Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Palace of Devotion]

[This drama is based on historical data and legends]

[The story and characters portrayed are fictitious]

[Episode 20]

[God bless our borders]

[North and South should help each other]

[If we fight, both parties are hurt]

Xiao Chuo sent a letter.

She sent Han De Rang to negotiate with us.

Everyone.

What's your opinion?

Your Majesty.

Chanyuan is far from the northern grassland.

The Liao Army has travelled far, men and horses are tired.

And they have no food supply.

It's hard to survive.

At the time of retreat,

horses carried the weapons and equipment.

They move slow.

They have 100,000 men,

but it's easy to defeat them.

Please ask the northern army

to guard the pass when the Liao Army retreats.

I'm willing to lead troops

to cooperate with the northern army

to annihilate the Liao Army.

Youzhou, Yizhou and other places can also take the opportunity to attack.

Ping Zhong, what's your opinion?

Your Majesty.

As stated in the art of war, don't chase the defeated enemy.

The Liao Army has no way to run now.

If we chase them,

we can easily cause the Liao Army to resist

and even counterattack.

In that case, our army's casualties will be even greater.

Empress Dowager Xiao's return to the north is the end of the battle.

We can take this opportunity to avoid future troubles forever.

We can give them a hard blow if we chase them,

but we can't make them perish.

Wars will become more frequent.

Your Majesty needs to constantly send troops to the north.

In that case,

the people to the north of the Yellow River may never live in peace.

I thought you were pro-war.

I am pro-war,

but the battle of Chanyuan is settled.

Xiao Chuo has been completely defeated.

I think we should keep the harmony.

I know

Your Majesty just lost the eldest prince

and is very sad right now,

but I hope Your Majesty can consider the long-term plan

and focus on the overall situation.

I'm sure Your Majesty wouldn't want the people

to suffer in the flames of war again.

We'll discuss this matter later.

Who's there?

I'm the prime minister of Liao, Han De Rang.

I came to negotiate peace with Emperor of Song.

Lower the bridge!

Lower the bridge!

[Chanzhou]

Prime Minister.

How many people does Liao have?

Two million people.

Is it more or less than Song?

Not even 10 percent of the Song population.

The population in Song is ten times larger than Liao.

Even if the Liao Army can fight well,

in the face of Song,

can Liao take it?

For the land of the Southern Pass,

Liao mobilizes vehicles and horses every year.

This has disturbed the northern grasslands.

Prime Minister.

Song and Liao has fought for over 40 years.

What benefits

did Liao get from this?

Song and Liao should coexist and help each other.

This is the long-term solution.

Cease fire is what everyone wants.

It is inevitable.

I came to negotiate peace under Her Majesty's order.

Liao is willing to retreat today.

To turn hostility into friendship.

From now on, there will be no more battles.

If Empress Dowager Xiao

still tries to negotiate using the Southern Pass,

we don't need to talk anymore.

The Southern Pass is the old territory of Han and Tang.

Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong

have fought for this place.

They never lost an inch of territory.

For me,

I won't lose any either.

I will go back to the camp

and try to persuade Her Majesty to give up on the Southern Pass.

If Empress Dowager Xiao

no longer clings onto the Southern Pass

and is willing to sign a peace agreement with me,

then I will succumb as well.

I'll provide goods and money to you every year

in exchange for the peace of Liao and Song.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

If both countries can live in peace and prosper,

why should we fight for every inch of land?

When I return,

I will negotiate with Envoy Cao immediately

to draft the agreement and let Lord Cao bring it back.

As of this moment, the war between Liao and Song has ended.

I shall observe you.

Your Majesty has the world in mind,

generous and tolerant.

You have my admiration.

You're asleep?

Your Majesty.

What I have said to you

is deaf to your ears?

Your Majesty.

Noble Lady travelled far

and suddenly gave birth halfway.

She misses Your Majesty

and wants Your Majesty to see the child soon.

So...

Please forgive me.

It's not his fault.

I insisted on doing this.

