Original subtitles

Ah... Ouch...

How is she? Answer me. Dr To, how's Youlan?

She tripped.

Her water broke causing early fetal movement.

But the baby hasn't rotated yet. Its head is facing up and feet are facing down.

What does that mean? Is that obstructed labor?

Can't you help the baby rotate by pushing with your hands?

No. We don't know the exact position of the baby.

If we force it to rotate, we might cause

the umbilical cord to wrap around its neck.

What should we do now?

Regardless, she's in a critical condition.

When will His Highness be home?

I've already sent someone to hurry to the barracks to inform him.

Even so, it'll take over an hour for him to get home.

Now what? There are no options. What should we do now?

We can't wait any longer or she'll die. So will the baby.

Empress Dowager has placed high expectations on the baby.

If the baby dies, I'm afraid we'll all get beheaded.

We must keep the baby safe.

No, we must keep both the mother and baby safe.

Cut open her belly?

Cut open her belly?

Brother Yam, please go to the church and ask Father Taylor to come immediately.

Tell him that the princess tripped. She needs a cesarean section now.

Ask him to bring all the surgical instruments and drugs. Go.

OK.

Hey... We can't do this. We can't cut open her belly.

You're even asking a foreigner to perform the surgery for her?

Commissioner, we have to improvise now. You're still worried about that now?

But His Highness isn't home yet. Who will take responsibility for this?

That's right.

Why don't we leave the decision to His Highness when he's home?

We can't wait any longer. I will take full responsibility for this.

Commissioner, His Highness is home.

Your Highness.

How's the princess now?

She's undergoing a C-section inside.

C-section? You're all here. So who's performing the surgery for her?

Please don't be mad. Despite my objection,

To Chung insisted on asking a foreign

doctor to perform the C-section for princess.

What?

Your Highness, you're home? Youlan has given birth to a baby.

Is it a boy or a girl?

Congratulations. It's a boy. Both mother and baby are safe.

A boy. It's really a boy?

How dare you, To Chung!

Without my consent,

you asked a foreign doctor to perform a C-section for princess?

Her condition was critical.

If we didn't do it, both princess and the baby could have died.

After weighing the pros and cons,

I asked Father Taylor to come perform the C-section for her.

It was my decision alone. I will take full responsibility for this.

Fortunately, both mother and baby are fine.

If something had gone wrong, you wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.

There's a certain amount of risk in a C-section.

But Father Taylor is a brilliant doctor. He's experienced.

I have absolute faith in him.

No matter how brilliant he is in medicine,

he's still a foreigner.

If people find out that a foreigner performed C-section

to deliver Prince Chun's son, I will become a laughing-stock.

So this must be kept absolutely confidential.

I'm just a doctor. I only care about saving lives.

I don't care about other things. I believe Father Taylor is the same way.

He won't tell anyone about this. Don't worry.

Good. If there's any gossip about this,

I promise everyone who has knowledge of this will be killed.

Three years later.

Look, Puyi is so cute.

Thanks to Your Royal Highness's blessing, Puyi has grown so fast.

He's really dutiful too. He often says he wants to see you.

He's a really good grandson.

He's so dutiful at such a tender age. Prince Chun has taught him well.

Thank you for your compliment, Noble Consort Yu.

Puyi makes Her Royal Highness so happy.

He must come to the palace more often to see her.

That's right. It'll be more fun

if there's a kid running around in the palace.

Actually Puyi is very naughty.

I'm afraid he will disturb Her Royal Highness.

You've spoiled Puyi. Of course he's naughty.

You should show a touch of awe like Her Royal Highness.

Then Puyi will listen to your teaching.

Since Puyi likes Her Royal Highness so much.

Why not have him stay and live in the palace from today on?

Then he can spend more time with Her Royal Highness.

Puyi is a little boy.

I'm worried that he might not be used to living without his mom.

Youlan, haven't you notice that

every time Puyi comes to the Summer Palace,

Her Royal Highness is especially sharp and happy?

