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Court Lady

Ep15

Come. This way.

Is it gonna work?

Of course.

Before I became a guard,

Xinnan and I had been keeping in touch this way.

Hold on.

You have to write something.

Otherwise, how'd she know it's from you?

Don't write things like, "Rou, I miss you."

If the palace guards saw it,

she'd get into so much trouble.

Am I that stupid?

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, how about

we have a rest in that pavilion?

Your Highness. Birds!

See? There!

Beautiful, right?

Your Highness, there!

There!

Hurry!

Your Highness!

Slow down!

Zhenzhu.

There's one over there. Go get that.

Okay.

You are the only red peony that I love.

You are the only red peony that I love.

He knows that I hate peonies

and love cotton roses.

He's pissing me off with it! Damn you, Sheng...

Your Highness.

You are the only red peony that I love.

You are the only red peony that I love.

How did you know

I like you, you red peony?

Why are you flinching?

You should feel honored.

Her Highness is waiting for me.

If you'll excuse me...

Your Highness!

Let go of me.

Playing hard to get?

Such an old trick.

No!

Damn maid!

Just wait!

You are the only red peony that I love.

You are the only red peony that I love.

A red peony?

Directress Fu.

What's with all the red peonies?

So, this is for Directress Fu.

Guards!

Your Highness.

This kite flew into the Palace

and caused chaos.

Find out who had such a nerve to do this.

Yes.

Red peony.

It's in.

Cut the string. Cut it!

We've flown so many kites in.

Fu Rou will definitely see one.

Let's fly this one, too.

Okay.

Here.

Hold it.

Who's flying kites there?

You've disrupted the order of the Palace!

Stop! Stay there!

You've got many beautiful ladies in the Mansion.

Why create a scene in the Palace?

What scene?

She's just a maid.

Not a royal concubine!

Anyone in the Palace is off-limits.

Even if she's just a maid,

still, she's the Emperor's maid!

The Grand Emperor is superior to the Emperor!

I am the son of the Grand Emperor.

The younger brother of the Emperor.

Am I not even allowed to touch a maid?

 Enough!

Your Majesty.

Go to the Empress.

Tell her that I order her

to send the maid who dared to offend King Liang

at his disposal.

Yes.

Father, thank you for sticking up for me.

However old the tiger gets,

it can't be disrespected by dogs and cats.

If I don't remind them of my authority,

they'd all treat me like nothing but an old fool!

Mother.

King Liang has always been presumptuous.

Now, he's coming at me!

Mother, I won't have it!

You have to defend me!

Mother, could you please say something?

What are you staring at the outside for?

Your Majesty.

Someone from the Palace of Harmony is here.

Just as I expected.

Let him in.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

How's His Majesty, the Grand Emperor, doing?

Your Majesty.

His Majesty is in good health.

However, he's not in a good mood.

A maid was rude and offended King Liang.

His Majesty hopes that

Your Majesty can put this audacious maid

at King Liang's disposal.

I've heard about this.

I'm punishing her now.

I'll send her to apologize to King Liang after this.

This is such a trivial matter.

We shouldn't have bothered His Majesty.

Mother!

They...

His Majesty will be so pleased

to hear about this.

I will inform His Majesty right away.

We just got some new fabrics from Henan.

I was going to send them to His Majesty myself.

Why don't you take them on your way back?

Yes.

I'll leave for now.

Mother.

King Liang has already beaten

several maids to death this year.

If you send Zhenzhu there, she'll be dead for sure.

How could I disobey His Majesty

for a maid?

Go pamper Zhenzhu up

and send her over to King Liang tomorrow morning.

No way!

Mother!

Not a word.

Go.

Your Highness.

Where were you last night?

Chen Ji was injured. I was concerned.

So, I stayed at King Han's Mansion for the night.

Shuangxi. Go bring a ginseng soup for His Highness.

Yes.

No need.

Your Highness.

You just arrived. Are you leaving?

I've got many memorials to read.

The Grand Tutor will

come to check my homework in two hours.

I'll come by when I'm free.

Shuangxi.

Tell me. Will women become uglier

because of pregnancy?

