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 49]

Your Highness, I apologise on my sister's behalf.

She entered the palace

to persuade Duke Ji to make a last-ditch attempt, right?

Yes.

Did she come on the Grand Tutor's orders?

Yes.

I believe so.

She is a woman.

Would she participate in political affairs?

My father was not sure if the Emperor was fine.

So he sent my sister here to find out

before making his next move.

Lord Cao.

The Crown Prince and I appreciate your honesty.

Your Highness, the Crown Prince is the chosen one.

I'm just doing my job faithfully.

You wanted to separate Duke Ji and his wife

in order to protect Duchess Ji.

Too bad she was too consumed by her obsession

to realise what you've done for her.

Your Highness, she had a lapse of judgement.

Please forgive her.

I promised Duke Ji

that I wouldn't hurt them.

Naturally, I won't punish them.

Besides, Lord Cao,

the way you handle things

makes me less worried about the Cao family.

Grand Tutor Cao

should be thankful for having a son like you.

My father...

The Grand Tutor is old.

He's fallen ill recently.

He should take a good rest and enjoy his life.

I'll send

more guards to Cao Mansion.

No one should disturb him without a good reason.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Lord Cao, please rise.

I will do my best

in serving you and the Crown Prince.

Lord Cao, you will have to work hard for some time.

Thank you, Your Highness.

[Qian Yuan Hall]

The weather has changed.

It's really an ill omen.

Ever since the Emperor's death was announced,

the weather has been like this.

Nature is mourning the death of the Emperor.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Lord Su sent a sealed letter from the front station

by post horses.

Your Highness.

What did Lord Su say in the letter?

The Emperor's casket

will reach the capital tomorrow.

[Qian Yuan Hall]

Empress and Crown Prince.

We have escorted the casket of the Emperor back to the capital.

Kneel down!

Kneel down!

Pay respect!

[Da Qing Hall]

Your Highness.

Consort Chen has passed away.

When did it happen?

The royal tailor discovered it when they sent the clothes over.

I figured she passed away after noon.

She's left as well.

Your Highness.

It's been ten years.

It's been a decade.

You learned that the Emperor was gone.

So you went to see him,

isn't that right?

The Emperor has left me and Shou Yi behind.

Now you, too.

You left without any hesitation.

You two...

You two were so cruel.

Wan'er.

Did you know,

there were so many things that I wanted to share with you?

I was still looking forward

to you leaving Yu Chen Palace.

Together with Shou Yi and the Emperor,

we'd sit at a table

and have a meal

as a family

like the ordinary people.

But now,

my hope is gone.

It's turned into regret.

Your Highness, please stay strong.

Your Highness.

Should we get the handmaidens

to change Consort Chen's clothes and do her makeup?

I'll do it myself.

Get the dresses and accessories.

Yes, Your Highness.

I'm happy that both of you are pregnant.

I don't know which one of you got pregnant first

and whether your children will be boys or girls.

Heaven has given a sign.

I will give the jade pendants to both of you.

Sister, look.

My court name and real name are on it.

Is it all right for me to call you "sister"?

I have another younger sister now.

Sister, look.

Smile.

Sister.

Sister, I'll follow you wherever you go.

I'll never go back on my word.

Your Majesty, give me another chance, all right?

From now on,

I'll spend the rest of my life here.

We'll never see each other again.

You said

we'd never meet again in this life.

It turned out that we never met again.

The people are in white mourning dresses.

It's a national mourning.

Master, what's wrong? What happened?

The Emperor.

Hurry up, enter the city!

[Spirit tablet of Emperor Zhenzong]

We're going to discuss the late Emperor's funeral.

However, the Empress and the Crown Prince are taking it lightly.

Grand Tutor.

I heard Consort Chen has passed away.

I figure the Empress has gone to her palace.

You can invite Duke Ji here first.

The Empress and the Crown Prince are not here.

Even if Duke Ji were here,

there are many things we can't decide.

For example, the will of the late Emperor

and the matter of his successor.

The late Emperor didn't leave any edict.

At this critical moment,

no matter what the reason is,

the Empress

should be here.

She's being

disrespectful to the late Emperor.

