The Sword and the Brocade: Episodes 13-15
May. 5th, 2024 02:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist, Character Guide, and Content Notes
Featuring SOUP CRIMES.
Madame Luo: Poor Zhun is sick again?? :(
Madame Xu: It seems Shiyi can't look after him after all.
Madame Luo: It seems some external factor has hurt him. Shiyi, you must look for outside dangers.
Of course in private she berates Shiyi, who stands up for herself but does admit she hasn't been vigilant enough, but will be now.
In general, Madame Luo has become this interestingly complex factor in Shiyi's life, absolutely supportive of Shiyi's role as the Luo representative in the Xu household, but with basically zero concern for Shiyi as a person.
Taking screenshots on Viki is a pain, it keeps putting the title of the show over everything when I pause. But I'm going to take a moment to admire Shiyi's boss ass window and arches. The circular part of the window can be pulled across to close it.
I have no idea if that is historically accurate, if it is I take back everything bad I said about Ming Dynasty aesthetics.
Amber: I did not find any exopathogens in Zhun's chambers.
That's not how I would translated that but sure.
Hearing Yu refer to Shiyi as "mother" is surreal. They barely interact! He asks how Zhun is doing but politely refuses her offer to come in and say hello :( It looks like she goes on to ask him something, I wonder if she's going to find out about the Secret Puppy.
I get the feeling there's multiple words meaning mother being used. I can recognise "mama" being used for the nannies, which is the word I learned back in primary school Mandarin class, and that's definitely not the word(s) used by people talking to their father's wife. I get a kick out of recognising the like 10 Mandarin words I know, even though it's like "You [20 minutes of dialogue] good [an hour of dialogue] little sister" etc and I have plenty of false positives.
The text over the door to Shiyi's pavilion is "Virtue of Modesty and Patience" because this is not a subtle show.
Lingyi goes to visit Shiyi and Zhun and both parents are quietly affectionate to the sleeping boy.
Zhun: Mother... mother I am in pain :(
Shiyi: I'm here Zhun. Let me sing you a song.
Lingyi, holding Zhun's hand: I will get the physician D:
Shiyi: He's like this every night. The physician said it's to be expected.
The next morning Lingyi wakes up sitting in the same position on the bed, with the now sleeping Zhun's hand still clutching his, and Shiyi asleep resting her head on his knee as she kneels on the floor.
Aww he reaches his hand towards her but it's just to block the dawning light from her sleeping eyes. He moves it away as she slowly wakes up.
Shiyi apologises for "irresponsibly" falling asleep and he gently says she has been staying up too much, and that he has taken the day off work! CHARACTER GROWTH.
Zhun, weakly: Hand...writing...
Shiyi: You want to show your father your handwriting homework? He...
Lingyi: *nods*
Shiyi: He already saw it and thinks it is very good.
Lingyi: *nods and smiles at Zhun*
Aww.
They have to leave while Zhun gets emergency acupuncture. Lingyi looks sadly at Zhun's handwriting homework.
Shiyi: Zhun is blessed, I am sure he will recover.
Lingyi: :(
Shiyi: Isn't his handwriting lovely? You must praise him when he is awake.
Lingyi: ...it's true, I have been too strict on him.
Shiyi: We all understand that you are training him for his great responsibility as your heir.
Lingyi, voice slightly hoarse: But I have forgotten... that is he is just a kid, who has lost his mother.
Shiyi: After he gets well, you must make it up to him, My Lord.
Lingyi smiles sadly. Ok, this actor CAN do soft, good.
Madame Xu insists on taking Zhun into her own care without explaining why, but Lingyi puts his foot down and she explains that the local temple's divination says Shiyi is Zhun's NEMESIS.
This is the same temple where Shiyi's mother was murdered, the little monk who knew something vanished, AND a fortune teller said Shiyi's horoscope was bad luck for Danyang's baby. HMMMMM.
Lingyi, a good communist materialist ahead of his time: Superstition is nonsense >:(
Madame Xu: I know you are an atheist, but you must remember that taking care of your offspring is the most important matter of the Xu family!
He's openly an atheist? In *checks Wikipedia* around the 16th century? I mean idk maybe that was fine! I'm fuzzy on the role of religion in pre-Communist China but know it wasn't as theocratic as Europe. Still, it's pretty funny that the writer made him such a Good Man by modern Chinese standards. I'm ambivalent about the atheism but like the concern for consent so I'll take it.
Also it's kind of darkly funny that in general Chinese media is censored all to heck but they DO get to have openly atheist heroes without walking it back, which is a harder sell in many more 'free' societies.
Anyway.
Lingyi: I will NOT have Shiyi put under house arrest for such a ridiculous reason AGAIN.
Shiyi: Just do what Mother says. I can take care of myself.
Lianfang's maid tells Lianfang "Don't worry, noone will track what happened at the temple back to us." Welp so much for that mystery haha.
Shiyi's nice sister Wuniang wants to go visit in support, and realises her husband has spent all their ready money wining and dining someone called Zhixiao. I can't see anyone with that name on the character list, so he's probably just some Random Guy With Power.
Multiple husbands on this show are spendthrifts: Mr Luo spent Madame Luo's dowry (which consists of fancy jewelry etc) and feels obliged to obey her in penance. The creep Wang Yu spent Erniang's dowry and got angry when she complained. And now this guy.
Wuniang: Spending money is necessary sometimes but we only have a limited income.
Husband: Wuniang, we can't just be frugal. We should investigate other source of income.
Is he going to suggest they invest in 16th century Crypto.
Ahhh, he wants to buy and run a dried fruit shop and says Wuniang should ask Shiyi to become an investor. Sorry dude she has no money either.
Wuniang agrees and says she will take part of her dowry as a gift, her husband is very appreciative. Ah, he's a student studying for the Imperial exams to become a bureaucrat, and they both happily build castles in the sky about how great their future life together will be.
*senses a storm coming*
Lingyi's main nemesis at work is Marquis Jingyuan. He is connected to Ou Lixing (his heir, maybe?? EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME, SHOW). Lingyi's plan is to patiently wait until he has clear evidence of Marquis Jingyuan's corruption.
Shiyi asked Yu to spy on Zhun and not let anyone know, including his mother Concubine Wen. He is happy to help his "Mother" this way, and she rewards him with pastries, which feels a little weird. But now Shiyi now knows about Lianfang's Secret Puppy Of Death.