If Your Majesty wants to punish someone,

just punish me.

Get up.

-Yes. -Let me hold her.

Come.

Your Majesty.

Congratulations for the new-born princess.

Your Majesty.

I haven't figured out a name for the princess.

Please bestow a name for her.

After years of war,

everyone wants a peaceful life.

I give her the name Wan.

Title Shou Kang.

Shou Kang?

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Under your blessing,

Shou Kang will live well

and accompany Your Majesty.

[The first year of Jingde,]

[the 41st year,]

[December, beginning of Gengchen,]

[Seven days of Bingxu,]

[the emperor of Song made an agreement]

[with emperor of Liao]

[to comply with the agreement and form an alliance.]

[Song shall help with the military expenses.]

[They will not to send envoys to go north.]

[The Three Ducal Ministries will be sent to Xiongzhou for delivery.]

[Both armies will guard their respective borders.]

[Both sides shall not engage.]

[If thieves flee to the other country,]

[both sides shall not harbour them.]

[As for the crops,]

[they shall be left alone.]

[The two capital cities will remain.]

[Everything is as usual.]

[None can build anything or dig a river channel.]

[There are no other requests beside the agreement]

[for long-term cooperation and co-existence.]

[Protect the country and guard the border.]

[For the gods,]

[for the ancestors and people,]

[descendants to abide by it.]

[If the agreement is broken, the country will fall.]

[God as the witness.]

[The end of description. Looking forward to your reply.]

[Yours sincerely.]

Sister, we will reach the capital

in two days.

My lady, the weather is cold.

His Majesty asked me to send a coat for you.

Thank you.

Please take care.

I'll leave now.

Sister.

[The 22nd year of Tonghe,]

[the 41st year,]

[December, beginning of Gengchen,]

[Twelfth day of Xinmao,]

[the emperor of Liao made an agreement]

[with the emperor of Song.]

[To discuss military matters together.]

[This agreement is made specially.]

[To help with the military expenses.]

[Every year, to provide 200,000 pieces of silk,]

[100,000 silver taels.]

[Not to send envoys to go north.]

[Only the Three Ducal Ministries will be sent to Xiongzhou for delivery.]

[Both armies will guard their respective borders.]

[Both sides shall not engage.]

[If thieves flee to the other country,]

[neither side should harbour them.]

[As for the crops,]

[they shall be left alone.]

[The two capital cities will remain.]

[Everything is as usual.]

[None can build anything or dig a river channel.]

[There are no other requests beside the agreement]

[for long-term cooperation and co-existence.]

[Protect the country and guard the border.]

[For the gods,]

[for the ancestors and people,]

[descendants to abide by it.]

[If the agreement is broken, the country will fall.]

[God be my witness.]

[I shall comply with this agreement.]

[I swear that]

[if I break this agreement, I will be punished by God.]

[That's all.]

[Yours sincerely.]

Look.

We're home.

We're home.

Yeah, we're home.

We're home!

That's great, we're home!

Let's go.

Finally we're home.

We're home!

What happened?

Your Majesty, we're home.

Stop the carriage!

We're home!

We're home!

We're home.

-We're home! -We're back!

We're home!

We're home!

We're home!

De Rang.

Yes, Your Majesty?

[Liao and Song stop fighting. Peace to the world]

Do you know how to release the sky lantern of the Han people?

Yes.

Release Kang Er's wish to the sky.

After recuperating for a few days,

your complexion

looks better now.

But I didn't manage to save my baby.

His Majesty will return tomorrow.

I don't know how to meet His Majesty.

You look better now.

I will dress you up.

His Majesty will like it.

His Majesty won the battle

and signed an agreement with Liao.

His Majesty returns in triumph.

But this victory

took the life of the eldest prince.

The eldest prince is dead.

All the credit goes to Liu E.

This time, she returns with His Majesty.

His Majesty will allow her to enter the palace.

If she enters the palace,

the Imperial Harem is going to be chaotic.

If Liu E enters the palace,

His Majesty will appoint her as Noble Consort.

