Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ⚔ Jin Xin Si Yu ✾ Team @ Viki.com

♫ Wearing peach blossom makeup, I boil tea over the stove ♫

♫ With a pure heart, I embroider the brocade of time ♫

♫ On the short paper, affection flows in the silent moonlight ♫

♫ I only wish that by my side, is my love ♫

♫ Cool autumn wind blowing, I gaze far leaning against the railing ♫

♫ Sunset glow over the green hill, in formation wild geese are flying ♫

♫ Covering a thousand miles on horseback, for whom is he longing ♫

♫ He returned home in dreams ♫

♫ I will never forget that you held my hands ♫

♫ In your warm palms, we braved winds and waves ♫

♫ Unexpectedly, after we traveled so far and turned grey-haired ♫

♫ I am still by your side ♫

♫ Hearts burning, we look into each other's eyes ♫

♫ Feelings overflowing, they don't need to be hid ♫

♫ No matter how time passes and life changes ♫

♫ Together, we will grow old ♫

[The Sword and the Brocade]

[Episode 10]

You're working so meticulously on the embroidery items for us.

I'm afraid it's not only for the purpose of making fan embroidery designs, right?

Since you're here,

try my new tea.

Since you've married into the Xu family, we're family now.

If you need any help in the future, just tell me.

Thank you, Yizhen.

I've heard that you're going to Ci'an Temple soon

to light incense and pray.

I'm just accompanying Danyang there.

I've heard that many people pray at Ci'an Temple.

It's very efficacious.

I hope it can help her give birth safely.

If you're interested, you can come with us.

What I said earlier was a bit rude.

To be honest,

my mother's death is very painful for me.

When she was killed that day,

I heard that the female members of the family were all at Ci'an Temple.

May I ask if you've seen anyone suspicious?

That day, I'd always stayed by Mother's side.

I didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

The deceased is gone, the living must move on with their lives.

You're still young.

Don't hold on to the past.

You must seize the present.

Thank you for your concern.

All right.

Did Second Madam notice anything?

I heard that the second son of the Xu family, Xu Ling'an, was clever and skilled in military strategies.

He should be the head of this household.

Yizhen was able to marry him,

so she should be someone important as well.

I was careless.

Fortunately, it seems she doesn't have any bad intentions.

However, we've almost seen all the embroidery items of the female family members.

We still haven't found any clues.

In that case, we can only come up with another plan.

Dongqing, let's pick a few flowers and put them in a vase.

It will be nice if we place them in the room.

Dongqing, that one. That one's beautiful.

All right.

Your Ladyship, I can't reach it.

My Lord.

Thank you, My Lord.

It's fine. It's nothing.

I heard that you've been busy making embroidery designs for everyone's fans.

You've been working hard.

I have nothing to do anyway.

So I thought about doing some needlework and putting in some effort for everyone.

Since you just married into the Xu family, you're not familiar with the household affairs yet.

That's why Concubine Qiao is managing the household affairs for you.

You're the Xu family's matron.

Do you want me to manage the household affairs?

Managing the household affairs is the matron's responsibility.

Your Ladyship, what did His Lordship mean?

Perhaps he wants me to become familiar with the family's household affairs

and manage the household affairs.

I originally thought that His Lordship would be like Great Madam and favor Concubine Qiao.

I didn't expect that he's quite fair.

You're so clumsy.

Those are Sichuan brocades given by His Majesty.

If something happens to them, I'll skin you alive.

Categorize them by color and class.

Tomorrow, based on the portions, deliver them to each court.

Yes, Mrs. Zhou.

Greetings, Mother.

Sit down.

In the past few days, I heard

that Lingyi has been sleeping at Banyuepan.

Don't forget your own duties.

Take good care of Lingyi.

You don't need to come here and greet me daily.

Yes, Mother.

Your Ladyship, I wonder how the embroidery designs for the fans are going?

Don't tire yourself out just because of it.

Mother, I actually want to talk to you about this matter.

I've seen the embroidery items of each concubine.

They're extraordinary.

I won't embarrass myself.

That makes sense.

That should be done by the servants.

In that case, find some embroiderers who are skillful.

