Original subtitles

Zhaoyi Nie!

You’re Qingyuan, the young monk?

You aren’t planning to go to the Buddhist meeting?

Yes, maybe the Empress Dowager

will unexpectedly miss me!

Young Master, why is this record here?

Shouldn’t you be handling that Buddhist matter?

I..

I can’t find my way back to the main hall where the Buddhist meeting is.

This is Jing Pavilion.

From here, go outside, turn left,

go through the entire garden, then go forward.

You ought to be able to find it then.

Empress Dowager,

you’ve been rushing since dawn this morning handling this matter.

It’s important that you take a nap to rest.

It’s not necessary.

I already ordered some people

to summon Zhaoyi Nie to the Shangyuan (Supreme) Palace.

I don’t know why

I have a headache this early.

Who is that? See who is in my Imperial Garden?

Yes.

Reporting to the Empress Dowager,

Donglin Temple personnel have departed,

but they have left one person behind, a young monk who lost his way.

Today is

the day of the Buddhist matter.

Who is this embarrassing monk,

or should I ask your master of discipline?

I, Young Master Qingyuan, kowtow to salute the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager, be at ease.

Qingyuan? Raise your head.

The Buddhist activity is already satisfactorily completed,

why did you remain in the palace>

This monk could not find his way back to the Buddist event in the main hall.

The palace is very complex.

In an instant, this monk had lost his way.

It looks like you’re slow-witted by nature,

and have been lost your entire life.

I ask you,

what happened to your forehead?

Just now, in trying to find my way in a timely fashion,

this monk was not careful and bruised his head.

When you couldn’t find your way back to the main Buddhist event hall,

where did you run off to?

This monk erred in charging into Jing Pavilion

to see the vast collection of Buddhist Scriptures.

How dare you break into my Jing Pavilion!

If today were not the day of the Buddhist event,

you’d be beheaded!

No wonder I have a huge headache!

I have sinned, I have sinned.

You seem really to

not be afraid of me?

This monk only sees in the end

that you are a kind-faced elderly woman.

Old?

You obviously despite me!

Guards, give him ten strokes of flogging!

Don’t let him reappear in

my presence!

Yes.

Xia Lan, go take a cook.

Yes.

You may rise.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

I didn’t think Your HIghness would summon me here,

what are your instructions?

Today, the harem hosted a Buddhist event.

The Empress and a great many concubines attended it.

Zhaoyi Nie,

have you considered why

you were not among them?

All were there under the Empress Dowager’s command.

It can only be that I, Wushaung, have made a mistake.

Made a mistake?

It’s because I followed His Majesty’s order

to assist Imperial Physician Du

to manufacture Her Highness Concubine Yu’s

and Mama Ling’s antidote for their being muted.

Then the Imperial Physician Bureau

handled completing the manufacture of the antidote?

This drug would not exist unless Empress Dowager permitted it,

and ordered it be forever

hidden from all others.

You keep coming back again and again,

wielding His Majesty’s special favor like a weapon

to challenge my authority!

I would not dare, may the Empress Dowager calm her anger.

From the first moment you entered the Lan Palace,

I already knew

you were really another Ji Rousang. (Meiren Ji’s full real name).

You next challenged

my patience,

never retreating to stay alive until today.

Now you stand by your friends,

Concubine Yu and Mama Ling,

and ask for justice?

I will help you do so,

once you drink this tea.

I will allow you to provide them the antidote,

one mouth in exchange for two to start talking again.

Is it worth this?

Today, you have no other choice you can make.

I’ll allow you to experience it.

This is called “something equal to but less than death”.

Empress Dowager, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Is this a promise that will be kept?

Golden mouths speak jade words.

I do not go back on my word.

I Wushaung, have one additional matter

to request earnestly, Empress Dowager.

Speak.

I seek asylum in Great Lan for Commanding General Miao Minghu.

He’s duty-bound, and has no other option.

I request Empress Dowager allow His Majesty to give him an important position.

The ruler of a country should not place importance on a person’s origin.

What field commander could guard the cornerstone

if it’s not Miao Minghu?

He will be appointed the new army’s commander.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

I ask Empress Dowager to give my thanks to His Majesty for his generous favor.

He is an astute ruler who saved my life by his favor.

Since you’re not afraid to die,

why be so sentimental?

Because I am unwilling,

and it’s not my fault.

It’s just that my family’s grudge is unavenged,

so I don’t have the face to go before my parents

in the underworld..