I'm just a normal concubine now.

It will be hard for me to compete for the position of Noble Consort.

If Liu E enters the palace,

the Empress will not sit and watch.

Why not you take this opportunity

to know her thinking?

I hurt the Empress

in anger that day.

I'm afraid she's holding a grudge.

Didn't you already apologize to her?

Besides, it's nothing serious.

The Empress has forgiven you.

Might as well take this opportunity

to meet Her Majesty again.

Maybe she is upset about this matter too.

You're impressive.

You have lived in the palace for a long time.

You know more about the rules in the palace than I am.

All thanks to you.

Alright.

Let's go meet the Empress again.

My lady, Consort Pan is here.

Let her in.

Yes, my lady.

You asked to see me.

What's the matter?

There are many gossips in the palace.

I believe you already know that

His Majesty is coming back to the palace tomorrow.

His Majesty sent a letter

to ask about my miscarriage.

His Majesty mentioned he's coming back tomorrow.

That's how I knew.

His Majesty adores you.

That's normal.

Miscarriage is a common thing.

Don't think too much.

Thanks for your concern.

The imperial physician has prescribed a prescription.

Many days have passed.

I...

will get pregnant again.

You'er's birthday will be in a few days.

Look at this.

Is it nice if he wears this?

This is good.

If You'er wears this,

he will look dignified and generous.

He will look like a royal too.

You have good eyesight.

My lady, Eunuch Lei is here.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

She's not an outsider.

Just say it.

Your Majesty.

His Majesty sent an edict

to ask the Women's Department to arrange for Consort Liu to stay in De Kun Palace.

I came to notify you.

Please acknowledge it.

You mean...

De Kun Palace next to my Ci Yuan Hall?

Yes, Your Majesty.

De Kun Palace

is not for ordinary concubines.

Besides, His Majesty hasn't appointed Consort Liu.

Your Highness.

His Majesty also given another edict

to appoint Consort Liu as Virtuous Consort.

No wonder.

Thank you, you may leave.

Please excuse me.

Consort Liu

must have suffered a lot in Liao.

But you had a miscarriage

and hurt your body.

Regarding rewards,

you should have one too.

Don't be sad.

I'll see His Majesty

and plead for you.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

But His Majesty

has a soft spot for Consort Liu.

When she enters the palace,

she will get

all His Majesty's favours.

Whether she can enter the palace or not,

it is still an unknown.

It depends on what the officials say.

Sister, we're arriving soon.

We're finally home.

Congratulations for returning in triumph.

[Qian Yuan Gate]

Please get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You'er, come here.

Welcome back, Father.

Let me see.

You grew taller.

Father, is Brother Ji'er back?

Your Brother Ji'er...

stayed in the Liao camp.

He can't come back anymore.

Send the second prince back to the Empress in the palace.

-Yes, my lord. -Go, You'er.

Go.

Lord Xing.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Have you drafted the edict to appoint the Noble Consort?

Your Majesty.

The edict has been drafted,

but today is not a good day.

I return in triumph.

Today is the best day.

Why can't we appoint her?

Your Majesty.

The previous emperor has an edict,

Consort Liu can never enter the palace.

Your Majesty.

Filial piety should be the priority.

I hope Your Majesty can obey the previous emperor's edict.

Your Majesty.

They are both right.

The edict of the previous emperor cannot be violated.

Please think carefully.

Your Majesty.

Everyone knows about the edict of the previous emperor.

Please don't violate it.

Is Liu E's sacrifice for Song not enough?

The Liao Army invaded us.

I led the army myself.

I witnessed many soldiers killed and wounded on the battlefield.

For the sake of the Song Dynasty,

Liu E dealt with Empress Dowager Xiao of Liao

while worked hard to nurture Ji'er.

When Ji'er...

was hung on the war chariot

and struck with arrows,

where were you?

I gave up on Ji'er

and led my troops to fight on the battlefield.

I repelled the Liao Army and protected Song.

How dare

you welcome me back with such attitude!

