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.
Yanxi Palace Episode 42
You can tell me the truth now, right?
The silver needle in your body was Noble Consort Chun's doing?
Is it?
Yingluo. The two years I was in Zhongcui Palace.
Noble Consort Chun was very good to me all along.
Especially in His Majesty's presence.
But three days ago,
I discovered Wang Zhong who was the supervisor at fire house back then.
With Yuhu.
The oversight by the eunuch in the fire house
caused the Lucky Urn to ice up.
7th Prince died in the fire.
Because Wang Zhong wasn't on shift that night,
he luckily escaped the blame.
But an eunuch and a palace maid smitten is a common happening in the palace.
So I didn't think otherwise.
But Yuhu felt guilty.
And she reported the incident to Noble Consort Chun.
From that day on they changed completely.
Let go of me.
They want to threaten me to keep my mouth shut.
So I started to suspect,
that 7th Prince's death.
It's linked to Noble Consort Chun.
You discovered them.
But they didn't kill you immediately because there are lots of people and lots of talking mouths in the forbidden city.
If you die suddenly,
His Majesty would surely suspect.
But they're still afraid you might show yourself.
So this trip to Yuanming Garden.
They never planned to let you go back alive.
Mingyu.
How are you so foolish? Why didn't you tell me sooner?
I can't say it.
Yingluo. I can't say it.
Now Noble Consort Chun is the most favored consort in the forbidden city.
His Majesty's favorite.
I have no evidence against Noble Consort Chun.
It's one thing if I lose my life.
My family will be hit by it.
You're right.
If we don't have sure win, we can't act recklessly.
Yingluo. Empress is gone now.
If you commit a wrong again, who can protect you?
Noble Consort Chun is high and mighty now. We can't be eggs throwing ourselves at rocks.
Yes. No one will protect us.
In order to avenge or Empress, we need to find a mountain to lean on first.
Save the fire.
I did not kill A'Man.
If you don't believe me, you can use this dagger now.
To stab into my heart.
Yingluo, everything you said to me before.
Every smile you blossomed at me.
They encircle on my mind over and over.
Even if I know clearly you are deceiving me.
I don't want to believe it.
When you can give up your grudge.
And lay down your revenge. No matter how long it takes.
Even if it's my entire life. I will wait for you.
Hey.
Your arm, lower.
Look at the bow well. Your gaze should follow here and there.
Here. Straight to the front.
Try it.
Guard Zoulun.
Sir Hai, you have a sweetheart at Yuanming Garden too?
I know! If Miss Mingyu finds out,
she would be so sad.
Yes, it's true.
You're craving some floggings? Continue.
Let's train.
Guard Suolun.
Miss Yingluo, you can just call me Hailan Cha.
Actually I came today to see you,
because I have a favor to ask of you.
Alright.
I haven't said it.
Do you know what favor I might ask you that you just say yes?
Before Fuheng left, he told me no matter what needs Miss Yingluo might have,
I must help you no matter what. He's my best buddy.
Someone he trusts, I trust too.
Go ahead. What do you need help with?
Brother. Time to eat.
Yingluo,
usually it's me delivering food to you.
What's the change for today?
You're delivering food to me?
Tell me. Did you do something guilty?
Brother.
These two years, I've remembered how good you treat me.
What's wrong? I suddenly become aware of my conscience and I'm good to you.
I can't?
Yingluo. You promised me.
No matter what changes happen in the outside world,
the two of us will always stay together at Yuanming Garden.
You agreed we would never part. Don't go back on it now.
The food's getting cold. Let's eat first.
Why are you staring at me like that?
Um, about my room. The roof's leaking a bit.
I'm afraid a big rain will come one day.
Brother. Tomorrow if you have time, can you mend it for me?
No problem. I got it.
Look, Sister. So beautiful over there.
May Empress Dowager release.
Alright. Good.
Good.
Namo Amitabha.
What is that?
How is there a multicolored bird in Yuanming Garden?
Sister Shu, look.
Jaw of a swallow but beak of a chicken, and multicolored.
- Can it be . . .- So strange.
Who raises these birds?
Empress Dowager is asking. Who is raising these birds?
Greetings to Empress Dowager, to Your Majesty, to Empress and all mistresses.
These birds, before their release,
were all taken care of by me.
Then tell me, that bird,
what is its name?
I've never seen it either.
I dare to guess,
that it's a phoenix.
Utter nonsense.
Yuanming Garden raises common birds, so where would a phoenix come from?
On Empress Dowager's birthday. The tradition of releasing lives.
Such mercy has attracted the king of all birds.
