Original subtitles

Episode 10

Three days after

What is it?

Afraid that I'll suddenly hug you again?

Greetings, Lord Zhong and Your Highness.

Thank you for coming such a long way.

Thank you for the invitation.

We're deeply honoured

to have the opportunity

to attend this annual incense banquet.

Please take a seat.

Thank you, Lord Zhong.

The Junior Lord of the Wu family has arrived.

I'm Wu Shuomo from the Wu family.

Greetings, Lord Zhong and Your Highness.

Sorry for being late.

You're not late. You came just in time.

Take a seat.

What a unique fragrance.

It smells so good.

Only the Zhong family can produce it.

I heard so much about their famous incense.

Nothing beats experiencing it in person.

The incense banquet

becomes grander each year.

Look at the large plumes.

I wonder how much incense is burned.

That's the only way to create an impact.

Besides, we're talking about the Zhong family.

They're not lacking in incense.

You're right.

In addition to the incense

the tea and snacks on the table

are also scented.

Please have a taste.

After you.

He's already this old

yet is still so stubborn.

What was that?

Nothing.

- Please. - Okay.

Did you get to the bottom of it?

I told my men to check again.

The incense balls used in this incense banquet

are indeed Zen incense.

Good.

It's just that... Master...

Must we do this?

If the Senior Lord finds out one day

I'm afraid it can't be justified.

If you have doubts

you should just kill her.

We don't need to handle it this way.

The Mu family is already down and out.

I won't do anything to her.

I have my own plan.

Father's health is getting steadily worse.

So, he can't influence any of my decisions.

I know you're hesitant

because of the past.

She's a member of the Mu family after all.

If she finds out...

Then just keep her in the dark forever.

Master, you can make sure of this

but during the ancestral worship

I could clearly see

that she was willing to die for Master

I'm afraid she has...

I didn't notice it the last time

but now that I have

they are so blatant.

Is he feeling guilty?

That's right.

His arrow almost ended my life.

Since only I know about it

I can threaten him with it.

Put down the chopsticks.

All right.

Now that we've had our drinks

and eaten

the next familiar activity

is the incense quiz.

We shall follow the usual rule.

Whoever can figure out the ingredients

wins the first prize.

This is the Balsa wood incense

a fragrance created by the lord himself.

It can prevent the plague

refresh the mind

and treat traumatic swelling and pain.

Since this is the showstopper

would you show the Jiayin Pill

that's passed down through generations

to your guests who have travelled

from far away?

Junior Lord Wu, you may not know

that the key ingredient is blood amber.

And premium ones are very hard to find.

What's more, Jiayin Pill

was originally used to treat hallucination

so it should be kept for those who need it

not as the top prize for the banquet.

Sorry, I don't know about it.

I heard about the rarity of this incense

so I wanted to have a look.

I should have thought further.

Lord Zhong seldom makes incense in person

and this Balsa wood incense

is also hard to find in the market.

Right...

Let's begin then.

Everyone, if you can guess the ingredients used

then the one who got the most correct

will be the winner.

Why is the smell so familiar?

Isn't it the ordinary Zen incense?

Using this incense for the quiz?

That's a bit rude, isn't it?

I smell something different.

It's more refreshing and calming.

The smell is indeed unique to Zen incense.

Buy why would they use that for the quiz?

Right.

What's missing?

I see.

Can you behave yourself?

Master, please enjoy the incense here.

I'm going to the washroom

so I won't bother you here.

Sister Qi, this plum wine is sweet and mellow

much better than the one made in the garden.

I thought you'd be in a bad mood

so I invited you for a drink and chat

but you seem to be in such a good mood.

Why should I be in a bad mood?

Didn't you hear the sounds?

The drum music from the main hall

can be heard in my compound

but we can only sit here and drink

since we weren't invited to the banquet.

Those who attend the incense banquet

have business dealings with the Zhong family.

We girls should stay in the backyard.

Says who?

