01x40 - Episode 40

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 40=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

A cricket?

That's it?

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.

Exactly.

That's hardly a proper gift.

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.

If we sold it,

it'd fetch at least sixty gold.

What rubbish!

All right.

That's enough.

Today is Xiushu's happy day.

Both of you, say no more.

Say no more.

Go on, sell it!

Go on, sell it!

How did I end up marrying
such a useless man?

Get me back my sixty gold!

- You lost your post!
- It's all right.

And we have no money!

Besides humiliating me,

what else can you do?

Son!

- There are many people here.
- It's all your useless father's fault.

Let go of me!

The Lin family claims Young Master Lin

resigned to come home and be filial.

Who'd be that foolish?

Giving up a high post in the capital

to sit idle at home?

He must have lost His Majesty's favor

and come slinking back.

And this Third Young Master Lin

never had any real ability.

Once his backer fell,

his colleagues pushed him out,

and he lost his post.

Doesn't the Lin family still have

Marquis Yongchang as a son-in-law?

Just look.

With that whole string of daughters,

the Third Young Lady is overwhelmed,

let alone helping her own family.

No wonder.

I heard

she was once in marriage talks

with Duke Xiangguo's grandson.

She was to marry into a duke's family,

and then suddenly it all fell through.

So

Third Young Madam Lin crying now

is rather fitting.

What did you say?

What about me?

What about you?

Come on, say that again!

You want a fight?

So what if I hit you?

Mother, let go of me!

Say it again!

Come on, say it again!

Say it!

I did say it.

What are you going to do?

Say no more.

Say no more.

You want a fight?

So what if I hit you?

Mother, let go of me!

Say it again!

Come on, say it again! Say it!

Keep going!

You unfilial girl!

Once a creature of the wild grass,

I've now risen to the great hall.

I'll never forget my wise lord's favor.

Well fed in my jar, I stay sharp.

Fierce in the ring, I crush the strong.

His Majesty is fond of crickets.

A palace eunuch, at His Majesty's order,

wrote this poem especially for crickets,

using them to voice lofty ambitions.

No wonder the poem sounds so good.

So it came from the palace.

A fine poem.

A fine poem indeed.

Now Jinqiao has given me a cricket,

surely to encourage Third Master Yang

to honor royal favor like this cricket

and always strive to better himself.

With this gift,

let's all strive for this together.

Yes.

- Together.
- Together.

Together.

The Cheng family is steeped in learning,

and you're quite literary, Fengxian.

You must have heard this poem, right?

Yes, I have.

It's a fine poem.

One more thing.

His Majesty has sent palace eunuchs

to collect crickets among the people.

Any cricket chosen for tribute

wins a hundred gold and official rank.

Well...

So it really is worth sixty gold.

One cricket can win an official post?

It's absolutely true.

Sister Niu, if you don't believe me,

go ask your husband.

To curry favor with the Second Prince's

- palace eunuchs,
- I...

he asked me just last month

where to find a good cricket like this.

That never happened.

Why did she have to be a servant?

No wonder Fengtai insisted on Lanxiang.

In this world, a few words

that can settle a dispute

are rare indeed.

But rarer still

is claiming no credit for it.

Because of me today,

Xiuru and my wife were both wronged.

No wonder those ignorant women gossip.

But I don't understand it either.

Why would you give up

real power as Left Chief Commander
of the Rear Military Command

and insist on resigning to Jinling?

Then His Majesty cut military spending,

so there's still no real post for you,

and you're left idle at home.

I'm the eldest grandson.

Since childhood, Grandfather

and the family have
had high hopes for me.

I was always pushed forward,

thinking only of getting ahead.

It's rare to have some peaceful days

to be still and ask

myself

which path I truly want to take,

and which way to follow.

Getting ahead,

bringing glory to one's ancestors...

What's wrong with that?

Shouldn't a man seek rank and riches

and win honors for his wife and sons?

Jinqi.

Jinqiao.

I've found a great way to make money.

I want to discuss it with you, Jinqi.

Shaohui, help me think it through, too.

What is it?

All I need is a ship

and a merchant license.

I ship silk and porcelain from Jiangnan

to Quanzhou,

and make several times the profit.

So if I put in a thousand taels,

I'll make several thousand.

Do you know

who buys the silk and porcelain?

Who cares who buys it?

