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 33
Yingluo, what did you call me earlier?
What porridge is this? How come it feels a bit like—
Don't change the subject.
Say it. What did you call me?
You risked your life to cover up for me.
I willingly said that 'brother' earlier.
From now on, I'm your Little Sister Yin.
We will share the blessings and the hardships.
That's all?
Wei Yingluo, when people become sworn brothers, they have to bow to the heaven and earth.
You mustn't brush me off this easily.
Brother, couples getting married are the ones bowing to the heaven and earth.
For sworn brothers, it's called burning incense and bowing.
Yes... Anyway, this is a very sacred thing.
I want your birth day and hour.
We still must to get tablets for the heaven and earth. Okay?
We've already fallen into this state.
Make it simpler...
No, we mustn't!
You're the only little sister I have in this life.
How could it be done so simply?
Let's exchange age cards later.
Brother, that's not called age card.
It's called golden orchid card.
Fine...who cares.
Anyway, later, let's write an age card.
You eat first. After eating, you must write an age card.
Wei Yingluo.
What's that for?
Promise me that you'll write an age card after you eat.
Fine... Age card then.
Miss Mingyu!
Imperial Guard Fuca?
Imperial Guard Fuca, you need anything from me?
Miss Mingyu, is it convenient for you to come out so we can talk?
You're not afraid that I'll pester you?
You're not that kind of person.
That's right. I'm able to put down what I lift.
Miss MIngyu, can you come out to talk?
Imperial Guard Fuca.
What did he tell you?
- Secret.- Hey!
I heard that when Noble Consort died,
her two sisters also followed her.
Lower down your voice.
But now that Noble Consort is gone,
Empress will be dying soon too.
What nonsense are you saying?!
Let go!
Her Highness Empress is currently recuperating.
What you said is very disrespectful.
I didn't say rubbish.
All the people in Changchun palace are saying that empress' high fever is not abating.
Her illness has gotten worst.
Let go. You're sick.
You always..
...fall sleep before midnight.
How come it's you?
Her Highness Empress, she...
Young Master, you devised this trick to fool me.
Her Highness Empress is completely fine. Am I right?
After seeing me, you already knew that it was a setup.
It means that you're not that dumb.
Do you know how hard it is for me to come here to Changchun Palace?
You still tricked me like this?
You were once a high ranking palace maid by the side of the Empress.
Visiting your old mistress is not forgetting your origin.
You totally can come here in an open and upright manner.
Why do it in a sneaky manner like climbing through the window?
I...
Since you've been caught by me,
stop being sneaky.
Come here in an open and upright manner.
I'm not coming anymore.
What do you want?
Whenever Mingyu is on duty,
there won't be anyone here during zi time (11 pm to 1 am).
You can come to see empress again.
Remember, only during zi time.
Okay already. Climb out now.
Fuheng!
It wasn't easy for me to come here and visit Her Highness Empress.
I should at least see her before leaving, right?
Yingluo.
Don't forget the words I said.
Or else, I'll remind you every time I see you.
If you want to stay here in Workhouse, I'll wait for you.
I'll wait until you're able to let go of your grudges and put down your burdens.
No matter how long,
even if I have to spend my whole life, I will wait for that day.
Imperial Guard Fuca.
Miss Mingyu, thank you.
You don't need to thank me.
But...regarding Noble Consort, was it really her doing?
Okay. Okay. I won't ask anymore.
For her to visit empress, it means she's still has a conscience.
From now on, I will secretly let her in when I'm on duty. You don't need to worry.
Imperial Noble Consort Gao has provided merit, prestige, and auspiciousness when she was alive. She assisted in managing the imperial harem.
Is well-versed in painting and history. Is kind, benevolent, and has been part of the imperial harem at a young age.
She was a good assistance in cleaning the harem; was sincerely filial.
Has a majestic prestige; well-trained in being stately and poised.
She is regarded with esteem, regarded as an auspicious object.
