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

Examining love together with regret, both new and old.

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

Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.

Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 50

Imperial Stable's supervising director, along with the grounds supervisor,

as well as the stewards and the eunuchs were all interrogated.

Other than their pleading of innocence, we got nothing.

The eunuch assigned to the care of the hose is to get 80 heavy floggins.

The rest, one year forfeit of salaries, then release them.

- Release? - Correct.

Release.

Zhongcui Palace

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, what brings your sudden visit today?

You didn't tell me in advance.

I see you are very joyous in appearance.

Your Majesty gives honor of visit to Zhongcui Palace and naturally I am joyous.

But Consort Ling is with a heavy injury.

Yanxi Palace has the royal physicians in and out nonstop.

I am very worried too.

If it hadn't been Your Majesty's strict order,

to disallow anyone to disturb,

I would have gone to visit Sister Ling long ago.

Your Majesty. In my palace, we still have the reishi mushroom and deer antler granted by Your Majesty before.

We will send them to Consort Ling later.

They will aid greatly to her nourishing her illness.

Great.

You are gentle and attentive and easily comprehending of others.

I have always valued you.

But when a person is too smart, they tend to be stubborn.

You must have heard the saying that cleverness may overreach itself.

Your Majesty? I . . .

Someone did a hand to the horse that Consort Ling rode.

I was thinking, Empress is the mother of the nation.

No matter how favored Consort Ling is,

her position isn't threatened.

As for other consorts, they all don't seem to have that dare.

Then tell me, who would have done it?

Your Majesty.

Can't be that you suspect . . .

Since the days of old prince manor, I have served Your Majesty.

All day long, accompanied by zither, poetry and painting.

Other than your slight pity, I have no other plea.

Even if Your Majesty suspects all the people, you shouldn't suspect me.

Before Consort Ling, you were the one most favored.

After she entered the palace, the one who suffered the biggest setback,

isn't that you as well?

Your Majesty. When I was favored before,

I pitied my sisters' solitude.

I often persuaded you to share the rain and dew.

And the harem was able to sustain harmony.

Now no matter how great Consort Ling is, she would never urge Your Majesty to go to others' palaces.

She is overly tyrant.

I have urged her before.

But she is just too stubborn and overly ostentatious.

Hence, someone must have taken revenge on her out of jealousy.

I can swear to Heaven. This matter has nothing to do with me.

Listen clearly.

The more you want, the more you have nothing in the end.

Before you do anything, think for 6th Prince's sake.

Mark my words.

Your Majesty. I didn't.

I really didn't.

I hope so too.

That this is not linked to you.

Don't disappoint me.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Your Ladyship.

How do you carry out your work?

Your Ladyship, I didn't imagine,

His Majesty would risk danger to save her.

But be assured, Your Ladyship.

All the people who had a hand have had their mouths sealed with money.

It won't implicate you.

I didn't make a move that day.

If the investigation continues,

Consort Yu, careful of your 5th Prince.

Yanxi Palace

Consort Yu.

Greetings to Your Ladyship.

How is Consort Ling?

I am worried about her and wanted to go see her.

But His Majesty cast the order to disallow the harem women to visit Consort Ling.

Consort Yu, my mistress is awake.

Since you're here, allow me to go announce.

If Consort Ling finds out I didn't try to retain you,

she would say I am unruly.

Consort Yu, this way.

Sister Ling.

Your calling. I don't dare to take it.

Wei Yingluo.

That's right there.

Since you already turned on me,

why do you pretend to be amiable?

It's too pretentious.

You saved me so many times.

I don't want to harm you either.

But you still chose to stand by Noble Consort Chun.

To attempt to eliminate me.

Yingluo.

Not everyone is as lucky as you.

Having Late Empress's shielding and His Majesty's pampering.

I have nothing.

If I want to set my feet down in Forbidden City, I must rely help from Noble Consort Chun.

I don't have a second road to choose.

It's all just survival.

Don't you know, Noble Consort Chun,

she is the real murderer of 7th Prince.

She is the master hand that forced Late Empress to die.

I don't know. And I don't want to know either.

I am just a low rank.

I must survive.

So I can protect Yongqi, my son.

I don't have the ability to ask about these matters or people.

You!

Yingluo, careful.

You give a piece of meat to the dog.

And the dog knows to guard the house and garden.

You received Late Empress's protection. Over and over.

But you actually joined hands with Noble Consort Chun.

Consort Yu, you are worse than a domestic animal!

