Take them away. Hit them with thirty lashes
I'm new to the palace, so I didn't know this cypress tree had a spirit.
There is a reason for my behavior, however.
Shut her mouth
Let her talk
I truly didn't know this cypress tree had a spirit.
However,
Last night a tree came to me in a dream.
It said it had been here for a long time
and it had an itch on its body.
It asked me to come find it in the garden and scratch its back.
Yes, that's it.
I was scratching its back just now
What the hell are you taking about?
How can a tree manifest itself in your dreams?
Well, since the tree has a spirit, it makes sense that it could manifest itself in my dreams.
Your Majesty,
every word of what I've just told you is the truth.
I am not lying.
Forget it
Get out of here.
Today is your lucky day
Madam
You hurt me.
Hurt you, did I?
You must think you were so clever just now. How dare you argue with the emperor?
Do you want to get killed?
Madam
This tree...
What kind of tree is it?
Why is it so precious?
One year the emperor donned a disguise and went out among the people to inspect the state of the kingdom. It was a blazing hot summer.
All the ministers were sweating a lot.
Only the emperor had no sweat at all
Everybody thought it was bizarre
The emperor often thought
it was if there was a huge tree in the netherworld that had followed him out of the Forbidden City
and provided him with shade on his journey.
Everybody said this cypress had a spirit.
It knew the emperor was leaving and went forth to protect him on his travels.
The Emperor only says that so that the people will think he is special--the true son of Heaven
A magic tree gave him shade?
I think he is the one having dreams
Cut it out
Even a measly tree like this isn't allowed to be hit and cursed
In this forbidden city
people are treated worse than a tree
That is correct
In the forbidden city
A tree that is favored by the emperor
is better than a woman that has fallen out of favor.
Look at Noble Lady Yu.
If she gives birth to a son,
she will have still have a chance to turn her fortunes around.
But as for Concubine Yi...
She has lost even her life.
Madam
Let's leave this place.
What are you talking about now?
I fooled the emperor just now. If he suddenly realizes it was an act, I'll be in big trouble. Let's go. You think they won't find you?
They won't. All servant girls wear the same clothes.
Besides, I didn't lift up my head just now, so they couldn't see my face. Hurry.
Good morning, mother.
Come over here and let your mother get a look at you.
Hey...
You're not looking too well. Have affairs of state been wearing on you?
Thanks for your concern, mother.
There have been a lot of trifling matters recently, that's all. No problem.
You used to drink a bowl of sugared bird's nest porridge every morning
And in the evening you'd have food and wine
But recently you haven't eaten anything at all.
It's obvious your appetite is not very big.
If you are overburdened by affairs of state,
you should delegate some of tasks to somebody else
Otherwise all of the responsibility will fall on you
and those other people are useless！
Mother, you are totally right. The problem is precisely that the people under me are useless.
I will be more strict with them.
This green tea is from Noble Lady Shu. It was grown in the Dongting mountains.
I know you've always loved tea.
After this, you can take the rest of the tea with you
Last night, a tree came to me in a dream.
It told me it had been here for a long time
and had an itch. It wanted me to come find it in the garden and scratch it.
Yeah, that's it. Just now, I was scratching the tree.
Emperor
Mmm.
Oh, speaking of green tea, there's a story about it.
One year, grandfather went to visit Southern China as the emperor.
He heard this tea had a peculiar fragrance.
The locals gave it a name that means "scary fragrance tea."
Grandfather didn't like that name.
He specifically changed the name to Biluochun, which means "green snail spring."
Originally, the locals would send him some of the tea every year as tribute.
However, once my father became emperor,
he thought this tribute too burdensome for the people.
So he put an end to it.
Now, mother, seeing as you like this tea,
I will order the tribute to resume as before.
Don't try to change the subject. You know what my comment was implying.
Huh?
Don't you know who Noble Lady Shu is?
Emperor,
she's the one who was just selected among the beauties to become your new concubine.
You gave her her new title yourself.
Oh.
Haha.
