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 61

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Look, how warm is this?

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Don't move.

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Since she's not willing,

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why continue to transcribe the sutra in blood?

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That's actually the biggest disrespect to Buddha.

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Empress Dowager, Consort Ling and you lived together at Yuanming Garden for three years.

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Her character, are you not aware of it?

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It's precisely because I lived with her for three years,

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that I know that much more about her.

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That Wei Yingluo, is too clever.

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She can use all usable methods to make you like her.

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Rongyin back then, and the Emperor after that. Wasn't it all the same?

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Perhaps this is a misunderstanding?

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If she didn't complain,

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how would Imperial Concubine Shun know about it?

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Consort Ling is here to deliver newly-transcribed sutra volume?

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Yes.

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I will see to it that it's delivered to Empress Dowager.

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I will come again tomorrow.

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No need. Empress Dowager is concerned it's hard for your health to transcribe,

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so she's pardoned you from this toiling chore.

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Transcribing the sutra is cultivating merit. I am happily willing.

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How can it be a toiling chore?

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I am just relaying Empress Dowager's order.

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Another matter is that Empress Dowager will be meditating to Buddha for the time being.

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You won't need to come pay respects anymore, Consort Ling.

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What exactly happened?

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Empress Dowager's attitude changed greatly suddenly.

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If you have time to worry about me,

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you should think about your own matters instead.

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Your Highness Consort Ling.

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Consort Ling, may I borrow Mingyu to talk?

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Mingyu. Don't let all things drag through mud. Speak clearly.

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Mingyu!

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Are you crazy?

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I haven't left the palace yet, and you grab me like this!

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How can this look be allowed?

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I already made my plea with His Majesty,

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and His Majesty cast his decree to grant you to me.

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Talking to my own betrothed wife, how's that so wrong?

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Mingyu, I want to know.

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Why did you send back all the betrothal gifts?

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I thought about it left and right, and it's just not right.

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What's not right?

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You'll have to go to the battlefield in the future!

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Who knows when you will return?

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I don't want to be a widow!

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I don't believe you.

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If you didn't want to be a widow,

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why did you consort with me?

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That was to help Yingluo,

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in order to look for news for her.

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Then you stayed up all night,

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to make that head wrap and to make small dishes personally,

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all just to use me as well?

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In order to use you, I would have to show something first.

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You speak so coldly,

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but your eyes hold tears.

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Mingyu, what has really happened?

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That's enough. Don't waste your time on me anymore.

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- I need to go.

- Mingyu!

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These words you say today, I don't believe a word of it.

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When we are married, I will ask you slowly then.

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I have already taken a clear inventory of the qinin Yuanming Garden. (T/N unbridged usually 7 string zithers)

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There are two hundred and eighteen total.

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It was stored during Emperor Yongzheng's fourth year in reign.

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So many years have passed.

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Good care has been lost and there's been a lack of versed musicians.

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To just leave them in the storage so recklessly is such a waste.

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What a great "Plum Blossom Scores" Zither,

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to see that it's been so ill-cared for.

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Yuan Chunwang, order Yuanming Garden

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to present a zither here every five days.

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I will check and fix them myself to restore their glory.

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I will surely find a good zither artisan for you.

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You needn't exhaust yourself to do it personally.

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This zither was once used by Emperor Kangxi too.

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If one day His Majesty suddenly finds himself in the mood,

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and sees Emperor Kangxi's item come to such ruin,

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he would surely be furious.

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Empress, because of Imperial Concubine Shun,

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he's not come into Chengqian Palace for so long.

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But you still think of him like this.

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In another four months, it's Emperor Kangxi's memorial.

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If His Majesty finds out just how mournful you are,

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he will surely be so consoled.

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This zither cover is too ordinary too.

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I will personally make a floral design,

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and you see to it that it gets made.

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Yes.

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No. Let's not embroider flowers on it.

