The Story of Ming Lan (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦)

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 1

Hour of the Rabbit, in the second half. (T/N "hours" are actually two-hour intervals, this is 6-7 am)

Snow accumulated has not melted. Be careful to wear ample clothing!

Hour of the Rabbit, in the second half. A new day switches out the old month.

Snow accumulated has not melted. Be careful to wear ample clothing!

I told you to go get some charcoal. Another meal and we're out!

If the Mistress wakes up...

What's wrong? Who bullied you?

The kitchen didn't give me the charcoal and kicked me out.

Did you tell them this was our allotment?

I did, but Miss Gan and the rest just told me to get lost.

I'm going to see them.

Go back. It's cold out here.

Don't throw me out! It's supposed to be ours to receive.

Who let you in? Get out now.

It's such a fine day. Why are you creating a scene here?

- Don't push me. - What are you doing?

Greetings to Miss Zhou. What brings you here personally?

Hurry and leave so you don't anger Miss Zhou!

You are afraid now. You weren't afraid when you embezzled the provisions.

When you embezzled the charcoal, I didn't see you being afraid.

The rule is eight jin of charcoal per day, but now we only get four jin every three to five days. (T/N jin = .5 kg, or 1,1 US lb; 4 kg/8,8 US lb)

Since Sister Zhou is helping Mistress Lin to manage the house now,

let Sister Zhou be the judge of this then.

How dare you!

Mistress Wei is pregnant now.

You thieves! You even dare to embezzle her items.

When did we do this?

They received a lot for the past few days.

The kitchen staff member who did the dispensing is young and dared not say anything.

She let them take it away.

The accounts in the kitchen didn't tally yesterday. We personally made up for it.

Thinking that Miss Xiaodie will not admit to this account,

we started deducting every day from her allotment.

Miss Xiaodie, please take pity on us.

They only had a few months' worth to start out with.

Now the one managing the issuing can't patch it up anymore!

Nonsense.

Since you said there is an account, take it out and show us

if we stamped our fingerprints for the receipt.

Miss Xiaodie, do you need to be so angry?

If you had usually taken more, just take less for today.

Once the account tallies, we will distribute your allotment as per normal.

Fine. Sister Zhou can't manage this either.

I'll just have to go to Big Madam and have her see to the fairness.

We'll see just how many jin of charcoal my lady should get!

Today is the engagement ceremony.

Big Madam is up to her head with things to do and we don't have time for your brashness.

A grievance is something you can bang the drum outside the officials' door to air.

Even if I get flogged by Big Madam today and dragged out,

I must petition my lady's grievance!

You are not allowed to go. Come back here.

- What are you doing? - You are not allowed to go. - Move aside.

What are you doing? Trying to kill me so that I won't succeed?

Even if I'm not successful today, I will still report tomorrow!

It's only just a few charcoals. Do you need to do this?

- Miss Gan. - I'm here.

Since Miss Xiaodie wants charcoal, just go under the stove and get her some.

Yes. I will go and fetch her lots from the stove.

So today's banquet isn't delayed.

Why do you bother?

Miss Xiaodie, stop being angry.

There are twenty to thirty jin here. Is this enough?

Whatever belongs to me, I will take it all.

Whatever doesn't, I won't take a single coin.

That courtyard. Because they're expecting a baby, they're so arrogant like this.

They will suffer in the future.

If they try to disturb Big Madam...

Stop the marriage, stop the marriage! I don't want the betrothal gifts!

That House of Yuan plays this trick, come now?

Why bother with the betrothal boat coming ashore? He should just turn the boat around to tell his father at home!

The daughter of our Sheng house doesn't care about their noble manor!

This is such a great match.

What nonsense are you spouting?

Nonsense?

If the one getting engaged today wasn't my Hua'er,

if it's Molan who's getting this neglect,

you guess if that Mistress Lin, your beloved Lin Qinshuang would spout nonsense or not?

We're having a discussion about Hua'er marriage here, so why did you bring her up?

You don't dote on Hua'er.

This is the marriage you fetched for her?

It was agreed that the Count and the Countess would come propose the marriage here in Yangzhou.

Now they only send their eldest, Yuan Wenchun to dismiss us.

You sold it to me, making it sound as good as a flower.

Saying there's great chaos over appointment of a royal heir in the capital these days, so it's best not to mix with those involved.

Saying the loyal noble House of Yuan once experienced neglect,

so their offspring are more sensible and diligent than others.

That you saw the boy Yuan Wenshao personally, and how mature and cordial and majestic he is.

Yes, that House of Yuan is so majestic indeed!

Let me tell you. Hua'er is my first-born daughter. No one is allowed to mistreat her!

