Original subtitles

Episode 9

Mistress, here he is.

Greetings, Mistress.

I'm short-staffed now.

Don't mind what I said to you earlier.

I may have conflicts with Zhong Yelan

but I'm still...

the daughter of the Hua family

and my father's still the butler here.

If you stay and work here

you'll stand to gain from it.

Since I've been assigned to you

then, Mistress, you're my only master.

Good!

I said that you were promising

and I was right.

Just let me know if you need any help.

There are indeed many things for you to do

right now.

—Cuizhu. —Yes?

Come and help.

I'm coming.

Come on.

Why are you looking at me like this?

I've heard of it.

What did you hear?

You didn't just deduct

food and clothing expenses from Mistress

but also transferred all the staff

who clean her compound.

Chief Guard, don't talk nonsense.

I wouldn't have the nerve

to deduct her expenses. It's...

Master's order.

Did he ask you to transfer all her staff?

Don't assume I don't know that

he never gave such orders.

As a result, Mistress' maids

are all very busy.

It's not my fault.

Although Master didn't give these orders

the maids and servants

came to ask me for a transfer.

It's difficult to satisfy everyone.

I can only follow their wishes.

Besides, Master has no objection to this.

Don't use him as an excuse.

You've misunderstood me.

I wouldn't have the nerve.

You can cut spending but don't go too far.

Just toe the line.

I'll take the blame if Master knows of this.

But if I hear of

your harsh treatment of Mistress' maids

then I won't be so polite.

Remember, I'm in charge of the guards

in this compound.

All right.

Okay.

As for those who'd asked to leave

there's no need to transfer them back.

We don't need to retain disloyal people.

Yes.

By the way

don't forget to instruct your people.

Fine.

Is he...

really getting serious?

All done, Mistress.

Isn't this a little fancy?

It's not the first time

that I'm going to see Her Highness.

Mistress, you've just recovered

so a fancy look will bring you luck.

All right then.

Is the carriage ready?

We don't have to go out

and pay for this, do we?

No. I'll check it out.

Mistress, please stop.

My brother sent it, right?

I've told him many times

apparently, it all fell on deaf ears.

He still buys jewellery for me.

These things are burdens when on the run.

If he sends more things next time

you can reject them directly.

Just tell them I've no interest in such things.

This is no ordinary piece of jewellery.

My brother is finally learning something.

He found such a novel thing.

Mistress, be careful.

This knife is small

but extremely sharp.

How sharp can it be?

Tell my brother

that I really like this thing.

I didn't do it on purpose.

Get up. Don't be that polite.

Come on, tell me

how to turn this back into a bangle.

This is really useful for self-defence.

I don't have anything

that needs guarding here.

I'm going to Zhong's Garden

and I need a guard.

Would you please take me there?

Noted.

Young kids are so obedient.

Mistress, shouldn't it be over there?

I was invited here.

We're in broad daylight.

I doubt anyone would have the nerve

to set me up.

It's fine. We'll go by ourselves.

What a coincidence, Sister-in-law.

Just my luck.

I happen to be going to see my mother.

Let's go together.

Is your injury better?

That day at Zhong Residence

I didn't have time to ask you in detail

as Senior asked to see me.

You asked me detailed questions then

and I'm fine now.

I sense that you're still upset.

Do you still think

that I'm testing you all the time?

Lord, you must be joking with me.

I wouldn't dare think that.

You dare not think that

and not that you're not angry?

Then let me assure you

I'll never speculate about your actions again.

Can you forgive me?

What's wrong?

Lord, were you talking to me?

Who else would it be?

Every thought of yours must make sense.

So, there isn't any speculation, right?

Forget it. There will be a time for that.

I thought about what you said that day

and thought it was very reasonable.

Here we go again.

Didn't you promise me no more speculation?

Forgive me for being ignorant

but may I know what I said wrong?

I said I would stop speculating about you

so you don't have to be so cautious.

I'd be a fool to believe you.

You said that a person has only one life

so nothing's worth risking one's life for.

You should think about this in the future.

Are you threatening my life?

I mean, you...

Greetings, Mistress.

Come and sit by my side.

Yes, Mistress.

You're really ignorant.

Yelan is well-trained in martial arts

there was no need to take the arrow for him.

It made you ill for so long

and caused me to worry for you

at this age.

You are right, Mistress.

I was ignorant and too impulsive.

Thank you for your concern.

I won't do it again.

Look at how thin you've become.

I used to think that you were too frail.

Now that you're so slim

how would you bear Yelan a child?

Mother.

You're partial to her.

I've been here for so long.

But it seems like you didn't see me.

The cheek of you to say that.

You're still not married

so my wish for a grandson

is pinned on Yelan.

