Original subtitles

=Against The Current=

(Adapted from He Yanshan's novel, Orchid Fragrance Fate)

=Episode 43= (This drama does not correspond)

(to any real historical dynasty.)

(The systems, culture, attire and other dynastic elements have been adapted.)

I have so many reasons to live.

What about you?

I love eating qingtuan.

I also love crystal duck and tofu buns.

I love sleeping in with Mother.

I love reading and playing with my brother.

And I love going to the theater with Aunt Lanxiang.

I also love going on spring outings outside the city and flying kites.

I love beating a little drum for my third younger brother.

I love the pearl hairpin Aunt Suhua gave me.

I have so many reasons to live, too.

There are too many to name.

Yingzhi is right.

We have so many reasons to live.

We couldn't possibly name them all at once.

But one thing is certain.

We certainly don't live just to put the jade

in Aunt Fengxian's room.

I was born a servant,

into a poor family.

You lost your father and have had

to live under someone else's roof.

Those are all facts.

But no matter what others say,

as long as we know

what we ourselves live for,

all those words

are nothing but filth.

I understand now.

Keep our hearts true, follow the right path, and go far with steady steps.

Only then can we be worthy of Mother's love and care,

and worthy of the lives we've been given.

Aunt Lanxiang,

will we be driven out?

No.

Old Master.

- Great-Grandfather. - Great-Grandfather.

Your eldest uncle once wanted you two to take your mother's surname.

I refused.

Being entered into the family genealogy

is not a decision to be made on a whim.

Now, are you both willing

to give up your father's surname and take your mother's?

- We are. - We are.

From this day forward,

(Lin Zhangjun) Lin Zhangjun and Lin Zhangzhi

(Lin Zhangzhi) are descendants of the Lin family.

As long as they commit no crimes,

no one

may drive them out of the Lin Residence.

You...

This...

You've lost your senses!

How could you do

something so disgraceful and foolish? You...

This is outrageous!

My eldest grandson's wife,

Xu,

is broad-minded and noble in character,

and worthy of great responsibility.

From this day forward,

the management of the Lin household

is entrusted to you.

You may decide how Cheng is to be dealt with.

Zhangzhi, get up.

Fengxian comes from a family of scholars

and is well-versed in the classics.

Within one year,

you will remain in your room and copy the Diamond Sutra

a thousand times for the First Madam.

I...

(Spirit Tablet of the Late Madam Qin of the Lin Family)

For Aunt Lingxiao's sake,

I won't punish you publicly today.

Thank Lanxiang for showing her mercy.

Thank Lanxiang for showing her mercy!

If this happens again,

I'll have no choice but to write to the Cheng family and ask

how they raised their daughter.

Thank you, Lanxiang, for your leniency.

♪Flowers bloom unseen, as they have before♪

♪All the joys and sorrows come and go♪

♪While loss leaves winter in the heart♪

♪Though all the world may fade♪

♪Time rolls on as countless lives rush by♪

♪Night winds wander through the halls of long ago♪

♪No page could hold the longing words can never show♪

♪Every joy and sorrow in this fleeting life♪

♪Fades into the past as new wounds rise♪

♪While whispers of perfume linger beneath the eaves♪

♪Let the cold wind rage, let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces, let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream, there's no return at all♪

♪Night winds wander through the halls of long ago♪

♪No page could hold the longing words can never show♪

♪Every joy and sorrow in this fleeting life♪

♪Fades into the past as new wounds rise♪

♪While whispers of perfume linger beneath the eaves♪

♪Let the cold wind rage, let the wild rain fall♪

♪And silver moonlight to guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream, there's no return at all♪

♪Let the cold wind rage, let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces, let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

(Seven Years Later)

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream, there's no return at all♪

Xiulai, if you're ever unsure about something,

you can come discuss it with me.

If I'm not around,

there are still Suhua, Fengxian, and Qiuluo.

Two heads are better than one.

There's always a solution to every problem.

Don't worry, Lanxiang.

I'll handle whatever I can.

If there's anything I can't or don't know how to handle,

I'll be sure to ask all of you for help.

Though we are one family,

our bonds come first.

But the nation has its laws, and every family has its rules.

