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 29]

I'll make a move first.

De Rang,

what do you think about what happened earlier at the Imperial Court?

I believe Song's emperor

isn't aware of the 20,000 bolts of inferior silk.

Song's official management has not always been great.

Perhaps someone wished to profit from it by concealing the true state of affairs.

I have the same opinion.

Come on.

That being said, earlier on,

you didn't stop them from going to Song

to question them about it.

After all, the Emperor agreed.

I couldn't speak against it.

I did say

I would return political right slowly to him.

So,

he has to decide for himself in most matters.

I don't wish to interfere too much.

I understand.

After you, Father-in-law.

It's been ten days.

The Emperor hasn't attended the court for ten days ever since he caught a cold.

Each day, the memorials are sent to Da Qing Academy.

Lord Pan,

the memorials are checked and approved by the Emperor.

In that case,

why does the Emperor refuse to meet us?

If the Emperor was severely ill,

how would he have the energy to examine these memorials?

Eunuch Zhang,

how exactly is the Emperor's health?

Lord Cao,

the Emperor caught a cold

and is having a headache.

The imperial physician advised him not to be exposed to the wind.

Is that all?

That's all.

However, I heard that

Imperial Physician Dong has been staying at Hui Fu Pavilion since.

The Emperor needs to be looked after.

Since the Emperor feels unwell,

we request to visit him.

The imperial physician said the Emperor...

We can go to Hui Fu Pavilion,

even if it's just listening to the Emperor's decree outside.

Please relay our message, Eunuch Zhang.

Thank you, Eunuch Zhang.

We must meet the Emperor today.

All right, in that case, please wait here.

I'll seek the Emperor's opinion.

There's no need for that!

The Emperor needs to rest.

The court officials shouldn't disturb the Emperor.

Here is the decree.

In the Emperor's words,

"Autumn is around the corner."

"The Ministry of Rites should start preparing now."

"This year, the autumn worship"

"will be hosted by the Commissioner of Privy Council, Su Yi Jian,"

"and supervised by both Councilors of State."

"I hope all court officials will work together"

"and not let me down."

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Highness,

when can we meet the Emperor?

When the Emperor's headache subsides,

he will naturally summon you all.

Is this your opinion or the Emperor's?

Duke of Han, are you suspecting me

for forging the imperial decree?

As court officials, we're worried about the Emperor's health.

I'm sure you will understand.

The Emperor is fine.

The memorials are approved by the Emperor each day.

All of you just have to follow the decree.

Your Highness, may I ask

if this the Emperor's handwriting?

Prime Minister Kou, why did you say so?

I've seen your handwriting before.

It greatly resembles

the Emperor's.

Prime Minister Kou, are you saying

that I read the memorials and interfere with the state affairs?

In that case,

can you point out which sentence or word

is my handwriting

instead of the Emperor's?

Grand Tutor,

you're the Emperor's teacher.

You know the Emperor's handwriting best.

Are you able to tell the difference?

Although I'm unable to tell,

I have to talk to the Emperor urgently.

The Emperor fell asleep after taking medicine.

I can wait.

Grand Tutor, what is so urgent

that you must meet the Emperor today?

The heir is the foundation of a country.

I want to tell the Emperor to name an heir promptly.

Name an heir promptly?

Grand Tutor, may I know

who do you wish to name?

This is state affairs. Consorts mustn't interfere.

How dare you!

Although the Emperor doesn't have a son now,

he is still young.

This time, the Emperor only feels a little unwell

and you are already harbouring evil intentions.

Are you trying to start a rebellion?

Are you awaiting the Emperor's demise?

Pardon us.

We dare not.

Eunuch Zhang, pass the decree to Duke Ji's mansion.

Just say Shu recently offered us a batch of Shu brocade as tribute.

The quality is quite good.

Tell the royal tailors to make clothes

for women of the royal family.

Summon Duchess Ji to the palace

so that she can select the design and colours.

Ask her to bring along the newborn prince here as well

so that I can have a look.

Make some clothes for the baby prince as well.

I understand.

Don't cry anymore.

You have always been meek since young.

That is your own child.

You love your child.

You brought him to the palace,

but you couldn't bring him back.

She is a consort.

She wants Chan'er to accompany her for a few days.

How was I supposed to turn that down?

You shouldn't have brought the prince to the palace.

It's all your fault.

You made the Virtuous Consort angry.

That's why she tricked me to go to the palace

before you left the palace.

What a Virtuous Consort.

What a cunning woman.

Now that the Emperor is severely ill and he has yet to have an heir,

she's trying to make us behave.

