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 22]

Lady Huan, we have a guest from Zhenlang Pavilion.

What do you want to see me about?

My master wants to pay you 30 million mace

to withdraw from the Qionghua Festival.

You'd better take it.

Thirty million mace

is enough for you to live well

for the rest of your life.

What's good about being a top beauty?

Ms. Huan.

You're reasonable.

You're old.

It would be nice to retire.

You're old and wrinkled.

If you agree,

I'll deliver the money tomorrow.

- Lady Huan... - Well.

Thirty million mace.

It turns out I mean so much to you.

Thank Master Yan for me.

Tell him

I don't need it.

You have a personality.

Sir.

Lady Huan.

Lady Huan

refused.

She gave up 30 million

to work with Duanwu.

Forget it.

What about the Zheng family?

Zheng Shiyuan is sophisticated.

I didn't find anything on him.

But Zheng Si

accepts bribes.

He seems to have reaped some profit.

Look for evidence.

Okay.

[Yangzhou Jewelry Guild]

Have you heard

that there are new rules for the Qionghua Festival?

The songstress who sells the most is the top beauty.

It's a competition for our money.

Mr. Xu is brilliant.

By the way,

which songstress did you vote for?

My strength is limited.

I

followed Mr. Qin's lead.

Mr. Qin must have voted for Lady Bai.

Lady Bai won twice in a row.

She has a good chance of winning.

Thank you.

Who did you vote for?

I followed Mr. Zheng and voted for Xue Liniang.

Her dancing

is the best.

Master Yan, you just took over Zhenlang Pavilion.

You need to make a name of yourself.

Master Yan, who did you vote for?

Lady Huan is good at both singing and dancing.

I voted for Bai Niao.

Zhenlang Pavilion also voted for Lady Bai.

Mr. Qin, good for you.

Thank you.

Mr. Huan, I'm sorry.

Looks like I'll take Zhenlang Pavilion

and your Tongbao House's business.

Thank you.

Mr. Huan.

No offense.

Lady Huan is distant.

She gives people attitude.

And she's arrogant.

We go to her to have fun,

not to get angry.

Huan...

Directors.

Mr. Zheng.

Sit down.

You must have heard of it.

I'll say no more.

Mr. Xu takes the Qionghua Festival seriously.

He will attend in person.

Please support the Qionghua Festival.

If the Qionghua Festival goes well,

our Yangzhou Jewelry Guild will look good.

Master Yan, you're a promising young man.

You took over the Cui family's property.

You're great.

I'm flattered.

That was just my luck.

Mr. Zheng.

You took over the position of the guild lead.

You're sophisticated.

He has a sharp tongue.

He didn't want to lose to me in words.

You might as well call me cunning.

You joined Yangzhou Jewelry Guild.

We're in the same boat.

Don't capsize the boat.

I won't.

Directors, cheers.

Cheers.

Lady Huan, you're thinking about the jewelry now.

Zhenlang Pavilion gave you 30 million mace yesterday.

Why didn't you accept it?

Zhenlang Pavilion gave you 30 million mace yesterday?

Lady Huan.

What happened?

It's all your fault.

Lady Huan didn't want to participate in the Qionghua Festival.

Shut up, Levi.

Why did you

give all my jewelry to Mr. Huan

without my consent?

Mr. Huan is a Huan.

All your jewelry

is from Mr. Huan.

The Huan family wanted to remake jewelry for you.

I had to give it to them.

Huan family?

Well.

When I was five, I entered the Huan family to practice pipa.

I haven't had a day off.

When I was nine, I played the pipa on stage

and made the Huan family famous again in Yangzhou.

When I was twelve,

they sent me to a brothel.

I put on makeup

and received guests for the Huan family.

Only I gradually degenerated.

No one asked me if I wanted to do it.

Do you really think I'm a Huan?

Lady Huan, I was wrong.

I didn't think that much.

I won't do it again.

That being the case,

you decide if you want to stay or go.

Lady Huan, take care.

Lady Huan, are you going to let her go?

She wanted to go.

Levi.

Levi.

It's a bad name.

It sounds like "leave".

Lady Huan, look at you.

Obviously, you don't want her to go.

Since you don't want her to go,

why did you do that?

If I force her to stay, we'll suffer.

Why do people have to suffer?

They never treated me like family.

Now, I treat them the same way.

If the jewelry

can buy me a clean break with the Huan family,

I think it's worth it.

Miss. Su,

the Qionghua Festival is more than just talent.

The backers' strength.

Clothes, jewelry,

makeup, and music.

Everything costs a lot.

Now,

I don't even have a decent piece of jewelry.

It's a pipe dream for me to join the Qionghua Festival.

We'll figure it out.

Lady Huan, give me some time.

Let me ask you something.

