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 60]

Mother.

I was wrong about you.

Hearing you say that

is enough for me.

There's another thing I'm anxious about.

I'll leave my marriage

to you, Mother.

Stand up.

Come here.

I know that

you do not have feelings for Guo Qing Wu.

However, Guo Chong Xin is highly respected in the army.

He has many supporters in the Imperial Court.

Your Majesty has to keep the Guo family under control.

For years to come, the Zhao family,

with the support of the Guo family,

will be able to secure the throne

and preserve the peace of the state.

Mother.

There's something else.

Bring her into the palace

and grant her the title of Noble Consort.

Thank you, Mother.

Back then, Cao Jian harboured a bad intention against you.

He attempted to threaten me to step down.

His goal was to collude with officials of the Imperial Court

to manipulate you, Your Majesty.

That way,

he would be able to control the Song empire.

I was against the idea of you making Cao Ru the Empress

as I didn't want you to be controlled by the Cao family.

The Grand Tutor has passed away.

Cao Li Yong has been loyal towards you, Mother.

His conscience is clear.

Don't worry, Mother.

Since that's the case,

I

have nothing to worry about.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you came to pay your last respects to my grandfather.

I'm extremely grateful.

Ru'er, I know that your grandfather doted on you the most.

I understand that you were the closest to your grandfather.

However, he's already gone.

My deepest condolences, Ru'er.

That day,

he promised me that he'd return.

I made him his favourite snacks.

My grandfather had never broken a promise.

Grand Tutor was my teacher.

He personally taught me how to be a good Emperor.

He died

for my sake.

You miss your grandfather,

while I miss my teacher.

Grand Tutor's death was too sudden.

I'm not able to explain

all matters of the Imperial Court to you.

I do not understand the matters of the Imperial Court.

However, I understand

that my grandfather died

while carrying out his duty as an official.

There's another thing.

I

don't know how to tell you.

Please speak freely, Your Majesty.

After my grandfather's death,

there's nothing else

that I cannot endure.

Empress Dowager issued an edict

for me to marry Guo Qing Wu.

She shall be made the Empress.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

I cannot go against the will of my mother.

To be honest,

I knew this day would come.

Your Majesty, you have to marry Sister Qing Wu

to fulfil your duty as the Emperor of Song.

I sincerely congratulate you.

Ru'er, you should know that

no matter what happens in the Imperial Court

and who the Empress is,

I'll always

protect you.

I've reached an agreement with my mother.

While I'll marry the Empress,

I'll bring you to the palace

and grant you the title of Noble Consort.

As part of the royal family, I have no choice.

I'm sorry that you have to suffer.

As long as I'm able to stay by your side,

I

do not mind.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

After we parted in Suzhou,

I told you

that I looked forward to meeting you in the capital.

You've finally arrived.

You passed the imperial examinations with flying colours.

You did not let me down.

I'm grateful to have

earned your approval, Your Majesty.

I heard that back then, Ding Wei's written theory was deemed the best.

He shocked the entire Imperial Court.

He was praised across the capital.

In this term's examination,

you had insightful political understanding.

You are comparable to Ding Wei.

Things are no longer the same.

The current Ding Wei

is no longer the top scholar of the past.

Your Majesty, I want to tell you something.

Go ahead.

Back then, when Lord Su went to Suzhou,

he covertly entrusted me

to collect evidence of Ding Wei's crimes.

I've gathered the relevant evidence.

I was aware that Ding Wei was blinded by greed,

but I didn't expect him to resort to such despicable means

to attain wealth.

When I first read the reports,

I was taken aback.

The evidence

was collected by Su Ming Yun

on my uncle's secret order before the latter's death.

Yi Jian was a loyal man.

When it comes to the matters of the Imperial Court,

Yi Jian was more thoughtful than me.

Today,

I finally understood the kind intention

of you and uncle.

I behaved arbitrarily in the past.

I've let both you and uncle down.

Now that Your Majesty realised,

Yi Jian can now rest in peace.

The Emperor and Empress Dowager have arrived.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Empress Dowager.

Where's Ding Wei, the Vice Counsellor?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Lord Ding.

Back when you were the magistrate of Suzhou,

you achieved impressive results.

Eunuch Zhang, announce his achievement.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Ding Wei

assumed the position of magistrate of Suzhou.

He collected tax with all sorts of pretext.

In less than half a year,

he collected 450,000 strings of coins in total.

During the year of a drought,

Ding Wei monopolised the water source in Suzhou.

He sold the water at a high price and took advantage of the civilians.