She didn't let her title be in vain.
The imperial harem has lost a model.
Hence, I'm now conferring her the posthumous title Imperial Noble Consort Huixian.
Just like that. Spread the decree.
Yes.
Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department are in conflict with some funeral matters.
They want to ask you to decide.
Empress is gravely ill
and unable to manage such affairs.
You just decide on it.
In my opinion, let's follow the funeral rites of the deceased Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu.
Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and I shouldn't disturb you anymore.
I will take my leave now.
Consort Xian!
How is the health condition of Consort Xian?
Your Majesty, don't be anxious. I still have some words to ask.
Zhen'er, did Her Highness still have other symptoms today?
Her Highness would frequently have fever and cough at night, produce sputum in the morning.
Whenever she coughs, she'll describe an unbearable pain on her chest.
Zhen'er don't make up things.
Your Highness, you're already this ill.
You just wouldn't invite any imperial physician to check you and just endured it.
What if you really get sick, what would we do then?
Your Majesty, don't listen to Zhen'er. I indeed was coughing a few days ago.
I'm already better today.
Your Highness, you're so wrong.
Having chest pain when coughing is because the coughing is dragging one's chest, hence, the pain.
You mustn't belittle it.
Zhen'er, be honest. How is Consort Xian's health lately?
Your Majesty, the wound of Her Highness has repeatedly ulcerated and swelled. I couldn't bear to look at it anymore.
But just to handle the funeral of Noble Consort,
she still stubbornly went to Chuxiu Palace to handle the affairs despite being sick.
I've urged her so many times, but she wouldn't listen.
Zhen'er, stop saying it.
You all go out first.
Yes.
Consort Xian, you're gravely ill.
Why didn't you tell me?
It's all Zhen'er's fault for exaggerating things.
I'm really fine.
The wound is already ulcerating and you still say you're fine?
No. Put down all the things you're handling right now.
I will entrust the funeral of Noble Consort
to a funeral officer.
Your Majesty.
Listen to me. Just go back and recuperate in peace.
I was entrusted by Empress Dowager to temporarily handle the affairs in the palace.
How could I just put down everything just because of a measly illness?
Empress is gravely ill and Noble Consort left so suddenly.
The hearts of people are currently stirring and gossips are spreading.
Even if I'm ill, I must endure it until the next few days.
It would be fine after the funeral of Noble Consort.
I promise you that after this matter, I will focus on recuperating.
Why are you this stubborn?
What are you doing? Quickly get up.
Please allow my request.
Let me finish my task so I can be at ease.
I promise you that after the funeral of Noble Consort,
I will not meddle with any affairs anymore, go back to Changqian Palace, and reuperate in peace.
Your Majesty, Consort Xian is gentle and kind.
Has a lofty moral character.
Since she started handling the palace affairs, everyone has been praising her.
It's really a rare feat.
When Noble Consort was still alive,
she would always make things hard for her.
Sometimes, even I couldn't take it.
But she? She totally didn't mind it.
While dragging her sickly body, she kept going around and busying herself
for the funeral of Noble Consort.
If the soul of Noble Lady Gao can hear us,
she must feel so ashamed right now.
What you said is so right.
I also respect and admire Consort Xian a lot.
Consort Xian has attended to you since you were a prince.
Although she currently still has no children,
But, she's a very considerate person.
While handling the funeral matters, she still didn't forget
to come here to Shoukang Palace to greet and take care of me.
If the imperial consorts here in the palace could be at least half like her,
I don't need to worry anymore.
Are you reminding me
that it's time to promote Consort Xian?
That's just one reason.
I want to remind you
When the flower has blossomed and right for picking, then pick it.
Don't wait when there are no more flowers to start picking.
You should learn to cherish the person in front of you.
Yes.
As mandated by the heaven, His Majesty is giving this decree.
Consort Xian from the Hoifa-Nara Clan has a gentle and docile temperament.
