Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Special Lady]

[Episode 1]

My Lady, slow down.

Yes, My Lady, please come down.

Okay.

Be careful.

-Be careful, Lady Zhu. -Uncle Dai.

[Song Mansion]

Her ladyship insisted on hanging it herself.

If Mr. Song finds out,

he'll make you copy books.

Let me help you.

Thank you, My Lady.

You've done a good job.

Thank you.

Take it.

Okay.

If Second Brother sees

our effort to welcome him back,

he must be happy.

Bravo!

Bravo. Here's your reward.

Errand Runner, bring the Peach Kernel Pastry quickly.

Okay.

I didn't expect that Yiyang County, a small southern town,

[Eerrands Runner]

is such a wonderful place.

We must have fun this time.

Young Master.

We have something important to do this time.

We can't...

We came here as fast as we could.

We need to eat first.

The Song family is over there.

Can they run away?

It has all kinds of shapes.

Thank you.

Make one for me, too.

OK.

Here, Sir, your rat.

Sir, you haven't paid yet.

Sir.

Young Master.

He hasn't paid yet.

That person, right?

That's him.

-The one in front. -Young Master.

What is it?

You don't have money.

-How did you pay for these? -Stop!

You haven't paid yet.

Don't hit him.

I'll pay you.

We're sorry.

Boss, are my dishes ready?

OK. OK. Pass me the dishes.

OK.

Hand-pulled noodles.

Young Master.

Young Master, wait for me!

Come and have a look.

Hand-pulled noodles.

This is fun.

Let me try.

Okay.

Let me see.

Here you go.

Am I doing it in the right way?

Yes.

-Be careful, Young Master. -Be careful.

Tell me when the color is done.

OK.

Sir, you...

Sir, why did you throw away my noodles?

Pay me.

I...

Let me.

I'll pay.

I'll pay.

My young master was kicked by a donkey on the head when he was young.

[Lin's Hand-pulled Noodles]

Don't take it to heart.

-Forget it. -We're sorry.

Keep an eye on him.

Uncle Hu.

What did you say to him?

I just...

I just loudly criticized him.

I told him that it was an honor for him

that my young master played with his noodles.

How could he ask for money?

Did you say it loudly?

I was quite loud.

What's wrong?

[Where their legacy lives on]

It's fine if your second brother

is caught by a scholar family.

If he's caught by a wealthy local gentry

and treated rudely,

isn't that wasting a precious resource?

Mother, it's inappropriate to use that expression in this case.

I know.

I was just giving a general idea.

Our Song family is a well-known scholar family.

We have strict family rules.

If we disobey the rules,

we will be laughed at.

Because we don't want to break the rules

and become a joke,

we will pray to the gods

and our ancestors

to bless your second brother to come back safely.

Seeking from oneself is better than seeking from gods.

Look, the Number One Scholar has arrived.

The Number One Scholar has arrived.

Hurry up.

I told you

there is no doubt about who the Number One Scholar of this year is.

He must be Mr. Song's second son.

Silence!

Mr. Song is a famous master of the literary world.

The Yiyang Academy he established is producing excellent students who are well-known everywhere.

[Number One Scholar] [Silence]

Silence!

How could children raised in families

with such cultural heritage be anything less than exceptional?

Silence!

Look!

They came to catch the Number One Scholar to make him their son-in-law.

Isn't the group of people at the very front from the Liu family?

If the Number One Scholar is caught by their family,

then...

Number One Scholar, you have to hang in there.

My handsome and talented

second brother who has been studying hard for over ten years

can't be a wasted precious resource.

I have to save him.

The Scenic Painting of Tengwang Pavilion

is painted by the top talent in Luoyang.

Most importantly, he's also the most handsome man in Luoyang.

His name is Zhou Ji.

[Calligraphy and Painting Works]

I want it.

Today, when you buy a painting, you'll also receive a small portrait of Mr. Zhou.

I want it.

Give it to me.

Did you eat them all?

They're all bought with money.

