Original subtitles

Buddha's profound philosophy is hard to come by. Now I'm enlightened.

I crave understanding of its true meaning.

Will Buddha protect Qing and grant us eternal peace?

Your Royal Highness, His Majesty is outside.

He wants to see you.

Tell him I don't want to see him.

Assign someone to escort him back to Yingtai.

I told him that just now. But he refused to leave.

He's kneeling outside.

He said he won't leave until you see him.

Your Majesty.

All of you get up.

Your Majesty, what are you doing? Cui Yugui, help him up.

Yes.

If you refuse to withdraw the declaration of war on the Allies,

I'll remain kneeling here.

Your Majesty, that can be discussed. Please get up.

That's right. Listen to Empress Dowager and get up.

I really don't want to see Qing humiliated again.

Qing is a superior empire.

How can we succumb to the barbarians time and again?

You're the emperor. You should show the dignity of an emperor.

You're a disgrace to the throne now.

I know I'm not competent enough to rule the nation.

I'm willing to abdicate and refrain from taking part in the administration.

Please have mercy and agree to negotiate peace with the Allied forces.

I will follow His Majesty and give up my title.

I'll live with him in exile for the rest of our lives.

Please grant us your approval, Your Royal Highness.

How dare you two!

You're threatening me with your abdication to make me bow to you?

I'm sure you instigated His Majesty into doing this. Lizi.

Yes.

Smack her.

Yes.

No, please don't do that, Your Royal Highness.

Consort Zhen is innocent.

Smack her harder.

No, Your Royal Highness. Consort Zhen is innocent.

I'm begging you. Please spare her.

I want everyone to know that

there's no happy ending for those who try to get between His Majesty and me.

Please spare Consort Zhen, Your Royal Highness.

Grab His Majesty.

No, Your Royal Highness...

Your Royal Highness, I'm begging you...

Your Majesty...

Summon the imperial doctors right away.

Summon the imperial doctors...

Before Emperor Taizong died, it suddenly thundered like this.

Thank God we came back in time or we'd be all wet.

Commissioner.

How's His Majesty?

The qi in his liver and heart has been weak.

His pulse is feeble and tense.

He's been depressed, angry and worried for a prolonged period.

In the end he couldn't take the blow. So he vomited blood.

How about Consort Zhen?

She's fine. But her lips are split because Li Lianying smacked her hard.

Her mouth is bleeding too. She's so pathetic.

His Majesty didn't convalesce in Yingtai.

He chose to antagonize Empress Dowager. He asked for this.

It won't help no matter how hard you try to improve his health.

My duty is to treat His Majesty's illness. I don't put my nose in other matters.

Consort Zhen suddenly moved from the Northern Three Places to Yingtai

to stay with His Majesty.

I'm sure someone arranged that.

Consort Zhen should play her role as a consort properly. But then she...

Now Empress Dowager has sent her back to the Northern Three Places.

She's so foolish.

I really don't get it. His Majesty has been staying in Yingtai all along.

How could he know about so many things happening outside?

Someone who has free access to Yingtai must have been a busybody.

Too bad I don't have the good fortune to do that.

I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to treat His Majesty again.

Brother Yam, we must prepare the medicine for His Majesty now.

OK. Let's go.

Good bye.

Good bye.

I hope nothing will happen before I retire.

After the war broke out, the myth of the Boxers soon came to an end.

On August 14th of Guangxu year 26,

the allied forces of the eight nations

entered Beijing and surrounded the Forbidden City.

The Qing army put up a vigorous resistance.

The allied forces took down the gates one by one.

The Qing army's defense finally collapsed.

Your Royal Highness...

At ease.

Thank you.

You two are here so early. Did something important happen?

Despite the vigorous resistance put up by our army,

the allied forces couldn't be held back.

They've already entered through Donghua Gate.

What? The foreigners have entered the capital?

I'm afraid they will come to Summer Palace very soon.

After discussing with Prince Chun,

I've decided to help Your Royal Highness leave the palace

so the foreigners can't offend you.

What about the Boxers you talked about? Aren't they invulnerable?

The Boxer's so-called invulnerability

can't withstand the guns and bullets of the allied forces.

That's why we're defeated.

This is your fault.

You insisted that we could use the Boxers to fight the foreigners.

