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 47]

Starting today,

all must go on a vegetarian diet.

On the day of the prayer ceremony,

officers shall hold the genealogy of the imperial clan, the jade album,

and the divine memorandum.

They shall accompany you to the peak of Mount Tai.

You shall carry out the ritual personally, Your Majesty.

You shall pray to the heavenly god.

Read out the genealogy of the imperial clan and the jade album.

You need to present the offerings thrice.

Then place the genealogy of the imperial clan and the jade album

in cases of gold and jade.

Make a slurry of golden powder and frankincense

and use it to seal the two cases.

Finally, place the two cases in a pre-built case made of stone.

Then the prayer ceremony will be completed.

We need your consent for this.

We shall do exactly what you've said.

You will be fully in charge of this, Lord Wang.

Yes, Your Majesty.

There's one more thing.

Nine officials will be accompanying you on that day.

You need to pick the candidates.

You,

Lord Ding,

Yi Jian, Xing Zhong He, Cao Li Yong,

Ceremonial Officer Feng Cheng,

Commander of the Ceremonial Guards, Chen Yao Sou,

and Commissioner of Accommodation and Delivery, Zhao An Ren.

Your Majesty.

We're still short of one person.

Jing Zong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You shall go with me, too.

Thank you, Your Majesty. It shall be done.

Make it fly higher.

Make it fly higher.

It's flying high, Crown Prince.

Your Highness.

Do you want to play with us?

I want to make it fly higher.

Your Highness.

The thread of my kite is broken by the wind.

Can you retrieve the kite for me?

Your Highness.

It's just over there.

Help me to retrieve it.

Just stop playing.

I still want to play.

Fine.

Retrieve it for her.

Yes, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

How's the preparation, Yi Jian?

Everything is ready, Your Majesty.

Lord Cao is in charge

of the security around Mount Tai.

Lord Ding is in charge of the security of your accommodation.

I will be in charge of your safety.

Good.

Your Majesty.

Anything else?

Yes.

There's something else. It's about Lord Kou.

Kou Zhun?

Yes.

What's the matter with him?

Lord Kou

has presented a memorial.

It's just a memorial.

Why are you hesitating?

Let me see it.

This man

just can't seem

to stop going against me wherever he is!

Your Majesty.

Read it, Lord Ding.

Your Majesty.

Lord Kou is audacious!

He subsidised the Tian Xiong Army

from his own pocket.

He's stepping out of line.

He's disrespecting you, Your Majesty.

This is simply presumptuous.

Is he forgetting his place?

He's acting disrespectfully!

He's actually generous to the troops,

but he's chosen to do that at this moment.

He wants me to pay.

He wants me to pay him back.

Lord Ding.

Can the Three Ducal Ministries

make the payment to Lord Kou?

In my opinion,

it doesn't matter who makes the payment.

Lord Kou has been trying to gain support from everyone.

Everyone knows this.

If he's using you

to make himself look good,

you can be kind enough

to just reprimand him.

However, now

he's trying to gain the loyalty of the troops.

He's right, Your Majesty.

Tian Xiong Army is the garrison

of our strategic point in the north.

What if one day,

the troops obey Lord Kou instead of you?

That's ridiculous!

How dare you, Kou Zhun!

Lord Kou shouldn't have

demanded for a payment from you at this moment, Your Majesty.

However, I think he may have his own reasons

for subsidising the troops.

I hope...

Stop pleading for him, Yi Jian.

I know what he's thinking.

Send him a reply at once, Yi Jian.

He can pay from his own pocket but we won't pay him back!

Calm down, Your Majesty. I'll do as you say.

Is this the end of it, Your Majesty?

Your Majesty.

Shouldn't we punish him for stepping out of line?

We should.

Yi Jian.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Draft an edict.

I want Kou Zhun to return to the capital at once.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Kou Zhun is audacious.

Instead of punishing him,

why are you summoning him to the capital, Your Majesty?

Do you want him to return so that...

I have to rebuke him face to face

to vent my anger.

Your Majesty...

Enough.

It's final.

Su Yi Jian.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Get it done at once.

Yes, Your Majesty.

A little higher. Almost there.

-A little bit more. -It's almost there.

-We're almost reaching it. -A little higher.

Yes, we're almost reaching it.

A little higher.

Oh no. It's flying over to the cold palace.

Ms Guo.

That is the forbidden area of the cold palace.

I'm afraid we can't retrieve your kite.

No, I want my kite back.

I really can't retrieve it, Ms Guo.

I'd rather you punish me.

I don't want to punish you. I just want my kite.

My father made the kite.

It's my favourite.

Can you stop the nonsense?

My father really made it for me.

It's my favourite.

Come with me.

My kite.

It's all wet.

I'll make you a new one.

Will you?

Thank you, Brother Crown Prince.

You...

Who allowed you to do so?

The Empress said I could call you "brother".

That's not what I'm asking about.

