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[Beyond the Realm of Conscience]

Episode Two

The Phoenix bleeds?

I will pursue this definitely.

You want to get rid of them in one shot.

I don't hold any grudges against them. Why would I do that?

You were jealous of Kong Choi King's skill. You coveted the post of Head of Jewels.

So you played the wicked trick.

Mom, don't leave Sam Ho behind.

I wish I could see the wild Chinese viburnum again.

You will.

I'm sorry, madam.

If I hadn't screwed up, you wouldn't have got beaten.

That night when everyone was asleep. I went to look at the luminous pearl.

But I accidentally dripped some wax on it.

I did wipe it clean, but it wasn't clean enough.

Some got into the slit. I'm so sorry.

I really didn't mean to get you into this.

I'm not mad at you.

This hairpin?

The empress says she eats less recently. She has nightmares too.

Sometimes she dreams about the phoenix bleeding.

Sometimes she hears the phoenix wailing.

Recently, the flowers died. So did the birds.

The empress thinks the hairpin is unlucky. She's decided to destroy it.

She wants to end the bad luck once and for all.

The craftsmanship of this hairpin is extremely delicate.

It's a piece of rare artwork. It's a shame to destroy it.

This is the empress's order. You just do it.

- But... - Even the person could be demoted.

Why do you make a fuss about preserving or destroying the hairpin?

What's your hesitation?

It's exactly because the person is dead.

Now the feathering skill of this hairpin is unique.

This hairpin takes people's lives and ruins people's futures.

If you think about it, that's unique too.

If we keep this hairpin, I'm afraid unfortunate things will keep happening.

I wonder who will be the victim then.

We are slaves and maids.

We must follow orders no matter what.

We must not defy the empress's order. I don't want any unnecessary trouble.

If we defy her order, we'll be punished.

This will only make this unfortunate hairpin worse.

Yes, Bureau Chief.

I thought you needed to work till dawn to finish the job.

So I've brought you some snacks.

Thank you.

I can't believe I could finish it so fast.

The feathering skill of the Kong's is really magical.

This is our family secret.

I don't want it to fade by the time it comes to me.

So I keep doing research on it.

I hope this can be passed on from generation to generation.

Sam Ho has long and slender fingers.

Her hands are very much like yours.

Don't worry. The Jewels Department won't give up people with potential.

Without your magnificent design

the end product won't be so brilliant no matter how good the feathering skill is.

Phoenix Welcoming the Sun is the baby of us two.

Mother, I heard you're unwell recently.

I've ordered someone to make this pill specifically. It has soothing effect.

If the pill can cure me, of course it's good.

But my recent poor health seems to be a premonition.

I'm afraid there may be a threat to your throne.

Mother, you are over worried.

The country is stable.

What will cause a threat to me?

The bloodline of the late emperor.

Mom, you mean... Prince Kwong.

He's only ten years old. What can he do?

He can't, but maybe someone is behind him.

I don't think we can take it lightly.

We should take the necessary precaution.

- Your Majesty, Your Highness. - At ease.

I followed Your Highness's order and destroyed the hairpin.

But I was wounded by the hammer by mistake. Will Your Highness please punish me.

Head Yuen was unwell. She couldn't concentrate.

Therefore she made a mistake. I beg Your Highness to pardon her.

- How bad is the wound? - It's bruised.

You don't need to take it off. The empress doesn't want to look at it.

Is the hairpin destroyed yet?

Not yet. Please forgive me for being frank.

I think this hairpin shouldn't be destroyed.

Why?

I've been making hairpins for years. I was always careful and cautious.

I never got hurt before.

But this time when I was holding the gold hairpin, I felt so disturbed inside.

I felt so uneasy. I even hurt myself.

As Your Highness said, this hairpin is an unlucky object.

If it is destroyed, I'm afraid unfortunate things will happen one after another.

Why don't we keep this gold hairpin in a Taoist temple for people to worship?

Everyday the monks can burn the incense and read the scriptures.

so as to lessen its harmful effect and get rid of its curse.

It's just a hairpin. What can it do?

Do you know it's an offense to exaggerate the threat?

Your Majesty, I beg you to believe me.

Enough. I'll decide what to do.

As to the order to destroy the hairpin.