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Let's embroider the name of the zither on this.

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Yes.

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Twelfth Prince!

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Your Highness the Empress, forgive me! I've failed to watch the Twelfth Prince well.

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Your Highness.

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Yongji, how can you be so naughty?

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Go find an experienced zither master to see if it can be restored.

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Yes.

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Stop crying. You're not like me at all.

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Shouldn't you be taking the Prince to stroll in the Imperial Garden at this hour?

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- Hurry and take him out.

- Yes.

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Your Highness, the Twelfth Prince is still young. Don't be too frustrated.

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He's the legitimate heir of the central palace and the world is watching him.

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He is not an ordinary playing child.

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Be assured, Mistress. I will see to it that a good master will restore the zither.

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I will not let it ruin your intention.

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Here. Be careful.

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Twelfth Prince, you can't be that naughty again.

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Careful, if the Empress finds out, she will punish you!

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Twelfth Prince is at an age that's hard to keep idle.

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Her Highness the Empress is too strict.

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What do you know? Discipline is out of love.

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The Twelfth Prince is the legitimate prince so he's different. (T/N as eldest son of the Empress, the expected heir)

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Don't speak recklessly again, or watch your skin!

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Come, Twelfth Prince. Slower.

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Let's go there to catch dragonfly, alright?

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Empress. Prince He of the First Rank sent a gift.

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He says it's for the Twelfth Prince.

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Prince He?

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[ Letter from Prince He ]

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Your Highness.

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[ To Your Highness the Empress. ]

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In the past during Lantern Festival, often in the palace the colorful lanterns would pile up into a sea turtle, (T/N the "Aoshan" - the large display - sometimes in the shape of an animal)

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with autumn crickets placed in the lanterns.

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Once lit, a spate of insect cries followed which was quite fun. (T/N crickets chirp more when warm)

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Once, in order to grab the cricket inside,

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I set the sea turtle on fire and almost burned down the entire Forbidden City.

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Royal Father reprimanded me for being too naughty and mischievous.

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But when I was five, I could recite sayings and at seven, poetry.

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Naughty children are the smart ones.

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The academy the Twelfth Prince will be attending,

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I will have the teachers train him well.

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May Your Highness the Empress not worry.

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Twelfth Prince, come here!

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Look at this. This is very fun. Come here. Look!

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Look, what is this?

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What about this?

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Father, they hit me.

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Who did?

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The princes and their study partner.

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Father, why are you laughing?

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His Majesty spoils you. The princes yield to you.

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Upon entering the palace, you tore the book of your teacher, destroyed the ink-stone of Fifth Prince,

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broke the fan of Sixth Prince,

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hid the whip of your companion, and even rode your study partner like a horse.

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Fukang'an, that's not studying.

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You're leaning to be like a crab.

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Who told you to tell that to Father!

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Young Master, I really didn't.

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Fukang'an!

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You won't have dinner today!

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You don't get to have snacks for a month!

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If I can't eat any snacks, it's better to just die.

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Stand there.

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Fine!

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Imperial Concubine Shun, my son was disrespectful. Please forgive him.

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You and your father are totally not like father and son.

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Fukang'an, apologize to Imperial Concubine Shun.

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Your Highness Imperial Concubine Shun, I was wrong.

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Quickly rise.

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That handkerchief...

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What about the handkerchief?

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Nothing. We'll take our leave.

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Fukang'an, come over here.

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What about it?

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Mingyu.

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Turn around.

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This wedding dress is so beautiful!

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Zhenzhu, we still need a veil.

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Go ask Xiao Quanzi if it was already delivered.

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Yes.

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Mingyu.

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Yingluo, I can't bear to leave you.

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Rise.

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The embroidery on your wedding dress

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was designed by me

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and especially customized for you.

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I initially planned to personally embroider it.

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But you know that

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I've lost my mother upon birth, and then lost my sister afterwards.

