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 PalaceEpisode 27
Your Highness, you're awake.
That thing earlier must have startled you.
A little eunuch
carelessly bumped into the room divider.
His Majesty got so mad
and left in rage.
So, that's what happened.
I thought some huge problem happened.
The most important thing now in Changchun Palace is your pregnancy.
Nothing is more important than that.
Yingluo, someone recommended earlier to give you to His Majesty.
Are you willing?
Your Highness Empress, I don't want to.
Why?
You have always been proud and arrogant.
If one day, you become an imperial consort,
no one would dare bully you anymore.
Yingluo, this is a grace from Her Highness.
You must think about it clearly before replying.
If you really become an imperial consort, others will treat you differently.
I thank Erqing's good intention,
but I'm unable to bear it.
Haven't you always been loyal to Her Highness?
Now that Her Highness is pregnant, she can't attend to His Majesty anymore.
If you do it in her behalf, that's the greatest kind of displaying loyalty.
I owe Your Highness great debt of gratitude.
Even if I sacrifice my life, it's not enough to repay it.
If I become His Majesty's imperial consort,
but didn't get favored, how would I display my loyalty?
If I did get favored, I bore him a child,
and after a period of time, I developed selfish intentions,
could I still whole-heartedly display loyalty to you?
That is my public reason.
What about your personal reason?
To say some sharp words, in my heart,
you are not only my mistress,
you are my benefactor.
I've long treated you as my real sister.
I've made an oath to loyally serve you forever.
His Majesty is your husband.
He's the most important person in your heart.
Even if all women in this world becomes His Majesty's imperial consort,
I can never be.
Once I do that, it's betraying Your Highness.
It's also betraying my oath.
Erqing, did you hear that?
Yingluo said it right.
Come over here.
Yingluo,
you didn't disappoint me.
Don't worry.
I will also not let you attend to His Majesty.
Because if I do that, that's giving you injustice.
One day,
I surely will marry you off in a grand manner.
Thank you for you great graces.
Stop right there!
What is it, Yingluo?
What did you say to Her Highness Empress earlier?
Don't overthink.
I was just thinking for the sake of Her Highness Empress,
hence, I made such a suggestion.
Okay.
Since that's the case, let me tell you
that Her Highness Empress isn't a person that will use her personal attendant to earn the favor of His Majesty,
so please don't ever mention this matter again.
Yingluo, why did you suddenly become so serious?
You're scaring me.
It's just normal here in the palace for consorts to try to maintain favor.
I just overthought things and considered you as such a person too.
I won't mention it again next time.
Erqing,
you've been serving Her Highness Empress for so many years.
You surely can see her sincere love towards His Majesty.
But because of palace rules, she can't openly express it.
If the people by her side whom she trusts the most
would try to seek His Majesty's favor while she is pregnant,
that would be a huge blow to her.
That's why, not only will I not go,
I also would not allow anyone here in Changchun Palace to develop such thoughts.
Sister.
Sister, how come you have the free time to come to my place today?
This painting looks very familiar.
That's part of Her Highness Empress' collection that I borrowed to appreciate.
I remember.
This must be the 'Landscape of the Four Seasons' that Imperial Guard Fuca gifted her.
It's indeed a rare exquisite art in this world.
Can I borrow it?
Yuhu.
Little sister, I'm borrowing a genuine painting from you. Once I'm done copying it, I'll return it to you.
But today, you're lending me an imitation. Isn't that being too petty?
Sister, I apologize for that. The genuine copy must be returned to Her Highness Empress.
If it suffers any damage, I don't know how I would explain that to her.
Hence, I could only lend you my imitation copy to appreciate.
Little sister, your copy version is also a treasure. I will cherish it.
Your Highness, what are you thinking?
Zhen'er, what kind of person do you think Consort Chun is?
That, I couldn't say precisely.
But everyone here in the palace knows that Consort Chun is devoted to Empress.
She never had any intentions of competing for favors with her. She's a hardcore ally of hers.
That's right. There was even a time that gossips spread because of their intimate relation.
Tell me, what do you think Consort Chun is aiming for?
If she doesn't have any ulterior motive, she should be trying her best to get near His Majesty.
Why would one seek the favor of the empress instead? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?
In my opinion, Consort Chun is sincere with the empress.
Putting the cart before the horse?
Wrong. It might be that the person who Consort Chun wants to get near to is someone else.
Eunuch Desheng.
Miss Yingluo.
After hearing His Majesty's getting so angry, you also immediately changed direction.
