01x12 - Episode 12

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

[Adapted from He Yanshan's novel,
Orchid Fragrance Fate]

=Episode 12=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

[The systems, culture, attire and other
dynastic elements have been adapted.]

Old Master.

What if Young Master wasn't the only one

wearing a larkspur flower ornament?

If you and Master Lin

also wore larkspur flower ornaments,

or even if all the male guests

wore larkspur flower ornaments,

then even if Young Master wore one,

it wouldn't imply
any romantic involvement.

We've already sent people

to find clever women
skilled with their hands

to learn how to make
larkspur flower ornaments.

But on such short notice,

there's no telling
if they can even make them,

let alone make so many.

I think

Luxue Lodge

should still have some finished
larkspur flower ornaments.

Young Lady Du would never do anything

as improper as privately
exchanging gifts without a matchmaker.

She must have made
too many flower ornaments

and accidentally, in all the confusion,

mixed one in with the festive
ornaments for Young Master.

I was only making a desperate attempt,

taking a chance on my guess.

Fortunately, I asked Xiaolian,

and Young Lady Du really did have more
larkspur flower ornaments in her room.

Yuchan said you enjoy reading.

From now on,
the books in the Inner Study,

except those locked away in the chests,

all the others

are yours to borrow whenever you like.

Thank you, Young Master.

What you did today

was both brave and resourceful.

You handled everything
swiftly and thoroughly.

You deserve a generous reward.

What would you like?

First Madam already rewarded me
with ten taels of gold.

I'd like a day off to go home
and spend time with my parents,

and ask Uncle Liu to make the slingshot.

And I'd also like
to ask Young Master for something.

Go ahead.

What would you like?

I heard the ointment used
in the army for treating chilblains

works much better
than the ones sold at pharmacies.

I'd like some.

My mother has chilblains on her hands.

All right.

I'll have Nanke get you a bottle.

Thank you, Young Master.

Lingdang can help
apply the medicine for me.

How could I trouble you, Young Lady?

I'm the one who studied medicine,

not Lingdang.

They struck you so hard.

Even with the good medicine
Nanny Wu sent,

it'll still leave a scar.

You were foolish, too.

Twenty strikes with the ruler.

If you'd taken ten on each hand

and split the punishment between them,

your injury wouldn't be this severe.

Yuchan said we
still had duties to attend to,

so she begged Nanny Wu
to strike only our left hand.

We needed the right hand
to keep working.

You're part of Luxue Lodge now.

You have to listen to me.

You need to rest properly
for the next few days.

You're so kind, Young Lady.

I was so confused

that I nearly made a terrible mistake.

Not only did you not scold me,

you've even treated me so kindly.

This all started because of me.

I wasn't careful enough that day.

I didn't check

the festive ornament I gave Jinqi.

That's why you got dragged into this
through no fault of your own.

Fortunately...

Her name is Lanxiang, right?

Yes.

Lanxiang.

Fortunately, Lanxiang was quick-witted.

She knew to bring Nanny Wu
to get a flower ornament from you.

But

how did Lanxiang know my given name?

I did.

While we were chatting,

I just happened to mention it.

We're all girls.

There's nothing shameful

about my given name.

Good thing you did.

Here.

Be careful.

Get some proper rest today.

When you're injured,
your vitality is weakened.

Sleep is the best remedy.

Young Lady,

what are you sighing about?

I was thinking of a story.

There's a line in it.

This man is like a swift falcon.

If one strike is missed,

he soars away without looking back.

I long to be like that,

but all I can do

is long for it.

Granny Du.

Lanxiang only came home last night.

It's rare for her to have
a day off from serving others.

I wanted to let her sleep in.

Now you're treating us like strangers.

When Xiaolian's mother
came home from work,

you knew she was catching up on sleep,

so you always kept quiet
whatever you were doing.

Thank you, Granny.

Keep it down.

Gently.

Give it to me.

I'll do it.

Once I've gathered the materials

and finished
Fourth Young Master's slingshot,

I'll deliver it to the residence myself.

Thank you.

Gently.

Take care.

