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Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
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Watching the person in the mirror's countenance pale and grow haggard,
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Examining love together with regret, both new and old.
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Keeping watch still by a lantern though it is daybreak, drenched with tears,
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Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.
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Story of Yanxi Palace
Episode 28
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She's my hope.
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What did you say?
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I've always wanted to live like she does.
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Empress...
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You are the mother of an empire,
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yet you envy an ignorant palace maid?
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Are you crazy?
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Your Majesty, do you still remember
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the scenario of our first visit to Empress Xiaojingxian
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after our wedding?
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At the time, the current Empress Dowager
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was still Consort Xi.
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The power to rule over the six palaces
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was all in the hands of Empress Xiaojingxian.
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No need for formalities.
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Hongli, this wife was chosen by your Royal Father
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and Royal Mother among so many choices.
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Are you satisfied?
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I will forever remember the graces that Royal Mother bestowed me.
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Come here for a moment.
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This hair pain is my meeting gift to you.
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I hope that you can frequently come into the palace
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to talk with me.
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Thank you for your kindness, Royal Mother.
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I will remember it. From now on, I surely will frequently come to the palace.
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I've also prepared a gift for you.
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It's a sapphire "Haoran Court" hanging panel.
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I made the embroidery on the hanging panel.
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Hongli, go to your Royal Father.
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I have some words to tell your wife.
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Yes.
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Kneel.
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I don't know what I've done wrong.
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May Royal Mother guide me.
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Go back and copy "Virtues of a Woman" one hundred times. (T/N wifely virtue, speech, manner, and work)
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You would then know what mistake you made.
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Empress Xiaojingxian had always been kind and amicable.
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Why would she punish you?
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Because I spoke more words than Your Majesty did.
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Spoke more than I did?
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Yes. As a wife,
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one should speak less, and speak cautiously.
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If one's husband speaks one sentence,
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and you speak two sentences, then that's wrong.
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I...don't understand.
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I remember that in the decree
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giving a posthumous name to Empress Xiaojingxian, she was once described as
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having a pure and harmonious natural temperament, having a gentle and submissive natural disposition.
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Well-trained in the etiquette inside a woman's bedroom.
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The model of proper womanly integrity.
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Very hidebound by convention.
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An Empress who had strictly followed the women's virtues.
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How then could she allow
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the wife of Prince Bao of the First Rank
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to be more eloquent and carefree
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than the Prince himself?
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Absurd.
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Maybe men will think that this is absurd.
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But for a woman,
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this is morality and conduct.
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Always treating one's husband as the sky,
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one's husband as the most supreme,
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the aspiration of one's husband as being one's own aspiration.
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All the wives in this world are like that.
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The more I should be like that,
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I'm the mother of an empire.
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I mustn't make any mistake.
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Or else the whole Forbidden City,
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wrong...
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It's the whole Qing Empire
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who will be like Empress Xiaojingxian
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in criticizing me
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as not fulfilling my duty and not qualified for my position.
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Empress,
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I never doubted
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that you are the best empress in this world.
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But Your Majesty,
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I am already not my best self.
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Since the day I married you,
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I'm already not Fuca Rongyin.
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My whole person
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got tightly wrapped.
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Ever step I make
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must be perfect.
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I must be magnanimous,
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dignified,
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virtuous and submissive.
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This is the Empress in people's hearts.
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Not only me,
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but the whole Forbidden City must strictly follow the rules.
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Not one mistake must happen.
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But Yingluo is different. Only she is different.
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She doesn't obey the rules.
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Excessive overstepped her boundaries.
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But...she's being herself.
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Wei Yingluo is Wei Yingluo.
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She's fresh and alive.
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She's willful.
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She's trying her best to resist.
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Unlike other people,
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willingly becoming a wooden puppet that is being manipulated by others.
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Your Majesty, I...
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became who I am now
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because I didn't persist in being myself.
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Hence, I must protect Yingluo,
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just like protecting my old self.
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Your Majesty,
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can you understand?