In business,

all that matters is selling the goods.

The court enforces a maritime ban.

Apart from tribute missions,

trade with foreigners is forbidden.

The buyers who'd make you that profit

are those very foreigners.

Right.

Fujian has few fields and rough terrain.

People rely on Zhejiang and Guangdong,

shipping rice in by sea,

just to scrape by.

Yet some take the risk

of shipping silk and porcelain

from Jiangnan to Quanzhou

and selling it to foreigners in secret

for many times the profit.

But if caught,

by law, a hundred strokes or beheading.

This fortune...

do you still want to make it?

No.

Not anymore.

Jinqi, forget I said anything.

I'm off.

Jinqiao.

Because I resigned,

you lost your post.

Do you blame me?

I only got that post

thanks to you in the first place.

I wasn't capable enough

to keep it.

How is that your fault?

Jinqi, you've never called me useless,

so how could I blame you?

Jinqi,

don't overthink it.

I'm meeting a friend.

Jinqiao has a pure heart.

Having a brother like him

is a blessing for you and me.

In the past,

I could have found Jinqiao

a post in the army.

But now, troops are cut everywhere.

Don't worry about Jinqiao's post.

He won't starve anytime soon.

As long as not having a son

doesn't make you resent Xiuru,

Jinqiao and I

will be content.

Fengtai.

I told you before,

it was because I valued your character

that I sought to join our two families.

How could I ever break my word?

Besides, Xiuru is still young.

She'll have a son sooner or later.

"You're still young,

and a son will come sooner or later?"

Stop trying to fool me!

You're thirty-nine,

nearly forty.

She's twenty-six

and had three useless girls in a row.

Must I go to my grave

still longing for a grandson?

Mother, don't make yourself ill.

Mother, please calm down.

Have some water for your throat.

It's all my fault.

If you know you're at fault,

have you considered

what you should do

as a wife of the Marquis's house?

I don't know.

Please guide me, Mother.

Since you can't give him a son,

you should

find your husband a concubine soon

so he'll have a son soon.

That's what a virtuous wife does!

Mother, I...

Mother,

give Xiuru one more chance.

We'll surely...

Must you drive me to my death

before you'll agree?

No, I...

By court law,

officials can't wed freeborn concubines.

But women bought from outside

have unknown backgrounds.

I don't trust them.

She must come from a clean background

and have a gentle nature.

After much thought,

only Biwu is truly reliable.

[Biwu, Old Madam Yuan's head maid,
daughter of Yuan family's head butler]

Mother!

Biwu's father

is our household's head butler.

A fortune-teller cast Biwu's chart.

She's fated to bear sons and bring luck.

Mother!

Blood?

Mother!

Rest for a while.

You...

Will you agree?

I...

Three days from now is a lucky day.

We'll hold the concubine ceremony then!

If I'm lucky,

I may see a grandson before I die,

and then peacefully

go join your father below.

I agree.

Your Lordship, here's the medicine.

I'll do it.

Biwu, come.

Mother.

Silly child.

I'm already soaked.

Don't get yourself wet too.

Even if not for yourself,

then for me and my three sisters,

you mustn't put your body through this.

You're right, Jiarong.

I was wrong.

Ever since you married into this family,

you've given your all

serving your mother-in-law

and treated me like your own daughter.

You've never done a single thing wrong.

What Third Granduncle and his kin plot,

Grandmother may be too blind to see,

but I see it all clearly.

If Biwu's son

inherits the title,

this Yuan household

will fall to Third Granduncle's family.

What place would be left for us sisters?

It's my fault.

It's all because I

couldn't bear a son.

Not only has the Marquis

been branded unfilial,

but you girls have no one to rely on.

How can that be your fault?

It's Heaven's fault.

Why can't a daughter inherit the title?

You always say

Grandmother is shrewd and capable,

and Aunt Lanxiang is wise and gracious.

Why don't we go to the Lin Residence

and ask them to think of something?

[Banyan Terrace and Gracious Shade]

When Jiaming was born,

I reminded you

to find the Marquis a concubine.

But you held too dear
the love you shared

and would not give him up.

You claimed the Marquis said

court officials

must be sonless at forty to take one.

Didn't you stop to think

how few officials really keep that rule?

And now look.

The Yuan clan has you by the throat.

Your mother-in-law resents you,

and you're called a jealous wife.

