01x31 - Episode 31

[bunniefuu]

song title

♫ Flowers falling by the river again Turning the clear waves red ♫

♫ Sparrows singing in celebration ♫

♫ Calm years pass by the silent bustling city Sitting at home ♫

♫ No one knows love's outline like I do ♫

♫ If one day the river breeze blows again ♫

♫ I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror ♫

♫ Dreams can shatter; Memories remain ♫

♫ Rich fragrance A*DS; Light ink writes ♫

♫ In the deep red windows lies mundane dust ♫

Are You the One

[Episode 31]

Be careful!

Sure.

Okay, this one's done.

Zhao Quan?

Put it over there.

Miss He.

I've taken care of everything you asked for.

Why are you still here?

I'm here to work.

I heard from the kiln workers
that you're aiming beyond this.

You want porcelain
that will be admired for generations.

How could I miss out on something like that?

Besides, I've caused you so much trouble.
I have to work hard to repay you.

What's wrong?

You've always lived a life of luxury,
used to the finest porcelain.

You can't handle this kind of rough work.

I'm not picky.

I mean the more meticulous a person is,
the more meticulous the work they should do.

Miss He. No one knows me better than you.

I am a meticulous person.

Think about it. When I was learning
acupuncture, I could only practice on myself.

This rough work is beyond me.
I can only do the delicate tasks.

- Are you serious?
- I am.

If you want to try, then come with me.

You rough man.

Is this the most meticulous task?

He refused?

He didn't say it outright,

but right after the marriage was decreed, he broke his leg.

If it's not bad luck, it's deliberate.

Either way, we can't let her marry a cr*pple.

I never wanted to marry Lord Huaiyang anyway.

During the spring hunt, he didn't let me win.

If I marry him, who knows
how arrogant he'll become?

It's good that he fell.

See? See?

It seems Wuhua really has
no interest in Lord Huaiyang.

Falling off the horse was fate's way.

People make their destinies.

By doing this, he clearly doesn't regard me.

But you bestowed the marriage
without consulting me.

Did you consider my feelings?

It seems...

Cui Xingzhou has shattered his leg,

half-paralyzed in bed.

How could someone do this to themselves
just to refuse a marriage?

I fear he did it on purpose to show others.

He requested an imperial decree...

What decree?

I believe Lord Huaiyang's leg injury is real,

and the fall was deliberate.

The Grand Empress Dowager granted the marriage
out of respect and to ensure his safety.

But the Lord already holds great military power and has just achieved an extraordinary victory.

If he marries the Princess now,
there will inevitably be rumors in the court.

So I suspect that the Lord
allowed the marriage news to spread

and then fell off his horse
to protect the Lord of Beizhou's son.

This way, he can gain the
great-grandmother's favor,

making sure Lord of Beizhou can't touch him,

while also showing Your Majesty
that he won't become arrogant...

or form factions.

Great-grandmother,
I have some official matters.

I must take my leave.

Xueji.

I think what you said makes sense.

Empress, His Majesty has summoned you
to Qinying Hall.

Your Majesty.

Please sit.

You haven't had lunch yet, have you?

These dishes are prepared for you.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Eat.

Yes.

Your Majesty, Your Highness, please enjoy.

I know you're upset.

Earlier today at Yongshou Palace,

the things I said were meant to comfort the Grand Empress Dowager,

but they went against your wishes.

Please, forgive me.

This...

It's not my last meal, is it?

I just wanted some peace.

Does watching me eat give you peace?

Eat.

[Laixi Courtyard]

[sign]

Why are you here again?

How could you be so heartless?

Aren't you going to ask about my leg?

It hurt so much last night.
I could hardly sleep.

Didn't I get this injury at your place?

I couldn't recover back there,
so I came here to heal.

Lord of Beizhou's place has
the best physicians. Please return.

Fine.

I'll just go tell Lord of Beizhou that I got
this injury at your Qiao family's place.

Cui Xingzhou.
Why are you acting like a stray dog?

I have a master, don't I?

Since you do, I can put you
wherever I want, right?

No. No need to be so quick!

There's an old story.

A lazy man named Ian Dong had pastry,
but starved to death.

But you don't seem like the lazy type.

The watercourse here is well-repaired.

You're a hard worker.
I'm sure you've been eager to see it.

It's really not necessary.

Just sit here for two days.

By then, the watercourse will be fixed.

Your leg will be healed.
You can walk back on your own.

Perfect.

Why do I need to sit here for two days?

Can I recover in two days?

I'm a cr*pple now!

Liu...

It slipped! It slipped! Liu Miantang!

