01x14 - Episode 14

[bunniefuu]

ADAPTED FROM JIA JIN CHAI, ORIGINAL NOVEL
BY XIAOJIAREN ON JINJIANG LITERATURE CITY

No… What are you doing?

It was so many years ago.
Nothing worth seeing.

Why do you insist?

She used to work right here.

Children, take a break if you're tired.

Take it easy.

If I hadn't taken pity on her,
who would've taken in a child?

She could barely do any work
and wasted so much of my food.

While she lived here,
she was well fed and warmly clothed.

She had it good here.

For our…

Please, don't!

Your Liu family is notorious
for being stingy.

You hire half-grown children
to save on wages.

Expect me to believe you?

If you still won't tell the truth,

when I get it out of someone else,
I'll sever the tendons in your hands.

Please spare me. The truth is,

she only worked here for a year.

She usually slept right there.

You mistreated an eight-year-old child.

Are you even human?

If I hadn't taken her in,

that little bag of bones

would've been buried
in some weed-choked grave!

She should be thanking me!

- If you don't believe me, I'll show you.
- Lead the way!

Thank you, My lord…

Thank you, my dear.

My Lady, really.

You could've had them inspect the cellar.
Why go down there yourself?

Pitiable as the refugees are,

yet many among them
who are lazy and shifty.

This cellar will hold food
for the whole winter.

- I have to inspect it myself.
- Coming.

All this just to survive?

Why push yourself this far?

I've already promised you…

I can't rely entirely
on you to protect me.

You can't be by my side every moment.

It's done.

Besides,

winters are bitterly cold.

People freeze to death every year.

You don't know what
it's like to starve and freeze.

Careful. Take it slow.

One extra wheat cake
could saved one more life.

Don't think too highly of me.

These people
are the foundation of my position.

Come on. I'll take you up the mountain.

General Qi's trap caught a wild boar.

Slow down.

Let's go. Up the mountain.

Bandit.

I am a bandit.

You're the only one I'm after.

Let's go!

My Lady!

{\an8}XIANZHUANG

{\an8}To pay off a debt,
her gambling-addict father

removed her from the lacquer workshop

and gave her to that family.

Their 15-year-old son had just died,

and they wanted a young girl's body
to bury with him.

How could anyone be so heartless
as to do something so cruel?

What happened to her after?

- Over there!
- No!

- No! Don't k*ll me!
- Still trying to run?

No!

At such a young age,

she endured the pain
without making a sound.

She pretended to be dead
and fooled them all.

People at the mill said
that even in the dead of winter,

A-Chou wore only a thin shirt.

Her hands and feet
were split open with bloody cracks.

They'd heal, then split open again.

She was the youngest,

yet she worked from c*ck
until deep into the night

and was always paid the least

because the owner knew
she had nowhere else to go.

Everyone called her Little Mute.

When she first came to the mill,

she could barely speak.

- Why couldn't she speak?
- She'd been frightened into silence.

But after narrowly escaping death
and spending a year at the mill,

her birth father,
Lai Gen, found her again.

People told her to run,
but she still went back.

Oh, why would she go back?

She said her mother was bedridden.

If she didn't go back to work,
her younger sister would be sold too.

Your aunt really ought
to be here hearing this.

You people
forced that poor girl into all this.

You'll pay for what you've done.

Is that all you found?
Was there anything else?

It's been so many years.
There are countless leads to follow.

But I've found some clues

about those who lived
with her in the tenement.

Hurry. You must hurry.

Grandmother, pitiful as she may be,
she's still an outsider.

Why are you so concerned
about A-Chou's background?

I've already checked. Madam Qiao
kept working even while pregnant

and washed clothes by the river every day.

The neighbors watched the child
be born and grow up.

Her household
registration and age both match.

Grandmother,
what are you still suspicious of?

I honestly don't know.

I just can't shake this uneasiness.

Keep investigating. Hurry and dig deeper.

