Let me tell you,
a gentleman is a man too
You're mistaken
You...
You really know how to hurt me,
how to humiliate me,
but let me tell you,
since you started it,
I won't let you pay it back this way
I want you to be in debt your whole life,
and feel bad about it
When you later marry me,
you'll then slowly pay me back
Young Master
Do you really believe there'll be such a day?
You refuse to go and see the emperor;
I won't force you.
If you want to stay behind as a bondservant, I'll wait for you,
wait for your to cast aside your grudges and your baggage
No matter how long, even if it takes a lifetime
I will wait right to the end
So, you're really just a paper tiger!
You...
Go on back
Right, I'll be away
Adjust your clothing!
Li Yu
Yes, Your Majesty
How long has that maid been cleaning out chamber pots now at that place?
In reply to your majesty: over half a month now
She didn't cry?
Didn't beg for mercy?
I think she'll only shed tears when she sees the coffin
And even then, she'll want to go and lie in it first
I understand what Your Majesty's saying
I will send orders for her workload to be increased
Until she sheds tears!
Yes
So, that's Wei Yingluo
Yingluo! Quickly come and pay your respects!
What are you putting in these toilet buckets?
In reply to your question, Steward Zhang,
I use coal ash for ordinary ones
and fine sand for the concubines I can't think of anything better
How much better can it get?
Incense wood sawdust is the best
No smells at all for sure
The water in this bucket is so clear one can see one's own reflection!
Excellent work, Wei Yingluo!
I finally understand why the Empress thinks so highly of you!
Steward Zhang is too kind in his praises
I'm just doing my duty
Hear that?
Follow her example
Yes
Letting someone like her work here is beneath her
Find her work that's less onerous
Wei Yingluo!
You even scrub out toilet buckets differently from other people
That's being perversely pretentious
Get on with the scrubbing! Then go and fetch water!
You don't know what's good for you
You were born with good looks
yet you're so stupid
You're lucky that Steward Zhang has taken a liking to you
If you were to go with him, you won't need to do this kind of degrading work
I'm a man
not a rabbit
Just wait! You will suffer!
Oh, so you can speak after all
You're sure that
she takes food to the chap every day?
He's normally very guarded
A ferocious fighter too
Yet he never touches the food here
We've found an opening now
Go on, eat
You haven't eaten all day
Turns out you're drinking cold water here behind our backs
I've kept this bun for you
Go on, have it
You think I want to have anything to do with you?
If you get ill, I will have to cart the toilet buckets out of the palace
Go on, eat it
Little Chunwang
See where you're going to hide now
What are you doing, still lying there?
Get up. Quick, leave
Quick, quick leave
Hurry up, leave!
Keeping him around
if he were to let people know about this
neither of us will live
All right
I'll help you one more time then
Tomorrow morning
the night soil cart will leave the palace
It's dirty stuff
the guards will treat it as normal
Without his pass, he'll be treated as AWOL
If he comes back, he'll be dead meat
[Sigh]
What are you looking at me for?
Look at me
Even if I'm no raving beauty
at least I am
of regular features, right?
Why doesn't this Steward Zhang take a fancy to me
but to you instead?
What a pity!
Such a great pity!
He doesn't recognise a gem when he sees one
[Giggles] That's the right attitude!
He's a right thug
Don't go punishing yourself for his mistakes
Without him around
you can go and have your meals in peace
You no longer have to eat the leftovers thrown into the gutters behind people's back
or eat cold water
How do you know that?
I...
I'm clever!
What happened just now gave me a real fright!
My hands are still shaking!
But the man in the night soil cart is a big bother
Just be extra careful tomorrow
You go on back
I know what to do
All right
[Groans]
What are you doing?
Oh, she speaks!
Hey, you haven't spoken to me all day
I thought you'd gone dumb too
Wei Yingluo
When you first came to Eternity Alley,
to find out more about me
you chatted to me in part sincerity
Now that you're rumbled,
you've now gone quiet
Yuan Chunwang
It was you who knocked out Steward Zhang
How can you pretend otherwise?
Are you not afraid I will... Don't talk rubbish!
