01x23 - Visiting the Sick

[bunniefuu]

[Love Like The Galaxy]

[Episode 23]

[Ling Manor]

[Ling Manor]

Please wait, distinguished guests.

Why are they leaving us here?

They all look so fierce.

They don't even have a bowl of hot soup for us.

Father, Ling Buyi is indeed a cold person.

But I didn't expect that even his manor would be so cold and creepy.

This doesn't look like a home at all,

more like a military camp.

I wonder why there is not a single woman or female servant here.

Aren't you a woman?

He frightened me.

One of you is sufficient.

General Ling, since you are injured,

why take the trouble of coming out to see us?

Please sit down and rest.

It is boring to stay in bed all the time.

So I came out to get some air.

I wonder why General Cheng came.

General Ling saved my daughter's life.

I should come to thank you.

Fourth Miss Cheng, please sit.

Don't sit.

Don't sit, Father. Quickly.

Thank you, General Ling, for saving my daughter.

Otherwise, my daughter would have fallen off the cliff.

Shaoshang, thank General Ling.

Thank you, General Ling. Please take good care of yourself.

If I cared for myself, I wouldn't have saved you.

Ling Buyi doesn't know how to make conversation.

You wanted to come.

Father, let's go quickly.

Agree.

General Ling is injured and needs rest.

We, as mother and daughter, don't want to take up your time.

Father and daughter.

Did I say it wrong?

Besides, my wife and I prepared gifts as a token of appreciation and placed those in your courtyard.

Goodbye.

I don't know if it is my illusion or not.

I felt that Ling Buyi disliked me a lot today.

He was speaking against me with every sentence as if he wanted to swallow me alive.

It is not an illusion.

He looked unhappy since the moment he saw you.

He also didn't have nice words.

Father, when did you offend him?

It is said that scholars scorn each other.

Who knew it was the same among soldiers?

I can only blame myself for being too good that even he is jealous.

I got it. Father, let's go home quickly.

I was so scared that my legs went weak there.

Miss Cheng! General Cheng! Please stop.

Earlier, my Young Lord found half of a jade pendant.

It must have been left there unintentionally by Young Lady.

Regardless, the other half was nowhere to be found.

So, we'll need to trouble Young Lady to return and find it.

I will go right away.

Rumor has it that General Cheng has superior strength and can fight against ten in the military.

We hope to see for ourselves if we can.

Young General Liang, I still have matters to attend to at home.

Another day. Another day.

Niao Niao, take good care of yourself.

You can do it.

You threaten me with the jade pendant.

General Ling's action is not noble.

Are you so afraid of seeing me?

You even brought your father to visit me.

I reopened my old wound because of you.

But you are reluctant to pay me a visit.

Does General Ling's wound still hurt?

You only ask me if it hurts or not.

Don't you want to ask if I can still sh**t arrows and ride a horse?

It's good that it doesn't hurt.

Why does it matter if you can ride a horse and sh**t arrows?

That day at Hua County, only you asked me if it hurt.

You are indeed special.

Young Lord.

Young Lord, Crown Prince is here with Princess Yuchang to see you.

Princess Yuchang?

Why is she coming to our place?

I'm not close with her.

Doesn't she... come here often?

The whole capital knows she fancies Young Lord.

She... is not here often.

General Ling, you have guests coming. I'll take my leave now.

- My jade...
- Crown Prince has arrived.

Zisheng!

Zisheng greets Crown Prince.

You don't have to be polite.

Shanjian told me you were hurt badly. I'm here to see how you are doing.

I saw my student Shaoshang was worried and mistakenly thought the general was badly hurt.

General Ling, I hope you can forgive me for my disturbance.

If I thought you were a disturbance, would that have stopped you from coming?

Shanjian is only concerned about you.

Actually, we all are.

Especially Yuchang, who couldn't sleep at night worrying.

Who is this lady?

I'm Cheng Shaoshang, the daughter of Marquis Quling, Cheng Shi.

Greetings to Your Highness.

She is Fourth Miss Cheng who broke off the engagement with the Lou family.

Sister Shaoshang, I was worried about you every day after your engagement was withdrawn.