Aren't you changing too fast?
Look at what you're saying, Miss Yingluo.
It's not that I'm avoiding you.
It's just that the Bureau of Astronomy predicted that there will be lightning tomorrow,
so I'm rushing to announce it to all the palaces
and ask them to be more vigilant.
Lightning?
It's common to rain during the rainy season, and lightning are a normal occurrence.
Is there anything strange about that?
There's something you don't know. This time, giant lightning clouds will gather in the sky.
It's better to inform everyone beforehand, so as to prevent scaring the mistresses.
Giant lightning?
What do you want to say?
Miss Yingluo, forgive me for saying a few more.
The women who His Majesty wants
will surely be his. Am I right?
Also, you're unable to escape this Forbidden City.
Moreover, His Majesty is good-looking and talented. His the top person in this empire.
Aren't you seeking death by rejecting him like that?
Desheng. Where did you hear this matter?
It's not like what you're thinking.
I...wasn't thinking anything.
I wasn't thinking anything. I still have things to do. I'll be going now.
Giant lightning.
What are you doing?!
Yingluo, did His Majesty make things difficult for you?
- No.- You're lying.
Since you know that His Majesty will be unhappy, why did you still mention it?
I've already told you that I like you and I want to marry you.
Thank you for your good intentions.
I will forever remember it in my heart.
But...the objection of His Majesty
made me more clear-minded.
We are different people. We can never be together.
Yingluo, no matter what His Majesty says, it will not change my decision.
Fuheng! Your decision is none of my business!
If you don't like me, why did you gift me a fragrance pouch?
Yes. I admit. I like you.
But in my heart,
only seeking vengeance is the most important to me.
What men? What love?
I will never give them any importance!
As long as you hinder me, I can kick you aside.
This is me! Do you understand now?!
Is this your true thoughts?
Fuheng, starting today,
stay the farthest away from me that you can.
If you hinder me again, don't blame me for being heartless.
Young Master, for you, I can only do this. I must do this.
Sorry.
- Slowly.- Hold it tightly.
Tie it more tightly.
Will you be done soon?
Replying to Imperial Consort Dowager, they've delivered the window screen. We'll be done by noon.
I think you people are just treating us based on social status.
If Empress Dowager is still here in Shoukang Palace, this would have been done before the 7th month.
But now, we still have to keep inviting and asking for you. You clearly are lazing around.
How could I dare. This screen had to be especially ordered and made by the embroidery house.
They used the lightest and thinnest chiffonette.
It would take a lot of time and effort.
Who said that it's the lightest and thinnest chiffonette? I touched it earlier and it's so firm.
I think you have used a substandard product.
Miss Bailing, look at what you're saying. Even if you give 100 guts,
I dare not make a mistake here in Shoukang Palace.
Enough. Just let them hurry.
If there's nothing else, don't bother me. I'll go read my scriptures now.
Yes. Imperial Consort Dowager, be at ease.
You all heard it? You must finish it before sunset.
Yes.
Seal the gaps well. Don't let any mosquito fly in
and disturb Impress Consort Dowager.
Hurry up! Quickly finish it.
Looks like it will rain.
Manang, Feicui, hurry!
- Come! Hurry!- Sister Erqing, what is it?
Go get that oil cloth and cover the flowers. Quickly go.
Go!
You too.
Come. Hurry up.
Hurry! Hurry!
- Be nimble!- Help me out.
- Open it up.- Coming.
There. Please hold this for a while.
Everyone, move faster!
Okay.
Erqing!
- Come and help.- Why are you here?
Your hand hasn't fully recovered yet. Don't add to my trouble.
I'm unable to just sit down.
Hurry! Hurry! Be nimble!
Where's Wei Yingluo? How come she's not here at this time?
- I've let Zhenzhu look for her. Don't worry.- Help me out for a while.
That area too. Flatten it.
Hurry up! Flatten it out!
Erqing, Yingluo isn't in the stockroom.
It will rain soon. Where did she go?
- Forget it. Just go help out.- Okay.
Hurry up!
I have an urgent matter to seek an audience with Imperial Consort Dowager Yu. Please inform her.
Imperial Consort Dowager is currently meditating. No one is allowed to disturb her.
I must see her today.
- You can't go in.- Who do you think you are? You dare come to Shoukang Palace to seek an audience?
What? Imperial Consort Dowager Yu feels guilty and couldn't dare see me?
Wei Yingluo, I must remind you
that this is Shoukang Palace. It's not a place that people like you can casually enter.
