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 52]

Seems like Lord Xing is still holding grudge against me

because of the divine memorandum back then.

I don't dare to.

It's inevitable to think of an old thing

when I see this Jiang Tian Pavilion.

What is it?

Back then,

Prime Minister Wang wanted to drown himself in the lake to prove his loyalty.

It would have been an anecdote

if it worked.

Forget it.

Let's not bring up the old story.

Lord Xing,

we should enjoy the beautiful scenery.

I never thought that Empress Dowager would particularly send Lord Xing

to read the geomancy in Luo Yang's mausoleum.

Right.

It's because of the significance of the late emperor's mausoleum.

Empress Dowager wouldn't have tinkered with spiritual forces otherwise.

You mean

you've found something on this trip?

Do you really want to know?

What is it, Lord Xing?

I've reckoned through

the power of Five Yin that

if we move up the mausoleum about hundred steps,

with the power of heaven,

the future generations of the royal family will be blessed.

This is good for the state.

But through on-site inspection,

if the mausoleum were moved up about hundred steps,

we could dig out rocks and water.

I'm still considering it.

But this should be reported to Empress Dowager.

Lord Xing, it's fine.

I'll enter the palace with you later.

-All right. -Don't worry.

Is this turtle?

Your Majesty, this is the Bagua of Fuxi.

It really does look alike.

The ancients said,

wise people could deduce theories through some signs.

Let me take a look.

Fuxi ruled the world. The dragon and horse came out from the river.

He drew the bagua according to these odd signs.

Lord Xing, did something happen during

your trip to Luo Yang?

Your Majesty,

the construction of the later emperor's mausoleum is proceeding smoothly.

It's just that...

What is it? Just say it.

It's just that if we move up the late emperor's mausoleum about hundred steps,

it would be good for the future generations.

However...

However, shifting it is really a tremendous task.

But Her Majesty

has to think of the future generations of Zhao's royal family.

Your Majesty, it's worth the money even if

the shifting project is costly.

Shifting the mausoleum?

Chancellor Ding,

you're in charge of the construction of the mausoleum.

Can it be shifted like this?

Your Majesty, it can be done.

What about the burial date?

Three of you should know that

the successive emperors were buried

in July according to the old system.

Will the burial date

be delayed if we shifted it?

The progress won't be delayed as long as we have enough money.

This is about the future generations of the royal family.

Please consider it, Empress Dowager.

Is shifting the mausoleum

really good for the future generations of the royal family?

Your Majesty,

I don't dare to lie.

Then do as three lords said.

Shift the mausoleum right away.

Your Majesty made a wise choice.

Wait until the mausoleum is finished,

bury the divine memorandum and

those auspicious signs together with the late emperor,

including this turtle which is

in His Majesty's hand.

Pass my order.

Stop the construction of all temples of blessings.

Lord Wang,

why did you stop me

from reporting the fact to Empress Dowager

that we could dig out rocks and water if we move up

the late emperor's mausoleum about hundred steps?

Lord Xing, just calm down.

Since you already deduced that

shifting the mausoleum is good for the future generations of the royal family,

how could it be that easy to dig out rocks and water?

It won't do, I need to see Empress dowager

to tell her the fact.

Lord Xing.

I don't know the calculation

but I know a thing or two about geology.

I'm familiar with Luo Yang's mausoleum too.

It won't be a problem to move it up about hundred steps.

Chancellor Ding, are you sure?

What if...

There's no 'what if'.

The location of the mausoleum is chosen cautiously.

A few geographers who practice Yin Yang

in Dongjing City were called in to inspect the location.

Lord Xing, don't forget that

you were a part of them as well.

Lord Xing.

There are mountains and water around the mausoleum.

It is surrounded by the aura of heaven and earth,

a treasure land with good geomancy.

How would that cause great impact

by just moving it up a little more?

Come on, Lord Xing, please.

Right.

There's one thing I don't understand.

Father-in-law, you mean

Empress Dowager believed in

what Lord Xing said

and agreed to move the late emperor's mausoleum

but she plans to bury the divine memorandum and auspicious signs?

Don't you think it's contradictory?

Seems like our

auxiliary Empress Dowager who's gradually gaining power

is becoming unpredictable.

Ming Yun, what's your ambition?

I want to travel around the mountains and rivers

like Li Tai Bai and Du Zi Mei.

My father came to Dongjing.

He met the Empress Dowager today.

