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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 57
I finally promised her that I would regard you as my own son
and raise you with utmost devotion to be a talented person before she could close her eyes.
Empress Dowager, are you telling the truth?
Emperor,
People says, it's better to be born than to be kind.
Although I'm not your biological mother
but I raised you for many years with utmost devotion.
Please think carefully.
All these years, have I ever neglected you?
I treated you like a pearl in my hand
just to let you interrogate me today?
Empress Dowager, you are right.
I was too rude. Please forgive me.
Emperor, Lady Wenshu left a letter.
Why wasn't it brought out for the past decade?
This must be a fake.
Her motive must be to estrange us.
The other party knows you are filial to me.
Upon reading the letter, it will definitely incite rage.
Empress Dowager. I will investigate this.
It was wrong for me to agitate you today.
I will seek your forgiveness on another day.
I'm taking my leave first.
Emperor. Emperor!
Empress Dowager.
It's over. Everything's over.
Empress Dowager, please forgive me.
I didn't mean to eavesdrop
but what you just said, is it really true?
His Majesty definitely won't hold any animosity towards you
just because his real mother is someone else.
Just based on this letter,
the Emperor's face wouldn't have turned that ugly.
I'm worried that the content
of that letter is not that simple.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, what's wrong with you today?
Zhen'er, leave first.
Yes.
Your Majesty. A husband and wife are as one.
If you have any difficulties, please tell me.
I will help you to share the worries.
About this matter,
I don't know who to tell
and how to say it too.
Your Majesty, regardless of what you want to say,
I will be here with you to guard you.
This is related to my personal background.
I'm now...
terribly upset
and doesn't know who to believe too.
Empress Dowager really said that?
Empress, do you have something to tell me?
In your heart,Empress Dowager is a loving mother to you.
I don't want to have any malicious speculations about her.
But I really want to hear the truth.
Your Majesty, think about it.
Although Lady Niohuru-hala is from a renowned family,
Empress Dowager is still not from a direct blood line.
Her father is just a fourth rank military official.
The clan is not that distinguished and powerful.
Empress, what are you trying to say?
When Empress Dowager joined the House of Prince Yong of the First Rank, she was just a concubine.
Above her, there was the main consort and secondary consort,
especially Empress Xiaojing that came after her.
During the 43rd year of Kangxi,
Empress lost her son and had no child to become the crown prince.
If the late Emperor really wanted to find a noble mother for you,
why would he choose Lady Niohuru-hala?
Empress Dowager said that I was entrusted to her by Lady Qian.
Your Majesty.
The main consort, secondary consort, and the other concubines were extremely jealous of her fate.
If Concubine Qian was really weak and couldn't raise any children,
wouldn't that attract intense disputes?
Empress Dowager rose above others and leaped to be the mother of the emperor.
For many years, no one queried about this.
I find this unimaginable.
Perhaps, there were no competitions and entrust in Prince Yong's manor
and she acted the old story of substituting a raccoon for the Crown Prince.
Could it be that Lady Wenshu's words are true?
Lady Niohuru-hala killed the mother and took the child
is the real truth.
Is Imperial Concubine Shu still bullying you?
Mistress is now not favored, but she's always with Empress Dowager.
Who would dare to bully her?
It's now not peaceful at Shoukang Palace too.
Go advise Consort Ling not to stay too close to Empress Dowager
or she will get into trouble.
Why?
Is it confidential and you can't tell me?
Treat it as I didn't ask then.
It's not that.
It's regarding His Majesty's personal background. You will be danger if you know about it.
But Consort Ling is attached to Empress Dowager. She will find out eventually.
I will tell you everything so that she can plan early.
His Majesty suspects that Empress Dowager is the mastermind behind the death of Lady Qian.
Hence, Hailancha wanted me to tell you,
not to go to Shoukang Palace or you will be implicated.
My Lady. Imperial Guard Suolun is right.
I can feel that the wind direction in Forbidden City has changed.
We need to change the direction of our sail immediately.
Your Majesty. I interrogated the people who served at the Prince's manor.
Someone could recall the previous Concubine Qian. She indeed came from Jiaxing.
She was sold into the Prince's manor at nine years old.
When she was sixteen years old, the Prince of the First Rank contracted an infectious disease.
She meticulously tended to him and received grace.
She...
Does she still has a family...
Hailancha?
Qian Zhengyuan is her older brother.
Qian Zhengyuan?
Yes.
It's as shown in the Chunhui drawing given to Your Majesty by the Vice Minister of Rites.
The Qian family was poor. Fearing that their daughter would starve to death, they placed her under the care of a relative.
Who knew there would be a major drought in that year. She was sold.
