Original subtitles

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

English subtitles are available.

Court Lady

Ep23

Your Highness, even if you don't want to marry Lu Qi,

you can't talk back to His Majesty.

Now look! We're all grounded.

Alright, alright!

As if I wasn't miserable enough.

Now, what should we do?

If it isn't Sheng Chumu,

it's Lu Qi!

What have I done to Father

that he wants me to get married so quickly!

Your Highness, now is not the time to complain.

We need to have a plan.

What plan?

I wouldn't be complaining if I had a plan.

I got it!

What?

The seniors have to take care of the juniors.

Why would I worry?

Then who should be worried?

The seniors, of course.

Your Majesty, if you're mad,

just scold her.

Why did you ground her?

She needs to change her bad temper.

Or no one would dare to marry her.

How would she look after her in-laws?

It takes time.

It was her birthday after all.

Speaking of birthdays,

King Zhou's birthday is coming, right?

Not coming.

It has passed.

What?

Careful, Your Majesty.

Why didn't they remind me?

Her Majesty knows you've been busy with state affairs.

So, she asked the Housekeeping Service not to remind you.

She was just being considerate.

The Empress shouldn't be blamed for this.

She's in critical condition.

Yes.

I shouldn't have said that.

Get up.

The Housekeeping Service is getting presumptuous.

Making the decisions on their own?

And you.

They didn't tell me.

But you should've told me.

You were preoccupied with state affairs.

Our son Ke

didn't want to bother you with these trifles.

You've trained that kid to be so considerate

that he makes my head and heart ache at the same time.

Your Majesty, you've permitted Ke to be back.

I got to reunite with my son.

We are grateful.

We don't dare to ask for more.

You've been by my side for all these years.

I know you've been treated unfairly.

So has King Zhou.

Don't say that, Your Majesty.

I wasn't from a noble family.

But you've never minded that.

I got to stay in the Palace

with my son and enjoy a luxurious life.

It's all because of the love and cares you've given us.

Besides,

life in the Palace

is bound to be tough sometimes.

I just want to be with my family.

It's all I've ever wanted.

Ke knows you care for him.

-The more considerate he is... -Leave.

The more guilty I feel as a father.

Although his birthday has already passed,

I want to make it up to him.

How are you gonna do that?

I've rewarded him with horses and calligraphy.

What else will make him happy again?

Any suggestions?

Your Majesty, are you serious about it?

Of course.

Xinnan got so many great gifts on her birthday.

The Crown Prince, King Han, and King Qin

have even more extravagant birthdays.

They always throw a feast and enjoy the highlight.

King Zhou is non-materialistic.

But I can't play favorites with my other kids.

If you really want to make it up to him,

then I'll take the liberty and ask Your Majesty to grant him a wish.

A wish?

A wish that will make two people happy.

Stop there.

Don't you know the rules?

Get back here.

Where is your bracelet?

I'm asking you a question.

It was broken.

Wu told me

that bracelet

belonged to your deceased mother.

Yes.

Are you angry with me?

I dare not to.

If I did something wrong

to offend you,

I'd be beaten up

or even killed.

I'm not like those

who can get away

with everything just because

they're from a noble family.

You really hate Lu Hanxing's guts, huh?

Yes.

Do you miss your mother?

Of course.

I miss my mother, too.

The year she passed away

was full of turmoil and war.

My father was on the battlefield.

We were starving back at home.

Mother had to take me to my aunt.

But she died on the way.

So, I had to carry my little sister...

And go find your aunt?

My aunt saved me and my sister.

During that time,

she made a strenuous effort to look after me and Yingying,

until Father found us.

You're lucky to have such a great aunt.

Yes.

She was a widow.

Her only son

is Lu Hanxing.

So, do you get it now?

However despicable Lu Hanxing is,

I can beat him up, scold him,

use him, or bully him,

but I just can't kill him.

Does it still hurt?

Not anymore.

Please spare me.

What?

You're sobered up?

You...

You're Hong Yide!

Yes.

I am Hong Yide.

Lu Yunji suppressed us with his army.

They took my life savings.

Today...

-I'll collect some interest. -Wait!

Hong...

Master Hong.

Commander Hong.

I know that

Lu Yunji has done you wrong.

But I'm not on his side.

Trying to trick me?

You're in the Lu family.

Of course you're on his side!