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That's why...
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you will never allow me...
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to hurt her.
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Yes, I will never allow it.
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This is my first time disobeying Your Majesty.
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I earnestly beg Your Majesty.
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Just let me be willful this one time.
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Your Majesty, what's wrong?
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I suddenly felt today
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that I never really have known the Empress.
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Your Majesty, the Workhouse...
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Isn't she a born rebel?
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Just let her live or die on her own.
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Your Majesty, it's all heavy labor in the Workhouse.
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I fear that Miss Yingluo might not be able to do it.
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She can't do it?
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If she can't do it, she'll come back crying and begging.
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As long as she cries a drop of one tear,
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it then proves that everything that Empress said
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was just overpraising her. Back to Yangxin Palace.
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Yes.
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Where is Imperial Guard Fuca?
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His Majesty ordered him to out and handle some matters. He's currently not in the palace.
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When he's needed, he's not around. When you don't need him, he keeps roaming around!
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The men in this world are all useless!
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Miss Mingyu, why do you talk like that?
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Did I say anything wrong?
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Yingluo has been punished to go to the Workhouse. Is that a place fit for a human?
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I fear that she might not be able to come back.
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If Imperial Guard Fuca is around, he could at least beg for leniency on her behalf.
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Wei Yingluo got in trouble?
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How did you know my name?
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Your name is inside the fragrance pouch.
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Quickly return the fragrance pouch to me!
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Tell me first what happened to Wei Yingluo.
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How come she got punished to go to the Workhouse?
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Miss MIngyu, are you alright?
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My waist...
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I've already told you that your bones are weak, so don't randomly move.
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Are you crazy?
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Miss Mingyu!
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This lady is too fierce.
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Did you eat pepper growing up?
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Your Highness, you were painting just fine. How come you don't want it anymore?
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After looking at it left and right,
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this orchid seems to look like a chive.
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Your Highness. Plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. An orchid is an elegant flower.
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How could it look like a chive?
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It's worse than a chive. You can use chives in cooking.
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But Her Highness Consort Chun likes orchids the most.
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She said that an orchid is the gentleman among the flowers.
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Your Highness, did I say something wrong?
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Confucius said that angelica and orchids grow in deep ravines.
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They don't stop emitting fragrance just because there's no one around.
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A gentleman cultivates morality. He doesn't change just because he's trapped.
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Is she trying to praise the orchid by that?
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No, she's praising herself.
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Fine with the orchids.
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But that bamboo, it's just plain and bald.
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Literati like to praise mastering the Four Arts.
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They just want to announce to the world
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that my morals are lofty, that I have noteworthy conduct and am independent.
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But all of it is just
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angling for fame and waiting for the highest bidder.
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Speaking of the Four Arts, (T/N playing zither, reading books, calligraphy, and painting)
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I've been taught since I was little. I'm not inferior to anyone.
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But I...
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just love opera more.
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But now you're not allowed to sing?
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I can't sing...
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- Even if I can't sing, I won't draw rotten things like this!
- Your Highness!
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Your Highness!
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Your Highness.
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Your Highness the Noble Consort.
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What is it?
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Your Highness the Noble Consort, I have good news.
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Did Imperial Consort Dowager Yu got struck by lightning?
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Your Highness.
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The funeral of Imperial Consort Dowager Yu is a white thing, where would joyous news come from? (T/N mourning)
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That Imperial Consort Dowager Yu had been a vegetarian and been praying to Buddha all her life.
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In the end, she got killed by lightning.
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Isn't this the biggest joke here in Forbidden City?
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That's right.
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If it's not Imperial Consort Dowager Yu, would it be Changchun Palace?
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That's right.
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Wei Yingluo angered the Empress
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and got punished to go to the Workhouse.
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It's just a lowly slave.
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How could that be good news?
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Without a fierce dog guarding the gates,
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won't entering Changchun Palace just be like entering a deserted place?
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We indeed must plan for that.
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We have to act carefully and must not leave any traces behind.
