01x21 - Episode 21

[bunniefuu]

♫ Flowers falling by the river again Turning the clear waves red ♫

♫ Sparrows singing in celebration ♫

♫ Calm years pass by the silent bustling city Sitting at home ♫

♫ No one knows love's outline like I do ♫

♫ If one day the river breeze blows again ♫

♫ I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror ♫

♫ Dreams can shatter; Memories remain ♫

♫ Rich fragrance A*DS; Light ink writes ♫

♫ In the deep red windows lies mundane dust ♫

Are You The One

[Episode 21]

Zhen.

Lord Zhao is someone worthy
of lifelong commitment.

You should cherish this opportunity.

Don't act pretentiously in the future.

Don't defy your husband.

Is marrying him the only way

I can repay my family?

Everything I did and tried before

was never appreciated.

In your eyes, the only way out for me

is to marry Lord Zhao, right?

Yes. Only this way.

Zhen. Where are you going?

Coming.

Coming, coming.

Miss He.

After these months, you've lost lots of weight.

I left abruptly that day
and didn't leave a note.

Will you blame me?

I was wrong at first.

It's my fault for saying that out of bad mood.

Alright. Let's call it even.
Never bring it up again. Alright?

What kind of pattern is it?

It's so unique.

A golden lantern flower,
also called heartless grass.

Heartless?

While the leaves are still there,
the flower hasn't bloomed.

When the flower blooms,
the leaves have withered.

The flower and leaves never meet.

They are both indifferent and heartless.

Madam, why are you suddenly stitching this?

I find it interesting in "Youyang Novels".

It says this flower
often blooms in the homes of villains.

Nanny Li, have you seen it?

I'm not a villain.

How could I have seen it?

What a sin. What a sin.

Miss He?

Ms. Liu.

What's wrong with you today?

I...

I have a friend whose brain was damaged
by a fever as a child.

She lost her memory.

She denied her real mom,
but mistook the maid for her mother.

The maid took advantage of her ignorance
to gain benefits from the family.

I wanted to tell my friend the truth, but everyone stopped me,

telling me not to meddle.

I feel distressed.

Miantang.

Do you understand how I feel?

How could it be?

Her real mother is right there.

She won't let the maid harm her.

It's probably just to amuse your friend.

You're worrying too much.

The stitching is indeed too rough.

I'll just take it apart and redo it.

It has come to this.

Why are you still...

I'll take it apart to escape from the current situation

and start over.

I originally did it for fun.

But gradually, it felt wrong.

Now, I'll take it all apart,

and sew a pattern that I like and that is auspicious.

Miss He, what do you think?

Good. Don't stitch the grass.
Stitch what you like.

Aunt.

Drink this calming soup and rest early.

Getting angry harms the spleen.

You still have to oversee the rites tomorrow.

I'm sorry.

It's also me who lacks the ability
to hold Xingzhou's heart.

This child has always been determined.

Once he makes a decision,

even I, his mother, cannot stop him.

Among all virtues, filial piety comes first.

Common people lose their reputations
for not being filial.

And officials lose their positions.

Let alone a lord.

So many eyes in the court
are watching Xingzhou.

You cannot ignore this and give others excuses.

What do you mean?

I have a plan to make amends.

But...

Tell me.

Aunt. Tomorrow, when you go to Liuming Temple to oversee the rites,

I'll accompany you.

At that time, with the people and officials
of Zhenzhou present,

you can publicly recognize me
as your daughter-in-law.

Thus, this marriage will be known to everyone.

Everything's set.

Xingzhou won't be able to back out.

[Zhenzhou]

The certificate.

Go.

Go.

Go.

Go.

- Go.
- Let's go.

The Consort Dowager's procession has set off.

It's in vain.

The madam has arranged for a carriage.

It should also be heading
towards Liuming Temple.

She does like lively scenes.

What if they run into each other?

Huang Gui.

My Lord.