Your Majesty, please calm down.

Shut up!

Your Majesty, please calm down.

Your Majesty, if I am beheaded

by Your Majesty for defending

the edict of the previous emperor,

it's my honour.

Please fulfil my wish.

Even if I die now,

I still don't wish to see Your Majesty

rebel against your ancestors.

You...

Father!

Please don't kill grandfather.

Please don't kill grandfather.

Your Majesty, the edict of the previous emperor cannot be violated.

Please think carefully.

Please think carefully.

Please think carefully.

The edict of the previous emperor?

Father!

Do you see this, Father?

Lady Liu.

In the battle of Chanyuan,

you and the eldest prince made an incredible contribution.

We will keep it in mind.

But you also saw and heard

what the officials said.

It's hard for His Majesty.

For the long-term solution,

let's discuss the matter of entering the palace

and appointment on another day.

Go back to Du Yun Pavilion.

They are so heartless.

You suffered so much

and made so much contribution.

You even lost Ji'er.

In the end, you still can't enter the palace.

Those officials are unreasonable.

This is so unfair to you.

Ji'er.

The people in the palace are heartless.

I've brought you home.

I will accompany you.

You won't feel cold.

Lord Cao has worked hard.

What is the sum of the coins to be given to Liao

after negotiating with Empress Dowager Xiao?

Lord Cao.

Lord Su.

How is the negotiation?

How much?

This is a huge matter.

I should report to His Majesty face to face.

I will bear all responsibilities.

It has nothing to do with you all.

It's better for you not to know.

Cao Li Yong is here.

Officer Cao.

I know you met Empress Dowager Xiao

at Xiongzhou

and exchanged the agreements.

It's just that I don't know

the result of your final negotiation with Queen Dowager Xiao.

How much do we need to give them?

Your Majesty.

I deserve to die.

How much?

After I argued multiple times with Empress Dowager Xiao

and Prime Minister Han De Rang,

Finally, it was agreed

to give Liao 200,000 horses

and 100,000 silver taels every year.

A total of 300,000.

Three hundred thousand?

You went to negotiate peace at Liao, you have fulfilled your mission.

Good job.

Three hundred thousand in exchange for peace between Liao and Song.

The war is over.

It's worth it!

You have done a great job.

In the battle of Chanyuan,

everyone has made great contributions.

I have written a decree for rewards.

Jing Zong, read it.

As ordered by God, the emperor commands.

Song and Liao have ceased fire, contributors will be rewarded.

Kou Zhun will hold the prime ministerial post.

Wang Dan as the Vice Counsellor.

Ding Wei as the Three Ducal Ministries.

Su Yi Jian as the head of Bureau of Military Affairs.

Cao Li Yong did well in negotiation.

He will be appointed as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Wang Qin Ruo as the Scholar of Zi Zheng Hall.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Please get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Guo Xian, please accept the decree.

As ordered by God, the emperor commands.

Minister Guo Xian stayed in the capital

but failed to handle matters well and let His Majesty down.

He is to be demoted three ranks and exiled to Dingzhou.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Father, Mother.

-Greetings, Your Majesty. -Greetings, Your Majesty.

Don't need to be so courteous.

I'm home.

I will persuade His Majesty

to take back his words.

Don't need to plead to His Majesty.

I stayed in the capital but failed to handle matters well.

This was just an excuse.

His Majesty punished me severely

because I acted in compliance with the previous emperor's will

and stopped Liu E from entering the palace.

What's wrong with this?

In the battle of Chanyuan,

Ji'er died on the battlefield.

Father.

Why do you want to make things difficult for Liu E?

Qing Yi.

The eldest prince died in Chanyuan.

The Guo family doesn't owe Liu E anything.

It's only natural for the eldest prince to go to Liao.

Besides, I stopped Liu E from entering the palace

because I followed the edict of the previous emperor.

What's wrong with this? You...

Father, be tolerant whenever possible.

Qing Yi.

You still don't quite understand

about the survival in this palace.

I have been involved in politics for decades.