Seeing you here today suggests you probably have a new goal now.

I'm here to thank General Ling for saving my life.

If you don't believe me, you can ask General Ling.

That's right.

I was injured for her.

I'm afraid some people would deliberately get close under the pretext of expressing thanks

and forcibly cling on and entangle themselves to no end.

I also wonder who collapsed the bridge and fell into the lake in order to see General Ling.

Who is entangling without end?

- Who is forcibly clinging on?
- You–

I invited Miss Cheng to my manor today.

Is anything improper about it?

She's privately met another man and had intimate relations.

A maidservant from my household saw them in a quiet corner near the Cheng Family Warehouse.

She said that man's appearance was definitely not of Lou Yao or your father.

You're spouting nonsense.

Miss Wang, I was that man.

Third Miss Cheng was also there that day.

But she didn't come along due to other matters.

I passed a message on behalf of my teacher.

So I went to Lady Shaoshang for help.

Is anything improper about that?

Some people only think about male thieves and female prostit*tes.

So they only see debauchery in people.

If there is anything unseemly between Young Master Yuan and me,

when I leave here, I'll be hit by a carriage and die.

General Ling, take care of your health. I'm leaving.

What happened today involves the entire Yuan family's good reputation.

I will request an explanation from the General of Chariots and Cavalry another day. Goodbye.

Miss Wang has insulted my esteemed guest in my manor.

Do you plan to oppose me from now on?

Zisheng, this is just a misunderstanding.

Zisheng, have you asked Imperial Physician Sun to check your injury?

There's no need.

It doesn't matter that my tendons and bones are hurt. I think Your Highness

should ask Imperial Physician Sun to check Miss Wang's eyes.

Both of her eyes can't see. If left untreated, she'll be blind.

Servants! See the guests off.

You...

I...

Why? Why is this necessary? We're all family. Let's not get angry.

You...

Zisheng, I...

[Ling Manor]

Where is Imperial Brother going? Has something major happened?

Isn't it improper for you to look so flustered?

Yuchang is so upset by Zisheng that she is heartbroken. I'm afraid that she'll do something stupid.

You guys hurry and go in. I'll go after her.

So what if he is the legitimate eldest son? He still doesn't look like a crown prince, even wearing the dragon robe.

Third Prince, Young Lord has just gone to rest. Please allow me to notify you.

Since he is resting, we won't go in, then.

Uncle found some high-quality medicinal ingredients. Please brew them for Zisheng.

Yes.

You've finally returned.



Messenger Officer Han Wu of the Huo Army

greets Young Lord.

Since you're still alive, why haven't you shown your face?

You waited until we looked for you. Do you know what crime it is as a deserter from the Huo Army?

Of course, I know.

However General Ling wishes to punish me, I shall obey.

I didn't deliberately mean to bother General Ling to search for me. But after the lone city fell all those years ago,

I was able to survive like a coward. I intended to contact old colleagues

to go to the capital and report everything to His Majesty.

But when I revealed my identity, the colleagues whom I contacted were assassinated.

I had to hide my name and roam among civilians,

until I was discovered by Young General Liang.

General Ling,

you are safe and sound.

Let me ask you.

That day, when the lone city fell and the Huo Army was completely annihilated,

where were you?

I wasn't inside the city at that time.

I was dispatched by the general to seek reinforcements.

General Ling, you didn't know this, but back then, the lone city's

weapons were switched into inferior weapons and the army couldn't resist effectively.

General Huo had to dispatch me and another colleague

to seek reinforcements from the Yue Family Army and Prince Qian'an's troops that were stationed nearby.

Who could have expected that before the reinforcements arrived,

the lone city had already fallen.

There was miasma outside the lone city that day.

The troops from the Yue Family Army and Prince Qian'an couldn't break through.

Therefore,

they were late by three days to give aid.

I heard about that. Back then, Young Marquis Yue sent a cavalry team to check the miasma.

All of them perished. But later, someone saw that

those dispatched warhorses appeared in the camp.

If the miasma was toxic,

why did the people die but the horses did not?

You mean, it's false that the miasma was toxic?

It can't be confirmed yet, but I think it's suspicious.