We can't blame the Third Young Lady.

We were all young once.

Who hasn't had her illusions,

holding such paltry love

dearer than all the world?

Not one man is any good.

You're an unmarried girl.

What are you doing here?

This isn't for your ears.

Get out, now.

Why can't I listen?

These things

should be made clear to a woman

before she marries,

so she doesn't reach her husband's home

still clueless.

With that wild temper of yours,

no one will marry you.

Listening is pointless.

Go back, now.

All the better if no one does.

See?

Xiuru.

What do you

really want?

I...

I...

You have to tell us the truth

so we can help you find a way.

Xiuru,

speak freely.

I don't want him taking a concubine.

Forgive me, I'm powerless.

However capable I may be,

I can't help you end the Yuan bloodline.

You'll have

to manage on your own.

Shunhua.

Shunhua.

Shunhua.

Shunhua.

The Third Young Lady's troubles...

are you really staying out of it?

Shunhua.

I knew it.

What we women truly want

counts for nothing.

When family interests are at stake,

who cares whether we women are happy

or willing?

I should never have said it.

Now I've angered Mother as well.

You're too heartless.

Xiuru, don't cry.

Lanxiang.

Lanxiang.

Please think of something

to help Xiuru.

Xiuru, don't cry.

Stop crying.

Stop crying.

I said stop crying.

Did you hear me?

Xiuru,

listen to what Lanxiang has to say.

Yes, listen to Lanxiang.

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.

Shaohui only wants a concubine,

and it's for the sake of an heir.

Why go as far as separating?

Besides, there are three children.

If one day they learned

that their mother,
over so small a thing,

had abandoned them,

how could they bear it?

Xiulai has a point.

The Marquis's house is full of gossip.

Children without a mother have it hard.

What do you think, Xiuru?

I'm too narrow-minded

to be as generous as Mother wants.

Rather than suffer day after day,

it's better to end it quickly.

I'd rather separate.

All right.

Since you've made up your mind,

leave the rest

to Jinqi and me.

Jinqi and the Marquis are close friends.

Would he truly quarrel with him for me?

He would.

My mother is gravely ill.
Her days are few.

Her only wish

is to hold a grandson.

As her son,

I have no choice but to obey.

I hope you'll understand, Jinqi.

I understand.

But Xiuru

would rather end it
with her pride intact

than stay married by giving in.

[Separation Agreement]

Separation?

This is absurd.

I won't agree.

Xiuru has made up her mind.

Please grant her wish, Chengze.

Old Madam.

Mother.

Aunt.

So the Lin family wants a separation?

Yes.

Lin Jinqi.

You're a marquis with no real power,

and your heirs have yet to inherit.

Where does the Lin family

get the nerve to cross the Yuan family?

We're not making trouble.

I've invited the neighborhood headman,

officials from the Ministry of w*r
and the Ministry of Justice

to officiate the separation.

If that's not making trouble, what is?

[Huang Mainiang, wife]
Who invites the Ministry of w*r

[of the late Marquis Yuan's cousin]
and Justice to officiate a separation?

Third Aunt.

My wife is a titled marchioness.

By court law,

any officer's titled wife who separates

must report to the Ministry of w*r

and the Ministry of Justice

for approval.

It was thanks to the Yuan family

that she got that title at all.

And now that Lin woman flaunts her title

to make this the talk of the whole city,

bringing shame on the Yuan family.

Old Madam Yuan,

I'll take my leave.

Fengtai.

Fengtai.

Fengtai.

Third Aunt, you know full well

His Majesty used my wedding to Xiuru

as cover to leave Jinling.

Fengtai risked his life to protect him

and get him safely back to the capital.

How can you ignore your conscience

and say such nonsense?

That title, the Lins earned themselves.

Marrying into the Lins was a mistake.

A humble house with small-minded ways.

Separate, then.

The Yuans have no shortage of wives.

They can't separate.

Absolutely not.

If they separate over a concubine,

that jealous Lin woman will fare badly,

and our family's name will suffer too.

How could that be possible?

Every official at court knows
that His Majesty

only ascended the throne safely with
Lin family's help during the wedding.

The Lin family also

rendered meritorious service
in protecting His Majesty.

After marrying into our family,

she bore three daughters in succession.

Even if she earned no merit,
she still endured years of hardship.

