Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
Watching the person in the mirror's countenance pale and grow haggard,
Examining love together with regret, both new and old.
Keeping watch still by a lantern though it is daybreak, drenched with tears,
Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.
Story of Yanxi PalaceEpisode 56
It hurts, right? Furious, right?
Yes, this should be the way.
I can understand how you feel.
It's the same feeling as when you wanted to leave Yuanming Gardens to enter the palace as a consort.
Wei Yingluo, you must get it straight. It was you who betrayed me.
It wasn't I who betrayed you.
You promised to be with me for the rest of our lives at Yuanming Gardens.
Did you know how much I valued that promise?
Hence, this is a betrayal. I will never forgive you.
When did you join the Empress?
From the first day when I was determined to enter the Forbidden City,
I paid my respects to the Empress.
I have always regarded you as my older brother and you stabbed me in the back.
It's just like you.
We are no better or worse than each other.
Your Highness, the Empress.
What benefits did you give him?
I admire your Chief Steward very much.
Starting from today, he will replace Wu Shulai in his duties.
Chief Steward Wu joined the palace thirty years ago
before he climbed up to his current position.
As for Yuan Chunwang, he doesn't have enough qualifications and experience.
He did a great job completing errands at the Workhouse and Yuanming Gardens.
To add further, Consort Ling, did you forget this?
Wu Shulai exposed the secret of your avoidance of the soup.
When His Majesty sees him, he will always be reminded of this.
Do you think he can still be used?
It's a gone case for him. Naturally, I need someone to replace and assist me.
Yuan Chunwang is the best choice.
It's pity that I racked my brains and tried my best
but it was to clear obstacles for the Empress.
Consort Ling, you are tired.
Go back and rest.
No matter what Your Highness plans to do next,
I have taken my revenge today.
There are no regrets for seeking virtue and acquiring it.
Starting from today, I wish you peace,
good health and good fortune.
Your Highness.
I believe that, in the near future, a prince will be born in the Forbidden City again.
Wei Yingluo, you are the most graceful loser
I have ever seen in my life.
You are also the most patient hunter I have ever seen.
Full of regrets now?
Servant Yuan Chunwang pledges his life to Her Highness.
If I betray you, heaven and earth will combine to destroy me.
Your Majesty, Her Highness the Empress went to visit Fourth Prince and is not back yet.
It has been a long time since I received an embroidery piece personally embroidered by the Empress.
Your Majesty, Her Highness has been embroidering every day.
It's just that she won't be giving them out anymore.
[ 300 Tang Poems ]
[ Zhu Qingxuan''s poem "Palace in the Palace" ]
[ Now that the palace gate has softly closed on its flowers ]
[ Beautiful women file out to their pavilion of jade ]
[ Abrim to the lips with imperial gossips ]
[ But not daring to reveal it with a parrot among them ]
Your Majesty. Your Majesty.
How did you know that I'm the Emperor?
What did your owner say to you?
Your Majesty, what brings you here?
How's Fourth Prince?
Yongcheng had a fever in the afternoon. The Imperial Physician saw him. It's not serious. Your Majesty, there's no need to worry.
With your care, I don't have to worry
but what is it trying to tell me?
Your Majesty, may you have abundance of good fortunes.
I taught it for a long time. It finally could say this.
How long has you been teaching?
It wasn't that long.
Empress, what you previously told me,
I think it makes sense and with responsibility.
I realize now, the calm water in the lake,
has deep hidden feelings.
You are the only one who treats me the best in the harem.
Your Majesty, I'm not the most beautiful woman in the harem.
I'm also not the most smartest
but I will manage the harem well to free you from any worries.
If Your Majesty doesn't want to talk about children,
I will never mention it again.
As long as Your Majesty knows in your heart, everything that I did, it was all for you.
With my love for you, I will become a better Empress for the Great Qing.
Shushen, thank you. Thank you.
Isn't this Mingyu from Yanxi Palace?
Greetings, Consort Shu, Noble Lady Qing.
What are you holding in your hands?
The curtains that I just received from the Internal Affairs Department.
Everyone is using brocade.
What's wrong? On the contrary, the Mistress of Yangxi Palace is using vines instead?
There's not enough brocade. We will use this first.
My Mistress is still waiting for me to go back.
I'm taking my leave first.
What are you doing?
Sister Nalan, what are you doing?
Release her now.
Keep out of this.
Go back and tell your Mistress.
What I suffered in the past,
from today, I will get back everything.