Without rules, there can be no order.

If anyone breaks the family rules,

I will punish them severely without exception.

I hope you will all bear this in mind.

A family that does good will be blessed for generations.

A family that does evil will bring misfortune upon its descendants.

- Yes. - Yes.

- Yes, Madam. - Yes, Madam.

(Lin Zhangcheng, age seven) Zhangcheng!

(Lin Zhangrun, son of Lin Jinqi and Xu Lanxiang, age four)

Zhangcheng, I want it.

Come on. Come to me.

Zhangcheng, slow down.

Come on. Let's play with this, all right?

Zhangcheng, slow down.

Be careful.

I know, Father.

Mother cried and made such a fuss,

saying that all her gray hair was caused by me.

Nothing she says will change my mind.

I've made up my mind not to marry.

Lanxiang, won't you try to talk her around?

Life is only a few short decades.

What matters most is that she's happy with her own life.

Your mother-in-law, Old Madam Yuan,

just couldn't let things go.

Don't be like her.

She insisted on taking concubines just to have a grandson

and even took two in succession.

Both were chosen after consulting a fortune-teller.

And what happened?

Two more granddaughters were born in a row.

Old Madam Yuan practically worried herself to death.

Old Madam Yuan died after becoming gravely ill.

Right.

She died of illness.

It was illness.

Xiuwan is right.

What is meant to be yours will come to you.

What is not meant to be yours should not be forced.

There's nothing wrong with staying single and carefree for life.

Let's play with this.

Your Lordship!

Your Lordship!

Baogai.

What is it?

His Majesty...

His Majesty has passed away.

Mother...

When did it happen?

At three quarters past the Hour of Yin, on the first of this month.

Eighteen days ago.

What about the Eldest Prince?

The new Emperor has already ascended the throne.

Head Butler,

you and Baogai quickly send people separately

to notify everyone else in the household.

The entire household will observe national mourning.

No meat is to be eaten.

No drinking or festivities.

Yes.

Lanxiang,

I must hurry back.

All right.

Let's go.

I'll take you to change your clothes.

Then we'll have some sweet cakes.

Go on.

All right, Mother.

By that reckoning,

Fengtai and I are already family.

Your Highness, hold on a little longer.

We're out of the city...

I'm fine. Full speed ahead.

The Crown Prince has returned!

This firearm was just forged by the Imperial Armory.

I grant you special permission to carry it with you.

♪Yet fate stains my sleeves with blood♪

♪Raindrops fall, one by one, into my dreams♪

♪If they should wake me♪

♪Hardship will always remain♪

♪Amid treacherous waters, few make it to the end♪

♪How could a thousand words soothe this aching heart?♪

♪With guilt in my heart, how could I ask to meet again?♪

♪May I be like a firefly awakening in the dark♪

The late Emperor stood by you through difficult times.

Later, let's go together

and burn some paper offerings for the late Emperor

as a small gesture of farewell.

♪I'd spend every dawn and dusk to see it through♪

I still vividly remember how we

rode side by side and fled Jinling.

Now we are separated by life and death,

with only memories left.

Though the late Emperor loved crickets,

he still knew when to stop.

He could be considered a worthy ruler.

But the new Emperor...

I'll be more careful with my words and actions from now on.

(One Year Later)

(For Imperial Use)

(Commander Ding, Third-Rank, Commander of the Longjiang Garrison)

(For Imperial Use)

The undefeated General Blackhead

(Attendant Eunuch Mao, Fourth-Rank) met a brutal death at the hands

(Attendant Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial)

of river bandits.

The river bandits' methods are brutal and bloody,

and utterly appalling.

This cannot be tolerated.

This is all because the Longjiang Garrison is utterly incompetent

and failed in its duty to provide protection.

Eunuch Wang spared your families from collective punishment

and granted the Longjiang Garrison special permission to raise funds

to compensate for the plundered tribute goods.

That is already an extraordinary act of mercy.

(Xu Guangyi, Duke Xiangguo)

(Jinling Defense Commander, Commander) Attendant Eunuch Mao is right.

(of the Central Military Command)

Now,

Commander Ding has been killed by the river bandits,

leaving the post of Commander of the Longjiang Garrison vacant.

