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 61]

It's my first day in the palace.

I'm willing to serve you and the Emperor,

and obey your teachings.

Save it.

The Empress Dowager doesn't approve of making you the Noble Consort.

You made the Emperor disregard the Empress Dowager's objection

and make you a concubine.

I'll have to

learn from you instead.

Qing Wu!

Don't be mean towards Ru'er.

Please have tea, Your Majesty.

No!

Wretched woman!

-Qing... -Your Majesty!

Who would've thought this would happen

when the Empress and the Noble Consort have just entered the palace?

As the Empress,

Qing Wu, you even hit the Emperor.

I didn't mean it.

Please forgive me, Empress Dowager.

Since this took place at your Imperial Harem,

it's up to you to decide what to do, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, please forgive me.

I won't do it again.

I won't do it again.

Get up first, you two.

As the Empress, you're reckless.

That's not what the head of the Imperial Harem should do.

Since it's your first offence,

you'll be grounded for a month as punishment.

Return to your palace to reflect on your mistake.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I'm sorry.

I'll return to my palace right away

and never do it again.

The Noble Consort was innocent.

She was frightened.

It makes me uneasy.

She'll be given 20 bolts of silk as compensation.

Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty.

One is rewarded, while the other is punished.

Punishment and reward must be given appropriately.

You two must remember this.

You are the Empress, and you are the Noble Consort.

Since you've entered the palace,

you should stand united

to assist the Emperor together.

Don't cause trouble anymore.

You may leave.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Which part was hit?

Let me take a look.

Does it still hurt?

No, I'm fine now.

As the Emperor,

you're of noble status.

You'd never suffered this before.

How could Guo Qing Wu slap you?

You have never liked her anyway.

I thought

you were going to dethrone her as the Empress

out of spite.

You're right.

I was so angry just now

that I thought of dethroning Qing Wu immediately.

However, I received good news from Jiaozhi today.

Guo Chong Xin defeated the enemies who trespassed our borders.

He has recovered Qinzhou, Lianzhou, Yongzhou,

all three prefectures.

He'll return in triumph very soon.

I can't possibly welcome my father-in-law

and the army who returns in triumph

with the news of the Empress's demotion.

The Emperor

has to take the overall situation into consideration.

You handled the matter

in a thoughtful manner indeed.

Your Majesty, it's all my fault

that you are grounded.

That's what I hate the most about you.

You keep acting pitiful

and trying to charm the Emperor.

Your Majesty, that isn't my intention.

I know what you're thinking.

You want the Emperor to remove my title as the Empress

so that you can be the Empress, right?

Let me tell you.

It'll never happen.

Your Majesty, you misunderstood.

The Imperial Court will be peaceful

once we have the Guo and Cao families under control.

Only now do I fully understand

your intentions, Mother.

The Cao family has Cao Li Yong,

whereas the Guo family has Guo Chong Xin.

One is a civil officer, while another is a military officer.

They're

the pillars I've saved for you at the Imperial Court.

They're talented strategists and advisers.

However, each monarch has his own set of ministers.

You will have to select talents on your own

to fill the seats of the Imperial Court.

To ensure Song's everlasting stability

and prosperity,

it's necessary to have young talents joining the Imperial Court

and be given important positions.

Right now, I have Su Ming Yun, Fan Zhong Yan,

Ouyang Xiu, Lu Yi Jian, Di Qing,

Wen Yan Bo, Yan Shu and the others, who are loyal and talented.

All of them can be trusted for important positions.

I'll promote them one by one.

Don't worry, Empress Dowager.

I trust your judgement.

Now that you're all grown up,

you resemble your father even more.

[Da Qing Gate]

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager have arrived.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Empress Dowager.

Rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

As expected, Officer Guo gained victory

in the battle against Jiaozhi's general, Ly Thuong Kiet.

As a result, their troops have retreated from Song's border.

I'll now confer on you the title of Commissioner of Privy Council

and 20,000 taels worth of silver and fabric.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Minister of the Judicial Court, Cao Li Yong, come forward.

Yes, Your Majesty.

From today onwards,

you'll be appointed as Vice Counsellor.

You'll assume the position immediately.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Official Cao and Official Guo,

you two have assisted in state affairs for many years.

At the same time, you're also related to the royal family.

In the future, you two should work together.

Be friendly to each other

in assisting the Emperor.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.

Dear officials,

now that peace reigns

and the borders are secured,

the Emperor has reached the legal age

to handle state affairs.

I'm

very glad.