This is the heavens showing Empress Dowager's merit.
Hence the appearance of the auspicious sign.
The world is full of rarities.
But such an amusement is a first for me.
Emperor, do you think she is right?
Empress Dowager, once the sky showed the auspicious sign of five stars beaded together.
Great Emperor Kangxi was a man of logic and would not believe.
And he hated such hoaxing of auspicious signs.
However, her diligent devotion is to court your merriment.
Not rewarding and not punishing would do.
Empress Dowager, His Majesty is right.
It's surely that palace maid tinting the bird with multiple colors beforehand.
Hiding it inside the bird cage to incite your merriment on purpose.
She's anxious to seek a reward.
Wei Yingluo, you sure are bold.
This is a crime of deception to the emperor.
She's just amusing a smile out of Empress Dowager.
It's not as serious as all you sisters claim.
Empress is merciful and lenient with everyone.
However, this palace maid is showing off before the crowd.
Trying to charm while everyone is watching.
If everyone is like her, the palace . . .
It will become such a chaos.
Come. Take this palace maid down.
Empress Dowager. I have a way to prove myself.
How will you prove the auspicious sign from heaven?
On your birthday, the phoenix presents itself.
Is it really the auspicious sign from above or am I trying to hoax with charm.
We can know if we try it again.
Well, you are trying to find another fake fortune you prepared beforehand?
Empress Dowager. Don't get tricked by her anymore.
We are so many but getting tricked by a palace maid.
What a mockery to the world.
I say she should be dragged out.
Give her 80 floggings and we'll see if she will speak honestly.
Empress Dowager. This palace maid is trying to cheer you up.
I dare to plead for leniency.
Leniency? Then,
every slave will copy her wily charms.
And no one will do their chores diligently anymore.
All you mistresses are over worried. Yuanming Garden has a goldfish pond.
There are lots of koi. Why not try the heaven's will through them?
Let's see if I am really lying or if it's the heaven's will.
Emperor, a matter of heaven's auspicious sign.
Though it's my first time hearing it,
I really do want to see.
Is it my kindness that's touched the Gods.
Or this girl is deceiving wildly.
Wei Yingluo, are you confident?
Since the heavens are celebrating your birthday,
auspicious signs won't present once only.
Yingluo will wager her life to test the heaven's will.
Let's see if the auspicious sign is really real or if it's fake.
Empress Dowager, if you'd like to test it, then indulge in this amusement.
But we can't let her pick out the koi.
How about I bring someone to do the selecting?
That way it's fair and square.
Alright.
Empress Dowager, did you see?
That girl is obviously lying with her eyes wide open.
The fish have swam away.
And we still don't see half an auspicious sign.
To think someone like her exists in the world!
To taunt Empress Dowager in public like this.
As if once wasn't enough, she did it twice.
Her brazenness is unmatched.
Your Majesty, I believe,
she must be punished severely.
We cannot allow a trend of seduction to start.
Wei Yingluo, the koi have all swam away.
It's clear your heaven's will is all rubbish.
Now even I can't speak on your behalf.
Hurry and drag her down.
You all look!
It's the character "long life".
Shou (long life, birthday)
Empress Dowager didn't see it wrong. It's shou indeed.
On your long life celebration, you release lives, which touched the heaven.
So such rare auspicious sign is appearing.
Empress Dowager, may you be blessed with long and prosperous life.
Auspicious sign from heaven. Congratulations, Empress Dowager.
Good. Good.
Auspicious sign from heaven.
It means my years of devotion to Buddha wasn't cultivated in vain.
Everyone, get on up.
You're a good child.
Tell me. What do you want as reward?
Empress Dowager. I miss the forbidden city very much.
I want to return to it.
So simple?
Empress Dowager's merit has touched the heaven above.
I am brazen but wish to go and serve Empress Dowager.
No.
This child is clever and fine. I like her.
What's wrong with her serving me at Shuokang Palace?
Empress Dowager, that girl has a sharp and slippery tongue, very tricky.
She's going to serve me, not to serve you.
She is eloquent and knowledgeable. Perfect to make everyone happy.
I was thinking my days were so boring actually.
Yingluo thanks Empress Dowager for her grace.
Empress Dowager, it's not that I don't want to.
Just that . . . I was going to promote her as my bed attendant of second class.
I won't let you get near Empress Dowager. Forget your vain dream.
Second Class Attendant?
Wei Yingluo is the daughter of an official.
A former servant of interior bureau.
To promote her as a second class attendant is indulgent to her.
That child is clever and quick.
She spent so much effort to cheer me on my birthday.
And she's delicate in looks.
