Original subtitles

Subtitles by TVB USA

[Beyond the Realm of Conscience]

Episode Thirteen

Apart from arsenic powder, diamond powder is toxic too.

You poisoned me.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't deny it. The silver taro dumplings the Empress gave me aren't poisonous

but the pair of chopsticks is.

Mistress Yuen, this is for you.

Diamond powder is toxic in itself. First, you mixed it in the paint

then you used it to paint the chopsticks.

So I took the poison with the food.

It stayed in my internal organs. It can't be excreted.

When the poison has accumulated for a certain period

it will then cause internal bleeding.

Even the best doctor in the world can't find out the cause of poisoning.

It kills without a trace.

Thank God the Empress gave me the silver taro dumplings the other day.

When the taro came into contact with water, it blew up and catalyzed the poison.

It made me vomit blood and pass out. That's how I found out I was poisoned.

Your trick was flawless, but too bad.

Mistress Yuen and maid Yiu found out by chance

that when the chopsticks touched the silver bracelet, they turned black.

That showed the chopsticks were poisonous.

You gave them the chopsticks.

There isn't any evidence at all. Why do you say that I did it?

Maybe someone sneaked into the Furnishings Department

and mixed the toxic powder in the paint.

I wasn't aware of it, so I used it to paint the chopsticks.

If so, all five pairs of chopsticks should be poisonous.

How come only Mistress Yuen's poisoned?

- I... - Obviously her target's Mistress Yuen.

You're jealous that she's won the Empress' favor.

You hate her, so you poisoned her.

Just now, you said the diamond powder's locked in the secret box.

Only the heads and I have the keys to the respective secret boxes in each department.

If you didn't poison her, did I do so then?

It's true that the diamond powder is locked in the secret box. But I've lost the key.

I was afraid that you would punish me, Bureau Chief, so I didn't report it.

Master Bo, have you got anything?

Bureau Chief, we found this purse under Mistress Wu's bed.

It's confirmed that there's diamond powder inside.

Someone must have planted it in my bedroom to set me up.

We knew you would say so. Therefore we hosted this farewell dinner for you.

What do you mean?

Just now I gave you a piece of taro. You made an excuse and dropped it.

Then I gave you another piece, but you didn't eat it at all.

You knew the chopsticks were poisonous

so you wouldn't eat anything touched by them.

But she didn't know the pair of chopsticks.

Mistress Yuen used were an imitation made by the Bureau Chief.

They weren't the pair you made.

We've been colleagues for so many years, why did you poison me?

You are too high profiled, Empress Zheng is so nice to you.

Sooner or later, you'll become the Bureau Chief.

I want to be the Bureau Chief. I must get rid of you.

How about me? Why did you set me up?

Just blame yourself for fighting with Mistress Yuen all the time.

I just grabbed the opportunity to make you a scapegoat.

You are really so stupid.

It takes competence instead of tricks to get the post of Bureau Chief.

I did these things because I want to become the Bureau Chief.

I didn't mean to hurt you guys.

Bureau Chief, please don't turn me in.

If Empress Kwok learns about the truth, she'll kill me for sure.

I don't want to die, Bureau Chief. Why don't you simply demote me?

Or make me a maid. Please don't hand me over to Empress Kwok.

You've made such a serious mistake.

Now Empress Kwok has demanded Empress Zheng to find the culprit.

How can I help you?

I must play by the book.

No... No... No... No...

Don't come over.

Good sisters? What good sisters? What nice Bureau Chief?

You guys wanted me dead long ago.

Why do you still fail to see your own mistakes?

I did make a mistake. I wasn't wicked enough.

I should put more toxic powder in it

so that all of you would be killed by the poison.

You aren't remorseful at all.

I won't let you humiliate me one by one

before I die like what happened to Madam Tsui.

You guys won't get the chance.

Sis, you're really competent. You've got the job done in five days as promised.

We've got the culprit already. Mistress Wu poisoned Mistress Yuen.

There's concrete evidence.

The trouble is caused by a pair of wooden chopsticks.

The paint on them has diamond powder, which poisoned Mistress Yuen.

