01x18 - Episode 18

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 18=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

Young Master!

Watch out!

Cuique.

Don't be afraid.

Let Yinchen and Wei

take you to Aunt Shunhua's
Rongzhang House.

Once the imperial physician arrives,

you'll get better.

Don't worry about me.

I'm staying
with First Madam and Xiushu.

First Madam's household
authority tokens and seal

are all here.

As for this matter,

Lanxiang, you handle it.

Du Cuique,

hand over the antidote.

What are you talking about?

I don't understand.

Aren't you curious

how you were poisoned?

Even if I've acted
improperly in the past

and offended you,

look at the state I'm in now.

I'm already pitiful enough.

Lanxiang,

why must you

make things harder
for someone in my condition?

You must have guessed

there was something wrong
with the tea you drank earlier.

But do you know where

the poison in the tea came from?

Last night,

Young Master didn't bathe at all

before going out.

The water used to make your tea

was the hot water
you prepared for Young Master.

Baogai reheated it and made tea with it.

Gantang served it right back to you.

You thought Young Master had already
fallen ill and lost consciousness.

You thought if you could
just hold out a little longer,

someone would come to save you.

Young Lady Du,

I'm sorry

to disappoint you.

Young Master is perfectly well
and out there right now.

He may even be dealing with

the benefactor who gave you
the Yunzi stones and Xinggu gauze.

You...

You're wondering how I know

and how much I know?

When you were bent on climbing higher,

you never bothered to look down.

But everything you eat, wear, and use

passes through the hands of

lowly maids like us.

We saw it all.

You had Lingdang poison the hot water.

Tongcao saw it.

You accepted the Yunzi stones.

Xiaolian saw it.

You wore an undershirt
made of Xinggu gauze.

Gantang saw it.

Xiuwan!

Zheng saved Jinqi's life.

Cuique is an honored guest
of our Lin Residence.

You lowly maid, how dare
you spout such nonsense

and make these vicious accusations!

I'll slap that mouth of yours bloody!

Xiuwan.

They're not good people at all.

I saw it.

The cave beneath
Enduring the Cold Pavilion.

You helped Du Cuique.

What is she to you?

Did you ever think about us?

If you do that,

what will happen to Xiushu and me?

What about our eldest sister?

Xiuwan.

Jinqiao.

Go bring your sister back.

To create the illusion of an epidemic,

you always administered the poison
through the bathwater.

But when you realized

I suspected you,

you k*lled Lingdang.

If I'm right,

the poison you gave Lingdang

was put in her food.

She ate it without suspecting a thing.

Lanxiang.

I simply did the same

and made tea with the water

you poisoned for you to drink.

You want to outlast First Madam,

but can you?

First Madam didn't ingest the poison.

Du Cuique,

you're exceptionally
talented and meticulous.

What a brilliant strategist you are.

Now that it's come to this,

why lose your dignity by denying it?

Congyi saved Jinqi's life.

As long as you hand over the antidote

and everyone is safe,

I promise the Lin family
won't pursue the matter.

We'll consider
your lifesaving favor repaid.

That's right.

This isn't an illness.

It's poison.

I poisoned them.

The antidote?

I don't have it.

I never expected to be poisoned myself.

Why would I prepare an antidote?

However,

I do have the formula for the antidote.

Hand over the formula.

What do you take me for?

Some petty thief?

You think poisoning me

will frighten me out of my wits

and force me to hand over
the antidote to save my life?

Xu Lanxiang,

you've misjudged me.

Since I chose this path,

I was never afraid.

I'm not afraid to take another's life,

much less have someone take mine.

You need the antidote,

so you didn't dare give me a heavy dose

in case I died like Lingdang.

No matter how desperate I become,

that Yuchan

will die before I do.

But Yuchan has no grievance with me.

I never intended to k*ll her.

The one I wanted dead

was you.

She

is dying in your place.

That wretched old woman Qin

looked down on me, didn't she?

Fine.

Then she can die with her daughter
and keep me company.

Even if Lin Jinqi is alive,

what difference does it make?

He caused his mother's death

and his sister's death.

For the rest of his life,

does he think he'll ever live in peace?

What are you after?

What am I after?

How could the small-minded
understand great ambitions?

With so many people in the Lin Residence

dying along with me,

I'd say it's worth it.

