Original subtitles

Concubine Yu, everything went smoothly?

Everything went smoothly.

His Majesty went to Mingfu Palace?

His Majesty said he wanted you to have a good pregnancy

and give birth without complications.

In addition, he said that if you have want of anything,

do not hesitate to inform His Majesty.

I know I’m on HIs Majesty’s mind.

You didn’t expose our weak point?

I’ll tell you if

I remember any more.

Go change your clothes.

Concubine Yu, what did you say?

You’ve conceived His Majesty’s child, the dragon seed is growing within you?

I stopped menstruating two months ago.

Lately, I’ve frequently felt the need to vomit.

Apparently you’ve been at Ziwei Palace for treatment and allow

your vigor to return?

His Majesty over all these years

hasn’t shown any special favor toward you!

Not so.

Concubine Du, by your side is there a maid,

someone called “Jiao Tong”?

Zhaoyi Nie asked you, do I have

a person like that to use as my arm? (act on my behalf)

Exactly.

She’s very strange,

and seems proficient in sorcery.

One night, two months ago,

she used sorcery

to exchange others with your body.

In the end, I was able to bring His Majesty to my side.

His Majesty took me to be you--

What did you say?

I know this all sounds

incredible.

Until today,

I thought that evening

seemed to be entirely a dream.

But this child in my belly,

he’s definitely real.

You came to me here

just to show off

that you seduced His Majesty

and conceived the dragon’s seed?

No.

It suits

you to misunderstand me so completely.

I am one who earnestly wishes you well!

Now the palace is too dangerous!

Enough!

You think you’re good-looking,

I have indeed underestimated you!

You snatched what originally ought to have been

my child with His Majesty.

You turned things upside down and then pretend to have pity on me.

I haven’t!

You clearly have

someone who knows you are pregnant,

but deceiving the Emperor is a huge crime!

Until this moment,

even if you a hundred mouths to speak with,

nothing would clearly be resolved.

Your growing belly

when all is said and done, has been conceived illegitimately.

It suits

you to be convinced that’s true,

but my child really is His Majesty’s flesh and blood.

Oh I believe you,

but will others?

Others may be convinced to believe you,

with this preposterous line….

but...

in reading us two sisters,

I don’t think they’ll be helpful to you.

Concubine Yu, you can’t be pregnant,

but Imperial Concubine Yun can be,

as is inevitable and right.

You...mean what?

What’s wrong, aren’t you willing to?

Yes, who keeps going on and on about

being willing to be my true little sister?

Do anything you like,

But can you you hide it

from the eyes of others?

They won’t tell the difference.

If you play your part well,

I promise you

this matter will pass,

and I’ll let bygones be bygones.

You’d better think this over carefully,

and come up with a good method.

If there is any deficiency,

you will lose your head for this huge crime!

You may not be afraid to die,

but you have a child in your belly.

So it turns out I missed this,

so wonderful!

What a great “stealing the dragon (seed) to turn into a phoenix”!

How interesting!

Xiao Fengming,

even if you’re close-minded,

who would have thought you’d have such a dream!

Mustn’t take too long.

Or else your good sister Meiren Ya

will think I am hanging onto you for something.

Don’t worry, she’s very loyal.

Deal smoothly with the birth of the imperial fetus,

then I naturally then can recover lost ground.

At that time,

I will put properly in their places both

Nie Wushuang and Gao Yan,

those two sluts!

It is suitable

as Gao Yan’s moral standing is unclear to me.,

but Wushuang--

Enough!

Who are you, if you are not my younger sister?

You’d better be clear on this,

we two are both real siblings, but to

renew our cordial relations is pivotal.

Go to Imperial Physician Du

for a routine exam as before,

I will again take care of that.

You had better each and every day

supply entirely your old sincerity to me while

at Ziwei Palace for treatment.

The Imperial Kitchen over there,

I naturally will make arrangements.

I wouldn’t want to treat unfairly

my child...

Good...to know.

This Imperial Concubine Yun has now conceived an imperial heir?

Yes.

This evening, His Majesty’s mood is very good,

and he’s going to Bright Lotus Palace from time to time.

to pay a visit to Imperial Concubine Yun.