The culprit cut her throat and died. I believe this case can be closed now.

Sis, you are too sloppy in handling this case.

Although the culprit is dead

it doesn't mean there isn't any problem in the Imperial Household Bureau.

You are the chief of the four departments.

You've failed to notice the jealousy among the four department heads.

As a result, there's this poisoning incident.

Answer me. Did you fail to manage the Bureau?

I know I'm guilty.

Shouldn't the Bureau Chief be replaced, and the four departments restructured?

Indeed there are problems in the Imperial Household Bureau.

But the problems don't lie with Chief Choi. It was with Mistress Wu.

She's narrow-minded and wicked.

She didn't deserve the post of Head of Furnishings.

She's dead already. She won't hear your reprimand. What's the use?

Back then who highly recommended Wu So Yan to become Head of Furnishings?

I remember back then that I doubted her character.

I even recommended someone else for the post. But...

But Empress Kwok highly recommended her, right?

Sis, I remember you complimented her.

You said she got a noble character and virtuous conduct.

You insisted Chief Choi to reconsider her.

That's why Chief Choi gave her the post of Head of Furnishings.

Now you query Chief Choi's management ability.

Why don't we ask the other three department heads to tell us the truth?

Bureau Chief has a large heart, she treats us like her own daughters.

She's done her best to teach us.

Deputy Head Lau of Jewels Department was framed.

Thanks to the relentless effort of Bureau Chief, the truth was found at last.

She's saved Deputy Head Lau's life.

She knew I often argued with Mistress Yuen.

She didn't get upset. She mediated patiently.

She wanted us to work in harmony. She's sincere in helping us.

Bureau Chief is a virtuous role model for us.

I humbly and voluntarily submit to her leadership.

So do I.

Sis, do you still think there's a problem

for Chief Choi to manage the four departments?

A few days ago, so much blood was spilled here.

Now there isn't even a trace.

I guess later no one will remember Mistress Wu.

Let's not stay here for so long.

She's dead for less than seven days. She must feel lonely.

Let's not upset her.

- Are you scared? - Aren't you?

There's always been conflicts and tricks in the palace.

Is there a place where no one's ever killed before?

Is there a place where there isn't a lonely ghost?

Mistress Wu was so silly.

She planned so meticulously.

In the end, she could only dream of heading the four departments.

Even if she could really become the Bureau Chief, so what?

She must still bow and listen to others.

Everyone must follow the rules in the palace.

Even a high ranking officer like, General Ma must still bow to His Majesty

no matter how he belittles the latter.

Even though Empress Kwok lost her authority, she's still so awe-inspiring.

Everyone must bow to her when they see her. Why? It's because she's still the master.

She's still the Empress. Why must we be the ones who bow? Why can't others bow to us?

What? You want to be a master? Hey, who doesn't want to be so?

But we can't. If dreaming about it makes you feel happy, go ahead.

Be careful...

Later you guys go to lunch first. I'll take care of everything here.

We go to lunch first every time. You often do our jobs for us.

Not too many people in the palace are so generous like you.

I wish you could stay here longer.

Why do you sound as if I was leaving soon?

There are still ten days to go before I've done my time.

You know when you can leave. But I...

The hardship will be over in due course.

You'll be transferred out of Outdoor Work and back to your original post.

You didn't make a grave mistake after all.

That's right.

Don't use kind words to cover up your wicked mind.

You and Yiu Kam Ling are sisters, both of you are liars.

It serves you right to do your time here.

Sam Ho was set up.

I was set up. I ended up here because of that bitch.

Kam Ling isn't a bitch. You set her up first.

But your trick was exposed.

That's why you were expelled from the Imperial Household Bureau.

You shut up. This place isn't the Imperial Household Bureau.

I don't need to listen to your lecture. You wash these clothes.

- Ouch. - Sam Ho.

Oh no, fire!

Sam Ho!

Is her injury serious? Is she alright?

Let's talk outside.

Deputy Head Lau's right hand was pierced by the pointed end of the stone.

Her veins and arteries are wounded.

The blood circulation of her hand is impeded.

Her fingers are affected. Her injury is serious.

