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Watching the person in the mirror's countenance grow pale and haggard,
Examining love together with regret, both new and old.
Keeping watch still by a lantern though it is daybreak, drenched with tears,
Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.
Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 1
[ Qianlong Year Six, Second Month, Second Day. ] (T/N need the context, era vs reign, late 1941/early 1942 CE)
Stop looking at everything!
- This is the Forbidden City. - So big!
In this world, this is the most honorable and respected place. [ Wei Yingluo ]
How can you be allowed to randomly view it!
Sister Uya, you look very pretty today! (T/N "sister" and "brother" are used generally as courteous address)
Sister Uya, your hairpin is really nice.
This hairpin is also very nice.
Everyone, look! Look over there!
Who are they? [ Jixiang ]
They are the ones who have passed through [ Linglong ]
to the final round of the selection in the palace hall, they are "xiunv". (T/N Noble concubine candidates)
They are wearing such beautiful clothing!
- If I could put on beautiful clothing like that, I would be very pretty! - How pretty!
Those..all are precious daughters of prestigious families, entering the emperor's palace as masters. [ Jinxiu ]
None of us come from that sort of family background.
Even if we were selected as talented individuals and trained, we would still have no choice but to be palace maids.
It's just wishful thinking.
Despicable, low-class maid!
This gambiered silk I'm wearing was especially purchased from Jiangnan,
precisely so as to prepare for today's selection at the palace hall! [ Uya Qingdai ] (T/N English convention for the tribe "Wuya")
You got it dirty, so what am I supposed to wear in His Majesty's attendance?
It's all your servant's fault.
Your servant will wipe it clean for you.
Go away.
Young Mistress, please spare my life! Young Mistress, please spare my life!
Tell me, should I spare her?
Sister Uya, she did not do it intentionally. [ Lu Wanwan (left); Nalan Chunxue ]
You should just forgive her.
I didn't ask you.
Young Mistress Uya, these servant girls all have just entered the palace as a palace maids. [ Gugu Fang ] (T/N Gugu is a senior maidservant, also "momo")
They are dumb like pigs.
You can beat them or scold them all you want.
But please don't allow your anger to harm your health here.
Since you got my clothes dirty,
then we'll have you repay with your hand.
Hurts.
No.
May Young Mistress Uya lift her precious foot.
A petty palace maid like you, you dare to delude yourself for my mercy?
Humble words from your lowly servant hold no qualification.
But today you will attend the selection and it's a grand honor of yours.
It's best not to let blood taint your auspicious mood and fortune.
You sure talk well.
But now my shoes are dirty too.
And I'm not happy.
You are ingenious, Young Mistress.
You have a lotus flower carved on your sole.
But something is still lacking, and I dare to offer my assistance.
How will you assist me?
Linglong, give me your scented sachet.
I --
Hurry and give it to me.
May Young Mistress lift her precious foot.
This palace maid looks beautiful.
So what if she's beautiful? She's still a baoyi by birth, born to be a servant. (T/N family of a middle-class man given higher responsibilities by the nobility)
Destined to hold up Sister Uya's shoe.
May Young Mistress try and take a couple of steps.
Sister Uya, you're stamping lotus flowers on the ground. So beautiful.
So special.
I have not read much,
but I listened when the book master told me this.
Noble Consort Pan of Southern Qi Dynasty would imprint golden lotus on the ground. Between her steps, lotus flowers would bloom.
So exquisite beyond words, and thus she won the emperor's favor.
Today, I have offered a simple trick to embed rose powder into your sole.
I offer my wish for Young Mistress to rise with each step and reach your goal.
Alright.
On your plight of looking like a pug, I will spare her life.
Jixiang, how are you so foolish?
You almost got us in huge peril.
And you are unashamed to say it?
If it weren't for you earlier, I wouldn't have made a mistake.
Look.
Alright. Palace maids are only retained after passing the sweeping and embroidery tests.
Blabbering skills alone won't work. You need real skills.
