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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 PalaceEpisode 53
I'm just an incompetent person.
I can't even preserve my own child.
Who can I scheme then?
You schemed Noble Consort Chun.
You planted yourself by her side.
To be my foe on purpose.
Just when she's most gleeful,
you strike against her and make her collapse completely.
You knew 5th Prince was innately more talented above others.
And cherished by His Majesty all along.
Noble Consort Chun, who uses such cunning hands.
Using 5th Prince to get rid of me.
His Majesty would surely be infuriated upon finding out.
Consort Yu, then you . . .
Why didn't you say sooner? His Majesty almost had you killed.
If I told His Majesty,
since Noble Consort Chun and I had gotten along well before,
it would seen as though I fit her fancy to gather evidence of her crime,
and His Majesty would surely deem it,
as you and I colluding together to destroy Noble Consort Chun.
Hence, this had to be the only way.
Consort Yu.
You are truly too foolish.
Yingluo. I have always been a frail woman.
Before, I watched with my own eyes, my best friend,
dying before me.
But I could not avenge for her.
If it hadn't been you and Late Empress extending your helping hand out to me time after time,
even Yongqi's life, I wouldn't have been able to preserve.
Though I am weak,
I understand,
that a drip of water given to me in need,
should be repaid as a fountain.
Even if I am given a favor, that favor is impassable till death.
I am not smart enough.
This is the only method I could come up with.
In order to gain Noble Consort Chun's trust,
I had to hurt you.
I hope you don't blame me.
You are not weak at all.
You are the most courageous woman I've ever seen.
Yingluo.
Today's farewell.
I shall never be allowed to return to Forbidden City in life.
There's a person.
I want to entrust him to you.
You needn't say.
I understand.
Consort Yu.
May you have empathy,
the heart of a woman and accept this bow from me.
It's getting late. We need to go.
Take care.
Why are you crying agian?
The wind got into my eye.
Greetings to Your Majesty.
You're making a kite again?
Yes. I'm making a kite.
Don't make anymore.
Your hand was injured before.
Bamboo strips can injure you easily.
You are not to make them ever again.
Then I will have others make it for me.
I said, no more.
- Why? - There's no why.
I taught you to play the zither before but you said the zither wasn't good enough.
So I commanded for the search of Sound of Moon Dew that I used to learn to play.
From now on, you can use that. Alright?
Move these away.
You're not allowed to take them.
Yingluo, if we don't take them away, how can I teach you zither?
Your Majesty, I don't wish to learn the zither.
Today, I just want to make kites.
Consort Ling, this zither,
was retrieved especially from Yuanming Garden by His Majesty.
Others don't even get to touch it if they wanted to.
Sending His Majesty away with honor.
His Majesty came so giddy. What is this you're doing, Your Ladyship?
Yingluo, you knew clearly the cause of Noble Consort Chun's death.
You should try to avoid arousing suspicion, so why are you still making kites?
So if I don't make kites, others won't suspect me?
You are trying to do the opposite?
You scared me so much. I thought you were ignoring His Majesty.
And talking back to him on purpose.
Sound of Moon Dew is a great zither.
Take it in. Such a precious thing.
Careful so you don't break it.
What in the world are you trying to do?
Didn't Minyu already say?
Acting the opposite way.
You know clearly Noble Consort Chun died by kite wire.
His Majesty would surely be upset seeing this kite.
You're angering him on purpose.
You're pushing him out on purpose here.
Yes. It as hard to gain the royal favor.
Why should I distance myself from it on purpose?
Get rid of it.
Yes.
Your Majesty. Consort Ling, though her temperament is stubborn,
she doesn't seem like someone so cruel.
I overly spoke.
She doesn't care at all.
Not even half an explanation.
She is so certain I will indulge her.
Your Majesty, Consort Ling, once she realizes,
I'm sure she'd come to apologize for her misgiving.
If she comes, don't allow her in.
His Majesty came out of Yanxi Palace looking ash-faced.
The palace maids and the eunuchs all saw it.
This entire palace, only that Wei Yingluo dares to put up air to His Majesty.
One day,
once His Majesty's patience is ground to naught,
we'll see how much longer she can stay satisfied.
However, this is a great opportunity.
Sister Nalan, what do you want to do now?
She pushed His Majesty out herself.
So don't blame others seizing the chance.
Your Majesty, should I go knock the door?