I think a second class attendant is compromising her.
Promote her as Noble Lady is more suitable.
I thank Empress Dowager for the grace.
Noble Lady Wei, hurry and rise.
Yes.
Hurry and come.
Good girl. In the future, you will be blessed.
Yingluo is bold. I have another request.
Wei Yingluo, don't push your luck.
Empress Dowager, have I stepped over my bound?
Say it first.
Noble Consort. Mingyu and I served together at Changchun Palace.
We are very close and hard to separate.
May you be merciful and allow Mingyu to accompany me.
Noble Lady Wei, you just got promoted to Noble Lady.
But you're asking a person from Noble Consort already. That seems defying the rules.
I am only attached to an old mate.
If Noble Consort can't spare, I will seek a different wish.
Enough. Just a palace maid. If she wants her, give her.
Yes.
Your servant.
No.
Your concubine thanks Your Majesty for his grace.
Empress Dowager, on the top of the mountain and long river,
we've prepared a fire show. Let's go see the show.
Alright.
You come too.
Yes.
Yingluo, was it for my sake?
Mingyu. In the past, I was a palace maid.
Now, I am a noble lady.
You can say I made it big and you should be happy for me.
- But . . .- No more but's. Hurry and pack up.
Wei Yingluo, I must talk to you.
Yingluo, then I'll go out first.
Why?
- Why what? - You promised me.
That you'd stay at Yuanming Palace with me forever.
Why are you becoming Hongli's noble lady?
Brother, weren't you always anxious to climb up high?
In the future, we will never need to suffer hardship at Yuanming Garden again.
Let's go back to the forbidden city and be above others. Isn't that good?
Furthermore, I was only trying to garner Empress Dowager's pleasing.
I didn't think I'd become a noble lady. This was unexpected.
You can fool everyone but you can't fool me.
Wei Yingluo, Hongli is very suspicious of you.
He's long determined you had ulterior motive. He would allow you to stay by Empress Dowager?
But you earned Empress Dowager's merriment so to him,
the most proper and smooth way to deflect that is to keep you by his side.
Yingluo. You already schemed all this.
You already calculated and you were afraid I'd stop you.
So you lured me away on purpose. Isn't it?
Yes. I did do so on purpose.
Because I don't wish to stay at Yuanming Garden anymore and I don't wish furthermore to be a palace maid forever.
I don't allow you to go. I don't allow you.
Brother.
Yingluo, listen to me.
It's not that I am opposed to you marrying another.
It's fine whoever you marry.
Not only will I not object, I will help you with your wedding and marrying you off with dowry.
Just not Hongli. Only he can't be it.
- Why not? - There's no why. Just not him.
Brother. I becoming a noble lady only benefits you.
Tell me. Why do you really object?
Yingluo, let me beg you. I beg you.
Can I defy the royal decree come now?
There's no problem. There is fresh produce delivering in and out daily at Yuanming Garden.
If we plan it early, we can escape this place for sure.
Yingluo, I don't want anything else now. I seek nothing.
I just seek for us to leave peacefully. Let's go together.
Brother.
You've gone mad.
Wei Yingluo, think clearly.
If you go to Hongli,
then you are betraying your promise to me.
As for a traitor, I, Yuan Chunwang, never forgives.
You will really part ways from me?
Brother.
I'm sorry.
Alright.
Wei Yingluo, you remember this day.
You betrayed our promise first.
From now on, you walk on your bright and broad road.
I will walk on my single-planked bridge.
The two of us have no more ties.
Brother.
Why do you see His Majesty as such enemy?
Why?
You were born with everything.
I was born with nothing.
You indulge in everything.
And you must snatch the only thing I have.
Heavens, you are so unfair.
Unfair!
Wei Yingluo.
Today you betrayed me.
Tomorrow,
don't blame this brother of yours.
From now on, you walk on your bright and broad road.
I will walk on my single-planked bridge.
Supervisor Li, what brings you here?
Noble Lady Wei. His Majesty summons your bed attendance tonight.
Tonight?
Noble Lady, this is a heavenly blessing.
May you prepare thoroughly.
You two help dress the noble lady.
Yingluo. You can't avoid tonight somehow?
His Majesty summons the new noble lady for bed service.
It's completely natural. How will I avoid it?
His Majesty really wants a bed service, he would arrange for Nine-State Qingyan Hall.
That's where His Majesty resides at Yuanming Garden Palace.
Why would it be at Changchun Celestial Hall?
That's Late Empress's residence.
His doing so is clearly holding an ulterior motive.
Maybe he will pick on you.
Even if I know clearly he's up to something,
I must go still.
