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 5=

(Prefecture Governor's Manor)

Well, if it isn't Madam Li!

What's this?

General Li didn't come back with you?

The General has official duties.

He may arrive later.

Sounds like General Li never planned to come.

On this day, your husband's absent.

Even if you did marry a General,

your life doesn't seem all that grand.

No matter how it is, I'm still his rightful wife.

Any child I bear will be legitimate.

This fact

will never change, no matter what.

Wouldn't you agree, Lady Siyun?

Yaochu, you're married now.

You truly feel different.

Since the General isn't coming today,

this will just be our own family feast.

I've prepared a dish just for you,

something special.

Come in and have a taste.

What's wrong?

Afraid to even come home now?

(I hope that letter reaches Li Jingchuan.)

Nuan'er,

where is the General?

He went out at dawn to drill the troops.

Then you'd better wait

for his return and

give this letter to him.

(For General Li's Eyes Only)

(Harmony Brings Auspiciousness)

Do you like the gift

I prepared for you?

Chicken Drumstick!

Mother!

For Yunge! For Yaochu!

Chicken Drumstick...

Yaochu.

You still haven't told me

whether you like

this gift or not.

Xie Siyun.

Why is my mother here?

It's your homecoming.

Of course your mother is here.

Xie Siyun,

you dare treat her this way?

Are you not afraid I'll end you again?

If Li Jingchuan hadn't returned,

your wedding night would have become your last.

Now your husband doesn't favor you,

and you get no help.

All you have is a lunatic mother.

Yet you raise your voice at me?

As if no one in here matters anymore.

The time is almost upon us.

What do you mean?

Mother!

Mother, what's wrong?

Mother!

You vile woman!

What have you done to my mother?

It's so itchy!

So itchy… It's so itchy!

If I hadn't kept a backup plan,

how could I force you to obey?

This is a rare drug I acquired.

It won't claim one's life,

but only make one unbearably itchy,

in excruciating agony.

- So itchy! - It will only make you

wish you weren't born.

Even if I now stand alone,

I'm still General Li's wife!

I dare you to touch me!

Of course I won't touch you.

I'll make you act of your own will.

Release her.

The antidote is with me.

If I'm pleased,

I'll hand her the antidote.

Kneel!

It's so itchy.

Kneel!

Itchy...

Itchy...

So itchy...

It's so itchy!

You insolent girl...

All you have is an empty title,

yet you intimidate me?

Guards.

Bring paper and a brush.

What are you up to?

I want you to write a confession.

Admit to being rude and disrespectful to your elders,

even harming others.

Being unworthy of General Li,

you'll willingly become a nun

and cut ties

with Li Jingchuan.

So your love for your mother

turns out to be all an act.

Once you had a better future,

you cast aside your mother's life.

If that's the case,

then this antidote…

I will write it.

I'll write it.

Itchy...

General!

Today is Madam's homecoming day.

Aren't you going?

Earlier this morning,

the Shen family sent people to escort Madam back.

After all, it's her homecoming...

You mean she's been taken back?

That's right.

This is bad... Let's move!

(Confession Letter)

Itchy...

Shen Yaochu,

hurry up and write.

The longer you dawdle,

the more your mother will suffer.

My Lord.

- My Lord! - Father?

You're back!

Father!

You called me back in such a hurry,

(Shen Cheng'an Shen Family's Head)

just for me to watch this farce?

- My Lord, I... - Father.

While you were away,

Lady Siyun married me into the Li family.

And now she's tormenting my mother.

Father, please save her!

My Lord.

This humble wife...

I only acted for the good of the Family.

I already know it all.

Father!

The Antidote is in her hand.

Mother's health is frail.

She truly can't bear such suffering.

She's lost her mind!

My Lord, stop her!

It itches so much!

You...

My Lord!

My Lord, she's gone mad.

Such madness must have come

from Madam Shen's influence.

If she loses it at the Li family,

how will we explain ourselves?

Better yet,

let's keep her here today

and announce that

she died suddenly of illness.

This way, we won't fall out with the Li family.

Very well.

Shen Cheng'an...

Even a stray dog protects its cubs.

Yet you let a concubine plot against your wife and daughter,

and cast away your own flesh and blood like worn shoes!

You…

You're unworthy to be called a father!

Silence her at once!

Yes.

Go wait at the other side first.

Once I've had my fun,

I'll send your mother to keep you company.

Let her go!

- Mother? - General Li?

Mother...

Madam.

General Li, what brings you here?

It's my wife's homecoming day.

Naturally, I had to come.

Yet I'm only a little late,

and I see my wife

being humiliated in her own family home.

Mother?

Didn't you say General Li didn't care?

How could this...

General Li, though you're our son-in-law,

- this is still our family matter. - Eat it.

Please don't misunderstand.

Why don't we go inside?

You have no say here.

Lord Shen.

You mistreat your wife

and your own daughter.

Is this truly the Shen Family way?

I wouldn't dare.

Hurry and unlock that cage!

Hurry!

Mother!

Lord Shen,

I'm still waiting for an explanation.

I... I... I...

Let me speak.

Lady Siyun married me into the Li family,

hoping to earn favor with them,

while getting rid of me, the unwanted daughter.

Did I get it right?

My Lord!

I... I only meant what's best for the Family.

You forced my mother

to take that drug after my sister went missing

(Young Shen Yaochu)

and locked me and her in the back courtyard.

You wouldn't even give us a single bite to eat.

I, a child, had to sneak out

when the guards were careless

and beg for food on the streets.

You made me trade my mother's dowry

for winter clothes.

Shen Cheng'an,

if you're neither blind nor foolish,

then you should know that

we lived worse than stray animals.

Come.

His Majesty is kind and cherishes the people.

Yet treating your wife and daughter this way,

Lord Shen, you're truly vile.

Do you still want to keep

your position as the Governor?

General!

I have been foolish.

I believed the lies of this venomous woman.

I beg you, General,

for Yaochu's sake,

do not report this to His Majesty.

Tell me first,

how should we deal with this woman?

My Lord!

I've managed the household for 20 years!

I even bore you a daughter, Yunxi!

You cannot be so merciless to me!

Yes, Father.

Just punish me if you want.

Please spare my mother.

Expel Siyun

from the Shen Manor.

And confine Yunxi to the backyard.

She must not leave without my order!

- My Lord! - Father!

My Lord, I have done wrong!

- Wait a moment. - I admit...

Isn't this punishment too light?

Madam?

You speak.

You want me to decide?

Lady Siyun has committed evils,

stirring up trouble,

all because of her manipulative mouth.

You insolent wretch!

Silence!

Lord Shen?

Give Siyun...

A hundred slaps to the mouth!

No, please, no!

Xu Shan, carry it out.

Lord Shen.

You'll oversee it.

I...

My Lord...

Don't be afraid, Mother.

Don't hurt my mother! Don't touch her!

General Li! General Li!

Shen Yaochu...

Shen Yaochu, let my mother go!

Shen Yaochu!

(Prefecture Governor's Manor)

Mother?

Mother, are you alright?

Is it settled now?

We can let her go now.

No.

Xie Siyun.

When you committed these wrongs,

did you ever think that

these schemes would

bring retribution upon yourself one day?

I will not take your life.

Instead, I will return

each and every one of the pains you inflicted

on my mother and me to you.

Mother!

Mother, are you alright?

Mother...

Are you hurt, Mother?

Hurry and take your mother away!

Slow down, Mother...

Yaochu,

since you've let off steam...

Then… You and…

You and the General should stay for lunch.

Shen Cheng'an,

from this day forward,

we, mother and daughter,

will have nothing to do with the Shen family.

♪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♪