Has a kind character. Today, she's being promoted to a Noble Consort
to show my graces and care. That's all.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Highness,
Doctor Ye said
that if you keep lying down like this,
it will affect your walking and recovery in the future.
Your Highness, I miss you.
I want to hear your voice.
Even if it's a scolding, I'm fine with it.
Please open your eyes.
Okay?
Greetings, Your Majesty!
Don't follow me inside anymore. I want to talk to empress in private.
Your Majesty!
Chief Steward Li, while His Majesty is inside, he would need someone to attend to him.
If I'm inside, it would be more convenient to serve him water or tea.
Didn't His Majesty already say that he wants to speak to empress alone.
Do you want to disobey his decree?
Empress,
I want to look for someone to speak with.
But in this huge Forbidden City,
I couldn't even find a person that can hear me speak.
How good it would be
if you're awake right now?
There were a lot of things that happened in the palace lately.
Noble Consort Gao has died.
She entered my Prince Manor when she was 14.
She accompanied me for 12 years. I know
that she has always yearned for care and love.
But what I can give her is just the title Imperial Noble Consort.
I was sad
for her death.
But if given another chance,
I will still make the same choice.
Guess who I am.
Wan'er's mother is my nurse maid.
She accompanied me growing up.
I was closer to her than other people.
But because of kidding around,
she was executed by Royal Father.
At the start, I bore hatred and grudges.
Until that year that Noble Consort Nian died,
I saw with my own eyes
how Royal Father drove everyone away
and cried in front of her coffin.
In just a month after Noble Consort Nian died,
Nian Gengyao got removed of his noble title and position.
Only then did I suddenly understand.
Wan'er's death is a warning from Royal Father.
As an emperor,
I can dote on my imperial consorts
but I can't love them.
My special treatment with Wan'er
is also her death amulet.
Empress...you can hear me, right?
Empress.
Empress,
do you also feel that I am
cold-blooded and heartless?
I wasn't good to you.
I also wasn't good to Noble Consort--
Come out.
That annoying person has finally left?
What do you think?
Put down the tea and leave.
I was forced.
Why were you hiding here?
Your Majesty, I came to visit Her Highness Empress.
I heard footsteps, panicked,
so I hid behind the curtain.
Who allowed you to sneak into here?
Your Majesty,
I miss Her Highness Empress.
You indeed should be grateful to empress.
But the more you should have fear.
Because without her protection,
I can kill you anytime.
Your Highness!
Your Majesty, the hand of Her Highness moved a bit earlier!
Hand...her hand moved.
This...hand--
Your HIghness, it's time to take your medicine.
Didn't I already take it?
That was a medicine take in to nurse your internal health.
This one is Persian white jade cream. It mainly used Persian white jade powder,
cinnabar, and white otter spine to make.
If you apply it everyday, it can hasten the healing of your wound.
It can also remove scars.
Your Highness, that cream is so precious!
Why did you just casually throw it away?
If this wound would indeed leave a scar, it may be too late to have regrets.
I exactly want it to scar.
It's best if it can leave a deep impression in the heart of His Majesty.
Let him forever remember
that I got hurt because of him.
Imperial Guard Fuca.
May I ask what your instructions are, Your Highness Consort Chun?
There were a lot of happenings in the palace lately. First, Her Highness Empress fell ill.
Next, Noble Consort Gao died. Changchun Palace is after all is part of the deep inner palace.
If Imperial Guard Fuca keeps going in and out from it, it can't be helped for criticisms to arise.
Your Highness Consort Chun, Empress is my older sister.
His Majesty also allowed me to visit her.
May I ask what you mean by your advice?
I recently heard of a rumor.
It's about Imperial Guard Fuca being infatuated and in love with Wei Yingluo,
hence, you refused the marriage bestowed by His Majesty.
It's really absurd.
Imperial guard came from an illustrious family and you have a noble character.
How could you have a private affair with a palace maid?
