[MULTISUBup]EP9/33 嫁金釵 Where the Mask Ends |Tian Xi Wei/Yan An|杨龙执导|周末编剧|田曦薇、闫桉领衔主演|王一楠/尹文萱/毛林林/孔琳/恬妞/代高政/杨青/李佑川/潘珺雅等特别出演|优酷

‪ADAPTED FROM ‪JIA JIN CHAI‪, ORIGINAL NOVEL ‪BY XIAOJIAREN ON JINJIANG LITERATURE CITY Well, well. Lord Han was right. - You really have come up in the world. - You… When I ran into you on the street, you looked so grand, like a goddess descended from Heaven. I hardly recognized you. Thanks to Lord Han, our family is finally reunited, and we siblings can meet again. Come to think of it, you hid yourself awfully well back then. A beauty like you spent every day hauling filth? - If I'd known you were this beautiful… - What? Would you have sold me somewhere disreputable or made me an old man's concubine, just to get money for drinking and gambling? Where are Ma and Hongxian? They're living in luxury at the Han Residence. They've got it good there. Is this real gold thread? How dare you! - You…! - Don't you dare! Whatever you say. I won't waste my time on this clueless maid. Tell me. What does Han Liao want me to do? Lord Han said he didn't care about your true identity. He only wants you to do one thing for him. Once it's done, he'll give you 10,000 liang of gold. What is it? Actually, you don't have to do anything yourself. Lord Han has arranged everything. You just need to find a way to get someone into the ancestral temple, and he'll take care of placing the item. MARQUIS OF XITING'S RESIDENCE A-Chou said she'd find a renowned physician for ma, then buy a large residence and bring us there to live in comfort! She also said she'd find me a wife and open a three-story gambling house for me! She hates gamblers. She'd never open one for you. Tell Ma the truth. What else did she say? She also said she was always thinking of you both, and… Runsheng, take good care of Mother. And give Hongxian a message for me. Tell her I've never forgotten her. Last night, I even dreamed about taking her to the market when we were little. She saw a blind girl tapping a cane, singing, and earning lots of money, so she wanted to blind herself and beg for food too. Luckily, I stopped her. Silly girl. A blind girl singing… Could she have been referring to "The Tale of the Red Pill"? HIGH CANDLES BEAR THE RADIANCE Mother, you can rest easy now. She said she'd buy us a big house to settle in. I only hope she finishes what she needs to do soon so we can finally be together again. At least she knows what's good for her. If she keeps stalling, I'll drag them all to the Duke of Ying's residence and turn the whole place upside down. Sir, that woman is cunning and unpredictable. Will she really do your bidding? I've planted more than one mole in the Lu Residence. Someone will make sure she does. A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT - This table needs a good wipe too. - Yes. Be thorough. - You too, over there. - Yes. Your Ladyship, please inspect the arrangements. Have all the damaged ritual objects been remade? Rest assured. The new ritual objects will arrive this afternoon. I'll inspect every one of them carefully before putting them out. The larger pieces will be placed on the steps outside, and the smaller ones inside the hall. The ancestral temple is short-handed. Her Ladyship finds these men diligent. She wants them to stay and work here. Yes. Are all the offerings ready? Everything is prepared. We've also assigned people to guard them against dogs, insects, and rats. The food and wine for the rites must be clean and carefully prepared. I need to inspect them myself. - Lead the way. - Yes. This way, your Ladyship. Please. Come on, let's go. Time to eat. - Come on, let's eat. Come on, time to eat. - You go ahead. I'll be right there. Time to eat. A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT DUKE'S RESIDENCE Before I got married, Grandmother had clothes made for me for every season. I won't need anything new for years, so there's no need for this, Mother. That won't do. This ancestral rite is one of the Lu family's grandest occasions. I'm only a woman of the inner chambers. There isn't much else I can help with, but dressing you up is something I can certainly do. I want everyone outside the family to see that my daughter-in-law is perfect in every way, a woman rarely seen in this world. Let's keep looking. This one… This one's nice. My Lady, I sketched the object and quietly showed it to a craftsman. It's a gold ritual vessel reserved for imperial rites. Rao, how do you like this? Rao? What's wrong? Nothing. It's lovely. Let me pick some more. This color would look lovely for the ceremonial robe. Should the