It was you who knocked him out!
Have you forgotten?
On that night
you were really determined
If you grass on yourself, you'll be grassing on me
If you grass on me, you'll be grassing on yourself
We're two locusts on the same string!
You won't be that stupid. You...
Whoa!
What are you doing?
You're just taking it out on me
Wei Yingluo
It's always been you threatening other people, not the other way round, I think
Are you really cross about that?
Do you want to cut me up into pieces?
Come on then, come on, come on!
That's right
This is the first time I've come across anyone who's a bigger rascal than I
Sure enough
the palace is full of hidden talents
with each one better than the other
That's the right attitude
Let me tell you, Wei Yingluo
There are indeed lots of hidden talent in the palace
one better than the other
This behaviour of yours towards women is improper
Do you know that?
What am I afraid of?
There's nothing improper between us
Besides,
I'm not some aristocratic young master
I've not had any classical education
I don't know what "improper" means
Get up. No, I won't
Get up!
[Grunts]
So many female bondservants fancy you
I don't want to be the target of their hatred
Don't worry, this is Eternity Alley
What does that mean?
It means
the most lowly female bondservant will still look down on an eunuch in Eternity Alley
What they call "fancy"
is just going for the superficial
The Jinxiu you're talking about
She's never come here
This kind of fancying, I'm not worthy
Is it because of this
that you dislike them?
I don't like women
Then, you like...
...men?
What are you laughing about? I don't like men, I don't like men
You don't like men, nor do you like women
I like myself, will that do?
Wei Yingluo, let me talk about something serious
Fucha Fuheng will forever stand in the sunlight
but you, Wei Yingluo, will stand in the shady corner
It will never be possible for the two of you
Really
What now?!?
Yuan Chunwang
Did you peek on that day?
No
No, no, no, I really didn't
I just... You...!
I just saw a little bit. What did you see?!
Pink. Shhh! No, I didn't see anything, nothing
I didn't see any colour at all
I didn't, I didn't see anything
Yuan Chunwang!
I really didn't see anything, I didn't!
You rascal!
I just saw a camisole. Shhh!
A pink one. Shut your mouth!
A pink one. Don't run away!
Have you heard? Steward Zhang has really vanished
Chief Steward Wu is furious, says he's inept
and wants to bring him back to be severely punished
Such a beast, best that he vanishes for good
What are you talking about?
Hurry up and get down to work
The Empress is coming. Quick, kneel down
Kneel down
Quick, get back to work
What are you looking at?
You are now a lowly bond slave
You think Her Majesty will still remember you?
Don't think about leaving here
Quick get back to work
Work!
You!
Why are you dilly-dallying over the weeding?
Work!
Forgive me, Madam! Don't drag your feet! I'll get on with it, Madam.
hurry up
Your ambitions are higher than the sky, your fate is thinner than paper
You were just born to be a slave
If you don't work, you won't get enough to eat
Quick get down to work
Stop waving about
I can see you
Wei Yingluo has been sent to be a bondservant
Are you not worried at all?
Concubine Yu's sudden and violent death
has caused a stir
Being banished to be a bondservant
is actually a form of protection for her
Even so
Yingluo is not suffering ordinary hardship
A fragile young lady being sent to do that kind of hard labour
Will she really not harbour resentment?
Still scrubbing
Yuan Chunwang
Call me Brother Yuan
No manners
So creepy. I refuse
Now that your true colours have been exposed you're getting more out of order
Give me your hand
What do you want to do?
This is for your good
This is Creeping Thistle
specially for reducing inflammation and pain
Come
Painful?
People like us are dirt cheap in the eyes of those lofty people
We are of use to them only as guard dogs
When we stop being of use, even if we lie dying in the street
no one will give us a second glance
Therefore
you have to treasure your own life yourself
You hear?
Come on, you hang on to this
See? Brother Yuan is so good to you
That Fucha Fuheng of yours
will he love you as much as I do?
Let me tell you: It's no good even if he does
He only likes you because you're young and pretty
novel and fun
After a few years, when the novelty of you wears off
will he love you as before?
I don't think so
I know, you are clever and resourceful
What's the use of that though?
