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 32]

The divine memorandum is so well-written and every word is a gem.

It tells of Your Majesty's contributions and virtues.

Reading it gives off the feeling like it's the wisdom from heaven.

A virtuous king is the good fortune of his people.

Are you praising yourself for your brilliant literary talent

or singing me praise?

I...I don't quite follow.

Wang Qin Ruo, how dare you

falsify the divine memorandum and deceive your king?

How should you be punished for that?

I...

Did you think I wouldn't recognize the handwriting on the divine memorandum

or

that was your intention all along?

Your Majesty.

Indeed.

I was the one who forged the divine memorandum.

You've got some nerve, Wang Qin Ruo.

How dare you fool me

and the rest of the world?

I dare not.

I wasn't sure if this plan would work out.

That's why I dare not inform Your Majesty

as I was afraid it would add to the worry.

Thank God for his blessings

as well as the cooperation from Your Majesty and fellow ministers.

Also, not to forget...

Not to forget Virtuous Consort's vigilance

and contribution for playing it by ear.

You're right.

Actually, as the Grand Tutor,

how would Ping Zhong

not recognize your handwriting?

I'm sorry.

I have committed a crime and I deserve the death penalty.

But I did all this to help share Your Majesty's burden.

But there's no escaping from the crime of deceiving Your Majesty.

Please give me my punishment.

Tell me this first.

What's with the red-crowned crane and red jade?

The red-crowned crane is a pet of mine.

As for the red jade, it's a family heirloom.

You seemed pretty busy yourself

although you haven't been coming to the court.

Get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I also heard

that you even tried to drown yourself in some lake.

I...

I felt ashamed and had no reason to live

when Your Majesty turned your back on me.

When I tried to drown myself

and in the moment of death,

the free-flowing clear spring water made me realize

that the ancient sages' teachings were based on the heavenly law.

The Liaos are difficult to teach.

Fortunately, they still have the fear of gods.

That is why

Lord Wang used the so-called heavenly ways

to terrify the Liaos.

That's right.

Your Majesty.

The key to success in my plan

was Lord Xing.

Me?

Lord Wang.

No one can tell for sure

how much you and I have drunk.

Here. Cheers.

Lord Xing.

Lord Wang.

Good wine.

How nice. How pleasant.

Lord Xing, this is...

Lord Xing, what are you doing?

I left home in a hurry today

and forgot to bring the drinking money.

Lord Xing.

We had a deal that it was my treat.

If there isn't enough,

just send someone back to get it.

Chancellor Wang.

Don't be silly.

How can I let you pay for it?

Right, Lord Wang.

Have you heard the legend of the Yellow Crane Tower?

Yes.

No!

I have never heard of it.

Great.

It is said

that during the Three Kingdoms period,

Fei Wen Yi went to Xin's Restaurant

-for a drink. -Have a drink!

Just like me,

he left home in a hurry

and forgot to bring his drinking money.

So Fei Wen Yi told Xin, the owner of the restaurant

that he would draw him a yellow crane

to show his sincerity.

I'll draw...

I'll draw one too.

Crane is the incarnation of the immortal

and the steed of the immortal.

[So naturally,]

[it becomes the best messenger to convey the will of heaven.]

[So I went to Huating, the hometown of cranes,]

[to buy dozens of cranes]

[and trained them day and night.]

Finally, it did the job.

You're right.

That explains the sound of whistling bamboo

at Qian Yuan Gate.

That's right.

You sure

are quick-witted.

As compared to Bi Gan's Seven Apertures Mystical Heart,

this is a whole different level.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I'm flattered.

You definitely deserve the praises.

As long as Your Majesty doesn't blame me, I...

Since when did I say that?

Forget it.

This resolved the dispute with Liao.

Both of you have rendered great service.

It's all thanks to Your Majesty's great blessings.

-Thank you, Your Majesty. -We dare not take credit for it.

That's right.

Yet, this couldn't be made public.

I have to think about it again.

Your Majesty.

There's no need to worry about such trivial matters.

Come hell or high water, we'll not hesitate

to help share Your Majesty's burden.

But there's something I have to say.

Do tell.

The red-crowned crane and divine memorandum were my doing.

But the auspicious sign from the above

is no old wives' tale.

Your Majesty.

Zhoubo star, the auspicious star, has appeared.

