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 39]

News about Consort Chen giving birth

had spread throughout the palace.

His Majesty was very cross. Hence a gag order was imposed.

That I know better than you. I was there.

What else?

A fire broke out in the palace last night.

The culprit has not been identified.

Everyone is speculating.

Some even said I was involved.

Tell me something I don't already know.

Apart from these,

anything else unusual last night?

That seems to be all.

Who was the midwife when the Empress gave birth?

It should be Beauty Yang.

She'd been by Her Majesty's side all along.

Besides, she is Madam Wang's daughter.

She must have the knowledge.

In that case,

Beauty Yang is the only witness

of the Empress giving birth to the Crown Prince.

The fire was followed by a downpour.

Everything was chaotic.

Go collect your rewards.

Thank you, Young Master.

Regarding this, I'll answer to His Majesty.

But Your Highness,

you must never get yourself involved.

Father-in-law, you can't do that.

The fire was because of me...

Your Highness.

I beg you.

If His Majesty is compassionate

and does not incriminate the entire Cao family,

then the Cao family

will still have Si Qi.

We'll need Your Highness to protect us.

Father-in-law.

Your Highness.

Please stand up, Father-in-law.

This is weird and unheard of.

Too bad night came soon after, followed by rainfall.

His Majesty immediately ordered the guards to take away the swaddling.

Nobody can determine

what is inside.

Anomaly is often the works

of the devil.

Do you also think something is amiss?

I'll send some men to investigate it.

This is now a taboo in the palace.

His Majesty will not want anyone

clinging onto the scandal of the royal family.

I know. I'll be careful.

I'm worried about Yu Shu, though.

The Empress gave birth to a son.

To her, this is an insult to the injury.

She deserves it.

She knew the expected confinement time

of the Empress and Consort Chen was near.

Yet she stayed behind closed doors,

sending only two maids to sniff around.

They were dumb-founded by the chaos.

As for what happened,

nobody knew anything.

She is after all your sister.

You should check on her.

She is the Lady of Complete Beauty.

Of course I'll pay her a visit.

In my early years,

I followed Emperor Taizong in his northern campaign.

My arrow hit the Liao general's head in the sea of soldiers.

But nowadays I keep missing my target.

You're just not in good health lately.

I'm old.

The Pan household counts on you now.

Don't worry, Father.

I won't disappoint you.

Behold the message of the Emperor.

On the birth of the Crown Prince, the heavens sent an auspicious rain

to bless all beings.

According to the tradition of the Zhao royal family,

Shou Yi is the given name. The Imperial Ancestral Temple is notified

to appease the imperial ancestors.

Great Song now has a successor.

We congratulate Your Majesty on the birth of the Crown Prince.

The legacy of Great Song will be succeeded for eternity.

Long live Your Majesty.

All at ease.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Yi Jian, I've ordered you to investigate the losses of the Palace Treasury.

What is the outcome?

Your Majesty.

This is the record book of the Palace Treasury.

Almost everything in there

has been destroyed by the fire.

Grand Tutor Cao requests to enter.

Allowed.

-Allowed. -Allowed.

Your Majesty.

The accumulated fortune of two dynasties,

despite my thriftiness,

are now all gone in one dynasty.

I congratulate Your Majesty on the birth of the Crown Prince.

Good fortunes befall generations of the royal family.

The fire in the Palace Treasury is my fault.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince brought the rain

to prevent the fire from raging on,

though irreparable damage had been done.

I'm willing to take

all the blame.

I only wish that Your Majesty will not incriminate Duke Ji.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. Let me take the punishment for my father.

Your Majesty.

I still remember

my childhood days when I was playful and played truant.

You'd use this ruler to hit my palm.

Your Majesty is now a grown man.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

As the saying goes,

the teacher is to blamed if the student slacks.

Then again,

I must be lacking as a student.

Otherwise, my teacher wouldn't dislike me.

Hence,

you've always insisted on the old system of throne succession.

I admit my shortcomings.

I'm ashamed

of betraying your kindness.