Or else I am defying the royal decree.
Yingluo, it's all m y fault.
If I said nothing,
then you'd be living in peace at Yuanming Garden.
If nothing comes to me, I will not seek out trouble.
But if something comes to me, I will not be afraid either.
Managing life is all about finding appropriate way to fight troubles that come your way.
If you're always worried and frightened,
there's no fun in living.
Changchun Celestial Hall
His Majesty is busy with state affair. May Noble Lady Wei wait momentarily.
Fine.
Your Majesty, Noble Lady Wei is in the cold.
She's been waiting for over two hours.
Is it time to summon her in first?
Noble Lady, what are you doing? It's too rude.
Mingyu.
I think this snack is a bit tough.
Did you not put enough water?
Next time I'll be sure to remember it.
Well . . .
Yingluo, can you really do this?
His Majesty, will he get furious?
Whether it will work?
We'll find out.
- Tell her to roll in.- Yes.
Your concubine greets Your Majesty.
Wei Yingluo, how dare of you!
Your Majesty summoned me to attend to your bed tonight.
I obeyed and came.
But I was waiting in the cold and it's easy to catch a disease.
How can a sick person service you in bed?
I did so not only to protect myself.
I did so more so to protect you.
So words don't get out that you're mean to your concubines.
That will damage your good reputation.
Do you know where this is?
This is Late Empress's residence at Yuanming Garden.
Why do I summon you here?
Your Majesty is shaming me.
No.
I want Late Empress to see.
The person she pampered before.
For the sake of wealth and status,
just how she betrayed her.
Since you have no intention for bed service,
I shall take my leave.
Stop there.
What other instructions do you have for me, Your Majesty?
Isn't it your turn to service me in bed tonight?
Where are you going?
Come.
You're waiting for me to undress you personally?
You!
Your Majesty, to you,
Late Empress is already a deceased person.
But to me, Her Highness isn't just my master.
She is Yingluo's gracious teacher and older sister.
Hence, I must devote mourning period of 27 months for her.
My mourning period isn't filled yet. Even if it's Your Majesty's order.
I would still not dare to tend to you in bed.
Since you want to devote to mourning, why did you come?
To your eyes,
I am just a glutton for wealth and status.
There's nothing to explain in that.
When the days go by, you will realize what I am.
But I know,
defying the royal decree is punished by death.
So I could only come to express my intention.
If His Majesty insists on casting blame,
I am willing to take on all punishments.
Go now.
Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.
Don't you think you were too bold?
To treat His Majesty like that?
But you wore the mourning clothing head to toe.
And wagered death to go and bed service.
It must be because you still miss Empress.
You are so good to Empress.
You're such a dummy.
Did I say wrong?
To respect a person sincerely.
It is to respect in the heart.
It's not to put on a longing show.
That's meaningless to the deceased.
Since I am now a noble lady already,
if I insist on preserving my chastity,
that's being hypocritical. But I had to do so today.
If I really serviced in bed tonight,
it would be equal to me telling His Majesty,
that I am truly a woman who is an ingrate.
Who can ignore the master's grace and at her own residence,
to climb up to the royal bed without any shame.
Hence, even if I have to risk the danger of infuriating His Majesty,
I can not service in bed tonight no matter what.
Yingluo.
Now, I am a noble lady.
But this is only the beginning.
But Noble Consort Chun, in order to secure her current position,
it took her many years.
Then we'll wait slowly and see.
You're in charge of security at Empress Lake.
If Wei Yingluo wanted to do a trick, it couldn't fool you.
If you don't confess now, you should leave the forbidden city.
Your Majesty, Miss Yingluo didn't want to keep you in the dark.
She said Your Majesty had keen discernment,
and sharp-witted so surely Your Majesty could investigate and find out the truth.
She told me to report the truth to you.
Don't put on such loftiness on me. Speak.
You can fake the phoenix.
But what about the long-life character?
Miss Yingluo sought my help.
To find 80 cicada nets.
Mixing buns with fish baits.
Dispatching a few guards good at swimming,
to submerge to the bottom of the lake,
to stick poles deeply into the silt.
The koi fish would be lured to try the food. 80 dots.
Linked together, and the character shou for long-life is made.
How tricky!
Your Majesty, Miss Yingluo said Your Majesty toiled to prepare the birthday all to cheer the empress dowager.
Her goal is the same. As long as Empress Dowager is happy,
whatever she does, it's worthwhile.
You go now.
Yes.
From now on, mark these words.
She is my Noble Lady Wei.
Don't call her erroneously again.
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♫
♫ 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?♫