Your Highness!

What should we do?

I've copied the painting, "Snowy Stream"

by Wang Wei for dozens of times.

This was the best attempt.

After being disturbed by Si Qi,

it's all gone.

Your Highness.

The Virtuous Consort likes Chan'er.

Let him stay in the palace to accompany her for a few days.

Chan'er is just a baby.

Si Qi, the autumn weather is cold.

You just gave birth.

So you need to recuperate.

Go to your room and rest.

Regarding Chan'er, it wasn't your fault.

Don't worry.

Father-in-law and I will think of a way.

What exactly do you plan to do, Your Highness?

Father-in-law,

are you sure that the Emperor is seriously ill?

The recent signs in the palace

are unusual.

One can't help but feel suspicious.

Father-in-law, you also said that

the Virtuous Consort relayed the Emperor's decree to prepare for autumn worship.

The Emperor

will have to show up on that day.

What if the Emperor

doesn't show up on the day of autumn worship?

That's why

we must make preparation

for certain things.

Father-in-law, have you thought about this?

This might be a trap.

Don't you think

it's a coincidence that the Emperor fell ill at this time?

The raccoon caused trouble at the Mid-Autumn Festival

and rumours spread quickly.

They say the Virtuous Consort

brought this cursed animal to the palace.

At the same time,

the case of the raccoon is still unsettled,

but my brother fell ill.

The Emperor feels unwell today. The morning meeting is cancelled.

Now that you mention it,

I also think something is strange about this matter.

Could it really be the Emperor's plot?

Father-in-law, don't forget,

I was just bestowed with another son.

Do you think...

The Emperor and the Virtuous Consort must have come up with this plot

to test the court officials.

A plot which concerns the royal descendants and the heir.

He's beautiful.

He's smiling.

You're smiling.

Why are you so good-looking?

Why are you so good-looking?

He's so handsome.

You're happy.

You're happy.

His eyes really resemble Duke Ji's.

They are jet-black and shiny.

I think

they are much nicer

than Duke Ji's silent and still eyes.

When Chan'er grows up,

I'm sure he'll blame me for what I'm about to do.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Your Highness, you're doing so for the sake of the Emperor,

as well as Song's stability as a nation.

However, this is also a risky decision.

I wonder how long it can keep

the precarious situation

at the Imperial Court.

The Autumn worship will take place in half a month.

Since you issued the decree in the Emperor's place,

at least within these two weeks,

the noble families won't dare to cause trouble.

However, the autumn worship is approaching.

If the Emperor has not regained consciousness by then,

sister,

what are we going to do?

I don't know either.

You don't know?

Where is Wan'er?

Sister Wan'er

has been looking after the Emperor.

Good boy.

Good boy.

Has she been this way lately?

Yes. Lin Lang and the others tried to persuade her,

but Consort Jie Yu wouldn't listen.

Sometimes, she even kneels throughout the night.

Your Highness, should we persuade her?

There's no need for that.

Bring me the snow fox cloak

given by the Emperor.

Also, tell Lin Lang

to get the fireplace and ginseng soup ready.

Yes, Your Highness.

Yuan Kan, since when have you become so naughty?

You did it on purpose,

right?

You just want to make me worry.

Let me tell you.

If you still don't wake up,

there will really be chaos.

I have no idea how long we'll be able to hold on

at the Imperial Court and the harem.

your majesty

Yuan Kan,

as the Emperor, you mustn't disregard your nation

and its people.

Even more so, you can't ignore me like this.

You want a prince,

a prince of our own.

When you're awake,

let's work hard to have one,

all right?

You'll teach him how to ride a horse, hunt and read,

as well as guiding him in political affairs.

Then he can oversee the state affairs for you.

By that time,

you and I

will live in Shu for a while.

That's my homeland.

I've always wanted to bring you there.

Shu has a type of flowers called Yuntai.

Bunches of pale yellow flowers

adorn the emerald green stems.

It's very beautiful.

Yuan Kan, you must pluck one for me

and place it on my hair,

all right?

Will you do it?

Your Highness,

have some tea and cake first.

Young Master will be back very soon.

Rush him again.

You may go.

I wish to be alone for a while.

Yes, Your Highness.

A raccoon?

Why would there be a raccoon?

A raccoon.

Stupid woman!

You ruined my plan.

Move aside!

Move aside!

Your Highness, bear with it.

Young Master.

You may leave.

Yes, sir.

Is it painful?

Why is there a raccoon in the mansion?

What do you think?

It resembles the one

at the autumn banquet at Chun Luan Pavilion.

