It tells the story of a simple girl,
The Beautiful Lady Wu who struggled in
life, love and rose to become
China’s only female emperor
who actually ruled the whole country
for almost half a century
The Empress of China Episode 1
In the 11th year of the Zhenguan era Military daughter Ruyi enters the palace for placement into the Five Ranks of Talent
Five Ranks of Talented are talented ladies and future concubines of the inner court
Hold
Kneel
Cairen = Ladies-in-waiting, future concubines or ladies of talent
Wu Ru Yi - Cairen
Xiao Qiang - Cairen
Xu Hui - Cairen
This cairen still won't kneel
Don't tempt fate
But, Gonggong
Gonggong = Palace eunuch
The imperial palanquin just now
was clearly empty
Seing his palanquin is like seeing His Majesty
Even empty, you must still kneel
Kneel
Li Shi Min - Emperor Taizong
Li Tai - 4th Prince aka Qingque, young sparrow
Li Ke - 3rd Prince
good, good
good, god
good, good
Big brother, third brother
Your swordsmanship remains unrivaled indeed.
Truly, I'm not that-
Third
The two of us are better
Test the sword
Who wins against Us
We will reward
A cong lion horse
Together now
Li Cheng Qian - Crown Prince
Long live, long live, long long live our emperor
Your imperial father has done it again, hasn't he?
It's okay
Imperial father, imperial father's sword
is simply perfection
To think,
The three of us, together
still lose
Such talk sounds suspiciously like flattery
Qingque
You're a warrior, not an assassin
Don't always think about circling around your enemy's back
Before attacking again
You know, smart people
Often think of shortcuts
And the result? Cleverness covers
Clever mistakes
So I hope the next time, rather than the sword
You'll beware that silly kung fu
Imperial father's lesson
Your son understands
Respectful one, your sword
is the most powerful of the three
But your worries
are equally great
What's good about worrying?
Father's not old yet
Father can afford to lose
So, next time
We hope you'll spare no effort
Next time, in front of his father
This son will show off
And make his father a laughingstock
Cheng Qian, bravery is good
but you must also know of attack and retreat
Attack when it's right
Retreat when that's right
You are the Crown Prince
And their big brother
Understanding this is important
This son knows
Do you know
What really disappointed father today?
His sons lost again today
Victories and defeats both happen
Father takes no note of these
What father takes note of is
You had the opportunity to win
but your hearts beat apart
Like grains of sand, each fighting alone
You couldn't even win a duel
If, later on
During times of unrest
You should encounter a truly formidable opponent
And you face the enemy with this kind of alliance...
If it continues like this,
Once your father lies buried
And you are the ones who defend
Our great Tang dynasty
That's when you'll truly lose
We realize our mistake
Look upon our house
Ladies, you are all of the five ranks of Cairen
Cairen = "Talented people" are ladies-in-waiting/concubines
For those without talent
You will be assigned to the eight ranks of Cainü
Cainü = "Chosen girls"
To be waited upon by us
As intermediaries
Your hearts all hold resentment
Resentment is good, so is unhappiness
The Palace has its own rules
After passing today's posture examination
You can officially enter the inner court
Eunuch Zhang
We are as His Majesty's imperial wives
Why are the dozens of us all to live in the same wing?
Our servants, the eunuchs and maids, where are they?
This is the Hall of the supreme concubines
Guifei Wei set the rules
Guifei = The highest rank imperial concubine
Next, you will all learn
Women's etiquette, ancient scripture ceremonies
A certain skill at the many dances of the court
Nurturing a graceful posture and form
A breath of spring from ones heart
Only then can you enter the palace to serve his Majesty
For this period, you will be treated
no different than ordinary palace maids
This is also part of your training
Lastly,
I wish you all well
Xiao Qiang, daugther of Xiao Yi Quan
Greets the Eunuch
We have a Minister's daugther here
Guifei Wei's niece
Excuse our manners
Lady Xiao, well-known beauty
You are excused from posture examination
Naughty
Stepping on others, judged unfairly
Better not say that
Tang consort ranks: Guifei, Shufei, Defei, Xianfei
Wei Guifei
Yin Defei
Yang Qing Xuan - Zhangshi
Yang Shufei
Liu Xianfei
Xianfei sister is pregnant
Seems you're just over three months
The most critical time of your pregnancy
The Imperial physician hasn't told you yet?
"Lie down more,
Don't walk around too much"?
