Original subtitles

Your Majesty colluded with the foreigners

and betrayed the country?

I dare not.

Then why did the four counselors come together to pressure me

and ask me to vest the ruling power back in you?

What did you offer them?

Although I'm confined to Yingtai to reflect on my mistakes,

I still feel really bad when I hear about the Boxers making trouble in the capital

Their slogan may be to support Qing and exterminate foreigners,

but they're just a mob after all.

There are bound to be bad elements among them.

If the government lets them carry on,

there will be dire consequences.

Your Majesty colluded with foreign powers

and attempted to interfere with the administration.

There will really be dire consequences.

The foreign powers have had their eyes set on Qing all along.

If we openly make them our enemies, I can't imagine what will happen.

Qing has been around for over two hundred years.

What difficulties have we not faced before?

During the Second Opium War,

we already witnessed the military might of the foreigners.

Now you want to use the Boxers to fight the foreigners.

You're bound to fail.

You keep trying to scare everyone. What's your intention?

I bypassed you and made contact with the counselors of those four countries

because I wanted to appease them.

Right now, we should do our best to back out of this difficult situation

so history doesn't repeat itself.

Since you have so many ideas, why didn't you come discuss them with me?

Why did you collude with the foreigners behind my back?

Would you listened to me? I'm just an emperor in name.

I don't have the power to take part in discussions or make decisions.

I don't even have the right to know what happens outside Yingtai.

Do you want to start a rebellion?

I'm a puppet, a figurehead. How can a puppet start a rebellion?

You...

Your Royal Highness...

Your Royal Highness... Summon the imperial doctors.

Don't worry, Your Majesty.

Empress Dowager is blessed. She will be fine.

I asked you to deliver the letters. I got you into trouble.

It's my duty to serve Your Majesty.

But Empress Dowager found out. I got you into trouble.

She found out because the four counselors forced her to step down.

You kept this confidential all along. You didn't betray me. I owe you my thanks.

I'm an official as well as your own brother.

It's my duty to share your burden.

Your Majesty.

At ease.

Thank you.

How is Empress Dowager?

She was so mad she passed out. She's come to now. She's fine.

You two should prepare the medicine for her right away.

We'll go then.

Your Majesty, please wait.

You shouldn't go in right now in case Empress Dowager gets mad again.

That's right. It'll just make things worse if you go in now. Let her calm down first.

Your Royal Highness, His Majesty and Prince Chun have left.

His Majesty is so unruly.

He colluded with the foreign counselors to force me to step down.

Please don't get mad. Mind your health.

I didn't expect Zaifeng would deliver the letters for His Majesty.

I'm so disappointed in him.

Please don't be mad. Prince Chun is loyal to you.

He always puts Qing first. He must have his reasons for doing it.

That's right. His Majesty is Prince Chun's biological older brother after all.

How could he say no to His Majesty?

I'm sure the foreigners are using this as an excuse to make trouble.

They're jealous that you can run the nation even though you're a woman.

So they want to make you step down.

His Majesty shouldn't have sided with them.

He just got confused. Maybe someone instigated this.

Last time, His Majesty wanted to carry out reforms.

I'm sure that awful Consort Zhen told him to do it.

She wants me to remove her from the rank of consort?

Please reconsider.

That's right. His Majesty's relationship with you is so bad now.

If you remove Consort Zhen from the rank of consort,

His Majesty's misunderstanding with you will deepen.

No point asking for criticism.

You two are right. OK. I'll spare that wretched woman for the time being.

His Majesty went into the Imperial Study without saying a word

after he went to see Empress Dowager this morning.

When I went to tell him that lunch was ready,

he vomited blood when he tried to speak.

I was really scared.

Please excuse me.

There's no need to prepare any medicine. It'll just be a waste.

Your Majesty, you're sick. How can you refuse to take medicine?

My illness can't be cured.

Your Majesty, when a person is sick, medicine is less important than his will.