All right. I'll keep looking.

Go.

What do you need this for?

Aunt Heng'e, don't ask questions.
Just give it to me.

- Jundai…
- I'm not your Jundai!

I'm Wei Rao.

My father was a hero
who died on the b*ttlefield.

My mother is Lady Li,
His Majesty's most favored consort.

I'm the noblest young lady in the capital!

Don't worry, Aunt Heng'e.

It's only a precaution.

KITCHEN

- Is that ginseng soup for Grandmother?
- Yes.

I'll take it from here.

You're not needed here. Leave.

Household rules require special care
with the Dowager Lady's meals.

I can't leave it unattended
even for a moment.

Grandmother,
you haven't had much appetite lately

and often complain of fatigue.

This ginseng soup
should be taken before your meal

for the best effect.

If taken afterward,
its effect is greatly reduced.

- Brother Jue?
- Huo Jue, what are you doing?

The kitchen is smoky
from all the charcoal fires.

You've always hated it
and never set foot there.

Yet today, you personally
brewed Grandmother's ginseng soup.

Why is that?

What's wrong with doing something
for my grandmother?

Grandmother,

I won't stay here
and offend anyone further.

- I'll take my leave.
- My child…

Rao!

Grandmother…

She meant well.

Seeing that I've barely been eating
and have been coughing up phlegm,

she had the maids
brew a strong ginseng soup

with bamboo sap and ginger juice added.

She meant well.
Why are you so suspicious of her?

Grandmother, I just…

You've been investigating
A-Chou's background every day,

and it's making you
grow suspicious, isn't it?

Still, without any evidence,

you shouldn't have shown your suspicions.

It was my fault.

I'll go apologize to her now.

He's still young after all.

He can't keep his composure.

Young Master.

Rao! Rao! What are you doing?

Rao! Drop it!

- Let go of me!
- Give it to me!

- Give it! Drop it!
- Let go of me!

Why do you still care what happens to me?

Rao, I'm sorry.

You went to investigate A-Chou's past,
to see how miserable and pitiful she was.

You've clearly begun to waver!

Right.

She's the pitiful one
for stealing my place,

while I'm the wicked one
though I've lost everything.

- That's not true.
- Just because I'm unruly, bad-tempered,

and not as sly and calculating as she is,

everyone despises me and speaks ill of me.

Even when I try to do
something for Grandmother,

you question and suspect me.

I love Grandmother more than anyone.

How could I ever harm her?

Everything I do is wrong.

Then just let me die
so I never have to offend your eyes again!

Rao,

I lost my head for a moment.
I don't know what came over me.

I don't even know why
I would have such suspicions.

Ever since Governess Chang died,

you may not have said anything,

but you've been doubting me all along.

She was a deceitful, vicious old woman.
How could you believe her?

You suspected me of
poisoning Grandmother, didn't you?

Yes.

I did hide poison under my pillow,

but it was meant for me.

I'd rather end my own life

than be despised by everyone I love!

Rao!

Stop it, Rao! Rao!

Go get the physician! Hurry!

Rao,

forgive me. I was wrong.

From now on, I'll believe whatever you say
and never doubt you without cause again.

Rao!

Someone!

Come quickly!

ZHAOYANG PALACE

All of you, leave.

You said Rao tried to take her own life?

Don't panic, Your Ladyship.

Fortunately, Lord Huo stopped her in time.

She swallowed very little poison.

She's been given a licorice
and bean decoction as an antidote.

Her internal organs are unharmed.

Please calm down, Your Ladyship.

This is all my fault.

Rao has suffered so much,

yet I still told her to hide and wait.

A noble daughter of a great family
forced to live in hiding…

She must blame me, her own mother.

Where's Madam Qiao?

You've searched for so long.
Has she been found yet?

Your Ladyship,

we've searched every prefecture
and county around the capital.

We've also checked the Imperial
Medical Bureau and local clinics.