If you dislike it,

I'll stop calling you that.

There's someone here.

Who are you?

Your Highness.

The snack you made is so delicious.

It's even better than by the one made by the Pure Consort.

How do you know she's a consort?

She lives

in such a big place in the palace.

Naturally, she's a consort.

However, this is the cold palace.

What have you committed, Your Highness,

that you ended up here?

Do you want to try it?

I made it personally.

Try it. It's really delicious.

It's good, isn't it?

Who actually are you?

Do your parents treat you well?

Your Highness, he's...

They treat me really well.

I'm glad to hear that.

I heard that you were ill a while ago.

Are you getting better?

How did you know?

I've recovered.

My father...

He's gone to pray for me.

I think that's why

I gradually got better.

Has your father come back?

Not yet.

Then your mother will have to take care of you.

How's your mother?

She's all right.

It's just that she works a little too much.

Sometimes, she gets sick.

There's a problem with her eyes.

She always stays up late to make clothes for me and my father.

So her eyesight is bad.

She just won't listen to my advice.

She hasn't changed a bit.

What?

Your clothes.

Your mother personally made it for you, didn't she?

Yes, all my clothes are made by her.

She really loves you.

Yes.

You must be filial to your father and mother.

I got it.

You know my parents, right?

You seem to be ill.

Are you having some kind of sickness?

I can ask the Empress

to summon an imperial physical to check on you.

We can do it now.

No.

Thank you, kids.

Thank you.

I've always been weak.

I've consulted an imperial physician.

Do you want me to send you some daily necessities?

It isn't necessary.

I'm fine here.

I have everything I need.

Can you tell me more about yourself?

Go on.

I want to know.

I'll visit you again.

No.

When you leave,

don't tell anyone that you've seen me.

Just keep it as a secret between us.

I will.

Shou Yi.

[To restate his meaning, at that time, Vajra Treasury Bodhisattva spoke...]

Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Drop the formalities.

Let's take a break, Your Majesty.

Should I get you a litter?

I'm not an old man yet.

I can still walk up the mountain.

All of you can stop following me.

Yi Jian.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Keep me company.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Stop following me.

Your Majesty.

The path is slippery in the rain, Lord Su.

Please take good care of the Emperor!

Sure.

Everything in the world is just an illusion.

If you know the absolute truth, you won't be swayed at all.

You're copying the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Yes, Your Highness.

I do this every day.

It makes me feel at peace.

About Shou Kang,

it's been tough on you.

I also owe you an apology.

Shou Kang is a princess.

She has her own fate.

A document was sent from the frontier yesterday.

It said that

the consort of the sixth prince of Liao

is pregnant.

The consort of the sixth prince? That's Shou Kang.

She's pregnant?

Yelu Zongyuan has been treating her well.

He loves and respects her

and they're getting along well.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I know

that if it weren't for you,

the military document

wouldn't have contained such a trivial matter.

I'm free today.

I shall also stay here and copy the sutra.

Are you doing this for the Emperor?

The Emperor

has been getting weaker in the last couple of years.

Now he's on a long journey.

I'm worried about him.

An emperor

is the father of the country.

He rules with the mandate of heaven.

I ascended the throne when I was 29 years old.

It's been 25 years.

Yi Jian.

How do you interpret the word "ruler?"

He can manage the people well and he can accept others' criticisms.

He's adept at civil and military matters.

That's who we call a wise ruler.

If a foolish person rules,

crooked officials will flourish

and corruption will become rampant.

A mediocre person does nothing.

A tyrant is brutal and immoral.

Led by you,

Song is having an age of peace and prosperity.

You're indeed a wise ruler.

The people can judge

my reign after I'm long gone.

Let's go.

We mustn't stop until we reach the peak of the mountain.

Mencius once said

that Confucius went up to Mount Tai and saw the whole world.

Now it seems

we're seeing the whole world and it's certainly impressive.

It inspires ambition.

You're ambitious,

and you have a vision, Your Majesty.

You rule over a beautiful land

and the people submit to you.

You sound like Wang Qin Ruo, Yi Jian.

I wouldn't dare.

It's from the bottom of my heart.

What do you think

of the Feng Shan ritual?

Only great rulers

deserve to carry out the Feng Shan ritual on Mount Tai.

It's about relaying your contribution and getting heaven's mandate to rule.

In your mind,

I can't compare to Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Wu of Han, isn't that right?

We just want to get heaven's blessings.

I have no objection to that.

I've come here with a sincere heart

to get the blessings.

I think it's appropriate.

Yes, it's appropriate.

Isn't there

good news from the capital?

It says the Crown Prince

has almost recovered.

The nearer we are to the peak of Mount Tai,

the clearer my mind is.

My mind has never been clearer.

I'm able to recall many forgotten things.

For instance,

I demoted Ping Zhong by mistake.

I actually have no idea what Lord Kou had said to you

back then, Your Majesty.

Have you sent the edict to Lord Kou?

