear it anyway.

Once again, it's a brush with death.

Is destiny really unchangeable?

Are we really fated to be shot

to death in the end?

You told me

that with enough momentum,

even mountains could collapse,

and rivers could reverse their flow.

I've changed so many things.

Why is this still happening?

All things follow their destined course.

Cause and effect are

part of a larger cycle.

Look at that boulder in the water.

It weighs a hundred pounds,

yet only splits the stream momentarily.

Eventually, the water flows

together again behind it.

The strength of one person

is far too small

against the vast currents of history.

So everything is preordained.

Nothing can truly be changed after all.

What's wrong? What happened?

Nothing.

You'd have fallen into the water

if I hadn't pulled you.

What's wrong?

It's probably because

I haven't eaten anything.

I'm feeling a little weak.

You know,

I started as a cook

when I first joined the army.

This is a reunion stew from Futing.

You can throw in anything,

vegetables, meat, eggs.

It's called Fortune Stew.

It smells amazing.

My mother used to make it for me.

She'd always add something new,

mushrooms, seafood, you name it.

She'd say

life is like that.

Even an old, familiar dish

changes completely with

a few new ingredients.

That's true.

Things are always changing.

Just like how Father found a new love,

had a new child,

and started a new family.

Every household has its battles,

legitimacy, seniority, status.

Everyone fights

for their share of the pot.

Even Lizhen's army, at Zhenbei Pass,

fell to an uprising

by a concubine's son.

When the imperial family

fights for their share,

family squabbles

become matters of state.

Now that you've gained

His Majesty's favor

and command of the troops,

the Crown Prince and Prince Qing

will surely try to win you over.

What's your plan?

I'm going

to follow your example.

My example?

Right now, I'm presenting myself

as someone who's let go of his hatred,

and solely focused on ambition and gain.

So, I'll watch their performances first,

then decide what role I want to play.

Someone's coming.

Hide!

I haven't tried the Fortune Stew yet.

Something's bothering you.

Something's been off with you all day.

What's going on?

The arrow?

Does it have to do with that arrow?

Why would that incident

disturb you so much?

Do you really think you can see

through everything about me?

Whether it's today's incident

or Wei Ting Yu,

does figuring me out

make you feel accomplished?

The ability to read people

started as a skill

I used in interrogations.

Most of those I questioned were

broken, physically and mentally,

some even biting off their own tongues.

So, believe me,

knowing what someone else is thinking

has never given me any satisfaction.

Right now, I just want to help you.

I want to

lighten your burden.

My burden will be lighter

if you stay away from me.

It's for your own good,

and for mine too.

Why? I don't understand.

Is it because of Wei Ting Yu?

Let's just say it's for Wei Ting Yu.

What do you mean, 'let's just say'?

That's too dismissive.

My Lord, take care.

It's Marquis of Jining's fault

that we had to do this extra training

It's going to be rough for us.

-What are we going to do?

-Marquis Wei!

-Say no more.

-Oh, My Lord!

My Lord, please come!

Come on. This way.

Sit here.

Hang on.

Song Mo isn't here yet.

It doesn't feel right for me to sit.

This is how we usually do things.

We just sit down for briefings.

And we're done in an hour.

Come on, have some of this.

Thank you.

I heard Lord Song plans

to tighten discipline around here.

Discipline for you, not us.

We're just here for show.

Thanks to you,

we're all in for tough times.

All because of you!

What do you mean by that?

Song Mo and Minister Dou

have a mountain of grudges.

Everyone knows Lord Song

and the Dou family

are like fire and water.

You're the Dou family's

soon-to-be son-in-law.

Of course he's going

to take it out on you!

This is so unfair!

My My Lord.

Candied olives for tribute?

Just one costs 300 copper coins.

Which of you here so generously

bought this?

It's Marquis Wei. He wanted

to keep us energized.

After all, the training will

No, how could you

Yes, he bought it.

I see.

In the military, we have rules

about standing and sitting,

and eating personal snacks

is strictly forbidden.

Anyone who ate these

will carry a stone weight

and crawl ten miles!

Here, rank means nothing,

only your position in

the military matters.

Anyone who misaddresses me again

will lose their post!