You always spoke so highly of your Empress before. She is your legal wife
and birthed you a son,
so I did not object when you showed her favoritism.
Now, however, the queen is in ill health
and you haven't gone to visit your concubines in weeks.
Before, you said you were sick of seeing the same old faces.
But now the harem is full of many new faces.
How have you still not been to visit them?
You're right, mother.
I understand.
Understand what?
Mmm. This tea is delicious.
There you go changing the subject again. You're a grown man now. Stop making me have to worry about you so much.
Mother,
I have a lot of documents I need to read back in my study.
I have to be going now.
Emperor
Emperor!
What are you laughing at?
The emperor is an interesting man.
He says he understands.
But I don't think he understands at all.
No matter what kind of women come into this palace,
they all turn out the same in the end.
No matter how smart, no matter how pretty,
no matter how precious...
In the end,
they all become worthless and neglected.
They become just another nobody.
Emperor, what are you looking for?
What happened to that palace maid who was just here?
Why are you looking for her?
I just realized...
Who is she? Why would the spirit tree visit her dreams?
This girl...
She's too smart and clever for her own good.
I was distracted thinking of court matters earlier.
She caught me off guard.
I didn't know what to say to her. That's why I Iet her go.
Yes. That girl lies as soon as she opens her mouth.
Lies upon lies upon lies.
We need to apprehend her and kill her.
Emperor
Emperor, if I do something wrong, find someone else to hit me in your place.
Don't allow my sordid buttocks
to sully your honorable feet.
Turn around.
Some nerve you have.
You told the empress dowager all about my affairs.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
This morning, Handmaiden Liu came by.
She said the empress dowager was worried about your health.
I couldn't hide the truth.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
In the future, don't bother my mother with my affairs.
Don't make her worry about me.
Yes, sir!
Find that maid for me.
My lady.
Why did you shut out Concubine Yu?
I knew that I would anger Your Majesty by acting this way.
But I still did it.
I did it for you!
Tell me. How was it you did this for my sake? I know Your Majesty has a good heart
and is concerned about Noble Lady Yu.
But with so much going on in the palace,
do you have time to concern yourself with her? It's obvious those two concubines are not favored by the emperor.
Noble Lady Yu finally becomes pregnant with a son
and the emperor treats her no differently.
What are your motives, stirring up the pot like this?
My motives?
As the mother of this nation, the leader of these palaces,
I must concern myself with these things!
Then what about your own health?
Are you really not concerned about that?
What's more, Noble Consort Gao is beginning to show her teeth.
You can't control the situation any longer!
Ming'yu!
Your majesty...
Shut your mouth!
Calm down, your majesty.
Your majesty,
I'm saying this because I care about you. You can't handle all these problems on your own.
If Noble Consort Gao gets taken down because of this, that's a separate matter entirely.
Since you obviously don't have a plan of your own,
I ask you please not to interfere!
Your Majesty!
What is it the Empress can not interfere with?
Good day, Emperor.
Get up, all of you.
What were you talking about just now?
The palace staff have been neglecting their duties of late.
They didn't announce your arrival.
I told them not to.
I came here specifically to see
what are you up to.
Noble Lady Yu is pregnant with your heir.
This is a great cause for celebration in the palace.
I want to set up a stall at the northern palace gate to give out food to the people
in order to bring good fortune for your son.
These two, though, don't think I'm in adequate health
to concern myself with these matters.
They urged me not to do it.
Is that true?
Yes.
Other than that,
is there anything else
that you'd like to say to me?
You're mired in countless affairs of state every day.
You must make sure to stay healthy.
Yes.
Your majesty...
I have had a lot on my plate lately.
I have to get back to work now. You should get some rest.
Goodbye, my emperor.
Your majesty...
Why didn't you tell him the truth?
What good would that do now?
Concubine Yi is already dead.
It wouldn't do any good now
to look into
whatever problems there might be with the Pei Pa Koa medicine.
My greatest wish right now is that
Noble Lady Yu can pull herself together
and birth a son without incident.
Good day, milady.
