The conflict between the Shen family and the Zhang family come to a head following Madame Zhang's harrowing labor process in the previous episode. At a loss for what to do next to maintain the peace in the empire, the Empress requests Ming Lan's presence who provides two stories for her to think about. The Empress heeds Ming Lan's advice with a grand apology to the Zhang family.
In this episode we delve into the Wang family as the matriarch and current head of the family arrive in the capital and give context as to why Aunt Kang and Madame Wang are the way they are. Elsewhere, Ming Lan steps up to save her friend, Madame Zhang, who went into labor. Madame Zhang is also supported by a powerful family - one strong enough to defy the Emperor.
In a special Lunar New Year episode, we cover the 2016 film Xuan Zang! It chronicles the the travels of the monk Xuan Zang. During his 5 year journey, he traveled over 25,000 km along the ancient silk road west and south to India. Xuan Zang's pilgrimage from Chang'An to India has inspired countless stories and legends, including the Journey to the West. Join us as we discuss the story, the history, and the gorgeous scenery of this film. This podcast episode is sponsored by JubaoTV.
Aunt Kang and Madame Qin cause nothing but trouble for the pregnant Ming Lan. Luckily, Ming Lan has Chang Mo Mo and Grandma Sheng. Chang Mo mo roundly tells off Aunt Kang for her rude behavior towards Ming Lan while Grandma Sheng helps Ming Lan see through the nefarious plot Aunt Kang planned for her.
After all of the political fighting in the previous episodes, the Emperor turns his attention towards salt taxation. His son, the Prince of Huan, volunteers to head south to perform an audit. Mysteriously, supporters of the Emperor all become embroiled in scandal. Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye find themselves in the middle as they try to help their friends. In the meanwhile, Ming Lan shares some happy news with her husband. She's pregnant! Unfortunately this is short lived as Gu Ting Ye must head sout...
In this episode heavy with political conflicts, the Empress Dowager plays a few tricks to cause trouble in the Emperor's plan to regain power.
Karen and Cathy explain the Chinese and Chinese-American historical and cultural references portrayed in the Marvel Superhero film, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
This episode is pretty much Gu Ting Ye being pouty that his wife isn't as clingy or as dependent on him as he would like. He thinks she doesn't love him and puts him in a sulky state.
Ming Lan's gathering is spoiled by the squabbles between the wife and concubine of the Empress's younger brother, Shen Guo Jiu. It's up to Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye to try to reconcile the relationship between Shen Guo Jiu and his new wife Madam Zhang.
Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye have to host a banquet for their newly renovated home. All of the reputable men and women in the Capital arrive to attend the banquet. Unfortunately, several unsavory characters also attend including Ming Lan's step mother Madame Qin, aunt of no relation Madame Kang, and 4th sister Mo Lan. They are all up to no good. Ming Lan gets accosted by Qi Heng's wife and realizes that she must have a frank conversation with Qi Heng to stop holding onto the past.
Ming Lan returns for a family lunch back at the Sheng family where she gets into a quarrel with her father and her sister Mo Lan over the topic of the deceased Mistress Lin. Luckily, Gu Ting Ye steps in to provide her full support. When returning home, Ming Lan is presented with a concubine for Gu Ting Ye which she readily agrees as a way to help Gu Ting Ye from further troubles. Hilarity ensues as Gu Ting Ye is annoyed his wife is not jealous at all at this new woman.
Man Niang, Gu Ting Ye's former mistress's reappearance re-ignited Gu Ting Ye's drive to find his lost son. It's not easy though as the devious plans between Man Niang, the Bai family and Madame Qin are uncovered where the ideal end result is Gu Ting Ye's death.
Gu Ting Ye requests for leniency for his family from the Emperor but generates displeasure in court. With the death of his older brother, Gu Ting Ye inherits the title of Marquis. Ming Lan is granted a title too! Just as the couple expected a slight reprieve, the evil stepmother hatches a plan to reintroduce an old flame into the picture. Man Niang reappears and bargains with Gu Ting Ye to be named a concubine by withholding the whereabouts of their son. What happens between them? Listen to find...
Gu Ting Ye still refuses to assist his brother and cousins for their involvement in the previous coup and is in a stalemate with his brother Gu Ting Yu. After learning about the truth of his health, Gu Ting Yu makes hard decision and decides to come clean to his brother for all of their family's previous ill deeds. He grants Gu Ting Ye the title of Marquis for the promise that he will take care of his wife and daughter. Gu Ting Ye, finally relents and agrees to save his brother and cousins from ...
Tensions within the Gu Family escalate as 1) the 4th and 5th aunt first try to blackmail Ming Lan into helping their sons, 2) Gu Ting Ye's younger brother is taken in for questioning and 3) a stalemate occurs between Gu Ting Ye and his older brother on conditions to help the family. Elsewhere, the Empress Dowager is furious that Gu Ting Ye devised a trick to take the Imperial Seal from her for the Emperor
Ming Lan is summoned to the Palace an unexpectedly is forced to greet the Empress Dowager. She's able to avoid a dangerous trap by finding a clever solution to the Empress Dowager's intended gifts. Qi Heng is now favored by the Empress Dowager and begins to investigate families from the failed coup. Two of Gu Ting Ye's cousins are thrown in jail and the families coming begging for help. Does Gu Ting Ye agree?
