Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Destined]

[Episode 12]

He said he was familiar with

all the classical texts

and can rank first in the Provincial Examination this time.

He really said that?

I don't know

where he got the confidence,

but it's not good for me to rain on his parade either.

He has good intentions,

but he's too confident.

I feel

uneasy.

Who doesn't?

-Here. -Mother.

Be careful, son.

I told you

there's no need to see me off.

No way.

The exam lasts nine days,

and the conditions in the examination rooms are deplorable.

I'm worried.

By the way,

I'll make you turtle soup when I get home

to nourish your health.

Once you come out,

you'll have hot soup to drink.

Mother, there's no need.

Why are you making it sound so serious?

You're making Chang nervous.

Yes, Mother.

Don't be nervous.

Don't be nervous, no matter what.

You can always take the examination again if you do badly this time.

If you really can't do it,

I'll support you for the rest of your life.

From now on,

our family's property is all yours.

Father.

What are you talking about?

My son is very smart.

You spoiled him

and allowed him

to get led astray by Young Master Gu.

Dad, stop arguing.

-My nephew is great. -We're here.

Mother, we're here.

We're here.

I'll go in with you.

I'll be nervous if you're there.

I'll definitely pass the examination.

Good.

You can't go in here.

Fine.

I'll be waiting at home

for you to pass.

Mother, take care.

We'll be off now.

Dad, take care.

How are you doing?

Jiusi.

I'm the same as you.

I'll rank first. You'll...

Then I'll begrudgingly

rank second.

You? Second?

Jiusi, Wenchang.

Here.

Chen Xun.

Why don't you

look nervous at all?

Why should I be nervous?

Neither of you will make it anyway.

-What are you talking about? -Let's go.

Gosh.

[Emerge First In The Examination]

Jiusi.

Okay, go in.

[Talented Men Will Be Favored]

[Examination Hall] [Talented Men Will Be Favored]

[Examination Hall]

[Emerge First In The Examination]

[Examination Hall]

[Honor and Prosperity]

[Gu Mansion]

[Serenity Brings Success]

-Congratulations, Master. -Congratulations, Madam.

Congratulations, Young Madam.

We've gotten one important matter settled.

I finally feel relieved now.

Everyone has been working hard lately.

Let's take a day off today.

Everyone, you may go to the accounts room

and collect two taels of silver as your reward money.

Also,

I've intructed the cook

to prepare a banquet for everyone.

Thank you, Young Madam.

Okay, go ahead.

What's the occasion?

Celebrating the completion of your examination.

Everyone has been tense lately.

We were even scared to breathe,

lest we disturbed your studying.

Now the whole family

can finally relax.

Of course we must celebrate.

Passing the exam is worth celebrating.

What's the big deal about completing the exam?

If you really want to celebrate,

it's not too late to do it

after I've passed.

Let's not reward them then.

We can save the money.

Old man.

That's a low blow.

When the results are released,

let's go and look together.

If you really make it,

we must celebrate grandly.

Everyone in the mansion is resting.

Why are you still checking the accounts?

Take a rest.

Okay.

No.

It's too complicated.

It'll be better to finish earlier

so I can check it a few more times.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

What's wrong?

When I answered the question,

I used a wrong word!

Virtue moves the Heavenly mirror and brings about good omens.

Proving the felicity of the majestic laws and regulations

and the constancy of honest mores.

I should have used "auspicious"

instead of "majestic"!

The exam is over.

Stop thinking about it.

What if...

What if...

What if...

What if I can't outdo Ye Shi'an?

What should I do?

Of course you can't.

Ye Shi'an placed first in the Provincial Examination.

There is no way

to do better than first place.

If I place first as well,

can we take it as my victory?

Fine.

But if I don't even pass the exam,

then...

Then you can take it again.

You're a late bloomer after all.

You'll pass the exam if you studied three more years.

Three more years?

In two months,

we'll be in Youzhou.

Where do I get three years from?

Did our parents tell you

about moving to Youzhou?

I'll know even if they didn't tell me.

Don't interrupt me.

If we go to Youzhou,

my examination...

That's even better.

Youzhou is remote

so there'll be fewer students

taking the exams than in Yangzhou.

When there aren't tigers in the mountain,

monkeys reign supreme.

It'll be easier to pass then.

I don't want to be a monkey.

That's not a fair fight. I...

The mansion is bustling today,

but it's perfectly organized, thanks to Yuru.

You know what?

She really seems like the head of a family.

It's not just that.

Now,

she also taken on the matters regarding

our family business' move.

Now,

Yuru is handling all the private accounts

relating to the move.