Grand Tutor.

Please mind your words.

Urge the Empress.

Yes.

This is your favourite colour.

I think you'd be happy

to meet the Emperor in this dress.

Your Highness.

Lord Kou wants to see you outside the palace.

Lord Kou?

Kou Zhun?

Exactly.

He's here to pay his last respects to the Emperor.

Allow him to enter the palace.

Yes.

I am back.

-Master. -Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I am back.

I am late.

I am late.

Your Majesty, we parted many years ago.

I moaned and worried day and night.

I didn't get to bid farewell to you face-to-face.

I was worried that your work

was affecting your health.

But I never thought this would happen.

No, I did not.

You and I used to look each other in the eye.

But now, we're separated forever.

Your Majesty.

It turns out that everything is fated.

I still remember when you and I first met,

you were the energetic Duke Xiang.

All I had was courage.

Fortunately, I met you and was taken in by you.

We shared weals and woes.

We defeated the Liao army on the battlefield.

We had a great friendship.

We drank from the same jug.

No mountain is as high as the sky.

You were my sky.

You were my ruler.

You were also my confidant.

A loyal subordinate does not follow the herd and seek favour.

A martyr is never afraid of death.

I did give you advice despite your anger.

I once disobeyed you.

Your punishments and rewards were blessings to me.

You demoted and promoted me four times.

I was favoured one moment and demoted the next.

I desired to help you vanquish evil.

I was willing to devote my life to doing that.

I'd repay you at all costs.

The journey was arduous.

By carriages and boats, I travelled several times back and forth.

My sandals were broken.

Now I've come to the end of our relationship.

Your Majesty.

When I received the edict of recall,

I was trembling.

The journey was long.

I was sick and old.

I was afraid I couldn't make it

and would be unworthy of your sympathy.

Also, I feared that I'd die in another city

and be buried there instead.

However, you were magnanimous.

I didn't plan to ask for a chance to start anew.

I only wished that our friendship would remain intact.

Who would have thought

that my old friend would leave the world?

I didn't get

to see you for one last time.

[Spirit tablet of Emperor Zhenzong]

Your Majesty.

I had so many plans

to discuss with you.

I had a lot of things

to suggest to you.

There are nine layers of heaven.

I want to send the blue bird to find you.

The road to the afterworld is long.

I am willing to walk alongside you.

Your Majesty, wait for me!

Wait for me!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Highness.

The imperial physician has checked on Lord Kou.

He was extremely sad

and emotional.

That's why he collapsed. He's all right.

Let the imperial physician take care of him.

Yes.

Mother.

Sister-in-law.

Your Highness.

Duchess Ji suddenly suffered from abdominal pain.

Why would she have abdominal pain?

I have no idea.

Send an imperial physician there at once.

Duke Ji!

Lord Cao.

Monarchy and seniority come first.

Duke Ji

is neglecting his duty

at the late Emperor's funeral.

Actually, the Duke Ji's presence

doesn't really matter.

Si Qi!

Si Qi!

Your Highness.

What happened?

I'm much better.

Imperial physician.

You must keep Duchess Ji and my child safe.

I'll do my best.

Your Highness.

You shouldn't be here now.

Si Qi.

You have been with me for so many years.

Don't you know

what I care and want?

What's more,

does it matter where I am?

I heard

that my father entered the palace.

That won't change anything.

You look so weak now.

I can't bear to see you like this.

I'm unable to consider anything else.

To me,

you and our children are more important than anything else.

I only blame myself for my incompetence.

I'm unable to help you.

Instead, I'm a burden to you.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Si Qi, don't move.

I know.

I know.

Your Highness, we hope you and the Crown Prince

will stay strong for the late Emperor.

The country must have an emperor.

The new emperor has to be enthroned soon to take charge of the affairs

and arrange the burial of the late Emperor.

Chancellor Wang, you're right.

The late Emperor did not leave an edict about the successor.

Should we, the officials,

draft the edict of enthronement together?

The late Emperor did not leave an edict? Says who?

The late Emperor left a verbal edict.

"Crown Prince Zhao Zhen,"

"my first son, the Crown Prince of the country,"

"is benevolent, filial, smart, and intelligent."