It's not good to waste them.

I'll eat...

There are surprises besides the portrait.

Look here.

What is it? What is it?

Today, as long as you buy paintings,

you can choose a gift box.

Inside the gift boxes

are randomly placed items that Mr. Zhou has used.

Is he that handsome?

Starting bid at twenty coins for the brush.

I'll buy it.

Anybody else?

-I'll pay ten taels. -Anybody else?

Ten taels. This is the deposit.

I'll come back to pick up the painting before 3 p.m.

Save it for me.

-What? -Save it for me before 3 p.m.

Save it.

Just so-so.

Here're

things used by Mr. Zhou.

-Have a look. The inkstone used by Mr. Zhou. -Young Master. You mean that girl?

I mean this painting.

Young Master, yours are much better than this.

He's nothing compared to you.

[A person as jade in the crowd, a gentleman without equal in the world]

Song family-style lucky pouch.

Don't miss it.

[Song family-style lucky pouch]

Young Master.

Why are you here?

Look.

Mr. Song has been divined.

Is Mr. Song so influential in Yiyang?

Sirs,

you're quite right.

Mr. Song of Yiyang Academy

has been a famous prodigy in the capital since childhood.

He achieved a top three placement in the imperial examination before reaching the age of 20.

At the age of 18,

he became a Number Three Scholar.

His theory of aligning with the natural order and understanding human nature

thoroughly explains the concept of the relationship between heaven's principles

and human emotions.

Yes.

The academy Mr. Song founded

has become a place where many students want to enter.

You're right.

Sir, look.

This lucky pouch is of the same style as the one owned by the children of the Song family.

It's the same.

If you buy this lucky pouch,

you'll be able to become a Number One Scholar like the second son of the Song family.

Silence!

Silence!

Silence!

Riding a white horse and wearing a red flower.

That's him!

Guys, let's go.

Make way.

Make way.

Young Master, be careful.

What's this?

This...

It might be a tradition.

What tradition?

Hurry up. Don't let them take him.

Capture the son-in-law with sticks.

Capture the son-in-law with sticks?

Did you see these people holding sticks?

If the Number One Scholar can stand their hits,

he can marry any one

of these girls as he wishes.

As he wishes?

So he can select consorts like an emperor?

But he needs to be able to withstand these hits first.

This is a good tradition.

Young Master, I ate too much just now.

I need to go to the toilet.

Go ahead.

Go after him!

Stop running, Number One Scholar!

Don't let him escape.

After him!

Hurry! Don't let the Number One Scholar escape!

-Number One Scholar. -Move aside!

[Manhua Pavilion]

Stop running!

Number One Scholar!

Stop! Number One Scholar!

Go after him!

Hurry!

Stop!

I came here first.

-I came here first. -He's ours.

-What are you doing? -Beat them!

Number One Scholar!

Stop fighting!

He's gone.

Where's he? Go after him.

Yueniang?

Second Brother, it's me.

Yueniang, why are you here?

I'm here to save you.

Second Brother, hurry up and get changed.

Yueniang.

You want me to disguise as a commoner

to cheat the marriage proposal processions?

Father will be angry

if he knows you're helping me like this.

On my way here,

I encountered people from Landlord Liu's.

Landlord Liu is not knowledgeable.

He's known for being rude and discourteous.

Sometimes he dominates the market and bullies people.

His daughter, Miss Liu, is as strong as a cow.

She can't read and is rude.

Well...

But after thinking about it, the Liu family is well-off.

They are wealthy and influential in the area.

It might be a good match.

Yueniang.

If Father blames us,

I'll take full responsibility.

[Tailor Shop]

Get out of the way!

Don't block the way.

Don't let them take him away.

Hurry up.

Don't let them get ahead of us.

Hurry up. Get out of the way.

Aren't you...

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Well.

The Number One Scholar is here!

Come and see!

What are you doing?

-Here. -Don’t let him escape.

I'm not the Number One Scholar.

Well, she put this on for me.

I...

You...

