Episode 35
Your Highness!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Rise at once.
Your Majesty, what brought you over?
I heard from the imperial physician that...
your condition hasn't been improving.
I wanted to send Physician Jiang Hong Xue to treat you.
But, he's nowhere to be found.
Fortunately, Mr. Dongfang is here.
He's extremely knowledgeable...
and even trained the art of medicine.
So, I asked for his help.
I'm flattered, Your Majesty.
I'm just an amateur.
I heard that...
you were the one who saved the emperor of State of Qiuye...
when he was poisoned by miasma.
I'll be troubling you, Mr. Dongfang.
Mr. Dongfang.
Is there a problem?
Her Highness' pulse is so unstable.
Are you having nightmares?
Yes.
Don't worry. I'll perform acupuncture for Your Highness.
Mr. Dongfang, I'm sensitive to pain.
No thanks.
I can still sleep well.
Your Majesty.
Her Highness' condition is not serious.
I can cure her very quickly.
Then I'll be troubling you.
Ning Zhi.
Rest well. I'll come again tomorrow.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
Eunuch Chang.
For some reason, that windows...
keeps opening by itself.
Please check.
Yes.
Eunuch Chang.
Your Highness.
I have a question.
Yes, Your Highness.
What would you like to know?
You served the late emperor.
Can you describe his appearance?
Your Highness.
The late emperor had a long beard.
Also,
His Majesty was an anxious man.
There were 3 deep wrinkles between his eyebrows.
Your Highness.
The late emperor passed away a long time ago.
Why are you suddenly interested to know?
There's no particular reason.
It's just my random musings.
You may return.
Yes.
I've delivery the food to the disaster victim.
Please rest assured, Your Majesty.
From Ban Ling Er.
Your Majesty.
You came at the right time.
Do you know?
My third batch of food has been completely...
delivered to the disaster victims.
Guess how many days it took.
I've no idea.
Compared to using the canal,
the time taken was shortened by half.
It took only 2 days.
It was Ban Ling Er who came up with...
the good idea of transporting the rice from Mount Qilin.
This woman...
is more than meets the eye.
I congratulate Your Majesty on acquiring a good helper.
I'm planning to...
confer Ban Ling Er the title of...
Consort Min.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
On the 2nd of next month,
I will announce the good news.
This will be the biggest...
recent event.
I recall that...
Your Majesty intends to reinstate the empress.
If this is the case,
why not we double the happiness?
Your Majesty.
The position of the empress must not be vacant for too long.
Otherwise, the royal harem will be in disorder.
Moreover, this is the wish of the people.
I've my own plans.
The late emperor did exempt you from death sentence.
But, you deserve to rot in hell!
Mr. Dongfang.
From what I heard, poison from miasma isn't a big deal.
Why is it that ever since you came,
my condition got worse...
instead of getting better?
That's because the imperial physician...
did not give you the right medicine.
I'll give you a new prescription.
If you can make me recover,
I'll tell His Majesty to reward you with treasures.
Are you under the impression that...
I'm treating you for money?
Please consume this.
You may retire.
I was told that...
you are a sage.
So, I'd like to...
seek your advice.
Please go ahead.
Prior to this,
the late empress dowager claimed that Prince Guang Ding...
is not a real prince.
The truth remains a mystery today.
You're such an intelligent man.
I believe you know the truth.
I stargazed that day...
and saw that while the Tianliang Star...
representing the empress dowager was dim,
it was surrounded by a layer of glow.
That shows that she was...
honest with nothing to hide.
Is that so?
Do you have other guesses?
I'm just curious.
I suddenly feel a little dizzy.
I'd like to get some rest.
Please return, Mr. Dongfang.
Any news of Ning Zhi?
Ning Zhi's condition is getting worse.
His Majesty hired Dongfang Xuan, a sage from State of Qiuye...
to treat her.
No imperial physician in the palace dares to treats Ning Zhi.
In fact, the eunuchs and palace maids wouldn't reveal anything at all.
I bet this is His Majesty's order.
Mr. Dongfang came from State of Qiuye.
He should serve his own country.