As long as you have the will to fight,

you will recover no matter how weak you are physically.

I'm just a puppet. I'm not in control of my own life.

I'm the emperor in name only. How am I different from a zombie?

Dr To, is His Majesty seriously ill?

It's not difficult to cure him. The problem is that he's given up.

Even the best medicine won't help.

He's been like that since he saw Empress Dowager. He must feel really aggrieved.

He hasn't been able to carry out his ambitions all these years.

Of course he's really frustrated.

He's lost the will to fight. He's depressed and unhappy.

It's hard to get well like that.

Your Highness, Cui Gong-gong wants to see you.

By order of Empress Dowager,

Dr To is summoned to go to the Summer Palace.

Your Royal Highness is senior in age.

But your blood circulation is good. Your pulse is fine too.

Though you suffer from some minor ailments, you will still be fine.

It's easy to get sick but hard to get well.

We mustn't take minor ailments lightly.

Your Royal Highness is strong in will. You would never accept defeat.

I don't believe you'd get sick that easily.

If other people were like you,

I'm sure they would get well after taking the medicine.

The person you're talking about, what's his sickness

that's got you so worried?

If the patient is determined to get well, of course medicine will help.

Unfortunately, the patient has given up. He doesn't want to get well.

Emotional problems must be dealt with love.

Didn't your patient get the right treatment already?

His problem has relapsed.

That means it wasn't the right treatment.

I think the treatment is more like poison than medicine.

I failed to make a comprehensive diagnosis back then.

I thought the patient suffered only from love sickness.

Actually he suffers from a more difficult illness of parent-child conflicts.

Lizi.

Your Royal Highness. Wong wants to play outside after he's eaten.

That's why he's barking loudly.

You beast. You're so greedy and arrogant.

When something doesn't go your way, you bark so loudly. You're so stupid.

May I check Wong's pulse to find out why it's being so noisy?

Dr To, have you found out what's wrong with Wong yet?

Being energetic is a dog's nature.

It goes against its nature if it's not allowed to run around.

Then it will become impatient. It will bark loudly.

Sometimes it may even bite its owner.

So what's the proper treatment for him this time?

Your Royal Highness is smart. You can prescribe the proper treatment.

I dare not make any suggestions.

Lizi.

Yes.

Follow Dr To's advice and take Wong outside for a walk.

Yes.

Dr To, let me sell you some Intel.

I don't have any money for that.

I'll do you a favor then. I've got some Intel.

That's usually unreliable.

This is very reliable.

So the Queen and Consort Jin really gave His Majesty an aphrodisiac

without him knowing.

I figured that out already.

Point is, Deputy Zhou Huaian of the Imperial Hospital

sold the aphrodisiac to them.

The grannies told me that Zhou took money from both.

In the end, His Majesty got sick after taking the aphrodisiac.

Hey, you should tell the Commissioner what he did.

You're asking me to turn him in based on what you heard from the grannies?

There's no evidence.

You want me to ask the Queen and Consort Jin to testify against Zhou Huaian?

So he's going to walk?

Don't get involved in such gossip or you'll easily get into trouble.

So you want to stay aloof for your own safety?

Do you realize this is wrong?

Heed my advice and let it go.

Fine. Forget it if you don't want to deal with this. But I know something else.

Did you come here to work or gather intelligence? Be careful

Just keep your mouth shut and do your job or you'll easily get into trouble.

I didn't ask for trouble. It came to me. You can't run away from it.

I can't. But I can run away from you.

Coward.

Ouch.

Are you OK? I'm sorry.

I twisted my leg. It really hurts.

Let me check it for you.

Granny Chan, do you feel better now?

It's much better now that you've massaged it It doesn't hurt as much.

That's great.

Thank you very much.

No worries. I don't think I've met you before in the palace.

My mother died earlier.

I took leave and went to her funeral in my hometown.

I see. Strong wind in the courtyard.

It's so cold that even butterflies won't come.

What did you say?

Do you know the next two lines?

