Original subtitles

Episode 5

What's on my mind?

Your Majesty is thinking about...

a woman.

She is a beauty in her early 20s.

She's holding a baby in her arms.

Everyone calls her...

"Her Highness The Noble Consort".

Then what do I think of her?

Your Majesty thinks...

this woman favoured by His Majesty...

has grown arrogant.

You want to expose her true colours.

How dare you!

I'm not so narrow-minded!

But, that was indeed what you thought.

Enough of that nonsense.

As the empress,

I'm the mother of the nation.

How can I be a hypocrite like that?

If you spout such nonsense again, I'll have you executed!

Mercy, Your Majesty!

You... You ordered me...

to listen to your inner voice.

I was just being honest.

You have the nerve to talk back!

I'm cornered anyway.

I'll be beheaded sooner or later.

I'm prepared to lose my head.

But you have...

a pretty head.

It's a waste to chop it off.

Should I cut off your limbs first...

and dump them in a mass grave?

But I can serve Your Majesty.

Are you sure?

I'll spare you today.

But from now on,

you'd better watch your word.

Thank you for sparing my life.

Get up.

A few days from now,

I'll let you meet His Majesty, the empress dowager...

and Noble Consort Fu.

After meeting them, I want you to tell me...

what's on their mind.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

I actually have a request.

What is it?

My great grandmother appeared in my dream.

She said she gave me the power to listen to inner voices.

But, I've been a bad great granddaughter.

It's been a long time since I last swept her tomb.

She's very unhappy about that.

She said she might take back my power.

But, I'm in the palace now.

How do I sweep her tomb for her?

You want to go out?

Are you planning to run away?

No way.

Your Majesty can easily kill me.

I just want to serve you well.

I dare not have any ulterior motive.

It's good that you know.

Then I'll send two servants to go with you.

Come back quickly.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Come and take a look!

Candied fruits!

Brother.

Brother, why aren't we there yet?

It's getting dark. No one goes to a cemetery at night.

It's all your fault!

-You gave us wrong directions! -Me?

After telling us to go round the mountain,

you told us to turn around!

Where exactly is your great grandmother's grave?

It's just ahead!

-Hurry up. -Turn left.

It's at the foothill.

Hurry up.

Don't make a sound.

Mother!

Ah Qiao! Ah Jiao!

Are you here?

Ms. Ning Zhi!

Ah Jiao!

We missed you so much.

Where's my mother?

Where's everyone else?

Aren't we supposed to...

meet up here?

Mr. Wei found us.

He wanted to reunite us with the others.

Yes.

So we departed for Beidian.

But, we ran into the soldiers while we were on our way.

Mr. Wei told us to hide here for the time being.

The wanted poster is everywhere in the city...

and Mr. Wei is missing.

We thought we'll never see you again.

Don't worry.

I will protect you.

Just stay here and wait 2 days.

Just 2 days. I will come back and pick you up.

I promise.

-Ms. Ning Zhi. -We missed you so much.

Stop right there!

Wei Guang.

Wei Guang, are you in there?

If you're in there, don't come out.

Just make a sound and I'll know.

It's her!

Trying to run away?

You're a gutsy palace maid.

We're taking you back! Her Majesty will punish you!

Sure.

The two of you will be punished too.

What? You're going to turn around and accuse us?

I'm just a palace maid.

I came out to pay a visit to my relative's grave...

and Her Majesty is aware of this.

But, my family hid a lot of our treasures around the grave.

How can I let the two of you know the actual location?

That's why I snuck off.

And look.

I came back.

On the other hand,

you two are imperial guards.

Yet, you let a palace maid like me sneak off under your nose.

Who do you think will have it worse?

Fine. We won't report this to Her Majesty.

But you have to go back with us right now.

If we're not back before the palace gate closes,

we'll all get into deep trouble!

Alright. Let's go.

Move.

Wei...

Go in already!

Brothers.

Let's go back to the palace quickly.

Her Majesty is waiting.

We don't need you to tell us!

Lang Kun.

You stood beside Ye Ning Zhi when she guessed the words.

I believe you saw it clearly.

Did she touch the paper?

I didn't see it.

However,

Ye Ning Zhi is a tricky girl.

We should never...

believe this girl.

Half a year ago,

she fooled even you...

-and she... -Lang Kun.

How many times have I told you?

Never bring that up again.

You did not go to Han City...

and you don't know anyone there.

Do you have a death wish?

I understand.

I don't care about Ye Ning Zhi's ulterior motive.

