01x39 - Episode 39

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 39=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

Didn't you want to know

how our ways

differ?

♪These shackles weigh like a mountain♪

♪They break my very spine♪

This is

the great Tang general

Gao Xianzhi?

That's right.

General Gao was much like you,
Young Master.

He, too, came from a noble family,

was well-read from childhood,

and was a fearless warrior.

He was made a general in his twenties.

The eunuch Bian Lingcheng

was sent by Emperor Xuanzong
to oversee the army.

A coward who'd forsake honor for profit.

Gao Xianzhi defied Bian Lingcheng's
repeated attempts to stop him

and led his men across the glaciers
at the risk of his life,

conquering Lesser Bolv in one strike

and capturing its king alive.

After that battle,

the Tang's renown grew even greater.

From Anyuan Gate west to the border,

stretching 6,000 km,

villages lay in sight of one another,
and mulberry and hemp covered the land.

Of all the rich lands under heaven,

none could match Longyou.

♪His Majesty declares♪

♪Merit that eclipses the throne
is a crime in itself♪

♪The general's star shines too bright♪

Though Gao Xianzhi won the battle

and was made a duke,

he incurred Bian Lingcheng's

bitter resentment.

♪Let me cleanse♪

♪Your disloyal soul♪

♪His loyalty served a den of jackals♪

♪His blood spilled in vain
at a feast of flatterers♪

♪Execute him♪

♪Let me send the general off myself♪

♪If Taizong asks me in the underworld♪

♪Let the cuckoo carry my wronged soul♪

♪See Xingqing Palace's peonies wither♪

♪While Huaqing Pool gleams with rouge♪

♪Behold, the moon above
the armored general's grave♪

♪Shining down upon♪

♪The swirling Rainbow Feather Dance♪

His Majesty

is a wise ruler.

And I am utterly loyal.

In the golden age of Kaiyuan,

Gao Xianzhi also firmly believed

Emperor Xuanzong was a wise ruler.

The wind is born from the earth

and stirs at the tips of the duckweed.

Even I, an outsider to the court,
can see it.

Yet you turn a blind eye, Young Master.

You just don't want to see it.

This is my way.

I don't accept that subjects
must submit to their rulers,

sons to fathers, and wives to husbands.

Why must a subject die
just because his ruler says so?

They say m*rder must be paid in blood.

Yet in this world,

the one who kills the most,

by the cruelest means,

is the Son of Heaven.

Wiping out entire families,

executing ten degrees of kin,

cutting men in half,
and slicing them apart...

Aren't these all the Emperor's doing?

I know

you've also defied convention at times.

You dared to cane your father
for your mother's sake.

You dared to secretly bury
Grand Secretary Shen's family.

You even dared to secretly free...

But

in the end, you

are still the Lin family's Young Master.

You must devote yourself to the throne

to glorify your forebears and heirs,

and win honors for your wife and sons.

I know

what I've said today

is shocking.

If you can't accept it,

you can pretend it never happened.

Sunlight bright, and moonlight bright.

Up at dawn to study hard,

pricking the thigh to stay awake,

hair tied to a beam to stay up,

reading by a neighbor's borrowed light.

One day, first in the imperial exam,

a high official seated in court.

Sunlight bright, and moonlight bright.

Up at dawn to train hard,

sword in hand at first light,

through winter cold and summer heat,

never once going home.

Then off to glory on a white horse,

bringing home gold and jade.

[Deep Roots, Lasting Grace]

[Three Months Later]

[Lin Zhangrui,
son of Lin Jinlan and Tan Suhua]

Who's this?

Call me big sister.

I will give you candy, okay?

Call me Auntie.

Auntie will buy you toys.

Call me big sister.

Our little one is so sturdy.

You'll grow up just like Uncle Jinqi,

strong and healthy,

and become a great general.

Right?

This child is so hardy.

Eats well and sleeps well all day.

Don't you?

Have you and Jinlan

decided on his hundred-day celebration?

Jinlan says with the elders away,

there's no need for a grand affair.

Just a family gathering will do.

In his letter, the Old Master

asked about the child.

With the child this big,

I can't hide it any longer.

I had to tell him the truth.

I'd guess that once spring comes,

Concubine Zhou will rush to the capital.

The Master may even come, too.

