Empress... save me! Empress... save me!
Get out!
Empress... save me!
What is going on?
Can this illness be cured?
Of course it can be cured.
However, all the medicine that I have...
It's only enough for you alone to live.
Yu Shu.
To save other people's lives, I can sacrifice my own.
But to save you,
I can only sacrifice their lives.
Let me be selfish once.
Everyday, seeing them die in front of me...
my heart hurts so much.
Their accusing eyes are tormenting me everyday.
Their cries made it impossible for me to escape.
But I... I really don't have any other way.
I understand your hurt.
I can also understand the struggle in your heart.
But you shouldn't take it up all upon yourself .
Please let me help you with this promise.
I'm the one who's living.
I'm the one who wants to
be together with you.
Don't worry.
I will definitely find Xiao Yue for you.
In Tu An,
we believe the god of death will take the dead person's soul
and rise to the heaven.
I believe they
won't be alone in heaven.
General.
How is Empress Li Fei?
Empress Li Fei is
getting worse.
Is there any news of the Doctor?
I haven't heard of any news about the Doctor.
I only know
no one lived in the Consort's quarter.
They all have died of the plague.
This small box really has meaning.
Teach me how to use it.
I want to record
the things I want to say to you.
Okay.
But you must promise me one thing.
The secret of this box,
you can't tell anyone.
I promise you.
Pinkie promise.
After hooking our pinkies,
the things you promised you must not go back on.
Mmh.
The promise cannot be changed in a hundred years.
Come.
What are you doing?
Taking a photo.
One. Two. Three.
- I'm still nervous. - What are you nervous about?
Why wouldn't I be nervous?
It's just that it is the first time in this life, that I'm eating alone with a princess.
Heh. I shall tuck in first.
Wait a second.
You can't eat yet.
Why?
Because all this time you have been taking care of me.
Today we'll change. I will take care of you.
Then I will first wash the face, or the hands?
Neither.
Then what?
I'll feed you dinner.
Okay.
Come.
Tastes good. Eat this.
Come.
Ah right.
After we've eaten,
(let's) go outside and walk around.
There's a saying
that says, walking 100 step after eating, enables (one) to live (until) 99 years old.
There's a saying like that?
Of course.
Also, normally I'm holding you to walk.
Today we will change. I want you to hold me to walk.
Okay. No problem.
Quickly.
Be careful.
You be careful.
This child in my stomach,
we don't know who's is it yet.
The royal physician is here.
What shall we do?
If they know my illness is cured,
then you would have to leave me.
How about this, in a minute
you pretend you're still sick and unconscious.
Ok.
I will make more time.
You go inside. Tidy up a little.
Eh, right.
When I come in,
I'll give you a signal.
Ok.
Sir, what brings you here?
The guards reported
the food and water placed outside the door was taken away every day.
- So his highness ordered me to pay a visit. - Then please follow me sir.
Niang Niang, I have to take a look at your face.
Please excuse the intrusiveness.
I say since Niang Niang is unconscious,
can she even hear what you said?
No matter she hears it or not,
the vassal and master custom must be performed.
Sir,
I didn't mean the informing. Niang Niang is unconscious, she can't answer you.
I say, you'd better forget about it.
Then I'll have to intrude.
Can young man be my witness?
Sure.
Physician.
This is...?
It seems your medical skills are rather high.
This plague,
the empress is already freed of it.
Really?
That is great.
Your medical skill are so great,
how come you didn't see it?
Oh? I understand.
Mister certainly was testing me.
I also want to congratulate you.
The money and title position rewarded by his highness
is already within the reach of your hand.
I'll go to inform his highness now
about your deeds.
Wait. Physician.
This is only a small matter. You don't need to alert his highness.
No hurry.
This is not a small thing.
How can I not report it as soon as possible?
Ok, I will leave first.
What will we do?
I don't want you to leave me.
I don't want to leave either.
If only my illness weren't cured,
then you wouldn't need to leave me.
But,
I came here,
it was to cure your illness. Didn't I?
Why God
didn't let me die to leave you and only letting me live to leave you?
They are here.
What will we do?
As long as we live,
we will have a chance to meet again.
I'll wait for you.
The words you have said,
have never let me down.
I will not disappoint you.
Never will.
Your lowly vassal pays his respect to Your Highness.
Your Majesty, he is that Physician.
I know.
Li Fei. Li Fei.
My beloved Li Fei, you've just recovered.
Your body is weak. Don't cry anymore.
Don't cry.
Haven't I come?
I thought of you day and night my beloved Li Fei.
Many thanks Your Highness.
You may go out.
Yes.
What have you written?
You've been here for half a day and you still haven't written not one word.
Stand up!
How did you study on a daily basis?
Put your hand out. Put it out!
I'll teach you.
I'll see if you continue playing, I'll teach you.