I'll choose an auspicious date to return political power to the Emperor.

I'll return

to the Imperial Harem.

Empress Dowager!

Empress Dowager, wake up!

Mother!

Empress Dowager!

Mother.

Empress Dowager.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

How is my mother's illness?

Your Majesty,

the Empress Dowager has taken her medicine

and is feeling better.

She's resting right now.

Your Majesty,

the Empress Dowager told me to tell you

not to worry.

You should visit her another day.

Did my mother really say that?

Yes.

In that case,

I won't disturb her.

Let her recuperate with peace of mind.

I'll handle the state affairs on my own.

Yes, Your Majesty.

That's enough. I'm not drinking anymore.

Your Majesty,

I stopped the Emperor from visiting, as per your order.

The Emperor has returned to his palace.

Noted.

You have been keeping your illness from the Emperor.

I think

it's better to let the Emperor know.

You're right, Jing Zong.

I also think

it's time to tell the Emperor about it.

I'm leaving

the palace tomorrow.

You're leaving the palace?

You haven't fully recovered.

Where are you going?

I'm thinking of recuperating at Jinming Pond,

free from Imperial Court matters.

In the future,

the Emperor may visit me at Jinming Pond.

Wang Jian,

my mother wishes to meet me at Jinming Pond today.

Do you know what it is about?

Your Majesty,

Yi Qin told me

the Empress Dowager left the palace

to stay at Shui Xin Palace beside Jinming Pond.

She missed you very much.

When she heard you had no appointment today,

she invited you here.

Greetings, Mother.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Take a seat, Your Majesty.

Mother, you've been recuperating here recently.

How are you feeling?

Your Majesty,

the Empress Dowager is doing well.

It's very quiet here,

just the way she likes it.

The only thing is

recently, she's been

eating a lot less than usual.

My mother has been eating less

because she hasn't recovered

from the illness.

I'll go to the Imperial Pharmacy later

and inquire about it.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What's wrong with you, Mother?

Your Majesty, don't blame the imperial physicians.

It's not that they're incapable.

They've done their best.

Mother, it's all my fault.

The Empress Dowager has been ill

since you left the palace last time.

In fact, she was severely ill.

Not to mention she had to attend the Imperial Court meetings.

The Empress Dowager had been holding on

without telling you about it.

Before every Imperial Court meeting,

she'd ask me to dress her up,

or else she wouldn't see the officials.

Your Majesty, Zhang Jing Zong and I

were the only ones

who had seen the Empress Dowager's visage.

In the past, my greatest concern

was that you would hold a grudge against me

and be angry with me.

Now that you understand

my intentions,

I can finally let it go.

It's my fault, Mother.

I'm not a filial son.

Shou Yi.

Shou Yi.

Shou Yi, you're a grown-up now.

You're capable of ruling Song.

I can rest assured.

Pass my edict.

From today onward,

I'll return political power to the Emperor.

The Emperor has full control

over all affairs of the Imperial Court.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Wang Jian.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I order you to announce to the people

to find capable physicians to treat my mother.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The imperial physician has given me a diagnosis.

There's no cure for my illness.

This is my destiny.

Mother.

I've been administering state affairs as a regent for 12 years.

Now that you're ruling the state,

starting from now,

you will have to make your own decisions.

Mother, do you have any other wishes?

I'll fulfill them for you.

I

only have one wish.

I wish to visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple

to pay my respects to your late father.

There're so many things

which I want to tell him.

According to the ancestral system,

members from the Imperial Harem aren't allowed at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Forget it.

Don't worry, Mother.

I'll definitely fulfil your wish.

We mustn't go against the ancestral system.

I don't want you to be in a dilemma.

Mother, I'll return to the palace right now to consult the officials.

I'll make a move first.

The Emperor's appearance and behaviour

resemble his late father even more now.

Ming Yun, do you remember these puppets?

Dragon Princess and the Dragon Pearl.

Of course I remember.

Back then, when Empress Guo came to fly kites with you,

I was the one who stopped her.

My mother made the clothes

of these puppets.

That day, Shou Kang and I were playing out the story of "Bo Le Judging Horses."

My mother told me there'd be a coming-of-age ceremony

which would turn a playful child into an Emperor.

My mother had contributed so much.

That's why I

wish to do something for her.

What do you want to do for the Empress Dowager?

I want to let her pay her respects at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple is a place for one to worship the royal ancestors.

Members from the Imperial Harem aren't allowed to visit the place.

If you wish to do so,

the elderly officials might step in again and stop it.

