Original subtitles

1

Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.

2

Watching the person in the mirror's countenance pale and grow haggard,

3

Examining love together with regret, both new and old.

4

Keeping watch still by a lantern though it is daybreak, drenched with tears,

5

Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.

6

Story of Yanxi Palace

Episode 16

7

I've heard that Consort Chun is very knowledgeable and well-versed in medicines.

8

Today, I have really learned a lot.

9

Your Highness Noble Consort, thank you for your praises. I'm ashamed and dare not accept such honor.

10

Let's go.

11

Medical Inspector Zhang, can jujube and crystal sugar be added to the Prince's clear porridge?

12

May Your Highness not panic. I shall try to find a way.

13

I will trouble you then.

14

Zhen'er, go with Medical Inspector Zhang to get the prescription.

15

Yes.

16

It seems you are in no mindset

17

to accompany me for leisure of tea and painting.

18

Thank you for helping me get out of the fix. I don't know how to thank you.

19

When the Fourth Prince has recovered, I will invite you.

20

I am content knowing you feel this way.

21

However, your kindness almost fed a wolf.

22

And you're still not angry at all?

23

As long as Fourth Prince recovers, I seek nothing more.

24

Second Attendant Jin, this is your dinner.

25

It's so far away and I can already smell it's rancid.

26

This is for human consumption?

27

Look here, Second Attendant Jin, you've entered the Beisansuo.

28

Someone delivers food to you.

29

That's a huge blessing here, so just be content.

30

No matter how I have fallen from grace,

31

I am still the birth mother of the Fourth Prince.

32

But you treat me this way? Tell your supervisor to come.

33

If it weren't for Fourth Prince's account,

34

you'd have to go and fetch the cold food yourself. Suit yourself if you don't want to eat.

35

Come back. Come back to me!

36

Did you come enjoy my plight?

37

Why do you torment yourself.

38

Torment myself?

39

What right do you have to say that to me?

40

It was you who snatched away my son.

41

From the start, it was you yourself who did wrong.

42

Having a birth mother like you, the Fourth Prince can easily be implicated.

43

His Majesty loves his children, thus allowing him to go to Chengqian Palace.

44

If you sincerely want what's best for him, don't cause more trouble.

45

Do you think I wanted to?

46

What Empress?

47

What Noble Lady Yu? What huge grievance do they hold against me?

48

Useless.

49

I am just punished in someone else's stead.

50

You willingly aligned with Noble Consort Gao.

51

And you plotted the scheme and you willingly heralded.

52

Who can you blame now?

53

Noble Consort?

54

When I first entered the old Prince Bao Manor,

55

she was only a concubine.

56

She was even lower than I was.

57

But so quickly, all because her father gained power in the court,

58

the late Emperor promoted her as second wife.

59

Later, after His Majesty's ascension,

60

overnight she became the Noble Consort.

61

Her whole family carrying the yellow banner, overriding crowds of people.

62

But what about me?

63

No love, no favor.

64

No one to depend on.

65

Barely bearing the Fourth Prince.

66

And only promoted to Imperial Concubine.

67

Tell me, if I don't attach myself to her,

68

how can I preserve myself whole?

69

How can I preserve my son?

70

Precisely because I acted as her herald,

71

that my father and my brothers all received a tie.

72

You can lay such a vicious hand on Yongcheng, and you are undeserving to be a mother.

73

I have to survive first so I can take care of my son!

74

You all don't understand!

75

His Majesty doesn't understand either.

76

He only blames me for being foolish, being vicious.

77

But for Yongcheng,

78

for my son,

79

I can be Noble Consort Gao's dog.

80

Whoever she tells me to go and bite, I will go and bite.

81

Even if my bones shattered into pieces, I have no regret.

82

Who would love my son more than me in this world?

83

Who else?

84

It's all you!

85

You all snatched away my son.

86

You snatched away my hope.

87

I didn't come today to hear you speak of these things.

88

I only want to ask clearly, Prince Yi confiding the secret to His Majesty.

89

Was that Noble Consort Gao's idea?

90

I am asking you a question. Why won't you answer?

91

Since this is my plight already, there's nothing I can't say.

92

It's true. It was Noble Consort Gao who instructed Prince Yi.

93

To tell him to go and report the secret to His Majesty.

94

So my family's demise is linked to Noble Consort Gao?

95

Wrong.

96

All wrong.

97

Hoifa Nara clan's demise...