Liu... Liu... Liu Miantang!

Are you alright?

My hand is cut. It hurts!

Is it your hand that hurts or your leg?

My leg hurts too!

My hand's all scraped up.

You came over suddenly.
There's no extra food prepared at home.

Make do with this.

Crab roe rice.

You made this for me?

You're overthinking.

In this season, where would we get crab roe?

This the crab-like dish,
made with salted duck egg.

You got tricked, right?

Are you okay?

If you really want to eat it,
I'll go buy crab for you tomorrow.

But at this time of year,
crabs don't have roe.

You'll probably...

You'd still cook for me?

[Guide to Wheel Throwing]

None of the items have been sold,
but the accounts keep piling up.

Stop frowning all the time.

If you're short on capital, I could invest.

It's not about money.

You wouldn't understand.

How can I know if you don't tell me?

To be honest, I've become quite good
at making chamber pots lately.

Besides, am I not your most capable helper?

Shouldn't I know what my shopkeeper
is worrying about every day?

Do you really want to know?

- Then come with me.
- Let's go.

Why did you bring me here?

He Zhen, let's be clear.
I'm just here to work.

- I haven't thought about anything else.
- Shut up.

But sometimes, I'm not that much
of a gentleman.

This is something I accidentally made.

It's not perfect,
but it's the closest to what I envisioned.

Afterward, no matter how I adjusted
the temperature and glaze at each phase,

I could never achieve the same result again.

The booklet you just saw...
is a record of my every attempt.

I think they're all great.

They're not what I want.

Where are you going?

[Clear Water]

[Clear Water]

I know you're awake.

After you left,

I went a bit crazy.

But recently,

I've become clearer in my thoughts.

During the time you were gone,

I think I've finally figured out
what kind of person you are,

what you like, and what you want.

I think I understand it all.

What you want, from the beginning,
is a relationship of equality.

Just like that little copper ingot
on the scale.

If one side becomes unbalanced,

even by a feather, you would never
allow yourself to stay in that situation.

You would rather walk away,
leaving everything behind.

That's how proud you are.

I admire your pride.

I want to protect it.

It's not because you're a pampered lady
from a small household that I care about you.

When I learned you were Lu Wen,
I realized what I care about

is the feeling of having met my match.

I like your intelligence that allows you
to find a way out of any situation.

And the way you live is
always free and unrestrained.

What I love is all of you.

You speak as if you truly know me.

I wouldn't claim to understand your every
thought, but I'll do my best to understand.

Miantang.

Since you left Xizhou with regret,

I knew you never let go
of avenging your brothers at the agency.

Returning to Beizhou was
a move to plan and then act.

These unfulfilled wishes,
unexplored adventures, and unfinished pasts.

They've slowly become things
I can't let go of either.

I want to experience them with you.

In front of you, I'm never a lord.

I'm just an ordinary man who wants to
hold your hand, and spend a lifetime with you.

But you're not just any man.

My Lord.

What lies between us started with a deception.

Maybe in Lingquan Town, or even in Beizhou,

we can play house for a while,

passing the days away.

But every dream has an end.

I don't want to look back on you later with nothing but regret.

Then don't let it be temporary.

I want to marry you. Let's spend this life together.

Enough!

There's more than one way to live in this world.

People who don't live in a lord's mansion aren't lowly or insignificant.

Don't ever bring up making me a concubine again.

Someone else can be your concubine.

Who said anything about a concubine?

If I marry you, you'll be the Princess of Huaiyang.

We have vastly different statuses.

I could never covet the position of Princess.

And the choice of a Princess isn't solely up to you.

I appreciate your kindness, but I must decline.

My mother has already agreed.

And my family isn't some treacherous place.

My mother is busy with tea gatherings and opera performances.

You'd be lucky to see her during routine greetings.

What are you worried about?

It's still a no.

Since when did you become so cautious?

Aren't you very petty?

After I deceived you, you shouldn't let me off so easily.

What do you want?

Money or me?

Whatever I have, I'll give it to you.

I can earn money on my own.

So, it's me you want.

Cui Xingzhou.

When did you turn into such a rascal?

You can stay here tonight to recover, but tomorrow morning you're leaving.

Where am I supposed to go?

Wherever you are, that's where I should be.

This game.

You've managed to turn it around again.

Good game.

It seems Lord Huaiyang can't find worthy opponents,

so you came to me to show off.

I was trying to hold back and flatter you,

but then I thought of your family's teachings:

Respect the strong.

Being humble might not win your favor.

How can someone who flatters others be worthy of our Miantang?

