01x15 - Episode 15

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 15=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

- Bravo!
- Bravo!

- Bravo!
- Bravo!

I came all this way to get you

and missed the best part.

Qin Qiong and Shan Xiongxin
each served their own cause.

One fought
with all his might to defend Tang,

while the other fought
with all his might against Tang.

Both were heroes.

This is the story of

Qin Qiong building a shrine
in honor of Shan Xiongxin?

Let's give her a little reward.

That maid of yours is quite interesting.

It was her first time
in a military camp,

yet she wasn't frightened at all.

Instead, she chatted away

with the soldiers guarding her

and told them stories.

And of all things, she told stories

about common-born heroes
fighting as soldiers,

which was exactly
what the soldiers loved to hear.

One after another,
they came to plead with me,

insisting on hearing
the story to the end.

It was wonderful.

She is rather interesting.

Everyone,

shall we have another one?

Another one!

Want another one?

- Another one!
- Another one!

I heard the ointment
used in the army for chilblains

works much better

than what they sell at apothecaries.

I'd like some.

My mother has chilblains on her hands.

Young Master
was born to wealth and privilege.

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

sometimes simply staying alive

takes everything we have.

If we want to rise above our origins

and live a better life,

we may have to risk our lives.

Aren't you

afraid?

I'm only going into the residence

to see what's going on.

What's there to be afraid of?

Shall we have another one?

- Another one!
- Another one!

Why don't you give her to me?

I'm willing to pay handsomely for her.

It's a rare honor
to have caught Your Lordship's eye.

I should rightfully offer her
to you without hesitation.

But this maid

was given to me by my mother,

so I really can't part with her.

No wonder she's your maid.

When you want to be clear about things,
you call me Commander Yuan.

When you want to play dumb,
you call me Your Lordship.

Another one!

- Bravo!
- Bravo!

The Marquis is here!

- Commander Yuan!
- Commander Yuan!

- Your Lordship. Young Master.
- Your Lordship. Young Master.

Your Young Master

came especially to take you home.

I won't see you off.

The Wo pirates' confessions

should be ready tomorrow.

Come to the
Rear Military Command as well.

You can see what they've confessed to.

All right.

See you tomorrow.

Look at your eyes.

You cried listening to the story?

Young Master,

did I do something wrong?

No.

I told you before,

once it was done,
you'd be well rewarded.

What do you want?

I can't think of anything right now.

Can I save up all my rewards

and ask for them together
once I've decided?

If you keep saving them up,

what if I can't afford them
when the time comes?

No.

Whatever I want,

you'll definitely be able
to give me, Young Master.

♪I wonder if the past
has ever been heard♪

Don't keep tugging at me.

Why not?

You used to hold my hand,

and even hugged me.

You were little then.

How old are you now?

I was only away at w*r for a few years,

and now you're treating me
like a stranger.

♪Love and guilt intertwine.
What if the image isn't real?♪

♪I still remember your name♪

♪I no longer blame the moon
for withholding its light♪

♪I only pray that those
I've known still live and thrive♪

♪No longer let the world's
wind and snow fall♪

♪And leave the grass
and trees covered in frost♪

♪I only wish that
where the lights grow dim♪

♪You and I will walk there together♪

Cuique.

Jinqi.

You're finally back.

Congratulations, Jinqi,
on clearing your name

and being reinstated.

Please sit, both of you.

Cuique,

have a seat.

After what happened to Jinqi,

Zheng and Cuique were both very worried.

They went to the temple
together to offer incense

and pray for Jinqi's safety.

Thank you for going
to all that trouble, Cuique.

You have always
treated my brother and me

like family.

Unfortunately, we're of humble status

and can do little to help.

All I could do was go to the temple

and kowtow a few more times to pray for
the Bodhisattva's protection.

Now that Jinqi has returned safely,

Cuique is going to the temple tomorrow

to offer incense and fulfill her vow.

I want to go, too.

What did Aunt Lingxiao say?

I pestered her
until she got tired of me.

She said if you agree,

then I can go.

Jinqi,

that temple is also known for
granting prayers for a good marriage.

I'll pray for a good match for you.

Take a few more servants with you.

Go early and come back early.

Got it.

Cuique.

We're leaving.