I've already stolen from Heaven

two whole years of freedom.

I'm content.

I'm only sorry that for my sake, Jinqi,

you'll be scolded by the Master again.

The Master has never liked me anyway.

In one ear and out the other.

I'll just ignore him.

This winter,

you seem unusually sensitive to cold.

Tell me the truth.

How is your health, really?

I'm fine.

Jinlan.

Jinlan!

Jinlan!

Jinlan's heart condition is acting up!

Get a physician, quick!

Jinlan.

Medicine...

Jinlan.

Jinlan.

Jinlan can't breathe.

Everyone, stay back.

Open the window a crack.

Come back.

Second Young Master.

I'm here.

Jinlan...

I'm sorry.

Jinlan,

don't talk, okay?

Hold on a little longer.

The physician will be here soon.

No tears.

I won't cry anymore.

I promised you

I'd be strong

and not cry.

Here's the baby.

Jinlan.

For Suhua and the baby,

hold on a little longer.

The physician is on his way.

All right.

I promise you.

I'll take good care of the child

and raise him well.

Jinlan says

he'll be your brother again
in the next life,

and repay your kindness.

Here's the baby.

Don't worry.

Suhua is like my own sister.

As long as I'm in the Lin Residence,

I'll never let her be wronged.

♪Every word carries countless thoughts♪

♪The encounters of half a lifetime♪

♪Are kept within this little world♪

♪Bit by bit, the passing years
become the preface♪

Suhua.

Enjoy your meal.

♪With my own hands and heart♪

♪I write my name♪

♪Through countless lines of ink♪

♪Step by step toward the light♪

Jinlan...

Jinlan...

♪I'll rewrite my fate♪

♪The long night is almost over♪

♪I won't dwell on the past anymore♪

♪Every word carries countless thoughts♪

♪The encounters of half a lifetime♪

♪Are kept within this little world♪

♪Bit by bit, the passing years
become the preface♪

Jinlan.

Guan Zhong did not die. Du Huo.
[*A medicinal herb meaning "to live alone."]

Good.

Well done, Jinlan!

Thank you, Grandfather, for allowing it.

Don't panic.

The more urgent things get,
the calmer you must stay.

Thank you and Lanxiang,
for taking care of everything.

♪Step by step toward the light♪

♪With what I know and what I do♪

♪I'll rewrite my fate♪

♪The long night is almost over♪

♪I won't dwell on the past anymore♪

Suhua, take a look.

Is this all right?

It's very well done.

[Lin Zhangrui, Nine Months Old]

Second Young Lady!

Second Young Lady!

Second Young Madam!

Go to the front, quickly!

A messenger has come from Jinling
with news of a death.

Old Madam

has passed away.

In the last letter,

Mother said Grandmother was much better

and her speech had become clearer.

How could she suddenly be gone?

I've been so unfilial.

I'd already separated and returned home,

yet I didn't go back to Jinling
to care for Grandmother.

Old Madam lived a long life.

Xiulai, Xiuwan,

don't blame yourselves too much.

Why won't the Old Master

let us go home for the funeral?

To save on military expenses,

His Majesty is slashing troop numbers.

Too many men, and too few posts.

Many hold official titles

but have no real duties.

If Jinqi returns to Jinling to mourn,

the round trip

would take two or three months at least.

The Old Master fears that Jinqi's post

would be filled by someone else.

The Old Master

is just taking precautions.

But I miss Mother

and my brothers.

I want to go back to Jinling.

When the Second Young Master died,

it was bitterly cold.

With a frail mother and a baby,

we couldn't take his coffin home.

If Xiuwan wants to go back to Jinling,

Zhangrui and I

will take his coffin back with us

and lay him to rest.

This is no small matter.

We should let the Young Master decide.

From the capital to Jinling

is a long way.

Zhangrui is young and frail,

at an age when he falls ill easily.

On the way,

if he doesn't adapt to new surroundings

or comes down with a fever,

I couldn't face Jinlan.

How about

I take Suhua and Xiuwan

back myself?

After Jinlan passed,

you requested leave
to bring him back to Jinling.

His Majesty offered kind words

but refused to grant the leave.

Now Suhua and Xiuwan

are desperately homesick.

I could go on your behalf

and take them back with me.

As for returning to Jinling,

let me think it over.