Great! She's closing the door to my face on purpose!
Your Majesty. Ingrates. Hurry and follow.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, this flower will really bloom tonight?
I think it should be around today, after calculating.
I'm not sure if I can wait for it tonight.
If we can't wait for it, let's not wait anymore.
For a flower, to wait so long is unworthy.
If we get the chills, we'd be sick too.
Clear tune of high sound isn't so easily played.
Elegant pipevine does not bloom easily.
Since it's not easily bloomed, it's worth the wait.
That must be Master Suiyan's poem.
Greetings to Your Majesty.
Get on up.
You are still at Imperial Garden at this hour, all for this pipevine?
Yes. Master Suiyan traveled the world and his poetry is legendary.
I've heard of his poem but I've never seen a real pipevine.
I can't help but yearn for it.
Now Yunnan has sent in one as tribute.
So I wanted to come take a look while the flower is in season.
I never imagined I would startle the royal entourage.
You didn't startle me. It's me who disturbed you.
It's blooming. It's blooming!
Your Majesty, look! The flower's bloomed!
You really like it so much?
Yes, I love it.
Your Majesty, smell it. There seems to be a sandalwood fragrance too.
In the Lotus Sutra, Buddhist beads after cremation done by Buddhist teaching,
is as excellent as a basin of pipevine, appearing in time.
Today got to see this pipevine flourish, all thanks to Your Majesty's auspicious energy.
I borrowed your luck instead.
- Li Yu. - Your servant is present.
This beautiful scenery of flower calls for harmony of music.
Go to Yanxi Palace and retrieve Sound of Moon Dew.
I will admire the moon with Concubine Shu.
Your Majesty, Yanxi Palace's mistress is already resting.
Then smash the door.
Yes.
Who is it?
I will go see it immediately, Mistress.
Who is it? Who is it?
Retrieval of the zither by His Majesty's order. Open up.
Supervisor Li, what brings you here?
I've been commanded to retrieve the zither.
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Did you get the zither back?
Yes. I got it back.
Now, I am waiting for her to come.
Desheng said, Concubne Shu wrote a new tune.
Asking His Majesty to hear.
His Majesty flipped her tag.
And retrieved back the zither he gifted to you on purpose.
To make it obvious that he's gifting it to her.
How are you not flushed at all?
That's it. I will retouch your attire.
So you can hurry and go to Yangxin Hall.
To coax His Majesty back.
- I'm not going. - Yingluo!
I'm sleepy.
I need to rest.
Your Majesty, Concubine Shu is still waiting.
Your Majesty.
It's already the third watch (23:00-01:00). You're not resting at Yanxin Hall.
What are you doing here?
I got a new tune.
So I came to invite you to share it.
Your Majesty is so good at joking.
It's the middle of the night. What tune?
Did you have something to scold me for?
You know you did something wrong?
Aren't you suspicious that I killed Noble Consort Chun?
You won't even let me make kites anymore.
I am currently closing my doors to self reflect.
I know you didn't kill her.
But everyone in the palace says so.
By your usual temperament,
you are someone who disdains attacking of a failing enemy.
Even more so, Noble Consort Chun,
was already punished to Cold Palace, with nothing to her.
You would make her live a few years longer so she can be tormented a few years longer.
Your Majesty, you are complimenting me,
or are you scorning me?
Wei Yingluo, to me, you are that petty-minded.
You knew clearly I didn't do it but why did you still get angry?
Because you don't explain.
I don't explain and that's a wrong?
Not explaining means you don't care how I view you.
I am very upset by it.
Today I kept thinking.
I can't pamper you like this. It's too unwell.
But I still came.
Wei Yingluo.
I don't know how many times I've broken the rule for you.
How many times I've taken back my words.
That is not a good sign.
It's very bad.
I don't like exceptions.
I don't like unconventional.
Hence you must be good.
Don't always upset me.
Or else one day, I might really be so upset,
that I will really retrieve your head.
Your Majesty.
You do that,
and tomorrow Concubine Shu would hate me even more.
Why?
Concubine Shu is always complaining,
that Your Majesty summons her for bed service.
But 8 out of 10 times, I would intercept.
If this happens again today, she'd eat my heart and then some.
I almost forgot about her.
Li Yu.
Your Majesty.
Go. Tell Concubine Shu I can't watch the moon with her.
You escort her back yourself.
