Original subtitles

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

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

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Examining love together with regret, both new and old.

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

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Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.

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Story of Yanxi Palace

Episode 33

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Wei Yingluo, what did you call me earlier?

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What porridge is this? How come it feels a bit like—

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Don't change the subject.

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Say it. What did you call me?

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You risked your life to cover up for me.

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I willingly called you "Brother" earlier.

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From now on, I'm your "Little Sister Yin".

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We will share the blessings and the hardships.

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That's all?

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Wei Yingluo, when people become sworn brothers, they have to bow to the heavens and earth!

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You mustn't brush me off this easily.

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Brother, couples getting married are the ones bowing to the heavens and earth.

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For sworn brothers, it's called burning incense and bowing.

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Yes... Anyway, this is a very sacred thing.

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I want your ba zi. (T/N birthdate - eight descriptors of day, date and time to determine fate)

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We still must to get tablets for the heavens and earth. Okay?

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We've already fallen into this state.

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Make it simpler...

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No, we mustn't!

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You're the only little sister I have in this life.

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How could it be done so simply?

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Let's exchange age cards later.

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Brother, that's not called an "age card".

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It's called a "sworn brotherhood notice".

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Fine...who cares.

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Anyway, later, let's write whatever it is.

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You eat first. After eating, you must write an age card.

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Wei Yingluo.

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What's that for?

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Promise me that you'll write an age card after you eat.

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Fine... Age card, age card then.

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Miss Mingyu!

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Miss Mingyu!

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Imperial Guard Fuca?

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Imperial Guard Fuca, you need anything from me?

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Miss Mingyu, is it convenient for you to come out so we can talk?

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You're not afraid that I'll pester you?

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You're not that kind of person.

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That's right. I'm able to put down what I have picked up!

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Miss MIngyu, can you come out to talk?

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Imperial Guard Fuca!

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What did he tell you?

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- A secret!

- Hey!

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I heard that when Noble Consort Gao died,

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her two sisters also followed her.

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Lower your voice.

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But now that Noble Consort Gao is gone,

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the Empress will be dying soon too.

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What nonsense are you talking about! What nonsense is this!

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Let go!

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Her Highness the Empress is currently recuperating.

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What you said is very disrespectful.

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I didn't speak any nonsense.

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All the people in Changchun Palace are saying that the Empress' high fever is not abating.

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Her illness has grown worse.

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Let go. You're sick!

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You always..

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fall sleep before midnight.

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How come it's you?

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Her Highness the Empress, she...

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Young Master, you devised this trick to fool me.

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Her Highness the Empress is completely fine. Am I right?

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After seeing me, you already knew that it was a setup.

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It means that you're not that dumb.

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Do you know how hard it is for me to come here to Changchun Palace?

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You still tricked me like this?

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You were once a high-ranking palace maid by the side of the Empress.

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Visiting your old mistress is not forgetting your origin.

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You totally can come here in an open and upright manner.

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Why do it in a sneaky manner like climbing through the window?

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I...

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Since you've been caught by me,

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stop being sneaky.

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Come here in an open and upright manner.

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I'm not coming anymore.

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What do you want?

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Whenever Mingyu is on duty,

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there won't be anyone here during zi hour interval. (T/N 11 pm to 1 am)

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You can come to see the Empress again.

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Remember, only during zi time.

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Okay already. Climb out now.

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Fuheng!

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It wasn't easy for me to come here and visit Her Highness the Empress.

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I should at least see her before leaving, right?

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Yingluo.

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Don't forget the words I said.

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Or else, I'll remind you every time I see you.

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If you want to stay here in the Workhouse, I'll wait for you.

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I'll wait until you're able to let go of your grudges and put down your burdens.

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No matter how long,

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even if I have to spend my whole life, I will wait for that day.

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Imperial Guard Fuca.

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Miss Mingyu, thank you.

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You don't need to thank me.

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But...regarding the Noble Consort, was it really her doing?

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Okay. Okay. I won't ask anymore.

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For her to visit the Empress, it means she still has a conscience.

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From now on, I will secretly let her in when I'm on duty. You don't need to worry.

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Imperial Noble Consort Gao provided merit, prestige, and auspiciousness when she was alive.

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She assisted in managing the Imperial harem.

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Well-versed in painting and history. Was kind, benevolent, and been part of the Imperial harem at a young age.

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She was a good assistance in cleaning the harem, and was sincerely filial.

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Has a majestic prestige, well-trained in being stately and poised.

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She is regarded with esteem, regarded as an auspicious object.