How incredibly foolish!

At last, in these final moments,

a capable individual like you finally realizes your real goal!

Until today, I see you have been like

a character in a play.

This loyalty to your friends and wish to uphold justice

against my will cause me to view you in a new light.

Your having close friends is touching.

Today, you’re lucky that

your debt will not be collected due to my benevolence.

Rather, on account of your

association with Concubine Yu and Mama Ling,

you now have even more value.

Remember,

you’re alive for a reason,

and that reason is to avenge your family,

not support the grievance of another faction.

By doing otherwise, you cannot be reconciled

when you head toward the Yellow Springs (underworld).

Besides dying without a grudge,

what else is there?

Don’t think

that you can use His Majesty’s favor

to cover up the sky,

or that to the six palaces of Imperial concubines,

along with the Emperor and his Imperial Mother,

can be seen to exist just for you

or you cannot be replaced!

The harem, from top to bottom,

all may conjecture about His Majesty’s feelings,

and His Majesty

may also guess about my own thoughts.

If you want to borrow my Great Lan’s strength

to get revenge against the enemy of your entire clan,

just don’t make any more mistakes,

otherwise...

you’ll follow the rest of those useless people,

just taking a different route to the same destination.

Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your instruction.

In the midst of this harem,

there is no lack of innocent people to be used as chess pieces.

You have reflected your true value,

I naturally will in the same way

support you by taking your hand!

How come such a sweet-smelling woman smells like medicine,

Nie Wushuang?

Even if you turned into ashes,

I would still recognize you.

Having dressed up in such a way,

where do you think you’re going?

Great Lan’s energetic assistance is imminent.

I’ve heard

that my elder brother is to be commander-in-chief?

I’m a little worried,

so I thought I’d go have a look at him.

I’ve heard it said that in return,

Li State Princess, Gao Yan,

will be married off to my Great Lan.

Your mind is probably uneasy because of that,

and you’re looking for your elder brother to complain.

What did you say?

Gao Yan is marrying into Great Lan?

All of Great Lan already knows about it.

Apparently there’s just one person

who’s been completely kept inside the dark!

Was Your Majesty not planning to tell you,

or hasn’t met with you yet?

It’s too late to share it with you,

this good piece of information.

But don’t you worry about it,

To the best of my knowledge,

this is that old woman’s master plan.

It’s too soon for her to really make a decision,

Just tell my Imperial Brother that.

Who? Who is that over there!

Respectfully greeting Your Majesty.

In my childhood,

I would meet Fengqing,

whenever he was unhappy

to play in the city.

If feeling tired, we’d nap together,

in the middle of some plants or

reclining against the big tree.

Sometimes...

he would fall unconscious onto the ground,

or lean against my shoulder and fall asleep.

Actually, I

often think fondly of going to Cuihua Pavilion

Lan is joining forces with another nation by marriage.

The alliance of the two countries is a grand occasion.

It’s a good thing.

Don’t tell me, Wushuang,

you’re a little bit jealous?

Forgive me for being blunt,

I am a bit jealous.

This one is a sort of disappointment,

or a way to cultivate harm.

The other part, assisting Li,

is our new army’s first northern expedition.

Even with Miao’s leadership and my new policy,

it is an entirely difficult task.

As Emperor,

is it really difficult to be happy?

Being Emperor...

is about being worried

about the daily lives of the common people.

Being Emperor...

is to be more worried

than anyone else in the midst of the palace.

Who am I really?

My medical kit!

You have nothing better to do than be here,

pretending to do what?

Respectfully greeting the King of Rui.

I wish to go that direction to see a patient.

Are all of you at the Imperial Physician Bureau so unconcerned?

I have heard there’s a cold circulating the capital already

that needs looking after!

Who was it who appeared first for no reason!

Indeed it’s difficult for good people to make do.

Why is it ever time I suffer an accident

it’s always to my medical kit?

Your Majesty, have some tea.

You’re here just in time.

Was about to unroll and hang a painting,

would you like to see it?

Yes.

See? How is it?

The painting is meticulously done.

This seal…?

This seal is only on the Late Emperor’s favorite objects.

These

are all from the Late Emperor’s brush.

Princess,

you will have to take care of this South Sea Night Pearl.

it cost a lot and used skillful labor!

This is the Director of the Board of Rites,

personally delivering the congratulatory gift.

