Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
Watching the person in the mirror's countenance pale and grow 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 17
Your Highness, please forgive me. I was incompetent.
I also didn't expect put too much hope on those rumors
to drag Empress down.
I just want to vent some anger.
Too bad, Emperor still didn't discover anything.
But regarding this matter, you actually call my attention on something.
Say, Consort Chun is loyally serving Empress all day.
What is she after?
I don't know.
I will know this secret sooner or later.
Miss Yingluo, why are you looking for the people on guard duty during the 10th day of the first month?
I have use for it.
- Hailancha, I have something to tell Yingluo. - Okay.
- I'll go out first. - Okay.
Don't look anymore.
On the 10th day of the first month, the men in the palace are not just His Majesty and imperial guards.
What does that mean?
On the 10th day of the first month,
His Majesty invited imperial relatives into his Qianqing Palace.
Feudal princes, Prince of the Third Rank, Prince of the Fourth Rank, and imperial relative with fourth rank and up position attended the banquet.
Imperial relatives?
Yingluo, if it's really like what you said
that A'Man was killed. The person who silenced her
surely didn't want that matter to spread.
If you continue to investigate, one, the the scope is too big. It's hard to filter it.
Second, if you are discovered, you'd end up in a very dangerous position.
I understand.
Thank you for your warning.
Yingluo.
Can't you just give it up?
Young Master,
if anything bad happens to Her Highness Empress,
what would you do?
You and Empress have a deep relationship,
so did me and my sister.
I must find out the truth.
I will risk my life for it.
If you ask me to give up, that will only happen when I die.
What do you want to do?
Since the banquet was held in Qianqing Palace,
if anyone left that night,
he surely would have left behind some clues.
The eunuch on duty that night,
the trusted aides around His Majesty,
one of them might remember something.
As long as I patiently investigate,
I surely can find the killer.
For the eunuchs in Qianqing Palace, I'll investigate them for you.
Young Master...
Promise me that you won't act recklessly.
If you don't promise me,
I'll tell Empress about this now
and ask her to drive you out of the palace.
Okay.
I promise you...
...that I won't act recklessly.
Say, what do you think is His Majesty doing now?
At this time,
His Majesty most likely reading memorials in the study at Yangxin Palace.
I heard that Noble Consort Gao gave him the painting "Timely Clearing After Snowfall".
His Majesty was so happy and kept it in his collection.
He even renamed his study to 'Hall of Three Rarities'
pertaining to the collection of rare valuables. I also want to see them.
Your Highness.
Mingyu,
play me a tune.
Yes.
Yingluo...
Look at Her Highness.
This tune is too sorrowful. It's making me cry.
Yes. I think Her Highness is getting sadder by hearing it.
Quickly think of a way.
Your Highness, look over there.
Wei Yingluo, you bad girl!
Mingyu, you're so pitiful!
- Your Highness Empress, she's bullying me! - Stop right there!
You two be careful! Don't slip!
- You dare to hit me? - Stop right there!
- Be careful not to slip. - You dare to hit me?!
Who allowed you two to be laughing and shouting here in Changchun Palace?
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Empress,
this servant is so unruly, yet you treat her like a treasure.
May Your Majesty calm down.
They just want to make me happy, hence, deliberately joking around.
Yingluo, Mingyu, you two leave first.
Yes.
Your Majesty, why are you here?
I was walking around and ended up coming here. I came to visit you.
Your Majesty, you've been working all day. Are you tired?
I'll instruct them to prepare some snacks for you.
Empress, eat with me.
Your Majesty, an imperial consort mustn't eat together with the emperor.
This is a rule left by our ancestors.
You're still like before,
strictly abiding to etiquette, never breaking them.
Erqing, close all the windows.
The wind at night is strong. Don't let His Majesty suffer any cold.
Yes.
My chest feel stuffed. It's better to keep the windows open.
Your Majesty, the heat in your heart is too strong.