And as for the one who started this,

an extra ten miles.

But you ate some too!

Because I know

that nothing is more important

in the military than unity.

So, I'm going to share

the punishment with you!

My Lord No, I mean,

Deputy Commander,

They set me up. I didn't buy these.

-Shut up! Come on!

-Hang on, I can explain!

Hurry up! Keep moving.

Come on!

Faster!

Move it, move it, faster!

Faster!

I'm done.

Get up.

I'm done.

I can't do this anymore.

Why are you making me do this, My Lord?

My Lord!

Well done!

It's so high.

How am I supposed to climb up there?

Just cut me some slack, My Lord.

If I don't see you up here,

you can forget about lunch.

No lunch? That won't do.

Why don't you just pull me up?

Come on.

Here.

One, two

No one's fighting you for it.

But really, as the Marquis of Jining,

your table manners could use some work.

You don't understand.

I'm not used to physical training.

And today, this plain bun tastes

better than the delicacies back

at my estate!

I'd better train you harder then.

What?

Please don't, My Lord.

Didn't you say we were kindred spirits?

Why are you picking on me?

I know, it's true Young Lady Zhao

and I are engaged,

but I swear, I have no intention of

siding with the Dou family!

My Lord,

aren't you marrying

Young Lady Zhao soon?

You think it's my choice?

Our parents arranged it.

I have no say in it.

You have no idea, Young Lady Zhao

is coarse and ill-mannered,

hardly a suitable match.

My Lord No, I mean,

Deputy Commander,

why are you looking at me like that?

You're absolutely right.

Young Lady Zhao

is far from a decent person.

You think so too?

Truly, great minds think alike.

Young Lady Zhao was sent to live on

a country estate since she was little.

She grew up among common riffraff.

She has no respect for her

elders and no regard for propriety.

If it weren't for her looks,

she'd be utterly worthless.

Though, I'll admit,

she does have one redeeming trait,

that is, she has good taste

for fancying me.

She's been pestering

her uncle to set the wedding date.

Oh well,

I'll just think of it as marrying

a hen that lays golden eggs.

Here, My Lord,

have an egg.

You. Come practice

mounted archery with me.

My My Lord, My Lord!

I haven't finished lunch!

Didn't he say they were kindred spirits?

Looks like the Marquis is

about to lose his life.

Kindred spirits?

He's treating him like an enemy.

I don't know much about painting,

but the poetry here

is certainly full of love.

Zhao,

I never tried to seduce him.

I swear on it.

If you want me to believe you,

burn the painting.

Since you really like it,

keep it.

I don't like Wei Ting Yu.

Even though we're engaged,

I'll never marry him.

You were just testing me?

But even so,

Mother would never agree.

She'll k*ll me.

I know your mother has been

hard on you all these years

because your marriage

didn't go as planned.

But whether it's learning painting

or deciding who to marry,

you shouldn't do it just to please her.

You're an adult now.

It's time to start making decisions

for your own life.

(Yizhi Hall)

Wei Ting Yu's eyes are blind,

and his heart is rotten.

He's absolutely

unworthy of Young Lady Zhao.

He may have a thousand flaws,

but he's still the one engaged

to Dou Zhao.

He's her fiance,

yet he spoke ill of her behind her back.

His character is deplorable.

Should we warn her about him?

I can't shake the feeling

that Dou Zhao is lying to me.

My burden will be lighter

if you stay away from me.

It's for your own good,

and for mine too.

I have to figure out what's on her mind.

My Lord, there's a eunuch outside

asking to see you.

-Let him in.

-Yes, My Lord.

My Lord.

Marquis of Jining has accused

you of abusing your power

and training him to

the point of serious injury.

He's teamed up with

several sons of noble families

and filed a formal complaint

against you.

Wei Ting Yu

is quite something, isn't he?

Long-lasting

Bravo!

Short-lived

Bravo!

In the end, this is still

about our marriage alliance.

Song Mo and Minister Dou

had a falling-out.

Who could've guessed he'd hold such

a grudge and take it out on Pei Jin?

Just look at what he's put him through.

My Lady, why bother

stooping to the level

of a mad dog that

bites indiscriminately?