Are you kidding?

If I knew how to recite poems, I wouldn't be working as a granny in the palace.

I'm illiterate.

Really?

Yes.

Oh, the hanging bat on your foot is so cute.

Who put it there for you?

I'm sure you don't know. He's a man.

A man?

But I was told that the informant wasn't a man.

Is he a guard or a member of the royal family?

Why are you so interested?

My ex-boyfriend had a hanging bat tattoo on his foot too.

I wonder if it's the same person.

Sol hope you can introduce him to me.

I have to ask him first to see if he'll agree to meet you.

If he does, please bring him here this evening. See you then.

Granny Chan... What happened?

What are you doing there?

Dr To, it's good you've come.

Prince Duan, I'm To Chung.

Dr To, you hurried here so soon. Should I say you're well-informed or nosy?

Your Highness, I recommended Dr Fuk to work in the palace.

I'm responsible for whatever she does or says.

What offense did she commit so that Your Highness is detaining her?

Nothing serious. She's a suspect in a murder case.

I told you. Granny Chan was dead before I found her.

How come you found her dead body then? You know her name. Do you know her?

Of course I do. Otherwise why would I ask to meet her there?

Why did you ask her to meet you there?

This is between Granny Chan and me. It's inappropriate to tell you.

How dare you!

Please don't be mad. Dr Fuk just started working in the palace.

She ignorant of palace etiquette.

Your Highness.

Dr Kwan, what's the result of the autopsy?

I found no apparent wounds or signs of poisoning.

It's very likely to be an accident or a stroke that caused her death.

You're lucky this time.

You're Dr Kwan, right? Did you really examine the body thoroughly?

Didn't you find her cause of death suspicious?

I've checked several times. I'm sure there's nothing suspicious.

No...

It's OK. You're not responsible for her death. Let's go.

Don't hold up Dr Kwan anymore. Thank you very much. Let's go. Come on.

It was so hard to get a lead. But it came to an abrupt end.

Uncle Tsat, if you hadn't told me that the informant wasn't a man,

I wouldn't have spent so much time working in the wrong direction.

On second thought, if this person isn't a man. Could he be a eunuch?

That's possible.

I think Granny Chan made him panic. He's afraid of having his identity exposed.

So he killed her.

In other words we must start checking the eunuchs now.

Miss Ling's not just good at giving massages She can cook really well too.

Wai-Shan, isn't she amazing?

The food is OK.

Come on, Dr To. Have some more.

Thank you.

I'm not being boastful. I'm not worse than the chefs in Guangdong.

What do you call this dish? It's sweet and sour. It's appetizing.

This is called guru pork. There's a story about it.

Once, Officer Li Hongzhang was entertaining some guests from Russia.

The guests asked him the name of this dish. It smelled sweet and sour.

He couldn't help but swallow and made the sound "guru".

The guests mistook that sound as the name of the dish.

How funny. Are there other funny dishes too?

There's a Cantonese dish called coin chicken Guess what it is.

I know. It's a chicken that looks like a coin.

That's impossible. How could a chicken look like a coin?

Coin chicken is made of pork and pork liver.

The pork is cut into slices like coins. Why is it called chicken then?

People want to feel good by saying that they have chicken to eat.

Dr To, you're so amazing. You've been to Guangzhou before?

There's something called books.

There's a saying that traveling is better than reading.

I've always practiced medicine in the capital.

I haven't traveled around like you.

Don't tell me you've never left Beijing.

I haven't OK?

You're a woman of the world. All of us here are ignorant, OK?

Your study is so big. There are so many medical textbooks.

I may not have known you that long, but I know what you're like.

You wouldn't have come here and cooked for us for nothing.

What do you want? Shoot.

Yes, I need a favor.

I want you to examine Granny Chan's body again.

Dr Kwan already said there's nothing suspicious. Why examine it again?

No, how would she suddenly get a stroke and die?

I find it very suspicious.

Why did you ask her to meet you there then? I find you very suspicious too.

