Original subtitles

=The Rise of Ning=

(Adapted from Wen Tan's novel "Chancellor Training Handbook" from Jinjiang Literature)

=Episode 1=

(The Capital)

Young Lady,

it has been a long while

since we returned last time.

You've been in the side yard

and refused to come back.

Why did you suddenly

listen to Old Madam Luo

and come back?

(Luo Yining) It's Grandma's 60th birthday banquet.

I certainly have to come back.

Do you plan to stay in Luo's Residence afterward?

Of course not.

After visiting Grandma and Mother,

we will go back right away.

Young Lady, you're

the legitimate daughter of the Luo Family.

You can't always...

Staying in Luo's Residence is not good.

The people have complicated relationships and live in disharmony.

It's better to stay in the side yard.

Simple and carefree.

If the Luo's Residence were really that good,

(Grandma wouldn't have)

(sent me to the side yard.)

You climb so high. It's dangerous.

(Young Luo Yining) So high, Seventh Lady.

We can't afford it

if anything were to happen to you.

(Minglan Hall) Please come down.

What are you doing?

Stop moving them.

Don't move my mother's things away.

Don't!

This is my mother's!

(Minglan Hall)

Don't tear it down. No!

What are you doing?

Don't hurt the girl.

Let go.

(Qiao Yuechan)

Mistress Qiao,

tell them to stop right now.

This is your father's decision.

We need to change

the fengshui in this residence.

Look.

We are going to tear down this courtyard

and make a big pond.

Isn't that great?

That way,

your grandma's health will improve,

and your father will receive a promotion

in the court.

No!

This courtyard

is the only thing Mother left for me.

Stop it!

You can't go.

Yining,

they will hurt you.

You can't go inside.

Let go of me.

Mistress Qiao!

Mistress Qiao!

Send for a physician now.

All right.

Mistress Qiao!

My dear,

it's my fault.

I failed to keep the baby.

I know

you care a lot

about this child.

You have done nothing wrong.

This should've been

our first son.

(Luo Chengzhang)

Yining,

I have forgiven you

for anything you did before,

but I won't this time.

I will ask you once more.

Do you admit your fault?

I don't!

Maids.

Take her to the Ancestral Shrine.

She is to kneel!

Without my permission,

she is not allowed to leave!

(Parents are to blame for failing to discipline their children.)

(If you keep spoiling her,)

(I believe this girl)

(would bring bigger trouble)

(to the Luo Family.)

(Yuechan lost the baby)

(because of her.)

(Send Yining)

(to her mother's side yard.)

(Grandma, do I really have to go?)

(I don't want you to stay)

(with Mistress Qiao.)

(This is for your own good.)

If I had grown up in Luo's Residence,

I can't imagine

what I would've become.

Young Lady, don't you want

to prove your innocence

about what happened back then?

Mistress Qiao is cunning.

Besides,

it has been so many years.

I don't think I could find any clues.

Anyway,

those who believe you will always believe you.

Those who don't believe you

won't change their mind no matter how hard you try to explain.

Someone fainted up ahead.

Young Lady,

he seems like a refugee.

Qing Qu, take his pulse.

Xue Zhi, go get some food

and clothes.

Yes, Young Lady.

This is strange.

Everything seems

pretty normal.

Let's go get some medicine from the carriage.

Get in the carriage.

You are wearing fine brocade undergarments.

You are not a refugee.

What exactly are you after?

You are quite smart.

But it's too late.

Let go of her.

Stay still.

Otherwise, I will kill her immediately.

Get in the carriage.

Qing Qu.

Go.

It's you again.

Who on earth are you?

Why do you keep chasing after me?

Li Yinglong,

you know very well

what you have done over the years.

We are just doing the right thing

to claim your life.

Give chase.

- Young Lady. - Young Lady.

Are you all right, Young Lady?

Luckily, they are fighting each other.

That man didn't come after me.

Qing Qu, Xue Zhi,

let's leave.

Young Master,

we are pretending to hunt him down.

I believe this fellow

will soon seek refuge

from the mastermind

who set Official Chen up back then.

Qi An will keep a close eye on him.

Except for him,

(Luo Shenyuan) we need to rely on ourselves.

We must find the statement.

The statement is hidden in that painting

of Old Master Luo.

But we've already searched through

many of his paintings.

No matter what,

I must clean my master's name.

Today is Old Madam Luo's birthday banquet.

We need to head back

before anyone notices us.

Yes, Young Master.

(Luo's Residence)

Congratulations.

