01x22 - Episode 22

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 22=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

As expected of someone raised
by Dowager Consort Zheng.

[Zheng Manyi]
Manyi's manners

[Duke Xianguo's Youngest Daughter]
and bearing...

She outshines all the young ladies

in our Lin family.

[Wei Tianxuan, Zheng Manyi's Mother]
I find Xiuru quiet and refined,

and Xiushu sweet and innocent.

[Duchess Xianguo]
I like them even better.

While I was in the capital,

I often heard Dowager Consort Zheng

speak fondly of the young ladies here.

I specially picked out
some gifts to bring back

as a small gesture of affection.

I heard you often copy
Buddhist scriptures for Old Madam.

These days, the Pan family's Huizhou ink
is considered the finest.

They only made
three inksticks of this kind.

Xiuru, give it a try

and see how it compares

with Li ink.

Thank you, Manyi.

I heard you're prone
to pollen rashes, Xiushu.

These are Qingyang Pills.

Imperial Physician Wang,

who tends to Dowager Consort Zheng,
is skilled at treating rashes.

I asked him to make these for you.

If you start taking care of it now,

perhaps by next spring, you won't have
to fear peach blossoms anymore.

Thank you, Manyi.

Manyi,

come here.

The more I see of you,
the more I like you.

I only wish you were one
of our Lin family's daughters.

My husband feels the same way about you.

He praises Jinqi every day

and wishes Jinqi were his own son.

- Young Master.
- Young Master.

Greetings, Duchess Xianguo.

Mother.

He truly is handsome and distinguished.

No wonder he's repeatedly
distinguished himself in the army

and earned endless praise
from my husband.

This is the Duke's youngest daughter.

She just returned from the capital.

You should address her
as your younger sister.

Manyi.

Jinqi.

Old Madam has been talking
constantly these past few days

about Dowager Consort Zheng and Manyi.

Why don't we have Manyi

go pay her respects to Old Madam?

I was thinking the same thing.

Dowager Consort Zheng
also misses Old Madam very much.

Jinqi,

we have things to discuss.

Take Manyi

to spend some time with Old Madam

and keep her company.

Yes.

I'll take my leave.

Manyi,

please.

Thank you, Jinqi.

Resounding Call Pavilion.

I suppose the name comes
from Liu Mengde's lines,

"From this moment,
his resounding call begins,

as he gazes toward the lofty clouds."

Everyone loves those lines,

but I prefer

another line from that poem.

"All around me, the world falls still.

With a cup of liquor,
the heart grows free."

Carefree and unrestrained,

with a spirit all its own.

Liu Mengde's poem may
be polished and elegant,

but it was ultimately written
in response to another poem,

which makes it somewhat less inspired.

By comparison,

I prefer one written by his good friend,

Zhang Shuibu, a well-known yuefu verse.

Young Master.

What's got you in such a rush?

Yu... Yuchan said the leaves

on this orchid are turning yellow.

Something doesn't look right.

She asked me to get
your opinion, Young Master.

Should we take it

to a gardener who knows
how to care for orchids?

Why are you even asking me?

Hurry and take it there.

Yuchan was worried you'd come back

and suddenly find it gone

and be upset.

I'll take it over right away.

I'm sorry you had to see that, Manyi.

That orchid

must mean a great deal to you.

I just remembered
I have official business to attend to.

I have to go take care of it.

I'm afraid I can't stay with you.

I hope you'll forgive me, Manyi.

I'll make it up to you another day.

Official business comes first.

Go ahead, Jinqi.

Old Madam's residence

is just a few steps ahead.

Yinchen, lead the way.

Yes.

[Duke Xianguo's Residence]

"Song of a Faithful Wife"?

I return your precious pearl
with tears in my eyes,

regretting we did not meet before I wed.

What exactly
is Lin Jinqi trying to tell us?

Is he planning
to remain faithful to Zhao Xingtang?

Manyi,

tell me exactly

what Lin Jinqi meant.