The person spreading this kind of rumor is clearly harboring evil intentions.
However, even if it's just a rumor,
as time goes by, it can't be helped for it to reach the ears of His Majesty.
It might affect your future.
It's not a rumor. Thank you for your warning.
This is my private matter. It's inconvenient for me to tell you more.
I'll take my leave.
Forbidden City is a place where waves can occur even without any wind.
To survive here,
you must be very careful and cautious at all times.
Imperial Guard Fuca, you are the biological brother of empress
and a close subject to the emperor.
You are destined to go up the ranks.
Don't get bewitched by a woman and destroy your future.
Your Highness, you're out of line.
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
Your Highness!
What's wrong with you?
[Chunhe] (Courtesy name of Fuca Fuheng)
Your Highness, we've agreed that you won't write anymore.
Why have you forgotten it?
If people see it, you'll get executed.
Executed?
Yes. Not only your reputation will get tarnished, even Imperial Guard Fuca—
Don't mention him!
Chunhe...
I remember everything, but he doesn't anymore.
These past years, all the hard work I've done
have become a joke.
I took notice of all the women from noble families in the capital.
I endured the heart ache
and recommended them to empress, Made plans for him.
Because I know
that one day, he'll marry and have children.
Hence, I'm going to choose the most beautiful
and best lady to accompany him.
But he?
He actually fell in love with a lady from the Workhouse.
This is totally the worst joke!
Your Highness, that is a matter of the Fuca Family.
Why must you torment yourself?
I've assisted empress for so many years.
Now, Fuheng has committed a mistake.
How could I not share the burden of empress?
Your Highness, what are you doing?
Call the supervisor of Workhouse.
Your father didn't focus on managing the flooding, and instead want to return to the capital to attend the funeral.
This is so disappointing.
Replying to Your Majesty, father has always put importance to family.
Plus the fact that Noble Consort suddenly died, and my two little sisters...
This for father is such a huge blow.
Shut up! The affection between a father and her daughter
is a natural thing.
There's actually nothing wrong with him returning to the capital to attend the funeral.
However, there are currently flooding everywhere.
Several hundreds of thousands of refugees have no home to go back to.
Their homes have become a vast body of water.
Their loved ones have becomes starved dead bodies.
Who can save them then?
Manager of External Rivers Chen Kejun,
Manager of Sea Defense Wang Dexuan,
have a deficit of at least 30,000 taels.
As the river channels governor-general, Gao Bin
didn't even notice it. He acted as if it's just normal.
I can endure all that. I just hope that he can focus on controlling the flooding.
But he only thought of returning to the capital.
That is a crime punishable by death!
Your Majesty, please forgive him. Please calm down.
Quickly get out!
I will take my leave.
Your Majesty, please calm down.
Spread my decree. Gao Bin has obtained huge imperial graces,
but he didn't know how to repay it. He's being stripped off of his post,
but will stay to work so as to pay for his crime.
Your Majesty.
What hour is it?
Your Majesty, it's already the rat hour.
Your servant greeting Your Majesty's royal wellness.
Your Majesty, I will never allow Wei Yingluo to enter.
Is she here?
You need me to ask you again?
She's in the back garden.
Your Majesty, your servant is with offense.
What are you holding?
Prescription by Physician Ye.
I wanted to do something for Her Highness the Empress.
So I gathered this chore.
Get on up.
You are indeed devoted to Empress.
Your Majesty, Her Highness is sincere with you as well.
The women of the harem.
They either want to fight for my favor.
Or they want to me to grant them a title.
Or a reward.
What is their difference in nature?
Your Majesty, Her Highness is different.
I know.
Empress seeks sincerity.
But why doesn't she think?
As an emperor, the lives of millions are in my bequeath.
The master of the world. How can he behold the sentiments of love and longing?
Your Majesty is saying,
Empress is short-sighted and inconsiderate?
Have I said it wrong?
Now, floodings are raging with uncountable refugees.
