Original subtitles

♪The moon sinks, ripples dance, violet stars awaken♪

♪As time dissolves without a trace♪

♪Frosted memories scatter, silk cannot veil the past♪

♪Fate is drifting in silence♪

♪Let winds and sands accompany the road ahead♪

♪Looking back, joys and sorrows linger, no regrets remain♪

♪Breaking free from the depths of darkness♪

♪Like pearls of tears, we swirl with fate's embrace♪

[Based on the novel The Story of Pearl Girl by Tan Tianyin]

[The Story of Pearl Girl]

[Episode 20]

I'm embarrassed today.

At the banquet,

the Emperor favored you

and gave you a few drinks.

But you couldn't drink much.

You should have refused His Majesty.

You could refuse.

Alcohol is not good for your health.

Don't drink too much.

I'll keep that in mind.

Here's some tea.

Drink it.

Thank you.

I was right, huh?

The Emperor complimented you on your talent.

He wanted you to be a secretariat drafter.

If you want to investigate an old case,

you can leave it to someone you trust.

Ying,

even if you call me stubborn,

I have to say it.

I must go to Yangzhou.

It's late.

You must be tired.

Rest early.

We'll discuss it later.

I'll walk you out.

No need.

[Jinran]

Jinran,

I had to do this.

I collected all the calligraphy, paintings,

and books in the room.

I'll give them to you.

Please forgive me.

Open the door.

Open the door.

Mr. Zhang, Prince Ying asked you

to stay at the mansion

before you agreed to be the Secretariat Drafter.

Unreasonable.

How dare you!

Open the door.

I'm sorry for the offense.

This is Jinran.

I'm a scholar.

I became an official

because of your favor.

But I'm not qualified for this position.

I can't deal with confidential matters suddenly.

A vassal state paid tribute from far away

because they respected our country.

But they blamed us for some reason

and stopped paying tribute.

Now, we've conquered

the surrounding countries.

I request to go to Yangzhou

to investigate the old case

and find out the truth

to show that we're a prosperous country.

I must send the memorial to His Majesty.

I can't stay in Chang'an.

[Yangzhou]

[Cui's Mansion]

Father...

Go.

Get away. Don't affect my business.

Get away.

[Cui's Mansion]

Let's congratulate Mr. Zheng on becoming a guild director.

Congratulations, Mr. Zheng.

Thank you for your help.

I appreciate it.

Cheers.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Mr. Zheng, you're one of the oldest

in the jewelry guild.

You'll become the guild lead

sooner or later.

Yeah.

Mr. Zheng, don't forget us then.

I won't.

Come on. Here's to you.

Come on.

I'm not dead yet.

- Mr. Cui. - Mr. Cui.

Mr. Cui.

Mr. Cui.

You're sick.

Why don't you rest at home?

I'm cured.

I should get back to work.

If some bad men get into the guild

while I'm gone,

the reputation of the jewelry guild will be ruined.

Reputation?

Someone took the tribute pearls.

The reputation of the jewelry guild has long been ruined.

It's ridiculous.

My Cui family is rich.

Some servants betrayed us.

I've dealt with them.

We accepted the punishment

of the imperial court.

We've paid the compensation.

It's settled.

But the Cui family is not what it used to be.

The Cui family is experiencing some difficulties.

As long as the Cui family has its shops,

we'll make a comeback.

You mortgaged your shops and the mansion.

Forget about a comeback.

It's just a temporary mortgage.

The Cui family still has 18 shops.

You are my friends.

You have worked with me for many years.

You don't have to do this.

Give me some time.

I'll prove

that the Cui family's jewelry shop

is one the best in Yangzhou.

We finally arrived in Yangzhou.

Don't you want to rest first?

I don't have time to waste.

Let's deal with the Cui family first.

[Ethical and knowledgeable]

Master.

You're finally back.

How's the jewelry shop doing?

The Cui family used the mortgage

to pay the damages of the tribute pearls.

Here are the mortgage letters of the Cui family.

We are the creditors.

Good.

Cui Jingchu is desperate.

Zheng Shiyuan is planning to take the guild lead from him.

Master.

Here's one more thing.

The new official of the Governor's Office of Yangzhou

is Xu Nanying, who just went to Prince Ying.

Noted.

Go.

Master, please don't leave us alone.

He's your own son, Master!

Master!

Stop crying!

I'm not dead yet.

Get out of here!

Someone.

Get them out of here!

Come on!

Master!

-No. - Master

Master, no.

Get out!

Master!

Didn't I tell you all to leave?