Tighten the city's defenses to prevent bandits
from mixing in.

Rest assured. Aside from the Taoist priests,
no one else came in.

Where's the roster?

It's quite tricky.

What's tricky?

The level of realism in the fake certificates
is quite sophisticated.

But they don't know that Liuming Temple,
as a major Taoist institution,

altered the characters on the prayer scroll

to advise Emperor Wen of the previous dynasty.

"Liu" is shortened,
[Liuming Temple]

And "Ming" is slightly elongated.

It symbolizes less transience and more clarity.

Emperor Wen was enlightened,
and rewarded Liuming Temple.

This practice has been passed down since then.

I've been negligent.

Moru. Prepare the regular clothes. Let's go.

Yes.

Has the madam arrived?

- Not yet.
- When did she set off?

She left early this morning.

Order the guards to protect
the Consort Dowager.

Yes.

Nanny Li. Stop the carriage at the street entrance.

Aren't we going to Liuming Temple?

Didn't you say Liuming Temple would be crowded today,

smoky, with ruffians and thieves?

Yes.

Let's follow your suggestion and not go today.

That's great.

When we reach the street market ahead,
Nanny, buy a bass for me.

I'll go to get some tonic medicine
for my husband.

Madam, isn't it better if we stay together?

There are so many people today.

If anything happens,
it will be hard to explain to the master.

If we get to the fresh fish market late,
the remaining fish won't be fresh.

I'll wait for you at the pharmacy.

What could happen?

Just come find me as soon as you're done.

Alright, alright.

- Sir, check if you have these.
- Sure.

Do you have fine antlers?

Yes.

It looks like business is booming today.

Please get all these tonic prescriptions ready.

I won't delay your big sale.

You're right.

Please wait a moment. We have everything you need.

Madam, I'll prepare the medicine for you
right away.

Please wait a moment.

- Sister.
- Sister.

Lu Zhong, Lu Yi.

Sister, Uncle Qiao has told us everything.

How do you want Lord Huaiyang to die?

If we hadn't changed the location today,
I would've k*lled him in Liuming Temple.

The time isn't right.
We must be cautious.

Avoid the dangerous wall.

On the Shangsi Festival, where were you
that night when I went missing?

That night, Lu Yi and I discovered
a group of ambushers.

We managed to drive them off.

We returned and found out you were missing.

I tried to ask Mr. Ziyu,
but Sun Yun'er stopped me.

She told me you had decided to leave
and wouldn't return.

Ghosts are more reliable than her.

Later, Mount Yang became hers.

There was no place for us.

We had to go to Beizhou to find Uncle Qiao,
and search for you.

If you want to avenge,
listen carefully to what I say.

Master.

- Where is Madam?
- Madam and Nanny Li left early this morning.

If I couldn't stand it, I would speak out.

The medicine he sold to Butcher Li's wife

was mostly common herbs, except for one or two,

but he charged her double.

If he dares to cheat me,
I'll make sure Butcher Li knows about it.

Butcher Li is a tough character,
a bully in the market.

If Madam truly wants to tell him,
it's enough to make the shopkeeper suffer.

What a sin.

Honey, why are you back?

Honey. What happened?

The Lord asked me to take half a day off,
so I came back to check.

Yesterday, you mentioned Liuming Temple.

- I thought you had gone there.
-I was going to,

but Nanny Li kept saying
it was too crowded and might lead to trouble.

I thought it made sense,
so I changed direction to the market.

On the b*ttlefield, you risked your life.

You must be exhausted. You need to recuperate.

I bought a bass that was just caught today.

It's very fresh.

How considerate of you.

Praying for the deceased soldiers
shows compassion.

Taking care of the living is also important.

Dear, I'll speak frankly.

A villain has entered Zhenzhou.

Have you seen any suspicious men?

Suspicious men?

Why would they come to me?

Did you see anyone
dressed as a Taoist priest?

Why would a Taoist priest not be in the temple
chanting, and wander around instead?

