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 24]

I remember now.

You are Ji'er first mother.

Yes.

I am Ji'er first mother.

I miss Ji'er.

Queen Mother told me,

Ji'er has gone to Liao on behalf of me

and has not come back.

Ji'er was much younger than you

when he went to Liao.

Your Highness,

is it cold over in Liao?

Ji'er is alone in Liao

without Mother

and Father.

Would he be afraid?

Liao is extremely cold.

And, it's far, far away.

But, Ji'er is brave

and without fear.

Once, Ji'er

went hunting with Princess Tie Jing of Liao.

They strayed from each other.

Ji'er lost his way.

But, he wasn't afraid.

He walked for a long, long

distance.

There's a prince in Liao named Doggie.

He's tall, big and strong.

He wanted to compete in martial arts with Ji'er.

Neither was Ji'er scared

nor did he shrink back.

Your Highness,

if Ji'er isn't afraid,

then, I shall not be afraid.

But then, war broke out between Liao and Song.

Ji'er

was tied to the war chariot

which was wheeled to the battle field.

Arrows came shooting his way.

But, he wasn't afraid.

All of you shouldn't be afraid.

Because, you are Princes of Great Song.

You'er.

You'er.

Liu E,

where's my You'er?

Your Majesty.

I am incapable.

Second Prince

didn't make it.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Feng Yi! Feng Yi, get the Imperial Physician!

Your Majesty, stop!

Your Majesty, you must not go in, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Second Prince was infected with small pox.

Your Majesty, your health is of utmost concern.

I can't allow you to go in.

Make way, Jing Zong!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

I beg of you, Your Majesty!

You must not go in, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

After knowing the death of the Second Prince,

we were overcome with grief.

Great Song lost her Second Prince.

She can't be without an emperor!

I said, make way!

I want to see You'er for the last time!

Your Majesty!

Give way!

Your Majesty, you must not go in, Your Majesty!

You'er!

You must not go in.

You'er!

You'er!

Your Highness, please.

So?

The Empress isn't infected with small pox.

Her Majesty has a weak constitution to begin with.

The pain of losing her child

contributed to the detrimental impact.

Her life is hanging by a thread.

With the passing of Second Prince,

and Her Majesty critically-ill...

Imperial Physician Dong,

do not inform His Majesty for now.

After the death of Second Prince,

His Majesty has been overcome with grief and sorrow,

prompting the worsening of the headache

which has become incurable.

Imperial Physician Dong,

His Majesty is uninformed of my return to the palace.

I'm unable to serve His Majesty.

His Majesty's health is in your hands now.

Your humble servant hopes you could return to the palace soon

to soothe His Majesty's sickness.

This way please, Grand Tutor.

Her Majesty has been expecting you.

Your Majesty, Lord Guo is here.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Father, this is the imperial sleeping quarters.

Do away with all formalities.

Feng Yi,

give a seat to Father.

Yes.

Why have you called upon your humble servant,

Your Majesty?

The spread of small pox in the city has been rampant recently.

It's been so long since I've been back

to visit you and Mother.

Don't worry about us and recuperate well, Your Majesty.

When you're well,

your humble servant will surely invite His Majesty

and Your Majesty to visit us.

Since being ill,

Consort Liu has been taking good care of me.

Consort Liu?

She's returned to the palace?

Consort Liu secretly came back

just to care of You'er

and the peasants in the city who fell ill.

Even His Majesty isn't informed about it.

So, we pulled the wool over people's eyes.

It's because she

made a promise with the officials as her witness

to return to the palace only after three years of mourning.

I see.

Father.

His Majesty told me,

during Liu E's mourning period,

you had sent men to assassinate her.

Is that true?

I did plot such schemes

in fear that Consort Liu's return

would threaten your position as the Empress.

Had I known,

I would have stopped you.

Lin'er's death

caused me to hate Consort Liu.

The late emperor had also misunderstood Consort Liu

that he forbade her from entering the palace.

But, it's only now that

I've known how kind Consort Liu is.

I ask that you

not make things difficult for Consort Liu.

Even now,

things about Consort Liu

would make your humble servant think they were handled inappropriately.

And, I feel uneasy.

Since you've said so,

I count this load on my mind

settled.

You couldn't stay at Duke Xiang's Residence.

Somehow, you mistakenly entered Duke Qin's Residence

and walked in on him plotting a rebellion.

You stepped forward bravely and saved the late Emperor

but wasn't granted pardon.

Then, you lived away from home at Lord Su's.

And then moved back to Duke Xiang's Residence

and resided in Du Yun Pavilion.

And afterward, you went to Liao.

