Original subtitles

Subtitles by DramaFever

[The Virtuous Queen of Han]

[Episode Thirty-Three]

When we were little, you used to come here with me

to look at how the sun shone upon Weiyang Palace and Chang An City.

You have always had great aspirations.

You wanted to be in a high position to see Great Han clearly.

Do you still remember these marks?

How could I forget them?

The first time we climbed up this wall, we marked down our heights.

Every year after that, we would always be here to compare our heights

until the day when we could finally see the sight beyond the walls.

My brother is the ruler of the nation.

You're occupied by work.

It's been years since we last came here to look at the rising sun.

Since you got married, you haven't been up to these walls.

We've gone through tears and laughter here together.

We've also made numerous wishes here.

I once gazed over these walls

and made a wish to that vast stretch of mountains and rivers.

I wished for my brother to become a legendary emperor.

Now, my wish has come true.

And I now wish for you to have a happy marriage.

I heard that Marquess of Ruyin went hunting on his own.

Perhaps he doesn't know how skilled you are in horseback riding.

Otherwise, how could he bear not to have you along on his hunting trip?

When he returns, I will be sure to remind him of that.

Xiao Hou Po might be a marquess, but my sister is a princess.

You and I are of the same blood.

I shall see how bold he is to have given you the cold shoulder.

It's not what you think.

I was the one who wanted to be left in peace to mourn for Mother.

I told him to go hunting, to give him something to do.

No matter how bold he is

he wouldn't dare to give me the cold shoulder.

My brother, don't be worried about me.

Focus on ruling Great Han.

Look! Such gorgeous mountains and rivers.

These are all under your feet.

Yes, since I took the throne

I've promoted filial piety and established discipline of officials.

The economy has prospered and the people live in peace.

With Wei Qing, I've finally achieved the goal of generations of emperors

to calm the frontier and expand our territories.

Wei Qing is indeed my most capable and ferocious subject.

I have already appointed him as the Great General before the troops.

But with his achievements, he should be awarded in Chuande Palace

so that his merits may be passed down for generations to come.

In the past, only the imperial family of the Lius

have been allowed into Chuande Palace.

Wei Qing is my family.

In this great victory over the enemies, Wei Qing deserves all the credit for it.

I am going to pray and report to the ancestors

as well as make it known to the people

that what officials and feudal kings couldn't achieve

Wei Qing did.

Wei Qing greets Your Majesty

Empress, and Princess.

Great General Wei, please rise immediately.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Wei Qing, do you know why there are inscriptions on the stone screens

here in this palace?

Your Majesty, I've heard that these inscriptions on the stone screens

are the records of achievements of all emperors and empresses.

Exactly! Late Emperor Gaozu, the King of Jichu

pacified the central lands and founded Great Han.

But he was met with defeat by foreign enemies in the battle of Baideng.

Today, you have returned victorious.

You have avenged the late emperor and brought glory to the imperial family.

In the future, there will be a record of my achievement

in pacifying foreign enemies and chaos.

And along with this achievement

Great General Wei will be engraved into it as well.

Your Majesty is too kind!

I swear to serve you with loyalty until the very end!

I will devote my whole life to protecting the nation

the people, and safeguarding our lands.

Wei Qing has achieved great merits.

The title of Great General is not enough to honor those merits.

I am going to commend you for your merits before my ancestors

and praise your great achievements.

I award you the land division of six thousand households.

I award your three sons the title of vassal king.

Your Majesty, I heard that the late emperor made a pact with his commanders

with the blood of a white horse.

Only Liu would be made the emperor

and those without merits would not be made kings.

As of yet, my three young sons have performed no meritorious deeds.

How can they be awarded any titles?

This victory is the hard work of all the commanders and soldiers.

They have all fought bravely.

I hope that Your Majesty can reward them

to demonstrate that you love the people as you would your children.

All right!

You are indeed my Great General!

Then, as you have said

all army officers shall be given the title of marquess

and the entire army will be rewarded!

In addition, your nephew Huo Qu Bing is brave and agile.

He has great potential.

He shall be made Palace Attendant, to stay by my side.

One day, he shall storm through the battlefields with you

to make great achievements for the imperial family of Han again!

I thank Your Majesty for your kindness

on behalf of all the soldiers and Huo Qu Bing.