And here we are again
If you act like last time
Never careful, then
Ah, yes, he told me
"Even this happy palace is unsuitably mountainous"
Every time
Really, stifling me
Not often do I meet my sisters
Those of similar rank are "sisters"
For something truly fun
How could your sister not come?
I heard from the physician
Shufei sister's grown weak again
You need to rest more
Less walking, more lying down
Although autumn is falling
But the weather's still warm
You're overworked
Though we cannot help boredom
It won't help you get better
Thank you for your concern, sister
My body
Didn't really want to come here today
But think about it
This is about choosing the new concubines
who will serve His Majesty in the future
If everyone were like sisters
All of them elegantly virtuous
Then of course, no problem
But just incase there's a mishap
And a troublemaker is selected
Once in power, she'll make all kinds of trouble
Then wouldn't you and I become
Those who opened the door to danger?
How is it?
Sister Wei
These Cairen and Cainü
Have waited outside for a long time already
The sun is strong outside
Shouldn't we invite them in?
Proclaiming the introduction of the many concubines
Kneel
We servants greet the honored ladies
At ease
Thank you, Mylady
Presumably, Eunuch Zhang
Has already told you
To enter the palace
Beautiful Chen, Ping Cairen
You must follow the rules of the inner court
Knowing rules, shining during ceremonies
And showing beauty and intelligence
Will permit you to stay
In fact,
Entering the palace is a great gamble
Losers end their life
And will not meet the Emperor
If you're not good enough from the day you enter the palace
Chasing status will simply waste time until you can leave
If you achieve a visit with the Emperor
Count it as luck
However, naturually the eight ranks of Cainü
to each rank's
Guifei, shufei, Defei, and Xianfei
How far you will reach
Whether or not the day will come
Whether you can reach the level of phoenix
Will depend on your devotion
And your luck
I see this year's girls
Aren't merely a group of silly goats
There are several quite pretty ones
Though they can't compare to my sister
Who resides in our Majesty's heart
Sister must be joking
In this inner palace
Surely Guifei should be counted
As his Majesty's greatest support
You, what are you called?
Cairen Wu Ruyi
Wu Ruyi = (sound) No hope
Greeting the Lady Guifei
You're the daughter of Wu Shihuo
I remember him
Mylady
You know Ruyi's father
Sister might have heard of this person
Governor of Jingzhou, government officer
The salesman with the lumber
Somewhat clever
During the Great Father's uprising
"Great Father of Our Country" is the Emperor
He offered a hundred silver tael
In return for an official post
What"Official"? Turns out
He's just a common pedler
What sort of talent?
One by one, tell me
This Wu RuYi
Is clearly beautiful
And by no means ordinary
But in her eyes
There's something willfully stubborn
Really not his Majesty's type
Lately, his Majesty
Has shown a preference for sweet and delicate ladies
Like sister Xianfei
In another month
It is the anniversary of Empress Wende's death
And there's a national memorial ceremony
Starting tomorrow
The department of ceremonies
Will teach you a dance
Practice it well
During the sacrificial ceremony, you will show this dance to His Majesty
From entering the palace, ladies, this will be
Your first big task
I hope to see dilligence, and the desire to be best
Today,
Scatter
These servants will carefully obey the Lady's instructions
These servants will withdraw
Good work, sisters
Seeing everyone's already here
In a moment, we might as well
Go to my QianXiang palace together
Yesterday, his Majesty brought me yet another gift
Western region's newly arrived tribute
Purple jade Wine
Although
This sister shouldn't drink
But it's truly been a while
Since I went to sister's palace
I'll come with sister
Sister, today you're really not well
You've barely been able to sit straight
Sister, set a date
To visit your sister later
If so, this house will not force you
Sister Defei, you too
The time for chanting sutras is surely upon us
Sister knows me
I really should return to Buddha
Then so be it
Mylady
Sister
What happened?
Sister Xianfei
Bring the physician, quickly
Right. Bring the physician, quickly
Right, Right
Sister
Mylady
How are you doing?
How painful
Mylady
How did you manage to trip on something so level?
Sister
Shufei, why would you push me?
Shufei, you-
You have a lot of nerve
Reporting to Lady Guifei
The case might not be closed
As a case with the Lady of my house
The two ladies, though face-to-back
But they were far apart
They wouldn't have touched
Defei, you say?
You were behind her
What did you see?
I...