Also, lately, many auspicious things

and connected tree branches have appeared in various state capitals.

Your Majesty's virtue is clearly remarkable

which brings peace to Song.

God is touched, and thus, the auspicious signs from heaven.

The Emperor who follows the Mandate of Heaven says

that His Majesty is divinely appointed to care for his people

and all nations for over a decade.

All shall offer a libation to the gods

with sincere hearts and blessings shall be passed down for generations.

The prophecy in the divine memorandum

prophesied as many as three volumes of auspicious signs.

All shall respectfully receive the unusual auspicious signs bestowed from above

and thank the excellency of God for the bestowal.

To commemorate era name,

the fifth year of Jingde is changed to the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu,

and thus the new inscription of Xiangfu Yuanbao.

The whole nation shall celebrate and a general amnesty is granted to all.

Long live Your Majesty!

Your Highness, quickly get down here!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Be careful! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Don't come near!

-It's dangerous! -Your Highness, it's too dangerous!

-Shut up! -Come down, Your Highness!

I can't solve it!

Your Highness, it's dangerous!

Is that Duke Chu?

Yes.

Why is he standing in such a dangerous place?

I don't know.

Your Highness!

Be careful!

This is...

How could I forget?

I think I was...

Let me try.

Your Highness, I can solve it.

Let me try.

That's impossible.

How would Your Highness know if I haven't tried?

Pass it to me.

Here.

Your Highness, you're too far away.

I can't reach.

Come nearer.

Be careful.

Here.

I have one condition.

If I can solve it,

Your Highness has to come inside.

Promise me, and I'll do it.

Sure, I promise.

Solve it already.

It's done.

You did it!

These dishes are prepared based on your preferences.

Father, Mother, try it.

All right.

-All right. -Thank you.

Mother, try it.

Now that the Guo family has lost power, everyone hits us when we're down

and avoids us.

But Your Highness actually took us as your foster parents

and prepared such a sumptuous feast.

We're truly grateful for that.

Father, you've overstated the case.

We're a family now.

I have been meaning to invite both of you into the palace.

But you've been ill

for months.

When I heard that you got better,

I decided to invite you into the palace.

Father.

Do you feel better now?

Yes, much better.

I could recover so quickly

all thanks to Your Highness for sending people to look after me.

I shall use this

to give a toast to Your Highness.

We're so happy to have such a filial daughter

who spares a thought for us.

Don't mention it.

I should be the one giving a toast to both of you.

It looks like I came just in time.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

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

Rise, Father and Mother.

This is a family dinner. Keep it casual.

-All right. Take a seat, Your Majesty. -Here.

What brings Your Majesty here?

Do you not welcome me?

Take a seat.

-Take a seat. -Take a seat.

-Add another set of cutlery. -Yes.

Did Her Highness make this Orange-Flavoured Crab Meat?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I knew it.

Father.

Virtuous Consort

made this dish based on Shu's method.

I could tell with just a bite.

But she's just so unfair.

I had to beg her to make it for me.

But today, she prepared a plate of it

knowing that both of you are coming.

All thanks to Her Highness for not despising us

and took us as Her Highness's foster parents.

Her Highness treats us like family.

Although Qing Yi is gone,

Your Highness made us feel

like we have another daughter.

-That's right. -Just like our own.

To me, you're like the late Empress.

Yunying noodles are best for the elderly.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

Does Your Majesty intend to make Her Highness the empress?

What do you think

about this god-daughter of yours?

A woman of virtue who lives up to the hype.

But if Your Majesty were to make Her Highness the empress,

it isn't the time yet.

Her Highness has no children.

Despite Her Highness's contributions,

it might not be enough to convince the officials.

Once this proposal is put forward,

it is likely to end in deadlock.

It's better to come up with a sure-fire plan.

Your concerns

make perfect sense.

From the looks of it, there's no rushing this matter.

More haste, less speed.

Here's a toast for you.

Your Highness, although you're now the Virtuous Consort

and favoured by His Majesty,

good times don't last long

in the palace

if you don't have children of your own.

It's not that I don't want to.

Truth be told,

when I had Ji'er,

my health and vital energy were affected.

Now that I'm rather advanced in age,

it's hard to get pregnant again.

Your Highness is such a kind person.

Judging from your facial features, Your Highness will surely be blessed.

Your Highness will surely have a son.

Eat up.

All right.

