01x24 - Teasing Shaoshang

[bunniefuu]

[Love Like the Galaxy]

[Episode 24]

Consider yourself lucky. If it weren't for the palace banquet,

I definitely wouldn't spare you.

It's best to be careful at the banquet.

Don't let me catch any errors.

Or I'll get the whole Cheng family punished with you.

Older Sister, thank you for just now.

It's really scary when the noble ladies in the palace get angry.

I am Luo Jitong. My father is Changshui Commander, Luo Zhu.

A few years ago, I was selected by the empress to be Fifth Princess's study companion.

Younger Sister Shaoshang, you can just call me Older Sister Jitong.

Yes, Older Sister Jitong.

His Majesty and Empress are both kind and amiable.

Why is Fifth Princess so domineering?

She is His Majesty's youngest daughter, born after the empire was pacified.

In childhood, she didn't experience hardships like her older brothers and sisters. After she grew up, she has enjoyed fine clothing and food.

She's naturally a little more pampered. But the palace rules are strict,

you and I should not talk much about the nobility in the palace.

Be careful not to cause disasters for your family and clan.

Thank you for reminding me, Sister Jitong. Luckily,

I won't be coming to the palace often.

Miss Cheng, follow me.

Miss Cheng, you can sit here.

Thank you very much.

Good.

It looks like anyone is qualified to attend the palace banquet now.

In the palace, the seating must be arranged by rank.

Sister Shaoshang's status is lowly, naturally she has to sit at the end.

If I hadn't come, this seat would have been yours.

Look at yourself, aren't you embarrassed to judge me?

How dare you mock me!

So noisy. Why don't the people from Changqiu Palace know the rules?

As the empress' niece, aren't you afraid of embarrassing your aunt?

Consort Yue must have taught you people from Yongle Palace to adhere to rules.

Allow me to ask. Why didn't you bring Prince Consort Xuan to the family banquet?

Has Third Sister gotten into arguments with Prince Consort Xuan again?

Or because Zisheng is coming today,

- so Third Sister has left Prince Consort Xuan in the manor?
- Fifth Sister.

Instead of worrying over another couple's family affairs,

why not think about how you'll deal with your roomful of male companions?

If you don't get rid of them fast, I'm afraid

- the entire capital will find out in a few days.
- You...

It's the family banquet today. If every one of you says a few words less, you won't be suffocated to death.

If you still won't keep it down, when Imperial Father and Empress Mother come,

you can go ahead to tell them what you're saying now. Let's see if you'll be ashamed.

I'm calling you.

The one who just argued with me in Changqiu Palace, wasn't that you?

The banquet hasn't started yet. Imperial Father and Empress Mother haven't sat down.

You are secretly eating already. Why are you so unruly and have no upbringing?

Fifth Princess must not know this.

In the past, her father fought in battles away from home.

She was left alone in the household without anyone to discipline her.

Consider her a wild child from the countryside.

It's her first time entering the palace. She must not know any palace rules.

She came with an empty stomach to see the emperor.

No wonder her conduct is so crude and vulgar.

So it's because she had no parents to teach her.

How dare she secretly eat a biscuit at the palace banquet!

It's not a biscuit.

Don't fool me. Don't I know what a biscuit is?

It really isn't a biscuit. It's called Millet Bread.

In the countryside, they eat this in every house at mealtime.

One bread can last you six hours before hunger. Don't you know this, Princess?

I heard my father and mother say that His Majesty is frugal and Empress is thrifty.

How can Princess not even know about this?

Oh, yes! You are a noble daughter of Heaven, Princess.

You are in the palace every day.

Naturally, you haven't seen many things.

You...

I don't feel well and have to go relieve myself.

Little Miss Cheng really has a skilled mouth.

I'd like to see how skilled your feet are.

Some people don't have manners in the palace, jumping around as they walk,

in such a ludicrous appearance.

What are you all doing?

I was wondering who it was. I see Miss Cheng's reinforcement has come.

- General Ling, I'll do it—
- Just sit.

Ling Zisheng, what do you mean by this?

I've already heard that His Majesty has found a prince consort from the Yue Clan for Fifth Princess.

The prince consort is an extraordinary person with a charming personality.

He's really a good match for Fifth Princess.

Allow Zisheng to congratulate you here in advance.

You... How dare you ridicule me?

Zisheng.

When Third Princess married Marquis Xuan's heir,

I was still away in battles and couldn't congratulate you promptly.

Here, I would like to congratulate you belatedly.

- Let's go.
- Wait.

You are a little lowly maidservant!