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Your Highness, don't worry. I understand.
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That Changchun Palace used to be so tightly guarded.
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I'm already growing nervous.
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Now...
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This palace will become more lively.
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You were once a favored palace maid by the side of the Empress.
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Wherever you went, others must bow to you with respect.
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After entering the Workhouse, you must forget your past identity.
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In here, you're just a sinner who does lowly jobs.
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Everyone here in the Workhouse has his own duty. We mainly are in charge of the laborious tasks in the palace.
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What others are not willing to do, you do it all.
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You wake up when the rooster crows to clean the public paths.
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At chou hour (1 am to 3 am), you must remove grass and weeds from the three main palaces.
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From daybreak to late night, we must answer several complicated and laborious miscellaneous tasks from the different palaces.
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As for you,
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start from the simplest.
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You will be responsible
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for cleaning the commodes from the different palaces.
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Hey.
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Who are you?
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Hey, Little Brother,
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you must be in charge of transporting the commodes?
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This person is so strange.
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What's that smell?
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Indeed.
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Isn't this an old acquaintance?
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Hey everyone, do you know who she is?
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We don't know her.
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Let me make the introductions.
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This Miss Wei Yingluo
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is from Changchun Palace.
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A favored person of Her Highness the Empress. In this Forbidden City,
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she's the most arrogant person.
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How come in a blink of an eye,
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she has ended up here with us?
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Indeed.
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Say, Yingluo, others go up higher and higher in ranks as they go on.
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How come you instead keep falling back?
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If it was me,
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- I'd just look for a place to bump my head,
- Right.
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so that I wouldn't be living an ignoble life
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and invite mockery.
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Wei Yingluo, what do you want to do?
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Let me tell you, we are all members of the Workhouse. I'm more experienced than you.
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I'm not afraid of you.
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With you being that afraid of me
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means that you didn't forget how you got in here.
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By mentioning that, you're making me mad!
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Isn't it because you pretended to have an affair with Imperial guard and lured me to report it.
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It's good that you didn't forget.
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Or else I must still exert efforts to remind you about it.
259
00:21:08,380 --> 00:21:09,970
Wei Yingluo...
260
00:21:09,970 --> 00:21:11,160
Enough... Forget it...
261
00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,140
- There's still time for that...
- Indeed.
262
00:21:15,810 --> 00:21:16,970
Let's go.
263
00:21:16,970 --> 00:21:20,260
Just go. Don't lower yourself to her level.
264
00:21:20,260 --> 00:21:21,920
Let's sleep.
265
00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:48,840
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
266
00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,120
What is she doing?
267
00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,520
Those are leftover charcoals from the different palaces.
268
00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,860
It's currently the peak of summer.
269
00:22:07,860 --> 00:22:10,220
Say, why is she gathering the leftover charcoals.
270
00:22:10,220 --> 00:22:11,610
Let me remind all of you,
271
00:22:11,610 --> 00:22:15,090
that this person is very scheming. You had better stay far from her
272
00:22:15,090 --> 00:22:18,390
or you might get dragged down by her.
273
00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:28,080
Brother Yan! Brother Yan!
274
00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,230
Brother Yan!
275
00:22:30,230 --> 00:22:32,090
Brother Yan!
276
00:22:32,790 --> 00:22:34,780
Brother Yan.
277
00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,200
Brother Yan, why are you not paying attention to me?
278
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,700
Brother Yan.
279
00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:53,800
Brother Yan! Brother Yan!
280
00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,200
Jinxiu hit the wall again.
281
00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,070
I've told you that Brother Yan will never like you.
282
00:23:07,070 --> 00:23:08,800
Stop wasting time.
283
00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,330
Not like me? You think he'll like you?
284
00:23:11,330 --> 00:23:13,000
Look at your appearance.
285
00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,200
We all are not blind. Who doesn't know that Brother Yan is handsome?
286
00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:17,720
But he's colder than ice.
287
00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,600
All the women here in the Workhouse have tried it.