This shows the two of them enjoy each other's company.

Right, Your Royal Highness?

If Puyi stays with Her Royal Highness and gets advice from her,

his development and growth will be much better.

Of course that's a great idea.

You consider your son's long-term benefit. You're a really good father, Prince Chun.

In your son's interest,

you need to put up with the pain of parting with him, Youlan.

Youlan, if you miss Puyi,

then come and see Her Royal Highness more often.

Come more often with Prince Chun to look at them.

I can't believe the restless Princess Wojia

looks so much like a doctor when she's checking my pulse for me.

It's all due to Dr To's teaching.

It takes a brilliant teacher to train an outstanding student.

You smile so happily when His Majesty compliments you.

OK. Let me test you. What does His Majesty's pulse show today?

OK. His Majesty's pulse is strong. It shows he's excited. Is that correct?

That's correct.

Your Majesty's pulse shows that you've been sleeping very little lately.

What's making it so hard for you to fall asleep?

I've been reading lots of books on Western legal and political systems.

I came across many wise ideas.

These two books talk about constitutional monarchy.

The Japanese practiced that during their Meiji Restoration

so they have become strong.

So I'm wondering if Qing could be as successful as the Japanese

if we practice constitutional monarchy too.

What's constitutional monarchy?

Father Taylor has talked about that before.

Simply speaking, the monarch is replaced by a parliament

as the ultimate source of power in ruling the country.

Lots of Western countries practice this system now.

That shows there must be merits to this system.

Your Majesty is willing to relinquish power

in the interest of the nation and its people

I do admire you.

I may have this idea, but not everyone shares my thinking.

You mean...?

I feel Prince Chun doesn't really

want to help me carry out reforms in the administration.

I've proposed many policies to benefit the people and provide relief.

But he's made numerous excuses to stall.

Why depend on others to work for you?

Why don't you tell Empress Dowager your ideas yourself?

Tell Empress Dowager myself?

Since you have the determination and don't mind relinquishing your power,

why don't you muster up your courage and tell Empress Dowager yourself?

If you don't even have that courage,

how will you be able to implement the policy in the future?

You're right.

I should muster up my courage and explain to Empress Dowager

the advantages of implementing a constitutional monarchy.

Perhaps Empress Dowager will...

Here comes Her Royal Highness...

Please forgive me for the prank, Your Majesty.

Empress Dowager's not here. But as soon as you heard her title, you panicked.

I'm afraid you won't even be able to say "constitutional monarchy" in front of her.

Perhaps it's because I've been under her strict supervision since I was a kid.

So whenever I see her, I'm awe-struck.

I'm such a coward. How can I carry out any administrative reforms?

Kwong.

Yes, lady boss.

The prescription here says that the medicine is mugwort.

But you put capillary wormwood in it. Have you made a mistake?

Oh, I'm sorry. That was an oversight.

Be more careful next time.

Replace it now.

OK.

He's so dumb. He's been working here for a couple of months already.

He's still so dumb?

He's still green. I will forgive his inadvertent mistake.

Give him some time to improve.

If it weren't for you managing Leung Tsai Tsan Clinic these past two years

it wouldn't be back on track so soon.

The drugstore is so big. How can I manage it on my own?

I owe it to Manager Lo and the employees for working so hard.

Right.

Why does her chair have two wheels? So she doesn't need to walk?

What nonsense are you talking about?

Shush, Lin-chi.

Hey, darling. My legs can't move. That's why I need to use a wheelchair.

Actually it's convenient. I can go wherever I want to.

Do you want to try siting on it?

Bye, Manager Lo.

We're leaving now. Please tie up the loose ends.

I will. Dr To, you're so nice.

You've come at the same time every day to pick up your wife these past two years.

It's no big deal to take my wife home.

Everyone knows Dr To is good to Mrs. To.

Dr To, will massaging her neck help her legs?

I met Father Taylor today. He told me a recent case abroad.

A man's cervical vertebrae were hit by a hard object by mistake,

which stimulated his nerves.