Am I the only songstress you can find right now?

Forget it.

We are at the end of our rope.

There's another way.

Maybe I can give it a try.

Si.

Stop beating him.

He'll die.

I'm begging you.

Stop beating him.

Help.

Stop!

Si.

The Cui family has been ruined.

He's my only son.

If you kill him,

you're killing me.

Here's the evidence.

[Zheng Si embezzled the family's money to provide for a songstress]

Look what your son did.

He stole money from the family

and helped a washed-up songstress

to be the top beauty.

It must be them.

They must have framed my son.

I'm your wife.

You can't favor your concubine.

Master, the lady misunderstood me.

Please forgive Si.

Please let him go.

Stop it.

I will beat

those who intercede with him.

Stop hanging out

- with that songstress. - Father.

Master.

Master!

You'll kill him.

Stop beating him.

Master.

Stop beating him.

Mom!

Help!

- Si... - Father.

No wonder you bragged to me.

Shiqi's craft is great.

Even the craftsmen from Zhenlang Pavilion and Jubao House

can't compare to her.

Shiqi, thank Lady Huan.

Thank you, Lady Huan.

Lady Huan.

Check this out.

We've drawn the jewelry

for the Qionghua Festival.

Do you like it?

If you don't like it,

I'll modify it.

[Jewelry drawing]

It's silver jewelry.

It's beautiful.

But is it too plain?

The Qionghua Festival will be full of flowers

and magnificent jewelry.

It would stand out

if we made it simple.

What do you think?

You have a point. I agree.

Who is Lady Huan?

I am.

Here's your letter.

It's...

Yunxiu.

Don't make the shells too thin.

Breakup letter.

Lady Huan.

- At the Qionghua Festival... - Su Muzhe.

I'll quit the Qionghua Festival.

Please leave.

Lady Huan, what happened?

Who wrote you that letter?

Is it your lover?

Don't ask.

Su Muzhe, please leave.

Lady Huan.

Who is your lover?

Can I talk to him?

Don't rush into anything.

Maybe it's not what you think.

Stop it.

Lady Huan.

He doesn't love me anymore.

I've been with him for years.

I've done so much for him.

Now, he abandoned me.

It's been my unrequited love

all these years.

He never really wanted to be with me.

He didn't want anyone

to know about our relationship.

You always say

I have to be the top beauty.

Because when I become the top beauty,

he may think more of me.

Now, no one wants me anymore.

Muzhe.

You've drawn so many good drawings.

Shiqi has great craft.

What's the use of you

having such a good craft?

It's useless.

What we need most now is money.

I can't be the top beauty on our own.

Leave me alone.

Please leave.

Leave me alone.

Lady Huan.

I won't leave you alone.

Please leave.

Leave me alone.

Leave me alone!

Please leave!

Leave!

Leave.

Leave.

After your letter was sent to the Zheng family,

Zheng Si was beaten severely.

He was deprived of stewardship

and grounded.

Zheng Si's strength was weakened.

Zheng Wu will take action.

They started a fight.

It won't end until one of them dies.

As long as I'm in Yangzhou,

I won't give the Zheng family

a break.

[Baicaojing House]

Duanwu, eat it. It's going to get cold.

- Lady Bai. - Lady Bai.

- Lady Bai is beautiful. - Excuse me.

Lady Bai.

Duanwu, it's Master Yan and Lady Bai.

- Lady Bai. - Lady Bai.

She's beautiful.

- Lady Bai. - Lady Bai.

She's beautiful.

She's beautiful.She's beautiful.

It's so beautiful.

She's like a fairy.

Lady Bai, you're so beautiful.

Please stay beautiful.

- Lady Bai. - Lady Bai.

Shame on him.

Excuse me.

Lady Bai.

Lady Bai, you're beautiful.

Yeah.

It can't be any cheaper.

Interesting, Su Muzhe.

You risked your life to stop me.

Mr. Zheng, I have a favor to ask you.

- Mr. Zheng... - What?

Don't you want to surprise me

at the Qionghua Festival?

You have to show your sincerity.

How about this?

Get down on your knees.

Mr. Zheng, please do me a favor.

What do you

want me to do?

Mr. Zheng, you must have heard

that Yan Zijing wanted to make Bai Niao the top beauty.

I

want to help Lady Huan.

But Yan Zijing

burned Lady Huan's bridges.

We hit a dead end.

We need your help.

Everyone knows

that my Zheng family wants to make Xue Liniang the top beauty.

Why should I rebel against my family to help you?

First,

if Bai Niao becomes the top beauty,

Zhenlang Pavilion will rise.

It'll be a threat to the Zheng family.

It's bad for you, me,

and the Zheng Family.

Second,

you are not the heir

of the Zheng family.