Now their marriage
has fallen apart over a concubine.

Our Yuan family will surely
face criticism and attacks.

When that happens, my son

will not only
have difficulty remarrying,

but his official career
may also be affected.

Your Lordship, Old Madam.

A group of officials
has arrived outside.

[Steward Fu, head steward]
They say Marquis Jing'an invited them

[of the Yuan Residence, Biwu's father]
to preside over the separation

of Your Lordship and the marchioness.

Quite a few people
have gathered outside to watch.

I...

I had no choice.

I could only invite them
into the residence first.

I thought Lin

was merely putting
on a show to frighten us.

I never expected her
to truly seek a separation.

Old Madam, what are we going to do?

[Jiaxi Tower,
Marquis Yongchang's Residence]

Since both families
have decided on a separation,

this is

the Lin family's Separation Agreement.

Your Lordship, please take a look.

[Separation Agreement]
If everything is in order,

please sign it.

[Separation Agreement]

I will no longer have the good fortune
to serve you, Old Madam.

I wish you good health

and a long life.

Third Young Lady

truly loves Your Lordship
with all her heart.

Tell me,

how did things ever come to this?

How did things come to this?

Old Madam Yuan,

my heart

feels as if it's being cut with a knife.

How did things really come to this?

Must the Yuan and Lin families

really come to this?

We follow different ways.

It's better to part in peace

and each seek our own path.

You make it sound so easy.

Today, in front of everyone,
let me ask you this.

If one day

you're nearly forty,

Lanxiang still has no son,

and there's no heir
to the title of Marquis Jing'an,

will you still be able

to refuse to take a concubine?

I stubbornly insisted

on helping Xiulai
separate from her husband,

and my wife helped me
bring her out of the inner residence.

In the heavy snow,

when I was on the verge of death,

my wife never left my side.

In the bitter cold,

she stayed with me
through an entire day and night

and even saved the whole Lin family.

My wife has shown me kindness,

loyalty,

and love.

If I betrayed her for the sake of a son

I've never even met,

what kind of man would I be?

Even if I never have a son,

then I must have offended Heaven
in my previous life

and made my wife suffer alongside me.

You risked your life
for that marquis title.

You'd give it up?

Marquis Yuan, you're mistaken.

That title

was won with both my wife's
life and mine on the line.

Passing it down to our descendants

isn't so they can live off
their ancestors' achievements,

but so they can

remember their ancestors' glory
and strive to better themselves.

If my wife and I never have a son,

then we'll return the title

to the court.

How did things

really come to this?

My dear sister.

- First Madam.
- First Madam.

Shunhua.

My dear sister.

This is all my fault.

I said it in the heat of the moment

and said I wouldn't interfere anymore.

I never imagined these youngsters

would be so bold

as to turn a private family matter

into the talk of the entire city.

This is outrageous!

You couldn't have come at a better time.

Please talk some sense into Xiuru.

What married couple

separates over a concubine?

Exactly.

What married couple

separates because of a concubine?

Exactly.

Once word gets out, everyone will think

the Yuan family
did something disgraceful

that drove a mother

to seek a separation
despite having four daughters.

What nonsense are you talking about?

I am Marquis Yongchang's mother-in-law,

and by imperial decree,

I hold the court-conferred
title of marchioness.

May I ask

who exactly this woman is

speaking so harshly and berating me?

She's the wife
of the old Marquis's cousin.

My dear sister,

let's speak in private.

Have them leave us.

All of you, go outside for now.

Go!

My dear sister,

I'm a straightforward person,

so I'll speak plainly.

If you want me to persuade
Xiuru to change her mind,

you'll have to agree
to a few conditions.

Go ahead.

First,

he may take a concubine,

but she must be chosen
by the Lin family.

My dear sister,

what you want is a grandson.

Why should it matter
which woman gives birth to him?

If wife and concubine get along,
the household will be at peace,

and my third son-in-law
can focus on his duties.

If they don't get along

and there's trouble like this every day,

with Ministry of w*r officials
showing up one moment

and Ministry of Justice officials
the next,

my third son-in-law

may not be able to take much more of it.

Fine.

I agree.

The Lin family can choose the concubine.

Second,

the Marquis's family property

may only be divided equally among
the children of his principal wife.

You...

You mean

only Jiarong

and Lin's daughters
can inherit the family property?