Hold it off, I'll make a decision later.

Yes, Your Highness.

Tortoise, how come you're here?

I bet you don't know the way to get back to the pond, right? Don't be afraid.

If it knows what to be afraid of

it won't walk around in the palace so casually even if it's new here.

My Lord, is that your tortoise?

Mom thought I felt bored. She gave it to me a few days ago.

Well, was your mom happy to see the flowers last time?

Mom fell asleep holding the flowers in her hands. She never woke up again.

I don't want the flowers of my hometown trampled.

So I picked them up and put them aside.

You must miss your mom very much.

If you think about her during daytime, you will see her in your dream at night.

I'm sure you will see her in your dreams. Take me for example.

Last night I had a dream too.

I dreamt of having a race with my elder brothers.

I was exhausted, so I sat down to take a break.

But suddenly the ground moved.

I was actually sitting on a dragon.

A dragon?

Maybe I've seen many before, so I dreamed of dragons at night.

I was riding on it. It soared high to the sky.

We were flying with the clouds.

I got to the top of the mountain faster than they did. I was so happy.

How can you take a dream as true?

- Mom. - Your Highness.

Listen carefully. Don't ever mention what the junior lord told you just now.

- I won't. - Mom.

You've talked too much today. Go home with me.

Tell me honestly.

Apart from that little maid, did you tell anyone else

about your dream of riding on a dragon and soaring up to the sky?

- No. - You really didn't?

I really didn't, mom.

Why do you look so nervous, mom? It's just a dream.

It's a nightmare.

No mom, the dream wasn't terrible at all.

The dragon was very nice. It didn't hurt me.

Just the words seeing a dragon in a dream will get us killed

not to mention you rode on it and soared up to the sky.

You must promise me that from this moment onward, you'll forget this dream.

Forget riding on a dragon or flying with the clouds.

You mustn't talk about it ever again, alright?

All right.

The little maid's mother died recently. She's so pitiful.

I only told her the dream to cheer her up.

It's already a blessing to have peace of mind in the palace.

Don't ever expect happiness.

Did I do something wrong to make you worry, mom?

My worry is that people in the palace are too tricky and calculating.

I'm so stupid. I still don't get it.

Never mind you not getting it.

It isn't something good to be too clever in the palace.

You will understand it in due course.

Your Highness, the empress wants to see you and the junior lord in her palace.

I have a gift for you. I want to borrow something from you too.

What would you like, sis? Just name it. I'll get it for you right away.

I want to borrow your head...

Don't get it wrong.

It isn't what you think it is.

You will understand when you see what mother is going to give you.

- Your Highness. - This hairpin?

It's the Phoenix Welcoming the Sun.

But it's soaked in blood before it can fly high.

It's something evil.

I've had it analyzed. This hairpin looks beautiful.

But it was made on a very unlucky day.

Whoever comes into contact with it will get hurt. They may even get killed.

If we simply destroy it, I'm afraid it may bring harm to the country.

The only solution is to get a very lucky person to suppress it and pacify it.

But the only person in the palace who can do this is you.

So I want to borrow your head to bring peace and safety to the royal family.

You won't object to it, right?

If I can help the country, how will I object to it?

Thank you very much, sis.

At ease.

Prince Kwong, doesn't your mother look great wearing this hairpin?

She does.

I remember when the late emperor was still alive

you always gave him a broad smile. You were so cute.

How come you don't smile at all in my presence?

He's got a cold.

He took some medicine just now, so he looks dull.

Please forgive him, sis.

If there's nothing further, may we be excused?

Alright.

Mother, do you think this can really work?

If the gold hairpin is really something unlucky

the next one who gets hurt will be that feet-washing maid.

But if it's a rumor only, I can still make a catastrophe happen.

Therefore, whether the gold hairpin is really an unlucky object

isn't relevant at all.

What matters is to eliminate the mother and the son.

- Your Highness. - Prince Kwong.

It appears that the empress has already found a place to keep the phoenix.

Head Yuen, you can feel at ease now.

Isn't the gold hairpin supposed to be kept in Cloud Temple?

To suppress its harm, how can heavenly mother do a better job

than the imperial concubine, who's a walking Buddha?