Madam Qian searched for miles to find her daughter.
She spent countless years before she found her at the Prince Yong Manor.
But that time, she has already became a concubine couldn't be taken away.
Qian Zhengyuan took the imperial examination later.
That's how the Qian family could be promoted.
Li Yu!
Spring Sunshine Painting.
Is Qian Zhengyuan trying to remind me in this drawing
And that I should repay him?
not Madam Niu Hulu?
Deliver the Imperial decree to summon Qian Zhengyuan.
I must clarify this.
Empress Dowager, look at the time now.
You should find a solution.
If His Majesty meets Vice Minister Qian,
all your years of hard work will be destroyed.
Empress Dowager! What's wrong with you?
Men!
Where's Qian Chengyuan? Why isn't he here yet?
Your Majesty, we have already sent someone to announce him.
Please wait for a while more.
Majesty!
Your Majesty, Imperial Guard Feima is here to report that Vice Minister Qian was careless.
He fell off his horse and broke his skull and died.
Empress Dowager.
The Imperial Physician said that it was an attack caused by something unpleasant and anxiety.
He wants you to keep calm and recuperate.
I'm fine.
It's just seems like a heavy rock is pressing on my heart
and I can't breathe.
Is the Emperor back yet?
He's back.
He is busy with the Imperial court.
When he's free, he will definitely visit you.
In the past, when I coughed,
he would immediately set aside his task and rush here.
Now that I'm really sick,
he doesn't care anymore.
Empress Dowager, you are mistaken.
The military ministers are at the West Hothouse having a conference.
His Majesty really couldn't leave.
But when he found out that you were sick, he was very worried.
Hence, he wanted me to come here immediately to serve you.
Let me do it.
Empress Dowager, good medicine is bitter and good for one's illness.
You should take this medicine so that you can recover.
Empress.
Did you deliver that letter to His Majesty?
Empress Dowager, Prince He of the First Rank was the one who delivered the letter.
Grand Imperial Consort Yu was the one who hid the letter. I'm not that brave.
I finally understand now.
What do you understand?
You waited patiently for a long time
just to find the opportunity to take revenge for your father.
Madam Nara, I have really underestimated you.
Empress Dowager, anxiety is a taboo for sick people.
Don't let your imagination run wild. Take this medicine.
Imperial Physician said that your middle energy lack harmonization.
I think Empress Dowager is upset and agitated. That's why you are sick.
I'll instruct the Royal hospital to do a new diagnosis.
They must not delay the condition of your illness.
Get lost.
I almost forgot something.
Your nephew was prosecuted for participating in the corruption of food relief.
He's being held in custody now because the corruption amount is huge.
I fear he will be sentenced.
Your elder brother's wife rushed into the palace and is kneeling outside Shenwu Gate.
His Majesty said Empress Dowager knows the principles of rights and wrong.
Knowing that the relative has committed a crime, the first priority is
to place righteousness above the Royal family
Not going after your negligence in disciplining him as his aunt
is already giving you great leniency.
Even if she kneels till the end of the world, he will still be beheaded.
Do you think when I first insisted on killing your father,
it was to protect my nephew?
Wasn't that so?
Those who were greedy over the food relief,
did you think he was the only one?
It easy for His Majesty to kill
but can he really kill all the imperial relatives involved with the crime?
He can't.
You also wouldn't be able to. The one who I protected, it wasn't others.
The one who I protected, it was His Majesty.
What I protected, it was the country of the Great Qing.
The person who is truly resentful,
it's you.
Empress Dowager, you have worked hard.
Starting from today, you don't need to spend so much efforts again.
You dare to?
Why wouldn't I dare?
I will make His Majesty alienate, hate you and never see you again.
You won't be able to do it!
It was I who raised him into an adult.
It was I who taught him the foundation.
It was I who taught him to be humane.
No one can estrange our mother and son relationship.
You won't be able to do this too!
The personality of His Majesty is that when he loves someone, he wants them to live forever. But when he hates someone, he wants them to die.
He now thinks that you killed his mother
and deceived him for many years by using the face of a kind mother.
Will he forgive you?
His Majesty will never believe you.
His Majesty didn't believe in the first place
but Lord Qian Zhengyuan fell from his horse and died.
Who do you think he will suspect?
Poisonous woman, it was you!
Empress Dowager, don't worry.
His Majesty will not kill you
but he will never forgive you.
Starting from today, you can continue to be the noble and lofty Empress Dowager
just like Buddha in Yinghua Temple.
You will be just a noble woman on display.
Enjoy the rest of your life.
For the coming days, you will need to spend your time in repentance.