Gu Qinghong, have there been any detected movements?

Prime Minister Gu still hasn’t shown himself.

And the rest?

Not yet arrived.

I am so confident about this. (sarcastic)

I thought before leaving

he would come see me again?

This person of no importance pays respects to the Princess.

Great Lan’s Emperor has set an auspicious day

for the Princess three days from now

to set out on a journey to the south.

The Princess, with extraordinary honor and respect,

His Majesty confers upon you the title of “Imperial Concubine De”.

You may withdraw.

Congratulations, Princess! Congratulations, Princess!

The Princess has now become part of the Lan Palace

and conferred as Imperial Concubine.

It can now be seen how the Lan ruler values you, Princess

I, Jiao Tong, will accompany the Princess going south.

It is indeed the greatest of honors.

I will make Xiao Fengming dote on me,

make him entirely mine.

In Li State, I was outdone by Miao Qianqian.

Finally, in Lan State,

I will need to double

and subordinate Nie Wushuang;s hand to make a comeback and return.

Lord Prime Minister.

I am handing over to you this matter,

handle it well.

Answering the Lord Prime Minister,

I am already located in the outskirts,

in order to replace the Lord Prime Minister,

to change once you reach the Chuya Residence.

But your dignified air,

I can’t compare to the real Prime Minister.

I’m not that dignified!

I’m just a person

from a peaceful territory.

Just handle things here personally,

give it your best shot.

Move along.

Lord Prime Minister, is this the official residence?

Tidy up and clean it.

Giving it to the Princess as a wedding gift.

Oh, by the way...

Take care of these peach trees,

remove them all.

But...But Lord Prime Minister,

this Princess is being married off to someone far away.

It’s just a gift,

but should we really be giving the Princess one?

The Princess told me

she liked it here, it was peaceful and secluded.

I have always wanted to host her here again.

If I can achieve that,

her cherishing of me will stop.

This person of no consequence understands.

Princess,

this is Prime Minister Gu’s agent,

delivering a letter.

You! All of you, get out! Get out!

I want you out!

Get out!

It’s just a letter

with a thoughtful congratulatory gift, nothing more.

Princess, there is no need to harm yourself.

Gu Qinghong,

do you want to

give me back

everything I gave you?

Princess, calm down.

Prime Minister Gu has been kindly treated.

It’s just that he’s not fortunate enough

to continue to accept the

Princess’ sincere feelings.

His Majesty has already given his decree,

assigning Prime Minister Gu

to escort the Princess down south to be married.

If the Princess is unhappy--

No!

This errand he can’t be forgiven for if it’s not completed!

In the past, I lost to Miao Qianqian.

I succeeded only in creating Nie Wushuang

And today...

my heart,

has had a blade ruthlessly driven into it!

So to help me have no more worries,

I’m going to Lan State to become Concubine De!

Jiao Tong, on the day of my wedding,

I want you to help me do something.

Princess, what are your instructions?

Princess!

This is just one step forward

to everyone not having a road to return on!

When the moment comes,

I will send a gift.

Gu Qinghong, await my return gift!

Reporting!

Lord Gu, the Prime Minister’s residence is on fire!!

Move out!

Okay. That’s all.

You go ahead.

Yes.

Reporting to Lord,

horses have already been properly arranged.

You’ve had it rough, continue your patrol.

Princess,

you will soon be married off into Lan State.

The distance we are from victory,

we’re only a step away.

Jiao Tong

will be with you in Lan State to strengthen your arm.

I want to help you with your problems.

I’m afraid the younger brother and sister just escaped this calamity

and are relying on Lan State’s monarch.

Their having such great backing,

that’s a great deal for my trusted aide to endure!

What can I tell you

so you’ll believe me!

I’m thinking about this on your behalf

to prevent more trouble ahead of time!

You may deceive others,

but you can’t lie to me...

because

I am Prime Minister Gu’s lucky charm.

You, Minister Gu,

and I are a couple,

I vow solemnly

that it is only you in my heart.

You two are now intimate?

After the big wedding, we will become a married couple.

Is that so?

So then it’s no surprise that

I can smell Minister Gu’s scent on you.

My concocted pills of immortality include plants

to throw away blind sentiment and emotion, and real red cinnabar medicine

that can make someone forget all past events.

My guess is this drug

is now in the hands of Prime Minister Gu.

He kept it and means for you to eat it.

With the big wedding at hand,

there’s no need for me to be unruffled by sentiment.