The winds have started to blow.

It is the season for chrysanthemum wine and corn cakes again.

Corn cakes were Mother's favorite.

Greetings to Your Highness.

Do not be so polite, Great General.

You're here to see His Majesty about military affairs?

I'm here for a family gathering.

I've come over to invite His Majesty over to Jiaofang Palace.

Great General has made your family proud.

It's right that you celebrate your victory with your family.

It will soon get colder.

The climate is changing and unpredictable between seasons.

Please take care of yourself, Your Highness.

Thank you for your concern, Great General.

Great General often runs into danger on the battlefields.

You should take better care of yourself.

Thank you for your reminder.

Here.

Greetings to Your Highness.

You're already Great General's wife.

You're no longer a maid in Pingyang Manor.

Why are you still so servile?

In my mind, Your Highness is always the honorable Princess.

When you were in Pingyang Manor, I didn't notice you much.

I only saw you as an ordinary songstress.

But you're actually so well-spoken and polite.

Great General is indeed fortunate.

I'm too flattered, Your Highness.

Look how stupid I am that I forgot what I was here for.

Second sister has already brought Qu Bing with her to the main hall.

Empress sent me over to ask if you'd head over with His Majesty.

His Majesty said that he would join us later.

He asked me to head over there first.

All right, don't keep the Empress waiting.

Head over there now.

Your Highness, we will then...

Go on.

Don't let me keep you from your family gathering.

I'll take my leave now.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Let's go.

Princess!

I've made great gains from my hunting trip.

There is a very precious silver fox.

I've specially presented it to His Majesty this morning.

His Majesty was very pleased with it!

Is that so? You have been to the palace to present valuable gifts?

That's good, as long as His Majesty is happy.

Here, have a seat.

I've actually also caught a few wild hares

as a gift to you.

But out of respect for your kindheartedness

I decided to let them go free.

Is that so?

I have something on which I'd like your opinion.

I had the shop owner design this rectangular vase for me.

It is said to have a meaning behind it.

But I can't figure it out at all.

What is the meaning behind it?

Your Highness has always been very clever.

Can you point it out to me?

'Summer insects rejoice in the vase.'

'Under the sun, the breeze in spring is warm.'

'The lady is as beautiful as the full moon in autumn.'

'She is as clear as snow in winter.'

'Vase', 'sun', 'lady', 'clear.'

You made such an effort and still you claim not to know the meaning?

Marquess uses this poem to praise me for my clear and beautiful mind.

How is it just beautiful and clear?

I had asked the shop owner to put down virtuous as well.

This won't do. I'll have to talk to him about this.

Didn't you call me spoiled and willful?

Why are you complimenting me now?

Your Highness, I've done wrong.

I have made a grave mistake.

I must have been dazed and lost my mind

to have misunderstood Your Highness that day.

Marquess mustn't force yourself to admit to any mistakes.

It won't be good to make yourself feel aggrieved.

I didn't force myself at all!

Your Highness, I spoke out of my love for you that day.

Jealousy got the best of me.

After much thinking, I know that I have done wrong.

I ask your Highness for forgiveness.

You can hit me or punish me in whatever way you want.

Your Highness, for the sake of my utmost sincerity

please come home to Ruyin with me.

In the future, I'll admire the beauty of the seasons with you

as written in the poem.

I'm tired. We'll talk about it tomorrow.

Your Highness, I'll keep you company.

The children will be so pleased to see this.

I thank Your Highness in advance on their behalf.

How many times have I told you already?

You don't have to be so polite when we are alone.

As the aunt, I seldom see my nephews.

I didn't know that they liked hand rattles.

If you hadn't brought it up at the family gathering...

Sister, is there something you wish to say to me?

I heard that when we had the family gathering last time

you ran into Princess Pingyang?

Yes. Her Highness was married off faraway to Ruyin.

I thought that it is probably rare to meet Her Highness here.

She...

After we got home from the family gathering

Wei Qing was just like you.

I'm worried that you feel aggrieved.

I'm doing very well.

You and my husband are both so concerned about my feelings.

None of that matters anymore.

So you don't feel aggrieved?

Since I got married, whenever I am busy with house-chores

Wei Qing always brings me a glass of water just when I need it

or some fruits and snacks or sends the servants over to help me.