Dear. This matter is very important.

Think carefully.

Honey. Sounds like you're interrogating me.

I'm not interrogating you.

You returned in such a panic
only to check if I was being unruly.

Nonsense.

Just chatting.

When you lie,

you always avoid my eyes.

Dear. It's really just chatting.

I was afraid of the villain,
so I came back to check on you.

What?

Honey, are you afraid I'll be taken by them?

Don't worry. Our family is now under
Lord Huaiyang's protection.

What villain would dare act?

That would be ignoring Lord Huaiyang.

You're right, dear.

Master.

Lord Huaiyang sent word that the rites
had ended,

and he had already left. He wants you to visit him.

Then you should go quickly.

Don't keep the Lord waiting.

If we lose the Lord's protection,

and villains
come again, you might really lose me.

Alright, dear.

I'll go now.

Mother.

Two villains disguised as Taoists,
and broke into Zhenzhou today.

I went to investigate,
which delayed the blessing time.

I hope you'll forgive me.

- Sit down.
-Yes.

This is peony stamens.

Binglan saw I looked unwell

and brought it to me.

Today, I was alone in charge at Liuming Temple.

With the sudden villain trouble,

my frail body could hardly endure it.

Fortunately, Binglan helped me,

so I didn't
lose the family's face in front of the people.

She helped me, and also helped you.

You must remember this favor.

Today, I planned to recognize Binglan

as
your fiancee, and have you reconcile with her.

What do you think?

It seems you're still thinking
about that mistress.

Mother, I've said it before.

- She is not a mistress.
-I don't need to know who she is.

Binglan has already stepped back.

She said if you truly favor that Liu woman,

she
will give her face and support you properly.

What more do you want her to do?

You're a lord.

You knew there were villains in the temple,

yet you were absent from your mother
and the people.

You ran off to a place of leisure
on North Street.

Isn't that absurd?

I can overlook all this.

But you must promise me today to marry Binglan.

Mother.

For today's matter,
it is true that I was at fault.

There are other reasons behind this.

I will explain it to you later.

As for the engagement,

please forgive me.

I will only marry Liu Miantang.

What are you saying?

I, Cui Xingzhou,
will only marry Liu Miantang in this life.

You scoundrel! Scoundrel!

Scoundrel!

Scoundrel!

Madam.

Honey.

I came to fetch your changed clothes.

Why are you injured?

It's nothing.

Let me apply medicine.

Does it hurt a lot?

Yes.

This person is rough.

But don't worry.

It wasn't the villain who hurt me.

The Lord punished me.

How can the Lord treat his soldiers so harshly?

Perhaps he is in a bad mood.

I heard he fell out with the Consort Dowager.

The Consort Dowager
matched him with a well-suited marriage,

but the Lord's heart belongs to another woman.

It's chilly today.

A warm soak is good for your health.

Honey,

the villain you mentioned earlier.

Was he a remnant of Mount Yang?

Why do you suddenly ask about this?

I'm just curious.

After all, I once fell into their hands.

I heard from the neighbors that the leader of Mount Yang had surrendered to the court.

So, they are no longer Zhenzhou's enemies.

Mount Yang no longer causes chaos.

Those unwilling to surrender have scattered.

Why do you keep mentioning Mount Yang?

Zhenzhou is not lacking.

It takes vigilance to stave off evil.

The Lord has won against them many times.

Many times?

How many times?

Honey, who....

do you think is stronger, Lord Huaiyang, or the Mount Yang leader?

It's hard to say who is stronger between them.

On the Shangsi Festival, at the ritual, the lighting should've brought a truce.

But the Mount Yang leader attacked Lord Huaiyang.

The leader attacked?

Yes.

The Lord didn't expect that the leader, who always kept his promises,

would break his word and attack him while the soldiers were resting.

The Lord was furious, and tried every means to defeat him,

and heavily harm Mount Yang,

but the leader then vanished.