Was Lianfang really relying on the notably weak willed Zhun not EVER telling anyone about the secret puppy? Because it's pretty damning that she kept having him play with it in secret even after developing what is clearly a life threatening allergy to Something. Pretty sure 16th century China knew about dog allergies.
Also, geeze Lianfang, that's nasty.
Ahhh, but Yu only saw a servant with the puppy. Lianfang may be able to spin it as a Bad Servant again.
Yu calls Shiyi something like Mushen, while Zhun used a word that sounded more like Laoshen, so unless I'm mishearing (plausible) those are not the same "mother".
Ooh, Wuniang is told she has to ask Lianfang's permission to see Shiyi.
Lianfang: Shiyi has been grounded, I will take your gifts to her :)
Wuniang: Does his lordship know you treat guests like this?!
Maid, whispering: It probably would piss him off.
Lianfang: ...my maid will show you to your sister.
Shiyi sneaks out and sees Lianfang's maid feeding the SECRET PUPPY.
Lianfang: Her ladyship has escaped being grounded, catch her!!
Shiyi grabs the puppy's cage and runs.
Shiyi, brandishing puppy: My lord! I have found the exopathogen!!
Ah, it's not an allergy it's... tinea? I didn't know tinea could work that way but sure.
Lianfang can't hide that she was responsible for the puppy so says she just didn't know it was making him sick.
Dongqing: SHE DID IT ON PURPOSE.
Shiyi: Don't say such things.
But she flashes back to seeing what was, in retrospect, the puppy's cage being handed from the villa housekeeper to Shiyi's maid.
Lingyi: If you're so innocent why did you hide the dog and chase Shiyi?
Lianfang: I thought the dog might bite her ;_;
Madame Xu: Yes, that makes sense. What a sweet girl.
Lingyi: >:(
Lianfang: Even though it was an accident, I hurt poor Zhun, I should die!! ;_; ;_;
Lingyi and Shiyi: *subtly roll eyes*
Shiyi: Physician, will Zhun be alright now?
Physician: He's already become so sick it's impossible to say :(
Lianfang: :) ... ;_; ;_;
Shiyi: >:(
There's a repeated motif of a children's song about a rooster which plausibly feels more nostalgic and less odd if you grew up with Chinese folksongs.
Lianfang loudly and repeatedly prays for Zhun to get better at the family shrine. She refuses to eat, even when her maid brings her food in secret, saying with big sad martyred eyes that she needs to make herself above suspicion.
The subs suddenly have Zhun referring to Shiyi as "auntie" but noone else acts like it's a change? He said something that sounded like ee-moe-wo so maybe it is a different word? He goes back to calling her mother, so, ok.
Shiyi and Lingyi care for Zhun as he wakes up, but everyone is distracted by Lianfang COLLAPSING FROM OVERPRAYING AND FASTING OH NO.
Madame Xu: See how sorry she is? You should go visit her, Lingyi!
Lingyi: I hope she deserves all the love you give her :/
Lingyi: It was very thoughtful of you to pray for Zhun. But if prayer could heal disease, why would we need physicians?
Lianfang, weakly: Are you still blaming me, my lord? I will accept any punishment as long as you forgive me ;_;
Lingyi: Since Zhun is better, I won't take this matter further. But my mother has always loved you like a daughter. Don't make her sad again.
Lianfang: Thank you for trusting me, my Lord ;_;
Lingyi: Also, where is that housekeeper?
Lianfang: ..I... I don't know, since I fired her for hurting poor Shiyi...
Lianfang, after he's left: Fuck. I really DON'T know. I hope those bribes were enough D:
Lingyi: I hope after this difficult experience, Zhun can become stronger.
Deputy: From what I can tell, being your son is the hardest work in the world.
Lingyi: Second hardest after being my deputy >:P Anyway, have you found the housekeeper yet? It certainly is a coincidence that she was sent away just after delivering a dog that made Zhun sick.
Deputy: Not yet but I will. Right now you should make sure to properly thank your wife for saving him.
Lingyi: *silently thinks about all the things Shiyi did for Zhun*
Shiyi points out to her maids that if Lianfang's plans hadn't been foiled, Lingyi would have lost both his wife and heir and his mother would absolutely have pushed for Lianfang to replace both.
Dongqing: Who knows what other evil things she will do while she's in charge of the household??
Shiyi: The tree desires stillness but the wind will not cease. I can't stay forebearing any longer.
AW YEAH. TIME FOR A THROWDOWN.
First step, get Zhun as far away from Lianfang as possible. AGREED.
Luckily, it seems like Lingyi independently came to the same conclusion.
Madame Xu: Shiyi is so inexperienced though. And Lianfang also helped a lot!
Lingyi: Did she though?
Lianfang, seeing which way the wind is blowing, says Lingyi is right, and Madame Xu begrudgingly agrees.
Maid: I don't understand why his Lordship thinks Shiyi is better at looking after Zhun than you >:(
Yes, it boggles the mind
Lianfang: I am more concerned that he seems to actually like her now. I tried so hard! Have I somehow helped her unknowingly??
HMM. MAYBE THINK ABOUT THAT. AND TRY BEING LESS AGGRESSIVELY EVIL. JUST A THOUGHT.
Lingyi's valet's name is Xiaoying and his deputy's name is Fu Linbo, so neither of them are the Secret Ou.
The valet arrives with a gift from Lingyi: a fancy feathered brocade fan. After Shiyi admires the quality it turns out Lingyi MADE IT HIMSELF?? HE DOES CRAFTS TOO?? Nice.
There's some complex dynamics about paying tips to helpful servants with Shiyi's limited budget which I don't quite follow.
Deputy Linbo: Once she sees that fan I bet she'll come here in person to thank you!
Lingyi: I don't expect any such thing.
Xiaoying: Her ladyship said thank you for the fan!
Deputy Linbo: Anything else?
Xiaoying: She gave me a tip! :D
Lingyi: ...well, the important thing is that she liked it.
Deputy Linbo: Lol.
Lingyi: Xiaoying, prepare food and water for Linbo to patrol the city tonight :)
Wuniang is charmed to see that Lingyi can be softer than his public image as a powerful general. She asks if Shiyi is interested in investing 100 taels of silver to become partners in the fruit shop.