If you ask me,

Song Mo may have been reinstated,

but he spends all his days

mingling with those opera performers.

What future could someone

like that possibly have?

Unbelievable.

And I heard,

he even has those opera singers

-warm his feet at night!

-Really?

Bravo!

People come and go here.

Someone might overhear you.

Just ask Master Shi Shu to arrange

(Duke of Jing)

a respectable position for Pei Jin

at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

For now,

let's focus on

getting this marriage settled.

After all, starting a family

comes before building a career.

It's no easy task to bring both families

together to discuss the engagement,

and look at you,

your mind is entirely on that play.

Even the children

lost interest and left.

Bravo!

Young Lady Ming!

Young Lady Ming!

Young Lady Ming,

why are you avoiding me?

My parents are downstairs.

Just go away.

Don't you know how I feel about you?

It's never going to happen between us.

Looks like they really love each other.

Why hasn't Marquis of Jining requested

a change in the marriage arrangement?

Him marrying Young Lady Ming would

be the perfect solution for everyone.

Wei Ting Zhen has

probably shut him down.

If Wei Ting Yu

were the decisive type,

he wouldn't have cowered

after just two days on the job.

I've heard that Lord Song had

been impeached over his training drills

at the Imperial Guards' camp.

Marquis Wei led the complaint,

claiming he got seriously

injured during training.

Not long after Lord Song learned about

Marquis Wei's engagement with you,

His Lordship immediately targeted him.

Why do you think

he did that, Young Lady?

Are you implying that

Song Mo is jealous because of me?

I didn't say that,

but now that you put it that way,

it all makes sense to me.

You

Wei Ting Zhen must've realized

they couldn't curry favor with Song Mo,

so now she's pushing for the wedding.

I had hoped that earning the first place

on the etiquette competition

might earn me an appointment

as a female official by His Majesty.

That way, I'd be stationed in

Liaodong for three to five years,

and the engagement

could quietly fall apart.

-Who would've known

-I can walk on my own.

Young Lady Zhao,

instead of enjoying the opera,

you've come here.

Are you meeting your lover in secret?

My Lord, I heard you can't sleep

without having an opera performer

warm your feet every night.

Cold feet at night?

That's a sign of kidney yang deficiency.

You really ought to

take care of yourself.

Go, go.

Marquis of Jining is

bedridden from his training,

and you didn't show

the slightest concern for him.

Instead,

you're worried about me?

Are you really going

to marry Wei Ting Yu?

Do you really need a singer's song

to lull you to sleep every night?

My little act can't possibly fool you.

But you still haven't

answered my question.

Why are you running away?

What the hell are you doing?

Young Lady Zhao, are you alright?

How dare a nobleman like you

bully a defenseless young woman!

Defenseless young woman?

That's not how you described her

the other day.

I

What did I say?

What I said isn't important.

What matters is

that I saw you bullying her.

Why are you snickering?

Young Lady Zhao, don't be afraid.

In broad daylight

No,

under the bright moon,

he wouldn't dare act improperly.

What are you trying to do?

Just wait and see.

Lecher!

-Young Lady Zhao

-Young Master Wei.

Please come with me.

Alright.

My Lord,

there's just the two of us here,

so, I'll just speak plainly.

-I

-Say no more.

I know you want to confess your love.

You had your mother sign

the marriage contract with my family,

and you even fought to take first place

on the etiquette competition for me.

For you?

That's right.

I know your feelings for me run deep.

I've seen it clearly.

But the more devoted you are,

the more uneasy I feel because

the one I love is Young Lady

Why did you kick me?

I get it. When it comes

to this relationship,

I've wronged you, I'm at fault.

Hit me and scold me all you want.

But love

Love is unpredictable.

Even if you have me in name,

you'll never have my love.

Enough!

I know you don't love me,

and I know you love someone else.

So why not break the engagement

and marry her instead?

Marriage is determined

by the will of the parents.

With both my parents gone,

my elder sister has taken their place,

and I dare not disobey her.

I know this is unfair to you,

and even more so to the one I love.

If only Master Shi Shu could step in,

wouldn't that make things much simpler?

You and Dou Ming are so deeply in love,

yet you are gutless to disobey them

while expecting me to do so instead.