288
00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:24,600
All hit a wall. What's special about you that he'll give you any attention?
289
00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,260
I'm different from all of you!
290
00:23:26,260 --> 00:23:30,200
I'm younger and more beautiful than all of you.
291
00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,000
Just laugh then. Laugh until your teeth fall out!
292
00:23:52,020 --> 00:23:56,120
The palace maids here in the Workhouse are saying that you never talk to them.
293
00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,200
Are you a mute?
294
00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:06,000
I forgot. Mutes can't get into the palace.
295
00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:16,000
You have to deliver dung carts every day, while I must scrub the commodes.
296
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,800
We can count as colleagues.
297
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,100
How come you won't speak even one word to me?
298
00:24:21,810 --> 00:24:24,430
The palace maids are all saying that they like you.
299
00:24:24,430 --> 00:24:26,800
They say that you're handsome.
300
00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,400
I think so too.
301
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,440
I've entered Forbidden City for so long
302
00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,400
and until now haven't seen such a handsome eunuch.
303
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,380
Why did you hit me?
304
00:24:46,380 --> 00:24:49,200
You think I want to talk to you?
305
00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:53,600
Work is so tiring every day. Others are also not paying attention to me.
306
00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,800
Just to keep myself from going crazy, I can only talk to you.
307
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:05,700
But, Jinxiu used to stalk Imperial Guard Fuca.
308
00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:10,000
Imperial Guard Fuca, you know who he is?
309
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,640
That is the biological younger brother of the Empress.
310
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:16,900
An imperial bodyguard of the inner palace.
311
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,600
But that time, Jinxiu wasn't pestering him endlessly.
312
00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:29,000
Maybe Jinxiu does like you sincerely.
313
00:25:47,700 --> 00:25:51,000
If you don't get some food, you won't have any once mealtime is over.
314
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,040
I got you one.
315
00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:56,500
It was hard to get this.
316
00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:40,000
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.
317
00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:48,600
This is...
318
00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,600
Your Highness, have you forgotten? You frequently wore it when you were still unmarried.
319
00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:56,600
Because it's not that valuable and an old item that can be kept,
320
00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,500
thus we didn't sell it last time, sparing it from that incident.
321
00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,460
Immediately doll me up.
322
00:27:03,460 --> 00:27:06,200
I'm going to Shoukang Palace to pay respects to Imperial Consort Dowager Yu.
323
00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,400
Your Highness, you must not!
324
00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,800
Imperial Consort Dowager Yu got punished by the heavens. You mustn't associate with her.
325
00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,480
Even when the Empress wanted to visit her, she got persistently convinced by His Majesty not to do so.
326
00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:15,800
Why are you going then?
327
00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,600
Hurry up. Stop talking nonsense.
328
00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,200
Yes.
329
00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,200
[ Memorial Tablet of Imperial Consort Dowager Yu ]
330
00:27:39,100 --> 00:27:43,100
Prince He of the First Rank, please contain your grief.
331
00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:47,200
In this huge Forbidden City, a palace full of Imperial consorts,
332
00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:51,400
everyone is saying that my mother was punished by the heavens, and thus a person without virtue.
333
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,400
Everyone is rushing to avoid her. Why then did you come?
334
00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:57,600
It's just normal for lightning to hit
335
00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,200
the Forbidden City during the summer and burn palaces.
336
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,600
These are all just unfortunate accidents.
337
00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:04,950
Moreover, the dead person is most important.
338
00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:07,400
Paying respect to a dead person is proper etiquette.
339
00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:11,500
I just came to offer incense and do my part.
340
00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:17,000
Your Highness, please be careful of your health.
341
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:18,600
I'm fine.
342
00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:22,300
Your Highness has been guarding Shoukang Palace for several days. You won't leave, no matter who tries to talk to you.
343
00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:25,300
You're still sick. Why do this?
344
00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:28,600
Everyone says that I'm absurd.
345
00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,700
They find it repulsive to even talk to me.