sleeves be wide or narrow? Wide. It'll look dignified and elegant. As for the colors of the robe and silk shoes… We'll have to think that through carefully. Lord Han told me to give you a message. Either the entire Lu family dies, or you end up dead yourself. A clever person should know which to choose. Rao, you seem preoccupied. Is something troubling you? There are too many details to handle. My head's spinning from it all. It's all right. Look at this one. What do you think? The pattern is beautiful. You have excellent taste, Mother. No? Is it a little too gaudy? Let's choose another. That one's good. I'll get it. GENTLE AS A SOFT BREEZE Quiet. She usually turns in before the second watch. What's keeping her up tonight? As you instructed, Xu Heng is overseeing this ancestral rite. He's sharp and capable and never makes mistakes. He won't give the her Ladyship any trouble. How about I go find out what's going on? Don't meddle. Find out what happened at the ancestral temple today. Perhaps one of my aunts deliberately gave her a hard time. My Lady, you should run. You've worked so hard to get this far, but Han Liao is using hostages to force your hand. If you do as he says, the entire Lu family will be killed. If you refuse, he'll bring Ms Qiao and her children to our door. Once your true identity is exposed, you'll be facing certain ruin. My Lady, let's leave. Let's get far away from the capital. With all this gold, silver, and jewelry, we can live on it for a year or so. We? Bitao, you'd run away with me? You'd live rough and hide from place to place with me? I'll run away with you, My Lady. Wherever you go, I'll go. Get up. We're not running. Why not? If I were Han Liao, I'd have someone watching my pawn's every move and never let her slip out of my control. Even if we manage to leave the Lu Residence, we still won't make it out of the city. Then are we really going to frame the Lu family? Bitao, if I disregard Ma and Hongxian's lives and refused Han Liao, even to die, he'll simply have someone else do it so he can ruin the Lu family. Han Liao intends to wipe out the Lu clan. Why would he spare me alone? Whether I do it or not, death awaits. Either way, we die. What are we supposed to do? I fought so hard to get where I am. If that villain Han Liao takes even a grain of sand from me, I'll make him pay with his life. There has to be a way out. Let me think. Just let me think. It's getting late. Don't let Lord Lu get suspicious. What did you just say? I mean, we should put out the candles so Lord Lu won't grow suspicious. No. Let him. Bitao, this time, I'll have to bet for my life. My Lord, Guanzhu said Her Ladyship had been troubled ever since she returned from the ancestral temple and didn't even have dinner. A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT - A centipede! - What happened? My Lady, are you all right? Miss Bitao, where is it? It was right there! How could there be a centipede inside the main hall? Are you sure? What do you mean? This place is full of bricks and timber. Centipedes are bad enough, but blister beetles would be even worse. I am fine if one bites me today. But if one bites the Dowager Lady or Lord Lu tomorrow, you'll be in serious trouble. - Hurry and find them all! - Yes. Search every crack and corner. Look carefully. - You three, over there! Hurry! - Yes. {\an8}Keep looking carefully. There must be one. {\an8}All right. Bitao, we've cleared away every cobweb and ant nest in the hall. How could there be a centipede? You must have been mistaken. Steward Xu, I've finished checking the offerings. You've done a good job, but… your Ladyship, is something amiss? Never mind. You… My Lord. {\an8}FIVE JADE TIGERS {\an8}Are the items marked in red all damaged ritual objects? My Lord, 18 ritual objects were damaged. Replacements were made wherever possible. Where are the damaged ones kept? The ritual vessels and jades are all accounted for. None may go missing or be discarded. By the old rules, even sentimental things, worn or broken, still have to be carefully stored in the rear rooms. Good. At least there are rules. Fetch Zhao Song and Zhao Bai. Have them check every damaged object against this register. Yes. Why did you summon me, My Lord? Is this what you've been hiding from me? What do you mean, My Lord? I don't understand. You're still covering for them? We've checked all the fragments in the rear rooms. Six damaged celadon pieces are missing, and a jade tiger has vanished. Even a passing goose leaves a trace. There's no way shattered jade leaves no trace. They marked them as damaged and thought they could get away with it. These ritual objects have been passed down in the Lu family for generations. What a brazen thief! My Lord, I'll catch the thief! I'm afraid the thief is one of our own! Please calm down, My Lord. The ancestral temple was managed by the second branch. If you make a scene, Aunt Chengjun may be embarrassed. Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! My Lord… Zhao Song, Zhao Bai. Shut the gates at once. Take men and detain every servant who regularly enters the temple. Question them thoroughly and search the entire place. Perhaps the ritual jade hasn't been smuggled out yet. - Yes. - Yes. Wait! You know I've only just married into the family and want to avoid offending my elders. Why make such a fuss? Your Ladyship, damage is often reported at the ancestral temple. Of course the masters know about it. They simply turn a blind eye to avoid unnecessary trouble. But the jade tiger was bestowed by the Founding Emperor. If the Duke checks the inventory, you'll certainly be held responsible. - His Lordship doesn't want you blamed. - What are you waiting for? Go! Go! Oh no! Something's been stolen from the ancestral hall again. I've heard it's a jade tiger. Who would dare steal ritual jade? Exactly. Who'd dare steal something so valuable? A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT - What's going on? - Seize every servant in this courtyard. Lock them separately in the rear rooms! - Move! - I'm innocent! - Hurry! - I'm no thief! I'm innocent! I swear! - I'm innocent! - Move! Why are you taking me? I'm innocent! I've been wronged! Can Liangcai handle it? His mother begged me again and again to let her come kowtow to you. Her whole family has been given easy, respectable posts. If they can't even handle this small task, they'd be too ashamed to face you. General Qi. Not here again? Fine. The Lu family's ancestral temple, right? I'll go there myself. General Qi, please wait. I have a message for you. Lady Rao has a question for you. Does the promise you made that day still stand? If anything ever troubles you, just tell me. I'll help without hesitation. Every word I said to her was sincere. Her Ladyship has an urgent favor to ask. She hopes you won't ask questions and just do as she asks. Her Ladyship will remember this favor. Miss Bitao! Miss Bitao. Miss Bitao, you're finally here! I'm not a thief. Please tell the her Ladyship to let me out. What are you shouting for? You're not the only one locked up. An important ritual jade was stolen from the front hall. Lord Lu is furious. Even Steward Xu has been detained for negligence. All right, don't look so miserable. You've only been here two days. You clearly had nothing to do with the theft. Her Ladyship will speak up for you. Just wait. Miss Bitao, please put in another word for me and get me out soon. I still have work to do. I know. Just wait. CLANSMEN IN ROBES, UNITED IN CEREMONY I found the stolen item. But this isn't the jade tiger. You found it already? This thief is cunning, hiding it right under everyone's noses. Who would've thought? What is this? Someone means to have the Lu family wiped out and planted this to bring us ruin. If we hadn't searched for the stolen item, our whole family would eventually lose our heads. Throw every servant in the ancestral temple into the dungeon. I'll interrogate them myself! My Lord, even catching a snake calls for stealth. If you make such a show of hunting the thief, easy to spot the insider. What about an enemy from outside? We can't rush this. Zhao Song, Zhao Bai, release all the servants held in the rear rooms. - Release them? - Yes. All of them, except one. I've been wronged! Lord Lu! - I really didn't steal the jade tiger! - I told you it wasn't me! So you're the one who stole it! And you dragged all of us into it! All right, enough. - Lord Lu! - Break it up. Back to work! - Move along! - Let's go. A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT So they really were investigating a theft today. Good thing they didn't discover what's hidden here. MARQUIS OF XITING'S RESIDENCE All right. Lady Lu finally has time to see you. My sister's come to pick us up? That's right. Hurry up and get ready. Put on something presentable. Then come with me, and you can finally be reunited. A-Chou wouldn't mention "The Tale of the Red Pill" for no reason. She was sending me a message. She wanted me to… Stop the carriage! Qi Zhongkai? What are you doing? Commandant Liu, my family's runaway slaves are in that carriage. Get them! Mother! - Get down! - Mother! - Mother! - Let's go! Hurry! Move! Hurry! Get down! Help! - Qi