She's still so young, can she handle it?

Yes.

In terms of talent and diligence,

she's even better than me back in the day.

I think the Gu family

can't live without Yuru.

In the future,

when the two of us are gone,

the two youngsters

will have to rely on each other.

Don't say such ominous things.

You're only 45.

What's wrong?

You don't want to live to see your grandson?

Of course I do.

You're talking about your grandson?

Look at Yuru's belly.

There's been no news at all.

She married into our family half a year ago.

You only got pregnant with Jiusi

after three years.

That's true.

Besides,

we are leaving Yangzhou soon.

If Yuru gets pregnant,

it would inconvenience her during the journey.

I don't care.

I want to live a long life.

I want to see Jiusi have a grandson.

You want to live that long?

You'll be old and ugly. People will find you bothersome, too.

So what?

No matter what, I want to see

Jiusi's son and grandson

call him an "awful old man"

and give him grief.

I'll feel good then.

Nonsense.

I think

Jiusi must be full of nonsense

because he takes after you.

You still won't admit it?

Jiusi and Yuru are both good kids.

Our later years

will be easy.

Young Master, have some porridge

to fill up your stomach.

No, no, no.

I've been so stifled

for the past few months.

This is not a life for humans.

Go and get

Yang Wenchang and Chen Xun

to go hunting with me.

We'll ride our horses and raise our whips!

Okay.

Young Master.

Master wants to see you.

He wants to see me?

The year ends in two months.

The yearly rent of six farmsteads outside the city

is due.

We can't make it.

We'll probably celebrate the new year

in Youzhou this year.

[Baojin Pavilion]

Daughter-in-law

has been calculating for so many days,

but the property we can take away with us

is less than 40%.

We have

so many farmsteads and shops,

along with stockpiled goods,

that we must leave behind.

If I had known,

I wouldn’t have

opened those two silk shop branches.

You know that

we don't have enough time

to sell our property and farmland.

Moreover, it'll be too conspicuous.

Our family has always attracted attention.

Now, too,

there are many pairs of eyes on us.

We need to expend considerable effort

to think of ways

to liquidate even these assets,

little by little.

I know.

I just think it's a pity.

You can't tell what's important anymore?

Since you've decided to leave,

don't worry about trivial matters.

You'll only make it harder for Yuru, who's in charge of the accounts.

I feel sorry for you.

All these years,

our family's property

has been built up by your hard work,

little by little.

But now...

We're moving somewhere else,

but we can build it back up again,

little by little.

When people get older,

their energy isn't the same.

It's not easy

to start over.

We still have Yuru.

This child

is like how I used to be.

Yes.

Yuru is a good girl.

She just married into our family,

but she has to face such a crisis.

She hasn't enjoyed her life for long,

but she has to suffer along with us.

It must be hard for her.

Having such a good daughter-in-law

is our good fortune.

Unfortunately,

our lives in the future

can't compare to how it was before.

Without a backer in court,

it'll be hard to do business.

Yuru and Jiusi will have it much tougher

than we did, back in the day.

Jiusi

is always like

a child who can't grow up.

It's all our fault.

We've spoiled him too much.

So,

we must tell him the truth

about our family's predicament.

I've asked Qingshui to look for him

and ask him to come.

I didn't tell him before

because he was taking the exam.

Father, Mother.

What is it?

Tell me.

I have to go hunting.

It's been half a year since I last went.

Your father has something to tell you.

Tell him.

Go ahead.

The exam is over. You should relax.

But don't make trouble.

Come back early.

That's it?

Go ahead.

Wait for me.

We'll have barbecue.

Didn't you say you wanted to tell him

about our predicament?

Why didn't you tell him

when he came?

I couldn't.

He finally finished his exam.

Let him relax.

I can't

tell him our family is in danger

at a time like this

and put more pressure on him, right?

You always say

I'm spoiling our son.

I think

you're no better than me.

What could we do?

We're his parents, after all.

Where's Jiusi?

Why isn't he here yet?

He's here.

Munan.

Where is your young master?

He asked me to tell you

he's going to the shop

with your Second Brother.

You can go hunting by yourselves.

But you must share two of the wild rabbits you catch

with him.

Second Brother, Second Brother, Second Brother.

It's Second Brother again.

How many times has it been?

Now, he only has Second Brother

in his eyes.

Let's go.

Two!

Young Madam.

Do we need to buy so much stock

this season?

[Wealthy And Benevolent, Using Money To Save The World] [Gu]

What do you think, Manager He?

The market is unstable.

All the stores are afraid of stockpiling,

so everyone is buying in moderation.