Don't forget
It's precisely because of you that Fuheng has lost the Emperor's trust
You don't think he will hate you?
I just like him
None of your business
Get Fuheng to do the scrubbing then
I didn't ask you to do it for me
Take this back
You thing, you, Wei Yingluo
I'm doing this for your good, do you know that?
You're just jealous of me
that I have someone to love me,
that I have a future,
that I have hope
What are you looking at me for?
One look at your eyes and I know everything
Wei Yingluo, Wei Yingluo
Have you noticed
the two of us
are actually exactly alike
One look at your eyes and I know you're up to something
I say the first half, and you know the next bit
We're reflections of each other
Wei Yingluo
Don't love Fuheng, all right?
Love me
How about loving me?
Two snakes, both cold-blooded
How can we give warmth to each other?
Can't give each other warmth
then let's take care of each other
Yingluo
Let's make a pact, how's that?
At least we can make a pact
A pact?
How?
What are you doing?
Wei Yingluo, come up here
Are you coming up?
Wei Yingluo killed Steward Zhang!
You're crazy, Yuan Chunwang!
Shhh!
Look, Yingluo
The Milky Way up there
Actually, even the lofty people
even the descendants,
are all tiny little stars in the glittery Milky Way
So, no one can get much higher than others
Yingluo, just you wait and see
There will come a day
I want to let everyone know
I, Yuan Chunwang,
a wild man of lowly status
how far I'll be able to go in this palace
how high I'll fly
Yingluo, how about this?
From now on, I'll be your older brother
I'll be your bosom friend
Let me protect you
We'll give warmth and support to each other
We'll survive together in this huge palace
All right
Let me be your lover, all right?
In your dreams!
Are you all right?
Yuan Chunwang
I've already said it
I can anticipate your every movement
Quick, call me Brother
Quick, pick up these things
and go back quick
Check carefully
Lady Concubine wants to make rouge
Just choose the petals with the purest colours
Reject the mixed colour ones
Look, Your Lady, the colour on this one is really nice
Don't be so rough, you'll damage the stem
All right, yes
Respectful greetings to Your Lady
You have a truly kind heart
You treasure even a flower
I've recently been personally leading the maids
making rouge,
coming here every morning to pick fresh flowers
And you are here to...?
In reply to Your Lady
I'm here to harvest dew drops for brewing tea
Brew tea?
I don't think so
Since the Empress got pregnant,
you've been coming here early every morning to pick dew drops to deliver to her palace
You're trying too hard, aren't you?
What I don't understand is:
Why do you have to emulate Concubine Chun of all people?
Sticking close to the Empress's heels every day like a lapdog
What are you hoping for?
Please watch your language, Your Lady
I'm at least still a concubine in rank
If I'm a lapdog, what does that make the Emperor?
Zhilan
I haven't mis-heard, have I?
What did Concubine Xian just say?
Did you hear her clearly?
Your Lady, Concubine Xian said:
Please watch your language
The sun has risen from the west
How has Concubine Xian, normally careful and restrained in her words and actions,
become so glib and forceful?
Who's given you the nerve to question me?
Your Lady's beauty is peerless
and you have the Gao clan to back you
You naturally treat us with disdain and behave as you please
But don't forget
Flowers won't flourish forever, nor a person
Once the Empress gives birth to a son and he becomes the crown prince
By then
The Empress loves sour plum soup
I have to go and pick some, so I can't keep you company anymore
I'll take my leave then
You...!
Your Lady, Concubine Xian is simply too bold,
actually daring to answer back in public
Of course, I don't think a piffling Concubine Xian is worthy of notice
She dares to be so full of herself
because she has the Empress on her side
Whatever one says
the Empress is now going to produce a child
the Emperor has long waited for an heir
If this son comes safely into this world
then it'll be as Concubine Xian says
Your Lady's position will be at risk
Then, it depends on whether the child will be born or not
Your Lady
You have a new plan?
I can't keep on waiting like this
or I'll really be like the mud in this garden:
get trodden on by everyone
Zhilan
Quick go and summon Lady Shu to my palace
Say I have something important to discuss
You know full well that she comes everyday to pick fresh flowers
Why don't you go somewhere else?