And I've decided.

If someone wants to marry my daughter in the future,

I'll make sure she chooses a capable man.

Again.

Cui Xingzhou?

The Qiaos have accepted my visit card.

Today, I'll visit to propose.

I'll return by dusk. Please await good news.

If you want to marry Miantang, then every day,

in the morning and night, you must play Go with me.

I might consider it.

Why not move your entire family to Zhenzhou?

I'll even get you a fine estate.

Nonsense.

I've built my entire life's work here.

How could I just leave for Zhenzhou?

But I am Lord Huaiyang.

- I can't...
- Once I set a rule,

you throw your royal weight around.

No, no.

I wouldn't dare make promises lightly.

That's something Miantang taught me.

You keep calling her "Miantang".

Do you think you can have it all in the world?

Her business in Beizhou is just taking off. How can she easily follow you to Zhenzhou?

If you want to marry Miantang,

then give up everything of Lord Huaiyang.

What will you choose?

Is that your anger speaking,

or Miantang's wish?

Whose wish it is doesn't matter.

My Lord, you can't do it anyway.

Uncle. Where is Cui Xingzhou?

Miantang.

It seems I might have made a mistake.

What?

I might have refused the proposal

on your behalf.

[Lord of Beizhou's Mansion]

You must be Ms. Liu.

Greetings, Manager.

Lord Zhao said it to me earlier.

You're an old acquaintance of Lord Huaiyang, and want to meet him.

However, the Lord is not currently at the mansion.

Do you know where he went?

He mentioned yesterday that he would return.

My lord prepared a cartload of luggage and saw him off.

But by midday today, he came back briefly,

grabbed some paper and documents, seemed upset, didn't speak to me,

and didn't mention where he was going.

Then he left again.

I think this time,

the Lord has truly left for Zhenzhou.

- Thank you for your help.
- My pleasure.

You've been gone for so long.

I've been unable to eat or sleep.

If my dreams lack you, my nights are dull.

If my dreams include you,

I can't sleep through the night.

During the time you were gone,

I think I've finally figured out what kind of person you are,

what you like, and what you want.

I think I understand it all.

What I care about is the feeling of having met my match.

I like your intelligence that allows you

to find a way out of any situation.

In front of you, I'm never a lord.

I'm just an ordinary man who wants

to hold your hand, and spend a lifetime with you.

I only joked with his title to tease him.

He wouldn't take it seriously, would he?

How could there be someone so earnest in this world?

My Lord. Why haven't you returned?

I had to give you an answer before I could leave.

Then listen carefully.

- What my grandfather said...
- Wait a moment.

Let me speak first.

Zhenzhou was pacified by my father.

He dedicated his life's efforts to it.

The people of Zhenzhou have long been under the protection of my family.

My mother, my brothers, and their wives live under the shelter of my official rank.

For their sake,

and for my father's legacy,

I can't be so selfish

as to abandon my title.

Starting so bluntly.

- What if I get mad?
- I'm afraid of that.

But I'm more afraid of deceiving you like I did before.

Then why are you still so leisurely here?

Why not hurry back to protect your people?

Is it because you couldn't walk?

Or are you getting angrier the more you think about it,

ready to knock me out and drag me back to Zhenzhou?

Well, listen carefully.

I've put on weight these days.

Your legs wouldn't be able to carry me.

I want you to see our future.

This document here

outlines my schedule for the year.

Take a look.

Did you write this in just one day?

I've carefully counted.

I'm busy in the summer and autumn.

If I focus my efforts, I can handle everything in five months.

Apart from various duties and travels,

I can free up at least four months each year to spend

in Beizhou with you.

With holidays and festivals, we could have even more time.

I've written it all down here.

- You don't have to...
- Wait, no need to rush.

I have something else.

This is the plate of the mansion.

And this.

This is a handwritten letter
with my official seal.

With it, you can freely travel to
any state or county where I am.

You can even enter the Zhenzhou camp
as you wish.

So, do you mean wherever you go,

- I should follow?
- No, no. That's not what I meant.

I was thinking that when you're free
from your duties,

perhaps we could meet in other places.

I understand your grandfather's concerns,
and I respect your choice.

I still can't immediately give up
my title as Lord Huaiyang,

but everything must have a solution, right?

And if you're willing to give me a chance,
I'll do everything I can.

I want to marry you.

But I'm not forcing you to make any decision
right now.

I respect your choice.

If you're not willing now,

I promise I won't trouble you anymore.

I...

I'm not willing.

Don't you want to know why?

No need.

The fresh crabs in Zhenzhou are incredibly
delicious, far better than those in Beizhou.

