If its done like this
Everyone in the Imperial Palace will follow suit
That's real good deeds.
When the Empress was in charge,
she focused more on saving and cutting expenses,
and people in the Palace did whine about it.
Now you're in charge of Palace business,
you're being very attentive and considerate.
You've received lots of respect in the whole Palace.
Just boldly go forward as you planned.
The Empress Dowager trusts me.
I will definitely give my best effort.
There's one more thing,
places in Hebei and Shandong provinces had severe floods,
many homeless refugees had swarm into the Capital (Beijing).
I request to set up porridge tent outside of Di'an Gate.
On one hand, it could help the refugees,
on the other, it could help pray for the Empress.
It certainly is a good thing to set up porridge tent.
But both food and money would be questions.
By doing that,
it has to take money from the Logistics Department.
But now in the Palace,
life isn't that easy any more.
Everyone is worried and dismal,
Concubine Xian is making it difficult for everyone.
Relieve, Nobel Concubine
According to common practice, we could encourage rich businessmen in the Capital to donate.
Empress Dowager please give an imperial decree
to set example for philanthropy and charity.
People in the whole city will definitely respond and follow.
By that time, it will be not necessary to use money from the Logistics Department.
And the problem will be solved.
Concubine Xian is truly thoughtful.
In this way, it could amass blessings for the Empress,
and also comfort the refugees.
It is really a good deed with double benefits.
Go forward boldly.
You have my full support.
Thank you for Empress Dowager's benevolence.
Concubine Xian is now deeply favored by Empress Dowager.
You must feel very elated.
I make all-out effort to work for the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
I shall not feel elated.
First increase income and reduce expenditure
then help the refugees and provide porridge
Win people over in such a rush way,
do you want to be the Empress?
Though the Empress is now ill,
Miracle Doctor Ye is helping her to recover. I believe she will be healthy again very soon.
I am just helping to take care of the Palace business.
I never have the idea of replacing and arrogating.
The Heaven could identify my true intention and mind.
Your acting is good.
But I am the expert in acting (opera).
I really couldn't bear to see such slight skill before an expert.
Zhi Lan, let's go.
She is just jealous. That's why she slander.
Your highness, what should we do?
Do what we are supposed to do.
Noble Consort Gao, your skin is so white like snow
It's so soft that it's making me jealous
If you were to soak in cow's milk all day
You would be the same too
But your highness is naturally pretty
The prettiest of all the six palaces
I wouldn't dare to be compared to you
Stop ingratiating
I've spent so much effort
to get rid of the Empress who was such an eyesore
Who could have expected that Consort Xian
would save the Empress Dowager at the Double Nine festival
and become her favorite overnight
All that hard work that I've put in
and she's beaten me to the post
Your highness
Now that Consort Xian is so deeply favored by the Empress Dowager
If you don't make the first move
and Consort Xian gains power
She'd be tougher to deal with
Tomorrow she's going to the Di-An gate to help the refugees
You know what to do
Don't worry your highness
I understand
Tomorrow food aid will be given out by Di-An gate
All of you are going to help out
Liu Momo
We already have a lot of work to do
How will we find the time to work if go to Di-An gate tomorrow?
Consort Xian has already instructed that those of you who help out at Di-An gate would be awarded one tael and given a day off
How much
Consort Xian is too good
I have never been awarded money
Exactly
Only Consort Xian would remember us lowly-ranked servants
and we'd get a day off
That's enough. Stop chattering
Go back and rest early tonight
Tomorrow at 4 AM
Wait by Di-An gate
Yes!
Consort Xian has also instructed that
All sick servants
Will continue to follow treatment and are given a sick day
Consider yourselves lucky
You'll stay here tomorrow
Let's disperse
Amazing
This Consort Xian is truly amazing
She is able to win people's hearts
without revealing her intentions
Yingluo,
compared to the empress Consort Xian is way ahead
Am I wrong
Are you crazy
What you doing out here with that fever
Go back and rest
What are you doing?
Yan Chunwang! Let me down
Stop talking. I'm your brother.