He is always worried that I will be too tired.

I didn't know that my brother was so thoughtful.

Whatever might have happened in the past

I know that his every word and action is now out of concern for me.

I am but a woman.

As long as my husband can treat me with sincerity

and my children are smart and filial, that is my greatest joy.

Wei Qing was right.

You are that young shoot of reeds that won't bend in the rain or wind.

You are the strong grass that would soar alongside the clear skies.

This grass that soars with the clear skies has to return home now.

Tomorrow, Wei Qing and Duan Hong are practicing swordsmanship

along with some drinks.

So you're in a rush to get home to make preparations for him?

To be able to take care of his everyday life

and to see him healthy, are the greatest joys of my life.

Watch out!

Wei Qing... Wei Qing!

Wei Qing... Wei Qing!

- Let's go! - Wei Qing!

Wei Qing!

Open the gates! Why have you shut the gates?

Step back!

Get back!

When we get to Ruyin, we'll stay at my cottage in the mountains first.

We can admire flowers every day. We'll watch the sunrise and sunset.

We can look up at the stars.

Just the two of us.

- Let us out! - Let us out!

I have to pick medicinal herbs in the mountains!

Sir, my wife and children are all on the other side!

What has happened? Why are the city gates shut tight?

I am just carrying out orders.

We were told to shut the city gates.

No one is allowed in or out.

Do you know who is on this carriage?

How dare you halt Princess Pingyang and Marquess of Ruyin?

Who gave you the orders?

His Majesty's orders!

Since being made the palace attendant, you have indeed become different.

Your Highness.

Did His Majesty say that his sister isn't allowed out of the city as well?

What has happened that is so serious?

I beg Your Highness to forgive me.

I really cannot open the gates for you and Marquess.

Great General has just been assassinated.

His Majesty gave orders to shut the gates to capture the assassins.

No one is allowed out of the city.

All violators are to be killed!

- So... - How is Great General doing?

Please forgive me for not being able to reveal much.

Please turn, Your Highness!

Don't find excuses! Speak!

How is Great General's injury?

Is his life in danger?

The assassination of Great General is a national affair.

His Majesty has orders that no one is allowed to reveal any information.

Whoever violates the orders will be treated as a traitor.

I hope that Your Highness can understand.

Blocking the gates is a big deal. He must be quite badly wounded.

Head for Great General's manor!

Do you hear me? I said to head over to Great General's manor!

Who dares to hold me back?

Greetings to Princess Pingyang.

My Lady has orders to refuse visitation of all guests.

You are all to step aside!

This... Princess! Princess!

Your Highness, Great General won't see anyone. Princess!

- Greetings to Princess. - I want to see Great General.

Great General really...

Greetings to Princess.

Your Highness, please stop right there.

May I be so bold as to ask if you're here by imperial decree?

Great General was assassinated. I am here to visit him.

Why would I need an imperial decree to do so?

Since you don't have an imperial decree, Great General won't see any guests.

Please leave, Your Highness.

I'm Wei Qing's old friend as well as his previous employer.

He is also a subject of the imperial family.

He won't even see me?

Or is he so seriously wounded that he cannot see anyone?

I'm not at liberty to reveal anything.

I beg Your Highness for forgiveness.

No one dares to halt me even in the restricted palace grounds.

Who do you think you are?

But this is the Great General's manor.

I am Great General's wife.

- Please leave, Your Highness. - Xi Niang!

Yes, yes...

How did you discipline your daughter?

She shows no regards for hierarchy and insulted her previous mistress.

She is an ingrate.

Your Highness, how could you...

Show me the way in right now!

Your Highness!

- Greetings to the Empress! - Greetings to the Empress.

Your irrationality is of no help to Wei Qing.

Please show some self-respect, Princess.

I believe Princess and I are both equally worried about Wei Qing's injury.

But I ask that Princess remain calm.

Jia Er, how is Wei Qing now?

Your Highness, Great General's current condition is not to be revealed.

I'm His Majesty's biological sister. I am no stranger.

Can't you even reveal if he is dead or alive?

Or is someone trying to cross me?

Shen Jia was born of a lowly status

and I have never once forgotten about Princess' kindness.

I would never try to cross Your Highness.

But this is the imperial decree.