346
00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,400
Your Highness Consort Xian, you had better just leave,
347
00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,200
so as not to invite any gossip.
348
00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,200
Your Highness has lost a loved one.
349
00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:45,000
I can understand your grief. May you take care of your health.
350
00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,800
This is not for yourself, but for Imperial Consort Dowager Yu.
351
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,800
She loved her child so much. If she knew that you're not cherishing yourself,
352
00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,500
how could she rest in peace?
353
00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:04,900
Consort Xian!
354
00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,430
Your Highness, what is it?
355
00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:16,800
Thanks.
356
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,100
Come, have one.
357
00:29:57,700 --> 00:30:00,000
Catch the thief!
358
00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,300
Your Highness, please go in.
359
00:30:05,500 --> 00:30:09,300
[ Hoifa-Nara Manor ]
360
00:30:21,300 --> 00:30:26,000
Your Highness, why did you go to Shoukang Palace?
361
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,200
Before, I saved one person
362
00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:30,400
and safely brought him home.
363
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,400
But it happened so long time ago that I even forgot about it.
364
00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,600
He also must have forgotten it.
365
00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:40,700
Hence, I must think of a way to remind him.
366
00:30:41,810 --> 00:30:43,320
Consort Xian!
367
00:30:45,110 --> 00:30:47,340
Your Highness, you need anything?
368
00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:50,800
Thanks.
369
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:08,200
I only know that Prince He of the First Rank is so absurd and laughable. One shouldn't get too near him.
370
00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,600
With His Majesty around,
371
00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:15,000
Hongzhou can only be absurd. The more absurd he is, the better.
372
00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,800
Your Highness, I'm getting more confused.
373
00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:27,800
Mistress, Her Highness Consort Chun has come. She has been waiting for you for a long time.
374
00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:20,500
- Fourth Brother.
- Hongzhou!
375
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:25,200
Are you alright?
376
00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:30,200
Hongzhou, when brothers fight, you should stop before touching each other. Who told you to be so reckless and hurt Fourth Prince?
377
00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,000
Mother, I didn't mean it.
378
00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:34,600
Blades are blind.
379
00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,200
Fifth Little Brother didn't mean to do it. Mother Yu, don't be overly worried.
380
00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:41,200
That is because you're magnanimous and won't lower yourself to his level.
381
00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:45,400
From now on, I surely will strictly guard him and won't let him hurt you again.
382
00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,100
Fourth Prince, let's put a bandage on your wound first.
383
00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,400
Mother, I really didn't mean it.
384
00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,600
Damn you! What did tell you?
385
00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,600
Hongli is your Royal Father's favorite.
386
00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,600
Your Royal Father plans to let him inherit his throne in the future.
387
00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:06,400
Your action today might cause our death, do you know that?
388
00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:08,000
What have I always told you?
389
00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,800
Have you forgotten? Did you just put it in the back of your head?
390
00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,200
We all are biological sons of Royal Father.
391
00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:15,190
We all are princes of the Qing Empire!
392
00:33:15,190 --> 00:33:17,600
How come I must keep yielding!
393
00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,400
Why?
394
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,220
Hongzhou,
395
00:33:23,220 --> 00:33:26,950
I know that you're outstanding in literary knowledge and fighting skills.
396
00:33:26,950 --> 00:33:29,090
But...
397
00:33:29,090 --> 00:33:32,380
you're just not the favored son of His Majesty.
398
00:33:33,660 --> 00:33:36,920
If you keep showing off and being competitive like this,
399
00:33:37,650 --> 00:33:41,210
you will only live in more pain.
400
00:33:41,210 --> 00:33:43,310
I don't ask that you become prestigious,
401
00:33:43,310 --> 00:33:46,670
I only ask that you can live.
402
00:33:46,670 --> 00:33:49,200
I want to protect you.
403
00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,370
Do you know that?
404
00:33:53,010 --> 00:33:57,600
Hongzhou, I beg you.
405
00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,740
Give it up.
406
00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:02,710
This is my possession.
