01x25 - Episode 25

[bunniefuu]

=Against The Current=

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

=Episode 25=
[This drama does not correspond]

[to any real historical dynasty.]

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

Zheng Baichuan!

Are you trying to rebel?

You insolent fool,
spouting such nonsense!

His Majesty is gravely ill

and has passed the throne to Prince Han.

By His Majesty's command,

I am here to execute the traitors.

Nonsense!

You're the one spouting lies,

trying to turn Prince Han

against his brother, the Crown Prince.

Thank you both for your help.

That was terrifying.

My clothes are thick.

It's only a flesh wound.

Impossible.

I clearly heard
the Crown Prince speaking.

I saw the Crown Prince
go onstage with my own eyes!

It was merely ventriloquism.

Just a trick to amuse the nobles.

His Highness has already
left for the capital

on His Majesty's orders.

Chengze.

You should offer
your brother-in-law a proper toast.

Thank you for your help today.

We're family.

It's only right.

You may go.

I want to take the stage.

Even Duke Xianguo has agreed.

Duke Xianguo, it's time for me
to change into my costume.

Take care, Commander Lin.

We're here to escort the bride.

Take care, Commander Liu.

Liu Xiaochuan.

Don't you dare throw up in my carriage.

All right.

Even if they manage to slip out
of the Marquis's Residence,

they won't get out of Jinling City!

k*ll them!

k*ll them!

k*ll them all!

Go!

Hurry, Manyi!

They're k*lling people!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Go!

k*ll them!

You go on ahead.

Go!

This way!

By order of His Highness,
we're leaving the city.

Open the city gate immediately!

Anyone who disobeys will be ex*cuted!

[Shence Gate]
Without Duke Xianguo's written order,

even if His Highness came in person,

he still wouldn't be allowed
to leave the city tonight!

By order of His Highness,
we're leaving the city!

[Decree]
Open the city gate immediately!

Anyone who disobeys will be ex*cuted!

Open the gate!

- Make way!
- Make way!

The sooner His Highness
returns to the capital, the better.

With swift horses, the overland route
would be faster.

Prince Han once followed His Majesty

from Tongzhou all the way to Jinling,

so he knows this route very well.

Now that he commands the troops,

if he sets ambushes along the way,

even the swiftest horses

would have no hope of getting through.

Traveling by water may seem slower,

but from Jinling to Yangzhou,

[Jinling - Yangzhou]
your Naval Camp can escort him,

making it safer than traveling overland.

Your Highness.

Hold on a little longer.

Once we reach Wuma Ferry,

we'll be safe aboard
the ship Chengze arranged.

I'm fine.

Full speed ahead.

But from Yangzhou to the capital,

how can we ensure His Highness's safety?

I once saved Luo Dalang,
Leader of the Boatmen's Guild.

If this works out,

this canal will be yours

to command from now on.

Fortune favors the bold.

Then I'll bring my trusted men

and the Boatmen's Guild's best men
to escort him all the way.

We'll make sure
he returns to the capital in time.

Xu Lanxiang.

I underestimated you.

Tell me.

Did you conspire with Lin Jinqi

to plot against my father and me?

No.

Absolutely not.

My original plan was

to lure Old Madam Yuan
and the other ladies over

when you came to catch the ghost,

so they could hear the truth.

I never expected

His Highness to suddenly
play the Mountain Deity,

so I simply
took advantage of the opportunity.

I didn't know
Young Master Lin and the others

would use a decoy Crown Prince in place
of the real one to play it.

Lanxiang truly didn't know.

If she'd known
about Commander Lin's plan,

she would've slipped away.

She never would've put herself in danger

by going anywhere near the
Mountain Deity and ending up like this.

Lin Jinqi didn't care
whether you lived or died either.

That was all a misunderstanding
on your part, Young Lady Zheng.

That pot of orchids

was given to me
by Young Master Lin's maid.

Young Master Lin merely passed it along.

That's what men are like.

That's what men are like.

All they care about is power.

Young Lady Zheng.

Since it was all a misunderstanding,

there's no need for us to fall out

over a wretched man.

Put down the blade.

I'll withdraw my testimony.

From now on,

we'll each go our separate ways.

We'll pretend
none of this ever happened.