But Xu Lanxiang,

remember this.

You're the one who poisoned me.

That's why they won't get the antidote.

They...

will all die because of you.

You're wrong.

I saved them.

The only person you can poison to death

is yourself.

- First Madam!
- First Madam!

Thanks to Lanxiang,

we got the antidote.

Concubine Zhou and I
were only mildly poisoned.

We recovered after taking the antidote.

The others were more severely poisoned.

They'll need some time to recuperate,

but they're all out of danger now.

How...

How can this be?

Impossible.

Last night,

Lanxiang had Nanke
take the poisoned water

to the Imperial Medical Service.

Your poisoning method may be devious

and based on a secret technique
from the southern borderlands,

but this is Jinling,
the Southern Capital,

where skilled experts abound.

The Imperial Medical Service even has
a physician from Yunnan Prefecture.

Once they had a sample of your poison,

how could they fail
to formulate an antidote?

Right now,

they're busy treating
the patients in Fengqi Courtyard.

Later,

they'd also like
to compare notes with you.

Please apologize
to the imperial physicians

on my behalf.

I'm afraid I'll have to leave first.

I won't have time to speak with them.

Ever since you entered this residence,

I've never treated you unfairly.

Even though I didn't want you
to become Jinqi's concubine,

I still looked everywhere
for a well-off family for you

and tried to arrange
a good marriage for you.

Why do you

hate our Lin family so much?

A well-off family?

A good marriage?

Let me guess.

It would probably be

a farming family
with some land of their own.

A family like that

would have struggled
to put one son through his studies.

He couldn't marry a proper young lady
from a prominent family,

but then along comes someone like me,

someone with ties to the Lin Residence.

Once I married into the family,

I'd have to manage the household,

be a dutiful daughter-in-law,

bear and raise children,
get along with my sisters-in-law,

and use my ties to the Lin Residence

to help my husband build connections.

I might even

have to spend my entire dowry

to help my husband
rise through the ranks.

This is

what you call a good marriage?

What's wrong with that?

Don't you want your husband to rise in
rank and become an official?

If I want wealth and status,

why would I marry
into a family like that?

Am I out of my mind?

I'd bring my dowry with me

only to work myself
to the bone for them.

If I have to marry anyway,

I'll marry into a wealthy
and powerful family.

If the Lin family won't accept me,

another prominent family will.

Water flows downward,
while people strive to rise.

There's nothing wrong with wanting

success, wealth, and status.

But you shouldn't
resort to underhanded means!

Then let me ask you, First Madam,

what other open road is there

for someone like me?

My talent and learning
are no less than any man's.

But can I take the imperial examination
and become the top scholar?

Or can I join the army
and win a noble title through battle?

Other than marriage,

what other path has this world

left for a woman like me?

Haven't you simply decided

that marrying me off well

would repay my brother
for saving Jinqi's life?

What's wrong with getting married?

What else can a woman do

if she doesn't marry?

How pitiful.

How truly pitiful.

You really are pitiful.

What are you laughing at?

What's so wrong with getting married?

What's so pitiful about it?

A woman was born amid
the chaos of the previous dynasty.

At twelve or thirteen,
she was sold as a child bride.

Unable to endure her in-laws' abuse,

she ran away

and eventually ended up in Yazhou.

But she never gave up on herself.

She learned weaving from the local women

and worked hard to support herself.

A woman like that

would drift aimlessly

or live a life of drudgery.

After she passed away,

cotton became widely cultivated.

The local women,

using the techniques
she had taught them,

wove Songjiang cloth that
became renowned throughout the land.

In Songjiang Prefecture,

the people built a shrine to honor her,

and offerings have never ceased.

A woman

could be revered like a sage,

her name remembered in history...

Offerings...

Offerings at a shrine?

Her name was Huang Daopo.

Perhaps you've never heard of her,

but you've certainly used

the Songjiang cloth she passed down.

Her divine titles, the Weaver Star
and First Deity of Cotton,

are ones you've surely worshiped, too.

Lanxiang is right.

Du Cuique,

don't blame everything
on an unjust world.

No matter how unjust the world may be,

you still have to live
with honor and integrity.

You're simply consumed by greed

and want everything
without working for it.

♪If there were a promise♪

Wei.