But we only got word this morning.

Two years ago,

the retired Imperial Physician
Wang Zhonglu

was best known for
treating wasting illnesses.

- Where is he now?
- Yong County.

Turn all of Yong County
upside down if you must.

Find Madam Qiao and her daughter.

Yes.

Take this and give it to Rao.

Tell her
I've never forgotten what I promised her.

Tell her to focus on recovering.

Once she's well enough to get out of bed,

I will have her back and make them pay.

RADIANT BEAUTY, RARE GRACE

A-Chou, oh A-Chou.

You forced me to become like a stray dog,
wagging my tail and begging for mercy.

Even if I descend to the underworld,

I won't go alone.

I'll drag you down with me.

Missed.

Archery takes time to master.

Don't rush.

Here.

I spend days in the barracks.

I'm rough by nature, lacking formalities.

If I've overstepped any boundaries,
please forgive me, Your Ladyship.

The army has been busy lately,

so I may not be able
to come for some time.

If you want to learn archery,
I know a woman archer.

I'll have her teach you instead.
That would be more appropriate.

Thank you, General.
I was thinking the same thing.

Come see how the training is going.

They're finally starting to shape up.

- Are you all right?
- Unacceptable!

Whose child behaves so poorly?

The training ground
is no place to run around!

Forgive us, Your Ladyship!

That careless fool.

Your Ladyship,

her husband broke his leg
while hunting in the mountains.

The family had no way to make a living,

so we let her stay
and do laundry for the estate.

Hurry and apologize!

Forgive me, Your Ladyship.

Blades have no eyes.

Watch the child. Don't let him get hurt.

Bitao.

Try some.

You're far too noble
for this, Your Ladyship.

It's an honor for them.
Quick, kowtow to Her Ladyship!

No need.

These two children…

Oh, they're twins.

Quite an adorable pair.

Don't be afraid.
It's a gift from Her Ladyship.

Just accept it.

Here, take them all.

- Come on.
- Hurry. Let's go.

Don't come running in here again.

General Qi,

in this world,
can two people really look so alike?

Women carrying twins have often seen

both mother and child lost.

That's why twins are rare.
Rare, but not unheard of.

Those two just now
were twins, weren't they?

What if they aren't twins?

If two people are
neither kin nor connected,

yet happen to look alike,

then it's fate playing tricks,
a coincidence.

Fate?

Could fate really
arrange such a coincidence?

Two complete strangers
who aren't related by blood at all…

How could they look so alike?

Why?

Your Ladyship,

one of Lady Li's attendants
is heading toward Yong County.

General Qi,
I need the men you've been training.

They've only trained for a few days.

They may look orderly,
but they're full of weaknesses.

Against a well-trained army,

they'd be swept aside,
unable to even put up a fight.

If you need a hand,
I'll assign you some others.

No. I can't use your men

or the Lu family's.

Besides, one can only learn
to farm by getting into the field.

What good is training in a drill yard?

They need real experience.

Mother!

Please! Spare me!

I… I've paid off all my gambling debts.

- I don't owe a single coin!
- No.

- Don't take me.
- General, what's going on?

Mother. Hongxian.

You good-for-nothing.
All you do is drink and gamble.

Now look, you've brought them right to us!

- Take them all away!
- I'm innocent!

I'm innocent!

I'm innocent!

Who are you people?

- Why are you taking us?
- Keep quiet.

Settle down and stop causing trouble.

Deputy General Zhao,
my stomach's acting up. I need to go!

- Me too.
- I can't hold it either!

- What's going on?
- Move!

Pull yourselves together!

It must've been that tea stall we passed.

Someone must've tampered with the tea.

What?

‪Go there.

Someone's attacking the carriage!
Guards! Guards!

‪Don't try anything!

We've got them all.

- Don't k*ll me!
- Don't k*ll me! Please!

- Don't k*ll me!
- Mother. Hongxian.