Here. Mother, eat up.

The ethics of proper dressing.

Childhood learning begins with the attire.

Sheng'er.

Learning proper dressing comes first, followed by sensibility and reasoning.

Got it?

Greet the teacher.

Stand up.

First bow.

Teach me how to read.

Second bow.

Teach me how to behave with integrity.

Third bow.

Never to be forgotten.

Enlightenment ceremony.

Third.

Fifth.

Sheng'er.

All right.

Sixth, it's your turn.

He's the most mischievous one.

But he's also my favourite.

All right.

First writing ceremony.

Sixth.

Hold your brush nicely.

Hold it slightly downward.

One stroke to the left and another to the right is the character "ren".

Here, take a look at my writing.

[Man]

Zhao Yun Sheng.

What's the matter? Being naughty again?

I...I'm going to get the ruler.

Father.

Sixth, sit down. Sit up straight.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

Grand Tutor.

Teaching my fellow nephews the first writing ceremony?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Which child is he?

Sixth.

Here, greet your uncle.

Greetings, Uncle.

You're all grown up now.

He has reached school age now.

Where are the rest of my nephews?

Come forward. Let me take a look.

Yes.

Yuan Fen, you're truly blessed.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

But shouldn't there be six of them?

Why are there only five of them?

Your Majesty.

Yun Huai has always been in poor health.

He caught a cold

and is resting now after taking the medicine.

My nephews seem to be talented.

I believe they must do pretty well in their studies.

Who's going to start first?

Tell me what you've learned.

Your Majesty, they're pretty slow-witted

and are slow learners.

They'd better not.

You're being too modest.

The children of a well-educated man

like you can't be bad.

Besides, there's the Grand Tutor too.

He was my first teacher

and also the teacher who has taught You'er.

With extra guidance,

his students can't be bad.

But...

Your Highness, since His Majesty has made the request,

let the children say a thing or two.

Third, you first.

Uncle.

I shall recite "The Great Learning"

that the teacher has taught yesterday.

That's great.

What the Great Learning teaches is to manifest one's bright virtue,

to revitalize the people,

and to rest in the highest excellence.

Knowing where to stop provides focus,

having focus enables calmness,

a calm demeanour brings about tranquillity,

a tranquil mind allows for clear deliberation,

clear deliberation leads to the attainment of wisdom.

There are foundations and ramifications. Everything has a beginning and an end,

Knowing what comes first and after takes one closer to knowing the way.

Those in the past who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world

first governed their states well.

[When you have stability, you can be tranquil.]

[When you are tranquil, you can be at ease.]

Father!

Come here.

How was it?

Every day at this hour,

he'll start to lose focus

and expect your return when the bell falls.

Really?

No.

You miss me, right?

But I have learned "The Great Learning" by heart now.

Recite it for me.

What the Great Learning teaches is to manifest one's bright virtue,

to revitalize the people,

and to rest in the highest excellence.

[Knowing where to stop provides focus,]

[having focus enables calmness.]

To ensure personal probity, one must maintain a just mind,

a just mind should hold only sincere intentions,

upholding sincere intentions requires one to attain and accumulate wisdom...

That will do.

The extension of knowledge...

That's enough!

lies in the investigation of things.

Yuan Fen.

Yun Rang, well done.

The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things.

What does it mean?

"Wu" refers to all things.

"Ge" means to arrive.

The extension...

That will do.

What child are you?

I'm the eldest, Zhao Yun Ning.

Bow and greet your uncle.

Uncle.

Forego the formalities.

I see the bow in your hand.

Do you love archery?

Yes, I love archery.

Why don't I show you?

Sure.

How about shooting the wild goose?

Yun Ning, don't talk big.

Grandfather, don't underestimate me.

Father, I told you to make me a new bow.

But painting is all you know.

You never take my words to heart.

Behave yourself.

That's all right.

It's good if you enjoy horse-riding and archery.

In a few days,

I will give you a golden bow.

For real?

An emperor doesn't go back on his words.

But you have to learn how to ride and shoot

as well as reading books on the art of war.

When you grow up,

expand the territory for Song.

At that time, I will make you a general.

Sure! I want to be a general!

But I don't like reading books on the art of war.

Don't spew nonsense.

Sheng'er, don't cry. Sheng'er.

What's with him?

Your Majesty.

This is Yun Yu, my fourth son.