♪Time unfurls a long scroll♪

♪Flowers bloom in
turn as twilight falls♪

♪Through rise and fall, people meet
and part as they always do♪

♪Each plant endures its own trials
before reaching shore♪

♪Flowers drift with the ties of fate♪

♪Plum blossoms bloom,
enduring the frost♪

♪Yet their proud spirit fades
with wind and snow♪

Father.

You must be hungry.

Come eat.

It smells wonderful.

There's something even better.

Here.

All right.

Try it.

Put on some more
of the chilblain ointment

I gave you yesterday.

I have to wash the dishes later.

After I'm done...

I'll wash the dishes after we eat.

Go ahead and put it on.

Otherwise, our daughter
won't be able to enjoy her meal.

All right, I'll put it on.

I'll put it on.

♪I read every joy
and sorrow behind the curtain♪

I can do it myself.

I'll put it on for you.

Just use a little.

You know,

this ointment Young Master gave you

really works wonders.

I put some on last night,

and then went to sleep.

Look.

See? It's gone down a lot.

It doesn't look as red now.

All right.

Put it away.

All right, come on.

Let's eat.

Here, have a big piece.

Here.

Try this.

♪Plum blossoms bloom,
enduring the frost♪

Here, have a lean piece.

Try it.

It's delicious.

Have another if you like it.

♪Only orchids dwell in secluded places♪

It's so good.

The pork Mother made

tastes even better than what the cooks
at the residence make.

Why do you think Young Master

went out of his way
to give you a day off?

Isn't it obvious?

Lanxiang must have
been clever and capable

and handled things well.

Young Master was pleased.

Father's right.

Look how happy you two are.

You

are becoming just like

your father.

Eat.

Here.

You should have more vegetables, too.

Here.

Come on.

Have another lean piece.

I'm already stuffed.

I can't eat any more.

I have something good to show you.

This silver ingot...

Why are its color and size

different from the others?

This...

This isn't a silver ingot.

It's gold.

It really is gold?

I've seen it at the shop.

This is gold.

Bite it.

It's different from silver.

Where did you get this?

I did something important.

You could say
I saved Young Master's marriage

and the Lin family's reputation.

First Madam gave it
to me as a special reward.

Have you lost your senses?

Does Lanxiang look like someone
who'd do anything improper?

Even if we did something underhanded,

Lanxiang would never do such a thing.

I...

I...

I was...

I was...

I was just overwhelmed.

Mother wasn't confused.

The gold just left her stunned.

This...

This...

How much is this worth?

A... A hundred taels?

Even after the exchange fee,

it should still be worth
seventy or eighty taels.

That's enough

to buy freedom for all three of us.

Really?

Father's right.

It is enough to buy our freedom.

Just think...

Just think,

after all these years,

we've worked ourselves to the bone,

yet we could never save much.

How...

How can we suddenly have enough?

Then let's buy our freedom.

Once we do,

Lanxiang won't even have to go back.

I'll go find someone right now.

Father.

Father.

Father.

Mother.

The time isn't right
to buy our freedom yet.

What...

What do you mean?

Didn't we say once we had enough money,

the three of us could
leave the household registry

and buy our freedom together?

I was thinking too simply before.

At the going rate,

buying freedom for the three of us

would cost no more
than several dozen taels.

But do Old Master and First Madam

really care about
a few dozen taels of silver?

That amount of money

means nothing at all

to them.

The key to buying our freedom

isn't money.

It's First Madam's willingness.

First Madam's willingness?

We can't see it or touch it.

It's not like money

that we can go out and earn.

We can't rush this.

We must plan carefully before we act

and wait for the right moment
to make our move.

When that time comes, the three of us

will surely be freed from servitude

and become commoners.

Lanxiang has grown up.

You think everything through now.

Your mother and I will follow your lead.

Keep the gold safe.

Once we leave Lin Residence,

it'll give us the means to find a home,

build a life, and start over.

It took me forever to send the maids

and the gatekeeper away.

Don't make a sound later.

Please, Xiuru.

Come listen with me
about Xiuwan's marriage.