A-Chou? Mother, A-Chou came to save us!

Your Ladyship, I drugged them all.

- Didn't I do a fine job?
- Get down!

You get the greatest credit.

For this victory,
every man under my command

gets 100 coins and a bolt of silk.

From now on,

a dou of fine rice and a plate
of meat will be added to every meal!

Your Ladyship prevails!

Your Ladyship prevails!

Your Ladyship prevails!

Your Ladyship prevails!

Physician Wang truly works wonders.

You look so much better, Mother.

A-Chou,

looking at you now,
I can barely recognize you.

There's so much good food here.

How could the two of us finish it all?

Why not call your brother and sister over

so the whole family can be together?

They've been frightened half
to death and are covered in dirt.

They're in quite a state.

I had someone take them to wash up.

Food will be prepared for them.

Your brother loves drinking.
Someone needs to keep an eye on him.

And Hongxian was scared out of her wits.
I'd better go check on them.

We haven't seen each other in so long,
yet you haven't even said you missed me.

All you talk about
is Hongxian and Runsheng.

You're playing favorites.

Are those two
the only ones you care about?

What about me, your daughter?

I think about you every day.

But of my three children,
you're the oldest.

You're smart and sensible,
so I worry about you the least.

Those two are different.

The moment I take my eyes
off them, there's trouble.

There are so many people
around this estate.

I'm just afraid…
afraid they'll cause trouble for you.

Is that so?

My daughter,

it's been a while.

You've changed so much.

How have I changed?

I can't quite put it into words.

You've become more imposing
and more formidable.

And the way you speak
and act is nothing like before.

I'm just a poor old woman.

Even I feel
a little intimidated by you now.

I can hardly recognize you.

No matter how much I change,
I'll always be your daughter.

This…

Is someone else joining us?

An old acquaintance
wants to catch up with you.

The Grand Military Review
takes place once every three years.

Every unit is doing all it can to
distinguish itself before His Majesty.

You have trainings
first thing tomorrow morning.

You said you'd stay at the barracks,
yet you came rushing back again.

Are you afraid
Her Ladyship might run away?

I spoke out of turn. I deserve this.

Who is that woman?

Go find out
who Her Ladyship invited tonight.

Yes.

It's been a long time.
I hope you've been well.

I pay my respects to Your Ladyship.

Oh my.

How could I let
Your Ladyship serve me wine?

This is too much of an honor for me.

How could I forget my roots?

When Han Liao
deliberately stirred up trouble,

if you hadn't acted so cleverly
to help me, Governess Liu,

how could I have everything today?

Afterward, to stay out of trouble,

you had to keep hiding
from place to place.

I've always felt guilty about that.

I should have toasted you long ago.

Here's to you, Governess Liu.

Even a crafty rabbit
has three burrows, doesn't it?

With all the money you gave me,
changing my hideout from time to time

is no big deal.

If you hadn't invite me here,
I wouldn't have shown my face.

I knew from the start
you were destined for greater things.

So all my efforts to cover for you
weren't wasted.

You know how to repay a kindness.

Come on. Let's drink one more bowl!

Wei Rao, what exactly are you planning?

Let me toast you again.

Here.

Just look at you,
so dignified and elegant.

Madam Qiao, with a daughter like this,

you'll enjoy a life of comfort!

Too much to drink
and you start talking nonsense.

What if someone overhears you?

Why not take her to bed?

A generous gift tomorrow to thank her.

There's no rush.
There are no outsiders here.

What's the harm
in talking a little longer?

When I was little,
my father often beat and berated me.

I thought I wouldn't live past eight.

Who'd have thought it'd come to this?

It just shows that no one
can predict what life has in store.

Exactly.

That heartless father of yours
abandoned you in the mountains,

thinking the wolves would carry you off.

"Survive a great calamity,
and better days will come."

That saying came true for you.

That really happened?

How come I never knew?

You were only two then.

How could you remember?