He's usually very timid. Please bear with it.

-Give it back to me! -Stop fighting.

-It's mine! Give it back! -Stop fighting.

Yuan Fen, stop them.

Knock it off! Stop fighting!

All right now.

Don't fight.

Don't fight.

Don't fight.

Apologies. That's how things are around here. We got used to it.

Knock it off.

Why are you crying? Stop crying.

Stop crying already.

Don't cry anymore.

Yuan Fen.

I've been longing to have a son

but it just never happened.

But right here...

Having too many of them isn't necessarily a good thing.

They are just some spoiled kids.

I'm sorry Your Majesty had to see this.

Your seventh son, Chan'er, is a smart kid.

Virtuous Consort is especially fond of him.

She takes care of his everyday life herself.

Chan'er is blessed to be loved

and pampered by Her Highness.

She really loves this kid.

They seem to really click.

How about letting Chan'er stay in the palace

to keep her company?

What do you think?

Whatever Your Majesty says.

That's great.

Your Majesty.

Missing Ji'er?

Ying'er.

I'm all right.

I sewed this for Your Majesty myself.

All right.

Brown and yellow

seem to go well together.

Anything that you've sewn yourself

is surely the best.

Take a seat.

I went to Yuan Fen's place today

and met his sons.

But none of them seems like a smart kid.

Duke Ji hides his light under a bushel

and doesn't like showing off and invite trouble.

I bet he deliberately

neglected his sons' education.

Regardless,

my nephews will never amount to much

or live up to the hype.

So I was thinking

if we should send Chan'er back.

Ying'er.

Do you want to have another child?

Your Highness.

Did His Majesty say anything

about keeping Chan'er in the palace to keep Virtuous Consort company?

Yes.

Did His Majesty mention how long it would take?

No.

At first, I wanted to ask His Majesty

when I could bring Chan'er home.

I never thought that His Majesty would suggest it.

Your Highness.

Perhaps, it's a good thing.

How is that a good thing?

Your Highness, think about it.

His Majesty has no children.

Chan'er is Your Highness's son

who's also the son of His Majesty's closest family.

What other reasons can there be

for keeping him and raising him in the palace?

Father, you're saying...

That's not possible.

One way or another,

we need a crown prince to succeed the throne.

His Majesty has no children.

Adopting his brother's son and passing the throne to him

isn't uncommon

in history.

Is Your Majesty suggesting that I adopt Chan'er?

Perhaps, I'm not blessed

and destined to have no sons.

Your Majesty.

Let me finish.

I'm not greedy for the throne,

but even with the old royal system to pass on the throne,

Yuan Fen and his sons

aren't cut out to be an emperor.

Back then,

Emperor Taizu ended the chaotic Five Dynasties and reunified the territories.

Emperor Taizong made great efforts to fight from all four quarters.

I can't let Song

be ruined in my hands.

Lately,

I've been getting very frequent headaches.

So I

have to start grooming

a qualified successor

to succeed the throne as soon as possible.

Chan'er is still young.

If he was sent back to Duke Ji's Residence,

perhaps,

he might turn out to be a good-for-nothing like those other six kids.

But if he grows up in the palace since young,

you and I can both raise him ourselves.

Someday,

he'll make a great crown prince of Song.

To have Your Majesty entrust me with this,

I truly am grateful.

The mother of my crown prince...

should be you.

I understand where Your Majesty is coming from.

But still, I think

we shouldn't rush into adoption.

I still hope

Your Majesty will have your own bloodline.

His Majesty has another ulterior motive

behind this move.

His Majesty wants to appoint the empress.

Empress?

To educate a prince,

there must be a stepmother.

His Majesty loves Virtuous Consort deeply.

It's known to all.

Didn't His Majesty tell you

that he wanted to keep Chan'er in the palace to accompany Her Highness?

This speaks for itself.

From the looks of it,

the only one in the entire Imperial Harem qualified to compete for the position

is none other than Virtuous Consort.

It looks like I have to go along with His Majesty this time.

[Qian Yuan Gate]

Your Majesty.

It's been a while since Empress Guo's passing.

The Main Palace is left vacant.

Your Majesty, please appoint a new empress.

It's mainly because the affairs of the Imperial Harem

can help pacify public sentiment.

In your opinion,

who in the Imperial Harem can be the empress?