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She didn't let her title be in vain.

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The Imperial harem has lost a model.

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Hence, I'm now conferring her the posthumous title, "Imperial Noble Consort Huixian".

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Just like that. Spread the decree.

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Yes.

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Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department are in conflict with some funeral matters.

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They want to ask Your Majesty to decide.

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The Empress is gravely ill

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and unable to manage such affairs.

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You just decide on it.

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In my opinion, let's follow the funeral rites of the deceased Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu.

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Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and I shouldn't disturb you anymore.

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I will take my leave now.

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Consort Xian!

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How is the health condition of Consort Xian?

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Your Majesty, don't be anxious. I still have some questions to ask.

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Zhen'er, did Her Highness still have other symptoms today?

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Her Highness will frequently have fever and cough at night, produce sputum in the morning.

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Whenever she coughs, she'll describe an unbearable pain in her chest.

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Zhen'er don't make up things.

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Your Highness, you're already this ill.

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You just wouldn't invite any Imperial physician to check you and just endured it.

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What if you really get sick, what would we do then?

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Your Majesty, don't listen to Zhen'er. I indeed was coughing a few days ago.

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I'm already better today.

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Your Highness, you're so wrong.

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Having chest pain when coughing is because the coughing is dragging one's chest, hence, the pain.

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You mustn't belittle it.

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Zhen'er, be honest. How is Consort Xian's health lately?

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Your Majesty, the wound of Her Highness has repeatedly ulcerated and swelled. I couldn't bear to look at it anymore.

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But just to handle the funeral of Noble Consort,

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she still stubbornly went to Chuxiu Palace to handle the affairs despite being sick.

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I've urged her so many times, but Her Highness wouldn't listen.

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Zhen'er, stop saying it.

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You all go out first.

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Yes.

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Consort Xian, you're gravely ill.

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Why didn't you tell me?

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It's all Zhen'er's fault for exaggerating things.

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I'm really fine.

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The wound is already ulcerating and you still say you're fine?

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No. Put down all the things you're handling right now.

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I will entrust the funeral of Noble Consort Gao

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to a funeral officer.

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Your Majesty.

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Listen to me. Just go back and recuperate in peace.

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I was entrusted by Empress Dowager to temporarily handle the affairs in the palace.

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How could I just put down everything just because of a measly illness?

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The Empress is gravely ill and Noble Consort Gao left so suddenly.

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The hearts of people are currently stirring and gossips are spreading.

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Even if I'm ill, I must endure it until the next few days.

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It will be fine after the funeral of Noble Consort Gao.

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I promise you that after this matter, I will focus on recuperating.

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Why are you this stubborn?

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What are you doing? Quickly get up.

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Please allow my request.

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Let me finish my task so I can be at ease.

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I promise you that after the funeral of the Noble Consort,

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I will not meddle with any affairs anymore, go back to Chengqian Palace, and recuperate in peace.

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Your Majesty, Consort Xian is gentle and kind.

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Has a lofty moral character.

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Since she started handling the palace affairs, everyone has been praising her.

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It's really a rare feat.

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When Noble Consort Gao was still alive,

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she would always make things hard for her.

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Sometimes, even I couldn't take it.

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But she? She totally didn't mind it.

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While dragging her sickly body, she kept going around and busying herself

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for the funeral of Noble Consort.

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If the soul of Noble Consort Gao can hear us,

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she must feel so ashamed right now.

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What you said is so right.

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I also respect and admire Consort Xian a lot.

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Consort Xian has attended to you since you were a prince.

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Although she currently still has no children,

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she's a very considerate person.

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While handling the funeral matters, she still didn't forget

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to come here to Shoukang Palace to greet and take care of me.

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If the other Imperial consorts here in the palace could be at least half like her,

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I wouldn't need to worry anymore.

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Are you reminding me

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that it's time to promote Consort Xian?

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That's just one reason.

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I want to remind you...

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when the flower has blossomed and is right for picking, then pick it.

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Don't wait when there are no more flowers to start picking.

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You should learn to cherish the person in front of you.

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Yes.

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As mandated by the heavens, His Majesty is giving this decree.

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Consort Xian from the Hoifa-Nara Clan has a gentle and docile temperament.

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has a kind character. Today, she's being promoted to Noble Consort

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to show my graces and care. End of decree.

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Thank you, Your Majesty.

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Your Highness,

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Doctor Ye said

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that if you keep lying down like this,

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it will affect your walking and recovery in the future.

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Your Highness, I miss you.

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I want to hear your voice.

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Even if it's a scolding, I'm fine with it.