Zhongkai. - Help! How dare you gallop through the streets and openly seize people? Open your eyes and look carefully. {\an8}This mother and her two children are runaway slaves from my household. I reported them to the authorities three days ago. You harbored my family's runaway slaves. I'll settle that score with you later. You've gone too far! Move! - My Lord! - Move! There's still one here! Good. As long as we have her, the plan won't fail. Do exactly as I say, or I'll skin you alive. My Lord, it's almost time for the Lu family's ancestral rite. No rush. Everything is ready, but I'm still waiting for an honored guest. A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT LU FAMILY'S ANCESTRAL TABLETS Welcome the deities! ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY LEGACY Kneel! On the 15th day of the seventh month, at this auspicious hour, incense rises as the spirits come from afar. Ancestors, descend and receive our grain and offerings. With reverence, we present these worthy sacrifices. Accept these offerings and witness our sincerity. May our ancestors descend and partake, and be comforted by our filial devotion! Prince Rong arrives! This is our ancestral temple. You may not barge in! Move aside! - What are you doing? - What's this? - What are you doing? - Move! This is no place for you to cause trouble! Stop at once! PRINCE RONG, THE EMPEROR'S YOUNGER BROTHER My Lord, who is he? The Empress Dowager's youngest son and His Majesty's younger brother, Prince Rong, who backed Han Liao for military command. Your Highness, forgive me for not welcoming you sooner. I ran into a mad dog on the way, and it caused me to fall from my horse. I've defiled your family's ancestral temple. My apologies. My apologies. Bring her in! - Your Highness… - Please, just be patient for now. I came here today to help your family catch a thief. A thief? Your Highness must be joking. This is the Lu family's ancestral temple, where we worship our ancestors. What thief could there be here? Take a good look. Who is she? During the recent war with the Hutuo, the Empress Dowager recommended Your Highness for command twice. But the Lu family kept obstructing you at every turn, until His Majesty grew suspicious and refused to entrust you with military command. Now, removing this threat is not difficult. Just follow my plan. First, we'll convict the Lu family of using an impostor to deceive the sovereign. Then we'll use that as grounds for a thorough search. Once we find an imperial ritual vessel hidden in the Lu ancestral temple… Are you absolutely certain it'll work? Rest assured, Your Highness. I call this plan "Snaring the Dragon and Binding the Tiger." It will leave Lu dead, his clan destroyed, and everything reduced to ashes. Oh, Lu Zhuo. For all your famed shrewdness, you've still been blinded by beauty and fallen for this woman's charms! Take a good look at the lovely wife by your side. Is she truly a noble lady from the Earl of Cheng'an's household, or… Han Liao, who gave you leave to cause trouble here? Everyone here can see for themselves! Take a good look. The wife of the heir to the Duke of Ying is this girl's elder sister! She's no noble lady from an earl's household. She's a criminal from the slums with blood on her hands! - What? - How can it be? That's not possible. How will he know? Miss, this is her Ladyship of the Duke of Ying's household. Take a good look. Is she really your sister? Sister, save me! It's me, Hongxian! She can't even recognize her own sister? Lord Han, what a fine witness you've found. You've got the wrong person. She's Lord Lu's wife. Your Ladyship, I was wrong! I never meant to frame you! It was him! He forced me to do it! You wretch! How dare you give false testimony? Don't be afraid. Han Liao must have abducted you and brought you here for a reason. Take your time. Tell us everything. The Duke of Ying's household will see justice done. Your Graces, save me! I came to the capital with my mother to seek treatment. Somehow, I was abducted and taught a whole story to recite. What did he tell you to say? Nonsense! Let her speak! If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll break every bone in your body! Enough! How dare you threaten her right in front of me? Go on. Tell us everything. He told me to call her Ladyship my sister and accuse her of being an impostor, so he could cause trouble for the Lu family. I'm just an illiterate country girl. I couldn't even remember all the lies he made up. I told him I wouldn't do it, but he forced me. He said if I refused to come, he'd kill my mother! Old Madam Wei