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If the fortune teller is asked, he surely will say that my fate is too hard.

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All brides should receive blessings from an auspicious wife

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whose parents are both still alive and have a lot of children.

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I dare not delay your marriage.

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Yingluo,

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before, you just scoffed at these sort of things.

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I might not believe them,

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but I can't interfere with your happiness.

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YIngluo, I can't bear to.

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I really can't bear to part with you.

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I beg you.

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Don't marry me off, okay?

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Mingyu.

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Look at how beautiful that red wedding dress is.

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My sister once said that if I got married,

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she surely would personally make my wedding dress.

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What a pity... in this life,

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I wasn't destined to wear it.

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But I hope that you can wear yours.

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If Her Highness was still alive,

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and saw you getting married off,

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she also would be happy.

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Our wishes both ended in vain.

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Hence, Mingyu...please be blissful...

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please be blissful.

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Yizhu, why are you here?

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Miss Mingyu, my mistress told me to deliver you these embroideries

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and a set of gold tools.

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Mistress said that those you were using are already old.

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She especially had a golden set made for you

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to add to your dowry.

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- Thank your mistress for me.

- Yes.

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Fuheng?

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You surely must be busy with work in the Council of State.

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Why do you still have the time to come here?

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[ House Title ]

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A real estate title?

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Your old house is in Qingyun County.

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Now that you're marrying a wife, you should set up a family here in the capital.

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Each inch of land here in the capital is as expensive as gold.

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Unless you are an aristocrat,

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most only rent their places.

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You're gifting me a mansion?

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What a good brother!

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Not right. You've already given me a wedding gift.

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What is this for then?

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When I give it to you, just accept it.

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This mansion is so close to Forbidden City.

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Mingyu can then enter the palace every day.

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- Could it be that towards Consort Ling, you still—

- Hailancha,

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don't make up things.

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Do you want it or not? If not, give it back.

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How could you take it back when you've already given it?

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Then just shut up.

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Did you hear it? Young Master Fuca said earlier that he's taking you out of the palace.

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Are you happy?

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Imperial Concubine Shun.

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Lord Fuheng, why are you here?

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Sorry to have disturbed you.

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Imperial Concubine Shun, I have one thing to ask.

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What is it?

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Lord Fuheng, you haven't changed at all.

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What did you say?

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Upon seeing you for the first time, I've already heard that you're an elegant and talented young master of a powerful and rich family.

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You're well-versed in both literary and fighting skills, gentle and refined.

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But I feel that...

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that's not the real you.

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Imperial Concubine Shun, I've only seen you a few times.

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How can you say that you know me?

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General Zhaohui has a bad temper.

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Every battle, he would drink a lot of wine

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to vent his tension.

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But you, Lord Fuca?

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You would wake up at exactly yan hour to practice martial arts for two hours, (T/N 3 - 5 am)

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slowly waiting for daybreak.

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After handling military affairs, you read a book for two hours.

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You then rested by hai hour. (T/N 9 - 11 pm)

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Just like that cuckoo clock by Yangxin Palace,

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you're like a machine without any signs of life.

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This is just my lifestyle habits.

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Everyone says that you're very disciplined.

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But people who are extremely self-disciplined usually hold deep melancholy.

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In this world, how could there be anyone who never gets angry?

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But your face

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is always that balanced and gentle.

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It shows that you have deeper melancholy than anyone.

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Imperial Concubine Shun, stop making casual guesses.

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It's my first time seeing you have a change of expression.

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This is quite fun.

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You are very different from that beautiful,

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magnanimous, passionate, and cheerful lady that I've imagined.

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A fighter will usually have dirt in between his fingers,

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but your hands are always clean.

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You clearly are a meritorious Imperial relative, an important official of the Council of State,

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but you are so humble.

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Always courteous to the wise. No wonder His Majesty gives you a lot of importance,

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other officials admire you a lot. But don't you feel tired living like this?