She asked me to meet her there.

She said she wanted to tell me something very important.

But she died before she could. Don't you find that strange?

What did she want to tell you that's so important?

It's girl's stuff. Don't ask.

If you have doubts about her death, I'll write it up for you.

Hey, don't report it.

We don't have any evidence or leads. We don't know who the murderer is.

No one will follow up even if you write it up.

It will only alert the murderer.

I can't help you then.

Hey, are you serious? You want to use me and dump me?

I've eaten the food already. What do you want me to do?

Shall I throw it back up?

That stinks. Fine. You won't help me, right?

I'll investigate this on my own then. I will find out the truth.

Look. Don't do anything reckless. I can't help you if you get into trouble.

Have you found it yet, Dr Yam?

I told you. Granny Chan was healthy. She was seldom sick.

But you wouldn't listen to me.

You insisted on checking her medical records.

It takes time to find them.

Dr Yam, it's not that I don't believe you.

I just want to confirm it. Thank you for doing this for me.

Of course. Got it. Here.

According to Granny Chan's medical history, she was never sick.

She's stronger than a cow. How would she die suddenly?

It was predestined. You can't cheat death.

It happens all the time in the palace. You'll get used to this in due course.

Granny Chan was my friend after all. I want to pay my respects to her.

Do you know where her body's kept?

When a granny or a maid passes away,

their bodies are kept in the palace morgue

until their family members come to claim it.

Please forgive me. I don't mean to disturb you.

I just want to find your murderer. I'm sorry... Ah...

You touched me?

You scared me. You didn't make a sound when you walked in.

Don't come here if you're so scared.

How did you know I was here? I bet Dr Yam told you. He's so nosy.

He's worried you'll make trouble again.

Since you're here, Dr To,

please do me a favor and find out Granny Chan's cause of death.

Why are you so interested in her body? What's your motive?

OK. Since you keep asking me, I'll tell you the truth.

Granny Chan told me that she met a bad man. He got her pregnant.

I asked her to meet me the other day because I wanted to ask her who he was.

But then she died mysteriously. Don't you find that really suspicious?

Would you be that kind?

OK. Granny Chan's really pitiful. I'll help you then.

You lied again.

Granny Chan's virginity mark is intact. She's still a virgin.

What? Granny Chan, did you lie to me? Let me see. Where's the virginity mark?

There's no such thing as a virginity mark.

You... I'm sorry for lying to you, Dr To. I didn't want to.

I really want you to help me find out

why Granny Chan died in such a mysterious way.

I don't think you'll quit until I've examined her body.

Forgive us please...

There's a palm print on her face.

I think so.

Why didn't Dr Kwan mention that when he did the autopsy?

According to Song Ci's Collection of Grievance Relief Stories,

a lot of non-superficial wounds won't show immediately.

They will show after some time.

Judging from the palm print over Granny Chan's face,

someone had pressed against her nose and mouth really hard

before she died.

So she suffocated?

Yes.

Hey, where are you going?

Granny Chan was murdered. I have to report this right away.

Don't.

Why?

If you do, the murderer will find out I know Granny Chan.

If we don't catch him, he might come and kill me.

Why were you so keen to find out Granny Chan's cause of death then?

You're so fickle.

I didn't know it was this serious. Now it's more important for me to stay alive

Kot Kan, where did you buy such a nice suit?

Miss Ling, you must help him.

Mom, I told you it's not what you think.

What's going on?

Miss Deling sent someone to deliver the suit here.

She told Kan to wear it to her birthday party.

Kan, the suit is made of fine material.

She gave you a suit and invited you to her birthday party.

Of course she's fond of you.

Kan, you must take the initiative and tell her your feelings for her, OK?

I don't know what to give her as a birthday gift.

How am I supposed to tell her my feelings for her?

Hey, use the birthday gift to tell her how you feel about her. That works.

She's a rich girl.

How would we have that much money to buy a gift?

