sire!
I have something to report.
What are you doing here?
I was waiting for you inside the hall,
I didn't expect you to be here.
Let's go! Right!
What is it?
I followed your order
and searched almost everywhere in the Inner Palace,
including the quarters of the new Cairens.
I didn't find it.
Only Qianxiang Palace, Chenxi Palace
and Xianling Palace are left, but...
but they are the Consorts' chambers.
I'll issue an order
and you'll have an excuse to search those 3 palaces.
Yes! I'll take my leave now.
Put it away!
You'll be in trouble if anyone sees this.
You suppose the man who danced with me the other night,
was the man in Chengqing Hall just now?
Why? You danced with him once
and you have fallen in love with him?
Don't talk nonsense!
You didn't go back to return the mask!
You wanted to dance with him again.
stop teasing me!
But honestly...
I've been thinking of that man lately.
He had a strange expression in his eyes.
When he looked at me,
I felt like we knew each other.
But in his eyes,
I see incredible sadness! That was odd.
silly girl!
You couldn't have fallen for that man!
You don't even know who he is!
Remember why you came to the Palace?
If you still wish to meet His Majesty,
stop running around.
Did you see
what it was on the door?
sealing strips! You'll get killed for trespassing.
Don't be so reckless, you hear?
I know...
You'll soon dance for His Majesty.
The important thing for you to do now
is to make use of your chance to lead the dance.
Maybe you'll earn His Majesty's grace soon.
Don't risk your life over there anymore.
Wait till after the dance,
we'll find out when the guards are not on patrol
and I'll go with you to return the mask.
Whatever you say, alright?
Then listen to one more thing.
starting tomorrow,
we'll start to study the books in the Palace.
They say Empress Wende wrote them.
I told you!
You'll be in danger if anyone sees this.
Put it away!
Let's go to bed!
We mustn't be late again tomorrow.
Right!
Look at you!
Let's go! Go!
10 volumes of Examples for Women
were written by Empress Wende.
It was an account on the empresses of previous dynasties
and a commentary.
It's a remarkable book that teaches one how to be an empress.
After Empress Wende died,
the book was submitted to His Majesty.
Tears rolled down his cheeks after he finished reading it.
He said the book is a timeless masterpiece.
It can well set an example for future generations.
That's why, seeing the book is like seeing Empress Wende.
One must burn incense and kneel to show respects before you can read it.
Do you want to know
why the Empress has earned His Majesty's favour?
The secret lies in these 10 volumes.
A few words from Zhang Gong-Gong
will send countless girls
to pour over Examples for Women.
His Majesty has given his orders.
All Imperial Wives are to read Examples for Women within a month,
and write an essay on your thoughts about the book.
That's all I have to say. I won't go any further.
Do as you see fit.
You have just recovered from your illness.
Let me carry the books for you.
sis Xu!
Are you alright? I'm fine!
The books!
Let go!
It's mine!
Give it to me! No!
We only have one copy between us.
Let go!
I had my hand on it first!
No, I had it!
We only have one copy between us.
Let go! Give it to us!
Let go! You already have a copy!
No, it's mine! Forget it!
I didn't mean it!
Quit your act!
Did you all get a copy?
Then let's go!
People around here
can be so barbaric!
What about you? You took all the books!
How many eyes do you have? Can you read them all?
How many hands do you have?
Even if we leave them to you,
can you carry them all?
What are you doing?
Let's go!
Hurry!
Great! We have 10 volumes between us!
That's right!
Let's go!
We'll go over there later! Good!
sire, the Ploughing Ceremony is on the 10th this year.
We sow seeds in spring and plough the fields in summer.
Today is the anniversary of Wende's death.
If she were still alive, she'd plough the fields and raise silkworms with me.
That would have been a pleasure!
My sister was lucky
you missed her so much.
But she has been dead for over a year.
You can't raise the dead. Please cheer up.
sire!
You have not visited Qianxiang Palace for some time.
That's not a very good idea.
Consort Wei's niece Xiao Qiang has entered the Palace.
Please reconsider your sleeping partner.
Fuji, I don't wish to hear that
on the anniversary of Wende's death.
I'm sure my sister would have wanted the same.