I just want to know...

what's she really capable of.

I want you to make a trip to the prison with me.

I want to see Yan Kuan.

Your Majesty, please think twice.

You came.

You were expecting me.

From the door, it took Your Majesty...

a total of 136 steps to get here.

I see confusion and anxiety all over Your Majesty's face.

Tell me.

What do I have to do to make you obey me?

I'm afraid I'm unable to...

serve Your Majesty.

Your Majesty are currently blinded.

You desire to find a person who can solve your problem.

So, anyone can easily...

earn your trust with a simple trick.

The moment I hear the paper's landing,

I will know the word on the paper.

And you...

cling to this hope...

in desperate attempt to save yourself.

Yet, you've no idea that this hope will then spark a fire.

Senior Supervisor Hua.

My two sisters are having a rough time now.

Unless they enter the palace,

they might soon be...

Senior Supervisor Hua.

Please help me...

and bring them into the palace.

I can't do that.

How do I bring two people in for no reason?

I managed to bring you in back then...

because there happened to be an opening.

Now, only the empress is capable of doing this.

Looks like I can only ask Her Majesty.

Her Majesty has arrived!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Ye Ning Zhi.

Come with me.

Ye Ning Zhi.

I want you to guess...

the word on this piece of paper.

Your Majesty.

As I said before,

I can only tell by listening to the sound of the paper landing.

Your Majesty.

Now is not a good time.

I can't hear it.

That's fine.

The number of papers I throw...

will be the number of times you'll be flogged.

What do you think?

Your Majesty.

I'm ready.

Your Majesty.

Please throw the paper.

I know!

Your Majesty.

Is the word on the paper...

the word "empress"?

Am I correct?

What's on this paper?

Your Majesty.

This paper...

This is the paper Her Majesty prepared earlier.

Why was it with you?

Your Majesty are wise.

She really tricked you.

Your Majesty!

I'm really sorry!

Mercy, Your Majesty!

You should have known the consequences...

since the first day you lied to me!

I can't believe I trusted you so much.

Who would have thought that...

you were just lying to me?

Your Majesty, it is not difficult to kill.

But, it is difficult to choose the right aides.

From the day I entered the palace,

I've managed to solve every problem I faced.

The little tricks I know...

can be useful to you!

If I could deceive you for a while,

I can deceive Noble Consort Fu too!

Maybe I'm that person you need...

who's destined to serve you!

If I believe you again,

I'll be deceived by you again!

I came from a circus troupe.

All I learnt were tricks.

If I can serve you,

I can use these little tricks to do big things.

Your Majesty.

You saw it yourself during the empress dowager's birthday banquet.

So what?

Also,

if you bring my two sisters into the palace...

They were trained to do magic tricks.

They used to perform with me.

I'm sure we can help you solve your problems.

What problems do I have?

Why do I need help from commoners like you all?

Drag her out!

Yes!

Your Majesty, please give me another chance!

Your Majesty, please give me another chance!

Fine.

I can give you another chance.

I can bring your sisters into the palace as well.

But, if you all let me down again,

your two sisters...

will die with you.

Thank you, Your Majesty!

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Ye Ning Zhi did something so serious.

Even if you've decided to spare her,

you should at least teach her a lesson.

The Pear Blossom Academy has indeed failed to educate the new maids well.

Lang Kun.

From now on,

I want you to manage the Pear Blossom Academy.

Keep an eye on all of them.

Yes.

Mr. Wei, long time no see.

You once humiliated me in public...

for a woman in a circus troupe.

You embarrassed me in front of everyone.

Now, you're a felon.

Others couldn't catch you.

But I found you.

Today is the day you will die.

Mr. Yang.

If I really want to run away,

do you think you can find me?

Moreover,

we both serve Her Majesty.

Must we be enemies?

You freed that girl and the entire circus troupe.

Do you think Her Majesty will forgive you?

Dream on.

Mr. Lang has cut off all your chances.

Today,

only one of us will live!

Sir, they are Mr. Yang and his subordinates.

Search carefully!

Yes!

Mr. Lang, we found something!

Wei Guang must be nearby.

Send more men to search this area!

Kill him if you see him!

Keep this in mind!

Do it covertly.

Never reveal your identity.

Yes!

From now on, both of you...

are maids of the Pear Blossom Academy.

You must obey me and Junior Supervisor Rong at all times.

Understand?

Yes.

Ms. Ning Zhi.

Ms. Ning Zhi.

Ms. Ning Zhi!