If I were Dou Ming,

I would've slapped you.

Very well.

Since you can't make up your mind,

let's have our families

proceed with tradition

and perform a divination then.

Perform a divination?

I I don't think we need

to rush things.

Let me discuss this

with my sister first.

We should consider it carefully.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Divination my foot!

Wei Ting Yu is all talk and no action.

How spineless!

No wonder Lord Song

despises him so much.

Even I feel like punching him.

Passive, indecisive, and

completely irresponsible,

leaving all the hard choices to a woman.

What a pampered personality,

clearly raised among women.

Absolutely unreliable.

I wonder what Dou Ming thinks of this.

I've sent someone to keep an eye

on Young Lady Ming.

But are you really going

to leave things to fate

and follow through with the divination?

Fate?

Fate is wonderful.

Fate is something no one can defy.

Just as you suspected, My Lord.

Young Lady Zhao doesn't really

want to marry Wei Ting Yu.

She's just putting on a show.

I'll let her

finish her performance then.

These memorials were submitted

by Marquis of Jining and Duke of Jing

over the past few days.

Tell Wei Ting Yu this,

he can come plead his case

after he masters archery

and horsemanship,

and proves himself a proper marquis.

From now on,

his memorials need not be presented.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

Song Mo holds a critical position

in the Imperial Guard,

yet he has been spending

his nights in opera houses,

often disturbing respectable women.

Such behavior tarnishes

the court's reputation.

However, Song Mo has

indeed rectified the lax discipline

within the Imperial Guards.

With your family's daughter and

Marquis of Jining already engaged,

Minister Dou,

could your comments right now

be driven by personal grievances?

You

No man is without flaws.

Since he has set aside past grievances

and devoted himself to the court,

I am pleased.

You two,

as in-laws in private

and colleagues at work,

should not stoop to mutual accusations

before me over such trivial matters.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty.

Order within the family

leads to order in governance,

which then leads to peace in the realm.

Without a family,

a man is like a kite

with a broken string,

aimless and unsteady.

Be it Yan Tang,

the Dou family, or the Wei family,

all must uphold propriety.

Let there be no more

scandals like the Wu family's,

which made the court a laughing stock

among the people.

I shall obey, Your Majesty.

Yes, Your Majesty.

She's sick?

She just agreed to

the divination ritual a few days ago.

How did she suddenly fall ill?

Young Lady Zhao said she caught

a chill due to the colder weather.

Her energy seems fine,

but her forehead is still burning,

and she can't get out of bed.

Has a doctor been called?

Take good care of her.

Don't let it turn into

something serious.

Yes, Master.

Shou Gu agreeing to the divination

means she's finally come around

and isn't so resistant to

the marriage anymore.

Why do you still look so troubled?

Nothing.

I was just thinking,

since this is a divination ritual,

wouldn't her falling ill at this time

be considered inauspicious?

Their birth charts have

already been checked.

Burning the tortoise shells

is just a formality.

Master and Madam,

the Duchess of Jing has arrived.

This is Master Ma, the most

renowned diviner in the capital.

He's provided guidance

to many noble families.

You may go.

Ming?

Ming?

Ming?

Ming.

What are you doing here?

You weren't replying to my letters.

I had to come see you.

-Go home, I don't want to see you.

-Don't push me.

Are you hurt?

-Are you alright?

-I'm fine.

Our family just dealt

with a scandal recently.

If someone sees you,

you'll face punishment too.

So, you're worried about me?

-How did it go?

-Wei Ting Yu wasn't there.

Apparently, he and Duke of Jing

don't believe in divination.

He's probably trying to

figure out a plan to avoid this.

-What about the divination ritual?

-Wei Ting Zhen said as his sister,

she could handle it on his behalf.

Tell Mr. Chen and Su Lan to proceed.

Don't worry, Ming.

Everyone's in the main house burning

tortoise shells for the divination.

No one will come here.

I just want to tell you something.

Once I'm done, I'll leave.

They're already

performing the divination.

What more can you say?

Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it.

-Just go!

-Ming.

My sister wanted that, not me.

I

Give it back!

The red beans grow in the southern land,

sprouting with the arrival of spring.

Look at this.