That's because they're a pair.

Brother, are you keeping a raccoon?

That raccoon caused so much trouble.

Why didn't you kill it

to avoid trouble?

Kill it?

Do you think training a raccoon

that goes berserk at the sound of a drum

is easy?

No wonder you asked Yue'er to relay the message that night,

telling me to make Liu E beat the drums.

You're useless

and you almost brought trouble upon yourself

and ruined my plan.

Now you even

set the remaining one free.

What can a raccoon do?

Now the rumour is spreading across the Imperial Court and the harem,

but what damage will it really cause Liu E?

Who do you think I'm doing this for?

If you're capable

of winning the Emperor's heart,

the Pan family

wouldn't have been in this state today

and living at others' mercy.

So what if I was favoured by the Emperor?

My blood is incompatible with the Emperor's.

We aren't able to have a child together anyway.

Even so, you mustn't let other consorts bear a son.

Someone has to succeed to the throne.

Back then, Emperor Taizu

was a mere imperial commander.

After the coup at Chen Bridge, he was made the emperor,

replacing Later Zhou

and founded Song.

The Pan family

has generations of well-known generals.

We are not inferior to the Zhao family in any way.

Who says the emperor must be a descendant of Zhao?

Yi Jian.

Your Highness.

What's the matter?

Reckless horse riders were sighted

in Dongjing's streets.

Judging by their clothing,

they're mostly Liao people.

Their leader looks familiar.

Who is the leader?

Yelu Liushou.

General of Liao?

Yes.

Why is he here again?

The handover of Xiongzhou only took place a month ago.

If Liao sent envoys to our Imperial Court,

why didn't the stage stop report it beforehand?

That's exactly my concern as well.

Nonetheless,

all signs show that Yelu Liushou and the rest

didn't come here with kind intentions.

Since they're in Dongjing,

we'll find out sooner or later

about their intention.

Yes.

Your Highness,

don't you want to tell me the truth?

What do you mean?

Although Prime Minister Kou has seen your handwriting before,

he doesn't know it as well as me.

Your handwriting now

does greatly resemble the Emperor's.

You've almost fooled me even.

However, you forgot something.

Each time you write the horizontal turning,

you pause at the turn.

That's why the ink mark at this spot tends to be darker.

The Emperor's handwriting is free-flowing.

So it won't leave a darker mark

at any turn.

Outsiders can hardly pick up

such a slight difference.

Even if they do notice,

they'll probably think it's caused by uneven force of the wrist.

Moreover, the Emperor has fallen ill.

Very few people will find it suspicious.

However,

you can't fool me.

Yi Jian, you're meticulous.

You're no outsider.

I guess we can tell you.

The Emperor

has been in a coma since.

[Qian Yuan Gate]

General, you seem different

in this outfit.

Bring me to your emperor!

The Emperor issued a decree to hold a banquet at Ji Ying Hall

to welcome envoys from Liao.

General,

this way.

What is the Virtuous Consort up to?

Lord Kou, why did you say so?

Liao's envoys came to our Imperial Court.

They should wait at Wen De Hall to meet the Emperor.

Instead, there's a banquet.

Who came up with this idea?

According to the rites,

Liao's envoys will meet the Emperor at Wen De Hall.

Consorts mustn't interfere with state affairs

or enter Wen De Hall at will.

However, a seat for the Virtuous Consort

can be arranged at this banquet.

Will the Emperor be absent again today?

Lord Kou, what do you intend to do?

I'm going to ask the Virtuous Consort

exactly what is going on with the Emperor.

Lord Kou, you still don't believe the consort's words?

Although I'm unable to tell whose handwriting it is on the memorials,

after following the Emperor for years,

I think I know a thing or two

about the differences between his handwriting and others'.

However, the Emperor is ill.

He might consult the consort about certain things.

It's possible.

The Virtuous Consort has arrived!

Greetings, Your Highness.

The Emperor is feeling unwell.

He ordered me to summon

Liao's envoys to the banquet in his place. Pass the decree.

Your Highness, wait.

The envoys came to visit.

It's not so good if the Emperor doesn't meet them.

Duke of Han, how do you know the Emperor isn't going to meet them?

Today, it is just a banquet

which I'll entertain the guests on the Emperor's behalf.

Is there an issue?

Your Highness, may I know

when will the Emperor meet the envoys?

Is it tomorrow or the day after?

How can you simply speculate

the Emperor's intention?

Pardon me, Your Highness.

After all, the two nation's diplomatic ties are important.

I'm just trying to share the Emperor's burden.