407
00:34:02,710 --> 00:34:05,480
Why must I give up?
408
00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:08,460
Mother...
409
00:34:22,910 --> 00:34:24,980
Sister Consort Xian,
410
00:34:25,540 --> 00:34:29,760
I heard that the biological sister of Imperial Concubine Jia will be entering the palace.
411
00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,450
You must be careful.
412
00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,010
Careful about what?
413
00:34:36,870 --> 00:34:40,060
Once she enters the palace, she surely will rack her brain
414
00:34:40,060 --> 00:34:43,210
to take back Yongcheng. After all,
415
00:34:43,210 --> 00:34:45,820
she came for that matter.
416
00:34:46,650 --> 00:34:49,450
As long as Yongcheng will live well, whoever takes care of him
417
00:34:49,450 --> 00:34:51,570
is fine with me.
418
00:34:51,570 --> 00:34:53,780
Although that is right,
419
00:34:53,780 --> 00:34:56,830
you still have to make plans for yourself.
420
00:34:58,370 --> 00:35:01,010
To say some harsh words,
421
00:35:01,010 --> 00:35:04,660
after entering the palace for so many years, you still don't have any child.
422
00:35:04,660 --> 00:35:08,210
If you don't have any children accompanying you, what will happen to you in the future?
423
00:35:08,210 --> 00:35:10,850
Look at Imperial Consort Dowager Guo and Imperial Consort Dowager Yu.
424
00:35:10,850 --> 00:35:14,720
Although they both were the Imperial consorts of the late Emperor,
425
00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:18,880
one had a sad and tragic life, while the other one suffered punishment from the heavens.
426
00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:23,340
But she had a son to send her off after her death. It still was different.
427
00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,000
Little Sister, you only know to think for my sake,
428
00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,450
why then are you not planning for yourself
429
00:35:29,450 --> 00:35:32,450
while you're still young?
430
00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,520
All my life, I've followed the Empress.
431
00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:41,850
I will take care of her son like he is my own.
432
00:35:41,850 --> 00:35:45,780
I only hope that one day, once I'm gone,
433
00:35:45,780 --> 00:35:48,880
there will be someone who will remember this sincerity of mine
434
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:53,810
and light an incense for me. I'll then be content.
435
00:35:54,670 --> 00:35:56,920
Little Sister is very loyal to the Empress.
436
00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:59,950
It's really admirable.
437
00:35:59,950 --> 00:36:01,930
Loyal?
438
00:36:03,900 --> 00:36:07,320
Yes. It's indeed loyalty.
439
00:36:07,990 --> 00:36:11,150
Little Sister, I won.
440
00:36:14,470 --> 00:36:17,210
Look at me, I got distracted.
441
00:36:17,210 --> 00:36:21,170
It's really one wrong move and the whole game is lost.
442
00:36:21,820 --> 00:36:25,840
Sister, good game.
443
00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:37,520
Yingluo.
444
00:36:39,210 --> 00:36:41,100
Your Highness.
445
00:36:47,970 --> 00:36:50,850
I like this tea.
446
00:36:50,850 --> 00:36:54,110
It tastes sour and sweet. What did you put in it?
447
00:36:54,110 --> 00:36:57,140
Yingluo left me a list.
448
00:36:57,140 --> 00:37:01,950
She said that you're currently pregnant, so your taste will change.
449
00:37:01,950 --> 00:37:04,520
She told me not to use tea leaves.
450
00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:07,940
I should put some sour plum in the water to give it some taste.
451
00:37:09,010 --> 00:37:14,880
Your Highness, can't Yingluo come back?
452
00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:18,030
Didn't you formerly dislike her?
453
00:37:18,030 --> 00:37:21,040
She would fight with me every day.
454
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:25,880
It was quite lively. But suddenly, she's gone.
455
00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:28,260
I'm not used to it.
456
00:37:35,620 --> 00:37:37,710
It's just that I...
457
00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,000
can't let her come back.