Am I right, Head Yuen?

Enough. If you guys want to talk about the Buddhist philosophy

shouldn't you go attend the empress first?

Let's go then.

Hey, it's the blush of Golden Stone Store. It's more expensive than pearl.

The money I gave you is just enough for the gold thread and the cream.

How come there's a box of blush?

Really? I've bought it anyway. It's no use for me. Why don't you take it?

What? You want me to wear the blush? You think I'm not beautiful enough?

Or you think I'm not good enough?

I give you the gift as I want you to feel happy.

You know you've been wearing a long face

ever since Head Yuen took up the post of Head of Jewels.

That's my character.

I never hide my emotion like Yuen Tsui Wan.

She's so calculating. She appears to be kind.

She pretends that she doesn't want the hairpin to be destroyed.

Actually she hurt her hand

so that the empress could humiliate the imperial concubine

in the name of preserving the hairpin.

The empress played along to set a trap.

How could Head Yuen figure out what's on her mind?

The forte of Yuen Tsui Wan isn't making hairpins, but setting people up.

Many people know how terrible she can be.

Head Sung got demoted.

Kong Choi King got killed. She did both in just one shot.

Otherwise, how could she get the post of head so quickly?

She thinks she is, to a certain extent, responsible for the phoenix bleeding.

So she looks after Madam Kong's child, Sam Ho.

Will she be so kind?

She has a hidden agenda in everything she does.

I bet she thinks Madam Kong's skill was so good

that her daughter must be gifted too.

So she wants to recruit her for the Jewels Department as her own assistant.

I won't let her get what she wants.

You two have competed for so many years.

Is it really impossible to come to terms with each other?

She ceased to be my sister long ago.

Back then, she wanted me to stay in the palace so much.

Fine. Her wish is granted.

I'll fight her so long as I can still breathe.

People say there are a lot of chances to get bonuses

if we work in the Jewels Department or the Embroideries Department

Fei Yin, how come you're so greedy?

I think it's the best to join the Food Department.

You can always eat nice food.

Yue Bing, did you draw a bird or a chicken?

You want to join the Food Department?

If you make a mistake so that His Majesty, the empress or the imperial concubine

throw up or get the runs, you'll get killed.

Actually it doesn't matter which department to join.

But it's the best not to join the Embroideries Department.

Are you afraid that Head Chung will scold us?

Of course. She looks fierce.

She must be narrow-minded. We've offended her.

She will make us suffer for sure if we work under her.

Mom told us that if we do our jobs diligently without making mistakes

then we won't get punished.

It doesn't matter which office to join.

You can join the Jewels Department for sure.

Before, madam taught you how to make the gold and silver threads.

You can do it so well. But I can't.

What you need is patience.

Actually you can do it so well too. Like this.

Just make it fine. Then it will look much better.

I can make it. I can make it.

I can make it for sure.

The names of the student maids for the four offices will be announced.

First is the Jewels Department which is in charge of making hairpins.

The three student maids who will join the Jewels Department are...

Tse Hoi Yiu.

Yiu Kam Ling.

The last one must be you.

The last one is Chin Siu Yung.

It's impossible.

You are much more skillful than I am, Sam Ho.

How come I can join it but you can't?

Then, for the Embroideries Department, in charge of sewing and knitting.

The student maids are Lau Sam Ho, Chin Fei Yin, and Lau Yeuk Sze.

I don't know how Head Yuen selected the students.

I'm fine. You must be madder than me.

I'm worried what that bully Head Chung will do to you.

I'll be more careful. I won't make mistakes.

Then she won't scold me or punish me.

It's good you two are here.

- Sam Ho. - Kam Ling.

Hello, Head Yuen.

Here. Your first piece of work. Keep it as a souvenir.

The foundation isn't solid.

It's no use even though the pattern is beautiful.

The embroidery work of Lau Sam Ho is better.

Don't just pay attention to appearance.

It's no use just looking good when it is in fact fragile.

But I tried to swing the hairpin time and again. It was good.

This is what you've earned. Thank you.

You two have really teamed up to cheat.

Who cheated? What do you mean?

You'd better clarify this. Don't ever smear me.

Lau Sam Ho couldn't join the Jewels Department

because the pin she made was substandard.