Naturally, to let her see
I don't understand
You're always very restrained
Why did you deliberately go for the head-on this time?
You will understand one day
Let's go
Let's deliver the dew drops to the Empress
I ordered Zhong Yongtan to go with Inspector Zhou Xuejian to help with the disaster
Before action was taken
everyone knew about it
How did this secret document leak out?
Your Majesty, according to my investigations,
it's precisely because Zhong Yongtan and E Ertai's eldest son, E Rong'an
are close friends
The information was leaked out by Zhong Yongtan
The nerve of Zhong Yongtan
leaking out the contents of a secret document
In your opinion
how do we deal with it?
In reply to Your Majesty
Zhong Yongtan is an important crony of E Ertai's
If it's not dealt with carefully
it can easily lead to an uprising
Please mull over it
Pass on my orders
Zhong Yongtan has leaked out a secret document
Instant dismissal for him
Send him down to the Disciplinary Zone
Order Prince Zhuang, Prince Lü, Prince He,
Baron Ping, Grand Scholars Zhang Tingyu
and Xu Ben, Imperial Scribes Naqin and Laibo to severely deal with this
Not just Zhong Yongtan
E Rong'an is also to go to prison
Your Majesty
You want to touch E Ertai?
If one isn't resolute when one should be
there'll be consequences
They keep challenging my bottom line time and again
I want to let them know
Be it E Ertai or Zhang Tingyu
I will not allow anyone to violate my authority
One other thing:
Yin Jishan, Governor-General of Jiangnan and Jiangxi, and
Bai Zhongshan, Waterways Inspector of Jiangnan
oppose Gao Bin's plan for controlling the Yellow River and Lake Hongze
with river defences and water conservancy
How do you see it?
Your Majesty, in my opinion
Dispersing the force of the flow downstream
and bewaring overflowing upstream
are the urgent tasks
Gao Bin's said before
Water conservancy on the rivers involve the seven prefectures of Su, Huai, Xu, Hai, Feng, Ying and Si
A total of 148 ditches and river channels
If we can really dredge them
it will benefit the nation and the people
Therefore
I have to reward Gao Bin handsomely
and allocate 1.9million taels of silver
specially for controlling the lakes and river ways
Very wise, Your Majesty
How?
This way, not only will the people benefit down the ages
Gao Bin will lean towards Your Majesty with all his heart
and go separate ways with E Ertai
With the E gang dissolved, the Zhang gang will be more vigilant
wouldn't that be a good thing?
Fuheng
If your eye for women
is as accurate as it is for administration
I will be happier
Your Majesty
I believe in my judgement all the way
Your Majesty, everything's ready for the little party at the Imperial Pavilion
I have some admin work to do
Go and tell the Empress
everything must be done properly
Yes
The day will come when
I will peel off Wei Yingluo's mask in person
Take your time
Your Highness
the Imperial Physician has asked you to have a good rest
The Empress Dowager has organised a party at the Pavilion today
You're pregnant, so it's not convenient
Why not ask to be excused
The Empress Dowager has always been lenient
so she won't mind
Mingyu
The Empress Dowager has been low in spirits
over the Concubine Yu incident
She's only just managed to perk up today
and arranged this Double Ninth Festival
If Her Highness doesn't go
won't that spoil the fun for everyone
The Empress Dowager may not say anything
Concubine Gao will be sure to find an excuse
Come the time
she'll be bound to say the Empress
is using the excuse of her pregnancy
to put on airs
But Her Highness is clearly unwell
Your Highness
Shall we get the Imperial Physician to go along?
Look how anxious you both are
I'm fine
Just a bit sluggish lately
Can't be bothered to move about, that's all
Quick help me get ready
Let's not be late
I'll go with you
I'll go too
If you both go
who's going to look after our palace?