How is it
that the emperor told you
to come present me with a gift?
No.
Please allow the lady to open it herself.
What is it?
The Diamond Sutra?
Why would the emperor send me this?
He sent it as a reply to what my lady said earlier.
The emperor said that my lady was suffering from an imbalance of fire chi
This sutra
was specially selected by the emperor as a gift for you.
He said that if you copy the sutra by hand one time it would alleviate some of your internal heat and benefit your health.
That's 5,000 words to copy!
Your majesty, we've got all your writing supplies ready right over here.
Just leave it there. I'll copy it when I have time.
Forgive me, my lady.
The emperor told us to wait here until you finished
so we could personally witness you copying it
and then report back.
What?
The emperor told you to monitor me?
My lady, it's not like that.
The emperor is doing this out of his immense love for you.
Don't! My lady, that... that's a gift from the emperor.
It cannot be thrown.
Okay. Fine.
I'll copy it right now.
You better keep your eyes open wide and get a good look!
Yes, ma'am.
Ji'xiang. Look.
What's there to look at? They're just the imperial guards. You idiot.
You think the guards in the forbidden city are just normal people?
The red walls of this forbidden city are a dividing line for these guards.
What do you mean? I don't quite follow.
You
are really stupid.
The imperial guards posted outside the red walls
are all ranked among the lower five tiers of the Eight Banner army.
But the guards within these red walls
are all from noble families with some connection to the emperor. They comprise the top three tiers of the Eight Banner army.
Nobles serve as guards, too?
Of course. Remember, those who are by the emperor's side day in and day out will naturally rise through the ranks.
So, every year when people are competing to be among the next batch of imperial guards within these walls,
it's not enough just to come from a noble background.
You also need martial arts skills far exceeding the average soldier. Otherwise, you don't stand a chance.
I heard
the queen's younger brother Fu'heng serves among them. Which one is he?
I don't know. I've never seen him, either.
Madame said we need to hurry up and put the clothes away in their respective rooms.
Stop wasting time. Let's go.
Qing'xi.
What are you looking at?
Cover for me. I have something important to do. You can't just leave like that! Qing'xi!
Ying'luo, what's the matter?
I think I dropped my handkerchief. I'm going to go look for it.
You go ahead.
Don't take too long.
Come here.
Madame Fang.
Just now a guard suddenly came to find Ying'luo.
He pulled her away in a hurry.
Ying'luo is new to the palace. She doesn't know anyone yet.
Do you think something happened?
Very well.
She just got here and she's already getting into trouble and having affairs with the guards.
I'm going to skin her alive.
Say what you have to say.
Ying'luo, Uncle Wei told me you were in the palace.
I didn't dare believe it.
But you really are here.
What does it matter to you
whether I'm in the palace or not?
I was as broken up about Ying'ning's death as anyone
But this is the Forbidden City.
This isn't a game.
Who do you think you are?
What right do you have to interfere with my own affairs?
Because I was close to your sister
so your business is my business.
What are you laughing at?
If you were so close to my sister
then why did you abandon her without hesitation
just when she needed you the most?
She was born into the imperial household servant class.
She was going to have to work in the palace sooner or later. What was I supposed to do? Wait for her until I was 25?
No.
It wasn't that you couldn't wait for her.
It was because we are a lower class.
No matter how beautiful, smart or virtuous my sister was
a high class young lord such as yourself
would never officially marry a low class woman.
Ying'luo!
What's the matter?
Did I read your mind?
I did, didn't I?
Your last name is Qi'jia
You're from a noble Manchu family.
My sister may not come from a noble background
but she has tremendous character.
Now that you two are finished
there is no bond left between you both.
But I was always good to your sister.
When my sister was in the palace
did you ever look out for her at all?
I'm an imperial guard.
I can't have contact with the palace maids.
Very well, then.
Since we are no more than strangers,
I don't blame you for turning a blind eye towards my sister's death.
Just go on and act as if you never saw me in this Forbidden City.
Ying'luo!