Thank you, Lord Pan.

Since you're aware of its significance,

you shouldn't keep the Liao envoys waiting outside

or we'll become the laughing stock.

Summon envoys of Liao for a meeting.

Summon envoys of Liao for a meeting!

Where is your emperor?

The Emperor is not feeling well.

When the Emperor feels better,

he'll naturally meet you, General.

Was the Song emperor

aware that we came to question him?

So he went into hiding?

How dare you.

How dare you disrespect

the Emperor of Song?

Did I say anything wrong?

The Emperor of Song

doesn't dare to meet me

because your nation broke the Chanyuan Treaty, right?

General, mind what you say.

Our nation broke the Chanyuan Treaty?

Why did you say so? Any evidence?

Virtuous Consort,

at Song's Imperial Court,

if you're as capable as our Empress Dowager,

I don't necessarily have to meet Song's emperor.

How presumptuous.

I'm a court official

who abides strictly by the law of the Imperial Court.

How can I overstep my line?

We from Great Song observe the hierarchy of status

and gender.

How can you simply criticise our Imperial Court?

Your Highness,

this is to uphold the prestige of Song.

If the Emperor really does feel unwell,

Your Highness, please ask him to issue a decree

to authorise Duke Ji to handle

affairs of welcoming envoys of Liao.

Sorry for making you worried, Grand Tutor.

It concerns the honour of our Imperial Court.

Of course I should handle it myself.

There's no need to trouble Duke Ji.

Long live Your Majesty.

All of you may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Tell them to sit.

Take a seat!

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Highness, he's awake.

The Emperor is awake.

The Emperor is awake?

You mean the Emperor...

That's right, the Emperor is awake.

The Emperor is awake?

Your Highness.

Is the Emperor really awake?

Where is he? Has he really recovered?

Where is the Emperor now?

After the Emperor regained consciousness

and heard that Virtuous Consort

arranged a banquet for Liao's envoys at Ji Ying Hall,

he rushed there.

Good, hurry. Give me a hand.

Hurry! I'm going to the Emperor!

I have to meet the Emperor.

Your Highness.

No, I can't meet him.

I can't.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Serve the wine!

General, you're wearing the attire worn by our court officials.

Did you decide to follow our tradition?

As Song's emperor, you vowed sincerely

at the palace of Liao's emperor

to honour the treaty with faith.

For military funding purposes, monetary support is provided in the form

of 200,000 bolts of silk and 100,000 taels of silver.

On top of that, no envoy will be sent to the Northern Empire.

General, the last time you came

to borrow supplies, you were just an envoy.

After a month or so,

your identity became so different.

Your Majesty, just now the general said

we broke the Chanyuan Treaty.

They're here to question us.

Song's emperor, please look.

General, what do you mean?

These silk pieces were Song's tribute to Liao.

20,000 bolts of substandard silk were found among the 200,000 bolts of silk.

It's an act of humiliation to Liao.

Song's emperor should give Liao an explanation.

General,

how did you know

this silk piece was part of the tribute?

I cut it off myself.

There's no mistaking it.

Imperial Physician Dong, how is Consort Jie Yu doing?

Madam, she is fragile in the first place.

Later, she had a cold, causing her to be weaker.

However, her condition did improve recently through nourishment.

For the past few days, she had been worrying

and eating little.

The emotional roller coaster caused her to faint with palpitation.

That being said, she'll be fine.

Later, I'll prepare a prescription

and she'll recover after taking a few doses of the medicine.

No need to worry, Madam.

Imperial Physician Dong,

of course I trust your medical skills.

Lin Lang,

bring brushes and ink for the imperial physician.

Yes, Madam.

Consort Jie Yu was favoured by the Emperor recently.

She's fragile.

I'm worried that

those at the Imperial Academy of Medicine might be negligent.

Imperial Physician Dong, after you prepare the prescription,

please bring the herbs here yourself, just to be sure.

Madam,

can I leave Hui Fu Pavilion now?

Since when are you not allowed to leave Hui Fu Pavilion?

You're right, Madam.

Recently, the Emperor caught a cold.

So I stayed at Hui Fu Pavilion to look after the Emperor.

Imperial Physician Dong, you're a smart person.

Madam, I brought the stationery.

I'll make a move first.

The path to the Chanyuan Treaty was a tough one.

The diplomatic ties between the two nations did not come easy.

I'll surely investigate this matter.

If someone was really trying to cause trouble

by attempting to break the treaty,

I won't spare him.

Ping Zhong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You're in charge of investigating this matter.

