The Story of Ming Lan (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦)

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 61

Sir, stop slapping!

I beg you! I admit my mistake!

Stop slapping! I beg you!

Stop slapping!

I haven't seen someone who dared to avoid the imperial decree of the empress dowager.

General, save me!

General! The soul of my older sister in heaven

- would ache for me! - Sir!

Please spare her.

It's the Empress Dowager's decree. Little Lady Zou offended her superior,

tried to kill the main wife, and caused the morality in this house to decay.

She had to be slapped in the face 50 times. There are still 25 slaps left.

No, sir, if you complete those 50 slaps,

her face would have been destroyed.

I'm just doing my job.

Men! Ask General to leave.

Sir, come with us.

Get lost!

Huh?

Who was that?

Sir, it's all my fault. Did I hurt you?

- Servant! Servant! Call the doctor! - I...

Sir!

I want to see Empress Dowager! I want to see Empress Dowager!

The House of Shen acted as you predicted.

They became violent.

Were you hurt?

Thank you for your concerns.

I slipped and fell on my own. I know my limits.

You old slick.

Yes.

Weibei General Shen Congxing

didn't cultivate good private morality and has a chaotic harem.

He hindered the execution of the law

and broke the law on family relationship.

He's just tarnishing the splendor of your imperial crown.

He should be severely punished without pardon.

I was the matchmaker in this marriage.

Now, it has become my fault.

Your Majesty is the ruler of the empire.

If you want the Zhang Family to spill their blood in the battlefield,

those men will not even knit an eyebrow.

Whatever you desire, wherever the blade of the sword of politics and military is pointing,

is a duty that all subjects should fulfill.

Moreover, this is just a measly marriage matter.

Your Majesty shouldn't be crying or worrying for the women.

The Zhang Family is indeed a family that has served three emperors.

No one can say such pressuring words

more suitable than

Duke Ying of the State, the Old General Zhang.

But aren't those words expressing loyalty to the emperor?

You...too soft.

When I look at this child, I feel at ease.

If you were not in the Shen Manor supporting me that day,

I fear that I won't be able to see the sun today.

In the future, he must call you his godmother.

No matter what happens,

I surely will ensure you and your child's safety.

I heard that day, you used a sword.

That day, when I arrived in the general manor

and saw that there was no one by your bedside, I panicked.

I'm thinking that time that even if I get struck by lightning,

I must get the doctor back.

Okay already. It's my fault. Let's stop talking about it.

You still have one in your womb.

You must be careful.

Our whole family is grateful for your help.

What about the Shen Family?

The Shen Family has always had a good relationship with your marquis husband.

They surely will be grateful to you.

I'm not talking about that.

I'm saying...

Did General...

He would come everyday.

It's just that I don't want to see him.

Empress Dowager treats me better than him.

Empress Dowager?

Not only did she personally come visit me,

she even harshly punished that Little Zou.

I heard that she got slapped a few times that it harmed her face.

But General instead cared for her in a spoiled manner

and invited so many doctors to see her.

Empress Dowager...

Stop the carriage!

What's wrong, Big Madam?

What's wrong, Big Madam?

Turn around and go to the palace.

- Go to the palace? Now? - Yes.

This is Marquess Sheng of the Marquis of Ningyuan Manor.

She especially came here to thank Empress for her kind graces.

Please wait for a while.

Little Zou indeed did a despicable thing.

But Her Highness Empress Dowager

has already punished her with several slaps and put her in house arrest.

I think that it's enough.

Your Highness, even if you don't consider the sake of the Eldest Lady Zou, you must consider the pride of State Uncle.

Right now, those old aristocrats of Bianjing are still unforgiving.

What do they really want?

Do they want His Majesty and Empress to bow to them?

Sister, His Majesty has already taken a step back

and would only address his birth father as Royal Father and not give him any posthumos title.

But they didn't

accept it and instead kept pressuring His Majesty.

Now, even nephew fell in the palm of their hands.