Wuniang: Of course a profit of only a few hundred taels a year won't mean much to you, but maybe you could buy some extra makeup :)
Shiyi, who barely gets by on 20 taels of silver a month: Let me think about it :)
Erniang is being harassed by someone her husband made an enemy of.
Shiyi: She is proud and would not want our help.
Wuniang: She worries we'd retaliate for her cruelty in the past. But she is still our sister.
Wang Yu's mother: I'm so sorry he hit you, Erniang. I have spoiled him a bit. But he has a kind heart, he would never be so rude when he is sober.
Erniang, in the process of having a bruise on her face covered in makeup: ... >:/
Wang Yu's mother: Here is some pretty jewellery from my dowry! It's normal for couples to fight. Just be obedient and try to produce an heir and I will reward you handsomely, and I'm sure he'll cease his money business :)
Erniang: I understand, Mother :/
The moment she leaves Erniang throws the jewelry to the floor and shouts "I cannot be bought so cheaply!"
Me: Poor Erniang I hope things get better for her :(
Erniang: THIS IS ALL SHIYI'S FAULT.
Me: *sigh* Guess not.
Shiyi realises that the only way to find out who wore the Murder Fabric is to read the household accounts, which Lianfang controls.
Shiyi asks Zhun to play shuttlecock kicking, which is like hacky sacks with a feathered ball.
Zhun: That's a girl game >:(
Shiyi: So you're saying you can't beat us?
Zhun: YOU BET I CAN
Yu shyly watches but runs away when invited :(
Lingyi: Why is Zhun playing a girl's game?
Shiyi: He needs to gain strength and it's a form of exercise he likes. And all sorts of children have enjoyed this game since the Tang dynasty.
He admires the shuttlecock and when he finds out Shiyi made it says he is happy to know she'll be taking good care of Zhun while he's on a trip to help refugees of recent floods. He considers this his job since it prevents anyone becoming so poor they turn to crime. SUCH a good communist.
He is awkwardly grumpy about her not using his fan or really thanking him for it. She considers how to best thank him and decides to make him some shoes.
Madame Xu: Why don't you use some of the household funds to help these refugees Lingyi cares about? He'll like that.
Lianfang: What a wonderful idea!
Why do I get the feeling she will somehow make this evil.
Lingyi tries to hide his delighted smile when Shiyi bings his shoes.
Lingyi: I heard you were a talented embroiderer but these are misaligned.
Shiyi: Then I suppose I will take them back and fix them :)
Lingyi: *refusing to let go of the shoes* It's fine. I'll wear them.
He has a little trouble putting them on so she helps and are both a little shy about her touching his socked feet.
Haha the next day he's all excited about wearing them but the ground is wet and he doesn't want them to get damaged.
In exactly the same tone as them discussing all their evil schemes, Shiyi and her servants gloat about how AMAZING their new soup kitchen is and how it will help SO MANY refugees BWAHAHAHA
OH NO but she bought silk from the ZHANG family and not the WEN family as usual! This threatens Concubine Wen's monthly kickback from her brother for their connection to the Xu family!
Concubine Wen's sister: His lordship has a new wife and may not have time for you. You can only rely on your family.
Concubine Wen: Lianfang is a callous woman. I can accept child endangerment but interfering with my allowance is a step too far ;_;
Concubine Wen swallows her pride and goes to suck up to LianFang.
Lianfang: As thank you, have some of this fine brocade. It is from the Zhang family, the best fabric merchants in the city. Now that I'm in charge of family affairs, I cannot allow my family to wear tacky clothes from inferior merchants, wouldn't you agree? :) :)
Concubine Wen: Of course :) :)
Alone, Concubine Wen elegantly cries about her situation. She is estranged from Lingyi, and worries that Yu will not be safe in this house without her having enough money from her family to constantly buy the loyalty of servants.
Yu greets Concubine Wen as something like "wei yin hao". So many words for mother /o\ (Unless he was actually saying hello or something in Chinese, which is also plausible) She encourages him to study hard so he can get a scholarly rank and become independent of the Xu family.
I think Concubine Wen is pretending not to be confused by the philosophy Yu is studying but since I am also confused by it cannot be sure.
Madame Xu and Yizhen go to the Suspicious Temple, and tell Lianfeng it's important she keep helping at the soup kitchen instead of joining them.
Here have a random Yizhen:
Concubine Wen spots Lianfang's nanny sneaking around a vinegar store. Ominous music plays. Is she doing SOUP CRIMES???
Concubine Wen: I knew it!
me: Knew what??
SHE IS COMMITTING SOUP CRIMES. She's using an old merchant trick of washing mouldy rice in vinegar to hide the bad taste. But it is still just as toxic. If this comes out it will look bad for the whole Xu family and everyone associated with them (and also, secondarily, innocent people will die)
Oh my GOD Lianfang only you could make volunteering at a soup kitchen evil. I knew you had it in you.
Concubine Wen flashes back to Yunniang telling her that it would benefit the Wen family more for her to ally with Shiyi than let Lianfang rule the house.
Concubine Wen's maid: Hello, Shiyi's nanny. The cook said I shouldn't eat the rice porridge because there'd been some sort of mixup and I might get stomach ache!
Concubine Wen's maid cheerfully watches the nanny check the Xu family stores, where she is horrified to discover MOULDY RICE!!
Concubine Wen tells her maid that if Shiyi has anything like the strength of her sister, she will use this situation to defeat Lianfeng and take back control of the household, and treat the Wen family with the respect they deserve.
Shiyi: Lianfang's family is rich, why would she need to take such a dangerous risk just to make money? We can't afford to make a false accusation.
She goes to check the warehouse herself just in time to see Lianfang's maid lock it and run off.
Nanny: We should break down the door!!!
Shiyi: Hmm. *starts walking off decisively in another direction*
Shock! Turns out Lianfang wasn't in on this particular evil scheme!! It was the nanny's independent side hustle to help her debt riddled son! LIANFANG REALLY WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP REFUGEES.
Lianfang: People are going to DIE. The family will be RUINED. And worst of all, his Lordship will be angry at me D:
The nanny says she'll take responsibility but Lianfang points out the buck stops with her as the boss. Instead, she rushes to swap the bad rice for good before anyone notices.