Stop pinning that on me!

Wife.

Wife.

When you say this to me,

I feel very hurt.

How could I not dote on Hua'er?

Back when I was transferred to Lingzhou, that bitter cold place.

The entire household, inside and out, were all managed by you alone.

Hua'er was born at that time.

Since she was little, she grew up in more hardship than others.

But despite that, she's the most sensible and obedient of all the children.

The one that courts the most love from others.

I selected the loyal noble House of Yuan.

It's because I saw clearly Yuan Wenshao is a good kid.

I just want Hua'er to marry a good responsible man.

Husband and wife getting along, as harmonious as music.

Then bear children in the future and she will live a smooth life. Right?

Give me that

Let me pin it for my wife.

Don't I also know that the Yuans have not fulfilled their agreement?

But the boat with the gifts has already arrived at the pier.

The betrothal gifts are already here.

The betrothal gifts have been unloaded?

Who says he can unload them? I told Brother Bai to welcome the boat.

If I don't tell him to unload them, he won't unload.

I think there's already a huge crowd by the dock.

All of the officials of Yangzhou are all in your courtyard.

Should we tell the House of Yuan to leave now?

If the Yuans bully my Hua'er..!

No matter how bad the Yuans are, they are protected under the noble title.

Even if things don't go as smooth in the future,

they at least have the noble title to lean back on.

If that boy Yuan Wenshao turns out to be a success?

There will be a luxurious life waiting for Hua'er in the future.

I don't care whether there will be wealth and nobility or not.

If he bullies my Hua'er, I will fight him with my life.

Not only you, I will be the first to look for his family too!

What are you waiting for standing there? Drape it on the Madam.

Hurry up.

I'm going out to take a look.

Go to the pier and tell Brother Bai that he can unload the betrothal gifts of the Yuan family now.

Yes.

Wait.

I haven't finished talking yet.

Tell the Yuans this,

to be extra-vigilant when they're announcing.

Yes.

Why this huge smoke when the charcoal isn't even wet?

It's charcoal from the stove.

They dare to deceive me! The stove charcoal makes so much smoke, so how can it be used for room warming?

I'll go back to them now to get gray charcoal.

Xiaodie, don't go.

If the weather's cold, just wear more clothes.

If not, seal the windows tighter.

Mistress, we can't be without even one crock of charcoal in the room.

To add further, this should be your allotment in the first place.

What do you mean by that?

If they give it to you, it's your allotment.

If they don't give it to you, it's not your allotment.

Don't mention this again in the future.

With the charcoal left, boil more hot water.

We'll fill up the foot warmers at night.

Put one in your bed too.

I'm not cold.

Just that Xiaotao and Sixth Miss are still young, so they'll be cold.

Come with me for a while.

Xiaodie.

You can't! This is your dowry.

The rest are all pawned off and this is the only one left.

But look at how cold the children are now.

This isn't the time to mind if it's a dowry item or not. Pawn it for me.

You can't! You can't pawn it. It's Granny's bracelet.

We don't have any charcoal, right? Just tell Father.

He will scold the kitchen and have them issue our allotment.

If you don't want it sold,

tomorrow, go serve by Old Madam.

No, Mother, I won't leave you!

If I leave, who will take care of you!

I'm already an adult. I don't need you to take care of me.

This is your father giving you all extra care.

If you can win Old Madam's favor and you get to be raised by her,

I hear they only use silver charcoal there and it's so warm in the room.

I'm not afraid of cold. I'm hot!

If you don't want to listen to me,

then I won't allow you to mention about the charcoal again, and give the bracelet to Xiaodie.

Give it to her.

Big Sister Xiaodie.

What's wrong?

That's my mother's only dowry left.

I don't want to sell it either,

but if we don't sell it, where will we get charcoal for her?

I don't want any charcoal. That's the only one left.

How about...how about we take the stove charcoal we have and sell it,

and switch it for some gray charcoal?

Even if it's only one jin , it can still last us a bit?

Miss, you are smart.

Let's do this then.

Minglan, hurry back to get dressed!

The boat with the betrothal gifts for First Miss will be here soon!

Yes.

Count Zhongqin of Dongjing , House of Yuan, presents a request of marriage. (T/N Capital of Northern Song)

Count Zhongqin of Dongjing, House of Yuan, presents a request of marriage!

With a pair of live wild geese from beyond the Great Wall as the main gift and countless secondary gifts.

With the aspiration that their second son, Yuan Wenshao of the legitimate wife, will be permitted to honorably wed the cherished eldest daughter of the Sheng House.

We await your approval!

Permitted.

Permitted.

Permitted.

Congratulations to Yuan House. Felicities of eternal years.