How can you guarantee

that the Zheng family has a place for you in the future?

It's good for you

to plan ahead.

If you agree,

I'll help you run your business

in return.

Please help me.

I

disagree.

Smart people only do what's good for them.

The tea is too hot.

Remember.

Be obedient in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Zheng.

Aren't you worried about Duanwu?

I'm worried about her.

But I believe her.

Lady Huan, you also believe her, don't you?

Muzhe said

that you must learn to love yourself first.

She went everywhere for me

and tried to pull me out of the abyss.

I believe her.

Duanwu said the same thing to me.

You should rely on yourself

rather than others.

Good one.

When you came,

it was as if spring had come.

That's great.

Lady Huan.

Shiqi.

Duanwu.

Muzhe.

How's it going?

Did you find someone to support me?

I did it.

That's a lot of money.

Does he have any harsh conditions?

Lady Huan, don't worry.

Put it away.

It's the Zheng family.

Zheng family?

Zheng Wu.

Zheng Wu.

He's a concubine's son.

How could he come up with so much money?

It's because he's a concubine's son

that I made a deal with him.

Lady Huan, don't worry.

Zheng Wu only provides money.

It has nothing to do with you.

All right.

Great.

Duanwu, with all this gold,

we can buy the best jade jewelry.

Lady Huan, don't worry.

I'm sure we'll win.

We'll win.

Yunxiu.

We now have this gold.

I'll draw more drawings.

Lady Huan, you can pick from them then.

New drawings.

Can we make it?

We have to do it.

I'll stay up all night drawing.

Lady Huan, did you see

other songstresses' jewelry?

Do I have the same drawing as theirs?

Or am I not as good as them?

Are you worried about losing?

You told me

that jewelry has spirit.

If you are not calm when making jewelry,

the jewelry won't be outstanding.

Up to this point,

I'm kind of scared.

Lady Huan.

What if you lose the top beauty

because I didn't

do my jewelry well?

Your Clear Mind is a new shop.

Other jewelry shops have been open in Yangzhou for many years.

It's not easy for you

to amaze the people.

Not to mention, we don't have anything.

Don't be afraid to lose.

Lady Huan, you're right.

Muzhe.

Close your ears.

Clear your mind.

It's time to fight.

We don't fight for others.

We fight for ourselves.

Yes.

Stop.

You've been practicing all morning.

But you're not getting any better.

Dancing is not about showing off.

It's about understanding its essence.

Breathing, rhythm,

action, and emotion.

You must think over

every detail.

If you can make a difference

in the same dance,

you are qualified to be the top beauty.

Are you tired?

No.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Good.

If you're tired, quit the Qionghua Festival.

Lady Bai, don't worry.

These press-on nails are the same as the ones you gave me.

Reward him.

Thank you, Lady Bai.

Excuse me.

Niao.

Look.

[Yangzhou Zheng family] The Zheng family sent you an invitation.

They have an honored guest for dinner tonight.

They invited you to accompany them.

Why didn't they ask Xue Liniang to go?

Xue Liniang practices every day.

But they always ask me to accompany them.

Xue Liniang can't compare to you.

You're the top beauty.

Besides,

We can't offend Mr. Zheng.

Guys, check this out.

Lady Bai passed the age of flower blooming.

But she said she was only the age of peach and plum.

Lady Bai is not 20 years old.

She's 24.

Yeah.

Songstress Yan said she was from a famous family.

But she's from a poor family.

She pawns her jewelry for a living.

She's beautiful on the outside but mean on the inside.

It's mean.

Look at this.

Songstress Yingtao

eats three baked flatbreads at a meal.

Even I can't eat that much.

Songstress Xue Liniang

spends all her salary every month.

She has almost no savings.

She spent all her money on cosmetics, jewelry, and clothes.

She loves beauty.

Look at this.

Lady Huan

is the adopted daughter of the Huan family.

The Huan family made her a songstress

and used her as a cash cow.

Look at Songstress Cao and Songstress Wang.

All the famous songstresses in Yangzhou

are scolded.

Who did this?

Mr. Xu, please.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Mr. Xu, it's an honor to have you

at the Qionghua Festival.

Mr. Xu.

I invited a top beauty

to entertain us.

You didn't have to do this.

The Qionghua Festival is Yangzhou's annual event.

Starting this year,

I will rejoice with the people every year.

Yeah.

Rejoice with the people.

Mr. Xu, please.

How about drinking it up?

Okay. Cheers.

Come on. Fill Mr. Xu's cup.

What is this all about?

Who wrote it?

It's mean.

You're all here.

What happened?

Come on.

Check this out.

Lady Bai, you are the top beauty.

This thing happened.

You must step up

and find out who did it.

Yan, you're a talented girl.

How do you have time to read this?