was at our house for a banquet not long ago. Neither her own grandmother nor anyone in the Wei family found anything wrong. Yet an outsider like you claims to know better? How utterly absurd. To fabricate evidence against someone, you've concocted an outrageous lie. How utterly shameless. Miss, we're here for you. Don't be afraid. You villain! How dare you slander Lady Rao? Get out! - Get out! - Stop them! - Get out! - Go! Stop them! - Stop! - Get out! This is outrageous! Han Liao, show us your conclusive evidence. You think a petty trick like that can save you? You're dreaming! I was never worried about this wretch changing her story. It's too late to plug a leak once the boat is midstream. Once I produce the hard evidence, let's see how your family gets out of this! You brought someone for me to meet. What a coincidence. I also have someone I'd like you to meet. Zhao Song, Zhao Bai, bring him in! A LOYAL HEART SHINES BRIGHT Lu Zhuo, what exactly is going on? What was he looking for in our ancestral temple? A gold ritual vessel? He planted this man here to hide gold ritual vessel reserved for the Emperor, so he could accuse us of violating ritual codes and have our entire clan executed. Han Liao stormed our ancestral temple for one purpose alone. He is here to find it! How could something so appalling happen? What grudge could be so deep to wipe out our entire clan? How vicious the Han family is! They're declaring war on the Lu family! You knew all along and set a trap just for me! This is nothing but slander. Guards! How could you be so reckless? Are you hurt? Let me see. Han Liao, you shameless villain! No wonder you hurled false accusations and tried every way to frame me. It was all an excuse to search our ancestral temple. You planted evidence and framed a loyal family, smashed our altar and dishonored our ancestors, and even tried to destroy the entire Lu clan! One crime after another. You have the heart of a jackal and the venom of a wasp. To destroy a house and ruin a clan, a crime beyond forgiveness. The forebears of the Lu family gave their lives for the nation, shedding their blood on the battlefield. And even in death, their spirits are denied peace. Even if the Lu family killed you here and now, you'd only be getting what you deserve! We've been grievously wronged! You despicable lackey! You've gone too far! Do you really think the Lu family has no men left? You monster! - Men of the Lu family, - He's bullying the widows - can you stand by and watch this? - and orphans in our family! This villain wrecked our temple and dishonored our ancestors. Anyone with Lu blood in his veins cannot let him off! Our ancestors are watching. We have to destroy this villain! - Get him! - Shut the gates! Don't let a single one escape! Get lost! Get lost! - Protect the ladies. - Yes. - Let's go. What an outrage! - Go! Zhuo… What disgraceful behavior! Stop! Beat them! Beat every last one of them! The Lu family helped the Founding Emperor conquer this realm. For generations, we've given our all and sworn to serve the nation unto death! So many died on the battlefield. Three of my sons never came home. You dare smash our ancestral temple, disturb our honored dead, and accuse us of treason? Even before His Majesty, I'd still have you beaten! Beat them! Beat every last one of them! Any man who holds back is unworthy of being a man of the Lu family! Hit them! Hit them hard! Oh, you! Unbelievable! I'm His Majesty's brother! How dare you hit me! Coward! Hit him! You hit me! You set me up. Good thing you were here, My Lord. Get up! Lu Zhuo, come with me to the palace. Wait for me. Oh, Rao, you were far too reckless. Exactly. What if a punch had scarred your face? What would you do then? As long as there's one man left in the Lu family, they'd never let the ladies risk lives. If anything like this happens again, you mustn't put yourself in danger. Rao, you were fearless in the face of danger and acted with such courage. Everyone, look. Now that's a true lady of the Lu family! Zhuo is truly fortunate. Mother, stop hitting me! Please, Mother! You helped outsiders plot against your sister, - you heartless beast! - Mother, I was wrong! You deserve it. The Tale of the Red Pill is about Ruiniang, who was abducted by villains and used her wits to escape. I knew at once you were warning me that Han Liao was up to no good. I was wrong. Liangcai will arrange for you to go to Anling. There's a retired Imperial Physician Wang there who specializes in treating wasting illnesses. I've prepared a letter of introduction and his fee. Take this box with you. Han