Come on.

Xiuwan's marriage to the Xie family

is settled, isn't it?

Ever since they met
on the Festival of Man,

Xie Zhao has been very pleased

with our Lin family.

And Xiuwan

is also pleased with Xie Zhao.

Whenever I ask her about it,

she just blushes and smiles.

I'm discussing with the matchmaker

an auspicious date
for the betrothal gifts.

The marriage proposal, betrothal gifts,
bride-price, then the wedding.

Who knows?

Xiuwan may
be married off this very year.

Most likely.

I think at the latest,

it'll be in the first half of next year.

The first half?

So soon?

I can't believe Xiuwan's marriage

is really settled.

I'm both happy and sad.

That's what it's like being a mother.

When there's no marriage in sight,

you're beside yourself with worry.

Once a match is settled,

you still can't stop worrying,

wondering what their
married life will be like.

Shunhua,

you don't need to worry

about Jinqi's marriage, either.

Our Jinqi

stands out in character,

looks, and ability.

At such a young age,

he's already a Fourth-Rank
assistant commander.

Even though Zhao
delayed him for several years,

it won't hold him back.

We'll certainly

find him an excellent match.

Why are you standing outside
instead of going in?

It's almost the second month,

but there's been
a cold snap these past few days.

Don't catch a chill.

First Madam
wants you all to come inside.

Be careful not to catch a cold.

We thought Jinqi was inside,

so we wanted to hide beneath the window

and give him a scare.

My brother came over early this morning

in a great hurry.

He said there was an urgent matter
at the military camp,

and then took Jinqi with him.

I'd say

it'll be quite
a while before they return.

Come out!

- Lin Jinqi, come out!
- Lin Jinqi, come out!

[Jinling Shence Garrison]
Lin Jinqi, come out!

Back up!

Back up!

Go back at once!

Back up now!

Don't cause trouble!

Cause trouble?

Do you all want a beating
with military rods?

[Sun Yong, Chief Banner Officer]

[of the Shence Garrison]
Tell that heartless Lin Jinqi to come!

He must give us an explanation today!

Our fellow soldiers were alive and well.

They can't just die
without us knowing why!

That's right!

- Punish Lin Jinqi severely!
- Punish Lin Jinqi severely!

If we don't get
a clear explanation today,

Lin Jinqi won't leave here alive!

- That's right!
- That's right!

Before the Chinese New Year,

when the soldiers
received the padded coats you issued,

some already felt
they weren't warm enough.

Then this recent cold snap hit,
and soldiers

[Liang Yu]
at the military camp began falling ill

[Third-Rank Commander]
with colds one after another.

[of the Shence Garrison]
Some even died.

Only then did we discover

that the padded coats were filled

entirely with old, moldy cotton,
and some

were even stuffed with reed fluff
that provided no warmth at all.

After inspection,

four or five out
of every ten were like this.

When we first received the padded coats
from the Ministry of Revenue,

I had people inspect samples.

Every one they checked
contained high-quality cotton.

I never expected

so many inferior ones to be mixed in.

I failed in my duty.

There were five
or six thousand padded coats.

You couldn't possibly have cut
every one open to inspect it.

I know you're innocent.

But rumors are spreading

that you colluded with unscrupulous
merchants and took bribes,

passing off inferior goods
as quality ones and causing deaths.

This matter

was handled by you
from beginning to end.

The higher-ups wanted
to punish you severely.

I argued your case,

and managed to stop them
from convicting you outright.

For now, you've only
been suspended from duty.

Thank you, Commander.

You heard them outside.

Go home and lie low for now.

I've already ordered
a thorough investigation.

I will clear your name.

I'll take my leave.

Back!

Everyone, back!

Everyone, back!

Or you'll be k*lled on the spot!

Lin Jinqi.

This is the padded coat
you issued us to keep out the cold.

Two of our fellow soldiers

caught a cold and died.

As men,

even if we die on the b*ttlefield,

we'd be giving
our lives for our country!

But they

fell ill from the cold and died
in their own barracks!

You high-ranking officials

are truly heartless.