The Lord tried to capture him,

wanting not only to defeat him,

but also to ask him in person why he broke the agreement.

Later, Mount Yang surrendered,

and the Lord completely lost the chance to settle things with him.

Honey.

I want to go to Mount Yang.

Why?

I want to clear the demons in my heart.

Do you remember anything?

At the Shangsi night years ago,

I had not yet married you.

My family was on Ling Mountain outside Xizhou City, viewing the scenery,

and making wishes through sky lanterns.

The open terrain here

would make the sky lanterns look very beautiful.

Indeed.

On Shangsi night, sky lanterns,

accompanied by the blooming mountain flowers, are quite magnificent.

Did Lord Huaiyang tell you this as well?

With the sky lanterns in the air,

if the villain attacked, he would be easily spotted.

How could there be an ambush?

Lord Huaiyang is so smart.

Could he be lying to you?

Along the way, we walked through a section of collapsed mountain road.

Do you remember?

It used to be the only way up the mountain.

On Shangsi night,

Lord Huaiyang camped right there.

The soldiers were making wine, temporarily letting down their guard.

That day,

they had agreed to a ceasefire.

But with the sky lanterns,

the soldiers waited, for a horde of fierce

Mount Yang bandits to break into their camp.

It seems Lord Huaiyang wasn't lying.

In fact, he's not good at lying.

Miantang.

Since returning to Zhenzhou,

I've been uneasy.

I always feel like I'm going to lose you.

- Haven't I always been by your side?

I know.

That's why

I plan to tell you everything.

Everything?

What do you mean?

Master! Master!

What's wrong?

Master, Madam, the army says you need to return.

Tomorrow is the Little New Year. Remember to go home.

I thought I could rest.

Work is important.

You have two letters. One is from the capital. The other is from Beizhou.

Anything else?

Your mother is ill. They want you to return quickly.

Miss.

The hidden agents at Mount Yang found Liu Miantang and Lord Huaiyang.

What was she doing at Mount Yang?

It seems she was just climbing the mountain.

But the agent found that
Liu Miantang left this behind.

Miss, is this a Mount Yang mark?

I don't quite understand it.

This mark isn't for you and me. You wouldn't understand.

In five days, at noon, at Youyu Cave?

I'm going to Mount Yang.

The firewood is damp and won't catch fire.

It's just a spring rain.

It went afar to avoid it but still got soaked.

How useless.

Do you remember when you were young,

you and your cousin, Qingying, used to argue?

Even at a young age, you learned from the opera to sever the ties,

but when she was bullied on the road, you were the first to step in.

Your grandfather used to say

you appear tough on the outside,

but you're softer than anyone inside.

I said I came here to rid myself of the mental demons.

Your demons

are also mine.

Yes.

I once wanted to reclaim everything from before.

Because it concerned us.

Honey, we've weathered so many storms together.

Perhaps what we have now is even better than the years we lost.

- What I want to say might surprise you.

If you intend to say anything

that breaks this happiness, then I don't want to hear it.

A couple always has secrets, doesn't it?

If you truly feel regret, then keep deceiving me for a lifetime.

Don't hide half of it and then falter, revealing it.

You would feel better, but I, as a woman...

would have to bear this burden.

Is that truly how you feel?

Yes.

So don't tell me.

I beg you.

Honey.

I haven't said thank you to you yet.

No matter what, without you,

I might have been gone from this world long ago.

From now on, if Mount Yang is mentioned,

this is the only thing I will remember.

If you recall everything later,

you can always do what you think is right.

Soft-hearted?

I admit.

I did have a glimmer of hope.

I thought perhaps he was also used by Lord Huaiyang.

Maybe he had no choice.

Only in this way could I justify my soft-heartedness.

If you...

Anyway, he's going to marry you.

Marry me?

What he wants to marry is not me,

but the canary he has raised.

The woman who only has eyes for him.

It's just his delusion.