Not at all.

Your Highness is getting prettier and prettier.

You look radiant!

Enough with the pep talk.

Brother!

Brother! You've got to help me this time!

What's going on, Xinnan?

Calm down. Talk to me.

I'll help you for sure.

You want to unravel the Splendid Landscape?

Yes.

I want to get to the bottom layer.

Maybe there's something there.

What are the chances?

Fifty-fifty.

Only fifty-fifty,

and yet you dare propose to unravel this precious work?

It's precious

because of the hidden clues of great treasure

and the unique embroidery techniques.

Now that we are clueless as to what to do with it.

We might as well unravel and study it.

Even if we can't find treasure,

we can at least study Lady Hui's techniques.

If we can learn her embroidery techniques,

and pass them on to future generations,

it's then as meaningful

as finding treasure.

So, turns out that

you're not after treasure,

but the embroidery techniques.

I am sorry.

You're a directress. It's your job.

You want to pass on Lady Hui's techniques.

I wasn't wrong about you.

You have my permission

to unravel it.

Good day, Grandfather.

Xinnan.

What brings you here to see me?

I heard that

you've been collecting rare stones lately.

So, I've been searching hard

and found a splendid stone for you.

I'm here to present it to you.

Silly girl. How could rare stones be found so easily?

Don't let others fool you.

Who dares to fool me?

Grandfather, look!

What kind of a rare stone is it?

In my collection,

you can pick any stone

and it will be ten times better.

I don't believe you.

Would I lie to you?

Let's have a bet then.

I bet my stone

is ten thousand times better

than any of yours.

If I lose,

I'll come to visit you every day

in the next three months.

If I win,

you can grant me a wish.

Deal?

You'd come to visit me every day?

That's a huge bet.

Fine.

I'll take the bet.

The spent arrow.

The spoken word.

A stone that reveals engravings when placed under sunlight?

It's more than that!

Grandfather, turn it around!

It has "Longevity" engraved.

A stone that reveals engravings under sunlight.

With both sides engraved.

It says "Fortune" on one side, and "Longevity" on the other.

Two birds in one stone!

Grandfather, did I win or not?

Yes, you won.

Besides, this is such a rare stone.

Then about our bet...

Young lady.

You've been pleasing me for half a day.

What exactly do you want?

Grandfather.

I'm begging you not to take Zhenzhu away from me.

I'm used to her taking care of me.

If she's taken away,

I will not be able to eat or sleep well.

I will get sick.

Zhenzhu?

Is she

the maid that King Liang takes a fancy to?

There are so many fair ladies in his Mansion.

Zhenzhu is just

He'll be bored of her in days.

But if I don't have her by my side,

I will be sad for many, many years!

But...King Liang...

Rest assured, Grandfather.

King Liang is my uncle.

I will be considerate of him for sure.

I will find

a girl that's tens of times prettier than Zhenzhu

and send her to him.

Grandfather, I'm begging you!

Let me keep Zhenzhu.

All right.

It's not a bid deal.

Get up.

Grandfather, is that a yes?

Yes.

Thank you, Grandfather.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Oh, right.

Ask her

to apologize to King Liang.

As for sending other girls,

don't worry about that.

The maids in the Palace of Harmony

are all good-looking.

He can just choose one from them.

Great.

Your Majesty.

Princess Xinnan, you're here.

Look!

Xinnan

brought me a precious gift!

The Stone of Fortune and Longevity.

Wonderful.

The Crown Prince has one of these.

He treasures it wholeheartedly.

Nothing is more important than it.

That's right.

It belonged to the Crown Prince in the first place.

I asked him for it.

I heard that Grandfather loves rare stones.

So I told my brother that

we should give the best ones to Grandfather.

The Crown Prince agreed with me

and gave it to me.

See, Grandfather?

We both care about you a lot!

You shall have all the fortune and live a long long life!

Young lady.

You certainly know how to make me happy.

Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me.

Don't thank me.

If you want to thank someone,

thank the Crown Prince.

He gave away

his most precious stone for you.

How could I be that important?

His Highness gave it away because he cares for you.