You all go.
Hurry.
Yingluo. That Uya Clan girl is so mean.
Why did you help her to win the selection?
I often heard that matters of the palace always come in pairs of blessing and misfortune.
Whether that is truly a blessing or a misfortune,
that is not yet set.
Your Highness, the hall selection is about to commence.
You should hurry and get ready.
Your Highness?
[ Ming Yu ]
Today is for the selection candidates to fight for beauty. What is there for me to prepare?
It'd be better to stay here and mend the flowers.
If Your Highness doesn't go, you will be giving that one in Chuxiu Palace an opportunity.
Mingyu.
Your Highness, hall selection is a grand event.
You should at least go have a look, or else --
Empress Dowager will cast blame on you again for ignoring your palace duty.
You're so young but you all nag so much.
Alright. Let's go then.
Good then. I will dress and accessorize you right away.
[ Noble Consort Gao ] (T/N Noble Consort is the third rank, with Empress being at the top)
Greetings to Your Highness the Empress.
You're spared further formality.
Empress, this session of selection girls are extraordinary in quality. A few are just so beautiful.
Our Great Qing's selection of maidens differs from the previous dynasty.
We ought to pick ones from houses of honor.
Girls with excellent character and conduct to serve by His Majesty.
This is unrelated to their appearance.
But we still can't choose some crooked melons or broken jujubes.
It would stifle His Majesty on sight.
And it would affect the appearance of the royal heirs too.
No matter how beautiful the selection candidates are, they can't compare to the Noble Consort's glamour that is above all.
I don't dare to accept your gracious compliment.
However the peony is most beautiful and fragrant, king of all flowers.
Surely it's not something anyone can serve as.
The Emperor has arrived!
I respectfully greet Your Majesty and wish you good health.
No need for formality.
[ Qianlong, the Sixth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty ]
The Xiunv selection begins!
[ List of Xiunv ]
Minister of Justice, Suochuoluo Daojin's daughter.
Suochuoluo Yuli. Age fifteen.
The wind is very strong today.
It must be strenuous for her to stand there.
Your Majesty.
Your Highness, she is too skinny.
It seems like she will be blown away by a gust of the wind.
Take down her tag. Grant her a flower.
Minister of Imperial Stables, Gan Tanlin's daughter, Gan Ruyu.
Age sixteen.
Does she need to have five meals in a day?
Take down her tag. Grant her a flower.
Magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, Janggiya Sixian's daughter.
Janggiya Ruhong. Age sixteen.
Does she apply soy sauce and bask in the sun every day?
His Majesty is saying that you are too tanned.
Why does she have so many spots on her face?
Take down her tag. Grant her a flower.
Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, Uya Xiongshan's daughter.
Uya Qingdai.
Age seventeen.
What is that on the ground?
What's wrong with your feet?
To reply Your Majesty, these is known as "lotus steps".
Remove her shoes and let me take a look.
Yes.
So the shoes have carvings of lotus flowers on the soles.
The soles of the shoes are even stained with powder.
She even put a lot of thought into it.
Drag her out.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty. I was...I was merely...
I was just forging the lotus step only to stand out.
May Your Majesty please pardon my offense.
Your Highness, please save me. Please save me!
Your Majesty, there's nothing wrong with a Xiunv trying to take the lead.
If you dislike it, just grant her a flower and that's that.
If you expel her from the palace in this manner,
how will she face others in the future?
I entered the palace for the selection.
If I'm expelled in this manner,
not only will I bring shame to my family, how would I live in the future?
I have already given the decree
to ban foot-binding among the Xiunvs.
But in today's draft selection, there's more than just one or two with bound feet.
Not just the Han banners.(T/N Prior to the Qing Dynasty, foot binding and breaking to reduce foot size was usual)
Even the Uya clan is learning such an abolished, decaying practice?
Pan Yunu was a bewitching Noble Consort. (T/N Southern Qi Dynasty, end of 4th century CE)
Xiao Baojuan was an incompetent king. (T/N Southern Qi Emperor, overthrown after a violent reign)
Are you learning this from her to create disorder?