You're my Chancellor,
you should advise me on state matters,
not my personal affairs.
This is a state matter because it involves the Wei clan.
I urge you to reconsider.
We must study Examples for Women.
Reading is your strong suit.
Of course! Books contain the wisdom of our forefathers.
What's wrong? You may meet His Majesty tonight,
but you look depressed!
I'm thinking about Empress Wende
and this big tome of Examples for Women.
Don't! Your literary talent
is as good as anyone's.
My brocade box is gone!
Have you found it?
No!
Empress Wende was an exemplary lady of great virtue,
exceptional grace and refinement.
she is benevolent and conscientious, the epitome of a respectable Empress.
Consort Wei!
Your Majesty?
Drink this!
Thank you!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Have you heard...
Consort Wei, Consort Yang and Consort Yin will be here tonight.
Really? I must do my best.
They're waiting...hurry! Coming!
Ruyi, we're on!
Cairen Wu!
What are you doing, Ruyi?
siyue Zhao is calling you!
I know!
Hurry!
Coming! Hurry!
What is it, Ruyi?
What happened to your mask?
Oh no!
Why is it here?
What to do now?
Hurry up, Cairen Wu!
Oh no, they're rushing you...
Forget it! There's no other way!
Hurry!
Coming!
sire, Prince Lanling is up next...!
sire, the mask...
she's the one replacing Xiao Qiang...
Wu Ruyi
Isn't that Empress Wende's mask?
I thought it was stolen!
stop!
Prince Lanling, take off your mask.
Tell me your name.
Wu Zhao, courtesy name Ruyi.
You're the daughter of Wu shihuo, the Duke of Ying?
You're the one known for your intelligence and literary talent?
Yes, Your Majesty!
Did you know you committed a capital offence?
No, I don't.
stop quibbling!
Where did you get that mask?
You stole from the Empress
and disturbed His Majesty late at night.
If that's not a capital offence, what is it?
I did not.
You deny taking that from Chengqing Hall?
I...
It's true.
The mask came from Chengqing Hall.
If you're known for your literary talent,
I'm giving you a chance.
Today is the anniversary of Empress Wende's death.
If you come up with a poem in 7 paces
to praise the Empress' wisdom, beauty and virtues,
I'll spare your life.
What do you think, Your Majesty?
I'll give it a try.
Your Majesty...
I can't do it.
Looks like you don't live up to what you're known for.
Not because I don't have the gift,
but writing a poem is all about
expressing one's feelings.
The Empress was pretty, wise and virtuous,
but in my mind,
she's a rather pitiful woman.
Take her into custody! Aye!
Your Majesty, she stole from the Empress
and smeared her name, both counts are unforgivable.
By law, she should be caned to death
as a warning to others.
Please pardon her, Your Majesty!
Please pardon Ruyi, Your Majesty!
It's obvious why she should be punished.
What is the reason for sparing her?
Please spare her, Your Majesty!
On the anniversary of Empress Wende's death,
she blurted out a pack of lies in your presence.
That is punishable by death!
sire, allow me to ask you...
What is your interpretation of the anniversary of someone's death?
To me, Wende is dead.
But as long as I remember this day,
it would feel like she had never left.
That's right, Your Majesty!
When people remember the dead,
it adds to the sanctity and immortality of the deceased.
In my opinion,
if Empress Wende should know about this,
she wouldn't want you to cherish her memory
with any bloodshed.
Consort Yin, what do you think I should do?
A Buddhist is against any killing.
But she has committed a heinous crime,
she deserves to be punished for it.
Take her to Yeting, pending her sentence.
By order of His Majesty the Emperor,
Cairen Wu is to be sent to Yeting, pending her sentence.
Why did you save Cairen Wu, Milady?
If you should offend His Majesty because of her,
you'll lose more than you gain.
Last time when Consort Liu lost her child,
Wu Ruyi spoke up for me and offended Consort Wei.
I was only returning a favour.
Living under the rules of the Palace for so long,
to see someone who doesn't go by the rules,
I find it rather delightful.
For some reason,
I have a feeling
if she gets out of this alive,
she'll make Consort Wei's life miserable.
Let's go!
We committed a sin tonight.
