Original subtitles

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

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 41

Wei Yingluo.

Wei Yingluo.

Wei Yingluo.

Neqin was incompetent!

Your Majesty, please calm down.

Since I started reigning independently,

the first highly-favored official would surely be Neqin.

But during the battles with the Jinchuan, he excessively-belittled the enemy and fought blindly. (T/N Suppression of the Jinchuan ("Gold Stream" Tibetans of Sichuan) is one of the Ten Great Campaigns of Qianlong)

He keeps suffering defeats and incurring so much casualties.

I already suggested to him

to use the "sowing discord" trick to break down the enemy's army. (T/N Stratagem 33 of the 36, Art of War)

But he was stubborn and didn't obey!

After getting defeated, he didn't do anything anymore and just shut himself up in his tent.

There was not a day that he entered the battlefield to fight again!

And he and Zhang Guangsi kept passing the blame.

Hence, our Great Qing suffered so many losses.

Tell me, should he die?

Your Majesty, in our defeats against the Jinchuan,

Neqin indeed didn't command the army well.

He's still a Grand Minister of the State and is currently commanding our army in a war.

Neqin is a coward who fears fighting in battles.

He's weak and incompetent.

If I don't heavily punish him,

it will only make a useless person like that more arrogant.

Spread my decree, remove the army-commanding power of Neqin and immediately drag him back to the capital.

As for his replacement...

Your Majesty, the Jinchuan are in the remote corner of Chuanxi. (T/N Western Sichuan)

It's just a very small area. No need for us to make these grand movements.

Now that our army has successively suffered defeats, our main strength is badly injured.

Why don't we temporarily withdraw and recuperate?

Just plan to attack them next year.

Withdraw our army?

Withdraw our army?

Every territory of Qing

was a result of the blood and sweat of our ancestors. If I withdraw our army now,

what about the soldiers who've sacrificed their lives already against the Jinchuan?

What about the border citizens of our prestigious Qing empire!

How can I face our ancestors in the future?

Zhang Tingyu, I think you're getting muddled as you get older!

Let me ask all of you now,

who...can go to war in place of Neqin?

Every one of you

are my Grand Ministers of State.

Each one usually showcasing his literary and fighting skills, and talking big.

But during critical times,

everyone has become silent.

Who dares to go against the Jinchuan!

Your Majesty, I'm willing to go.

Lord Fuheng, Jinchuan's region has harsh weather conditions and dangerous terrain.

Sha Luoben is also very fierce and vicious.

He secretly connived with the refugees of the past dynasty. Our army has repeatedly attacked him but ended in defeat.

The casualties are very grave and the army is unable to recover.

Even Zhang Guangsi who's very familiar with the southwestern topography has suffered successive defeats.

You mustn't let emotions affect you.

Fuheng, are you confident?

I'm willing to rush to the Jinchuan line now.

Even if I suffer a horrible death, I won't back down.

- Young Mistress, don't! Don't!- Let go!

Men! Men! Help!

Don't stop me!

Young Master, when Young Mistress heard that you're going to the Jinchuan's region, she got so agitated!

She said that rather than seeing you go to your death, it's better to just die now!

- Let go of me!- Quickly stop Young Mistress!

- Young Master! Young Master!- Let go.

- Young Master! Young Master!- Say it.

What do you want?

Fuheng, are you human at all?

I'm worried about you, and you show no concern?

Worried about me?

No. You're afraid that if I die on the battlefield, you'll become a widow.

The fame and wealth that you have now will all disappear.

What are you saying?

What? Did I say it wrong?

- I'll just cut off your hand now. Let's see how you'll go to the battlefield! - Young Mistress...

Young Mistress! Young Mistress...

Leave us!

Fuheng, don't go too far overboard.

I did all of this just for you.

Was it really for me,

or for yourself? You know it very well.

If you want to go to the battlefield and die, then go!

You must let me go.

Erqing, listen well. I hope that you will remember

every word that I will say now. I pardoned your life

not because of the Imperial descendant In your womb,

but because the guilt I have towards you.

This guilt once made me want to do everything I can to treat you well.

But everything you have done

has erased the last patience I have.

Starting now, just obediently stay inside this room.

If you dare take one step out...

What will happen?

If the left foot steps out, I'll cut off the left foot.

If the right foot steps out, I'll cut off the right foot.

Are you crazy!

You dare not question His Majesty and instead are insulting me here?

I've been a study partner of His Majesty for ten years.

I know his temperament a hundred times more than you do.