I heard that you cooked him noodles

for his birthday.

I just cooked them casually.

It's the thought that counts.

It is rare for a pampered little lady like you

would be willing to enter the kitchen

to cook noodles for him.

You were ill for so long

but why didn't you send me any update?

I was so worried

that I almost sent a physician to you.

My mother heard you had a coma for five days

and was very worried

so she had me take Physician Wu here.

I'm sorry. It won't happen next time.

Next time?

You think I've lived too long, don't you?

It was a slip of the tongue. I'm sorry.

Mistress, don't be angry.

Of course, I'm not.

Mistress.

I'll remember everything you told me.

Take care of yourself.

You too.

It's getting late, so I must go now.

You should take an early rest.

I'll come visit you another day.

All right. Be careful on your way.

I will.

Mother, it's getting late

so I won't bother you anymore.

Go on.

Sister-in-law...

Sister-in-law.

Sister-in-law.

Hua Qian.

Hua Qian.

Hua Qian.

Lord, what are you doing?

It is improper for men and women to touch

not to mention I'm your sister-in-law.

Are you trying to put me in a tough spot?

I called you a few times just now

but you pretended not to hear me.

Why are you blaming me now?

Lord, did you just call me?

I was thinking about Master

so I hurried along and missed it.

Didn't you ask for a divorce a few days ago?

Why are you still using him as an excuse?

You're a busy man.

You shouldn't poke your nose

into someone else's family affairs.

What's wrong with you today?

As if someone has made you angry.

Lord, if you've nothing else to tell me

I'd like to leave now.

Why don't you let me finish my speech?

Earlier, what I meant by

cherish your life is...

If you sincerely want me to cherish my life

you shouldn't bother me here.

There are so many people in Zhong's Garden.

Have you ever considered

the situation I'll be in

when others see us?

No one has the nerve to talk about us.

No one would do that to you, Lord

but what about me?

I've already lost Master's heart.

My father is also getting on with age.

And my brother has accomplished nothing.

As a woman, I'm alone and helpless

and of course,

you won't understand my difficulties.

The way you've expressed your situation

do you still think that I'm testing you?

Forget it.

Mistress, why are you so bold today?

That's our lord.

Of course, I know that.

Precisely because he's the lord

I had to say what I said to let him know

that now he doesn't need to use me

to suppress my family.

Let's get out of here quickly.

Why?

I was angry at being tested by him

so my tone wasn't nice.

He might punish me when he realises that.

Hurry up.

This is something new.

Miss, don't forget your father's instruction.

Stay out of other people's business.

You don't need to remind me.

Looking at Qian today

she doesn't seem to care about Yelan at all.

Maybe Mistress is still angry.

If that is so

she'd have complained.

You also saw how I brought him up today

but she didn't want to talk about him.

Your Highness, do you want to meet Master?

It's indeed a bit unreasonable for Yelan

to neglect Qian

but after all, I'm only his elder

and they didn't ask for my help.

If I meddle in their business

then I'll be a nuisance.

Your Highness.

Master's parents died young.

The former Lord and you

have treated him

as your own son since he was a child.

He wouldn't think of you as a nuisance.

Besides, as long as they're still married

they'll get back together.

Qian's a smart girl

but...

What a pity.

Mother, it's getting late

so I won't bother you anymore.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

I'm probably thinking too much.

I'm full. Clear the table.

Yes, Mistress.

Mistress

when I was checking our inventory today

I saw the guqin, chess, and writing tools

that Master gave you are all dusty.

You used to fiddle with them when idle.

Why don't I bring them to you

to kill time, Mistress?

Qianzhi.

How do you think I treated Zhong Yelan

before I got married?

It's okay. You can speak freely.

Mistress, you love Master so much.

He likes playing chess

so you learnt from many teachers how to play.

He likes to listen to guqin

so you did everything to master it.

He appreciates good handwriting

so you insist on practising

regardless if the weather was hot or cold

If he casually

praised a girl's painting skills

and you'd visit her

to make her acquaintance

and learn from her.

That's right.

I didn't learn all of those things

because I like them

so now I don't want to touch them anymore.

Maybe he's just a little upset.

Do you want to make an apology to him?

I really hope that he can get angry

and hold on to my faults.

I wish he had...

divorce me

so that I don't have to rack my brains

to figure out how to force him to do so.

What did you just say, Mistress?

Mistress.

A maid from Hua Residence came

and said Butler Hua requested

for your visit tomorrow.

I should do that.

Qian.

Qian, do you like the jewellery I sent you?

Yes.

Then why aren't you wearing it?

The ones I bought for you

are all unique and exquisite.

They match your beauty

and you'll outshine everyone else.