(Xu Sizi, son of Duke Xiangguo, Fourth-Rank,)

(Assistant Commander of the Jinling Imperial Guard)

Marquis Lin, Eunuch Wang holds

the esteemed post of Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial

and attends to countless affairs each day,

yet he has not forgotten an old friend.

Knowing that you have been without an official post for years,

he personally petitioned His Majesty on your behalf

to appoint you Commander of the Longjiang Garrison.

You must ensure that the Longjiang Garrison

compensates for the plundered tribute goods as soon as possible.

I'm grateful for Eunuch Wang's confidence in me.

I'll do everything I can

to raise the compensation as soon as possible.

More importantly,

we must bring the river bandits who plundered the tribute goods

to justice

and avenge General Blackhead.

I will do everything in my power to track down the killers

and ease His Majesty's burden.

Avenge General Blackhead.

Attendant Eunuch Mao is right.

(Longjiang Pass Wharf)

Your Lord.

A Third-Rank Commander was brutally tortured and killed.

These river bandits clearly have no regard

for the laws of the imperial court.

Their methods are clearly ruthless

and far from ordinary.

The Longjiang Garrison lacks military funds and equipment.

Now its troops are demoralized.

You're asking them to...

You're asking them to bankrupt themselves

to compensate for the tribute goods,

and also to capture the river bandits.

How could that possibly work?

I'm getting old.

My hearing isn't what it used to be.

Not what it used to be.

Unfortunately, I've just received orders from the Ministry of War

to oversee Zhejiang's coastal defenses against the Wo pirates.

I'll be leaving Jinling soon

to take up my post on the Zhejiang coast.

I won't be able to lend you a hand, Fengtai.

Investigating cases is something I'm fairly good at.

No matter how good you are at investigating,

you still need capable men under your command.

The compensation for the tribute goods is no small sum.

If the soldiers are driven into ruin,

they're bound to harbor resentment.

Why would they still take orders from you?

I've already submitted a memorial to His Majesty

proposing reforms to naval service.

The conscription system would be replaced with government-paid labor.

All military households would share the cost according to their means.

This way, poorer households

wouldn't be ruined when assigned minor service duties,

while well-off households

could also be spared the burden of service.

Will His Majesty approve it?

The compensation His Majesty receives

will be paid in full.

It will also prevent the soldiers from mutinying.

Even if His Majesty doesn't understand,

the Grand Secretariat will.

They will certainly approve it.

The eunuchs wield great power now.

You must be careful.

Our coastal defenses are short of troops now.

You be careful, too.

(The Tale of Suppressing the Bandits)

(The Tale of Suppressing the Bandits: The General, Tanniang)

The Tale of Suppressing the Bandits?

The general, Tanniang,

is a woman?

Do you think, Marquis Lin,

that women cannot be generals?

The Shang dynasty had Fu Hao.

The Sui dynasty had Madam Xian.

The Tang dynasty had Princess Pingyang.

Which of them achieved any less than male generals?

Your husband is poorly learned,

and bound by outdated conventions.

I spoke rashly just now.

Please forgive me, my lady.

Don't underestimate the play I wrote.

Even the vendors selling wooden swords

at the Imperial Theater

have seen their earnings rise by thirty percent.

Zhangcheng's future shops

and farmland will all depend on this pen of mine.

You really do have a knack for running the household.

I happen to have something I'd like your advice on.

Over the years, the stricter the maritime ban has become,

the more rampant the bandits have grown.

River bandits even openly attack and plunder government vessels.

I understand

that the late Emperor reduced the troops, leaving us short of manpower.

But without reducing the troops,

the Ministry of Revenue couldn't afford the expense.

If the Ministry of Revenue had a steady stream of tax revenue,

wouldn't it be able to support the army?

You mean...

(To My Dear Friend, Lv Ji'er)

This is a letter from Ji'er.

At my request,

she recorded Quanzhou's local customs and people's livelihoods

in detail.

(Pepper: 0.24 taels per kg. Agarwood: 1.6 taels per kg.)

These are the prices around Jinling and Suzhou

that I collected for writing my plays.

(Pepper: 0.24 taels per kg. Agarwood: 1.6 taels per kg.)