Great Madam, before I got married,

I always hired an embroiderer with the surname of Jiang.

She has magnificent embroidery skills.

She's famous in the capital.

We can let her handle this matter.

I'll let you take care of it then.

Yes, Great Madam.

You should really let them see your embroidery technique.

I don't know what Concubine Qiao is so pleased about.

Don't forget what we came here for.

Why should we compete with them?

Even if Luo Shiyi is the legal wife, she's not good enough at all.

You just pulled some tricks, and she backed off.

The wise submit to the circumstances.

She knows her capabilities well.

I've been managing the Xu household for so long.

How can she easily affect my position?

You may be managing the household affairs now,

but you don't have the official title.

In the future, if she establishes herself in the future,

she'll still become a problem.

What if while you still have the authority, push your advantage?

What do you have in mind, Mrs. Zhang?

Second Madam doesn't have any intentions of managing household affairs.

Fifth Madam disdains managing household affairs.

Only that illegitimate daughter can compete with you.

So, from the start, some things must be set up.

Here.

These are the osmanthus puff pastry that Concubine Qiao made.

She told me to bring them for you to taste.

She remembers me?

Concubine Qiao is so nice.

I won't be shy then.

I've heard that the Sichuan brocades are the best ones this time around.

After they get to Concubine Qiao,

I wonder what will be left.

It's delicious.

Mrs. Zhou, tell me,

for a long time, Concubine Qiao has been managing all the household affairs.

Even if she's not given any credits,

she puts in a lot of effort. Right?

Right.

But once Her Ladyship married into the family,

Concubine Qiao isn't included in anything good anymore.

I feel so bad for Concubine Qiao.

You're right.

How can ordinary people

compare to Concubine Qiao in terms of background?

Besides, Concubine Qiao has a kind heart.

Everyone in the family only has good things to say about her.

I heard that His Lordship hasn't visited Her Ladyship for a while.

She just married into the family.

But Concubine Qiao is favored by Great Madam.

Her good days are yet to come.

Regarding the Sichuan brocades...

Tell Concubine Qiao

that I will take care of that.

Here.

Let me see.

Your Ladyship.

Nanny Tao.

What are these?

Sichuan brocade from His Majesty.

Mrs. Zhou sent people to bring them over just now.

Sichuan brocade?

Let me see.

This... This isn't right.

I've been in the mansion for so many years.

I've never seen anyone who dared to bring items with this kind of quality

to the legal wife's court.

- This isn't Her Ladyship's portion. - This isn't Her Ladyship's portion?

Nice, Your Ladyship.

His Lordship just hasn't been here for a few days,

and they're already bullying us.

This matter concerns your status and position.

We can't make the slightest concessions about this matter.

I must go to Mrs. Zhou and see what she's up to.

Nanny Tao, don't go.

We don't need to argue with people about such trivial matters.

Your Ladyship, you're unaware.

These people have always bullied the weak and feared the strong.

If you make concessions for the first time,

then they'll think that they can bully us.

Besides, status is the order followed by ethics and moral principles.

How can we let them act so impetuously?

I must go and find her.

Your Ladyship, I think Nanny Tao is right.

We must let them know that we can't be bullied.

Do you think those servants are that bold?

They're just following instructions.

Could it be Great Madam?

Great Madam wouldn't worry about these trivial things.

Now, the one who manages the household affairs is Concubine Qiao.

Concubine Qiao?

If it's her, we should make a fuss all the more.

She's so two-faced.

She's a legitimate daughter of a prominent family.

Now, she's a concubine.

She's pitiful, too.

Besides, I don't care about these things.

Let her be.

Your Ladyship.

That's enough.

What a coincidence.

I don't need to go and look for you anymore.

Nanny Tao, what can I do for you?

What can you do for me?

Don't you know?

Give me Her Ladyship's Sichuan brocades.

Si... Sichuan brocades?

Didn't I already ask people to send them to you?

What is the quality of the items you sent?

I'm just following the rules.

If you think that I did something wrong,

complain about me to the one managing the household affairs.

Complain about you to Concubine Qiao?

You think I'm stupid?

You've been colluding together!