If you get exposed to the wind, you'll get sick more quickly.
Go.
Your Majesty, I couldn't see it.
Sometimes, I really don't want to go attend imperial court meetings.
I want to be lazy for a day.
If you want to be a wise king,
you then must not slack off by even a bit.
Or else, it would be my mistake.
How is my not wanting to go to imperial court meetings be related to you?
The empress has the duty to advise you.
If you are lazy in governing,
of course, it will be my fault.
How many times have I told you this?
You still kept thinking that way. I feel tired hearing you say it.
Let me do it.
A scholar studies. A farmer farms the field.
A laborer do the toiling works. A businessman runs a business.
Everyone is doing their duty.
I then must do my best
in fulfilling the duty of an imperial consort. There's nothing tiring about it.
I know
you are open minded, kind and generous.
I can't find any faults in you.
Being able to have an Empress like you,
makes me feel proud.
Your compliments
I feel unworthy of them.
During the past three years,
I have many deficiencies.
I believe
you will do very well.
I'm going to the imperial court.
Take care, Your Majesty.
By the way, Noble Lady Yu is going to give birth soon. Take good care of her.
Your Majesty, don't worry.
I will definitely do my best.
Mingyue.
What is this?
These are Her Highness favorite flowers.
How could you abuse them?
I did everything for her but she's not grateful at all.
If you have anything to say, do it nicely.
Giving birth is risky to a woman.
Other people can't avoid it.
Her Highness insisted on sending Noble Lady Yu to Changchun Palace.
Isn't this looking for trouble?
Enough.
Noble Lady Yu has a blessed life. Heaven will help her.
Fine. Even if the delivery goes without any hitches,
what does this has to do with the her? She's in such a rush.
What if something happens? The people will be unlucky
will still be us...
Stop speculating.
Noble Lady Yu.
Yingluo, come.
These are the clothes I made for the little prince.
I still don't know if it's a prince or princess.
Whether it's a prince or princess, it's still usable.
Yingluo, thank you.
By the way, try this.
Noble Lady, this is...
Miss Yingluo. Since our mistress was pregnant, she loves sweet food.
She has been eating hot scones every day.
She can eat three in a day.
It's scary.
Noble Lady.
Look at me. Did I put on a lot of weight?
No,
but it's easy to put on weight from eating too many sweet food.
Hot food will burn your throat too.
Noble Lady, you must take more notice of this.
Yingluo, these are Mongolian scones. It's a snack from my hometown.
I thought I would never be able to eat this again when I entered the palace.
I didn't expect a chef from the Imperial Kitchen could do this.
It's so aromatic and crispy.
Try it.
Yingluo, what's wrong?
It's nothing.
Your Highness, I think you shouldn't send Noble Lady Yu to Changchun Palace.
Why do you say this?
Mingyu is right.
Noble Lady is giving birth soon. There are lots to worry about.
Whether she's eating a lot or less,
if we are not careful in taking care of her, everything will be blamed on you.
Yingluo, you used to help Noble Lady Yu many times.
Why are you saying this today?
By being unafraid, it doesn't mean there wouldn't be any stirred up troubles.
Are you saying that, by having Noble Lady Yu here, we will be stirring up troubles?
I'm ignorant. Please do not be angry with me.
Si (manage)
Do you know what this word is?
No.
There's a "kou" stroke on the lower left. [ T/N : "kou' means "mouth"]
On the upper right, there's a "shou" stroke. [ T:N: "shou" means "hand" ]
This is the origin of the word Empress in seal script.
Forbidden Palace is such a big place
where countless of palace ladies reside.
I'm the head presiding over the six palaces.
I have the responsibility and task to protect them.
But they are here to compete with me for favors from His Majesty.
They left their parents and families
and have been closeted in the inner palace for life.
They are already pitiful enough.
If I'm jealous and fight against the dissidents,
they will follow the examples set by their superior.