I stand watch once every 5 days. If you get into trouble,
Come find me at the guard post.
That won't be necessary.
I'm an inner palace maid. If you keep blabbing on like this, aren't you afraid of being seen and losing your job?
Thank heavens you and my sister broke up.
A man like you is not worthy to be my brother-in-law.
You're a worthless coward.
You disgraceful slut! I've caught you in the act, haven't I?
You have the nerve to liaison with men in the palace?
Where do you get the guts?
Come out! Can't follow the palace rules?
Open up, right now!
You scoundrel!
You were spying on me?
Spying like a disgraceful dog!
Help me!
I'll teach you to spy on me!
I'll teach you to spy, you scoundrel!
Stop! Stop hitting!
It's Madame Fang!
Scoundrel
You scoundrel of a person!
You have some nerve on you.
How dare you beat Madame Fang!
Madame Fang!
I didn't know it was you!
You stupid girl. You dare...
Madame. Didn't you say you were going to...
Wei Ying'luo.
Where is your adulterer?
Adulterer?
I'm the only one here.
What were you doing alone in the store room?
I dropped my handkerchief, I was looking for it.
On the way, though, I suddenly had to relieve myself.
There's no bathroom in the forbidden city.
I couldn't hold it!
Then I suddenly discovered someone was following me.
You dare to lie to me?
I'll tear your lying mouth off your face!
Madame!
Did you pull something in your back? You should go lie down!
Very well. I'll make you pay later... slowly.
Be careful.
Careful, Madame.
Don't go too fast!
Ying'luo, are you okay?
You scared me.
I'm fine, aren't I?
But Madame was so angry just now.
What will you do if she doesn't leave it alone?
Judging from how hard I beat her,
it's going to be a couple weeks before she recovers.
When she does, let her come find me.
You did it on purpose?
You think too much.
How beautiful!
Ying'luo!
What's wrong?
That pendant you just found, did Madame Fang drop it?
I'll give it back to in a little bit.
Madame.
Are you trying to burn me?
Pour another cup!
Yes, ma'am.
Bing'qing.
What are you doing here?
If Madame sees you, she'll fly into a rage.
She grinds her teeth just thinking about you now.
You need to beware. She'll want to get you back eventually.
Madame dropped this pendant. I just wanted to give it back to her.
Oh, you found it! Madame told Yu'jie to go look for it.
This pendant is especially exquisite.
The thread is wound in a most peculiar way.
I would never be able to replicate it.
Do you know who made this?
It was that palace maid in the embroidery workshop I told you not to mention. A'man.
A'man.
Her name is A'man?
I'm relatively new to the palace. I just know that's what everyone calls her. Why?
Where is she now?
Don't talk about her. Madame doesn't allow us to mention her.
Tell me. Please.
I won't tell anyone else.
Later, I'll make you a beautiful perfume pouch.
I know you love the "golden swallow chasing the moon" design the best.
She must have committed some kind of offense and was expelled from the palace.
Madame doesn't allow us to speak of it. Anyone who does would be in big trouble.
So you're saying Madame Fang is the only one
who has all the inside details on things like this.
Bing'qing!
Madame's calling me. I better hurry! Goodbye.
I told you to pour me a cup of tea.
Where did you go?
Madame. I'm terribly sorry.
I saw someone outside and talked to them for a minute.
Who did you see?
Ying'luo. She found your pendant.
She wanted to give it back.
Does she think I'm some kind of weak invalid?
What else did that filthy bitch have to say? She asked who it was that made this pendant.
Then she asked about what happened to A'man.
A'man...
Madame, it's really none of my business. I didn't tell her anything.
I'm sure Ying'luo was just curious.
Wei Ying'luo.
Wei Ying'luo...
Why does that name sound so familiar?
Where have I heard that name before?
Get Ling'long in here.
Take it!
Show it to the emperor. Tell him
I wrote it all myself. No one else did it for me.
Tell him my hand is nearly broken!
Yes, ma'am.
Goodbye, my lady.
