Original subtitles

Is anybody here?

There seems to be someone in front.

It’s Imperial Physician Du.

Nie Wushuang, you are truly lucky.

This humble official pays respects to Imperial Concubine Pin Yu,

Zhaoyi Nie, Jieyu Bao.

Imperial Physician Du,

why are you here?

This humble official’s horse got startled

and left me behind.

Your foot is injured.

It's nothing. It’s just a sprain.

What use does an imperial physician

that is also hurt have?

He cannot save everyone.

Let’s quickly find a way to

get out of here

Imperial Concubine,

Jieyu Bao, take care of it yourself.

Yes...

There is no one around here.

If someone dies here, no one will know about it...

You have the potential

to be liked by men.

Your Royal Highness, I really like you!

If Your Royal Highness is willing,

His Majesty will definitely give me to you.

Is that so? Do you really like me?

I have liked Your Royal Highness for a long time.

So...

are you willing to do

whatever I tell you to do?

Be careful! There’s a knife behind you!

Nie Wushuang, go to hell!

Jieyu Bao, are you insane?!

I just want to take your life today!

Let go!

Jieyu Bao, are you insane?!

It was you who forced me to do it!

Why does King of Rui

hate me so?

You must die!

He’ll like me when you are dead and buried!

We’ll stage is as if a mountain bandit had killed you.

The two of them have to be buried with you as well!

Go to hell, Nie Wushuang!

Go to hell!

Jieyu Bao!

Nie Wushuang, go to hell!

How is it?

She is dead.

It was her who was trying to kill you

and harm the others.

This person is not worthy of sympathy.

Throw her pearl hairpin into the grass.

Just as she said,

it was all done by the bandits.

But

she has a dagger wound on her body

and bandits are usually using the swords.

I am mute, right?

I will not

tell anyone about it.

After returning to the palace,

please do not also talk

about what happened.

Do not inform anyone,

especially Empress Dowager Wang.

Very well.

I never get tired of doing something

against Empress Dowager.

I will keep that secret.

What is

one more secret?

This secret is simply insignificant

compared with the one I carry.

Nie Wushuang’s unfortunate life experience...

as well as Imperial Physician Du, who since childhood...

- was not allowed… - This secret…

I will keep.

I will keep this secret.

Congratulations, Nie Wushuang.

There is another

skeleton in your closet.

Is it not because of you?

She must have lost her mind

to do such a stupid thing.

Because of me?

What does it have to do with me?

Why is it not Imperial Physician Du’s fault?

I...

Let’s go, let’s leave this place.

I will help Imperial Concubine Pin Yu.

You take care of Imperial Physician Du.

He has sprained his foot and cannot walk.

You hurt your foot.

I am fine. I can walk.

Imperial Physician Du,

I am not used to carrying men.

King of Rui, put me down.

Put me down, King of Rui.

Reporting to Your Majesty,

this official has already

apprehended the bandits

and has personally interrogated them.

Those bandits are refugees from Li State.

Refugees?

Have you not

pacified these refugees

already?

Xue Mingyi,

I have sent you to pacify the Li State’ refugees.

Silver that was meant to provide relief to them

has already been sent to your hands.

Why was

the imperial family ambushed

and one of the jieyus has even lost her life?!

General Xue,

you should

give me a good explanation about this matter.

Your Majesty, calm your anger.

This old official will investigate and deal with this matter accordingly.

I shall send more people to suppress the refugees.

I will never let such a thing

happen again.

It couldn’t be that some officials

trifle with Your Majesty

and neglect their duties and become corrupt?

King of Rui is jesting.

Although this old official has thumping courage,

he would not dare to hide from His Majesty

matters that are detrimental to the interests

of Great Lan.

Li State’ refugees

are far more what we thought them to be.

They are really hard to deal with.

Not only are they committing crimes against Great Lan

but they also

do not yield to of General Xue’s

persuasion nor coercion.

Over and over again, you marched into battle for Great Lan’s sake.

What difficulties have you not encountered?

I just cannot believe

that trifling Li State’ refugees

have unexpectedly baffled

General Xue.

Xue Mingyi,

I know that you are

Great Lan’s general

and know about your meritorious deeds

in the past.

I cannot bear to be too hard on you

but you have to give me

a proper explanation of this matter.

Your Majesty, the aim of the pacification of the refugees

is benevolent governance.