98

It's all your fault, Consort Xian.

99

It was you who put on pretense of being lofty, rejecting Noble Consort Gao's advance.

100

It was you marking your steps by the rule.

101

You wouldn't beg favor for your brother.

102

It was your act of cruelty that led your mother to be knocked to death at Gate of Divine Might!

103

- You are in the Forbidden City.

- It's all your own fault!

104

Your plight is worse than a dog.

105

Who do you not owe?

106

Hoifa Nara clan falls to its demise.

107

It's all your fault. All my life!

108

The biggest regret...

109

Is to birth an incompetent daughter like you!

110

Even today. If it weren't for Consort Chun rescuing you,

111

could you have passed the disaster so easily?

112

The incompetent will be trampled over.

113

This is your reason for failure.

114

Ack.

115

I saw the nanny feed the meat porridge to the child that day.

116

I already had suspicion.

117

So I invited Consort Chun for tea.

118

Because Consort Chun is versed in medicines.

119

Her debunking the incident is better than my doing it. Do you comprehend?

120

What did I do wrong exactly?

121

What apology do I owe you all?

122

Why do you all force me.

123

Changshou, my mother's death,

124

I am responsible for all.

125

But others can't escape either.

126

Those who bullied me. Those who owe me.

127

I will harvest it back, one by one and all.

128

Your Highness! Your Highness!

129

Your Highness, where did you go?

130

I was looking for you everywhere but found no trace of you.

131

Are you alright?

132

I'm fine. I was just feeling stuffy, so I strolled around alone.

133

Your Highness, look how your clothing is all wet.

134

I will help you change.

135

Your Highness!

136

Your Highness, what's wrong?

137

What time is it?

138

It's only midnight. Please sleep more.

139

I will be on guard here.

140

No. Did you hear that crying?

141

I didn't.

142

Let me go see the Fourth Prince.

143

Your Highness! Your shoes! Your shoes, Your Highness!

144

What's wrong?

145

What's wrong? You're fine.

146

Come.

147

Where did all the Fourth Prince's momos go? Where?

148

I will go find them now.

149

No need. I'll deal with that later.

150

Get me a bowl of water and some clean clothes.

151

Your Highness, put on your shoes first.

152

Hurry and go.

153

Yes.

154

Come.

155

From now on, I am your mother.

156

Are you full?

157

Your Highness, something happened at Beisansuo.

158

Are you full, Yongcheng? Go get the ring puzzle.

159

Mother will play with you.

160

Consort Xian, that woman in Beisansuo hung herself to death.

161

How pitiful.

162

Send some memorial gifts from me.

163

Your Highness, she got what she deserved.

164

You don't need to pay any attention to her.

165

On the Fourth Prince's account,

166

I must put in some consideration.

167

Want to eat more? More?

168

More?

169

[ Patience ]

170

I told you to write "forgiveness".

171

But you wrote a hundred pages of "patience".

172

Why?

173

Forgiveness and patience,

174

aren't they the same?

175

Forgiveness is understanding.

176

Patience is hibernating.

177

Do you think I don't know what you are thinking?

178

You don't even think you were at fault at all.

179

In your opinion,

180

all your waiting is to save up energy.

181

When the time is ripe, you will give your enemy the final blow.

182

Yingluo. I taught you so much.

183

Why can't you understand?

184

I am a hard stone.

185

I worried you.

186

You are!

187

Empress. Second Attendant Jin of Beisansuo's funeral.

188

It's already finished.

189

Pitiful Fourth Prince.

190

So young and he already lost his birth mother.

191

If you are fond of the Fourth Prince,

192

why not bring him to Changchun Palace to raise him?

193

I manage the six palaces and the affairs keep me busy.

194

Consort Xian is graceful, well-natured and upright.

195

She is most suitable for raising the Fourth Prince.

196

Furthermore, she just lost her family.

197

The Fourth Prince's existence is a consolation to her.

198

Your Highness. Forgive me for being wordy.

199

Changchun Palace is too quiet.

200

It's time to add a little prince.

201

Your Highness. You are the Empress, the central palace. (T/N the official, legitimate wife)

202

You need to bear a legitimate son for His Majesty,

203

so the tradition of Great Qing can be carried on.

204

Erqing, why would you say that?

205

I know.

206

You are magnanimous and the mother of the world.

207

You regard the other consorts' children as your own.

208

But Noble Consort Gao is always watching with tiger eyes.