Ms. Ning Zhi!

Now let me see! Did you lose a limb or two?

-No. -We're perfectly fine.

I'm relieved then.

While you hide from the pursuers here in the palace,

we'll serve the empress together.

We might even be able to save our troupe.

The Pear Blossom Academy is under Lang Kun's control now.

There's no telling what might happen.

Her Majesty is punishing the Pear Blossom Academy...

because of me.

You lied to Her Majesty back then in order to help us.

After you were exposed,

you protected the academy.

You even managed to bring your two sisters into the palace.

I must say you're really smart.

It's just that you're inexperienced.

Her Majesty intended to promote Lang Kun anyway.

It was just a matter of time before she gave him the authority.

So, it wasn't entirely your fault.

After spending some more time in the palace,

hopefully, you'll find a way to protect yourself.

Give me one more.

Hurry up.

We'll get into trouble if Lang Kun finds out.

We worked so hard all day.

Yet, he wouldn't let us drink or eat.

Is he trying to kill us?

Enough talk. We need to eat to have the energy to work.

Quick!

Instead of sleeping,

you're secretly eating in the middle of the night.

Senior Supervisor Hua.

How should we punish them?

This is their first time.

Why don't we just deduct a month's pay as warning?

I don't think the Pear Blossom Academy...

is served these pastries.

This is pastry from the Imperial Kitchen, right?

Mr. Lang.

This is the kitchen waste I found...

while I was cleaning up the Imperial Kitchen.

I just picked it up and forced them to take it.

Please punish me alone.

You're such a good friend.

But, only rules matter in the palace!

The maids who ate in bed...

shall all be caned 10 times!

Mr. Lang.

Please spare them.

If you disagree with my way,

go and talk to Her Majesty.

I will be responsible for my action.

Mr. Lang.

I'm the only one responsible for this.

I will accept the punishment!

Interesting.

Senior Supervisor Hua.

You trained her.

I'll leave the caning to you.

Hand it to me.

Hand it to me.

I'm not done talking yet.

I must be satisfied with the intensity.

One, two, three, four, five.

You went easy the 3rd time. Start again from the 3rd count.

Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

-Are you alright, Ms. Ning Zhi? -Ms. Ning Zhi.

Are you alright?

It's all swollen.

I'm alright.

I'm still alive.

Lang Kun is a scoundrel inside and outside the palace!

I wish Mr. Wei is here to help us.

That's right.

It's been a long time since I last saw him.

I last saw him...

at our theatre.

We didn't even get to talk much.

Mr. Wei was at our theatre?

Can we go to him?

The soldiers came after that.

I believe he left.

But,

he said he'll come to me.

I'll wait for him in the palace.

Ms. Ning Zhi.

Stupid Lang Kun!

Wei Guang.

Are you injured?

Is it serious?

I miss you so much.

Where exactly are you?

Who are you?

How dare you attempt to enter the palace!

Listen.

This is urgent.

I need to see the empress dowager.

But, I don't want to let others in the palace know.

What a joke. Who do you think you are?

Speak! Who are you?

Sir.

We've been rude. Please forgive us.

Don't let anyone know.

Take me to the empress dowager...

and you will be rewarded.

Yes.

Let go of me!

-Zi Ling! -Don't move, Zi Ling.

-Let go of me! -Bear with it for a while.

-Let go of me! -Zi Ling.

Zi Ling.

Let me die! Let go of me!

Zi Ling, calm down!

-Why is she so badly hurt? -Zi Ling was unlucky.

The Imperial Kitchen needed a cleaner. You were on duty.

But you weren't around. So, Mr. Lang sent Zi Ling instead.

Mr. Wang of the Imperial Kitchen saw that Zi Ling is a pretty girl...

and raped her.

No way.

Zi Ling couldn't accept it and banged her head in the wall.

-Don't move, Zi Ling! -Let me die!

Zi Ling!

I thought that...

if I enter the palace,

I will one day catch His Majesty's attention.

Little did I know that...

before I could even meet His Majesty,

I'd fall prey to Lang Kun and that despicable Mr. Wang!

-Zi Ling! -Where are you going?

Zi Ling!

Let go of me!

Why don't we go to Her Majesty...

and ask for her help?

You're new in the palace.

You don't know that...

Mr. Wang is Lang Kun's sworn brother.

And Lang Kun is the empress' trusted aide.

Only Her Majesty can reprimand him.

No one else can punish him.

Even if we report to Her Majesty,

we are the only ones that will get into trouble!