Your Highness.
What?
Empress Li Fei.
What?
The Empress still won't eat.
What is wrong with the royal kitchen?
All the dishes the past few days,
Li Fei hasn't eaten even one mouthful.
She just recovered.
I think
- You all want to starve her to death! - Your lowly servant should be punished...!
I'm not human!
I've heard Sir Hu's quarters
has a chef call Gao Yao.
The food he makes is rather different.
- Why don't we have him try. - Right, father.
The food he makes is very good. I've eaten
in the whole of Xian Yang and have not found
anyone half as good.
Ask him to try.
I say Gao Yao.
Serving Your Highness is different from serving the Prince.
It's no fooling around.
Especially this time.
It involves Consort Li.
If you do a good job, then you will be rewarded.
If you don't do well.
Then you will be rewarded with death.
Little Gao Yao understands.
This must be Consort Li's quarter.
Correct. This is it.
Hurry up and go.
I still need to get back to Highness.
Please finish your business first. I'll return to the royal kitchen by myself later.
You won't get lost will you? No, no.
Sir, you must not know,
when I first arrived to the palace, I worked at the Royal kitchen.
Eh, ok. Go by yourself.
Yes.
Older sister, please wait.
I am younger than you, why are you calling me older sister?
It's this,
sister has worked here longer.
Of course, you're higher than me.
To respect sister is a must.
How sweet.
What do you want?
I'm new here to serve under Consort Li.
I heard
Consort Li's health hasn't been too well lately.
So I'm afraid of offending Consort Li.
So, I'm here to research a little.
That, you don't need to worry about.
Consort Li's personality is extremely nice.
She will dream in front of the window every night, looking at the stars.
Dream?
A moment dreaming, a moment singing.
Then what song does she sing?
I've never heard of it, but it's weird.
It doesn't look like a song from Da Qin.
Eh... I remember two lines.
@™« Every night, my heart is pierced with pain.
@™« Will this longing ever stop.
Thank you.
Thank you. I know.
Eh... Right.
Don't tell this to anyone else.
Of course.
Thank you.
Looks like Consort Li, before she came into the palace
already has a person she loves.
She is lovesick.
This, I have a plan.
Finally, you are here!
Where did you go?
Why have you not prepared any food?
Sir, please do not be anxious.
I have prepared these seasonings.
The success of the preparation of imperial food
depends entirely on the seasoning.
Stop giving excuses!
Whether your life is spared or not,
will all depend on Niang Niang.
Okay.
Aren't you going to work?
Come.
Cut it in half. Rip this open.
Hurry.
Serve the food!
Everyone, listen clearly.
Everyone, follow me and serve the dishes to Highness.
Understand.
Servant Gao Yao bows to Your Highness.
- Stand up. - Thank you, Your highness.
The food I have tasted before has all been stewed together.
I have never seen it displayed in this manner before.
It seems like a picture.
Emperor, you have sharp eyes. This is not simply a dish, it is also a painting.
What it means is, pining for beloved under the moon.
What it means is... the loved one who is separated by a thousand miles.
Although, they are far apart,
they can still watch the moon together.
Emperor, this love pea and cucumber,
they can nourish the spirit
and help Consort to recalibrate her emotions.
This dish, is not bad.
It can also function like medicine.
Not bad.
What is important is, with this love pea, one's pining love can be entrusted to it.
When one eats this love pea,
can let the person you love receive your feelings.
Your Highness and Consort please try it.
Oh.
My beloved consort actually picks up her chopsticks.
I will also join her then!
I hope Xiao Chuan
feels my love.
My beloved consort and I are indeed kindred spirits.
Emperor and Consort,
are indeed a pair matched by Heaven.
Your servant congratulates Emperor and Consort.
Oh. Good.
Quickly serve the second dish.
Emperor, this dish is called, Bitterness ends, sweetness begins in plenty of time'.
Your Highness.
This bittergourd, after being boiled in water,
most of its bitterness has been removed.
Its center contains sweet peaches
and honey.
When one bites in it, one will first experience a faint bitter taste
then, you will experience sweetness. Subsequently, it would get even sweeter.
This would imply that Consort's illness,
when it was serious, it was bitter. But now that she has recovered,
it is time she experiences sweetness.
Emperor and Consort are a pair of immortals. You would have much time in future
to revel in Heaven's blessings.
Now, is to let Consort recover well.
So that the one who loves Consort very much... That is, the Emperor...can set his mind at rest.
Consort...
sometimes...
one has to experience bitterness, in order to have sweetness.
This lingering love still has plenty of time, Consort.
This servant
is indeed clever and understanding
and has spoken the words from my heart.
My beloved consort, please understand what I am going through
and take care of yourself.
What he says makes sense.
I should endure this hardship for the moment.
Pretend compliance to Emperor Qin, and persevere.