Milady, the girl had the nerve
to say Empress Wende was pitiful.
she simply had no idea...
A Cairen has no rights to comment on the Empress.
she doesn't know her place.
Without His Majesty's affection,
the Empress would have been pitiful.
she's slandering His Majesty
and deserves to die for it.
You were only going with the flow.
Whatever reason I have to fool others,
I can't fool myself.
I was doing someone's evil bidding.
And you have ineffable reasons, Milady!
The person who wants that girl dead,
resides in Qianxiang Palace.
Because of the Prince of Qi,
you had to go along with it.
If His Majesty let His Highness stay in Chang'an,
you'd have a son around you
and wouldn't be at Consort Wei's disposal.
That's enough!
His Majesty spared me and my brother back then.
I should be grateful and not complain.
As for ineffable reasons...
every evildoer has their own.
Consort Wei picked on that girl
to make way for a member of her family.
Time to eat!
Leave the food if you don't want it, stupid.
Why let it go to waste?
Are you trying to extort money?
That's so vulgar!
Let me tell you the rules.
One tael of silver for each oven roll.
One more for congee and pickles.
same for meat buns and spring rolls.
I didn't understand when I first came to the Palace,
why eunuchs are called crows.
Now I know.
They're noisy and shameless.
Like crows, they make you want to vomit.
There's a saying, "you're either in the warehouse or the toilet".
You're the rat in the toilet
who feeds on faeces.
How dare you shoot off your mouth!
Look at you! Get off your high horse!
You little wench! I'll kill you!
How dare you insult me! I'll kill you...
You wouldn't dare!
You think someone locked up in here will never get out?
Listen to me, never say never!
If you hit me, you'd better kill me.
Very well, I...
Or else the day I leave here is the day you die.
You'd better watch it!
Congratulations, sire!
We have recovered the mask.
Which concubine is your choice for tonight?
Leave me the list, I'll think about it.
still thinking about what happened in Ganlu Hall?
Wu Ruyi had the audacity
to say Empress Wende was pitiful!
It made me angry too.
Pitiful? You may go!
Yes, sire!
Wait!
Yes?
starting next year,
the dance, Prince Lanling in Battle...
don't stage it again.
Yes, sire!
Cairen Wu!
I've brought you food!
These are your favourite dishes!
Eat them while they're hot.
You're not kicking these?
I wouldn't dare! That was a misunderstanding
Am I going to die?
That's why I'm given a hearty meal!
Of course not! You must be kidding!
Come, eat the food while it's hot.
Who told you to prepare this?
It was my own idea.
If you need anything, just let me know.
Enjoy! I'll excuse myself!
Wait!
Take this away!
I want my congee and steam buns.
That's what I should eat.
Please don't give me a hard time.
Take this away!
Tell me!
Who sent the food?
Virtuous Consort!
Virtuous Consort?
Cairen Wu!
Aren't you Chen Gong-Gong from Ganlu Hall?
Greetings, Chen Gong-Gong!
Congratulations, Cairen Wu!
Congratulations!
His Majesty issued an order.
The Imperial carriage is outside. Let's go!
His Majesty?
What's Wu Ruyi's background?
I've looked into it.
The Duke of Ying died early. The family is on the decline.
As far as we can tell,
she has nothing to do with Consort Yang or Consort Yin.
But to say she has no connections
and is acting on an impulse...
Isn't it too hard to believe?
This girl is a character.
she has wit, guts and even luck.
No wonder she beat Xiao Qiang.
What time is it now?
It's almost 9 o'clock.
Looks like His Majesty is not coming.
After all, it is the anniversary of Empress Wende's death.
Not to mention the trouble Wu Ruyi started in Ganlu Hall.
I don't think His Majesty will summon any concubine.
You don't get it! Whenever he's upset,
he'd come over and play chess with me.
Playing chess can calm him down.
Milady, Wu Ruyi has left Yeting.
His Majesty has released her?
Not only that! He has summoned her to Ganlu Hall,
to wait on him.
Impossible! Not only did he spare her,
he summoned her to Ganlu Hall?
That's exactly what His Majesty did.
Please don't be upset, Milady!
so we shouldn't underestimate this Wu Ruyi!