In my opinion,

we should wait to observe

the market conditions after the new year

before deciding.

Other shops can wait,

but we can't.

Seek out good products,

discern their value,

and keep money circulating.

Fan Li's three laws

are what the Gu family lives by

in doing business.

One of them is important.

Money should flow like water.

The bigger a business is,

the more money needs to move.

In my opinion,

we should not only stock up as per usual,

but

stock up extra.

This...

Yes.

We are leaving.

We can't bring so many things with us.

You're throwing so much money

into the business.

Doesn't that mean

we're throwing the money away in Yangzhou?

There are times when money must be thrown away.

I don't understand.

You don't understand?

You've been by my side this whole time

and watching everything.

If you still don't understand anything,

it's because you didn't pay attention

and engage your brain.

I'm just a maid.

It's my duty to take care of

your daily necessities.

I don't know much

about business.

Yinhong.

Are you really planning on

being a maid forever?

We grew up together.

You're my most trusted subordinate.

If you don't learn about doing business,

how can you be

my right-hand man in the future?

Do you really want

to be a maid for the rest of your life

and marry a servant in the future?

Don't you want to be a manager,

have your own business,

and be your own master?

I- I can't do that.

Before my mother-in-law taught me

and trained me,

I didn't think I could do it either.

But

if we always think we can't do something,

then we really won't be able to.

Boss Liu,

didn't you go hunting?

Why are you here?

I can come to my family's shop

whenever I want.

You're finally out of your cage.

Why are you here making trouble for me

instead of taking a break?

You bothered me a lot

when I was preparing for the exam.

The tables have turned.

It's my turn to supervise you.

How is our business doing

under your care?

Are you slacking off?

What is it?

Tell me.

I...

am here to learn from you.

[Gu]

Do you need anyone

to run errands for you?

Here, look at my leg.

No.

What about serving tea and water?

No.

You must need cleaners.

No.

What are you up to?

What do you mean?

I really want to help you.

Although I don't know much

about business,

I'm willing to learn.

If I don't learn anything now,

I'll feel bad.

From now on,

I will stay by your side

and be at your disposal.

Please be kind and teach me.

Okay?

Please.

Please.

You promised.

With this batch of

bamboo,

rattan,

and rawhide,

you can make another 20,000 bamboo arrows

3,000 leather armors,

and 700 shields.

Plus,

since last year,

I have been sending spears,

short knives, and chain mail in batches.

Your Highness

now has enough weapons

to equip 100,000 soldiers.

There will be another 20 merchant ships

sending an endless supply of stock.

I've gone all in this time

and invested all my life savings.

To do big business,

you must be willing to spend.

Indeed.

It's worth it.

Young Master Luo.

You said you could provide me

with Ceylon ironwood

to build invincible tanks.

The year is almost ending.

Where is my wood?

It's right in front of you.

This is made of Ceylon ironwood.

If we transport

things like pig iron and bamboo,

we can use the excuse

that they're for construction.

But if we transport Ceylon ironwood,

I'm afraid Your Highness' grand plan

will be exposed.

So,

my merchant ship

has been constructed entirely of Ceylon ironwood.

The axes in particular

have been made of

the best Cantian wood.

When the goods have all been shipped,

we can disassemble the ship

and rebuild it into a tank

that is impervious to water and fire and impenetrable by weapons.

100 of them.

These merchant ships

have been sailing to and fro at the wharf

under everyone's eyes.

They have passed

the imperial court's multiple checks.

Yet, no one has realized.

I admire you.

With your help,

before next spring,

I will recoup the money I have invested

ten times over.

I don't think so.

The Gu family

will not just sit and do nothing.

They're already trying to liquidate their property

and flee Yangzhou.

Impossible.

The Gu family has been expanding their business.

They've invested a lot of money on stocking up.

They don't look like they're going to flee at all.

Your Highness.

Since you and I

know to deceive the world

by feigning one thing while doing something else,

how could the Gu family not?

You mean...

Gu's merchants

have all been heading to Youzhou recently.

That's not surprising.

The Gu family secured the deal

for Youzhou's military supplies

and are friendly with Zhou Gaolang's son.

All trade in Youzhou

must go through the Gu family.

Everyone

knows this.

This is a secret letter from the Eastern Capital.

Open and read it for yourself.

This is a document

from the Ministry of Revenue.

Youzhou is remote and poor.

All these years,

all the money in the province

only totals seven million taels.

Since the middle of the year,

the Gu family's merchants have already

transported over 9 million taels of goods

to Youzhou.