Madam Kot, the gift doesn't need to be expensive.

It's the thought that counts. Kan, perform for her at the party.

Perform?

Why don't you recite some love poems for Miss Deling?

Maybe you'll move her that way.

Love poems?

You had better ask him to perform kung fu for her.

Kung fu?

Break a stone on your chest. That will work.

Grandma, breaking a stone like this?

Kan, get up. You're wearing the suit to the party, right?

Dance with Miss Deling then. Hold her hand and stare at her.

Then she'll know your feelings for her.

Miss Ling, you're so amazing. You can dance?

You think I stayed in Guangzhou and learned nothing? Hey.

Oh...

Why did you put your leg there?

Step forward. Let's do it again. One, two, three. One...

Two, three...

Turn...

Ouch.

Hey, let go. What's the matter with you?

Why are you holding on so tight? Change hands. You're so stiff.

Please don't teach me anymore. I can't do this.

I really don't understand.

Shaolin Kungfu is so complicated. But you can do that so well.

Yet you can't manage a few simple dance steps.

There are mnemonic chants for Shaolin Kung fu.

But your mnemonic chant is: One, two, three, four, turn.

My head's spinning from turning and turning.

Mnemonic chants? I have an idea.

Chest out and tummy in. Step forward. Hand stretched. Foot on the ground.

Look at the shooting star.

Hands like thunder, body like snake and feet like drills. Roots of an old tree.

How?

Roots of an old tree, parting mane of a wild horse.

It works.

Don't be too proud. Do it again.

OK.

Come on. Let's begin.

I remember you. You're Prince Chun's bodyguard.

Oh, I remember you. We've met in the palace before.

You're called... Kan.

My name is Kot Kan, greetings Princess.

Everyone in Deling's birthday party is her friend.

Yes, Princess.

You two mustn't make fun of Kot Kan.

He's your friend. Why would we make fun of him?

I was worried that you wouldn't come.

No way. It's your birthday party. Of course I'd come.

Kot Kan, do what I do.

Put the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand.

Try that. Relax. That's right. Try it.

Miss Ling, can the petals be eaten?

Who would eat the petals? They're just garnishes.

You think you're a cow?

Why a cow?

Cows eat peonies.

Wojia, you don't know the story.

Emperor Qianlong's favorite Consort Xiang

loved eating petals ever since she was a little girl.

That's why her body gave off a fragrance.

Emperor Qianlong was really in love with her

Don't tell me you want a girl who gives off a fragrance too.

Every man loves a fair lady.

I told you guys not to buy me gifts. You guys are really so kind.

Kot Kan, don't tell me you haven't prepared a birthday gift for Deling.

Miss Ling, actually I've prepared...

She's kidding. Don't worry.

Oh, you're Prince Chun's bodyguard. You must be a good fighter.

Why don't you perform Kung fu as a birthday gift to Deling?

Actually I...

May I?

Noble Consort Hui, Noble Consort Yu.

Prince Chun is so nice to visit Empress Dowager every morning.

It's my blessing to serve Empress Dowager.

You've been back for some time already.

Have you had time to see the flowers in Rose Garden yet?

Not yet.

You must squeeze some time to go then.

The flowers are particularly beautiful this year.

It's definitely worth paying a visit.

Thank you for reminding me, Noble Consort Yu.

I will be sure to go there when I have time.

I won't keep you then since you need to visit Empress Dowager.

Good bye.

What? You've finally come to see me?

I have a very important task to do.

Of course.

It's more important to see Empress Dowager and pretend to be a good son

than to come and see me.

You've guessed wrong this time.

Wow, it's beautiful.

No matter how beautiful the hair accessory is,

it's never your match. I hope you like it.

I do. Of course I do. But I like you the most.

Consort Zhen, do you know

what the twelve symbols on my court dress stand for?

I only know that the sun, the moon and the stars

symbolize light shining on earth.

As for the others, you'll have to tell me their meanings.

OK. The mountain on my back means an emperor must be strong and reliable.

