01x06 - Episode 6

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 6=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

I don't want
to bear Young Master's child.

What about you?

Why don't you want to?

My mother told me

I must never become a concubine.

If I marry, I should marry properly

and become a lawful wife.

Even if life is hard,

as long as husband
and wife talk things through,

they can still live happily together.

Lanxiang,

don't bear Young Master's child either.

My grandmother told me

women like us, with no proper status,

are bound to come to a bad end.

I don't want to come to a bad end.

In this residence,

you're my favorite person.

I don't want you
to come to a bad end, either.

All right.

Don't cry.

Maybe Young Master
won't even take a liking to us.

Really?

You think Young Master won't like us?

Then from now on,

I won't slack off anymore.

I'll kowtow to the Bodhisattva
three times every day.

No.

Six times. Three more for you.

I'll pray that
the Bodhisattva blesses us

so Young Master won't take
a liking to either of us.

I'll kowtow three more times

and pray that the Bodhisattva
blesses Young Madam

with a child soon.

I don't really like Young Madam,

but if she has a child,

we won't have
to bear Young Master's children.

Lanxiang,

what are you laughing at?

You remind me

of a girl I knew in the capital.

Her name also had
the character "Lian" in it.

The capital?

Isn't that really far away?

It must be hard to see her again, right?

Very far away.

I'll never see her again.

Someday,

you might have a chance
to go to the capital.

Maybe

we'll both get the chance.

I heard you've been
promoted to second-class maids.

Congratulations.

Young Madam is very strict.

I'm a little scared

to serve her directly.

You and Lanxiang

aren't the type to stir up trouble.

Just be careful.

No matter how strict Young Madam is,

she can't punish someone

for no reason.

Do you think

Ji'er really stole the ring?

Lanxiang,

what do you think?

You and Ji'er grew up together

in the same servants' quarters.

[Eating in secret.]

[Don't let those two see.]

I don't know
what happened with the ring.

Ji'er is very competitive.

She always wants to come out on top.

Even when hanging out clothes to dry,

she has to get a better spot than me.

But in the six years we lived together,

she never stole so much
as a needle or thread from anyone.

My mother said
that when serving our masters,

we must stay sharp and observant,

and be quick on our feet.

Listen to what we should,

and ignore everything we shouldn't hear.

Don't say anything we shouldn't.

And even when we should say something,

it's better not to if we can help it.

Please, Yingge,

say that again slowly.

I didn't understand.

Don't make me repeat myself.

Just say it one last time.

I'll show you an easy way.

Just follow Lanxiang's lead.

Lanxiang,

I'll follow you from now on.

Why are you clinging
to me like a little kitten?

I'm barely able to look after myself.

If you don't mind,

then follow me.

Only puppies wag their tails.

She doesn't care
if it smells good or bad,

as long as it works.

Don't bite me.

Bite me again and I'll tickle you.

My mother says that in our courtyard,

I'm the best at barking like a dog.

Does it sound real?

The air is dry.

Beware of fire.

These are for Lanxiang.

The jacket, shoes,
and socks are all ready.

Let me see.

It's getting colder by the day.

Still no word from her?

It's all because I'm useless.

I spent the money,

but couldn't find anyone to help.

You can't

blame yourself for that.

After all, she's
in Young Madam's courtyard.

Who is it?

[Chen Cuizhu, Du Xiaolian's Mother]
Are you Lanxiang's father?

I'm Xiaolian's mother.

Our daughters
entered the residence together.

Yes.

Come in.

Please, come in.

Madam.

Please, have a seat.

Sit down.

I'll just say a few words
and be on my way.

I heard you're looking

for someone
who can enter the inner residence.

Yes.

Our daughter Lanxiang
entered the residence,

and we can't help worrying about her.

So we wanted to find someone
who could pass along a message

or pass along a handkerchief,

just so we know she's all right.

Yes.

I'm a night-soil collector.

Before dawn every morning,

I go to each courtyard
to collect the night soil.

If you don't mind...

Not at all.

Not at all.

That's wonderful.

Yes.

Right.

These are the shoes I made
for my daughter Lanxiang,

and the socks,

and a newly sewn jacket.

Thank you.

All right.

You haven't even had a sip of water.

Next time.

Another day,

I'll come and thank you in person.