He will soon take me out of here.

Mother has already told me this.

After I finish travelling around the world,

I'll come back to be Your Majesty's studying companion.

Actually,

doesn't Lady Cao

accompany you everyday?

I don't think you'll need me.

Don't be insubordinate!

I was talking nonsense and offended Your Majesty.

Your Majesty is generous,

please forgive me.

I'll let you off.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

It's a big world.

You're free,

but I'm still living in these palace walls.

All the lands in the world belongs to the emperor.

Your Majesty is the emperor.

The entire world belongs to Your Majesty.

You can go anywhere you want, can't you?

I need Mother's permission to go out of the palace.

Moreover, I've never been out of the palace alone.

That's because Your Majesty is still young now.

Wait until Your Majesty grows up,

you can make your own decision then.

I'll write Your Majesty letters

to tell you what I saw and heard.

To you,

how should an emperor be?

An emperor

should live a pampered life,

be benevolent to the people without seeking fame.

The water is coming out! Quickly block it!

Quick!

Quick!

Block it!

It can't be blocked! Leave, quick!

Let's go!

Water is gushing out of the underground palace?

Didn't three of you

give me and the emperor your word back then?

Xing Zhong He!

Didn't you say that

moving the mausoleum up

would be good for the future generations of the royal family?

Crushed stones and charcoal are found after penetrating the ground.

It indicates the descendants would die in other countries.

Water is found in the hall.

It indicates the descendants would suffer from diseases.

After spending so much money,

what you all got in exchange for the royal family

is an ominous sign.

Do you all wish for the royal coffin

to be submerged in the waters of the underworld?

Please calm down, Your Majesty.

We deserve to die.

I deserve to die.

You do deserve to die!

But now is not the time for you to apologize.

What's the solution?

Your Majesty.

Why don't we move the mausoleum back to its original place?

Move back to its original place?

Prime Minister Wang.

Are you wishing the late emperor can't be buried

until the end of the year?

Forgive me.

Your Majesty,

we can replicate the example

of Qian Mausoleum of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu.

Set the base with stones, strengthen the foundation,

fill the joint with cement and stop the water from flowing out.

I guess it should be fix the problem.

Do as what Chancellor Ding said.

Mother,

will it work by using the way that Chancellor Ding mentioned?

I don't know.

Mother, Father who's in the heaven

will bless us to get through this hardship.

He will.

Your Majesty.

The eldest princess is here.

She is crying in the hall.

Do you know what happened?

Seems like...

Seems like she was hit by the Prince Consort.

Was hit?

Sister-in-law, I don't want to see the physician.

Your Majesty, we still have the medicine for reducing swelling and bruises.

Why don't I bring it here?

Quickly bring it over.

Yes.

He hit you really hard.

Did the Prince Consort do this?

He's having an affair,

a woman named as Liu'er.

I just asked him a few questions

and he started to make nasty comments

and insulted me.

I was very angry

so I fought with him.

You're pregnant.

How dare he laid his hand on you.

He never cared about me.

It was an accident

for having this child.

You knew

this marriage.

I am just a shabby woman who

I thought it'd be fine as long as I had a place to live.

Maybe my fate is bad.

Ling Yang, don't be sad.

Just stay in the palace for the time being.

Rest assured.

I won't let you

get slapped for nothing.

Sister-in-law.

I did nothing wrong.

You still dare to argue with me?

Insolent son!

It's fine that you're having an affair

but you still dare to hit the Princess?

She is not a woman you can hit.

So what?

The princess has married into the Ding family.

She is my wife now.

Husband guides the wife.

Can't I discipline her?

Moreover, she hit me first.

Just bear it if she hits you.

Father, I'm your son.

Can you be more fair?

You saw

how Ling Yang treats me.

She is plain and dull.

It's not a princess I married.

It's a nun.

I'm having an affair, so what?

Can't I have a mistress

after becoming a prince consort?

I'd rather not be one then!

You scoundrel!

You're really good at picking a bad time!

I already have enough problems!

You are a counsellor of the court.

Who would dare to give you a hard time?

Go!

Kneel down at the ancestral hall.

You can't get up without my permission!

Quickly go!

Yes.

Husband, calm down.

Why do I

have such a useless son?

Don't be angry. It'll hurt the body.

Xian Rong has gone too far this time.

Ling Yang is pregnant after all.

Now that Ling Yang has returned to the palace,

I'm afraid that Empress Dowager would've heard about the matter.