Yan Zijing.

How dare you come to my place?

Someone.

Someone!

Cui Jingchu.

Come on.

Check this out.

My Cui family's shops.

Now, these 18 shops are all mine.

Of course.

Your mansion is also mine.

And I have good news for you.

Not only will Zheng Shiyuan take your position as the guild lead,

but he will also unite with guild directors

to kick you out of the jewelry guild.

How dare they!

Why?

Your backer has fallen.

You owe a lot of money

because of the tribute pearls.

And your 18 shops are mine.

Your Cui family can't make a comeback.

The Zheng family will definitely take this opportunity

to hit the Cui family hard.

Have you ever thought

about today

when you were killing the Yangzhou Yan family?

You are the remnant of the Yan family.

Why didn't you die?

Why didn't you die!

Why didn't you die?

Yangzhou Yan's orphan

came to get revenge on you.

Even if I cut you to pieces,

I can't get rid of my hatred.

I've thought of a thousand ways to kill you.

But I won't kill you today.

I want you to watch

everything in the Cui family

be destroyed.

I will make you repay you a thousand times

for everything you have done to the Yan family.

I want the Cui family to be destroyed!

I'll make you, Cui Jingchu, wish you were dead!

Come on.

Don't worry.

I'll make the Zheng family

go down with you together.

Someone...

[Cui's Mansion]

Master, it's time...

Master!

Master, why did you hang yourself?

Master.

Someone!

Help! The Master hanged himself.

Someone.

Master.

[Cui's Mansion]

Mr. Xu,

my Zheng family will rely on you.

Since you say so,

I'll make you drink.

I took office to benefit the people

and Yangzhou,

which is to benefit the Zheng family.

Yes.

He just left,

and you want to take his place.

I...

I'll drink.

Before I left Chang'an,

Prince Ying told me

that Yangzhou jewelry was famous.

The guild lead of the Yang Zhou jewelry guild

should be someone capable.

Mr. Zheng,

just do it.

With your words,

I have nothing to worry about.

Father.

I heard

Cui Jingchu mortgaged his family's property.

I'm afraid the creditor has gone to him.

What a pity!

Mr. Zheng,

that's not what you think, right?

Who are you?

I am the new owner of the Cui family's property.

I heard that the jewelry guild is going to have a regular meeting.

So, I came to meet you.

The jewelry guild has rules.

Even if you own the Cui family's property,

you're not qualified to say anything about the jewelry guild.

Money is nothing to me.

If I use all of Cui's property,

I can become the guild head.

If you want to do it,

you can surprise us at the jewelry guild's regular meeting.

You don't have to come to me.

Mr. Zheng, you're smart.

I'll get straight to the point.

I want to be a guild director.

You're talking big.

I can't compare to you, Mr. Zheng.

Okay.

Guild director is just a title.

You can't run for the guild lead.

Of course.

Congratulations on getting what you wanted.

Go.

I don't care who he is.

Yangzhou is my territory.

What does it say?

Who can read?

Read it to us.

Let me.

Xu Nanying, the official of the Governor's Office of Yangzhou, warns you:

Abide by ethics,

[Notice] abide by the law.

The Emperor rules the world

with strict laws.

People who enter the city

shall be investigated,

in case they are bad people.

Sick people are not allowed

to enter the city.

Xu Nanying...

I didn't expect him to come to Yangzhou.

It's strict.

It will not be easy to enter the city.

Give me.

Do you want more?

A pretty girl.

Miss.

Get away!

Look at your injuries.

You must have suffered a lot.

If you are my wife,

you will be happy.

Do you think you are qualified?

I'm from the Cui family.

The Cui family is destroyed.

Cui Jingchu is dead.

No way!

Don't you believe me?

Today is his funeral.

Funeral?

Are you really a Cui?

Come on.

Chase her!

[Breeze] It's time.

Lift it up.

Throw money.

[Cui Jingchu's Memorial Tablet]

Duanwu.

It's Mr. Cui of the Zhenlang Pavilion.

How come?

Father!

Father!

Crazy woman, stop screaming.

It's the Cui family!

Go!

Out of the way.

Beggar.

I'll kill you!

Be good.

Yunxiu.

Yunxiu.

Duanwu.

Sit down.

Are you okay?

I'm fine. Don't worry.

Why did you save me?

You saved the slaves

in the mine.

We're even.

Forget it.

I'll pay you back.

Duanwu.

Why would we save her?

Let's go.

Duanwu.

The Jubao House

has a lot of expensive jewelry.

They have the best glassware.

