01x21 - Episode 21

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 21=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

Take a look at these vegetables.

Freshly picked.

One coin a bunch.

And look at this big pumpkin.

[Sweet Taro Soup]

[North Market Street]

Tofu!

Tofu!

Chrysanthemum greens! Cherries!

[Han Ju, Han Liang's Older Sister]

The vegetables here are the freshest.

Tofu!

Let's have a look over there.

Freshly picked this morning.

Chrysanthemum greens! Cherries!

Chrysanthemum greens! Cherries!

Chrysanthemum greens! Cherries!

Chrysanthemum greens! Cherries!

How much are the chrysanthemum greens?

One coin for two bunches.

You've got a large basket

and another basket,

and a child with you.

Can you manage all that by yourself?

My husband brought me here.

He's gone to sell the game he caught.

Now we have another mouth to feed,

so we need to earn more.

All right.

I'm trying to sell things.

I'll take these two bunches,

and one coin's worth of cherries.

Certainly.

Come again if you like them.

All right.

Chrysanthemum greens! Cherries!

Fresh chives.

Two coins a bunch.

Could you make them a little cheaper?

Lady Han,

you're Scholar Han's sister.

Why haggle over a few coins
for two bunches of vegetables?

A few coins are still money.

What family

doesn't count every coin they spend?

Scholar Han's money

doesn't just fall from the sky.

Why shouldn't I haggle?

Your chives are really fresh.

I'll take two bunches.

Give us a better price.

They're already very cheap.

The sooner you sell out,
the sooner you can pack up.

If you stay out here too long,
you'll wear yourself out,

and look,
the vegetables will start to wilt.

Then you won't be able
to get a good price for them.

All right.

Three coins for two bunches.

We'll buy from you again.

Certainly.

Here you go.

No wonder my brother told me
to spend more time with you.

I may not have
learned a scholar's skills,

but I certainly picked up
a scholar's concern for appearances.

I used to be just like you.

Whenever I saw
my mother arguing with someone

over a single coin,

I'd feel embarrassed.

You'll get used to it.

When you're running a household,

every coin you save

adds up.

I've learned my lesson.

Kind words cost nothing,
so say as many as you like.

But when it comes to money,

not a single coin more.

What are you looking at?

That's the house.

Knock on the door.

All right.

Go!

- Open up!
- Open up!

Come out!

Han is our thirteenth brother's wife.

She must remain a widow for him.

- That's right!
- Exactly!

Her husband is dead.
She must remain a widow!

- Exactly!
- Exactly!

Open up!

She must remain a widow! Open up!

Open up!

- Open up!
- Open the door!

Open up!

Hand her over!

Open up!

Open up!

[Clan Leader Zhang]
Hand her over! Come out!

Come out!

Open up!

Come out!

Open up!

Open up!

You've all come a long way.

I apologize

for not being here to welcome you.

Scholar Han,

you brought your sister home

without our Zhang family's consent,

and you still haven't sent
her back after all this time.

Just what are you trying to do?

After the way you treated my daughter,

[Feng Lin, Han Liang's Mother]
you have the nerve to demand her back?

Sir,

my brother-in-law was an only son.

His parents passed away long ago.

Now my sister

has no parents-in-law above her
and no children below,

nor any of her husband's
brothers or their wives.

What is wrong

with bringing her back home?

The late Emperor made it clear long ago

that a woman should remain
faithful to one husband for life

and never remarry.

Your sister is already
a wife of the Zhang family.

Then she should remain
a widow for her late husband.

- Yes.
- Yes.

The late Emperor also said

that remaining a widow must be voluntary
and cannot be forced.

Under the laws of our dynasty,

when a woman's husband dies

and she has no surviving parents-in-law,

her own parents may decide for her.

I will not allow
my daughter to remain a widow.

Your son

is going to become an official someday.

His reputation matters above all.

Having a sister known for her
unwavering fidelity to her late husband

would also benefit him.

That's right.

I had no choice.

Sister!

Sir,

I beg to differ.

Becoming an official

depends on genuine
ability and hard work.

If, for the sake
of becoming an official,

a man would
sacrifice his own sister's life,

then such a man

is lower than an animal.

He isn't even worthy
of being called a man,

let alone an official.

You...

Well said!

That deserves a hearty toast.

Who is this man?

This is none of his business.

Your sister

was formally married
into our Zhang family

with all the proper rites.

In life, she belongs
to the Zhang family.