Put me down
You're prepared to leave to watch over Concubine Dowager Yu's tomb?
Yes
How long will you be gone for?
Three years
What a filial son
Even I am touched by your filial piety
Your younger brother, I have always reckless
Created countless troubles
I was always worrying my mother
Giving her sleepless nights
All these years
I have let her down
To be able to watch over her tomb for three years
It's the least I could do as an unfilial son
Unfilial son?
Yes
You are truly an unfilial son.
You are her birth son
But you are also an imperial son
You are my brother
You are a King of the Qing Empire
All these years
You listened to womanly advice
Pretending to be a man of pleasure
Who knows how many mistakes you've made
And how much time you've wasted
And now you are still unenlightened
Making a fatal mistake
Why are you looking at me like that？
In your eyes
Am I really just a vicious emperor
with no ounce of empathy?
Concubine Dowager Yu
Was born in the imperial palace
She had a limited worldview
She only knew
Not to get in trouble with the imperial heir
But she had almost costed you your life
If her words were true
You would spend your life as a worthless bum
Why don't you tie a noose and hang yourself
Lest you taint the Aisin-Gioro family name
Brother
Hong Zhou
I kept giving you chances
Hoping that you will be able to explain yourself
But I've waited for 10 years
And you're still as reckless
And you're still as stupid
Go watch over your mother's tomb
Don't you ever return to the forbidden city for as long as you live
I am stupid
I was wrong
Please pardon my sins
Please forgive me brother
Hong Zhou
You are a descendent of Aisin-Gioro
You are the dignified and imposing King He
To avoid political strifes
You have hidden your ambitions
Behind reckless and ridiculous behavior
Would you be able to face our deceased father
Would you be able to face all of our ancestors?
I...
That's all I have to say
At least if you still have any ambition
You should reflect upon
what can you do...
for your country,
and your people.
Your highness
You need to be more careful
What happened?
Stop
King He
Consort Xian
You must be here to see the Emperor
The palace is distributing congee to refugees
I'm here to turn in the report to the emperor
I still have something else to do
I will hold you up
King He
Consort Xian, do you have any further instructions?
King He,
why are you crying?
I'm sorry
I'm being impolite
If you're leaving the palace like this
The palace will be full of gossip tomorrow
Saying that there was a strife between you brothers
Thank you for your reminder
I was just thinking of my mother
I was just sad for a moment
And my eyes became red
King He is so filial towards his mother. It is truly touching
But living in regrets and sadness doesn't change anything
Why don't you do something good
Didn't we just say
Consort Xian is distributing congee to refugees by Di-An gate tomorrow
This is something that would really benefit the people
If your highness has to time cry, why don't you come help out
It's a way of gaining good karma for Concubine Dowager Yu
Zhen'er don't be reckless with your words
But
Someone as reckless and ridiculous as I am
Appearing by Di-An gate
I'm afraid I'll become a laughing stock
If your highness will like to do something proper
And let the world see you differently
Helping refugees by Di-An gate is the first step
How did you know?
It's written all over your face
Your highness
I was just going for a moment to chat with the other Eunuchs
When I came back you were gone Why didn't you call for me
Are you serving me, or am I serving you?
Tell me what's on my face
Your highness, what am I looking for?
Are there any words on my face?
There isn't a single word
Not everyone
can handle the words "pure heart and spirit"
Jinxiu, What are you doing?
I forgot something, I'm going back for it
You guys go ahead
Stay calm. Please line up.
Everyone please stay calm
Everyone lined up. There's enough for everyone
First come first serve. Lineup. Stay calm.
Don't push.
Lineup. Lineup.
Everyone's stay calm. There's enough for everyone.
Thank you
Line up
Let us go
We want to eat
Stop pushing. There's many people ahead of you
Let me tell you
If you don't lineup, we'll stop giving out food
Everybody, don't push
Don't push forward
Go to the back
Supervisor Wu, what's with the commotion
Consort Xian
We do not know where all these refugees came from all of a sudden
They're causing quite a commotion
Don't you think we should stop for moment
Didn't they say that the imperial concubines are giving out congee?