- Second Young Lady, Young Lady Du,
- Second Young Lady, Young Lady Du,

- take care.
- take care.

Gantang.

Go get Lanxiang.

Yes.

That wound of yours is still red.

Will it leave a scar?

I don't know either.

Does it still hurt?

No.

Lanxiang.

Gantang.

Didn't you go to bathe?

Why are you still in
those dirty clothes?

Xiaolian came by.

We got caught up talking,
so I was delayed for a while.

Yuchan happened to need more water,

so I gave her my hot water.

I'll heat some more and bathe later.

What's wrong?

Young Master wants to see you.
You'd better hurry over.

Then I'll leave you to your work.

I should be going, too.

Let's go.

Young Master.

When did Xiuwan

become so close to Young Lady Du?

I don't know.

So there are things even you don't know.

Keep an eye on them.

See what Xiuwan and Young Lady Du

usually do together.

Yes.

How is the wound

on your neck?

It's fine now.

Doesn't it itch?

It does itch a little.

This is for the itching.

♪Look at us♪

♪We've shared
countless beautiful moments♪

Thank you, Young Master.

♪Through life's winding road,
we've weathered countless trials♪

♪I'm blessed to spend each
peaceful day and night with you♪

♪However deep the joy or sorrow♪

♪There will always
be someone to share it with♪

♪Our bond runs deep♪

♪Binding us closely together♪

♪After all
the questions life has brought♪

♪This love has never
faded in the slightest♪

♪A trace of fragrance lingers on♪

♪How fortunate
to find one person in a lifetime♪

♪Through the gentle passing years♪

♪My heart remains
as true to you as ever♪

The total is 123 taels and eight coins.

Next is four reams of xuan paper.

Just write it right next to this.

All right.

[Yuchan. Lanxiang]

Lanxiang.

Go find me a back scratcher.

My back is terribly itchy.

You've broken out in a rash.

Really?

It's so itchy.

Take a look at my back for me.

It looks quite serious.

You should go to the medical hall
and see a physician.

It's nothing serious.
No need to see a physician.

I probably caught a chill yesterday

and broke out in hives.

Later, go to Luxue Lodge for me

and ask Young Lady Du
for some anti-itch ointment.

All right.

I'll go now.

[Lin Residence, Luxue Lodge]

We do have anti-itch ointment,

but Lingdang usually keeps it.

Early this morning, Young Lady Du

took Lingdang and Second Young Lady

to the temple to fulfill their vows.

They probably won't be back
until this afternoon.

When Young Lady Du returns,

I'll ask her for the ointment

and bring it over to you.

All right.

Yuchan's hives are quite severe.

As soon as Young Lady Du returns,

remember to bring the medicine over.

I will.

Young Lady Du

brought this chess set from home?

She only got it recently.

Young Lady Du said her brother

knew she enjoyed playing chess,

so he bought her a new set as a gift.

You just said Second Young Lady
and Young Lady Du

went to the temple together.

When did they

become so close?

I think it was around
the time Young Master was arrested.

Young Lady Du is probably
gentle and considerate,

so Second Young Lady
often came to talk to her,

and the two of them
gradually became close.

Don't tell Young Lady Du

what I just said to you.

If she asks,

just say I came
for some anti-itch ointment,

but she wasn't here,

so I left.

All right.

I'm leaving.

[A set of Yunzi stones
is worth a fortune.]

[Where did Du Zheng get the money]

[to buy Du Cuique
such expensive Yunzi stones?]

Make way.

Let His Lordship pass first.

Grandpa,

I'll help you push.

Sir, we'll help you.

Thank you.

Thank you, My Lords.

It's nothing.

Lately, I've been troubled

by a personal matter.

It suddenly occurred to me

that perhaps
I could discuss it with you.

Your Lordship has given me
valuable guidance.

If I can help ease your worries,

I'll do everything I can.

In private, just call me Yuan.

Yuan.

It's been eight years

since Commandery
Princess Chenyang passed away.

My mother has been urging me to remarry,

but I've had my concerns
and put it off until now.

A marriage joins two families.

I don't expect a deeply loving
and devoted marriage,

but at the very least,
we must be compatible

and not grow to resent each other.

I have only one daughter.