If such a woman is chosen to enter the palace,
she will definitely cause troubles.
Not only will I expel her from the palace, I will also get her father
made an example with punishment to war the others!
- Let's go! - Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I know my mistake!
It was that lousy female slave who harmed me!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty, it was that lousy female slave who harmed me!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare my life!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare my life. Your Majesty..!
It's so scary.
I know my mistake.
Your Majesty, it was that lousy female slave!
What did she do wrong?
Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare my life.
Chief Steward Wu, you are here.
I'm here to take a look at the new palace maids.
Chief Steward Wu, there's still another half of the lit incense stick before time's up.
Why don't you have some tea first?
Take me to the storehouse to have a look.
Fine. This way, please.
A palace maid
needs to be clever and quick-witted. Look at how stupid you are.
Even if you enter the palace, you will be kicked out soon.
If you want me to say it, just don't waste your energy.
What a pity.
Linglong, we grew up together.
Help me to think of a solution immediately. Okay?
What solution would I have?
I haven't finished my embroidery either.
Wipe off your tears. Don't let Momo Zhang see it.
Are you crazy?
The request is for a golden carp. This part is stained with blood.
No matter what you do, it's too late for you to salvage it.
We only have time left of half the incense stick before it's burned out.
You don't have enough time to redo the embroidery.
There are only two stitches left for the peony flower. Help me to finish it.
Blindly flaunting her superiority.
No, I can't implicate you. Let's switch it back.
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Okay, time's up.
Put down your needles.
Chief Steward Wu.
The embroidery skill is delicate. Not bad.
This is...
Reporting, Chief Steward Wu. This is double-sided embroidery.
Great. Excellent.
Not bad.
What a mess. What did you embroider?
This peony flower is vivid, life-like, has good form and charming.
The embroidery skill is uncommon. It's the best.
That's right.
Chief Steward Wu, why don't you take a look at Wei Yingluo's embroidery piece?
She took the longest time to complete it. It should be done well.
Let me take a look.
Momo Zhang.
Very skillfully thought out.
The needlework is not bad too.
Chief Steward Wu, this palace maid is very talented.
Chief Steward Wu, Yingluo cheated for someone.
What?
Deputy minister Nalan Yongshou's daughter, Nalan Chunxue.
Age sixteen.
What happened to your ears.
Replying to Your Majesty, my father told me that
women wearing three earrings and elevated shoes
are traditions passed down from our ancestors.
If we were to abandon our traditions and mimic the Han women,
then it would mean that we have forgotten about our ancestry.
Well said.
The Qing Dynasty has entered the mainland for a while now, the Manchurian traditions are slowly being forgotten.
I ordered them to study the Han language and learn their etiquette.
I didn't order them to forget who they are.
Keep the name tag.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Guanglu Temple's Deputy Head Lu Shilong's daughter, Lu Wanwan.
Age sixteen.
I still have reports to review, I have to leave.
Your Majesty, then what about this?
Empress, please handle this accordingly, I trust your decisions.
If His Majesty left, it means that there is not much left to see.
I'm leaving as well.
I saw with my own eyes that Jixiang's piece has been stained with blood.
Wei Yingluo exchanged hers with Jixiang and completed it instead.
Rules are very clear within the palace,
if one person is cheating, both of them should be expelled from the palace.
Is this what happened?
I...
What do you mean, "I", Chief Steward Wu is asking you a question!
Hurry up and answer it.
Zhang Momo, it's all my fault.
Who said that we cheated?
If you don't believe me, just take a look.
Look.
They are intended as one piece, "peony and pheasant" embroidery.
Because it takes a long time to complete, Jixiang and I thus collaborated in order to complete it.
- But you! - I ask you this:
when I handed this to JIxiang,
was the peony not a work in progress still?
Same goes for the pheasant, when Jixiang handed it to me, it was only partly-embroidered.