In death, she belongs
to the Zhang family.

She must remain a widow.

Hand her over!

Yes!

She must remain a widow!

Hand her over!

- Hand her over!
- Hand her over!

Hand her over!

Don't resort to violence!

We can talk this through.
Don't hit people!

Hand her over!

Hand her over!

- Hand her over!
- Right!

Even if I die,

I won't hand over my daughter.

If you want to take my daughter today,

you'll have to step over
my dead body first.

Hand her over!

Mother!

Mother!

Don't hit anyone!

Sister!

Don't go out there.

If you go out now,
you'll only make things worse.

Someone could even end up dead.

Grandpa Tu,

keep an eye on her.

All right.

My tung oil!

Move aside!

Hand her over!

- Hand her over!
- Hand her over!

Hand her over!

Hand her over!

Hand her over!

Who did this?

The tung oil!

Tung oil?

Who did this?

Who did it?

Help me up.

Who spilled the tung oil?

Who did it?

Under the laws of our dynasty,

forcing one's way
into a home to seize someone

is punishable by one year
in prison and eighty strokes.

Eighty strokes, huh?

Striking someone
with one's hands or feet

without causing injury
is punishable by twenty strokes.

If injury is caused,
the punishment is thirty strokes.

Bruising or swelling
counts as an injury.

Striking someone with an object

without causing injury
is punishable by thirty strokes.

If injury is caused,
the punishment is forty strokes.

I'm reporting this to the authorities!

I'll tell them someone

gathered a mob to as*ault Scholar Han.

Just you wait.

Children, come with me
to report them. Let's go!

Insulting and assaulting
an imperial student

carries an even heavier penalty.

Are you demanding
that my sister remain a widow

out of respect
for propriety and righteousness,

or so that your Zhang clan

can pay less grain tax
and be exempt from compulsory labor?

My sister

respects propriety and righteousness

and is willing to remain
a widow for her late husband.

But even
the lowliest creatures cling to life.

Besides,

my sister still has an aging mother
and a younger brother to care for.

If she ignored the love that raised her
and the bond between siblings

and simply ended her life,

wouldn't that
be both unfilial and unjust?

For the sake
of a chastity memorial arch,

you locked my sister in a small room,

subjected her to cruel remarks,

deprived her of food and clothing,
and drove her to take her own life.

If I hadn't gone to see my sister,

I'm afraid you would
have gotten your wish long ago,

and she would have died
to preserve her chastity!

Mister Lu,

you were a Third Place Scholar

and know better than anyone
how the authorities work.

Tell me, if a widow
is driven to her death

just to obtain a chastity memorial arch,

will the authorities exempt
the clan from compulsory labor

and reduce its grain tax?

No.

When it comes to such greed,

and such disregard
for basic human decency,

once the authorities find out,

they will not only revoke
the chastity memorial arch,

but also severely
punish the clan leader,

and may even implicate the entire clan.

This...

Clan Leader!

The Central City Patrol Office is here!

The City Patrol Office?

Go! Run!

Run!

The Central City Patrol Office is here!

Mother!

My daughter!

My daughter!

Don't be afraid.

My daughter,

the Zhang family is gone.

I'm here.

Don't be afraid.

The Zhang family is gone.

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Your tung oil saved the day.

We'll have something
extra for dinner tonight.

Grandpa Tu,

I'll buy another jar of tung oil later

to replace yours.

I still have more.

I should pay for it.

I'll buy you some small fish, too.

We'll fry them for dinner.

- Thank you, Scholar Han.
- Thank you, Scholar Han.

All right.

It's all right now.

- Let's clear out.
- Let's clear out.

Everyone, you can go home now.
- Let's go.

We couldn't have gotten
through today without you.

If Lanxiang hadn't been so quick-witted,

the two of us
would have been outnumbered,

and I'm afraid we couldn't
have protected my daughter.

It's all right.

Thank you.

Auntie, don't you always say

a close neighbor
is better than a distant relative?

When our family first moved here,

you and Scholar Han
helped us a great deal.

Besides, I didn't
really do much just now.

I only backed Scholar Han up

and helped scare them off.

It's all thanks to Lanxiang's
thorough knowledge of the law.

Without lifting a finger,

you saved
our family from a terrible ordeal.

You're too kind, Scholar Han.

I was merely showing off
what little I know before an expert.

I hope I didn't embarrass myself.