Do you have enough courage

to face Minister Gu’s true colors?

Don’t worry.

it’s absolutely not poison.

I merely think you should know

I’ll never fight you for your man.

Qianqian...

When I look at Prime Minister Gu,

I see my sweet childhood...

Prime Minister Gu then declined to address me as “Princess”.

But now, you address me as “Princess”...

You can go back to calling me “Yan’er”.

With you telling me this,

is it really possible for you and I

to entirely untie this? (be free of each other)

Yes.

But when I think about it,

marrying into and joining with Lan State

I’ll be meeting and evening the score with Nie Wushuang.

Maybe

I will deal with you and her both.

Maybe I will fight her again

for control of the second man in my life,

Lan’s ruler, Xiao Fengming,

Love and regret by themselves are useless to you,

so your love is mixed with regret.

only blinding your judgement.

Make you any more ignorant,

this ignorance will affect

me in my Lan State operations!

Prime Minister Gu is waiting outside for you to awaken.

After the Princess has freshened up, dining with the ruler

before departing for Lan State

I’ll be quick, I can’t wait to meet

Miao Qianqian!

I’m really looking forward to it.

Now she’s “Zhaoyi Nie”

coming to see me as Princess…

what will this look like?

Imperial Physician Du!

You nearly became the prey of others!

You’re totally oblivious to this.

This minor official respectfully greets Your Highness, King of Rui!

Right now, this official was concentrating on finding medicinal plants

and therefore did not discover it!

Many thanks, Your HIghness the King of Rui, for the timely warning!

Does this official have something on my face?

No.

I couldn’t remember your name

to shout at you.

This official’s name is Ruozi.

Du Ruo?

Du Ruo.

Since you are attractive and intelligent,

the name suits your face.

Actually “du ruo”

is a small white flower.

used in medicine.

Therefore, this official’s name

really is medical.

What is the function of that medicine?

Du ruo medicine is slightly warming,

used to brighten the eyes and improve the energy.

Dare I ask, does Imperial Physician Du

also have any medicine ingredients,

du ruo seems fresh, clean and unique!

This is angelica root, this is hong lian (herba lagotis),

furthermore this is sappan wood,

these names are all quite elegant.

Does the King of Rui

know what they all mean?

Never mind!

At my mansion,

a few new female singers

arrived recently

and asked me to give them names.

Though this rain only started a little while ago,

it’s still coming down.

It must be that heaven

has arranged for me to watch it rain!

Imperial Physician Du,

you must take off your wet clothes

and let them dry.

You’re an imperial physician,

you ought to know better than I do!

This way you’ll catch a cold!

This lowly official would not dare

to be so lacking in manners in the presence of the King of Rui!

Look at yourself,

you’re clearly catching a cold!

These last few days

you must be lacking physical exercise to toughen you up!

Next time, you and I

go to a place where the military is training

and do some drills!

You’ll feel more manly!

This official wishes to go to military camp

and learn by practicing,

It’s just that the Imperial Physician Bureau has to sign the documents

and it’s much too busy.

Your Highness the King of Rui

this official must go back as there is a matter I must complete.

It’s still raining!

Imperial Physician Du,

you requested I bring you this medicine.

Imperial Physician Du, are you okay?

You braved the rain to come back,

but afterwards your complexion doesn’t look so good?

What’s the matter?

Do you think I need a child who brews medicine

to take my pulse?

I, Chengen, wouldn’t dare!

Go bring me a cup of tea.

Imperial Physician Du,

you’ve already had three cups of hot tea,

but haven’t drunk a sip!

Oh, right.

Deshun pays respects to Imperial Physician Du.

Eunuch, no need for formality.

His Highness instructed Deshun

to hand Imperial Physician Du a box of medicine

sent over as a gift.

I’ll take care of it.

Did the King of Rui have something to tell me?

Nothing.

Did you have anything you want to tell him?

Nothing.

I...I just had a casual question.

Then does Imperial Physician Du have anything

for this subordinate to report back to His Highness?

Nothing, nothing at all.

Then I shall take my leave.

Wait a second!

This is the medicine to treat Mama Ling.

I must inconvenience you, Eunuch,

to supply her with medical herbs,

I won’t be able to go by the Jade Pavilion to see her.

It is Deshun’s guess

Imperial Physician Du is afraid

the Empress Dowager will know of your kind intentions.