Now look where we are.

I know this is my fault. But the situation is dire now.

Would Your Royal Highness leave immediately before it's too late?

No. I'm Qing's Empress. How can I run for my life? It's a disgrace.

Don't worry. I've spread word that you're going hunting in the west.

This won't be a disgrace.

I'll ask people to pack for you immediately

so you can hit the road as soon as possible.

Once I leave, the capital will fall into the hands of the foreigners.

How can I account for that to the ancestors?

I will stay behind to deal with the situation for you.

I will do my best to negotiate with the allied forces and defend Qing's dignity.

Are the allied forces in the capital already?

If you don't stay calm to recuperate,

you won't get well even if you take the medicine I prescribed for you.

You two pack for His Majesty right away.

We must get out of here as soon as possible.

Yes...

Your Majesty.

At ease.

Thank you.

Cui Yugui, you've come here so suddenly. What's happened?

The allied forces have already entered the capital through Donghua Gate.

Empress Dowager has decided to leave the palace and go hunting in the west.

She told me to get you to go join her.

Why? Why didn't she listen to me? Why did she let history repeat itself?

You must mind your health.

Cui Yugui, you came here to get me. Who's getting Consort Zhen?

To Chung, go to the Northern Three Places immediately

and ensure that Consort Zhen catches up with the others, OK?

Yes.

Don't worry. Your mouth is fine now.

Thanks to your family's medicinal cream or else I really wouldn't know what to do.

No problem.

I need a favor from you, Dr Fuk.

Please tell me what I can do for you.

Please give this letter to His Majesty.

There's no signature?

Are you worried that someone will find this letter?

Then I can say I wrote it to my lover?

Actually this isn't a love letter.

I just want His Majesty to know that

no matter where I am, my heart will be forever with him.

I just want to encourage him.

Don't worry. I will get it done.

Come in.

Your Highness.

At ease.

Dr To, why have you come here?

The allied forces have entered the Forbidden City.

His Majesty is leaving Her Highness behind?

Of course not.

Now what?

What if the allied forces come here? What shall we do?

We must get out of the Forbidden City with Her Highness.

Find a place to hide and figure out a way to inform His Majesty.

Who are you?

I'm a doctor in the Imperial Hospital. They're maids.

Are you really a doctor?

This is my medical kit. You can check it.

I believe you're a doctor.

But how can I be sure that they're just maids?

I can prove that they are.

You can check their belongings. There's nothing of value.

Get out of here immediately. You're not allowed to stay here.

Come on. Let's find the Chinese king.

Ronnie, you go this way. You guys come with me.

Are you OK?

Stop...

Now what?

You take Her Highness to that hut and hide. I'll rescue the maid.

Can you manage?

I have to try. I can't watch her die.

Hey... Come with me.

What are you guys doing? Water ladle, gong and clubs? Is this a show?

When the nation is defeated, there'll just be a new government.

But Chuen Yan Clinic is our family business.

We must protect our home with our lives.

That's right.

Don't worry.

That's why I came to protect you guys and Chuen Yan Clinic. Count on me.

OK.

We'll count on you then.

OK.

But Kan, don't risk your life unless it's absolutely necessary, OK?

OK, Mom.

By the way, it's so chaotic out there.

How could you come home? Don't you need to protect the prince?

He's in secret negotiations with the foreigners.

He left a long time ago.

I was worried about you guys. So I came to see you.

Miss Ling went to the palace and hasn't come back yet.

Will she be in trouble?

Don't worry, Mom. She's so clever. She'll be fine.

Mrs. To...

What's the situation out there?

It's chaotic. Lots of shops are closed.

The foreign soldiers executed any Boxers they found. It was so scary.

Oh, no.

Wai-Shan is still in the Imperial Hospital. Is he safe there?

Shall we pack and leave?

Wai-shan's not home yet.

It's just you and me. Where can we go?

Is it Wai-Shan at the door? Answer the door.

Mrs. To, your dad's here.

Dad, why did you come here?

I'm here to help you leave.

Where are we going?

It's chaotic out there. I want to go to our hometown Changping.

Those foreigners are inhuman. When they get here, we won't be able to leave.

But Wai-shan's not home yet.

He'll worry if he doesn't see me when he's home.