You wear your fur coats,

yet you even embezzle and skimp on

the padded coats issued to us!

Back!

Everyone, back!

Brothers,

I, Lin Jinqi,

have also been wounded
on the b*ttlefield,

shed blood,

saved my brothers,

and been saved by them.

Here.

Here!

I was slashed by Japanese pirates.

And here,

I was struck
by a Japanese pirate's blade, too!

If not for the brothers
who fought beside me,

I, Lin Jinqi,

would have long
since been nothing but bones.

What I despise most
are those who betray their brothers

and stab them in the back!

Your grief

and anger,

I feel them as deeply as you do.

With Heaven above

and Earth below as my witnesses,

I, Lin Jinqi, will never let this matter

pass without the truth coming to light!

I will give everyone

a full and clear explanation!

Otherwise,

may I die beneath a hail of blades

and meet a terrible end.

♪Every word carries countless thoughts♪

♪The encounters of half a lifetime♪

Lin Jinqi.

We'll be waiting for your explanation.

Otherwise, we won't
need Heaven to do it.

We'll cut you down ourselves!

Cut him down!

May you die a terrible death!

Pay with your life for our brothers!

♪With my own hands and heart♪

Are you even human?

May you die a terrible death!

♪Through countless lines of ink,
I question the past♪

We're getting off early today.

Let's go to Liufeng House
for a couple of drinks.

Sounds good.

Let's go.

Lin Jinqi, what are you trying to do?

The padded coats issued to Shence
Garrison before the Chinese New Year.

These padded coats

have already cost two men their lives.

Registrar Dai,

I want an explanation.

Fengtai,

I explained everything
clearly to you back then.

It had been snowing heavily for days.

The winter clothing granted
by the court was held up on the road

and couldn't get through.

But you couldn't wait.

I had no choice

but to ask around everywhere.

After much persuasion,

I finally found

a merchant willing to supply the goods.

All our colleagues

can vouch for me on this.

Yes.

We can vouch for him.

That's exactly what happened.

You met that merchant,

Lu Dalang, yourself.

You also agreed to the arrangement.

After the goods arrived,

the Ministry of Revenue
inspected them according to procedure.

From inspection to storage

and then to release from storage,

each step was signed and recorded.

The account books can verify everything.

[Released from Warehouse Yi Today]
When that batch of padded coats left,

they all met the required standards.

[Lin Jinqi, Assistant Commander]
So why did they turn into

inferior padded coats
after reaching the Shence Garrison?

Fengtai, you'd better
investigate this thoroughly.

I won't just investigate this matter.

I'll get to the bottom of it

and find out exactly

what happened.

No matter who it was,

if they had a hand in this,

they won't get away.

I went to the residence

of that merchant, Lu Dalang,
to investigate.

Lu Dalang's home caught fire
during Chinese New Year's firecrackers.

Fortunately, it was put out in time
and didn't spread to the neighbors.

After the fire,

Lu Dalang said
he was going to stay with relatives

and left Jinling with his family.

No one has known his whereabouts since.

More than twenty days have passed now.

Finding him again

will probably take some effort.

What a coincidence.

He just happened to leave.

[Ten Days Later]

Leave this side to me.

You go over there.

Young Master.

Young Lady Du is here.

Jinqi.

Are you playing against yourself?

I had nothing else to do,

so I'm just passing the time.

I have nothing to do, either.

If you don't mind, Jinqi,

why don't I play a game with you?

You're an excellent player, Cuique.

But I've been playing
for quite a while today.

I'm feeling a little tired

and would like to rest.

Maybe next time.

Are you upset
about being suspended, Jinqi?

My brother told me what happened
with the Shence Garrison.

I firmly believe you're innocent, Jinqi.

No matter how others see you,

what they say about you,
or how they slander you, I...

My brother and I

both believe in you, Jinqi.

The truth will surely come to light

and everything will be made clear.

I also believe
the truth will come to light

and everything will be made clear.

Did you come to see me today

for something in particular?

I was just a little worried,

so I came to see you.

I thought if something
was troubling you,

I could keep you company
and talk with you.

