Subtitles by DramaFever
[The King's Woman]
[Episode 11]
You wouldn't take me as your disciple before.
Yet here you are mocking at me.
Some warrior you are.
Young Warrior Jing.
Your mentor's skills were just as good as mine.
If you want to train under a mentor, why forgo what is within reach?
But my mentor is--
Do you think your mentor avoided getting into conflicts
because he was so gentle and mild, so you doubted his skills?
Then you really didn't know your mentor.
Do you know what your mentor's nickname was in the fighting world?
My mentor never mentioned it.
He didn't like to bring up his past.
Back then, in the fighting world, he was nicknamed Bloody Shadow.
Whenever he got his hands on anyone, blood would be spilled.
What's even scarier is that no one could see how he did it.
Only a bloody smudge was left behind.
Back then, when fighters heard the words
"Blood spills like flowers, swift without a shadow"
not one could help trembling in fear.
Twenty years ago, Wey State's notorious 13 Swords of Zhong Sect
was killed by your mentor in just one night for abducting women.
There was also Yan State's Blade of Mount Copper Sect.
A house of 62 fighters was completely annihilated
by his Swan Swordsmanship in one fatal blow.
This is...
What is it?
You find it hard to believe?
Is this all true?
I never lie.
But...
But my mentor, he--
He never mentioned it.
When your mentor reached middle age
he found Swan Swordsmanship too malicious, so he stopped using it.
He also never brought up his past.
He focused on cultivating himself.
He hoped to find a fighting style that combines man and sword as one.
It's just a pity...
Now that Qin State is so cruel and dominant
we need Swan Swordsmanship again.
Stop hesitating.
Heed my advice.
Whether you can or can't get to your junior
what you really need to do now is calm down and find that sword manual.
Only then would you not be letting your mentor down.
It's also better than acting like the living dead, like you do now.
The baby will be out soon.
Push harder!
Don't be scared!
Push hard!
Use your strength!
Don't be scared!
Push harder! Push!
Push hard!
Don't be scared!
Push!
Use your strength!
The baby will be out soon!
Use your strength!
Your Grace...
Would you like to go rest first?
You've stayed here all night.
Push! Push harder!
I'll report to you right away when Lady Li delivers the baby.
I'm fine.
I will just wait out here.
The baby will be out soon!
Good! Good!
I've already waited all these years for her.
Good!
A few more hours don't matter.
Your Grace, the baby is born!
Congratulations, Your Grace!
Her Ladyship has given birth to a prince!
He's very healthy.
Both mother and child are safe.
Your Grace, would you like me to bring the prince to you?
It's fine.
Yes, I'll take the prince away first.
Your Ladyship, you worked hard.
- Your Grace. - Your Grace.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to have the child.
Everyone says that all women cry the first time they become mothers.
I finally understand it now.
Your Grace, Your Ladyship, he's such a beautiful boy.
Congratulations!
Have you already named him?
What is his name?
The last of the snow melts away.
The clouds disperse to reveal a bright sky.
Let's call him, Tian Ming. (Meaning "Bright Sky.")
Tian Ming?
Tian Ming...
What a lovely name.
He takes after Your Ladyship's delicate features
and Your Grace's dashing looks.
Qing...
Bring Tian Ming to me and let me have a look.
Yes, Your Ladyship.
Don't bother.
You are dismissed.
Yes, Your Grace.
You must be exhausted from giving birth.
Leave the child to the wet nurse.
Are you...
Are you going to send Tian Ming away?
When he's strong and healthy...
I will let you see him every day, Li.
Get some rest.
Tian Ming...
I can't live without you.
You must be healthy.
If anything happens to you... I won't survive either.
- Li Zhong! - Present.
The imperial physician and midwife
are all to be silenced to avoid further trouble!
Convey my orders to Yao Jia to do so!
Is Your Grace doing this for Lady Li, to prevent any rumors
about the prince's parentage?
Do I have to give explanations for the orders I give you?
I have spoken out of turn!
Please forgive me, Your Grace!
I will get it done right away!
Madam...
Consort Li has given birth to a son!
Won't she just get cockier in the harem?
However cocky she might get
her lowly parentage as a commoner is no match for Madam!
If a crown prince is to be appointed, it should be First Prince, Fu Su.
They won't have a chance.
In history, many crown princes were appointed
because their mothers were favored!
If that witch charms His Grace with her tricks again
he might not even care about what the officials have to say!
When I think of that woman's cocky face, I simply can't let this go!
Madam, calm down.
It's wonderful that Lady Li has given birth safely.
But someone must be livid right now...