Miss Luo, that Miss Cheng

appears to be quite close with General Ling.

Just do our jobs.

Don't criticize other people.

When the wine is prepared, go ahead and serve.

But didn't Empress intend to promise you to General Ling?

Don't spread this rumor.

Empress never seriously meant it.

If you gossip about it again, let's see how I'll punish you.

Yes.

General Ling, what are you doing?

Why won't you let go of my hand?

Pulling and shoving will just look worse.

Do you want us to be laughed at in the palace?

You can sit here.

If I sit here, I'm afraid it's against the rules.

It's fine. Just sit down.

It's getting more and more unruly in the palace now.

Even a little girl can sit next to an imperial brother.

Imperial Brother, you really have a nice temper.

Third Brother, don't scare her.

This is a family banquet. We don't need to be too strict with etiquette.

Besides, Zisheng is the one who brought her to sit here.

Imperial Brother is not quite right.

From small things, we can see the big picture. If one cannot orderly govern a family, how can one govern a country?

Here's a fair and virtuous maiden, a gentleman would like to woo her.
[From the Classic of Poetry]

Since you're sitting here, at least tell us your name.

I am Cheng Shaoshang.

You are that Fourth Miss Cheng who just withdrew from marriage with the Lou family?

Quite a fair appearance.

If I take you as a concubine, we would be in the same family.

When family members sit here, it won't be against the rules.

Isn't that right, my two imperial brothers?

Fifth Brother, you are too affectionate.

That's why Imperial Father has repeatedly scolded you.

What? You're determined not to change. Right?

Fifth Prince need not worry anymore.

Shaoshang is already engaged.

Zisheng, you're fooling me. In the entire capital,

doesn't everyone know about the marriage withdrawal between the Cheng and Lou families?

That's right.

That's why... I can marry her now.

General Ling, don't be impulsive. Don't try to help me

and ruin your whole life.

I'm afraid Zisheng has stayed with Imperial Brother for so long

that he is not as imposing and fierce as before.

Even a little young miss can defy your command.

His Majesty arrives!

What are you chatting about so merrily?

It's just an ordinary family banquet. Don't feel so restrained.

Niao Niao, how can you sit there?

Your Majesty.

Zisheng, you are...

I plead for Your Majesty to act on behalf of my elders

to ask Fourth Miss Cheng

for marriage.

Good! Good, good, good.

Good, good, good. I thought this matter would keep dragging on.

In that case, let's confirm it today.

Beloved Subject Cheng, come, come!

Beloved Subject Cheng, Zisheng has been raised by my side since he was 10 years old.

He's like my own son. Today,

I'll temporarily act in a father's role to propose marriage to you.

Beloved Subject Cheng, what do you think?

Good brother, this is a happy event!

Why are you standing dazed? Quickly say yes.

This is...

- naturally a good thing.
- Yes, it's good.

This subject will naturally...

This marriage can't take place!

Will Your Majesty please retract the edict?

Madam Cheng, are you dissatisfied with Zisheng?

How can my wife be dissatisfied with the general?

General is a young hero—

General is a young hero. It's my daughter Shaoshang

who cannot match up to General Ling.

My daughter has lacked upbringing and discipline since childhood. Her unruly behavior is unacceptable.

Ever since I've been home, she has failed in academic studies and martial practices.

She has no female virtues and no virtue in speaking.

I meant to discipline her strictly.

However, she does not respect elders and is disobedient.

I dare not deceive Your Majesty at all.

If Shaoshang weren't my own daughter, if such a woman wanted to be married into the Cheng family,

I would definitely not agree.

If another Cheng daughter is considered

and received Your Majesty's affection and blessing,

our Cheng family would be honored.

Your Majesty, Shaoshang is quick to oppose and fight fiercely.

I fear that if she really married General Ling,

she would cause big disasters in the future

and implicate the lives of the entire Cheng family.

Your Majesty, this is a great marriage,

but Shaoshang herself...

cannot match up to it.

Beloved Subject Cheng, is what Madam Cheng said true?

My daughter shouldn't be blamed.

While my wife and I were fighting on the battlefields, we left her at home.

She is inevitably lacking in discipline and learning.

We, the parents, have neglected our duty.

Since ancient times, we shouldn't air out dirty laundry from one's family.

I wanted to save my daughter some respect, but she really cannot be given important duties.

General Ling, you've only met our daughter for a short time.

She may look clever and adorable,

but she is actually argumentative and behaves recklessly.

Miss Cheng,

do you also agree with your mother that you are

so unacceptable?

Replying to Your Majesty.