Since you're tired,

you should get some rest.

I won't disturb you any longer.

I'll be going now.

Take care, Cuique.

Aunt Lingxiao.

Young Lady Du.

Jinqi.

Jinqi.

Xiaolian,

you don't come by often.

Go spend some time with the girls.

I can go back by myself.

Thank you, Young Lady.

Jinqi,

you have to help Xiuwan.

If word of this gets out,

how is she supposed
to face people in the future?

Aunt Lingxiao,

don't worry just yet.

Sit down and tell me slowly.

What exactly happened?

Xiuwan's marriage to the Xie family

was practically settled.

But the Xie family
has suddenly changed their minds,

claiming their
birth dates are incompatible.

If word gets out,

people will think our Xiuwan

has something wrong with her.

Aunt Lingxiao,

the Xie...

Jinqi,

your second uncle

spends his days following
Taoist priests and drawing talismans.

He's not someone we can rely on.

Since you happen to be free,

hurry over to the Xie family

and find out

what exactly is going on.

Why would a perfectly
good marriage suddenly fall through?

What exactly is

wrong with our Xiuwan?

Aunt Lingxiao,

the Xie family
doesn't want this marriage

not because there's
anything wrong with Xiuwan.

It's because of me.

I've dragged Xiuwan into this.

You...

What do you mean by that?

First Madam.

Shunhua.

Xiuwan...

There's something

I haven't had a chance to tell you yet.

Come.

Something happened
at the Shence Garrison.

Jinqi was falsely accused
of taking bribes,

and shortchanging the soldiers.

He's already
been suspended by his superior.

And with his previous separation
from the Zhao family,

I've been thinking

the Xie family only backed out

because our family ran into trouble.

So

the Xie family

believes Jinqi will
be suppressed by the Zhao family

and never rise again.

That's why they're using the birth dates

to find fault with Xiuwan?

That must be it.

I've dragged Xiuwan into this.

And the Xie family
is always claiming to be

a distinguished family?

As if!

Jinqi,

none of this is your fault.

Think about it. In a person's lifetime,

how could everything
possibly go smoothly

without any setbacks?

The Xie family is so eager
to curry favor with the powerful.

If I really married
Xiuwan into their family,

wouldn't I be pushing her
into a living hell?

Those snobs who look down on others.

If they don't want this marriage,

then we won't marry
into their family either.

We won't!

Don't worry, Aunt Lingxiao.

I'll visit the Xie family shortly

and make things clear with them.

I won't let a single disparaging word

be said about Xiuwan.

You unfilial son!

You wretched fool!
You've caused such a huge mess,

yet you're hiding at home
as if nothing happened!

Instead of going around seeking help,

asking people to use
their connections and plead your case,

you still have the leisure
to play chess!

Changzheng.

Jinqi has a plan of his own.

We don't need to worry about him.

A plan?

Would someone with a plan

have offended the Zhao family?

I told you not to separate from Zhao,

but you refused to listen.

And look at you now.

The moment something happened,

your superior suspended you.

Mark my words.

Within days,

you'll be dismissed and investigated,

and then thrown in prison!

What nonsense are you talking about?

Jinqi was falsely accused.

He didn't embezzle anything
or take any bribes.

How could he possibly
be dismissed and imprisoned?

You've offended Grand Secretary Zhao.

Do you think they care
whether you're innocent?

Do you think he became
a Fourth-Rank assistant commander

because he's so capable?

It's because he's
the Grand Secretary's grandson-in-law.

He had someone powerful backing him!

Now Grand Secretary Zhao

is on the verge
of becoming Grand Secretary-in-Chief,

yet he's parted ways
with the Zhao family.

He's practically asking for trouble.

If they don't frame him,
who else would they frame?

As I see it,

he should just wait
to be thrown in prison.

Lin Changzheng!

You truly are a vulgar man.

Utterly vulgar and thoroughly repulsive.

[Lin Changmin, Lin Jinqi's Second Uncle]

Lin Changmin.

Who are you calling utterly vulgar
and thoroughly repulsive?

