Tag: Guo Tao

Emperor Wen wants Ling Buyi, his foster son, to wrap up the armament case. However, Ling Buyi is too invested to stop.

Ling Buyi passes by his father’s residence without going inside to see his father, Ling Yi, Marquis Chengyang.

Cheng Shaoshang continues to pretend to be sick, fooling her father but not her mother.

While Cheng Shaoshang’s parents were away, the Cheng family punished Cheng Shaoshang by banishing her to the countryside. They didn’t give her money, clothes, or food and wouldn’t pay for a physician when she fell sick. 

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother returned home earlier to see how the Cheng family treats her daughter. She intends to be strict in disciplining Cheng Shaoshang to curb her from being rebellious.

Cheng Shaoshang sends Ling Buyi a bundle of hay and fabric pieces.

Acting on the tip, Ling Buyi investigates a fabric store owned by Second Aunt. The ledger shows a large amount of money laundered by Granduncle Dong.

Cheng Shaoshang doesn’t want to take bitter medicine. Her father allows her to add sugar but not her mother.

Old Madam Cheng threatens suicide. Acting just as melodramatic, Cheng Shaoshang’s father doesn’t see how he can save Granduncle Dong. If she wants to report him for being unfilial because he doesn’t do what she wants, just know that conviction means he could be executed and his assets seized.

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother catches Cheng Shaoshang watching the theatrical battle with glee.

Afraid of torture, Granduncle Dong confesses to Ling Buyi.

Cheng Shaoshang’s father convinces Old Madam Cheng to put their family first instead of siding with relatives.

Cheng Shaoshang’s father tells his wife to not scold Cheng Shaoshang while they are eating.

Old Madam Cheng adores Cheng Shaoshang’s father and Third Uncle as much as she disapproves of their wives. 

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother hits Cheng Shaoshang’s hand with a ruler for gossiping about her elders. Cheng Shaoshang has been looking forward to going to the Lantern Festival for the first time, but now she has to stay in her room and copy the Book of Rites.

[Smoke didn’t come out of the chimney, so Old Madam Cheng panicked. It turns out Cheng Shaoshang modified the chimney to scare her superstitious grandmother. 

Cheng Shaoshang’s mother had a ruler because she wanted to take Cheng Shaoshang’s measurements to make new clothes for her.]

News of victory reaches the capital, followed by the return of Ling Buyi and his troops.

Servants from the Cheng family have to bring Cheng Shaoshang back to the capital, dead or alive.

The Cheng family abandoned Cheng Shaoshang in the countryside, not caring that she fell ill and almost died. Her parents are away fighting in a war and send her sporadic letters over the years.

Ling Buyi monitors Cheng Shaoshang’s house.

Falling for Cheng Shaoshang’s prank, Head Housemaid Li calls her a troublemaker.

Head Housemaid Li will use force if Cheng Shaoshang refuses to go with them.

Cheng Shaoshang, haggard and dressed shabbily, looks old to Ling Buyi’s lieutenants, Liang Qiufei and Liang Qiuqi.

Cheng Shaoshang notices footsteps from the carriage going to a haystack.

Lianfang, Cheng Shaoshang’s maid, doesn’t like how the carriage smells. Cheng Shaoshang says it’s the smell of a man who hasn’t bathed for some time.

Unlike Lianfang, Cheng Shaoshang isn’t as optimistic in thinking her life will improve if her parents return home.

Ling Buyi’s group demands to search the Cheng family’s carriage. Head Housemaid Li protests, citing impropriety because Cheng Shaoshang is unmarried. Cheng Shaoshang urges Ling Buyi to burn the haystack next to her house first, and he might find what he is looking for. Ling Buyi doesn’t see Cheng Shaoshang’s face, just her hand pointing to the haystack.

After the haystack is set on fire, Cheng Shaoshang’s Granduncle Dong crawls out and is arrested.

Cheng Shaoshang would rather betray her granduncle than have the Cheng family get in trouble for hiding a criminal. Her parents will return home soon, but her future is uncertain. If her parents love her, why did they abandon her when she was born?

Ling Buyi looks at the procession of the Cheng household and repeats the name he heard: Cheng Shaoshang.

Cheng Shaoshang meets her parents for the first time. Her grandmother, Old Madam Cheng, and Second Aunt claim they tried their best to raise Cheng Shaoshang, but her parents see that isn’t true. Old Madam Cheng pretends to be sick and faints, but she loses to Cheng Shaoshang, who appears sicker and faints more dramatically.

Old Madam Cheng and Second Aunt lament how they sacrificed, dealing with a rebel like Cheng Shaoshang. Cheng Shaoshang’s parents see through the lies, but they can’t criticize Old Madam Cheng. Assessing the situation, Cheng Shaoshang acts contrite to gain sympathy for her suffering.

Cheng Shaoshang’s parents learn that Ling Buyi arrested Granduncle Dong for stealing armament. Their shock seems genuine to Ling Buyi.

Ling Buyi praises Cheng Shaoshang for putting country before family. Moreover, he compares her to officials in the Ministry of Justice because she upheld justice by turning in a relative.

But to Cheng Shaoshang, it sounds like Ling Buyi is mocking her.