209

- Chuxiu Palace...

- Stop saying it.

210

If she beats you by a step and bears a royal son,

211

your position will be shaken.

212

I will not permit you to say any more!

213

Your Highness.

214

- Sister Erqing.

- Your Highness.

215

Why are you rushing suddenly?

216

In this palace,

217

a child affects the future of an Imperial consort.

218

Even if His Majesty adores Her Highness and values her,

219

having no child of her own,

220

her position will just get more treacherous.

221

Every time I bring this up to her,

222

she always gets upset and I don't know what to do.

223

Maybe Her Highness has her own hidden feelings.

224

His Majesty cherishes her so much.

225

What hidden feelings?

226

Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.

227

Your Highness, what's wrong?

228

Yingluo. I am...

229

Your Highness, hold on. I will fetch someone right away.

230

Don't go.

231

Don't alarm others.

232

Put another blanket on me. Hurry.

233

Yes.

234

- Is that better?

- Sure.

235

What's going on?

236

Why is it that you're ill but you won't tell others?

237

Who said I am ill? I'm not ill.

238

Your Highness!

- Go now.

239

Yes.

240

Respectfully greeting Your Highness the Empress.

241

No need to be so formal.

242

I invited you here today to ask you a favor.

243

Mingyu, Erqing, we don't need any attendants here.

244

You may leave us.

245

Yes.

246

What do you suppose the Empress wants to tell Consort Chun

247

that she even sent us away?

248

Her Highness' business. Let's not ask much about it.

249

I just don't believe you're not curious!

250

The Empress has never hidden anything from us.

251

This time, it must be something big!

252

Since she won't let us in there,

253

we guard the door here. Got it?

254

Guard the door.

255

I entrust everything to you.

256

Be assured, Your Highness. I will go and prepare.

257

I will return soon.

258

Erqing, come in with me.

259

This way, Your Highness.

260

What's happening?

261

Really?

262

Those two women are so strange.

263

Consort Chun has been ill for years and doesn't serve in bed.

264

The Empress treats her like a real sister.

265

Those two are supposed to be love rivals.

266

How is there no grievance?

267

It's true. Consort Chun serving the Empress,

268

she serves her more diligently than she does His Majesty.

269

Though the Empress is magnanimous,

270

she's never as gentle to anyone else as she is with Consort Chun.

271

Those two must be up to something.

272

What's strange about two women. It's not like...

273

Right. In this world,

274

what's impossible?

275

When I put it that way,

276

everything that's not right can be comprehended.

277

Your Highness, you mean?

278

Now this, they delivered it to me themselves.

279

If I don't use it,

280

I'd be disappointing them.

281

Zhilan, spread a rumor for me.

282

Your Highness, do you mean it?

283

If you want to accumulate good reputation,

284

you'll need to commit yourself to good deeds forever.

285

If there's anything tint of filth,

286

then the big crumble.

287

It's nearby you.

288

Remember this.

289

Don't worry how absurd this is.

290

Just as long as someone believes it,

291

then it's true.

292

I think there's something unusual between the two.

293

Can't be. Impossible.

294

Did you hear? Changchun Palace mistress

295

and Consort Chun.

296

Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.

297

What are you looking at? So suspicious.

298

Look.

299

What's there to see?

300

Yingluo, don't you find it very strange?

301

Strange, how?

302

I mean, Consort Chun and the Empress.

303

Consort Chun stays at the Empress' sleeping chamber daily

304

for four hours.

305

Maybe the Empress and Consort Chun have matters to discuss.

306

It's seven or eight days already. What's there to discuss that's not ended yet?

307

This is the business of the mistresses.

308

What's it to you?

309

I already spelled it out to you but you still don't understand.

310

You are talking in circles. What exactly do you want to say?

311

Where did you hear such a rumor?

312

Careful, if Mistress finds out, she will rip your mouth!

313

It's already all over the six palaces.

314

Everyone says that.

315

Clearly someone is trying to damage our mistress' reputation.

316

How come you're adding to it?

317

Alright. I won't say anymore. Won't that do now?

318

Erqing?

319

How are you still not asleep?

320

These are the Mistress' inner clothes?

321

She just had a nightmare and had a round of cold sweat.

322

So she took it off.

323

It's so late. Why don't you wait until tomorrow to wash it?

324

I just went ahead to wash it.

325

You're on duty tomorrow morning so you should go rest.