Why is he spending so much time in Liang...
and serving His Majesty?
Ning Zhi is in great danger.
Mr. Dongfang.
It's late already. Her Highness had gone to bed.
I came to treat Her Highness upon His Majesty's order.
His Majesty will punish you if Her Highness doesn't recover!
Open the door!
How dare you!
You've the nerve to barge into Wan Xiang Palace at this hour!
No wonder Your Highness isn't recovering.
You're not taking your medicine.
It wasn't intentional.
Your medicine is too bitter.
I don't like it.
Luckily, I prepared a new medicine for Your Highness.
Please try.
I refuse to eat it...
and you can't force me to eat it.
Your Highness.
Good medicine is bitter.
You must take your medicine in order to recover...
and get out of Wan Xiang Palace to serve His Majesty.
Dongfang Xuan, I'm warning you.
I'm your superior.
You've no authority to intervene in my business.
Tomorrow, I'll tell His Majesty to...
bring back my previous physician.
I'm His Majesty's guest.
His Majesty ordered me to treat you.
Are you planning to defy his order?
Moreover,
I've informed His Majesty that...
you're suffering from depression...
and that you need to have some space.
But, don't worry.
For the time being,
His Majesty will not come to you.
Eunuch Chang.
Yes.
Confiscate all those...
writing tools over there.
-Yes. -Dongfang Xuan!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
You came.
I heard...
you did a good job praying for the country.
Thank you for the compliment.
While you were the empress,
you were pampered and spoilt.
You did not understand the people's sufferings.
Now that you've seen the life of the folks,
do you feel remorseful for your insatiable desires in the past?
I've spent many days reflecting.
I'm willing to partake in the sufferings of the disaster victims.
That's good.
I will reinstate you in a few days.
I hope you manage the royal harem properly...
and a good leader...
to assist me.
Otherwise, I could send you to the Cold Palace again...
like before.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I have a request.
May I visit Noble Consort Ning?
Why?
I haven't seen her for a long time and I've missed her very much.
She's ill now...
and I'm very worried.
She needs space to get some good rest.
You don't have to worry too much.
But I know that...
good mood is essential for recovery.
She's such an active person.
If she's confined in Wan Xiang Palace,
she might feel bored.
If I can visit her and talk to her,
she might feel a lot better.
Did Wei Guang...
send you to gather information about Noble Consort Ning?
Of course not, Your Majesty.
Wei Guang has never mentioned Noble Consort Ning.
It's just that I've been away for a long time...
and now that I'm back,
I want to treasure my sisterhood with Noble Consort Ning.
-As such... -Enough.
Say no more.
Go back.
Yes.
There's nothing I can do.
It went well in the beginning.
But, as soon as I mentioned Ning Zhi,
His Majesty's attitude changed.
He even asked me...
if I were sent by Wei Guang.
I wonder if...
the Dongfang brothers said something to His Majesty...
that made him suspect us.
They aren't the real Dongfang brothers.
Those two died a long time ago.
What do you mean?
I've investigated with Brother Lang.
A month ago, the Dongfang brothers stayed in Yun Feng Inn.
However,
a few days after they stayed there,
they went missing mysteriously.
We later on discovered a pack of wolves...
digging on a small hill near the inn.
We dug and found two male corpses.
You mean, the two corpses...
were the brothers?
We found a tag on each of them.
One says "Dongfang Yu"...
and one says "Dongfang Xuan".
How long have they been dead?
Around a month.
It's been so long.
Their corpses must have rotten.
What makes you think that...
they are the real Dongfang brothers?
Besides, those tags...
could have been planted by someone else.
There were signs of...
healed fractures at the femur of both corpses.
They once angered the emperor of State of Qiuye...
and their femur broke as a result of the punishment.
This can't be a coincidence.
Then who are the two men...
who met His Majesty weeks ago and started advising him?
There's no doubt that they are Yan Kuan and Yan Zheng.
I'm more worried about Ning Zhi now.
His Majesty might not want to harm Ning Zhi,
but sending Dongfang Xuan to treat Ning Zhi...
is the worst idea ever.
We need to find out what's going on in Wan Xiang Palace.