His legs regained sensation after he had been paralyzed for years.

So I want to use massage to stimulate Pak-hop's neck.

I hope this will help.

Nerves? What's that?

That's hard to explain.

Lin-chi, don't bother Dr To.

Boil some hot water for him to wash his feet.

OK.

How do you feel, Pak-hop?

My neck feels really good.

Just that?

Sit down. Don't be so disappointed.

It's OK. I gave up the dream of standing up again a long time ago.

I'm a doctor. I've healed numerous patients.

But I can't heal my wife. It's so ironic.

Wai-Shan, you're a doctor to outsiders. But to me, you're my husband.

As long as you keep me company every day and all of us are safe,

I'm already very content.

Whether I walk again doesn't matter at all.

Of course everyone in the family has to be safe.

But it would be a bonus if you could walk again.

That's why I won't give up readily. OK. Let's do it again.

Guys, last time we talked about the different functions of the human organs.

But where are they located? If we understand that clearly,

it will help a lot when we treat patients in the future.

That's why I've brought all of you here

so you can clearly see exactly where our internal organs are located.

Father Taylor.

Look closely. Be prepared.

You see. The human heart is right here.

Come take a closer look. Take a closer look.

You can do it, Wojia.

If you can't hang in there, how can you be a doctor? Chill...

That's so awful. Don't play it.

Kot Kan?

Princess Wojia.

Get up. We're not in the palace now. You don't need to be so formal. Get up.

I can't believe you can play the piano.

Of course I can't. I heard Miss Ling play it before.

There was no one around just now. I couldn't hold myself back from trying.

Sorry to disturb you.

You remember the tune after hearing it just several times?

It seems you and Deling aren't just ordinary friends.

Princess Wojia, please don't get the wrong idea. Actually...

You're so nervous. Your expression has betrayed you.

Ever since Deling left the capital, I haven't been in touch with her.

I wonder how she's doing.

After she left, she traveled to many Western countries.

She writes to Father Taylor from time to time

to tell him what she's seen and heard.

I know a bit too.

Also, she met a guy in the States and married him.

Deling is married?

Right. I saved up earlier because I wanted to jump on a boat and go see her.

But the she's already married a foreigner. My effort's been a waste.

If you really want Deling to be happy,

you should be happy for her since she's found her true love.

You're right.

I shouldn't just eat steamed buns every meal.

I should treat my mom to abalone and roast goose.

I should enjoy life.

You're wrong to think this way.

You should carry on eating only steamed buns.

No roast goose or abalone.

Carry on saving up not to go visit Deling

but to travel abroad yourself and broaden your horizons.

Honestly, if I could forget about my status as a princess,

I would travel around the world like Deling too.

You're right again.

A man should go to more places to broaden his horizons.

I shouldn't be an ignorant man.

You have ambition.

When you've saved up enough, you must tell me.

If there's a chance, we should travel around the world together.

OK. It's a deal.

It's a deal.

Deal.

Why do you want to take cannabis? You'll get addicted to it.

I'm not doing so for enjoyment. It's for the welfare of Qing's citizens.

Cai told me that Empress Dowager is

holding a banquet in the Summer Palace today

to entertain the consuls of various countries.

I've thought it over. I believe this is a great opportunity

to suggest the idea of a constitutional monarchy to Empress Dowager.

If I get the consul's support, Empress Dowager can't say no right away.

Then there'll be a chance constitutional monarchy can be implemented.

Do you know using cannabis on a long-term basis

is bad for your health?

I don't need to use it on a long-term basis.

But an opportunity has presented itself today.

To Chung, please do me a favor.

Do you know you can get addicted to cannabis

even if you use it just once or twice?

You must promise me that regardless of whether you pull it off or not this time,

you must take the antidote I prescribe for you

to get rid of the toxin from your body.

OK. Whether we can implement constitutional monarchy depends on today.

It's His Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Lower the bridge.

Your Majesty, without Empress Dowager's decree...