There is something else that's even more suspicious.

After the miasma dissipated, the military medics went to the woods to inspect the corpses to file reports.

Inexplicably, afterward, those medics

all disappeared.

General Ling, I want to search for these medics.

If anyone is still alive, we can find clues.

Approved.

Thank you, Young Lord.

Other young men and women only had to stand in front of the Cheng Family Warehouse,

and a romance is made.

Our Zisheng saved a beauty in distress and got so fatigued that his old injuries recurred.

Why don't these talkative women pass around a good story?

Otherwise, this... this...

These stories passed around by talking are just empty gossip.

Without this gossip,

how can I ride along with the trend and put together a match?

Zisheng's marriage has been delayed so many years.

Your Majesty.

Zisheng has his own mind. Your Majesty need not worry.

On the other hand, our fifth princess keeps talking about staying single like Zisheng.

She wants to be carefree.

Ridiculous.

A young man can establish his career first before marrying.

For a young woman who drags on without marrying, when she gets old,

- the gossip about her will be most ugly.
- That's right.

For example, just look at this Miss Cheng.

She obviously withdrew from the marriage with the Lou family in order to fulfill loyalty and righteousness.

She is criticized by the gossip. If Little Fifth doesn't marry,

how will she be slandered?

I ordered her to marry quickly for her own good.

Too bad that most children don't understand their parents' kind hearts and painstaking efforts.

In this world, the slander and gossip

are always harsher against women.

I'm not making her marry afar. For the Yue and Xuan families to join in marriage,

connected with the Wen Clan, even if the bones are crushed and the tendons are still connected, so we are one family.

What's wrong with marrying the heir to Marquis Yue?

Your Majesty has been patient in persuading Zisheng.

Little Fifth is stubborn. Your Majesty will need to talk sense with her patiently.

I take care of Zisheng because I owe Brother Huo.

She is my own daughter. Are they the same?

It's just that there is hardly any young lady that Zisheng will accept.

I naturally have to take more effort to make a match.

Your Majesty, how do you plan to make a match?

I will summon Miss Cheng to enter the palace.

How can you still eat?

I was hurriedly summoned to enter the palace early this morning.

I didn't get to eat breakfast. Why can't I eat?

Let me ask you. That day, when you visited Ling Buyi to wish him well,

did any problem happen along the way?

There was no problem. Wasn't Father there, too?

I wasn't there in the second half of the trip. What would I know?

But Ling Buyi looked somewhat unhappy that day.

Could it be...

Is this summons by His Majesty good or bad?

Even if it's bad, we can't avoid it. What's the use of worrying?

I need to teach you a few life-preserving rules first.

When you see those nobles after you enter the palace, you must kneel to pay respects.

Wish the emperor to live tens of thousands of years. Wish the empress to live in good health and comfort.

Present yourself with your father's title first, followed by your own name.

Do you understand it all?

I can't learn it well when you tell me these things now.

Why didn't you teach me before? It's too late now.

Why are you looking around sneakily?

It's one thing to act unruly at home.

You can't be like this anymore in the palace.

Otherwise, you'll bring calamity to the Cheng family.

You may even lose your life.

Understand?

Get off the carriage.

The Cheng family female members don't need to get off the carriage.

His Majesty has given a special reminder. Since the female members walk slowly,

who knows how long it will take them to walk to Xuanming Hall.

They can ride in the carriage to go directly to the Xuanming Hall.

It's better this way.

Ride in the carriage?

Go directly?

- This subject...
- The subject's wife...

Th-The subject's daughter...

greet Your Majesty, Empress.

May Your Majesty live tens of thousands of years.

May Empress live in good health and comfort.

Waive the formalities.

You may sit.

- Thank you, Your Majesty.
- Thank you, Your Majesty.

What are you looking at?

This light is really large.

I've never seen such an exquisitely built house.

Seeing it for the first time, I can't help but love it.

Sit down.

Your Majesty summoned me and my family. We are extremely honored.

Beloved Subject Cheng, no need to be so courteous.

Previously, you suffered by accommodating the overall perspective

and withdrew from the marriage with the Lou family.

I haven't yet commended you and your whole family.