Also, gift that pipeflower to her.
Yes.
Your Majesty.
Then this Sound of Moon Dew.
You're not gifting?
Your Majesty.
Silkworm Ceremony?
Empress offering sacrifice to Goddess of Silkworm to encourage silkworm is an old tradition.
Interior Bureau has already installed at Mount Tai Palace Hall, tools for mulberry picking.
We're just waiting for Empress Dowager's instructions to carry out the ceremony.
This year, Easten Zhejiang has major drought.
Shandong had locus calamity.
Why don't we just spare the Silkworm Ceremony?
Empress Dowager, it's precisely due to calamities everywhere and people suffering instability,
that I want to mobilize personally,
to pick mulberry and grow the silkworm, to encourage the people to silkworm farming.
To pray for next year's good wind and rain.
That's how we've done it in past years as well.
When Empress Rongyin was here,
every year, the Silkworm Ceremony was carried out with great fanfare.
Since Empress, you took to ascension,
we've never carried it out again.
You think it's compromising to you, and I know that.
But this year, we've had the big drought.
Silkworm Ceremony,
is expensive and requires mustering of large force.
It's truly not a beauty.
If you have the heart, we'll do it next year.
Empress Dowager, Altar to the Goddess of Silkworm is all prepared already.
The duchesses, the madams and all the ladies are all aware.
To cancel suddenly would court the wild talks.
I dare to beg Empress Dowager,
that we must carry on this year's Silkworm Ceremony as usual.
You came to ask my thoughts.
But you already instructed the Interior Bureau to make all the arrangements in advance.
Then why idea are you seeking from me? Empress!
You have usurped excessively.
Empress Dowager, I prepared according to old convention.
I am not as thorough as you.
If you're not fond of it,
I will cancel immediately.
May Empress Dowager's anger dissipate.
I am tired.
You kneel to be dismissed.
Empress Dowager.
Prince, I found out through Miss Zhen'er,
that Empress wanted to carry out the Silkworm Ceremony but Empress Dowager shut her down.
And scolded her instead saying she's usurped excessively.
You didn't hear wrong? She truly said that?
Yes. That is a huge accusation and I didn't dare to believe.
But seeing so many palace maids and eunuchs that all heard.
Not just saying it but saying it in attendance of the crowd.
Silkworm Ceremony is an old tradition.
Why is it that Late Empress can do it but New Empress can't?
That's just using an excuse to dismiss her.
Prince, back during installation of new empress, Empress Dowager was in accordance.
How is it that in a blink of an eye, she's changed her mind?
Certainly, the new zither falls short in the end.
Yearning for the old lost sword.
His Majesty grieves for the late empress.
Leaving his yearning for her everywhere.
Now Empress Dowager, over the matter of Narbu,
holds anger at Empress.
That pair of mother and son truly so oppressive.
Prince, you can't say that.
Why? They can act it out but we can't say it?
Have someone report to His Majesty.
That I have seen to suit Lord Narbu's funeral.
As for Silkworm Ceremony,
have her be appeased.
I will send report to His Majesty personally to have everything installed per convention so she will not be embarrassed.
Prince, Empress Dowager has already said so, so it's not proper.
It's just an old tradition. We're just asking to continue.
Furthermore, this regards Empress's prestige.
The words are out and to cancel come now,
how will Empress govern?
This year's Silkworm Ceremony must be carried out.
Yes.
Empress, on the day of the Silkworm Ceremony, tools needed by all the duchesses, madams,
and noble ladies for mulberry picking and silkworm raising are prepared. May Empress look over.
This is?
It's silver hook and melon berry bark basket.
Wu Shulai, Empress uses gold hook.
Noble Consorts use silver hook and other concubines use bronze hooks.
Consort Ling is just a consort ranking. How is she using silver?
You want to die?
May Empress forgive. This is by Empress Dowager's order.
Interior Bureau reported it to His Majesty and he also approved.
Since Empress Dowager and His Majesty has cast their instruction, carry it out by it.
Yes.
Empress.
Empress!
Consort Ling's ranking isn't enough for a silver hook.
Empress Dowager and His Majesty's action. What does it mean?
Naturally they want to lift Consort Ling so she can progress more.
Though she's captured glory, she has no heir.
Such promotion. She can't handle it!
I also have no heir but I have obtained the empress seat.
Empress, you are someone that goes back to the old prince manor.