We clearly love each other.

Why won't you

I've asked around.

Other than reciting poetry and painting,

your favorite pastime

is frequenting the brothel

to indulge in debauchery.

At home, you're surrounded

by countless beautiful maids.

Even when painting,

you need several attendants

just to prepare the ink.

Why bother coming to see me?

I swear by the heavens and the earth,

I, Wei Ting Yu, vow to dismiss

all the maids in my house

and never step foot in a brothel again.

From now on,

my brush will paint only Dou Ming.

Should I break this vow,

may swords pierce my heart,

and may I die miserably.

I haven't even agreed to anything.

Why make such a drastic oath?

Do you believe me or not?

Even if you really mean that,

you wouldn't dare disobey your sister.

And I don't want

to embarrass my family either.

Don't worry.

I've come up with a plan.

Let me show you something.

Guards, catch the thief!

-Go!

-Thief!

-Guards! Help!

-Ming, you have to see this.

Catch the thief! Search the houses!

Don't let him get away!

A thief in broad daylight?

How is that possible?

Master, I saw him ran straight

into the inner house.

We're chasing him now.

Go check on Ming and Shou Gu now!

Yes, we have to check on Ming.

Lady Wei, let's find someplace to hide.

How has the capital come to this?

How are we supposed

to hide from a thief?

This is absurd!

-Go!

-Take a look at this pouch.

Not now! You have to go!

-But you haven't looked at the pouch.

-Now is not the time for that!

-Go!

-Search that place!

-Hurry!

-Remember to look inside the pouch!

Young Lady!

-Young Lady Ming, are you alright?

-Yes.

As expected, it's exactly the same.

Another "great fortune" prediction.

If I were to truly believe in this,

I'd probably end up with

another arrow straight to the heart.

Go.

Great misfortune.

She even pretended there was a thief.

Does she really think a petty trick like

this could break off the engagement?

She has no respect for gods or spirits.

No wonder she lost her mother.

Good thing you were cautious

and prepared a few tortoise shells.

Experience triumphs, after all.

The moment she agreed to the divination,

I knew she'd pull a stunt like this.

Someone's here.

Could she have come back? Hurry!

Ming?

Why

How could she Great misfortune?

Since when did Ming

start meddling with this?

Hurry and switch it back.

Don't let Ming

Ming took the tongs with her.

Use your hands then.

It's scorching hot, Madam.

Useless thing! I'll do it myself.

Careful, Madam! Careful!

Hurry!

Got it.

They're back. Come on.

It seems some of the guests

in the outer houses

mistook someone for a thief

and spread the false alarm.

My apologies for alarming you, Lady Wei.

I just hope

it didn't disrupt the ritual.

A water-element male

paired with a metal-element female,

and there are no cracks on the shell.

This is a most auspicious sign!

Their matrimony will bring wealth

and successful career.

What about children?

The matter of heirs

is the most important.

They will have many children

and a flourishing lineage.

This union will be

a blessing for both families!

Wonderful!

I say we should finalize

this as soon as possible.

There's an auspicious date next month.

As the lady of the house,

I've already prepared the dowry gifts.

After all that trouble, it still

came out as "great fortune."

How frustrating.

She's here. I'll explain to you later.

-Just do as I told you.

-Yes, Young Lady.

Lady Wei, please wait.

Lady Wei.

Weren't you unwell?

I realize now

I've been rude in the past.

These fresh lilies

just arrived from Jiangnan.

They're a small gesture

to make amends

and wish for harmony.

I sincerely hope we can

have the wedding soon.

It seems falling ill

has done wonders for your attitude.

Thank you.

Wang Ying Xue thinks she's so clever,

so I have to stay one step ahead of her.

The divination results don't matter.

What matters

is planting doubt

in Wei Ting Zhen's mind.

Wei Ting Zhen already

has her suspicions.

With you suddenly being so friendly,

she's bound to investigate it.

So, if she investigates,

what exactly will she find out?

That's where you two come in.

I'll need your help to

put on a convincing show.

When Dou Zhao marries into your family,

all her assets will naturally

be under your control.

I have only one wish,

that is, to see the one I love

to get what she wishes for,

even just once.

Wait!