The jewelry of Zheng's Jubao House

is the best in Yangzhou.

We'll go to a lot of jewelry shops today.

Okay.

Duanwu, look.

Who is that?

Lady Bai is beautiful.

Yeah.

Lady Bai becomes more beautiful.

Yeah.

She's so beautiful.

Lady Bai is beautiful.

- Lady Bai. - Lady Bai.

Did you see the necklace Lady Bai was wearing?

The style is beautiful.

Lady Bai!

Her head jewelry is beautiful.

Her golden hairpins are beautiful.

Duanwu.

Her necklace and head jewelry are normal.

The styles are old.

What do you know?

Lady Bai's makeup and clothing fits are popular in Yangzhou.

Women imitate her.

It's beautiful.

Miss.

We've just arrived in Yangzhou.

Is she the most beautiful woman in Yangzhou?

Yes.

Where did she get her jewelry?

They are from Baicaojing House.

Lady Bai only wears jewelry from Baicaojing House.

Baicaojing House?

Is it owned by Lady Bai?

No, it's not.

Baicaojing House became popular

because of Lady Bai.

Lady Bai is beautiful.

Maybe she can be the second Lady Yu.

Mm.

Let's go.

Wait.

Who is Lady Yu?

Lady Yu

was the most popular and beautiful woman

in Yangzhou twenty years ago.

Why don't you know anything?

You're not locals, right?

Yeah, we're no locals.

We're curious about Yangzhou.

Could you tell us

about the most beautiful woman?

At the Qionghua Festival three years ago,

Lady Bai won the contest for the first time.

She made Baicaojing House

from mediocre to famous.

Got it?

Oh...

Is there anything else?

If nothing else,

we'll leave.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Let's go to Baicaojing House.

Okay.

Yunxiu.

It seems that the jewelry itself is not important

in Yangzhou.

What matters is the person who wears the jewelry.

The most beautiful woman in Yangzhou...

Here comes the imperial edict.

Zhang Jinran, the chancellor of the Institute of Literary Studies.

Zhang Jinran, the chancellor of the Institute of Literary Studies.

You're calm and ethical.

You're a fair man and an official.

You're praised for your fairness.

I'll make you the Inspector of Huainandao

to investigate the case and pacify the people.

Take the imperial edict.

I, Zhang Jinran, thank the Emperor.

[Imperial edict]

Jinran, you...

Ying.

I won't forget you taking care of me.

Before returning to Chang'an,

I sent a request to the Emperor.

I came back to take a break

and wait for the appointment.

That being the case,

I can't stop you.

You have an important mission

in Yangzhou.

If you need people or money,

you can go to the Zheng family.

They have been running a jewelry shop for many years.

They are the model of righteous businessmen.

I'll keep that in mind.

How are you going to Yangzhou?

I'm going to go there by water.

It's good.

It's tiring by land.

Take care.

Take care.

If I hadn't sneaked into Prince Ying's Mansion

and sent your letter to the Emperor,

I don't know how long you would have stayed here.

I have

to let Ying down.

Well.

How are things out there?

Our people followed the clues all the way to Bianzhou.

We found a suspicious cargo ship.

It's said that the ship was filled with spices.

But it drafted deep.

It stayed in port for months

but didn't trade.

And it was well-guarded.

It left suddenly the night before last.

Where did it go?

It went south along the Bian River.

It should have gone to Yangzhou.

Yangzhou.

Did you find all the files

on the desert bandit robberies?

Yes.

There are two carriages of files.

Okay. Let's go to Yangzhou now.

Mr. Zhang.

On our way back to Chang'an,

someone became the official of the Governor's Office.

Xu Nanying?

He returned to the capital with guilt but was promoted.

Let's go.

[Zhenlang Pavilion]

Duanwu.

That's the Zhenlang Pavilion.

[Zhenlang Pavilion] It's magnificent.

Let's go in and have a look.

I heard that the Zhenlang Pavilion...

Take care.

Is Mr. Yan here?

He's out.

He'll be back in a minute.

Sir.

Please go in.

Okay.

[Zhenlang Pavilion]

Father.

I'll take the Zhenlang Pavilion back.

Yan Zijing!

Many people died at the Langhuan Dockyard.

But you're hiding in Yangzhou.

Yeah.

They're all dead.

The witch doctor is dead.

I don't have long to live.

I can't see her.

Tell Duanwu the truth.

Otherwise, she'll hate you.

Let her hate me.

She'll be safe that way.

You didn't think I'd survive.

You didn't think I'd see you again.

The truth is what you saw.