Besides, she was soaked with cold water when she got hurt. She's caught a cold.

She was already so weak. It made her condition even worse.

Can her hand be saved?

Is the damage to her hand permanent?

Honestly speaking, I really can't tell how grave her injury is. I'm afraid...

Sam Ho's skillful hands mean everything to her.

Dr. Ng, you must rescue them at whatever cost.

That's right. Do something please.

I'll check the medical encyclopedia again. Maybe there's a way to help her.

Thank you very much.

I need to take off now.

Oh, Chief Choi, I...

Officer Ko, it's inappropriate for you to go in.

Don't get Deputy Head Lau into trouble again.

We'd better leave. Let Sam Ho get some rest.

General Ma.

You've come?

I've injured Sam Ho's hand according to your instructions.

Are you happy with what I did, sir?

Good.

When can I get my reward then?

Will I be transferred from Outdoor Work to a better post?

I always keep my promise.

I guarantee your position will be much better than before.

It's so good that you can't even express it in words.

I'm grateful to you, sir.

Ma Yuen Chi must be behind this. He's so wicked.

He lied in front of Your Majesty.

He said he would spare Sam Ho

then he hired someone in secret to hurt Sam Ho's hand.

How is it different from taking her life?

How's Sam Ho doing right now?

There isn't much progress. She still can't use her right hand.

General Ma... General Ma... You can't go in.

Your Majesty, General Ma has come.

Your Majesty.

You've come at the right moment, General Ma.

There's something I want to ask you.

Is it about Deputy Head Lau being hurt intentionally

while she's doing her time at Outdoor Work?

I know Your Majesty is greatly concerned, so I've already arrested the culprit.

Take the offender Ching Wing Fong in.

- Go. - Go.

Ching Wing Fong has already confessed that

she hurt Deputy Head Lau intentionally.

Her hands?

I hate what she's done.

She wants to destroy the hands of others

so I want her to feel the same kind of pain by destroying her hands.

This is an eye for an eye. It's my principle in life.

Ching Wing Fong, did anyone tell you to hurt Sam Ho?

Tell the truth in my presence.

Your Majesty, the prisoner bit her tongue to kill herself during the interrogation.

It's so hard to keep her alive so as to bring her to see you.

She can't talk?

You've tortured her. Now she can't talk or write.

Your Majesty, how would you like to deal with the offender Ching Wing Fong?

How dare you to stare at His Majesty in anger? You're going to die.

You still don't feel any remorse?

Guards, take her out. She's a disgrace.

Go.

There's concrete evidence to prove that Ching Wing Fong hurt Deputy Head Lau.

I think she must be executed.

Deputy Head Lau has suffered the injury for no cause.

Why don't Your Majesty ask Empress Zheng to waive her punishment

so that she could return to her own post to rest?

Do you think this is a sensible and reasonable decision?

Sam Ho, the medicine is ready.

Sam Ho, you haven't recovered from the cold yet.

You should go to bed early after taking the medicine.

What's the matter, Sam Ho?

Does your hand still hurt? I'll massage it for you, alright?

Will that help?

My hand isn't swollen anymore, but I can't even open the tool box.

How can I work with the threads again? How can I do the other jobs?

My hand is crippled.

No. It won't be crippled. Be patient.

The imperial doctor didn't say it couldn't be cured.

Don't scare yourself, alright?

How can I fail to tell if my hands are good or bad?

I've failed my ancestors.

My mom gave me a pair of skillful hands, but I've ruined them.

Now the Kong's skills can't be passed on anymore. Mom must feel so sad in heaven.

Sam Ho, don't be like this.

Madam won't be mad at you. This isn't your fault.

Kam Ling, if I could, I would trade my legs for my hand.

I know.

I'm useless, I've failed my mom's expectations.

You came to see me so late at night.

Is it because something bad has happened to Sam Ho?

She's fine...

I implore Your Majesty to help Sam Ho. Please cure her.

If her hand isn't healed, she can't make jewels and hairpins again.

It's like taking her life.

Please do something to help her, Your Majesty.

I feel desperate too.

I've already ordered the imperial doctor to figure out a way.

