Original subtitles

♪When sorrow and joy blend into ink♪

♪Flowers fade, rain falls, helpless as time♪

♪Lament this frail body, tangled in love and hate♪

♪Yet I still wrestle with fate♪

♪Snow drifts down, burying all glory♪

♪Blame this destiny granted to me♪

♪Trapped in the chains of love and cause♪

♪When the dust finally settles♪

=Glory in Shadows=

=Episode 3=

General

I, Yuzhu, have come to attend to the General.

General?

I am here for you!

Is the General alone?

General?

General?

Who are you?

And who are you?

And who are you then?

I'm Tang Yuzhu, Second Concubine.

I've just married in.

Tell me, who am I?

Madam.

It was improper of me to overstep.

You came in without my consent.

You barged into my chamber uninvited

and disturbed my wedding night with the General.

What should we do?

General, give the word.

Have her sent away.

Please don't, General!

Madam,

I truly did not mean to disturb

you and the General.

It was...

It was Lady Ruoyi.

She said you even offended Old Madam.

Who knew what trouble

you were planning to stir?

I acted in haste for a moment.

That is why I resorted to this poor plan.

Well,

let me plead your case.

Consider it a favor you owe me.

Thank you, Madam.

General,

perhaps we should just let this matter rest.

Thank you, General.

You're quite clever,

using me for favors.

Driving a concubine out on the wedding night

tarnishes both our reputations.

I suppose that makes sense.

Conduct wisely.

General,

you...

Are you leaving with her?

Since you want to work with me,

you must show me your skills first.

Tomorrow morning,

I'll see how you handle it.

(This Shen Yaochu…)

(She must have a story.)

General, didn't you go today

to make the Shen Family back down?

Why change the plan all of a sudden?

I thought Madam Li would yield today.

But unexpectedly…

Her place in her family is precarious.

If I didn't let her in,

she might not survive.

The Tang and Qin families are already involved.

No need to drag a helpless woman in.

No…

She's not helpless.

Old Madam.

Why have you come at such a late hour?

I heard that today,

Madam Li offended you, Old Madam.

I truly have been worried.

So I came to visit.

You seem well-informed about the news.

The Old Marquis has been bedridden for three years.

You've been managing the household tirelessly.

I deeply admire your devotion.

Old Madam,

you are the model for all women in the household.

What are you trying to say?

I've heard about today's matter.

It left me truly upset.

Yaochu was arrogant and rude,

and even dared to cross you.

I cannot possibly endure such things.

It's just a pity.

I am but a concubine.

While she is the rightful wife.

My filial devotion is sincere.

Yet I can't put it into action.

Keep a closer watch for me.

If she were to make a grave mistake and be sent away from the household,

then I could rest a little easier.

I will be sure to stay vigilant.

Old Madam, please rest assured.

I shall take my leave now.

Madam Li has come to greet Old Madam.

The new wife, Yaochu,

is here to greet

her mother-in-law.

No hurry.

You probably haven't met these two before.

Second Concubine, Yuzhu.

Third Concubine, Ruoyi.

Though you are the rightful wife,

you married in later than they did.

From now on,

you must learn proper manners from them.

Yes.

I have heard

that Jingchuan was in your chambers yesterday.

He stayed for barely an hour.

Is this what happened?

The General said he had urgent matters at midnight

and then left.

If you failed to attend to the General well,

and he departed displeased,

Old Madam may not blame you,

but matters of such weight

must never be met with falsehoods.

Why would I lie?

You know the reason deep down.

Nanzhi.

Old Madam, please see.

On the wedding night, the bride showed no sign of the first blood.

How reckless you are!

You concealed your unworthy past to marry into the family?

You clearly hold no regard for our family.

Yaochu,

how do you explain this matter?

Explaining alone will do me no good.

Please summon the General here.

Things will be clear.

Set the tea aside for now.

Did I say you could rise?

The General has arrived.

Old Madam, why summon me?

Last night was your wedding night.

Yet no bridal mark was found on Yaochu's cloth.