In consideration for Changchun Palace, I'm leaving you some dignity.
While I still am not mad, quickly leave.
Imperial Consort Dowager Yu, I know about a big secret of Prince He of the First Rank.
I must immediately report it to you today!
Are you all wood?! Quickly drag her out!
- Imperial Consort Dowager Yu!- Servant!
This concerns your reputation and that of Prince He of the First Rank! I dare not report it!
- Quickly drag her!- Quickly come out!
I must immediately report it to you!
Imperial Consort Dowager Yu!
What's going on?
Imperial Consort Dowager, I think this maidservant has gone insane.
She dares to behave atrociously here. I'll kick her out now.
Wei Yingluo, have you forgotten my warning?
From now on, you better hide your tail in between your legs.
Stop offending me.
If you dare offend me again,
not only will your head fall,
your whole Wei Clan must die with you!
I didn't forget the warning of Imperial Consort Dowager Yu.
But sister died so tragically,
and I won't forget that more.
If in this life, I'm unable to seek justice for my sister,
expose the crimes of you and your son to the world,
I will not die in peace.
Everyone, listen!
On the 10th day of the 1st month, Prince He of the First Rank Hongzhou
trespassed into the inner palace and raped the embroidery maid A'Man.
That's the first crime. Just to cover up her son's crime, Imperial Consort Dowager Yu
didn't mind killing the innocent victim. That's the second crime.
- Is she saying the truth? - Impossible.
Raping a palace maid is a grave crime.
No matter how absurdly that Prince He of the First Rank acts, he surely couldn't do such a thing.
The two of them, one acts in a preposterous manner and is shameless.
One has such dignified appearance, but in reality, very ruthless.
Because I saw it, they even wanted to destroy the evidence and silence me!
Imperial Consort Dowager is the most benevolent person here in the palace.
She doesn't even eat meat, so how could she kill people?
But she's saying it with so much certainty.
If it's not true, why would she be this bold to come here to Shoukang Palace?
- Don't let her say it anymore.- Did you all hear it?!
If she didn't do it, why would she be afraid of gossips
- and stop me from saying it?! Did you all hear it?!- Wait.
Right and wrong will eventually be arbitrated. Justice is in the hearts of the people.
All my life, I've put my faith on Buddha and has been benevolent.
I've never wronged or killed anyone all my life.
Those words you said earlier are completely non-existent and absurd!
Wei Yingluo openly slandered Imperial Consort Dowager and committed the crime of disrespect that's punishable by death.
Quickly arrest her!
Imperial Consort Dowager kept claiming that she's a devoted Buddhist.
Do you dare swear by Buddha
that you never covered up the crimes of Prince of the First Rank,
that you never killed the innocent A'Man,
that you never used your status to bully others and covered the sky with one hand?
Let me tell you that being a vegetarian and praying Buddhist scripture everyday
won't be able to hide your bloody hands and grave sins.
If you say any lies,
the heaven will surely punish you.
Let you go down to the 18th level of Hell and never getting reincarnated!
Is the heaven making its presence felt? Are everything that she said true?
When I look up, I don't feel any guilt towards the heaven. When I look down, I don't feel any guilt towards earth.
No matter how much dirty water gets splashed on me,
I still can swear by all the deities in heaven
that I've been a good person and did only good deeds all my life.
I've never wronged or killed anyone.
If I've said any lies,
I'm willing to suffer the heaven's punishment.
Thunder God in heaven!
Please listen carefully to every word that Imperial Consort Dowager Yu said.
If she said any bit of lie,
please punish her in behalf of Buddha.
Wei Yingluo, anyone who slanders a kind person
would end up in tongue pulling level of hell.
I'm benevolent, so I won't punish you.
But based on palace rules, you're not allowed to spout rubbish and slander an innocent person.
This time, even the empress
won't be able to save you. Send her to the Office of Careful Punishment.
Thunder God, I earnestly pray to you!
If Imperial Consort Dowager is really a murderer,
- please employ justice in behalf of the heaven! Strictly punish the evil people!- Shut her up!
Please employ justice in behalf of the heaven! Strictly punish the evil people!
She's totally insane!
Please employ justice in behalf of the heaven!
Strictly punish the evil people!
Please employ justice in behalf of the heaven!
- Strictly punish the evil people!- Imperial Consort Dowager!
Imperial Consort Dowager!
Did you see it?!
Did you all see it?!
Quickly look for help! Quickly save Imperial Consort Dowager!