Slaves. I won't repeat myself. Lower the bridge. Yes.

Your Royal Highness, the banquet on the decorated boat is ready.

Take the consuls to the boat then. Yes.

Here comes His Majesty.

Your Majesty.

At ease.

Much obliged.

Your Royal Highness, I wish you good health and longevity.

At ease.

Much obliged.

You're not feeling well. You should stay in Yingtai to rest.

You came a long way to Summer Palace. Why?

The weather is really nice today. I feel a lot better too.

I learned that Your Royal Highness is holding a banquet for the consuls here.

So I came specifically to say hello to everyone.

Your Majesty has come in person. We are honored.

Oh, apart from saying hello, I would also like to hear everyone's opinion

on a proposal for governing the nation.

We are all ears.

Recently I've been studying the history

and development political systems in many countries.

I realized that adhering to old habits and rules

will only impede the progress of a nation.

So I've come up with an idea. Constitutional monarchy.

To implement that, we need the support of all the countries.

So I hope you gentlemen

can relate this idea of mine to the leaders of your respective countries.

I hope you will all work together with Qing, OK?

Thank you... Thank you...

Your Majesty, how do you feel?

How would you feel if you got the runs several times a day?

It's hard on you.

I just want to help you discharge the toxin of the cannabis sooner.

I understand.

But I've got the runs so many times already.

The toxin is excreted, right?

Almost. To be safe, you should take

one more dose tonight after getting some rest.

I believe all the toxin will be excreted then.

One more dose?

But today I didn't panic at all

in front of Empress Dowager and the consuls.

I eloquently told them my idea of implementing constitutional monarchy.

That was worth it even if I have to get the runs again.

I must remind Your Majesty that

although cannabis may be used as a kind of drug, it contains toxin too.

Using it for a prolonged period is bad for your health.

You mustn't take it again.

OK. I won't take it again.

So is there any medicine that could embolden me

so that I don't get scared when I face Empress Dowager?

And it mustn't be toxic.

Your Majesty, don't rely on drugs anymore.

The proper way to conquer fear is to rely on yourself.

Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness is here.

How dare you, Your Majesty! You left Yingtai without permission.

You even talked nonsense in front of the consuls.

Qing's strength has declined drastically.

Only constitutional monarchy can help Qing revive.

That's our only chance.

Constitutional monarchy will make Qing rich and strong? That's nonsense.

Is it like you feeling emboldened after taking cannabis

so you won't be afraid of me anymore?

I truly meant what I said.

You meant what you said after you had taken cannabis?

I say that's nonsense.

Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness really can't stand drugs.

She's given the order to ban its use a long time ago.

I can't believe someone had the guts to bring cannabis to the palace

and tempt His Majesty into taking it.

To Chung, don't think you can do anything you like

just because you've cured His Majesty and me before.

Aren't you afraid you'll get beheaded?

I insisted on taking cannabis.

If you really want to punish To Chung, please punish me first.

You think I dare not punish you?

My life is a living hell anyway. Why don't you end it for me quickly?

Your Majesty...

Your Royal Highness,

according to the Commissioner of the Imperial Hospital,

His Majesty had used cannabis. He's mentally exhausted.

Then he had the runs from detoxing. And he had gotten emotional.

That's why his blood and qi reversed and he passed out.

Fortunately, the imperial doctors resuscitated him.

He's fine for the time being.

You two get out.

Yes...

How are you, Your Royal Highness?

I can hang in there for now.

But His Majesty keeps fooling around like this,

does he want me to depose him sooner?

Your Royal Highness, deposing His Majesty is a major decision.

The consuls showed great support for His Majesty today.

Please reconsider the decision.

The foreigners have been wanting to divide our land among themselves.

His Majesty doesn't realize that.

He even had the gut to propose this so-called constitutional monarchy

and hoped that the foreigners would support him. He's so stupid.

Since His Majesty could use

constitutional monarchy to gain the consul's support,

Your Royal Highness could likewise

use that to consolidate your relationship with the various countries.