I think

the Virtuous Consort is kind, gentle, and virtuous.

Her Highness can be the mother of the nation.

Your Majesty.

I don't think it's appropriate.

Despite having both integrity and talent

and has made great contributions to Song,

Her Highness hasn't given birth to a royal offspring since entering the palace.

If Her Highness is made the empress without careful consideration,

I'm afraid it'll be hard to convince the masses.

Without careful consideration?

Chancellor Kou, you're wrong.

In addition to extending His Majesty's bloodline,

an empress has to be the motherly model of the nation,

helps to propagate the imperial influence, honourable,

capable of leading the imperial consorts,

and known for her virtues throughout the land.

May I ask

who else besides Virtuous Consort

is capable of picking up the mantle?

Your Majesty.

The Noble Consort is the head of all the imperial consorts

and has been with Your Majesty the longest time.

In terms of virtues, Her Highness can rival Virtuous Consort

and has the capability.

Also, Her Highness has given birth to Princess Shou An.

In my opinion, Noble Consort

makes a better candidate for the position.

I second the motion.

It's still not appropriate.

Noble Consort too hasn't given birth to royal offspring.

Chancellor Kou.

In the entire Imperial Harem,

no consorts have given birth to royal offspring.

Or make the one who's most likely to give birth to royal offspring as empress?

Your Majesty.

I think Lady Beauty makes a better candidate

given her good looks.

Lord Ding, you might as well recommend the Noble Lady.

At least, Her Highness has given birth to Princess Shou Kang.

Perhaps, Her Highness is more likely to conceive again.

Lord Pan, that's not right.

Your Majesty.

The Noble Lady isn't suitable.

Her Highness is a foreigner.

Your Majesty, please reconsider this matter.

Your Majesty.

I think

the one who first gives birth to a royal offspring

should be made the empress.

But right now, we haven’t heard

of any imperial consorts who is showing signs of pregnancy.

Are we going to leave this position vacant?

Don't forget.

It's been almost half a year

since the consorts entered the palace lately.

None are pregnant as of late.

I'm afraid it isn't likely to have a royal offspring any time soon.

Grand Tutor.

Are you trying to blame me and insinuate that I'm incompetent?

I...I dare not.

Dare not?

Calm down, Your Majesty.

The Grand Tutor said that for the sake of our nation.

After all, the royal offspring is the foundation of one.

Just now, the Grand Tutor meant to say...

that he was hoping Your Majesty would go for consort selection.

Your Majesty.

I think that's a great idea.

A consort selection adds to the number of concubines

and increases the chances of conceiving a royal offspring.

Your Majesty, I, too, think that this is feasible.

Your Majesty.

There are too few concubines.

Indeed, Your Majesty should have more concubines

to help extend the bloodline.

But there isn't any conflict between this and the appointment of empress.

That's right. We can first appoint an empress

and the new empress shall preside over the consort selection for Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I think...

Shut up, all of you!

Apologies, Your Majesty.

All of you...

The empress is my concern.

As to whom to appoint,

it's all up to me!

Say no more!

But appointing the empress isn't the royal family's affair.

-I said, shut up! -Your Majesty.

I won't hear it! Dismiss!

Dismiss!

This is nice.

Listen to it. Here!

You have to listen to it.

You listen to it.

Your Highness, go gently.

Your Highness.

Why don't you try this?

This is interesting.

-Jing Zong. -Yes, Your Majesty.

You're dismissed.

Yes.

This is nice to hear.

It's nice. Look.

Go gently, Your Highness.

-Your Highness! -Look. Is it fun?

Go gently, Your Highness.

-Your Highness. -Why don't we exchange?

Let's exchange.

Go gently, Your Highness.

Go gently, Your Highness.

-Let's exchange. -Go gently.

Your Majesty.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

No, Your Highness.

Listen.

Your Highness, you can't do that.

Here, Your Highness.

This.

Do you want me to play with you?

How do we play?

Spin it.

Spin it.

That's right.

Like this?

Go faster.

Well done!

Your Highness.

Your Highness, play this instead.

Look.

I'm really envious

to see you being so carefree.

Being an emperor, it's just so...

Do you think

being an emperor

has to be this exhausting?

All the officials

want to decide for me and call the shots.

All of them think

they are doing it for the nation

and talk about all the state affairs.

Listening to their disputes

really gives me a headache.

[End of Episode 32]