I am pouring all the power of the nation into controlling the rivers.
But the officials in charge of managing the rivers,
making layer after layer of false reports to fill private coffers.
Now the refugees outside of the capital are one or two thousands.
I am burning with anxiety and unable to sleep.
But what are the imperial harem doing?
Your Majesty. Since birth,
women are confined to one corner of the world.
Even after marriage,
she is only transferring from one cage to another cage.
Clearly a pampered yellow oriole.
How can it be like the eagle, seeing the wide sight and soaring over the four seas?
Don't forget. A cage.
It's created meticulously by the men of the world.
Pompous.
I misspoke. May Your Majesty forgive.
I am muddled now.
To hear the ignorant palace maid speak these.
Quietly listen to the drippings of the palace.
The house shielded for a moment from the rampant bustling.
And nothing is more entertaining than poetry.
With perfect timing of dim scents delivered by the plum shoots
You can recite my poetry?
Her Highness just taught me the Four Books and Five Classics.
Then she started to teach me Your Majesty's poetry and prose.
I defied but Her Highness insisted it.
Since His Majesty's ascension to throne, he has been devoted to governing.
Cultivating deserted land into farmland, stopped political posts gained through bribery.
Attaching importance to agriculture. Exonerating wrongly jailed.
Rescuing the people from fire and water disasters.
So he is a good emperor.
She really said so?
Yes.
I want to be a sage king.
But reality tells me,
it's truly too difficult.
This empire is like a giant ship.
I want to helm it well.
But again and again I am foiled, losing my direction.
Your Majesty. Wuzhong once had a folk rhyme.
Qianlong treasure helps you selected.
Qianlong money, hundred million years.
I know all your doings,
the people remember it in their hearts and see with their eyes.
I know the nation is vast and incidents are many.
But Your Majesty just needs to take on one by one,
even if the results aren't to your satisfaction,
it still leaves you guiltfree to yourself and to the heavens.
Guiltfree to heavens?
That saying. I will remember it.
Actually, all your poetry and prose.
Her Highness can recite them masterfully.
Not because your poetry skills are outstanding.
But because she wants to comprehend your thinking and your desires.
She wants to know when you are joyful and when you're sad.
If you wish to tell all your troubles to her,
you won't need to worry no one understands you in the world.
You talk in such a large circle and it's still for Empress's sake.
She didn't pamper you for nothing.
No.
You say it again.
If you are willing to tell your thoughts to Empress,
you won't need to worry no one understands you.
No. Not that one. You said you kept defying it.
And you said my poetry skills aren't outstanding. What did you mean?
Wei Yingluo, you dare to reject me?
Her Highness is waiting. Your servant takes her leave first.
Hengchen (Zhang Tingyu), you are director of affairs.
Do you know the yearly balance of our treasury?
Your Majesty, if you wish to know,
I will have Accounting Department investigate and report.
Ortai, how about you?
Your Majesty, I will go now to . . .
You all don't need to. I know it.
My first year in reign.
Accounts Department held 33 million and 950 thousand.
Second year, 34 million and 380 thousand.
And by this year, 33 million and 170 thousand.
Other than the treasury account, the various provincial treasuries,
all can be said are plenty,
so I will remit the national tax.
Your Majesty. Each year, the endowments,
pay for government and army salaries and various expenses.
The remainder is less than two million.
That doesn't pay enough for water and drought relief.
If we remit all the taxes now,
we would be adding frost to snow.
The accounting department will run insufficient.
61st reign of my imperial grandfather.
He pardoned taxes once.
My royal father always put effort into reducing levy.
I want to carry on the narration.
I confer a special decree.
In the year of Fire Tiger (1746), all taxes are remitted.
What wrong is there in that?
Your Majesty, Emperor Kangxi's 49th year in reign, a remittance decree was issued.
And Your Majesty has only been in reign for 10 years.
This move is perhaps too rushed.
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.♫
♫ 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?♫