Chengqing Hall
All these books...
Empress Wende read them all?
That's right!
Examples for Women go over there!
Yes!
I'll do it!
There!
Your Majesty!
During this time,
I've read Examples for Women carefully.
I think when I first came to the Palace,
I had the wrong impression about Empress Zhangsun.
You were right.
I felt more guilt than love towards her.
The appearance of Jieyu Zheng was a good thing.
But when someone identical stands in front of me,
the more she looks like Wende, the more uneasy I feel.
I don't want to deal with it.
I understand your love for Empress Zhangsun
but Wanyan is innocent.
The way you've treated her is so unfair.
You appear to dote on her
when in fact you're hurting her.
It's 3 a.m.
It's time for morning assembly. I should go.
Your Majesty!
Can you stay a bit longer?
Everyone in the Palace follows a prescribed order.
There's a time for doing things, so everything is neat and tidy.
When it's time to go, I must go.
Understand?
That's wrong!
What's wrong?
Come with me and you'll know.
Look, Your Majesty!
At what?
You must promise me
no matter what you see,
you must not punish anyone.
Fine! I won't punish them!
In a while a group of Palace maids will appear with food baskets.
And 2 teams of eunuchs will also pass by.
Here they come!
They follow a prescribed order.
That's why you know they pass by at this hour.
What's so strange about that?
Be patient! Just watch!
The last Palace maid in the group
will eat from the basket.
The head eunuch of each team
will play bumping each other off on one leg.
Look!
Interesting! They do that every day?
Not that they are reckless,
but to do the same thing every day
is way too boring.
so they find something naughty to do,
to add some pleasure to their lives.
I think you should do the same.
Imagine, for you to attend morning assembly on time is boring.
If you can be early or late sometimes,
then days won't be the same,
as something new may happen.
I think that's what life should be like.
I've learnt something today.
Milady, Jieyu Zheng barely set foot inside the Palace
but has earned His Majesty's affection.
Looks like Master Yin didn't waste his efforts.
If only he meant well.
Yet I'm afraid he has an ulterior motive.
You mean...
A tree that is taller than the forest will be blown over by the wind.
If Wanyan continues to show off,
she'll soon make enemies for herself.
You must watch her for me.
Yes, Milady!
Wenniang, see how the plum blossoms are blooming.
Milady...
No wonder a Palace maid would dare to talk back to me.
so she knew Jieyu Zheng was getting ahead!
Even a wench like that has a gift.
she acts ignorant and stupid,
but she's the expert social climber.
Wenniang and I hit it off very well.
That's why I chose her to be my personal maid
Cairen Xiao,
though you came to the Palace before I did,
I'm now a 3rd ranked Jieyu
and you're only a 5th ranked Cairen.
Why didn't you greet me? You...
Right, I heard your mother
married into the Xiao family as a concubine.
I have utmost respect for such behaviour.
Forget it! A child by a concubine
is lacking in manners and conduct.
I'm in a good mood today,
so I won't blame you.
Jieyu? That's an undeserved title.
You think I don't know?
You sleep alone in Ganlu Hall every night!
Let go of her! stay away from me!
Let go of me!
My aunt was right!
Zheng Wanyan, it's pointless for us to be at each other's throat.
You want to know where His Majesty has been all these nights?
Who was responsible for this incredible insult of yours?
It was Chengqing Hall and Wu Ruyi!
Milady!
I don't believe it...
she's lying!
she's jealous...
Right, Wenniang? Right!
Jieyu, the food is getting cold. I'm not hungry!
Maybe His Majesty has other plans.
Nonsense!
He will summon me tonight.
He will...
Greetings, Jieyu Zheng!
I serve under Consort Yin.
Do you recall?
Of course! You're siyao Liu.
What did Consort Yin wish to tell me?
You may go! Yes, Milady!
she wants me to tell you
don't bother to wait anymore.
His Majesty has gone somewhere else.
Why?
Why didn't he send for me?
As far as I know,
His Majesty didn't spend much time in Ganlu Hall.
He went to Chengqing Hall during the night.
Didn't you know about that?
No!
What was he doing there?