The truth is what I saw?

You tried to kill me?

Whatever.

Let go!

Turn around.

Turn around!

Turn around and look at me!

I taught you

all your kung fu

and business.

I'll teach you one last thing.

You.

Get out of Yangzhou.

Stay away from me.

Go.

Duanwu.

You finally got to see what he really is.

Duanwu, what's wrong?

Duanwu.

[Zhenlang Pavilion]

I saw Yan Zijing.

He asked me to leave Yangzhou.

Duanwu.

Duanwu.

Let's leave Yangzhou.

Let's get out of here.

I'm there for you.

I'll be with you wherever you go.

[Zhenlang Pavilion]

We shouldn't leave.

Yunxiu.

We must stay in Yangzhou.

I have to let him know

that I can live well

without him.

We must open a shop.

Open a shop?

Okay, Duanwu.

We'll stay in Yangzhou.

Duanwu.

Don't be sad.

Baicaojing House made a woman popular.

We can also give it a try.

Duanwu.

Duanwu, what's wrong with you?

Duanwu.

Help!

Duanwu.

Help!

[Yunsheng Inn, Roast pork]

Daunwu, you're back.

Have some tea.

After a long journey,

we still have to ask the Zheng family for help.

I asked around.

Ms. Yu

is Zheng Zhiheng's mother.

At the Qionghua Festival three years ago,

Bai Niao won the contest.

Then, she won twice in a row.

She made the Baicaojing House famous

on her own.

I wonder...

If we could make a girl popular

like Baicaojing House.

Then, we'll open a shop.

What does this have to do

with Lady Yu?

She was the most beautiful and popular woman

in Yangzhou 20 years ago.

Can she influence the beauty contest?

She is a concubine of the Zheng family.

She's welcomed by all the shops.

Everyone in the Baicaojing House

respects her,

including Bai Niao.

What do you think?

Maybe this shell

can help us.

This one.

Yes.

Umbrella.

Buy some cabbage.

Take a look.

Look at the umbrella.

Umbrella.

Miss,

these are newly arrived hairpins.

Umbrella.

These.

This pink one is beautiful.

How much is this?

Five hundred cash.

Five hundred cash?

Is one enough?

Fifty cash for one flower, right?

Yes.

Okay.

I want a pink flower.

Okay.

Do you need anything else?

That, and that.

Okay.

This pink flower is the most beautiful.

Here's your money.

How much is it?

Six cash.

- I will come again. - Thank you.

Miss, take care.

Vegetables.

Miss, have a look at the hairpins.

Fresh vegetables.

She likes pink.

She can't bear to buy expensive jewelry.

Shell inlay hairpins.

Shell inlay bracelets.

Shell inlay necklaces.

One thousand cash for three pieces.

Have a look.

- Yunxiu. - Those snobs.

They couldn't fix

a broken jade bracelet.

Come on.

Miss, I can fix it.

Can I see your broken jade bracelet?

It's the Zheng's place.

Who are you to set up a stall here?

Drive them away.

Miss.

We have the latest shell inlay hairpins and earrings.

Would you like to have a look?

Get out of here!

Okay, we'll leave.

Just leave!

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Go help her.

Look at this.

It's beautiful.

What are you whispering about?

Give it to me.

It's beautiful.

Here you go.

Miss, you're beautiful.

This ordinary earring

Ordinary earrings can't flatter your beauty.

Your skin is fair.

The pink shell

suits you well.

Stop it.

You said you could fix jewelry.

I have a broken jade bracelet.

Can you fix it?

Can we have a look?

Be careful.

It's Lady Yu's most precious thing.

♪Life flows like a boat, navigating joys and woes♪

♪Longing for distant shores♪

♪Aware this moment may tear my heart apart♪

♪Better to roam alone♪

♪Many depart, none return♪

♪How can we resist gazing at each other amid the blooms?♪

♪Your face glows like lanterns in the night♪

♪Love fades on the stone bridge, yet bonds remain♪

♪How can we endure the binds of longing?♪

♪Like a grand dream, a lone cup of wine♪

♪May this world hold♪

♪Both sorrow and warmth♪

♪To hide a broken heart away with laughter and tears♪

♪A debt across time awaits♪

♪A simple tale unfolds♪

♪Nothing compares to soft rice and sweet tea♪

♪May this fate intertwine♪

♪Half in regret, half in longing♪

♪Radiant memories tint your gaze♪

♪The world's bitterness♪

♪Still accompanies my dreams♪

♪Drifting afar on the shore of your life♪

♪Quietly watching over you♪