Even if you have outstanding beauty,

as long as you've bowed to the heavens and earth, have entered into the main gates of the Fuca Family,

he would never touch even a finger of yours.

As for how this child originated,

I am able to guess it without thinking.

You had better pray that I return safely.

If I'm unable to return...

What will happen if you don't return?

The Buddhist convent at the outskirts of the capital will be your home for the rest of your life.

You must come back.

Young Master, you're really going against the Jinchuan?

I heard that our army has suffered huge casualties. No one in the government dared to go.

Isn't it very dangerous for you to go?

Qinglian.

Sorry, Young Master, I said too much.

But Old Madam has fainted from worrying too much.

She said that if you don't give this up, she won't see you again.

Fearing fighting and dying. Cowering and not moving forward.

Why still read these military books?

What's the point of being an official?

I can only showcase my worth on the battlefield,

or else I'm just a high official receiving a sumptuous salary

who didn't deserve it.

If Old Madam asks again, tell her...

that I just went to do things that I really want to do. May she forgive me.

The swords and spears on the battlefield have no eyes. What if...

Young Master, think about Old Madam.

She already lost Her Highness the Empress. She can't lose you too.

Young Master! The sky is about to go dark!

Where are you going?

♫ Moving with the wind ♫

♫ Kowtowing once for every step ♫

♫ Love is long-lasting, hate is long-lasting ♫

♫ Make a cocoon and imprison myself ♫

Why are you in a daze?

Are you finished with your work?

Just finished.

Stop sweeping. Come and eat with me.

♫ Who said that love endures for all of eternity? ♫

♫ Having torn apart the fur coat worth a thousand in gold ♫

♫ Dreaming of being intoxicated at the River Viewing Pavilion ♫

♫ Who cares about those lasting worries? ♫

♫ Who cares about those lasting worries? ♫

♫ The willow by the palace wall follows the wind ♫

♫ Kowtowing once for every step ♫

♫ Love is long-lasting, hate is long-lasting ♫

♫ Make a cocoon to imprison myself ♫

Greetings, Royal Mother.

Quickly rise, be seated.

Royal Mother, you especially called me come by to today. Do you have something to say?

- Go and get me the longevity medicinal formulation.- Yes.

This formulation was named "longevity".

It aims to let you live longer, like the lifespan of a turtle and a crane.

It contains thirty-three kinds of beneficial medicines.

It's the most effective prescription for longevity.

Now, the Jinchuan war hasn't been pacified yet.

You call for the Grand Ministers of the State day and night to deliberate.

This formula would be best to nourish your health.

Li Yu, you must remind His Majesty to take that every day.

Don't slack off.

Yes.

Royal Mother cares for me a lot, such a benevolent heart.

I surely will etch it in my heart.

That one was given to me by Imperial Noble Consort Xian. (T/N now the highest-ranking harem member)

She knows that you will never listen to her words.

Hence, she borrowed my mouth to say them to you.

You then have no choice but to obey it.

Your Majesty, she's a

rare virtuous consort.

Since the Empress left,

she managed the six palaces on her behalf. The whole inner palace

are quite happy about it.

You mustn't treat her unfairly.

Didn't I already promote her to Imperial Noble Consort?

Although Imperial Noble Consort manages the affairs of the inner palace,

she's still just an assistant of an empress.

Since you've already made the first step,

why not just give her this grace?

Royal Mother wants me to make her the new Empress?

I know.

You and Rongyin were officially married.

When she left, you were in so much grief.

But a long time has past.

You should learn to let it go.

Also, the empress position

can't always be empty. You must name an empress sooner or later.

Although Imperial Noble Consort Xian has no child,

she has prestige.

Also, very virtuous. If you're going to name an empress,

she's the best choice.

What Royal Mother said is very right.

I was negligent.

Emperor, the past matters

were indeed regrettable, but they are in the past.

You still should cherish the people in front of you.

Lady Hoifa-Nara was conferred as a second-level wife during the time of Royal Father.

She manages the palace in a warm and cautious manner. Virtuous and strictly obeys the code of ethics.

After dignified and beneficial guidance from Empress Dowager,

she's now fit to be a motherly model of the empire. After an auspicious date is chosen,

she can be transferred to the Empress position. Hence, I'm obeying the Empress Dowager's orders

and conferring Imperial Noble Consort Hoifa-Nara as the Empress.

Your Highness, your hard work finally paid off.

Silly girl. This is clearly a joyous event.

Why are you crying again?

Your Highness said it right.

I'm happy.

I should be happy.

Your makeup is melting from your tears.

Quickly go wash your face.

Mother, I'm not anymore,

a weak and incompetent daughter.