Benevolent governance is a good strategy for fixing the country.

One can see

that it is necessary to do extraordinary things

in these extraordinary times.

Xue Mingyi,

I will give you

a chance to make amends for your faults by good deeds.

This matter must be strictly investigated.

You cannot be soft-hearted.

Yes.

Empress Dowager is absolutely right.

This official will personally interrogate

and execute one of them as a warning to others.

Your Majesty, this humble official has a request.

Please go ahead, General Miao.

Your Majesty, can you hand these rebellious people

over to this official for interrogation?

These rioters are detestable

but this humble official believes

that they took the risk in desperation

by the war situation in Li State.

Besides, repression alone

will not resolve the matter.

Your Majesty wanted to let these refugees

dig the Wazhou Reservoir.

Why not let this humble official

to push this matter forward?

Firstly, it would soothe the refugees’ emotions,

secondly, it would be conducive to national water conservancy.

Why not shoot two hawks with one arrow? (kill two birds with one stone)

General Miao sounds reasonable.

I am giving my permission.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Many things happened today.

Did they make you startled perhaps?

It is Wushuang’s fault

to make Your Majesty worried.

These bandits

openly attacked imperial convoy.

I must thoroughly investigate this matter.

Your Majesty...

if it was Wushuang who had died today...

Your Majesty...

His Majesty would be heart-broken.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for your care and support.

Wushuang wanted to know

whether Your Majesty

would still keep his promise

of putting her Elder brother in an important position

if she was the one who died today.

To tell you the truth,

I did call you into the palace

for the sake of

your elder brother, Miao Minghu.

I have expected him to work for Lan State,

but I have been

unconsciously changed by you in the past days,

even to the extent that

I cannot let go of you in my heart.

Li State’s princess marrying into Great Lan

will cause a high wave to rise in the imperial harem.

My marriage...

All the marriages in my life are only set

to gain power….

but yours.

Only you...

are the exception.

Your Majesty...

Her Majesty sent someone to ask

whether you will come to the Yi Palace tonight.

Your Majesty.

King of Li is truly courteous.

So many

expensive gifts have been sent here

Are you afraid that our Great Lan

cannot support your Li State’s princess?

Your Royal Highness King of Lan, you are truly jesting.

Lan State is rich in products and fertile

and is renowned in the whole world.

but

our Great Li State cannot breach the etiquette

when marrying our Princess off.

Your Royal Highness King of Lan,

Nowadays, Jiuliao strong cavalry’ crimes against Li State

and the commoners becoming destitute and homeless

coincidences with a year of the famine.

Li State is hanging by a thread.

If Jiuliao continues to travel south,

then Li State will die.

When the time comes, Lan State will also become

Jiuliao strong cavalry’s next target.

I therefore came here

to only to marry the Princess off

but also with an important mission.

Prime Minister Gu, since you have been

sent here as an envoy,

I suggest that you enjoy

the wedding banquet.

General Miao.

Official is present.

Prime Minister Gu,

this way, please.

It’s you.

Sure enough, I did not read it wrong.

King of Rui,

don’t waste your time.

You can’t catch up with me.

You are from Li State.

No.

I am afraid our origin is far more profound.

Beloved concubine is indeed fair as a flower and beautiful as the moon.

Beautiful enough to cause the fall of the state.

Your Majesty, after drinking the nuptial wine

Yan'er will become one

of Your Majesty’s women.

Why is Your Majesty not drinking?

Did you perhaps drink too much

with the courtiers at the table just now?

Beloved concubine, you misunderstood.

It is just that I have

remembered that I heard before

that Li State’s Princess’ ability and talent

surpasses the common run

and that she was learning

how to make medicine since childhood.

This wine...

This female servant cannot hide anything

from Your Majesty’s ears.

But, Your Majesty,

you are this female servant’s husband.

How would this female servant do something harmful to Your Majesty.

Even if this female servant would be so audacious

as to administer medicine to Your Majesty,

it would only be something

that would make Your Majesty so fond of this servant that you will not be able to let go of her.

But

where would one find such powerful medicine in this world?

I naturally believe

beloved concubine’s words.

But

I just smelled

the mandara powder in the wine. (flower of north India, similar to belladonna)

This is an aphrodisiac

brought from a foreign land.