Issue my decree.

Grand Tutor Cao Jian is old.

He shouldn't work in the imperial court.

Starting today,

he will transcribe scrolls in the Palace Library for the rest of his life.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Please pardon the Grand Tutor, Your Majesty.

Li Yong.

I thank Your Majesty for your grace.

As for Duke Ji...

You may leave.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Don't cry. Why are you crying?

What's wrong, Shou Yi?

Hush now.

You have been fed.

Look. Look who's here.

Father. Father is here.

Little Shou Yi.

Don't cry.

What's wrong?

Hush now. Don't cry.

Ying'er.

Here.

Is he hungry?

He's just been fed.

Shou Yi. Don't cry, Shou Yi.

Here. Look at this.

Shou Yi, look.

Shou Yi, look at this.

Look, Shou Yi.

Don't cry.

-What's wrong? -What's going on?

Is he not feeling well?

Let me have a look.

He has no fever.

Then what is wrong?

Here. Let me check if he has wet himself.

Let me hold him.

Don't cry, Little Shou Yi.

Did you wet yourself?

What's wrong, Shou Yi?

-There, there. -Why is he crying so much?

Is he not feeling well?

Let me check. Don't cry, Little Shou Yi.

Hush now.

What's wrong?

Why are you crying so much, Little Shou Yi?

Nanny. Is Shou Yi sick?

Here, let me have a look.

He has no fever.

Hush now.

Alright. Hush now. Jing Zong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Get the imperial physician.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Don't cry. Don't cry.

Your Majesty. Why don't we let Wan'er hold him?

No way.

Wan'er is not in her right mind now.

She can't be walking around.

I can take Shou Yi to her.

No.

Your Majesty. I'm afraid Consort Chen will get upset

if she sees Little Shou Yi.

We can't do that.

Here. Hush now.

Empress, you have just given birth.

You need a lot of bed rest.

Don't go looking for Consort Chen for now.

Hush now. Hush now.

Why is Jing Zong taking so long?

Your Majesty. Let me check on him.

Go now.

My lady.

Don't come near me.

-My lady. -Please get up, my lady.

Please get up.

Please come out, my lady.

My lady. Please come out, my lady.

-My lady. -My lady.

-Don't be scared, my lady. -My lady.

My lady, I'm Lin Lang.

-My lady. -My lady.

Sister.

Sister.

Don't. Don't come near.

Sister. It's me, Ying Luo.

Here, Ying Luo. Let me try.

Don't come near me.

Here.

Consort Chen. It's me.

Don't you remember me?

I remember the time

you first entered Duke Xiang's Residence.

I have known you since then.

Madam, what happened?

Nanny, nanny.

I'm coming. What's wrong?

Madam... Madam is entering labour.

Duke Xiang's Residence?

Nanny.

-It's me. -Nanny.

Nanny. You were my midwife.

Weren't you?

My lady, you have just given birth.

Your body is still weak.

You need a lot of rest.

Nanny. What did I... What did I give birth to?

What did I give birth to?

My lady. Once you get over it,

your heart loosens up

and everything will eventually pass.

Impossible.

That's not right. I gave birth to a child.

It's true.

At that time,

I heard the child cry.

Did you hear it?

My lady, the fire was raging at that time.

You... You must have heard wrongly.

How can it be? How can it be?

How can I be wrong?

Impossible. Impossible.

I can't be wrong.

It's a cry.

It is.

It's my child's cry.

It's my child's cry.

I can't be wrong.

Never.

I can't be wrong. I can't be.

My lady, you are still young.

After your health is restored,

you can still carry the royal offspring. You'll be fine.

You can still carry the royal offspring.

Nanny. Nanny.

Tell me the truth, please.

I... I've given birth to a child, haven't I?

Haven't I?

Where is the baby?

Where is the baby now?

Tell me, please.

My lady, it is in the past now.

His Majesty doesn't blame you.

Why are you still dwelling on it?

Why?

His Majesty. His Majesty.

Right. Where is His Majesty? Where is His Majesty?

And sister too. Where is she?