- You get up first. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, the imperial doctor has found a way to help.

Tell.

Deputy Head Lau's hand is stiff because her veins and arteries are impeded.

The medicine I gave her before proved to be ineffective.

The only cure left is to perform acupuncture on her.

I'll insert a gold needle in her five acupoints

namely Hop Kok, Sheung Yeung, Kwan Chung Siu Chung and Siu Sheung.

This can help her blood circulation, her hand will become normal again.

If there's a way to cure her, why don't you do it right away?

The needle will go in five mm only, but Deputy Head Lau is seriously wounded.

To reach her veins and arteries the needle must go in seven mm.

Make it seven mm then, Sam Ho can hang in there for sure.

I've never tried seven mm before.

Besides, Deputy Head Lau has a cold.

She's physically weak. I'm not sure if she can take this.

If anything goes wrong, the situation will become worse.

The damage will be greater.

What shall we do now?

We can test the method first.

Do you mean if you are sure that the needle could go in seven millimeters

then you are confident that Deputy Head Lau can be cured?

If so, you can try it on me first.

A male is different from a female.

Besides, the hand of a male is bigger and thicker than that of a female.

It may not be accurate.

I'm willing to do the test for the sake of Sam Ho.

How can you do that?

I'm not afraid of it.

There may be long term consequences in doing so.

If the needle doesn't go in the right place

you may feel dizzy and get a headache.

In a more serious case, your veins and arteries may be damaged

and your blood circulation there will be blocked.

If so, your hand will become stiff and paralyzed. It can't be reversed.

This is serious. You must consider it thoroughly.

Sam Ho and I have been friends for years. She always treats me like her own sister.

Now she's in such a state, I can't sit back.

If there's a slim chance, I'm willing to take the risk.

But your hand may become crippled forever.

It may or it may not happen.

Even if my hand was really damaged

I could still work with Sam Ho together with our good hands.

We could make jewels and hairpins together.

But I have a request.

Please don't tell Sam Ho that I'm doing the test for her sake.

Given her character, she won't let me do it for sure.

Will Your Majesty please keep this a secret for me?

Heavenly Father, I pray to you sincerely.

Let the acupuncture work so Sam Ho's hand will recover.

I've been through so much hardship ever since I came to the palace.

I haven't got any blessing at all.

I don't want to spend the rest of my life like that.

Now I've put my hand at stake, I just want to get a way out.

I hope I can live a completely different life from now on.

Please have pity on me. Let my dream come true.

You can consider this again.

Even if you want to back out now, I won't hold you liable.

Please go ahead, doctor.

All right. Now I'll put the needle in your Hop Kok acupoint.

It's in three millimeters.

Four millimeters.

Five millimeters.

How are you?

Now it will go in six millimeters.

If you can survive seven millimeters, then Deputy Head Lau can be cured.

Kam Ling.

Massage her right away.

Try to move your wrist and stretch your fingers.

My hand is stiff. I can't move it. Is my hand permanently damaged?

Your blood circulation is blocked.

That's why you can't control it. Keep going.

Let me help you.

Her hand is warm again.

Try to move your fingers.

I can move them now. I can move them now.

Thank God you are fine. But the experiment has failed.

Is it because she fainted just now the needle didn't reach seven millimeters?

Just now the needle went in six millimeters only.

We must try again.

It's dangerous. You don't need to do this, Kam Ling.

For the sake of Sam Ho, I'm willing to try again.

If the needle goes in seven millimeters, the pain will increase by a hundred times.

Without the acupuncture, Sam Ho's hand will never recover.

For the sake of Sam Ho, I'll hang in there no matter how painful it is.

Please go ahead, doctor.

Get me the long needle.

Back then I hid in a monastery.

The monk in charge gave me a safety charm.

It kept me safe and alive. Now I'll give it to you.

I'm grateful, Your Majesty.

The bedroom in Empress Zheng's chamber is really extraordinary.

No wonder people say only a lucky person can be born in the royal family.

- Kam Ling. - Sam Ho.

How are you? Is your hand alright?

The experiment is successful. I don't mind getting stabbed by the needle.

Why didn't you tell me that you would do the test? I was so scared.