♪I can't forget♪

♪My longing fills my eyes♪

♪My longing lingers
like the fragrance of orchids♪

♪I've walked through
frost-covered streets far and wide♪

♪I'm blessed to have you
understand my tender heart♪

What do you think of
Scholar Han next door?

Lanxiang only
taught me a few characters.

How would I know what he's like?

But Mister Lu thinks highly of him,

so I imagine he's quite learned.

Who said anything about his learning?

His looks?

He's quite good-looking.

More handsome than I was at his age.

You don't give our daughter's

future any thought at all, do you?

You mean

Lanxiang

and Scholar Han?

I've been thinking

Lanxiang isn't getting any younger.

If we keep putting this off,

she may end up never marrying.

We know

how wonderful she is,

but when it comes
to finding her a match,

the two families
still need to be well matched.

Our humble backgrounds

have put her at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, there's
a family like Scholar Han's.

I've always thought highly of him.

And after what happened today,

he'd rather sacrifice his own reputation

than fail to protect his sister.

Madam Han is also kind and honorable.

If she became Lanxiang's mother-in-law,

I'm sure she'd treat
her daughter-in-law well.

There's no use getting
so excited about it ourselves.

We don't know
what the Han family thinks.

I think Madam Han

feels the same way I do.

Really?

I don't think Madam Han
is the only one fond of Lanxiang.

I'm afraid Scholar Han

has long...

That young man...

No wonder he's been so attentive.

So he had an ulterior motive all along.

He didn't...

Who knows? Someday

he may really become our son-in-law.

Nonsense.

Lanxiang and Scholar Han

would make a good match.

They're here!

[A Joyous Betrothal
Between the Yuan and Lin Families]

[Glorify the Family Name]

It's only the presentation
of betrothal gifts.

Did they have to make
such a grand affair of it?

Anyone who didn't know better
would think the wedding was today.

That Xiuru is getting carried

[Lin Residence, Huaqiong Courtyard]
away with herself.

She's become unbearably conceited.

[Miscellaneous Records of Yuefu
The Romance of Poetry]

My son has followed the ancient rites

and bestowed generous gifts upon us.

I dare not decline them.

I gladly accept.

[By request of Shide]

[Lin Residence, Yujiao Garden]

- Congratulations!
- Congratulations!

The Yuan and Lin families

are truly well matched.

Congratulations, Xiuru.

The Yuan and Lin families

have completed the betrothal ceremony.

They truly are a perfect match.

What a wonderful marriage.

The Yuan family
made even the betrothal ceremony

such a grand occasion.

The wedding will surely be even grander.

Xiuru now has

the best match among us.

Xiuwan,

if you're upset,

talk to me about it.

You're worrying too much, Mother.

Grandfather said Xiuru's good marriage

will benefit the entire Lin family.

As a member of the Lin family,

I'll naturally benefit as well.

My poor child.

I know how much you're hurting inside.

Just look at Xiuru.

In both background and looks,

she falls short of you in every way.

But look at her now.

She...

Mother.

Everything in this world

has its cause and its consequence.

The consequences I face today

were brought about
by my own past actions.

Xiuru had nothing to do with it.

It's all Du Cuique's fault,

and Du Zheng's, too.

Those two are utterly heartless.

Xiuwan,

I shouldn't have said that.

I shouldn't have said that.

I won't mention it again.

Never again.

After Grandfather
confined me to the house,

Jinqi sent me many books

and told me to read more,

to look higher and farther,

and see the world beyond this courtyard.

Jinqi said

there's no turning back in life.

Since I made a terrible mistake,

for the rest of my life,

I'll have to carry
the burden of Du Zheng.

Jinqi was talking nonsense.

You mustn't take it to heart,

understand?

Jinqi said

life is like sailing down a river.

No one can
have calm waters all their life.

If I'm a small boat,

then sooner or later,

the weight of Du Zheng will sink me.

But

if I'm a great ship,

the larger the ship,
the smaller the stone becomes.

As long as I can
make my ship large enough,

one day,

even if someone points
that stone out to me,

it will be nothing
more than a tiny stone.

Mother,

I want to try

to become the great ship Jinqi spoke of.

All right.

All right.

Whether you want to become a great ship

or build yourself a grand house,

I'll help you.

Don't resent Xiuru anymore.

I may not become the Marchioness,

but I'll become the Marquis's sister.

When they see me in the future,

they'll both have
to greet me properly as family.

You silly girl.

All right.