You want me to give up my power?

Don't worry. It takes a long time to implement it.

First you have to send people abroad to observe and learn.

Then we'll need to discuss the clauses and articles of the constitution

and the formation of the parliament.

That takes at least five to seven years.

You mean I should pretend to say yes to His Majesty

as a delay tactic to stall him?

Exactly.

Besides, you're in complete control of how the constitution is drawn up.

You can place trustworthy people in the cabinet.

On the face of it, we're implementing the constitution.

In reality it'll be completely the same as it is now.

Dr To.

Kot Kan, what's the matter?

I came with Prince Chun to see Empress Dowager.

I heard that you're doing a checkup for the Queen.

So I came to see you because I need your help.

Please go ahead.

It's been windy lately. My grandma keeps coughing. She won't see a doctor.

I wonder if you could make a house call and see her.

I'll go to Chuen Yan Clinic when I get off later.

Thank you. Bye.

My cough isn't serious. Why did you trouble Dr To?

Mom, get better sooner. Dr To, how's Mom?

She's fine. It's just a minor ailment for a senior.

I'll prescribe some medicine for her. She'll get well after she takes it.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Dr To. Please prescribe the medicine over here.

Cured sausages, cured duck and sweetheart cakes?

They're all specialties from Guangdong?

Yes...

A friend gave them to us... My relative gave them to us...

The relative Kan mentioned is my cousin. She's Miss Ming-chu's good friend.

Right.

It's just that.

OK...

Kot Kan, I haven't heard from your Miss Ling in a long time.

How is she doing?

Oh, she's...

Doesn't she write home?

She does. But she doesn't write to me. So I don't know much.

Fuk Ling.

You've come back?

I thought you had died in the explosion at Tai Hang Warehouse.

I can't believe I'd have a chance to see you again.

How did you find out I was at Tai Hang Warehouse?

At first I wanted to see you off at the railway station that day.

When I got there, I found out that no train was going to Tianjin that day.

I thought you didn't want me to see you off. So you lied to me.

But then I heard Cui Yugui tell Prince Chun in his mansion

that your organization was going to rob

Tai Hang Warehouse of the ammunition there.

I suspected that you hadn't left.

Sol hurried to the warehouse to take a look.

But the explosion happened while I was on my way.

Actually the explosion was part of our plan to make Prince Chun believe that

we had failed to rob the warehouse of the ammunition.

We put him off guard

so it would be easier for us to transport the ammunition to the south.

Your plan was really successful. It didn't just fool Prince Chun, it fooled me too.

Do you know when the burnt bodies

were carried out from the warehouse after the explosion,

I really thought you were dead?

I took the dead bodies from the public morgue beforehand.

Otherwise how could we fool Prince Chun?

I didn't expect you would go to Tai Hang Warehouse to see me.

I caused this misunderstanding. I'm sorry.

Back then I really couldn't accept it.

But now that I know you're fine, my worry was worth it.

But now that you're back, I don't understand why you didn't tell me?

Tell you?

Isn't it better for you not to know I'm back and to believe that I'm dead?

Then you and Pak-hop can live a peaceful life.

Did you want to keep this from me for the rest of your life?

I plan to take Grandma to Guangzhou later to settle down there.

I didn't expect Kot Kan would ask you to treat her.

Perhaps this is God's will.

It's like me going to Tai Hang Warehouse back then.

I wouldn't have found this jade pendant if I hadn't gone there.

The jade pendant was with you?

This jade pendant made me believe that

you had gone there that day and was one of the burnt bodies.

This jade pendant also helped me hang in there until now.

I was fooling myself all along. Actually, I didn't believe you had been killed.

I believed that someday you would stand in front of me again.

And I would be able to return this jade pendant to you myself.

Thank God for granting my wish. So I wasn't fooling myself.

You're really standing in front of me.

Today I can really return this jade pendant to you in person.

It was lost already. Why were you the one to find it?