I'll make a few dishes
and bring them over

for you to try.

Oh, please,

don't say that.

Xiaolian told us

Lanxiang has always looked out for her.

Our daughters were meant to meet,

and so were our two families.

Yes.

No need to see me out.

If you ever need anything,

- just come to me.
- All right.

Take care.

Look,

we spent money
and still couldn't get it done,

but our Lanxiang
didn't spend a single coin

and got it done for us.

It's cold outside.

Let's hurry back in.

We can finally sleep well tonight.

[Rongbao Pavilion]

Young Master.

Young Master.

Shopkeeper Xu.

You were the one who acquired

Li Yingqiu's Cold Mountain Painting?

I was just lucky.

Young Master, would you like to see
some paintings and calligraphy,

or perhaps some porcelain and jade?

The account books.

Young Master,

this way, please.

Get back to work.

Young Master,

since Qingxiang married
and moved to the capital,

Zijin has taken over

the money and accounts.

Zijin

can neither read nor do accounts.

So whenever she comes,

she doesn't check anything in person

and simply takes everything away.

However,

I noticed that Zijin

has an account book.

Someone must be keeping the accounts.

What's recorded inside?

I didn't dare look too closely.

But I run an antique shop,

so I look at inscriptions
and seals every day.

That's why

I immediately
noticed a seal mark inside.

I was afraid I'd forget it,

so I quickly sketched it.

It's not an exact copy,

but it's about seventy
or eighty percent accurate.

[Gold]

It's one of a matching pair of seals.

You have a keen eye, Young Master.

It is indeed one of a matching pair.

From my experience,

the person keeping the accounts

should have one seal,

while Young Madam

has the other.

That way,

the two of them don't need to meet.

They can use the seals

to verify the receipt
of money and goods.

Well done.

These past few days,

I've followed
your instructions closely, Young Master,

and kept everything as usual.

Young Madam hasn't suspected a thing.

But today,

if you make this visit,

I'm afraid we won't be able

to keep it from Young Madam anymore.

Then there's no need to hide it.

You're right, Young Master.

Are you cold?

No.

I'm wearing the padded jacket
my mother made me,

with fresh silk floss inside,

and thick socks too.

I'm very warm.

Thank your mother for me.

Your parents really do cherish you.

My parents do cherish me.

My mother
and grandmother cherish me, too.

Look.

My grandmother just made this for me.

My mother also said

to thank you
for looking after me, a silly girl.

Please let us pass.

What brings you two precious ladies

to fetch water yourselves today?

What if you bump
into something and hurt yourselves?

If Young Master blames us,

what would we do?

You...

What nonsense are you talking about?

Young Madam needs the water urgently.

Please let us pass.

Why is there a toad in the water?

What toad?

Isn't this a toad right here?

You're the toad.

At least I don't shamelessly

dream of reaching for a swan.

Lucao,

may I ask who the swan is?

It doesn't matter if you call us toads,

but if someone hears

that you compared
our master to an animal,

I'm afraid it won't
end well for either of us.

Please let us pass.

♪The strings sound
as tales of family life are told♪

♪In the Lion Grove
lives a family of officials♪

♪Second Master Yang
serves as an official♪

♪He pays no heed to matters at home♪

♪Leaving his lovely wife neglected♪

♪How could she
not be filled with sorrow?♪

♪Sister-in-law♪

♪I truly cannot drink any more♪

♪Brother♪

♪Have a few more cups♪

♪It will do no harm♪

♪Why are heaven
and earth both spinning?♪

♪I mistake my sister-in-law
for my beloved♪

♪Anger rises in my heart♪

♪And evil grows within me♪

♪The more I think about it,
the less I can bear it♪

♪Today, I, Second Master Yang♪

♪Will settle matters
with this adulterous woman♪

Shut up!

What kind of song is that?

Young Madam, you said you wanted to hear
what's popular among the common folk,

whether refined or vulgar.

I'm not feeling well today.

It's giving me a headache.

You may all leave.

Xiaolian,

see the storyteller out first.

My Lady,

it must have been scorched
by the foot warmer

when it fell just now.

Lanxiang,

I heard your mother
used to work in the sewing room.

You must be
quite good at needlework, too.

This silver fox fur
is one of my favorites.

Take it back and mend it for me.