The principal wife now
has four daughters.

You're right, my dear sister.

Then the four daughters
will divide it equally.

After all, you want a grandson

to inherit the marquis title.

He'll already have the title.

Why should he compete with his sisters
for the family property?

What if I refuse?

Even if I agree,

my eldest son won't.

He's a real firecracker.

He was the one who urged Xiulai
to separate from her husband before.

The case even went
to Shuntian Prefecture

and drew His Majesty's attention.

I simply can't control him.

Aren't you afraid

the reputation of the Lin family's
daughters will suffer

and make it difficult
for them to marry in the future?

My own daughter is already married.

As for the others,

I have enough troubles of my own.

I can't worry about
what happens to everyone else.

Your Lin family has gone too far.

Old Madam Yuan,
you have a broad forehead

and full earlobes.

Those features promise
many blessed descendants.

I'm sure you'll have
more than one grandson.

Xiuru is still young.

She may well have a son in the future.

Since the principal wife's children
will divide the family property equally,

a son would naturally
receive his share as well.

Search your conscience and tell me,

how can there be such a rule

that daughters
inherit the family property?

Old Madam Yuan,

the idea that daughters
cannot inherit family property

has never been an unalterable rule

since ancient times.

During the Han dynasty,

daughters could not only
inherit family property,

but even noble titles.

How could that be possible?

Why wouldn't it be?

Even if you don't know there were
titled noblewomen in the Han dynasty,

surely you know

there was a female emperor
in the Tang dynasty.

No matter how persuasively you put it,

I cannot agree to let daughters

inherit the family property.

I agree.

Mother.

If the boy proves capable,

he'll already have the marquis title.

Building a fortune
of his own won't be difficult.

If he proves incapable,

forget the family property.

He may not even
be able to keep the title.

My daughters
are my own flesh and blood, too,

and they carry the Yuan bloodline.

I'm willing to leave
the family property to them

so they can live
their lives in security.

My dear sister,

no one can have everything
go their way in life.

Each side giving a little
is already the best outcome.

You get your grandson,

and their family stays together.

Why

force a loving couple

to be torn apart

and leave the children

without their mother?

I'm old now.

As for this matter,

I'll leave the decision to you.

♪Time unfurls a long scroll♪

This is the document dividing
the family property.

Please take a look, Shaohui.

If you have no objections,

the neighborhood headman here

can serve as your witness.

Sign it.

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

All right.

♪Each plant endures
its own trials before reaching shore♪

♪Bamboo shadows
embrace quiet contentment♪

♪Only orchids dwell
in secluded places♪

♪Watching the old and new
take turns in this world♪

[Spring Breeze Carries the Seasons]

I've put you through a lot today.

What you said today
at the Yuan Residence

in front of everyone...

It may have come out
in the heat of my exchange

with Chengze,

but I meant every word.

I swear that in this life,

I will never take a concubine.

My only wish

is to hold your hand

and grow old with you.

Careful.

[All afflictions arise from ignorance]

- Mother.
- Mother.

Shaohui has signed it?

He's signed it.

Have your wife

sit down and join us.

Thank you for the seat, Mother.

Come.

Tell me,

when did you figure it out?

I sensed something was strange
from the very beginning that day,

but I couldn't figure out why.

Then Mother swept out in anger,

and I understood.

Mother wanted us

to be Xiuru's blade

and force the Yuan family to yield.

You really are a clever one.

Lanxiang and I talked it over.

When Xiuru was still unmarried,

she already had the courage to seek
a better marriage for herself.

She was never someone
who would lose herself in love.

What she feared
wasn't Chengze taking a concubine,

but the Yuan clansmen

using a son born to a concubine to take
control of the Marquis's household.

Then Xiuru and her daughters

would be left at the mercy of others,

forced to watch their every expression
and tread carefully just to survive.

I knew Xiuru understood
what was at stake,

so I showed her a way forward.

You two

shouldn't blame her
for going to such lengths.

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

Fainted! Unconscious now!

Come here!

Hurry over here!

Come on!

Quick, press the philtrum!

Over here!

Quick, come here!

Hurry over here!

- Mother and daughter are safe!
- Mother and daughter are safe!

Wonderful!

- Mother and daughter are safe!
- Mother and daughter are safe!

The baby's born!

♪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♪