Concubine Du also has conceived an imperial heir.

Then Nie Wushuang who is thought to be unpleasant,

it’s not her fault she was poisoned,

or confused Princess Yunle.

Miao Minghu long ago has become the Emperor’s brother-in-law,

if Empress Dowager agrees?

His Majesty stopped investigating this matter,

much less not mentioning Xue Bi as the Princess’ husband.

To raise that old topic again,

it can only harm Yunle.

Concubine Shu only knows how to take joy in calamity and delight in disaster.

You and your father, Xu Huanshan,

are together with me as your maternal aunt

holding the mountain up against outside forces.

You must have other stories?

Is there any news about the new army over there?

Informing the Empress Dowager,

this female subject heard her father discuss

with His Majesty and the King of Rui

that day leaving the city to visit the barracks.

Miao Minghu has taken office as

White Horse Cavalry Commanding General following that

in an awe-inspiring fashion,

the Xue Family can see only the other rider's

dust and have no hope of catching up.

And...

And what?

And...

everyone is talking about

King of Rui together with General Miao

as His Majesty’s left and right wings,

that they’re unable to drive a wedge between them.

Who?

Point them out to me.

Empress,

King of Rui is different from any other person,

you have personally seen with your own eyes

King of Rui going with Nie Wushuang to the temple

could it have been

for some other purpose?

King of Rui in childhood lost his mother,

and regards His Majesty as his only remaining close relative,.

united to the death.

This female subject believes

that even if the King of Rui were to change,

he would still in no way harm His Majesty.

This is His Majesty’s explanation you’re giving.

Last night, the King of Rui circled back to the sovereign’s palace,

His Majesty apparently was pining to hear his voice.

Toward this female subject, there has always been a feeling of support.

Naturally His Majesty knows

you visit Shangyuan Palace early every morning,

and thinks you take the opportunity to tell me everything.

His Majesty has pledged his life already and will protect the King of Rui,

would even sacrifice me.

His Majesty has absolutely no intention,

Imperial Mother, please do not be paranoid.

Together, people betray each other,

it only takes a moment.

I too am not entirely free of worrisome thoughts.

I, because of His Majesty’s kindness,

feel aggrieved.

Also too because of His Majesty’s kind heart,

I feel happy.

In the future, this betrayal will be painful,

can he bear it?

Ji Rousang.

Whether you are alive or dead,

neither of us can escape.

That’s right, I’m here to tell you

that your influence lingers on.

You’re all dismissed!

Such a beautiful woman,

the harem is entirely empty of them!

Are you still unwilling to speak to me?

Do you have something too embarrassing to mention,

or something disagreeable to me?

I have already commanded a title

and had the seeds planted in the Imperial Garden.

You must be very fond of those spreading pearl flowers.

They’ll be ready for us to take a look at them soon.

I am called “Ji Rousang”,

You spoke!

You’ve finally spoken to me!

Ji Rousang

Is that your name?

Ji Rousang,

it’s very pleasant to hear your name.

Rousang...

I want you to stay in the palace forever.

I want you to bear me a prince.

Beautiful woman,

a beautiful woman of unknown origin!

I wish you to push this beautiful woman off this cliff!

Let’s see if her sorcery really can save her!

Mother!

Mother!

You mustn’t harm my mother!

You’re unable to save your mother.

Do it.

Fengqing,

you keep living well.

After you grow up into an adult,

you’ll have an even more important calling!

Mother!

Your Third Elder Brother

will protect you very well!

Mother!

Since you left,

Fengqing is unlikely to have an easy time.

Mother!

Fengqing!

You really were very vicious...

Back then,

you snatched the Late Emperor from me and he doted on you.

Now,

your illegitimate son

has driven a wedge between His Majesty and me,

our bond as mother and son!

You think

that the flourishing Great Lan of today

is entirely because of your contribution?

Mama,

this trunk,

you should have called me to move it.

King of Rui told me when I arrived here

that I mustn’t allow anybody to touch it.

I’m taking out some items

for Zhaoyi Nie to review them.

I have heard the Zhaoyi knows needlework,

and is quite outstanding.

These

all are King of Rui’s

from childhood up until now.