Under the guise of issuing promissory notes,

in a month, he collected 700,000 strings of coins.

Within half a year of being the magistrate of Suzhou,

Ding Wei collected bribe consisting

of 9,590 pieces of South Sea pearls,

1,500 lots of purple silk

and 3,012 lots of silk of assorted colours,

He occupied 70,000 mu of land.

Li Yi, Officer of Liquor of Pingle County,

Lieutenant Ya of Sui Prefecture,

Magistrate of Tai'an Prefecture,

controller-general of Qin Prefecture and Guangnan West Circuit

have bribed Ding Wei.

Of all valuables and rarities

Ding Wei extorted from the people,

he only submitted 10% to the palace.

The rest went into his personal accounts.

Ding Wei, do you admit to your crimes?

Your Majesty, I'm being framed.

Please get to the bottom of this, Your Majesty.

This is the evidence.

Ding Mansion slaughtered ten lambs and pigs every single day.

300 candles were lit every night to host banquets.

Local civilians cut firewood

and earned no more than 100 coins a day.

The wealth you exploited in a month

is equivalent to half a year's worth of expenses for 100,000 people.

Ding Mansion sure is ostentatious.

I confess to my crimes.

I beg for your mercy, Your Majesty.

You've been in politics for many years.

I know you've made three major contributions.

Firstly, the construction of Yuqing Zhaoying Palace.

With your brilliant design,

the duration of construction was shortened.

The construction was carried out in an orderly manner.

The palace was completed impressively.

As for your second contribution,

without resorting to violence, you pacified those at the borders.

As for your third contribution,

after serving as the Chancellor of Treasury,

you checked the grain tax and many benefited from it.

The three contributions are widely known in the Imperial Court.

Unfortunately,

Lord Ding, you failed to uphold your integrity.

Lord Ding,

during the imperial examination, the late Emperor met you for the first time.

[You voiced your view in the Imperial Court.]

[The late Emperor was deeply impressed.]

[You were known as one of the most talented people of the state.]

[You gained the trust of the late Emperor.]

I never imagined

that you'd stoop so low.

Back then, I demoted you to be the magistrate of Suzhou

as a warning.

Not only did you not reflect on your misdeeds,

you became even worse.

You exploited the people and extorted their wealth.

You even attempted to threaten the Emperor to overthrow me.

How should I punish you

for the aforementioned crimes?

I confess to my crimes.

Your Majesties,

please spare my life

so that I can reflect on my wrongdoing.

I'll leave this matter to the Emperor.

From today onwards,

Ding Wei will be demoted to be a residence registration officer of Yazhou.

His four sons and three brothers

will be dismissed from their civil positions.

All of his properties and assets will be confiscated.

All of his assets acquired through bribery will be confiscated.

Bring Ding Wei away.

He shall be placed under house arrest

before the date of his departure to Yazhou is decided.

Thank you for your benevolence, Your Majesties.

You're evil!

You're evil!

By the Emperor's mercy,

you should be skinned alive!

Thank you, Your Majesties.

Wang Qin Ruo!

Yes.

I'm here.

You're Ding Wei's father-in-law.

You share a close bond with him.

You're well aware of his actions and behaviour,

but you failed to report his misdeeds.

You're deemed his accomplice.

Please pardon me, Your Majesty.

Your punishment will be left on hold today.

You're to reflect on your actions back at your residence.

Your sentence will be decided in time to come.

You're dismissed.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesties.

At Jiaozhi at the southern border,

since Ly Thai To's establishment of the state,

the state has respected Song.

However, recently, they harbour the ill intention

of wanting to invade the territory of Song.

This has caused the people of Qin, Lian and Yong Prefectures

to suffer.

They're miserable.

The imperial court should fight them in time

to help the people.

All right. I order you to lead 300,000 soldiers to Jiaozhi

to quell the uprising.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Official Guo,

the wedding of the Emperor and Qing Wu is approaching.

After the wedding,

as the royal in-laws, you may depart down south.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I will not let you down.

I shall reclaim the lost land.

Your Majesty, it's time to take medication.

Will you continue to keep your condition

from the Emperor?

The wedding is approaching.

After the Emperor marries Qing Wu,

I'll inform him gradually.

We have a report, Your Majesty.

Wang Qin Ruo resigned out of fear of punishment.

He submitted his resignation yesterday

and pleaded to return to his hometown.

He's seeking your approval, Your Majesty.

It is approved.

Wang Qin Ruo's resignation

will be handled by the Secretariat.

After the procedure, he may leave the capital.

Wang Qin Ruo mentioned

that he shall only bring along his family

and a few trusted servants.