326

Alright. Then after you wash the clothes,

327

you should rest soon too.

328

Your Majesty.

329

- Did you really find "Sunny After Snow"?

- Yes.

330

I heard you have in your possession Wang Xianzhi's "Mid-Autumn Post".

331

Wang Xun's "Letter to Boyuan".

332

You only lack Wang Xizhi's "Sunny After Snow".

333

So I especially asked my brother's favor

334

to search everywhere in Suzhou. Finally he found it.

335

Your Majesty, would you like to go see it?

336

"Sunny After Snow" by Great Calligrapher, Wang Xizhi.

337

His strokes are gentle like flowing water.

338

Compared to "Mid-Autumn Post" and "Letter to Boyuan",

339

it is clearly a step even above.

340

Indeed he's Wang Xizhi.

341

Just that, these four characters, "shan-yin-zhang-huo". Compared to the strokes of the main text,

342

they seem different in style.

343

Your Majesty has such good discernment.

344

This calligraphy post was in the hands of a collector in Suzhou.

345

I imagine he added that line himself.

346

Regrettable. It ruins the beauty of this post.

347

How regrettable indeed.

348

♫ Powder the juniper with rouge

349

Who's singing opera?

350

Your Majesty. They are showing a new opera on stage.

351

This is close to Chuxiu Palace.

352

- It startled you. I will go now to tell . . .

- No need.

353

♫ Sniffing the plum blossoms

354

♫ by mistake..

355

Your Majesty. Your Majesty!

356

♫ by mistake..

357

Exhibition Stage

358

♫ In this life you and I are knotted as sisters.

359

♫ In the next life, we are knotted as brothers. Will we?

360

♫ No. I am already married to Lord Fan.

361

♫ If you marry Lord Fan too,

362

♫ we are just sisters.

363

♫ We won't have ranks.

364

♫ Singing together, never apart.

365

♫ Closer than husband and wife.

366

Greetings to Your Majesty.

367

What are you singing?

368

Your Majesty, they are just singing Li Yu's "Fragrant Companion".

369

It's about two beauties that love each other and married the same man to be with each other.

370

Your Majesty is not aware of it, but woman to woman love

371

is entertainment to third-rate literati.

372

Why are they singing that opera in the palace!

373

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

374

What's wrong with His Majesty?

375

He just heard the two singers play out "Fragrant Companion".

376

And I hear the story is about Consort Chun and the Empress.

377

What? Really?

378

That's why His Majesty was like that.

379

Your Majesty. How dare you audacious servant!

380

I deserve death. I deserve death. May Your Majesty forgive me!

381

What are you doing?

382

Your Majesty, it's all my fault. All my fault.

383

All my fault. Your Majesty.

384

I'm asking you. Why are you in such a panic?

385

Your Majesty, it was the Empress that instructed me

386

to get a new bowl of water.

387

Your Majesty. Your Majesty!

388

Greetings to Your Majesty.

389

What are you looking at?

390

Just making a painting. Then why did you have to shut the doors?

391

Rise and speak.

392

Your Majesty. Actually,

393

I was secretly planning your birthday with the Empress.

394

Birthday?

395

In two months, it's your birthday.

396

I had thought to throw you a surprise event.

397

So I secretly invited Consort Chun to discuss it.

398

We didn't know what to give you.

399

But at last, Consort Chun suggested that I paint a scenery for you.

400

But today, I kept trying many pages.

401

It still it lacks some beauty.

402

Yes. I accidentally

403

even splattered ink all over the Empress.

404

I see then.

405

Empress, you're being too secretive.

406

It actually doesn't matter what you gift me.

407

I will be happy with anything.

408

Your Majesty. Your clothing is all wet.

409

It's thanks to the gifting by your favorite palace maid again.

410

Yingluo. Why are you clumsy?

411

Hurry and beg forgiveness from His Majesty.

412

Yes.

413

I deserve death.

414

May Your Majesty forgive me.

415

Your Majesty. She's just rushing, that caused her trouble-making.

416

If you have the leisure to be angry, why not go and change?

417

Your Majesty.

418

Who said you could come in?

419

Your Majesty. It was the Empress that told me

420

to make amends for my mistake with a merit.

421

No need. Go out and kneel.

422

Yes.

423

Your Majesty. Why are you so upset today?

424

Empress, do you know someone's spreading rumors in the palace?

425

Rumors? About what?