Empress Dowager!
Empress Dowager.
Consort Ling, your biggest backer has collapsed.
What will you do in the future?
Empress Dowager. Help her to her bed now.
- Call for Imperial Physician immediately. - Yes.
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His Majesty hates Empress Dowager now.
After all, they have a deep affection as mother and son for many years.
In the future, if they miss the benefits of the past,
wouldn't you have made an enemy?
Yuan Chunwang, what do you think?
Your Highness, I heard Zhang Yuanpan had a son
Zhang Yuanpan had a son who died young.
But he left behind a grandchild who is extremely adorable.
The entire family loves him very much.
Zhang Yuanpan, how's the Empress Dowager?
Empress Dowager has facial paralysis and her teeth are clenched.
Her right hand twitches.
From what I see, her meridians are blocked.
What do you mean by that?
It's a minor stroke.
Is it serious?
Before, Vice Minister Qi of the Ministry of Rites had paralysis of half his body and unable to swallow even soup.
Compared to him, Empress Dowager's illness is milder.
But I need to prescribe a soup to stimulate the circulation of the blood to relax the muscles and joints,
calm the liver and wind to clear the channels. This may heal her illness.
Consort Ling, what is Empress Dowager trying to say?
With this kind of illness, we should avoid fire in her liver.
Remember not to make her angry again.
Zhang Yuanpan, I will remember what you said.
Please go and prescribe the medicine now.
Yes.
- Yuanpan, this way, please. - Alright.
Empress Dowager doesn't trust him.
Gugu Liu, invite Imperial Physician Ye here.
Imperial Physician Ye? Zhang Yuanpan has been a doctor for many years and he's upright too.
Why doesn't you trust Zhang Yuanpan?
It's just in case. Go now.
Wait.
[ Shou-An Gate ]
Empress Dowager is agitated. We don't need so many to serve.
You stay. The rest, leave.
You come with me.
Milk vetch root, angelica tail, peony, etc.
Two grams of milk vech root.
Is there an issue?
No issue.
But this prescription doesn't aim to achieve merit, just not to make any mistakes.
If Empress Dowager would follow this prescription, I don't think she has a chance to recover.
Doesn't aim to achieve merit, just not to make any mistakes.
It then means that Medical Investigator Zhang indeed can't be trusted.
There has long been a saying here in the capital
that the documents and prescriptions from the Imperial Medical Academy are all just sparkling outside.
Her Highness Empress Dowager is of such noble status. Who dares to use any fierce medicine?
They can only slowly stabilize it. Moreover,
if anyone investigates this prescription...
Look, all the medicines here are good medicines.
No one can say any criticisms.
Doctor Ye, I won't make it hard for you.
If you are to prescribe, how would you do it?
Your Highness, have you forgotten? I'm currently under suspension.
I'm not anymore an imperial physician.
I brought you trouble.
Jeez, I so want His Majesty to immediately kick me out of the palace,
so I can return to the world of the commoners and examine their illnesses.
Although the symptoms of Empress Dowager suggest a stagnation in the energy flow in his liver meridian,
with associated deficiency in his heart yin and blockage in blood flow, hence, unable to talk.
It shows that there is accumulation and clogged up phlegm. I'll prescribe two medicines.
One can relax her liver and nourish her blood.
The other one can remove the stroke and sputum, so Empress Dowager can talk.
Oh, right. Empress Dowager's health is very weak.
The medicine must be taken together with congee.
Okay, Doctor Ye. Thank you.
I'll go prescribe the medicine then.
Doctor Ye, thank you.
You're welcome.
Your Highness Consort Ling, based on our current situation, Shoukang Palace won't be able to support you anymore.
Leave while you still can,
so you won't get affected. His Majesty...
His Majesty doesn't want to see me anyway.
What's there to be afraid of?
Moreover, Empress Dowager once protected me
from getting humiliated by others. If I leave at this time,
what kind of person would I've become?
Gugu Liu, since I've entered this boat,
I don't plan of disembarking.
As long as Empress Dowager is preserved, the boat may not capsize.
Empress Dowager, Empress has planned this beforehand.
She has come at you at such fierce manner. Just to counter her attack,
can you tell me what happened in the past?
Your Highness, Noble Lady Qing has been waiting for you for a long time.
Noble Lady Qing, why are you here?
Greetings, Your Highness Consort Ling.
- Sit.- Your Highness Consort Ling,
I heard that Empress Dowager is gravely ill.
I especially brought some medicines with me that were taken by my grandfather before when he got a stroke.
It's very effective in calming one's mind.
This is an amber wrapping the dragon pill. It can remove the stroke and dissolve the sputum, calm the spirit and mind.