Erqing, stay behind today; Mingyu will go with me
Yes
I look terrible lately
Help me apply more rouge
Don't let the Empress Dowager notice anything
or she'll worry
Stop crying; careful don't let anyone hear you
Wipe your tears
Come, wipe your tears. Stop crying
Don't cry, don't cry
Shh, don't cry. Shh, stop crying
Stop crying
Mind you don't attract the guards. You'll both be in trouble
Don't frighten him
Don't cry. Yingluo, Yingluo! Don't cry, good boy
Why are you crying?
Young lady
To organise the celebrations for the Empress Dowager's birthday
the Lady Concubine has kept us here in the palace to perform the Thousand Purples and Reds show
And the boy...
How did this happen?
The Thousand Purples and Reds show
involves splashing liquid iron onto the wall
so that it looks like thousands of blossoms
Utterly exquisite
When Tianjin Overall Military Commander Gao Bin heard about it
he insisted on using the celebrations
to abduct us and keep us here
He also forced some peasants
to learn the art from my grandson
The show needs physical strength
Yingluo, Yingluo
He's just a child
How can he not get injured?
Don't cry, don't cry. Let's go. We can't do anything about this, all right?
Yingluo, let's leave. Let go of my hand!
I can walk by myself
You go, young lady
Let's go
If I don't pull you away, you'll be sure to meddle
I know you well
Let me tell you
Never mind the show
even those lady embroiderers in your Embroidery Section
if they were ordinary citizens, they'd be working happily
Once they enter the palace, they have to work day and night
Often, before they get to 30, they'll go blind, their hands will shake
they'll be wrecked
This is what the palace is like
This is what aristocracy is like
If you don't climb to the top and become one of them
your fate will be controlled by others
That's why
while you're still unable to protect yourself, don't say anything
and turn a blind eye
All right, all right
It's getting dark; let's go quickly
It's not convenient for you to climb up to this pavilion
I told you to stay at home and rest. There's no need for you to come
It's rare for you to be in a party mood
I should be here
Besides, I'm in good health
It's only because I'm pregnant
that the Emperor has ordered me to stay indoors
I can't take it anymore
It happens to be the Double Ninth Festival party today
so I've come out for some air
I'll take it as a blessing from you
Oh you
you should still take care of yourself
don't try and do too much
There're so many chores around the palace
I really don't feel up to it
I hope you will spare me
and let me drop the heavy load
so that I can look after my unborn baby
Then, who do you want to manage the palace?
I feel that
Concubine Chun is respected for her competence and meticulousness
and Concubine Xian for her integrity of character
If they both work together, the palace will be in shipshape order
The Emperor will be free of worries
I'm all for the Empress's choices
Starting from today,
the two of you will help manage the palace
Don't let the Empress down
We will do our best
to share the Empress's worries and workload
You may rise
Yes
It's a family feast today, don't stand on ceremony
Take your seats
Yes
This chrysanthemum wine
is cool and refreshing, good for the liver and eyes
The Emperor has specifically told the imperial kitchen this year
to make it with last year's black chrysanthemum petals
Empress Dowager, taste it, see what's different about the wine this year with previous years'
Seems to have got a bit bitter
Empress Dowager
This wine has Chinese angelica, foxglove, goji berries added to it
which will be good for longevity
Concubine Chun is indeed au fait with the principles of medicine
You only need one quick sniff; nothing gets past you
Alcohol can rid all illness; chrysanthemum is anti-ageing
Why isn't the Empress drinking any?
Your Lady, the Empress is pregnant,
chrysanthemum wine is a bit cold, so it isn't suitable
I have already prepared some warm milk tea for Her Highness
I see. I have been remiss
Please forgive me, Your Highness
It's in consideration of your condition
that we've told the imperial kitchen
to set up a hot pot, cancel the crab dish, and serve venison
You don't have to drink the wine
Have some hot soup and warm yourself up
Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern
Is everything ready?
Rest assured, Your Lady
Everything is as it should be
Your Highness
Deer blood may be highly nourishing
but it activates the blood circulation
Your Highness shouldn't be eating it in your condition
Quickly remove it
No sense. Take it away!
Yes, yes, I'll do it rightaway
My fault, my fault
Please forgive me, Your Highness
You useless thing. Quickly tidy it up
Yes, yes
Oh, it reeks