Ming Lan is out inspecting the new farmsteads that were gifted to her husband. During her audit, it becomes pretty obvious that the overseers have been lying on their accounts. Ming Lan outwits one overseer but needs Gu Ting Ye's assistance on another. Who knew managing lands was so difficult? Her actions are reported back to the Capital and various factions begin to take notice.
Goaded by words from Chang Mo Mo, servants engage in a full blown food fight in the kitchen while Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye have esteemed guests over. While the purpose was to help Ming Lan against a combative Nanny Lai, the result is that all of these problematic servants can be removed with a plausible excuse. Ming Lan enjoys a well earned victory against her stepmother-in-law!
With the gaggle of new servants in her household, it is now teeming with "spies" that report her every movement to her stepmother-in-law. Not only does she get a passive aggressive visit from her stepmother using intel gained from these servants, Ming Lan's reputation is also being sullied by this stepmother. How will Ming Lan fight back to regain peace in her household?
The newlyweds Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye head back to the Sheng family to meet the family and are introduced to Aunt Kang, Madame Wang's sister. She can't stand that Ming Lan married so well and already starts to plot against her. Elsewhere, Ming Lan's new stepmother-in-law also sends her troops to control Ming Lan's new home in the form of servants. Ming Lan though, trained well by her grandmother, shows the new staff who's really in charge.
It's the first day after Gu Ting Ye and Ming Lan's wedding! Ming Lan is now officially a wife! Unfortunately that means that she also has to deal with new enemies, namely the rest of the Gu family. She is quickly summoned to meet the older ladies of the Gu family and has to deal with a tricky task. Luckily for Ming Lan, Gu Ting Ye has her back. The newlyweds also head back to the Sheng family to greet Ming Lan's family.
Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye complete their marriage vows and officially become husband and wife! There's a ton of history and culture to discuss so keep your eyes open as you watch the episode. It's a joyous occasion for all. Ming Lan has an unexpected encounter with Gu Ting Ye's daughter. Gu Ting Ye makes a nighttime trip to buy a meal for his new bride before sharing his vast fortune with her. After the exhausting events of the day, the two finally retire to bed.
It's the day of Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye's Wedding! Gu Ting Ye arrives at the Sheng manor with the wedding party to fetch his bride. Ming Lan is clothed in an extravagant green wedding dress! This is part 1 of episode 40. There's so much culture and history to discuss so we break down the episode and highlight everything that we see!
Ming Lan was first quite off put by the tactics Gu Ting Ye employed to secure a marriage with her. However, after hearing his heartfelt confession and his guarantee that she will no longer have to hide and suffer as she currently does if she marries him, she accepts.
Gu Ting Ye is determined to marry a daughter of the Sheng Family. Ru Lan finally accepts this marriage and arranges a final meeting with her beloved Wen Yan Jing, only to be spotted by Gu Ting Ye. The Sheng Family has no choice but to push Ming Lan out to marry Gu Ting Ye. Meanwhile Qi Heng does well on the Imperial Exams and has his mother propose marriage to the Sheng Family. Who will prevail?
Several marriages are causing drama in the Sheng family. Ming Lan's planned marriage is halted after being insulted and threatened by He Hong Wen's cousin's family while Ru Lan's love story is put in danger with the random appearance of Gu Ting Ye's marriage proposal. Too many schemes are happening just so Gu Ting Ye can get married!
In celebration of the 2 year anniversary of this podcast, please enjoy this special episode about the movie The Palace (2013). We discuss the plot, cast, and most importantly the history shown in the movie! We see some familiar faces and are brought back to a familiar time in history. Zhao Li Ying (Zanilia Zhao), the actress of Ming Lan in The Story of Ming Lan is the antagonist in this Qing Dynasty movie. While the plot leaves us wanting, the history and costume design are top notch. Let us kno...
With a new Emperor on the throne, Gu Ting Ye returns home as a favored general for the Emperor. He is able to retrieve his prized spear and declare to his brother and stepmother that he will fight for the title of marquis. Elsewhere, Ming Lan is waiting a marriage proposal from He Hong Wen but a random cousin of his shows up and wants to be his concubine. Ming Lan let's it be known that it is either her or the cousin. She will not share a husband.
Probably the two most confusing episodes in the drama, the story turns to focus on politics where a plot to take the imperial throne is underway. Gu Ting Ye aids an unfavored royal family member to the palace while concubines are taking military family members hostage and a prince instigates a coup. All the while, the fate of the entire Song empire falls on Ming Lan's shoulders.
Mo Lan finally gets her wish in marrying Liang Han but is sent off in a wedding that feels more like a funeral. Mistress Lin is severely punished for her actions by none other than her husband, Sheng Hong and exiled from the city. At long last, Ming Lan saw the downfall of the woman who killed her mother and unborn brother.