Why didn't they come to see me?

Why didn't they come?

Is it...

Is it because I didn't give birth to the royal child?

They're afraid of me.

They're avoiding me.

They're avoiding me.

No, no. You're all lying.

-I did give birth to a child. -My lady.

You're lying.

Nobody is avoiding you.

Nobody is avoiding you.

Then take me to see them, please.

Let's go. Let's go.

Wan'er. Listen to me, Wan'er.

His Majesty and Her Majesty will visit you

when you're in better health.

They'll come. Alright?

They'll come to see me?

They will.

They'll come to see me.

They'll come.

My lady, let's get you to the bed.

Let's sit on the bed.

No, no.

I... I'm now...

I'm now in a mess.

I can't see His Majesty like this.

I can't see His Majesty like this.

I didn't give birth to the royal child.

His Majesty will hate me.

He'll punish me.

My lady.

No, no. It's not right. Where is my child?

Give my child back to me.

Nanny, I did give birth to a child.

You saw it, didn't you?

Here, here.

Nanny.

Here, my lady. Let's go to the bed.

Let's go to the bed first.

There, there. Listen to me.

I did give birth to a child.

Let's sit here.

But...

But it was something...

something black.

What did I give birth to?

What did I give birth to?

What... What did I give birth to?

What was it? What was it?

What did I give birth to?

-I have no memory of it. -Sister.

What was it?

Nanny.

Wan'er. My poor child.

It's alright. It will pass.

It's alright.

Mark my words. It's alright.

This way, Young Master.

Stop there, Lord Pan.

I'm not ready to meet any officials.

I bid you greetings, Lady of Complete Beauty.

Why are you here, Lord Pan?

Can I speak to you in private, my lady?

This is the forbidden palace. I'm afraid it is not appropriate.

Just speak up.

Father is sick.

I'll send over the imperial physician.

You don't plan to pay him a visit?

I'll need permission from His Majesty.

Pan Yu Shu.

Lord Pan.

Do you want me to leave the palace without permission?

It's a sin for deceiving the Emperor.

Yue'er.

Pass it to him.

I may be good at playing music.

-Young Master. -But leaving this here

is going to invite trouble.

Since it belongs to you,

I should return it to you.

My lady, let me give you a kind reminder.

Please do not think only of

your feelings and safety.

You have to consider the honour of the Pan family

and Princess Shou An.

Please give it a good thought.

I'll leave now.

Young Master.

Young Master Li.

Young Master Li.

I'm coming.

Here. Your medicine is ready.

Your leg looks good now.

Yes, it is.

Good.

Here, drink up.

Thank you for your care, Madam.

This is all arranged by Her Majesty.

Please sit down.

If your leg is well now,

shouldn't you visit Consort Chen?

What happened to my sister?

Don't worry, Young Master. Consort Chen is fine.

But...

But what?

Your Majesty.

The quality wood for building Yuqing Zhaoying Palace

accumulated in every prefecture has been exhausted.

We need to send commoners and soldiers to gather more.

Also, due to expedition of work,

Bianjing City

needs more manufacturing bureau

to make chalcopyrite, gold leaf

and wrought iron required by the construction.

Hence an increase in budget allocation is much needed.

I hereby seek your permission, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. As I was saying...

These memorials claim that you

deceived the Emperor with substantial expenditure in temple construction,

spending 30 to 40 thousand just on labour

and many other crimes.

The Chancellor of Treasury, Zhang Yong, concludes that

you've exhausted all the wealth and endangered the lives of people.

Your Majesty, the temple is built for the blessing of the royal offspring.

It's not for my private use.

The royal offspring is the legacy of Great Song.

If compared to other state affairs,

the wealth spent on building the temple

is indeed insignificant.

But if Song can't continue its legacy,

it will lead to turmoil.

In the end, those who will suffer

are the people.

By then,

how can the Emperor and officials of Song live in peace?

Those who accuse me

are either

reckless and shortsighted,

or

jealous that you've entrusted

this important duty to me.