I guess this is what you get for hiring staff who are cool with your evil schemes. Sometimes they have evil schemes of their own! And this nanny was always pushing Lianfang to be even MORE scheming.
Awww. Shiyi was rushing to the soup kitchen, because she cares more about saving refugees than making Lianfang look bad. They walk past scores of refugees hungrily eating soup :(
Shiyi: Where are the stored grains for the soup kitchen?
Cook: *shifty eyes*
Shiyi: I already know. You're just following orders and I can choose not to hold you responsible. But if you don't help me, do you know what you'll be charged with?
Lianfang: YOUR LADYSHIP. WHAT A SURPRISE!! If you wanted to hear about the disaster relief you could just ask me :)
Shiyi: Disaster relief is very important. I wanted to see it for myself. Is there a reason you're standing between me and the rice?
Lianfang's nanny: This... this responsibility was given to Lianfang by Madame Xu! Punish me all you like but you will defy her authority over my dead body!
We see Lianfang's maid rushing in with a carriage loaded with rice bags, but then someone deliberately derails them, spilling rice all over the ground, which is quickly stolen by hungry people on the street.
Lianfang: Look at all these people. Do you really want to cause a scene?
Shiyi: Amber, Dongqing, Nanny. Hold them.
Lianfang and her nanny are helpless to do anything but watch as Shiyi strides past to the granary. And then the maid shows up crying that the good rice is all gone. They rush in too late to stop Shiyi seeing the mouldy rice.
Lianfang's Nanny: It was all me! I was blinded by money!
Shiyi: Then why did Lianfang try to stop me?
Lianfang, falling to her knees: Your ladyship, please be discerning. No egg can remains unbroken when the nest is overturned. I would never do anything to hurt the Xu family. Nanny, I trusted you... but this is my responsibility ;_;
Nanny: No, this is my fault ;_;
Shiyi sharply shushes them both, saying there'll be time for finding fault later. She takes charge, discussing where they can find enough rice to keep up the soup kitchen, since if they stop refugees will go hungry... and also the Xu family will look very bad in front of the Emperor.
If it was me I'd have just started shouting STOP EATING THR SOUP IT'S POISON at all the refugees right away and worried about the consequences later, but I guess I'm not cut out for life in the Ming Dynasty.
Shiyi coldly and sharply orders Lianfang to bring all the remaining good rice in the Xu household, and Lianfang wilts and obeys. Shiyi then more politely orders Amber to buy what she can discreetly from the local shops.
Dongqing: What do we do with all this mouldy rice?
Shiyi: Leave it here for now. But it's fishy that there was so much for the nanny to buy all at once in the first place.
Yeah there is DEFINITELY more than one villain in this story. It's too boring if Lianfang is behind everything!
Shiyi: Throw out the tainted soup and wait until the new rice arrives to make more.
Shiyi's nanny: It won't kill people to eat one or two bowls, and they'll complain.
Ahhh ok. It's not "smash people's bowls to the ground in a panic" level toxic.
Shiyi insists and successfully calms the grumpy hungry refugees.
OOOH the rice came from an EVIL RICE SHOP connected to the EVIL OU FAMILY. I was just thinking "I guess there are already two villains, are the two plots connected?"
OOOOH and the retainer also explains that the Ou family were the ones who got Lingyi's father and brother killed!!
Shiyi: If this is a plot, they'll try and make more trouble...
Amber: All the rice in town is sold out!!
Shiyi: Lianfang, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Borrow rice from your family.
Lianfang: I did already but there was an accident and I lost it all :(
Shiyi: ...that was no accident...
OooOOoooh
Servant: Master Lixing, Lingyi's wife found out about the rice.
Ou Lixing: But she'll have trouble replacing it :) Hmm, I thought his new wife was hated and a concubine ran the household. Anyway, we have bought up all the rice in the city and the roads are flooded, so they're screwed regardless. Nice work with the carriage, too.
Lixing's intense smugness is hard to capture in a still image but here's my best attempt:
We cut to Lingyi PERSONALLY BUILDING A BARRICADE with a hammer the size of his head in a clearing that looks like it hasn't seen rain in months, but I guess that's better than the show wasting water to create an unpleasantly muddy outdoor set. Another worker collapses and Lingyi tells everyone to rest.
Deputy: What about you?
Lingyi: I'm more worried about women and children getting sick.
And then he notices his shoes from Shiyi have been DAMAGED BY FLOOD WATER!! But he just smiles, thinking of Shiyi.
Lixing's servant tells a reluctant refugee to take a mysterious pill and follow orders if he doesn't want his son to die. And then the man starts foaming at the mouth in the line!
Plant: The rice is POISONED! We should go back and PROVE IT!!
Regular refugee: Would the Marquis really use bad rice? He always seemed so trustworthy...
Shiyi: I am the Marquis' wife! I will eat the soup with you to prove that it is good!!
But the plant rushes back, and pulls out bags of rice to reveal...that it's all fine.
There is a flashback to Shiyi giving the deeds to some farmland from her dowry to Master Jian, who has the connections to find someone who exchanged it for enough rice.
Lixing just smirks that she may have foiled him THIS time, and isn't as useless as he thought, but she'll run out of rice eventually. And they must still have the mouldy rice onsite, if they try to get rid of it he'll catch them >:)
It's nice merchant whose name I forgot! He watches refugees squabbling over food and says the capital has changed so much "in a few years", how long has it been?
HAAA and then he sees Amber desperately trying to buy rice and catches her when she's pushed away by a mean rice seller. Their eyes meet and a lone flute plays.
I KNEW HE'D MARRY A MAID.
Amber is cagey about who she serves but insists the rice is for refugees. The nice merchant demands that the rice seller sell her rice at the market value, and when the rice seller asks who he is to make such demands, his servant secretly reveals that he's FROM THE OU FAMILY??
OMG
IS HE THE MYSTERIOUS OU YANXING/LIN SHIXIAN???
:D :D :D
But it's too late! Back at the soup kitchen, the refugees are riled up by Ou instigators and riot! Shiyi tries to calm them down and someone CRUSHES HER LEG, and just as the episode cuts to credits we see a large sign about to fall on her head!!!
And I will stop there because episode 16's cliffhanger is WORSE.