This workmanship is very meticulous.

This sort of needlework

from those days is from Lan State’s harem.

It was even said to be passed on from those before.

Jiangnan’s most outstanding tailor

together with his mother’s embroidery.

We cannot use this silk thread,

to use it in this way

with such perfection.

Nowadays, thinking back,

Meiren Ji indeed slaved long and hard

all her life to make everything the most beautiful,

she was the most outstanding woman!

The Late Emperor wanted Meiren Ji

brought to the palace the very first night.,

She bewildered and turned the place upside down, all wanted to possess her.

This old slave served a lot of Highnesses,

but in return never really was seen.

What woman’s skin

as if congealed cream, spotlessly white,

her body had its own fragrance.

It’s no wonder the Late Emperor at once saw her

and was unable to resist.

Meiren Ji entered the Lan Palace

and became its most brightly colored ornament.

At that time,

hundreds of birds contended.

The pond is so much better

with so many brightly colored fish!

Meiren Ji is indeed a fairy descended to the world of mortals!

Afterwards, Great Lan suffered a locust calamity.

Meiren Ji unexpectedly used flute music

to drive the locust away.

This, this, this..!

That woman is a monster!

These poisonous insects

all are attracted by her!

Quick, burn them all!

Yes.

Hurry up, quickly!

All the people in the capital took heed of the idle chatter,

it was thought in the palace

the insects were drawn by Meiren Ji.

As it turns out, in the nearby capital

there was an outbreak of plague suddenly.

The Late Emperor, for lack of a better option,

was forced to close down the Jade Pavilion.

Thereafter,

Meiren Ji was every day in the Jade Pavilion,

making the King of Rui’s clothes.

It’s as though there was a rush to make them,

working day and night.

Sait it was important for the King of Rui to have new clothes for New Year’s,

as everyone in the capital wears new clothes made by their mother.

Why would it be important,

King of Rui has hundreds of other sets of clothes?

How big is that trunk?

What a pity.

Before she could make another twenty-five sets of clothes,

Meiren Ji had an accident.

King of Rui is now twenty-five years old.

In the years after this, will he need not

look to put on new clothes as all others made by their parents?

Silly boy,

From now on, King of Rui’s clothes

will be made by King of Rui’s consort.

Meiren Ji has foreseen

King of Rui’s turning twenty-five this year.

and settling down.

Then where is the King of Rui’s concubine or consort?

The King of Rui in future

is going boating in Jiangnan with whom?

Du Ruo, Imperial Physician Du?

King of Rui won’t kick her into the water.

Apparently she made a good impression?

But

If Imperial Physician Du really wants

to be the King of Rui’s consort,

then King of Rui will certainly be miserable.

She from an early age wasn’t raised by a mother,

how can she even do needlework?

Even more so,

how will King of Rui have clothes made?

Today this old servant

requested Zhaoyi Nie to please come over and take care of it.

The Zhaoyi’s womanly skills

are unsurpassed in the palace,

she has been determined to be familiar with a very fine cut-out stitch.

Looks like if Imperial Physician Du is fortunate

enough to become the King of Rui’s concubine,

this Zhaoyi, his elder brother’s wife,

may be asked to assist from the side.

Zhaoyi,

do you approve of this old servant’s intentions?

Mama Ling, I’ll give it some thought.

This allows these old clothes

the sun’s warmth!

Twenty-four sets?

Where’s the last suit?

With Mama Ling, she took it away.

Then I”m going to go look at it!

Xia Lan, you may not!

You mustn’t go in!

Xia Lan, you really can’t go in there!

Just as absent-minded as ever,

right?

What are you doing here?

What am I doing here?

That question should be mine to ask!

I shouldn’t have to be afraid to visit my wet nurse,

so I can be provided with some new clothes!

I was curious.

You, toward me,

you’re only curious about me as a person?

And...

dislike.

Then I’m relieved.

What do you mean.

Mama Ling wouldn’t tell you

that my mother only made

twenty-five sets of clothing.

This year, I’ll be wearing the final set,

and they’ll be gone.

Naturally, it’s because you’ll settle down and be a married man,

after which there will be a King of Rui’s consort

to make them for you.

