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 33]

Of course I know.

All the things which an emperor should do.

I also know the importance of royal offspring.

However,

if I don't have a say

in choosing my own wife,

what's the point of being an emperor?

Brother,

if you can take this responsibility for me,

giving me a free hand

in doing things I want,

that would be great.

Did you prepare these toys for Duke Chu?

No, Your Majesty.

Miss Wang sent these into the palace

for His Highness to play with.

Miss Wang?

Which Miss Wang?

The eldest daughter of Lord Wang of the Palace Secretariat,

Miss Wang Yu Ying.

The daughter of Wang Qin Ruo?

The Grand Tutor came up with a brilliant plan.

You noticed it as well, Father-in-law.

The seventh son of Duke Ji has been staying in the palace.

The Virtuous Consort has been taking care of him.

That was a brilliant plan by the Grand Tutor.

Everyone knows what he's thinking.

That old man from the Pan family was the first who stood up against him.

Today in the Imperial Court,

a fight broke out about the selection of the Empress and the concubines.

His Majesty must've been displeased.

If His Majesty isn't happy,

then some people won't have things their way.

Opportunity makes destiny.

Deadbolt and chaos are a great opportunity.

Now that the Imperial Harem bears no offspring,

it is time

for His Majesty to consider choosing concubines.

Ever since the time

His Majesty secretly summoned you,

there has not been any news in the palace.

I thought something had been bothering you.

A true man hides his talents

and bides his time.

And now, the time has come.

Come, come.

Come and have fun with me.

Yes.

Miss Yue'er.

Madam Xu.

Madam Xu, these winter clothes

don't seem to be new.

I can tell the style is outdated right away.

It's not even made of the Noble Consort's

favourite Shu brocade.

Here's the thing.

There's still some time before winter.

The winter clothes for this year are not ready yet.

If the Noble Consort needs them now,

only the old ones are available.

When the clothes are ready,

we'll deliver them,

is that alright?

Clothier Xu, we're here to get our winter clothes.

Greetings, Lady Beauty and Lady of Handsome Fairness.

Where are the winter clothes?

Bring them here.

It's light and beautiful.

This Shu brocade contains cotton.

It must feel very warm.

Sister Wan'er, look.

It has a simple colour and high quality embroidery.

It will look good on you.

It's not bad indeed.

Clothier Xu,

didn't you say that the new winter clothes

are not ready yet?

What about all these?

The Lady of Handsome Fairness is in poor health.

The Virtuous Consort specifically ordered us

to prepare her winter clothes ahead of time.

But we came here first today.

The Noble Consort has been eagerly waiting.

If you give us the old winter clothes,

how will we explain to her?

Besides,

average people

are not worthy of these patterns and colours.

Clothier Xu,

do you want the Noble Consort

to come here herself?

Are you saying

that you're going to vie for it with Sister Wan'er and me?

I wouldn't dare.

Our mistress may be the Noble Consort,

but recently,

the entire palace has been talking about the naming of the Empress.

I heard that many officers

have recommended you two.

Let's go.

I don't think anyone has recommended the Lady of Handsome Fairness.

I know, right?

I guess even the officers can tell between noble and humble.

You...

Let's go.

Don't be angry.

If you are able to rise to the top,

the Noble Consort will definitely give way to you in every way.

Listen to you two echoing each other

and spouting harsh words.

Are you saying

we have to give way to you today?

You want Sister Wan'er to give way to you?

Ying Luo.

We did not say that.

Do you think I'm an idiot?

I will give you a lesson today!

Ying Luo.

How dare you!

My lady, please stop!

Slave! You're a mean slave!

How dare you!

Your Highness!

-Sister Wan'er! -Your Highness!

-Sister Wan'er! -Your Highness!

Sister Wan'er, where does it hurt?

What should we do?

Sister Wan'er!

Your Highness.

Sister.

Wan'er.

Here, stop moving. Lie down.

What was wrong with me?

Sister Wan'er, you are pregnant.

Is that true?

Yes.

What's the matter?

Are you not feeling well?

No, no.

I am pregnant.

I'm bearing the child of the Emperor.

Right here. A child is growing right here.

Sister.

Wan'er.

His Majesty is here.

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

Your Majesty.

Is Wan'er really pregnant?

Physician Dong has examined her,

she is pregnant.

-Great. -Your Majesty.

Great.

Wan'er.

Let's leave.

Close the doors.

Sister, are you alright?

Why did you ask?

His Majesty...

You will definitely bear a royal offspring as well.

If something is meant to happen, it will.

Otherwise, don't force it.

Now that Wan'er is bearing a royal offspring,

my wish has been fulfilled.

I hope Wan'er is bearing a prince.

Yi Qin.

Yes, my lady.

Go get some brocade from the royal tailor.

I want to make some clothes for the child of Wan'er.