"He can be enthroned before my casket."

"However, he's still young."

"Handling the general affairs and maintaining law and order"

"are the duties of the mother."

"The Empress will be conferred the title of Empress Dowager."

"She'll also be partly in charge of military affairs."

Lord Su.

Do you have a witness

for your so-called verbal edict from the late Emperor?

The late Emperor's words

entered my ears.

Would I have the guts to pass a fake edict?

So,

these are one-sided claims by Lord Su.

It's hard to tell whether it's true.

Empress and Crown Prince.

We may not have a verbal edict from the late Emperor,

but the Crown Prince is the rightful successor to the throne.

I don't dare to object.

However, the Crown Prince is much too young.

We should choose virtuous officials to assist him.

Grand Tutor, do you mean

you're not going to obey the late Emperor's will?

Are you opposing the Empress Dowager's right to be the regent

because you want that position for yourself?

Grand Tutor, the new emperor is young.

I hope you won't harbour any ulterior motives.

Lord Su, why don't you get to the point?

I'm just afraid that you,

in your warped sense of loyalty,

might imitate Guan Yu in the Three Kingdoms,

whose allegiance lay elsewhere despite his location.

Are you still clinging onto the old royal system?

To Song,

the Zhao royal family

and the late Emperor,

I've been loyal. Heaven and earth bear witness to that.

Everything I do and say is for the country's good.

The throne has been passed on from one generation to the next.

I have no selfish thoughts!

Great.

What a selfless statement!

Whether the Empress Dowager or someone else acts as regent for the new emperor,

as a subject of Song

and the tutor of the late Emperor,

am I in no place to give any advice?

Should I allow you, Lord Su, to call the shots instead?

Lord Su.

You're trying so hard to make the Empress Dowager the regent.

I'm afraid you're the one harbouring ulterior motives.

I almost forgot.

Lord Su should call the Empress "sister-in-law".

Grand Tutor.

Lord Su.

Please stop arguing.

As officials,

you're rebuking

and questioning each other before the late Emperor's casket.

How can the Emperor rest in peace?

[Spirit tablet of Emperor Zhenzong]

In my opinion,

whether the Empress Dowager becomes the regent as Lord Su suggested,

or the Grand Tutor does,

it should be for the sake of the new emperor

and Song.

Your Highness, before the late Emperor passed away,

he'd allowed you and the Crown Prince

to attend the Imperial Court meetings.

The Empress Dowager has great talent

and the ability to assist the government.

I believe

the late Emperor would've wanted her as the regent.

Your Highness.

You and the Crown Prince are mother and son.

I also believe

the late Emperor would've entrusted the Crown Prince to you.

I think the Empress Dowager should be the regent.

I second it.

The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince have spent much time together.

They are closer to each other

than either of us.

She's naturally the best candidate

to guide the Crown Prince in court affairs.

All of you

are the pillars of Song.

How can you allow a woman to take charge?

A woman is usurping the men's power.

A disaster is imminent!

Grand Tutor.

If the throne is lost and the ruler is changed,

all of you

will go down in history as Song's sinners.

Grand Tutor Cao.

You worry too much.

Empress Dowager, are you seriously going to be the regent?

No way!

Master.

Lord Kou.

Your Highness, with all due respect,

I once had a discussion with the late Emperor

about letting the Crown Prince

have his coming-of-age ceremony in advance,

so that he could join the Imperial Court meetings.

My purpose

was to prevent the Empress Dowager from participating in politics.

Lord Kou.

The late Emperor issued an order later

to allow both of them to attend Imperial Court meetings together.

It's all because Grand Preceptor Guo made a stink about it,

leading a group of students to write a memorial.

Also, the likes of Lord Su fanned the flames

and fooled the Emperor.

Also, the late Emperor was sick.

If the treacherous officials

hadn't framed me in front of the late Emperor

and forced me out of the capital,

I would never

have allowed the late Emperor

to make such a decision.

Your Highness, I firmly believe that

the late Emperor must have left an edict.

Your Highness, you were with the Emperor.

I believe you know his physical

and mental condition the best.