I knew your character. If I told you, you wouldn't let me do the test.

You are so silly to take such a great risk.

What if something went wrong and your hand was damaged?

Is it worth the while doing so?

Of course it is.

I don't know what to do if something bad happens to you.

You are my only family.

I'm willing to give my life for you, not just my hands.

Kam Ling.

You are Sam Ho. You speak good words, do good deeds, and show goodwill.

If I was in trouble, you would help me too, right?

Right.

You help people who aren't even related to you.

I'm not so generous like you, I'm only nice to you.

We'll forever be good sisters.

Listen carefully, good sister.

Acupuncture hurts, can you hang in there?

I will hang in there no matter how painful it is.

You suffered the pain doing the test for me. I won't fail you.

I feel relieved then.

Look around, Empress Zheng is so kind.

She asked the Bureau Chief to grant me leave.

She even allows me to get some rest in her chamber.

Actually I've got benefits too.

- Sam Ho... Sam Ho. - Sam Ho.

Head Chung, Head Yuen, what a coincidence.

You two came together?

- Of course not. - Of course not.

Please take a seat. You two ran into each other.

You can really read each other's mind.

You'll get the acupuncture tomorrow. I came to see how you're doing.

The doctor said you must stay awake when he puts the needle into you.

I'm afraid you'll pass out like Kam Ling did since it'll hurt so much.

So I've brought you this handkerchief. You can hang in there if you've got this.

Is it for wiping the sweat or the tears?

When you feel a sharp pain, you bite it. Then you can bear with the pain.

Why don't you try my method? Look. These sweetened plums can distract you.

You eat them during the acupuncture your hand may feel hurt.

But if your mouth feels sweet, it won't be so painful then.

What? Eating? This is so ridiculous.

Biting the handkerchief is more ridiculous.

Actually I know a very effective method, but I wonder if you two would help me.

- What method? - Tell me.

I was physically weak when I was a kid.

Every time when I fell sick, dad and mom would play the Chinese zither and sing.

When I heard the tune, I would feel less painful.

If you two really want to help me, why don't you do that for me?

I can play the zither, but if you want me to sing? No way.

You'll feel more painful listening to my singing than getting the acupuncture.

Why don't I play the zither and she sings for you?

You want to fight me every time.

So do you.

Don't sing then. Why don't you two play the zither together?

Mistress Tam told me that back then you two had played the zither together.

Everyone said it's so good.

That's history.

I don't remember it anymore.

Can you make it an exception for me, just this once?

I don't know the tune of your hometown.

I haven't played the zither for a long time.

I'm afraid I can't play it well.

I'll hum the tune for you.

Siu Yung knows music. I'll ask her to write the melody.

It's up to you two whether to do so for me.

Forget it. Never mind.

Just let the pain kill me. Worst comes to worst, my hand won't get cured.

I can never make jewels again.

You aren't afraid of the pain. You just want us to come to terms.

Sam Ho, you always try to help others. You don't consider yourself.

Sam Ho is really nice.

Your conduct does fit your name.

So you two will do it for me, right?

As you want this so much, whatever.

She said yes already. If I say no, people will say I'm narrow-minded.

That's a deal then.

The first one goes in three millimeters.

Alright. This time it will go in five millimeters.

Now the needle will go in five millimeters. Hang in there.

Now it will go in seven millimeters.

You must hang in there or else all our effort will be wasted.

I can hang in there. Please go ahead, doctor.

Good.

Sam Ho, hang in there.

All the effort will be wasted if you give in now.

Done. The acupuncture is successful.

It's been three days already.

But just now, her hand still couldn't move freely.

Don't worry.

She's seriously injured.

Her blood circulation isn't restored completely yet.

That's why she still can't move her hand.

She'll get well in due course.

How long will that take?

If she wants to get better sooner

she must exercise her bones and ligaments more.

She can try picking red beans, green peas or putting a thread through the needle.

All these will help.

Sam Ho is physically weak.

Please give her some more medicine, so that she will get better.

No problem. If she rubs her hand with blumea balsamifera

it will be more effective.

- Blumea balsamifera? - Blumea balsamifera?