Madam, are you referring to Madam Chu?
As the princess of Chu State, and with the backing of Grand Empress Dowager
she has always coveted the post of queen.
But who would have known
that the king's favorite, Consort Li
would give birth to a prince before her?
How could she possibly put up with this?
Madam Chu can't blame Lady Li either.
It was her who couldn't conceive soon enough.
If only she could think like you do
she wouldn't stir up so much trouble in the harem.
Let's just wait and see.
She'll be heading over to Huayang Palace to complain about it pretty soon.
But it's a joyous occasion that Lady Li gave birth to a prince.
Even if it's in front of the Grand Empress Dowager Hua Yang
how can she pick on Lady Li?
Moreover, Lady Li is still in postpartum confinement.
They couldn't possibly be so mean?
Xiao Li, you're too pure-minded.
Although I wasn't raised in a palace
my mother used to interact with the concubines when I was in Handan.
I've heard so much about what goes on in a harem.
Madam, you mean...
You mustn't underestimate the ploys in the harem.
Once you get in their way
they will always find the means to make your life a living hell.
This won't do.
I simply can't put up with this.
If this goes on, I'll lose my appetite and won't be able to sleep!
Madam! Where are you going?
Get my carriage ready! I'm visiting Grand Empress Dowager.
Huayang Palace?
It's almost sunset.
If I say we're going, then we're going!
Yes, Madam!
Anyone there? Prepare the carriage!
Who are you?
There's an assassin!
Li, it's me.
Senior Han?
Quickly! There's an assassin!
Senior Han, hide! Quickly!
Your Ladyship, what's wrong?
What happened?
Your Ladyship, where is the assassin?
There isn't an assassin.
A cat suddenly appeared and gave me a huge fright.
A cat?
How could there be a cat in the palace?
The cat suddenly pranced on to Tian Ming
and it was dark so I didn't see clearly.
I must be too tired these days.
I'm so sorry for alarming everyone.
Your Ladyship, you're not frightened?
I'm all right, Qing.
Tian Ming is crying. You're all dismissed.
Yes.
I'll be standing by outside.
Should you need anything, call for me.
Good boy, don't cry.
Senior Han, you can come out now.
This is the Qin King's bastard?
Senior Han!
He's the child I had with Senior Jing.
What?
This is Junior Jing's child?
Junior Li.
I have something to tell you.
Since we were children, you, me, and
Junior Jing trained in martial arts together.
Although we'll all eventually die
I have no regrets since I spent my years training with you
and Junior Jing, and since we have grown to know each other so well.
I'm afraid that I won't get to tell you something after tomorrow.
Junior Li...
I actually--
Senior Han.
Why are you suddenly so pessimistic?
Although Qin State's army is pressing on our border
and Puyang City is in great danger...
we're not some defenseless commoners.
In such times of chaos
we should look after ourselves and offer assistance to others.
Besides, didn't you say that you'd teach me how to fish?
If you say farewell to me, I'll be very upset.
I shouldn't be so low-spirited.
It was wrong of me.
You're my eldest senior.
What is there to apologize for?
Senior Han.
Does Junior Jing know you've married into the palace?
He...
It's a long story.
Speaking of which, what are you doing here?
I was severely wounded at the battle of Puyang.
I couldn't look for you after leaving the city.
It was only a few months later that I recovered.
I recalled that Mentor had mentioned Warrior Lu Gou Jian.
But when I got to Wei State
I saw the fugitive poster that you were wanted by Qin State.
I looked everywhere.
But I couldn't find your whereabouts.
Then I ran into Uncle Lu a few months later.
He told me that you had left.
Yet the posters were all suddenly taken down.
I worried that you might have been captured and taken to into Xianyang.
I could only find out if you were safe if I infiltrated Qin State's palace.
I wanted to sneak in here to rescue you
but the palace is heavily guarded.
Even if I managed to enter the palace
I might not have been able to get you out.
After much consideration
I ended up registering as a palace guard.
But new palace guards can only patrol the Outer Palace.
It was only recently
that I got the chance to patrol the Inner Palace.
When I was in the Outer Palace, I already learned that
you're the new Virtuous Lady Li that Ying Zheng married.
Senior Han, you have gone to such great lengths for me.
Compared to what you suffered, this is nothing.
The king has arrived!
Senior Han, hide! Quickly!
Greetings, Your Grace.
I heard that an assassin barged into your quarters
so I came to take a look.
I already told the guards and maids.
It was just a cat.
It was just a cat?
Then why do you seem so sad?
I miss home.
This is your home.