You.

Changzheng,

you've studied for decades,

yet all you think
about is rank and wealth.

You spend every day scheming
and scrambling for advantage,

thinking only of how to flatter

those high-ranking officials.

Changzheng,

since you admire
Grand Secretary Zhao so much,

why make your own son

the Grand Secretary's grandson-in-law?

Why don't you
become his son-in-law yourself?

Changmin!

I've put up with you for long enough.

No one stops me today!

No one stops me!

I'm going to settle this with you!

Changzheng, wait.

You said you've put up
with me for a long time?

That's right!

I cultivate my mind
and character every day,

meditating on the Taoist,

and I've long since risen
above this mundane world.

I would never

associate with a vulgar man like you.

When have I ever provoked him?

Have I ever provoked him? Unbelievable.

If I don't teach you a lesson today,

I'm not your brother!

I...

I...

If you've got the nerve, stop hiding!

I hide because I've got the nerve.

Fine. Keep hiding.

Changzheng, can't you calm down?

Let's see where you can hide!

Then I'll run this way.

I'll teach you a lesson!

Why won't this door open?

I'll smash you!

Master.

Those are Yunzi stones
bestowed by Old Master.

They're merely worldly possessions.

Changzheng,

smash them if you wish.

Follow your heart.

That's what makes a true gentleman.

Thank you.

Changmin.

You're driving me mad!

I'll get you!

Let go of me!

Don't you leave!

Lin Changmin!

Lin Changmin!

I'm over here.

You stop right there!

Why are you still at it, Changzheng?

You've gone too far!

Jinqi,

your second uncle is just like that.

Don't take what he said to heart.

Aunt Lingxiao,

don't worry too much
about Xiuwan's marriage.

I'll settle my own affairs
as soon as possible.

It's fine.

It's fine.

Come sit with me.

We can have a chat.

Young Master.

How did it go?

Did you find anything?

Nanke and I asked everyone along both

the waterways and overland routes

out of Jinling.

No one heard anything
about Lu Dalang leaving Jinling.

A grown man
couldn't simply vanish into thin air.

Perhaps

Lu Dalang
deliberately laid a false trail.

It looked as though he'd left Jinling,

but he's actually
still somewhere in Jinling City.

That must be it.

Otherwise, Nanke and I

couldn't have come up
completely empty-handed.

Even if Lu Dalang
is hiding somewhere in Jinling City,

it'll still be
very difficult to find him.

That's right.

Jinling City is enormous.

He could hole up in any obscure corner,

and even if we searched the entire city,

we still might not find him.

Besides, you're
suspended now, Young Master,

and the Zhao family
is making things difficult for us.

We simply don't have the means

to search every corner of Jinling City.

I have a lead.

Young Master,

I think I have a lead.

You mean

you have a lead
that could help us find Lu Dalang?

I can't find him,

but perhaps I can find

the women who made those padded coats.

How?

=Against the Current=
[Next Episode's Preview]

Young Master,
you've lived a life of privilege.

You don't know that for people
at the bottom like us,

sometimes just staying alive

takes everything we have.

If we want to rise above our station

and live a little better,

we may have to abandon our conscience

and risk our lives.

It's not that
I understand people so well.

It's just like those reed down shoes.

You've never
seen them before, Young Master,

but we see them every day.

There's nothing unusual about them.

♪Spring slips from the
branches once more♪

♪Flowers bloom unseen,
as they have before♪

♪All the joys and sorrows come and go♪

♪While loss leaves winter in the heart♪

♪Though all the world may fade♪

♪Time rolls on as
countless lives rush by♪

♪Night winds wander
through the halls of long ago♪

♪No page could hold the
longing words can never show♪

♪Every joy and sorrow
in this fleeting life♪

♪Fades into the past
as new wounds rise♪

♪While whispers of perfume
linger beneath the eaves♪

♪Let the cold wind rage,
let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces,
let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to
guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade
as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream,
there's no return at all♪

♪Let the cold wind rage,
let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces,
let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to
guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade
as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream,
there's no return at all♪