Was it not so?
If they were both unfinished pieces, how is this cheating?
This is an unprecedented case in the palace.
Chief Steward Wu, what do you think?
Well done.
Well considered.
You all remember this,
when serving inside the palace, your have to talk less and work more.
Your masters dislike scandals the most.
Take her out.
Remove her name!
Chief Steward Wu, I was wrong, I won't do it any more!
Chief Steward Wu, please spare me!
Spare me! Chief Steward Wu!
Please spare me, I was wrong!
Jixiang, hurry and stand up.
There girls all have extraordinary embroidery skills.
From now on, they are to remain in the embroidery workshop.
Yes.
[ Changchun Palace ]
Your Highness the Empress is are too kind!
Look at that Noble Consort Gao talking about peonies.
What's all that about surpassing all other flowers, extraordinary beauty and heavenly scented...
She's clearing speaking out of her rank, why aren't you upset? (T/N peony = "king of flowers")
How many years have you spent inside the palace?
Don't you already know what kind of person she is?
Today is the selection day,
we can't let something small upset us both.
Something small?
I just can't stand her arrogance!
You are the Empress, you have a mother's love to care for all people.
Who does she think she is?
Treading on Changchun Palace every step along the way.
Mingyu...
Your Highness, I'm only stating the injustice done to you.
Take a step backwards and see the broader horizon.
With a little forbearance, you will find calm and peace.
Inside this palace, if you mind every little thing, will your life be easier?
But the most important person in His Majesty's heart is clearly you!
The grace bestowed upon you is the foremost in comparison.
- Why the forbearance? - Mingyu!
Her Highness is tired.
Your Highness the Empress.
His Majesty had someone bring this plaque over which states "Meditate Within",
and also the drawing of "Tai Si teaching her son".
Does Your Highness wish to look at it now?
Okay. Take it with you and store it for now.
The plaque and the drawing..?
Hang up the plaque.
As for
the drawing...
pick a fitting date, hang it up as well.
Go and arrange it.
Yes.
You can all leave now.
I want to rest a little by myself.
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- What are you doing? - Shhh...
Can't you see that Her Highness is in a bad mood, you mustn't stick around.
It's only a drawing from His Majesty, why is Her Highness in a bad mood?
Do you know what "Tai Si teaching her son" is?
Tai Si was the official wife to Emperor Wen of Zhou, Emperor Wu's biological mother. (T/N Yuwen Tai)
She was smart and virtuous, benevolent yet fair-minded.
She was loved by the emperor and the people.
Isn't it a good thing?
It means that His Majesty hopes that Her Highness will follow Tai Si as her example and become a virtuous Empress.
You...
The Second Prince passed away three years ago. (T/N Yonglian)
Ever since then, Her Highness has been melancholic.
She can't focus on anything.
His Majesty wants to remind Her Highness through today's act,
to not forget about the duties of an Empress.
That's not it!
His Majesty wanted to let Her Highness know
that whatever happens, she is the master of the inner palace.
Don't forget about the fact that His Majesty is always most concerned about Changchun Palace.
Her Highness distanced herself from His Majesty because of what happened to the Second Prince.
"Xi Lingshi breeding silkworms"! What's the meaning of this! (T/N Leizu, Yellow Emperor's wife, discovered silk)
Why is Your Highness so angry all of the sudden?
His Majesty wants to remind me that
I have to be a diligent concubine!
Your Highness the Noble Consort.
Ever since we entered the palace, she became the Empress of the Qing dynasty.
Her yearly allowance is one thousand ounces.
I have to settle for four hundred ounces less.
Changchun Palace uses gold.
Chuxiu Palace can only use silver.
Her honor guard surpasses mine.
When there are festivities or celebrations, I receive a lot fewer rewards than she.
I can tolerate all this.
What about His Majesty.
I was a living person standing there.
His Majesty didn't even look at me,
he had only eyes for her!
How can one tolerate this!