I respectfully hope Your Majesty can look into this matter.

The building of Yuqing Zhaoying Palace

for blessings is indeed a large-scale work.

Is it really burdening the people?

Your Majesty's concern for the people

is a blessing to the state.

I'll give my best to share your burden.

I've given orders

to dig passages around the site

to channel waters from the Bian River.

Firstly, we can use boats and rafts

to transport building stones and timber,

thereby reducing labour.

Secondly, the excavated earth

can be used for construction.

We don't need to excavate it from the outskirts.

Thirdly, after the transportation work is completed,

water will be channeled out

and the passages will be filled by

unwanted materials left in the construction site.

This can expedite the completion date substantially.

From the estimated 15 years,

we may complete all works in seven or eight years.

The duration can be reduced by half?

Yes, Your Majesty.

As the Chief of Construction,

I have to plan meticulously

without exhausting the national treasury for no reason

that will lead to criticism towards Your Majesty,

tarnishing the prestige of an Emperor.

Moreover, since the construction started,

the Empress had given birth to the Crown Prince.

This effort is clearly in line with heaven's will.

Even if some officials are sceptical,

Your Majesty need not worry.

You are really good with your words.

I dare not do so, Your Majesty.

There is one more matter.

Speak up.

The night the Crown Prince was born,

a crane descended from the heavens.

It danced on the roof of Yuqing Zhaoying Palace.

You mean

a crane really descended from the heavens?

I speak only the truth.

Besides me,

many workers at the site can bear witness.

Your Majesty can investigate this.

This is an auspicious omen.

Your Majesty should spread this news throughout the state

to alleviate the fear and lift the spirits

of court officials and the people.

Stand up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Regarding the expenditure you mentioned,

prepare a detailed report

for me to review.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Duke Ji is outside the hall, requesting to enter.

Didn't I ask him to leave?

Why is he still here?

Your Majesty.

Duke Ji has been kneeling outside

for four hours.

He wants to thank Your Majesty in person.

Your Majesty. The Grand Tutor has taken the blame

for the fire.

Why is Duke Ji doing this?

Though my brother

insists on taking the blame

and punishment,

in reality,

he's just afraid

I'd incriminate the kin of the Cao family.

I'm not that kind of person.

Duke Ji has indeed worried too much.

Your Majesty is benevolent.

It is not your way of doing.

Since he once gifted me a painting,

I'll gift him one in return.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty wants to gift Duke Ji

the Painting of Brotherhood?

You are very knowledgeable.

Fighting for the throne is typical to the royal family.

Brothers plot and kill one another.

Brotherly love and respect like that between Emperor Xuanzong and his siblings

is indeed rare.

Your Majesty's good intention

will surely be appreciated by Duke Ji.

Your Highness.

His Majesty can't see you now.

He wants me to give this painting to you.

Painting of Brotherhood?

Brother, I'm ashamed of myself.

I trust Your Majesty will reconcile your kinship

with Duke Ji

and set a good example.

-My lady. -Your Majesty.

My lady.

Why is Consort Chen here?

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. I'll take my leave now.

Go.

Your Majesty. You're compassionate.

Get up first.

Forgive me, Your Majesty. Forgive me.

I didn't give birth to a freak.

You should be watching over Consort Chen.

Yes, Your Majesty. Quick.

-Take her back. -My lady.

He fell asleep again?

Shou Yi sleeps so soundly

in your arms.

Ying Luo.

What happened?

You're always careless.

I'm just so clumsy.

You realized it too?

Your task of making a garment for the little crown prince

is taking almost a month now.

Look at your work. What is that?

My needlework

is of course not as good as both sisters.

These days,

I wonder how Wan'er is doing.

Your Majesty.

Consort Chen has barged into Chui Gong Hall.

I didn't give birth to a freak. I really did not.

Your Majesty. I didn't give birth to that, Your Majesty.

My lady.

Take Consort Chen back to her palace.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -My lady.

Stop.

Listen to me, Your Majesty.

Wan'er.

Your Majesty. Let me explain.

Wan'er.