Tell her to do a good job of washing her neck and wait.
Mingyu.
Consort Shu.
Imperial Guard Suolun. You are highly valued by His Majesty now. You have a promising future.
Don't mix with such unlucky people.
Didn't you see everyone in the six palaces avoiding Yanxi Palace now?
Your Highness, don't trouble yourself with such worries.
Sister Nalan, he's an Imperial guard and His Majesty trusted aide.
Is there a need to be angry with him? Is this worthwhile?
Younger sister, you are right.
I'm busy. I don't have time to be angry with idle people.
Miss Mingyu, His Majesty favors Older Sister Nalan.
She still remembers the grudges in the past.
Consort Ling and you should be extra careful. Go out less often.
Mingyu, is your hand okay?
Let me take a look.
I'm fine.
Do you feel better?
I'm much better.
- Your face...- Is my face that serious?
I must not let Yingluo see this. Tell me now.
Is my face that serious? Will I be able to conceal it?
Mingyu. For the past days,
is Yangxi Palace very sad? Tell me the truth.
Frankly, there's nothing much to be sad about.
Now that the gate is closed, Yingluo has been teaching me embroidery.
She taught Zhenzhu and I how to read and write. On the contrary, we have time for leisure.
Those people from the Internal Affairs Department
I treats people differently. I lost my influence recently
and they dare to slight me.
It's starting to be unfair. The sorrows will wear off in time.
Consort Ling has no desire to return to favor so it's alright.
Enough. I better rush back.
This must be steady.
Xiao Qianzi, you must hold the brush in the middle.
Zhenzhu, you are holding it wrongly.
Learn from Xiao Quanzi.
It's time to eat.
Mingyu, your face...
There's no cooking in the kitchen today. I got these from the Royal Tea House.
- Let's eat now. - The both of you, leave first.
The Royal Tea House prepared these according to the quality under the rules and regulations.
Looking at what you didn't like to eat,
I randomly chose a few.
The lotus roots are the freshest during this season. There's also Longevity vegetable. [ T:N : medicinal herb aka Wuxing grass ]
This millet cake is the most delicious. Try it later.
Sit down and eat with me.
Even though there are just the two of us today,
I still can't break the rules.
I'm going out to eat with them.
She probably didn't see it just now.
My Lady, I have already checked.
When Mingyu went out today, she was giving a hard time by Consort Shu.
She broke her hand and also scratched her face viciously.
If Sir Suolun wasn't there,
I fear it would have been even worse.
My Lady, for the past two months,
other than the Empress from Chengqian Palace,
Consort Shu is the most favored person.
Let's avoid them in the future.
I get it.
Lord Fuheng and General Zhaohui burned
the two military camps of the enemy.
Huo Lanbu dispatched men to negotiate for peace.
What do they think?
Lord Fuheng advised that unless Huo Lanbu surrenders first
and leave Chaohjin city,
or else, it shouldn't be considered.
It's just a stalling tactic. The battle field is dynamic.
Follow Zhaohui and Fuheng's decisions.
Yes.
Your Majesty.
What else it there?
Your Majesty. I witnessed the people from Yangxi Palace being insulted today.
- I fear that...- Your Majesty, please don't be angry.
Hailancha, do you still want your head?
I committed an offence. Your Majesty, please forgive me.
Hailancha discriminated the harem. I punish you with a cut in salary for one year.
You are suspended from your Imperial guard post. This depends on your future behavior.
If you mention Yangxi Palace again, you will be punished severely.
Imperial Guard Suolun, you saw that too.
His Majesty doesn't allow anyone to mention Yanxi Palace now.
Stop talking about this from today or you will get into trouble.
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
I slaved for the master for thirty years
before I became the Chief Steward of Internal Affairs Department.
On normal days, I have suffered enough of that old man, Li Yu's temper.
This is great now.
Now a newbie who's not even fully trained
climbed on top of my head and abuses his power in a tyrannical manner.
I'm not happy.
Teacher, stop drinking. You will regret. Be careful that you don't get drunk.
I'm not happy.
Teacher.
Now I'm just holding up my head with two shoulders.
I'm carefree that I'm relieved of official duties. Who's afraid of that fart?
Teacher, lower your voice.
Teacher, don't you still have the Empress Dowager?
You can go to Shoukang Palace to seek for help.
Empress Dowager?
That's right.
There's still the Empress Dowager to make the decisions.
Let me tell you, I still have a trick.
Empress Dowager will definitely help me.
