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 25]

[Qian Yuan Gate]

[The memorial tablet of Zhao Ji, Prince of Song]

Welcome to the palace, Virtuous Consort.

Please rise.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I'm Yi Qin.

I'll go to the palace with Your Highness

and serve you from today onwards.

It's been years since His Majesty's accession,

and I've gone through so much hardship.

I can finally enter the palace.

Ji'er,

I'm going to cross the threshold

into the palace

with you.

To achieve the virtue of Heaven, one creates a great life of his own.

The crown prince, Zhao Ji's memorial tablet

is to be enshrined at the Imperial Temple.

[The memorial tablet of Zhao Ji, Prince of Song]

Ji'er,

we are home.

Ji'er,

rest in peace.

It's fine if she can't give birth to a prince.

Having a princess is also extending the emperor's bloodline.

But... but this princess has six fingers.

It's our destiny.

We're not blessed by Heaven.

We can't resign to destiny.

After the empress died,

no one was chosen to fill her place.

Yu Shu should be crowned the empress.

We can't let Liu E take all the glory.

I observed the sky a few days ago.

There'll be a Five-Star Alignment.

It's a sign of a woman ruling the world.

How can His Majesty and the ministers tolerate it?

Father should advise the emperor with the Imperial Preceptors

to drive Liu E out of the palace.

Ever since the Empress and the Prince have passed away,

Grand Preceptor Guo has lost all hope.

I'm also unable to do much.

Back then,

the Guo family had the world under their feet.

Suddenly, most of them are gone.

Luckily, all of our family members are still around.

Yu Shu is the Noble Consort.

She gave birth to Shou An.

She should just focus on raising the princess.

Why else do we have to fight for?

Mother.

As long as Liu E is in the palace,

she'll make lives difficult for us.

The empress and the princes are dead.

It's a god-sent opportunity for Yu Shu to climb to the top.

Say no more.

I'll never let Liu E have

what belongs to me.

Since when has Your Majesty

been suffering from migraine?

That year,

Ji'er passed away.

I had these symptoms when I was in Chanyuan City.

It comes and goes.

The Imperial Physicians are helpless too.

Ji'er's memorial tablet is enshrined in the Imperial Temple.

I've also returned from the mausoleum.

Your Majesty can be at ease from now on.

The Harem has no blessings.

Lin'er.

Ji'er.

You'er.

My three princes died one after another.

I don't have an heir.

No one will inherit the Song empire.

Could it be

that I'm down on my luck

and I won't have a son?

Your Majesty, you're in your prime

and in good health.

You'll definitely have male offspring.

Your Majesty,

there's an urgent report from the Prefectural Governor of Lingzhou

for your perusal.

Present it.

This is outrageous!

Your Majesty,

the outbreak of smallpox has just been contained.

Now, the Tanguts are making trouble in the northwest

and attacking Lingzhou.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Will Song

ever be at peace?

Jing Zong, send for the Imperial Physician.

Yes.

Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician will be here soon.

Let me help you to get rest.

Come.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

How is His Majesty?

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

I know His Majesty has been suffering from migraine.

But it has never been cured.

Today, he passed out suddenly .

It's really hard for me to diagnose it.

You've been serving in the palace for years.

You should know His Majesty's condition very well.

How can it be hard to diagnose?

His Majesty is showing many symptoms

of depression.

Depression?

Right.

Three years ago,

the eldest prince passed away in Chanyuan.

This year, the empress and the second prince

died one after another.

His Majesty, His Majesty.

His Majesty is too sad and heartbroken.

Ultimately, it leads to depression.

The symptoms of this illness are qi and blood deficiencies,

headache, forgetfulness, moodiness,

and lethargy.

His Majesty has all these symptoms.

And he suddenly fainted today.

I'm afraid there are other complications.

So it's really hard for me to diagnose it.

Do you mean

that this illness

has no cure?

Your Highness,

please forgive my incompetence.

Physician Dong,

do you know

why I bring you to the Imperial Study?

Hope Your Highness can tell me.

It's hard for you to make

a definite diagnosis of the emperor's illness.

But you know,

it concerns the Imperial Court

and the whole country.

Only Wan'er, Eunuch Zhang,

you and I know about

the emperor's illness.

You must not breathe a word about it.

Your Highness, don't worry.

I'll keep my mouth shut and never tell anyone.

From today on, you are not allowed to leave the palace

or tell anyone about the emperor's illness.

Otherwise, your whole family will be executed.

Your Highness, I swear to Heaven.

News about His Majesty's illness will stay in the palace.

All the medicines taken by His Majesty will be strictly kept confidential.

And all the prescriptions will be destroyed.

Nothing will be disclosed.

I'm relieved

to hear that.

Get up.

Thank Your Highness.