She's already eleven.

In a few years, she'll come of age,

and my mother is getting older.

No matter how much I love my daughter,

a father can't take a mother's place.

What you mean is...

The position of madam of
the Marquis's Residence is still vacant.

I intend to remarry.

From what I've seen of you, Fengtai,

and how the maids
of Lin Residence conduct themselves,

it's clear that the Lin family
is kind and well-disciplined.

I hear your younger sister
is still unmarried.

I wonder if I...

I wonder...

if...

perhaps...

Yuan.

My second aunt

has recently been worrying
about Xiuwan's marriage.

If you're interested,

I'd be willing to help

and sound out my second aunt.

Then I'll have to trouble you, Fengtai,

to put in a good word for me.

Of course.

Your Lordship, Young Master.

Something happened at the Prison Office
of the Rear Military Command.

[Zheng Baichuan, Duke Xianguo,
Jinling Joint Defense Commander]

[Commander of the Rear Military Command]

Commander Zheng.

Commander,

from our preliminary examination,

all twelve died from poisoning.

The poison was probably put

in their breakfast this morning.

The porridge for all the prisoners
was cooked together,

yet only the Wo pirates
in these two cells

were poisoned.

That means the cook didn't poison them.

The jailer who served
the porridge must be responsible.

Where is that jailer?

Commander,

the jailer who served breakfast
to the prisoners today

was Wang Er.

He must have poisoned them.

I...

I don't know anything!

Wang Er!

It wasn't me! It wasn't!

It wasn't me!

He hasn't been dead long.

He must have
taken poison to k*ll himself.

Assistant Commander Lin is right.

There are still traces
of the poison on his fingers.

Fine.

Fine.

He may be dead,
but he can't hide the truth.

I refuse to believe

that after poisoning so many people,

he left no clues behind.

Investigate Wang Er's family.

Find out who he usually associated with.

- Yes.
- Yes.

Quick.

Get to work.

We only interrogated
six Wo pirates yesterday.

We hadn't even finished
the preliminary questioning.

Someone in
the imperial court is involved.

I know.

Otherwise, you wouldn't
have sent two maids

to deliver a message to me.

I just didn't expect their reach

to extend this far.

Even the cells at the Prison Office
of the Rear Military Command

couldn't keep them out.

Are you afraid, Your Lordship?

Trying to provoke me?

I am Marquis Yongchang.
What have I to fear?

But you,

a mere Assistant Commander,

have only just been reinstated.

You'd better think this through.

You're a hereditary marquis.

I earned my rank as Assistant Commander
on the b*ttlefield.

We'll investigate this to the end.

To the very end.

You have a slight fever.

Do you feel unwell anywhere else?

After applying Young Lady Du's ointment,

it doesn't itch anymore.

It's just that

my head hurts,

and I feel weak.

Here's the water.

It doesn't look like hives.

I'll go to First Madam

and ask her to send
someone for a physician.

No.

You can't.

I...

We can't let First Madam know.

If First Madam finds out,

she'll be afraid Yuchan might pass
the illness to Young Master.

She'll have Yuchan moved out
of the residence immediately.

Then the food, clothing,
and other necessities

won't be as good as they are here.

Even getting
hot water would be difficult.

A minor illness could become serious.

My mother said many maids who fall ill

are sent away
like that and never return.

I'll go to Madam Han

and find an excuse

to leave the residence
and buy something.

Once I get to the apothecary,
I'll describe the symptoms

and quietly bring some medicine back.

A proper diagnosis requires
observation, listening,

questioning, and pulse-taking.

We don't know anything about medicine.

If we just describe the symptoms
and get some medicine,

the wrong medicine
could delay treatment.

Doesn't Young Lady Du know medicine?

Why don't we ask Young Lady Du?

Young Lady Du is
First Madam's honored guest.

Wouldn't that be inappropriate?

Lanxiang is right.

We're only maids.

We only dared to ask for some ointment
because we could rely on Young Master

and First Madam's standing.

If we treat Young Lady Du
like a physician,

First Madam
will certainly be displeased.

Then what should we do?

I'll go find Jiugao.

I'll ask Jiugao to find a way

to bring in a physician

he knows discreetly.

The sooner you take the medicine,
the sooner you'll recover.