I'm the Empress now.

The leader of the six palaces. The motherly model of the empire.

The whole Qing empire will know

that your daughter is the Empress.

You don't need to suffer the ridicule of others anymore.

You don't have to live in tattered clothes anymore. (T/N suffer misery)

No one would dare belittle you anymore.

I've already earned us prestige.

I didn't disappoint you. Mother,

I'm now the Empress.

Why are you not around?

I want to let you personally see

this formal robe of mine.

Personally touch this luxurious fabric.

Mother,

I so want for you to hug me.

I miss you.

I miss you so much.

From now on, I, Hoifa-Nara

Shushen, am the Empress of the Qing Empire.

The Hoifa-Nara clan will be under one man but above all others! (T/N answer only to the Emperor, above all)

The birthday banquet for this year will be held in the Zhengdaguangming Hall of Yuanming Garden.

Everything must be prepared before the convoy of His Majesty arrives.

The few of you will be responsible in cleaning the sleeping chamber of His Majesty.

- You few will especially handle the cleaning of the Jiuzhou Qingye Hall.- If His Majesty comes, will his Imperial consorts come too?

- Of course. That's the palace rules.- The few of you...

What are you two mumbling about? Yuan Chunwang, Wei Yingluo, and those four others beside you,

you will be in charge of cleaning the back area around the pond.

- The whole back pond?- Right. The whole back pond.

The releasing of life ceremony for this year's birthday banquet will be done in the back pond of the Yuanming Garden.

You all should be alert.

If there is any oversight, be careful of your skin!

Is cleaning the back pond some happy task? Why are you happy?

If His Majesty is coming, Noble Consort Chun will surely come.

Won't I be able to see Mingyu then?

Mingyu?

These past two years, we've been exchanging letters. She said that she's been doing well in Zhongcui Palace.

But these past two days, we suddenly lost contact.

I'm quite worried.

Empress Dowager, on the eastern side, that's the newly-built Changchun Courtyard.

In the future, we will still expand towards the southeastern side.

Look over there. Those are newly-designed landscapes.

When the expansion is complete, the three palaces can be connected.

The scenery here is so beautiful.

Consort Yu, this must be your first time in the Yuanming Garden, right?

I came here once with His Majesty.

But these past years the Yuanming Garden has been undergoing expansion.

Plus the fact that I still have to take care of Fifth Prince, so I wasn't able to come anymore.

Look at that Consort Yu.

Since she started following Noble Consort Chun, she has completely changed. Always fawning on her.

Sister, stop saying it.

What's there to fear? What I'm saying

is a truth known by everyone in the palace.

Mingyu!

I knew that you'd be coming here with Noble Consort Chun.

I've been waiting for you.

Mingyu?

Yingluo.

Greetings to Mistress Chun and Mistress Yu.

It is indeed you.

Long time no see.

For Your Highness to still remember me is my great fortune.

Rise.

Mingyu, you also once worked in Changchun Palace.

Your relationship with Yingluo has always been good.

Since she came to see you today, you two should make use of the time to catch up.

Thank you, Your Highness Noble Consort.

No need.

Your Highness has just arrived here in the Summer Palace. I still have to unpack your things.

I have no time to mind miscellaneous people.

Mingyu!

When the past Empress was still around, you kept trying to be above everyone else.

Everyone in Changchun Palace had to yield to you.

Now that we're in the Summer Palace, you still want to boss me around? I've endured enough.

Yingluo, since she doesn't want to mingle with you, stop pestering her then.

Noble Consort Chun, the peonies over there have blossomed.

Let's go look at them.

Mistress, I'll accompany you.

Mingyu!

Now that we're in the Summer Palace, you still want to boss me around? I've endured enough.

You've been sitting here for almost two hours.

I'm really curious about what you're thinking.

Mingyu is acting very strange.

What's strange? I think it's very normal.

Just like you. You used to be very arrogant and domineering while back in Changchun Palace.

She was just acting to be nice to you.

In reality, she hates you a lot. It's all your fault.

Mingyu and I haven't been together for that long.

She indeed has a short temper,

but is a very straightforward person.

Straightforward? That's why she embarrassed you in front of so many people?

Anyway, I find her behavior strange.

Even Her Highness Consort Yu, she also...

You want to say that she's not as weak as before?

- Yes...- Yes... Sit down.

Let me talk some reason into you.

Present times are different from before.

Consort Yu has now sided with Noble Consort Chun. It's as expected.

Okay already. Stop thinking about it.

Open your mouth.

You still have wake up early tomorrow.