Zhang Ji's poem

appears to be about a faithful wife,

but he was actually using it
to express his own position,

politely rejecting the overtures

of Li Shidao,
the Military Governor of Pinglu.

Lin Jinqi realized
you wanted to win him over.

He was politely turning you down.

No wonder Grand Secretary Zhao
thinks so highly of him.

He really is shrewd and formidable.

Then should we

still pursue this marriage?

Yes.

We must.

The Crown Prince values him now.

Our family needs him as a son-in-law.

But Lin Jinqi
has already turned us down.

Well...

Marriage has always been

a matter decided
by parents and matchmakers.

It's not for Lin Jinqi to decide.

Besides,

with Manyi's beauty and talent,

and the standing of our ducal family,

Lin Jinqi is only human.

Once you know what appeals to him,

cater to his interests,

and speak of what pleases him,

you can make him want you

so much that he can't refuse.

This is
the deposed Emperor's eldest son,

Crown Prince Jian.

You asked me here late at night.

Surely it wasn't to discuss

the imperial family's looks.

When His Majesty seized the city,

a fire broke out in the palace.

The deposed Emperor and Crown Prince
disappeared after that.

It's said they fled overseas.

His Majesty could never
put the matter to rest,

so he sent Defense Commander Zheng
overseas several times to search for them.

Those are nothing
but unsubstantiated rumors.

They can't be taken seriously.

There's another rumor
going around lately.

It says the deposed Crown Prince

never left with the deposed Emperor

and is still in Jinling.

The bloodshed in Jinling all those years
ago is still fresh in people's minds.

Who is trying to use this rumor
to destroy someone now?

Whether it's true or not,

the Crown Prince has received
secret orders from His Majesty

to investigate the matter.

I hear Prince Han
has also sent a trusted aide,

hoping to get ahead of the Crown Prince

and resolve
His Majesty's concerns first.

Fengtai,

you and I must both
proceed with caution.

More than twenty years have passed.

I'm afraid looks alone
won't be enough to find him.

Before my father passed away,

he taught the deposed Crown Prince
riding and archery for a few days.

The index finger on his left hand

was half a joint longer
than his middle finger,

which was unusual.

He was self-conscious about it

and often kept his left hand
curled inside his sleeve.

Few people knew about it.

Those determined to find out always can.

[Lu Family Painting
and Calligraphy Shop]

Young Lady.

Young Master Lin often visits this shop.

There must be something here
that catches his fancy.

Young Lady,

what kind of book are you looking for?

We're just looking around.

All right.

How much is this orchid?

I'm sorry.

This orchid isn't for sale.

If you like orchids,

you can take a look
at our sachets and purses.

Some are embroidered with orchids.

This orchid is very much to my liking.

I'm willing to pay a high price for it.

I'm very sorry.

My daughter raised this orchid.

It's not for sale.

Could you ask your daughter
to come out so we can discuss it?

Perhaps if she sees how sincere I am,

she'll be willing to part with it.

Well...

Then...

Please wait a moment.

Lanxiang!

Lanxiang!

Come here for a moment.

A customer wants to buy
the orchid you've been raising.

Coming.

I'll just wipe my hands and come over.

Young Lady.

As soon as I walked into the shop,

this orchid caught my eye.

This orchid isn't a rare variety.

It grew on its own in our courtyard.

Even the clay pot isn't worth much.

I know.

But money can't always buy
what the heart desires.

I simply like it.

I'm willing to pay a high price for it.

How much are you willing to pay?

Fifty taels of silver.

Fifty?

One hundred taels of silver.

Are you really willing
to pay one hundred taels?

Do you know who my young lady is?

A mere hundred taels of silver...

That's enough.

Will you sell it or not?

Yes.

I'll sell it.

One hundred taels of silver.

Hold it carefully.

I just heard your father
call you Lanxiang.

I imagine this flower
means something to you.

Won't you miss it?

I like this more.

Take care, Young Lady.

Take care.

Take care!

Lanxiang,

if Yuchan finds out

you sold the orchid they gave you,

won't she be upset?