Your Highness, you're in an aesthetic mood.

This painting is called Sunset at the River.

I've painted it for a few days but it's not done.

An aesthetic mood excludes one from his delusional thoughts.

This is the Longyuan Snow Tea from the Phoenix Mountain in Fuzhou.

Please enjoy it.

This tea tastes bitter when you first drink it.

But as it flows into your stomach,

there is a lingering aftertaste

which is refreshing and makes you want more.

It turns out that drinking tea can also be intoxicating.

Your Highness is engrossed in arts and tea.

You've forgotten your country.

Do you know what has happened in the palace?

Liu E has entered the palace.

Her maid is given the title of Lady of Handsome Fairness.

There'll be a lot going on in the palace.

The palace

never has any peace.

Don't waste your effort.

Father-in-law,

it's best to stop before it's too late.

I don't know how to appreciate your tea

and it's not intoxicating.

I'd better stay clear-headed.

By the way,

Si Qi is about to give birth.

Duke Ji's family is flourishing.

Your Highness is blessed with plenty of children.

Whereas His Majesty doesn't have a son.

Once he thinks about it,

I want to see

how long your aesthetic mood will last.

Sister, I'm here.

How's everything?

His Majesty hasn't woken up.

It's been a night.

He didn't drink any water or come round.

You've been with His Majesty all night.

Health comes first. Go get some rest first.

Let me take care of him.

According to Physician Dong,

it's not the first time His Majesty has been in a coma.

But he has never told anyone,

not even the Imperial Physicians.

He can only endure the pain in secret.

Why does His Majesty keep it from the Imperial Physician?

His Majesty has no one to trust.

We can't let the ministers know about his illness.

Otherwise, it'll cause a disturbance at the court.

Everyone only knows

that the emperor leads a life of privilege.

But who can understand the difficulties of a ruler?

Your Highness,

the ministers are waiting for His Majesty

to go to court in Wen De Hall.

Jing Zong, come. Let me ask you.

Has His Majesty woke up?

Let me ask you.

During the three years I wasn't in the capital,

has His Majesty been in such condition?

Your Highness,

His Majesty has passed out

several times since the beginning of this year.

At least two to four hours each time.

And at most,

even a whole day.

His Majesty is seriously ill.

But Physician Dong was unaware of it?

Your Highness,

whenever His Majesty fell sick,

he only let me stay by his side.

His Majesty forbade me to tell anyone,

including the Imperial Physicians,

so as not to cause an unrest at the court.

Unexpectedly,

as a sovereign,

His Majesty has to hide his illness

from his courtiers.

Looks like His Majesty is unable to go to court today.

Then I'll go to Wen De Hall

to cancel the audience.

Go ahead.

The Tanguts have been stirring up trouble.

If there's an urgent letter from Lingzhou,

send it to His Majesty's chamber at once.

Yes, Your Highness.

I'll take my leave.

His Majesty has cancelled the audience twice.

What's going on?

It's so sudden. There must be something wrong.

There must be something wrong.

I heard that Physician Dong from the Imperial Academy of Medicine

was summoned to His Majesty's chamber.

Has His Majesty fallen sick?

I watched the sky last night.

The Emperor Star appeared in the north of the heavenly palace.

It's a good sign.

It shows that His Majesty is in trouble.

But he can turn calamities into blessings and pull through.

However, there's a celestial sign

that puzzles me.

What is it?

At a quarter to four in the morning,

there was a Five-Star Alignment in the southeast.

Five-Star Alignment?

Based on historical records,

since ancient times,

Five-Star Alignment only appeared

when Empress Lu usurped power and Empress Wu held a court audience.

Ministers,

His Majesty has a flu.

If you want to submit a memorial,

pass it to me. I'll deliver it to His Majesty's chamber.

I have something important to discuss with His Majesty.

Lord Kou, is your matter more important

than His Majesty's health?

His Majesty has told me

he won't see any ministers.

Eunuch,

please present this memorial to His Majesty.

It's very urgent.

Lord Ding, what is it about?

The Shaanxi Region has been suffering from drought.

No crops are harvested in places such as Metropolitan Prefecture and Hezhong,

resulting in widespread famine and an increasing number of refugees.

Several riots broke out.

Some rioters

had colluded with Li De Ming, the Tangut Li Ji Qian's son,

waiting for a right moment to strike.

If we don't pacify the refugees,

there will be war in the northwest.

Lord Ding, please wait here.

I'll inform His Majesty.

We should go.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Let's go back.

Eunuch Zhang.

-Grand Tutor Cao. -Eunuch Zhang.

Eunuch Zhang.

What's the matter?

I also have a memorial to pass to you.

Eunuch Zhang.

Grand Tutor Cao, what are you doing?

No, I can't accept it.

Eunuch Zhang. Eunuch Zhang.