It's also called Huanglong ginseng.

It's a medical herb that grows in mountain areas with a lot of moisture.

It helps to remove the bruises.

When it's used to make medicine, it will turn into some white crystals.

But too bad there isn't any in stock in the imperial clinic.

It's so expensive and rare. We've never seen it before, not to mention using it.

There's much in Tianzhu. It's rare in China.

There are some tributes from Tianzhu. They were delivered to the palace just now.

Let's report this to His Majesty. He will give it to Sam Ho for sure.

Mistress Chung.

General Man.

Hey, this is the imperial box for His Majesty's exclusive use.

His Majesty must have given you a gift for the jobs you've done.

Exactly. His Majesty even allows me to take my daughter to the capital

so that I can be with my family again.

Do you know what's inside the box? It's blumea balsamifera.

His Majesty gave it to my father-in-law specifically for his birthday.

It's blumea balsamifera from Tianzhu?

It's a precious tribute. This is the only box.

His Majesty has given it to me.

Now you are so rich and outstanding.

There must be a lot of treasure in your place.

Why don't you give the blumea balsamifera to someone else?

You want to get this treasure? That's why you're begging me?

General Man, Mistress Yuen is begging you not for herself.

She wants to save someone else.

At first we wanted to ask His Majesty to give us the blumea balsamifera

but His Majesty has already given it to you.

For the sake of saving someone, I don't mind begging you too.

You two women are really such a nuisance. Take it if you like it.

Thank you.

You're not the only one who wants to help Sam Ho.

Let's take it to Sam Ho right away.

Don't get all the credits, I said something to help too.

We could get the medicine all because of what Mistress Chung did.

Mistress Yuen and I worked together to get it.

Every time you get some of this and dilute it with water

then rub it on your hand. Just rub it slowly.

Remember to do it once in the morning and once in the evening. Don't be greedy.

You two worked together for my sake. You talked to each other. This is good.

If people show me respect, I'll show them respect too.

We ran around like that because we wanted you to get well earlier.

How's your hand?

I've spent two hours separating red beans from green peas.

My hand can work much better now.

Let me see.

It's still a bit swollen.

Mistress Chung, can I compare it with your hand please?

It's more or less the same.

- Sam Ho. - Hey, Sam Ho.

My hand has recovered Of course I feel happy.

But if you two can be friends again, I'll feel happier.

Officer Ko, you've been here for long?

You've practiced for so long. You should take a break.

I want to get well sooner.

More haste, less speed.

Don't overwork yourself. It may have adverse effect.

No, it won't.

- Ouch! - What's the matter?

I twisted my foot just now. It hurts bad.

I'll get you some blumea balsamifera. It's very effective.

No, thanks. I was playing a trick on you.

You tricked me?

I want you to get some rest, I don't want you to overwork yourself.

Hey, you!

Look. The wild Chinese viburnum are so beautiful.

'The moon shines on the battlefield. Soldiers went to war but never returned.'

'If the Flying General were still here'

'the alien cavalry would never cross the border.'

Reciting a poem about war in this setting seems irrelevant.

Dad taught me this poem under a tree of wild Chinese viburnum.

My dad was a warrior.

The poems he taught me were of course related to wars.

He told me a lot of heroic stories. He admired General Lee Kwong the most.

He also told me many stories about horses like the Red Rabbit of General Kwan.

Subsequently, when Emperor Muk Chung came to the throne

there was theft in the vault of Luoyang.

Dad got involved in it. He was exiled. I came to the palace.

We've been parted ever since.

Master Bo has helped you probed around. It's alright so long as he's fine.

I wonder when I can see my dad again.

Winter is coming. You guys must get prepared lest you'll get too busy.

You must plan ahead.

Our Embroideries Department has done the preparation already.

We've already cut the fur and the fabrics, we are ready to make clothes at any time.

The Jewels Department is prepared too. We've made a lot of sachets already.

The Food Department has also prepared a lot of dried meat.

It can be used whenever there are banquets in the palace.

Good.

The Furnishings Department has put some festival logos

on the furniture and daily necessities to make them look more cheerful.