Perhaps it is possible to "Bitter first, Sweet later".
For Xiao Chuan, for the opportunity to be together,
I must take care of my health.
The Emperor dotes on me so much. I do not dare to disobey and disrespect you.
I will try my best to allow my body to recover.
That is right.
Quickly! Serve the third dish.
Yes.
Wait.
I finally understand what you meant.
No need to explain anymore.
Serve all the dishes.
Yes.
Serve all the dishes!
Yes.
Your cooking skills are indeed impressive.
Your ability to unknot one's heart is even more impressive.
Since you have such an understanding servant,
if you do not reward him,
I would feel an injustice.
Reward! Reward!
Since my beloved consort has said this,
I wouldn't be so petty then.
In the future,
you will be the main supervisor of the imperial kitchens.
All of Consort Li's food,
you will be responsible for it.
Not thanking (me)?
Your servant bows to thank Emperor's grace!
Bow in appreciation for Consort.
Be careful.
You're a crafty one.
Please.
See! Gong Gong is here!
We bow to Gong Gong!
Who is the main supervisor?
Your Excellency,
Your servant is here.
You...
You no longer need to always be on tenterhooks
and continue to be the main supervisor.
That...
Everyone...
Starting from now,
this Gao Yao...
he will be your new supervisor.
All matters pertaining to the imperial kitchens
will be managed by Brother Gao.
Understand?
Small ones understand! (Servants all refer to themselves as small meaning insignificant.)
You...!
Your Excellency, your servant understands.
We thank the Emperor for his grace.
Supervisor Gao, all matters here
are all in your hands.
In the future, I will depend
on you, Sir, to take care of me.
Not at all.
- So, I will now take my leave. - Then, I will send you out, Sir.
Please.
Mind your way, Gong Gong.
I really didn't think
this chap really had the ability
to get Consort to eat. Really amazing!
This is not the time to be talking about that! You remember how we used to bully him?
You all remember clearly!
Yes. Later, he will surely take revenge on us.
Revenge?
I served His Highness for 5 years.
For the sake of one meal, how could His Highness
get rid of me?
Supervisor Gao. Supervisor Gao.
Everyone here are old acquaintances.
Yes. Yes.
No need to feel uneasy.
Yes.
Supervisor.
Who told you to stand?
Come here.
Brother Gao.
May you be gracious to forgive your humble servant's transgressions.
Crawl up here.
Brother Gao.
I really didn't think
when I first came here.
I was only chopping wood and attending to the fire.
But I didn't expect that I would have become a eunuch supervisor.
Since I am a supervisor,
then I shouldn't have to chop wood and attend to the fire, right ?
No need!
It's your turn to chop wood and attend to the fire.
Yes.
Don't worry. I won't hit you or scold you.
I will let them
hit you and scold you.
Brother Gao, forgive me!
Don't kill me, Brother Gao!
Listen clearly. Starting from now,
the first time you see him everyday,
step on his foot and smack him once,
and then scold him once.
Everyone remember this.
If anyone
talks to him, sees him
and doesn't hit and scold him,
you will be the same as him.
Get hit.
- Yes. - And get scolded.
Understand?
- Understand? - Small one understands!
Then what are you waiting for?
Small one understands!
My apologies, ex-Supervisor!
Okay. Don't hit anymore.
Help him up.
Go, gather some firewood for the fire.
Yes.
You few, go and prepare dinner.
Yes.
You guys better work hard.
Otherwise, you might end up like him.
Yes.
I finally realized my dream.
To be the Number One Chef in the world!
The national chef of all national chefs.
Someone come...
Bring me the seasonings!
The first dish of the world's No. 1 chef
is Gao family's red roasted pork!
Yes!
This is for Auntie and Bo Fu to eat.
- Don't touch it! - I am just smelling it.
Come here.
Help.
You want me to slice this?
Cut the carrots into strips.
I'm asking you to cut strips, not pieces.
You're such an idiot. Let me do it myself. You're more of a trouble than help.
You want my help, and yet you're so fierce.
Not bad! Master.
Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't be a Gao. (The 1st character in Master in Chinese is written the same as her surname.)
High. It is very high.
Right,
I just thought about something.
Two days ago
while I was sleeping, someone had the pleasure of reading my great work, "Goodbye Tu An".
But he messed with my text and indiscriminately made amendments. Why is this person such a nuisance?
But I felt that the portion on the male protagonist
was written particularly well.
Actually. it didn't have much of a problem.
Just a few words written wrongly, that's all.
You simply have to correct those words and it's done.
Let me tell you, Yi Da Chuan, in this matter
you do not want me to pursue it further.
There is only one course for you to take.
- What course? - That is
you write the portion on the male protagonist. I'll write the portion on the female protagonist.
We will co-author.
But...
My name must be written first.
No problem.
You, old fella!
Why are you so stubborn?