But I discovered that she was actually agile.

Her foundation is solid. It's impossible that she could be so careless.

Something must be wrong.

Yui Chu, you are in charge of setting the works of the student maids.

You took her money to damage Sam Ho's work

so that she couldn't join the Jewels Department, right?

Head Yuen, you've got it wrong.

Head Chung asked me earlier to buy something for her.

Now she's reimbursing me.

You hear that? Don't accuse us because you are prejudiced.

You two teamed up to play this trick. You are still making excuses here?

Who's teamed up to play dirty tricks? Why would we do that?

Bureau Chief assigns them to different department

according to their respective potential.

You don't want Sam Ho to join the Jewels Department.

So you damaged the hairpin she made.

That's funny. She's just a kid.

Do I need to make such an effort to recruit her?

You aren't against her, but me.

You've competed with me in all these years.

But this time you've got an innocent kid involved.

This is really too much.

Too much? Fine.

Let the Bureau Chief to be our judge.

At most, I'll give up Sam Ho. I've got nothing to lose.

The student maids for the respective offices have been selected anyway.

If Sam Ho can't join one of the departments

she will be assigned to work as a laborer.

She'll wash people's feet and mop the floor.

- It's to her disadvantage only. - You…

If this issue is taken to the Bureau Chief, it will be out of our hands.

Head Yuen, you'd better think about it again.

Sam Ho has got potential.

If she joins the Embroideries Department, I won't treat her bad.

If you insist on competing with me, neither of us will get her.

You will only ruin her.

What have you learned today?

I learned how to make threads. I taught you last night.

You must use the right amount of force.

It's really hard. I need to keep practicing.

Today Head Yuen demonstrated how to mix gold threads with silver threads.

It's really spectacular.

I wish I could watch it with you.

It's the fault of the grown-ups. Now we have to meet in secret.

When I have grown-up, I want to be in charge.

No one can boss me around anymore.

I wish you could become the Head of Jewels.

Then you can ask the Bureau Chief to transfer me to your department.

That's a good suggestion.

Then I'll count on you to save me.

Today Head Yuen said I was diligent.

She gave me some sweet lotus seeds as a reward. I've saved some for you.

Thank you.

- There's noise. - Let's get out of here.

Have you completed what I told you to do?

Your Highness, everything is set.

I've found out that Prince Kwong goes to fly the kite everyday.

I've already sent someone there to wait for him.

How come it's still so calm and peaceful today?

It's because Prince Kwong has changed his routine. He didn't show up yesterday.

I've already sent someone to find out what happened.

As everything is set, let's wait then.

There will be a chance in due course.

- Your Majesty, Your Highness. - At ease.

You look so nervous. What have you got?

Prince Kwong fell from a tree.

The imperial doctor has done a checkup for him. He's seriously wounded.

The imperial doctor said he bumped his head.

There's blood clot in his brain.

If it stays there, his mental state will be affected.

In other words, he will remain a ten year old kid forever?

It's my fault.

If he went to fly the kite today, he wouldn't get hurt.

But he said I was unwell today. He wanted to keep me company.

It so happened that he saw a baby bird fall to the ground.

He climbed the tree to put it back in its nest. But he tripped and fell.

Don't worry so much.

Maybe the doctor has exaggerated. It's a minor bruise only.

It may not be so serious.

I've a cinnamon candy here.

Prince Kwong is a good boy. I'll give it to you.

Can it really be eaten?

Yes, it can be eaten.

It's been put there all the time. But people don't know that.

Try it. It's really sweet.

I'll eat it then.

Hey, my lord. This one is rotten. You can't eat it.

How about those over there? Are they all rotten?

Yes, they are all rotten.

If you want to eat candies, my lord. I'll get you some good ones later.

As this has happened

I want to take my son to the Taoist temple in Chung Nam mountain for some quiet time.

I'll be grateful for your permission.

All right. The Taoist temple is quiet. It's a good place for rehabilitation.

But let Prince Kwong go alone. You have to stay here, sis.

I'm doing so for your benefit only.

I don't want you to feel sad seeing your son in such a dumb state.

People will take care of him in the temple. You don't need to worry.

As my younger brother is sick

I think he should go to the temple for rehabilitation as soon as possible.