Sister. You finally came.

It's great that you're here.

Wan'er.

Please put in a good word for me, sister.

I didn't give birth to a freak.

It's true, sister. You always believe me.

It must be a mistake.

I believe you.

Am I right?

All will be fine.

I'm here. All will be fine.

Help me.

There must have been a mistake.

You must help me.

Your Majesty.

I only wanted to stop her.

I didn't really want her out of the palace.

Wan'er. Did you hear that?

His Majesty said it himself.

He didn't want you out of the palace.

Don't worry. All is fine now.

His Majesty has forgiven me.

His Majesty did not blame you.

Listen to me.

Let's go back now.

Let's not disturb His Majesty.

Alright?

His Majesty has forgiven me. His Majesty has forgiven me.

All is fine now.

Come with me. Let's get you some rest first.

I did not.

I did not give birth to a freak.

I really did not.

You always believe me.

There must have been a mistake.

I believe you.

But where is my child?

I know you didn't.

Where is my child? Where is he?

Where?

It's there.

Here?

Yes, it's in the ground.

Sister, I've checked it.

It's all clear now.

I... I've given birth to the royal child.

It's ridiculous.

Everything is just

a misrepresentation by outsiders.

How can a human give birth to a raccoon?

Someone must have stolen it.

Your child must have been switched with the raccoon

to get you in trouble.

Then where is my child?

My child.

Where is my child?

How can it be a raccoon?

Logically in the chaos of the fire,

it would be difficult

to sneak a newborn out of the palace.

Moreover,

nobody has the reason to do that.

The person who stole the child

should still be in the palace.

But wait,

a child isn't a thing.

You can't hide it in the palace.

Then where can it be?

I haven't seen it in the palace.

Where can it be?

My child.

There is another newborn in the palace.

No, no.

Everyone saw the Empress pregnant for the past ten months.

That's impossible.

Then where is my child?

Where is my child?

My child...

I'll give my life to find out the truth

and claim your justice. Let's go.

Where can he be?

We have to see His Majesty now.

Tell His Majesty and Her Majesty about the raccoon.

Please find my child.

I'll not let others

smear your reputation for nothing.

Eunuch Zhang, please pass our message.

My sister and I

have something urgent to tell the Emperor and the Empress.

Young Master Li. His Majesty won't see you now.

Please take Consort Chen back with you.

Eunuch Zhang, please help me

pass just one message to the Emperor and the Empress.

Sister, don't be afraid.

Eunuch Zhang.

My sister did give birth to the royal child.

Please don't trust the rumours.

Young Master Li. Consort Chen. I'm really sorry.

Eunuch Zhang.

Evidence?

What evidence can he have?

Young Master Li insists on seeing Your Majesty.

Besides I heard from the servants

that he had gone to Xiang Guo Temple.

How dare he?

Your Majesty.

Empress.

What happened? Did Wan'er come here?

She was here with her brother, Li Zai Feng.

Let him in then.

How can I let him in?

He is here for justice.

Empress.

What justice can I give him?

Your Majesty.

It's me who suggested Young Master Li

to meet Consort Chen.

I wanted him to persuade Consort Chen to leave the palace.

I did not expect him to create this commotion instead.

Nanny.

How can you do this?

It is me

and everyone here

who have done Wan'er wrong.

What happened that night had already caused Wan'er to lose her mind.

Now you want her to leave the palace?

You're just pushing her to her wit's end.

How can I live with that?

Your Majesty. I didn't want Consort Chen

to be triggered emotionally in the palace.

It will only upset her more.

Young Master Li is after all her brother.

He might be able to comfort her and make her feel better.

We can't let her go on like this.

No matter what, she is still my sister.

The concubine of His Majesty. She...

She is our kin.

We can't abandon her

when things go wrong.

Mother, we have crossed the line.

It's already hard on her.

If we let her leave the palace now,

we...

Enough. Stop this.

Consort Chen will remain in the palace.

Li Zai Feng must never step into the palace.

This is the end of it. Don't bring this up again.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

How can a normal human being

give birth to a freak?