The assets he possesses in the capital will be submitted.

He's leaving it to you, Your Majesty.

Wang Qin Ruo

is shrewder than Ding Wei.

He knows his place.

He may retire completely

and enjoy the remaining of his life.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Kaifeng]

I'm here. Let's go.

Don't catch a cold.

Father, we receive news from the capital.

Lord Wang has resigned and returned to his hometown.

Who are you referring to?

Your father-in-law,

Lord Wang, the Prime Minister.

Open the gate.

Father, no one will show up anymore.

Hurry up and open the gate.

Father, no one will show up anymore.

Open it.

Wang Qin Ruo has returned to his hometown.

Ding Xian Rong, who currently resides in Yazhou, reported that

Ding Wei has passed away.

Both Ding and Wang were once pillars of the Imperial Court.

Unexpectedly,

they ended up like this.

Yes, human greed is a bottomless pit.

Both power and wealth

tend to cloud the judgement of men and blind their eyes.

Since the beginning of times,

few can overcome this test.

Ding Wei and Wang Qin Ruo are removed.

You have sorted out the Imperial Court for the Emperor.

Your Majesty,

you may finally rest easy.

After the Emperor's marriage,

I'll hand over the authority to the Emperor officially.

With a new emperor, there will be a new batch of officials.

The old officials are gone one by one.

It's time for the Emperor to select new officials to assist him.

Your Highness, do not worry.

The Emperor personally selected the first and third scholars of the examination.

A batch of students enrolled in the imperial academy

and will be hired by the Imperial Court.

This belt was supposed to be made by the royal tailor.

However, you wouldn't allow it, Your Highness.

You insisted on making it yourself.

It is finally completed.

Yi Qin, deliver it to the Emperor.

Here.

If the Emperor wears

the dragon belt with golden thread

made by me at the wedding,

I'll have no regrets

about the ceremony.

Your Majesty.

This golden belt with golden thread

is personally embroidered by Empress Dowager

for the wedding.

My mother's skills are as immaculate as before.

Each thread

represents her love for me.

Madam Yi Qin.

Put it on for me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Father.

Qing Wu, the troops are ready to go.

I'm leading the army to battle.

I will not be able to attend

your wedding with the Emperor.

Father, you won't even attend my wedding

with the Emperor.

Aren't you disrespecting the Emperor and Empress Dowager?

The situation at the border is in dire need of assistance.

If the matter is delayed,

countless soldiers will die in vain.

I've already reported the situation to the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

Qing Wu.

You're the Empress chosen personally by Empress Dowager.

Once you enter the palace,

be very careful.

You can no longer behave arbitrarily as you do at home.

Father, after marrying the Emperor,

I'll be the Empress, the head of the Imperial Harem.

There's no need for me to please others.

Qing Wu, Empress Dowager made you the Empress

as she likes you a lot.

However, it's mostly due to how much Empress Dowager values the Guo family.

She knows I'm influential in the army.

Besides, the Emperor has been in love with Cao Ru for a long time.

After entering the palace,

if you are not careful, virtuous nor considerate,

you'll be overshadowed by Cao Ru.

You will regret it then.

Father, you've repeated this many times.

I understand.

After entering the palace,

you must respect

the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

Also, you must be kind and merciful

to the servants in the palace.

Being the Empress

is no easy feat

for an ordinary girl.

You should heed the teachings of Empress Dowager.

Do you understand?

Yes, Father.

If you remember and do as I say,

I can rest my mind and focus on the battle.

Take care, Father.

Empress, please keep my words in mind!

Empress Dowager.

You're still as beautiful

as before.

Jing Zong, do you have a report?

Your Highness.

General Guo has led the army down south.

Guo Mansion has married their daughter off on time.

Compatibility is confirmed and betrothal gifts are sent.

The wedding entourage has arrived within Qian Yuan Gate.

We shall head to Da Qing Hall.

The Emperor's wedding shall commence officially.

Yes, Your Majesty.

On this auspicious date, the royal wedding shall commence.

The perfect couple shall be blessed with everlasting happiness

and numerous descendants.

Both families will prosper by the union.

The Imperial Kitchen shall serve the food. A meal shared together

represents the beginning of a shared life together.

The Imperial kitchen shall serve the wine. Wine shared together

represents the harmony of a newly formed family.

The ceremony is completed.

Guo Qing Wu, the granddaughter of the head of Secretariat and Grand Tutor Guo Xian,

shall receive the title of the Empress.

The officer shall present the conferment and seal.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

The wedding of the Emperor and the Empress is done. Bow.