Lu Yunji is my uncle.

But...

They treat me like a dog!

You see these bruises on my body

and on my face?

Lu Yunji's son did this to me.

Lu Yunji and his son are my archenemies!

Commander.

He's afraid that you'd kill him.

So he just made up with all kinds of lies.

He's got bruises all over his body.

Seems that he's not lying.

You're right.

My bruises can vouch for me.

Well.

Why did Lu Yunji's son

beat you up like this?

Lu Qi almost beat me to death

because of a pearl robe.

Commander Hong.

I'll tell you everything

that you want to know.

Lu Yunji has sent a letter to Guangzhou

to search your residence.

We're here in Chang'an.

Why would we care about the Guangzhou residence?

Commander.

Just kill him.

Please don't.

Commander Hong.

I have access to Lu's Mansion.

I can help you get

all their family secrets.

I...I...

I can also get you intel of the Palace.

I have...

I've fed up with life like that.

I will do anything for you

under one condition.

What condition?

You have to kill Lu Qi.

You certainly are ambitious.

I am Lu Yunji's nephew.

As long as Lu Qi is dead,

I will become the future Duke of Cai.

Now,

you can believe that I am here

to cooperate with sincerity.

Fine.

I will believe you for once.

Have you figured it out?

Yes, I have.

I've figured out why I can't marry Lu Qi.

Tell me, why is that?

Because of

Directress Fu.

Your Majesty.

Directress Fu.

Xinnan says she can't marry Lu Qi

and you know the reason why.

Tell me. What's the reason?

Help me.

Your Majesty.

I'd like to have a word with Her Highness in private.

Directress Fu.

I'm counting on you!

What's happening?

Father asked me to marry Lu Qi.

I don't want to.

But I don't know

how to talk him out of it.

So, I have to ask for your help.

You're getting her into trouble.

What trouble?

The seniors should help the juniors.

Directress Fu is Chuling's sister-in-law.

So, she's a senior to me.

You're even making sense out of this?

Dear sister-in-law!

Now you're calling me that, just like Chuling.

Dear sister-in-law.

Pretty please! Help us.

The future of me and Chuling is in your hands.

When you say it like that,

I couldn't say no if I wanted to.

I knew you wouldn't stand by.

Do you have a plan?

As a matter of fact, I do.

What?

But, Your Highness,

you need to get the top gun here first.

Your Majesty.

Princess Xinnan refuses to marry Lu Qi

because of a person.

Who is it? How dare him!

Interfering with the Princess's marriage?

I'll see how much nerve he's got!

This person

is the Grand Empress Taifu.

My mother?

Yes.

Her Majesty was intelligent, determined, and kind.

The Princess has always missed and admired her.

It's only natural for a granddaughter to have such feelings.

Also,

the Princess also envies Her Majesty.

Envy?

Yes.

The Princess envies that Her Majesty

had a legendary and wonderful marriage.

So,

the Princess swore on Her Majesty's spirit tablet

that she will be like her grandmother

and find a husband who's good with both pen and sword.

You're talking nonsense.

I dare not to.

If what you said is true,

then Lu Qi is good with pen and swords,

why won't she marry him?

Tell me!

Because

Lu Qi hasn't passed the most important test.

What test?

The peacock screen test.

She's right.

The peacock screen.

If one wants to marry a girl,

he'll have to shoot a peacock screen.

Father, what brings you here?

Get up.

Back in the days

when your mother

was beautiful, young, and single,

men were lining up to ask her hand in marriage.

But your grandfather saw her as the apple of his eyes.

How could he

marry his daughter to someone so easily?

So, he painted a peacock on a screen,

gave each suitor two arrows,

and asked them to shoot both eyes of the peacock.

Dozens of men tried it.

But they all failed.

Back then, I was

just a duke who had just arrived in Chang'an.

I didn't hear about it until later.

When I arrived there,

many people before me had made an attempt.

Grandfather.

So what if they had arrived before you?

It requires real talent.

When you came there,

you shot both of the peacock's eyes effortlessly.

Yeah.

With two arrows.

I hit both of the peacock's eyes with those two arrows.

My father-in-law thought highly of me.

And he

agreed to marry your grandmother to me immediately.

So, Grandfather,

thanks to the peacock screen, you and Grandmother

could have a wonderful marriage that was in praise for years.

Xinnan.