You're so funny.

In relying on a concubine, you're fighting against the legal wife?

I think you're a stupid fool!

Who are you calling names?

You.

Let me tell you.

Some people just seem favored on the surface.

Who isn't aware?

Perhaps someday, someone will lose favor.

Who will lose favor?

Today... Today, I'll let you lose favor first!

Stop!

Madam, you must seek justice for me.

This woman hit me indiscriminately.

Look... Look at what she did. Look.

The offender is complaining first.

Don't you know what you did yourself?

Goodness.

If everyone can hit people thinking that they have a good reason,

won't the world fall into chaos?

Who did it first?

Her. It was her!

Everyone saw it.

I haven't even started.

Gathering a crowd to make disturbances and creating troubles.

You should be punished according to the house rules.

Come.

Flog Nanny Tao 20 times.

Wait. You...

You're just aiming at me.

You're using your authority to take revenge for personal grudges.

You think others will be convinced about you then?

You... You can't compare to Her Ladyship at all!

Don't think that you're the one managing household affairs now.

It won't last long!

If Her Ladyships wants the authority to manage household affairs,

she can come to me.

Why should a crazy woman like you say that here?

You're arrogant and insubordinate.

Flog her ten more times! Flog her!

- You... - Stop.

Your Ladyship.

Nanny Tao hit her first.

Since I saw them, if I ignore it, and His Lordship finds out,

won't he blame me for not being strict with my management of household affairs?

Not being strict with your management of household affairs?

Is that why you're managing me as well?

I'm just punishing an old servant who doesn't know her place.

Your Ladyship, why are you blaming such a big offense on me?

Dongqing. Amber. Help Nanny Tao up.

- Yes. - Yes.

If Nanny Tao made a mistake,

you could report it to Western Lateral Court.

I'll discipline and punish her.

But you didn't even inform me and you're punishing her on your own.

I'm afraid you're not respecting me as the matron at all.

I don't dare to do that.

It's just that Great Madam told me to manage the household affairs.

Speaking of which, I remember that Nanny Tao is taking care of Zhun.

And Zhun lives with Great Madam.

In that case, Nanny Tao is considered as half a member of the Fushou Court.

You didn't inform me or Great Madam at all,

and punished her in private.

What's your intention?

I was rash.

Regarding the Sichuan brocade,

Mrs. Zhou sent the portion for the legal wife to Concubine Qiao,

and sent the concubine's portion to Her Ladyship.

Of course, Nanny Tao couldn't accept it.

So the two of them had a fight.

What do you think about this matter?

Well...

Well, what?

You've been with me for dozens of years.

What can you not say to me?

Forgive me for being blunt.

There's an order for every wife's portions.

If they just do whatever they want this way,

won't that create chaos then?

Lianfang, that child, is too impatient.

Yes.

Lianfang,

Shiyi just married into the family.

She's not very familiar with the household affairs yet.

You must assist her.

Yes, Great Madam.

I'll remember that.

Two days ago, I heard

that there was a big fuss regarding the Sichuan brocade.

Those two women made the atmosphere here at home so foul.

How inappropriate.

It's my fault.

I didn't make it clear before.

I saw that the peony pattern suits Lianfang,

so I made a decision to give her that piece of Sichuan brocade.

I didn't expect that it would create a mess.

Nanny Tao has served Yuanniang for so many years.

She has always been honest, dutiful, and obedient to the rules.

She never committed any mistakes.

Why did she suddenly change?

I can't believe she even hit someone.

Mother, I didn't discipline my servant well.

I'll surely do that when I get back.

All right.

This is the end of that matter.

It can't happen again.

Mother, you're too kind.

You're tolerating their impetuousness, especially Mrs. Zhou.

What do you mean?

Nanny Tao is a senior servant who served Yuanniang before.

Even if she was inappropriate this time,

she did it to seek justice for the one she serves.

But who is Mrs. Zhou?

It would be fine if she just explained what happened.

I wonder who she's relying on to dare to act so impetuously.

I can't believe she had a fight with Nanny Tao.

I think she should be flogged to make her remember this incident well.

Forget it.

She's old.

This is what we'll do.