Liao and the Wei family are all trying to harm you. Why not come with us? My daughter, you should get away while you still can. Once you reach Anling, as soon as your escorts leave, head straight to Yong County to find Imperial Physician Wang. So he isn't in Anling? Don't worry. I understand. Other than you, I trust no one. My dear brother, you thought Lord Han was powerful, didn't you? But with just a little maneuvering, I exposed his plot and had him thrown in prison. Don't ever follow his example. Otherwise… I dreamed about Pa last night. He said he missed you. I… I'll take good care of Mother and Hongxian from now on. I'll never defy you again! If you say east, I dare not go west. If you say shoo the dog, I dare not chase the chicken. Otherwise, may Heaven strike me with lightning! CHANGLE PALACE Rest assured, Your Majesty. The Eldest Princess has gone in to talk to the Empress Dowager. She'll surely calm her down. Your Majesty, Xiao is your own brother. He's always been rash by nature. Outsiders have simply led him astray. Why not forgive him this once, so Mother won't worry herself sick? She still refuses to eat. As her children, how can we bear to see that? This isn't the first time he's acted so recklessly. Everyone knows Mother dotes on her youngest son. Their bond is the envy of all. But in this world, Prince Rong isn't the only one with a mother! Wasn't everyone else born and raised by parents too? Don't they revere their ancestors and honor their parents? And what did he do? He stormed the Lu family's ancestral temple and desecrated the spirits of loyal men without cause, causing an uproar throughout the capital. Sister, go outside and see for yourself. Right now, the censors are blocking the palace gates. asking me to severely punish Prince Rong and the Hans for their crimes. Tell me, as Emperor, what am I supposed to do? - I… - He may as well kill his own brother and never come see me again! Your Majesty, you… CHANGLE PALACE Has she forgotten that this man she's threatening with a hunger strike is also her own son? Your Majesty! ZHOU FU, LADY LI OF HANDSOME FAIRNESS Who told you to come? I was taking a nap in my chambers this afternoon when I dreamed of a tiny man crawling out from my pillow. He gave me a hard shove and shouted, "Wake up! Someone has wronged His Majesty! Hurry and go check on him!" You're always talking nonsense. Who's wronged Your Majesty? Tell me. I'll go teach them a lesson. A tiny man came to you in a dream? Everyone knows my sister is the one who keeps you informed. Don't you know exactly what's on my mind? Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has always doted on Prince Rong. She couldn't bear to send him back to his fief, so she kept him in the capital for two whole years. She built him a grand residence and showered him with jewels and treasures. In her eyes, Prince Rong has only made a few minor mistakes. As his brother, can't Your Majesty show him some leniency? I've turned a blind eye to all his past misconduct solely out of respect for Mother. But now, he nearly had the entire Lu family executed, shook the foundations of the state, and provoked public outrage. Yet Mother still wants me to spare him. I might as well give up the throne and hand everything over to him. Perhaps then Mother will finally be satisfied! Then why not execute Prince Rong? He's the apple of the Empress Dowager's eye. You simply cannot kill him. If you can't kill him, why not let him off? Let him off? Then how should I face the Lu family? And how am I to govern my officials or calm the public outrage? If I give Your Majesty a solution, how will you reward me? Let's hear it. If Prince Rong committed no grave offense, then the fault must lie with someone else. DUKE'S RESIDENCE Where on earth did you run off to? Mother has been waiting for ages. Greetings, Grandmother. If you need anything, just send for me. How could I keep you waiting? Rao, an oral decree has come from the palace. His Majesty wants to see you and Zhuo. His Majesty's summons must be about the case of Prince Rong and Han Liao. If His Majesty wants answers, he can question you or your grandfather. At worst, he could summon every man in our household. Why would he summon Rao for no reason? Perhaps someone in the palace wants a chance to meet the Lu family's new bride. Could it be Lady Li in the palace, Lady Wei Rao's birth mother, who wants to see me? Mother and Fourth Aunt will help you prepare. In an hour, we'll set out to the palace and meet His Majesty. Yes. ‪NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED ‪IN THE MAKING OF THIS SHOW