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Stop forcing your ideas on others.

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Harshly restricting yourself like this, each moment must feel very painful for you.

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Enough!

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Lord Fuheng!

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The words I said earlier surely are very offensive.

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But from the first time I saw you,

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that's already what I felt.

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If I angered you, please forgive me.

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I will just treat it as though I've never heard you say anything.

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I will never forget that it was you who helped me

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when my life was hanging by a thread.

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I will always remember it.

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Remember it forever.

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I only hope that you live a more carefree and happier life.

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I totally have no evil intentions.

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Oh, right. What did you want to ask me earlier?

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Where did you get that handkerchief?

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This handkerchief?

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The "Hyacinth Seeds and Dragonflies" design?

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I saw Consort Ling having this kind of handkerchief.

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The pair of dragonflies on it had their heads on each other's shoulders. So unique.

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Hence, I especially asked her for it, but she wouldn't give it to me.

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So when I returned to my palace, I could only draw an imitation.

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May I ask if there's any special meaning to this handkerchief?

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It's the seventh work in Han Ximeng's Famous Song-Yuan Embroidery Collection.

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Most women embroider plants.

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This design is indeed very unique, so I took notice of it.

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Really?

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Of course. I still have to do something.

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I'll take my leave.

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Sir!

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All those are for Mingyu?

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Mingyu's family isn't rich. I must back her up.

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You're so generous.

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You might give Imperial Guard Suolun a shock.

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You're so good to Mingyu.

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Mingyu also treats me well.

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Today is the day that she leaves the palace.

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How come she's still not up?

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I love the flower breaking off from its stem image in this wedding dress the most.

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It was interesting and pretty.

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You really made a lot of effort for this wedding of Mingyu's.

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On the day of her wedding, Mingyu surely will be the most beautiful bride.

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Mingyu!

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- Sister Mingyu!

- Mingyu...

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Mingyu!

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Sister Mingyu...!

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Mingyu.

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Sister Mingyu!

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Mingyu!

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You're not focused.

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It's my oversight. May Your Majesty forgive me.

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Forget it.

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You're rushing to go back and fetch your wife.

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But Mingyu is leaving the palace according to the rules, and must first return to her home before being married off.

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You can't really directly fetch her to go back to Qingyun, right? Why the rush?

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We won't be going back to Qingyun anymore. I've already brought my mother to move here.

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Our whole family is settling down in the capital.

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Based on my salary, I indeed couldn't afford a mansion in the capital.

344

It's all thanks to Lord Fuheng, hence, I...

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Fuheng?

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Yes.

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He's quite considerate.

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Your Majesty, allow me to have a day's leave.

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You...

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So useless.

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Your Majesty, I have something to report!

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So unruly. Look at you.

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Why the serious face?

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Yanxi Palace sent someone to look for Imperial Guard Suolun,

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saying...

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What has happened?

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Miss Mingyu...is gone.

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Your Highness Consort Ling!

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Lord Hailancha, what are you doing?

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- Your Highness Consort Ling, I'm asking for an audience!

- Lord Hailancha, what are you doing?

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- Her Highness gave orders that she won't see anyone. You can't charge in like this.

- Get lost! Your Highness Consort Ling!

- Lord Hailancha!

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- Come out! I have questions to ask you! Come out!

- Stop knocking!

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- Your Highness Consort Ling!

- Lord!

- Imperial Guard Suolun!

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Lord...

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

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Your Highness Imperial Concubine Shun.

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You think just because you're an Imperial bodyguard,

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the trusted aide of His Majesty, you can already disregard palace rules?

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Please move aside.

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Imperial Consort Ling is in severe grief and is refusing to see anyone.

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If there are any words, just tell them to me.

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I only have one question to ask.

373

Mingyu...

374

why did she die?

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When we arrived in her room,

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she was already dead.

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She didn't leave any message.

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Your Highness Consort Ling!