It's getting late.
You should get some rest soon.
237 BC, King Daoxiang of Zhao, Zhao Yan, visited the imperial court of Qin State.
King Zheng of Qin held a banquet to welcome him.
Greetings, Your Grace!
Qin State in now the most powerful of all states.
It's the honor of Zhao State to be able to visit Your Grace!
I have specially brought lacquerware from Yan Prefecture
and beautiful silk from Qing Prefecture in hopes that Your Grace would like them.
Zhao has great wealth and a strong army.
Moreover, Han State and Wei State are also your allies.
It's a powerful state in its own right.
King of Zhao is too modest.
Your Grace, you are too kind.
Today, after sunset, I'll be hosting a banquet in the palace.
Some game meat and fruits will be served.
I just worry if it'll be to your liking.
This is...
Your Grace treats me as an honored guest.
It terrifies me so.
I heard that you like fish and salt.
It's a pity that Great Qin isn't adjacent to the sea.
I can't present you with what you favor.
Is King of Qin hinting at me to attack Yan State?
Your Grace has just said what was on my mind.
Speaking of attacking Yan State
all my subjects advised me against doing so.
They wanted me to join the other four states in alliance against Qin State.
However, I find such talk ridiculous.
It would only be a waste of my soldiers and commanders.
How about this?
Since it's difficult to conquer Yan State
I have a way to assist Zhao State in doing so.
Well...
My trip to Xianyang is really worthwhile.
Thank you, Your Grace!
Your Ladyship, slow down.
You just gave birth some time ago.
You're still very frail.
In the past, I wouldn't have bothered to show up.
But for the sake of Tian Ming
I have to make this appearance.
The imperial physician instructed you to not overexert yourself.
But you're still attending the banquet in the Main Hall.
His Grace ordered us to attend to you carefully.
Slow down.
What would I do if anything happened to you?
Slow down.
We wish Grand Empress Dowager great longevity for years to come!
Go and pick up your rewards.
- Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager! - Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager!
Granddaughter-in-law, Consort Li, greets Grand Empress Dowager.
I have come late.
Please forgive me, Your Highness.
You just had your first child.
It's inadvisable for you to walk around.
I don't blame you.
Lady Li is frail after childbirth.
I shouldn't have asked you to attend a royal banquet.
However, every Madam and Beautiful Lady wanted to offer you their best wishes
so if I didn't invite you, it would have seemed petty.
The imperial physician advised me to not leave my quarters
to stabilize the condition of my pregnancy for months.
I was negligent in previously greeting Your Highness and the other concubines.
Please forgive me, Grand Empress Dowager.
Lady Li has overstated.
As long as the prince is healthy and well we can set our minds at ease.
By right, it is a great merit that Lady Li has given birth to a prince.
However, no matter how I calculate it
even if Lady Li conceived right after entering the palace
the prince seems to be born prematurely?
Since ancient times
it's normal for ladies of the harem to give birth prematurely.
Lady Li is still young and had just married into the palace of Qin State
she must have felt uneasy in many aspects.
It's not surprising that the prince was born prematurely, is it?
The prince's date of birth is entirely up to him.
It's not within my control.
However, Lady Li just married into the palace of Qin State.
The regulations of our palace are plenty and quite complicated.
Now that there's yet to be a queen
we have overlooked the training of your manners.
Hence, as the leader of the harem
I'll have to teach you some manners.
Anyone?
Bring me the literary canon!
Lady Li was born a commoner and trained as a warrior in the fighting world.
You're different from ladies of royal families and the nobility.
I can understand that.
But now that you have given birth to a royal prince of Great Qin
you are now a dignified royal mother.
In order to assist you in learning good manners and etiquette
so as to raise the prince properly...
Classics of Poetry, Classics of History, Classics of Rites, Classics of Music
and the Spring and Autumn Annals are what I'd like you to read in depth.
That isn't too demanding of me, is it?
This is the literary canon I have prepared.
They are old and damaged.
The scrolls will need to be transcribed.
I think it's a great opportunity for Lady Li to read and copy these classics.
Therefore, all these...
I'll have Lady Li transcribe them all.
It seems that a pen knife is missing?
Shang Yi!
Lady Li.
This pen knife is very easy to use.
Be careful not to hurt your hand while carving the words.
The king has arrived!
- Your Grace! - Your Grace!
Where's Lady Li?
Lady Li was invited by the Grand Empress Dowager to a royal banquet
at about five o'clock last night and has yet to return.
What did you say?
Zhao Gao!
- Present. - Send for Li Zhong!
I'm heading to Huayang Palace now.