It'll be more troublesome
if we wait until you get worse.

Go.

Take good care of Yuchan.

Young Master.

Where are you going?

[About what happened at Zhichun Hall,]

[if I'm to keep it from First Madam,]

[I'll have to let Young Master know.]

I was just about to find
a servant to get Jiugao.

Yuchan has a slight fever.

I want Jiugao to bring in a physician

to examine Yuchan.

[Scheming from head to toe...]

Young Master.

Take my card
and find Physician Li, who regularly

checks Old Madam's pulse.

First, have Physician Li

check Old Madam's pulse,

and then bring him

to Zhichun Hall for a visit.

Thank you, Young Master.

I'll tell Madam Han

to keep this quiet for now.

You must all keep quiet about it, too.

Yes.

Young Master,
before the night curfew begins,

I'll hurry over there

and ask Physician Li to come
tomorrow morning.

Go.

I'll change my clothes.

Come with me to Rongzhang House.

I was worried Xiuwan
might take it badly before,

but now she's acting
as if nothing happened.

She spends every day
happily with Young Lady Du.

Instead, I'm the one

who can't eat or sleep all day.

There were families who would
have made suitable matches,

but I turned them all down
because of the Xie family.

Now, after all that,

how could I possibly go back to them?

Don't worry too much.

I think Xiuwan is blessed
with good fortune.

She might just find

an even better match
than the Xie family.

We've considered every suitable family

in all of Jinling City.

Where could we find anyone
better than the Xie family?

Young Master is here.

Young Master.

Wait here for me.

Yes.

Mother. Aunt Lingxiao.

What brings you here at this hour?

Is something the matter?

I need to speak with Aunt Lingxiao.

I heard she was here with you,

so I came over.

Speak with me?

What is it?

Because of the padded coats,

Marquis Yongchang and I became friends.

He thinks highly of the Lin family

and wants...

He wants to marry Xiuwan.

Mar... Mar...

Mar...

You mean Marquis Yongchang,
Yuan Shaohui?

Exactly.

What sort of man is the Marquis?

Right.

Although we haven't
known each other long,

we hit it off
as if we'd been old friends.

Yuan is accomplished
in both civil and military affairs

and has a steady temperament.

He would make a good husband.

Good.

Sit.

Sit.

Of course I know Marquis Yongchang
would be a fine match.

But now,

your second uncle
doesn't even hold an official post.

I'm afraid...

I'm afraid the match
may be beyond our reach.

Don't worry, Aunt Lingxiao.

Yuan isn't someone
who cares about such things.

Since he brought it up himself,

he must sincerely wish to marry Xiuwan.

Wonderful.

Didn't Shunhua just say

that perhaps Xiuwan could find

an even better match
than the Xie family?

See?

And now she really has.

She has.

How old is Marquis Yongchang?

Could he be a little too old?

Thirty-two.

Thirty-two?

Not old at all.

An older man knows better
how to cherish his wife.

Did the late Commandery Princess

leave behind a child?

She has a daughter

who's already eleven.

A daughter.

A daughter isn't a problem.

In a few years, once she's betrothed,

she'll marry and leave the household.

If she gets along well with Xiuwan,

they can spend more time together.

If not, they can keep their distance.

Either way, it won't be a problem.

It won't.

If you have no objections,
Aunt Lingxiao,

- I'll give Yuan an answer tomorrow.
- Xiuwan.

Don't pull me.

Have him send a matchmaker
to formally discuss the marriage.

Good.

Good.

Mother. Aunt Lingxiao.

I'll take my leave now.

Let's go.

This is wonderful!

Everyone in Jinling City knows

Marquis Yongchang is a capable man.

More importantly,
all these years his inner household

has remained free of concubines.

Back when the Commandery Princess
first passed away,

so many families wanted
to arrange a marriage with him.

And now,

such a wonderful match

has actually come to our Xiuwan.

If she marries him,

she'll be the Marchioness.

Then I'll have to show off

in front of the Xie family.

Show off?

This is wonderful!

Xiuwan.

Xiuwan!

Xiuwan.

This isn't something

we can solve by making a scene.

Let's go.

I will never

marry an old man.

I'm a person,

not something for my family to show off.