Dui Lan Xuan - Pharmacist
The maid was supporting the Lady just now
The Lady was watching her steps
And couldn't have seen
How the Lady Xianfei slipped
That's right, sister
I didn't see anything
Sister
I really didn't push her
Mylady, wake up
My Lady passed out
Quickly, bring someone
Mylady, wake up
You two, still standing there
What are you waiting for
Go, quickly
Lady Guifei
Just now, Ruyi saw
It was Lady Xianfei who didn't take care
And slipped on the stairs
Lady Shufei certainly didn't push her
Chun Ying - Palace Maid
Hurry up
Go, we want to release the ligths
DuanWen, be careful
Let's sit here
Carefully
I'll say
This first night in the palace, we must send off Lotus lights
Add a wish
And it will definitely come true
I don't know if this legend
will really do that
Tell me, this Lotus light
Will it float to his Majesty?
Wishes, come true, wishes, come true
Release it
Slow down a little
Careful
Slow, now
How beautiful
RuYi
Today, you.. Maybe..
You were too conspicuous
Sister is saying...
This morning, on the Phoenix terrace
Me telling the truth might lead me nowhere
Before entering the palace
My mother once warned me
In this Palace
Everything is better done discreetly
Best when quiet
So as to avoid unnecessary jealousy
What a conincidence
Before I entered the Palace, my mom
Also warned me like that
Then you just don't listen
But, I would rather
Follow what my father said
He said "Ask only a comfortable life,
But keep a clear conscience"
Returning to His Majesty
Lady Xianfei
Has had numerous abortions
It's caused severe inner damage
This pregnancy was really difficult
I am concerned the hit this time..
What are you concerned about? Speak up
Concerned it will..
That Lady Xianfei will never carry another child
Understood. Withdraw
Thank you, your Majesty
Your Majesty, this is your servants error
Today, we didn't
Watch sister Xianfei's health properly
Handing villains opportunities to hurt her
Your Majesty, please punish me
Beloved, We know
In this, you made no mistakes
Arise
Thank you, Your Majesty
Your Majesty
No need to explain
We know this has nothing to do with you
Arise
Your Majesty
Before fainting, sister Xianfei
Personally testified
It was Shufei who pushed her
We heard
There is a new, young Cairen in the Palace
she saw Xianfei
Herself wasn't careful
And lost her footing and fell
That a newly entered
Young Cairen said it
Makes it sufficient proof?
It's because she's newly entered
Before the people of this palace
Even know her
So, what she said
As she's still objective, We believe her
Majesty
Beloved
We know you care about Xianfei
and concern makes eager
And it's easy to lose
One's proper judgement
Shufei, you still don't know, right?
She doesn't care about fame or the world at large
How could she possibly
Lay an evil hand on Xianfei?
Xianfei also
Had a few miscarriages, it would be hard not to be nervous
Pointing at Shufei
Was caused by a moment of panic
This is not sufficient proof
His Majesty is wise
Xiao Cairen comes with light
Xiao Cairen came
Really? Let's go
Yes, Let's go see
Xiao Cairen, Xiao Cairen
Xiao Cairen
These little tricks
No more than
A way to seduce His Majesty
Thinking that a few lanterns
Will attract His Majesty's attention
Unbelieveably ridiculous
With Cairen with these qualifications
Why associate with you?
It can't be
Xiao Cairen developed talent and beauty
And has the Lady Guifei to rely on
Naturally she'll soon achieve
His Majesty's favor
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Right, Xiao Cairen
In the future, once you rise to the top
Don't forget to help these supporting sisters
Yeah, yeah
Xiao Cairen
Let's go over there to release it
Let's go
Let's go, go, go
Xiao Cairen, I'll help you
Rather I do it, right
Go, this way
Alright
Stop pursuing this
Losing a child, We are also sad
Of course
Xianfei would be the most sad
First of all
Don't tell her she won't be able to carry again
Be sure to take care of her
Nursing both body and mind
We still have to go to GanLu Palace
And deal with the government
If Xianfei wakes up
We will be back to see her
Yes
The Emperor moves to...
The Emperor moves to GanLu Palace
Sending off His Majesty
WangDe
Here
We called you to investigate that matter
How is it?
Reporting to Master
In JinYue Palace, everyone, high and low
Keep their lips shut
There's no progress so far
But one thing is for certain
Lady Xianfei's two previous miscarriages
Were no accidents
In recent years
Our heart is too soft
Otherwise,
She wouldn't have dared do this to Xianfei
Tomorrow, bestow the best tonic
to JinYue Palace
Yes, your Majesty
Also
The tributed luminescent pearl from Bohai
Give it to concubine Wei
Master
Now is not the time to be reckess
Moving could turn messy
Yes, Master
What's this all about?