Deduct two months of her salary.

That's all.

Madam.

Danyang, have you always been this way these days?

Did you consult a physician?

Great Madam.

Madam has been vomiting a lot in the recent couple of days.

The physician prescribed some medicines, but she doesn't feel better.

I'm so worried.

I told you already.

During this period of time, stop coming to greet me.

There's no need to do this.

Look at you.

Mother, don't worry.

Yizhen and I already agreed

to light an incense and pray at Ci'an Temple.

Actually, Yizhen is so kind to remind me about it.

When I first got pregnant, I kept vomiting nonstop.

After I came back from lighting incense at Ci'an Temple,

I felt much better.

Hurry then.

Ask more servants to go with you.

Leave early, and return soon.

Your Ladyship.

Great Madam is favoring Concubine Qiao too much.

In order to protect Concubine Qiao, she's even disregarding status.

What will the people here think about you then?

I'm so furious.

Your Ladyship, this time, Concubine Qiao gained the upper hand by relying on Great Madam.

If you still won't do anything, I'm afraid that it will be harder

to suppress her in the future.

It's all my fault.

I originally wanted to teach her a lesson.

I didn't expect that it even made her more arrogant.

What should we do, Your Ladyship?

Nanny Tao, don't blame yourself.

You all don't need to be too worried either.

Gaining or losing an advantage isn't important to me.

You don't need to mind it too much.

Your Ladyship, how can you not mind it?

Back then, the Luo family spent so much effort

to let you marry into the Xu family.

Why is that?

Have you forgotten?

Now, if you can't even win against a concubine, then...

then what will happen to Zhun?

Nanny Tao, don't worry.

I know what to do.

Today, Shiyi and Lianfang were lectured by Great Madam.

What happened?

I heard that Concubine Qiao took the portion of Sichuan brocade

that was supposed to be Her Ladyship's.

However, it seems like Great Madam permitted it.

But Nanny Tao hit Mrs. Zhou because of this matter.

She hit her?

Many people in the household saw it.

Clothing made from Sichuan brocade is so nice.

Only you deserve to wear this peony design.

I hired the best tailor in the city to make this clothing for me.

Only his skill deserves this Sichuan brocade given by His Majesty.

Tell me. Will His Lordship like it?

Even if fairies come down from Heaven, you'll defeat them.

His Lordship will surely like it.

This time, he won't reject me again. Right?

My Lord, Concubine Qiao is here.

Let her in.

Yes.

My Lord.

You've always been busy with work.

I'm afraid that you'll tire yourself out,

so I especially made the tonic soup for you.

My Lord, rink it while it's hot.

Have you ever heard of the five poisons?

Ancient men called desire, anger, ignorance, pride, and envy

the five poisons.

Why are you mentioning that?

There are five poisons in the heart.

If you have too many desires,

you'll covet things that don't belong to you.

From now on, don't wear this clothing again.

My Lord, you are right.

I'll get changed when I get back.

Don't let it happen again.

Yes.

Madam, what are you doing?

Madam, don't act this way. You'll get hurt.

Madam, not only will this not help,

if news about this spreads and His Lordship finds out,

he'll only be angrier at you.

For...

For his sake,

I let go of my dignity and pride to please him.

But he...

Why won't he accept me?

I just want him to know

I am the one most suitable to wear this clothing.

I'm the one most suitable to stand beside him.

Yet he used the five poisons to warn me.

What exactly did I do wrong?

Madam, you weren't wrong.

You didn't do anything wrong.

It's the fault of the Luo family's illegitimate daughter.

She took your position.

You're right.

If I were the legal wife,

His Lordship wouldn't slight me.

So I...

must surely become the legal wife.

Your Ladyship, His Lordship is here.

My Lord.

Why are you here so late at night?

I can't come here for no reason?

My Lord, have some tea.

Today, I heard about what happened with the Sichuan brocade.

As the legal wife,

you must have the prestige of a matron.

You can't let the servants fool you.

I just married into the family.

I don't know how to use someone else's power to throw my weight around.

But don't worry.

As long as others don't create trouble,

such incidents won't happen again.