Yuan Chuanwang, just wait and see.
I'm going to skin you sooner or later
and turn it into a knee pad for me.
When that time comes, I will reward you with one too.
Who is it? Who tied
me up?
Release me now. Release me.
It's me, Chief Steward Wu.
Chunwang, let me go, okay?
Chunwang! Chunwang!
Use my guaranteed life-saving trick
in exchange for my life.
I'm not interested in your trick.
Don't! I have a written letter from Mrs Wenshu.
Mrs Wenshu?
Mrs Wenshu is His Majesty's wet-nurse.
- You are lying to me! - I wouldn't dare.
It's true. I'm not lying to you.
Chunwang, I will tell you this biggest secret in the kingdom.
Let me go, okay? Let me go.
Let me go. I'm begging you.
Your Majesty, I personally copied this for you.
It's the "Guanyin Bodhisattva"
to pray for the good health and fortune
for the Empress Dowager.
It must have been hard for you, Consort Shu.
You are very considerate.
I also heard that the Empress Dowager lacks the "Avatamsaka Sutra".
If the Empress Dowager does not dislike it,
I'm willing to copy it for you.
It's not necessary.
Consort Ling is copying the "Avatamsaka Sutra" now.
Consort Ling?
Yingluo.
Empress Dowager, I copied the "Avatamsaka Sutra" today.
My comprehension is not good. The calligraphy is uneven and dull.
Looks like I should study more of Master Cheng Guan's calligraphic script.
[ Script from "Avatamsaka Sutra", a compilation written about Buddha after his death ]
This is a sutra written in blood.
You used fresh blood to copy the sutra?
Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom teaches us,
if you love Buddhist teaching, one must use their skin as paper and bone as brush.
With blood as ink. In order to
showed my sincerity.
I have seen a sutra written in blood in the past.
It's a pity that the blood turned black.
But yours is in light gold. How did you do that?
Only the handwritten blood of an eminent monk
can be pure.
Consort Ling guessed that it's related to many years of being a vegetarian.
Hence, she fasted for a few days.
This child is very sincere.
But there are eighty volumes of the "Avatamsaka Sutra"
and you used blood to copy them?
Eighty volumes
may require ten years
but believe in Buddha's sincerity,
can be sustained for life. If we think of this,
it's not that long.
But this paper is so ordinary
and you made a copy for the Empress Dowager?
Is it done too half-heartedly?
Consort Shu used porcelain blue paper.
It's dark blue and vibrant.
Naturally, an ordinary paper can't be compared to that.
Especially when a piece of the paper costs a few silver.
But for an ordinary family, they can buy eight liters of rice with it.
Or perhaps, five catty of fresh fishes.
Consort Shu.
Copying sutra is a matter of self-cultivation.
This kind of wasteful extravagance is not beautiful too.
Starting from today, don't touch it again.
Yes.
You are very pious.
Go with me to Huayan Temple tomorrow.
Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your grace.
Sister Nalan!
Why must you?
That Wei Yingluo!
She can't count on His Majesty anymore.
So she turns around and fawn her way to Empress Dowager.
Did you hear her earlier?
Empress Dowager wants her to accompany her daily to pray to Buddha.
I exhausted myself,
prepared porcelain blue paper and it's a wrong?
Sister Nalan, Empress Dowager is a devout Buddhist.
Other palace consorts try to earn her favor too.
But have you seen anyone dare to transcribe the sutra with blood?
That's not just a day or two but 80 scrolls!
That's going to take over a decade of transcribing .
Such resolute. Even ordinary monks can't compared.
She revealed it to Empress Dowager so she can never halt.
She's not scared she will die from bleeding out?
Die from bleeding out?
Consort Ling.
Concubine Shu.
I seem to have heard you,
curse me just now.
Consort Ling. This transcribing of sutra isn't temporary.
The long years and months .
I was just worried you would harm your own body.
Everyone says when the tiger falls, the dog takes advantage.
However I think,
if it's a true fierce tiger,
it won't be bullied by a crawling dog.
Concubine Shu. Forbidden City has Forbidden City rules.
No matter how I come to dire straits,
my status is much higher than yours still.
Next time yo dare to usurp again,
then it's not as simple as one slap.
Hurry and help me up.
Sister Nalan.
Are you alright?
Get lost.
You all get lost!
Arrogant and rampant.
Unforgivable!
Even if she's lost favor,
she's still ranked 4th and has earned Empress Dowager's delight
Sister Nalan, don't cause trouble now.