Such a matter is a grave offense in this house.

Yet she insists on seeking you out.

Tell me, why would that be?

- This... - Jingchuan!

Xingwan?

Jingchuan...

You're alive.

Thank goodness, you survived.

(Li Xingwan Daughter of Li Family) I'd never see you again.

Jingchuan...

- It's alright. - Xingwan!

Look what a state you are in!

I greet you, Mother.

Didn't I send you to Guanyin Nunnery to pray?

What made you come back on your own?

This morning, I heard my elder brother returned safely.

I was overwhelmed with joy.

So I couldn't hold back.

I returned without

informing Mother.

I ask for forgiveness.

Enough.

You are...

My sister-in-law?

Sister-in-law, you've just married in,

and Jingchuan returned.

You truly are blessed.

Xingwan, mind your manners.

Go wait aside.

Yaochu,

I've already brought Jingchuan here.

Let's hear it.

How do you explain this?

Old Madam, I actually…

What's wrong?

My legs feel numb

from kneeling.

- Then stand up first. - Hold on.

Let her explain the matter clearly first!

Last night…

It was my first meeting with the General.

We found ourselves in accord.

The General knew I was gravely injured.

He could not bear to see me suffer.

Yet his feelings could not be restrained.

So, the General went out in the middle of the night

for fear that overindulgence might harm me.

As for the Blood-stained cloth...

The General said…

It was our Token of Love.

He'd kept it to himself.

So he took it.

I have no idea

where Nanny Sun got this silk cloth.

Why would she try to frame me?

I did no such thing!

I took it from your bed.

Stop slandering me.

Jingchuan,

is what Yaochu says true?

This…

To confirm it,

take a look inside General's robes.

See if that bloodstained silk cloth is there.

The General said he'd keep it close.

General, you wouldn't lie, yes?

So the General didn't lie to me.

I'm deeply moved.

Such a tainted thing.

And you carry it with you?

What a misfortune.

Quickly, throw it away.

It's the Token of Love.

I shall naturally keep it safe.

Enough.

This matter is settled.

I'm exhausted.

You may all leave.

Wait.

Nanny Sun tarnished my good name.

She claimed I was impure.

If it weren't for the General's feelings for me

and keeping this piece of cloth,

then today,

Nanny Sun would have wronged me.

That's not true!

Old Madam,

General,

she accused me out of malice!

Are you implying

the General and I worked

together to frame you?

No, no, that's not it.

Old Madam,

please, you must stand up for me!

That is enough.

It's just a misunderstanding.

But this misunderstanding nearly cost my life.

We can't just let it slide so easily, can we?

Then what is it you want?

I've only just married in.

I fear others will say

that I bully the servants.

But if this isn't punished severely,

people will say Old Madam can't keep order.

In that case...

Nanny Sun,

you will kneel here on the cushion

for ten full hours.

Old Madam?

Old Madam!

Do it as she says.

Old Madam!

You cannot turn your back on me, Old Madam!

Sister-in-law.

Nanny Sun...

Jingchuan.

Kneel properly.

If one day you can rise again,

we shall meet once more.

♪New snow falls thick beneath the eaves♪

♪Covering the courtyard gate♪

♪Your gaze melts winter into spring♪

♪Turning back from the boundless multitude♪

♪Gazing at you in that fleeting moment♪

♪All the hardships fade into drifting dust♪

♪A foolish dream turns earnest with you in it♪

♪Even a feigned play can grow into true affection♪

♪Too many dusks walked alone beneath my umbrella♪

♪Yet I crave the warmth left in your embrace♪

♪Among thousands of bright lamps, is there one♪

♪That waits quietly for me?♪

♪Time grinds through the rings of memory♪

♪Only you keep me warm in the long night♪

♪Scars left by the days gone by♪

♪Lie upon the lines of our hands together♪

♪I hold out a heart sincere and true♪

♪Crossing the deep courtyard♪

♪Just to trade it for one kiss from you♪

♪Praying our hair turns gray without regret♪

♪So that true love will finally come to be♪