(Spoilers, Shiyi is going to be fine ;P)
Featuring SOUP CRIMES.
Madame Luo: Poor Zhun is sick again?? :(
Madame Xu: It seems Shiyi can't look after him after all.
Madame Luo: It seems some external factor has hurt him. Shiyi, you must look for outside dangers.
Of course in private she berates Shiyi, who stands up for herself but does admit she hasn't been vigilant enough, but will be now.
In general, Madame Luo has become this interestingly complex factor in Shiyi's life, absolutely supportive of Shiyi's role as the Luo representative in the Xu household, but with basically zero concern for Shiyi as a person.
Taking screenshots on Viki is a pain, it keeps putting the title of the show over everything when I pause. But I'm going to take a moment to admire Shiyi's boss ass window and arches. The circular part of the window can be pulled across to close it.
I have no idea if that is historically accurate, if it is I take back everything bad I said about Ming Dynasty aesthetics.
Amber: I did not find any exopathogens in Zhun's chambers.
That's not how I would translated that but sure.
Hearing Yu refer to Shiyi as "mother" is surreal. They barely interact! He asks how Zhun is doing but politely refuses her offer to come in and say hello :( It looks like she goes on to ask him something, I wonder if she's going to find out about the Secret Puppy.
I get the feeling there's multiple words meaning mother being used. I can recognise "mama" being used for the nannies, which is the word I learned back in primary school Mandarin class, and that's definitely not the word(s) used by people talking to their father's wife. I get a kick out of recognising the like 10 Mandarin words I know, even though it's like "You [20 minutes of dialogue] good [an hour of dialogue] little sister" etc and I have plenty of false positives.
The text over the door to Shiyi's pavilion is "Virtue of Modesty and Patience" because this is not a subtle show.
Lingyi goes to visit Shiyi and Zhun and both parents are quietly affectionate to the sleeping boy.
Zhun: Mother... mother I am in pain :(
Shiyi: I'm here Zhun. Let me sing you a song.
Lingyi, holding Zhun's hand: I will get the physician D:
Shiyi: He's like this every night. The physician said it's to be expected.
The next morning Lingyi wakes up sitting in the same position on the bed, with the now sleeping Zhun's hand still clutching his, and Shiyi asleep resting her head on his knee as she kneels on the floor.
Aww he reaches his hand towards her but it's just to block the dawning light from her sleeping eyes. He moves it away as she slowly wakes up.
Shiyi apologises for "irresponsibly" falling asleep and he gently says she has been staying up too much, and that he has taken the day off work! CHARACTER GROWTH.
Zhun, weakly: Hand...writing...
Shiyi: You want to show your father your handwriting homework? He...
Lingyi: *nods*
Shiyi: He already saw it and thinks it is very good.
Lingyi: *nods and smiles at Zhun*
Aww.
They have to leave while Zhun gets emergency acupuncture. Lingyi looks sadly at Zhun's handwriting homework.
Shiyi: Zhun is blessed, I am sure he will recover.
Lingyi: :(
Shiyi: Isn't his handwriting lovely? You must praise him when he is awake.
Lingyi: ...it's true, I have been too strict on him.
Shiyi: We all understand that you are training him for his great responsibility as your heir.
Lingyi, voice slightly hoarse: But I have forgotten... that is he is just a kid, who has lost his mother.
Shiyi: After he gets well, you must make it up to him, My Lord.
Lingyi smiles sadly. Ok, this actor CAN do soft, good.
Madame Xu insists on taking Zhun into her own care without explaining why, but Lingyi puts his foot down and she explains that the local temple's divination says Shiyi is Zhun's NEMESIS.
This is the same temple where Shiyi's mother was murdered, the little monk who knew something vanished, AND a fortune teller said Shiyi's horoscope was bad luck for Danyang's baby. HMMMMM.
Lingyi, a good communist materialist ahead of his time: Superstition is nonsense >:(
Madame Xu: I know you are an atheist, but you must remember that taking care of your offspring is the most important matter of the Xu family!
He's openly an atheist? In *checks Wikipedia* around the 16th century? I mean idk maybe that was fine! I'm fuzzy on the role of religion in pre-Communist China but know it wasn't as theocratic as Europe. Still, it's pretty funny that the writer made him such a Good Man by modern Chinese standards. I'm ambivalent about the atheism but like the concern for consent so I'll take it.
Also it's kind of darkly funny that in general Chinese media is censored all to heck but they DO get to have openly atheist heroes without walking it back, which is a harder sell in many more 'free' societies.
Anyway.
Lingyi: I will NOT have Shiyi put under house arrest for such a ridiculous reason AGAIN.
Shiyi: Just do what Mother says. I can take care of myself.
Lianfang's maid tells Lianfang "Don't worry, noone will track what happened at the temple back to us." Welp so much for that mystery haha.
Shiyi's nice sister Wuniang wants to go visit in support, and realises her husband has spent all their ready money wining and dining someone called Zhixiao. I can't see anyone with that name on the character list, so he's probably just some Random Guy With Power.
Multiple husbands on this show are spendthrifts: Mr Luo spent Madame Luo's dowry (which consists of fancy jewelry etc) and feels obliged to obey her in penance. The creep Wang Yu spent Erniang's dowry and got angry when she complained. And now this guy.
Wuniang: Spending money is necessary sometimes but we only have a limited income.
Husband: Wuniang, we can't just be frugal. We should investigate other source of income.
Is he going to suggest they invest in 16th century Crypto.
Ahhh, he wants to buy and run a dried fruit shop and says Wuniang should ask Shiyi to become an investor. Sorry dude she has no money either.
Wuniang agrees and says she will take part of her dowry as a gift, her husband is very appreciative. Ah, he's a student studying for the Imperial exams to become a bureaucrat, and they both happily build castles in the sky about how great their future life together will be.
*senses a storm coming*
Lingyi's main nemesis at work is Marquis Jingyuan. He is connected to Ou Lixing (his heir, maybe?? EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME, SHOW). Lingyi's plan is to patiently wait until he has clear evidence of Marquis Jingyuan's corruption.
Shiyi asked Yu to spy on Zhun and not let anyone know, including his mother Concubine Wen. He is happy to help his "Mother" this way, and she rewards him with pastries, which feels a little weird. But now Shiyi now knows about Lianfang's Secret Puppy Of Death.