Domestic animal?

In this deep palace,

a woman who is not favored.

She has to rely on others for air to breathe.

In order to survive,

I watched my best sisters die in front of me.

In order to survive.

I had to fawn and bend and scrape to curry favor before Noble Consort Gao.

Late Empress indeed rescued me before.

But she is a pitiful woman who can't even protect herself. And you, Wei Yingluo!

You gave me rice straws to save me.

But when I wanted to live as a human, where did you all go?

I fall into the abyss.

At that time, only she.

Only Noble Consort Chun extended her hand to be to pull me up.

Did you tell His Majesty,

that it was Noble Consort Chun who caused you to fall off the horse?

Let go of her.

Don't look into the matter further.

I beg you.

At this rate,

Noble Consort Chun,

she will surely pull me out to take the blame.

My dying is nothing.

But Yingluo,

I have a child.

Don't forget. That Yongqi you once rescued from Noble Consort Gao's hands.

Can you bear to watch him lose his mother like this?

You've gone crazy.

You want Yingluo to forgive Noble Consort Chun?

Turn hostility into friendship.

Don't pursue this matter anymore.

Don't pursue Late Empress's death anymore.

It's all in the past.

Isn't it good for all to live in harmony?

Don't pursue?

Now, you are deeply pampered by His Majesty and all goes to your liking.

Why do you still begrudge the past?

If you can reconcile with Noble Consort Chun and bear a child or two,

in the deep palace, no one can compare to you.

I didn't do all this just for me.

For 5th Prince yous saved.

And for yourself.

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If I really quit.

Noble Consort Chun won't kill anymore?

She won't.

I vouch to you.

As long as yo will quit now,

I will do all to persuade Noble Consort Chun.

You?

Let me think about it.

How can you forgive that woman?

She betrayed Empress.

I just made a round by the door of death.

Do you intend for me to continue my exchange with enemies?

Yingluo.

Don't worry.

I will never let Noble Consort Chun harm you again.

Consort Yu.

You made this choice.

You really won't regret it?

For Yongqi's sake,

for my son,

even if everyone scorns me as a petty coward,

even if I have to kneel and serve my enemy, I will not regret.

Yingluo.

One day, you will become a mother too.

You will have a child too.

When that day comes, you will surely understand how I feel today.

Mother, look.

Govern with merit.

Yongqi's writing. It's improved so much.

My teacher said to put heart in the stroke. When the heart is upright, the strokes are upright.

No matter if it's calligraphy or if it's being human. It's the same.

Only with upright mindset and proper attitude,

can you write well and be a good person.

Yongqi is so right.

Come.

Yongqi, you have a great teacher.

From now on, you must listen to your teacher. Alright?

Yongqi, your braid is messy.

I'll rebrush you in a bit. Alright?

Yes.

Mother, why do you cry?

Yongqi. Mother is happy.

Without my awareness, my Yongqi is already so grown up.

Why do yo cry if you're happy?

Yongqi. Mother will bring you to meet someone.

You must remember. You must court her happiness.

Why?

Because only by having her love you,

can you be safe forever.

Your Ladyship, this knee guard.

My father's getting old, and his arthritis is getting worse.

The ones Mother made for him before are getting so old.

Your HIghness, you're missing Madam again.

When I was little, my mother was especially strict with me.

Stand, walk, sit and lie. All had to be proper.

She wouldn't allow half a miss.

Only my father pampered me the most.

He would always shield me.

Empress, Lord Narbu is waiting by Qianqing Gate.

Seeking your attendance.

Isn't he in East Zhejiang with disaster relief?

Why is he back suddenly?

Lord Narbu said the disaster matter is already handled.

It's soon the madam's memorial so he rushed back.

The palace gate is about to be locked.

How can we meet now?

Go tell him we will meet another day.

Your Highness, the old master toiled to get back.

I am the empress. I must be strict with palace rules.

Or I will be the subject of the talk.

Go.

Next time when Father comes,

this knee guard will be ready.

At the time, I will give it to him personally.

Heaven's will.

Sir. What's wrong with you?

This old subject wanted to meet Her Highness one last time.

But regrettably I can't.

I must only wish upon,

Her Highness to have peace and smoothness.

A life of longevity.

Give it.

Prince He, what are you doing?

I told you to hand over Lord Narbu's report.

This is for His Majesty.

It's just a false accusation. Don't you forget.

The mastermind that falsely accused Master Sun is beheaded.