Please give it to Empress Dowager in my behalf.
I can't stay long. I'll take my leave now.
Wait!
Why must you do this?
Your Highness Consort Ling, my father is a subordinate of Lord Nalan.
I have no choice but to follow Imperial Concubine Shu.
But I do know how to discern right from wrong.
No matter how huge the mistake of Empress Dowager is,
she still had raised and cared for His Majesty. Once His Majesty realizes this in the future,
he surely will regret it.
I'm offering this prescription to Empress Dowager now just to make do some good karma.
If in the future...
I am just saving myself some alternative path.
Since you want to do good karma,
why not personally deliver it?
It's easy to add a flower into a brocade, but it's hard to deliver a charcoal during the snow.
But delivering charcoal must be done in time.
Empress Dowager already has a caring person by her side, which is you.
Just a one step late and it's already several miles of difference.
Since that's the case, why don't I just give you the prescription?
As long as you can remember my kindness, I'm already contented.
Noble Lady Qing,
never thought that even if you're usually quiet,
you are smarter than everyone else.
It's not being smart. It's being a coward.
A person like me, when aggrieved,
I can only lose a tooth or swallow the blood.
When I see someone being bullied, I couldn't even dare say a word.
It's not that I don't want to imitate you.
It's just that I have parents and siblings.
My whole clan has 132 people.
For their lives, I can only move with the flow,
but this doesn't mean that I'm heartless or not righteous.
What I can only do is to give as much measly help I can
within my limits.
Your Highness, Empress won't let Empress Dowager off.
The more she won't let you off. Please be careful.
What if you are given a chance to get into position?
In terms of beauty, scheming, and tricks,
I'm all inferior to others.
What right do I have to compete for His Majesty's favor?
As long as I help you.
Noble Lady Qing, if you want to protect your family,
you must have the strength.
Rather than relying on the strong,
why not become the strong one?
Her Highness Consort Ling said she has already had this prescription checked by Doctor Ye.
He gave permission that it can be given to Empress Dowager.
Thank you for the concerns of Her Highness Consort Ling.
Your Majesty, a message came from Shoukang Palace,
saying that Empress Dowager is unconscious
and kept having seizures. She couldn't even taken in any sweetened water anymore.
Should you...
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Where is Empress Dowager?!
Greetings, Your Majesty!
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I have some words to ask Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager, she knows about why you're here.
Once you open this book, you'll understand everything.
[Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations]
This is just storytelling. What does Empress Dowager mean by this?
This is a collection of stories gathered by Ji Yuan, a first placer in his provincial exam during the 12th year of your reign.
It talked about a beautiful farmer wife in Huai Town.
Her husband fled to another land and left his parents to her care.
She tightly shut the gates of their house, weaving day to night, just to provide for her in-laws.
However, she was only able to earn so little that's hardly enough, and had to seek help from her neighbors.
Everyone wanted to help, but didn't have the resources. She could only have a big cry, then stand by the door to smile on the guests (become a prostitute).
What are you saying?
What does that got to do with the questions I'm going to ask?
Madam Guo sold her body just to provide for her in-laws.
And used the money she earned to buy a beautiful maiden home. When her husband returned, she said,
"You have safely returned and I'm returning your parents to you unscathed.
And that fair maiden is a second wife I got for you."
After saying it, she took a knife and killed herself.
After her death, the county official branded her as being unchaste and allowed her to be buried in their ancestral tomb, but not with her husband.
Only her in-laws cried for her.
They said, "Our son was unfilial and abandoned his parents.
What mistake did a weak woman do in losing her chastity just to provide for her in-laws?"
The public started to discuss what's more important, chastity or relationship ties?
What else did Empress Dowager say?
Your Majesty. That year of the great Shanxi drought.
Madam of Qian clan accompanied Emperor Yongzheng on private tour.
Due to the battle for the throne, they met with danger many times.
Emperor Yongzheng was injured by arrow after having separated from the guards.
In order to evade from the attacker, he fell into the deep mountain.
But misfortune did not come alone. He met bandits hidden in Mount Taihang.
Madam Qian kept Emperor Yongzheng in a farm house and switched into his clothing.
To lure away by herself the bandits who had chased after them.
What did you say?
Someone said, Madam Qian was captured by the bandits.
And someone else said she threw herself off of the mountain summit.
But whether Madam Qian was actually captured by the bandits, or if she killed herself to preserve her chastity.
It was all to protect Emperor Yongzheng.
Loyal and devoted. So admirable.
But if the words spread, Madam would be like the Guo clanswoman.
Clearly carrying out justice but to suffer the reproof of the world.
