= Love Like the Galaxy=
=Episode 7=
(Marquis Quling's Residence)
Congratulations on moving into a new home, General Cheng.
-Thank you for coming. This way inside, please. -Brother Shi.
Best wishes for your new home.
Wan.
-Congratulations. -Wan.
(Virtue Flows Like Water)
There are many distinguished guests today.
Speaking of which,
(Wan Songbai) it's my mother's birthday after a few days.
(Wan Songbai) You and your family must be present.
I'd naturally attend
Old Madam's birthday banquet.
I don't see Qiqi.
She wanted to come.
But my mother confined her at home.
Well, she deserves it.
She caught a cold
after she went out riding horses.
By the way,
where's your precious daughter?
Let me meet her.
Niaoniao,
come and greet Uncle Wan.
Come here.
I wish you great health, Uncle Wan.
Good.
Shi,
I thought you were exaggerating
when you bragged about your daughter.
I had no idea
she was raised well.
I almost forget.
Take this, Niaoniao.
It's a gift for our first meeting.
Take it.
Thank you, Uncle Wan.
No need.
She's only a child.
General Wan's gift
is too valuable.
No, no.
Only good things fit Niaoniao.
Niaoniao,
your father and I are very close friends.
Should you suffer any injustice, you can come to me.
I'll definitely speak up for you.
Especially if it's because of your mother.
You can come to me anytime.
Niaoniao,
stop idling there.
Go and attend to your grandmother.
Keep it.
Where are your manners?
(Virtue Flows Like Water)
Sister-in-law, you're too rigid.
You play by the rules with Shi
and with Niaoniao too.
If
a person's life is all about rules,
how boring it must be.
No, it's not.
When I go out now,
no one teases me for being uncultured.
I have to thank Yuanyi for teaching me well.
One thousand liang from Mr. Yuan of the Jiaodong's Yuan Family.
I don't recall being acquainted
with the Yuan clan of Jiaodong.
Did you send them an invitation?
General, I didn't send them an invitation.
It hasn't been long since you were promoted.
I didn't have the time
to be acquainted with any aristocratic families.
I hear Yuan Shen is
as sly as a fox.
I wonder what ill intention he comes bearing
for coming uninvited.
I dare not come with any ill intention
in front of two generals.
Mr. Yuan.
My father and the eldest son of Marquis Quling's Residence studied
under the same tutelage.
Father said
his teacher often praises the intelligence of this junior.
I've long admired your eldest son.
I heard there's a housewarming celebration here today.
So I came uninvited.
But my eldest son isn't home now.
A son is an image of his father.
If I can see
your elegant bearing myself,
it's equal to seeing your son's charm.
Mr. Shanjian, this way inside.
I didn't expect my eldest son
to have such prestige.
Mr. Wan, come inside.
This way, please.
Your earrings look novel.
My husband gave them to me yesterday.
It's enviable to have such a good husband.
This way, please.
All right.
Here, Official Liu.
You came all the way on an arduous journey.
I'm truly honored to have you here.
You're being courteous. You're too kind.
This way, please.
All right.
We can meet Official Li over there.
Greetings, Mr. Cheng.
Greetings, Official Song. And you too, Official Li.
This way, inside.
What a fine-looking man.
Please come with me.
Come here.
Hurry now.
Move it.
Come here.
Be careful not to drop them.
Keep up.
General Cheng rises in his ranks.
Even Old Madam is glowing with radiance.
You look even younger now.
That's because you never saw me when I was young.
I was delicate.
My appearance
may have not changed much.
But
I'm no longer a young maiden.
Am I right?
When did Grandmother send the hairpin on her head to be made?
They look crude.
Grandmother added exactly two liang of gold.
Why didn't you dissuade her?
How embarrassing.
I dare not.
Sit properly.
Greetings, Old Madam Cheng.
All right.
This is Wang Ling, the daughter of Cavalry General Wang Chun.
(Lou Li) Her mother is the Empress's younger sister.
They're joining us here today
to congratulate the Cheng Family.
(Wang Ling) I didn't want to come.
However, my father has some ties to General Cheng.
So he ordered me to attend.
That's wonderful.
Don't feel restrained
among us elderly women.
Yangyang,
show the guests their seats.
Yes, Grandmother.
This way, please.
So that's the rumored Fourth Lady Cheng.