I say that you are too stubborn!
You are unreasonable!
Whatever! Don't you keep using science to argue with me!
That approach is useless with me!
How come you're fighting again? Why are you arguing? This is about buying groceries.
Buying groceries, and still he wants to argue with me!
What's there to fight about buying vegetables?
This old fella wants to bicker with me! He refused to let me buy fish. Absolutely refused!
Salt-water fish is high in purine content, do you know that?
Your joints aren't very good!
What if you get gout? Don't just talk about me. What about you?
I wanted to buy the tubular-shaped Chinese yams.
But she insisted on buying the round-shaped Chinese yams.
Why did you insist on buying round-shaped yams?
The round-shaped ones are crispier.
The tubular-shaped ones are powdery, don't taste good.
I like the powdery type, ok?
I like powdery ones. Can you be reasonable?
Ok, ok. Uncle. Aunt.
Stop arguing.
I am getting a headache from all your arguing.
I... Let me tell you...
This entire morning, I am getting giddy from the arguing.
Those people in the vegetable market
stopped selling their vegetables
just to watch us quarrel. Like a circus act. After a whole lot of arguing, we (still) couldn't convince each other.
Then what did you do at last?
A good solution. Each has bought his (own) groceries.
She bought hers, I bought mine.
Buying so much, (how) can we eat it all?
Eh... Son. Lan Lan.
Mine, I'll cook.
You, eating my dinner.
No, no, no. Impossible! Today, you'll eat what i bought. We'll first eat what I prepared!
How can you be proof to reason?!
Stop arguing!
You two are not allowed to enter the kitchen today!
What we are eating today, I decide!
Da Chuan.
Come here give me a hand.
Don't move.
Enough.
Don't argue.
Look at you!
It's all your fault!
Gao Lan.
Are you angry?
Don't mind them. They are just like that.
Let me tell you, I'm not angry.
But if I didn't speak like that, they'd still be arguing until night.
We would both be dead of hunger.
However, I feel that your mom and dad really don't look like they've divorced.
Rather, they look like an old couple who have been quarreling all their lives.
This feeling is really good.
What's wrong?
Aiyo! Today I...
the things I bore were too heavy.
My periarthritis is acting up.
I told you. I said you had periarthritis.
Yet you still want to eat salt-water fish. You don't know science.
It's all your fault for bickering with me.
When you argue with me, I will continue to insist on buying salt-water fish.
- I know eating seawater fish is not good for me. - You're a cooked duck.
Keep insisting despite knowing you're wrong.
Look.
Looks like we don't need to put in any effort. They have already re-discovered their feelings.
I can feel it too.
Lately at work, I discovered
those two have already started talking again.
In the past, they were like enemies. Refused to even acknowledge each other's presence.
Why don't we use today's opportunity to let both of us help them settle this problem?
That will be great!
Gao Lan.
The dishes today are really good. I am telling you, don't run a car repair shop.
Open a restaurant.
Not bad. Really is not bad!
The one who will marry someone like Lan Lan,
this one will be blessed.
Bo Fu. Auntie.
Don't just keep praising me.
Da Chuan.
Do you have anything to say?
What my parents are saying is true. There is really nothing wrong to say about the dishes.
Why don't you simply take over the canteen at our research center?
You...
Then that would be too good, I could eat your cooking every day.
Then eat more.
Oh wait!
I still have a...
Red Roasted Pork that I still haven't brought out. Da Chuan, help me.
Go get it by yourself.
Hurry!
Taste's good!
What?
What are you doing?
Why are you just eating?
Why aren't you doing anything?
I am really hungry.
Moreover, the food this tasty.
I can't resist.
Since Gao Yao's disappearance,
the food in the cafeteria really doesn't taste good.
If you want to eat, next time come to our home.
I'll make a whole table full of food for you.
You can eat however you like!
Really?
Today, you just have to endure a little.
Let's focus on your parent's relationship first.
Oh.
Come. Dishes are coming!
Red roasted pork.
Gao Family Secret Recipe Red Roasted Meat!
Come and taste it.
I am telling you, aunt... uncle...
this is our Gao's family secret recipe.
You can't eat this anywhere else.
It's really fragrant.
Then I won't be polite.
Delicious. Really delicious.
It's really delicious.
What is Dae Jang Geum? Nonsense!
I reckon
our Gao Lan is the real master-chef!
It really smells good!
Da Chuan. Eat.
I ate till I am about to burst already.
I'm ok.
- I also want to lose weight. - Son. Lose what weight?
You're so skinny. Quickly!
I don't want to eat. You eat.
It's really delicious.
Dad, isn't eating as a family great?
Moreover, the food in restaurants isn't that good.
Why don't we regularly
cook our own meals at home?
Right?
That's right! I feel that we ought to eat together often.
Old Dad, What's wrong?