Move aside.

Hailan Cha. Come in.

Yes.

That Narbu! Money is not to be coveted?

He's scheming after the relief aid?

Royal Father. Sir Narbu has always been cautious and conscientious.

Honest and incorruptible.

This matter must be a false accusation.

May you allow me time to investigate thoroughly.

False accusation?

The porridge he presents daily is almost like clear water.

Causing the victims of the disasters to rebel. 185 dead and over 500 injured. Is that a false accusation?

Imprison Narbu immediately for interrogation by Punishment Bureau.

Yes.

Your Highness. Old Master is in the prison.

Empress, His Majesty already said he will see no one.

I really have an urgent matter that I must see His Majesty for.

Your Highness, you really can't go in.

Your Highness. Oh my.

You can't. Can't.

Your Majesty.

Empress. You lost your composure.

Your Majesty, my father is innocent.

Victims of disaster smashed the relief center.

He and other relief officials did nothing.

The situation is out of control and many died or injured.

The officers I dispatched to investigate,

discovered that in the granary, the newly appropriated grains,

were less than 1/3 of what was sent.

Tell me. Who framed your father?

Was it the disaster victims, was it imperial censor, or was it me?

Your Majesty. These last 20 years,

my father never sought a barrack.

He never asked for promotion or wealth.

Whatever His Majesty says and whatever the people need is what how my father conducted himself.

Three years ago, Zhili rivers breached. He was only passing through.

But he stayed to help the locals.

Thirty days and nights, his boots were worn out.

His hair went grey.

At the most dangerous time, he and the 300 officers and people went to the river breach together.

To stop the breaching with sand bags.

For what?

He did no wrong all his life.

The only wrong is that he bribed Prince Yi for his own son.

That is his biggest black mark in his life.

He owes you and he owes Great Qing.

So he has repented with himself.

Your Majesty. A man like him.

Will he covet the people's relief grain?

- Empress. - A few days ago, my father came to find me.

He knew he would befall this disaster today.

So he came to bid me farewell especially. But I was not filial.

I didn't see him.

I beg you. Pursue it to the end. Please.

If the result doesn't change?

No. I believe my father would never do such a thing.

Your Majesty. My mother is already gone.

My brother is gone too. Only my old father left.

I once resented him as incompetent.

I resented him being weak. I resented most that he went on the wrong path.

But blood is thicker than water.

He is my father. He is my only relative.

Your Majesty. On my account,

please give him another chance. Please?

Alright. I consent to you.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

The harem is not supposed to mind the state affairs. But this matter is about my father's life.

I have lost my composure. May you forgive.

You may go.

Your Highness.

Empress.

You are alright?

Empress, be assured.

I will wash away Sir Narbu's wrongful accusation.

Thank you.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

- Get on up. - Emperor is here?

Royal Mother, you have the time and mindset to prune today?

I was bored and I saw how it's not beautiful the way it sticks out.

So I am fixing it.

Royal Mother summoned me to ask about Sir Narbu, right?

I haven't spoken and you alreayd guessed.

Harem asking about state affair.

You object to it the most.

But you can let Empress wail and beg before you.

That means you also believe in your heart,

that Narbu is innocent.

But the situation is as is.

Hongzhou and Ministry of Justice have investigated many times.

Before the relief grains arrived at the granary,

there were layer upon layer of exploit.

Narbu cannot cook without rice. How is he to relief disaster?

So what of it though?

Royal Mother says this way because she has another thought?

Narbu is more than loyal.

It's his competence that is lacking.

East Zhejiang has 126 relief centers installed.

But it's only his center that has the issue.

The victims of disaster rebelling and he couldn't control it.

Instead he left the chaos get bigger.

Many victims died and startled both the imperial court and the people.

If we are all incompetent like him,

Great Qing will be such a chaos.

Royal Mother.

You mean I should kill Narbu?

If you don't kill,

you can't pacify the anger of the people.

You are usually abstaining from meat and reading scriptures.

Merciful in mind and heart.

Even if it's a palace maid or an eunuch committing a wrong, you don't punish easily.

But to tell me to kill a devoted officer.

You clearly know he was framed.

May I ask you, Royal Mother.

Why?

Royal Child.

If you don't kill Narbu,

you will have to investigate this matter thoroughly.

And more people will be implicated.

Even your own royal uncle or your royal brother.

And the thousands of relief officers.

The grains went through their hands.

One drop here and there like leaking sand.