Everything will be in disorder.
Although my power is weak
but I believe that,
if I can bring them some warmth and kindness
In their times of sadness and sorrow, so that they have a place to air their tearful hurt.
Yingluo, you must remember this.
I'm Empress first before I'm a woman.
Yingluo, it's tough to survive.
You must do your best to help others.
Understand?
Yingluo, what's wrong with you?
Yingluo.
Your Highness.
I had an older sister.
What you just said,
when I was young, she taught me the same thing. It's exactly the same.
Your Highness, please forgive me.
I feel that
you and my older sister are alike. The both of you are kind people.
God will definitely protect you.
Yingluo.
I told you this today
to ask for help from you.
Your Highness, how do you want me to help you?
I must accompany Empress Dowager to Changchun Garden to pray to Buddha.
Erqing will be going with me.
Hence, I would like to leave Changchun Palace in your care.
Your Highness, I can't handle such a heavy responsibility.
Mingyu has been with me for many years.
There is a deep affection but she's impatience.
I want you to help me guard Changchun Palace.
I will do my best.
Don't be so nervous.
There is still two weeks to go before Noble Lady Yu gives birth.
I will rush back by then.
Starting from today, everyone in Changchun Palace must listen to my assignments.
Sister Mingyu. Before Her Highness left, she distinctly said that
we should listen to Yingluo.
Sister Mingyu has served the Empress for many years.
She's naturally the first to supervise. Where did you get your arrogance from?
It doesn't matter who says what.
What's more important is when Her Highness is not around, we must guard Changchun Palace.
Do we still need you to say this? I will naturally do that.
How could Sister Mingyu do this? It was distinctly an order from Her Highness.
Yingluo, why didn't you say anything just now?
Mingyu has more experience in Changchun Palace than me.
Everyone will listen to her.
Will it be important in whatever I say?
Since no one wants to listen, why would I waste my breath?
Actually, as long as nothing happens to Noble Lady Yu,
whoever can have a say in other matters. It doesn't concern us.
The Internal Affairs department has hired a wet nurse and midwife.
Has everything been arranged?
There are still a few more days before Noble Lady Yu gives birth.
Why is it so urgent?
It's just that Her Highness left so suddenly.
We must be careful about everything.
Don't think just because Her Highness is not here, you can slack off.
Feicui, Zhenzhu, water the flowers.
Hupo, replace the flowers in the house.
Manao, why are you still dreaming? Scrub the floor.
As for the three of you, dry the bedding.
Did you remember everything I said?
Yes.
Her Highness is giving birth! Quickly call a midwife!
Hurry!
Hupo, quickly call the midwife!
- Zhenzhu! Zhenzhu! - I'm here.
Go prepare the things that will be needed later.
What are they?
Scissors, hot water. As for others, just ask the midwife.
- Feicui, tell the nurse maid to be ready anytime. - Yes.
- You two, bring over the water basin. - Yes.
You, go get some cloth.
You are not needed inside. Immediately make some ginger soup.
Mingyu, will there really be no problem?
I've attended Her Highness for so many years. I personally saw the birth of Second Prince. You think I won't be better than you?
Immediately go make the soup.
♫ Flourishing flowers ♫
♫ So lush and beautiful ♫
♫ like a beautiful face ♫
♫ The clouds look like ♫
♫ bright colored clothes ♫
Your Highness, our Changchun Palace spy suddenly sent news
that Noble Lady Yu is having contractions and will be giving birth soon.
Isn't there supposed to be half more month?
Things like that can't be predicted accurately.
Stop singing.
Empress is currently not in the palace. My position among the six palaces is the highest.
Of course, I should go show my care.
Yes.
With your huge waist, once you sing the part
"Delicate and afraid, hard to straighten the waist of the willow tree",
how then will you do it?
Noble Lady!
Push harder! Go and get some more water.
How is it going?
It will be out soon.
Push harder.
It will be out soon. Where's the water?