I never expected that

among all my children and grandchildren,

you're the only one

who's still thinking about your grandmother.

Not just me.

Father misses her very much, too.

Right, Father?

Yes.

I miss Mother very much.

Father.

For the sake of my grandmother,

please prepare a peacock screen for me, too.

I really want to be like my grandmother

and spend my life with someone worthy.

You silly girl.

You're thoughtful. Why didn't you tell me

about this wish of yours?

Why did you beat around the bush

and ask Directress Fu to tell me?

I...I am grown up now.

It is embarrassing for me

to tell you this face to face.

So I asked Directress Fu to do it for me.

Father.

Will you allow it?

Grandfather!

Just go with the kid.

Consider it a special way

to pay tribute to your mother.

I'd also like to take a trip down memory lane

and relive the moment when I shot the peacock.

Yes.

-Directress Fu is amazing! -Your Highness!

Your Highness!

What if Lu Qi shot the peacock's eyes?

No way.

Peacocks have such small eyes.

How can Lu Qi be that good?

But I heard that

Lu Qi is great at archery.

Give me a break.

He was defeated by Chuling's brother at the imperial contest

and almost lost all his fortune.

How great can he be?

I don't believe he's capable of doing that.

-Makes sense. -He's no good.

He's great at archery.

I thought he lost to your brother.

That's because

my brother was better than him.

It doesn't mean Lu Qi is bad.

In the archery contest,

he scored 15 out of 15.

Just like my brother.

He got a perfect score?

You're right about that!

What if the target was a peacock's eyes?

Small as this.

It's very likely that he can make it.

What should I do then?

Don't cry.

There, there.

I'll figure something out.

What should I do, bro?

If Xinnan married Lu Qi...

Zong Jianxiu!

When you swing the blade,

remember to avoid it.

You're being so reckless.

Do you want to survive the wars or not?

Keep on going!

Yes, General.

Brother, are you

listening to me or not?

It's just a peacock screen.

Such a cliche.

If he shot the peacock's eyes, it'd be over for me.

Did Rou come up with this?

Yes.

Don't worry.

She'll see you through.

What if she didn't?

Chuling.

Rou is your future sister-in-law.

You should respect her like you do Mother.

If she can't help you,

you shall willingly accept the result

and never hold any grudges against her.

I...

Faster!

How'd it go?

Have you met with Directress Fu?

She's busy with something important.

Nobody is allowed to visit her and bother her.

What is more important

than my marriage?

You can't blame her.

You are the one who got her

into this without any heads up.

I got her...

It showed how much I trust her.

It was because I trusted her

that I counted on her for my lifelong happiness.

How was I supposed to know

she'd just propose a peacock screen

and then leave me

high and dry so cruelly?

Your Highness, Directress Fu is not God.

It was already kind of her

to be able to buy you some time,

given the tension this morning.

Besides, if Lu Qi misses the target,

you'll be saved!

Whose side are you on?

If I marry Lu Qi, you'll go with me.

You'll become his concubine.

Let me tell you something.

If you married Lu Qi,

you'd have to make the bed

and

fold the quilt for him!

You'd also clean his toilet!

Are you putting herbs in it, too?

Don't.

It has to be a precise amount.

Good thing it was made with fastening stitches.

What about it?

Just what I need.

The screen is already gorgeous.

Why are you adding stitches on it?

Because

she called me her sister-in-law.

I mean...

There aren't enough feathers on the peacock's head.

Young Master, are you going to the Palace today?

It's just an arranged marriage.

Why do I have to shoot the peacock screen?

It's all because of Fu Rou.

What?

Getting jealous

knowing I will marry the Princess?

Rest assured.

Even if I marry the Princess,

I won't allow her to bully you.

Oh right.

This is

something I picked just for you.

Though it's not as precious as your mother's bracelet,

I do hope that

when you see it,

you can realize that someone cares for you.

People with my status

cannot choose who I want to marry,

but I can at least choose who I care for.

Lu Qi.

The peacock screen

is how Princess Xinnan wants to pay tribute to her grandmother.

It is also a way

for His Majesty and me to honor Empress Taifu.

Don't you let me down!

Yes.

I won't let Your Majesty down!

Your Majesty.

Duke of Lu and his son Sheng Chuling ask to approach.

Let them in!

Send them in.

Yes.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Duke of Lu.