The entire He family is loyal and made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Our whole family admires and appreciates their bravery and righteousness.

We naturally must fulfill General He's last wish,

and we haven't suffered for the overall perspective.

You are too modest, Beloved Subject Cheng.

The reward still must be awarded.

That one... is your daughter?

Yes.

Come closer.

Let me and Empress take a good look at you.

I want you to sit closer. How can we talk when you are so far away?

You don't move.

Put it down. Put it down.

Miss Cheng, what is your name?

I...

I am named Cheng Shaoshang.

The name came from a qin [zither]'s string.

Shaoshang string.

Shaoshang is a good name.

How old are you this year?

I've passed the marriageable age by many months.
[In ancient China, 15 was the marriageable age]

Let me ask you.

Do you feel bad about withdrawing from marriage with Young Master Lou?

Replying to Your Majesty, I feel bad of course.

However, our family didn't mean to renege on our promise

so we knew we had to do it.

What do you mean?

This young person once read such a sentence in a book.

Heaven isn't compassionate, it treats all people as animals.

A few months ago, I was in Hua County where my uncle took office.

I saw the misery of the people after the w*r.

Therefore, I thought, it is because Heaven has no feelings

and views the mortal world dispassionately.

That's why, as humans,

we should be humane and compassionate, sympathetic, and helpful to one another.

If it's only for one's own happiness while disregarding other people's tears,

this is what beasts would do.

Do you know which sage said this sentence?

Confucius spoke of humanity. Mencius spoke of righteousness.

Xunzi believed that human nature is inherently evil.

So they must not have said that Heaven isn't compassionate.

Proponents of Legalism talk about pros and cons. Followers of Mozi talk about universal altruism.

The former only care about gains among people.

They don't care about being humane or righteous.

The latter thinks there is too much righteousness in the world.

Since there is so much righteousness, so people should love one another.

Therefore, they couldn't have said that sentence either.

The last one is Laozi and Zhuangzi in Taoism.

Therefore, the sentence must be from Laozi.

Why wasn't it from Zhuangzi?

Because Mother wants me to read Zhuangzi's book, but I haven't yet.

I don't know what's written in it.

You've actually guessed it right,

but the interpretation is wrong.

"Heaven is not compassionate, it treats people as animals."

It doesn't mean treating people as pigs and dogs coldheartedly.

Rather, it means, Heaven treats all people and all things equally.

Let nature take its course for all.

- So that's what it means.
- Yeah.

Beloved Subject Cheng. You're great.

You have taught your daughter well.

I don't deserve it.

It's all my wife's good teaching.

Your Majesty, we haven't been home for over ten years because of fighting in battles for a long time.

General and I haven't taught our daughter well.

We hope Your Majesty won't find it laughable.

Shaoshang, your parents delayed your studies because of serving the country.

I see that you are quite intelligent and bright.

It will only take a little effort for General Cheng and Madam Cheng

to teach you well.

Thank you, Empress, for your compliments.

Empress, you are so beautiful.

Niao Niao, don't speak nonsense.

Let me ask you then.

Is your mother beautiful, or is the empress beautiful?

Empress is beautiful.

Your Majesty, my daughter doesn't know etiquette.

She meets Empress for the first time today and speaks offensively.

Please pardon her, Your Majesty and Empress.

It's fine. No problem.

I think this child is candid and truthful.

It's quite interesting.

Oh, yes! You two beloved subjects rose up early upon the summon.

You probably haven't eaten yet.

Father and Mother haven't eaten,

but I have eaten.

I ate bread in the carriage, but I'm still hungry now.

You've eaten bread already? Good.

Your whole family will stay and have lunch with me.

How about it?

- I think that's fine.
- You think that's fine?

Good, good, good.

Reporting to Your Majesty. General Wan has entered the palace.

- He is waiting in Chongde Hall now.
- Uncle Wan.

Good, I'll be right over.

- You two beloved subjects, come with me to chat with Beloved Subject Wan.
- Yes.

Nanny Zhai, take Miss Cheng to the side hall of Changqiu Palace for a short rest.

We will get together for a family meal later.

I will help Her Majesty get changed.