Hua Qian is right there as we speak.

She's married to Master

so it's normal for her to attend.

We're all the daughters of the supervisors.

How come she has such good luck?

She always gets what she wants!

She's different from us.

Her father is Chief Butler.

We all work for the Zhong family.

What's the difference?

Besides, that flirtatious girl

doesn't deserve to be with the man she loves!

Miss!

She had too much to drink

and is spouting tipsy talk.

Yes! I'm drunk!

This incense makes me drunk!

This plum wine also makes me drunk!

It's getting late

so I should go back to rest.

Take good care of Sister Qi.

Mistress, aren't you going to the washroom?

Why are we here?

It's quiet here. I want to get some air.

The banquet is about to last one hour more.

Besides, the incense quiz

isn't so interesting.

We can return when the banquet is almost over.

Why is Mistress here alone?

Why did he follow me?

Qianzhi.

What brings Junior Lord Wu here?

I wanted to say thank you

but I didn't expect

that you're so different from the rumours.

I didn't expect

the Junior Lord to do a lot of research

before coming to Huangcheng this time

which even included researching me.

You're the most talented woman in the city

so, of course, I've heard about you.

Junior Lord, you flatter me too much.

I've been out for too long

so I'll go back now.

I heard so much about your loving marriage

that draws the envy of others.

But both of you were rather

cold to each other just now?

What's going on?

In the last life, I approached him first

to help break up Zhong Yelan and Mu Yao.

Why is he taking the initiative now?

Wu Shuomo.

You're smart to find this place.

But isn't it a bit indecent for you

to come here dressing like this

in the middle of the night?

Wu Shuomo, why did you choose to hide here?

What about me?

What's wrong?

You agreed to cooperate with me.

Why did you turn your back on me?

What did we agree on?

You said you would take Mu Yao away

and I would have Zhong Yelan

but now you don't want to admit it, right?

Don't try me

or I'll report you to the authorities now

and tell them you're behind everything.

Go right ahead.

If I remember correctly

all members of your family have been arrested

and imprisoned.

You came at the perfect time.

Let me tell you something useful.

I'll leave the city

via Mount Donghuang tomorrow.

So you'd better hurry up.

I'll see who will believe

a fugitive like you.

You...

So, are you going to offer Mu Yao

to Zhong Yelan?

She doesn't want me

so I should let her go.

What about me?

As you offer her kindness

my entire family is going to be exiled!

Weren't the members of the Mu family

killed or exiled previously

because of your family?

It's karma.

Your family deserves this.

After all

you were the one who hatched the ploy

so now, you can't blame others.

You broke off our agreement

and implicated me afterwards

so you can't just leave me in the lurch.

Do you mean

you want to be my woman?

I'm the most talented woman in this city

and also the best here in all literary arts.

If you really turn against me

I won't let you leave

Mount Donghuang so easily.

Don't forget that

a member of the Wu family

who should be thousands of miles away

shouldn't be in Huangcheng right now.

Butler Hua will head to the gallows tomorrow

and your whole family will be exiled.

And now, you're here to offer yourself.

You want to threaten and tempt me.

I'm really impressed by

how cold-blooded and selfish you are.

But

I'm not interested in used goods.

You...

I feared that you would be indecisive

so when you came just now

I had someone notify your magistrate.

When you see him later

let's see if he'll pay more attention

to a foreigner like me

or a wanted person like you.

Can't believe such a coward like her

tried to threaten me.

What a stupid woman.

How ridiculous.

Am I wrong?

Marriage isn't that straightforward.

A lovey-dovey couple

might have a rocky relationship

but two people who truly respect each other

can remain together for a long time.

Junior Lord, you're not married

so you won't understand.

Speaking of marriage

I do have someone I fancy.

The maid behind Master caught my eye.

But he seems to feel for her, too,

so I'm afraid

that he wouldn't let her go.

You should speak to him yourself.

I can't decide for him.

Mistress, don't you understand what I mean?