If you do a good job,

I'll naturally reward you.

If you don't,

I'll certainly punish you.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Are you unwilling to do it?

Young Madam,

I was thinking
about how best to mend it.

Look, Young Madam.

The damaged part is along the hem.

Why not trim the edge

with purple sable tails?

Silver fox with purple sable

would be distinctive and beautiful.

There surely wouldn't
be another like it in Jinling City.

Young Madam,

these are the new fabrics
that just arrived at Jinxiu House.

The shopkeeper
had them sent over for you.

And this month's accounts

were sent along with them.

[Jinxiu House Account Book]

Take them back for now.

I'll look at them tonight.

Yes.

What you said
about silver fox and purple sable

does sound rather distinctive.

Can you really do it?

I've been doing needlework
with my mother since I was little.

I'm fairly confident I can.

Then you'd better be careful.

You can't be off
by even the slightest bit.

[Young Madam.]

[These are the new fabrics
that just arrived at Jinxiu House.]

[And this month's accounts]

[were sent along with them.]

[This is one of the matching seals.]

But why is there nothing engraved on it?

This is a dowry gift
I had specially made for you.

It's called
a pair of mandarin duck seals.

When the characters are engraved,

one seal is carved in relief,

and the other in intaglio,

symbolizing the harmony of yin and yang

and two hearts as one.

Once you marry into the Lin family,

you and your husband
can each keep one seal.

As for what characters to engrave,

the two of you
can decide for yourselves.

Mother.

Lanxiang.

Lanxiang.

Lanxiang!

Let me tell you.

The opera today was so good.

It's a shame Young Madam had
a headache and didn't hear the rest.

Do you want to know
what happened afterward?

What happened?

When I saw the storyteller out,

she told me everything.

Later, Second Master Yang k*lled
the adulterous pair with one slash.

Then, fearing the scandal would spread

and disgrace his family,

he k*lled several of the older maids
and young maids in the household, too.

Yang...

I was startled
when I first heard it, too.

The storyteller said

when the madam of the house
commits such a disgraceful act,

the servants who attend her closely,

whether they truly knew nothing
or merely claimed not to,

could hardly escape death.

Lanxiang.

Lanxiang.

What's wrong?

Did that scare you?

Yes.

You keep talking about people dying.

It's making me uneasy.

All right.

I won't say any more.

Just imagine, the blade was this big.

One slash
with that would be so dangerous.

I can't even
tell this part was burned.

Young Madam,
would you like to try it on?

It's beautiful.

There truly isn't
another like it in Jinling City.

Only you could carry off
such splendor, Young Madam.

Not bad.

I can see you
put a lot of thought into it.

I should naturally do my utmost

when serving Young Madam.

Young Master is here.

Quickly prepare some hot tea for him.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Young Madam is resting inside.

No wonder

the northwest wind
howled all night yesterday.

It sounded like ghosts wailing.

I wondered what was causing
such a commotion.

So that's what
blew you here, Young Master.

I need your help with something today.

Now that's a rarity.

Go on, Young Master.

What do you need my help with?

I have a squad leader under my command

named Du Zheng.

When we fought the Japanese
pirates the year before last,

he took a blow meant for me.

When I returned to Jinling,

I had him transferred back from Jinzhou

and promoted to company commander.

He has no parents

and only a younger sister
who depends on him.

She has nowhere to go now.

I've already
obtained Mother's permission

to let her move into
the Lin Residence and stay here.

Since First Madam has already agreed,

I'll see to it.

Luxue Lodge is vacant.

Young Lady Du can stay there.

As for her food,
clothing, and other expenses,

she'll be treated the same
as one of our own young ladies.

We mustn't let anyone say

the Lin family
has slighted our benefactor.

I think Luxue Lodge
is the most suitable, too.

It's just that the place
has been vacant for so long

and needs some repairs
before anyone can live there.

As for the money...

Young Master's benefactor

is also a benefactor of the Lin family.

It should naturally
come from the family funds.

Then please stamp your seal.

I'll have Jiugao
collect the money right away

and hire craftsmen to begin the work.

Let's get her settled
in before the Chinese New Year

so she won't have to spend it all alone.

Young Master is truly thoughtful.

Zijin.

Bring me my seal.

There are so many seals in there.

I don't know which one it is.