All right.

Whatever you say.

Xiuru

isn't your own daughter, after all.

I'd say it's enough as long as
you observe the proper courtesies.

The most pressing matter now

is Young Master's marriage.

Before, we had to consider
the Zhao family,

so we couldn't look for a match.

But now Zhao

has been married off
to the capital for almost a year.

You should start making careful plans

for Young Master's marriage.

You're even more anxious than I am.

I've already asked a matchmaker

to find Jiugao a wife.

Young Master is

several years older than Jiugao.

It may not be pleasant to hear,

but it's the plain truth.

Jinqi is my only son.

How could I not plan carefully for him?

I think about it every day.

So you already have someone in mind?

Is there a suitable candidate?

Duke Xianguo's youngest daughter.

Now I remember.

Duke Xianguo had a daughter
late in life after remarrying.

I hear she's intelligent and gentle

and has won
Dowager Consort Zheng's favor.

She's been raised
in the palace ever since.

Good heavens!

The youngest daughter of a duke,

raised by a dowager consort no less.

No wonder you weren't in any hurry.

Dowager Consort Zheng
and Old Madam go way back.

The older people get,
the more they cherish old ties.

They often exchange letters.

I suppose

she heard about Old Madam's troubles,

and as it happens,

Young Lady Zheng
has reached marriageable age,

so she thought she'd play matchmaker

and bring about a good match.

She's already sent people

to escort Young Lady Zheng
back to Jinling.

So this is the match
that's been waiting for Young Master.

Good things really are worth the wait.

A fine man never
has to worry about finding a wife.

When it comes to his marriage,

I've always felt I let Jinqi down.

Now,

I've finally found him a young lady
from a distinguished family

who is also learned and courteous.

Young Master will surely be delighted.

Playing the Child.

One theory says

it came from a Sanskrit street cry

heard in the markets
of the Song dynasty,

"Mohouluo."

Another theory says

it came from a sung entertainment
in Song dynasty theaters.

The name
has been used for a Daoist ballad,

a precious scroll tune, a melody,

a lyric pattern, and a folk tune.

It existed as early
as the Tang and Song dynasties.

Today,

the earliest surviving
Playing the Child...

Young Master.

Lanxiang isn't home.

She's working at Mister Lu's,
transcribing songs and lyrics.

Perfect.

I'll pay Mister Lu a visit.

Scholar Han is also...

Also at Mister Lu's.

He went there to borrow some books.

He only left a short while ago.

Young Master has distinguished bearing

and remarkable courage and valor.

Go back and copy
"Appearance" from A New Account

of the Tales of the World ten times.

Learn how to flatter someone properly.

♪Quickly order Guan Ping
to light the lamp♪

♪Let's discuss the Zuo Commentary
from the beginning♪

♪The rise and fall of dynasties
after the former emperors♪

♪How many emperors were wise,
and how many were foolish?♪

♪The Zuo Commentary♪

♪Let's discuss the Zuo Commentary
from the beginning♪

♪The rise and fall of dynasties
after the former emperors♪

♪How many emperors were wise,
and how many were foolish?♪

Good.

Young Master.

Young Master, what brings you here?

My surname is Lin,

given name Jinqi,

courtesy name Fengtai.

Forgive me for calling unannounced.

When I heard
such a wonderful performance,

I couldn't help applauding and cheering.

I'm sorry to have

disturbed you, Sir.

Your grandfather

is Lin Zhaoxiang?

We follow different paths
and have nothing to say to each other.

It's just a small gift.

Please accept it.

Mister Lu is drunk.

When he sobers up,

I'll tell him about your visit.

Young Master,

come sit at my house for a while.

All right.

I'll see you over.

Grandpa Tu,

we left the gifts on the table.

This way.

I heard you were promoted, Young Master.

Mother and I made some pastries,

and Father brought them
to your residence.

Congratulations, Young Master.

Congratulations, Commander Lin.

This door...

You don't close it?

Not during the day.

I need to study the songs
and transcribe them,

so I'm constantly coming and going.

Mister Lu and Grandpa Tu

both enjoy my mother's cooking.

Mother also says
it's easier to cook for more people,

so we all eat together every day.

This way, Young Master.

My mother went to Scholar Han's house

to do needlework with Madam Han.

My father is at the shop out front.

Young Master,

have a seat.

I'll make some tea.

Do you study entirely
on your own, Scholar Han,

without a teacher to guide you?