Eunuch Deshun, I’ll see you out.

Eunuch Lin is here.

Are there instructions from His Majesty?

Tomorrow, the imperial family are requested to go to the hunting encampment.

Zhaoyi Nie, though it is your first year in the palace,

His Majesty would particularly like you to accompany him,

just like before.

Thank His Majesty for his favor.

This is within the palace,

but it is still unprecedented.

It is clear to us to see how His Majesty has

set his heart on you, Zhaoyi.

Then I shall trouble Eunuch Lin

to take my thanks to His Majesty.

This is natural.

I have heard that Eunuch Lin likes tasting tea the most?

Yangzhi,

please take a moment to handle bestowing on him His Majesty’s

best imperial tea.

Deliver it to Eunuch Lin.

Yes.

This best quality imperial tea,

didn’t His Majesty bestow it specially on

Zhaoyi Nie?

I wouldn’t dare...

Eunuch Lin,

you normally take care of HIs Majesty,

and that’s very laborious.

In your leisure time, drink a cup,

it will definitely make you relaxed but alert.

There is no need to be so formal to me.

Then many thanks, Zhaoyi Nie, for the reward.

Tomorrow, at the hunting encampment,

His Majesty will be going with you?

His Majesty will be together with the Li State Princess,

with the wedding close at hand,

and busy with affairs of state.

Therefore, this next

hunting encampment is not like the previous ones.

Actually, this encampments main host is the Empress,

who is acting for the King of Rui as go-between.

Trying to find two ladies,

both from famous houses,

who wish to be taken in as imperial concubines.

I don’t want this “blind date” to be too obvious,

so it’s been meticulously planned.

Jieyu, I heard Her Highness the Empress Dowager

has secondary plans for the encampment

she is going to provide the King of Rui with a blind date.

Nie Wushuang, is that slut going to be there

to serve His Majesty?

Together with Her Highness the Empress Dowager’s instructions,

perhaps she wants to allow Zhaoyi Nie

to look around and give it a try?

Her Highness the Empress Dowager is bringing along

two outsiders to marry in

and give pointers to.

Zhaoyi Nie, what can she hope for

if the blind date with the King of Rui succeeds?

How can the Empress’ two outside relatives

possibly succeed with the King of Rui?

The Jieyu is wise.

Jieyu, this dagger is very pretty.

This from my childhood’s hunting days,

a gift from my elder brother.

Do you want to take it along with you?

Certainly.

Maybe when the moment comes,

I’ll put it to good use.

Today, the weather’s not bad.

The scenery is bright and beautiful,

no matter whether someone misses it or not.

So long as we have Zhaoyi Nie traveling with us,

this will be sufficient to reflect upon.

I’ve heard that to this next hunting encampment

Her Highness the Empress Dowager is bringing along

Her Highness Concubine Yun is bringing along her matrilineal cousin, Yao Peiyi,

and that old lady, Her Highness Concubine Shu.

Xu Wan’er,

is the next hunting encampment

supposed to be for His Majesty to find the King of Rui

an auspicious princess?

Who knows who ultimately

will win the King of Rui’s eyes?

You don’t have to be too formal.

This time, we’re having the hunt

just for all of you

to become a lot closer to the King of Rui.

Thank you, Your Highness the Empress, for your favor.

Her Highness the Empress,

you said this is nearly the whole way

and I haven’t spoken to the King of Rui yet?

Are you worried?

Stop!

Protect and defend the Empress properly!

Protect the Empress!

What’s happening?

The horses are startled.

They’re crazy!

I simply can’t stop them!

Don’t go out there!

Let go!

I don’t want to die with you!

Don’t let her run!

Reporting to the General,

Princess Yunle is missing!

Protect the Empress!

Try to find the damned Princess!

Stop right there!

Princess!

Wait for your brother, wait!

A beauty!

Come be my wife!

Brother Miao!

Here!

Brother Miao! (meant as a friend, General Miao is not her real brother)

This official was late to rescue you.

Brother Miao!

Brother Miao! You finally came!

Princess, Princess.

You...you...are you okay?

Brother Miao.

If you hadn’t come,

those lousy bandits...

those lousy bandits would have killed me!

Would you have been sad?

Is anyone there?

There seems to be someone ahead?

It’s Imperial Physician Du!

Nie Wushuang, your luck is really great.

This minor official greets Your HIghness Concubine Yu.

Zhaoyi Nie, Jieyu Bao.