Father,

if you had given me this orchid

and someone offered
a hundred taels for it,

should I sell it?

Of course.

A hundred taels!

Think how hard you'd have
to work to earn that much.

An orchid can't feed or clothe you,

and it isn't worth much anyway.

I'll dig up another one for you later.

That's right.

If Yuchan and the others find out

that one orchid sold
for a hundred taels of silver,

they'll only be happy.

Later,

I'll give them fifty taels.

They'll be even happier.

Right.

Give them fifty taels.

Young Lady,

the more I look at this orchid,
the more familiar it seems.

Why does it look a bit
like Young Master Lin's orchid?

Does it?

Even the pots look like a pair.

Young Master Lin is so strange.

He says it's precious to him,

yet he doesn't take
proper care of it at all.

How could
he display it in a pot like this?

What do you think he should use?

The kinds you normally use.

A bronze gu vessel,
a mallet-shaped vase,

a Ding ware flower vase,
and a yarrow-stalk vase.

Even you can see
they don't belong together.

"I return your precious pearl
with tears in my eyes,

regretting we did not meet
before I wed."

Then I'll spare you that regret.

Since they don't belong together,

I'll just destroy it.

But

you only just bought it...

I am the daughter of a duke,

raised under my family's teachings
and brought up in the palace.

Surely I can destroy one orchid.

Of course you can.

Go get the head butler.

I have something for him to do.

Yes.

[Imperial Theater]

[Since the capital moved north,]

[the Imperial Theater has drawn
theater troupes from far and wide.]

[Whenever there is a performance,]

[peddlers, laborers, officials,
and nobles all gather here.]

[Storytelling, music, and singing]

[fill the place with lively chatter.]

[Furong, Head of the Furong Troupe]

Furong.

Mister Lu asked me to bring you

the final act
of The Tale of the Treasure Chest.

Well, this is a surprise.

Scholar Zongbai actually finished it.

Usually, he gets completely drunk

and keeps putting off the manuscript.

When he was slightly tipsy,

I watered down his liquor
with sweetened water.

I knew I could
count on you, clever girl.

Once you've learned enough
to write your own plays,

I'll find the finest performers

to stage your work

for all of Jinling to see.

Me?

Write plays?

Of course.

Every time I go to Scholar Zongbai

to ask for a new script,

he keeps telling me

that once you've learned the craft,

I should stop bothering him.

Learned the craft?

I'm not even his apprentice.

If Lu Zongbai cared
about titles and formalities,

he wouldn't be Lu Zongbai.

Think about it.

If all he needed was for you
to transcribe his work,

why would he teach you so much?

Mister Lu always makes
his lessons so interesting.

I get completely absorbed in listening.

Performers are looked down upon...

[The Tale of the Treasure Chest]

And those who write plays for them

are hardly considered
respectable either.

But let me ask you one thing.

Do you enjoy it?

I do.

Then that's all that matters.

Life is short.

You should do what you love most

to make this life worth living.

There's a new act.

Wonderful!

The Tale of the Treasure Chest
finally has a new act.

♪The wind scatters the clouds,
and rain turns to mud♪

♪A memory rises in my heart♪

♪Faded ink takes on fragrance
as spring turns to summer♪

[Let me ask you one thing.]

[Do you enjoy it?]

[I do.]

♪I watch the long road wind and turn♪

♪Even the clamor falls silent♪

♪The keepsake rests against
my heart as I quietly wait♪

♪I watch the passing years wear away♪

♪Even deep affection slowly fades♪

♪The past falls like
withered leaves into the dust♪

Come.

Let's rehearse.

♪My Lord, uphold justice♪

♪Tell right from wrong
and judge what is just♪

♪We need only
open the chest here in court♪

♪To prove this woman's innocence♪

♪If everything she says is true♪

♪I beg you to find him guilty♪

♪My Lord, find her guilty at once♪

♪Open the chest at once♪

I still feel like
something's missing here.

There's a fire burning inside me

that I haven't let out yet.