Yes, my lady.

May God bless us.

Your Highness, it's cold outside.

Why don't you go inside?

Where are Bu Yao and Yue'er?

Why haven't they come back yet?

They should be back anytime soon.

Sister.

Where are you going?

Don't panic.

Maybe Her Highness won't notice us.

Let's go. Let's go.

Your Highness, look. They're back.

Stand right there.

Aren't you supposed to get the winter clothes?

Where are the clothes?

Your Highness, we...

Your Highness, it was our fault.

We got caught up at work and forgot about it.

We'll go get them now.

Wait.

What exactly had happened?

Imperial edict for Noble Consort Pan!

This is a message from His Majesty.

Servants, Yue'er, Bu Yao,

showed no respect to elders and spoke presumptuously,

disturbing the peace of Lady of Handsome Fairness' baby.

They shall be flogged 20 times and transferred to laundry service

as a deterrent to others.

The Noble Consort did not discipline her servants strictly.

She'll receive a half-year pay cut.

By command of the Emperor.

Take the two of them away.

-Yes. -Yes.

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

Your Highness! It's my fault. I got you into this.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, save me! Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Eunuch Zhang.

What did you say?

Disturbing the peace of Consort Li's baby?

Li Wan'er is pregnant?

Your Highness,

you're right.

His Majesty is taking great care of Consort Li.

Please do not worry, Your Highness.

This... This is impossible.

Your Highness.

This...

How could she be pregnant?

How could she...

Your Highness.

Your Majesty,

I heard that Consort Li is pregnant.

I was planning on telling all of you

this good news.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

I propose we make Consort Li the Empress.

Consort Li is bearing a royal offspring for me.

It is a great credit indeed.

Your Majesty, I think

it is not right to make Consort Li the Empress.

Consort Li comes from humble origins.

She is a pushover.

She lacks the gravitas to lead the Imperial Harem.

How can she be

the example and model for the women?

You are wrong, Grand Tutor.

If Consort Li gives birth to a son,

she will be the mother of the eldest prince.

She will have a significant status.

How can she not rule the Main Palace?

You've been carried away.

But right now,

Consort Li is only pregnant.

She might not bear the royal prince.

Your Majesty,

perhaps her consort status could be promoted first.

Your Majesty, that is right.

I've overlooked this matter.

After Consort Li gives birth,

Your Majesty could confer her the title of Empress if she bears a royal prince.

Alright.

Imperial edict for Consort Li.

By God's will and the Emperor's command,

Consort Li lives by the palace's values. Her gracefulness is well known.

She has diligently served the Imperial Harem,

and has been truthful over the time.

She has been promoting the virtue of gentleness

and is deserving of recognition.

She will be conferred the title of Consort Chen

and be rewarded with Yu Chen Palace,

60 pieces of silk and satin,

30 pieces of jewellery,

ten boxes of premium herbs,

12 handmaidens and 12 housekeepers.

Consort Chen,

come and receive the edict.

I, your servant, accept the edict. Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.

Consort Chen,

please accept my wishes.

Thank you, Eunuch Zhang.

Don't put it here.

This is His Majesty's favourite.

Come, give it to me.

Put this over there.

The soup is cold.

Go and heat it up.

Yes, Your Highness.

Wait, forget it.

Go and see if His Majesty has arrived.

Come, give it to me.

Is His Majesty here?

Your Highness, His Majesty is not here yet.

Then heat up the soup first.

Yes.

Greetings, Your Highness.

His Majesty is at Consort Chen's palace

and has asked me to inform you, Your Highness.

But Her Highness was expecting His Majesty for dinner.

Her Highness is still waiting.

It's fine.

Thank you, Eunuch Zhang.

This is my duty.

If Your Highness has no other orders,

I shall excuse myself.

Your Highness, the soup...

Don't heat it up. Put it away.

Yes.

What are you praying for?

I'm asking for Buddha's protection

over Wan'er and her child.

Recently,

I've been keeping Wan'er company

because of her pregnancy.

I've neglected you.

That is her first child. She must be anxious.

You should be with her more often.

Why would I be upset because of this?

I can finally have a royal offspring.

Ying'er,

you deserve all the credit.

Wan'er is able to bear a royal offspring,

that is a great credit.

Your Majesty, I beg you to confer the title of Empress on Consort Chen.

To you, what is the meaning of the word,

"Empress?"

The Emperor is the father of the country.

The Empress is the mother of the people.

Be a good mother. Be kind to the people.

You are right, Virtuous Consort.

The Empress should be the mother figure of the nation.

She should be virtuous and wise in conduct and character,

and speak without bias.

It is more than just an honour.

It is a responsibility.

This is not something everyone can bear.

Your Majesty.

My Virtuous Consort,

you are wise and virtuous. You're able to lead the Imperial Harem

and help me deal with the court affairs.