Do you have to embarrass me?

Grand Tutor Cao, just tell me what you need.

I'll help.

I just want to know

how His Majesty's health is.

Grand Tutor Cao, you're a high official who has served two emperors.

If I tell you the truth,

you must keep it to yourself.

Do you not trust me?

Grand Tutor Cao, be honest with you.

His Majesty has been unconscious for a whole day.

even the Imperial Physician is helpless.

That's all I can say.

I'll take my leave.

Your Highness,

There's an urgent report from the Secretary of Treasury Ding Wei.

He said the situation in Shaanxi Region is critical.

Hope His Majesty can review it.

Present it to me.

If this memorial isn't reviewed,

there'll be serious consequences.

Jing Zong, you may withdraw.

After His Majesty wakes up,

I'll ask him to review the memorials.

Yes, Your Highness.

Sister.

His Majesty still hasn't woken up.

Wan'er,

prepare the red ink.

What are you trying to do?

I want to review some memorials on His Majesty's behalf.

Sister, the Harem shall not intervene with politics.

This is the precept the ancestors left us.

It's a capital crime

if you go against it.

How would I not know these precepts?

But the military crisis can't wait.

His Majesty is still in a coma.

If no one reviews these memorials,

there'll be serious consequences.

Fortunately,

I've copied His Majesty's handwriting before.

I don't think anyone will notice it.

Sister.

It's urgent.

This is the only way.

Your Highness.

Father-in-law, what's going on?

His Majesty is unwell.

He didn't go to court today.

His Majesty is ill?

His Majesty has been unconscious for a whole day.

Even the Imperial Physicians are helpless.

Consort Liu has stopped the news from spreading.

His Majesty gets so sick?

His Majesty is critically ill.

He has no heir to inherit the throne.

Your Highness,

you should go to meet him

and ask him to appoint you as the crown prince.

So that you can succeed to the throne.

Father-in-law, I've told you a few days ago.

Don't mention about dethroning His Majesty.

His Majesty has lost his wife and sons.

He's stricken with grief.

How can I bring this up to him now?

Your Highness is sympathetic to His Majesty,

But you're totally unaware that you're in danger.

In danger?

Father-in-law,

what do you mean?

I didn't betray His Majesty

or the people.

I just want to live in peace.

Where does the danger come from?

Your Highness, have you forgotten?

Duke Qin, Duke Jun,

Duke Xu and Duke Chu.

Which of them isn't a royal descent?

But what happened to them?

[Don't raise the cup...]

Father-in-law,

say no more.

I painted the Sunset at the River

for you.

The sunset

symbolizes one's twilight years.

Everything is set.

You should reflect on yourself

in order to have a good ending.

It has been a day and a night,

Why hasn't His Majesty woke up?

I just checked on him.

His Majesty looked better.

Colour was coming back to his face.

Physician Dong also checked his pulse,

saying that he would wake up today.

Hope what Physician Dong said can become true.

I've reviewed

all the urgent memorials.

The rest

shall be reviewed by His Majesty

after he wakes up.

This memorial is submitted by Grand Preceptor Guo,

He wants to retire.

Grand Preceptor Guo always turned up against you.

Now that you're back to the palace,

and the empress has passed away.

Grand Preceptor has no one to rely on at the court.

Maybe that's why he wants to retire.

Grand Preceptor Guo has assisted two emperors.

He's contributed a lot.

But his daughter and grandsons are both dead now.

He must feel lonely and sad.

If I allow him to retire,

He'll die in distress.

I think...

I'll just put it on hold,

keep the Grand Preceptor in the palace first

and let His Majesty decide on it.

Sister.

Your Majesty,

you finally wake up.

How long have I been asleep?

Your Majesty, you've been asleep for a day and a night.

When you were in a coma,

I received some memorials.

Given the urgency of the situation,

I reviewed them without your permission.

Hope Your Majesty can forgive me.

The Tangut Li Ming De is causing trouble in Lingzhou.

The refugees in the Shaanxi Region are rioting.

I've reviewed the memorials

and ordered the garrison near Lingzhou to go there as backup,

the inner-depository to allocate funds for disaster relief,

and the Magistrate of the Shaanxi Region to distribute food

to pacify the victims.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

Ying'er.

You've solved a crisis for me

and prevented a war.

It's a merit. I won't blame you.

Your Majesty,

Grand Preceptor has submitted a memorial.

He wants to retire in his old age.

It must be decided by you.

The servants have almost done packing up.

Once we get His Majesty's approval,

we'll set off immediately.

What's the use of sighing all day long?

You'll catch a cold if you keep lying like this.

Your memorial has been submitted for a while.

Why hasn't His Majesty replied?

His Majesty has been unwell lately.

Perhaps he hasn't reviewed it.