General Xiao Duan has to go to the local court for questioning everyday.

We almost had no one to send for the salt inspection.

If we keep retreating like this, we won't have anymore path to retreat to.

In this world, how could there be an emperor and empress

yielding to their subjects?

You have all worked hard for thinking of ideas for me for a whole day.

You must be all tired. Disperse and go home to rest.

Madam Sheng, how's your health?

I'm fine.

I especially came to thank you for the jewelries and valuable items you've sent me.

All those are just trifle matters.

Your husband has left to inspect salt.

I'm sure that he's not at ease to leave you alone in the capital.

Empress Dowager released a decree to slap Little Zou's face fifty times.

After slapping her twenty plus times, my little brother couldn't take it anymore

and stopped the eunuch implementing the decree.

When they were arguing, the eunuch slipped, fell off the platform,

Sit down and let's talk.

In the past, they caused a huge ruckus in your house's banquet.

Not only did you tolerate it, you even went to convince Lady Zhang.

But just after a few good days, they again caused trouble.

If you didn't come today,

I would also be calling for you tomorrow for some chat.

Since it was Empress Dowager's eunuch that got injured,

did she say anything?

Empress Dowager is very considerate of His Majesty

and didn't say anything.

Your marquis husband is a loyal and brave man.

Whenever there is danger, he would always put himself before everyone

and share the burden of His Majesty.

I find your words frightening.

Sharing the burden of the emperor is the duty of all subjects.

But this time, my Marquis Husband didn't do it just for His Majesty,

he also did it for General Shen and General Duan.

For them?

My Marquis Husband accompanied Prince Huan to the south

because His Majesty can't be at ease to entrust Prince Huan's safety

to other people other than those old generals from Yuzhou.

That's right. In their journey to the south,

Prince Huan has already faced two assassination plots against him.

Fortunately, your Marquis Gu was able to resist them all.

What?!

You don't know?

I...

Quickly sit down. Take care of your womb.

I'm pregnant.

If there's another choice,

I would never let my husband risk his life.

Those were my selfish words.

I hope you can understand.

His Majesty has very few trusted aides.

If left with no other choice,

he wouldn't let Marquis Gu leave the capital.

Now, if we also lose Duke Ying of the State

and hurt the heart of Bianjing,

his power and loyal subjects will surely dwindle.

His Majesty has already achieved the throne. He's making every effort to make the country prosperous and has great aspirations.

He mustn't maintain this stiff relationship with those old Bianjing subjects.

Didn't His Majesty decide on the marriage of General Shen and the House of Zhang

exactly because he wants to merge

with those old Bianjing subjects as one body?

Then...how should we do it?

What I'm about to say might offend the imperial family.

I asked you to stay because I want you to talk. Say it.

During the Three Kingdoms Era, Cao Cao ordered

that if there are any soldiers whose horse would step on the fields of good citizens, all would be executed.

When Cao Cao's own horse got frightened and charged into the cornfield,

although the landlord dare not punish Cao Cao,

Cao Cao still cut off his hair in place of his head.

He punished himself so others would follow his example.

Guo Ai, the son of Guo Ziyi from the previous dynasty, married a princess.

After getting married, he had an altercation with the princess and berated at her.

Offending one's superior, how grave is that crime?

Princess returned to the palace and told on his husband.

Tang Daizong scolded his daughter for using her power to bully other people.

He directly said that Guo Ziyi can be the emperor,

hence, the Guo Family became so loyal to the empire ever since.

I understand now.

You... You really said those words?

You're too bold.

Just any bit of mistakes and you would have invited fire to burn yourself.

Her Highness called so many people for an audience,

except me.

If it's not because she dislikes me,

then it's because she want to find another time to see me

and hear other words.

When I arrived in her palace,

those people said a lot,

but I never said anything.

But when we're about to leave,

Her Highness asked only me to stay.

Why is that then?

It is because Her Highness feel that the words they all said

were useless.