Young Master, do you miss
your family in Jinling?

In less than half a year,

I've lost two of my closest kin.

How could I not miss

everyone back home?

Last year at the theater,

you named so much you don't believe in.

But in this life,

disbelief alone isn't enough.

You have to believe in something

to keep going, don't you?

I believe

the Way of Heaven favors no one.

Isn't that so?

Of all beings in this world,

why are some born rich

and others born poor?

Why do some live long, healthy lives

while others die young and sickly?

Why was Lin Jinqi born

a lofty master,

while Xu Lanxiang was born

a lowly servant?

You have a point.

I'm just surprised

you don't even believe
in the Way of Heaven.

No.

I do believe in the Way of Heaven.

Thank you, Madam.

You and the young lady are good people.
You'll surely be rewarded.

Thank you, Madam.

Give them my spare clothes.

Oh, Heaven!

I believe

the Way of Heaven favors no one,

but always sides with the good.

The Way of Heaven favors no one,

but always sides with the good.

Though this "good" is not that "good,"

compassion

is itself wisdom.

Like the palm and back of a hand,

they're two sides of one whole.

[Evidence of Lin Jinqi's Crimes]
Heaven and Earth are not benevolent.

They treat all things as straw dogs.

The Emperor is not benevolent.

He treats the people as straw dogs.

However clever one may be,

no one can see the future.

[Two Years Later]

Quick, don't let it get away!

Over there!

This is the Eldest Prince's treasure.

Good thing it didn't get away.

Let's go.

This should be Scholar Chen's class now.

[Hai Tao, Fourth-Rank Eunuch]
Those two

[of the Directorate of Ceremonial]
little brats

[Wang Cheng, Fourth-Rank Eunuch]
are skipping class at the Inner School

[of the Directorate of Ceremonial]
to fool around here.

What a disgrace!

Those two young eunuchs

have already become the godsons

of the Prince's head attendant, Wang Yi.

Wang Yi will surely keep them in line.

Why meddle?

The Eldest Prince

favors Wang Yi far too much.

Some officials also say

His Majesty favors us too much,

letting even memorials pass through us.

We are utterly loyal.

How could a flatterer

like Wang Yi compare to us?

Enough. Let's go.

His Majesty is waiting to see
the General Qinglong.

[Eunuchs shall not meddle in politics.]

[Eunuchs shall not meddle in politics.]

Sunlight bright, and moonlight bright.

Ants in the roots bring down the beams.

In silk and jade, they upend all order,

k*lling the old, k*lling the young.

A tiger at the door, a wolf out back.

Sunlight bright, and moonlight bright.

Palace walls
are built on piles of bones.

Rise or fall, right or wrong, all folly.

Hailed as a hero of the realm yesterday,

dumped in a mass grave today.

Sunlight bright, and moonlight bright.

Grass grows where grand palaces burned.

Loyal or traitor, all a passing dream.

Wise ministers and famous generals,

nothing left but a crumbling wall.

Tofu! Fresh tofu!

[Taiping]

Tofu!

Fresh tofu!

Tofu!

Fresh tofu!

Two buns, please.

Coming right up.

[Spring Breeze Carries the Seasons]

♪Look at us♪

♪We've shared countless
beautiful moments♪

Sunlight bright, and moonlight bright.

Red candles flicker,
and blossoms are sweet.

Hand in hand, we laugh as one,
a pair of mandarin ducks.

Unafraid of the world's wind and frost.

Face to face,
dawn to dusk, love endures.

♪Our bond runs deep♪

♪Binding us closely together♪

♪Washing away the dust
of this mortal world♪

♪Even if we must part in the end♪

♪I'll have no regrets
that we met in this life♪

♪May we stay together until life's end♪

♪Every sincerity you've shown me♪

♪Has long taken root in my heart♪

♪Our bond runs deep♪

♪Binding us closely together♪

♪Washing away the dust
of this mortal world♪

♪Even if we must part in the end♪

♪I'll have no regrets
that we met in this life♪

♪May we stay together until life's end♪

♪Every sincerity you've shown me♪

♪Has long taken root in my heart♪

♪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 these warm and gentle years♪

♪My heart remains
as true to you as ever♪

Come and see!

[Taiping]
Lotus in June, lotus root in August!

Fresh and tender, the tastiest!