Who else can be the mother figure to the nation

if not you?

But I...

I can't bear you royal offspring.

Perhaps...

Perhaps I will never be able to bear a child.

I've said this before.

You can help me educate the crown prince.

I've never changed my mind.

Only you shall be the mother

to Song's crown prince.

Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness.

Jia Ling.

Did you sew this?

Come, show me.

Your Highness.

This is also so delicate.

It is.

Great work.

Thank you for your compliment.

Why isn't Consort Chen here yet?

Go and see her.

Affirmative.

Here comes Consort Chen!

Your Majesty, Consort Chen is here.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Come, forgo the formalities.

From today onwards,

I grant you permission to absent yourself from all the greetings.

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.

Consort Chen,

all of us, including His Majesty were waiting for you.

You haven't even given birth to a prince yet,

but you're already enjoying the privilege.

Your Majesty, sister.

I didn't mean to be late.

It's just that before I left,

I was feeling giddy and nauseous.

So I asked Lin Lang to summon the imperial physician.

This is why I came late.

What did the physician say?

Is anything wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

It's just a normal morning sickness.

Did he prescribe medicine?

Don't worry, sister.

The imperial physician said,

as long as I take the medicine several times according to the prescription,

I will be fine.

That's great.

Take the medicine as prescribed.

If you are not feeling well again,

you must tell me sooner. Let me know.

Yes, I will.

Alright, take a seat.

Come.

Your Highness, remember to sit fully in the chair.

Don't sit on the edge. Remember that.

Yes, when a woman is pregnant,

she shouldn't sleep on the side, sit on the edge and stand on one foot.

I didn't expect Lin Lang

to know all these.

Please excuse me.

Her Highness is pregnant,

I should equip myself with more knowledge

to provide her a better service.

You're a smart girl.

Lin Lang has served Consort Chen well.

I hereby promote her to Chief Handmaiden

and reward her with a piece of Shu brocade.

Make yourself some nice clothes.

Hurry and thank His Majesty.

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

Rise.

You are definitely hanging on Consort Chen's coattails.

Please watch your tongue, Your Highness.

Consort Chen, when I heard that you got pregnant,

I was wondering

what I should get you as a gift.

Have you had the answer now?

After much thought,

there's something that's perfect for you.

This is it.

A bowstring.

A bowstring?

Sister,

this is not funny at all.

You better take it back.

Virtuous Consort,

so you also know what it is for.

Can't I give it to Consort Chen?

I'm doing it for your own good.

Virtuous Consort.

What is this for?

There's no need to know, Your Majesty.

We should let her take it back.

Your Majesty,

the thing I'm holding

is able to turn a girl into a boy.

Turn a girl into a boy?

Yes. After a woman gets pregnant,

put a bowstring inside a red sack,

tie it on the left arm of the pregnant woman,

or below her waist.

Remove it after 100 days.

And this is the secret trick to turn a girl into a boy.

Does this mean

you're certain that Consort Chen

is carrying a girl?

That's for sure.

Your Majesty.

According to my years of experience,

Consort Chen is definitely carrying a son.

Madam, you have a lot of experience in delivering babies.

Don't you know that if the couple has contradicting birth charts,

they won't be able to bear a son?

Your Highness.

Let her finish.

Your Majesty,

your element is metal.

We all know this.

I've asked someone

to find out Consort Chen's birth date.

Her element is wood.

Metal counters wood.

If the couple has contradicting elements,

they will clash with each other.

Their son will die even before being born,

Hence they will never get a son.

It's absolutely true, Your Majesty.

Give it to me.

Your Majesty, this is just a folk legend.

It's not to be trusted.

Virtuous Consort,

this is not a folk legend.

Sun Si Miao, the Tang Dynasty's King of Medicine,

even mentioned it in his medical record.

Your Majesty, why don't I put it on Consort Chen?

I...

I wish I could throw this thing on you!

Get out!

Your Majesty, don't you believe in what I said?

Not even a word!

Your Majesty.

I said, get out!

Don't let me repeat myself!

Everything I said was true.

Pick it up!

I can't stand looking at it.

Your Majesty!

Your Highness!

-Wan'er! -Your Highness!

Is her injury severe?

Your Majesty,

regarding that Noble Consort Pan...

The Lady of Complete Beauty said...

I don't believe it.

I just wanted to say,

Wan'er told me about her background a long time ago.

She was sold by her family since she was a child,

she doesn't even know when she was born.

As for her birth date,

it was the day

she could remember seeing her parents for the last time.

It doesn't count.

I see.

So, you do not have to care about the birth charts

mentioned by the Lady of Complete Beauty.

I never took it to heart.

Why won't you trust me?

Why won't I?

Your Majesty.

I've dressed the Virtuous Consort's wounds.

The wound should not be in contact with water for seven days.