It's sent to him with expediency.

[Let's enjoy our food and wine. We shall never be separated.]

[Together we play the music and live a peaceful life.]

[I...]

[I'm lucky to have you by my side, Ying'er.]

[I'll always remember the first time we met.]

[Having known you, I have no regrets for the rest of my life.]

Back then,

I allowed the Empress to participate in state affairs.

Not one official in the court supported the idea.

However,

they didn't realise

she had long been helping me in state affairs.

She's an exceptional woman.

But finally, she won the support of the officials

and gradually built

her reputation in the Imperial Court.

When I pass away,

the Crown Prince will still be too young.

The Empress will be the regent.

Your Majesty.

Take care of yourself, and you'll live a long and fruitful life.

Can I live forever?

You're the brother-in-law of the Empress.

When it comes to

who's the most loyal to the Empress,

it'd be you.

I'm an official of Song.

My loyalty lies with Song

with the royal family,

and with you, Your Majesty.

You're loyal.

How can I not trust you?

Rise.

We've known each other since childhood.

We've shared weals and woes for decades.

I trust you and rely on you.

I have high hopes for you.

I'll do anything for you, Your Majesty.

I really hope

that you'll never

let me down.

I'll remember that.

Come on.

I, Zhao Heng,

am the Emperor of Song.

I'm here with my officials to pray to you, the heavenly emperor.

We shall carry out the Feng Shan ritual here on Mount Tai.

We'll respect the deities and relieve the people of their hardships.

I'm praying to alleviate any disasters.

I shall attain enlightenment

with absolute faith.

At the top of the skies,

there exists a mysterious yet wonderful realm.

The heavenly god,

the supreme of all beings.

I pray to you with absolute faith.

The golden palace is far away

and the jade palace is towering in the sky.

The heavenly master with jade and golden faces.

I pray to you with absolute faith.

The pure energy originated from the source

and the five planets were created.

They're located in the four directions.

Then Yin and Yang came into existence.

The one in the centre is saintly.

The ones surrounding the earth are celestial.

All move accordingly in their own cycles

with precision.

The beings from all dimensions

are saintly and merciful.

In the infinite universe,

there exist five heavenly masters.

I'm showing you my respect and humility.

I shall bow to you

a hundred times.

The heavenly emperor is high above us, Your Majesty.

You're required to walk the remaining way up.

May you bless Song.

Please bless and give us the divine memorandum.

I'll personally bestow titles upon heaven and earth.

I'll convey my sincerity to heaven and earth

so that the nation of Song

and all my subjects will be blessed.

May heaven, in its great mercy,

bless my son so that he'll live long and prosper.

The nine of us shall go with you, Your Majesty.

[The Arch of Ancestors]

Where are the genealogy of the imperial clan and the jade album?

Here they are, Your Majesty.

I

shall go up alone.

All of you shall wait here.

Your Majesty.

Are you sure you're going up there alone, Your Majesty?

Any objections?

I dare not.

The ritual is complicated.

I'm just worried that you might not be able to handle it all.

Put the genealogy of the imperial clan and the jade album in the golden case.

Your Majesty.

You must present the items to heaven.

Do as I say.

Yes.

Do you want me

and Lord Cao to accompany you to the mountain peak, Your Majesty?

He's right, Your Majesty.

There isn't any security in place at the mountain peak.

We can't just let you

go there alone.

Let me go with you, Your Majesty.

Are you all defying me?

We dare not.

Give me the case.

Your Majesty.

Yi Jian.

Don't ever forget my words to you.

I'll remember what you've said, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Be careful of the slippery path.

Take care, Your Majesty.

Take care, Your Majesty.

It's been four hours.

Although the ritual is complicated,

it should be completed by now.

However, there isn't any sign

from the mountain peak.

Could it be that the Emperor has some crucial things to tell the deity?

Why don't we find out?

I don't think the Emperor will punish us for this.

It's extremely cold at the mountain peak during this season.

I'm afraid the Emperor may not be able to take it.

Yes.

The ceremonial gown that he wears is too thin.

No, I must check on him.

Lord Su.

Let's go.

My legs...

The Emperor has passed away.

Your Majesty!

Gentlemen.

I have put the Emperor to rest.

Thank you, Eunuch Zhang.

We would appreciate it if you could

help us to manage the situation.

Don't let anyone get close to the Emperor's body.

It is my duty.

The Emperor has passed away,

and we can't keep it a secret forever.

We must keep it a secret no matter what.

If the news

gets out,

the country will be in chaos.

The neighbouring countries are primed to take over.

The situation in the capital will be unstable.

The Emperor's casket will be escorted back to the capital.

We must not tell a soul.

We should depart

within the next two days.

We can't go back for the time being.

You've forgotten something, Lord Xing.

According to the original itinerary,

we're supposed to pray to Confucius at Qufu.

But the Emperor...

Then all the more reason to go.

[End of Episode 47]