This way, please.

Please come in.

Arrange more people

over there.

Also, keep an eye on this side as well.

Yes.

Please take a seat over there.

Sure.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

(Lin Hairu) We have many guests. Please pardon us.

This way, please.

Madam Jiang of Vice Minister of Imperial Court of Judicial has arrived.

Madam Jiang.

Greetings, Madam Jiang.

Oh, it's Madam Jiang.

It has been a while.

(Chen Lan) Old Madam Luo often speaks of you.

Greetings, Madam Chen.

My husband said the Jiang and Luo Families

have a longstanding relationship

and that we should maintain it.

That's why I mustn't miss out

on Old Madam Luo's birthday banquet.

Please take me to greet Old Madam Luo now.

No rush, Madam Jiang.

You can have some tea in the yard first.

Old Madam Luo will come later.

I heard Master Jiang

has recently been promoted

to Vice Minister of Imperial Court of Judicial.

Congratulations.

It's the Jiang Family's blessing

to receive such recognition from His Majesty.

First Master Luo has been posted out of the capital

and is not returning this time, is he?

Right.

But the gift he prepared

for Old Madam Luo has arrived.

Madam Jiang, this way, please.

This way.

Be careful.

Madam Li.

You must be Madam Li, wife of Vice Prefect Li, right?

Greetings, Madam Li.

You must be Madam Lin,

the principal wife of Second Master Luo, right?

You are truly elegant.

This is the birthday gift for Old Madam Luo.

Madam Li,

this is Madam Lin.

She is Mistress Qiao, the concubine.

Madam Li, pardon us for the confusion.

Rui Xiang, collect the gift.

You flatter me, Madam Li.

Today is Old Madam Luo's birthday banquet.

Second Master Luo sent me here

to help around.

Bi Yi, collect the gift.

Yes.

Madam Li, please come this way.

You look gorgeous in these clothes.

Really? That's very kind of you.

(Old Madam Luo)

(Muxi Hall)

Mother,

most guests have arrived.

The prayer ceremony is soon beginning.

Shall I accompany you out later?

No rush.

Some haven't come yet.

Who hasn't come yet?

By the way,

Madam Jiang, wife of the newly appointed Vice Minister

of Imperial Court of Judicial has arrived.

Madam Jiang came here

to discuss the marriage pact

between the Jiang and Luo Families

your father arranged back then.

Chengzhang, what's your plan?

I plan

to marry Yilian off to their son.

You must know

that Yining is your legitimate daughter.

It's not appropriate

to marry off a concubine's daughter.

Mother, I would like to

discuss this with you.

I wanted

to put Yilian under Hairu's name

after your birthday banquet.

That way, she can have

a rightful and legitimate status.

As you know,

it was unfair to Yuechan

to marry me as a concubine back then.

Master Qiao

has become an erudite now.

Besides, the Qiao Family is a scholarly family.

They are not considered

below the station of the Jiang Family.

I see.

You have resented me all these years.

You blamed me for marrying Minglan to you.

That's why

you couldn't take Mistress Qiao as your principal wife.

Chengzhang,

as a father,

you have been neglecting Yining

over the past years.

I wouldn't dare.

Mother, to be fair,

Yining is stubborn. She refused to return home.

You...

Old Madam.

Here.

Mother.

Hurry.

Here's the medicine.

Mother,

you have to take care of your health.

Give me your hand.

I don't want to see you.

I will enter the hall

when it's time.

All right, Mother.

Old Madam, please sit.

Careful.

Slow down.

Why is Chengzhang

completely under the control

of Mistress Qiao?

Old Madam,

today's your birthday.

Please simmer down.

Fortunately,

you sent Seventh Lady away back then.

If not, she would've been spoiled by Mistress Qiao.

If it weren't

for my poor health condition,

I would've kept Yining with me

and taken great care of her.

(Luo's Residence)

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Young Lady, do you have a name card?

What name card?

This is Seventh Lady of Luo's Residence.

She came back

to celebrate Old Madam Luo's birthday.

Seventh Lady?

We don't have a seventh lady here.

I have lived in the side yard since I was a kid.

Bring Butler Bai to meet me.

We are busy welcoming the guests.

We don't have time to run an errand for you.

Wait over there.

- What's with your attitude... - Qing Qu.

Today is Grandma's birthday banquet.

Don't make a scene here.

Young lady,

do you know what place this is?

We can report you to the yamen.

Filial piety is a fundamental ethic of the dynasty.