Is there no other way?

What about poor Zi Ling?

I can't let this slide!

-Ning Zhi! -Ms. Ning Zhi!

Ms. Ning Zhi, are you alright?

Lang Kun will surely condone the misdeeds of his men!

Just look at how he handled Yang Biao's case.

Ms. Ning Zhi, are you planning to avenge Zi Ling?

We can't afford to mess with Lang Kun again.

I'm the empress' aide.

I can meet Her Majesty anytime.

I must find a way...

to make that scoundrel pay.

Not just for Zi Ling,

but also for my mother...

as well as our brothers and sisters in the troupe.

Mr. Lang.

What's wrong?

What do you think?

You're the chief imperial physician!

You should be able to tell from my pulse!

Mr. Lang.

According to your pulse,

you are extremely fit and healthy.

Look at this.

Look at this!

Mr. Lang, were you bitten by a dog?

You're an imperial physician.

Why are you so stupid?

Can a dog bite me in my neck?

I was bitten by a woman.

A woman?

She bit your neck?

What are you imagining?

I suspect that there was poison on her teeth.

My whole body is hot and numb now.

Mr. Imperial Physician.

Hurry. Cure me.

Hurry up and give me the medicine!

Cure me.

Mr. Lang.

Judging from your pulse, you're not poisoned.

How can that be?

What are the two words you wrote?

I wrote "a woman".

Even if that's the case,

I ordered you to show me some tricks...

and not write in front of me.

Don't be impatient, Your Majesty.

Now,

the show begins.

Hear my summon.

Deities of the world,

assist me at once!

Rise.

What will this deity write for Your Majesty?

"Of...

unsurpassed beauty".

The deity is trying to say that...

Your Majesty are a woman of unsurpassed beauty!

I know.

There must be strings attached to the brush.

Don't move.

What's going on?

The problem is with the brush.

I need to wash my hands.

I'll come back and expose the secret behind the trick.

Were you the one who bit me last night?

I'm not a dog.

Why would I bite?

Fine.

You'll soon learn the consequences of...

making an enemy out of me.

You're doomed, Mr. Lang.

I put the "Poison of A Thousand Insects" all over my teeth.

I...

Stupid girl.

Open your mouth!

Help!

There's a pervert!

What are you two doing? Have you gone crazy?

-Your Majesty. -Save me, Your Majesty!

Mr. Wang was trying to pull all of my teeth out!

-I... -Lang Kun.

You have the nerve to misbehave before me.

I...

Your Majesty!

I've had enough of this!

We came to the Pear Blossom Academy...

to learn the palace etiquette.

But Mr. Lang has been abusing his authority.

He has been bullying us!

We serve Your Majesty.

Only you can order us around.

If your maids...

need to go to other palaces and do the dirtiest jobs,

how will people see Your Majesty?

What nonsense are you saying?

Mr. Lang was threatening me earlier!

He told me to keep this from Your Majesty...

or else he'll pull my teeth out!

Your Majesty, don't believe her.

This stupid girl is deceptive!

She's a huge liar!

You still want to deny it?

Her Majesty saw you prying open my mouth!

Why did you do that if you weren't trying to pull my teeth out?

Lang Kun.

Explain yourself.

Your Majesty.

I was just looking for evidence.

This stupid girl put poison all over her teeth.

Last night, she bit me while I was drunk!

But, why did she bite you?

This might...

sound ridiculous but...

she's a tricky girl!

Come to think of it.

So many ferocious beasts appeared in...

the cave in Ziwu Mountain that day...

and it might have been her deed!

What did I tell you?

I said before that...

whoever brings this up again will be slapped 50 times!

Please calm down, Your Majesty.

I deserve punishment.

I will slap myself later.

But, it's true that she bit me and...

-put poison on her teeth! -Slap yourself 100 times.

Your Majesty.

One hundred and fifty times!

What are you all waiting for?

You all saw what happened!

-Now tell Her Majesty... -Two hundred times.

My apologies.

-My apologies. -Slap harder!

You two ruined my mood!

Leave!

Ye Ning Zhi.

From today onwards,

you will be my personal attendant.

Do you hear me?

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Mr. Lang.

You are truly loyal to Her Majesty.

You slapped yourself so hard.

What exactly do you want?

I want to make you miserable.

Lang Kun.

Because of you, we became fugitives!

You even persecuted us behind Her Majesty's back...

and condoned the murders of your subordinates!

I must defeat you.

I want justice for those who were wronged!