It's the Empress Dowager's last wish.

I must fulfil it.

Ming Yun, please think of a way.

Your Majesty,

I have a treasure to present.

Let him in.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, look,

the Emperor specially ordered the royal tailor

to make this headgear,

which resembles an Emperor's crown,

but it has ten tassels at the front and back.

That's how it differs from the Emperor's crown.

This is...

The Emperor also issued a decree

for royal tailors to make a ceremonial dress for you.

It's also different from the Emperor's.

After putting on the ceremonial dress,

you'll enjoy an equal rank as the Emperor,

yet avoid being suspected for proclaiming yourself an Emperor.

That way,

you will be able to enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple

to pay your respects to the late Emperor.

Shou Yi

has indeed grown up.

Father,

my mother is here to see you.

[Spirit Tablet of Emperor Zhenzong]

[Spirit Tablet of Song's Prince, Zhao You]

[Spirit Tablet of Song's Prince, Zhao Ji]

Shou Yi,

pay your respects to your brothers.

Brothers,

I'm Shou Yi. I'm here to pay my respects to you.

Back then,

your father and I

met each other on the war-torn outskirts of Xingzhou.

At that time,

the refugees and I

were pursued by Liao's troops.

In that dire moment,

it's as if your father descended from the sky.

He led the soldiers

to save me and the people.

Back then, your father

was a hot-blooded

young man.

He looked very handsome.

Back then, my father

was about the same age as me now

and he's already fighting a battle.

Since then,

your father and I have been in love with each other.

We promised

to be in love forever in our lifetime.

After returning to the capital,

I realised that

the man I fell in love with

was a prince of the nation.

What I didn't realise was that,

later on,

I had to go through so much tribulation.

I had no title or position outside the palace,

and I almost died in several instances.

Somehow, I survived.

15 long, hard years went by

before I got to enter the palace.

Mother, you've gone through a lot.

At that time,

your father wasn't after the throne.

He even thought

about eloping with me

and leaving the palace and the capital.

However, I knew

he was destined to assume the throne.

It was his responsibility.

He should not

and could not avoid it.

Thus, I stayed by his side,

and together, we witnessed the changes which took place in the Imperial Court

as well as the personnel.

I'd been looking after you

ever since your father passed away.

Now you're all grown up

and capable of being Song's ruler, Shou Yi.

After taking up the reins, I realised that,

as the Emperor,

I have to live up to the expectations of many,

namely my father,

you,

the officials of the Imperial Court,

as well as

the people of Song.

I dare not falter for even a second.

Shou Yi, you'll be a good Emperor

just like your father.

I have some words

to say to your father alone.

All of you may leave first.

Yes, Mother.

I'll wait outside the hall.

Shou Yi ascended the throne

since you passed away.

Throughout the past 12 years,

I ended fights between parties,

built state-level schools,

established Public Opinion Agency,

allowed officials to voice their opinion,

removed Ding Wei,

and stabilised the Imperial Court.

What I've left for Shou Yi

is an efficient government and people who are at peace.

I

didn't let you down.

Shou Yi is your son.

He is Wan'er's son

as well as mine.

Your Majesty, you and Wan'er passed away one after another,

and I am the only family Shou Yi has.

Not long after you passed away,

Shou Yi ascended the throne.

The Emperor was very young

and experienced officials were in power.

I had no other choice.

In order to protect Shou Yi,

I could only be a regent.

For your sake

and even more so, the sake of Song,

Cao Jian,

Ding Wei

and Wang Qin Ruo

would do anything

to get me abdicated.

Grand Tutor!

They told the people

to stop me from following in Empress Wu's footsteps

to rule the nation.

I never expected

you thought of me that way as well.

You left with Wan'er a decree written on a piece of yellow silk.

I know

how imperial power can corrupt a person.

Approaching imperial power

will only end up being enticed by it.

I used my authority with care

and got rid of enemies in order to protect myself.

Duke Qin,

Duke Chu,

Duke Xu,

Duke Ji,

Cao Jian,

and Ding Wei.

Each of them succumbed

to their own inner demons.

In the past 12 years,

I've also cautiously

trodden on thin ice.

It's not that I was after the throne.

It's because

I had to guard Song for your sake,

because

I'm Shou Yi's mother.

Your Majesty,

the Empress Dowager has not come out yet..

I'm worried

the Empress Dowager might have collapsed.

I've protected Shou Yi

like how I did when I was by your side.

Mother!

Mother.

[End of Episode 61]