If you use your sharp tongue towards me to face others,

you wouldn't get bullied.

After a couple of days, according to the imperial edict,

I must go hunting with His Majesty.

You better behave yourself.

Don't cause more trouble.

Cause trouble?

May I ask what I did wrong?

Because you were a little dissatisfied,

you instructed your servant to hit someone and create trouble,

disturbing the peace in this household and sowing discord.

Isn't that wrong?

How do you know that I instructed her to do it?

Did Nanny Tao personally tell you?

Nanny Tao is your servant.

Everything she does is related to you.

Don't you know that?

They sent the wrong portion,

but I didn't instruct anyone to cause trouble.

You didn't investigate and just came here to blame me.

How can you convince people if you do things this way?

[A humble manner brings you a good result]

- My Lord. - Sharp-tongued and unreasonable.

Didn't he especially come here to visit Her Ladyship?

Why did they argue again?

Your Ladyship.

You're going out?

I heard that His Lordship will accompany His Majesty hunting,

so I prepared some clothing and items for him.

You're so thoughtful.

Lianfang.

Look. The flowers in the garden are so nice.

It's a shame that I just love peonies.

No matter how nice the flowers are here in the garden,

I won't appreciate them.

Only Xi Shi is the most beautiful among ladies;

only peonies are the best among flowers.

But there are so many flowers in the world.

Not everyone loves peonies.

I prefer plum blossoms, which bloom in the cold.

I'm not interested in peonies at all.

What do you want to say? Please tell me.

Forgive me for being slow-witted.

I don't quite understand.

Peonies and plum blossoms bloom in different seasons.

They won't really get to meet,

and they don't need to compete with each other to see which one is better.

If you only like peonies, then just take good care of them.

Then the two flowers will be at peace with each other.

If it must compete with the plum blossom, then I'm afraid the peony is a bit more fragile than it.

Think about it.

Madam, what is she talking about?

It doesn't matter.

Let's go.

Back then, at this hunting ground,

Official Hu Jin was utterly valiant and had great riding and hunting skills.

Very few people could compete with him.

Countless prey went into his bag.

I didn't expect that he colluded with others for nefarious purposes and brought trouble to the government.

It's really impossible to judge a man's heart based on outward appearances.

Actually, you and Official Hu were friends in the military.

I wonder how you felt when Official Hu was executed.

You're taking so much pleasure in someone's misfortune.

Could it be that Official Hu offended you when he was still alive?

In saying that, aren't you making me out to be a villain who adds insult to injury?

I'm just happy for the government since we were able to eliminate traitorous officials like Hu Jin.

It's like eliminating intractable diseases like cancer.

It's what everyone wanted to happen, and it pleased everyone.

Shut up!

Even if Hu Jin made a mistake, didn't he have accomplishments, too?

After he became governor, he quelled the bandits and relieved the flooding disaster,

letting the citizens live peacefully in the southern region.

How are you qualified to criticize him?

Why do you need to get so angry, Duke Wei?

The government had already reached a conclusion about Hu Jin's accomplishments and offenses.

Otherwise, why was he executed?

Are you doubting His Majesty's decision?

His Majesty was deceived by treacherous villains.

- So... - Duke Wei, mind your words.

Don't criticize the government groundlessly.

Xu Lingyi, I originally thought that you're a respectable man.

I didn't expect that you're someone who just echoes the views of others.

Duke Wei, you've misunderstood.

I was afraid that your words might reach the ears of villains and give them a cause for gossip.

It won't be beneficial to you.

After all, executing Official Hu was His Majesty's decision.

Will I, Ren Kun, be afraid of those treacherous villains?

Marquis Yongping,

you and Hu Jin have been friends for many years as well.

Could it be that you also believe the lies they used to attack him?

Official Hu was free from corruption and bribery. He was just and fair.

How can he be someone who formed factions in pursuit of personal gains?

If he really had a faction, when he was being attacked,

why didn't anyone help him? Very few people defended him.

Duke Wei, treacherous officials are in power.

The government already has one less righteous person who worked for the sake of the nation and the citizens.

I hope that you'll be cautious with your words and actions, and take care of yourself.

He was too foolish.