Water! Water!
Where's the water?!
Hold this well and get more water.
I'll deliver this myself.
Go and wash the dirty clothes in the back courtyard. Don't be an eyesore here.
Push harder Noble Lady!
Where's the water? How come it's not here yet?
Noble Lady, push more. It will be over soon.
Push harder.
I can see the head now.
Hurry... Get some more cloth. Hurry and get more cloth.
Hurry! Quickly go!
Noble Lady, it will be over soon. Just hold on a little while more.
Push harder.
Push hard.
Nobel Lady!
My Lady.
Momo...
Is it a prince or a princess?
It's...a small prince.
It's a prince.
This child...
Hurry.
Quickly let me see it.
Noble Lady Yu, this...
What's wrong?
Sister Mingyu, Noble Consort is coming this way.
You all take good care of Noble Lady Yu.
Noble Consort is here. Don't let them see the little prince.
Greetings, Your Highness Noble Consort.
I heard that Noble Lady Yu is about to give birth,
but Her Highness Empress just happen to be not in the palace.
As the noble consort, I must show concerns in her behalf.
Your Highness Noble Consort, please wait in the main receiving hall.
I'll go serve you tea now.
No need. I'll personally go over there to take a look.
Your Highness Noble Consort, the birthing room is quite dirty. You mustn't go in.
Your Highness Noble Consort! Don't go in!
Your Highness Noble Consort!
Your Highness Noble Consort, you mustn't go in!
Your Highness Noble Consort!
Your Highness Noble Consort, you can't go in!
Your Highness Noble Consort!
Noble Lady Yu, the child...
Greetings, Your Highness Noble Consort.
Your Highness...
Bring it over here for me to look at.
Your Highness.
Noble Lady Yu gave birth to a child with golden pupils?
Your Highness Noble Consort, what did you say?
What golden pupils?
Noble Lady Yu, the eyes of little prince is golden yellow.
His whole body is also very yellow.
I've delivered so many children.
I've never such a condition before.
Rubbish. Give me my child! Give it to me!
Based on palace rules,
if one gives birth to a golden child, it can't be allowed to live.
- Noble Lady. - Give him to me.
- Noble Lady... - Give it to me!
Noble Lady Yu gave birth to child with golden eyes, so she's a sinner of the Qing dynasty.
If any of you dare to help her, you'll be dealt with the same punishment.
Noble Lady...
Your Highness.
- Really? - Completely true.
Noble Lady Yu gave birth to a child with golden pupils.
Looks like we won't be able to finish this game anymore.
Golden pupils?
Let's go and take a look.
Yuhu, you said earlier that Noble Consort Gao is already there.
Noble Consort will surely deal with him according to palace laws.
Your Highness, let's quickly to save her.
Wait. How come Noble Lady Yu
will suddenly give birth to a child with golden eyes?
Sister, what do you mean?
Noble Consort has always been domineering.
Why don't we give her a huge present?
What do you plan to do?
I have another matter to do.
Have to trouble sister to go to Yangxin Palace first.
- Are we really not intervening? - How are we going to interfere?
If you are that capable, you go in by yourself.
You can't go in!
Didn't you hear what's happening inside?
Noble Lady Yu gave birth to a child with golden pupils.
Noble Consort is handling it according to palace rules. No one can hinder her.
If you want to look for trouble, don't drag us with you.
Are you crazy?!
Yingluo, try to settle things amicably.
Towards a person who doesn't know to speak humane words,
why bother reasoning with her?!
Let me tell you that in these past 2 days that Her Highness Empress left the palace,
I didn't make a fuss about your tyrannical acts
because I want Noble Lady Yu to be at ease during her pregnancy.
It's not because I'm afraid of you. Now that the lives of Noble Lady Yu and Fifth Prince is in danger,
you actually chose to not meddle. Just stay on the side!
Wei Yingluo, you can't meddle in this matter!