What are you here for?

I heard that Your Majesty is selecting a husband for Princess Xinnan.

My humble son

is not bad at archery.

So,

you think he can give it a go?

Your Majesty has always been fair and just.

It takes real talent to hit the peacock's eyes.

Duke of Lu, what are you thinking?

Do you think the Princess is like the oranges at the market

that anyone can afford to buy?

Your Majesty.

Father!

Shush.

Duke of Lu.

I've given you a chance.

I won't do it again.

Since you're here,

you can join me and watch.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty. -Lu Qi.

Your Majesty.

Go and prepare.

Yes.

Attendant Cao.

Isn't the screen placed too far away?

Can we ask the bowman to stand closer?

You brat.

How much money did you take from Duke of Cai

that makes you help General Lu Qi?

I don't dare to take any bribes behind your back.

The peacock screen is ready.

Give him the arrows.

Wait!

Lu Qi, you're standing too close to the screen.

Your Highness.

Lu Qi is standing more than 150 paces away from the screen.

That's far enough.

150 is not far enough.

Make it 200.

Yes. 200 paces.

200 is better.

It sounds better.

Cao Yangde.

How far should it be? Any rules?

Should be fifty paces.

Your Majesty.

There are no rules regarding the distance.

But if you want to tell if one's good at archery,

then the rules are written in the books.

"In the State of Chu, a man named Yang Youji is a sharp shooter.

He stood 100 paces away from a willow tree

and pierced 100 leaves with 100 arrows."

Therefore,

it is a tradition to use 100 paces as a standard to judge one's archery skills.

It can't be 100 paces, Father!

100 is good.

It means perfection.

It's an auspicious number, Your Majesty.

Father.

What do you think?

I look forward to

passing on the fairytale of the peacock screen.

If he stands too far away

and misses the target,

it'll be such a bummer.

Grandfather.

I understand.

Ask him to stand 100 paces away from the screen.

Yes.

His Majesty's order.

The proper distance should be 100 paces.

Yes.

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

That's a great pose.

But why isn't he shooting?

What's the rush?

A sharp shooter

always takes his time.

Lu Qi, can you do it or not?

If not, just give up.

You're wasting time.

Lu Qi, just do it already!

Or you can just give up.

Did he hit the target?

Seems that he missed by a bit.

He missed it.

Your Majesty.

When I was approaching the screen,

the peacock on it...

-It was... -You missed the eyes

'cause they're too small.

Father, and you said he'd be amazing.

Luckily for me,

I was blessed by my grandmother.

Otherwise, I'd marry the wrong person.

Your Highness, it's not what you think.

The legend of the peacock screen

is not passed on today.

Let's go.

What a bummer!

-Take care, Father. -Grandfather.

Lu Qi.

Remember this.

I've given you a chance.

Your Majesty.

General Lu, you really do want to marry Her Highness.

You were so thrilled that your hands were shaking.

But you missed it only by a bit.

Duke of Lu.

At least, His Majesty believed in Lu Qi

and gave him a chance.

Unlike your son,

whom His Majesty didn't even give a chance.

Yeah.

Chuling hasn't won any wars yet.

But he's young.

Sooner or later, he'll make great contributions

to our country.

Let's wait and see.

Let's.

He missed it only by a bit.

The whole family is rude!

Just some losers.

Father.

Back then...

Directress Fu.

How'd it go?

Lu Qi missed the target.

Thanks for your help.

Don't mention it.

It was the words in the books that you taught me

that made His Majesty

decide to change the distance to 100 paces.

Directress Fu.

Why is it that Lu Qi missed the target

when he stood so close to the screen?

It's a secret.

I am not going to tell you today.

Oh right.

I need your help with something else.

Sure.

What was wrong with you?

When I was adjusting my aim,

that peacock moved.

Really?

His Majesty and I were all there.

We didn't notice anything suspicious.

When I was standing far away from the screen,

I didn't notice anything weird, either.

But when I got closer,

that peacock started to move.

As if it was nodding to me.

It's so strange.

Someone is messing with us.

Okay.

Consider it done.

Thank you.

Father.

It was her who suggested

the peacock screen to His Majesty.

I've seen her before.

She was a directress at the Sewing Office.

The peacock screen today

was made by the Sewing Office.

Go

and get the embroidery work of the peacock.