458
00:37:46,210 --> 00:37:48,450
Don't know what Fuheng will do
459
00:37:49,620 --> 00:37:52,220
once he finds out.
460
00:38:00,150 --> 00:38:02,650
The palace is already on curfew. You can't go.
461
00:38:02,650 --> 00:38:04,410
Of course, I won't let anyone notice me.
462
00:38:04,410 --> 00:38:06,580
Fuheng, I've checked it.
463
00:38:06,580 --> 00:38:09,820
This is the decree of Her Highness the Empress. You can't disobey her decree.
464
00:38:09,820 --> 00:38:11,480
Fuheng!
465
00:38:16,620 --> 00:38:18,270
Fuheng!
466
00:38:18,860 --> 00:38:20,360
Stubborn!
467
00:38:29,940 --> 00:38:33,160
How come I seem to be unable to clean it off me.
468
00:38:35,870 --> 00:38:37,750
Why did you come?
469
00:38:40,660 --> 00:38:42,990
Come with me.
470
00:38:42,990 --> 00:38:44,950
What are you doing? Fuheng!
471
00:38:44,950 --> 00:38:49,010
I'm going to take you to see His Majesty and ask him to grant us marriage.
472
00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:52,880
I'm not going.
473
00:38:53,820 --> 00:38:56,760
Yingluo, I don't want you to stay in this kind of place.
474
00:38:56,760 --> 00:38:58,890
His Majesty already said
475
00:38:58,890 --> 00:39:00,980
that if I approach you one more time,
476
00:39:00,980 --> 00:39:03,200
he will kill me to vent his anger.
477
00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:08,050
You think I will risk my life just for you?
478
00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:10,950
I won't let him harm you.
479
00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,780
And then? You will anger His Majesty
480
00:39:15,780 --> 00:39:19,750
and get punished for it. I don't want to become a wife of a criminal.
481
00:39:19,750 --> 00:39:21,710
Unable to lift my head forever.
482
00:39:21,710 --> 00:39:24,310
You always use words to hurt me.
483
00:39:24,310 --> 00:39:27,890
You're deliberately scaring me away. Am I right?
484
00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:34,910
I will repeatedly think about every word you say.
485
00:39:35,620 --> 00:39:40,030
You have always treated the Empress as your benefactor. You don't want to destroy my future.
486
00:39:40,030 --> 00:39:43,110
More importantly, you don't want to drag the whole Fuca Clan into trouble.
487
00:39:43,110 --> 00:39:46,890
Hence, you did everything to hide from me and to avoid me.
488
00:39:46,890 --> 00:39:51,110
This kind of protection is actually hurting me.
489
00:39:53,110 --> 00:39:55,530
In your heart, am I
490
00:39:55,530 --> 00:39:58,260
someone who doesn't even have the courage to bear responsibilities?
491
00:40:04,190 --> 00:40:08,370
Young Master, you came from a noble family.
492
00:40:08,370 --> 00:40:10,650
You're good in literary knowledge and fighting skills.
493
00:40:10,650 --> 00:40:14,480
You're even an Imperial bodyguard. You have a very promising future.
494
00:40:15,220 --> 00:40:16,910
Just for me...
495
00:40:18,090 --> 00:40:19,460
it's not worth it to give everything up.
496
00:40:19,460 --> 00:40:23,240
I don't care about future career or noble status. You also shouldn't care about them.
497
00:40:23,240 --> 00:40:25,560
What about your aspirations?
498
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:31,210
Every time I go to the Imperial Guard Office,
499
00:40:31,210 --> 00:40:34,050
I see military books on your table
500
00:40:34,050 --> 00:40:36,900
and bed.
501
00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:39,050
You want to join the battlefield.
502
00:40:39,050 --> 00:40:42,940
You want to achieve merits and establish achievements. You want your name to be remembered forever.
503
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:44,950
Am I right?
504
00:40:44,950 --> 00:40:48,790
Yes. So what?
505
00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:53,750
Just for a woman, you might anger His Majesty
506
00:40:53,750 --> 00:40:56,070
and lose the chance to be given an important position.