In your dreams!

Don't blame me.

Lin Jinqi is the one who got you k*lled.

Run!

Xu Lanxiang!

What are you doing?

Xu Lanxiang!

Let go of me!

What are you doing? Let go of me!

His Highness has safely left Jinling

and is on his way to the capital!

His Highness has safely left Jinling

and is on his way to the capital!

His Highness has safely left Jinling

and is on his way to the capital!

Why surrender?

Why surrender?

We've already gone this far.

Why surrender?

My parents are easily frightened.

What happened last night...

Last night, we stayed with the troupe.

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Grandpa Tu!

Father. Mister Lu.

Lanxiang.

This calls for a celebratory drink.

When did you get back?

We arrived last night.

We saw the city gates open this morning,

so we came back.

It's you?

I...

My name is Zhi.

Mister Lu and Uncle Xu

bought my freedom from Qingyan House.

That's wonderful.

Where's Ji'er?

Is she inside?

Lanxiang.

Come, sit down.

Sit down and listen to Mister Lu.

Sit.

Sit down, Zhi.

By the time we reached Qingyan House,

Ji'er

had already been sold by the madam

to a traveling merchant
passing through Yangzhou.

That same day,

the merchant left Yangzhou.

It's all my fault.

I dragged Ji'er into this.

If she hadn't saved me,

the madam wouldn't have sold her.

It's not your fault.

It's my fault for being so useless.

What good does it do to talk like that?

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Right.

We need to find that merchant first

and bring Ji'er back.

Do you know the merchant's name,

where he's from,

or what business he's in?

The madam only met him once,

so she couldn't tell us anything.

All she knew was that he was wealthy.

Shuang...

When Young Lady Ji'er left,

I was hanging clothes out to dry.

There was a brand
on the merchant's mule.

I took a closer look

and remembered it.

Mister Lu drew this

based on Zhi's description.

That merchant

went to Yangzhou once,

so he may well go there again.

I've already asked
my friends in Yangzhou

to keep an eye out.

A mule that large wandering around

with such an obvious brand

is bound to be noticed by someone.

We'll keep asking around.

No matter where she is,

I will find Ji'er.

Thank you.

Zhi.

I'm the one who should thank you.

You rescued me from that terrible place.

Sit down, Zhi.

Zhi is covered in injuries.

It breaks my heart to see her like this.

So Mister Lu and I discussed it

and paid twenty taels of silver

to buy her freedom.

Once I get home,

I'll definitely pay you back.

There's no need.

Once you're home,

live a good life.

If you ever need anything,

you can come to us.

Seventh Master.

The carriage is ready.

Young Lady Zhi,

you can leave now.

Thank you, Mister Lu and Uncle Xu.

You saved my life.

No.

Get up.

Get up, Zhi.

Come.

You should get going.

♪The wind scatters the clouds,
and rain turns to mud♪

♪Memories of the past rise in my heart♪

[Ji'er.]

[I'll come back and buy your freedom.]

[All right.]

[I'll wait for you.]

Thinking about Ji'er?

I hope that merchant is a good man

and treats Ji'er well.

I think the hardest thing in life

is having nothing to hope for.

As long as
there's something to hope for,

you can endure any hardship.

Ji'er must know in her heart

that you'll find her.

So she'll surely stay strong

and wait for you.

♪I watch the passing years wear away♪

♪Even deep affection slowly fades♪

♪The past falls like
withered leaves into the dust♪

Eat some more.

Now that Uncle Xu is back,

Mother,

ask the matchmaker to hurry

and propose to the Xu family
as soon as possible.

Silly boy.

Marriage arrangements can't be rushed.

Before she visits,
she needs to consult the almanac

and choose an auspicious day.

His Majesty

may not have much time left.

When that happens,
we'll have to observe national mourning,

and marriages will be forbidden.

I hold an official degree,

so it's possible I won't be allowed
to discuss marriage for a year.

You have a point.

Then

I'll speak to the matchmaker today

and have her choose

the earliest auspicious day.

Thank you, Mother.

Whenever I brought up marriage before,

no amount of urging could persuade you.

Now you act as though you're
afraid your bride will slip away.

Why are you suddenly in such a hurry?

Don't worry.