I have seen everything.

You just need to keep your position as the empress.

It's worth it even if I'm exiled to Dingzhou.

You must take good care of You'er.

You must train him to be the Crown Prince.

Only then your position in the palace is secure.

Qing Yi.

You are the pride of the Guo family.

There's an empress in the Guo family.

Our ancestors are proud of you.

I will protect you all my life.

Even if I was exiled, I still wouldn't hesitate.

Father.

Drink the medicine.

[Memorial Tablet of Zhao Ji, the Eldest Prince of Song]

[Memorial Tablet of Zhao Ji, the Eldest Prince of Song]

Your Majesty.

Please get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty is holding Zhao Ji's memorial tablet.

Does Your Majesty want to send it to the Imperial Ancestral Temple?

Yes.

I want to store Ji'er's memorial tablet

and the agreement with Liao

in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Your Majesty.

The agreement is the proof of the alliance between Song and Liao.

It should be sent to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

However, the Temple

is the place where the royals worship their ancestors.

Consort Liu's identity is unknown.

Zhao Ji was not born by the legal wife.

He has no formal status.

Zhao Ji's memorial tablet can't be kept in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Guo Xian was exiled

and now Cao Jian is speaking up.

The Guo and Cao families share the same fate.

Looks like they will never accept Consort Liu.

Your Majesty, the eldest prince died for the country.

He made great contributions.

His identity should be equal to the second prince.

The Grand Tutor kept saying that

we must not violate the will of the previous emperor.

If the previous emperor is still alive

and sees how much Liu E has done for Song,

he will not be as unreasonable as you.

Your Majesty.

The previous emperor forbade Consort Liu to enter the palace.

This matter is known by everyone.

Because of a woman,

Your Majesty insists on committing a mistake

and disregard the will of the previous emperor?

How does Your Majesty explain to the people?

Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor is right.

If Your Majesty violates the will of the previous emperor,

the officials and people

will lose faith in Your Majesty.

I hope Your Majesty will proceed with caution.

If Your Majesty insists on breaking the will,

I'm willing to die

and follow the previous emperor.

Sister, they are so mean.

Ji'er is my son.

He died for Song!

He deserves to stay in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Whoever that stops me

will be sent to the Court of Judicial Review.

Your Majesty.

Please don't.

Please don't, Your Majesty.

Please calm down, Your Majesty.

If Your Majesty ignores the words of the officials

and insists to place the eldest prince's memorial tablet in there,

it is not right.

I don't know if I should say this.

Say it.

When the former emperor was alive,

he didn't write the edict

but just verbally

forbade Liu E to enter the palace.

If Liu E guards the previous emperor's tomb for three years

to fulfil her filial piety,

this way, her sincerity

is enough to touch the spirit of the previous emperor.

Your Majesty can also explain to the people.

Three years later,

Liu E can enter the palace

and the eldest prince's memorial tablet can also be placed in the temple.

Your Majesty, Lord Kou is thorough.

This can comfort the previous emperor's spirit

and Liu E can show her filial piety.

It can be said as to kill two birds with one stone.

Stand up, all of you.

Do you have any objections

to what Lord Kou and the Prime Minister said?

Your Majesty.

If I can place Ji'er's memorial tablet

in the Imperial Ancestral Temple after guarding the tomb for three years,

I'm willing to do it.

Don't worry.

Compared to Liao,

guarding the tomb is nothing.

Back to the palace.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Ying'er.

Your Majesty, you're awake.

Consort Liu has gone back to Du Yun Pavilion.

Ying'er worked hard for Song

and lost her only child.

But the officials

still can't accept her.

These officials are indeed rigid.

They insist to follow the will of the previous emperor.

You must take care of yourself.

Don't worry about this matter anymore.

Drink the medicine first.

Your Majesty.

Her Majesty asks to see you.

She and the second prince have been waiting

at the door for a long time.

Let her in.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, please come in.

Your Majesty.

I beg you.

Please forgive my father.

[End of Episode 20]