The people of Youzhou

can't afford so much

even if they didn't eat or drink.

As expected, the Gu family is moving their property.

So,

we need to figure out how they're doing it.

We need to block this loophole

so that they can't escape.

Otherwise, when the time comes,

all our efforts will be for naught.

Young Master Luo.

The contents in this letter

are all confidential information

of the Ministry of Revenue.

What is your background

in the Eastern Capital?

I'll tell you

everything you need to know.

Please forgive me

for keeping the rest from you.

Fine.

My ambition is to dominate Yangzhou.

I have no interest in the Eastern Capital.

The most important thing now is the Gu family.

One month.

I'll let the Gu family

live for another month.

[Wenchang Hall]

Lord Wenchang,

please watch over our Young Master

and allow him to rank first in the Provincial Examination tomorrow.

No, no.

That is too hard for the Lord.

Our Young Master

just has to place in the top 5.

Forget it.

It'll be good...

if he can even pass.

The results will be released tomorrow.

The scripts have already been graded.

What's the point

of begging the Lord today?

We're just doing our best and leave the rest to fate.

It'll be fine whether he passes or not.

Yuru.

Mother.

Since that time Son-in-law gave his speech,

my life at home

has been much easier.

Is Concubine Yue still making trouble for you?

No.

She is very respectful now.

A few days ago,

she cried and apologized to me.

She said she didn't know her place

and wanted to correct her mistake.

She asked me to forgive her.

She seems to have changed.

Concubine Yue

knows how to take advantage of the situation

and she's hypocritical.

She cannot be fully trusted.

What about Father?

Your father

is also respectful towards me now.

He dares not neglect me at all.

Mother,

if you face any trouble at home,

ask Yun to come and tell me immediately.

There's no trouble anymore.

I've never done so well

in the Liu family

in the past 10 years.

It's all thanks to my daughter.

By the way,

I was just talking.

Where are you taking me?

Mother.

It's been almost ten years

since you were last back

at the old mansion

in Xijiadatang in Jinling.

We're going back to Jinling?

That old mansion

was destroyed

in the fire that year.

No one has lived in it

for many years.

I wonder what it looks like now.

Why did you suddenly think of

going back there?

After all, it's your birth family.

I lived there when I was young too.

I still remember

Grandfather loved me the most.

In the future, it'll be a long way away.

I'm afraid it'll be hard to return to Jinling.

What do you mean?

Mother.

I've decided

to leave Yangzhou with the Gu family.

Mother, come with me.

Where are you going?

Youzhou.

Xijiadatang in Jiangling?

Yuru and her mother

went to Xijiadatang?

It's not far.

It's a day's journey.

They'll be back at night.

I asked the guards to follow them.

It'll be fine.

Why are Yuru and her mother

going there?

Her maternal grandfather's old mansion is there.

She said she wanted to visit

and bid farewell.

I almost forgot

Yuru's hometown

is also there.

Right.

Who else is there?

We have relatives in Jinling?

The Gu family is moving to Youzhou.

What's the current situation in Yangzhou?

The Commissioner's ambition

is known to all.

I'm afraid we can't stay for long.

But

does the Gu family

really have to move away?

Actually, it's not just the Gu family.

Any family

with any property and business

in Yangzhou

must all make preparations before it's too late.

Mother.

Don't be afraid.

When we get to Youzhou,

we can still live well.

Most of my in-laws' property

have been moved there.

Jiusi and I

have friends to watch out for us in Youzhou.

What about your father?

I've thought about it countless times.

Father is too short-sighted.

Until the disaster has come,

it's impossible for him

to leave behind

the Liu Mansion and family business.

When the disaster has come,

it will be too late.

If that day comes,

I can only beg the Gu family

to do their best

to spare a horse carriage

to help Father escape.

If even the Gu family can't help...

Mother.

Today,

I want to use offering incense as an excuse

to ask you to make a decision.

Are you coming with me

or staying with the Liu family?

Yuru.

You have a way out.

I'm relieved.

I won't go with you.

Why?

How can a woman leave her husband

to live with her married daughter?

It's improper.

People will gossip.

Mother.

What's important about rules and propriety?

What's so important about gossiping?

What matters is you and I

won't be separated again

and can be together forever.

But...

Mother.

I've discussed this

with my in-laws and Jiusi.

They all welcome you.

Besides, I'm not only

a daughter-in-law in the Gu family.

I am my mother-in-law's right-hand man.

I lead all the managers

in managing the Gu family's businesses.

I'm now the Young Madam

of the Gu Family's business.

I’d like to see who dares to gossip.