Lanxiang's mother and I

have already
discussed nearly everything.

All that's left is for the matchmaker
to make it official.

No one knows what the future may bring.

It never hurts to be cautious.

Yes.

[The Capital]

Crown Prince.

Crown Prince.

Crown Prince.

The imperial decree summoning
His Highness back to the capital

was sent to Jinling by urgent courier.

[Zhao Jin, Zhao Xingtang's Grandfather]
It's been exactly thirty-one days.

[First-Rank]
By my reckoning,

[Junior Guardian and Minister of Personnel]
His Highness should have returned long ago.

Father.

[Prince Han]
My brother must

have been delayed by something.

Please wait a little longer.

You...

You beast!

[Xie Shilian, Second-Rank,
Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince]

You...

Father.

You beast!

Father.

What did you say?

I understand.

I will shoulder this responsibility.

Father.

The Crown Prince has returned!

Your Majesty!

His Highness has returned!

Summon him.

Father.

I'm back.

To preserve and carry on
what has been entrusted to you,

always remain reverent and vigilant.

Take as your own our ancestors'
concern for all under Heaven,

and you shall forever retain
the Mandate of Heaven.

I will remember.

Take as my own our ancestors'
concern for all under Heaven.

Father.

Father!

Father!

Father!

[Imperial Princes,
Regional Princes, and Princesses]

[shall wear
the severest mourning attire]

[for twenty-seven days.]

[All subjects under Heaven
shall mourn for three days]

[and then put off
their mourning attire,]

[so as not to disrupt
the people's livelihoods]

[or interfere with marriages.]

[Your unfilial daughter, Shen Jialan,]

[respectfully informs
parents and grandparents,]

[and all her relatives
of the Shen family,]

[that the man who ordered
the execution of the Shen family]

[is dead.]

I'll burn
some paper offerings for you, too.

I smelled smoke

and thought there was a fire somewhere.

Who are you burning paper offerings for?

Mister Lu...

The late Emperor left a final decree

forbidding

any burden on the people
or wasteful spending on his funeral.

All our neighbors

have praised the late Emperor
for caring for his people.

So we're just paying our respects.

Mister Lu, would you like

to offer some incense
and burn some paper offerings?

Because he rebelled
and proclaimed himself Emperor,

I'm the only one left alive
in the Lu family.

Offer incense and burn paper for him?

I'd rather clap my hands

and celebrate his death.

Mister Lu...

We're paying respects
to Grand Secretary Shen and his family.

Lanxiang, you...

Many years ago,

I fell gravely ill.

My parents took me
everywhere seeking treatment.

When they had nowhere left to turn,

they happened
to meet First Madam Shen.

She gave my parents ten taels of silver,

and that saved my life.

Yes.

I see.

Mister Lu, would you like to burn
some paper offerings for your family?

Every parent

wants their children

to live well.

Lanxiang.

Don't be like me

and make your parents worry.

♪Every word carries countless thoughts♪

You should marry
and build a life of your own,

have a house full
of children and grandchildren,

and live a life filled
with warmth and laughter,

a life full of purpose and passion.

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

♪With my own hands and heart♪

♪I write my name♪

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

♪With what I know and what I do♪

♪I rewrite my fate♪

♪The long night is almost over,
and I no longer dwell on the past♪

♪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♪

♪With my own hands and heart♪

♪I write my name♪

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

♪With what I know and what I do♪

♪I rewrite my fate♪

Lotus pods!

[Half a Month Later]

Lotus seeds and lotus pods!

Fresh lotus seeds!

Lotus seeds!

My dear brother.

There's only a wall between your homes.

It's not as if Lanxiang's parents
don't know what you look like.

The matchmaker
has already spoken to them,

and Lanxiang's parents
have given their consent.

What are you still nervous about?

When a matchmaker
comes to discuss a marriage,

it's only to ask
for the woman's family's consent.

The betrothal gifts
must be formally presented

before the marriage is truly settled.

Surely you're not worried

your future parents-in-law
will change their minds?

All right.

Then

hurry and bring the wild goose.

Let's go.

Coming!

Guihua.

Come in.

Come in, child.

All right.

The eldest son, Han Liang,

has now come of age

but has yet to take a wife.

Your daughter has found favor with us,

and we seek her hand for Liang.