We can collaborate

and get what we each need.

Help me and...

Please forgive me, Junior Lord Wu.

Ever since I was shot with an arrow

at the ancestral worship

by a shameless assassin

my health has been worsening.

I can't stop coughing when it turns cold.

Wait a minute, Mistress.

- I haven't finished my... - Junior Lord Wu.

Why are you here?

I drank so much wine

that my head was starting to ache

so I came out to get some fresh air.

I should get back now.

Mistress.

Let's chat another day.

There's nothing else left to say.

Lord, did you hear the entire conversation

between Junior Lord Wu and me just now?

What do you think?

It's not what you think.

Then tell me.

What do you mean, "it's not what I think"?

I have no intention to hurt Mu Yao.

He told me

that he has his eye on Mu Yao.

But that's his business.

It has nothing to do with me.

I never said that I'd help him

or promise to marry Mu Yao to him.

It was just his wishful thinking.

It has nothing to do with me.

If you don't believe me

you could just go and ask him.

Why should I do that?

Don't worry.

I told you I just wanted a peaceful life

without any dispute.

So we should fight for the one we want

on our own.

On our own?

What did she mean?

I don't know either.

Don't get Mu Yao in trouble anymore.

Why?

I-I haven't gotten her in trouble anyway.

Now that the three men who love her so much

are coming together, let's stay away

lest they fight and hurt us.

Who are those men?

What's the use of knowing?

Hold it steady.

I made this anti-hangover soup for the lord.

Don't worry, Sister Man.

Shouldn't you be at the banquet?

Why are you here?

Are you meeting your lover secretly?

What audacity! How dare a maid like you

slander Mistress!

Look at how upset you got.

- Did I guess correctly? - You...

This kind of person isn't worth our time.

What's the hurry?

Tell me what kind of person I am.

The kind who has a corrupted mind

and views everything with that filter.

Do you think that you're still

that revered Mistress?

Everyone in Huangcheng knows that

the master ignores you

even after you took that arrow for him.

Cousin Qian, you always seem so cheerful

but I've been feeling sorry for you.

You think I've lost Master's favour?

Is that why you have the nerve to humiliate me?

You're overthinking.

How would I dare do that?

I just felt so sorry

to watch you risking your life for nothing.

Speaking of which, Butler Hua

must be embarrassed by this, too.

Otherwise

why would he suddenly ask about me recently?

You brought this upon yourself.

It's wrong of me to make you worry about me.

You were in such a hurry. Where are you going?

I heard that Lord Zhong drank a lot

so I made some anti-hangover soup.

I've wasted enough time

so I should leave now.

Please don't stand in my way, Sister Qian.

Didn't you insist on stopping me just now?

How did it end up

being me standing in your way?

You're so caring

but the lord is of noble birth

and fragrance alone can relieve his hangover.

How can he drink such a vulgar thing?

Hua Qian, what do you mean?

After all, you're born vulgar.

It seems that you can't elevate yourself.

You're serving Lord Zhong

yet you're still clueless

about incense therapy.

You...

Sister Man

let's hurry up and deliver the soup

before it gets cold.

- Cousin... - Hua Qian.

Have you lost your mind?

That's a very hurtful thing to say.

You just missed your step.

How could you blame me for that?

You've always looked down on me.

I've delivered messages for Butler Hua

countless times.

Not only do you still treat me poorly

you're even biting the hand that feeds you!

Do you really want to go against your father?

I don't understand what you're saying.

Don't feign ignorance.

Without my help

your father wouldn't have been hired

to be the butler here.

You're just an ingrate

who turns against her benefactor!

Eventually, you'd still need help from me.

Cousin, you're getting ludicrous.

My father was trained by the former lord.

You've only been working here

for two or three years.

Why would he need your help?

Besides, what capability do you have

to support the whole Hua family?

Are you plain stupid

but just too proud to know this?

Do you think Butler Hua

is willing to submit to the lord?