The stupid drawing he granted me,
he wants to let me know that I overstepped.
That I bullied his beloved Empress.
Your Highness, you are rambling.
You misunderstood.
Misunderstood?
What have I misunderstood?
Your Highness, His Majesty gave all six palaces plaques.
His Majesty commissioned to have twelve instructional drawings made based on the ancient stories.
For Zhongcui Palace, it's a painting of "Empress Xu serving (rice) cake."
For Qixiang Palace, it's painting of "Empress Jiang taking off hairpin."
Allow me to speak over my place, but does His Majesty intend to raise both consorts to empresses?
What I mean is, His Majesty was just caught up in the mood
and wants everyone to model themselves after the sage empresses and consorts of the old days.
Then you have no need to stay angry, Your Highness.
You sure were born with a skillful mouth.
Sit.
I am not talented, but I wish to assist you.
Then tell me, what does His Majesty mean?
I am speculating that the twelve paintings combined
represent the ideal empress His Majesty pictures in his mind.
For example, "Consort Xu's direct admonishment."
He wants everyone to be like Consort Xu Hui. (T/N Tang poet of about 1000 poems, of which 5 survive)
When Tang's Emperor Taizong committed a mistake, she spoke up bravely directly against him.
Then "Empress Cao farming." He's saying for the harem to work the fields?
Your Highness.
His Majesty wishes for the harem to be like Empress Cao of Song's Emperor Renzong.
Frugal and simple, valuing agriculture.
"Jieyu blocking the bear." He hopes that when he's in danger,
someone can be like Feng Jieyu protecting Han's Emperor Yuan, so brave and putting her life on the line to protect him.
As for "Empress Xu serving the cake," this needs no explanation.
It's for us to be filial to the elder, Empress Dowager.
You mean, His Majesty wants us to be virtuous and kind,
but also beautiful above the crowd, as well as frugal and family-minded.
With also the courage to move forward?
Your Highness, you are correct.
You are very smart and only needed to be pointed in the right direction.
Does he want women or divinities?
When the current Emperor was still Qinwang Bao, (T/N Hongli, Prince Bao of the First Rank)
you and Fuca clan and Gao clan women all entered the prince's manor together.
Fuca clan is a family of generations of high ministers. [ Consort Xian, Hoifa-Nara Clan ]
And she was favored by the late Emperor, so we can't compete.
But that Gao clan's power is just mediocre.
She got to be the second side wife back in the prince's manor. (T/N Cefujin, side wife, under Princess Consort)
To be shoulder to shoulder with you there, but now in the Imperial palace, [ Madam Hoifa-Nara ]
she was promoted to Noble Consort and is pressing you down.
Where's the justice?
Mother, don't say anymore. I don't want to hear this.
Don't want to hear it?
If you don't want to hear this, what do you want to hear?
You have been with His Majesty for many years and you are still Consort Xian.
Chengqian Palace is such a big place. If His Majesty doesn't visit you,
what's the difference between here and the Cold Palace?
Gao clan's father and brother are moving up in the ranks.
If you don't compete, you won't be able to compete for any benefits for the family.
What's the use of sending you to enter the palace?
Mother.
Your pitiful father. He's worked so diligently all his life.
He's already spent two whole decades as a banner commander.
For your pitiful father, to put in a few favorable words for him before His Majesty
so he can get a transfer too, can't you?
Mother, this can't be done in the harem. I must not make it difficult for His Majesty.
Zhen'er.
Make it difficult for him? Alright.
Fine. Just stay here and endure the pain then.
I want to see whether His Majesty will take pity on you and look at you.
H-How did I give birth to such an unremarkable daughter like you?
Your Highness, why don't you say a few soft words to her? What do you really want?
My first wish is for my man to live a long life.
My second wish is to stay healthy.
My third wish is for us to be like sparrows on the beam, together for a long time.
Your Majesty, I would like to ask something.
Those twelve devotion paintings together.
Is that your aspirations for the harem consorts?