You and your silver tongue.

He was flying kites to piss me off yesterday.

But today he won't even do that!

No kite? Then I'll catch you in person!

I don't believe it

that he dares to skip out today!

I will wait right here.

What did you say?

Not only did I unravel the Splendid Landscape,

I also

cut it into pieces.

Into pieces?

Yes.

It was bestowed by His Majesty.

If you don't have a good excuse,

you know what punishment you'd get?

I am aware.

But Your Majesty, please allow me

to present the rest of the work.

This is...

A nautical chart.

It turned into a nautical chart?

Yes.

I unraveled the bottom layer

and found that it was made

by fastening stitches, which was unnecessary.

And the stitches are arranged in a strange way.

Seems that it's not one complete piece

but a combination of ten smaller pieces.

So, I took the liberty of cutting along the patterns.

As I had expected,

I couldn't cut the fabrics through.

So, I tried to

follow the patterns around the edges

and put the ten pieces back together.

But the new work

had different stitch patterns than the old one.

Later on, I found out that

the picture was made of two layers of threads.

I took the liberty

of carefully removing the threads on the top layer.

Then,

it turned into this nautical chart?

Yes.

Your Highness.

Isn't that Yuchi Liyan,

the guard that broke his leg not long ago?

Is it?

Him?

Yes.

You. Come here.

Your Highness.

Where is Sheng Chuling?

Your Highness.

I have recovered.

So, he doesn't need to take my shift anymore.

He's back in the Eastern Palace.

Who told you to recover?

A nautical chart?

Here

is where the treasure is hidden.

God!

My dear.

You've done something tremendous for the country!

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Any treasure

or fortune is just nothing

to Your Majesty.

I'm not talking about the treasure.

But the nautical chart!

Do you know what a fine nautical chart

means to the Tang Dynasty?

It's priceless.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Her Majesty has gone to so much trouble

for this chart.

All's well that ends well.

My dear.

you must've made a strenuous effort.

As long as I could contribute

to Your Majesty and the country,

any effort would be worth it.

Our country is blessed

to have an Empress like you.

He who presented the work should be rewarded, too.

Of course.

He who contributes will be rewarded.

Send my order.

Yes.

Reward General of Dominance, Sheng Chumu.

Tell Sheng Chumu.

About the Four Seas Sect,

he's got my permission.

Yes.

Your Highness, are you here for the Crown Prince?

He's out.

No.

I'm looking for the Crown Princess.

I'll show you the way.

No need.

I'll go find her myself.

Leave.

Look at him!

Did that minx Fu Rou

steal his conscience?

Xinnan.

Sis.

I was told you were looking for me.

I've been in a bad mood lately.

Good thing that you're here

to keep me company.

Let's go.

The Hall of Joy

Directress Fu.

Attendant Wei.

Her Majesty is in a good mood and wants to reward you.

If you want anything, now is the time to ask.

Thank you.

Your Majesty.

Get up.

Yes.

You've done great regarding the nautical chart.

What do you want as a reward?

I wonder if I could...

If you want to get out,

then save it.

You've only been here for days.

Have you seen any court ladies

who are rewarded as much as you?

Are you telling me that the Palace

is nothing but a prison to you?

Don't you care about

my high opinion of you at all?

Your Majesty, you've been kind and generous to me.

I am deeply grateful.

Then don't mention leaving the Palace ever again.

Yes.

Don't feel upset.

I'm too fond of you to let you go.

I know you miss your family.

Considering your contribution this time,

I will allow you to go out once a month

to reunite with your family.

Are you happy about it?

What's wrong?

You seemed unhappy just now.

Never mind.

I don't want to upset you with my trouble.

You're pregnant with my baby nephew.

No upsetting news for you.

You surely are a sweet talker.

No wonder His Majesty cares for you the most.

Where is my brother?

Does he not visit you often?

Ever since I got pregnant,

he's here even less frequently.

Even if he came, he'd ask the same things.

"Have you eaten? Did you sleep well?"

Did any saucy minx

swoop in on him?

Not a minx.

But another pain in the neck.

A performer.

A performer?

Yes.