How can one person change anything?

But I believe that Official Hu wasn't foolish.

It was precisely because he was an honest man

that he knew the corrupt practices in the nation,

just like how he was the best of friends with you

because he knew the kind of man you are.

You're right.

It was precisely because we truly knew each other that even if our political views were different

and we often had disagreements, we still remained friends.

Who knew that he would die because of it?

Official Hu once told me

that even if the sea ban policy is part of the ancestral policy,

it's an outdated and bad practice.

Now, the banditry on the southeastern coast,

the poverty of the citizens,

and the empty national treasury are all caused by it.

Only by lifting the sea ban

and performing maritime trading can we totally

quell the bandits and save the citizens.

Timing decides fate.

Even so, what can we do?

This concerns the ancestral policy.

It's not something one or two people can change.

Your Ladyship, I checked everywhere in the mansion.

I still didn't find any clues.

Perhaps that person isn't a female member of this household at all.

Since we didn't find anything through the embroidery items,

let's check the fabrics.

Your Ladyship.

Nanny Tao.

I have cooked some lotus seed sweet soup for Zhun.

Try this, too.

Thank you.

Are you aware of where the fabrics from a year ago are kept?

A year ago?

Most of them should have already been used up.

Even if anything is left, it won't be kept here at the mansion.

It should be at the house in the countryside.

Your Ladyship, why do you ask?

Nothing.

I was just thinking that it would be wasted if it's not used.

I can get some to make embroidery items.

Try it.

They're back.

There's no need for courtesy.

Help Danyang sit down.

What happened?

Did your trip go smoothly?

Thank you for your concern, Mother. Everything went smoothly.

Mother, we were lucky. We met Master Hui'en, who was traveling here,

so we asked him to read our fortune.

What did he say?

He said I will clash with people with the Chinese zodiac of ox.

I should avoid such people.

That's easy.

I'll ask them to list down everyone in the household with the Chinese zodiac of ox,

and let them move to the house in the countryside.

After you give birth to the baby smoothly,

we'll ask them to come back.

Great Madam.

What's the matter?

It seems like Her Ladyship's Chinese zodiac is the ox.

How can this happen?

Mother, I think this isn't a good idea.

What that master said might not be believable.

I think we should just forget it.

We can't forget about this.

The Xu family only has a few members.

Offsprings are the top priority of the Xu family.

Mother, it doesn't make any sense

for Shiyi to move to the house in the countryside.

If news about it spreads, they'll think that I'm bullying her.

That's enough.

Don't worry about it too much.

Kuan'er, help Danyang back to the room.

Go.

Mother, we'll go ahead.

Take it slow.

Great Madam, are you really going to tell Her Ladyship to move out?

What if she's not willing to?

Why won't she be willing to do it?

It's not like she'll be staying there forever.

It's just temporary. She'll be back.

If she's smart, it will be good.

If she's immature...

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by ⚔ Jin Xin Si Yu ✾ Team @ Viki.com

♫ In the cold darkness of midnight, a sigh is heard ♫

♫ Who picked up the paintbrush to draw loneliness? ♫

♫ In my life, I can draw everything but lovesickness ♫

♫ The mountain city is waiting for the rain ♫

♫ I am waiting for you to pass in my memory ♫

♫ The sky is in a more lonely color than your face ♫

♫ The wind rises and the candlelight flickers ♫

♫ The thin clothes can't stand the cold days ♫

♫ Full of twists and turns, fate is untold ♫

♫ I ground my thoughts into ink ♫

♫ But I still can't sketch your contours ♫

♫ How could the ink and paper exhaust our stories? ♫

♫ Who picked up the pen to disturb the heart ♫

♫ Who visited to remind me of the past? ♫

♫ If feelings can be kept in mind, but cannot be confessed ♫

♫ I won't escape from whatever end ♫

♫ In the dim lantern light, with you there is me ♫

♫ Who picked up the pen to set free lonely tears? ♫

♫ Whoever visited my life, only you stayed every day ♫

♫ If the moth doesn't fly into the fire ♫

♫ How can it be said to be persistent? ♫

♫ Coming to the end of your story, there is me ♫