Your Majesty, at least I am,
still half a man.
I have seen many women in the Forbidden City.
Now, women, they look so delicate and charming.
With their elegant figures so alluring. Then they learn a few poems and songs and dances, flutes and zithers.
That is already a rarity.
To ask them to meld all the virtues into one body?
That is...where do you find one?
I just thought they were idling too much.
You mean.
Idleness creates trouble.
I granted the devotion paintings to the harem.
It should keep them busy for a while.
Busy for a while?
That's not all that useful though.
Because they are.
Because most of them are dumb like you.
That they only think I'm reminding them to be virtuous and kind.
In order to meet my aspiration and be that virtuous and merit-bound woman to win my fondness,
they would have to keep quiet for a few days.
Then I can have a few days of peace and quiet.
Your Majesty, all this trouble and you're messing with them?
The tributes are complete!
The gates are being locked!
Beware of lantern and fire.
The tributes are complete.
The gates are being locked!
Beware of lantern and fire.
Hurry and pay respects!
What are you looking at? You want to die?
That's the consort's yijia? (T/N carriage, or carried chair)
What an ignorant thing.
Only the empress's carriage is called the yijia.
That was Noble Consort Gao that passed by. That's called "yizhang".
Then, what about other consorts?
Those are called "caizhang".
But only a mistress of a palace can use it.
Yingluo, aren't you curious?
Gugu, where is Noble Consort Gao going then?
You don't need to worry about where the mistress is going.
Your eyes are popping out of your eye sockets.
You aren't that lucky.
Let's go. Stop looking.
Your Majesty.
So everyone's gathered here today.
Your Highness, Consort Chun is down with the chills and hasn't recovered fully.
Of the three hundred sixty-five days a year, she's sick half of them.
What a sickly one.
You are right, Your Highness.
Sister Chun is sick every other day, and her bones and body are indeed quite weak.
Yesterday we were discussing of visiting her in the sickbed.
Consort Chun is sick, but she's got the Empress caring after her.
We don't need you few to worry now, do we?
Yes.
You're always in a pair.
How is it you're alone today?
Imperial Concubine Yi, Noble Consort is asking you a question.
Where is Noble Lady Yu?
Replying to Noble Consort, Noble Lady Yu is unwell so she reported she will be absent.
Another sick one?
I don't know what malevolent breeze is coming through this Forbidden City.
Everyone's falling down ill.
I guess it's time for the royal physician to have a good look.
I said the same to her.
Just that Ayan is always scared of taking medicine.
And she's only coughing lightly, so I believe it's nothing serious.
She really doesn't need to be seen by the royal physician?
She'll be recovered in a couple of days.
She's troubled your concern.
But this really doesn't need attention paid to.
Everyone, today's hall selection has ended.
The newly-selected concubines will be entering the palace soon.
If anyone is sick, get yourselves recovered quickly.
And the ones who aren't sick, get your spirits alert.
Don't let the newcomers press you down.
Yes.
Disperse.
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
���The Forbidden Palace's walls surround them, feeling like a good place to reside.���
���As the walls sever the setting sun's rays, they lose their past dreams as it grows cold.���
���Decaying leaves cover the neglected shuttered window, that remembers the cold winds of twenty harvests.���
��� Knowing only how to go with the flow and pass the years.���
���Unmarried and hopeful, the heavy, dark gates are locked, ���
���Cultivated and proud, gem-like beauties, and yet somehow���
���Flowers who stay may endure breakage, causing them ask to change their karma���
���Can not an empty branch give them a carefree place to rest upon?���
���Longing to be together with him, separated as the illumination in the western window declines,���
���At leisure to be melancholy, also perplexed and worried about it all.���
���Who will pity her, and record her lifetime full of misery?���
���A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.���
���Longing to be together with him, separated as the illumination in the western window declines,���
���At leisure to be melancholy, also perplexed and worried about it all.���
���Who will pity her, and record her lifetime full of misery?���
���A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.���