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Please open your eyes.

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Okay?

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Greetings to Your Majesty!

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Don't follow me inside anymore. I want to talk to the Empress in private.

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Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

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Chief Steward Li, while His Majesty is inside, he will need someone to attend to him.

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If I'm inside, it would be more convenient to serve him water or tea.

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Didn't His Majesty already say that he wants to speak to the Empress alone?

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Do you want to disobey his decree?

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Empress,

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I want to look for someone to speak with.

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But in this huge Forbidden City,

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I can't even find a person that can hear me speak.

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How good it would be

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if you're awake right now?

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There were a lot of things that happened in the palace lately.

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Noble Consort Gao has died.

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She entered my Prince Bao Manor when she was fourteen.

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She accompanied me for twelve years. I know...

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that she has always yearned for care and love.

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But what I can give her is just the title of Imperial Noble Consort.

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I was sad...

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for her death.

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But if given another chance,

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I will still make the same choice.

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Guess who I am.

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Wan'er's mother was my nursemaid.

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She accompanied me growing up.

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I was closer to her than other people.

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But because of kidding around,

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she was executed by Royal Father.

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At the start, I bore hatred and grudges.

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Until that year that Noble Consort Nian died,

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I saw with my own eyes

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how Royal Father drove everyone away

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and cried in front of her coffin.

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In just a month after Noble Consort Nian died,

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Nian Gengyao got removed of his noble title and position.

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Only then did I suddenly understand.

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Wan'er's death is a warning from Royal Father.

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As an Emperor,

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I can dote on my Imperial consorts...

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but I can't love them.

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My special treatment with Wan'er

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was also her death warrant.

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Empress...you can hear me, right?

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Empress.

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Empress,

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do you also feel that I am

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cold-blooded and heartless?

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I wasn't good to you.

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I also wasn't good to Noble Consort--

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Come out.

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That annoying person has finally left?

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What do you think?

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Put down the tea and leave.

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I was forced.

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Why were you hiding here?

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Your Majesty, I came to visit Her Highness the Empress.

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I heard footsteps, panicked,

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so I hid behind the curtain.

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Who allowed you to sneak into here?

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Your Majesty,

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I miss Her Highness the Empress.

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You indeed should be grateful to the Empress.

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But even more so, you should have fear.

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Because without her protection,

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I can kill you anytime.

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Your Highness!

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Your Majesty, the hand of Her Highness moved a bit earlier!

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Hand...her hand moved.

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This...hand--

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Your HIghness, it's time to take your medicine.

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Didn't I already take it?

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That was a medicine take in to nurse your internal health.

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This one is Persian white jade cream. It mainly used Persian white jade powder,

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cinnabar, and white otter spine to make.

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If you apply it every day, it can hasten the healing of your wound.

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It can also remove scars.

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Your Highness, that cream is so precious!

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Why did you just casually throw it away?

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If this wound would indeed leave a scar, it may be too late to have regrets.

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I exactly want it to scar.

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It's best if it can leave a deep impression in the heart of His Majesty.

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Let him forever remember

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that I got hurt because of him.

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Imperial Guard Fuca.

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May I ask what your instructions are, Your Highness Consort Chun?

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There have been a lot of happenings in the palace lately. First, Her Highness the Empress fell ill.

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Next, Noble Consort Gao died. Changchun Palace is, after all, is part of the deep inner palace.

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If Imperial Guard Fuca keeps going in and out from it, it can't be helped for criticisms to arise.

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Your Highness Consort Chun, the Empress is my older sister.

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His Majesty also allowed me to visit her.

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May I ask what Your Highness means by your advice?

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I recently heard of a rumor.

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It's about Imperial Guard Fuca being infatuated and in love with Wei Yingluo,

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hence, you refused the marriage bestowed by His Majesty.

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It's really absurd.

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Imperial Guard Fuca came from an illustrious family and you have a noble character.

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How could you have a private affair with a palace maid?

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The person spreading this kind of rumor is clearly harboring evil intentions.

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However, even if it's just a rumor,

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as time goes by, it can't be helped for it to reach the ears of His Majesty.

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It might affect your future.

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It's not a rumor. Thank you for your warning.

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This is my private matter. It's inconvenient for me to tell you more.

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I'll take my leave.

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The Forbidden City is a place where waves can occur even without any wind.

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To survive here,

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you must be very careful and cautious at all times.

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Imperial Guard Fuca, you are the biological brother of the Empress

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and a close subject to the Emperor.

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You are destined to go up the ranks.