It seems that beloved concubine really wants

to spend a pleasant night with me tonight,

therefore you did not hesitate to commit

a taboo in this palace

The fragrance of that flower

has reminded me

why did beloved concubine arrived here

and why am I entering this arranged marriage with you.

You have just

broke the rules that were set by me

and committed a capital offence towards Great Lan.

Your Majesty, pardon the offence.

This female servant was just anxious

that her shallow appearance

will not be enough to make Your Majesty become enamoured

and that is why she broke the absolute taboo of the palace.

I ask Your Majesty

to spare this female servant this time.

It seems that Concubine Du (Gao Yan’s new title in the palace)

does not only know me,

but also understands menfolk.

It is easy to become enamoured

with a woman

but it will take time to make one

fall in love with her.

Since you gave me

mandara for our wedding night,

I am really worried

what will I find

in my wineglass next time.

This female servant does not dare. Your Majesty has misunderstood.

This female servant knows she was wrong.

Can you,

for the sake of both countries,

spare this female servant this time?

Beloved concubine is lovely as a flower

and precious because she is a princess.

If it weren't

for this glass of wine,

I would never ruin our spring night tonight. (spring night - night of sexual bliss)

Now that beloved concubine knows her mistake,

how about this.

I will agree on a three-point law with you. (make certain rules to be observed).

I will not touch you for three months

and you should reflect upon yourself.

But Your Majesty, will you have the heart to do it?

Stop kneeling. Come here.

This female servant is still terrified.

I said I will not pursue you for that.

I was just joking.

Sit down. Chat with me.

Thank you very much, Your Majesty.

Concubine Du

has shed her noble identity

of the Li State’s princess

to marry into a far away Lan State.

I am actually curious why.

Female servant have heard about Your Majesty for a long time.

You are famous for literary grace and warlike exploits.

Female servant is a princess

but she is also a woman in the first place.

Concubine Du has a truly glib tongue.

Female servant has only shared her innermost thoughts and feelings.

I will know in the future

whether it was truly coming from your heart or not.

Elder Sister, it is so lively outside.

Let’s go and have a look.

His Majesty is marrying today,

it naturally must be lively.

Yes.

Gao Yan has obviously set her heart on Gu Qinghong

but she was willing to enter an arranged marriage with Lan State.

I do not know what purpose does she have.

Since you cannot avoid it,

you can only bear it one step at a time.

Xia Lan deserves to die.

Elder Sister is naturally unhappy

since His Majesty is marrying someone else today.

How can I be unhappy?

Your Majesty has to give the priority to the overall situation.

Since my Elder Sister is not unhappy

why are you boring yourself for the whole day?

Elder sister will be bored to death if she

stays inside any longer.

Let’s go.

It’s windy outside.

Elder Sister,

let me get you a cloak

No need, the wind is not that strong.

It’s Elder Sister Xue Ke.

Greetings, Zhaoyi Nie.

These gifts

She is going to change her name

to Concubine Du today. (德 - Du - Virtuous)

Her Majesty

let me sent these to the ladies of the palace.

This gift was specially prepared

for Zhaoyi Nie by Concubine Du.

It is so late already

and you bothered with a trip here.

It is no trouble at all, Zhaoyi Nie.

If there is nothing else,

Xue Ke will return to her duties now.

Elder Sister, look.

This gift is so exquisite.

It turns out Li State’s princess knows

that His Majesty loves Elder Sister the most

so te gift is more valuable.

Qianqian?

Elder Sister, what is it?

Did I put my foot in my mouth?

Go back first.

I want to be alone for a while.

This pearl hairpin

was given to your mother by Grandmother

when she got married.

Mother was not willing

to part with it in this life.

Today I am passing it on to you.

Mother...

I always wanted you

to marry into a good family.

Mother feels at ease seeing you

marry Qinghong now.

You have to take care of yourself

when Mother is often away from you in the future.

Mother,

do not worry.

Silly child.

Mother will help you to put it on.

Mother...

Gao Yan...

you gave me back my dowry.

Can you also give back more than 120

people from the Mieo Family to me?

Mother...

Son greets Mother.

Your Majesty is radiant with happiness.

It seems that you get along with Concubine Du extremely well.

Li State’s princess has asked for help in exchange for the arranged marriage.

She was accompanied by a dowry

made of gold, silver, jewelry and horse-drawn carriages.

it can be seen that the King of Li attaches great importance

to this marriage.