Every word from my mother...

is true.

With such poor character and conduct that even my own mother looks down upon me,

how can I match up to the supremely elegant General Ling?

That's right. Your Majesty, why not retract the edict?

- What did you say?
- So unimaginable! So unimaginable!

Someone would belittle their daughter to be so worthless

so as to avoid being married to Zisheng.

As I recall,

the women in the entire capital have fought to marry Zisheng.

But the Cheng family

would actually defy the imperial edict to reject marriage.

Is Madam Cheng painstakingly well-intentioned?

Or does Zisheng make people afraid?

Third Brother, beware with your words.

This matter concerns the imperial family's prestige.

General Cheng, please think carefully before taking action.

That... if you don't marry Ling Buyi, you can marry me.

This Miss Cheng would match me quite well.

She is crude and vulgar, and I'm indulgent and unrestrained. We would be a good pair.

What are you saying? You rascal!

Is this your place to talk?

Cheng Shi.

The emperor doesn't make jokes. I proposed marriage to you today. I've expressed sincerity.

How dare you reject the marriage in public?

You... You are insulting the emperor!

You... could bring calamity to your clan!

On this matter, I allow you

to think more before you answer again.

I have violated imperial orders and deserve death.

I am willing to resign and take my wife and daughter away from the capital city.

So that I will not disturb Your Majesty.

It's just that my daughter is not worthy of General Ling. Your Majesty, please grant my wish.

How audacious, Cheng Shi! Are you threatening me with your resignation?

Guards!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, please quell your anger. General Cheng is just anxious.

Please grant them more time to think it over.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

General Ling is acclaimed in scholarly pursuits and military strategy. There is nothing he is bad at.

Since his youth, he has accomplished outstanding military achievements.

He is the ideal husband that the entire capital's ladies dream of marrying.

But I know that I am unworthy of

General Ling.

In Hua County, in order to save me, General Ling almost

lost his arm. Later, in Tugao Mountain, in order to save me again,

his old injury relapsed.

He has demonstrated insurmountable grace towards me.

It's just that today, his sudden proposal,

really caught me and my family off guard.

But there is one thing my mother did correctly.

That is telling the truth as it stands.

I am like how my mother described.

Unbearably coarse and uncouth.

And I often stir up trouble.

I don't know how to be considerate for my parents. Even more, I don't know how to submit to my husband.

But putting all these matters aside, I just want to ask General Ling one question today.

General Ling, your prospective bride-to-be

will naturally be a thousand and million times better than me.

Since childhood, I've been stubborn and undisciplined. Even more so, I won't listen to you.

Are you still willing to marry me?

Of course.

I never knew that in your eyes, I was this wonderful.

I'm sure you must not know,

that in my eyes,

you, Cheng Shaoshang, are the best lady in the capital city.

- General Ling—
- Madam Cheng.

Do not interrupt me.

Everyone says to take a gentle and virtuous daughter as a bride.

I can see that Madam Cheng is fierce and decisive.

In battle, you do not lose to men, but off the b*ttlefield,

you and General Cheng have a deep love and affection for each other.

Clearly, every married couple is different.

And are not always the same as everyone thinks.

Shaoshang may not be what everyone considers as an obedient and amicable lady,

but in my eyes,

within the capital city, in the world, she is

the best lady. The best, indeed.

She is innocent and resolute. She dares to love and hate.

She is the only person under the heavens who can walk alongside me.

In my life,

I will marry no one else but her.

Good! Well said!

Miss Cheng, since Zisheng is resolute in his decision, what about you?

You don't need to look at them. Today, what they say does not count.

Today, I will decide for you.

No matter how important being filial is, it is not mightier than an imperial will.

If you have anything on your mind, speak it out.

I want to see who else dares to defy me.

I... do not need anyone else to make a decision for me.

I will only follow my will.

I am willing to marry General Ling, regardless of my status.

Good! Miss Cheng,

this marriage is one that you personally agreed to.

A promise is worth a thousand in gold.

In the future, if someone dares to upend this,

I will certainly reprimand them.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.

Wonderful.

Cheng Shi, hurry and thank His Majesty for his grace.

- This subject thanks Your Majesty for his grace.
-This subject's wife thanks Your Majesty for his grace.

Enough. That's enough. Everyone, get up.

Someone.

What's wrong now?

Your Majesty, it's Princess Yuchang.

She most likely passed out

after hearing General Ling's engaged now.

Look at these young misses. How unscrupulous!

The banquet has not even started, but already drunk?

Say, I should really send her to Changqiu Palace to properly learn etiquette.