Following the ancestral rites
of the Han family,

we present a wild goose today
as the betrothal token

to seek...

Why is everyone
heading to the Xu residence?

Did they do something wrong?

Xu Wanquan, receive the imperial decree.

This is a decree
from the reigning Emperor.

All of you,
kneel and receive the decree.

By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor

hereby decrees.

Lin Jinqi,
Commander of the Shence Garrison,

has served the realm with loyalty

and rendered meritorious service
in protecting the Emperor.

As he has reached the age of marriage,

a virtuous lady
shall be chosen as his wife.

Young Laday Xu, daughter of Xu Wanquan,

is gentle and kind,

virtuous and accomplished.

To bring about this worthy union,

she is hereby bestowed
in marriage to Lin Jinqi.

It is hereby ordered that an auspicious
day be chosen for the wedding.

May you live together in harmony,

and not disappoint my expectations.

Respect this decree.

♪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♪

Xu Wanquan's daughter?

Shunhua.

I've thought of every
prominent family in Jinling,

but I still can't think

which Young Lady Xu this could be.

A prominent family?

♪Let the cold wind rage,
let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

The daughter-in-law I chose so carefully

turns out to be a maid?

Xu Lanxiang is a maid?

How could she be a maid?

A maid...

[Jiang Lantian, Lin Jinqi's Grandmother,
Old Madam of the Lin Family]

A...

maid...

Aunt Shunhua!

Go get a physician!

Press her philtrum!

- Mother!
- Guihua!

- Mother!
- Guihua!

Quick, get some water!

Water!

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces,
let old anger burn away♪

Why?

Why did it turn out like this?

How...

How could this happen?

Why did they make you go back?

Why did this happen?

♪And silver moonlight
to guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade
as endings come to call♪

It's all my fault.

It's all my fault.

Marriage has

always been decided by the parents
and arranged by a matchmaker.

I'll go to the county office
and see the magistrate.

I'll ask them to petition the Emperor

to revoke the imperial decree.

We'll tell them that

your father and I
won't agree to this marriage.

We won't agree to the marriage between
you and Young Master Lin.

No.

No, it can't.

We'll petition the Emperor

to revoke the imperial decree.

Yes, we'll go to the authorities
and return the imperial decree.

Father.

Mother, you can't.

We'll return it.

Yes, we'll go to the authorities!

We'll give
the imperial decree back to them.

You can't.

Lanxiang.

Uncle Xu. Aunt Xu.

You mustn't go.

Scholar Han...

This...

Our Xu family has wronged you.

Even if it costs me my life today,

I'm going to return
this imperial decree.

Father.

- Uncle Xu!
- Father!

- I'm going to return it!
- Uncle Xu!

Wanquan!

Your wife may not be educated,

but aren't you educated either?

The Emperor's word is absolute,

and his decree is law.

Don't you know that?

Even without an imperial decree
written in black and white,

the Emperor's spoken word

can never be taken back!

You may be stubborn enough

not to fear losing your heads,

but what about Lanxiang?

Lanxiang

will lose her head along with you.

Really?

A father guides his children.

When it comes to marriage,

children must indeed obey their parents.

But before that comes

the sovereign's authority
over his subjects.

All within the realm
are subjects of the sovereign.

Everyone

under Heaven must obey the Emperor.

But what if the Emperor is wrong?

How could the Emperor be wrong?

Whether thunder or gentle rain,

all are the sovereign's grace.

If anyone thinks otherwise,

then that person must be wrong.

And that person deserves to die.

I can't bear to see you go back there.

I'll be fine,

Mother.

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine, Father.

I'm only entering
the Lin Residence again.

Last time I entered,

I survived perfectly well
even as a maid.

This time,

I'm going there as a Young Madam.

I'll live an even better life.

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine.

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

I love Young Laday Xu

and want to marry her.

I knew parents and elders
would never agree,

so I came up with this plan

to bypass the elders of the family

and petition His Majesty
directly for an imperial decree.

You unfilial son.

Look at the unfilial son you've raised!

For your own selfish desires,

you arranged your marriage
without telling us,

disregarding the family's reputation

and everything
your parents have done for you.

This is a grave act of filial impiety!

♪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♪