Was Lianfang really relying on the notably weak willed Zhun not EVER telling anyone about the secret puppy? Because it's pretty damning that she kept having him play with it in secret even after developing what is clearly a life threatening allergy to Something. Pretty sure 16th century China knew about dog allergies.
Also, geeze Lianfang, that's nasty.
Ahhh, but Yu only saw a servant with the puppy. Lianfang may be able to spin it as a Bad Servant again.
Yu calls Shiyi something like Mushen, while Zhun used a word that sounded more like Laoshen, so unless I'm mishearing (plausible) those are not the same "mother".
Ooh, Wuniang is told she has to ask Lianfang's permission to see Shiyi.
Lianfang: Shiyi has been grounded, I will take your gifts to her :)
Wuniang: Does his lordship know you treat guests like this?!
Maid, whispering: It probably would piss him off.
Lianfang: ...my maid will show you to your sister.
Shiyi sneaks out and sees Lianfang's maid feeding the SECRET PUPPY.
Lianfang: Her ladyship has escaped being grounded, catch her!!
Shiyi grabs the puppy's cage and runs.
Shiyi, brandishing puppy: My lord! I have found the exopathogen!!
Ah, it's not an allergy it's... tinea? I didn't know tinea could work that way but sure.
Lianfang can't hide that she was responsible for the puppy so says she just didn't know it was making him sick.
Dongqing: SHE DID IT ON PURPOSE.
Shiyi: Don't say such things.
But she flashes back to seeing what was, in retrospect, the puppy's cage being handed from the villa housekeeper to Shiyi's maid.
Lingyi: If you're so innocent why did you hide the dog and chase Shiyi?
Lianfang: I thought the dog might bite her ;_;
Madame Xu: Yes, that makes sense. What a sweet girl.
Lingyi: >:(
Lianfang: Even though it was an accident, I hurt poor Zhun, I should die!! ;_; ;_;
Lingyi and Shiyi: *subtly roll eyes*
Shiyi: Physician, will Zhun be alright now?
Physician: He's already become so sick it's impossible to say :(
Lianfang: :) ... ;_; ;_;
Shiyi: >:(
There's a repeated motif of a children's song about a rooster which plausibly feels more nostalgic and less odd if you grew up with Chinese folksongs.
Lianfang loudly and repeatedly prays for Zhun to get better at the family shrine. She refuses to eat, even when her maid brings her food in secret, saying with big sad martyred eyes that she needs to make herself above suspicion.
The subs suddenly have Zhun referring to Shiyi as "auntie" but noone else acts like it's a change? He said something that sounded like ee-moe-wo so maybe it is a different word? He goes back to calling her mother, so, ok.
Shiyi and Lingyi care for Zhun as he wakes up, but everyone is distracted by Lianfang COLLAPSING FROM OVERPRAYING AND FASTING OH NO.
Madame Xu: See how sorry she is? You should go visit her, Lingyi!
Lingyi: I hope she deserves all the love you give her :/
Lingyi: It was very thoughtful of you to pray for Zhun. But if prayer could heal disease, why would we need physicians?
Lianfang, weakly: Are you still blaming me, my lord? I will accept any punishment as long as you forgive me ;_;
Lingyi: Since Zhun is better, I won't take this matter further. But my mother has always loved you like a daughter. Don't make her sad again.
Lianfang: Thank you for trusting me, my Lord ;_;
Lingyi: Also, where is that housekeeper?
Lianfang: ..I... I don't know, since I fired her for hurting poor Shiyi...
Lianfang, after he's left: Fuck. I really DON'T know. I hope those bribes were enough D:
Lingyi: I hope after this difficult experience, Zhun can become stronger.
Deputy: From what I can tell, being your son is the hardest work in the world.
Lingyi: Second hardest after being my deputy >:P Anyway, have you found the housekeeper yet? It certainly is a coincidence that she was sent away just after delivering a dog that made Zhun sick.
Deputy: Not yet but I will. Right now you should make sure to properly thank your wife for saving him.
Lingyi: *silently thinks about all the things Shiyi did for Zhun*
Shiyi points out to her maids that if Lianfang's plans hadn't been foiled, Lingyi would have lost both his wife and heir and his mother would absolutely have pushed for Lianfang to replace both.
Dongqing: Who knows what other evil things she will do while she's in charge of the household??
Shiyi: The tree desires stillness but the wind will not cease. I can't stay forebearing any longer.
AW YEAH. TIME FOR A THROWDOWN.
First step, get Zhun as far away from Lianfang as possible. AGREED.
Luckily, it seems like Lingyi independently came to the same conclusion.
Madame Xu: Shiyi is so inexperienced though. And Lianfang also helped a lot!
Lingyi: Did she though?
Lianfang, seeing which way the wind is blowing, says Lingyi is right, and Madame Xu begrudgingly agrees.
Maid: I don't understand why his Lordship thinks Shiyi is better at looking after Zhun than you >:(
Yes, it boggles the mind
Lianfang: I am more concerned that he seems to actually like her now. I tried so hard! Have I somehow helped her unknowingly??
HMM. MAYBE THINK ABOUT THAT. AND TRY BEING LESS AGGRESSIVELY EVIL. JUST A THOUGHT.
Lingyi's valet's name is Xiaoying and his deputy's name is Fu Linbo, so neither of them are the Secret Ou.
The valet arrives with a gift from Lingyi: a fancy feathered brocade fan. After Shiyi admires the quality it turns out Lingyi MADE IT HIMSELF?? HE DOES CRAFTS TOO?? Nice.
There's some complex dynamics about paying tips to helpful servants with Shiyi's limited budget which I don't quite follow.
Deputy Linbo: Once she sees that fan I bet she'll come here in person to thank you!
Lingyi: I don't expect any such thing.
Xiaoying: Her ladyship said thank you for the fan!
Deputy Linbo: Anything else?
Xiaoying: She gave me a tip! :D
Lingyi: ...well, the important thing is that she liked it.
Deputy Linbo: Lol.
Lingyi: Xiaoying, prepare food and water for Linbo to patrol the city tonight :)
Wuniang is charmed to see that Lingyi can be softer than his public image as a powerful general. She asks if Shiyi is interested in investing 100 taels of silver to become partners in the fruit shop.