I thought

you would take Xian Rong to the palace and apologize right away.

All warfare is based on deception.

You like to read books on the art of war.

Do you remember how Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shi Min,

explained the meaning of the strategies of war?

Please teach me.

Taizong said this.

All the words describe one main idea.

Cause the enemy to make mistakes through many ways.

Make mistakes through many ways?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Lord Xing.

Regarding the matter of shifting the mausoleum,

I want you to be honest with me.

Yes.

Your Majesty,

it's true that I deduced

it would be good for the future generations if the

mausoleum was moved up about hundred steps,

but...

But what?

But it was highly possible that stones and water would be dug out.

Why didn't you report to me back then?

Because Chancellor Ding and Prime Minister Wang

agreed to move the mausoleum up about hundred steps.

They didn't allow me to talk.

After that, they told me that

it was needless to report to you and His Majesty.

Fool!

Are you loyal to the emperor

or Ding Wei?

Your Majesty.

I swear my loyalty to you and His Majesty until my dying breath.

I don't dare to have ill intentions

and be rebellious.

The conversation between us today

shall not be heard by the third person.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Father, didn't you say we should sit tight and wait

to see how the Empress Dowager reacts?

Then why did you take me to the palace and find Ling Yang today?

I don't want to apologize to her.

It's been three days.

Nothing is happening in the palace.

Empress dowager must be waiting for our action.

I, Ding Wei,

and the Ding family,

must show her this respect no matter what.

Lords, please be quick.

Yes.

Keep moving.

Your Majesty,

Chancellor Ding and Prince Consort Ding

are asking to see the Princess outside the hall.

I don't want to see them.

Just listen to their explanation.

Sister-in-law.

Go to the back hall

if you don't wish to see them.

All right.

Let them in.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

I took my insolent son here to greet Empress Dowager.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Don't be so formal, Chancellor Ding and Prince Consort.

You may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, where is Ling Yang?

Your Majesty, I didn't teach him well.

But I already made this foolish son

pay for it.

Your Majesty,

for the matter between man and wife,

it's better to let them work it out.

Can I ask to see the Princess?

Ling Yang is a princess.

Assaulting a princess is an insult to the royal family,

no matter he is the Prince Consort or not.

You insolent son!

Father! Stop hitting me!

Do you admit your mistake?

-Do you admit your mistake? -Father, I was wrong.

Tell me, what's your mistake?

Ling Yang, come out!

Ling Yang, can you come out and save me?

Insolent son!

Father, stop hitting me!

Do you admit your mistake?

Stop hitting! You'd kill me!

Ling Yang, come out and save me!

Stop shouting!

Stop yelling!

Aren't you embarrassed for doing that kind of thing?

Quickly come out!

Ling Yang, I'm begging you!

-How dare you call her? -Do you admit your mistake?

-Insolent son! -I'm about to get killed by my father!

Aren't you going to apologize to the Princess?

Apologize to the Princess now!

Ling Yang, come out!

Princess, please give Rong'er one more chance!

A great man doesn't harbour grievance for past wrongs.

He has admitted his mistake.

We'll talk about it after going back to the residence.

Chancellor Ding, why are you doing this?

Your Majesty.

She is a princess,

but she is also the wife of the Prince Consort.

As you just said,

about the matter between man and wife,

it's inappropriate for others to meddle in.

Yes. However, Your Majesty,

can we ask the Princess

to come out now?

It depends on her

whether to come out or not.

Your Majesty,

Lord Su asked me to send you a memorial.

Chancellor Ding,

see for yourself.

What?

The water is coming out from the underground palace of the mausoleum again?

Empress Dowager has decreed that

today is not a day to hold court.

It's inconvenient to meet with the officials.

Just send in the memorials

if there's anything.

Sir,

did Empress Dowager mention the reason why she doesn't want to see us?

She didn't.

We have something important to report

to Empress Dowager face to face.

Sir, please tell Empress Dowager once again.

Right, it's urgent.

Empress Dowager already said she won't meet anyone.

Lord Guo, please don't put me in a difficult position.

If there's nothing else,

I'll excuse myself first.

What do we do?

Mother,

I heard the water is coming out from Father's mausoleum again.

Is this true?

Yes.

You shouldn't have ordered to shift the mausoleum.

Burn a joss stick to you father first.

You're right.

I shouldn't have easily agreed

to shifting the mausoleum.