You've done a lot of drawings.

No wonder the light in your room is always turned on every night.

So Deputy Head Poon burned the midnight oils.

Work hard. You'll get improvement then.

I know I'm not competent enough, so I need to work harder and draw more.

Keep up with the hard work. You'll accomplish much.

The post of Head for the Furnishings Department has been vacant.

I'm the Deputy Head. It's my duty to take up the jobs.

Right now there isn't a leader in the Furnishings Department.

It's time to get someone to take up the post.

I've already submitted the candidate for Empress Zheng's approval.

I'll make the announcement later.

Seniority is always the prime consideration.

It's so obvious who will become Head of the Furnishings Department.

She must be kind and competent.

What matters is to work together happily.

I feel glad no matter who becomes the department head.

Don't make wild guesses, you'll be informed later.

If Mistress Wu hadn't killed herself, how would Poon Yee Man have the promotion?

She isn't competent enough.

She's lucky.

It doesn't matter how well you work if you get a boss right above you.

Who doesn't wish her boss die early so that she could get a promotion?

It's really a rare chance that your boss dies early.

So you two are here?

Deputy Head Poon, you want to see us for something?

Deputy Head Cho, Deputy Head Ng this is a petty gift from me.

Wow, it's delicate.

I made them personally.

You're acting the post of department head. You are so busy.

But you still made the gifts personally. You are really so kind.

I want to talk to you two about something. I know my own caliber.

My craftsmanship isn't so outstanding. I'm not gifted either.

I'm not an outstanding person. I'm not eloquent.

You can talk like this. How will you be dumb?

If I have offended you two before, please forgive me.

Hey!

Get up please. The four departments are united.

If we make a mistake in future, please don't be mad at us, Deputy Head Poon.

If I'm so lucky to become the department head, I must count on you two.

I know I'm not competent enough. You must remind me from time to time.

I'm most ready and willing to learn.

We get your point.

We are good sisters, right?

- Come on, have a seat. - Sit down.

Recently I got a headache all the time.

Thanks to Kam Ling's massage my pain has lessened.

I want to borrow her from you.

If she can help Your Highness

let her stay in Your Highness's chamber then.

But Sam Ho hasn't recovered from her injury yet.

I'm afraid there will be insufficient manpower in the Jewels Department.

Mistress Yuen takes part in everything personally.

Mistress Chung has seconded some girls there to help. They can manage.

Have they become friends again?

Now they chat with each other. I heard it's because of what Deputy Head Lau did.

Sam Ho is really kindhearted. How about the other three departments?

When Mistress Wu killed herself

everyone in the Imperial Household Bureau felt scared.

But it's all over now. Everything is back to normal.

I feel relieved to hear that.

We need to appoint someone to fill the post of department head

for the Furnishings Department.

According to the usual practice

we'll consider their seniority and experience for the promotion.

Usually the deputy head will become the head.

Why don't you tell me the performance of Deputy Head Poon?

She's sincere and hardworking.

But too bad she isn't gifted. There's nothing outstanding about her.

Your Highness is sharp.

You know everything in the Imperial Household Bureau.

Of all the deputy heads, Sam Ho's performance is the best.

She's particularly clever. She's really outstanding.

Actually Yiu Kam Ling's performance isn't bad. She's clever and smart.

She's thoughtful too. She always has novel designs.

Well, it seems that all the elites are found in the Jewels Department.

Maybe the environment there is good. Therefore, there are so many able persons.

Sam Ho was trained in the Embroideries Department before

but Empress Kwok made an exception in promoting her.

Therefore if a person is talented, she will outshine others.

You are right, Your Highness. I admire you.

Mistress Yuen and Mistress Chung are in charge of the respective departments.

They are so outstanding. That's why they could train Kam Ling and Sam Ho so well.

You Highness has a great vision, you know every detail.

Now both Sam Ho and Kam Ling are under Mistress Yuen.

I think the Jewels Department shouldn't outshine others like that.

Chief Choi, I think you know who's the best candidate, right?

Thank you for your enlightenment Your Highness. I understand your teaching.

The head for the Furnishings Department is decided. She is...

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