Tell them.

The Number One Scholar wants to escape.

Get him! He wants to run away!

Whatever. Take them both away.

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

[Zhang Residence]

Let's go.

You deceitful woman!

Stay away from me!

I...

I want you to stay away from me.

You pervert!

If you hadn't spouted nonsense,

and deliberately distorted facts,

as an Earl...

How could I fall into a sack with you?

Earn what?

I don't think you're capable to earn anything.

Move over.

Unreasonable!

The Number One Scholar is here!

Number One Scholar?

Capture the son-in-law...

Master, the Number One Scholar is here.

Look.

Who is this woman?

Do you know who I am?

Who are you?

You...

Go over there.

You three...

Listen carefully.

My name is Xiao Yu.

I‘m not the Number One Scholar.

It's because this deceitful woman

put the Number One Scholar uniform on me

that caused a misunderstanding.

What's going on?

She said she was the Number One Scholar.

She said it.

It's him.

The Number One Scholar is him.

It's him.

Say it again.

It's him.

Well. Look at this.

Father.

I want him!

Catch him!

-What are you doing? -You are the one.

-I got him. -What are you doing?

Come on.

Music!

I'll beat you.

Let go!

What are you doing?

Let go of me!

Let go!

Let go!

How dare you!

How dare you do this?

How dare you do this?

Don't blame me for...

Bow.

Bow to each other.

Wait.

Stop.

This marriage is inappropriate.

Why is it inappropriate?

Yes, why?

Landlord Liu sent many people to catch the Number One Scholar.

Now,

you've just found an unknown person to be the groom here.

If this gets out,

Miss Liu

will become a laughing stock of Yiyang.

This...

What are you talking about?

Rumors are more powerful than tigers.

Facing gossip, how will Miss Liu

deal with herself in the future?

Everyone,

calm down.

Fortunately,

they haven't finished the ceremony yet.

Miss Liu's reputation is safe now.

Yes.

-It’s safe. -By the way,

if you capture the Number One Scholar today,

it would be even worse.

Look.

The six ceremonial rites are incomplete and there's no matchmaker.

Even if the Number One Scholar's here,

he certainly won't be willing to perform the ritual.

That's right.

You disregard propriety and disrespect scholars.

How should you be punished?

I...

Don't do that.

What are you doing?

Father, I don't care.

I insist on him!

Wait.

-Mother, say something. -Wait.

-My daughter. -You almost got me confused.

I asked you who you were,

but you couldn't tell me.

Now you're talking nonsense.

What do you want?

That's right.

Landlord Liu, I almost forgot it if you didn't remind me.

Report to the government.

I'll report to the government now!

Why would you report to the government?

Don't report to the government.

Landlord Liu,

what happened today can be a big deal.

If this goes to the government,

what is this?

This is a human trafficking.

Let go.

It's not that serious.

Human trafficking is the most serious crime.

Light offenders get three years in prison,

while serious ones face the death penalty

by hanging.

-It's an accident. It's not that serious. -It’s not that serious.

But it can be

a small deal.

It's just a mistake.

Since it's a mistake,

of course,

it's just a misunderstanding.

-Yes. -It's a misunderstanding.

A mistake.

-But... -What misunderstanding?

Look.

Both of us are severely injured.

It hurts so much.

If you want to settle it privately...

Mother.

Yes.

Let's settle it privately.

Please accept ten taels of silver.

Thank you.

Let's go.

No. No.

I want him!

My daughter.

-Stop it. -Stop crying.

-I have a headache. -Enough.

I don't care. I want him.

Stop!

I still have things to settle with you.

Forget it.

I saved you from suffering.

If it weren't for me,

you would be Landlord Liu's son-in-law now.

How dare you say that?

If it weren't for you...

Come here.

If it weren't for you,

I wouldn't have been caught here.

Also,

let me ask you.

Why did you deceive people for money?

Stop it.

This is not deceiving people for money.

Mother.

-Stop crying. -I don’t care.