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Don't get bewitched by a woman and destroy your future.

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Your Highness, you're out of line.

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

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- You finally did that!

- Your Highness!

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What's wrong with you?

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[ "Chunhe" (The courtesy name of Fuca Fuheng) ]

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Your Highness, we've agreed that you won't write anymore.

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Why have you forgotten it?

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If people see it, you'll get executed.

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Executed?

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Yes. Not only your reputation will get tarnished, even Imperial Guard Fuca—

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Don't mention him!

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Chunhe...

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Chunhe...

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I remember everything, but he doesn't anymore.

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These past years, all the hard work I've done

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have become a joke.

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I took notice of all the women from noble families in the capital.

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I endured the heartache

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and recommended them to the Empress, made plans for him.

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Because I know

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that one day, he'll marry and have children.

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Hence, I'm going to choose the most beautiful

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and best lady to accompany him.

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But he?

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He actually fell in love with a lady from the Workhouse.

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This is totally the worst joke!

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Your Highness, that is a matter of the Fuca Family.

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Why must you torment yourself?

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I've assisted the Empress for so many years.

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Now, Fuheng has committed a mistake.

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How could I not share the burden of the Empress?

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Your Highness, what are you doing?

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Call the supervisor of the Workhouse.

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Your father didn't focus on managing the flooding, and instead wants to return to the capital to attend the funeral.

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This is so disappointing.

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Replying to Your Majesty, Father has always put importance to family.

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Plus the fact that the Noble Consort suddenly died, and my two little sisters...

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This for Father is such a huge blow.

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Shut up! The affection between a father and his daughter

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is a natural thing.

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There's actually nothing wrong with him returning to the capital to attend the funeral.

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However, there is currently flooding everywhere.

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Several hundreds of thousands of refugees have no home to go back to.

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Their homes have become a vast body of water.

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Their loved ones have becomes starved dead bodies.

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Who can save them then?

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Manager of External Rivers Chen Kejun

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and Manager of Sea Defense Wang Dexuan

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have a deficit of at least thirty thousand taels.

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As the river channels governor-general, Gao Bin

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didn't even notice it. He acted as if it's just normal.

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I can endure all that. I just hope that he can focus on controlling the flooding.

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But he only thinks about returning to the capital.

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That is a crime punishable by death!

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Your Majesty, please forgive him. Your Majesty, please calm down.

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Quickly get out!

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I will take my leave.

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Your Majesty, please calm down.

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Spread my decree. Gao Bin has obtained great Imperial grace,

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but he didn't know how to repay it. He's being stripped off of his post...

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but will stay to work, so as to pay for his crime.

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Your Majesty.

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What hour is it?

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Your Majesty, it's already the zi time interval. (T/N 11 pm - 1 am)

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Your servant greeting Your Majesty and wishing royal wellness.

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Your Majesty, I would never allow Wei Yingluo to enter.

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Is she here?

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You need me to ask you again?

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She's in the back garden.

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Your Majesty, your servant is with offense.

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What are you holding?

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Prescription by Physician Ye.

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I wanted to do something for Her Highness the Empress.

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So I gathered this chore.

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Rise.

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You are indeed devoted to the Empress.

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Your Majesty, Her Highness is sincere with you as well.

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The women of the harem.

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They either want to fight for my favor.

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Or they want to me to grant them a title,

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or a reward.

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What is their difference in nature?

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Your Majesty, Her Highness is different.

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I know.

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Empress seeks sincerity.

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But why doesn't she realize...

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as an Emperor, the lives of millions are in my trust and care.

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The master of the world. How can he behold the sentiments of love and longing?

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Your Majesty is saying,

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Empress is short-sighted and inconsiderate?

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Have I said it wrong?

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Now, floods are raging with uncountable refugees.

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I am pouring all the power of the nation into controlling the rivers.

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But the officials in charge of managing the rivers

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are making layer after layer of false reports to fill private coffers.

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Now the refugees outside of the capital are one or two thousand.

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I am burning with anxiety and unable to sleep.

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But what is the Imperial harem doing?

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Your Majesty. Since birth,

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women are confined to one corner of the world.

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Even after marriage,

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a woman is only transferring from one cage to another cage.

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Clearly a pampered yellow oriole.

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How can it be like the eagle, seeing with wide vision and soaring over the four seas?

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Don't forget. A cage.

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It's created meticulously by the men of the world.

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Preposterous.

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I misspoke. May Your Majesty forgive.

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I am muddled now,

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to listen to the ignorant palace maid speak this!

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Quietly listen to the raindrops falling in the palace.