Your Majesty,

I never expected that you remembered so clearly.

Upon returning from Liao,

you and Ji'er

made noteworthy contribution to Great Song.

But, you were still banned from entering the palace

and sent to the tomb of the late emperor.

I know of

your ordeals.

What saddens me the most,

is that I've never given you aid.

But, you've always

returned good for evil.

Your Majesty,

I will do my best to care for Second Prince.

Your Majesty, please get up.

Your Majesty, why do you say such things?

The Emperor and I, we met during the calamity.

His Majesty took me to Duke Xiang's Residence.

It was you who took me in.

If it wasn't for you,

I don't know where I'd be today,

or what tribulations I'd have gone through.

Your Majesty has done good to me.

Before this, His Majesty

[doted on you alone.]

[I, as well as]

[the other imperial concubines got jealous.]

However, I knew that

His Majesty has chosen the right person.

It was I who had always misunderstood you.

Let's not mention about the past.

What's important now,

is for you to get well.

Your Ji'er

went to Liao for my You'er

and never returned.

[You mother and son]

[are You'er's and my benefactors.]

Lin'er's gone. Ji'er's gone.

Now,

my You'er's gone too.

We lost our sons.

Could this be fate from the previous life?

[You should've entered the palace three years ago.]

[Prince of Great Song, Zhao Ji's memorial tablet]

[Ji'er's memorial tablet]

[should've been placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.]

[But, my father and Grand Tutor Cao]

[led the obstruction.]

But, I've never stood up

to defend you.

Your Majesty, don't say that.

Lord Guo and Lord Cao

were just obeying the late emperor's order.

Not being able to enter the palace

could just be me being unfortunate.

Or, it could be fate.

Your Majesty, there's no need to blame yourself.

No, you didn't enter the palace because it wasn't time yet.

You haven't gone through

enough hardships.

But, the hardships have ended now.

You should return to the capital

to be in charge of the Imperial Harem.

Your Majesty, please don't say that.

Only you are the head of the Imperial Harem.

I don't have much time left.

It's clear to me that

His Majesty needs you.

It's just that

I never wanted to face this all along.

I've been earnest towards Buddha.

I've never done evil.

There's only one person I've wronged in my entire life.

And that's you.

Today,

I've said the words that were

kept in my heart for years.

I feel relieved.

Your Majesty, you've overstated it.

I can't die with this in my heart.

Your Majesty.

What brings you here?

Her Majesty entrusted

this to you as the last task.

[The late emperor bestowed our marriage]

[and I married into Duke Xiang's Residence.]

[When you succeeded the position as Emperor, I became Empress.]

[I scrupulously abided by the virtues of a woman and manned the Imperial Harem.]

[Lin'er and You'er]

[died after one another.]

[My health wasted away in sorrow.]

[I'm afraid I won't have much time left.]

[The Main Palace can't be empty.]

[Liu E is dignified, virtuous, objective, knowledgeable and respectful,]

[noble yet thrifty.]

[And both of you are each other's sunshine.]

[She's fitting to be an empress.]

[Since marriage bestowal by late Emperor, I married into Duke Xiang's residence]

[I became the Empress when you assumed position as the Emperor]

[I scrupulously abided by the virtues of a woman and manned the Imperial Harem]

[Lin'er and You'er left one after another, my health wasted away in sorrow]

[I don't have much time left. The Main Palace can't be empty.]

The Empress married into Duke Xiang's Residence at 17 years old.

My Lin'er.

Lin'er was killed.

She was devastated. It left her the roots of infirmity.

You'er was born.

But, the Imperial Harem was unfortunate.

The gods weren't kind to the Empress.

Her Majesty was born under an ill star.

Restrain your grief, accept fate, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty...

I'm fine.

Your Majesty.

Your headache struck again.

I'll call the Imperial Physician immediately.

This headache of mine is a chronic disease.

It's incurable.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, look.

Your Majesty, look who's here?

Your Majesty.

Ying'er?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

The Empress

left a will

to make you Empress.

I hadn't been really caring

toward her

when she was alive.

The two princes

didn't have the chance to be with her in old age.

The Empress

passed on in loneliness.

I owe her much.

Your Majesty.

Her Majesty

knows your heart.

Yue'er.

Pour away the water.

Yes.

Maid. Take this away.

Where's my Realgar Golden Cinnabar?

Stand right there!

Brat!

Consort Liu said I'm cured from smallpox.

It won't go to you.

Get over here.

Yes.

Your Highness, I'm not afraid of small pox.

But, because your pregnancy has come to full term

and ready to deliver any time,

I'm just worried of accidentally bumping into you

and hurting the prince in your belly.