Mr. Lang.
-How are you? -Commander Liu.
It's been a long time.
You're here now?
Yes.
I just acquired some good stuff.
Look.
What do you think?
-Mr. Lang. -Isn't it nice?
Judging from the ring's colour and texture,
it's good stuff.
It's really good.
Do you like it?
You got yourself a good ring.
You can have it.
Goodbye, Mr. Lang.
Your Majesty.
I got this from the laundry house.
This is the robe Noble Consort Ning wore yesterday.
Let me see.
"Dongfang Xuan is Yan Kuan."
"I am in bad shape."
"I'm feeling hot and cold and seeing things."
"The sicklier I get, the more illusions I see."
Dongfang Xuan is indeed Yan Kuan.
We're out of time.
I'll inform His Majesty immediately.
Your Majesty, please do not be rash.
Ning Zhi is at Dongfang Xuan's mercy.
Once he finds out, Ning Zhi will get into trouble.
This doesn't make sense.
Her Highness was just poisoned by miasma.
Why is she seeing things?
Maybe she's affected by another poison.
There are many plants in the forest.
Feeling hot and cold...
and seeing things?
Could it be thorn apple?
There's thorn apple in the forest.
Ning Zhi must have been in contact with...
thorn apple's pollens while she was trying to escape.
Brother Lang.
Is this serious?
It's not a big deal at first.
But, since she's seeing things,
the more illusions she sees,
the worse it gets and her life will be at threat.
What should we do?
Brother Lang.
Can you make the antidote?
I can.
I need to get into Wan Xiang Palace.
Please lend me a hand, Your Majesty.
Of course.
God blessed Your Majesty.
The natural disasters are generally under control.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The one who contributed the most to this...
is Madam Ban.
She's an exceptionally clever woman.
If it wasn't for her, the number of deaths...
would have been a hundred or a thousand times higher.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Rise at once.
Is the situation under control now?
Victims in remote areas...
are still starving.
I'd still need to make a few trips.
Madam Ban is so diligent.
Your Majesty.
Should we pay a visit to Noble Consort Ning together?
I intended to bring you along.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I want to meet Noble Consort Ning.
Your Majesty.
I can't go against His Majesty's order.
This is the royal harem!
Why can't I check on an ill imperial consort?
Besides,
His Majesty adores Noble Consort Ning.
Could it be that...
you guys are giving her a hard time...
and bullying her?
I'm merely acting upon His Majesty order.
Please be understanding.
Get out of my way!
Your Majesty.
Please don't put me in dilemma.
Your Majesty.
Fine.
Since it's so difficult,
I shall not insist.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
I've sent the eunuchs and maids away.
Can you tell me...
the truth the late empress dowager...
told you now?
This mask made of fish gelatin...
melts when exposed to fire.
Am I right, Yan Kuan?
It's you again.
You're such a nuisance.
You upset me.
His Majesty has arrived!
Ning Zhi.
Your Majesty.
Her Highness is feverish.
I thought Dongfang Xuan came to treat her.
Where is he?
Mr. Dongfang said to treat Her Highness without disturbance.
He sent us away.
Get the imperial physicians!
Hurry.
Your Majesty.
Her Highness is in critical condition.
We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate.
This is an order.
Save Noble Consort Ning at all cost.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will do my best.
Ning Zhi.
Ning Zhi, wake up.
Ning Zhi!
Ning Zhi.
You're poisoned by thorn apple.
Don't sleep.
Else, you won't be able to wake up again.
Ning Zhi.
You told me that...
the royal harem is hell...
and that you want to turn it into a paradise.
If you go back to your sleep,
those suffering in the royal harem...
will be doomed.
Ning Zhi.
There's still a lot of people you need to meet.
You still have many unfulfilled wishes.
I'm returning to Yong De Palace soon.
Please don't sleep.
Please don't sleep!
Others look down on us.
Only Your Highness gave us respect.
Are you going to leave us behind?
Your Highness.
Please don't leave us behind.
I thought we made a promise.
You said you'll be the big tree...
that'll give us shelter forever.
Your Highness.
Ning Zhi.