How honorable His Highness is!

How could he

associate himself with a lowlife performer?

He even befriended him!

I reminded him of that. And yet he got angry.

He said he values character in a friendship, not social rank.

My brother can be like this.

Sis. Don't take it to heart.

Your Highness. Directress Fu is here with the fabrics.

That annoying woman. She's everywhere!

I'm talking with the Princess.

Ask her to leave the fabrics.

Yes.

You don't like Directress Fu?

She acts all decent

but flirts with men in private.

She's a minx.

So, you knew that she and King Zhou

got out in secret?

King Zhou?

Her Highness said you can leave these to me.

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Your Highness.

Directress Fu.

Fu Rou!

Chen Ji!

You know each other?

I forgot.

You both served at King Han's Mansion.

What's wrong with your legs?

He got injured for me.

I was careless

and fell from high places.

Escort him in.

Yes.

The aim of studying Buddhism is to calm our minds.

Good or bad, it all depends on our minds.

When our minds is clear, we can be free from illness.

I can learn a lot every time

you're here to teach Buddhism.

Master, you have to visit more often

and teach me more about Buddhism.

Your Highness, Wei Song of the Hall of Joy is here.

Send him in.

Yes.

I have to go prepare for the evening classes.

I won't take up any more of your time.

Take care.

Thank you, Master. Take care.

Her Majesty has sent me to check up on Your Highness.

Her Majesty is in charge of the harem

and still worries about my health.

I feel mortified.

Her Majesty said that

if the supplement made with goji berries

work well,

she'll send some more.

No need.

Please tell Her Majesty that

after learning from Master Da Ping about Buddhism,

I've been feeling much better.

The Master is right.

If we clear our mind, we'll be relieved from trouble.

Naturally, I will enjoy good health and longevity.

Am I right, Wei Song?

Yes, Your Highness.

Good health and longevity?

Consort Yan said so.

Judging by her appearance,

she does look much better.

So,

seems that

Master Da Ping, who's been visiting the Palace frequently,

surely knows a lot about Buddhism.

Your Majesty.

You need to take care of yourself.

Consort Yan wants longevity.

Then, even if I struggle,

I still have to live as long as I can,

so that I can see the Crown Prince

have kids and grandkids.

Otherwise, I won't feel at ease.

Chuling, why are you absent-minded?

Still fighting with Princess Xinnan?

Just sweet-talk to her.

Be a bigger man for your girl.

Learn from me.

I never fight with Fu Rou.

Bro. I don't think you dare to.

Go away.

Xinnan is spoiled and immature.

If I apologize to her,

she'd be more unreasonable.

I'll just ignore her for a few days.

She was out without permission?

Yes, Mother.

Directress Fu acts all virtuous before you.

But she is very indecent in private.

You have to punish her hard!

When was it?

-A while ago. -Why didn't you tell me?

Mother.

You had just scolded me.

I didn't want to bother you with such trivial matters.

Breaking the rules

and taking a court lady out,

King Zhou is audacious!

Mother, not King Zhou.

-Punish Directress Fu! -Enough!

I'm aware.

You can leave.

Why are you mad at me?

Mother, you seem much better.

I have a thoughtful son like you.

Of course, I can get better sooner.

I think it's because

Master Da Ping is good at Buddhism teachings,

and helped you to solve many troubles.

And that, too.

Your Highness, Her Majesty is here.

Your Majesty.

King Zhou.

You took a court lady of the Workshop Service out.

Have you no respect for the rules?

Have you no respect for me?

Pardon him, Your Majesty.

I didn't teach him well

and indulged his reckless behaviors.

If you want to punish someone, punish me.

I'll take full responsibility.

Please spare my mother, Your Majesty.

What a loving mother and a thoughtful son!

How could I punish you two?

Get your mother up.

She's ill.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You don't know how torn I am.

If everyone in the Palace breaks the rules,

then it'll be chaotic.

How would I answer to His Majesty then?

You're right.

Please forgive us.

I'll let this one fly.

But King Zhou, you have to remember.

Don't break the rules anymore.

Yes.

Did you hear Her Majesty?