-I just want him. -I’ll find you a good one.

The Number One Scholar uniform is genuine.

Landlord Liu

openly kidnapped people in broad daylight for marriage.

It's inherently unreasonable.

How is he different from the robbers?

I was born with a kind heart.

I didn't want to see the Number One Scholar humiliated.

That's why I did this.

As for you...

It's your luck to engage in chivalrous acts

with me.

As for the money,

I'll give it to you if you want it.

Reach out your hand.

Am I talking about money?

I'll give it to you.

Hurry up. Reach out your hand.

They are in cahoots.

Guards!

Hurry! Catch them!

It's him.

After them!

Go!

Stop!

You...

Don't follow me.

Don't block me.

You caused them to come here.

-Go that way. -Stop talking nonsense.

You caused them to come here.

Why should I run?

You're the scammer.

See if they believe you.

What do you mean?

Over there! Stop! Stop!

-Over there. -Stop! Get them!

I'd better run.

Stop!

Split up!

Stop! Catch him!

Stop! Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Why are you running?

I'm the fastest on this street.

-Move. -I’ve never met a rival like you.

Excuse me.

What are you doing?

Excuse me!

Get out of the way!

Stop! Catch her!

Where are you going?

Come and hold my hand.

-Master. -Catch her!

Why do you follow me?

You're in cahoots with them and you're here to stop me?

Why can't it be you who is in cahoots with them

and you're here to stop me?

I can't even go that way.

Hurry up!

Why aren't you running?

Why did you stop?

You...

Capture them.

Take them away.

Go to the government now!

[Clear Mirror Hanging High]

Who is kneeling?

I'm Liu Yiwei. Greetings, My Lord.

Why aren't you two kneeling?

Kneel to you?

How dare you!

My Lord, look at these two villains.

They are so arrogant.

They conspired against me.

Especially that man.

He used a seduction scheme involving my daughter.

Have you eaten too much?

You...

Silence!

Go on.

Yes.

My Lord.

This man seduced my daughter

to marry him with his good look.

He's talking about you.

At this critical moment,

that woman suddenly stepped up

She said she wanted to threaten me for plundering.

She even asked me for money.

Luckily, I caught them red-handed

when they were dividing the spoils.

Good story.

Who is this?

The one kneeling is Landlord Liu.

He's rich.

Is he sensible?

He offers tribute to you every year.

How dare you!

How dare you pretend to be the Number One Scholar

and colluded in fraud!

Press them on their knees

and flog each of them thirty times.

How dare you!

-Yes. -How dare you!

Try it.

-Don't touch me. -Kneel down.

I'll show you if I dare.

-Kneel down. -Are you going to convict us based solely on this?

Go away!

My Lord, how can you convict us

based solely on his words?

How can you convince the public by passing judgments

without distinguishing between right and wrong?

Am I right?

How can you convince the public?

You're sharp-tongued.

Guards.

Slap her.

Slap her.

How dare you!

-Sir, please wait. -Slap her!

This girl looks like

the third daughter of the Song family.

I don't care who she is.

I'm the head of the county.

Let go!

Her father is Dean Song.

Isn't your son planning to apply for enrollment in his academy?

Let go!

Behave yourself.

In this case, the situation is different, right?

They haven't slapped her.

There's still room for turn.

Let go of me!

Let go!

Leave them.

What I did just now

is unacceptable.

I was just demonstrating.

If we solve the case like this, the public will be angry

and it's hard to convince the public.

I am the local official of Yiyang County.

How can I, based solely on Landlord Liu's...

Liu Yiwei.

Liu Yiwei's testimony,

convict both of them?

If I pass judgment without distinguishing right from wrong,

it will be difficult

to convince the public when it spreads.

My Lord, they colluded to extort my money.

How much?

-Ten taels. -Ten...

How much?

Ten taels.

Just ten taels.

Liu Yiwei.

Catching the Number One Scholar to be the son-in-law

is the custom of Yiyang County.

Even if he pretended to be the Number One Scholar,

it's just for fun.