Just that

your father didn't have many descendants.

In his whole life,

you are the only descendant he had.

When your father was still alive,

he always said to me

that

he had no luck and morality.

That he incriminated the ancestors and the civilians.

Every time when I think of it,

my heart really hurts.

So,

it's inevitable to get tempted when I heard it was good

for the future generations.

I was ill-conceived.

I failed your father.

Mother, I misjudged you.

How are we going to fix

the problem of the water?

Your uncle is rushing to Luo Yang

after hearing this news.

I already gave my order as well

to facilitate him in handling this.

I ordered Xing Zhong He to rush there immediately

and see if there are any remedies.

And see if he needs to reread geomancy of the underground palace and golden well.

Mother.

I don't understand.

It's Xing Zhong He's fault for his wrong prediction about shifting the mausoleum.

Why didn't you punish him

but use him instead?

Your Majesty, who do you think is

the most punishable person in this incident?

Think carefully about

who the person that

strongly advocated the shifting of the mausoleum was.

The late emperor's mausoleum

can only be moved back to the original place to be rebuilt.

The project will be delayed for sure.

Have you figured it out?

It's all related to that person.

Just that the evidence is currently inadequate.

So it seems that

the only chance is Lei Yun Gong.

Yes, I already secretly brought him to the capital

yesterday night

and sent him to the Judicial Court.

Next,

we'll see if Lord Cao could make him speak.

Say it.

Who put you up

to poison Lord Lei?

Lord, please spare my life.

I had no choice.

Tell me the truth then I'll let you live.

If I tell,

they won't spare my wife and kids.

Please let me go.

If you confess, I'll keep your family safe.

I can't say it

even if you killed me.

I'm losing my patience with you.

I'll ask you one last time. Who is it?

This person is powerful and influential.

What's his name?

My lord, let go of your hand first.

Take him down and torture him.

If he doesn't confess,

it's needless to let his family live too.

Yes.

My lord, please have mercy!

Lord Lei, sorry for all of this.

Sorry for startling you.

Come on.

Lord Cao, who wants to harm me?

Lord Lei, don't worry.

Have a sit.

Sit.

Lord Lei, don't you know it?

I heard that you had been subjected to several assassination attempts

on your way back to the capital.

I think they came prepared

and planned everything out.

Just that they never expected you to return to the capital alive.

They must be feeling desperate.

Assassination attempts?

Didn't you experience that?

Sir,

you don't think someone is trying to save you, do you?

You must be confused.

Their every move is fatal.

Didn't they poison you guys many times?

Don't tell me that the saviour could foresee the future

and they happened to know that you wouldn't get poisoned?

Just think.

Luckily, Lord Su was there.

Right, someone has burnt down your residence

in the capital.

Who did that?

Sir, calm down.

The Kaifeng Government Office is still investigating it.

It will be clarified

pretty soon.

We will find out the person who's behind this.

Sir, do you really not know

who the person behind this whole thing is?

Is there anyone suspicious?

The Emperor and Empress dowager are here.

Greetings to Your Majesties.

Please rise, my loyal subjects.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Today,

His Majesty and I summoned the officials here

only for one thing.

I believe that everyone knew that the water flowed out

from the late emperor's mausoleum twice.

It was me who gave the order to shift the mausoleum.

It's my fault, I should take the blame.

Not at all, Your Majesty.

This incident is not caused by men.

You don't have to blame yourself, Your Majesty.

But my carelessness

was caused by someone that tried

to deceive me and His Majesty.

Even the late emperor can't rest in peace.

Forgive us.

One's life is as short as a cycle of four seasons spent by plants.

Man wishes to be buried peacefully

even if it's just a civilian.

The mausoleums of emperors in the Han and Tang Dynasties

were built the moment the emperors were enthroned.

It took years to build and were extremely luxurious.

Not to mention Li Shan Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

It was an ambitious project

and shines even after generations.

In comparison to the previous dynasty,

the construction of the mausoleum of our Song Dynasty

is already extremely modest.

It's only a shallow pit.

It's for the slightest respect to the royal family.

But still there's someone

unwilling to show

this little bit of respect.

They even deceived me and His Majesty

by suggesting it repeatedly.

Do you people really care about the late emperor?

Do you not have compassion for my son and I?

Your Majesty, please calm down. I'm guilty.

I shouldn't have listened to others

and suggested to shift the mausoleum.