Your attachment with His Majesty is deep.
You're fair and prudent and well respected by the six palaces.
As for her? She's just a servant born to a bondservant.
How can she dare to be compared to you?
His Majesty pampers her and wants to give her this honor.
What can you do?
I know I can't do anything.
But if you indulge her too, it will just make her grow more greedy.
One day, fully-fledged, she will be
the second Noble Consort Gao!
Concubine Shu, may you speak more prudence.
Have you prepared for all the duchesses and the noble ladies?
Empress, everything's prepared.
By ceremony procession, nothing will go awry.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, you must not listen to Concubine Shu's words of rift.
She's been stood by His Majesty in succession all due to Consort Ling.
Hence, she's urging you to vent for her on purpose.
Concubine Shu's whatever goal. I am very aware.
This is all Empress Dowager's to blame.
His Majesty indulges that one in Yanxi Palace is one thing, but even Empress Dowager?
Empress Dowager has been angry at me over my father's case.
And I've borrowed Prince He's hand,
to carry out this Silkworm Ceremony with all the bells and whistles and Empress Dowager is even more upset.
This is why she lifted Consort Ling up in purpose to trouble me.
Your Highness. Empress Dowager's ranked so high.
His Majesty is also very filial.
Why do you insist on carrying out this Silkworm Ceremony?
Other than my father's incident,
Hoifa Nara clan is in crisis.
I intend to carry out the Silkworm Ceremony with full fanfare.
For in and out of the wild court to see!
This Great Qing Empress is carrying on.
Only in doing so, I won't be deemed lightly by others.
It's clear by the Silkworm Ceremony.
But I worry Empress Dowager would trouble you in the future.
I am only enduring it for the time being.
One day I will have my way to vent.
Yanxi Palace
Stop there.
Your instructions?
What was your name? Are you rushing to pay flatter again?
Did you retrieve what I told yo to get at Interior Bureau?
Look at how you speak. Whatever our mistress wants,
we don't need to get it ourselves.
They sent it to us early on already and only the best.
Then you go clean the backyard. It needs to be very clean.
What was your name? Don't go wander everywhere.
I won't let anyone be flattered by you in the palace.
Move.
Yes.
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Sister Zhenzhu.
Stop acting so proper before me.
The entire Yanxi Palace. Only you are most mindful.
But Supervisor and Her Ladyship's relationship isn't something you can even compare.
You better just do your work properly and stop thinking of what you don't have or have.
Or you will court trouble to yourself.
I don't dare.
Imperial Medicine Court
What's wrong, Physician Ye?
What's wrong? What's the sighing?
The medicine boy wasn't careful insects go to a lot of the medicines in the storage.
The palace mistresses can't use these, but if I just throw away?
That is so wasteful too.
So many are still fine.
By the way, you came to get medicine, right?
Wait a bit. I'll go get it.
Don't forget.
This medicine must be brewed for an hour using black-boned chicken broth.
Once the medicine is aromatic,
is when it can be a tonic to the body.
So fragrant.
Tell Consort Ling, what I said to her before still counts.
Tell her to think it through clearly.
Ye Tianshi.
Thank you.
Hey, Physician Ye.
You prescribe so many medicines usually.
You wouldn't have prescribed it wrong or mixed it up?
I wouldn't. The official ledger is an official ledger and the private ledger is a private ledger.
I am very clear. Not muddled.
Alright, I believe you.
As long as you can keep track.
Fine.
Physician Ye.
If you can trust me, I can manage the herb issue for you.
Really?
The medicinal herbs in the palace are all the premium stuff.
To let it go to waste is not good.
You can get someone to take them out.
Though it's been touched by insects, those medicine peddlers,
no matter how they pick through and even at a discount, it's still a premium price.
Take them out? That will work?
This is an old practice at the palace.
This is how the old medicines were done.
Even if the supervisors know, they bat an eye closed.
The money earned from selling can be used to fill a need at the center,
or get some new medicines in. It's all understandable.
If you trust me, I will take care of this matter.
Great. I'll trouble you with this then.
Is the medicine done brewing?
It's done.
Then you can leave. I'll take care of it.
Yes.
Your embroidery is too unconscious.
Yingluo, I've already embroider for three days.
Look. Where is it wrong?
Ten days to paint a water. Five days to paint a rock.
Painting and calligraphy both require calm and diligence. Not to mention embroidery then.