Your Majesty will likely be subject to absurd comments.
This is why Empress Dowager has kept the secret all along.
If you don't believe, Emperor Yongzheng had a close servant.
The one who found Emperor Yongzheng first back then.
Now he's retired to his hometown and he lives in Jiaozhou.
Empress Dowager has already ordered him to be secretly invited in.
He should arrive by tomorrow at the latest.
If Empress Dowager's words are true.
I will go to Shuokang Palace personally and kneel for forgiveness.
Noble Lady Qing. You've worked hard.
My heart's jumping so fast.
Consort Ling, why didn't you tell His Majesty personally?
His Majesty isn't fond of seeing me.
I don't want to implicate Empress Dowager.
But those words earlier. Can they really move His Majesty?
Are you very tired?
Who are you? What are you trying to do?
Who said you could come in.
What are you doing? You can't move it.
Don't move it.
You all come back.
Who are you guys? Put that down.
Who said you can move that? Move it back now!
Who sent you to move that?
Who said you can move it?
Who are you guys exactly?
Put it back.
- Let go! - What are you doing?
I said, stop. Stop!
Wang Tianyi, greets Your Majesty.
Li Yu.
Your Majesty, Lord Wang's kneecaps were injured by firearms once, in protecting Late Emperor.
It's been relapsing and repeating in his old age.
Grant him a seat.
Teacher Wang, you once taught me riding and archery personally.
You are my teacher.
What I ask you now, you must answer truthfully.
Back when Late Emperor went on a private visit of Shanxi,
Madam Qian accompanied him. Were you aware?
Your Majesty, that did indeed happen.
Then, when you escorted him back,
did Late Emperor return with Madam Qian?
That . . .
Answer truthfully.
Yes.
May you dissipate your anger, Your Majesty.
Empress Dowager lied to me!
Your Majesty. Your Majesty.
Teacher Wang, you served Late Emperor for decades.
When I was young, you'd run around wildly carrying me on your back.
I was mischievous and got reprimanded by Late Emperor.
You would take the scolding and punishments for me.
May you, on the account of our tie as teacher and disciple,
do not let me live unclear and unwitting.
I ask you. How did Madam Qian really die?
Did she really die at Mount Taihang.
Or was she really killed by Empress Dowager instead?
Your Majesty, Madam Qian, back then, in order to save Late Emperor,
her chastity was harmed and humiliated Late Emperor thoroughly.
She was granted death.
- Greetings to Your Majesty.- - Where is Empress Dowager?
- Where is Empress Dowager? - Empress Dowager . . .
Empress Dowager took Consort Ling with her and went out of the palace to recuperate.
Noble Lady Qing.
Your Majesty.
By order of Empress Dowager, I have been waiting here for Your Majesty to relay a few urgent words.
May Your Majesty clear your surroundings.
What did Empress Dowager say?
Empress Dowager had me tell Your Majesty,
that during the 13th years of Late Emperor's reign, he only rested one day on his royal birthday.
He never went to Mulan Autumn Hunt and never engaged in hedonistic pleasures.
Late Emperor governed with extreme strictness, all for the pursuit of being a good emperor.
Late Emperor once said he shouldered the blame of being scheming against his father and pressuring on his mother.
And the bad reputation of murdering his elder brothers and slaughtering his younger.
As though carrying a majestic mountain and going against the wind.
He knew for an emperor,
proper and right is too important. It's not that he didn't lament losing Madam Qian.
He just didn't want Your Majesty to suffer shame.
That day, Empress Dowager was ordered to bring poison wine to Madam.
Madam said not one word and only bowed to Empress Dowager three times and sighed to death.
Empress Dowager said since she received three bows from her, and it's the entrusting of three thousand weights on her.
And she would protect Your Majesty for life as a real mother.
Where is Empress Dowager? I must go see her.
Empress Dowager said Forbidden City isn't quiet.
She wants to find a quiet place to nurse her illness.
Consort Ling will look after Empress Dowager well for you. May Your Majesty not worry.
Your Majesty.
Royal Mother. I am not filial.
I have put to shame your kind mothering.
I forgot your grace of raising me and I deserve death.
May Royal Mother forgive.
I earnestly invite Royal Mother to return to Palace.
Your Majesty, Empress Dowager states she will move to Yuanming Garden to nurse her illness.
When the illness is recovered fully, she would return.
May Your Majesty return now.
Royal Mother.
Mother, it's all my fault. I angered you.
I know my wrong.
May you pity our tie as mother and son for long,
unveil your screen and let me see you.
Your Majesty, may you return.
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END OST COMING SOON PLEASE LEAVE UNDONE