Yes.

I won't break the rules anymore.

His Majesty has a lot of concubines.

It's getting harder to manage the harem these years.

I want to reform the harem.

I hope you can help me with it.

Me?

Her Majesty is busy with various affairs every day.

If Your Highness can offer assistance,

Her Majesty will be much relieved.

But Mother is not in good...

I'm fine.

I've got a lot of spare time anyway.

As long as Your Majesty doesn't mind,

I am willing to offer assistance.

Great.

First things first, access control to the Palace.

If anyone can just get in as they please,

what impropriety it would be!

Starting from today,

be them monks or priests,

without the permission of me and His Majesty,

no one shall enter the Palace.

It's...

You're right, Your Majesty.

The access control should be tightened.

That way,

King Zhou will not make the same mistakes again.

That's what I mean.

You broke the rules

and went out with King Zhou in secret.

Have you no respect for my trust in you?

I'm sorry for my misconduct.

You did misbehave.

But not so serious as misconduct.

I'm sorry for my misbehavior.

I understand that you miss your family.

But I'm upset that you couldn't tell right from wrong.

I will spare you this time.

You have to behave properly in the future.

Don't act recklessly

just because I'm kind to you.

Yes.

Get up.

Wei Song.

Give her some ointment for the bruises.

Yes.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Highness.

Put me down.

Get lost.

Put me down now!

What are you doing?

Applying ointment.

I have ointment.

Her Majesty gave it to me.

You...

Bear with me.

Does it hurt?

I got you implicated this time.

I made the decision to go out.

It is I that got you implicated.

You don't get it.

Growing up,

anyone I've ever cared for

ended up in trouble.

My nanny who adored me

was caned to death because she broke the rules.

The court lady who looked after me as her brother

died from some strange illness.

So, I became aloof and distant.

I dared not to ask for company when terrified of the dark.

Instead, I'd light candles

and stay up all night reading.

Even Administrator Qian who taught me devotedly

got transferred to Zhao City.

I came to you

because I want to have someone to talk to.

But I know

this will only put you in danger eventually.

It's done.

Quit looking at me sympathetically.

I don't need a court lady to feel sorry for me

no matter how miserable I am.

Besides,

I have my own way to fight back.

How would you do that?

I just took a court lady out for a walk.

But her flawless Crown Prince

even fraternized with a performer in the public.

I'd like to ask His Majesty

about who the unruly one really is.

Please don't, Your Highness.

You are on the side of the Crown Prince?

I am not on his side.

I'm just worried that Chen Ji might be killed.

Not my business.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

You are such a proud person.

But now, for a mere performer,

you are begging me on your knees.

It doesn't matter if it's a court lady or a performer.

We are both as trivial as ants in your eyes.

But even so,

an ant is still a living thing.

If His Majesty knows about this,

he'd only scold the Crown Prince.

It wouldn't be enough for Your Highness.

But Chen Ji would suffer greatly for it.

I'm on my knees not only for Chen Ji,

but also for Your Highness.

For me?

Your Highness, you are well-educated

and knowledgeable.

I wouldn't want the knowledge in your head

to become evil thoughts.

Without kindness, goodness,

sympathy, and benevolence,

however high your social rank is,

you wouldn't feel happy.

I wouldn't want that to happen to you.

But how could I be happy with them humiliating me like that?

Your heart knows your true feelings and you should be true to yourself.

I couldn't feel any happiness in my heart

but only bitterness.

Fine. You have my word.

I won't use this to get back at the Empress.

But I am not doing this for Chen Ji

or myself.

I am doing it for you.

Now, get up.

Come on.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Such a cheapskate!

He wouldn't even send me a kite anymore!

Your Highness!

Is this from Sheng Chuling?

This afternoon.

By the lake outside the city.

Get ready. I'm going out.

Your Highness, Her Majesty is reforming the Harem.

Whoever goes out will be in trouble.

I don't care. I am going out.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Brother! Brother!

Please, just say yes.

Tell me,

why do you have to do it today?

When I was taking a nap,

I dreamed about Guanyin

who told me that I must be out of the Palace

this afternoon.