Virtuous Consort is in the palace now.

It's a matter of time before we leave the capital.

Master, master.

Master, madam, Virtuous Consort is here.

Master, master.

Virtuous Consort?

Hurry. Hurry.

Hurry.

Greetings to Your Highness.

We didn't go out to welcome you as we didn't know you're coming.

Hope Your Highness can forgive us.

Grand Preceptor, old madam.

Don't stand on ceremony.

Today, I come here

to discuss something important with you.

Please come in and talk.

Please.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, please sit.

Old madam, thank you.

You two please sit too.

It looks like

you're packing up.

Grand Preceptor,

you and the old madam

have been living in the capital for years.

Even though Empress Guo has passed on,

this is your home.

Besides, the Guos are a prominent family in the capital.

Do you really want to leave this place?

Everyone in the capital

knows the Guo family.

Back then, I supported Duke Xiang

and betrothed my daughter to him.

After Duke Xiang succeeded to the throne, he appointed me as the Grand Preceptor.

My daughter was the motherly figure of the nation.

She then gave birth to a prince.

Those were the glorious days of the Guo family.

We have the most wealth and power

among the officials.

Slowly, I got carried away by power.

So I colluded with the ministers

[Qian Yuan Gate]

and used the late emperor's edict as an excuse

to object to letting you enter the palace

and enshrining the prince's tablet in the Imperial temple.

I really resorted to every conceivable means.

I was so desperate

that I even sent assassins

to go to the mausoleum to kill you.

His Majesty didn't punish me.

But I'm too ashamed to face you.

Your Highness.

Grand Preceptor.

Grand Preceptor, please get up.

Please get up.

You can be so frank

and tell me everything honestly.

I know

you're truly penitent.

Your Highness, please sit.

Lord Guo, you sit down too.

Madam, you too.

It's very benevolent of Your highness

to forgive me.

I feel so ashamed.

It's in the past.

You should let it go.

Evil acts bring retribution.

But I didn't expect...

I really didn't expect

that the retribution didn't come to me.

Instead, it took away Qing Yi and the two princes' lives.

It's all my fault.

I'm willing to leave the capital and live in seclusion in the countryside

for the rest of my life.

Grand Preceptor,

Empress Guo had been taking care of me

since I stayed in Duke Xiang's Residence.

The Empress and I addressed each other as sisters before she died.

Now that sister is dead

and the two of you are on your own.

I really couldn't bear

to see you leave the capital.

Besides, you have served two emperors before, Grand Preceptor.

His Majesty also doesn't want you to return to private life.

I appreciate His Majesty's kindness.

But I'm very old.

I'm just holding a position at the court and contributing nothing.

I'm unable to cope with the government affairs now.

So I'm afraid I can't help His Majesty and Your Highness.

Are you leaving because you still have doubts

about me?

No, no.

Your Highness is willing to let bygones be bygones

and requite good for evil.

I don't have any doubts about you.

Since that is the case,

please accept my respect.

Your Highness, Your Highness.

Your Highness, what are you doing?

I kneel down

because I want to be your god-daughter.

Please don't leave the capital.

From today onwards,

I'll take care of you

on behalf of Sister.

Your Highness.

Thank Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Please get up.

Your Highness, please get up.

By the way, Si Qi.

Remember to frame my painting tomorrow.

Don't forget.

All right.

Your Highness,

Lord Cao ordered someone to bring a letter

addressed to Your Highness.

You may dismiss.

Yes.

[His Majesty is in the pink of health. He goes to court every day.]

What did Father say in the letter?

His Majesty is in the pink of health.

He goes to court everyday. Things are as usual.

But Zhang Jing Zong told Father-in-law

that His Majesty had been unconscious

for a whole day.

Apparently, he was saying it to me.

Father-in-law thought he had found out about the actual situation.

Why did His Majesty ask Eunuch Zhang to say so?

His Majesty wanted to test me.

Fortunately, I didn't listen to Father-in-law.

I told him not to act rashly.

If not, I'll be executed sooner or later.

Your Highness,

you're worrying too much.

His Majesty is suspicious of me now.

I won't live long.

Your Majesty, what are you looking for?

Where is the military report from the Shaanxi Region?

The Shaanxi Region is a thousand li away from the capital.

Even the fastest delivery takes two day to reach here.

Your Majesty,

the military report from the Shaanxi Region has arrived.

Quickly present it.

The disaster relief funds have been received.

Food was given out.

All refugees were treated equally

and sheltered properly.

The Tangut Li Ming De was nowhere to be found.

A small group of rebels was wiped out.

The northwest is safe.

There's no war in the Metropolitan Prefecture and Hezhong.

The world is at peace.

The northwest is safe.

And the world is at peace.

It's great news.

I can finally set my mind at ease.

[End of episode 25]