Yes!
Your Ladyship, you're exhausted.
Why don't you take a break?
I'm all right, Qing.
I'll take a break after I'm done with this paragraph.
Your Ladyship, here.
Look, your fingers are all bruised.
Granddaughter-in-law greets Grand Empress Dowager.
Lady Li, you're quite quick-witted.
Here you are, slacking off on your task when Her Highness wasn't looking!
It isn't so.
Grand Empress Dowager, Her Ladyship refused to comply with your command.
This is against the palace regulations.
Slap her.
Yes.
You--
- Don't hold on to her! - Come at me! Don't hit Qing!
Stop it!
Your Ladyship!
Your Grace, do you not have to attend the imperial court today?
Rest assured, Grand Empress Dowager.
However I may dote on my concubine
I wouldn't neglect state affairs.
I wonder what fault you found with Lady Li
that required your special attention and reprimand?
Your Grace exaggerates.
All I did was have her transcribe literary canon
to review the ancient classics.
Can I take my concubine back with me now?
Do as you please.
Head back to the palace.
Your Ladyship, I'll help you get up.
Slowly.
Slowly...
Your Ladyship, are you all right?
- Li! - Your Ladyship!
Your Ladyship!
Grand Empress Dowager.
How are you going to handle this matter?
I'm just teaching that girl a lesson.
We still have a long way ahead of us.
Grand Empress Dowager really taught Lady Li quite a lesson.
Did you see it?
When Lady Li saw those heaps of scrolls, she almost threw a fit!
Exactly.
But I never thought that the composed and reserved
Grand Empress Dowager would make Lady Li transcribe those scrolls
as a way to bully her.
It's Lady Li's fault anyway.
Since she married into the palace
she stood out so much despite her lowly parentage.
As the leader of the harem
Grand Empress Dowager naturally had to teach her a lesson or two.
Sister Ruo, am I right?
Lady Li is indeed arrogant and knows no self-restraint.
If she isn't disciplined
palace regulations would be overlooked.
That's why I had to ask Grand Empress Dowager
to uphold discipline in the harem.
We can't exhaust her much this time since she just birthed the prince.
Therefore, we only had her work her hands to review those books.
Madam Min has arrived!
- Greetings, Madam Min. - Greetings, Madam Min.
What a rare guest.
What brings you to my palace?
I didn't invite you.
I've heard of some commotion, here in the harem.
It's quite annoying.
That's why I came out here for a stroll.
I've come to see if we have rats wandering about
causing such a commotion.
Min Dai.
Do you think I can't understand what you're trying to imply?
How rude of you.
We have not prepared neither tea nor a seat for you.
You better head back.
Sister Ruo, fret not.
I am just taking a walk.
I never intended to have tea at your place.
It's just that Palace Woman Han and Virtuous Lady Jing...
You're both truly pathetic.
Why did you marry into the harem?
If you can't even bear the king a child
then you can only keep Sister Ruo company and gossip all day in her quarters.
Min Dai...
Aren't you embarrassed to say that?
Have you been favored?
Indeed I am not.
But I don't care.
I no longer care for politics in my motherland.
That's why I was willing to marry into Xianyang.
Unlike you...
The princess of Great Chu
who is highly anticipated to be appointed queen
you have to plan ahead for your father and grandfather.
Now that Consort Li is greatly favored by the king
you must find her to be such a thorn in your side?
You...
All right then.
Sisters, enjoy your tea.
I'm going to visit Lady Li.
By the way, I heard that His Grace carried Lady Li out of Huayang Palace.
Can you still not tell who is really the concubine that His Grace favors?
This is so infuriating!
Madam, don't get angry.
Whoever dares to let Min Dai into my palace again...
I will have their heads chopped off!
Madam, don't get angry!
[Preview]
Virtuous Lady Li, born of Wey State's Gongsun family.
Is commended for her maternal virtue after giving birth to a prince.
She is now promoted to a first-rank Madam.
I've changed my mind.
I'm going to keep Tian Ming by my side.
Why would you do that?
Whether it pleases you or not...
You're my concubine.
I won't allow anyone to mistreat you.
Not even a finger on a strand of your hair.
Why don't I offer Crown Prince Jia some assistance?
Madam.
Since you're so considerate of Zhao State
I'm also willing to offer all the assistance I can.
Madam, what would you like me to do?
Do instruct me.
Madam, I have bad news!
Prince Tian Ming has gone missing!
The harem is so heavily guarded!
Yet you even lost the prince!
Useless servants!
If you won't come clean, I'll have you all killed!
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