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Mingyu was your best friend! Your most trusted confidante!

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Don't you have any explanation for her death!

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Move aside! Your Highness Consort Ling!

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- Consort Ling!

- Preposterous!

383

Consort Ling!

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Hailancha, who you gave the right to be unruly here in Yanxi Palace?

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Arrest him!

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Consort Ling, come out! Consort Ling!

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Tell me! Tell me!

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Consort Ling!

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Tell me!

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Are you okay?

391

Even if you lock yourself in there forever,

392

a dead person will never return.

393

Your Majesty.

394

Let's go.

395

Your Majesty, regarding Mingyu's death,

396

I have something to report.

397

[ Yanxi Palace ]

398

Mingyu...

399

Why?

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Ye Tianshi, say it.

401

Replying to Your Majesty, Miss Mingyu once came to see me.

402

I diagnosed her as having a silver needle that entered her lungs and is incurable.

403

Miss Mingyu asked me to not tell anyone, but I didn't expect...

404

she would commit suicide.

405

She asked you to not say it and you really didn't!

406

This is a request by the patient.

407

Lord Hailancha, I had no choice. I had no choice!

408

Stop.

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It's my fault. All is my fault.

410

Why must I force her?

411

Why didn't I ask it clearly?

412

It's all my fault.

413

Your Majesty, regarding Her Highness Consort Ling...

414

Don't tell her.

415

Your Majesty, I've already committed a mistake for not reporting it.

416

And now, we're still hiding it from Her Highness Consort Ling. I fear that she...

417

No need to make an extra move.

418

At first, she didn't understand.

419

Now, she surely has figured it out.

420

Imperial Concubine Shun, Mistress isn't in her palace right now. She locked herself up all day yesterday.

421

This morning, when I entered to deliver her food,

422

I discovered that she's gone missing.

423

We are already searching everywhere.

424

If you find her, immediately come to Lijing Pavilion to inform me.

425

Lord Fuheng!

426

Can we talk in private?

427

Consort Ling is missing.

428

Missing?

429

I'm sure you've heard of what happened yesterday.

430

I went to Yanxi Palace today and discovered that she's gone missing.

431

She's blaming herself for Mingyu's death.

432

I'm afraid that something bad might happen to her.

433

Imperial Concubine Shun, I'm an official that works outside the palace.

434

It's not convenient for me to intervene with palace matters. Sorry.

435

Mistress.

436

You know what to do now, right?

437

Yes.

438

What are you doing here?

439

You're no longer the junior palace maid of Changchun Palace.

440

You're Consort Ling.

441

If others see you cleaning here,

442

what will they think?

443

This is my matter. Not your business.

444

Wei Yingluo, the late Empress is gone.

445

Mingyu is gone too.

446

You're the only one left from the past.

447

But so what of it?

448

You're Wei Yingluo!

449

Without them,

450

you can still stand by yourself.

451

What do you know?

452

I have seen Hailancha.

453

Mingyu didn't want to implicate anyone, so she chose to suicide.

454

That's not linked to you.

455

You don't understand.

456

Then you tell me.

457

It was I.

458

I was too anxious to marry off Mingyu.

459

I was not considerate enough. Not attentive enough.

460

If I had a bit more patience,

461

and asked clearly, then perhaps Mingyu wouldn't have died.

462

Even if she didn't commit suicide,

463

you couldn't save her life anyway!

464

That needle's already entered her lung. Even God couldn't save her.

465

You guessed the reason.

466

Why do you still blame yourself?

467

Because I was selfish.

468

How were you selfish?

469

The late Empress,

470

she once said to me,

471

that she wanted to send me off to be married personally.

472

Regrettably, she didn't see it.

473

So I wanted to marry Mingyu off.

474

Draped in that bright red wedding dress,

475

let her realize something I can never accomplish.

476

It was my fault. I shouldn't have

477

forced my own dream I could not realize,

478

onto Mingyu.