507
00:40:57,060 --> 00:41:01,160
Do you want to waste your days and accomplish nothing for the rest of your life?
508
00:41:01,160 --> 00:41:04,950
Yingluo, I'm just going to ask you one question.
509
00:41:04,950 --> 00:41:07,410
You're a person that's clear about kindness and grudges.
510
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:12,300
It was you who approached me first and deliberately obtained my attention.
511
00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:14,750
Now, you're saying that you're giving up.
512
00:41:14,750 --> 00:41:18,270
What about the affection and heart that you owe me?
513
00:41:18,270 --> 00:41:20,610
How are you going to pay me back?
514
00:41:20,610 --> 00:41:24,780
You're unable to repay it, am I right?
515
00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:31,000
Use your life to repay it then.
516
00:41:39,890 --> 00:41:44,070
You want me to repay your affection. Is that it?
517
00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:48,160
I'll pay it back.
518
00:41:52,470 --> 00:41:56,090
Yingluo, what are you doing?
519
00:41:56,090 --> 00:41:57,700
Yingluo.
520
00:41:58,670 --> 00:42:00,370
What are you doing?
521
00:42:05,920 --> 00:42:08,540
Didn't you want me to repay your affection?
522
00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:11,350
I'm repaying it now.
523
00:42:11,350 --> 00:42:14,800
Wei Yingluo, you really can do anything.
524
00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:16,740
Do you know the ending of a palace maid losing her virginity?
525
00:42:16,740 --> 00:42:19,720
I'd rather die than owe anyone favors.
526
00:42:19,720 --> 00:42:22,270
You're the most ruthless woman I've seen.
527
00:42:22,270 --> 00:42:24,050
Maybe...
528
00:42:25,220 --> 00:42:28,100
you find my scent weird right now.
529
00:42:29,060 --> 00:42:30,310
It's not my fault then.
530
00:42:30,310 --> 00:42:32,370
You really think that I'm a gentleman
531
00:42:32,370 --> 00:42:34,890
and am at a loss of what to do with you?
532
00:42:34,890 --> 00:42:39,230
Let me tell you that a gentleman is still a man.
533
00:42:39,230 --> 00:42:40,930
You're wrong.
534
00:42:44,010 --> 00:42:50,600
Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @Viki
535
00:42:51,780 --> 00:43:00,060
♫Softly falling into the hollow of my palm,♫
536
00:43:02,570 --> 00:43:10,680
♫Resting frozen in the center of my palm.♫
537
00:43:13,390 --> 00:43:22,370
♫Our meeting across past incarnations was inevitable,♫
538
00:43:24,390 --> 00:43:32,970
♫Joined together, deeply experiencing and holding onto the end of happiness.♫
539
00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:43,790
♫Though plainly given words of discouragement,♫
540
00:43:46,230 --> 00:43:55,040
♫Pretending to hear nothing but exhortation.♫
541
00:43:57,170 --> 00:44:06,580
♫ Endless tears, believing it cannot be true,♫
542
00:44:08,200 --> 00:44:16,730
♫ In this life, being born under an unlucky star.♫
543
00:44:19,410 --> 00:44:24,840
♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫
544
00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:29,590
♫ Though I close my eyes, it's impossible to stop the vision.♫
545
00:44:29,590 --> 00:44:36,070
♫ Nothing you can do about being approached, not being inconsistent in love,♫
546
00:44:36,070 --> 00:44:40,940
♫ Though merely holding onto it from the outside, prone to this sort of circumstance.♫
547
00:44:40,940 --> 00:44:46,740
♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫
548
00:44:46,740 --> 00:44:51,500
♫ As though you are holding me closely, and speaking sweetly.♫
549
00:44:51,500 --> 00:44:59,300
♫ Opening your eyes to a sky filled with merciless snow falling,♫
550
00:44:59,300 --> 00:45:07,130
♫ Who, after suffering this loss for a lifetime, is fond of this scene?♫