I promised Grandma that I'd return

to celebrate her birthday,

and it would be unfilial of me not to show up.

Since you wouldn't let me in,

I won't bear the blame

if Grandma is furious.

Naturally, it will be your responsibility.

Seventh Lady, finally you have arrived.

Old Madam has been waiting for you.

Butler Bai, the servants

- are truly... - Xue Zhi.

Did they upset you?

They don't know me. I don't blame them.

Besides,

it's true that I haven't returned for years.

Butler Bai,

please take me to greet Grandma.

Yes, Young Lady.

Please.

Madam Jiang,

do you really want to break off the engagement?

Old Madam Luo,

I didn't intend to bring this up

on a day like this.

But...

Going back on the engagement

is dishonorable.

Not even a merchant

would do such a thing.

Madam Jiang,

the marriage pact between the Luo and Jiang Families

was decided by my husband

and your great-grandpa-in-law.

This isn't a child's play.

How about this?

You can

discuss this with your in-laws

before you make the decision.

You are right, Old Madam Luo.

In that case, I will return

and inform my in-laws.

Then, I'll come back to break off the engagement.

Is she really here to send blessings?

She's causing discomfort.

The tea served here

is great.

Are these the new tea leaves from regions south of the Yangtze River?

These were sent

by Madam Lin's maternal family.

They are harvested from the Fujian region.

The wind and soil conditions are favorable.

Hence, the tea leaves are flavorful.

My maternal family said

the finest quality tea leaves like these

are priceless.

Madam Lin,

you know a lot about tea.

I would like to taste

your tea.

I can only talk about tea,

but I can't brew tea.

I shouldn't have mentioned this.

I believe the tea ceremony

isn't part of the household education of merchants.

Rightfully so.

I, Yining, wish you a happy birthday, Grandma.

May you live to a ripe old age

and always stay well.

Get up.

Thank you, Grandma.

Ning, you are finally here.

Mother, it has been a long while.

How have you been?

I'm fairing well.

It's great that you are back.

Greetings, Aunt.

We haven't met for over ten years.

You have grown up.

Old Madam Luo, who is this?

This is my legitimate granddaughter,

the Seventh Lady, Yining.

Yining,

this is Madam Jiang.

Greetings, Madam Jiang.

Grandma,

I prepared a gift

for you.

(Longevity)

Grandma,

here's my gift.

This paper-cutting piece is called "Goddess of Hemp Presents Longevity".

I made it for you.

May you be as prosperous as the Sun and Moon

and live as long as immortal cranes and evergreen pine trees.

Thank you.

This paper-cutting piece

is vivid.

You must've put a lot of effort into this.

It must be tough for you.

Not at all.

Mother.

- Greetings, Grandma. - Greetings, Grandma.

Greetings, Grandma.

(Luo Yiyu, Luo Yilian)

(Luo Yixiu)

Greetings, Father.

Greetings, brother, sister, and cousins.

Yining, you are back.

It's Grandma's birthday.

Of course, I should come back.

Chengzhang,

you haven't seen Yining for years.

Didn't you notice

she has grown a lot?

Grandma,

I have prepared another gift for you.

Grandma,

when I was sorting Grandpa's paintings,

I saw many portraits of your image.

(Portraits of Young Madam Luo)

Besides, the Luo Family

is a century-old family with abundant goodness,

where we were rewarded

by the late Emperor previously,

and you were conferred

with an honorary title by His Majesty.

Hence, I imitated Grandpa's paintings and drew these.

(Luo Xuanyuan)

(Luo Shanyuan)

"So long the road.

When I look back, time flies by.

I lament how short life is.

No ambitions fulfilled,

only my hair turning white."

Grandma, did Grandpa write that?

Sixty years have flown by

in the blink of an eye.

Your Grandpa

has left us

for years.

You still have us.

Right.

It's best

when the whole family stays together

harmoniously.

Indeed, it looks quite similar to Father's.

Many officials in the imperial court

still admire

Father's artworks

and want to have a look.

Yining, you are considerate.

Seventh Lady lives up to the expectations

of the Luo Family's legitimate daughter.

Your painting skills

have put Yiyu's to shame.

I told you father many times

that we should bring you back.

Many years have passed.

Let's not dwell on the past.

You have matured a lot

over the past years.

You are growing up to be a lot like your mother.

Thank you for concerning us, Mistress Qiao.

My late Mother would be very grateful to you

if she knew that.

Late Mother?

Yining,

what are you getting at?

Mistress Qiao is showing concern for you.