Lan Palace was decked with lanterns and coloured streamers last night,

The tables were full of delicacies and the winecups were interlocking

Ministers gathered together to chant happily.

Everyone is looking forward to the arranged marriage

between Li State and Lan State.

Whether these two countries can coexist

depends solely on Your Majesty’s kind approval.

Mother is overstating.

I wonder if Mother still remembers

about two agreements

you have made with your son before the marriage.

I will naturally not break my word.

I still hope that Your Majesty

will meet with Xue’s father and son

before announcing

the departure to Li State.

Xue’s father and son have arrived.

This humble minister pays respects to Your Majesty, Empress Dowager.

Forego with all ceremonies.

Thank you, Your Majesty

Li State’s princess, Gao Yan

has become Lan State’s Concubine Du

The general opinion

on assigning the command over the rescue troops

has been divided into two factions.

I wonder if General Xue has heard of it?

Your Majesty, until the imperial decree arrives

everything is merely

a tattle and prate.

How can this official repeat what others say?

General Xue is a good minister

who understands the overall situation.

You have been on the battlefield for many years

and you have been very insightful about deploying forces.

Your Majesty and I have agreed

to share the information on the commanding general

with General Xue as soon as it is made.

I thank Empress Dowager for her great kindness.

After consulting with Empress Dowager

and taking into consideration the overall situation,

the rescue expedition to Li State

will be led by Miao Minghu.

Your Majesty, please think thrice.

There is no information about the current state of the war.

This official thinks

it is always better to be careful.

After all, Commander Miao is naive to Li State.

What if this rescue mission

is a trap set by Li State

si that our Lan army

gets captured in a net?

Audacious unfilial son!

How dare you be so rude!

Your Majesty,

Xue Bi, this child

is also thinking about Great Lan’s safety

and acted on impulse.

I ask Your Majesty to pardon this offence.

General Xue,

It is His Majesty’s desire

to let Miao Minghu lead the troops to help Li.

It was also approved by me.

I have called you here today

to allow both of you

some mental preparation

so that

you are not in the dark

when this decision is announced in the court.

Xue father and son’s concerns

stem from their love towards their country.

I believe

that many ministers in the court

will have similar misgivings.

In order to convince the public

and prove that I have a mind

that perceives both past and future,

I will not only

let Miao Minghu command the troops.

I will personally lead the military expedition into battle.

Your Majesty,

the decision about leading the troops into battle should not be too hasty.

Mother, I have my own sense of propriety.

Li State’s envoy is still in our country.

I have enough time

to ponder about it.

Congratulations, Princess! Congratulations, Princess

on officially becoming Lan State’s Concubine Du.

We heard that King of Lan

has promised Li State’s envoy to send in rescue troops

when they were supervising military exercises on a training grounds.

I do not know how Gu Qinghong

feels at the moment.

Imperial Concubine Du, please have some tea.

Jiao Tong is dressed

like a new maidservant.

What significance this change has

if I can stay at Princess’ side?

Cai Ying, Rou Fang,

withdraw first.

Yes.

Last night,

Princess have served new tea to His Majesty.

What were the results?

Very impressive.

His Majesty is truly considerate.

I gave you

some gifts for the concubines in the harem.

Have you sent them all?

Although I have asked Xia Lan for help,

the gifts from Princess to other concubines

were generous.

How could they despise

your special favour?

Have Zhaoyi Nie of Cuihua Pavilion

also received my gift?

I naturally dared not neglect it.

What was Nie Wushuang’s reaction?

Seeing the dowry jewelry reappear

in front of her eyes,

Miao Qianqian

was swept by the waves of her feelings

and broke down from crying.

But now this Nie Wushuang

can only be green with envy

and swallow it all with her blood and teeth.

This is exactly

what I want her to feel.

It is time to go to Yi Palace

to pay respects to her Majesty the Empress.

In the passing, we shall check

how other concubines and Zhaoyi Nie

look up to me.

This humble servant thought

that the first person you should pay respects to

would actually not be the empress.

The first person Princess should bribe

is the Empress Dowager Wang, who has been

targeting Nie Wushuang most of the times.

Princess is truly beautiful.

Your bearing is very refined.

With the robe I have given you,

your peerless style is fully displayed.

No wonder King of Li

has always regarded you as the apple of his eye.

Yan'er thanks Mother for her care and support.

This robe

is of superb craftsmanship.

It is seldom to come by in the north.