The algae on the lower right is a reminder that an emperor must be flexible.

The axe means I must be decisive.

I don't know anything about the administration.

I just want to be there for you and share your burden.

Then I will be content.

Behind this axe is my heart.

I promise you that from now on, I will work hard to be a good emperor.

I won't fail this court dress, which has been passed on by my predecessors.

Empress Dowager is letting you attend to the administration again.

I believe she wants to see you energetic and strong.

Let me help you put on the court crown.

OK.

Ever since the Boxers came to the capital,

their conflicts with the foreigners have spiraled out of control.

I was told that Britain and France are deploying their troops

in preparation for war with Qing.

Don't be scared.

Given Qing's military power, we won't be defeated by the foreigner's guns

I disagree.

The Boxers killed the German ambassador Ketteler.

That's why Britain, the US. and other countries have reacted so vehemently.

I'm of the view that we should consider the big picture

and send delegates to those countries to negotiate an armistice.

Two warring countries shouldn't kill the representative of the other party.

The Boxers have crossed the line this time.

I disagree.

The German ambassador Ketteler shot the Boxers without cause.

I think it served him right he got killed.

Even if the conflict was caused by the foreigners,

the government should first raise a formal protest with Germany

and then punish the culprit according to Qing's laws.

How can we resort to violence to resolve the problem?

The foreigners have been bullying Qing for years.

That's why there's so much discontent among the people.

If we show fear again, the foreigners will cross the line further.

I don't agree.

Once we go to war with the powers, many lives will be lost.

Your Majesty, will you let Prince Duan finish first?

There's a strong sentiment in the country against foreigners.

Both the military and civilians feel the same way.

Why don't we grab hold of this opportunity

to work with the Boxers and expel the foreigners from China?

The foreigner's weapons are advanced.

Their military power far exceeds that of Qing. I'm afraid...

Your Majesty is too timid.

The Boxers are invulnerable to guns and swords.

So why should we fear their weapons?

Their so-called invulnerability

is just a trick used by charlatans to fool people.

Empress Dowager has witnessed the Boxer's wonderful feats before.

So you think she can't tell what's true or false?

Even though their feats are really amazing...

Both of you shut up.

Since His Majesty and Prince Duan have expressed different views,

I want to hear other people's opinions.

Rong Lu, what do you think?

I think it's time we showed foreigners Qing's might.

Li Hongzhang?

I will abide by Your Royal Highness's decision.

Yuan Shikai?

I'm a soldier. I will do whatever I can for the government.

Prince Chun, what about you?

I just joined the administration.

I lack experience. I'll follow the majority decision.

Your Royal Highness, I still think...

Your Majesty, I know you love the people.

But how can you rule the nation well

if you let your emotions cloud your judgment?

Since there's a consensus now,

I order Prince Duan to lead the Fusheng Battalion

and work with the Boxers

to teach the stupid foreigners a lesson and avenge Qing.

I will do my best. I will not fail Your Royal Highness.

General Yuan, you see that? We're invulnerable to spears and knives.

We will defeat the foreigners once the war starts.

All your soldiers are brave. Now they're even invulnerable.

Of course you will win.

Everyone knows you're good at training your troops.

With your assistance, I'm sure our army will be invincible.

If you succeed in expelling the foreigners,

Her Royal Highness will assign more important jobs to you.

A toast to your victory.

Thank you.

Ready the wagon. I need to hurry back to Shandong.

Yes, sir.

General, you're rushing back to Shandong.

Are you going to send our troops to help Prince Duan to fight the foreigners?

He's an idiot. He believes the tricks of the charlatans.

He wants me to get killed like him? I'm not that stupid.

What if the government orders you to send your troops to help him?

What should we do then?

Even if there's a decree, we can't be sure if it's authentic.

We just need to stall a bit, and the war will be over.

You're really smart.

I would never fight a war I'm not certain to win.

I never put all my eggs in one basket. I will only side with the victor.