Really?

Maybe it’s because I’m leaving...

Maybe...

it’s because I’ll die.

You’re talking nonsense!

Maybe someday

I’ll be just like my mother and

overnight just suddenly disappear!

Promise me

you’ll make me a new set of clothes,

okay?

I really want to have

your first-rate needlepoint

making my clothes.

I just want to know

the feeling of wearing them.

Um..

Mama Ling told me to request camphor duck

but we’ve run inevitably short of orange peel,

so she sent me to get some.

These all are King of Rui’s

favorite side dishes.

Just now, I was in the kitchen

already teaching Imperial Physician Du.

I didn’t make them when Mama taught me.

I was merely there in the kitchen

waiting for a treatment.

Then we’ll study it more next time.

Today is a rare visit from Zhaoyi Nie.

To help express my gratitude, Zhaoyi Nie

invited Imperial Physician Du, whose medicine helped cure my illness.

Please.

Mama, you’re too formal.

Imperial Physician Du

really isn’t here because of me,

but to heal Mama Ling.

Medically treating Mama

was clearly the Imperial Medical Bureau’s duty,

and the King of Rui had nothing to do with it.

Zhaoyi Nie might not have told the King of Rui.

Xia Lan spoke out of turn.

I’m starving,

Mama,

today we rarely see this many people

coming by to watch me eat a meal!

Serve it.

Here.

Give Imperial Physician Du some of that dish!

Deshun,

Here!

Give Imperial Physician Du some of that.

Yes.

Mama.

I, Du Ruo,have very poor cooking skills.

Even more so, I don’t understand the feminine arts,

and the Imperial Medical Bureau has something happening,

I’ll go back now.

Imperial Physician Du!

King of Rui!

I’ve never got in the way

of other people’s business.

Empress Dowager has decreed,

No person may be allowed to depart the Jade Pavilion,

someone has preserved that witch concubine’s possessions!

Search!

How bold of you!

The Late Emperor earlier gave a command

that he wished all traces of the beautiful women’s belongings

without exception to be burned!

Someone went so far as to hide in the Jade Pavilion

a secret stash of her belongings.

Empress Dowager, please see this clearly.

These are not relics.

These are the King of Rui’s clothes.

Meiren Ji made these for the King of Rui,

of these clothes,

there are twenty-five sets.

How preposterous!

You think I’m not aware

they were produced by the hand of that beautiful woman,

those inappropriate things?

This is simply a disgrace to my Great Lan state!

Attendants!

I want them burned!

Empress Dowager, be merciful!

These clothes are from the King of Rui’s natural mother,

he’s only missing her.

Is one required to do their filial duty,

yet made powerless to do so?

Requesting Empress Dowager to grant a favor

to allow these clothing sets to be returned to the Jade Pavilion.

These are what Meiren Ji set aside for the King of Rui,

the only things left.

Please Empress Dowager, grant this request,

this old servant would not dare

go against your order!

Leaving them at Jade Pavilion may be possible,

but not necessarily the same as it was all these years before.

Burn them to ashes!

Burn them!

Yes.

You mustn’t burn them!

No, don’t!

Mama!

No!

I am now finished

carrying out the Late Emperor’s decree!

You’re a prince,

your crime is of the highest level.

Your natural mother is missing,

her corpse is unknown as to its whereabouts.

I have no need to investigate it,

you and this despicable maid servant are the criminals.

Burning this monstrosities

are to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent large-scale repetition.

And now, that trunk,

burn it!

Yes

They’re rebelling, rebelling!

Empress Dowager!

Meiren Ji went so far as to provide the King of Rui

with that sort of clothing!

Xiao Fengqing unexpectedly has a dragon robe! (emperor’s robe)

That evil doer made it for you

twenty-five years ago,

this was the final surprise!

Actively plotting and

indeed carried away by one's wishful thinking!

Absolutely not!

Those really aren’t his clothing!

Meiren Ji provided for the King of Rui

one entire final set of clothing,

that’s an old combat robe!

You’re quibbling?

Xiao Fengqing, you’ve planned to rebel and your crime is undeniable!