Wuniang: Of course a profit of only a few hundred taels a year won't mean much to you, but maybe you could buy some extra makeup :)
Shiyi, who barely gets by on 20 taels of silver a month: Let me think about it :)
Erniang is being harassed by someone her husband made an enemy of.
Shiyi: She is proud and would not want our help.
Wuniang: She worries we'd retaliate for her cruelty in the past. But she is still our sister.
Wang Yu's mother: I'm so sorry he hit you, Erniang. I have spoiled him a bit. But he has a kind heart, he would never be so rude when he is sober.
Erniang, in the process of having a bruise on her face covered in makeup: ... >:/
Wang Yu's mother: Here is some pretty jewellery from my dowry! It's normal for couples to fight. Just be obedient and try to produce an heir and I will reward you handsomely, and I'm sure he'll cease his money business :)
Erniang: I understand, Mother :/
The moment she leaves Erniang throws the jewelry to the floor and shouts "I cannot be bought so cheaply!"
Me: Poor Erniang I hope things get better for her :(
Erniang: THIS IS ALL SHIYI'S FAULT.
Me: *sigh* Guess not.
Shiyi realises that the only way to find out who wore the Murder Fabric is to read the household accounts, which Lianfang controls.
Shiyi asks Zhun to play shuttlecock kicking, which is like hacky sacks with a feathered ball.
Zhun: That's a girl game >:(
Shiyi: So you're saying you can't beat us?
Zhun: YOU BET I CAN
Yu shyly watches but runs away when invited :(
Lingyi: Why is Zhun playing a girl's game?
Shiyi: He needs to gain strength and it's a form of exercise he likes. And all sorts of children have enjoyed this game since the Tang dynasty.
He admires the shuttlecock and when he finds out Shiyi made it says he is happy to know she'll be taking good care of Zhun while he's on a trip to help refugees of recent floods. He considers this his job since it prevents anyone becoming so poor they turn to crime. SUCH a good communist.
He is awkwardly grumpy about her not using his fan or really thanking him for it. She considers how to best thank him and decides to make him some shoes.
Madame Xu: Why don't you use some of the household funds to help these refugees Lingyi cares about? He'll like that.
Lianfang: What a wonderful idea!
Why do I get the feeling she will somehow make this evil.
Lingyi tries to hide his delighted smile when Shiyi bings his shoes.
Lingyi: I heard you were a talented embroiderer but these are misaligned.
Shiyi: Then I suppose I will take them back and fix them :)
Lingyi: *refusing to let go of the shoes* It's fine. I'll wear them.
He has a little trouble putting them on so she helps and are both a little shy about her touching his socked feet.
Haha the next day he's all excited about wearing them but the ground is wet and he doesn't want them to get damaged.
In exactly the same tone as them discussing all their evil schemes, Shiyi and her servants gloat about how AMAZING their new soup kitchen is and how it will help SO MANY refugees BWAHAHAHA
OH NO but she bought silk from the ZHANG family and not the WEN family as usual! This threatens Concubine Wen's monthly kickback from her brother for their connection to the Xu family!
Concubine Wen's sister: His lordship has a new wife and may not have time for you. You can only rely on your family.
Concubine Wen: Lianfang is a callous woman. I can accept child endangerment but interfering with my allowance is a step too far ;_;
Concubine Wen swallows her pride and goes to suck up to LianFang.
Lianfang: As thank you, have some of this fine brocade. It is from the Zhang family, the best fabric merchants in the city. Now that I'm in charge of family affairs, I cannot allow my family to wear tacky clothes from inferior merchants, wouldn't you agree? :) :)
Concubine Wen: Of course :) :)
Alone, Concubine Wen elegantly cries about her situation. She is estranged from Lingyi, and worries that Yu will not be safe in this house without her having enough money from her family to constantly buy the loyalty of servants.
Yu greets Concubine Wen as something like "wei yin hao". So many words for mother /o\ (Unless he was actually saying hello or something in Chinese, which is also plausible) She encourages him to study hard so he can get a scholarly rank and become independent of the Xu family.
I think Concubine Wen is pretending not to be confused by the philosophy Yu is studying but since I am also confused by it cannot be sure.
Madame Xu and Yizhen go to the Suspicious Temple, and tell Lianfeng it's important she keep helping at the soup kitchen instead of joining them.
Here have a random Yizhen:
Concubine Wen spots Lianfang's nanny sneaking around a vinegar store. Ominous music plays. Is she doing SOUP CRIMES???
Concubine Wen: I knew it!
me: Knew what??
SHE IS COMMITTING SOUP CRIMES. She's using an old merchant trick of washing mouldy rice in vinegar to hide the bad taste. But it is still just as toxic. If this comes out it will look bad for the whole Xu family and everyone associated with them (and also, secondarily, innocent people will die)
Oh my GOD Lianfang only you could make volunteering at a soup kitchen evil. I knew you had it in you.
Concubine Wen flashes back to Yunniang telling her that it would benefit the Wen family more for her to ally with Shiyi than let Lianfang rule the house.
Concubine Wen's maid: Hello, Shiyi's nanny. The cook said I shouldn't eat the rice porridge because there'd been some sort of mixup and I might get stomach ache!
Concubine Wen's maid cheerfully watches the nanny check the Xu family stores, where she is horrified to discover MOULDY RICE!!
Concubine Wen tells her maid that if Shiyi has anything like the strength of her sister, she will use this situation to defeat Lianfeng and take back control of the household, and treat the Wen family with the respect they deserve.
Shiyi: Lianfang's family is rich, why would she need to take such a dangerous risk just to make money? We can't afford to make a false accusation.
She goes to check the warehouse herself just in time to see Lianfang's maid lock it and run off.
Nanny: We should break down the door!!!
Shiyi: Hmm. *starts walking off decisively in another direction*
Shock! Turns out Lianfang wasn't in on this particular evil scheme!! It was the nanny's independent side hustle to help her debt riddled son! LIANFANG REALLY WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP REFUGEES.
Lianfang: People are going to DIE. The family will be RUINED. And worst of all, his Lordship will be angry at me D:
The nanny says she'll take responsibility but Lianfang points out the buck stops with her as the boss. Instead, she rushes to swap the bad rice for good before anyone notices.
I guess this is what you get for hiring staff who are cool with your evil schemes. Sometimes they have evil schemes of their own! And this nanny was always pushing Lianfang to be even MORE scheming.