The first bow.

Arise.

The second bow.

Arise.

The third bow.

Emperor and Empress, you may rise.

-Thank you, Mother. -Thank you, Mother-in-law.

The Emperor and Empress shall move towards Fu Ning Hall.

Hold on.

By the witness of heaven and earth,

all things exist by the nurture of heaven and earth.

Thank you, Mother,

for raising me for the past 20 years.

You went through all adversities to protect me.

You gave your all

in order to achieve peace and prosperity in Song.

The surrounding territories bow in submission to us.

I shall offer this cup of wine

on behalf of Song and the late Emperor

to you, Mother.

Long live Empress Dowager.

Long live Empress Dowager.

All of you may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Today is the wedding of my son. The entire nation rejoices.

My wish has been fulfilled.

You're a match made in heaven.

May you have a blissful marriage.

May my son and the Empress live together in harmony.

May there be successors to Song.

-Thank you, Mother. -Thank you, Mother-in-law.

May the Emperor and the Empress enter Fu Ning Hall.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

The blooming twinflowers represent our hearts being one.

This is a priced possession of mine.

I'm presenting it to you, Your Majesty.

May we be in love

forever.

Why are you in a daze?

Please remove the veil for me.

Remove it yourself.

Do it for me.

We grew up together.

Let's forget about the formalities.

Today is different.

It's our wedding day.

I would like you to remove the veil for me.

Do it yourself.

From now onwards,

I'll do my best

to manage the Imperial Harem for you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I have a request.

Please grant my wish.

Go ahead.

Your Majesty, no matter who you marry as a concubine,

I will not have any objection.

There's an exception though.

I don't want you to marry her.

Nor are you allowed to think of her.

Are you referring to Ru'er?

My mother has promised me

to grant Ru'er the title of Noble Consort.

I'll bring Ru'er into the palace in a few days.

You can't do that.

Why not?

The Cao family was disloyal to Empress Dowager.

Grand Tutor attempted to commit treason.

He threatened Empress Dowager with his death.

The entire Cao family are traitors.

How can you make Cao Ru a Noble Consort?

Cao Li Yong is loyal towards the Imperial Court.

His political stance has been different from his father's.

This is known by everyone in the Imperial Court.

However, you're painting

the entire Cao family as traitors.

Besides,

this matter has nothing to do with Ru'er.

Ru'er has never badmouthed you,

yet you have nothing but hostility towards them.

You slander the Cao family.

As the Empress,

how shall you manage the Imperial Harem?

Your...

Ru'er, please rise.

Father, Mother.

I'm about to enter the palace.

I will not be able to serve you anymore.

Please take care of yourselves.

I wonder

whether your grandfather

would be elated or furious

if he knew

you're made the Noble Consort.

Don't misbehave just because the Emperor favours you.

The more the Emperor favours you,

the more cautious you must be.

The palace is unlike our home.

We cannot be by your side.

Don't worry, Father, Mother.

I'll keep your words in mind.

It's running late.

The palace attendants have been waiting for a long time.

You should go.

Mother, I'm leaving.

Go on.

Ru'er.

Let's go back.

Father.

Do you see this?

You may rest in peace.

Do you remember?

I came here with my grandfather in the past.

Of course.

You entered the palace as the granddaughter of Grand Tutor.

From today onwards,

you're my Noble Consort.

The Emperor did not accept my jade pendant.

I shall apologise to the Emperor today.

If I become impatient again,

you must remind me, Lu Qiao.

Don't worry, Your Highness.

Your Majesty, you can't enter now.

Allow me to report to the Emperor first.

Forget it.

I'll enter on my own.

Since you married Sister Qing Wu,

you mustn't ignore her.

She's the Empress chosen by Empress Dowager after all.

If only Qing Wu was half as understanding as you,

I could tolerate her.

But she's capricious.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Qing Wu?

I wasn't informed of your visit.

Why are you here?

If the Empress wants to see the Emperor,

there's no need to report to you beforehand.

Sister Qing Wu.

Shut your mouth.

I'm the Empress.

Don't address me that way.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Qing Wu, I understand that you hold a grudge against Ru'er,

but Ru'er is now Noble Consort.

I hope that in the days to come,

the both of you will share a close bond

and treat each other amicably.

I'm not going to develop a friendship with the granddaughter

of a traitor.

Qing Wu, you're ignorant about the matters of the Imperial Court.

Do not make rash accusations.

Besides, Grand Tutor Cao has passed away.

His deeds had nothing to do with Ru'er.

[End of Episode 60]