These flower lights
Wang De - Eunuch
Are all from the newly entered
Imperial wives
We remembered
These lights carry the weight of their wishes
Not a light weight to carry
Yes
Not all will meet with good luck
It's a gamble
Then, this old slave will go fetch some
For you to look at
Ah, the wishes on these lanterns
Are much like last year's
Nothing but
Hoping to gain the Emperor's favour early on
One day spring turned into summer
Last night birds and flowers changed
Yin and Yang in shades of harmony
Dawn and dusk, heavy and light mist
This is master's poem
The words aren't too bad
Signed Cairen XuHui
This is a poem from Our youth
Master
This would have some meaning
What's written?
Nothing's written
No wish to fulfill
This "Wu RuYi"
Wasn't it her this morning, on the Phoenix terrace
Who witnessed on behalf of Concubine Yang?
Just the one
Shufei Yang, the slut
An evil woman from a past dynasty
Why does His Majesty wish to protect her so?
Mylady, calm down
Originally, everything
Was part of your plan
Who could have guessed that right in the middle of it
Some "Wu Ruyi" would jump out?
Wu RuYi
We seem to meet more and more of these women
Once in the Palace, they just can't wait to jump out
Afraid people won't know her
Way early to dig your own grave
But this business
Actually reminds me of the Palace
We, Wei family, with ChaoZhong's power
ChaoZhong = North-Korea & North-eastern China
Really grew a lot weaker
The Palace in the heart of His Majesty
Has already changed
Mylady, Mylady
Xianfei of Jinyue Palace has awakened
Awake's just awake
What's this fussing about?
ChunYing, help Us dress
For a visit to Jingyue Palace tonight
Reporting, Mylady, Xianfei is awake
I know, step down
Yes
Such sin
Amitabha
Mylady, please drink your medicine
Mylady
Mylady, please drink a little
Leave us, if you would
Yes
Why does sister refuse
Such good medicine?
You must nurture your health
To carry His Majesty's dragons
"Dragons" = great sons, a.o.t
This time it went as you wished
In my life
I never gave birth
Although you have no children
But do not forget
You still have a father
His death is still in the future
That's completely within your grasp
Father
This child would most likely
Be aborted sooner or later
We merely
Timed the child's death
Gaining value from it
All of this, you did voluntarily
What's this grief?
I volunteered?
As if you didn't repeatedly
Threaten me with my father's career?
Why else would I make such a scene today?
Oh, sister, sister
Such barbaric words
A little ungrateful, don't you think?
Think about it. From when you entered the Palace
You've had such a quick rise
Quickly making the top four
And your father went from insignificant
To one of the six central Ministers of War
To being promoted to the top four
And is now and officer in the Bingbu
Bingbu = The Department of War (Ministers of the Military)
Whether in the inner court or the imperial court
We and Our uncle
Don't take helping you and your father lightly
So, for all these years
I swallowed the shame
Always controlled by you
I shielded you from so much
Aiding your evil
Doing the most terrible things
Is that still not enough?
If I were you
I'd be grateful
No need to take it to heart
How many children were never formed?
You still- You still say I
Should be grateful to you?
All of this
Was bestowed by you
Tomorrow, I will take everything
To His Majesty
I will tell him
Over these years, you
All of your crimes
If you say it like this
You will gain no pity
In this case
What meaning is there to living?
Better just look for an early one
Guo Cairen, Xue Jieyu
Oh, and Pei Zhaorong
I was the one who killed them
Yes, Yes, I killed them
Yes
Every time midnight comes
You don't hear it?
There are always those women
Crying bitterly
They say "Return my life"
"Return my life, return my life"
No, it wasn't because of me
I didn't mean to
It really wasn't me
There is something
I always forget to tell you
When you were pregnant before
I gave you abortion medicine
In fact, I've spent about five lines of it
What I don't have
No one else wants to have
So
I can allow you His Majesty's attentions
And a place among the supreme concubines
But I will never
Let you give birth to a single child
Cheng Qing Hall
This seems a good place
Ritual song and dance of King LanLing
dedicated to His Majesty
In this Cheng Qing Hall
Empress Wende's "King LanLing" mask
Is missing
This is the Empress's favorite thing
You must find the thief
Who would steal this treasure?
No matter who they are
Stealing this treasure is a state offense
Translation: DSS Iseria2you Timing from ai::bowo-subs
Thank you~ ^^