This is clearly water
Take a look! I can see my own reflection
Look at these buns
Not only is it made of coarse wheat, there's sand in them
Are these edible? Take a look at my teeth
Are these even fit for human consumption?
Your highness, they are spouting nonsense
There's no sand in our buns
We traveled long distance to be here
Thinking that there will be food and clothing
But now we're being chased around by guards
And the rich aren't willing to give a cent
Our clothes are torn, and our stomaches are empty
We can only sell our children
Didn't the palace say that they are doling mercy and grains?
These are all lies
They are liars. Liars
You are all liars. Liars. Liars. Liars
Why are we still lining up for? Grab as much you can
In a while, there wouldn't be any buns left
Grab! Everyone grab some!
Didn't you say you were giving out grains?
It's obvious that these are enough
What's giving out food-aid?
This is just a trick to lie to us all
Send who's in charge out here
Release the grains!
Release the grains! Release the grains!
Release the grains!
Release the grains! Release the grains! Release the grains!
Step back and listen to me
Listen to me
We will be bringing out more food soon
What are you doing
Hurry. Send for more help
Your highness we should return to the palace
It's her. It's obvious there's not enough food
What false kindness?
She's just a big liar
Get her.
Step back. Step back
They've killed someone
They are not refugees
What kind of refugee is he?
Real refugees
have scrambled here from Tianjing and Shandong
They were wearing grass shoes
And their feet are all worn
But look at him. He's wearing cloth shoes
He was not a refugee
They're just thugs who had mixed into the refugee crowd
Nonsense!
You guys are in it together
You're framing us. Kill him!
That's right! Kill him!
I will make an example out of him
Give way
Greetings, King He
Consort Xian
Are you okay?
I'm fine
Consort Xian
There were a total of eight trouble makers
Other than the one who started everything,
There's still seven
And him
Him
And two over there
And another two by the southeast corner
A total of eight
How do you know who were the inciters?
Replying to King He,
When this group of men came
I started observing them
They were mixed into the crowd
They were pushing and shoving. And picking fights
If your highness doesn't believe me, just ask around
Take all of them in
Come here. Don't move. Let's go.
Why are you arresting me?
Everyone line up
and wait until we resume distribution
King He
Thank you
I reported to the Emperor earlier
and had soldiers diverted here
However
We have so little food, and so many people
I'm afraid that this is just a drop in the bucket
Your highness
It is actually easy to identify real refugees
They have overcome difficult paths to be here
Overcoming much ordeals
They are already skinny and weak
But those villains were full of vigor and looked well-fed
They were here to make false collections
Who would falsely claim food meant for refugees
No good doers from the capital
Scoundrels and freeloaders
Or they might as well be people paid to cause trouble
Why would they do that
Ask to why they would falsely claim food
If the refugees aren't able to get food
After a while, they would be resentful
After a while, they might organize violence and chaos
Such treachery
You see that? Hit it like that
Ok
Hold it tight
That's not right. You see?
You little scoundrel
Please stop I'm begging you
Can't we start over?
The Noble Consort has commanded
You have only one month left
If you don't practice well enough, you will all die!
Eight performers. Half of them are already dead
They were all disobedient.
Take this as a lesson drawn from others' mistakes
Continue practicing!
Boy, I'm telling you
You know working with sand
When you are performing
You're working with boiling hot iron water
But If you aren't careful, you'll die
Your base needs to be steady
When you hit it, you need to circle your arms arounds before hitting
Don't move your hands
Grandpa, I don't want to practice
I want to go home. I want to go home.
Silly boy, we can't go home
Who said that you can't go home?
I need to have a word with your grandfather
Why don't you go practice?
Go. Go practice.
Lady,
In order to put on this colourful show
I have to pass on the skill
The palace chief minister forced the city's blacksmiths to study
Later, the Emperor's longevity wish at the Empress's birthday
We all have to perform
Even if it means fighting for our lives
and can't escape
what can one do?
blaze of colours
Was initially done to spread joy to the common folks
But once it enters the palace
It becomes a toy for the rich and powerful
Forced to become a tribute
For many generations
An unspeakable pain
Right now, I have an idea
That would end your suffering
There isn't enough gruel to feed all refugees
Other than children under 10
and elderly folks over 60
Everyone else has to help construct the food relief center
Why?