That scoundrel lost money gambling

and blamed you for bringing him bad luck.

When I wasn't looking, he secretly
carried you away and abandoned you.

My Lord, keep it down.

That night, your mother
came back from washing clothes.

When she couldn't find you,
she went frantic.

She wouldn't listen to any of us

and ran into
the mountains alone to look for you.

A-Chou! A-Chou!

A-Chou!

A-Chou!

A-Chou!

Go away!

A-Chou…

In this whole world,

only a mother
would dare fight wolves for her child.

When your mother
came down the mountain the next day,

her whole body was covered in wounds.

A wolf even tore
a chunk of flesh from here.

But she held you tight
and wouldn't let go.

No one could separate the two of you.

I'll never forget this moment
for the rest of my life.

So these scars on your arm

were all because of me.

I thought you didn't care about me,
that you didn't love me.

You did all that for me.

Why did you never tell me?

I was weak and couldn't protect you.

It was all my fault.

I failed you.

I'm sorry, my child.

I made you suffer so much

and shouldered
the burden of this whole family.

Even now, we're still dragging you down.

It breaks my heart.

Why did you never tell me
how much you were suffering inside?

I never wanted much.

What you've given me
has always been enough.

Governess Liu is drunk.

Let me take you back to rest.

You two have a good talk.

What fine wine!

A wolf tore a chunk of flesh right off…

Mother,

Hongxian said she missed me.

I've settled her in the west wing room.

Why don't you move there too?

I've been traveling for days. I'm tired.

I don't want to keep moving around.

This room is perfectly fine.

You sisters should
spend some time together.

- Okay?
- Sure.

Whatever you say, Mother.

You're back, my dear?

Why are your eyes red?

Have you had dinner yet?

I'll have someone prepare it.

Don't bother. His Majesty will inspect
the troops during the winter hunt.

There's still much to do at the barracks.
I'll pack a few things and leave.

Then I'll pack for you.

Here. Put this on. It's cold at night.

I'm leaving Zhao Song and Zhao Bai here.
If you need anything, just tell them.

Okay, I know.

Good night.

From what she said in there just now,

she seems to doubt about her own origins.

My… My Lord,

weren't you staying here tonight?
Why did you suddenly change your mind?

THE FRAGRANT ORCHID

Go find someone
from the Wei family for me.

Who are you looking for at
the Earl of Cheng'an's Residence?

No. Not the Earl of Cheng'an's Residence.

Go to the Court of Justice.
I'll go there myself.

My Lord! What are you going to
the Court of Justice for, My Lord?

I was such a fool.

How could I doubt my own mother?

If she weren't my birth mother,

why would she fight wolves
to save my life?

I was so foolish.

Your Ladyship,

the silkworm house is ready.
You can inspect it when you have time.

You said the soldiers
should be divided into three ranks,

with different pay and meals for each.

Mr. Feng has drafted the regulations.

Once you've reviewed them,
we'll post them.

The fruit tree saplings have arrived too.

It's getting late.

There's plenty to do tomorrow.

You should get some sleep.

Yes, it's late.

Time to rest.

Oh, no! Fire!

- Fire!
- Fire!

- Put it out!
- Oh, no!

- Put out the fire!
- Hurry!

Help!

Hurry!

Save Her Ladyship! Hurry!

Help!

Her Ladyship is still inside!

- Her Ladyship's room is on fire!
- Help!

- Someone, help!
- Hongxian!

Put out the fire!

- Hongxian!
- Her Ladyship is still inside!

Fire!

- Fire!
- Fire!

Get more water!

- Hurry!
- Help!

- Hongxian!
- Help!

- Hongxian!
- Hurry!

- Hongxian!
- Water's here!

Bring the water!

Hongxian!

- Get them out!
- Hurry!

- Hurry!
- Hongxian!

- Hurry!
- Get them out!

- Someone, help!
- Water's here!

Get them out!