Don't make his condition get worse. He should leave day after tomorrow.

What? So soon?

On the day Prince Kwong leaves the palace, you'd better not go to see him off, sis.

It will be unbecoming of your status if you cry in front of other people.

Please try it. See which one is the best.

Later, I'll serve it to the ladies.

So many things have happened in the palace.

Those who get a conscience won't get the appetite.

Prince Kwong is so young, but so unlucky.

He used to be so smart and clever.

Suddenly, he's become dumb and stupid.

His life is ruined.

The gold hairpin is really something unlucky.

Prince Kwong and Lady Zheng suddenly got into trouble. It's really unfair.

Head Chung, if you want to blame me for that, why don't you say so?

Cut the implication.

If you say so, I'll be upfront.

If you hadn't hurt yourself deliberately to preserve the hairpin

Prince Kwong wouldn't have got into this.

Head Chung, you don't get any evidence. Don't make wild accusations.

Head Yuen's hands are very important. How would she be so stupid to hurt herself?

She's got a pair of skillful hands.

How would she be so careless in destroying the hairpin?

Have you ever heard of an accident when she made hairpins all these years?

I really haven't. You do have a point, Head Chung.

I'm human. To err is human. What's so surprising to make mistakes?

It really isn't surprising.

Lady Zheng and Prince Kwong are really unlucky.

The empress has approved Prince Kwong's departure

for the Taoist temple for rehabilitation.

It's lucky that he can stay alive.

So what? He's in such a state, he's even forced to leave his mother.

It's already so miserable to leave the place where he's born.

Now, it's even said that this is an unlucky event

he isn't allowed to leave by the main gate. He has to go by the side gate.

His mom isn't allowed to see him off. He's so pitiful.

Master Po.

Hey Sam Ho, you want to see me?

I know the young prince is leaving the palace. I came to see him off.

Young Prince.

Did mom ask you to come? I want to see mom.

Don't cry.

I don't want to leave mom. It's so scary without mom there.

I'll treat you to the candy. You won't feel scary then.

The sweet lotus seeds are so sweet. When you feel down, you eat one.

You'll find sweetness in the bitterness.

Cheung Hing Year four, Muk Chung passed away.

In the following seventeen years, there were King Chung and Man Chung.

Subsequently Lee Chin, the fifth son of Muk Chung, came to the throne.

This is the sixth year of Wui Cheong.

Sweet Lotus Seed, why are you so naughty? Where are you going? You'll trip.

- Prince Kwong. - You are naughty.

The imperial concubine has written you a letter. Please read it.

My lord.

- Have you bought it? - I have.

Great. There's food for you, Sweet Lotus Seed.

Sweet Lotus Seed eats sweet lotus seeds.

Sweetness in bitterness. Here. You eat one.

I eat one. Great. It's so yummy.

Come on. Eat it.

I haven't heard from dad for more than half a year.

But don't worry, mom.

I believe dad will face everyday optimistically like I do.

I have to get back to work. I'll come see you later, mom.

- Sam Ho. - Kam Ling.

I just delivered a hairpin to Lady Wong.

I knew you would be here like the first day of every month.

Why are you holding a hairpin?

This is the Phoenix Welcoming the Sun.

Mom's craftsmanship was really superb.

I wish I could be half as skillful as she was.

You've got great potential, Sam Ho.

Besides, I've taught you everything I learned

in the Jewels Department in all these years.

Actually, your skills are better than many people in the Jewels Department.

Even I am not your match.

The empress gave this hairpin to the lady.

She must wear it everyday.

We'd better return it to her as soon as possible.

Siu Lan... Did you find it?

I've checked the imperial garden thoroughly.

It isn't there.

Oh, this morning I went to Cloud Temple to worship.

I wonder if I dropped it there.

I must find it as soon as possible.

If the empress knows I've lost the gold hairpin, she'll make an excuse again.

The consequence will be dire.

How are you, sis?

You seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going?

Recently, my health is poor. I'm going to Cloud Temple to pray.

I won't interrupt you, sis. May I be excused?

Hey sis, I think you really need to pray.

Look at you.

You've forgotten to wear the Phoenix Welcoming the Sun.

Sis.