He needs me to know the lord's movements.

I may not know everything about my father

but at least I know him better than you.

If he's indeed so ambitious

why would he turn a blind eye

to the people you sent over to woo him

these few months?

You need to get this straight.

My father never needed your help.

The reverse is true instead.

Really?

You may not know this.

But, over the past few days

Butler Hua fawns over me

by sending me a lot of gifts.

I need to tell him this then.

It's better to cut off some family ties

than risk having well-intentioned gifts

be misunderstood.

Do you think I need his help that badly?

Without him

I can still make it here.

Just you wait and see.

Sooner or later

I'll become the Lady of Zhong Residence

and your entire family will kneel before me.

You're even stupider than I used to be.

Since when can you make decisions for me?

- Lord... - You're just a maid.

Do you think you can just turn yourself

into the Lady of Zhong Residence?

No wonder you were provoking me. You...

You haven't answered my question yet.

You're just a maid.

I treat you kindly because of Butler Hua

but I didn't expect you to aim that high.

No, Lord. I...

It was Butler Hua! He forced me to do this!

Didn't you just say

that you don't need my father at all?

Why are you blaming this on him now?

Please consider the merits of my family

and not punish my cousin too much.

I'm too weak to stand amidst the elements

so I must go now.

Hua Qian, you slut!

Be careful!

Mistress!

- Lord! - Lord!

Lord, please forgive us.

Mistress, are you okay?

Lord, you...

Lock the two of them up

gag them...

tight.

Got it.

Lord, please forgive us.

Would you stay in a nearby compound

for a moment?

I'll hurry and find you some clean clothes.

Lord...

Let's go.

Lord...

Aren't you coming?

Master.

Go check on the mistress

in case she should lose her way.

Noted.

It's very likely.

This is too easy.

I've long heard of you, Master Zhong.

I'm glad to meet you

and you look even more impressive in person.

Junior Lord Wu, I'm flattered.

Master, the maid next to you

is really pretty.

Junior Lord Wu, that was a bit rude.

Really? Then I must apologise.

After all, we don't have so many rules

so I'm used to doing whatever I want.

Get someone to find the lord.

The banquet is coming to an end.

It will look bad on us if he's absent.

Yes, Your Highness.

Go find Lord Zhong.

Have your maid stand guard outside

and lead Gao Yu in when he arrives.

Then I won't go in as well.

It's out of etiquette.

If neither of us tells, who will know?

Or do you want others to know

that I'm in this situation

because of you?

What is this?

Jinhua Powder, a pain relief medicine.

I'm injured because of you

so you should apply the medicine for me.

I can't reach my back.

Have your maid guard at the door.

What... what are you doing?

I'm getting ready for you to apply medicine.

How about...

I get Qianzhi to help you instead?

Do you think just anyone

gets to see the body of the lord?

Then let's wait for Gao Yu to come help you.

Hua Qian.

If we delay any longer

then everyone in the banquet

would notice our absence.

No way...

What kind of porcelain did Hua Man use?

Why do you ask?

The jar has such good insulation effect.

The maid next to her

had been carrying it for a long time

but I did not expect it to still be this hot.

He must have been too sheltered

to withstand the heat.

Do you think I'm too pampered?

Lord, don't move.

I'll apply the medicine for you now.

Why do you carry with you

a pain relief medicine?

Doing business is like battling in a war.

It's always better to be prepared.

All done. You can get changed now.

Gao Yu hasn't brought me my clothes yet.

Then I'll go outside and wait for him.

Hua Qian.

You kept mentioning Mu Yao earlier.

What was your intention?

Mu Yao is an exceptional woman

so Wu Shuomo also has a crush on her.

I meant it as a kind reminder for you.

Why do you...

How do you know...

If you like someone

it shows in the way you look at them.

You look at us differently.

I'm a woman, so I can tell.

Of course, I look at her

differently from how I do you.

Thank you for saving me just now.

Please take this incident with Hua Man

as my gift to you in return.