Examine her health again.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I am fine.

Just let him check your pulse.

Your Highness, please.

Is something wrong?

Your Majesty, congratulations.

Her Highness is pregnant.

What did you say?

Her pulse is slippery

and plump to the touch.

It is definitely a sign of pregnancy.

The Virtuous Consort has been pregnant for over a month.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, Your Majesty, Your Highness.

Congratulations, Your Majesty, Your Highness.

That's great.

That's great.

My wish has been fulfilled again.

Finally,

I can have a child with Ying'er.

Yuan Kan.

I've already given up on this.

I didn't even dare to wish for it.

Little did I know,

my wish has come true.

I can't untangle it!

I can't untangle it!

Your Highness, it's dangerous!

Your Highness, watch out!

Let me try it.

Here.

I have one condition.

If I manage to solve this,

you have to come in.

If you say yes, I'll untangle it.

Alright. I promise you. I promise you.

Untangle it, quick.

It's done.

It's done.

Miss, there's someone from the palace.

Master is asking for you at the front hall.

Imperial edict for Wang Qin Ruo.

By God's will and the Emperor's command,

Wang Yu Ying, the eldest daughter to Wang Qin Ruo of the Palace Secretariat,

is virtuous and knowledgeable.

She will be appointed as the wife of Duke Chu

with the title of Royal Duchess.

A wedding will be held for them.

Father.

Lord Wang, what are you still doing there?

Accept the edict.

Father. Father.

I, your servant, accept the edict with gratitude.

Long live the Emperor.

Lord Wang, His Majesty has another message.

Wang Qin Ruo managed to make amends for his previous mistakes

by compensating the Liao people with 40,000 bolts of silk.

His misfeasance will be pardoned,

and his position will be restored.

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.

Lord Wang, please get up.

Congratulations on the two great news, Lord Wang.

Thank you, Eunuch.

Eunuch, please come in and have some tea.

Thank you.

But I have to hurry back to the palace

to report to His Majesty.

Let's do this some other time.

Take care, Eunuch.

Take care.

You may excuse yourselves.

Yes.

Father.

Yu Ying, don't worry.

I won't let you marry that imbecile, Duke Chu.

Even if I have to go against the edict,

I still want to see the Emperor.

I will ask the Emperor to take back his order.

No, no. I have to...

I have to change into my court dress.

Father! I want to marry him.

Don't worry about me.

The Emperor may have stripped me of my position,

but now...

Father.

I'm not marrying Yuan Zuo for any other reason.

It's simply because

I'm in love with him.

I'm willing to marry him,

there's not even the slightest reluctance.

Are you joking with me?

Please give me your approval.

This is...

This...

Master.

Are you sure you want to marry him?

Do you know that he is a fool?

Duke Chu is not a fool.

Si Qi.

Don't worry. Chan'er will come back.

Your Highness, the people from the palace are here.

Send them in now.

Please.

Chan'er!

Chan'er, Chan'er.

Your Highnesses,

the Virtuous Consort specifically asked me

to send Chan'er back.

Thank you for doing this.

You are most welcome, Your Highness.

These are Her Highness' gifts to Chan'er.

Among these, Her Highness made this hat herself.

Please convey my gratitude to Her Highness.

I'm grateful for her devotion.

I will give her your message, Your Highness.

Chan'er.

There, there.

Good boy.

Hugs.

Father.

Duke Ji sent someone to convey his message,

Chan'er has been sent home.

Father.

We're one step behind.

Father, now that both the Virtuous Consort and Consort Chen

are pregnant,

there are certain things which we should not fixate on.

Whether they are carrying a princess or a prince,

we have yet to know.

Father,

Duke Ji is not suitable to be the emperor.

As for those princes,

you ought to know very well.

Even if you train them now,

they are still too young.

Under the reign of His Majesty,

Dynasty Song has gained peace.

The Virtuous Consort also has the poise of a nation's mother figure.

Now that she is carrying a royal offspring,

she will certainly take over the Main Palace.

Why are you so stubborn?

Back then,

I led all the officers

and made every effort to stop her from coming into the palace.

Little did I know,

we would end up like this today.

Calligraphy does portray one's thoughts.

My lords, please go back.

His Majesty's orders.

No one is to visit the Lady of Complete Beauty

when she is grounded.

Thank you, eunuch.

I think His Majesty is really furious.

Yu Shu went too far.

She had the audacity to attack Consort Chen in public

and even hurt Liu E.

Now His Majesty is enraged.

With her level of intelligence,

could she come up with any ingenious strategy?

Even Liu E is pregnant.

Now that Yu Shu has been demoted and lost the Emperor's affection,

that's adding insult to injury.

She may be pregnant,

but that doesn't mean she can carry it to term and raise it.

Even if it means going down with the enemy,

I will never let anyone push my family around.

[End of Episode 33]