The profits really are substantial.

No wonder Jinqiao was tempted.

How did Yu the Great succeed in controlling the floods?

He simply followed eight words.

Better to channel than block, better to guide than channel.

Exactly.

If the imperial court allowed maritime trade

and properly regulated and guided it,

the people could not only earn a living,

but the government

would also have a steady stream of tax revenue.

Unfortunately,

pirates and Wo pirates are rampant now.

Even without the imperial maritime ban,

maritime trade would still be difficult.

Chengze has been transferred to reorganize the coastal defenses.

It's the perfect opportunity to eliminate the pirates and Wo pirates.

I'm now Commander of the Longjiang Garrison,

so I can also wipe out the river bandits

and strengthen the river defenses.

Once peace is restored throughout the land,

we can abolish the tribute system and lift the maritime ban.

The cotton grown by the people

and the cotton cloth they weave

could then be sold overseas in a steady stream

in exchange for silver.

Commander of the Longjiang Garrison?

I was appointed just today.

I was about to tell you,

but then I saw the play you wrote.

It was so beautifully written and so captivating

that I completely forgot.

You brazen bandits!

I'm standing right here!

Surrender now,

or you will be shown no mercy!

Running around like a madwoman.

Is that any way for a young lady to behave?

Are you trying to anger me to death?

General Wang, your timing is perfect!

We'll attack them from both sides

and wipe out the bandits in one fell swoop!

Why don't you wipe me out while you're at it?

Are you trying to anger me to death?

You really...

This...

I...

How did I ever raise a daughter like you?

Mother, please don't cry.

- You're driving me to my grave! - I'll behave like a proper young lady.

Will that do?

You...

Mother.

Old Master is getting older by the day.

One day, he'll be gone.

Then the first and second branches will divide the family property.

No matter how good Jinqi and Lanxiang are to you,

they belong to a different branch.

You won't be able to rely on them in the future.

I have you, Mother.

Can I stay with you forever?

I'll be gone sooner or later, too.

In our branch,

Fengxian will be in charge from then on.

She's as petty as they come.

If you have to depend on her,

how could you possibly live well?

You should find a husband and marry while you can.

Mother has prepared a dowry for me.

I won't need to depend on her.

Your dowry?

It won't be yours until you're married.

An unmarried daughter cannot own property.

When the time comes, not a single thing in this residence

will belong to you.

And you call me foolish?

You're the foolish one!

I'll find a way

to earn enough to support myself.

What can a woman like you possibly do?

Be a good girl

and marry Second Master You as his second wife.

Then at least

you'll have someone to rely on.

♪Yet I must still smile through it all♪

♪Those things I can't forget♪

♪The absurdities I can't let go of fill every page♪

♪Building a wall♪

♪Trapped in the midst of time♪

♪Drifting with the wind♪

(Jinling Lin Family Zezhi Workshop)

(Zezhi Workshop)

What are you looking at? Get moving.

(Zezhi Workshop)

Our Zezhi Workshop's looms and weaving techniques

are the most advanced available today.

I've taken care of everything over there. Don't worry.

This is our Xiaobu cloth,

priced at 2 coins per bolt.

Feihua cloth is 6 coins per bolt.

As for waist-loom ramie cloth,

it's 3.5 coins per bolt.

Now take a look at our coarse white cotton cloth.

It's 0.94 coin for three meters.

Fine three-shuttle cloth is 0.9 coin for three meters.

Fine blue cotton cloth is 1.05 coins for three meters.

If I place a larger order,

could you offer me a better price, Shopkeeper Zhou?

Of course we offer discounts to major customers.

(Gu Youzi, Lady Peng)

Second Young Lady.

Lady Peng, what is it?

The Head Shopkeeper arranged to inspect the latest waist looms

at Han Family Village outside the city today.

If we don't leave now, we'll be late.

The latest single-heddle, double-treadle twill loom?

Yes.

That's right, Shopkeeper Zhou.

How much can you produce here in a day?

Shopkeeper Zhou is busy.

I'll go with you.

All right.

There'll be no one on the road.

You can get some fresh air, too.

I'm sorry to put you through this, Second Young Lady.