Give her the antidote.

We can't let her die like this
in the Lin Residence.

I won't drink it.

I don't want it.

I won't take the medicine!

I won't drink it!

I won't drink it!

I won't drink it!

I won't drink it!

I won't drink it!

Let me die!

Let me die!

No!

I won't drink it!

I won't drink it!

♪Memories hide away again♪

♪Silent, yet they never stop shining♪

♪Still burning bright♪

Take her away.

Hand her over to the authorities.

Xu Lanxiang!

Xu Lanxiang!

Xu Lanxiang!

Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!

Xu Lanxiang!

Xu Lanxiang!

Xu Lanxiang!

Xu Lanxiang!

Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!

Xu Lanxiang!

Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!

Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!

Xu Lanxiang!

Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!

Xu Lanxiang!

I'll never let you go!

Xu Lanxiang!

Xu Lanxiang!

Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!

Xu Lanxiang!

First Madam.

Yuchan, Xiaolian,
Madam Wu, and the others

are really all right?

Don't worry.

The imperial physicians arrived in time.

They're all fine.

We helped, too.

[Prison]

Move.

Move.

Forgive us, Registrar Dai.

Behave yourself.

Why?

Why?

Why?

♪Every word carries countless thoughts♪

♪The encounters of half a lifetime
are kept within this little world♪

♪Bit by bit, the passing years
become the preface♪

♪The joys and sorrows
of the past quietly dwell here♪

Congyi.

♪With my own hands and heart♪

♪I write my name♪

♪Through countless lines of ink,
step by step toward the light♪

Commander Yuan's archery

is renowned.

A single arrow struck a vital spot.

His internal organs
are damaged and bleeding.

I can only tend to his wound

and apply some pain-relieving powder

to ease his pain a little.

Thank you, Imperial Physician Zhou.

Congyi.

Cuique...

Did Cuique...

succeed?

The Lin...

The Lin family...

is dead...

Assistant Commander Lin.

Thank you for your efforts.

Take good care of him.

Rest assured, Assistant Commander Lin.

I'll see that he's well cared for.

Have a drink!

Have a drink!

Have a drink!

Let's all have a drink!

Drink up!

- Have a drink!
- Have a drink!

Drink up.

Come on.

Fill everyone's cup.

Baogai.

You did a great service.

You should eat more.

Gantang did a great service, too.

Gantang, you should eat more, too.

I can't drink anymore.

If I drink any more,
it'll interfere with tomorrow's work.

Everyone.

First Madam said

this banquet today

is a reward for us.

We can drink as much as we like.

Even I'm not afraid.

What are you afraid of?

Have a drink.

- Cheers!
- Cheers!

Have a drink.

- A toast to First Madam.
- Thank you for the reward.

Come on.

Here.

Fill them up.

This is fine liquor from First Madam.

Don't waste it. Fill them up.

Fill them up.

- Come on, drink up!
- Drink up!

Lanxiang deserves the most credit.
You should eat more today.

Let's have another drink.

Lanxiang, let's have
another drink together.

Come on, hurry.

Pour Lanxiang another cup.

Tongcao is out of liquor, too.

Go get another flask.

I'll go.

Come on.

Fill them up.

Don't just drink.
Have something to eat, too.

I can't drink anymore. I really can't.

I should toast you, too.

I can't.

Yuchan said her life

was saved by Lanxiang, Baogai, Gantang,

and Tongcao.

Unfortunately, she still needs bed rest,

so she asked me to make sure I

have a few drinks with all of you
on her behalf tonight.

Gantang.

Young Master.

Yuchan is all right now!

We should drink more to Lanxiang.
She deserves the most credit.

Right.

I'll drink
three full bowls with Lanxiang.

That's right, Lanxiang.

You two stay here.

Look who's here.

Hua.

You should drink three full cups
with Jiugao on Yuchan's behalf.

These past few days,

he's been running around

and helping us a great deal.

And Nanke, too.

Everyone should drink
three full cups with him.

Thanks to him sneaking in
without anyone noticing

and then sneaking back out the same way.

Come on. Let's each go drink
three full cups with them.

All right. Let's go.

Bring the liquor flasks.

All right.

Let's go.

Off we go.

Careful.

Go have a good drink
with Jiugao and Nanke.