I want to see him to see if he is well.

Your Highness!

Please show some self-respect, Lady of Ruyin.

Princess is the wife of another.

You attempt to barge into Great General's manor

and go straight into his chamber.

You insist on seeing Wei Qing.

What will the others think of you?

I have nothing to hide.

I am concerned about the Great General who fought for Great Han with his life.

Why would I have to care about what those ignorant women think?

Even if Your Highness has no regards for your own reputation

do you have no regards for Great General's reputation as well?

Even if both Shen Jia and I could understand the concern

that Princess has for your subject

and all these people here do not dare to speak a word of it

what about Marquess of Ruyin?

When I came in

I saw that Marquess of Ruyin's carriage was still waiting outside.

There are people out there on the streets.

They have all witnessed Princess leaving your husband to storm into the manor.

What is Marquess of Ruyin to think of this?

The Lady of Ruyin, please do not worry.

Wei Qing will be looked after by his own wife.

Once we have news of him, we will be sure to notify you.

Please leave now, Lady of Ruyin.

I'll cordially see you out, Princess.

- Housekeeper Shi. - Present.

See our guest out.

Yes.

Please send regards to Great General on my behalf.

Excuse my intrusion.

I'm scared to death.

Empress, fortunately you arrived here in time.

Otherwise, we wouldn't know how to ask Princess to leave.

My daughter, I didn't expect you to be able to halt the Princess.

Your hands are shaking even more than my legs.

Take me to Wei Qing.

Yes, I just went to pray to the gods to bless Wei Qing and Shen Jia.

Then you told me that Wei Qing is injured when I got home.

How badly is he wounded?

Let me have a look at him.

Mother, stay here.

I'll go inside with the Empress first.

You have to block out all the visitors.

Wei Qing is injured so all the officials, kings

and marquesses are sure to visit him.

The servants probably won't be able to hold them back.

Xi Niang, you are the Grand Lady of the manor.

Please rest assured, Empress. Don't worry, my daughter.

I might not be able to hold the Princess back

but as for the others, as long as I'm here, no one will enter the manor.

All of you are to wait here as well.

Yes.

Wei Qing hasn't returned to the manor

since he left to practice swordsmanship with Duan Hong.

After we heard that he was injured

I was ordered to guard the manor and block out visitors.

But no one came to report any news of him.

When I learned that Wei Qing was injured, His Majesty was in a meeting.

I had no one to ask for information, so I rushed over here instead.

I didn't figure out what exactly happened beforehand.

You're worried about Wei Qing

but I really do not have a clue as to how he is right now.

Is he seriously injured?

Is his life in danger?

Don't be worried.

I'll head back to the palace and ask His Majesty about it immediately.

Don't worry, Your Majesty, I have already made proper arrangements.

- Greetings to Your Majesty. - Don't stand on ceremony.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Is everything going well?

I've already given orders to shut all the gates of the city.

Palace guards are searching every house for assassins.

The whole city is now on full alert. Everyone is in a panic.

Everyone is discussing if you're still alive.

Those suspicious looking visitors from Huainan who were in Chang An

have all disappeared at once.

It seems that our assumption was right.

They were here to gather information for Liu An

to plan for Wei Qing's assassination.

They have already escaped to Huainan, scrambling to report the details.

As long as they are not after Your Majesty

I am at ease.

That cunning Liu An would not dare to assassinate me.

Instead, he tried to kill our nation's greatest defender.

If he had succeeded, he would probably bring war to Chang An.

Fortunately for Your Majesty's wisdom

you predicted that after the war at the frontier

our army would be low on provisions and high on casualties.

Liu An would try to take advantage.

You set up the city guards in advance

and discovered those visitors from Huainan.

I also deliberately let out news that Wei Qing

would be going to the suburbs alone.

Only then could we lure out those assassins.

When I learned that you both planned to use yourselves as bait

I was very worried.

After all, the enemies are like snakes in the grass.

There were only the two of you, fighting against many.

Should anything happen to you...

Your Majesty, thank you for being worried about us.

Although the plan was risky, we'd taken precautions.

Winds leave traces behind, just as a goose utters its cry.

Their every move was within my calculations.

Moreover, I'd protected myself with armor.

Even when I purposely allowed them to restrain me

to lure the assassins to attack, I was safe and sound.

