The Story of Ming Lan (知否知否应是绿肥红瘦)

The Story of Ming Lan

Episode 17

Can it be that the old lady wants the young lord to be his grandson-in-law?

Big Madam, don't think such wild thoughts.

Old Lady is most lucid.

Her Highness the Princess's ambition is loftier than the sky.

She'd want the young lord to marry a royal princess or a second rank princess.

She'd never see to eye the sixth miss.

That's true.

Big Madam. Do you want the Qi House as your son-in-law too?

My father is fitted to be in the high temple and my mother was given a title.

My grandfather was top third scholar in Hanlin Academy. And my mother-in-law is a sole heiress of a marquis house.

My husband is an esteemed minister in the imperial court and my son Changbai passed the imperial exam at first go.

And now he's engaged with Hai Family for his marriage.

Our family is decorated for generations, an honest and noble house.

Hua'er was able to marry into a count manor.

And Rulan is also a legitimate heiress.

I imagine the Qi House isn't out of reach.

Big Madam, your intention is good.

But I saw from the side,

that our miss isn't too interested

in the young lord.

That's impossible.

Ru'er is always chatting nonstop about the young lord after coming back from the study hall.

Think about it in more detail, Big Madam.

These matters that the miss spoke of.

How many were about the young lord and how many were about the fourth miss?

You mean?

Miss wants the young lord, all out of spite for the fourth miss.

She's not actually interested in the young lord.

She just can't stand those witches in Linqi Pavilion.

Today, the young lord played ball with sixth miss.

Our miss didn't get jealous at all.

She only wanted to see if the match angered the fourth miss.

She's still not grown yet and she can't think about her life.

In this capital of Bianjing, so many wealthy noble houses.

Mother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, various aunts. All fierce.

Miss Hualan is so smart yet she has to suffer still.

If our miss really matched with the young lord,

with a princess as her mother-in-law, bickering and fighting all day long.

Even if the young lord dotes on her, in the end it will be wore out.

Big Madam, haven't you seen enough of that?

My daughter's temper is like mine.

Me, at Sheng House too.

I'll have to reconsider from start.

The most urgent matter now,

is for you to get Young Master Bai's wedding done grand and proper.

Hai House is an honest and noble house. We are getting their daughter.

We cannot let anyone find fault in us.

That's right. It's a relief that the house management duty went to the sixth girl.

I'll only mind this wedding and that's lighter on me.

As for Miss Six showing herself on the ball match matter.

You needn't be mindful of it.

Do you think the fourth miss would just keep quiet on it?

Those offensive and begrudging conducts? Let those in Linqi Pavilion take those on then.

What's going on?

Fifth Miss, we've arrived at Yuqing Monastery.

We get to eat temple food.

- Let's go. - Go.

Yuqing Monastery

Yuqing Monastery

Mother. I am living very well.

Father treats me very well too.

He teaches me to write.

And my writing has improved now. Don't worry, Mother.

You little liar.

Young Lord?

Where's Xiaotao?

Xiaotao? Xiaotao?

I had a junior monk

tell Xiaotao that your carriage is out of alignment.

She rushed to go take a look.

You can be a little liar. So can I.

Young Lord, what is this you're doing?

Hurry and go out.

A man and a woman, alone in a dim room.

Are you trying to ruin my chaste reputation?

You . . .

Do you not have anything to say to me?

I don't.

Young Lord, you ought to be self-respectful.

If you have nothing to say,

then why did you gift me a pair of knee pads for the chill of the exam court?

You are good to me, and I know it.

Then you acknowledge at last you did gift me the knee pads?

Young Lord, that's

out of gratitude and to reciprocate a gift.

You did gift me!

And you embroidered 'yuanbao' on it.

What's wrong with 'yuanbao'?

My name is Yuanruo.

You embroidered 'yuanbao'.

That's because . . .

I was afraid there would be such a crowd in the exam yard,

and if you happened to lose it, it's easier to find it.

If it's for the ease of finding, why did you embroider it inside, where you can't see?

I fear nothing.