The emerald I got you...

I know. Look.

This is from you. I'm wearing it.

Did I give you this bangle?

Just calm down and talk to her.

Rest assured.

Don't get angry.

Father.

Mother.

My child...

I haven't seen you for a while.

Why have you lost so much weight?

Are you ill-treated by Master?

Just tell me.

I was wrong about him

that cold-blooded and ruthless man.

My dear, let her sit first.

Take a seat.

Qian.

Have you recovered?

I'm fine.

I heard that

you asked for a divorce?

—Yes. —Why did you do that?

You are not a child anymore.

Yet you're still so wilful.

Why did you scold me without asking me why?

What else could the reason be?

It's because I'd spoilt you too much.

—My dear... —That's why you're so wilful.

My dear!

Qian is still young.

Be more patient with her.

Have a sip of water.

Have a sip of water and calm down.

Qian.

The master did do something wrong this time.

But you had wanted to marry him so badly.

Right?

How can you still be so wilful?

The key to maintaining a marriage is to...

When I wanted to stay here for a while

both of you also reprimanded me

without asking me why.

And now, it's the same.

Do you see me as your daughter first?

Or as the mistress of Zhong Residence?

Of course, it's the former.

In my view, it's good for you to divorce.

You're so beautiful

and many people fancy you.

You shouldn't remain there to be ill-treated.

Shut up.

You're in no place to speak!

All you do is play.

If you were more responsible

I wouldn't have to work so hard

for the family!

If I knew you'd turn out like this

I'd rather not have a son!

My dear.

Father, tell me.

What do you work so hard for?

Do you want

to hold sole power in Zhong Residence

or do you want our family to be safe and happy?

What are you talking about?

I've never understood your mind

so I want to hear it from you.

What's your intention behind that question?

Since you didn't answer me

then let me guess.

I assume what you want

is the former, right?

You said what you do is for this family.

But you didn't teach your son well

and watched him become a degenerate.

Then you saw your daughter being wronged

and reproached her with no rhyme or reason.

To you

am I only the wife of Zhong Yelan?

Qian, that's not the way to talk to your father.

What's wrong with what I said?

I've already broken up with Zhong Yelan

and he lets me stay on out of obligation.

Why can't I want to leave?

Do I have to waste my life there?

Weren't you the one

who wanted to marry him so badly before?

Do you regret it now?

Yes.

I was the one who wanted to marry him

and pretended to be his childhood sweetheart.

I even drugged him to marry me.

What you taught me

since I was a child

is that I should fight for everything I want

at all costs.

I listened, remembered

and executed it.

But I was young and naive

and didn't know right from wrong.

I let my emotions run everything.

You're aware.

But don't you know

that what I did is wrong?

You've always been omnipotent in my mind

so why didn't you stop me

when I pretended to be someone else?

When I wanted to drug Zhong Yelan

why didn't you tell me

that a woman shouldn't be so despicable?

Parents

should correct their children

when they're on the wrong track, right?

Mother may be a simple woman

and have limited knowledge

but, Father...

why do you not teach us right from wrong?

Father.

You may not care about

what I did in the past at all.

After all, all you wanted was

to become the butler.

You've never truly cared about us.

Qian.

Qian.

You're getting brazen, I see.

All right. Listen up.

If I didn't fight for the butler position

do you think our family

can live so comfortably?

Do you think you and your brother

can have anything you want?

You've enjoyed all the benefits

and now you blame me for neglecting you?

Who are you to do that?

My dear...

Of course, I cannot blame you

but I just wanted to tell you

how I truly feel now.

If I say that all I want

is for the family to live well

will you listen to me?

If you want to prove

that everything you did is only for our sake

then you might as well resign.

The money I have

together with our family fortune

is enough to open a little fragrance shop

in a tiny place

without worries about food and lodging

for the rest of our lives.

That's way happier than serving the lord

in constant fear for our lives.

Happier?

All you think about is your own happiness.

Fine.

If I resign from my job

who will protect your wayward brother

in the future?

I let you marry into the Zhong family

because you could help him out

if he's down and out

after we've passed on.

But all you do is throw tantrums

without thinking about others at all.

My dear...

So, after all,

you aren't willing to give up

the position of the butler

and my brother is just your excuse.

Father.

Do you know that this enviable job

is also a hot potato?

If you can do anything

to get rid of peers for this position

they can do the same to you.

If you fall from this pedestal eventually

do you know what awaits our family?

Prosperity also comes with loss.

By then, no one in our family

can get away from it.

If you continue to obsess

over power and wealth

it will only bring our family to a bad end

in the future.

What are you saying?

Bring our family to a bad end?

—My dear! —Father!

—Father. —What a disobedient daughter!