Luckily, your Third Elder Brother thinks highly of you.

You have the ambition of a wild wolf,

in repayment of kindness!

Mama should not be afraid.

This is the Empress Dowager’s trap

I’ll handle this matter with a clear conscience.

I’m not afraid of villains.

The evidence is right in front of you, do you refuse to admit it?

Attendants!

Ask His Majesty to sort out the right and wrong in this quarrel!

Zhaoyi Nie.

His Majesty is still reading memorials.

Today I’m afraid is out of the question,

he cannot meet with you, Zhaoyi.

Come back tomorrow.

Eunuch Lin,

my plea is about a very important matter.

Forgive me for being blunt,

the Zhaoyi’s important matter

is among how many among the palace people,

all fear it being too late,

you can’t expect His Majesty to take them all up.

It may even be detrimental to the King of Rui.

Your Majesty, Zhaoyi Nie has already walked away.

Tonight, who else has come over

besides Zhaoyi Nie?

Imperial Physician Du also came over.

Get out.

Today, you don’t need to inform me of anyone coming by!

Your Majesty

Imperial Physician Du was here on behalf of Mama Ling

to plead for leniency,

saying she is advanced in years

and that the patient’s illness may turn for the worse

if she is confined in a prison cell.

She will indeed be unable to endure.

Lin Mian,

do you really think the King of Rui was actively

seeking to replace me or being used by others to do so?

I have cared for Your Majesty many years now.

King of Rui has handled some small matters for Your Majesty,

you have clearly treated him with respect and love, and he

looks upon you as his respected elder brother.

No matter what he does or what he’s fond of,

all calls to mind Your Majesty

He’s experienced his ups and downs

with Your Majesty as before and still

has matchless devotion.

King of Rui toward me has complete devotion,

I should never let doubts cross my mind.

Only Imperial Mother treats Fifth Younger Brother

as capable of a crime.

Now, in what way does

Mama Ling get coerced into taking full responsibility?

Look here,

these clothes are of inferior workmanship.

The material of the clothing isn’t new,

but one look says this was a rushed job.

Your Majesty is wise.

Imperial Mother, in this way,

desires to make Meiren Ji disappear

and draw out implications.

Pass on my verbal decree,

I require Mama Ling be assigned to come out

to move back into the Jade Pavilion from the jail.

Yes.

Third Elder Brother,

when people die, do they become ghosts?

Old Mama always tells me that

inside the palace treasury there are a lot of ghosts.

Imperial Father killed a lot of people after finishing it.

Each one of the stars in the heavenly sky is a person.

Your mother is a fairy.

It’s not likely she’d become a ghost or demon.

Your mother

is really gazing down from the sky at you.

If you miss your mother in the future,

play this flute here.

Fifth Younger Brother,

the world is full of precious things,

we brothers

can face all things together calmly.

But only Wushuang

can truly provide me

a way to draw out my difficult problems.

I think

you merely are hot-blooded

and to release it need a wife by your side.

Unexpectedly,

I find it difficult to let her go.

It seems like one night

I may truly show full special favor to her. (take her to his bed)

Perhaps this day’s worries

will then be easily solved.

This morning Your Majesty has come to

provide me with a special tea.

This is on account of

Imperial Mother’s mood today

being particularly good.

Naturally Yunle cannot marry herself off

to Miao Minghu.

My frame of mind isn't that good.

So Imperial Mother handled Meiren Ji

and set aside Fengqing’s only relics

by burning them to ashes,

because your heart was filled with hate?

Your Majesty,

finally you agree to confront this difficult situation.

Ji Rousang harbored evil intentions.

Before dying, she made the King of Rui

twenty-five sets of clothes.

This last set

for this year

unexpectedly was a dragon robe (for an emperor).

I could not help being furious!

Then Imperial Mother thinks

I should handle this how?

Ji Rousang, the dead cannot testify.

Mama Ling demands to take responsibility

and be executed as a convicted criminal.

As for the King of Rui,

and his traitorous, wild ambitions...

right away,

he should be sent away by sentence to Xi Prefecture,

to dig a reservoir.

So you’re saying first of all,

he has to leave the capital city for about eight or ten years?

Right.