Not much left.

Royal Mother. There was exploit from top to bottom, layer by layer.

To come to today's plight.

Of course, they should pay for this.

Royal Child. Sit.

Those people are indeed deserving of death.

But Royal Child. You can't kill them all.

You must follow the vine to get to the melon.

Do it slow and not rushed.

You should move slow and not fast.

If you startle

Prince Lu or Prince Ping,

it's akin to putting the imperial clan as your enemy.

Think about the late emperor back then.

He was targeted by his brothers and objected by the imperial clansman together.

All his decrees getting sent out.

It was so hard.

Other than your 13th uncle. With no one by him.

Even the people said he was harsh and merciless.

He could only stop the killing with a killing.

You became the emperor and stepped on his shoulders,

to successfully build your reputation of magnanimous reign.

Do you want to see the ministers and the generals unsettled,

and be subject to everyone's abandonment?

Royal Mother.

In order to pacify the imperial clan and officials,

I must kill an innocent recklessly?

I have already said so. He is not really innocent.

He is incompetent.

Many people only believe what they see,

and what they hear and understand what they understand.

To their eyes, Narbu is a greedy officer.

You present to them Narbu's head,

and that's easy logic.

Royal Mother.

She is Empress's last relative.

If he were someone else,

we might be able to delay his life.

But precisely because he's Empress's relative,

that we must kill him.

Only through killing him, people will believe,

that Great Qing's laws aren't bending for the personal ties.

So they can believe you are an emperor,

who is fair.

Emperor, sacrifice one person.

You can preserve the reputation of the imperial clan through it.

Royal Mother. If I am to do so indeed,

I will only muddle Great Qing's officialdom morale.

To lend hope to those vermin that deceive the emperor and the people to take advantage.

Emperor!

Royal Mother.

I know, you are worried for Great Qing.

But I . . .

must think it through.

Empress Dowager, why do you insist on it?

If you anger His Majesty, and if Empress finds out,

she would be dismayed.

Now, the border wars aren't pacified.

Each area hit by disasters.

To kill one Narbu and others will say Emperor passes like thunder and moves like the wind (swift and decisive).

But if govern each layer of officialdom,

the imperial clansmen will blame Emperor for being cold and merciless.

And the people will be suspicious of Great Qing's governing.

These are two different results.

Empress Dowager. His Majesty will have a decisive measure.

I hope so.

Empress. His Majesty said he won't see you.

The guards are here too.

I really can't let you burst in there this time.

Even if you keep waiting, it's useless.

His Majesty won't see me then I will wait till he will.

Empress. You are making it hard on me.

It's windy outside and if you get the chill,

I can't bear the blame.

Empress. Why do you do this?

When His Majesty sees me,

is when I will rise.

Miss Zhen'er, please help me persuade Empress.

What Mistress has decided on is not persuaded by anyone.

Your Majesty. You're looking at reports about Lord Narbu again?

These are all asking me to kill Narbu.

Li Yu.

Yes.

These are the ten thousand words pleading me to kill the mastermind of the crime, Narbu, by the people of East Zhejiang.

Hailan Cha, if you were me,

what would you do?

I don't dare to speak.

You can speak.

If it were me handling this matter,

I would kill Narbu without reservation.

Hailan Cha. You have always been honest and just.

But to say this?

Your Majesty, killing one person can appease the anger of the people.

To kill a crowd and it will court madness.

Those true vermin.

You can deal with them each and all later.

But right now, Narbu must be killed.

Your Majesty, Empress is kneeling outside the hall all along.

She won't leave.

Empress. His Majesty is toiling over this matter.

Please don't push him more.

Your Highness, His Majesty is already resting.

Will you really continue to kneel?

Your Highness. His Majesty is resting.

He wants you to return to rest too.

Your Majesty. Empress is iron-hearted. She won't leave.

How about you rest first since you have morning session.

Your Majesty, the disaster grain relief.

Layers of exploit. By the time it reached my father's hands,

not much was left.

You have been kneeling all night.

Is it to threaten me, Empress?

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♫Softly falling into the hollow of my palm,♫

♫Resting frozen in the center of my palm.♫

♫Our meeting across past incarnations was inevitable,♫

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

♫Though plainly given words of discouragement,♫

♫Pretending to hear nothing but exhortation.♫

♫ Endless tears, believing it cannot be true,♫

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

♫I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫

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

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

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

♫ I hear the sound of the snow slowly falling♫

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

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

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