And when the assassin discovered that I had armor on

Duan Hong took him out for me.

I was afraid that the look of surprise on that assassin

might be spotted by the other assassins who ran away.

Those assassins didn't seem to notice anything amiss

and didn't realize that we had purposely allowed them to flee.

They also didn't know that I had used fake blood to deceive them.

They escaped in a panic after seeing that their mission was accomplished.

But I held on to Wei Qing and kept shouting out his name.

Wei Qing!

The assassins must have given the good news of my injuries to Liu An by now.

Liu An thinks that he can assassinate our commanding general

to falter our army's morale.

I decided to beat him at his own game.

It's shooting fish in a barrel.

Your Majesty, I've already stationed my men along the main road

from Chang An to Huainan.

Once Duan Hong sends news of Liu An's rebellion

I will ambush and attack his men.

We shall defeat them with fewer, but much stronger men.

Now that I have such a well-planned strategy from you

I can be at ease.

You'll have to stay here in this secret chamber for the time being

while working on strategies for me.

As long as Your Majesty needs my services

I'll risk my life for you.

We must have made your family worried by keeping them in the dark.

But this is an important matter.

The fewer people know about this, the safer it is.

Besides the three of us here, no one else must know about this.

Yes.

Your Majesty, the Empress and Wei Qing have always been very close.

Her Highness has heard that Wei Qing is seriously injured in the assassination.

She must be terribly anxious.

Great blessings to Your Majesty.

At ease. Come over here.

Come and have a drink with me.

Yes.

I thought that Your Majesty was occupied by national affairs.

I didn't expect Your Majesty to be in be such a delightful mood.

This is now late autumn.

I've made you some chrysanthemum wine.

I was about to invite you over to taste it with me

and here you are.

I was actually here earlier, but Your Majesty was in a meeting.

I know that there are urgent affairs in the imperial court

so I didn't dare to intrude on you.

It has indeed been very busy lately.

There is much to worry about.

It's a rare opportunity that I get time off to relax.

Why don't you have a few drinks with me?

It seems that whatever troubled you is no longer an issue? All is well?

How is the wine?

The aroma is overflowing and refreshes one's mind.

It is indeed great.

When it comes to making wine, the grains must be of good quality.

Fermentation must be done at the right time

and the wine cooked to the right clarity.

The water must also be clear

the utensils used must be fine

and the heat must be right.

Nothing can go wrong.

Besides these six factors, patience is another.

Once we have all six factors, the wine goes into the urn

and we wait for it to slowly mature into good wine.

If we insist on taking it out before it is ready

we'll leak the fragrance and spoil the good outcome.

Since Your Majesty won't tell me the secret of this wine

but would rather have everyone guess what is about

I believe that there must be a meaning behind it.

The process of wine making is tedious and complicated.

I hope that my Zi Fu will not be worried about it.

You just have to put your mind at ease and await the good wine to mature.

Then enjoy the wine with me.

I'll thank Your Majesty in advance for bestowing the wine to me.

Since Your Majesty would like to sit back to watch events unfold

I hope to be of some assistance.

Allow me to take the concubines and maids of the harem

out of the city to pray at the temple of Emperor Gaozu

in plain outfits and go on a vegetarian diet.

I hope it all goes well and the wine...

shall mature ahead of time.

You are indeed my Zi Fu.

My Lady!

My husband!

It is great to see you!

Although Sister told me not to worry and to stay at home to ward off visitors

I couldn't help but worry about you until I saw you in person.

Don't worry.

Now you see me in person.

I was actually worried about you as well.

Don't cry.

Stop crying.

Fortunately, my sister put in a few words for you

so that we could see each other.

Sister already guessed that you and His Majesty spread the news.

She took the concubines out to pray to the ancestors

to make everyone think that you're in grave danger.

This time, we really have to thank my sister for her efforts.

But moreover, I have to thank you for taking care of the family

while you have to block out all the visitors for me.

As long as you are safe and well, I'm willing to do anything.

I know that Princess has been to our manor.

She is very tough.

And you've always treated her as your benefactor.

You must have felt upset when you stood up to her?

Princess and you are close friends.

She was sure to be anxious after hearing that you were wounded.

And then she wasn't allowed to see you, so it's normal that she got upset.