Come and see!

Lotus in June, lotus root in August!

Fresh and tender, the tastiest!

What fresh lotus root!

Give me some.

You're pregnant now.

Mister Lu is sleeping.

You're expecting now.

Be careful.

I'm healthy. I'm not that delicate.

You're here.

Mother.

This lotus root

looks so fresh.

Come, have a seat.

All right.

Mother, you've mixed them up.

The blue tiger-head shoes and bellyband

are for Zhangrui.

The red ones are for An.

That's right now.

Right.

Whose child is An?

Sister Han's, from next door.

He's the same age as Zhangrui.

Both were born in August,

so Mother got gifts for them both.

After Third Place Scholar Han
became the top provincial graduate,

many came with marriage proposals.

So he decided

to marry his sister

to a classmate from Qixia Academy.

Now,

he's...

he's teaching students to count.

Arithmetic.

The study of doing accounts.

Yes.

They'll surely be good at bookkeeping.

Let me.

Look at you.

Getting old,

a little work and my back aches.

Tomorrow

I'll hire a boy to help at the shop.

No need.

Your father's just acting spoiled

because you're here.

Me? Acting spoiled?

Well, when you just told Lanxiang

that when you do needlework,

your eyes blur and you can't see,

weren't you acting spoiled too?

I'm acting spoiled with my daughter.

My daughter cares about me.

So what?

Fine.

You're getting younger by the day.

[Direct Explanation
of the Laws and Decrees]

Isn't there a set in my study?

Xiushu's dowry gift
is in a few days.

This is my gift for her dowry.

That's quite a gift.

Even if Xiushu has no use for it,

her children can read it.

Are you mocking me, Young Master Lin?

No.

A gift from you

is surely your most treasured one.

Good. Very good.

A fine gift.

Look.

How lovely!

[Lin Xiushu, 19]
I knew Madam Guan painted fine Buddhas,

but thanks to Xiushu,

I finally get to see one.

Thank you, Aunt.

You're welcome. It's only right.

Please, have a seat.

Lovely. Truly lovely.

We elders

bring out our very best.

As for you well-off families,

if what you bring today

isn't your finest treasure,

I'll be the first to object.

[Direct Explanation
of the Laws and Decrees]

A set of Direct Explanation
of the Laws and Decrees

and a rice shop.

May Xiushu have both wealth and wisdom.

Well said.

Thank you, Lanxiang.

My gift...

Jinqiao hasn't brought it yet.

My gift

has quite a story behind it.

What is it?

Xiuwan,

what you've given is...

A golden rod!

As the saying goes,

"A thorny stick makes a filial son."

So I made Xiushu a golden rod.

A golden rod...

If it can make a filial son,

it can make a good husband, too.

Xiushu,

if Third Master Yang ever bullies you,

beat him with the golden rod.

But before you do,

remember to read Lanxiang's

Direct Explanation
of the Laws and Decrees.

Xiuwan,

stop embarrassing me here.

It's thoughtful of her.

Xiushu,

just think of it as

a gold bar from Xiuwan.

That's thoughtful of you, Xiuwan.

This Hundred Children robe

was made by a palace embroiderer,

who spent nine months

stitching it by hand.

Xiushu, may you soon be blessed

with a baby boy.

Thank you, Xiuru.

May you soon have a son, too,

and see your wish fulfilled.

[Yuan Jiarong, Lin Xiuru's stepdaughter,
First Young Lady of the Yuan family]

[Yuan Jiawei, Second Young Lady
Yuan Jiaqin, Third Young Lady]

[Yuan Jiaming, Fourth Young Lady]

Here comes the dowry gift!

Xiushu,

here's my gift for your dowry.

What treasure is inside?

Why does this jar look

like a cricket jar to me?

The Lin family's Third Young Madam

gave the Fourth Young Lady a cricket.

Once word gets out,

it'll be quite the tale in Jinling City.

I told you to prepare a dowry gift,

and you got me a cricket?

What's going on?

This is no ordinary cricket.

It's a Matou King.

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

Xiuru.

If you don't want Shaohui
to take a concubine,

there's only one way now.

What way?

If Shaohui

insists on doing as Old Madam Yuan says

and taking Biwu as a concubine,

then separate from him.

I agree.

No.

No.

♪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♪