Even if it's one thread lacking, it's no longer the real intention.
Mingyu. You must calm your heart and grind yourself carefully.
To make a passing lotus pouch.
How did you know I was making a lotus pouch?
Your face says it all already.
But Hailan Cha already has a lotus pouch you embroidered.
To embroider another is meaningless.
Then what idea do you have?
You can make a headwrap for his mother.
But I don't know what the old madam wants.
Who really cares?
This headwrap represents your heart.
You need to let Hailan Cha know your heart. Got that?
I kind of understand a bit.
You are so dumb.
Time for medicine.
There's poison in the medicine!
Your Ladyship, I saw it with my own eyes.
Yuan Chunwang added a medicine sac to your usual tonic.
Xiao Quanzi, you can't say such a think wildly.
Your Ladyship, I swear to Heaven.
If I am wrong half a word, let me be struck by lightning.
Your Ladyship.
Xiao Quanzi, I trust Yuan Chunwang.
Next time you speak wildly, I will send you to Punishment Bureau.
Mingyu. Xiao Quanzi was offensive.
Punish him a month's salary.
Take him away and have him memorize palace rules from start to finish once again.
- Your Ladyship. - Go now.
You are too lenient on the punishment.
You were too careless.
I wanted him to know just how much you trust me.
So he doesn't try to challenge me all the time.
Yingluo, you . . . you're sure you want to continue this medicine?
I do. Why not?
This is the tonic that I need the most.
Fuca Ancestral Tablets
May you use tea, Young Madam.
You dare to bully me too, right?
To dismiss me with such cold tea?
Young Madam, forgive me. I saw you were praying so I didn't want to disturb you.
I will go switch to a hot one now.
Clean up the cup now.
Yes.
Young Madam.
Three thousand palace maids with rouged faces.
How many without tear strains when Spring comes?
This is painful already?
Forgive me, Young Madam.
Then you don't know what painful really is.
Young Madam. I am wrong.
Hurry and get up. If other hear you,
they might think I've bullied you.
Wait. Wipe away the tears.
Why do you insist?
Fuheng torments me.
I can't be the only to suffer.
Letter to Hitara Clan
How is this with you?
Even though your grandfather is a ranked historian,
my third brother is His Majesty's confidante and he's fighting battles for him in the front line.
Even if this letter is sent out, Hitara won't dare to meddle.
I urge you not to waste your energy.
Hitara won't meddle.
But someone will.
What do you mean?
In five days, it's the Silkworm Ceremony.
I am the duchess of first ranked duke of the court.
How can I be absent?
What are you trying to do?
I won't spend my life in this little shrine. You wait.
Interior Bureau's man dispatched to Kyakhta for fur purchase has returned.
Using the sum of 11,500 taels.
Returning around 200 leftover taels.
All the leather and fur goods have arrived in storage.
There's 80 fox fur. 30 white leopard fur.
50 mink fur.
These petty matters. Supervisor Wu, you can just see to it.
Then, I take my leave.
Wait.
Pick up some of the best furs and deliver to Shuokang and Chengqian Palace.
Yes.
Is there sea dragon leather from this trip?
Yes, there is sea dragon leather, Your Majesty.
But it can only be used for adornment.
Then which leather is most elegant?
If you want it on your court robe,
- then . . .- I mean for a woman.
Interior Bureau brought back a cloud fox fur.
The silver shine on the fur is so pretty.
To make a hat or a headwrap would all be good.
Send it to Yanxi Palace.
Yes.
Greetings to Concubine Shu.
Supervisor Wu.
This must be Kyakhta fur.
That fox fur is so pretty.
Concubine Shu, this is a gift His Majesty bestows to Yanxi Palace.
Other palaces will get some soon as well.
Getting the leftovers again.
Forget it. You go get busy.
Then, I take my leave.
I deserve to die.
Clumsy fool. Kneel here.
Kneel for four hours.
What is it? You regret it now?
Why should I regret?
He's so devoted to you.
He acts like he's so prideful on the exterior.
But he sends all the good stuff to you to get your glee.
But our extremely smart His Majesty,
is just blind before his feet.
He doesn't even know what all you did to him.
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♫Softly falling into the hollow of my palm,♫
♫Resting frozen in the center of my palm.♫
♫Our meeting across past incarnations was inevitable,♫
♫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?♫