My lady, now that you've finished copying the sutra,
you mustn't be angry with the emperor.
Angry with him?
Obviously he's the one angry with me!
I heard
that the Emperor went to the Palace of Eternal Spring in the morning
So this is her doing...
Who else would be scheming behind the scenes like this?
So what should we do next, ma'am?
I drove that bitch Yi to her death
and received no rebuke from the emperor.
Yes.
The emperor doesn't care what happens to people who aren't in his favor.
He's the son of Heaven.
The ruler of the great Qing empire.
How would he have time to get mixed up in the affairs of his concubines
and sort out who's right and who's wrong?
That would be a joke!
If the emperor got involved with things like that,
what use would the empress be?
So he's not concerning himself with these matters.
If he did concern himself
that'd be like telling the entire palace
that the empress is useless
and can't keep the concubines under control.
Then the sutra...
In the Palace of Eternal Harmony,
isn't there a concubine pregnant with a son?
The emperor
is trying to remind me
to cultivate myself through meditation.
I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch.
I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch. I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch.
I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch.
Madame Fang, I really did see Wei Ying'luo together with a guard that day.
I wasn't trying to trick you.
Very well.
I believe you. Get up.
However,
there's something fishy about that Wei Ying'luo girl.
You must help me keep an eye on her, Ling'long.
Madame, I don't understand.
You don't need to understand.
You just need to remember.
If you see anything going on with her
just report back to me immediately.
If you don't cooperate,
I'll tell her that you're the one who tipped me off that day.
If she has the guts to strike me...
just think what she'll do to you.
Yes, ma'am.
Who's in charge here?
Good day, my ladies.
You know me?
I took your measurements for your clothes when you first came into the palace.
You're a natural beauty, Noble Lady Shu. It is hard to forget you.
I remember you as well, Female Attendant Qing
Well then... are our new clothes ready yet?
Yes. We were just arranging to have someone take them to you. No need. I'm already here, aren't I?
This way, then, my lady.
It's you...
Good day, my lady.
I remember you.
Aren't you the girl from last time...
Female Attendant has a good memory.
The impression you leave on others
is really quite deep.
I'll always remember
how Lady Wu'ya was expelled from the palace.
Lady Wu'ya was expelled from the palace?
How can that be?
You...
Really don't know?
I'm just a humble maid in the embroidery shop.
How can I know the affairs of those such as Wu'ya and yourself?
You really didn't have anything to do with it?
Me? Have something to do with it?
Sister Na'lan
It appears that she really didn't know.
I hope
that I was simply overthinking it
and not that I'm underestimating you.
My lady,
I really don't understand
what you're talking about.
I'm not as foolish as Lady Wu'ya.
Don't keep thinking yourself clever.
Beware
of trying to get clever with me.
Didn't I say we wanted to see the new clothes? What are we standing around for?
This way, my lady.
I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch.
Chief Steward Li, you've seen all of the maids we gathered here.
But we still haven't found the one you're looking for.
That damned wench...
If I find her, I swear I'm going to skin her alive!
Is this it? Are these all the palace maids?
We've had all the maids from every palace sent out here already.
Unless... the maid you're looking for is a high ranking personal servant of the emperor's wife or concubines
If that's the case, we haven't the authority to call them out here. It couldn't be a high ranking maid.
I remember her voice clear as day.
It was a voice I'd never heard before.
Then that just leaves the maids in the artisanal workshops.
Like the leather shop... the embroidery shop...
the filigree shop...the art studio...
Check every one of them.
The emperor has ordered that we must apprehend her!
Sew this part a little further down.
Look. Here.
Are you going to tie a knot there?
And here.
Everyone step outside and form a line.
Every one of you will be inspected.
Chief Steward Li, what's going on here?
Madame Zhang, call all the maids that work for you outside.
I'm going to inspect every one of them.
Chief Li, we're rushing to finish up the spring clothes for all the palace mistresses. If we make them all come outside right now
it will waste too much time.
How about this--just tell me whatever orders you have
and I'll make sure they're carried out.