Since the mad raccoon was spotted in the palace,

weird things kept happening.

That's true.

That mad raccoon

must be cursed.

It even injured Lady Pan.

When Lady Pan broke the fire jade,

she said she saw the raccoon too.

Raccoons are bad omens.

-Keep walking. -It must be a warning from Taizong.

The warning from Taizong

manifested on Consort Chen.

Who are you?

What's the matter?

I'm Li Zai Feng.

I need to see Young Master Pan.

Send in a request letter and wait for the reply.

Young Master Pan. I'm Li Zai Feng.

I need to see you.

He is not here.

[Door of Etiquette, Kaifeng Government Office]

Who are you? Stop right there.

You can't enter without permission.

What are you doing?

Stop. Inform the Prefect.

Yes.

Where did he raise his injustice?

Kaifeng.

Fortunately the Prefect of Kaifeng knew that it involved the palace

and thus declined his public hearing.

He has kept Li Zai Feng in the office

and notified me about this.

He is Consort Chen's brother, after all.

He will be a hindrance.

Your Majesty.

What should we do with Li Zai Feng?

Lock him up first.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Keep this a secret.

Do not tell the Empress.

I understand.

If the wound tears again,

it will be a bigger problem.

Alright.

I'll go with you to get the medicine.

Alright, Madam.

You two accompany your father.

-After you, Madam. -Let's go.

Father, your wound...

I'm fine.

This is just an old injury

from past battles.

I went hunting a few days ago.

I'm probably just getting old.

I was once a great warrior.

Although I didn't make my name,

I did render the state my highest service.

The Pan family

was once a prestigious family.

It's all my fault.

Don't say that.

Here. Sit beside me.

How are you doing lately?

Since the Empress gave birth to the royal son,

apart from going to court,

His Majesty is always with them.

The harem is like non-existent.

All affection goes to the Empress alone.

How about Consort Chen?

The brother of the mad woman

went to Xiang Guo Temple to dig up that fetus.

He wanted to see His Majesty about it.

This is a serious matter.

Why didn't you inform us earlier?

Young Master.

Young Master. We have searched everywhere in Dongjing.

We didn't see

the man who came here the other day.

Did you hear anything

from the Palace Treasury?

After the fire,

all officials involved have been demoted.

That man was not there either.

Nobody knows his whereabouts.

Where is the butler?

He's still searching in the city.

Useless fellow.

The man was already at the door

but he was chased away.

The butler must not have known

who that man was.

How can a man

just disappear?

Get some men to continue the search.

Li Zai Feng must be located.

Yes.

Also,

keep track of any happenings in the palace,

especially the Empress' and Consort Chen's.

Yes.

Hush now.

Nanny, let me do it.

I'm fine.

I'm glad to be given a hard time by him.

This little crown prince.

He's getting bigger by the day.

Soon,

I won't be able to carry him anymore.

Children grow up fast.

This little crown prince is growing up

but I'm growing old.

I'm not as capable as I used to.

I'll enjoy every moment of serving him.

Don't cry.

When Physician Dong gave you a check-up,

what did he say?

It's normal to be sick when you are old.

Don't worry about me, Your Majesty.

You have to follow the prescription

given by the physician.

I know.

Look at this brocade garment.

He looks radiant in it.

He's exactly like His Majesty

when he was young.

This brocade garment

was made by Wan'er.

I have done her wrong.

Don't blame yourself, Your Majesty.

Consort Chen is getting better nowadays.

She's stopped causing trouble

or talking nonsense, hasn't she?

But she's becoming distant,

preferring to be alone

and always making garments.

Your Majesty. If there really is karma,

let me take all the punishments.

Nanny.

Your Majesty. We're having the Crown Prince's Hundredth Day Banquet today.

Let's not talk about all that now.

Little Shou Yi.

Yi Qin, make arrangements for Consort Chen

to attend the Hundredth Day Banquet of the Crown Prince.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Little Shou Yi.

Little Shou Yi.

[End of Episode 39]