The heaven's thunder is upon us! Strictly punish the evil people!
This is heaven's will.
This is heaven's punishment!
This is heaven's will.
It's heaven's will.
Your Majesty! Imperial Consort Dowager Yu got struck by lightning.
Imperial Consort Dowager Yu has pretended to be sanctimonious all her life.
But starting today, when people mentions her,
they would only remember that she's an evil person
who suffered the heaven's wrath and shouldn't be tolerated by the world.
A sinner.
Sister,
I remember that you once told me
that a past palace maid has nowhere to rely on.
They can only be buried in a deep well.
I know that you don't really care getting buried in the Wei Family Tomb.
You also don't want to get separated from me.
I'll bury you here then.
Sister, hope that you'll find peace in the afterlife.
- What? What happened?- Have you heard?
- Something huge happened in Shoukang Palace last night.- What happened?
Everyone personally saw Imperial Consort Dowager Yu got struck by lightning.
She must have done bad things and suffered the punishment of the heaven.
How is that possible? Imperial Consort Dowager had been a vegetarian and would pray to Buddha all day. She was benevolent and always did good deeds.
She must be pretending to be good.
Now, Shoukang Palace is in a mess.
Chief Steward personally sent for people to handle her corpse.
He even scolded the servants there to not leak the news.
But how could such a huge incident be prevented from spreading?
Now, the news have spread all over Forbidden City.
Your Highness, what has happened?
Last night, Shoukang Palace got struck by lightning.
You were there, am I right?
Yes.
What were you doing there?
I heard that Imperial Consort Dowager Yu is the killer of my sister.
I especially asked her about it.
And then?
And then, she got struck by lightning and died.
I then came back without attaining anything.
You're still not going to tell me the truth?
Your Highness! I only asked Imperial Consort Dowager Yu if she's the killer.
Imperial Consort Dowager then made an oath that she never did anything wrong nor killed anyone.
If she said any lie, she'll then go to hell.
After saying that, there suddenly was a huge lightning from the sky,
and she just fell down.
Really?
Wei Yingluo! Are you still lying to me?!
Yes. I admit...that I was indeed disrespectful to Imperial Consort Dowager Yu.
But when the Thunder God appears, it mainly strucks evil and immoral people.
There were so many people there, but none got hurt.
All Imperial Dowager Yu got punished and killed by a lightning strike.
That proves that she did kill someone.
She even dared to swear by the heaven and angered it.
She's totally unforgivable!
You... You are so skillful in talking.
I don't want to argue with you.
Although Changchun Palace is huge,
it now can't accommodate the immensely bold Wei Yingluo!
Your Highness...
...you're driving me away?
Yes. Starting today,
I don't need you to attend to me.
Just go to Workhouse, reflect and repent on your mistakes.
Your Highness...
I've received huge graces from you.
I'm willing to loyally serve you for a lifetime.
Don't drive me away.
From now on, I'll be careful with my words and actions.
I won't contradict you anymore.
I don't need you to repay me.
Immediately pack your things.
Leave this place.
Your Highness, you're currently pregnant.
The whole palace is eyeing covetously.
Let me accompany you to have a safe delivery.
As long as you've delivered the little prince, I'll immediately leave.
I definitely won't stay to be an eyesore.
If Your Highness don't want to hear me explain,
I can stop talking.
I just beg you to let me stay.
Look at the manner you talk.
You're full of confidence and arrogance.
What? Without you here in Changchun Palace,
I won't be able to take good care of myself?
Erqing and Mingyu have served me for so many years.
Who among them is not more appropriate and give me less worries than you?
If I still let you stay, I'm just looking for trouble.
Leave! Immediately leave!
Your Highness Empress...
What Your Highness said is right.
I indeed like to incite trouble.
I dare not wish to stay anymore.
But I've received your graces,
I dare not forget that.
If one day, you'll need me,
I'm willing to offer my life in sacrifice
and serve you as payment for your kindness.
Stop saying it.
Immediately leave.
I...
...wish Your Highness...
...good health from now on...
...and be safe for a lifetime.
Your Highness Empress, Imperial Consort Dowager Yu indeed got punished by the heaven.
Everyone saw it. She was a sinner.
Why must you drive Yingluo away?
You all leave.
I want to be alone.
Your Highness.
Get out!
You go out too.
You can't leave!
Mingyu.
What are you doing?
Wei Yingluo, don't you usually have a lot of ideas.
Why don't you beg Her Highness Empress?