426

They are saying the Empress and Consort Chun,

427

have a relationship that is too close and that's unfitting.

428

Your Majesty. Such rumors.

429

Can't be that even you believe it?

430

When I think about it, it is indeed absurd.

431

I believed it too easily.

432

Don't worry, Your Majesty.

433

I will investigate who was the one to spread it

434

and govern the rules of the harem properly.

435

But Empress, you need to manage your close attendants too.

436

Your Majesty, I think Yingluo

437

was just careless for the moment.

438

That girl is usually very careful.

439

And very detailed in her chores.

440

Don't you see anything?

441

See what?

442

She clearly ran into my embrace on purpose earlier.

443

It means what I said before was true. That palace maid is relying on her little bit of beauty,

444

to lure the dragon for her own advancement.

445

Lure the dragon for advancement?

446

Your Majesty, from what I understand about her,

447

she isn't someone who would.

448

I saw it clearly.

449

And I am wrong? If I have not guessed wrong,

450

she is trying to lure me for sure.

451

It could be she's in love with me. Or she wants vanity.

452

Whatever the reason, she is clearly a fox.

453

Coming to seduce the ruler!

454

Look at her gaze. Her smile. She clearly...

455

You clearly hold bias against her.

456

Because you misunderstand her, every action and word of hers,

457

you take it wrong.

458

Forget it. I will not argue this with you.

459

But one day, you will come to know what I said is true.

460

That Wei Yingluo wants to behold wealth.

461

She is calculating.

462

You must manage her well.

463

I understand.

464

I send Your Majesty off with honor.

465

Shameless.

466

Shameless.

467

Yingluo. You didn't know what Consort Chun and I doing.

468

Why did you rush back to warn us?

469

Get up and talk.

470

Yes.

471

I didn't know what happened indeed.

472

But since your doors are shut,

473

it means you didn't want others to know your private matter.

474

So I wagered my life to rush back to alert you.

475

You knew nothing.

476

But you just guarded me?

477

Empress, you taught me to read and write.

478

To conduct myself as a person. You are a rare good person.

479

Since you don't want to speak of it, you have your reason.

480

My duty is to secure your secret.

481

It's not to snoop.

482

Show it to her.

483

Yes.

484

This is?

485

After I bore the Second Prince, an air of chill spread in me (T/N TCM symptom of an imbalance)

486

until after this winter, it got more severe.

487

Every night, the pain pierces into my bones and I am unable to fall asleep.

488

My whole body sweats itself cold.

489

Half an hour, and I need to change already.

490

So the Empress invited me to come and treat her.

491

- This matter isn't good for others to know, but I didn't imagine--

- ...didn't imagine the palace was...

492

spreading such rumors.

493

- It's absolutely absurd.

- If His Majesty had burst in here to discover our secret,

494

the consequence can't be imagined.

495

The women of the harem are valued by their heirs.

496

Think about it.

497

A woman who is weak to her bones. How can she bear children?

498

How is she capable to take up the ranking of Empress?

499

So I am not inclined to trouble the royal physician's court.

500

I can only plead for Consort Chun's help.

501

Yingluo, from now on,

502

you and Erqing help me and guard Changchun Palace.

503

Yes.

504

Subtitles brought to you by The Gentle Empress Team @ Viki.

505

♫The Forbidden Palace's walls surround them, feeling like a good place to reside.♫

506

♫As the walls sever the setting sun's rays, they lose their past dreams as it grows cold.♫

507

♫Decaying leaves cover the neglected shuttered window, that remembers the cold winds of twenty harvests.♫

508

♫ Knowing only how to go with the flow and pass the years.♫

509

♫Unmarried and hopeful, the heavy, dark gates are locked, ♫

510

♫Cultivated and proud, gem-like beauties, and yet somehow♫

511

♫Flowers who stay may endure breakage, causing them ask to change their karma♫

512

♫Can not an empty branch give them a carefree place to rest upon?♫

513

♫Longing to be together with him, separated as the illumination in the western window declines,♫

514

♫At leisure to be melancholy, also perplexed and worried about it all.♫

515

♫Who will pity her, and record her lifetime full of misery?♫

516

♫A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.♫

517

♫Longing to be together with him, separated as the illumination in the western window declines,♫

518

♫At leisure to be melancholy, also perplexed and worried about it all.♫

519

♫Who will pity her, and record her lifetime full of misery?♫

520

♫A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.♫

521

♫A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.♫