We won't work! We won't work!
We want to eat!
Zhili, province of Shandong suffered a water diaster
Countless refugees have entered the capital
The Forbidden City and the wealthy had given out gruel
Out of the kindness of their hearts
But this kindness
should go to those who need help the most
Consort Xian
I don't think this is a good idea
Every bowl of congee and
Every single bun here
All came from the labor of the common people
The results of tireless work
Not a single grain came came without work
It is the graciousness of others They can choose not to give this to you and rightfully so
And so you're not qualified to question
And you are not qualified to demand
By practicing self-reliance and exchanging labor for food,
It will be rightfully yours
And no one can take that away from you
Right now, the young, the old
and the sick
Can receive food at no cost As for the others
You should all get to work
Shut up
And listen up
We would now like to construct eight food-aid centers by Di-An Gate
We are also constructing a refugee camp outside the city
Those willing to work
Come over here for registration
We will give out rations based on the people signed up Once stated and your energy returns
Go work again
In exchange for the next day's rations
Those who hopes to reap without sowing
Will not get a single grain
Liars! On what grounds?
Consort Xian
There isn't any precedent for this practice
King He
They may be refugees
But this is a natural disaster,
No one owes them anything
Those who have received aid
are acting as though they are here to collect a debt
It just goes to show that no one appreciates gratuitous acts of compassion
Enough, save your breath
What are you doing? Leave. Let's go.
Take a look
Did you see that?
If aid is given gratuitously
there would be instances of fraud
But if I put them into work
Those who don't need food
Won't come here
You're just forcing the troublemakers to leave
If they aren't on the brink of hunger
Who will be willing to exchange labor for food?
Zhen'er
Help the young and old get in line
Continue distribution
Line up.
Don't push.
Line up. There's enough for everyone
They're starting again
There's enough for everyone
Have one
Thank you
Consort Xian
You sure have a way
A small amount of rice begets gratitude, a large amount begets animosity
Gratuitous aid makes people lazy
and destroy their character
I just wanted them to know
That if they wish to acquire help
They need to help themselves first
As for food,
It must be left for the most needy
However, the refugees had a long and difficult trek here
And are extremely sick and weak
They need to seek treatment from the imperial doctor
That will be arranged later
Don't worry, I'll arrange it.
Which department are you from?
Responding to her highness
He's just sanitary worker who cleans waste barrels
Responding to her highness, I work for the Department of Hard Labor
The background of hero isn't important.
Now that the department of hard labor is missing a manager
Let's have you fill that gap
Your humble servant is deeply grateful for your Highness' grace
I accept your orders
Fucha
The highness isn't awake yet, is she?
Thank you
I need to go on rounds
I'll visit her again tomorrow
Fucha
Is there anything else?
I...
I've heard from my grandfather
That the Emperor intends to award us with marriage
I want to marry a woman I love
Parents dictate marital affairs
Furthermore, this is the emperor's command
Can you disobey orders?
Erqing
Before I've met her
I may default to this type of marriage
but now
my heart with someone else
But if I were to marry you
I would be wasting your life
Even if Yingluo is that heartless
You will change your mind?
Erqing
You'll meet someone better
Someone who would truly treasure you
But that person isn't me
I'm sorry
Erqing
Is the medical pillow that I've made for the Empress still here?
Erqing
Consort Chun just called you
Consort Chun
What's the matter? You're looking so listless
What happened?
Nothing happened
Does Your Highness have any instructions?
Is the medical pillow that I've made for the Empress still here?
The previous ones I've made had calming properties We should change them out for those with energizing properties
They are still here
I placed them in the box
I'll bring them out
Erqing
What's the matter with you today?