Silly girl. I'll leave him a note. Then he can join us.

But...

But what? Leave with her.

Yes, sir.

Lin-chi, pack some clothes for her. Get me a brush and some paper.

I want to leave a note for Wai-Shan. Hurry.

OK.

Dad.

Dr To hasn't come back yet. Could there have been an accident?

If I go out and look for him, is it OK for you to stay here alone?

No problem. Be careful, Dr Fuk.

Don't worry. Don't go anywhere.

To Chung?

To Chung...

To Chung, are you OK?

I'm fine. Why did you come here? Where's Her Highness?

You were gone for so long. I was worried about you. So I came to take a look.

This is bad. Let's join Her Highness first.

Your Highness.

Where is she?

I told her to wait here and not go anywhere.

Has she been captured by the foreigners?

What?

This is your fault. I told you to look after her.

How can I account for this to His Majesty now?

Why have you put all the blame on me?

I went out to look for you. Aren't you responsible too?

Let's look around.

Help.

Let's go.

Let go of me.

Help.

Give it back to me.

Go back.

I can't believe I'd run into you again.

Hey, will this work?

You could even break a stone on my chest. Come on. See?

See if it's Ling.

I'll check.

Wait. Be careful. Kan, see who's outside.

You're so chicken.

Be careful.

Password.

Are you Kot Kan? This is Deling.

It's her... Ouch.

It's been a long while. How is everyone?

Tung Tit-kwat, let Miss Ling go.

Let go of this fake foreigner? I'm not stupid like you.

If I set her free, would you guys still entertain me?

What do you want?

The foreign soldiers are chasing me. I need to hide.

You guys are unlucky because I ran into this fake foreigner.

Miss Ling, it's so chaotic and dangerous outside.

You should have stayed at home and played piano. Why did you go out?

I heard that the prince had gone to negotiate with the foreigners.

But I hadn't hear from him. I thought you might know his situation.

But then...

You think I'm not here? Why are you still chatting?

You two get a rope and tie up Kot Kan. I'm hungry. Cook me some nice food. Go.

I haven't seen you in so long, Madam Kot.

The food you cook is still so delicious. Very good.

Don't worry. I'm a man of my word. I will keep my promise. Let's go.

Hey, you said you would set her free.

I told you I'm not stupid like you.

There are foreign soldiers everywhere out there.

I can use this fake foreigner as my shield, right?

Or when I'm bored, I can have some fun with her...

You're a dead man.

You're so wicked. You kicked me?

You don't know the under-the-skirt kick?

All the gates in the Forbidden City are guarded by allied soldiers now.

We can't go inside to look for Her Highness

until the allied forces have retreated.

OK. I'll go to Chuen Yan Clinic then.

It's so chaotic everywhere. I'm worried about your safety if you go alone.

Why don't you crash at my place tonight?

When the situation has died down tomorrow morning, I'll walk you home.

Pak-hop.

Did she leave you the letter?

My father-in-law wrote the letter.

He said it's dangerous to stay in the capital.

He's going to his hometown Changping with Lin-chi and Pak-hop for safety's sake.

That's good. Pak-hop's fine Do you need to go join them right away?

My father-in-law will look after Pak-hop. There shouldn't be any problem.

I'm most worried about Consort Zhen now.

It won't help to worry.

I will sneak into the Forbidden City first thing tomorrow morning to look for her

Who do you think you are? Can you sneak in there so easily?

When you've gone back to Chuen Yan Clinic, just stay there and don't go anywhere.

I know what to do. Oh, your hand.

Are you that unlucky?

Whenever you're with me, you get hurt.

Do I bring you bad luck all the time?

People usually say that about

a husband and wife and how they impact each other.

We're not a couple...

I remember I asked you a question before.

You haven't answered it yet.

What?

After you eloped with your lover, what happened?

Why couldn't you two be together?

Done. I'm hungry. You must be hungry too, right?

Why don't I cook something?

You're a guest. I'll cook.

No, you got hurt from saving my life.

I'll return your favor by cooking.

You're returning my favor just by cooking a meal? That's so easy for you.

What else do you expect?

You want me to cook for you the rest of my life?

Anyway, sit here. Food will be ready very soon.

The way you eat tells me that the food's OK, right?