She's awake.
-She's awake. -She's awake.
Your Majesty.
I knew you'll wake up.
I knew you'll definitely wake up.
Why would I...
fall into slumber?
I've a lot of things to do.
I've many more wishes to realize.
Ning Zhi.
Your Majesty.
Don't worry.
The commander of the Imperial Guard told me that...
after Ning Zhi fainted,
Dongfang Xuan fled from a window in Wan Xiang Palace...
and that he's actually Yan Kuan in disguise.
I'll skip telling you the whole story.
Now, I order you...
to arrest Yan Kuan and Yan Zheng.
I can never rest assured.
as long as they're alive.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Wei Guang.
Noble Consort Ning has recovered.
Good.
Look at you.
You've been so worried that...
you've gone pale.
I should prepare some medicine for you too.
Where are you going?
His Majesty ordered me to capture Yan Kuan.
You can just leave that to the Imperial Guard.
Don't you need to stay in Yandu to train the soldiers?
Perhaps, His Majesty wants Yan Kuan and I...
to destroy each other.
After the empress' reinstatement,
I will help you.
Don't worry.
As long as I'm alive,
you won't die.
Thank you.
Yan Kuan has done a lot of bad things.
This time, I must capture him.
Sister.
It's so late already.
Shouldn't you pack up...
and prepare for your return to Yong De Palace tomorrow?
Is there anything I need to...
bring back to Yong De Palace from the Cold Palace?
It's such a close call for you.
But His Majesty...
is such a disappointment.
You're still ill...
and yet, he went to another woman.
But it's alright.
I'll keep you company.
I won't let anyone bully you again.
This time,
we should thank...
Sister.
You don't have to worry about me.
I'm aware that someone is protecting me.
I feel safe.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I know who among you all...
hates to see me.
Since you're here, greet me properly.
Don't show me a long face.
Understand?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Groom me up.
I'm going to Yong De Palace.
Your Highness.
You're still weak.
You should rest for a few more days.
Today's Her Majesty's reinstatement.
How can I be absent?
I've been confined in this palace for too long.
I might get better after taking a walk.
Your Highness.
If you go out,
you might feel end up feeling worse.
What makes you say so?
While you were bedridden,
His Majesty gave Madam Ban the title of Consort Min.
That's a good news.
I should be happy.
Come. Groom me up.
Yes.
Consort Ting and the other two left with tears in their eyes.
Did you get mad again?
When I was sent to the Cold Palace,
they didn't bother to greet me.
Now that I've been reinstated,
they're trying to please me.
I won't buy that.
But of course,
I was just using them to warn the rest.
Come.
You're still sick.
Why did have to you come?
I came to congratulate you.
Even if you don't come,
you're the first one I'll visit.
Come. Sit down.
Luckily, you escaped death.
It was thanks to...
your advice that I reclaimed my position.
I must thank you, my dear sister.
But His Majesty...
made Ban Ling Er an imperial consort...
while you were still ill.
You were the one who trained Consort Min.
Do you feel unhappy?
I do feel uncomfortable.
But, it's not because of my relationship with Ban Ling Er...
or because of His Majesty's decision.
I just have a feeling that...
Ban Ling Er is not a good person.
If she continues to influence His Majesty,
she'll do harm to the country.
Have you devoted your life to serving the country?
I'm doing this for the late empress dowager...
and for the people I trust...
as well as Wei Guang.
I begged him to stay back then.
He's intelligent enough...
to deal with His Majesty.
But, he's staying because of me.
So, I must grow stronger,
so that I can protect him.
You can do it, Ning Zhi.
Your Highness.
Every family here...
contributed a segment of cloth...
to make this blanket for you.
Please take a look.
The folks all say that...
after Noble Consort Ning,
god sent Consort Min to save them.
They even say that...
you've saved so many people that...
you must be a deity that came from heaven.
-Yes. -Enough.
Enough of pleasantries.
Let's talk about the disaster relief.
The 5 million kg of rice sent by the court...
will arrive tomorrow.
Do you know a way...
to deliver it to the victims within 3 days?
This...
You all are in charge of logistics.