You're utterly useless.

Young Madam.

The craftsmen can't read

and won't accept banknotes.

They want payment entirely in silver.

Do you need to ask me
about such a trivial matter?

Get it from
the accounts office, of course.

[Lin Jiugao]

Zijin.

I've picked them all up.

Luckily, none of them broke.

My Lady...

I'll leave you to it.

I still have things to attend to.

I'll be going.

I won't see you out.

If Young Madam
has no other instructions,

I'll take my leave.

Go.

Where's my seal?

Did Jiugao steal it?

Did he?

I don't know.

I'll look again.

I'll look again.

My Lady!

My Lady!

It's all my fault.

I was careless.

My Lady!

Useless fool.

My Lady!

It's all my fault. It's all my fault!

You're useless at everything.

Hurry up and look for it!

My Lady.

My Lady.

My Lady!

What are you shrieking about?

My Lady...

The seal...

Could this place be haunted?

Haunted in broad daylight?

You can't even measure up

to half of Qingxiang.

Then how did it suddenly

appear right under our noses?

It wasn't a ghost.

It was this.

The fox...

The Fox Immortal has revealed itself!

Look carefully.

So it was wrapped up
in the silver fox fur.

No wonder, when I

accidentally dropped
the silver fox fur just now,

it rolled out.

They say the Lin family
brings me nothing but trouble,

but this Lanxiang

has helped me greatly by sheer chance.

Take a silver ring you don't like

and say

it's a reward from Young Madam

for mending the silver fox fur so well.

Yes.

[Then please stamp your seal.]

[Bring me my seal.]

Young Madam.

[When the madam of the house
commits such a disgraceful act,]

[the servants who attend her closely,]

[whether they truly knew nothing
or merely claimed not to,]

[could hardly escape death.]

Zijin.

[Money]

[Young Madam loves money.]

[The person keeping the accounts]

[should be a woman,]

[just like Qingxiang.]

[Gold]
The character for "gold".

Young Master,
why do you keep staring at it?

It looks like the character for "gold",

but if Huang Youzhi
didn't see it clearly

in his haste,

and the final stroke slanted upward,

then it would only be a radical.

Young Madam loves silver so much.

Using the character
for "money" on her matching seals

would suit her perfectly.

You think

it's the character for "money"?

I...

was just making a wild guess.

It could be "copper"

or perhaps "blade".

There are many characters
with the metal radical.

It doesn't have to be "money".

Could it really
be the character for "money"?

Young Master.

I've looked into it.

The day after you visited

Rongbao Pavilion,

Jinxiu House
sent fabrics to the residence.

Two days later,

Zijin went to Rongbao Pavilion

and asked Huang Youzhi
about you checking the accounts.

Huang Youzhi said
he hadn't said anything.

From the looks of it,

Jinxiu House may well

be tipping Young Madam off.

Jinxiu House was part
of Young Madam's dowry.

Every month, Young Madam

visits her shops to check the accounts.

She visits Jinxiu House most often.

What a coincidence.

It seems

we need to investigate

Jinxiu House.

[Gold]

Young Master
is investigating the accounts.

Young Madam, perhaps you
shouldn't go to Jinxiu House.

No matter how much he investigates,

he won't find his way
into the accounts of my dowry shops.

Besides,

even if he finds out I've been
making usurious loans, so what?

If he's capable, he can divorce me.

I'd be more than happy.

You two have been
in the residence for quite some time,

but neither of you
has ever gone out with me.

Who wants to go out today?

Young Madam, I do.

Nanny Feng, Lanxiang,

come with me.

[Jinxiu House]

Young Madam.

[Liu Sande,
Head Shopkeeper of Jinxiu House]

Please come inside.

This is one
of Young Madam's dowry shops.

Young Madam comes once
a month to check the accounts.

To avoid disturbing
the customers and affecting business,

she always enters
and leaves through the back door.

Thank you for teaching me, Madam Feng.

Madam Feng, Lanxiang,

wait downstairs.

- Yes.
- Yes.

Shopkeeper Liu.

Go tell Young Lady Qian

to bring all the account books.

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

Be my ears

and eyes.

Everything you hear

and see while you're with Zhao Xingtang,

report it all to me.

If you do this well,

I guarantee

your whole family will be safe.

♪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♪