Empress is kind. If you didn't succeed on the first try, then persistently beg her.
If she gets soft-hearted,
won't you be able to stay then?
Mingyu, aren't you the one who wants me to leaven Changchun Palace the most?
Why are you asking me to stay?
Right. Once you leave,
no one will compete for Imperial Guard Fuca with me anymore.
Yes. Hence, you should be happy right now.
I...am happy.
I'm happy.
I must be happy.
You actually are not that evil.
I can forgive you.
Can you not leave?
Mingyu.
Stop crying.
You must remember my words.
Her Highness Empress is too kind.
She rarely guards against anyone.
But inside Forbidden City, it's hard to predict the intentions of people.
Once I leave, you must guard Changchun Palace well.
Meticulously check every item that Her Highness Empress will use.
No matter who it is,
you mustn't easily trust her.
If you encounter any difficulty,
you can come see me.
What are you afraid of? There's still Erqing.
Rather than trusting others,
it's better to trust oneself.
You must remember my words very well.
Don't forget.
[Changchun Palace]
Stop right there! Don't run!
Once I catch you...
What happened last night?
Bailing, His Majesty is asking you a question.
Lightning...heaven's lightning! A beam of light passed by.
Imperial Consort Dowager is gone! Gone! Gone!
Lightning?
Your Majesty, since the past empire, there were a lot of palaces that are burned down after getting hit by lightning.
It's just that, I didn't expect Imperial Consort Dowager would unfortunately die because of it.
This is too pitiful.
No! It's that woman!
It's her! It must be her!
Imperial Consort Dowager killed her sister. She then had a lightning struck Imperial Consort Dowager to death.
She's so scary! She's so frightening!
Who is she?
Your Majesty, Bailing personally saw Imperial Consort Dowager getting struck by lightning and has become confused because of it.
Her words now are also full of rubbish. Don't easily believe her.
I'm asking you all. Who is the woman that Bailing is talking about?
Replying to Your Majesty, it's the top level palace maid of Changchun Palace, Wei Yingluo.
She came and intensely asked Imperial Consort Dowager if she killed her sister.
Imperial Consort Dowager then swore by the heaven that if she did kill anyone, she's willing to be punished by the heaven.
Afterwards, a beam of lightning...
It's Wei Yingluo again.
Your Majesty, it's because Imperial Consort Dowager lied to the gods. This is heaven's punishment.
That's right, Your Majesty. I personally saw it. After just saying it, the lightning struck.
It's because Imperial Consort Dowager angered the gods in heaven, hence, got punished like this.
That's right...
Greetings, Your Majesty.
No need. Go look at your mother.
Mother!
Your Highness Empress, His Majesty suddenly came.
He's very mad and I don't know for what reasons.
Your Highness, what's wrong?
How come you're not anxious at all?
What will come will come.
- Li Yu! Immediately arrest Wei Yingluo!- Yes!
No need to go.
She's already not here.
What do you mean?
Wei Yingluo offended me by her words.
I got mad.
I punished her to do hard labor in the Workhouse.
Your Majesty, you're a step late.
Looks like Empress knew what happened,
that's why, you deliberately punished her first,
so that she can avoid interrogation.
If you're talking about the matter of Imperial Consort Dowager Yu,
that's most likely a misunderstanding.
This matter has nothing to do with her.
What's puzzling me
is you kept defending her.
What magic does she has on her
that you got fooled like this?
Even if you sent her to the Workhouse,
I still will not let her off!
Your Majesty, don't you want to know why I kept defending Wei Yingluo?
Are you willing to say it?
Because...
...she's my hope.
What did you say?
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
♫Softly falling into the hollow of my palm,♫
♫Resting frozen in the center of my palm.♫
♫Our meeting across past incarnations was inevitable,♫
♫Joined together, deeply experiencing and holding onto the end of happiness.♫
♫Though plainly given words of discouragement,♫
♫Pretending to hear nothing but exhortation.♫
♫ Endless tears, believing it cannot be true,♫
♫ In this life, being born under an unlucky star.♫
♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫
♫ Though I close my eyes, it's impossible to stop the vision.♫
♫ Nothing you can do about being approached, not being inconsistent in love,♫
♫ Though merely holding onto it from the outside, prone to this sort of circumstance.♫
♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫
♫ As though you are holding me closely, and speaking sweetly.♫
♫ Opening your eyes to a sky filled with merciless snow falling,♫
♫ Who, after suffering this loss for a lifetime, is fond of this scene?♫