I cannot control her
But someone can.
Empress Dowager, why do you want to support Consort Ling?
Wu Shulai was raised up by me personally.
Empress rushed to switch him out.
It's a sign of her greed.
Now in Forbidden City, if it's not Consort Ling,
then the world really belongs to Empress only.
Your Highness, my status,
isn't as high as hers .
But I shouldn't be trashed by her like that.
Your Highness, this time,
you must speak up for me.
Consort Ling doesn't step out of her palace so how did she offend you?
It must be because you bullied her and brought upon the humiliation.
Your Highness, you, how can you still speak on her behalf?
Consort Ling has lost power but she knows to make Empress Dowager happy.
If you have the time to give her trouble,
you should go back and cultivate yourself to cause less trouble.
If His Majesty finds out about today,
it's hard to avoid him thinking you are the tormentor.
At that time, whether your current grace . . .
Your Highness has taught me right .
I forgot my poise. I wll go and close my doors to reflect.
I don't dare to cause trouble again.
May Your Highness forgive.
Go back.
Mistress. Consort Ling's act today.
It's just using her connections to intimidate.
She borrowed Empress Dowager's prestige to attack Concubine Shu.
This is to intimidate the harem.
She's letting everyone know,
that starting today, no matter how the Yanxi Palace mistress has lost royal favor, she can't be bullied.
Because behind her stands Empress Dowager.
It seems Empress Dowager is iron-bound,
to oppose me.
Yuan Chunwang. How's the investigation,
brought upon by Wu Shulai?
Great!
With the skin bone gone, where would the fur adhere to?
So clever.
Mistress. Should I . . .
No. This letter can't be delivered by you.
I have someone better.
Yingluo.
Don't let your tear drop in the blood.
It will taint the blood and I have to bleed again.
Others are all saying you're building power.
But I know you are trying to vent for me.
From now on, if you're compromised, don't endure it.
- Remember. - You slash my finger instead.
I'll take your place. Please?
It's not cordial to Buddha.
Then I will go to medicine bureau to get some cinnabar so the blood doesn't congeal too fast.
Royal Physician Ye deposed and held.
I've already implicated him. Let's not do more.
Then you write. I'm here.
I won't let the blood congeal.
Empress.
Empress Dowager is praying to Buddha. She is inconvenience to mett.
May you go back first.
Consort Ling can go in but not the empress?
Zhen'er, you may not be rude.
Consort Ling is accompanying Empress Dowager to pray to Buddha.
If others can familiarize their hearts with Buddhist teachings,
to discuss sutra and merit with Empress Dowager,
naturally they can enter too.
Pardon me.
Empress, that's too much.
Empress, are you here to pay visit to Empress Dowager?
Consort Ling is praying to Buddha with Empress Dowager so she has no time to meet.
I am afraid you've traveled for naught too, Prince He.
I wanted to pay visit to Empress Dowager since I came to the palace anymore.
Since she's got accompaniment, I won't disturb.
Prince He must be here to pay homage to Consort Dowager Yu.
You are so filial. Consort Dowager Yu's spirit on Heaven,
must be so appeased.
Then I won't disturb.
What are you doing?
Replying to Prince. These are Consort Dowager Yu's old items.
Interior Bureau assigned Jingan Hall to store.
Since it's an old item, I will report to His Majesty.
Take them all to the prince manor for memory.
This . . .
Have you any sense? Prince has made his words known.
Why aren't you putting down the item?
Yes.
Prince. Consort Dowager Yu's old items. We take them all?
In the past, I had no duty and just a light existence.
So I could come often to pay homage.
But now, I am out of the capital to manage affairs often.
Each trip taking months.
I haven't had my mother's items by me.
So let's take them all.
Prince. What is this item?
I didn't imagine,
Mother was bullied by Empress Dowager for years.
She left a talisman to save herself.
Talisman to save life?
No. It as Empress Dowager's death-pressuring sign.
Your Majesty, Assistant Minister of Rites, Qian Zhengyuan.
Presents a Spring Sunshine painting for your viewing.
I don't need to see the report.
I already know what he wants.
I hear Assistant Minister Qian's mother was a widow for 40 years.
Serving her mother and father-in-law and raising the two sons.
Due to poverty in family, she would spin cotton always.
Now she's already blind in both eyes.
Your Majesty is sage. Madam Qian will celebrate 80th birthday this year.
Assistant Minister Qian hired a famed painter to paint this Spring Sunshine, hoping to present to his mother.