When Mister Lu is in a good mood,

he'll offer me some guidance.

Mister Lu is immensely learned,

but for the provincial examination,

you still need
to review every subject thoroughly.

I was once a student of Scholar Shouyi.

If you're willing,

I can recommend you to Qixia Academy

to study under Scholar Shouyi.

I've long heard of Scholar Shouyi's

great reputation.

To have the chance
to study at Qixia Academy

would be an honor for me.

Scholar Han is going
to study at Qixia Academy?

It's just that

my circumstances are unusual,

and I have other plans.

I can only appreciate

your kind offer, Commander Lin.

Young Master,
are you here to see my father?

Yesterday was Xiuru's
betrothal ceremony.

First Madam asked me
to bring over two boxes of pastries

so you could share in the joy.

Thank you, Young Master.

There's something else.

Yuchan and Gantang

asked me to bring this to you.

What is it?

An orchid?

Why would they specially
send me a potted orchid?

[What flower is that fragrance from?]

[An orchid.]

Some orchids are most fragrant at noon,

while others are most fragrant at night.

It smells wonderful.

Didn't you say it blooms
at night and smells wonderful?

I happened to divide the plant,

so I brought you

one of the new shoots.

Thanks to Yuchan and Gantang.

They even remembered
to bring me a potted flower.

I should

get back to my studies.

I should be going, too.

You both
have important matters to attend to,

so I won't keep you.

Take care, Young Master.

Take care, Scholar Han.

Why won't you go study at Qixia Academy?

Scholar Shouyi
is a renowned scholar of our time.

You clearly seemed interested.

Why did you turn down
Young Master Lin's kind offer?

I can't accept a favor I haven't earned.

Commander Lin and I

are neither family nor old friends.

I'm afraid of owing him a favor

I may never be able to repay.

Wait here.

I have something for you.

[Fang Yu, Qixia Academy]

This is...

Scholar Shouyi's calling card?

Scholar Shouyi gave it to me by chance.

He said if I ever went to Qixia Academy,

I could take this to him.

But I'm not pursuing an official career
through the examinations,

so this card is of little use to me.

Take it and go see Scholar Shouyi.

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

[Fang Yu, Qixia Academy]

♪Let me brush the dust
of your journey from your shoulders♪

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

Scholar Han.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Don't worry about not being
able to repay the favor.

My favor isn't nearly
as great as Young Master Lin's.

I can only get you
a meeting with Scholar Shouyi,

but I can't guarantee
he'll be willing to guide you.

Besides,

you introduced me to Mister Lu.

So

I'll use Scholar Shouyi

to repay that favor.

Now we're even.

I'm just so happy

I don't know what to say.

I'll go check on Mister Lu.

I still haven't memorized
what he taught me

about Playing the Child today.

All right.

♪How could I know spring could be
so beautiful without entering the garden?♪

Mother.

Liang.

Do you want some water too?

I'll pour some for them in a moment,
then I'll get you some.

You...

Liang.

You...

I've fallen for Lanxiang

and want to ask you

to find a matchmaker
and propose marriage.

Silly boy.

We figured out how you felt

a long time ago.

Does

Aunt Xu know, too?

Don't worry.

I know what to do.

We don't have much
to offer as betrothal gifts.

If you pass the examination
before proposing,

wouldn't that bring
Lanxiang greater honor?

Mother.

Lanxiang isn't someone
who cares about such things.

Let's not wait.

Please find a matchmaker
and propose as soon as possible.

I'm afraid if we wait,

someone else will beat me to it.

Who?

Madam Han!

Coming!

Mother.

All right.

I'll do as you say.

Once I've prepared the gifts,
I'll find a matchmaker.

Silly boy.

Coming!

As expected of someone raised
by Dowager Consort Zheng.

[Zheng Manyi, Duke Xianguo's]
Manyi's manners

[Youngest Daughter]
and bearing...

She outshines all the young ladies

in our Lin family.

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

This orchid is very much to my liking.

I'm willing to pay a high price for it.

I'm very sorry,

but my daughter raised this orchid,

so it isn't for sale.

Could you ask your daughter to come out
so we can discuss it?

Perhaps if she sees how sincere I am,

she'll be willing to part with it.

Well...

Then...

Please wait a moment.

Lanxiang!

Lanxiang!

Come here for a moment.

A customer wants to buy
the orchid you've been raising.

Coming!

I'll just wipe my hands and come over.

♪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♪