Make sure you find out the truth

within ten days

in order to give the general an explanation.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Of course,

the general can also participate in the investigation.

That isn't necessary.

We still have things to do.

In that case, we'll visit again in 10 days.

At that time, let's see

what kind of explanation Prime Minister Kou is going to give us.

General, aren't you staying at the stage stop?

We're going to Xinzheng to pay respect to the Yellow Emperor.

Pay respect to the Yellow Emperor?

The Yellow Emperor was the ancestor of Liao.

What did the Yellow Emperor have to do with Liao?

Since Emperor Taizu's reign,

Liao has been blessed by the gods,

who descended to the plains for a few times.

The god is almighty

for granting abundance as well as prosperity for Liao.

General, are you talking

about the Yellow Emperor?

That's right.

Hence, the name Liao, which means the central.

We're on our Emperor's order

to pay respect on the tenth day of the ninth lunar month.

The third of third is the Yellow Emperor's birth anniversary.

Our people worship him on this day.

That's true.

But the tenth of tenth is Emperor Taizong of Liao's birth anniversary.

Back then, he led an army to the south

to build Liao and set a foundation for the generations to come.

Blessed by the Yellow Emperor,

The Liao people see him as our god.

Therefore, we specifically chose this day to worship him

to express our gratitude and admiration.

General,

The Yellow Emperor is the sovereign of the whole world.

I admire the fact that he's enshrined as deity in Liao.

The emperor of Song goes to Xinzheng

to pray for the people's blessings.

Song and Liao benefited from what the Yellow Emperor did.

General, what do you think?

The matter of the tribute

had caused people in Liao to propose a war.

If my trip to Xinzheng is interrupted this time

and I cannot worship the deity,

Grand Tutor Cao, you'll have a chance to serve your nation.

General, by that, do you mean you'll break the treaty?

I wonder if this is your idea

or Liao's emperor and Empress Dowager Xiao's idea?

Anyway,

the tribute concerns the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

As Song's emperor, you should handle it with caution.

The act of worshipping the Yellow Emperor mustn't be delayed.

I'll make a move first.

Are you going to force me to stay in the palace?

General, don't worry.

Xinzheng is also within our jurisdiction.

In this world,

anyone with the intention to worship him can go and pray.

Am I right, Your Majesty?

You're right, Virtuous Consort.

Worshipping the Yellow Emperor

means worshipping the deity of Liao.

If Song's emperor has no objection,

we'll make a move first.

Calm down, Your Majesty.

Take care of your health.

Your Majesty,

I got people to bring the silk here from our treasury.

After verification,

it's proven that this piece of silk was indeed our tribute.

Your Majesty,

we had rain and hot weather last year,

causing silkworms to not spin.

That's why the silk sent by all provinces were substandard

and thin in texture.

They're all similar to what the eunuch is holding.

If all the silk was substandard,

where did the 210,000 bolts of premium silk come from?

It took me a lot of effort

to choose the 200,000 bolts of silk.

Later, 30,000 more were requested.

Perhaps the 20,000 bolts of substandard silk

were mixed in amidst the confusion.

Are you blaming me

for agreeing to the request of Liao's envoys back then

to add 30,000 bolts of silk?

I wouldn't dare.

You wouldn't dare?

All of you are daring and reckless!

It's not two bolts

or 20 bolts!

It's 20,000 bolts!

The Chancellor of Treasury and the Grand Secretariat of the Administration Bureau!

My court officials

who pledged loyalty to Song!

Do you think the Liao people are blind

or that I'm stupid?

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, as the Chief of Delivery with Liao,

I'm unforgivable

when it comes to this incident.

I seek your punishment, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, Lord Ding had nothing to do with this.

I was the one in charge of transferring the silk from the treasury

and submitting a list to Lord Ding.

That's why Lord Ding wasn't aware

of the 20,000 bolts of substandard silk.

That means

you were aware of it all along?

This...

I wasn't aware.

Your Majesty, I really wasn't aware.

In the settlement with Liao, Wang Qin Ruo

tampered with the tribute by using substandard silk

and hence, breaking the Chanyuan Treaty.

He's demoted from the Grand Secretariat of the Administration Bureau

to Secretariat Drafter.

As the Chief of Delivery, Ding Wei's

salary will be forfeited for a year.

I order you two to immediately

prepare 40,000 bolts of premium silk for Liao!

Get them ready now!

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Wang Qin Ruo,

from today onwards,

you don't have to attend the Imperial Court anymore.

I no longer wish to see you.

I...

Yes, Your Majesty.

[End of Episode 29]