Get up!
I summoned you here to ask you something.
Why did you say the Empress was pitiful?
Before I answer that,
can Your Majesty answer my question first?
Don't push your luck!
I'm not doing that!
I'm worried after I answer your question,
you'd be so angry you'll want to chop off my head again.
Ask away!
That night in Chengqing Hall,
were you the man who danced with me?
That's what you want to know?
This is very important to me.
Listen up...
When you were dancing that night,
and you were about to fall,
I held onto you, understand?
Yes, no matter what happens,
I'll never forget that night.
The way you looked at me...
Did you take me for the Empress?
No, my mind was wandering.
Your Majesty, why is it you're so devoted to Empress Wende?
Because she's not like any other women.
In what way? she's just another woman in the harem.
Other women love the Emperor, not me.
The Empress was a teenager when she married me.
she loved me for who I am,
whether I'm the Emperor or a beggar.
she loved me just the same.
she gave me children and was truly devoted to a life with me.
There won't be anyone like her anymore.
says who? I...
You mean you? Do you know who I am?
How old was I when I first killed someone?
How many scars do I have on my body?
Do I have any regrets?
What makes me angry?
What makes me happy?
Do you know what is the one thing
that I regret for the rest of my life?
You don't know anything! How dare you say that?
Tell me, the Empress' virtues are known throughout the land.
Even people in the Western Regions had great respect for her.
Why is she pitiful in your eyes?
I think that way
because I have been reading Examples for Women lately
and I came to a realisation.
What kind of realisation? Tell me!
I once thought
you loved Empress Wende throughout her life,
she must have been the happiest woman on earth.
This was my mindset when I read the tome
hoping to find her secret
in capturing Your Majesty's heart.
Then one day, I suddenly realised
she gave you 7 children.
As a mother, she had to look after them.
As an Empress, she had to run the harem.
If she spent enough time with you,
she couldn't have found the time
to write 10 volumes of Examples for Women.
Behind each gem of a word,
she only had a lamp to keep her company
on countless lonely nights.
That's why I felt...
Your Majesty didn't love her that much.
Keep talking!
I also couldn't understand
why you seem so attached to her.
After ready Examples for Women,
I gradually began to realise
rather than saying you love Empress Wende,
it's more like you feel regret towards her...
For not cherishing her when you could.
That explains why you take no notice
of other women within the harem.
The extravagance you'd go to on the anniversary of the Empress' death
only proves Your Majesty harbours enormous guilt towards her.
When the world thinks
Empress Wende won your eternal love,
when in fact
all she had was a false reputation.
You let her down, that's why I think
Empress Wende was pitiful.
That's all I have to say.
You think you are smart?
Wu Ruyi is found guilty of slandering the late Empress.
After the anniversary ceremony,
she is hereby assigned to Chengqing Hall
to take up cleaning duties by day, and copy Examples for Women by night
as a warning to others.
Milady, you didn't sleep well last night
and got up very early this morning.
Why don't you get some rest?
I want to know
what His Majesty did to Wu Ruyi.
Milady, I just got word.
His Majesty has sent Wu Ruyi to Chengqing Hall.
Why was she banished to Chengqing Hall?
since Empress Wende's death,
Chengqing Hall has been off limits to everyone except His Majesty.
Even the 4 Consorts are not allowed inside.
Now Wu Ruyi can wander around inside
and get to see the true copy of Examples for Women.
That's a reward, not a punishment!
I don't understand why His Majesty did that.
I heard...His Majesty was enraged last night in Ganlu Hall when he saw Wu Ruyi.
I keep you to solve problems for me not to ask me questions.
One thing about a man that will never change is he always falls for someone new.
No woman can understand the rest about him.
I'm sorry, Milady!
Get up!
Thank you, Milady!
I'm more worried about something else.
After a while, when Wu Ruyi finishes copying Examples for Women,
will that be the time she gains His Majesty's affection?
Why bother to wait?
Few are blind fools in the harem.
I'm sure a lot of people can't wait to curry favour with her.
Consort Yang and Consort Yin may well be trying to rope her over to their side.
In that case,
Cairen Xiao is left further behind
in this race for His Majesty's affection.