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The house, shielded for a moment from the rampant bustling.

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Nothing is more entertaining than poetry,

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With the perfect timing of faint fragrance, delivered by the plum shoots.

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You can recite my poetry?

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Her Highness just taught me the Four Books and Five Classics.

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Then she started to teach me Your Majesty's poetry and prose.

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I defied this, but Her Highness insisted it.

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Since His Majesty's ascension to throne, he has been devoted to governing.

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Cultivating deserted land into farmland, stopping political posts being gained through bribery.

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Attaching importance to agriculture. Exonerating those wrongly jailed.

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Rescuing the people from fire and water disasters.

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So he is a good Emperor.

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She really said so?

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Yes.

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I want to be a sage ruler.

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But reality tells me,

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it's truly too difficult.

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This empire is like a giant ship.

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I want to pilot it well.

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But again and again I am foiled, losing my direction.

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Your Majesty. Wuzhong once had a folk rhyme.

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Qianlong treasure, helps you select it.

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Qianlong money, lasts a hundred million years.

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I know all Your Majesty's deeds,

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the people remember it in their hearts and see with their eyes.

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I know the nation is vast and incidents are many.

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But Your Majesty just needs to take on one by one,

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even if the results aren't to your satisfaction,

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it still leaves you guilt-free to yourself and to the heavens.

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Guilt-free to the heavens?

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That saying. I will remember it.

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Actually, all your poetry and prose.

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Her Highness can recite them masterfully.

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Not because your poetry skills are outstanding.

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But because she wants to comprehend your thinking and your desires.

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She wants to know when you are joyful and when you're sad.

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If Your Majesty wishes to tell all your troubles to her,

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you won't need to worry no one understands you in the world.

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You talk in such a large circle and it's still for the Empress' sake.

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She didn't pamper you for nothing.

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Wait.

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Say that again.

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If you are willing to tell your thoughts to the Empress,

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you won't need to worry no one understands you.

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No. Not that one. You said you kept defying it.

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And you said my poetry skills aren't outstanding. What did you mean?

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Wei Yingluo, you dare to reject me?

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Her Highness is waiting. Your servant takes her leave first.

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Hengchen, you are director of affairs. (T/N Courtesy name of Zhang Tingyu)

485

Do you know the yearly balance of our treasury?

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Your Majesty, if you wish to know,

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I will have Accounting Department investigate and report.

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Ortai, how about you?

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Your Majesty, I will go now to ...

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You all don't need to. I know it.

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My first year in reign,

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Accounts Department held thirty-three million, nine-hundred-fifty thousand.

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Second year, thirty-four million, three-hundred-eighty thousand.

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And by this year, thirty-three million, one-hundred-seventy thousand.

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Other than the treasury account, the various provincial treasuries,

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all can be said to be sufficient,

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so I will remit the national tax.

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Your Majesty. Each year, the endowments,

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pay for government and army salaries and various expenses.

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The remainder is less than two million.

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That doesn't pay enough for water and drought relief.

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If we remit all the taxes now,

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we would be adding frost to snow.

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The Accounting Department will run insufficient.

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In the sixty-first year in reign of my Imperial Grandfather,

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he pardoned taxes once.

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My royal father always put effort into reducing levy.

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I want to carry on the narration.

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I confer a special decree.

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In the year of Fire Tiger (1746 CE), all taxes are remitted.

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What wrong is there in that?

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Your Majesty, Emperor Kangxi's forty-ninth year in reign, a remittance decree was issued.

513

And Your Majesty has only been in reign for ten years.

514

This move is perhaps too rushed.

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

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♫Softly falling into the hollow of my palm,♫

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♫Resting frozen in the center of my palm.♫

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♫Our meeting across past incarnations was inevitable,♫

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♫Joined together, deeply experiencing and holding onto the end of happiness.♫

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♫Though plainly given words of discouragement,♫

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♫Pretending to hear nothing but exhortation.♫

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♫ Endless tears, believing it cannot be true,♫

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♫ In this life, being born under an unlucky star.♫

524

♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫

525

♫ Though I close my eyes, it's impossible to stop the vision.♫

526

♫ Nothing you can do about being approached, not being inconsistent in love,♫

527

♫ Though merely holding onto it from the outside, prone to this sort of circumstance.♫

528

♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫

529

♫ As though you are holding me closely, and speaking sweetly.♫

530

♫ Opening your eyes to a sky filled with merciless snow falling,♫

531

♫ Who, after suffering this loss for a lifetime, is fond of this scene?♫