I only fear you don't have me in your heart.

You! Stop saying.

I just want to see you. Help you. Protect you.

But why, each time you see me, you avoid me like I'm a snake?

Young Lord, you are a man and you don't understand the hardship of being a woman.

We are not like men.

Who can afford it.

Our reputation is easily ruined.

What?

For example, Second Uncle Gu of Marquis of Ningyuan.

He's young and a rogue who pays no heed to proper duties.

His relationship with his father is on the brink of collapse.

In the city of Bianjing, who doesn't know of it?

However, if one day, the prodigal son changes his ways, passes the exam and progresses upward,

He can still command an army, join the cabinet, grant his wife a title and make his son an heir to his title. Right?

Yes.

But if it's a woman, can she do that?

You and I are alone in a dim room now.

If this gets out and talked about by crowd, one spit from each and that's enough to drown me dead.

My eldest sister would never be able to raise her head in her mother-in-law's home again.

And my fourth and fifth sisters.

They won't be given marital matches.

It's possible that my father and brothers might be reprimanded by the imperial censor.

Lack of family teaching, cutting off the future.

But what about you, Young Lord?

You'll at best be regarded as passionate.

Same matter but the prices to be paid are so drastically apart.

This price? I can't afford it.

I will never treat you that way.

I swear.

I swear to your mother's spiritual tablet.

If today's incident is spread,

I will report to my parents immediately to bring you into our family.

That can stuff the mouths of the crowd.

A woman is like a poor family in the country village.

Just one handful of rice and one grain lost is fatal.

But you men are like wealthy grand houses.

Even a hundred silvers, you can afford it.

Now, I just want to live out my life in peace and sound.

Complete my mother's wish.

From now on, do not seek me out.

And even if you run into me, don't talk to me.

If you must talk, then have my second brother deliver the words.

I can't bring you into my home?

Her Highness the Princess. She regards you as precious as pearls.

In the future. In the future . . .

She'll match you to an imperial princess, or a second or third ranking princess.

I'm just a concubine-born daughter of a fifth-ranking minister.

If you mention it, that's to my harm.

I don't believe these words of yours. You're used to lying to me.

You're the only one I want in this lifetime.

I've once swore in front of my mother.

That I'd rather be the wife of a farmer than the concubine of a lord.

Young Lord, you best forget this idea sooner.

Who said for you to be my concubine?

I want to marry you, as my proper wife.

What?

I will definitely persuade my mother to go to your house and propose marriage.

List you on the genealogy and into the clan shrine.

Three letters and six gifts. A grand carriage.

Proper wife?

That's impossible. Completely impossible.

Why is it impossible?

You. Look at today's polo.

The entire capital. Who'd believe we could beat Second Uncle Gu?

But in the end, didn't we win still?

I don't wish to deceive myself.

I don't wish you to deceive yourself either.

Even if I am deceiving myself,

what's that to you? Why don't you like it?

Because you have me in your heart.

You are just afraid.

You little liar.

Miss. If you become a duchess,

then fourth and miss would never boss you around.

Be quiet.

Miss. Actually the young lord has such good appearance and character.

Can't be that you really don't have him in your heart?

He is a branch that is just too high.

It's not something someone like me can afford to climb to.

To hold hope for something that's not meant for you.

The one who ends up suffering is only me.

You stood up for Miss Yu so fiercely to claim the hairpin.

But when it's your own turn, why do you . . .

My mother's reminder for us before her death.

Did you forget it all?

I didn't forget.

If you ever get yourself tricked away so easily again,

I will not let you serve in my house.

I'll stand wherever you tell me to and never move even if a knife is beckoning at me.

Sixth girl really said that?

Now the entire Bianjing City knows the young lord helped her with polo match.

That girl is beyond glee.

Who asked you about that?

I'm asking, did she really say she was sentimental about her deceased mother?

She did. So what?

Mother. What's wrong?

Now, the badge and keys are in Sixth Girl's hands.

If we want her to surrender them, it's best she makes more mistakes.

That girl shouldn't be let out the house.

We should find a rope and keep her home.