Our old Erqing
Is usually so conscientious
It's also Fucha's fault
He keeps thinking of that Wei Yingluo
He dared to decline the Emperor's betrothal
Be careful your highness
The Emperor
intended to betroth you and Imperial Guard Fucha?
Your highness
Don't so listen to Hubo's nonsense
Your highness
The floor is full of broken tiles
Be careful not to hurt your hands
I will be careful
In the past,
The Empress had once said
she would help arrange
for a proper marriage for you and Ming Yu
I didn't think that
The Emperor would be
Even more anxious than the Empress
Yingluo is to blame
If she hadn't seduced and mesmerized him
This is supposed to be a beautiful affair
Enough Hubo
Don't blindly say anything else
Fucha likes Yingluo
Everybody knows that
I wouldn't dare hope
What a pity
What are you glaring at
What happened
Nothing. Nothing.
Your highness
Someone has sent a secret letter
Ever since I started managing palace affairs
It's been snowing secret letters
How is it surprising
Your Highness, this one's different
Really?
Someone wants to seize the opportunity to conspire to offend one's superiors
Do you want me to immediately...
No
Your highness
No hurry
The wolf has a winning game when the shepherds quarrel
Let's wait patiently
This Consort Xian
It's enough that she puts on an act here in the Forbidden City.
And now, the whole capital is singing her praises
They say that she has a majestic presence that soothes the crowds
In the coldest months of winter each year，
Aren't I also giving out food outside the city?
The scoundrels have all forgot
They only have their eyes on Consort Xian now
They've fed my kindness to the dogs
Calm down your highness
This is a good thing You do it every year. Everyone has stopped being surprised
Consort Xian, on the other hand Is usually so meek and quiet
She didn't good deed out of nowhere
It naturally caught everyone's attention
However, your highness
If all goes well during the Empress Dowager's Longevity Feast You'll surely steal the show
This year's Longevity Feast
I must steal back my pride
Zhilan
How are preparations going for the Emperess Dowager's present?
Your highness, the blaze of colour show is almost done with practice
They can be inspected at anytime
Tell them to get ready tonight
I would personally make the inspection
Yes
But...
But what
Four blacksmiths had attempted to escape
and they were killed on the spot
Four?
It could be 40, or 400
I don't give a damn about their lives
I just care about the final result
Yes
I heard that
You lost your temper outside Di-An gate
And frightened King He
Is it true?
Don't make fun of me
If King He hadn't arrived with the soldiers
The refugees would have eaten me alive
It is easy to lose your reason when you are starving
In order to restore order quickly
I have to resort to such means
It wasn't anything presentable
King He wasn't the only one praising you
Even Liu Tongxun who's in-charge of the refugee camps
Was full of praise
He said that
You were firm and decisive. Full of majestic air
To get a praise from someone as stubborn as is he is
It is harder than climbing to heaven
Consort Xian
I have a whole new level of respect for you
I am nothing more than a imperial woman
There're limits to what I can do
The person who is solving the water disaster, and helping the refugees
Is Gao Bing
Everything that he's doing
is truly benefitting the state and last through all eternities
Consort Xian
You know well that it's Noble Consort Gao
Who is stirring up trouble
And you're here complementing her father
There's indeed a small misunderstanding between us
Such a small palace matter
How can it affect government affairs？
Even though Noble Consort Gao is a little willful
But she is loyal to you and the Empress Dowager
I know that
To prepare for the Empress Dowager's Longevity Feast
She had brought in blacksmiths from far and wide
to perform the Blaze of Colours show for everyone
Blaze of Colours ?
I don't know too much
I only know that it is a rare spectacle
Tonight, Noble Consort Gao is letting them rehearse
If you're free, why don't you go it in person?
And I'll go too to feast my eyes
Li Yu
Here
Go find out where they're performing
Your majesty
Why are you here?
Why didn't you let me know?
I would have made preparations
Did you start practicing early?
I am especially here today
To feast my eyes
Your highness must be joking
You just don't trust me
You're just afraid that I'll become a laughing stock at the Empress Dowager's Longevity Feast!
But you had miscalculated this time
I believe that
Her Majesty would definitely like this gift