To meet your good friend Wu Ruyi.
Ruyi?
That's not possible!
You can't possibly believe
there's true friendship within the harem.
Don't forget the person who stabs you in the back,
is often the one closest to you.
But not Wu Ruyi!
Wanyan! Ruyi!
What are you doing here?
Take a break! I've brought you dim sum!
They're delicious!
Wanyan, do you know
how happy I am you came to see me?
Everyone tells me you're now a Jieyu,
maybe Xu Hui and I are not in your same circle.
But deep down inside,
I know you won't change.
Wanyan...
What's wrong?
It's all a matter of appearance.
His Majesty...
never took me to bed.
Be patient! Maybe it happened too quickly.
I'm sure it'll get better after a while.
He summoned me the other night,
but he left early
and didn't return till morning.
Yes? Ruyi...
Where do you suppose he was? Me?
How would I know?
Inside the harem,
countless women have never seen him.
But they go on living just the same.
You must take it easy.
Don't be too upset, Wanyan.
Maybe after a while
things will get better.
You're right!
I understand now.
I'm glad!
If you can take it easy,
I'll feel much better.
After you spoke to Cairen Wu
did you find anything suspicious?
I was such a fool
to believe there's someone nice inside the harem.
I want to see Consort Yin!
May I seek your help, Milady?
What are you doing? Get up!
Please get up!
Wanyan, sit over here!
His Majesty hasn't summoned me lately.
I wanted to see you
to seek your guidance
as to how I could deal with those
who compete with me and stir up trouble behind my back.
You mean...
Wu Ruyi!
she spent a night talking to His Majesty
and then he stopped summoning me to Ganlu Hall.
What do you want me to do?
I want her dead! No!
In the harem, if your rival died all of a sudden,
you'd be the most likely suspect.
There's no guarantee on the outcome.
Besides, it's only your wild guess.
If she had nothing to hide, why did she lie to me?
If I don't get rid of her,
she'll jeopardise my position.
That's why I need your help.
If I can amount to anything inside the harem,
I'll put in a good word for you with His Majesty,
so that the Prince of Qi can return to Chang'an
and be reunited with you.
Milady...
I see!
I need time to think about how I can help you! You should go.
Thank you!
Milady, you really plan to help her get rid of Wu Ruyi?
send her my double-channel poison jug,
and show her how to use it.
Cairen Wu!
Wenniang!
You're here!
Jieyu Zheng told me to bring you dim sum.
How kind of her! Please thank her for me!
she also wants to invite you to her chamber tomorrow at 7 p.m.
to discuss something important.
This is a double-channel poison jug.
The spout has 2 channels.
You pour wine from one channel
like any other ordinary jug.
But as you pour out the wine,
turn the pearl like this
to pour wine from the second channel which contains poison.
Then you'll be pouring out poisonous wine.
The poison will act up 3 days later and the victim will die.
Consort Yin is willing to let me try?
she said it.
she understands your position is like you're treading on thin ice.
since Vice Chancellor Zheng entrusted you with her,
she's closely connected with you and will stand by you.
she'll do whatever to help you.
Have you decided
what to do with Wu Ruyi?
Don't worry! I've made the arrangements.
she'll come to my chamber later.
Consort Yin wants you to be careful.
This is no doubt a gamble.
If you win, you'll have a bright future.
should you lose, you're doomed
and may implicate the Zheng and Yin clans.
Please tell Consort Yin for me,
I'll be accountable for my own actions.
I won't implicate her.
Ruyi! Wanyan!
Look, I've brought your clothes.
Wenniang!
Leave us and close the door! Yes!
Thank you so much! Please sit down!
Don't mention it! I was in the laundry room
and they just finished ironing your clothes.
When I saw they're yours,
I brought them over.
May I be excused?
Thank you, Ruyi!
Have a drink!
This is odd.
Inside the harem, only you and I and Xu Hui
hit it off right away!
Have a drink! Cheers!
You invited me over
to discuss something important.
What is it?
I heard you're a great dancer.
If possible,
I'd like you to teach me Prince Lanling in Battle.
Of course!
This dance brings back painful memories.
Painful memories?