So clever at twisting words!

Your Highness, have some water.

How long should I continue eating this pill

till we see its effect?

His Lordship said,

this pill is made with the Genius Doctor's secret formula for generations.

If you're having a boy,

the pill nourishes, replenishes and conserves health.

If it's a girl.

it changes the gender into a boy.

So many claim to be genius doctors.

But, how many have

the miracle cure?

Your Highness,

this golden pill is a cure-all.

You shouldn't take too many.

One per day is good enough.

Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.

Ying Luo greets Your Majesty.

Rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Small pox has terrorized the capital for days.

It wasn't till this day that it subsided.

I just got to know yesterday,

that we owe it to your good deed, Consort Liu.

Today, I shall confer you the title of Virtuous Consort.

You shall reside in the Hui Ning Hall.

Ying Luo will be conferred as Beauty.

Continue to serve the Virtuous Consort.

-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.

Rise.

Jing Zong.

Present the gifts!

Virtuous Consort,

you deserve all these.

Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty.

I would take all these gifts

to the tomb of the late emperor

to be distributed to the poor peasants.

As for Hui Ning Hall,

I can't stay there for now.

You're adamant to leave.

I have promised to mourn the late Emperor's death for three years.

There is still half a year before three years is up.

I've conferred you as the Virtuous Consort.

It's open and aboveboard for you to reside in the palace

to be by my side.

The three years of mourning isn't up yet.

I cannot be in the capital.

Or else, the cabinet ministers would risk their lives by admonishing you yet again.

I don't hope for you to be put in a tough spot for me again.

Your Majesty, Virtuous Consort's words make sense.

Three years isn't up yet.

It's not wise to give up halfway.

I have sent soldiers

to guard the areas around the mausoleum

to protect Virtuous Consort.

Your Majesty,

I will check on Virtuous Consort regularly.

Half a year will just fly by.

Your Majesty, please do not worry.

In that case,

I'll be waiting for you for half a year.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

[Qian Yuan Gate]

Jing Zong, so?

Is it a boy or girl?

Her Highness is in labour.

But, there's no sign of a prince yet.

What did the Imperial Physician and midwife say?

The Imperial Physician and midwife have done their best.

They said that Her Highness has difficulty in giving birth.

This gets me really anxious.

Get a new batch of midwife.

Your Majesty, when the wet nurse from the Pan Residence

entered the palace to visit Her Highness,

coincidentally, she was already in labour.

She's delivering the baby now.

Your Majesty,

don't get anxious.

Just be patient for a bit.

Okay.

Then, Jing Zong,

wait outside the imperial sleeping quarters of the Noble Consort.

Report to me once there's news.

Yes.

Push harder!

Hang in there!

Push harder, harder!

Push harder, harder!

I can't do it.

Push harder, harder!

It's almost out!

Hang in there.

The head of the little prince is out.

Your Highness.

He's out!

He's out!

He's out!

Congratulations, Your Highness!

The baby's out.

Wonderful!

Isn't this...

Ma'am, please return.

The money and carriage are ready.

Usher the wet nurse out.

Yes.

Your Highness.

Is it a prince or a princess?

A princess.

I've eaten countless Realgar Golden Cinnabar.

Your Highness, you've just given birth.

You used up strength.

Don't cry, or it'd damage your constitution.

But His Majesty wanted a prince.

What am I supposed to say to His Majesty?

Your Highness,

I think you should take a look at the princess.

Look at her hand.

Look at her hand.

What do we tell His Majesty?

Yue'er, promise me

not to say a word to His Majesty.

But, the princess is born.

She ought to meet the Emperor.

Bury her.

Tell everyone that the baby died in the womb.

That won't do, Your Highness.

Although the princess is born with six fingers,

but, she's been in your belly for 10 months.

The hearts of mother and daughter beat as one.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Her Highness gave birth to a princess.

Hush, hush.

Hush, hush.

Let me hold her.

Why is there a wound on the hand of the princess?

Your Majesty,

the midwife accidentally hurt

the princess with scissors during the delivery.

Get the midwife.

I have to punish her.

Don't.

Your Majesty, I beg for your forgiveness.

The midwife knows her wrong

and was shaken to the core.

I've sent her out of the palace.

What's the matter?

Let me see.

Is she hurting?

What should be done?

Hush.

Your Majesty, I think the princess is hungry.

I'll take her back.

Okay.

You may go.

Yes.

Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty! -The Imperial Harem is large.

But, none bore a prince for me.

Your Majesty, you've been straining yourself too much lately.

Why don't you head back to the imperial sleeping quarters to rest?

You haven't taken the last dose of medicine for today.