If you meddle, that's going against the rules of the ancestors!
You will drag Her Highness Empress down!
Her Highness Empress has instructed that we must protect Noble Lady Yu. I only acknowledge that rule.
Who doesn't know to talk big?! Are you really that capable?!
Yingluo, where are you going?
Let me see how you're going to interfere.
Yingluo! Yingluo! Do you have a way or not?
Let go of me! Let go of me!
Noble Consort Gao, I beg you to let my child go!
Let go of me!
Your Highness Noble Consort, in consideration of Her Highness Empress, please have mercy.
Let go of me!
Do it.
No! Let go of me!
No!
No! Don't!
Wake her up with water.
I want her to personally see
what the ending is
for people who go against me.
Continue burying the baby.
Let go!
Your Highness, I beg you...
Noble Consort Gao, I beg you...
I beg you to let my child go.
Weren't you very pleased with yourself during the Lychee Banquet?
I was wrong.
How come now, you're begging me?
Your Highness Noble Consort can do anything to me.
The child is innocent. Your Highness,
I beg you to let go—
Let him go!
Sister Mingyu, you can't just do nothing.
No... I can't interfere.
Sister Mingyu!
The palace consort that gave birth to a child with golden pupils must be put to death too.
I'll grant you a gift then.
I'll let you and your son die together.
Stop!
Move out of the way!
Noble Lady Yu.
Don't touch me!
I was just thinking about you earlier and you delivered yourself to me.
What? You're afraid that the two of them
will be too lonely? You want to accompany them?
This is the Changchun Palace.
You are not allowed to make a huge fuss here.
Noble Lady Yu gave birth to a child with golden pupils.
That will harm the fortune of the Qing Dynasty. Of course, it must be immediately dealt with.
Our mistress is just implementing the law in a fair manner, enforcing justice in behalf of the heaven.
Whether it's really a child with golden pupils,
the words of Her Highness Noble Consort doesn't count.
We must wait for Her Highness Empress to come back and let her handle it.
A child naturally born to have golden pupils, whoever saw such kind of a child.
Even if Empress is here, she also won't be able to protect them.
However, a lowly palace maid like you
kept defending them at all cost.
What is your intention?
Men, tie her up.
Why are you all just standing there?!
Get lost! Get lost!
Why are you all just standing there?!
Have you all forgotten the instructions of Her Highness Empress?
If today anything bad happens to Noble Lady Yu and Fifth Prince today,
we all will die!
Quickly come over here!
Come over here!
What are you doing?
Each one offending their superior,
are you planning to rebel?
Although we are servants,
we represent the reputation of Changchun Palace.
Today, if you all take a step back,
not only will you be ruining the prestigious name of Her Highness Empress,
the whole Forbidden Palace
will ridicule Changchun Palace as being weak and easily bullied!
From now on, let's see who else will respect any of you!
Empress is the head of the sick palaces.
She must implement the palace rules.
If she doesn't do so,
that is going against the ancestors.
This bunch of dog-like slaves,
you're easily trusting the bewitching of this servant.
Do you all know what will happen to you in the end?
You all will lose your head
one by one along with her.
Don't listen to Yingluo!
Her Highness Empress did instruct us to protect Noble Lady Yu,
but she didn't say that we must protect the child.
When she returns, she might even regret it.
Sister Mingyu is right.
What if Her Highness returns and instead punish us for this?
Quickly retreat!
The golden seal of Empress is here! Who dares to take a step back?!
Anyone who sees this golden seal is like seeing Her Highness Empress herself.
Whether Fifth Prince is indeed sick,
and how Noble Lady Yu should be dealt with,
we must all wait for the decree of Her Highness Empress. Any person
isn't allowed to take any arbitrary action
His Majesty has arrived!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty... - What has happened?
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! Fifth Prince...
Your Majesty,
the little prince was born with golden pupils. His whole body is yellow.