The deeper his feelings,
the more ironic and ridiculous it seems.

I've played this self-deceiving role enough.

So I won't be soft-hearted anymore.

Mother, you're awake.

Wake up for what?

I might as well sleep it off,
so everyone could get peace.

My Lord, Consort Dowager.
Time for the medicine.

My Lord. You haven't slept all night.

You should rest early.

It's fine. Leave.

If you really can't let her go,

I can step back.

And let her become a concubine.

Is she so good

that you'd throw away
the reputation of the entire family?

How many concubines did Father have?

Ten? Twenty?

How many mistresses are unknown to us?

What?

Are you using your father as a shield?

He made a fuss.
Do you want to follow his example?

Mother, the life here is rich and luxurious,
but it's full of schemes and indifference.

I know you haven't had an easy time
these years.

I haven't, either.

I always thought that if I restrained myself,

and didn't indulge in love, even if it's just to respect each other,

I wouldn't let my wife and child suffer.

Mother.

For her, I pretended to be an ordinary commoner

in a small household

struggling for a living, burdened with countless trivial worries.

But she didn't seem to feel troubled.

She lived freely and unrestrained.

All she wished is just

for us was to be
united as a couple, for a lifetime.

Only then did I realize

how terribly wrong I was.

Happiness and joy

must be earned
with a true heart.

But I let her down,

and overestimated myself.

Mother, please forgive my unfiliality.

I don't want any more mutual respect,
or noble concubines.

With all the marital rites, in this life,

she's the only one I want.

[Lu Wen left the capital, went west,
and didn't step into Zhenzhou.]

Not Lu Wen.

[Bai's Pharmacy]

Madam, why are you buying these medicines?

Wasn't my husband injured a few days ago?

- It's all bruised.
- It's nothing.

We still have plenty of fine medicines
from Physician Zhao.

These are remedies from Mrs. Yin.

You wouldn't know.

Madam. What's wrong?

There's one more thing I need.

Master.

Where is Madam?

She went to the market with Nanny Li.

Should I go find her?

Knowing your return, Madam will be pleased.

-Hurry and go.
-Yes.

Forgive me.

Please clarify this.

Madam, you're back.

Why are you standing here?
Where's my husband?

He didn't sleep all night,
so he took leave from the deputy.

He's resting now.

Then I'll go see him.

Honey.

Dear.

I thought you were already asleep.

I did lie down, but I couldn't fall asleep.

I might as well read a book.

What book are you reading?

A good strategist would take the initiative.

Void and Actuality.

The Art of w*r?

Since you joined the army,
you've changed a lot.

You read military strategy
as if it were light reading.

I found it casually and just skimmed through.

It's the Little New Year,
yet you had to take leave.

The army is really unreasonable.

Others don't have the privilege I have

to return home at night and have dinner with their wife.

Alright.

Are you going to keep lying down,
or come with me to the kitchen?

I'm going to cook today.

I'm indeed a bit tired.

- Sure. I'll wake you up later.
- Okay.

Dear, is there crab roe rice?

What are you thinking?

At this time of year, there's no crab roe.

True.


song title

♫ The boat drifts,
bringing back the sunset ♫

♫ When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect ♫

♫ Who passed by, the crab apple
falls with a turn ♫

♫ Loving rightly but choosing wrong ♫ ♫ With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions ♫

♫ Everyone travels far,
seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part ♫ ♫ Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together ♫

♫ Long hidden in the eyes,
flickering in and out ♫

♫ Let go of the flowers blooming
in the yard last night ♫

♫ Let go of the waves in the stream
in half a lifetime ♫

♫ Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly ♫

♫ In this lifetime,
my wish is to the vast sky ♫ ♫ There are many more ♫

♫ Everyone travels far,
seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part ♫ ♫ Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together ♫

♫ Time flows as we dream through four seasons ♫

♫ I wish to journey with you forever ♫ ♫ Year after year ♫ ♫ For many years to come ♫