Sure enough, seeing is better than hearing.
She's indeed haughty and arrogant.
Indeed.
I heard
her Second Aunt always confined her
in her room
because of her impertinence behavior.
Let alone walking around the house.
But that is now in the past.
She has her parents on her side now.
We'll have to meet her often in the future.
Cheng Yang, you can be my witness
to how impertinence I am.
But there are some people
who humiliate people as they speak.
I wonder who's more disrespectful.
My sister was brought up by my mother.
It was my mother's lacking to not raise her well.
Niaoniao is not to be blamed here.
I heard Mr. Shanjian will be here today.
I don't see him anywhere.
Are you here to see Mr. Shanjian too, Miss Wang?
Of course.
I was idling at home.
I only dropped by
because there's a celebration at Cheng's residence.
Look!
Mr. Shanjian is here.
I'm Yuan Shen of Jiaodong.
I'm here to greet Old Madam.
Very nice.
Miss,
pardon me.
Take it back!
Young Lady,
it's cold out in the garden. Why did you come out here?
Cover yourself with this cloak or you'll feel cold.
I'd rather freeze to death
than sit with them.
They keep on mocking me.
I'm not patient enough to argue with them.
So I came out to take some fresh air.
Young Lady, don't stoop to their level.
When you came out,
did you see the good-looking man?
I have no interest in who that person is.
I want to get some air.
Lianfang, you can stop following me.
Miss,
how have you been?
You?
What's the matter?
Don't you welcome me?
It's an honor to have you here, Mr. Yuan.
I wouldn't dare to displease you.
My father and brothers are at Jiuzhui Hall.
You can meet them there.
But I came especially to meet you.
I only caught your embroidered ball
and returned it to you.
Why did you have to come after me here?
There's no need to go to such an extent.
You turned me away like this.
Is this how the Cheng Family treats their guests?
Don't you find it a little rude?
We don't know each other.
Our families are not even acquainted.
Don't you think it's rude of you
to block my path?
Why don't you be straightforward?
All right.
An outspoken man speaks his mind.
I only want you
to deliver a message to Madam Sang.
If you're here to deliver a message,
you can tell it to Third Aunt in person.
There's no need to go through this trouble.
There are things that are not to be mentioned to outsiders.
So I can only trouble you with this task.
This isn't
a particularly important or a trivial matter...
Make haste.
Are you agreeing to do it just like that?
What message is it that you want to deliver to Third Aunt?
Please tell me.
You only need to tell Madam Sang these.
"Looking at empty words with sincere expectation,
hoping to meet at the palace gate.
Climb up the platform to watch out for you in the distance
with my mind wandering like a dream and like a soul.
An old friend is only asking
but the sound of wind and water."
That is all.
Miss,
is something troubling you?
I don't understand.
I don't understand a single word you said.
Can you remove
the confusing words?
It's not confusing.
It's a rhapsody.
Then remove the confusing rhapsody.
Sum them in a sentence.
I can remember if it's a sentence.
Fine.
You can tell her
that an old friend misses her.
But only need a few words...
I understand.
I'm sure she won't remember it.
After I left,
did they make up anything to ridicule me?
No.
Mr. Yuan was here.
So they were too busy to bother about us.
Who invited Yuan Shanjian?
Are we acquainted
with the Yuan Family?
Mr. Yuan said
Eldest Brother's teacher and his father studied
under the same teacher.
That was one huge back road.
Besides, Eldest Brother is not home.
He indeed made a lot of effort
to establish a connection with our family.
He's our guest.
You mustn't criticize him.
Could it be
that you think he's a nice person?
I...
I've never spoken to Mr. Yuan before.
How do I know what kind of person he is?
If you engage in a conversation with him,
you'll know his disposition.
He's nothing more than a rude pleasure seeker.
This isn't a particularly important or a trivial matter...
Make haste.
Cheng Yang,
I want to ask you something.
Have you heard of a poem
like this?
Looking at empty words with sincere expectation,
hoping to meet at the palace gate.
Something about palaces.
Climb up the platform to watch out for you in the distance.
Platform.
What else...
But the sound of wind and water.
That is all.
Is it
"Changmen" a famous rhapsody by Sima Xiangru?
I think so.
Is this poem that popular?
It's not exactly well-known.
But
people love it for its figurative language
that doesn't involve politics.