I'd like to see

what she's capable of doing.

Okay.

Directress Fu.

Did you find it?

No.

I asked many people.

They said they saw

the peacock being cut off the screen

and thrown into the trash bin.

But I've searched the bin many times.

I didn't find anything.

It's not there?

Is it possible that you missed it?

Smell how stinky I am!

I searched that trash bin three times.

Is it possible that

someone else took it?

What should we do?

If someone with an ulterior motive took it,

we'd be in trouble.

You are sure that the peacock was moving?

Yes.

There must be something wrong with the embroidery.

If Fu Rou dared to

alter the embroidery,

she'd be sentenced to death for lying to His Majesty.

She's close to Queen Han

and she's got something going on

with Sheng Chumu.

We can take this opportunity

and take Duke of Lu down.

I will order someone

to send this work to the most experienced

embroiderers in Chang'an.

I will find out what Fu Rou has done to it.

You must find it out.

Don't ignore a single thread.

Yes.

My lord.

Master Zhang from the Capital Prefecture is here.

Ask him to wait in the living room for a bit.

Serve some tea.

Yes.

Yin.

When did you come?

I just had lunch. I'm here to serve you.

This embroidery work is gorgeous.

It's such a pity that there are two holes on it.

Don't mind it.

So when do you

plan to serve me?

Are you tired?

Have some rest. I will carry the fan for you.

Okay.

Young Master, you go ahead.

It's so messy here.

I will tidy things up first.

This way, you'll be more at ease

later in the room.

So thoughtful.

I almost forgot the important thing.

Wu!

Young Master.

Send this work to the most experienced

embroiderers in Chang'an.

Okay.

Ask them to check each thread for abnormality.

I want to know every detail.

Understood.

Cut it out.

I like to fool around with you.

Isn't that weird?

I'm not even a bit sad about not marrying the Princess.

On the contrary, I'm happy!

As long as I don't get married,

we can

live happily forever.

Young Master.

I...

Shh.

The son of Duke of Cai

didn't get to marry Xinnan after all.

It's all because of some peacock screen

that messed things up.

Maybe...

I'll find a time to talk to them.

No need!

Mother.

Come sit.

Xinnan is interested in

the middle son of Sheng Xiaojing.

Really?

I am getting old.

I don't remember it at all.

Xinnan likes Sheng Chuling.

If she's forced to marry Lu Qi,

she'll cause chaos.

Then, both Duke of Lu and Duke of Cai

will get into trouble.

You're right.

Then, I'll stop worrying about Xinnan.

Let's talk about you, shall we?

Me?

I've laid the groundwork for you in front of His Majesty.

If you really like Directress Fu...

Mother, you promised me

that you'll let me handle it.

I've seen you get all distressed for her.

I worry about you.

I don't want to force her with my power.

Please try to understand.

Let's have tea.

You've made several wrong moves.

Something on your mind?

Yeah.

Or I wouldn't be staying up at midnight

and come here to play chess with you.

Does it have

anything to do with the peacock screen this morning?

Another wrong move.

I heard that General Lu Qi has been complaining.

He said the peacock on the screen was moving.

An embroidered peacock can't come to life and move around.

However...

You taught me to stitch glossy silk in my dress

to reflect sunlight

and make the dress lustrous.

So, maybe you can make the impossible possible.

How did you do it?

I...

Do you not trust me?

That's not it.

I'm afraid that if I told you,

I'd get you implicated.

Excuse me for a second.

Young Master.

I've invited all the famous embroiderers

in the city of Chang'an.

Please.

Okay.

I even invited the Queen of Embroidery,

founder of Zhang's Shop.

She's the best in this industry.

Young Master, I'll go greet her.

Alright.

Yes.

You don't say.

Yeah.

Yin.

Why are you here?

We've got so many guests today. I'm here to help.

You just need to take care of the study.

You don't have to wait on others.

We were fooling around all afternoon.

You said you were tired.

There there.

Go have some rest.

Yes.

I didn't expect that you'd come here.

I heard that there's a mysterious embroidery work

here at Duke of Cai's Mansion.

I am too curious.

So I'm here to see how mysterious it is.

We're all counting on you.

If you could figure out the secrets in the work,

our Young Master would owe you big time.

Don't worry.

I don't want to brag,

but no trick in embroidery

has ever escaped my eyes.

Great. Please.

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