Fire!

Fire over here!

Get more water!

- Hurry!
- Get more water!

Hurry!

Have you forgotten…

that you have another daughter?

I'm not your daughter.

Then who am I?

Who am I?

That foolish maid

knocked over a candlestick on night watch.

Luckily, you woke up in time,
so it didn't turn into a disaster.

They were all running around in a panic.

How could anyone
put out the fire like that?

They were only getting in the way.

You got to sort them out.
Don't let it slide.

Stop bothering your sister.

She's busy.

Mother,

A-Chou said now that we're in the capital,
we don't need to leave again.

We'll live here from now on.

She also said she'd find me a good teacher
to teach me music and dance.

We'll never have to
hide from place to place

or live in fear again.

I've always wanted to learn to dance,
but I could never afford the tuition.

- Now A-Chou can…
- Enough!

Stop talking.

Mother's tired.
You should get some rest too.

A-Chou,

I hope you won't be so cruel

as to take revenge on us
once you learn the truth about your birth.

I was the only one at fault.

Nothing to do with Hongxian and Runsheng.

Please spare them, all right?

I'm heartless?

Because you had tuberculosis,

I became an apprentice
at a lacquer workshop when I was only six.

Then Father sold me into a ghost marriage.

I barely escaped with my life,
but I still came back.

I was afraid.

I was afraid that if I escaped alone,

you would be beaten,

and my siblings would be sold.

I worked myself to the bone.

I'd rather gnaw on tree bark
or cut flesh from my own body…

than ever let any of you go hungry.

But what did you do, Mother?

You watched me get beaten and sold.

I was treated like an animal,
suffering day and night,

yet you never told me
a single word of the truth.

You just told me to accept my fate…

that I was born into poverty
and destined for a life of suffering.

You told me to endure it,

persuade me into
sacrificing myself for your own children.

And now…

you're calling me heartless?

A-Chou, I shouldn't have said that.

I was wrong. Please forgive me.

If you feel even the slightest guilt,

tell me the truth.

That night,

I did drive the wolves away…

but my child had already frozen to death.

I buried her on the mountain.

My A-Chou, I…

A-Chou.

A-Chou. A-Chou.

Don't cry. Don't cry.

Then I found you.

I took off my coat
and wrapped you in them…

then slipped home with you
in the dead of night.

How did no one notice?

To a poor family, a two-year-old child
is no more noticed than a cat or dog.

Even their own father wouldn't look twice,
let alone outsiders.

I said you were my own daughter,
and no one ever questioned it.

Then where are the clothes I was wearing
and the keepsakes that came with me?

Bitao,

Runsheng was dead drunk.

He didn't even wake up
when the fire broke out.

Go see if he's awake yet.

Yes.

No, please don't!

I'll tell you.

They're hidden under
the stove at our old home.

A-Chou, I did lie to you,

but if I hadn't took you
off that mountain,

you would've frozen to death.

For the sake of my saving you,

please spare your brother and sister.

Blame me if you must. Hate me if you must.

Take it all out on me.

They know nothing about this.

Please spare them. I'm begging you.

A-Chou,

that night, I lost my daughter,

and your parents
abandoned you on the mountain.

They were the ones who cast you aside.

You were fated to become my daughter.

Yes, I was selfish back then.

I made you suffer

through endless hardship.
I know I was wrong.

From now on, we can all stay together.

I'll make it up to you
a thousand times over.

All right?

Mother…

for more than a decade,
I've been repaying you for saving my life.

Was that still not enough?

A-Chou!

I was never your A-Chou!

My Lord, Her Ladyship sent everyone away.

She's been in there alone for an hour.

Break the door down.

But…

Open it.

Yes.

Why are you still hesitating?

I already know everything I need to know.

Since you've made up your mind,
you should see it through.

You need to be more decisive.

LONG LIFE, ENDLESS BLESSINGS

There's someone…

I'd like you to meet.