Nonsense.

Right! I'm talking nonsense.

I'm making things up.

I don't know what I'm talking about.

My mind is totally disturbed, brother.

Brother!

All right.

You win. Now get up.

I'll take you out and run some errands on the way.

Are you happy now?

Yes!

You are the best!

Come on, let's go!

Who are you?

I am Xu Chang, a Taoism priest.

I'm here to teach the royals about longevity.

Consort Yan asked for my Master.

Ask her all you want.

It doesn't matter if she did.

Her Majesty is reforming the harem.

You commoners can't get in. Get lost!

Master.

Did they know about us getting kicked out of the temple

because of our fraud?

Is that why they forbid us to get in?

Shut up.

It took us great effort to find a way in.

I was counting on it to climb up the ladder.

Who'd have thought my plan would fell through

because of some reform by the Empress?

Damn it!

I swear she'll be doomed!

Let's go.

Your Highness.

What? You even want to check my men?

I wouldn't dare.

Your Highness, please.

Here we are.

Whose house is it?

Yours.

Mine?

You said you don't have a home.

So, I bought a house for you.

When you find someone you love,

you can raise your kids here and advance your career.

This place will be your home.

Right.

Are you giving it to me as a friend?

Or bestowing it upon me as the Crown Prince?

Of course it's a gift from a friend.

Thank you.

What?

If it was bestowed by me as the Prince,

you wouldn't take it?

I'd still take it.

It's just that if it was a bestowal,

not only should I thank you,

I'd also kneel and kowtow.

This way I don't have to do it.

You smarty pants.

I would have

prepared some furniture for you

as a surprise.

But today, Xinnan...

Never mind.

Since I was here, I thought I'd show you.

I am happy today.

I'll treat you to a nice meal outside the Palace.

Would it taste better than that in the Eastern Palace?

Let's go back there.

I'll teach you chess after dinner.

Okay. Allow me to look around.

I shouldn't be this happy.

He's the one who's been flirting around.

I should give him the cold shoulder

when he's here.

Act angrier.

A bit more.

You called me here but you're not talking.

What do you want?

Let me ask you.

Fine.

Directress Fu was kneeling for hours as a punishment.

Did you do it?

I've made a great effort and risked

being found out by Mother to get here.

This is what you want to ask me?

Yes.

Did you do it or not?

Yes. So?

It was not enough, if you ask me.

I should've broken her legs.

Say that again!

What are you yelling for?

Back then, didn't I get beaten up

for you?

How could you yell at me

because of Directress Fu?

It's because you did something wrong.

No, you did! You fell for another woman!

What do you mean, fell for? What woman?

I saw everything the other day.

You were talking and laughing together.

She made you a pendant and a sachet.

Might as well make you some clothes!

She made those for Chumu!

She's my future sister-in-law.

Sister-in-law?

Why didn't you tell me?

Have you ever asked me?

You saw me talking to her

and went all cuckoo about it

with all the yelling and arguing.

You even went to Her Majesty and told on her.

I can't be with you anymore.

Why?

My big brother and his wife are as important as my parents.

You've made my future sister-in-law suffer.

How could you marry into our family

and ask my brother to accept you as his sister-in-law?

I had no idea!

You didn't tell me.

My sister-in-law told me.

So I told my mother.

What sister-in-law?

The Crown Princess.

We have helped a lot

for her to be the Crown Princess.

Fu Rou has also helped her.

I don't expect her to play favorites with us,

but at least she can show some respect.

She knows that Fu Rou was one of the staff here.

How dare she instigate Princess Xinnan

to tell on her to Her Majesty?

How was Fu Rou

involved with King Zhou?

Chumu was at war.

Fu Rou was worried about him

and begged King Zhou to get her out,

so she could come here

and ask about Chumu.

Makes sense.

But what the Crown Princess did

doesn't make sense at all.

I'm worried that she'll make another mess

since she's so reckless.

People would think ill of His Highness.

Well.

I will go visit the Crown Prince

and remind him of this.

I'm so lucky to have you.

Here. Have one.

Is it sweet?

So sweet.

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