Luckily, Sister arrived just in time to help me out.

After marrying you, whenever I get into danger

I do not have others on my mind.

It is my sister, my three children

and my dearest wife whom I can confide in and entrust my life to.

Hearing these words from you has made me very happy.

I just hope that you won't keep anything from me in the future

and that this moment that we share can last forever.

I hope that I can soon settle the unrest inside and outside the nation.

Then our family can get together.

Since we could entrust each other with our lives

I'll definitely take good care of our family

to await your return.

As long as you can be safe and sound

even if I have to cut my lifespan short...

Don't say that.

We'll definitely grow old together.

By then, I can dance for you every day.

We'll lead a carefree life.

Help!

Haven't you fooled around enough?

Murong Feng!

That's enough!

Don't touch the belongings of your deceased senior!

I am here on your orders to tidy up the poisons that she left in here.

Since we returned to Chang An, you haven't been here at all.

Although I know that you're afraid of being upset at the sight of it

you've let her years of efforts go down the drain by leaving all these in here.

You've let her down by doing so.

Do my bidding now that you've been paid!

If you upset me, I'll kick you out of here!

If you ruin my plans, I'll have you killed!

I'm paid to do my job.

I'll definitely do my best. Don't worry about it.

In terms of using poison, I'm as good as my senior, if not better.

It shall do as we wish now that we are working together.

That is not what I want.

What is it that you want then?

I'm feeding this to my pawns.

You've already used sour dates, fossil mineral, and silk-tree bark?

And yet Lady Wang hasn't recovered from

her constant nightmares and her palpitations?

Your Highness, nightmares are related to one's mind and worries.

If we are to cure her of that

we need to find out what it is that Lady Wang is worried about.

I've asked her about it many times.

She can't really say for sure what is troubling her either.

She doesn't know what she has dreamt.

This is really worrying.

His Majesty arrives!

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Don't stand on ceremony.

You are dismissed.

Yes, I take my leave.

I've promised my children I'd paint wooden ladles with them today.

I've stayed true to my word.

Your Majesty, thank you for remembering amidst all the national affairs.

How could I forget what I promised you?

Why do you look so tired?

You've had a lot to worry about these days.

Minister of imperial medical affairs was here to report to you

the health conditions of all the concubines.

Is everything all right?

It is just a monthly report, as usual.

But recently, Lady Wang has been troubled by nightmares.

She can't fall back to sleep after waking up from nightmares.

It didn't improve much even after she has had some medications.

She looks very frail.

She does indeed require more attention.

Would Your Majesty like to go over and have a look at her?

I haven't been to see her for quite some time.

I should have a look at her.

Why don't you prepare the tools we need for painting the ladles?

I'll be back soon.

Yes.

Lady Wang, what's wrong?

His Majesty arrives!

- Lady Wang! - Your Majesty!

What's the matter?

Your Majesty, you're finally here to visit me.

If you didn't come over soon

you might not have ever seen me again.

What silly words are these?

I've been haunted by monsters.

I'm afraid that I might be dead in a few days.

I am the son of gods.

This is my palace.

Any monsters would have to back off.

Don't be afraid. I am here.

I will protect you.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Tell me what exactly it is that you dreamt about?

Perhaps it is your thoughts that make you dream at night.

Tell me and I'll analyze it for you.

Recently, whenever I fall asleep, I always dream of a monster.

It keeps chasing after me.

What monster is it?

It is strong and big.

I've never seen anything like it.

I can't really describe it with words.

Why don't you try to draw it and show it to me?

I'll come up with a solution for you.

These are the monster's ears.

It kept chasing after me.

When I turned around to look at it I saw how its ears look like.

Go on. Keep drawing.

Your Majesty is laughing at me.

I'm not laughing at you.

I am happy.

I am chased by this monster every day

but Your Majesty is happy about it?

How is this a monster?

This is a bear.

A bear? Bears eat humans.

Don't you worry about whether it eats humans or not.

Just bear me a chubby son.

'The chief diviner foretells bears and brown bears'

'are auspicious intimations of sons.'

If you dream of bears, it means that you will give birth to a son.

I only have one son.

If you can really bear me another son

I shall award the title of Madame to this silly Lady Wang.

Subtitles by DramaFever