You know the gold hairpin will affect the well being of the country.

We count on you to suppress the harmful effect of the hairpin

so as to keep the country safe.

How can you be so careless?

What if the bad luck of the hairpin jeopardized the country?

The consequence can be serious. Can you take up the liability?

I beg for your mercy, Your Highness.

Hey, Sam Ho.

Your Highness the empress, My lady.

I was just going to Your Ladyship's chamber to return the phoenix hairpin.

It's been cleaned. The luminous pearl is gleaming again

Thank you.

The maid just did her job. You don't need to say thanks to her.

Sis, you lectured me because you care about the country.

I will always remember your teaching. I won't forget it.

It's a sunny day today.

You should tour around the garden and look at the flowers with me.

It's good for your health to walk more.

Since you are in the mood for that, I will accompany you for sure.

What's your name? In which office do you work?

Your Highness the empress, my name is Lau Sam Ho.

I'm a maid in the Embroideries Department.

The Embroideries Department is in charge of embroideries.

When did the Embroideries Department take up the job of the Jewels Department?

How dare you. You lied to me? Do you think I'm stupid?

Or do you think you have nine lives and can't be killed?

I dare not.

Your Highness the empress.

My lady, I'm Yiu Kam Ling. I'm a maid in the Jewels Department.

Your Highness the empress.

Her Ladyship did give the hairpin to the Jewels Department for cleaning.

However, I'm ill. I'm afraid other people may get infected.

So I asked Lau Sam Ho to deliver the hairpin for me.

I beg for your pardon, Your Highness the empress.

I beg for your pardon, My Lady.

Let's go.

I was so scared. I thought we would get killed for sure.

I can't believe you still came to my rescue.

You are my sister. You should remind yourself not to play hero again.

You nearly got killed.

We should do good deeds and speak good words.

And show goodwill, right?

Thank God old master and madam gave you the name Sam Ho.

If they called you Shap Ho, you'd better be a cat.

Why?

A cat has nine lives.

Otherwise, how can you survive?

Let's go.

Bureau Chief, Head Chung, Head Yuen.

I asked you to come as the empress wants to see you two.

This time you two will be in charge of Lady Wong's dress and hairpin.

The empress feels very interested hearing the names of you two.

She wants you two to explain to her in person the design

and how you are going to work on it.

- Us? - Us?

Usually, only a head has the right of audience.

This time the empress has made an exception.

Do you feel surprised for her grace?

It's because you played hero.

How will there be any secret in the palace?

Lady Zheng lost the phoenix hairpin.

Although there's no evidence to prove that

you two still couldn't cover it up with what you said.

I was reckless the other day.

If Her Highness the empress wants to hold someone liable

I'll take up all the responsibilities.

No one says the empress wants to hold anyone liable.

You two are summoned here because we want to remind you

not to make yourselves a disgrace in front of the empress.

You will get punished if you do so.

Study the design well. Make sure how you are going to work on it.

Let's hope your elaboration tomorrow will go well.

I don't want any unnecessary trouble.

Yes.

This time the empress has made an exception to inquire in person.

Do you think it's a coincidence? Or is there a hidden agenda?

If it is so easy to figure out what's on the empress's mind

then we don't need to be so cautious and meticulous in doing our jobs.

If it is something good, then it won't be bad.

But if it is bad, you can't dodge it. They started this.

What we need to do now is to keep a distance from this incident.

Your Highness, my lady.

Your Highness, my lady.

The Jewels Department's maid Yiu Kam Ling will explain how the hairpin is to be made.

Your Highness, there will be two golden peonies on the hairpin.

They will look different from each other. It carries the meaning of good luck.

We'll also put rubies and emeralds there to give it a touch of royalty.

Your Highness, my lady.

The Embroideries Department's maid, Lau Sam Ho

will explain how the dress is to be made.

The theme this time will be hibiscus.

We will sew lots of hibiscus around the collar. They are clean and elegant.

The special feature is cutting the collar in half.

Unlike the usual practice, we won't tie a bow there.

We'll use color beads instead.

Color beads?

Yes, Your Highness. They are colorful and bright.

If we string them up

then the beads will swing as you walk and reflect the light.

It will be so beautiful.

Subtitles by TVB