Like mother, like daughter.

Enough.

Today is Old Madam's birthday banquet.

It's rude to speak without regard for the situation.

Ms. Li,

the Luo Residence is a grand place.

As expected from the reward of the late Emperor.

This mansion was rewarded

during the time of the late Old Master Luo.

It was the proudest time

for the Luo Family back then.

Ms. Li,

is Seventh Lady the daughter

of Second Master's

previous wife, Madam Gu?

She is certainly stealing the thunder today.

Old Madam

has always doted on the Seventh Lady since she was a kid.

Even Second Master can't discipline her.

Be sure to show her respect

when you run into her in the future.

If you rub her the wrong way,

even Mistress Qiao can't help you.

I'm new to this place,

but I have heard a lot

that Madam Gu was vicious.

Before her passing,

she tried to set Mistress Qiao up several times.

As for Seventh Lady,

Mistress Qiao

used to treat her

like her own daughter.

However, she was ungrateful

and intentionally pushed the pregnant Mistress Qiao.

Like mother, like daughter.

So Second Master sent her away

and forbade her from returning.

It's all in the past.

Don't bring it up anymore.

Yes.

That's nonsense.

Ms. Li.

Seventh Lady.

The servants

lack proper discipline.

- Please forgive us, Seventh Lady. - Please forgive us, Seventh Lady.

Seventh Lady,

they are from the side yard.

They are not familiar with the rules.

Please show them mercy

and not punish them.

I won't punish them.

Today is Grandma's birthday banquet.

No one should ruin it.

Yes.

Young Lady,

they must've been slandering

both you and Madam Gu

while you were away all these years.

Young Lady,

should I

teach them a lesson?

If I were to punish them,

the rumors would only get worse.

It's just that I didn't expect that,

except for me,

they wouldn't go easy on my mother.

Once the celebration is over,

we will head back tomorrow.

So beautiful.

Yiyu,

let's set off some fireworks,

and pray for Grandma's well-being.

Sure.

Yining,

you just return home.

I'll take you to set off fireworks.

It's fun.

Me?

They don't like playing with me.

Do you also...

Not at all.

Yixiu, you are cute.

I would love to play with you.

Really?

You should've come back sooner.

Let's go.

Yining,

let me show you.

I'm going to set off

the biggest and brightest fireworks.

Sure.

Wait here. I'm going to get one.

(So she's Luo Yining.)

Seventh Lady,

why are you here alone?

You should try this, too.

Be careful of the firework tube.

Yining,

let's go.

Coming through. Excuse me.

Come. Over here.

Look at that.

Yining,

if you don't need this now,

give it to me.

Madam Jiang!

Are you all right?

Madam Jiang,

I'm truly sorry about what happened earlier.

I will come by another day to personally apologize.

There's no need for that.

Please stop here, Madam Chen.

The children were just

fooling around.

No need to feel bad.

Stop crying.

Stop crying.

Second Master,

I checked the firework tubes several times.

I didn't expect

the accident to happen.

I failed

to teach her properly.

Mother,

Yilian didn't mean for this to happen.

She got injured, too.

Fortunately,

Madam Jiang wasn't hurt.

Mother, please forgive her.

She's truly

a lost cause.

Such a spoilsport.

Right.

Greetings, Old Madam.

Father, why did you call for me?

Shanyuan said

he saw you in the yard earlier today.

Didn't I tell you

not to leave your yard today?

I just wanted to give Old Madam

a pot of plum plants for her birthday.

Who are you to present gifts for Old Madam?

Know your place.

Go and kneel at the Ancestral Shrine.

Don't get up without my permission.

Yes, Father.

Father,

he did nothing wrong.

He only wanted to celebrate Grandma's birthday.

Why does that warrant a harsh punishment?

Does this concern you?

Why are you questioning this?

Yining,

you just returned here,

and you should behave.

Mistress Qiao

has forgiven what you have done before,

but you must still

watch your manners.

True.

It has been years.

I have already forgotten.

You rarely come back.

Our family is finally reunited.

Everyone should be happy, right?

Stop mentioning it if you have forgotten.

Seeing that you have always been unfair

in how you punish your children,

I have nothing to say.

Yining.

How dare you talk back.

That was unexpected.

I thought you had changed

after all these years, but you...

You haven't changed at all.

In that case, you will kneel with him.

Chengzhang!

Second Master,

even if Yining upset you,

there's no need to send her to kneel at the Ancestral Shrine.

Chengzhang,

Yining has just returned.