You...

Just ten taels of silver.

Just settle it privately.

My Lord.

You can't solve the case so hastily.

Court adjourned.

Thank you, My Lord.

If it weren't for this county magistrate's muddled thinking,

if he offended me,

I would ensure his official hat is at risk.

Stop dreaming.

I almost got delayed because of you.

What?

I was here because of you.

What?

You're crazy. Let go.

I was here because of you, you know?

Let go!

No.

Do you want to to end up in court again by pulling me?

-Let it be. -Let go.

I'm not afraid of you.

Why...

Why did you bite me?

Young Master, I've been looking for you.

Why are you chasing a girl here?

What's wrong with your eyes?

Am I chasing a girl?

That's just a dog who runs around.

It's not good to say that about a girl.

Young Master, don't forget that we have something important to do.

We're going to the Song family.

Is the item still intact?

Yes.

Let's go.

Young Master, the Song Mansion is over there.

[Calligraphy and Painting Works]

It's going to rain.

Boss.

I'm here to get Zhou Ji's painting.

Sorry, Miss.

I sold it.

What?

Well, Boss.

I gave you the deposit.

Look at the weather.

It's past three o'clock.

It’s going to rain.

When will there be another painting of Zhou Ji's?

It’s hard to say.

Mr. Zhou doesn't paint often.

This painting was painted six months ago.

OK.

-OK. Go back. -Thank you, Boss.

It’s all that guy's fault.

I couldn’t buy Mr. Zhou’s painting because of him.

It’s raining.

Hurry up.

Why am I so unlucky?

Miss.

Take this umbrella.

Be careful not to get wet

and catch a cold.

Thank you.

[Zhou Ji]

What a mess.

Bamboo baskets!

Bamboo baskets for sale.

Bamboo baskets!

Here we are.

What's the matter, Sir?

Could you kindly convey a message for us?

My young master

Xiao Yu, the son of Xiao Chuanzhong, came to visit Lord Song.

The exam for Yiyang Academy is coming.

Mr. Song is avoiding visitors.

Please forgive him.

Since he won't see my young master,

please bring these two things to Mr. Song.

These are the big cherries

we picked this morning.

Look at the dew.

The value of these cherries

is worth one mu of land outside Yiyang County.

This is a token of our young master's appreciation.

I'm really sorry.

My master specifically told me

not to accept any gifts from anyone.

Wait.

My master Xiao Chuanzhong is Mr. Song's best friend.

Please make an exception.

Look.

They also said that they are my master's best friends.

That's right.

Wait! Wait!

Young Master! Young Master!

Hurry.

Give this to Mr. Song.

He will change his mind when he sees this.

Mr. Song told me not to accept gifts.

Sorry.

Well...

Where is the letter?

Uncle Hu.

I just recalled.

Maybe someone switched the lucky pouch.

Who did it?

Deceitful Woman!

Big Brother, where's the ladder?

Second Sister.

I was going to the ancestral hall.

But I saw the pear flowers blooming.

It reminds me of "Spring arrives, and the pear blossoms carry the even deeper meaning".

Second Sister.

Don't you like elegant and fragrant things the most?

So I wanted to pick one for you.

But the tree is too high.

I accidentally fell from it.

It hurts so much.

Second Sister, look.

Look.

Did you fall on the left side of your body or the right side?

Stop pretending.

Your second brother told us when he came back.

He...

What a brother.

To save him,

I was taken to the government by Landlord Liu.

He's not loyal at all.

He just said

he met you on your way home.

He didn't say anything else?

Now we know.

You make us worried.

Go back and get changed.

OK.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Go.

The letter is indeed a door-knocking brick to meet Song Xu.

But the brick was locked in the Song Residence.

What should we do?

Just bring the letter back.

What if we can't?

You won't have the appropriate identity to meet Song Xu then.

Didn't that guy just say that the Yiyang Academy is going to have an exam?

If I enter the Yiyang Academy,

I can meet Song Xu as a student.