Then let's see what else we can add.

What's missing?

Thank you.

I'll take it over for you.

Then

thank you for your help.

It's no trouble.

This way.

Thank you.

Where should I put it?

Just put it in that chest.

All right.

- Good.
- Good.

♪What grievance does this woman have?♪

♪Tell me everything♪

♪My Lord, allow me to explain♪

♪My Lord♪

♪Let me tell you instead♪

♪Her name is Tanniang♪

♪She's a widow♪

♪She should have remained
faithful to her late husband♪

♪Yet she tried to seduce me♪

♪But I refused her advances♪

What do you think, Jinlan?

I told you so.

Wasn't this play
worth coming all this way to see?

♪Curse Guo Qiu♪

As expected of a work
by the Third Place Scholar.

Furong is the one
who performs it so well.

- Good!
- Good!

Scholar Han!

Wake up.

Wake up, Scholar Han.

Someone is trying to harm us

and ruin both our reputations.

Wake up.

♪Tell right from wrong
and judge what is just♪

♪We need only open
the chest here in court♪

♪To prove this woman's innocence♪

I bribed one of the troupe's musicians

and got a copy of the lyrics.

Do you think this chest

holds pearls and a robe woven with gold?

Don't ruin something beautiful.

♪Say no more. One look will tell♪

♪Guards!♪

♪- Yes!
- Yes!♪

♪Open the chest at once♪

Good!

- Good!
- Good!

♪There's a ghost in the chest♪

♪There's a ghost in the chest♪

♪There's a ghost in the chest♪

♪There's a ghost in the chest♪

No.

Jinlan.

There's no one in the chest.

No one.

There's a ghost.

♪Take this guilty woman
and throw her in jail♪

- Good!
- Good!

Jinlan.

That female ghost just now

looked a little familiar.

Someone who could drug
Scholar Han at Qixia Academy

and go to such great lengths

to transport him
from outside the city into the city

is probably

one of Scholar Han's powerful
and influential classmates.

Furong.

Scholar Han is fine.

He must have drunk
tea laced with a sedative.

Once the drug wears off,

he'll wake up.

If everything's fine,
I'll get back to work.

When disaster strikes,
innocent bystanders often suffer.

Fortunately,
you were quick-witted today.

Not only did you escape trouble,

but you also made the play
even more dramatic.

Could they have been after me?

Scholar Han got dragged
into this because of me.

After you?

You're just a young lady.

Who could you possibly have offended?

I've never offended anyone.

The tree that stands out
bears the brunt of the wind.

Scholar Han must have

earned a teacher's favor at the academy

and stood in someone else's way.

That's why they devised
such a vicious scheme

to disgrace Scholar Han

in front of everyone

and ruin his prospects
for an official career.

Furong.

Third Young Master Lin wants to see you.

He often comes to see our plays

and tips us generously.

It would be difficult to turn him away.

I'll be right back.

Later,

we'll go back with Scholar Han

and discuss what to do.

Thank you for your help.

Thank you.

Young Lady Xu.

Furong is looking for you.

Coming.

Father, you were one move ahead.

I'm impressed.

Bring him in.

Life isn't a game of chess.

If you lose,

you can always play another round.

But in a family of our standing,

more often than not,

losing means death.

Useless fool.

You couldn't even handle
such a simple task.

Feed him to the wild dogs.

Even lions and elephants use
their full strength against a rabbit.

The greatest mistake
is letting mercy get in the way.

Father,

I won't show Xu Lanxiang any mercy.

I just don't want her to die too easily

and become Lin Jinqi's obsession,

someone he can never forget.

That does make some sense.

Then we'll do as you wish.

Ruin Xu Lanxiang

and put an end
to Lin Jinqi's feelings for her.

Guihua,

have some water.

Any news of Lanxiang?

Guihua,

you...

Don't worry.

Lanxiang is brave and careful,

and she's clever, too.

Even if something has happened,

she'll find a way out of danger.

Don't worry.

It's all because I was careless.