Miss Cheng, please take a seat here.

Unexpectedly, it's made of elm wood.

How frugal.

This hall is more than three meters high, but the pillars can be hugged by two people.

It seems, the structure does not solely rely on the beams and pillars as support.

This is quite different from the homes of the common people.

I wonder what type of wondrous method they used to build this hall?

Empress Mother!

Fifth Princess, the empress is changing.

Fifth Princess! Fifth Princess!

Empress Mother!

They said you and Imperial Father had important matters to discuss.

They bitterly refused me from entering.

Your Imperial Father, indeed, had important matters to attend to.

Why would I deceive you?

As a princess born from the royal family,

you are familiar with palace etiquette. How could you enter the palace with unbridled clamor?

If your Imperial Father heard, he would severely punish you again.

Imperial Father is just partial.

As a princess, I have less freedom than other ordinary ladies.

You were born into a life of luxury.

When has your Imperial Father mistreated you?

Living a life of luxury isn't mistreatment?

You also do not lack food and clothes.

But why are you always wearing a knitted brow and worried frown?

Isn't it because Imperial Father only has eyes for Yue Heng and her children?

Within and outside the court, who does not know that Yue Heng is the true empress?

Impudent!

Who in your presence

is instigating disharmony?

It is the aides and advisors at my manor.

They wholeheartedly help me scheme. They have never instigated disharmony.

You are a woman. You have no need to manage state affairs and pacify the country.

Why would you need aides and advisors?

You are about to be married to the Yue Clan. Yet you have close interactions with these men.

What would your future father-in-law, Young Marquis Yue, think?

I am here to request Empress Mother. I will not acquiesce to this marriage.

I do not want to marry the son of Young Marquis Yue.

Yue Heng's nephew is not accomplished in scholarly or military endeavors. He's even worse than Third Princess' husband.

Why must we, the Xuan Clan, offer such refined and learned men for marriage alliance prospects,

but the Yue Clan must offer a dissolute son to me?

This is clearly ruining me and secretly humiliating Empress Mother!

Impertinent!

Third Princess used to fancy Zisheng.

But after your Imperial Father granted her marriage, she willingly married into the Xuan Clan.

Why can't you?

That's because Ling Zisheng is disinterested in her.

The men in our Xuan Clan

are not worse than Ling Buyi. She had no other choice but to acquiesce to marriage.

If I agree to marry the Yue Clan's dissolute son,

she is going to ridicule me.

Consort Mother did not see.

Fifth Princess cried as she ran into Changqiu Palace in an agitated state.

It was hilarious.

It seems Imperial Father made up his mind to make her marry into Uncle's family.

Really, what is she discontent about?

Taking someone so overbearing and rude as a bride-to-be,

Uncle's family is the one getting the shorter end of the stick.

With your older cousin's dissolute behavior,

it is unsurprising Fifth Princess does not want to marry him.

What right does she have not to marry him?

In the past, I fancied Zisheng.

Imperial Father made me marry into the Xuan Clan.

Didn't I withhold my tears and proceed with my marriage?

Both as princesses. Both in a marriage alliance.

What right does she have not to marry if she doesn't want to?

I implore you to stop daydreaming.

If Ling Zisheng took interest in you with your terrible behavior,

would he warrant your Imperial Father's many years of worry?

I'm afraid the ladies qualified to marry him have lined up around the capital city long ago.

Consort Mother! How could you belittle your own daughter?

Not content?

Your Prince Consort from the Xuan Clan has rendered a meritorious deed.

Not only is his family background reputable, but his conduct is also upright.

Think about your older cousin.

He scrambles around brothels all day long.

Which lady is willing to marry him?

If you and Little Fifth were to change husbands,

would you be willing?

Then what about Little Fifth filling her manor with aides and advisors?

Spending her whole day with them, pretending to discuss national affairs.

Who knows what they actually do behind our backs?

Little Fifth is unwilling, only because she looks down upon the Yue Clan.

Stop coming here to fan the flames.

As a child, you grew up in your uncle's manor.

He must have often instigated Changqiu Palace and our Yue Clan's grievances in your presence.

Today, I am leaving my words here.