So often times young women would read it for pleasure.
Niaoniao, be patient.
After Aunt Yuanyi spends more time teaching you,
you'll know no less than others.
No need.
I think I'm better this way.
I don't need anyone to teach me.
You're indeed fine.
Silks and satins for sale!
It's your top-quality fabrics!
Come and take a look!
Top-quality wine! Take a look!
It's written "Young Lady Cheng"
on the invitation.
But it didn't mention which of us is invited.
Of course, it's you.
I have to thank you, Cheng Yang.
If Wang Ling didn't invite you
to attend Princess Yuchang's birthday banquet,
my mother wouldn't let me go out
to pick Princess Yuchang's birthday gift with you.
Where did you get the lanterns?
General,
I purchased them from the market.
Some guests hung them here
to let someone fated guess the riddles.
Move!
I've inspected them.
These lanterns are different
from Prince Xiao's lantern.
It had caused a huge commotion.
They won't leave the same lantern behind
to us for investigation.
They reduce what they have to destroy every trace of evidence.
It proves we're investigating in the right direction.
Have you found anything
on Prince Xiao's expenditures in the last six months?
It's as you've expected.
It was six months ago
when Prince Xiao complained about struggling in the capital
because he was short of money.
But he has been spending lavishly for the past six months.
He would travel around, drink, and play all day.
Does he own any property?
He does own several shops in the capital.
But he has poor business acumen.
It was a total loss.
He entrusted someone to sell his shops in the first half of the year.
But not only didn't he sell them out,
but he also had extra money to set up more shops after that.
Head Armorer Dong and Xu Jinzhong were involved in the dealings for six months.
Prince Xiao lived lavishly for six months.
No one would believe it
if they're not related to each other.
Order the men to cause trouble
at Prince Xiao's shops.
We must cut their financial resources.
Someone who's used to luxury won't be able
to bear being penniless.
He will take the risk out of desperation.
The moment he contacts the buyers,
we'll have the chance
to find out the person who steals the armaments.
Isn't that the Cheng Family's carriage?
Young Master, something had happened.
Madam Chunyu went to the residence.
Let's go back.
Young Lady, we've arrived.
Take a look.
Young Lady, I've been waiting for you.
May I ask if this inn belongs
to General Cheng, the Marquis of Quling?
Yes, indeed.
My Young Master was not prepared for the long journey.
So we wonder if we can ask for some charcoal?
Please come with me.
Mr. Yuan?
It's cold outside. How about getting some rest inside?
No need.
Mr. Yuan,
my brothers missed you
after not seeing you for days.
I wonder if we could exchange poetry again.
I'm afraid you're mistaken.
"Looking at empty words with sincere expectation,
hoping to meet at the palace gate.
Climb up the platform to watch out for you in the distance."
I said I would discuss it next time.
It's a rhapsody, not a poem.
All right.
Rhapsody.
The weather is great today.
I have some spare time,
and I happen to want to exchange poetry.
I wonder
if you're available
to step aside for a moment.
May I know what I can do for you?
I've been waiting for you for days.
Yet, you never bring back word.
Have you forgotten
to deliver the message to Madam Sang for me?
I never wanted to help you deliver the message.
So it's not a matter of forgetfulness.
Do you understand it's hard to catch up with a cart pulled by four horses?
No.
That's right. I broke my promise. What can we do about it?
I don't have a horse, let alone four of them.
There's nothing more
than begging, coercion, and temptation in this world.
Since you're reluctant to speak nicely,
I can use other means too.
Did I scare you?
Rest assured.
I can't do anything to you.
Many people know my name.
If you're willing to deliver the message for me,
I'll be willing to do you a favor as repayment
in the future.
Any favor?
Apart from being unfilial, rebelling,
treachery, abandonment,
and forbid from asking for your hand in marriage,
I can agree to the rest.
I...
When have I ever asked you to marry me?
When did I ever say I want to marry you?
Have you never thought of wanting to marry me?
Now, that's appalling to me.
You were tardy in delivering the message.
Isn't this your strategy to cling to me
and lure me into meeting you?
If
you truly want to draw a line between us,
why didn't you deliver the message to Madam Sang
with haste?
We'll be on our separate ways then.
You have a point.
Mr. Yuan,
I'm to blame.
I suddenly understand something
from your teaching just now.