But

I'm Madam Liu after all.

Mother.

All these years,

how has Father treated you?

Need I say more?

Father didn't marry you

because he cared about you,

but because of

Grandfather’s reputation and status.

That's why when the Su family declined

and you lost the support of your birth family,

he indulged Concubine Yue

and allowed her to humiliate us.

Have you forgotten?

I remember.

But...

Mother.

No matter how little your father cares about me,

I'm still a member of the Liu family.

I am still his wife.

Mother.

You must choose between dad and me.

Mother.

Father has his favorite concubine,

a daughter, and a son.

I only have one mother.

Mother.

Yuru, I've been feeling regretful and upset

since you got married.

I was thinking

why I hadn't

talked to you properly

and kept you company

while you were still at home.

Mother.

Move to Youzhou with me.

We'll have plenty of time

to talk.

You can keep me company everyday.

Mother.

I can make money.

I can make a lot of money.

I can give you

the best life

with my own efforts.

I promised you this.

Do you remember?

Yes.

Mother.

You've been weak and bullied all your life.

Even if your teeth broke,

you had to swallow them.

You dared not stand up for yourself.

Mother.

Be brave

for my sake.

Come with me.

Mother.

Okay.

Okay, I promise you.

Yuru.

I think you're different

from before.

Mother.

I think so too.

I've changed

since I married Jiusi.

In the future,

I will be different.

Your grandfather

put a lot of work into this garden.

He inscribed the plaques on all these pavilions and towers

personally.

He instructed someone

to ship this artificial rock

from Suzhou.

Your uncle and I

grew up playing here.

At that time,

the fire next door

caused the Su family to suffer a lot.

Yes.

If it weren't for the fire,

you would still be a noble.

You wouldn't have been wronged for so many years.

Mother.

I still remember

when I was a kid, I was really naughty.

I often climbed over the wall to play in the neighbor's house.

Their garden was bigger

and had a pond.

There were many yuhua stones in it.

They were so colorful.

Yes.

I don't know where

you got so many beautiful stones from.

You hid them in that tree hollow

as if they were treasures.

I remember

I was short when I was young.

Whatever treasure I got,

I hid them in this tree hollow,

thinking the adults didn't know.

Be careful.

This is a pair of moonstones

I brought back from the Sinhala Kingdom.

There have been many disasters at sea this year.

This is the only pair in Yangzhou.

I'm gifting them to you

as a pair of earrings.

It's a token of my respect.

Luo Zishang.

Why are these gems here?

Young Master.

According to the spy sent by Commissioner Wang,

someone from the Gu family has left the city.

It's the Gu's Young Madam.

Judging from the direction, she went to Jinling.

Our men are following her from afar.

We don't know

where she went in Jinling

and what she did.

Once there is news,

I'll come back and report to you.

There's no need.

I know where they went.

Go.

Yes.

I thought

you would never go back there.

Mother.

I remember our neighbors

were the Luo family?

Yes.

They were also a prominent family.

Their great grandfather was a Grand Tutor of the previous dynasty.

Were there any young masters

similar to me in age?

No.

Slightly older than me?

Did you remember wrongly?

No.

The Luo family didn't have many offspring

and their other relatives were scattered.

In my generation,

they only had

a girl about my age.

She was bedridden due to illness

and never got married.

How could they have a child

similar in age to you?

I seem to remember one.

You were too young.

You must have gotten it wrong.

Right.

Back then,

I was carefree

and knew nothing.

I only started to mature

when Father

married Concubine Yue.

If Luo Zishang

has nothing to do with the Luo family,

why did he come here?

Why did he leave these gems

here?

Mr. Luo.

Gu Jiusi’s wife ran out of the city.

Were you the one who said

not to follow them?

Yes.

She's not back yet.

Did she run away?

The Gu family sent one out of the city today.

They can send one out tomorrow.

They'll all be gone in no time.

Young Madam Gu

left with her mother,

Su Wan.

They went to Jinling.

What?

Even Gu Jiusi's mother-in-law

is running away?

Su Wan's birth family was from Jinling.

They're probably

visiting their hometown before leaving.

The Su family

is just a deserted mansion now.

They have nowhere to stay.

They will most likely

be back by tonight.

Really?

How did you

know so much?

I see.

This is called knowing thy self and knowing thy enemy.

Young Master Luo,

you've already investigated

every member of the Gu family, right?

No wonder my father

said you were shrewd.

You're indeed thorough.

Goodbye.

Hush.

There are so many beautiful rocks

in your pond.

Can I take some home?

You like pretty stones?

Thank you.

What's your name?