What do you propose?
Your Highness.
It takes at least 5 days.
Nothing can be done.
Mr. Zhou.
Prior to this, you told me the same thing twice.
But I succeeded each time.
Your salary is paid by the court.
What else can you do apart from saying no?
You all are in charge of logistics too.
Say something.
Say no more.
Just like before,
once the rice arrives tomorrow,
we'll transport it across Mount Yuehua.
I believe it'll take less than 3 days...
or two and a half day to arrive.
As I said, it can't be done.
I know what you're trying to say.
There are mountain bandits and the mountain trail is steep.
But the last time we travelled across Mount Qilin,
where were the mountain bandits and how steep was the mountain trail?
We were just lucky.
-But this time... -Enough said.
Just do as I said.
Your Highness.
Mount Yuehua is not steep.
In fact, there aren't mountain bandits there.
But, it is connected to Mount Tongyuan...
which is the base of the mountain bandits.
Guards!
Drag him out and have him slapped!
Yes!
Let him slap himself.
Slap yourself while apologizing to the victims.
Your Highness!
Please don't go to Mount Yuehua!
-Your Highness! -What are you guys waiting for?
-Take him away! -Move!
Your Highness!
That rice...
concerns the live of the disaster victims!
People will die!
Please don't lost it!
Your Highness!
Thank you, Consort Min. God bless Consort Min.
Thank you, Consort Min.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Thank you, Consort Min.
Your Highness.
Please proceed.
Your Highness.
We all know that...
there is a big banyan tree...
in Huai Qing City for the people to pray for Her Majesty.
We actually have a tree like that here.
It's a banyan tree for the people to pray for Your Highness.
Granny, let me help you.
Listen!
You all love Consort Min so much.
Do you have any idea...
where Her Highness is?
-Where? -Who knows?
-Right. -She's right before your eyes.
Really?
Why did you tell them?
No way.
Right.
Enough. I'm Consort Min.
It's been hard on you all.
-Thank you, Your Highness! -Thank you, Your Highness!
You may all rise.
Your Highness cares so much for the people.
I'm utterly moved.
I will always pray for Your Highness.
Thank you.
But, I hope you...
pray more for the country and the people.
-Of course. -Report!
Your Highness!
What's the matter?
The logistics team ran into mountain bandits in Mount Yuehua.
Our soldiers and officials were all killed.
What happened to the rice?
It got robbed.
I've failed the people!
Your Highness, what's the matter?
I've failed the people!
-Understood. -I've failed the people!
I've failed the people!
You two!
-Take him back! -Yes!
What's going on?
-What's going on? -There are so many of them.
Something serious must have happened.
-Yes. -Look.
Enough.
Move!
Kneel!
Mr. Zhou.
I've news for you.
The logistics team ran into mountain bandits in Mount Yuehua.
All soldiers and officials were killed.
All rice got robbed as well.
Mr. Li died?
My peers...
all died?
The one hundred soldiers...
all died?
Then... Then what is going to...
happen to the folks?
So many people got killed.
Crying won't help.
Even if you die a thousand times,
you won't be forgiven!
Forgiven?
Mr. Zhou.
You hold the highest position among the officials here.
You are in charge of everything.
After what happened,
of course you are the one...
who should bear the responsibility.
Your Highness.
I advised you many times...
against crossing Mount Yuehua.
-Yet, you didn't listen! -Is that so?
But, I heard...
you were the one who said that there's no mountain bandit there...
and that the mountain is not steep at all.
You said that...
it's a safe route.
You got so many of our men killed...
and now, you're falsely accusing me!
You'll be punished by god!
You all...
Are you going to do nothing...
and let her lie about the whole situation?
Take him away!
Move!
-Consort Min! -Move!
-Just kill me! -Behave!
Or torture me!
I did not do my peers wrong!
And I did not do the folks wrong either!
You'll be punished by god!
Set up a roadblock here.
Chief Commander Wei.
Brother Lang.
Her Majesty has been reinstated. and Noble Consort Ning is fine now.
I came to deliver this news.
Now, I'm at your command.
I'm sure you'd be a great help.