With the new looms,

a skilled weaver like you

can weave one extra bolt every three days.

That's all money.

If a little inconvenience is all it takes to make money,

I could make this trip every day.

Even ten times a day.

It's all my fault.

This is all my fault.

I was busy discussing business with the merchants

and let the Second Young Lady go outside the city to inspect the looms.

This has nothing to do with you.

You couldn't have known this would happen.

How could it have nothing to do with her?

Your Lordship.

(Lin Jincen, age 22. Gan Qiuluo, Lin Jincen's wife)

Any news?

We've searched throughout the city.

The city gates are already closed.

I'll continue searching outside the city first thing tomorrow morning.

Mother.

Second Madam.

If anything at all happens to Xiuwan,

I'll skin you alive!

- Aunt Lingxiao! - Aunt Lingxiao!

Aunt Lingxiao!

Aunt Lingxiao!

It's not Gantang's fault.

It's all because of you!

Mother!

You have no sense of propriety at all!

It's not Madam's fault. It's all my fault.

You kept taking Xiuwan to hear those outrageous

and indecent plays.

Not only did they fill her head with improper ideas,

but they also made her think all day about earning her own money

and refusing to marry!

Aunt Lingxiao!

Xiuwan has gone missing.

We're all very worried.

But she's already thirty-five.

She's not a three-year-old child!

What she should or shouldn't do

is beyond even your control as her mother.

How can you blame your niece-in-law for this?

You...

Tomorrow, Jincen and Liu Xiaochuan will continue searching the city.

Jinqiao and I will search outside the city.

We'll make sure we give you an answer, Aunt Lingxiao.

All right.

My Xiuwan...

Our ancestors taught us

that women should be chaste and modest

and should not show themselves in public.

Xiuwan followed Lanxiang and forgot our ancestors' teachings.

That's why this happened to her.

It's all because of that servant Xu.

She's reckless and presumptuous,

with no regard for the rules!

Mother, Fengxian, you're both shouting at the top of your lungs.

Do you want every servant to hear you?

Mother has never had much sense.

Lanxiang, please don't take it to heart.

We'll be going now.

Jinqi, Lanxiang.

Get some rest.

We'll search together tomorrow.

Baogai.

Xiuwan picked up the loom

and went missing on her way back to the city.

First thing tomorrow morning,

Gantang and I will go back to the workshop

and ask the women who know Lady Peng

to see if there are any other clues.

You were put through a lot today.

As long as Xiuwan comes back safely,

I'll ask for nothing more.

What's that sound?

Let's go take a look.

Come on! Hurry!

It's not a rabbit.

Then it must be a badger.

They escaped!

The weavers we abducted escaped!

Someone come!

The weavers we abducted escaped!

Someone come!

Where is everyone?

Get out here!

Hurry!

Search everywhere!

Search!

Come out!

Fire!

Fire!

(Zhang Shuizai, Leader of the Kidnappers)

Get water and put out the fire.

- Yes! - Yes! Hurry!

This isn't a safe place to linger.

(Construction Supervisor, Ministry of Works)

=Against the Current= (Next Episode's Preview)

(Wanted)

Lin Jinqi.

Xu Lanxiang.

It's been sixteen years.

You don't even

recognize me anymore?

♪Spring slips from the branches once more♪

♪Flowers bloom unseen, as they have before♪

♪All the joys and sorrows come and go♪

♪While loss leaves winter in the heart♪

♪Though all the world may fade♪

♪Time rolls on as countless lives rush by♪

♪Night winds wander through the halls of long ago♪

♪No page could hold the longing words can never show♪

♪Every joy and sorrow in this fleeting life♪

♪Fades into the past as new wounds rise♪

♪While whispers of perfume linger beneath the eaves♪

♪Let the cold wind rage, let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces, let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream, there's no return at all♪

♪Let the cold wind rage, let the wild rain fall♪

♪Let sorrow spill like shadows over all♪

♪Let love fall to pieces, let old anger burn away♪

♪Let the past die with yesterday♪

♪One last fire, one last cup of wine♪

♪And silver moonlight to guide me through the night♪

♪Let beginnings fade as endings come to call♪

♪From this endless dream, there's no return at all♪