What exactly are you doing?

Grandma,

if Father wishes to punish me,

I will do as he says.

Otherwise,

he will accuse me of not being obedient.

Mother,

Yining needs discipline.

She disrespected her father in front of everyone,

so she must be punished.

I'm sorry

to drag you into this.

It's nothing.

You have helped me, too.

How did you know

about the defective firework tube?

Anyway, be more careful in the future.

You also call him Father?

If so,

you are...

Don't force yourself

if you can't remember anything.

I heard your paintings

resemble Old Master's.

Did you learn from him?

I moved to the side yard

when I was six.

I left too early to learn painting from him.

A few of his paintings were stored

in the peach blossom forest in the side yard.

Old Madam

is especially fond of you.

I couldn't make it back

when Grandpa passed away,

so Grandma gave me

some of his paintings

to learn from

and remember him by.

Kneel on this. It's soft.

Thank you.

What happened to your hand?

It's an old injury.

I just can't use too much strength.

(Am I overthinking this?)

Once we get out of here,

I will send for a physician

to check on your injury.

Perhaps it can be cured.

I will thank you in advance.

Yining traveled all the way back here

and has been kneeling for a long time.

She won't be able to take it.

You hadn't come yet

when Yining was a kid,

but you still care so much

about her.

All these years,

it has been you

who accompanied me to visit her in the side yard.

I may be blunt,

but I know

who is good and who is not.

Yining is a good girl.

Mother, should we send someone there...

You think I don't worry about her?

But I couldn't oppose Chengzhang

in front of everyone.

It would've only deepened the rift

between him and Yining.

Tell him

I'm going to retire for the night.

He's the one taking charge of Luo's Residence now.

I'm old and can't make any decisions now.

I have given him enough respect

as a mother.

But I will go fetch my granddaughter

first thing in the morning.

Come.

I made you

some mind-soothing Babao tea.

When you go back,

comfort Lian.

I'm also curious

why the firework tube

suddenly exploded.

Perhaps the immoral merchant substituted

defective fireworks for inferior ones.

That's why the accident happened.

I have already punished Ms. Li severely.

By the way, Old Madam...

It's expected.

She scolded me

and wouldn't even let me in.

Mother has always

spoiled Yining, and that's why

she has been mischievous since she was a kid.

I don't think she has changed

after returning this time.

Old Madam treats her granddaughter well,

and it's unfair to you.

I think she brought

Seventh Lady back

because of the marriage pact between the Luo and Jiang Families.

It seems Madam Jiang

has second thoughts about it.

The Jiang Family

is thriving now and has bright prospects.

But the marriage pact decided by the previous generation

can't be broken off easily.

Tomorrow,

I will visit the Jiang's Residence.

If we become in-laws with them,

it would be great.

It will also benefit

your future career.

It's just that...

Yuechan, I know what you want.

Honestly, I also favored Yilian.

But I can't go against

Mother's wish.

Besides, Yilian almost hurt Madam Jiang

with the firecracker.

I think

we should give up on this.

The Seventh Lady is a legitimate daughter

and Old Madam's favorite.

I have always been

a burden to Lian

due to my identity.

Yuechan,

I understand you have resentments.

I promised

to take you my principal wife,

but my mother...

Of course, I have resentments.

How could I not resent it?

However,

I'm still glad

that I have been with you

all along.

Yuechan,

don't worry.

As long as I'm here,

you and our children will get what you deserve.

(Luo Clan Ancestral Shrine)

♪It's complicated but I'm not afraid♪

♪There's light in my heart♪

♪Following the river of time♪

♪I dive into the whirlpool♪

♪For the sake of you and mine♪

♪In search of an outcome♪

♪I'm willing to risk my life♪

♪To break the chain of nights♪

♪I'm willing to fall into the abyss♪

♪In order to reveal the fate♪

♪Forget about the outcome♪

♪Let me be your shoulder to lean on♪

♪Even if things go south, so be it♪

♪Love is a voyage with you by my side♪

♪The dust eventually settles♪

♪No matter how fragile and trivial I am♪

♪I will dance and shine bright♪

♪I overcome all kinds of doubt♪

♪And obstacles♪

♪For the sake of you and mine♪

♪Committing to my promise♪

♪I'm willing to risk my life♪

♪May my existence shine on more♪

♪Let go of everything♪

♪Let the longing fade♪

♪Forget about the outcome♪

♪As long as it fulfills the vastness of love♪

♪Even if things go south, so be it♪

♪Love is you being by my side♪