The first time I saw His Majesty
was when I was doing this dance.
I was almost beheaded because of it!
Is that painful or what?
How I envy you!
If His Majesty executed you,
he'd remember you forever.
That's better than me right now.
I'm as good as dead to him.
Don't say that! You sound so depressed!
I've already told you
there are always two sides to each story.
I've been telling myself the same.
You have so many mirrors.
Why do you cover them up?
Because I hate mirrors.
Why?
since I was 10 years old,
I've been trained to imitate Empress Zhangsun.
I've had to look in the mirror
and people who have waited on her would coach me,
so that I could look and act like her.
After a while, whenever I looked into the mirror,
I'd wonder
if Empress Zhangsun was in the mirror,
then who am I?
Wanyan!
What do you mean?
someone has been training you?
I shouldn't have told you,
but it doesn't matter now.
Because you won't be telling anyone.
Of course not!
But for you to harbour so many secrets,
it must have been tough on you!
People within the harem
are jealous of me, but little do they know
I've had no friends since I was 12.
I feel blessed to have met you
but I'm sorry I had to do this to you.
Do what to me? What are you talking about?
You have done me no wrong!
Wanyan, your face!
Wanyan, your nose is bleeding!
Wanyan...
Are you alright? Wanyan...
What's wrong? Wanyan...
What is it? Wanyan...
Are you alright?
Go away!
Wanyan...
What is it? Wanyan...
Help! Help!
Wanyan, what happened to you?
I've been sabotaged!
Ruyi, I...
I'm sorry! Wanyan!
I'm so sorry! Wanyan...
Help!
Where is Consort Wei?
Here she is!
There you are!
should we wait for Consort Yang?
You know she's sickly!
Don't bother her with this!
Milady!
stay back, she was poisoned!
Cover up her face!
Cover it up! Aye!
Is the suspect in custody?
Who is it? Wu Ruyi!
Wu Ruyi?
Yes!
No, Milady! It's not true!
No, Milady!
Ruyi and Wanyan were like sisters. she would never have hurt her!
It's not possible! How could this happen?
Don't go in!
Quiet! Mind your manners!
Get rid of them! Aye!
Get out! Right...
It's not true, Milady!
Injustice...
Please leave...
Chen Gong-Gong!
Did Wu Ruyi confess?
she maintained her innocence.
she's in custody within the Attending Office
Wait outside! Aye!
since Consort Yang is ill,
you and I will handle this.
What do you think we should do?
she's dead. so what if we catch the killer?
We're alone,
spare me your benevolent act!
You must be thrilled.
Now that Zheng Wanyan is dead
and Wu Ruyi is the sole suspect,
can anything be more delightful?
Why do you say that?
I genuinely feel sorry for Wanyan!
Chen Gong-Gong! Yes?
I think Wu Ruyi is the prime suspect.
We must interrogate her at once.
By tomorrow morning,
I want to know how and why she did it.
You must give me a full report.
I won't let you down, Milady!
We'll leave this to Chen Gong-Gong!
He'll know what to do.
It's late, let's not disturb His Majesty.
What do you say?
I suddenly feel heavy on the chest.
since I'm not well,
I must return to Chenxi Palace to consult a doctor.
I'll leave this in your good hands.
I'll take my leave now.
Coward!
Based on what you told me,
Consort Wei wanted to torture Wu Ruyi
before His Majesty arrived
and kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
Allow me to interject, but...
Zheng Wanyan met a violent end.
Master's plan has gone to waste
while Consort Wei stands to benefit from the situation.
How can you chant your sutra at a time like this?
Zhang Gong-Gong! Yes?
You've served the Yin clan for a long time.
Back then, you took my brother's order
and castrated yourself.
Let me ask you this...
my brother asked me to help Cairen Zheng.
Now that she's dead,
what more help can I give her?
You should help your brother
get to the bottom of this murder.
Zheng Wanyan's killer was obviously after you both.
There's no need to investigate.
I did it.
Do you know what you're saying?
I said,
I killed Zheng Wanyan.
But why?
Zhang Gong-Gong,
please relay a message to my brother.
We're survivors of a conquered state.