Awww. Shiyi was rushing to the soup kitchen, because she cares more about saving refugees than making Lianfang look bad. They walk past scores of refugees hungrily eating soup :(
Shiyi: Where are the stored grains for the soup kitchen?
Cook: *shifty eyes*
Shiyi: I already know. You're just following orders and I can choose not to hold you responsible. But if you don't help me, do you know what you'll be charged with?
Lianfang: YOUR LADYSHIP. WHAT A SURPRISE!! If you wanted to hear about the disaster relief you could just ask me :)
Shiyi: Disaster relief is very important. I wanted to see it for myself. Is there a reason you're standing between me and the rice?
Lianfang's nanny: This... this responsibility was given to Lianfang by Madame Xu! Punish me all you like but you will defy her authority over my dead body!
We see Lianfang's maid rushing in with a carriage loaded with rice bags, but then someone deliberately derails them, spilling rice all over the ground, which is quickly stolen by hungry people on the street.
Lianfang: Look at all these people. Do you really want to cause a scene?
Shiyi: Amber, Dongqing, Nanny. Hold them.
Lianfang and her nanny are helpless to do anything but watch as Shiyi strides past to the granary. And then the maid shows up crying that the good rice is all gone. They rush in too late to stop Shiyi seeing the mouldy rice.
Lianfang's Nanny: It was all me! I was blinded by money!
Shiyi: Then why did Lianfang try to stop me?
Lianfang, falling to her knees: Your ladyship, please be discerning. No egg can remains unbroken when the nest is overturned. I would never do anything to hurt the Xu family. Nanny, I trusted you... but this is my responsibility ;_;
Nanny: No, this is my fault ;_;
Shiyi sharply shushes them both, saying there'll be time for finding fault later. She takes charge, discussing where they can find enough rice to keep up the soup kitchen, since if they stop refugees will go hungry... and also the Xu family will look very bad in front of the Emperor.
If it was me I'd have just started shouting STOP EATING THR SOUP IT'S POISON at all the refugees right away and worried about the consequences later, but I guess I'm not cut out for life in the Ming Dynasty.
Shiyi coldly and sharply orders Lianfang to bring all the remaining good rice in the Xu household, and Lianfang wilts and obeys. Shiyi then more politely orders Amber to buy what she can discreetly from the local shops.
Dongqing: What do we do with all this mouldy rice?
Shiyi: Leave it here for now. But it's fishy that there was so much for the nanny to buy all at once in the first place.
Yeah there is DEFINITELY more than one villain in this story. It's too boring if Lianfang is behind everything!
Shiyi: Throw out the tainted soup and wait until the new rice arrives to make more.
Shiyi's nanny: It won't kill people to eat one or two bowls, and they'll complain.
Ahhh ok. It's not "smash people's bowls to the ground in a panic" level toxic.
Shiyi insists and successfully calms the grumpy hungry refugees.
OOOH the rice came from an EVIL RICE SHOP connected to the EVIL OU FAMILY. I was just thinking "I guess there are already two villains, are the two plots connected?"
OOOOH and the retainer also explains that the Ou family were the ones who got Lingyi's father and brother killed!!
Shiyi: If this is a plot, they'll try and make more trouble...
Amber: All the rice in town is sold out!!
Shiyi: Lianfang, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Borrow rice from your family.
Lianfang: I did already but there was an accident and I lost it all :(
Shiyi: ...that was no accident...
OooOOoooh
Servant: Master Lixing, Lingyi's wife found out about the rice.
Ou Lixing: But she'll have trouble replacing it :) Hmm, I thought his new wife was hated and a concubine ran the household. Anyway, we have bought up all the rice in the city and the roads are flooded, so they're screwed regardless. Nice work with the carriage, too.
Lixing's intense smugness is hard to capture in a still image but here's my best attempt:
We cut to Lingyi PERSONALLY BUILDING A BARRICADE with a hammer the size of his head in a clearing that looks like it hasn't seen rain in months, but I guess that's better than the show wasting water to create an unpleasantly muddy outdoor set. Another worker collapses and Lingyi tells everyone to rest.
Deputy: What about you?
Lingyi: I'm more worried about women and children getting sick.
And then he notices his shoes from Shiyi have been DAMAGED BY FLOOD WATER!! But he just smiles, thinking of Shiyi.
Lixing's servant tells a reluctant refugee to take a mysterious pill and follow orders if he doesn't want his son to die. And then the man starts foaming at the mouth in the line!
Plant: The rice is POISONED! We should go back and PROVE IT!!
Regular refugee: Would the Marquis really use bad rice? He always seemed so trustworthy...
Shiyi: I am the Marquis' wife! I will eat the soup with you to prove that it is good!!
But the plant rushes back, and pulls out bags of rice to reveal...that it's all fine.
There is a flashback to Shiyi giving the deeds to some farmland from her dowry to Master Jian, who has the connections to find someone who exchanged it for enough rice.
Lixing just smirks that she may have foiled him THIS time, and isn't as useless as he thought, but she'll run out of rice eventually. And they must still have the mouldy rice onsite, if they try to get rid of it he'll catch them >:)
It's nice merchant whose name I forgot! He watches refugees squabbling over food and says the capital has changed so much "in a few years", how long has it been?
HAAA and then he sees Amber desperately trying to buy rice and catches her when she's pushed away by a mean rice seller. Their eyes meet and a lone flute plays.
I KNEW HE'D MARRY A MAID.
Amber is cagey about who she serves but insists the rice is for refugees. The nice merchant demands that the rice seller sell her rice at the market value, and when the rice seller asks who he is to make such demands, his servant secretly reveals that he's FROM THE OU FAMILY??
OMG
IS HE THE MYSTERIOUS OU YANXING/LIN SHIXIAN???
:D :D :D
But it's too late! Back at the soup kitchen, the refugees are riled up by Ou instigators and riot! Shiyi tries to calm them down and someone CRUSHES HER LEG, and just as the episode cuts to credits we see a large sign about to fall on her head!!!
And I will stop there because episode 16's cliffhanger is WORSE.
(Spoilers, Shiyi is going to be fine ;P)
no subject
Date: 2024-05-05 01:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-09 03:55 am (UTC)I'm glad!