If I stay in Beizhou all the time,
I'll miss out on many earthly delights.

Besides, I don't want to miss out on...

What is it you don't want to miss out on?

- You.
- A man's word is his bond,

hard to take back once spoken.

I'm just an ordinary woman, not some great man.

But the decisive Lu Wen that I knew before
was never so hesitant.

Lord Huaiyang could understand a hint
without a word.

He wouldn't ask so many questions either.

By the way, there's one more thing.

I still have an unresolved revenge
with the faction of Prince Sui.

One day, I intend to settle that score.

How coincidental.

I have the same intention.

Dear.

How improper.

Without the certificate, if you continue,
and my grandfather hears you...

Never mind. Today, he owed you a debt.

Owed me?

What do you mean?

Wasn't it your idea?

It's Grandfather's idea.

There's this poor Go player who won a game,
but then had to put on airs as Lord Huaiyang.

My grandfather meant to put him down,
but didn't expect him to take it seriously.

But all of it was my true feelings.

Forget it.

I've always been open.

But I wonder when the woman facing me
will be just as open.

I've always been open.

But one has to be thoughtful, or I might end up
calling you "honey" without realizing it.

You rogue.

Once you sign the certificate,
I won't be a rogue, right?

Why don't you hurry up and have your mansion

send over the certificate
before I change my mind?

That can be signed by Guangcai.

We can do it right now.

How childish. The offices are closed.

Are you scared?

Who's scared?

- Then let's go.
- Fine.

You first.

Let's see if you can catch up to me.

My leg hurts. I don't dare to try.

[Beizhou State Office]

A drum beat so late.
It must be a serious case.

It has never been so urgent
since I came to Beizhou.

Hurry up.

Who is beating the drum outside?

Why is it you two?

[Qingzheng Hall]

See? What did I say?

Guangcai, ever so dutiful,
would surely open the hall.

Beating the drum in the dead of night.
Do you have a grievance?

A quarreling couple suffered enough.

Please, Magistrate Li, be our witness,
and issue the marriage certificate.

[Marriage Certificate of Cui Marrying Liu]

♫ Flowers falling by the river again ♫

♫ Turning the clear waves red ♫

♫ Sparrows singing in celebration ♫

[Marriage Certificate]

♫ No one knows love's outline like I do ♫

♫ If one day the river breeze blows again ♫

♫ I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror ♫

♫ Dreams can shatter; Memories remain ♫

♫ Rich fragrance A*DS; Light ink writes ♫

♫ In the deep red windows lies mundane dust ♫

Be careful with everything.

This is the future Princess of Huaiyang.

If her belongings are scratched or damaged,

I'll see that you're all sold off,
and you can't afford that.

This is all my dowry from Grandfather.
You can carry it without worry.

Indeed.

We're a small household.

I'm afraid you might look down on us.

Miantang.

You're a member of the Qiao family.

As your aunt, I truly wish you well.

But to be blunt,
a lord's family is complicated.

This marriage isn't between equals.

I fear you'll suffer for it in the future.

But the Lord treats Ms. Liu well.

The betrothal gifts
have filled the entire street.

What do you know, old woman?

Yes.

Miantang, don't be fooled
by how the Lord cherishes you now.

Once you marry him, if he grows tired of you,
you'll have no one to rely on.

I'll simply enjoy the happy days
while they last.

If it comes to that, I'll return to Beizhou,
and reestablish my household.

I still have the escort business.
I'll always have a way out.

You just won't admit it, will you?

A lord's mansion is extremely dangerous.

- You...
- Miantang.

Someone from the Palace is here for an edict.

♫ The boat drifts,
bringing back the sunset ♫

♫ When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect ♫

♫ Who passed by, the crab apple
falls with a turn ♫

♫ Loving rightly but choosing wrong ♫

♫ With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions ♫

♫ Everyone travels far,
seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part ♫

♫ Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together ♫

♫ Long hidden in the eyes,
flickering in and out ♫

♫ Let go of the flowers blooming
in the yard last night ♫

♫ Let go of the waves in the stream
in half a lifetime ♫

♫ Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly ♫

♫ In this lifetime,
my wish is to the vast sky ♫

♫ There are many more ♫

♫ Everyone travels far,
seeing clouds and snow ♫

♫ Always hard to stay, yet easy to part ♫

♫ Crossing spring waters and autumn trials ♫

♫ A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together ♫

♫ Time flows as we dream through four seasons ♫

♫ I wish to journey with you forever ♫

♫ Year after year ♫

♫ For many years to come ♫