We belong to two different worlds. Why has God drawn us together time and again?

Wai-Shan.

Pak-hop, it's so late. You haven't gone to bed yet?

You're up reading so late.

I made locoweed and date tea for you.

Drink it while it's still hot. It's good for you liver and eyes.

OK. Next time you can ask Lin-chi to bring it to me.

Just now when I came in, you were staring at a book.

Have you come across some difficult cases again?

My difficult case can't be solved so quickly

I'll help you to bed after I finish the tea.

Your Majesty, Empress Dowager has approved our sending five Royal Ministers abroad.

They will go to Britain and the USA. to observe and learn.

As for the outline of the constitution,

the constitution of the parliament and the duties of the cabinet,

Your Majesty will discuss and work them out with the Grand Councilors.

The implementation of constitutional monarchy

will help Qing reform and become rich and strong.

I hope you will all feel free to express your views.

Your Majesty, a weak state enjoys no privilege for diplomacy.

I suggest reorganizing

the two regular troops in Beiyang and the capital

At the same time we should buy Western cannons

to protect and defend the capital.

The relationship between Qing and the western countries

has improved a lot lately.

Your suggestion will stir their suspicion. It will seriously undermine their support

for Qing's implementation of constitutional monarchy.

Japan has proven to be a great success in implementing constitutional monarchy.

We should model on them.

I hope you will all look at things from that perspective.

What Your Majesty said makes sense.

But Japan's population is less than one tenth of Qing's.

It's much easier for them to roll out a new administration.

I believe we need to discuss this in greater detail.

Your Majesty, when I was stationed in Korea,

I had dealt with the Japanese.

I know the situation in Japan very well.

Your Majesty can appoint me to study the constitutional monarchy system in Japan.

Then I can analyze it for everyone.

We have already sent our ministers to the various powers

to see how they implement constitutional monarchy.

It's unnecessary for you study it too. That won't be necessary.

Now that you've joined the Grand Council,

it's an advancement in your career, Officer Yuan.

I'm just a soldier. I just know how to fight

I'm removed from all my duties in the Beiyang Army.

I've been transferred to the Grand Council just so I can kill my time.

You mustn't get the wrong idea.

It's mainly His Majesty's idea to transfer you to the Grand Council.

I just made some minor comments.

Right now His Majesty needs someone

who can help him implement a constitutional monarchy.

I'm not capable of doing that. The Grand Council doesn't need me.

I've fought in so many battles all these years. I'm completely worn out.

I've wanted to retire long ago. I hope Your Highness will help me do that.

The government needs capable people now. If you retire, it would be such a shame.

Too bad His Majesty blames you

for refusing to support his proposal for reforms

so they failed in the end.

That's why he holds grudges against you.

It's dangerous to serve the emperor. No wonder you have the intention to leave.

You do understand me well, Prince Chun.

OK. When I retire, I will throw a party to entertain Your Highness.

It's a deal. Then I look forward to your retirement party.

Thank you.

Are you done making arrangements to go to Guangzou?

Almost. I'm free today. So I want to take a walk.

Can I borrow you for a day?

Then let's not worry about anything. Let's have fun and enjoy today.

I really envy the kites because they can fly so high and faraway.

If I were a kite,

I would fly as far away as possible and take a look at the world outside.

Too bad it's tied to a thread.

No matter how high or faraway you fly, you'll get pulled back in the end.

Fish are lucky. They're so happy with just a little bit of food.

That's true.

Human beings are a lot greedier. They're never content.

Do you like this one?

Don't you think the sun is the most beautiful in this moment?

Too bad it'll be dark soon though the setting sun is so beautiful.

Life is bitter and short. No one knows what will happen in the future.

We should live in the present moment.

I agree.

This lover's knot is so beautiful. Did you buy that?

Yes. When I passed by the market today, I saw this cute lover's knot.

Sol bought it for you.

Shouldn't lover's knots be bought in pairs?

Really? I didn't know.

Never mind. It's your thought that counts.