- Yes.
- Zisheng.

Get up. Get up. Hurry and get up.

Today, I am happy. Come and drink with me.

Beloved subjects! Let us drink to our fill!

Kneel down!

Here.

Look. Just look at her.

Dear, come here.

Today was too shocking. Let alone her, I haven't been able to get my spirit back.

She's in shock? She was acting all mighty today.

Agreeing to marriage in public, not even afraid of His Majesty's mightiness.

Before entering the palace, Mother instilled upon me many etiquettes and rules.

But none of them was to defy an imperial order.

Impudent!

Niao Niao, you cannot hurt your mother's heart like that.

Before, you confidently guaranteed that there was nothing between you and Ling Buyi.

That's why this mother and father risked angering His Majesty to reject the proposal for you.

How could you change your mind again?

Before, I wanted to marry A'Yao, but Mother was unsatisfied.

You would always bring up Ling Buyi in my presence.

Now that Ling Buyi actually proposed,

Mother is still unsatisfied.

Is Mother unsatisfied by the prospective husbands I found,

or are you unsatisfied with me, your daughter?

- I–
- Enough.

Niao Niao, do not misunderstand your mother's painstaking efforts.

Speaking of how deep the water is, that Marquis Chengyang's manor

is much, much worse than the Lou family.

Initially, Ling Buyi's mother, Huo Junhua,

as Huo Chong's sister, was so well-regarded.

Now, look at her and her plight.

Why would you wade in these murky waters?

Ling Buyi's mother and father?

What happened to them? I never heard people mention this before.

You don't even know how deep or shallow the water is in their family.

And you're discussing marriage? You deserve to suffer in the future.

If Mother does not feel like discussing it, that's fine. After all, I'm marrying Ling Buyi.

Not Ling Buyi's mother and father. What Marquis Chengyang's manor is like,

I am not that curious.

It's not that your mother is unwilling to discuss this,

it's just that it is a long story.

Back then, when His Majesty was in dire straits, General Huo Chong

was able to stall Emperor Li's 200,000 troops with one lone city.

When the city fell, the entire Huo family died in the slaughter in the besieged city.

Madam Huo and Ling Buyi went missing.

Marquis Chengyang married a stepwife.

She was the younger cousin, Madam Chunyu, who was living in the same household.

Who knew, when the two were married for no longer than a year,

Madam Huo brought Ling Buyi back home.

But don't the civil and military ministers in the imperial court cherish descendants of the brave who sacrificed themselves?

How come they didn't have Marquis Chengyang divorce Madam Chunyu?

Then he could have reunited with Madam Huo.

What's more, Father,

the Huo Family sacrificed their whole family for the country. When it comes to merits,

it far surpasses that of the He family.

Marquis Chengyang's family and the Lou family are different.

Madam Chunyu and Princess Consort Ruyang have a deep friendship.

How could he easily divorce her?

Princess Consort Ruyang? Why does this name sound familiar?

Princess Yuchang's maternal grandmother?

I had this deity statuette made out of real gold for Princess Consort.

When placed in the house, it can protect the home and ward off evil.

It's thoughtful of you to come and see me.

Why do you have to always bring such valuable gifts?

No matter how valuable the gift, in front of Princess Consort,

it's just a shallow object.

All these years, if Princess Consort hadn't taken care of me,

based on Zisheng's misunderstanding of me,

I probably wouldn't have been able to stay in the manor.

It's all because of Huo Junhua putting up obstacles.

Relying on her elder brother Huo Chong's imposing reputation,

all day long she acted bossy toward my Wen clan.

You are different.

You are considerate and thoughtful, and you also care about the young and the old.

I was injured back then during the wartime chaos. You took care of me day and night.

That's how I was able to live.

I'm the one who should be sorry to Older Sister.

What do you mean by sorry?

Everyone in the country thought she had died.

What's wrong with the marquis remarrying?

Even though she didn't die, she disappeared for two years and it was the chaotic wartimes,

who knows if she stayed chaste along the way?

You proposed to be a wife of equal status with her,

but that Huo Junhua still wasn't satisfied.

She scolded and shouted at you all day long.

That's how you were shocked into losing the baby in your belly.

You still have no children to this day. Huo Junhua

still pretends to be crazy and acts silly to provoke the relationship between you and Zisheng.

Once Yuchang marries Zisheng,

I will definitely tell Yuchang to persuade him some more.

Grandmother!

The entire city is now laughing at me!

You must stand up for me, Grandmother!

Don't stop me!