A person with evil intentions

will never risk their own well-being.

My father is old

and my elder brother is too frivolous

to inherit his career

so you don't have to be wary of my family.

Based on what you said

did you trick Hua Man to expose her thoughts

for my well-being?

How many times must I convince you

that I won't speculate about you anymore?

It's not that I don't believe...

Mistress, is Lord Zhong inside?

Lord, I brought you clothes and medicine.

Let me apply the medicine for you.

No need. It's already done.

Mistress, what happened just now?

Nothing. We've been out for too long.

Let's hurry back.

Mistress, if someone else finds out

what happened today, I'm afraid...

Don't worry.

Lord will want to keep it secret, too,

so no need to worry about covering it up.

But, even if others don't know

it's too outrageous for you

to apply the medicine to him.

In that situation, I had to help him.

I feel no shame

so don't think too much about it.

Why did he change his outfit?

I didn't expect Junior Lord Wu

to be so knowledgeable.

Among all the guests here

only you got all the ingredients right.

I was lucky.

Isn't it the ordinary Zen incense?

There should be no mistakes in our answers.

- Right. - We should be right.

Right, this is indeed Zen Incense

but it's not an ordinary one.

A special ingredient was added

which can make the scent of incense

more serene and comfortable.

The newly added ingredient

is on the table in front of you.

That's the wild tea from southern Yunnan.

It's different from the type you drink.

The one used in this incense is made

from tea trees over a thousand years of age

so it has a strong circulatory property.

Only a person with an innocent soul

can guess what it is

without relying on its scent.

I see.

Congratulations to you, Junior Lord Wu.

Lord Zhong, thank you for your hospitality.

Regardless of

how precious this Balsa wood incense is

it's not what I want.

I'd like to exchange this prize for a person

if you don't mind.

What does this Junior Lord Wu want to do?

I don't know

but Lord Zhong rejected his request

for the Jiayin Pill just now.

If he rejects him again

it'd be a bit embarrassing to the Wu family.

Junior Lord Wu, can you tell me

who is the person you want?

The maid from Zhong Residence.

What?

I thought Junior Lord Wu would aim high

to marry into the Zhong family.

But all he wants is a maid.

Exactly.

When he got the quiz right

I thought he was an incense connoisseur.

So I didn't expect him

to have a crush on a pretty lass.

You can't command the people in my household

to come and go as you please.

She's just a maid.

You're being too stingy.

Who said she's just a maid?

She is from Zhong Residence

so naturally...

she's my woman.

This...

This is absurd!

- What's going on? - Yeah.

What is he talking about?

Those were the same words he used before.

This is a great opportunity for me.

I can use this

as the reason for the breakdown of our marriage

and others wouldn't find it odd

when I eventually demand a divorce.

Your woman?

What about the one next to you?

- What do you mean by that, Master? - I...

I... don't understand.

Butler Hua, you're overreacting.

It's not odd that a man has many concubines.

My wife, Qian, has always been generous

so why is it a problem for you?

Perhaps you should stay out of my business.

All right...

I was being rude.

Please regard this cup of tea

as an apology.

A disappointing daughter!

There are so many people here.

Don't embarrass your sister.

Be good. Come back home with me.

Let's go, hurry up.

Master really went too far today.

He didn't save his wife's face at all

because of a maid.

That's right

Mistress is Butler Hua's daughter.

How can she be humiliated like this?

Forget it. Let's drop it.

Get on the carriage.

Mistress, let's go.

Let's go.

Bonus footage

Why haven't I been seeing Hua Rongzhou?

What do you want him for?

I underestimated him before

so I lost when I was sparring with him.

Now I'm ready

and I want to defeat him.

Does any of you know where he is?

I also want to spar with him!

Don't you know?

He's still guarding Mistress' residence.

But there is no benefit in working for her now

and others have found excuses

to transfer to another place.

Perhaps he is...

also thinking hard about how to escape.

He deserves it!