The concoction does not help the headache,

what more the problems in my heart?

Your Majesty, I'm sure of a person

that could cure the problems of your heart.

It's Virtuous Consort.

She's done so much for me and Great Song.

But, I cast her to be alone at

the tomb of the late emperor.

Your Majesty,

I've been keeping track.

In 2 more days,

the mourning period for Virtuous Consort

would fulfil the three years promise.

At that time, Your Majesty

could invite Her Highness back to the palace.

And, the memorial tablet of the eldest prince

can be placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

There three-year mourning ends in another two days?

Yes.

Jing Zong, oh, Jing Zong,

you could've told me earlier.

Quick, off you go to

fetch Virtuous Consort and

Wan'er back to the palace for me.

Yes, yes. Right away.

Quick.

Your Majesty, take good care of yourself.

Quick.

Greetings, Grand Preceptor.

What brought you here, In-law?

It's been long since we met.

Why are you looking so haggard?

It's worse than before.

Trouble has befallen me.

The Guo Family lost two loved ones in a short time.

I, an old man, am left alone.

Man proposes but God disposes.

Don't be too sad, sir.

Restrain your grief, accept fate.

I came to see you

to discuss something important with you.

What is it?

The Emperor has instructed

for Liu E to be invited back to the palace from the tomb of the late emperor.

I will no longer interfere with matters of the palace.

Anyhow, Liu E has fulfilled the three-year mourning period as promised.

It's just natural for her to be taken back to the palace.

Grand Preceptor, three years ago,

you weren't as keen.

Have you forgotten the posthumous edict of the late emperor?

Things are now different from what they were.

Perhaps, if the soul of the late emperor

saw Liu E's acts these years,

he might have abolished these edicts

and taken her back into the palace.

If the soul of the late emperor was watching,

he wouldn't tolerate it.

Liu E gives to the needy,

treats people with kindness and returns evil with good.

It's everyone's hope to see her return to the palace

and it's not something you can stop.

It looks like my effort of travelling here

has gone to waste.

In-law,

Consort Liu is greatly virtuous.

Mysteriously and inexorably, she's protected by the Heavens.

You, as a Grand Tutor

must not make another mistake.

I carry on the will of the final wishes of the late Emperor.

I'm protecting the dynasty's guides and teachings.

Grand Preceptor,

can't you see?

Once Liu E enters the palace,

the Emperor will confer her as the Empress.

As such,

could the soul of the late empress bear to see that?

Before Qing Yi passed,

she wrote a will to the Emperor,

entrusting His Majesty

to make Liu E the empress.

Qing Yi...

You'er...

Qing Yi...

You'er...

Since that's the case,

I'll take leave.

You'er...

Blessings, Eunuch Zhang.

Eunuch Zhang,

we're packed

and ready for you.

Good.

Once Her Highness is ready,

we'll set out.

-Eunuch Zhang, please follow me. -Okay.

Sister.

Eunuch Zhang.

Your humble servant greets Virtuous Consort.

Rise, please.

Yes.

The journey must have been hard on you.

Your Highness,

it's my pleasure that the Emperor sent me

to take you back to the palace.

These days, the Emperor has been counting down

the days that you'll be returning to the palace.

He sent me here a few days ago.

Your Highness has contributed in curing small pox.

The Emperor has issued an edict

to invite you back to the palace.

Invite me back to the palace?

Would the Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor and the ministers

remonstrate with the Emperor and create obstruction again?

Your Highness, you treat people with kindness.

The civil and military officials

no longer have excuses to stop you from returning to the palace.

Right. And, Miss Wan'er

and her younger brother, Li Zai Feng

cared for you at the tomb of the Emperor.

They also contributed in the aid of curing small pox.

Hence, Li Wan'er is conferred as Lady of Handsome Fairness.

Li Zai Feng, as the inner-depository vice envoy.

Three of you shall enter the capital together.

Thank His Majesty!

Long live, my emperor!

Thank you, Eunuch Zhang.

Sister, we owe this to Her Highness.

Wan'er,

you've been conferred as Lady of Handsome Fairness.

Why do you look a little down?

I have set my heart on serving you.

It pleases me as long as I'm with you.

I've never thought of serving the Emperor.

You silly girl.

You've taken care of Ji'er in Liao for three years.

Then, you stayed here with me for three years.

The Emperor saw your loyalty,

effort and heart.

Hence, you were conferred a title.

After entering the palace,

we'll still be together.

We'll still be sisters.

If that's the case,

it puts me at ease.

When we enter the palace,

Ji'er's memorial tablet will be placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

I count this load on my mind

settled.

[End of Episode 24]