Of course, it would not be the same coming from you.
I know your shop here is under the supervision of Eunuch Wu.
You speak to me in such a casual manner.
Is that because you don't take my authority seriously?
What are you saying? I wouldn't dare.
Chief Li, what kind of person are you looking for exactly?
A young maid with a clever tongue
a wicked schemer!
When I get my hands on her, I'm going to skin her alive!
Very well. Please wait a moment.
Madame, all the palaces are breathing down our necks trying to get us to finish these clothes. We don't have time for this.
Chief Li is not someone you want to cross lightly.
Chief Li, I have to take these two mistresses to look at some clothing.
I will not be able to stay for the inspection.
Move to the back.
Come on. Form a line and say, one at a time,
"I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch."
What the hell are you laughing at?
That's right, I'm talking to you!
The one with the stupid-looking face!
The girl I'm looking for is clever like a fox. You are obviously not her. Go away.
Don't just stand around after you're done being inspected.
Come help me attend to the two mistresses.
Chief Li.
Ji'xiang.
Looks like you've rallied all the troops. Who are you looking for?
Do you need us to help?
I wouldn't want to waste any of my lady's precious time with such trifling matters.
No need to be so formal with me.
I've invited you to my chambers
several times, Chief Li. But you never come.
My lady must be joking. My lady is new to the palace
and does not know the emperor's temperament.
If the emperor discovered
that my lady had invited me to her chambers
he might be inclined to think that my lady was trying gain information about his majesty's affairs
I wouldn't dream of it! You worry too much, Chief Li.
Well, I had better be going.
Ling'long!
Stupid girl! Where were you?
I looked everywhere for you. Madame, I...
You! Come over here!
Yes, you!
We're over here looking for someone and you just happen to be gone.
You are now our main suspect.
Say the following:
"I was helping the magic tree scratch an itch."
Go away. Continue.
Lady Na'lan, were you really trying to get information about what the emperor is up to?
Don't be such a baby.
We've been here a month and we still haven't seen the emperor.
What then was the point of going through all the effort of being picked out of the beauty competition?
Are we just here to sunbathe in the palace?
Don't say that. Be patient.
Your chance will come.
But resorting to intrigue like this...
If you're going to join the army, you might as well be a general.
If you're going to be in the palace, you might as well be at the top.
If everyone was like you... laying low,
head down like a cowardly quail... where's the fun in that?
Lady Na'lan, keep your voice down.
What are you afraid of?
I came to this palace to become the emperor's favorite concubine.
I want to soar to the top. Why lay low?
Don't be fooled by those other concubines
acting so virtuous and aloof.
If they're really so virtuous, let them spend a lifetime never sharing the emperor's bed!
Lady Na'lan, don't talk like that.
The other concubines I've seen are all of fine character.
I think you're just stupid.
I merely speak a few words of truth
and you become afraid.
Let me tell you. Inside or outside the palace,
anyone that walks on two legs
is the same as any other.
Anyone who parades themselves around, looking full of themselves,
boasting of themselves... don't hesitate.
Spit on them mercilessly.
They're fake. Totally fake.
If you want to be a pure hearted saint with no earthly desires...
then simply
slit your own throat and go to heaven!
Lady Na'lan, today we still need to go pay our respects to Concubine Jia.
Let's hurry.
Hey. Wait a second.
Did you all hear that?
Take my clothes to my chambers.
Yes, ma'am.
Let's go.
Hurry, look! It's imperial guard Fucha!
Imperial guard Fucha!
It's imperial guard Fucha! I saw imperial guard Fucha just now.
Imperial guard Fucha?
Fucha Fuheng.
He's the younger brother of the empress.
He's the real deal... a master soldier and scholar, a noble kinsman of the emperor! Oh, okay then. So now we can get on with dropping these clothes off, huh?
Ying'luo! Wait a second. I have to go to the bathroom. Help me out.
Thanks!
Jin'xiu!
Wei Ying'luo. What are you doing?
I'm the one who should be asking what you're doing!