I should carry my task dutifully after being entrusted.
How about this?
I shall deliver the message to Third Aunt
when I return home today.
No need to thank me,
and please forgive me for giving you the cold shoulder.
From then on,
we won't be indebted
to each other.
What if I need you
to deliver messages again?
If Third Aunt doesn't mind me
delivering messages for you,
I shall not decline then.
But if Third Aunt doesn't like it,
I can only respect my elder.
Mr. Yuan,
we shall not meet again.
It's not up to you
if we ever meet again.
That will be up to me.
All of the attendants and bodyguards here
should take notice of things around here.
As I walked into the General's Residence,
it looks cold and desolated.
Forget about fire to keep warm.
There are no plants here at all.
There's not even a single servant girl here.
Where's your Young Master?
I prefer peace and quiet.
I don't like plants.
Zisheng.
It's not surprising
because you're always surrounded by these men.
They wouldn't know any of these.
I think,
you have everything you need here.
You only lack someone you love.
What brings you here?
I'm your stepmother.
We're family in any case.
Can't I visit you?
We're indeed family.
You and Marquis Chengyang are cousins.
When I was a child,
I even greeted you as my aunt.
But it didn't take long for you to take the advantage
to climb into Marquis Chengyang's bed to become his wife
while my mother and I were wandering in destitution.
After going in circles,
we indeed become family in the end.
Even if
you hate us as your parents,
you mustn't mistreat yourself.
Princess Yuchang of Lord Ruyang's Mansion
is truly devoted to you.
You must cherish this betrothal.
Well,
Her Highness's birthday is in a few days.
It's best
that you go.
See her off.
I haven't finished yet.
I've finished talking.
Young Master,
are we attending
Prince Yuchang's birthday banquet?
Her Highness especially sent an invitation.
(Invitation)
Receive ten strokes yourself.
(Invitation) Why am I being punished?
(Invitation) Did I commit anything wrong?
If you cherish your bottom,
you should control your hands.
(Invitation)
Why did I accept this? (Invitation)
Why did I accept this?
Mr. Yang.
Yuan Shanjian.
You're finally back.
As long as you agree,
I'll exchange my sister's written marriage proposal immediately.
Please rest assured.
I'm certain no lady
in this capital is more suitable
to marry you than my sister.
Isn't this...
Isn't this the scroll I gave you?
Could it be
you're cutting ties with me?
I have to return your favor
for giving me this scroll.
So I marked several mistakes
to remind you
that if you add more thoughts in enhancing your knowledge
instead of judging people's marriages,
you wouldn't be making such mistakes anymore.
Why you...
You don't know what's good for you,
I heard Mr. Yang is
a famous Confucian scholar in the capital.
He has a younger sister with a beautiful appearance
who's quiet and docile.
She's both beautiful and gifted.
Why did you upset him?
No matter.
He wouldn't have
the face to tell anyone about what happened today.
Young Master,
Madam never meddles in your marriage.
As usual, I shouldn't bring it up.
But I watched you grow up.
It's inevitable that I worry.
You're 21 this year.
When do you plan on finding a wife?
Who says people must marry?
Father and mother have been married for more than 20 years.
Yet, they rarely talk to each other.
If life after the marriage is this dull,
I'd rather not marry at all.
Could there be no woman
in this world
who you find interesting
and wish to marry?
Must I marry that interesting woman
if I meet one?
To a family clan, marriage is an embellishment.
To the women, marriage is to climb up the ranks.
But from what I witness since young,
marriage is putting up with each other.
I, Yuan Shanjian, would never do
anything that brings no benefit to me.
In any case, I don't remember any of it.
In other words,
an old friend longs
for a few words.
An old friend?
Why did he tell you to deliver the message
instead of coming himself?
Could this Yuan Shanjian be
the disciple he accepted
back then?
Disciple?
So it's him.
What does he want?
I don't know either.
In any case, that's what he said.
Other than these,
he didn't say anything else.
A few words.
What does he mean by that?
I haven't met that person for more than a decade.
I remember now.
He must have found out I was ill
because you were searching for physicians
to find medicinal prescriptions for me.
So that's the reason.
But you've recovered from your cough for quite a while now.
Why is he still concerned about it?
Wait here.
Take this.
Deliver this for me.
(I've recovered. Rest assured.) Is this all that you write, Aunt?