479

Yes, she was gravely ill.

480

But my stubbornness...

481

hastened her death.

482

Yingluo.

483

This isn't your fault.

484

If I had...

485

understood her better...

486

Treated her better.

487

Even better still...?

488

Even if I am granted half a second...

489

allow me to tell her...

490

I'm sorry.

491

I'm so sorry.

492

I'm really very sorry.

493

Sorry.

494

Lord Fuheng.

495

I lost composure.

496

I apologize.

497

- Yingluo.

- How you address me.

498

It's not rule-biding.

499

Your Highness Consort Ling.

500

You must take care.

501

Who said I was here?

502

On the road, I ran into Imperial Concubine Shun.

503

She said you went missing.

504

I guessed you'd be here.

505

What's wrong?

506

Nothing.

507

Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Shun is outside asking to see you.

508

Let her in.

509

Yes.

510

What brings you here?

511

I learned to embroider from Consort Ling

512

and I asked for pointers from the Embroidery House master.

513

I finally finished this embroidery.

514

Your Majesty, have a look.

515

Do you like it?

516

Hyacinth seeds and dragonflies.

517

I didn't know what I should embroider to gift to Your Majesty.

518

I saw that Consort Ling had a handkerchief in this pattern

519

and I thought it was so pretty.

520

So I muddled my way to copy it.

521

Is that right?

522

You must not tell Consort Ling.

523

I asked her so many times, but she just wouldn't gift it to me.

524

By the way, that day, I ran into Lord Fuheng by coincidence.

525

Your Majesty, you must not be aware of this yet.

526

On my way to the capital, I met danger,

527

and it was Lord Fuheng on his way to the capital who saved me.

528

I didn't know if you'd like this present,

529

so I agonized and thought Lord Fuheng knows Your Majesty well,

530

so I asked him especially,

531

but he scolded me instead.

532

Saying I'm not abiding by the rules by doing so?

533

It's actually quite the coincidence.

534

This Lord Fuheng has a scented pouch.

535

The pattern embroidered on it is exactly like this.

536

When I met danger, I almost caused him to lose it.

537

Enough!

538

Your Majesty, what's wrong?

539

Chenbi. I have work to do.

540

You go back now.

541

Your Majesty, did I say something wrong to anger you?

542

No. I am just anxious with all the work bound on me.

543

You go back now.

544

When I have time, I'll visit you.

545

Yes. I take my leave.

546

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

547

Forgetting Each Other

548

♫It's very likely that recalling vivid images will throw me into upheaval,♫

549

♫The past graceful, concerning passions have gone only into hibernation.♫

550

♫Along with my lord, my original aspirations are now distant, the promises and wishes to accompany each other♫

551

♫Are proof of yearning endured, trembling in the endless night.♫

552

♫How true our feelings were, even though our fate was shallow,♫

553

♫Hearts locked away in dark halls from the light, difficult to find and recover.♫

554

♫Other people envy my splendid, bright clothing, the warmth beside my pillow, (T/N the love of her lord)♫

555

♫Then turning round sigh admiringly, through wet tears in somber-colored robes.♫

556

♫Who clearly would cling to a moment of being in love and inseparable?♫

557

♫The end of passion becomes merely a sentimental entanglement.♫

558

♫If one uses separation to cut away the bindings,♫

559

♫Forgetting one another is also difficult in the depths of one's dreams.♫

560

♫Who clearly would still cling to these deep feelings and desire them again,♫

561

♫And give free rein to this state of mind over and over in their dreams?♫

562

♫Glory and splendor give shelter to appearing to forget the pain,♫

563

♫From dreams awakening after a time, with nothing new to worry about.♫

564

♫Treating them like smoke dissipating, ashes flying away, cold hoarfrost under the moonlight...♫

565

♫All the memories of love, memories of hate....♫

566

♫All the memories completely vanish.♫