Immediately, as I am feeling kindly,

and am rightly treating King of Rui with extreme consideration.

Why, Imperial Mother,

did you make it appear this way for Fifth Younger Brother?

How did that fake dragon robe arrive and be produced

and get used to frame him for the crime of seizing the throne?

The manager of the clothing bureau whose hand was in this affair,

last night

they suddenly suffered a rapid illness and died.

Their dead body was already carried away by palace people to incinerate it,

simply to silence a person and extinguish a slander

But I am still in charge of this residence,

and I found this piece of cloth

used to decorate the dragon robes.

Your Majesty is denouncing

the one who protects you, your Imperial Mother?

I was thinking of a way to protect you from someone who would

replace you and lay a foundation for the next power of the state!

I am the power of the state,

I and my Fifth Younger Brother together are the ones protecting it!

I in no way will allow him to be trapped by injustice,

I am also unwilling for Fifth Younger Brother to be turned into

an object held between Imperial Mother’s fingers!

Your Majesty should hear me,

the King of Rui has far more than this one basis for assassination.

The Late Emperor, for Your Majesty’s benefit,

provided you with a great treasury,

I cannot ask about

Ji Rousang’s body being missing.

King of Rui transcends normal people with amazing skill.

I should not ask.

My own daughter, Princess Yunle,

got off the hook,

and I’m not supposed to ask.

I would like to ask Your Majesty

if I am in control of anything.

Your Majesty’s self-esteem

is the only thing I can rely upon,

so

obviously you regard me as being nothing!

I, your son, wouldn’t dare.

Fifth Younger Brother is a member of our dynastic family.

and I am prepared to defend him.

Right, Imperial Mother?

I will entrust those with talents,

I indeed want to unite the north and south for

peace for all the people of our nation!

If we are killing each other,

how can I comfort all the people

I ask leave to go.

Your Highnesses,

these are

for the Princess’ wedding day, they are “double happiness cakes”.

What a thing to eat,

not knowing if it will bring you bad luck?

Elder Sister surely is making a joke.

Perhaps these are blessed by vital energy

and can make you an Imperial Consort as I am,

or a female unicorn?

You have not heard the day of the wedding

that the Princess’ consort had to ride away from the room?

They live their lives in this fashion,

it’ll be a wonder if there is anyone to carry on the ancestral line!

So true!

Elder Sister Imperial Concubine Yun and Concubine Yu

have not agreed to join the wedding party.

Jiao Tong.

Here.

Take these wedding cakes away,

give them to Concubine Yu as a gift.

Yes.

In the middle of this palace, this is a rare happy occasion,

everyone throughout should receive the benefit of it.

Right, Imperial Concubine Yun!

Her Highness Concubine Du indeed conducts herself with great integrity.

I thought about it ahead of time for my palace.

Even better still, I commanded Yu Xiao to send

specially made larded flaky pastry cakes!

Oh my, I nearly forgot...

when you’re pregnant,

you can’t have anything around with that fishy lard smell!

Imperial Concubine Yun’s appetite

is so much better.

To think a few months ago

how that greasy fat smell

entirely had to be avoided!

His Majesty and the Empress repeatedly implored

Imperial Physician Du to use extreme caution.

To me, today this meal is

light and tasteless,

so I may eat as a glutton.

In a moment, Imperial Physician Du will come over to take care of it.

and provide a meal.

I take my leave.

Elder Sister, take care.

Because she’s carrying the dragon’s seed,

just look at her all proud of herself!

Concubine Du.

If I were you,

I’d be less likely to judge her.

Crawling by herself to a place at the top...

Chuyun,

bring me some plum candy.

Your Highness,

they can’t hear you.

Your Highness, do you have instructions?

May as well let the servants do it for you.

Why are you here?

Imperial Concubine Yun is pregnant,

but Your Highness’ digestion and energy are lacking,

always vomiting.

They tell me twin sisters are linked

are you really faking it?

It’s just the hot weather.

My body is somewhat out of sorts.

Your servant knows the ways of pregnancy.

Allow this servant to feel Your Highness’s belly.

Now that I know why Your Highness is not feeling well,

I can’t allow you to talk!