Hurry and catch up.

Hurry.

Nanke! Jiugao!

We're here to toast you!

Come on, fill them up.

The cups.

I want to toast you, too.

- Nanke!
- Nanke!

I'll pour for you.

One at a time.

We'll each toast you once.

Nanke deserves much of the credit.

All of us

should toast him first.

All right.

Drink!

Drink!

This time,

it's all thanks to you.

I'll always remember it

and never forget.

I'll drink first as a sign of respect.

That's my cup.

So?

What?

You'll drink when Yinchen
and the others toast you,

but when I toast you,

you won't drink?

How about

I call Yinchen and the others back

and have each of them
toast you with a full cup?

Yin...

You're playing dirty.

One more cup.

One more cup.

Drink.

Drink.

I can't drink anymore.

I...

have to get out of here.

♪Look at us♪

♪We've shared countless
beautiful moments♪

♪Through life's winding road,
we've weathered countless trials♪

♪I'm blessed to spend each
peaceful day and night with you♪

♪However deep the joy or sorrow♪

♪There will always
be someone to share it with♪

♪Our bond runs deep♪

♪Binding us closely together♪

♪Washing away
the dust of this mortal world♪

♪Even if we must part in the end♪

♪I'll have no regrets
that we met in this life♪

♪May we stay together until life's end♪

♪Every sincerity you've shown me♪

♪Has long taken root in my heart♪

♪Our bond runs deep♪

♪Binding us closely together♪

♪After all
the questions life has brought♪

♪This love has never
faded in the slightest♪

♪A trace of fragrance lingers on♪

It smells wonderful.

♪How fortunate to find
one person in a lifetime♪

What flower is that fragrance from?

♪My heart remains
as true to you as ever♪

Orchids.

Some orchids are most fragrant at noon.

Other orchids

are most fragrant at night.

What are you doing?

I want to smell the flowers.

Which do you like better,

the fragrance of flowers or silver?

Silver.

You're not too drunk to think straight.

It's good to be alive.

I can still smell the flowers.

Congyi...

Du Zheng is dying.

Du Cuique must think

I caused her brother's death.

I wanted to repay them.

I had Du Zheng transferred to Jinling

and brought Du Cuique
into the residence.

Was I wrong?

You did nothing wrong.

They were the ones in the wrong.

They were too greedy.

In this world,

who doesn't want a better life?

I'm greedy, too.

But our forebears taught us,

"A gentleman acquires
wealth by honorable means."

You can't trample on others

just because you want a better life.

I don't think
I did anything wrong, either.

But why

do I still feel so awful?

Because...

you...

are a good person.

♪If you're a lone traveler
returning through the snow♪

I'm a good person...

♪If you're the silent fragrance
of a secluded orchid♪

I like hearing that.

Say it some more...

♪Deep within the lights lies
a truth that came too late♪

♪Even if these trials
consume my whole life♪

You're really drunk.

♪I'll only return
to the moment our fate began♪

♪I've searched and searched,
wandering in circles♪

♪Yet I can never mend that old dream♪

♪Leaving only regret behind♪

♪Thankfully, these trials
have spared me a lifetime♪

♪In this life and the next,
it will always be you♪

♪I only pray that fate
lets us meet sooner♪

[Your pay and provisions
come from the people's toil.]

Liang Yu, Commander
of the Shence Garrison,

has enjoyed His Majesty's favor,

yet gave no thought
to serving the realm.

He colluded with Dai Rong

and formed a faction for personal gain.

He disregarded the greater good

and pursued his own interests.

He is hereby stripped
of office and imprisoned.

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

First Madam, Young Master,
for all you've done for us,

our whole family will always
remember your kindness.

Every day,
we'll kowtow to the Bodhisattva

and pray
for the Bodhisattva's blessings.

May First Madam
be blessed with many descendants

and an ever-flourishing family line.

May Young Master
be blessed with a destined match

and a marriage made in heaven.

Yes.

Every day, we'll kowtow
and burn incense to the Bodhisattva

and pray
for the Bodhisattva's blessings.

May...

May the Bodhisattva bless you.

You certainly have a way with words.

What you said

is exactly what
First Madam and I wish for.

May your auspicious words come true.

I hope that someday,

everything will turn out
just as we wish.

♪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♪