I believe that

before the late Emperor performed the Feng Shan ritual,

he must've felt that his end was approaching

and made an arrangement.

Shouldn't the Crown Prince's enthronement,

especially the officials assisting him,

be subject to the edict of the late Emperor?

Should it be decided

among a few officials in private?

What about the Emperor's authority?

What about rules and customs?

Lord Kou.

If you're right

about the late Emperor leaving an edict,

it'd have been entrusted to a reliable person.

However, no one in the palace knows.

All the places where the edict could be kept,

including his chamber, the Imperial Study,

Wen De Hall and even here, Da Qing Hall,

have been searched thoroughly under my lead.

Nothing was found.

The Grand Tutor

doubted my words. Now you, too?

However, the fact is

the late Emperor did leave a message to me.

I wouldn't say I was trusted

by the late Emperor more than any of you here,

but

the late Emperor was wise.

He knew I'd be more dedicated than anyone else

in supporting the Crown Prince's enthronement

and the Empress Dowager's position as the regent.

Lord Su, you're dedicated to your family.

However, I'm dedicated to the late Emperor.

Lord Kou.

Must you misconstrue my words?

Enough.

I'm not an ignorant child.

You can't fool me

with mere words.

Lord Kou, are you insisting

on looking for an edict that most likely does not exist?

You said it yourself.

It may not exist.

That means it may exist.

Your Highness.

I'd like to meet

Zhang Jing Zong, the eunuch

who served the late Emperor.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Eunuch Zhang, you may rise and speak.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Your Highness, my lords,

I've never heard the late Emperor mention

or seen him write

a will.

As for the verbal edict mentioned by Lord Su,

I'm not sure about it.

However,

since I've served him for so long,

based on what I know about him,

I think

the late Emperor had felt that his end was approaching

before he went to Mount Tai.

Your Highness, I was right.

The late Emperor must have left an edict.

This edict must be found.

Everything after his death

must be executed in accordance to his will,

especially the matter of the regent.

We will obey his will, be it having you as the regent

or someone else to assist the new emperor.

Your Highness.

I agree with Lord Kou.

Lord Kou, based on what you've said,

you are against the idea of the Empress Dowager being the regent

just because

we didn't have the late Emperor's will.

And I thought

you had

the late Emperor's funeral

and the matter of regency in mind.

Am I not considering it?

Lord Kou.

Is it because

you didn't get to see the late Emperor one last time

that you come up with such ridiculous ideas?

Enough, gentlemen.

Don't try to stop me.

I'll surely find the edict.

Your Highness.

Eunuch Zhang, please think carefully.

Before the late Emperor passed away,

especially before he went Mount Tai for the Feng Shan ritual,

did he do anything unusual?

Anything unusual?

He didn't do anything unusual.

Before the late Emperor went to Mount Tai,

he'd been to Consort Chen's chamber.

Is this considered unusual?

Consort Chen?

Yes.

The late Emperor was very likely to have left the edict

to Consort Chen, who had been staying in the cold palace.

Lord Su, you once said

that you went to everyone in the palace

to ask about the edict.

Did it include Consort Chen?

Lord Kou.

Consort Chen passed away yesterday.

Consort Chen has passed away?

Now of all times.

This is even more suspicious.

Maybe

the edict is in her palace.

Your Highness, please allow me to search her room.

My lord, we can't find it.

Keep searching.

Search under the bed, above the beams and inside the utensils.

Yes.

If we don't let Lord Kou search this place thoroughly,

all logic would fall on deaf ears.

Is Lord Kou making a scene

because of grief?

Are they looking for the edict?

They're messing around!

Lord Su, since you know that,

why don't you let him get it out of his system?

Besides,

Lord Kou's search

will also shut those who question the edict

of the late Emperor up.

Am I right?

Lord Cao, you're not worried at all.

We must follow the edict of the late Emperor.

If the edict was put in water, it would have been ruined.

Can you be smarter?

Yes, Chancellor Wang.

Lord Kou, we can't find it.

Search again.

Have you searched every place carefully?

It must be there somewhere!

Don't just look at what's in front of your eyes.

Look at the inconspicuous

and the hidden parts.

That's the most important!

[End of Episode 49]