In this life, I only wish for peaceful and quiet days.

Put away those trickeries in your stomach.

Stop stirring up trouble for me.

Or else, I definitely will not protect you.

It's getting late.

Go to the family banquet.

Consort Mother isn't going?

I hate those boring palace banquets.

I'm not even close to all of them. Why must we feign happiness together?

Then are you going to let the Changqiu Palace steal the show?

If I am willing to give up the limelight to someone else, then so be it!

Are you discontent?

I am discontent!

If they say men and women must marry when they are of age,

then Ling Zisheng is still unmarried.

How come Imperial Father indulges him in unfettered freedom?

Imperial Father indulges him more than his own sons and daughters.

Could it be that Ling Buyi is actually Imperial Father's left-to-be-stranded and excluded son?

You!

How could you slander your Imperial Father?

Zisheng is General Huo's nephew.

He's General Huo's only remaining bloodline.

That year, the entire Huo family died to save the nation.

To the extent that your Imperial Father feels guilty to this day.

How could you utter such cold words?

Huo Chong was only Ling Zisheng's uncle.

Despite how many people died, they are only from the maternal side.

His own father and mother are alive,

but he won't get close to them because of his eccentric temper.

Instead, he clings to the palace to steal my father and mother.

- How is this right?
- Shut up!

If you keep speaking nonsense like this,

I might seriously punish you!

Empress Mother, go ahead and punish me. I know you are both upset that I'm disobedient.

I am only a woman who wishes to achieve something just like a man who can enter the court

and can accomplish meritorious deeds.

Anyway, I will never marry into the Yue Clan.

If I can't even decide my own marriage, I may as well die.

You...

Where are you going, Empress Mother?

I haven't finished talking, Empress Mother.

Empress Mother!

Who is this lowly maidservant? How dare you eavesdrop?

I was not secretly listening.

You were speaking too loudly. Even if I didn't want to listen, I had to.

Impudent! How dare you be impudent in the Changqiu Palace?

Servants!

Drag this lowly maidservant away to be punished by caning.

Yes.

Fifth Princess, spare her.

Fifth Princess, she is Miss Cheng from Marquis Quling's manor.

It's her first time entering the palace, and she doesn't know the palace rules.

General Cheng is a newly promoted general

who achieved brilliant merits in the Battle of the Lone City.

His Majesty conferred him as Marquis Quling.

His Majesty has frequently said to treat the descendants of meritorious subjects nicely.

Will Fifth Princess please not be angry with Young Miss Cheng?
[Luo Jitong]

So she is a daughter of a military household.

No wonder she is so crude and poor in etiquette.

How dare she be so shamefully impudent in Changqiu Palace!

I will report to Imperial Father to punish this lowly maidservant.

No, punish your parents along with you.

Remove their military merits and kick your whole family out of the capital.

Fifth Princess, please dissipate your anger.

Don't bother being upset with young girls.

His Majesty has ordered me to take Miss Cheng to the family banquet.

If Fifth Princess is still upset, just scold her some more.

It's just that, if we're delayed, His Majesty might blame us.

You're using Imperial Father to suppress me again.

Consider yourself lucky.

If it weren't for the palace banquet, I definitely wouldn't spare you.

It's best to be careful at the banquet. Don't let me catch any errors.

Or I'll get the whole Cheng family punished with you.



♪ The flames of w*r strike against the frost and snow ♪

♪ It lightly covers the lingering illness of the past ♪

♪ Your back is against the light,
the galaxy reflected in your eyes ♪

♪ I hum a tune, the sun and the moon respond ♪

♪ The brilliance that penetrates the eyes ♪

♪ was extinguished by dust and lit again ♪

♪ The edges of earth, Kunlun, and netherworld
feel remorse for someone ♪

♪ The ocean is waking, the forest of steles
are like a mountain range ♪

♪ There are veiled criticisms in the corridor, a narrow door cannot easily close off one’s intentions ♪

♪ The challenges of one’s life become advice for the future ♪

♪ You and I will be in the same galaxy ♪

♪ We’ll use our absolute sincerity to
bring radiance to the ordinary ♪

♪ Bring radiance to the ordinary ♪