It's because I'm hungry. It's OK.

But the food you cook tastes quite rich.

Perhaps that reflects my character. You know I'm really outgoing.

I can tell. You're a busybody too.

What do you mean a busybody?

When I see something unfair, I just do my best to stop it.

Too bad you get me wounded every time you do that.

Just now you asked what happened to me and Brother Hung-yue,

my ex-lover, after we eloped.

Why do you want to know?

I want to know whether I helped you or hurt you back then.

I chose to leave. It's not your fault.

After Brother Hung-yue and I had Beijing, we went to Guangzhou.

We wanted to start a new life there. But things didn't work out as expected.

He was well educated. But he couldn't find a job.

He could only work as a casual worker in a factory.

We were so poor that we couldn't even afford the rent.

So I had to work as a masseuse to maintain the family.

Two months went by. When I got home one night, he was gone.

He just left me a letter.

He said he couldn't endure the hardship anymore. He couldn't face me.

From that day on, I was by myself in Guangzhou.

I really don't get it.

When you two got caught, people wanted to drown you.

Neither of you was scared to die.

But then he left you just because he couldn't endure the hardship?

I didn't understand it either when he left.

But as time went on and I gained more life experience,

I finally understood that lifelong love is easier said than done.

Looking on it from a positive perspective, you had a passionate romance.

It was short-lived with no happy ending.

But you're already luckier than many people.

Everyone has his own difficulties.

I envy you and Pak-hop too. You two can live a quiet but happy life.

Let's not talk about this anymore. The food's getting cold. Let's eat.

Mom, you told me that this jade pendant is for my true love.

Now it looks like it will be keeping me company for the rest of my life.

I don't think I can sleep tonight. I should go read something.

We cried when I returned the pearl to you. I wish we had met before I was married.

What's the matter?

It's windy tonight. I thought you might be cold. So I brought you a thick blanket.

Thank you.

Of course.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

How is it?

It's much quieter this morning. Let's go.

Brother To, you've really come back?

Brother Yam, you want to see me?

The allied forces have invaded the palace and started looting the place.

They've taken lots of jewels and antiques.

The Commissioner's afraid they'll loot the Imperial Hospital sooner or later.

He's asked everyone to hurry there

to put away the valuable stuff in case it gets taken away.

OK. I'll walk Dr Fuk home now. Then I'll join you later.

That won't be necessary.

It's really much quieter today. I can go to Chuen Yan Clinic myself.

Can you manage?

Of course I can.

Don't forget I know kung fu. You go with Dr Yam.

Remember to meet me at noon at the North Main Gate of the Forbidden City.

We'll decide what to do then.

Let's go, Brother To.

If we weren't in such a hurry,

I really want to classify all the books so that it won't be a mess in the future.

Future? We don't know if we can survive today.

Some are the only copies left. I really don't want to leave them behind.

That's why we must hide them quickly.

No, we should leave some common medical books out

for the allied forces to take away.

Then they'll think they've got something.

Good idea.

Let's do that.

Right.

Oh, no. There's a squad of Japanese soldiers outside.

Brother Yam, hurry.

Hurry.

No one move.

Walk faster.

Hey, you can't take that.

The Imperial Japanese Army can take whatever we want.

You Chinese are in no position to object.

Sir, take whatever you like.

No, that's the picture of our predecessor. It's the Imperial Hospital's symbol.

I'd rather die than let you take it.

Shut up. You may want to die. We don't.

Colonel, we've searched the whole Imperial Hospital,

but we didn't find the Book on Medical Practice.

During your Tang Dynasty,

we sent lots of envoys to China to study medicine.

According to one of them, he saw the Book on Medical Practice

written by the famous Chinese doctor Hua Tuo.

If you guys don't want to die, give me the book now.

Sir, there must be a misunderstanding.

According to our classic The History of Eastern Han,

Hua Tuo had painstakingly written some medical books

and handed them to a jailer.

Unfortunately, that jailer didn't know their value.

In the end the medical books were destroyed in a fire.

I don't understand what you mean.

I'm saying the books no longer existed during the Tang Dynasty.

How would it have been possible for your envoy to have seen them?

Are you saying our envoy lied?

Sir, please don't get it wrong.