Empress isn't in the palace. I'm enforcing the palace law in her behalf.
I was just about to punish the mother and child,
but who knew that the servants of Changchun Palace would publicly stop me.
Your Majesty, I dare not hinder Noble Consort in implementing the law.
It's just that Her Highness Empress repeatedly instructed
that we all must protect Noble Lady Yu.
Before Empress returns, no one is allowed to make punishments without permission.
Moreover, whether little prince is indeed sick or not,
how could we just make conclusion based on what we see. We should at least have it checked by an imperial physician, right?
This action of Her Highness Noble Consort is too hasty.
Your Highness, there's nothing impossible in this vast world.
Maybe Prince's golden pupils is just because of some strange illness.
Your Majesty, my child most likely has some weird illness.
I beg Your Majesty...
I beg Your Majesty to immediately have him treated. Your Majesty...
- Li Yu. - I am here.
Call the Imperial Medical College for a consult.
Yes.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Noble Lady, it's fine now.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Is the Prince sick?
I've seen a lot of baby with yellowish face, but I've never seen a case
- where the pupils are also golden yellow. - Don't!
Medical Investigator Zhang, is there really no way to cure him?
This is not an illness, so there's no way to cure it.
There is no such thing as a child with golden pupils in this world.
- Nonsense! Your Majesty! - Noble Lady...!
Prince isn't sick! Your Majesty!
I beg you to save my little prince!
Assist Noble Lady Yu out of here.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, please save the little prince!
- Your Majesty! - Noble Lady...
Your Majesty...
Give me back my child!
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty, you've heard it yourself. - Your Majesty—
I know that Your Majesty is unwilling to do it.
But if we don't resolve it today,
if the sun rises tomorrow,
the news that a noble lady of the Forbidden Palace has given birth to a child with golden pupils
will spread to the empire as if it has wings.
I fear that people will be in panic and it will be hard to handle the consequences.
Hence, I hardened my heart
all for Your Majesty's sake, for the Qing Empire.
Even if everyone will blame me for it, I won't mind.
Your Majesty, why are you still hesitating?
Your Majesty!
Look. Although the little prince
is yellowish all over, his cry is very strong.
Your Majesty, he's a live person.
He is connected with Your Majesty by blood.
How could you just kill him so easily?
Isn't Empress being too kind?
How could she have indulged a palace maid to act like this?
When your masters are talking, how could you interfere?
Hand over the child.
Your Majesty, the imperial physicians
have been on duty in the palace throughout the year.
Although their medical skills are exquisite, the cases they've seen may not be that many.
Maybe, they just committed a misdiagnosis.
Nonsense! Could a distinguished imperial physician of the Imperial Medical College
have less knowledge and experience than a palace maid like you?
Your Majesty, although I'm well-versed in children's illnesses,
there is no impossible in this vast world.
Maybe there are still a lot of strange illnesses that I've never had a chance to be in contact with.
Just because you haven't seen it, you can't deny its existence.
Medical Investigator Zhang, are you old and muddled?!
A matter that you yourself isn't sure of, you dare report it to His Majesty?
If a problem indeed occur, a natural calamity or a human-made disaster,
can you bear the crime?
Your Majesty, this concerns the fortune of the Qing Empire.
You mustn't be soft-hearted.
Your Majesty, suffered hardships just to give birth to Fifth Prince.
The little prince has just opened his eyes.
The imperial harem is made up of thousands of imperial consorts.
Must you worry of not having any descendants in the future?
If there is a problem, it will lead to unending future trouble.
Your Majesty, you must not hesitate anymore.
Other than imperial physicians, there are still commoner doctors.
They tend to travel all over the world, so maybe, they've seen a strange illness like this.
Fifth Prince then will have a glimmer of chance.
What you mean is you want Your Majesty
to post bulletins announcing to the whole empire
that the little prince was born to have golden eyes?
We mustn't let the commoners
know such a thing, right?
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.♫