I thought those men
were after Scholar Han.

I never expected

Lanxiang was their target.

This isn't your fault.

It's mine.

I shouldn't have

let Lanxiang
deliver the manuscript alone.

I failed her as a father.

All I thought about was making money.

I was so busy with the shop

that I neglected my own daughter.

Don't blame yourself right now.

The most important thing

is to find out where Lanxiang is.

The night curfew has already begun.

Who could be visiting at this hour?

Young Master?

Uncle Xu.

Come inside.

Quickly.

Uncle Xu.

I heard Lanxiang is missing.

Young Master.

Uncle Xu.

Uncle Xu.

Please save Lanxiang.

I'm begging you. Please save Lanxiang.

Uncle Xu.

Don't worry, Uncle Xu.

We'll find her.

I came here precisely
to look for Lanxiang.

Get up.

We'll find a way together.

Please save Lanxiang.

Come.

Help us think of a way.

Don't worry, Uncle Xu.

Any leads?

I found this on the table

after I woke up.

Didn't you report this
to the authorities?

Why didn't you give
the drawing to the authorities?

In a city as large as Jinling,

a person vanished without a trace.

They pulled it off so cleanly

that we're afraid any clues we hand over
might go to the wrong people,

not those we can trust.

We suspect

the culprit
is either wealthy or powerful.

He may have people
inside the authorities.

The man Lanxiang drew,

judging by his clothes,

was a laborer with our troupe.

But I've asked everyone in the troupe,

and no one says they saw him.

Since Lanxiang disappeared
from the troupe,

we should start looking here.

When Lanxiang came yesterday,

we were preparing to stage a new play

and were all busy rehearsing.

We didn't notice
what was happening around us.

When I woke up,

the door was wide open,

and the ink on the table was still wet.

The culprit couldn't have
left long before.

The performance had just ended,

and donkey carts and mule carts
were leaving one after another.

The culprit must
have slipped away among them

and taken Lanxiang with him.

Furong. A squad
of soldiers has arrived outside.

They say a nobleman
has lost something valuable

and they'll search the entire troupe.

I'll go take a look.

Seal off the Imperial Theater.

No one is allowed to leave.

[Imperial Theater]

Check up ahead.

Check over there.

Hurry! Move!

- Stand still!
- Stand still!

Stand still!

Would the deposed Crown Prince
really be in a lowly place like this?

Is the information reliable?

We'll know once we search the place.

Is the back entrance covered?

I've already stationed men there.

If anyone tries
to escape through the back,

we'll catch them red-handed.

Sir,

I'm sorry.

I was just going to get some firewood

and accidentally bumped into you.

Scholar Han.

Uncle Liu.

This is Uncle Liu.

He's worked in the troupe's
tearoom for many years.

Furong

questioned all the laborers
in the troupe.

None of them saw anything unusual.

That's right.

Did she ask Uncle Liu?

Yes.

Yesterday,

did you see an unfamiliar laborer

coming in and out of the troupe?

Think carefully before you answer.

If I'm not satisfied with your answer,

I'll have to let
the soldiers question you.

I only want to find the young lady
who disappeared yesterday.

As for the authorities,

I'm not interested.

Uncle Liu.

Lanxiang

is Mister Lu's disciple.

Mister Lu was up all night

because of this.

If you know anything,

just tell us quietly.

Those two soldiers just now

came from the direction
of the back entrance.

Judging by their uniforms, they're
from the Rear Military Command.

Outside the back entrance,

there must be heavy guards by now.

Tell me what you saw yesterday,

and I promise to get you
safely out of here.

Search every corner.

Then check the back entrance again.

As long as you get me out of here,

I'll tell you

what that man looked like.

You have my word.

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

Isn't this Young Lady Shuang?

What brings you here?

I came to see what Mother's

new favorite looks like.

Both of you, leave us.

I have a few private words

to say to this young lady.

Well...

I'm afraid we can't do that.

What?

Now that there's someone new,

my word means nothing?

♪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♪