My dear, calm down!

Despite all these years of raising you

all I get is disobedience from you!

I really don't want to see you again.

Get out of here!

—Now! —My dear!

My dear, calm down!

Qian, stop.

My dear, calm down!

Qian... hurry up.

Get your sister out of here.

Looks like

no agreement could be reached

between us today.

If you insist on being the butler

then please forgive me for being disobedient.

This is the end of my advice to you.

Qian...

Take care of your sister.

Qian, go back and take good care of yourself.

—Qian... —Rest well! Do you hear me?

Don't come back here again.

All right, my dear.

Calm down.

Qian...

Qian.

You shouldn't talk back to Father.

Look at how mad he got.

Why don't you go back and apologise to him?

Do you also think

that I did wrong today?

Do you want to live a life

with power and wealth

but full of infighting

or live in peace in the countryside?

Why do we have to choose?

With Father around, what are we afraid of?

Why do we have to live a life

in the countryside?

So you're still used to the days of wealth

and power

and don't want to be an ordinary person

and live an ordinary life?

Life is pretty good now.

You worry too much.

Hua Residence

Sure enough

no one in our family listens to me

or believes me.

Let's leave.

Qian...

Master.

Who did it?

What do you think?

Not many people can slap me, right?

You're still the mistress of Zhong Residence.

Don't let others bully you in the future

lest you disgrace me.

Did you just show concern for me?

What are you doing?

I want you to know something, Master.

—You! —Do you see it now?

If you insist on keeping me here

I won't be able to tolerate any eyesore

and it'd be absolutely impossible for me

to live a quiet and peaceful life here.

I was just telling the truth.

Why did he hit me so hard?

Mistress, do you really want a divorce?

Divorce?

I want to divorce but it's not that easy.

After all, if I ask for a divorce

it'll bring disgrace to Master.

He even said that he'd see past my faults.

All I did was talk to my father

and see how I end up like this.

Then, Mistress...

why did you do that to Master just now?

I have no way to ask for a divorce

so I can only force him to propose it.

By the way

how's your investigation coming along?

You don't want me to intervene

but I haven't heard any updates from you.

I came to tell you this.

My father just sent me a letter.

He found out a kind of fragrance formula

which can make inferior aquilaria incense

pass off as the real deal.

Even a master

with decades of experience in fragrance

cannot tell the difference

that's why my father fell for it.

This technique is...

It was the same technique

used by the Ge family.

It was only after I heard the conversation

between you and the lord that day

that I had a clue.

Are you implying that

escaped Ge family members are involved in it?

But why did they set your family up?

I have no idea.

But there was something wrong with the broker

who once delivered furniture

containing aquilaria incense powder

to our mansion.

After my family was arrested and imprisoned

she seemed to disappear into thin air.

No one can find her, dead or alive.

Lately, I spoke with Hua Qian's maids.

This matter is very complicated.

She's probably not the mastermind

but at most an accomplice.

But the Hua family may have bad blood

with the Ge family.

Then, have you ever considered

that maybe Hua Qian just unintentionally

referred a bad broker to you

and has nothing to do with this?

Master, you've never seen her

categorically deny this matter

nor watched how she rejected me

when I asked her for the truth

so I understand why you'd think that way.

I didn't mean that.

What I'm investigating is very difficult.

If you can't bear it

and doesn't want to continue with it

I won't force you to help me.

No.

Since it's an unjust case

I need to find out the truth.

You can order Nanfeng if you need help.

As for Hua Qian...

Mistress, Mrs Hua sent you a letter again.

Put it aside.

Okay.

Mistress.

Mrs Hua has written to you for several days.

Just take a look.

She just wants me to go back

and apologise to my father

so it's okay not to read them.

Mistress, are you not going to talk to him again?

Of course not.

I just want them to know where I stand.

Even if I can't change their views immediately

it'll have a little influence on them.

Mistress, Nanfeng is here.

Why is he here again?

What's the matter this time?

Let him in.

Greetings, Mistress.

What's wrong?

Is there any problem in the household?

No...

I'm here just to tell you

that the incense banquet is in three days

and Master wants you to attend it with him

at Zhong's Garden.

Who's going to be there?

Supervisors from all over the country

the Wu family and other suppliers

who work with the Zhong family.

The Wu family?

Is it finally happening?

Mistress, do you have any questions?

Why does Master want me to attend?

It's such a big affair

of course, you should attend it with Master.

Bonus footage

You?

After so many years, you returned?

I want you to make me something.

And I was just wondering

why you came to me.

It turns out

that you want something from me.

Any price is acceptable.

Why do you speak like we're strangers?

I was your master for a few years after all.

Isn't that right, my good apprentice?