Yan'er lost her mother as a child.

I ask Mother to call Yan'er by her name.

Yan'er really knows how to coax me.

I have to make Yunle

learn more from you in the future.

This colorful robe was given to me by the Retired Emperor

and Empress Dowager

when I was enthroned.

There are plenty of skilled craftsmen in the south.

From workmanship

to the material selection,

this robe can be regarded as one of the treasures

in a million.

But I always felt

that I cannot give out

the variety of the colours in this robe.

Today I have

finally understood.

The delicate and charming clothes

have to be lined by delicate and charming people.

Imperial Concubine Du is truly blessed.

This maidservant has been with Empress Dowager

for so many years

and I have never seen any other concubine

to enjoy such a privilege.

This female servant thanks Mother for her care and support.

Yan'er, you have married into a far Lan State.

I know

that you are bound to suffer from homesickness.

I will treat you kindly and generously,

hoping that you can live

comfortably in the imperial harem.

I like women

who are reasonable and clear-minded.

Fortunately, Concubine Du

does not have

the arrogance and self-indulgence of a princess in her.

This female servant knows

that i was Mother

who helped to bring this marriage about.

In Yan'er’s mind,

has long been regarding Mother

as her own relative.

This female servant has firstly

come here to get married

and fulfill her duties as a wife and concubine.

Secondly, she has come here as the

the eternal friendship between the two countries.

should become more substantial

His Majesty is your husband.

I am your mother-in-law.

As long as you take charge of this family,

I and Great Lan

will not fail you.

This female servant thanks Mother for her instructions.

All right, all right.

Empress and the others are coming to Shangyuan Palace

to pay respects to me.

I will take you with me

to meet them in a moment.

Mother, please.

Concubine Du is a new arrival in the palace.

She is not as close to her maiden home as you are

In the future,

regardless of your position in the palace,

you will be all sisters.

You have to show more consideration for the Princess.

Yes.

Thank you, Mother.

I heard

that there is a Zhaoyi Nie in the palace.

Why do I not see her?

Zhaoyi Nie got scared

during the last hunting

and has been bed resting in the palace.

This Zhaoyi Nie

as originally a wandering female entertainer.

Her hometown is in the north.

His Majesty met her while travelling north

and fell in love with her at first sight.

it is like coming across an old friend in a distant land.

I guess

Concubine Du

would hit it off with her instantly.

That’s really a pity then.

When there is a chance,

this female servant must visit her in person

Looking at Concubine Du’s face

there is no haggard look on it

like after long-range raid.

I think some people may find

the account of the last night’s spring night

truly enviable.

I wonder how many people

had trouble sleeping last night.

Zhaoyi Nie has arrived.

Wushuang is late to pay her respects.

I ask Empress Dowager to mete out the punishment.

We are all sisters here and are magnanimous enough to forgive each other.

Rise.

Yes.

Qianqian?

Qianqian, it is really you.

I am Yan'er.

Wushuang does not understand

who is Imperial Concubine calling.

What, you do not recognize me anymore?

Are you not Miao Weicheng’s daughter,

Miao Qianqian?

we have called each other sister

when we were ten years old.

Wushuang has met

Imperial Concubine for the first time today.

I know nothing about so-called Qianqian

mentioned by Imperial Concubine.

And although I was born in Li State,

I was living beyond the Great Wall since childhood.

How could there be a chance

to make friends with Imperial Concubine?

Imperial Concubine is gold branches and leaves. (a descendant of imperial lineage)

That’s truly a pity

Zhaoyi Nie and my

best friend Qianqian

look exactly the same.

I was really shocked,

thus I have made some indiscreet remarks.

Zhaoyi Nie, do not take it

to heart too much.

How could I?

But this is indeed unusual.

If Imperial Concubine

sees Qianqian next time,

she must introduce me to her.

I wonder

how similar in appearance

two strangers

can really be.

Maybe there will not be a chance to do so.

Qianqian’s family has met with misfortune.

I heard that she has drowned in a river.

I haven’t heard from her ever since.

It is truly a pity then.

I heard Zhaoyi Nie got frightened a while ago.

I hope it is nothing serious?

Thank you for Imperial Concubine’s concern. Wushuang was not harmed.

Imperial Concubine’s pearl hairpin

is such an expensive gift.

Wushuang will dare not to neglect it,

even if her body is smashed to pieces.