I'm just saying your envoy was mistaken about our history.

I don't care.

Hand over the book now or I'll show you no mercy.

Sir, that's the Commissioner of the Imperial Hospital. He's in charge.

Colonel, don't listen to him.

My hold the lowest rank here. I'm just an intern. I don't have any say.

You're so old. You're still an intern?

That means you're useless. I'll kill you then.

Colonel, the Book on Medical Practice really doesn't exist anymore.

But of all the imperial doctors here,

one of them had the luck to read a duplicate of it.

And he has a perfect memory too.

Who?

He never forgets. It's Dr Yam Sik-kang. That's him.

You can order him to dictate the book word for word from beginning to end.

Brother To, you said the book was destroyed a long time ago.

How can I dictate its contents?

You've read so many medical textbooks.

Even you haven't read the Book on Medical Practice before.

That means no one has ever read it before. So no one knows the contents of the book.

You mean...

You can base it on the medical books you've read before,

do some mixing and matching,

and write a knock-off version of the Book on Medical Practice.

That's a way out. No, I can't do that.

What if they treat patients according to the book?

People will get killed. I can't do that.

You're right. I only thought of saving us.

I failed to consider that this would hurt more people.

Brother Yam, you've practiced medicine for years.

You must have a lot of ideas about treating the patients.

Just write them down in some archaic language.

Maybe that can fool them. It won't hurt anyone either.

Brother To, you're really clever to think of such a solution. Let's do that.

To Chung hasn't shown up yet.

There are Japanese soldiers guarding the Imperial Hospital.

Has something bad happened to him?

Why isn't To Chung there?

After we get the Book on Medical Practice,

burn this place down and kill everyone here.

I'm going to the bathroom.

Who are you?

Colonel... Don't move.

What are you looking at? Go away.

What happened?

I don't know. Anyway, the colonel's shot.

It must have been Fuk Ling's doing. She's going to get us killed.

Now what? If the officer dies, they'll execute Dr Fuk.

To Chung, don't even think about it. That colonel is our enemy.

If you save his life, you will be working against Qing.

And if you fail to save his life, we'll all get killed.

Even if I just sit back and do nothing, I still can't get away from this.

Sir, you've bled a lot. So your artery must have been hit.

If you don't get treated in time, I'm afraid your life will be in danger.

If you trust me, let me take a look at your wound, OK?

To Chung, don't save his life. He'll kill us whether he lives or dies.

Shut up.

Keep quiet.

It's a doctor's duty to save lives. How can I just sit back?

Sir, you're bleeding profusely.

If the bullet isn't taken out in time, I'm afraid you won't live.

Why don't you let me help you?

When will the medic arrive?

He's moving with the troop towards the cities in the west.

He won't make it here in time.

You really know how to operate on me?

The girl who shot you just now is actually a western doctor.

With her assistance, I'm confident that I can take the bullet out.

But you must promise me,

if I manage to save your life, you won't hurt any of us.

Do I have your word?

If you save my life, I promise I won't hurt anyone here.

I only know bone-setting and massage. I don't know how to perform surgery.

Don't worry.

Just pretend you're working with me. I know what to do.

You really know how to perform a surgery?

Honestly, this is my first time.

Are you kidding?

What if you get him killed? What should we do then?

I have to take my chances.

I've watched Father Taylor perform surgeries before.

I remember the procedure clearly. There shouldn't any problems.

The lives of everyone in the Imperial Hospital are in your hands.

You must make sure there are no problems.

Everything's fine.

Go there.

Have you dictated the entire Book of Medical Practice?

Sir, it's done.

I promised you that if you could save my life,

I wouldn't hurt any doctors in the Imperial Hospital. Let them leave.

Yes, sir.

But obviously this woman is not an imperial doctor.

Sir, how could she not be? Just now I followed her instructions...

Don't think I'm blind. I saw everything clearlyjust now.

You were in charge of the entire operation, To Chung.

This woman was just pretending to help. You shot me. You will die today.

Don't think I won't kill you because you saved my life.

I promised to keep everyone here alive.

So none of them will die.

I don't want to kill all of them. I just want to kill this woman.

Give up one life to save everyone. I'm sure you can do the math.

If someone must be killed in order to save everyone here, please kill me, sir.