But I heard Chief of Astronomy, Lord Xing said

shifting the mausoleum

is good for the descendants of Zhao's royal family.

I, as an official of Song,

will certainly give full support to that.

I'm loyal to Song, Empress Dowager and Emperor,

god and men be my witness.

Please be impartial, Your Majesties.

Lord Su,

tell us about what you've found.

Your Majesty.

According to my investigation in Luo Yang mausoleum,

there were several causes for the effluent.

Firstly, it's because of its geological problem

after shifting the underground palace.

Secondly,

it's because of the inaction of the workers.

They used inferior materials for the construction.

I also found out that

the Chief of Mausoleum Construction, Lei Yun Gong, lined his own pocket

by using the fund that was issued by the imperial court for the construction.

I didn't know this.

Your Majesty, I didn't take part in building the mausoleum.

Shut up!

Where is Lei Yun Gong now?

I've secretly taken him back to the capital

and sent him to the Judicial Court.

He will be interrogated by Lord Cao.

Lord Cao is here.

Your Majesty, Cao Li Yong is here to see you.

Let him in.

I, Cao Li Yong,

greet Your Majesties.

Please rise.

Is there any result by interrogating

Lei Yun Gong?

Fortunately,

the criminal, Lei Yun Gong has confessed.

This is his statement of confession.

Give it to me.

Chancellor Ding, do you admit your wrong?

Your Majesty, I don't understand what you mean.

Lord Cao,

read the content of this confession

to Lord Ding.

Yes, Your Majesty.

According to the confession of the criminal, Lei Yun Gong,

there was serious misappropriation of the fund for mausoleum construction

before he took over the construction of the mausoleum.

When he left the capital and went to Luo Yang,

the former Chief of Mausoleum Construction, Chancellor Ding,

had found him

and given him the crucial parts.

Lei Yun Gong is obedient to Chancellor Ding

as he received his care.

They had been cooperating since then.

The defalcation was momentarily covered

and they kept misappropriating the national treasury.

Both of them were thinking about

the way to patch up the holes

but they never thought

Lord Xing would suggest to shift the mausoleum.

Chancellor Ding told Lei Yun Gong that

this was a golden opportunity.

Shifting would be costly.

They could patch up the holes

by tampering.

But no one expected

the water would flow out when shifting the mausoleum

and it happened twice.

Then, Lord Su had rushed there.

They couldn't hide the truth anymore.

Chancellor Ding sure is cunning.

You even committed fraud.

Your Majesty,

Lei Yun Gong's residence in capital was burned down

but the accounts

and the letters with Chancellor Ding

were kept in Luo Yang.

I already got them. Please have a look.

The evidence is incontestable.

What do you have to say?

I plead guilty.

Pass my order.

Your Majesty.

Ding Wei and Lei Yun Gong lined their own pockets,

misappropriated the fund for mausoleum construction,

causing serious flaws in the projects

and delayed the burial date of the late emperor.

Remove Ding Wei from the position of Vice Counsellor,

and demote him to the position of Magistrate of Pingjiang.

Remove Lei Yun Gong from the position of the Chief of Mausoleum.

He has to hold the late emperor's vigil for his whole life

after the late emperor is buried.

Xing Zhong He hid the fact.

He will be helping the newly-appointed Chief of Mausoleum

to rebuild the mausoleum at the old position as his punishment.

He is ordered to complete it within the schedule

and redeem his sin by good deeds.

Wang Qin Ruo,

for lying about shifting the mausoleum, his one-year salary will be forfeited.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

This successful resolution of the effluent at the mausoleum

is credited to both of you.

We're only doing our job.

Deputy Cao,

I'm curious

how you made Lei Yun Gong confess.

Hadn't repeated interrogations by my uncle

been futile along the way back to the capital?

How did you make him confess

in only one night?

Your Majesty,

Lei Yun Gong was at state of extreme nervousness

because of Lord Su's repeated interrogations.

I only captured a prison guard who was trying to kill him

and gave him a little pressure.

It was the straw that broke the camel's back.

That simple?

I think Lord Cao had put on

a little show for Lei Yun Gong.

I don't believe that

Ding Wei could have so easily let an assassin

get into the Judicial Court that Lord Cao handles.

Empress Dowager is very wise.

It was just a trick for interrogation.

I've humoured Your Majesties.

Deputy Cao is really resourceful.

I'm flattered, Your Majesty.

[End of Episode 52]