Don't you want to leave your name?
He recognizes my handwriting.
So I don't need to leave any.
(I've recovered. Rest assured.)
Aren't you going to tell me
what happened?
For instance,
his name
and the relationship you had with him.
I can't tell you in a few words.
It doesn't matter.
If it takes time to tell, you can tell me slowly.
I can listen patiently.
When people say
it's something they can't say in a few words,
it means they don't want to explain it.
Is that what you meant?
I can let it go if you don't want to tell me.
But can you tell me
why Yuan didn't come
and see you directly
and insisted to go through me?
I once told someone this.
"Be it you,
your friends, family, or the disciples,
please don't come and see me
or send any letters to me."
I was young when I said that out of spite.
I never expected that person to be so dense
that he actually agreed.
So that's what happened.
But speaking of which,
how did you know Yuan Shanjian?
This matter isn't
something I can say in a few words.
How cheeky.
Have you found out
what I ordered you to inquire about?
The Young Ladies of Cheng went to their family's shop
to pick a birthday gift.
Princess Yuchang also extended an invitation to the Cheng Family.
I didn't ask you to inquire about Fourth Lady Cheng.
I wanted to know about Prince Xiao.
As of late,
did he go to Tian's Restaurant?
We've been watching Prince Xiao for several days.
He has been spending time
with General He's daughter lately.
Head Armorer Dong was sent into exile.
Xu Jinzhong committed suicide.
If Prince Xiao wants
to be in long-term armaments dealings,
he can only get his armament supplies elsewhere.
If he becomes General He's son-in-law,
it would naturally
be more convenient to get armament supplies.
General He is loyal and valiant.
He may not associate with him in such evil deeds.
Lord Yong only elevates his cronies.
It is inevitable that his son
may also like to push himself
to read General He.
Do we still have
Princess Yuchang's invitation from the other day?
We shall go to Lord Ruyang's Mansion.
I already threw it away.
But
I thought
you said you're not going to attend.
General He is acquainted with Lord Ruyang.
He Zhaojun
will definitely go to Lord Ruyang's Mansion
to celebrate Princess Yuchang's birthday.
Since Prince Xiao is inseparable from her,
he would be there too.
Fei,
have you recovered from your injury?
It was only ten strokes.
It no longer hurts after I applied medicinal ointment.
Good.
Then go and receive another ten strokes.
Why?
Don't you think you deserve ten strokes
for throwing out an important invitation?
If you find the invitation,
you shall be pardoned.
Come with me.
(Lord Ruyang's Mansion)
It's such a huge mansion.
Sister-in-law, you picked the right dress.
Niaoniao's complexion and manners are not inferior
to those of aristocratic women.
Yangyang looks beautiful too.
Gentle and imposing.
I have to agree.
If anyone complains about being unfair,
no one can blame you.
Niaoniao,
don't wander.
Who's that?
Is she wearing all of her jewelry?
That's Wan Qiqi.
She's the Wan Family's tenth...
Which number of the Wan Family's children is she again, Song?
Tenth?
It's the thirteenth.
Thirteenth?
Wan Qiqi is the youngest in the family.
Yet she thinks
(Wan Qiqi) she's the most senior in the capital.
She behaves conspicuously wherever she goes.
Who are you talking about again?
Cheng Song!
Cheng Shaogong!
Greetings, Madams.
You must be Shaoshang and Yangyang.
Why are you plainly dressed?
Later
I'll have someone send several beautiful dresses for you.
Plain and neat is good.
One appears more gentle this way.
Yes.
When you enter a tiger's den like this,
being gentle isn't charming.
Let me teach you how to dress up.
There seems to be something lacking.
Let me take a look.
Qiqi,
aren't these the gifts
you want to give Princess Yuchang?
No matter. I have a lot.
This one looks pretty.
This is better.
Pay more attention.
Beautiful.
Madams,
I'll take them to...
Go on.
Let's go.
Let me show you the world.
Let me tell you this.
You must not be afraid when I'm around.
Are you certain
the person who ruined my plan was
Fourth Lady Cheng?
Yes, it was her.
If she didn't meddle that night,
you and General Ling
would have been the talk of the capital.
By all means, you can just watch today.
I invited her today mainly
to teach her a lesson on your behalf.
Let's go.
Where should we sit?
So much delicious food.