I heard that Yiyang Academy is extremely difficult to enter.

Young Master, are you confident?

It's fine if we can get the letter back.

If anything goes wrong,

this is the quickest method.

Go and find out

when the Yiyang Academy will hold the exam.

I'll go now.

Go.

Yes.

Forget it. We should find a place to stay first.

Take this umbrella.

Be careful not to get wet and catch a cold.

I didn’t expect that Mr. Zhou is not only skilled in painting

and calligraphy,

but also so kind.

Mr. Zhou's portrait

is a bit rough.

The charisma portrayed in the painting falls short of half that of his actual presence.

I'll keep the money

and use it to buy Mr. Zhou’s painting next time.

It must be related to that enemy.

I'm speechless.

Yueniang.

Didn't I ask you to get changed and go to the ancestral hall?

Coming.

Sir, take a look.

And this.

-And this. -Okay.

[Lyu Fu Shop]

Sir. Please have a seat.

-Serve them. -Here’s the money.

Serve the young master some tea.

Okay.

Sir. Please enjoy.

The look is not good enough.

It's not delicate enough.

It's a small shop. There must be flaws.

Waiter!

Sirs, coming.

Sprinkle some Green Silk Rose.

What is Green Silk Rose?

You make pastries, but you don't know Green Silk Rose?

We don't have it.

Then I won't eat the pastry.

Without the Green Silk Rose, the fragrance is reduced.

It will be cloying.

Uncle Hu.

Remember to pay them.

I... I did.

Young Master.

First Madam.

Although I caused trouble this time,

it's all for Second Brother.

The Liu family is the one who suffered because I made trouble.

If the Liu family makes trouble,

our family will suffer.

Mother punished me by not allowing me to eat.

My second sister punished me to copy books.

I accepted all these.

I'm willing to do anything for Second Brother.

Yueniang.

Second Brother, why are you here?

I thought it was mom.

Yueniang.

I'm sorry.

Second Brother.

You don't have to blame yourself.

I...

I was just playful.

Waiter.

Get me a room.

Coming.

Don't move.

It's OK.

You may leave.

This is you, right?

Yes.

I didn't expect you to be Mr. Zhou.

My sister likes you very much.

She said your painting is great.

I'm flattered.

It's all rumours.

And I'm going to take the exam.

Perhaps there won't be time for painting.

Are you going to take the exam for Yiyang Academy?

Yes.

How about this?

Please sign this portrait for me.

Please.

Mr. Zhou,

let me get a room for you.

Don't move.

Let me do it.

Let me.

-Thank you. -Let’s go. This way.

Thank you.

Mr. Zhou, come with me.

Young Master.

-Take a seat. -Watch your step.

How is it going?

The exam is in three days.

When does registration start?

What a coincidence.

Tomorrow.

OK.

Look, senior sisters are here.

The students of Yiyang Academy are here.

They're gracious and gentle.

Look.

Each of the senior sisters is both beautiful and intelligent.

If I can enter,

I must get acquainted with some senior sisters

who have both virtue and talent.

Exactly.

Even if it's for these senior sisters,

I must get into Yiyang Academy.

They're like fairies.

Don't look. It's impolite.

You shouldn't do this.

Yes.

In this case,

these applicants may not be interested in studying.

It's hard for them to enter the Academy.

Be careful. I almost fell.

They're so pretty.

I think so too.

Just now,

I passed by the corridor like a fairy.

All the male students were stunned.

You're the prettiest.

Yeah.

What's the big deal?

I think

they were all attracted to my nobility.

Be careful, Miss.

My umbrella!

Young Master.

-You again? -You again?

You know each other?

Second Sister.

This man is from an unknown background and has a bad character.

He doesn't deserve to go to Yiyang Academy.

We can't let him sign up.

Yueniang, you're so rude.

Let me see.

Mr. Xiao Yu?

May I ask if your father is Lord Xiao Chuanzhong?

Yes.

Third Sister.

He is your future husband.