We should feel lucky we're alive.
Don't start any trouble!
What I did,
I was doing it for him and for my son,
as well as the Yin clan.
Milady!
How foolish of you! say no more!
You're excused!
Who told you to kill Jieyu Zheng?
Who's behind this? His Highness Consort Wei!
At ease!
Did she confess?
she has a tight trap.
she passed out twice, but wouldn't confess.
Wu Ruyi, why did you kill Zheng Wanyan?
You and I both know
I'm not the killer.
I only know
you were alone at the scene.
You're the prime suspect.
Don't worry.
Inside the harem,
everything is about seniority and not right or wrong.
Yet I'll still give you a chance.
Wanyan was like a sister to me.
Why would I kill her?
What proof do you have?
How dare you shoot off your mouth!
Everyone knows
you've been a trouble maker since you set foot inside the Palace.
You're obviously vying for His Majesty's affection.
Jieyu Zheng has an unusual gift.
Winning His Majesty's affection was only a matter of time.
Jealousy alone is good enough as a motive.
If you had the audacity to badmouth Empress Wende,
you're capable of anything.
You probably befriended Jieyu Zheng
so that she'd let down her guard
and you could make your move.
such calculations
prove that you're obviously more vicious than anyone else.
Obviously? Probably?
You've premeditated
in pinning a trumped up charge against me.
You wish to close the file quickly or you're after something else?
My father may be dead,
but he was a meritorious courtier of Tang
and was named Duke of Ying by His Majesty.
If you plan to kill me with this trumped up charge,
when His Majesty pursues this matter,
you'll have to answer to him! How dare you!
Guards!
Gag her!
You want to pull rank?
His Majesty is busy with state matters.
He doesn't care if a petty Cairen lives or dies.
so what if you're part of the Inner Court?
A Cairen without a title is no different from a Palace maid,
and comes under the jurisdiction of the Attending Office.
I have Consort Wei's order
to handle this case.
Wu shihuo is long dead.
Even if he's alive, what could he do to me?
I'll give you a taste of the rules within the Palace.
Cane her!
Would Consort Yang grant me an audience?
You've been kneeling out here for so long,
if Consort Yang wanted to see you, she would have summoned you.
Go away!
It's a matter of life and death!
Please let me see her!
Just for a moment!
I said "no"!
Who do you think you are?
stop this racket at Xianling Palace!
Or I'll cane you! Go away!
Take her away! Aye!
Gong-Gong...
Wait!
Milady will see you! Follow me. Yes!
Don't complain I don't look after you.
Remember these books?
You're now wearing
a 24 book-lined jacket.
You must savour it properly.
Maybe someday you'll find use for it.
Do it!
Wu Ruyi!
You have read the Examples for Women.
Tell me if you wish to confess.
Greetings, Milady!
Cairen Xu, why did you come to see me?
What happened last night,
was decided by Consort Wei and Consort Yin.
Because I know
you're the only one who can save Ruyi.
Though I'm new
I know
since Empress Wende's death,
everything that happens within the harem
are to be decided by the 4 Consorts.
Not only that,
I also found out
though Consort Wei may seem to have the upper hand,
and Consort Liu was bearing child,
over the past year,
His Majesty has been so grief stricken over the Empress
he spent the night with the 4 Consorts only on 11 occasions.
7 out of the 11 were in Xianling Palace.
In terms of virtue and His Majesty's affection,
you're right behind the Empress.
That's why only if you'll help Ruyi,
she'll stand a chance.
Please help Ruyi, Milady!
Milady!
Consort Wei is torturing Wu Ruyi at the Attending Office right now,
hoping to pin the murder on you.
If we don't act now, it'll be too late.
At ease, Cairen Xu!
In that case, I'll report to His Majesty.
If Consort Wei wants an investigation,
let the Grand Court get involved.
Will you confess?
What a wench! Clamp her!
Milady, she doesn't appreciate a favour...
Why don't we send her on her way?
Tell me, if she's dead,
what would His Majesty say?
she's only a Cairen,
how much trouble can she cause?
As long as the Wei clan remain loyal to Tang
His Majesty won't have much to say.