So he dared to plead Your Majesty to add words to the painting.
Who can speak the heart of the spring plant?
Shall be compensated with love of three springs' sunshine.
This widow toiled through bitterness to raise her sons.
She truly makes me admire.
I have raised words for her as token of felicity to her birthday.
Your Majesty, Prince He is here.
Have him come in.
Your Majesty, I take y leave first.
Greetings to Your Majesty.
Get on up.
What's the delay in speaking?
I have a lot to do. I don't have time to guess your thought.
Your Majesty, I tidied Consort Dowager Yu's old items.
I discovered a letter.
What letter?
A letter by Lady Wenshu, before her death.
Her personally-written letter.
My wet nurse?
Yes.
Present it to me.
Your Majesty.
If this letter might affect you and Royal Mother's
attachment as mother and son. Would you still read it?
Nothing is enough to repay the kindness given by mother.
Nothing in the world,
can affect the deep affection between me and Empress Dowager.
4th Prince's birth mother is Qian clanswoman of Jiaxing.
Niohuru clanswoman killed the mother to snatch the son.
May you be careful, Prince.
Madness.
Your Majesty, per your order,
I consulted the Imperial Jade Records.
Speak.
Imperial Jade Record clearly states,
Your Majesty was born during Emperor Kangxi's 50th year in reign, the year of Metal Rabbit.
13th day of August (lunar).
Born to current Empress Dowager of Niohuru.
Daughter of Lingzhu, at Yonghe Palace.
Birth of imperial heirs is reported once every three months.
With birth hour and birth mother recorded.
Every ten years, a jade document is added to the manuscript.
Your Majesty, even if it's edited every ten years,
there is the original document.
It can't prove the jade document was edited by someone.
What about the matter I asked of you, to investigate Late Emperor's diary records?
Diary records and jade documents are in complete accordance.
Ministry of Rites received decree from the then Empress Dowager,
to promote Nian clanswoman to Noble Consort.
Promote Li clanswoman as Consort Qi.
Prince Consort, Niohuru clanswoman as Consort Xi.
The records can't be investigated.
It seems, Lady Wenshu's words, be it true or false,
only one person can tell me.
Your Majesty. You can't. You must not!
Majesty . . .
His Majesty goes there like this,
and that's going to pierce a big hole in the sky.
Greetings to Your Majesty.
What's happened, Emperor> You look so pale.
I have urgent matter to discuss with Empress Dowager.
You all leave.
- Go out. - Yes.
Alright. They're all gone.
What's the matter? You can say it.
That year, before Lady Wenshu became ill,
she left a letter to me.
Royal Mother. I just want to ask you one thing.
My real mother. Is it you,
or is it Qian clanswoman?
Emperor!
If my birth mother truly was a Han woman,
then you, who resides in Shuokang Palace.
Why have you poised yourself as my birth mother?
Emperor, do not listen to wild talks.
Can't be that Imperial Jade Records can be faked?
Imperial Jade Records. Decree. They can be edited by people later.
No one knows what really happened.
So, I came personally to seek an answer.
May Empress Dowager answer honestly.
Emperor.
Empress Dowager.
Lady Wenshu was my wet nurse.
Her character. I am more aware than others.
If you won't say it,
I can go investigate the old servants from Prince Yong's manor bac then.
I will find each and everyone out.
At that point,
it won't be as you wish.
Alright.
Emperor, your real mother is truly Qian clanswoman of Jiaxing.
Then why for all these years,
no one told me?
At the time, Late Emperor was Prince Yong of First Rank.
Qian clanswoman was just a maidservant of the prince manor.
Once, Prince of First Rank contracted a contagious illness.
She served him with diligence through day and night.
Prince of First Rank was very touched and made exception to promote her as a prince consort.
Pity.
Pity what?
Pity your fortune is too good.
I don't understand.
Metal rabbit. Fire rooster.
Metal horse. Fire rat.
Embracing the five fortunes.
Born to rich and honor.
With ability to help Prince ascend to top.
Such a fate of gold.
Destined to be extraordinary.
How can it be raised by a lowly-born Han woman?
The fortune master said, if you were to be raised by Qian,
she would disturb your destiny.
So as soon as you were born, you were brought to me.
You became my son.
Then what about Qian clanswoman?
In birthing you, her energy was harmed.
In two or three years time,
she ran out of oil and left the world.
When she was near death,
she held my hand tight and would not close her eyes.
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
DRAFT COMING, PASS this until it's ready
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