Marquis's wife, Madam Ma, huh?

Whoever wants
those titles can have them.

Anyone Jinqi approves of

can't be that bad.

What do you know?

You two,

don't go around telling anyone.

We may be foolish, but even we know

something like this
can't be talked about.

All right.

It's almost dark.

You should hurry back
to your own courtyards.

Cuique.

Xiuwan isn't close to us anymore.

She only spends time with Cuique.

She's been like this all this time.

Xiuru.

I know you're worried
about your marriage, too.

Don't worry.

I'll ask Mother

to find you a good match.

Someone like me,

with nothing outstanding in virtue,
looks, speech, or needlework,

could hardly hope for a good match.

Don't make things difficult
for her on my account.

You are wonderful.

I'm sure you'll find
a wonderful husband.

I just have a few red rashes.

[Lin Residence, Qingsu House]
They're a little itchy.

Why can't I get out of bed?

You have a rash, so you shouldn't
be exposed to the wind.

Stay inside for a few days.

You can go out once you're better.

First Madam.

Physician Li is here.

Xiushu hasn't come of age yet,

and Physician Li
has watched her grow up.

It's fine.

Show him in.

Yes.

Physician Li,

this way, please.

Physician Li.

Greetings, First Madam Lin.

Please sit.

Grandpa Li.

Let me take a look.

Where do you feel unwell?

When she woke up this morning,

her maid

noticed that Xiushu

had developed a red rash.

We know she can't
be around peach blossoms,

so there isn't
a single peach tree in the residence.

I also asked about her diet just now.

She's eaten the same as usual.

Other than the itching,

do you feel unwell anywhere else?

No.

It's just a little itchy.

As spring turns to summer,

the weather is unpredictable.

The elderly and children
sometimes have trouble adjusting.

You must have come
into contact with pollen

while playing in the garden

and developed a pollen rash.

It's nothing serious.

As it happens,

I've just prepared medicine
for pollen rashes.

Here.

Take one in the morning
and one at night with water.

All right.

Thank you for your trouble,
Physician Li.

Not at all.

Thank you, Grandpa Li.

It's my duty.

See Physician Li out.

Physician Li,

this way.

I...

You...

Are you trying to get yourself k*lled?

What are you doing
in the young ladies' courtyard?

Young Master sent me.

He told me to escort
Physician Li out of the residence.

Madam, no need to see me.

Jiugao can escort me just as well.

Then...

Take care, Physician Li.

Please.

She's feeling a little unwell.
Please take a look at her.

Why is he being so secretive?

I knew it couldn't be anything good.

Did your skin suddenly
turn bright red in patches,

as if painted with cinnabar?

Yes.

Then soon after, did you
develop a headache and fever?

Yes, and I feel weak.

A fever naturally makes you feel weak.

This is erysipelas,

caused by pathogenic wind and heat.

In severe cases,

it can develop into an abscess.

Not only will the pain
become unbearable,

but the skin may also ulcerate

or even become necrotic.

Fortunately,
you sought treatment in time.

Keep her diet light
for the next few days.

Keep her clean,

and make sure she gets plenty of rest.

She must avoid foods that
could aggravate the condition.

[Astragalus, Coptis,
Phellodendron, Licorice, Forsythia]

Send someone to get these herbs.

Boil two bowls of water down to one.

Take it twice a day.

I'll get the medicine.

All right.

Go.

Thank you, Physician.

You're welcome.

Good thing we listened to you

and brought in a physician in time.

Even with all my ideas,
I couldn't have managed this alone.

Thankfully, Jiugao took care
of everything for us.

Yes.

Thank goodness for Jiugao.

You two,

that's enough.

[Enduring the Cold]

[Tongcao, Lin Xiuru's second-class maid]

Now that Fourth Young Lady is ill,

Young Lady must be lonely.

Second Young Lady is really something.

Instead of spending time
with her own sisters,

she spends all day with

that Young Lady Du.

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

Are you going out, Young Master?

The night curfew has already begun.

Tonight,

I never left Zhichun Hall.

Young Master was tired,

so I helped Young Master
take a hot bath.

After his bath,

Young Master fell asleep and
slept straight through until morning.

You're too clever

to be a maid.

♪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♪