Why don't you spend your time

with poets and artists?

What are you doing here?

We came to you

to figure it out.

I don't know who did it.

If I find out who did it,

I'll rip her face off.

Why are you staring at me?

Are you doubting me?

What's wrong with you?

How could it be me?

You sent people to keep an eye on the Zheng family.

You pretended

to run into them.

But you didn't get Mr. Zheng to vote for you.

Did you see that?

I saw it in person.

Don't

talk nonsense.

All right.

We're friends.

Don't doubt each other.

We should prepare for the Qionghua Festival.

Lady Bai is older.

She's insightful.

Unlike her,

someone only knows making innuendo.

She's ridiculous.

You...

What?

Lady Yan, you're really talented.

You insult people with worded words.

Let me see.

Flower blooming. Peach and plum...

I don't know these words.

Yeah.

I dare you to say it again.

Flower blooming. Peach and plum...

I'll tear your throat out.

Come on.

- Tear my throat out. - Enough.

I need to talk to you.

If you're in trouble,

you can ask us for help.

You didn't have to pawn your stuff

to make yourself look good.

We felt sorry for you

when we found out.

Speaking of that,

the insult to you.

was not very harsh.

Why are you coming at me?

I didn't speak ill of you, Lady Bai.

I...

I have the support of the Zheng family.

Why did I do that?

It's useless.

Could it be Lady Huan?

She didn't even show up for this.

She's always been like that.

She's arrogant.

Who knows what will happen

in the current situation?

It's great.

Bravo.

Beautiful body.

Master Yan.

He was a big spender and a great merchant in Guangzhou.

Why did you come to Yangzhou

to do business?

Long time no see, Mr. Xu.

I didn't expect you to be promoted.

Congratulations.

You knew each other.

Before, Yan was in Guangzhou.

I held a poetry gathering in Guangzhou.

I was honored to have Mr. Xu.

Mr. Xu made a poem.

It's popular in Lingnan.

Mr. Xu, you're talented.

I'm flattered.

Master Yan.

Yangzhou is different from Guangzhou.

You have to operate in accordance with the law.

I'll keep that in mind.

Mr. Xu, please.

Please.

It's a big occasion.

He brought an unknown woman.

Don't worry.

He did it for fun.

He knows the limitations.

Bravo.

Muzhe.

Which one is better?

Let's try it out.

Is he Yan Zijing?

What kind of a person is he?

He's ruthless

and unscrupulous.

He's a vicious man.

I want to know him.

Yingtao.

Where are my dancing shoes?

Coming.

I put your dancing shoes away.

I'll get them for you.

Look.

Lady Xue...

Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on them?

All you know is to eat.

- You ruined it. - What happened?

Ignore them.

- Bravo. - Bravo.

- Bravo. - Bravo.

It's Lady Yu.

She was the top beauty in Yangzhou 20 years ago.

She's really stunning.

You can't wait

to see the beautiful songstresses tonight.

Now, I declare

that the Qionghua Festival has officially begun.

Great.

Who did it?

Who took my shoes away?

Lady Bai, your dress...

Your dress is broken.

What should we do?

Xue.

My dress was ruined.

I've been here with Duanwu.

We haven't moved.

Can you show us

your pipa?

Lady Bai.

The pipa is our secret.

We can't show you.

If you don't show us,

you're the one who did it.

Yingtao.

I dare you.

Lady Huan.

I didn't expect you

to be so vicious.

My dancing shoes and Lady Bai's dress

are ruined.

Why are yours intact?

So what?

You didn't take care of your stuff.

What does it have to do with me?

You did it.

You ruined Lady Xue's dancing shoes

and Lady Bai's dress.

You're vicious.

Xuanji.

We didn't take good care of them?

I'll see it.

Xue Liniang, what do you want?

Huan.

Xue, don't be impulsive.

You have no proof.

We'll talk about it after the Qionghua Festival.

Don't mess around.

Xuanji.

Don't point fingers.

It's just a dress.

We have spare dresses.

What should I do?

Don't you have spare dresses?

Don't worry.

I have an extra dress.

Xuanji.

Lady Bai, Lady Xue may not fit

into your dress and shoes.

I was negligent.

You...

You ruined our stuff.

Are you not ashamed?

Let's report them.

Xue Liniang.

Lady Huan prepared

a few extra pairs of dancing shoes.

We can lend them to you

if you like.

Yunxiu.

Go get the dancing shoes.

Lady Xue, we have shoes.

Huan, why did you prepare so many shoes?

We did it to watch out for bad people.

There are a lot of bad people on this occasion.

Just in case.

Thank you, Su.

You're thoughtful.

Lady Bai, we should go get dressed.

Okay.

Don't you like them?

Thank you.

What about our pipa?

Don't worry.

♪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♪