- I will go to Sancai Temple to stay with Grandfather,
- Princess! Princess!

and live out the rest of my life with an oil lamp and incense.

My treasure, what are you clamoring about?

Grandmother, the entire city knows that I fancy Ling Buyi.

But he proposed marriage to Fourth Miss Cheng in front of everyone today.

How am I not as good as Fourth Miss Cheng?

Why am I not as good as her?

He would actually humiliate me.

Who is Fourth Miss Cheng? How dare she be compared with you?

She is the one who previously got into a physical fight with Miss Wang in the manor

and later got engaged with the Lou family... that Miss Cheng.

Grandmother, now that Zisheng is going to marry her,

I've become a joke in the entire city.

Princess, please calm down.

That Miss Cheng is not virtuous and has poor conduct.

Neither I nor the marquis like her.

This marriage surely won't happen.

I'm going to ask Marquis to tell him to have a good talk with Zisheng.

Hurry and get up. Here.

Look at how our child is suffering so. Don't cry.

Who's this Miss Cheng?

Your mother and I both think that the Marquis Chengyang's manor is dangerous like a tiger's cave and dragon's pool.

That's why we fought hard to reject the marriage.

Niao Niao, perhaps you feel that our words were too sharp to hear.

But we did it for your sake.

Niao Niao, that Madam Chunyu isn't easy to get along with is of but one reason.

What worries me and your father more is that Ling Buyi.

Ling Buyi isn't like Lou Yao.

He has a firm mind. Whatever he's decided on, he'll definitely do it.

It so happens that you are also just as stubborn.

How can two such unyielding people become husband and wife?

From now on, if you two argue, who will take a step back?

Your father and I won't be able to protect you.

Of course, I know he isn't easy to get along with.

- Why did you agree to the marriage then?
- Father.

Do I have other choices?

Today, Mother belittled me in front of everyone.

Did you see how those women who always ridicule me as crude and vulgar

looked at me?

Mother wholeheartedly wanted to refuse this difficult Ling Buyi as a son-in-law.

You couldn't wait to trample me into dust.

I was belittled to be worthless.

But I have my self-esteem, my pride, and I want to hold my head up.

Mother, I'd like to ask you.

If His Majesty had bestowed marriage today to Older Cousin,

would you have humiliated her

in front of everyone like today?

If it were Yang Yang, I wouldn't have been so worried.

Why is Yang Yang dragged into this again?

Niao Niao, your mother didn't belittle you on purpose.

It's just that if she didn't say it this way, how could His Majesty be convinced?

Even if we used inappropriate language and hurt you,

you shouldn't bet your whole life to vent your anger.

I wasn't venting anger.

I really did think it through.

I can't change my temper. No matter who I marry,

Mother would never stop worrying.

In that case, why not marry as soon as I can,

and Mother can quit worrying sooner.

Do you understand the difficulties in the world?

If a woman is married to the wrong husband,

she would be unhappy for her whole life.

Marrying the wrong person and feeling regret for life, it'll only be my own unhappiness.

It's still better than defying the imperial decree and bringing calamity to the whole family.

You've never raised and taught me.

I used to feel resentment.

But I've thought it through now.

I haven't been filial to you either.

Therefore,

we don't owe each other.

I don't want Father to lose his post because of me.

I also don't want to ruin the glory

that Father and Mother received in exchange

for abandoning me years ago.

If this happens, I would feel

that I've been a joke ever since I was born.

Father and Mother, I've decided on my own to have this marriage.

Once a chess piece is placed on the board, there is no going back.

No matter how the future will be, I will bear the consequences by myself.

I definitely won't cause trouble for the family and the clan.

Fine. Fine!

I won't block your future.

You want to marry that Ling Buyi,

I'll fulfill your wish.



♪ The flames of w*r strike against the frost and snow ♪

♪ It lightly covers the lingering illness of the past ♪

♪ Your back is against the light,
the galaxy reflected in your eyes ♪

♪ I hum a tune, the sun and the moon respond ♪

♪ The brilliance that penetrates the eyes ♪

♪ was extinguished by dust and lit again ♪

♪ The edges of earth, Kunlun, and netherworld
feel remorse for someone ♪

♪ The ocean is waking, the forest of steles
are like a mountain range ♪

♪ There are veiled criticisms in the corridor, a narrow door cannot easily close off one’s intentions ♪

♪ The challenges of one’s life become advice for the future ♪

♪ You and I will be in the same galaxy ♪

♪ We’ll use our absolute sincerity to
bring radiance to the ordinary ♪

♪ Bring radiance to the ordinary ♪