Listen to me. Rest early.

Does it look good?

This is...

I saw how plain your hair adornment is, so I bought it for you.

Say it. Does is look good?

Brother, stop spending money on me.

Her Highness the Empress gave me a lot of good items.

I've kept them all.

What?

From now on, stop suddenly mentioning the former Empress.

Yingluo, it's already not her reign anymore.

You must always remember that the present Empress is of the Hoifa-Nara clan.

Rest early.

Let go of me!

Can you say it now?

What has happened?

While serving at Zhongcui Palace, has Her Highness the Noble Consort treated you badly?

I'm doing very well.

I'm doing well, understand?

I'm now a highly-favored palace maid by Noble Consort Chun's side.

You're just a low level servant of Yuanming Garden.

Stop coming to see me.

I also have never treated you as a friend.

I don't want to see you again.

Stop right there!

You're hurt?

Let me see.

I already said that I'm fine. Why won't you believe me?

If you're fine, why is your hand painful?

I...

Mingyu, Noble Consort Chun is treating you badly.

Also, she threatened you and banned you from being close with me. Am I right?

I'll go see her.

Yingluo!

The present Noble Consort Chun isn't the same as Her Highness Consort Chun was. She--

What has happened these past two years

so that you've become this scared?

Yingluo...

You must be careful with Noble Consort Chun. You must be careful with her!

Explain yourself.

There's no more time.

If I don't go back now, they'll notice it. I must go.

Yingluo, you must be careful of her. She won't let you off.

Mingyu!

Miss Yingluo, you keep pursuing her like this. What really do you want?

What did you people do to Mingyu?

I don't understand what you're saying.

How could someone suddenly become a bird startled by just the twang of a bow

unless Noble Consort Chun favors her publicly, but tortures her covertly?

Don't spout nonsense!

In the past, Her Highness Consort Chun has always followed the lead of the past Empress.

Now that the past Empress has died,

she then is covertly torturing the old palace maid of Changchun Palace.

It's beyond logic,

unless Her Highness the Noble Consort is hiding something?

What could she be hiding?

If she's not hiding anything, why are you getting so nervous?

Shut up, Wei Yingluo.

I'm warning you. Stop being nosy.

Be careful of losing your life.

Whether there is a secret or not, it will come out sooner or later.

You still have to be alive to investigate it.

Help! Help! Someone wants to kill me!

Who are you? What are you doing!

It's them!

Catch him!

Catch him...

Who dares to move?

Who are you people?

You dare act atrociously here in Yuanming Garden?

Gonggong Zhang, now that the Emperor is here, these two people must have come here to assassinate him.

Maybe they got lost and mistakenly entered this place.

No! We're here to steal things and not assassinate anyone.

Rubbish! If you're just stealing, why do you have a dagger?

You two deserve to be cut into pieces! Drag them out!

You...come here.

Why were you shouting earlier?

What if you startled the Emperor?

If you've attracted the Imperial Guards here, be careful with your life.

Chief Steward Zhang, Yingluo was also just thinking about the safety of His Majesty.

Didn't you see that scoundrel holding a dagger?

Disperse.

All of you, disperse!

Why didn't you tell the truth?

What I said was the truth.

Stop acting in front of me.

Those two men were clearly here to kill you.

Yes. They were here to kill me.

Why didn't you tell it to Chief Steward Zhang?

If a Noble Consort makes her move, she surely would send people willing to die. They won't get anything with the interrogation.

I don't have time to waste with them.

Branding them as attempting to assassinate the Emperor will already be torture enough for them.

Tell me, who wants to kill you?

[ Portrait of Her Highness the Empress of the Fuca Clan, posthumously titled Empress Xiaoxian ]

Your Majesty, there is a designated person cleaning the offering table of Her Highness the past Empress.

Look. They even placed the favorite jasmine flowers of Her Highness on it.

That's a sewn flower.

Replying to Your Majesty,

when the jasmine flowers haven't blossomed, I use sewn flowers or paper flowers in place of them.

I've sprayed jasmine flower fragrance on them, hence, they are very similar to a true jasmine flower.

I remember that when the Empress was alive,

she loved eating this kind of cake.

But how come the color looks weird?

Your Majesty, don't worry. They place a new one every day.

They would serve it here while it's still hot.

How could the servants dare to not put any offering food on the altar of the former Empress?

How come this thing is very hard? Who made this?

Replying to Your Majesty, I did.

Wei Yingluo.

Is this polished glutinous rice cake or a rock?

How bold of you! How dare you offer such an item? You...

Don't you want to live anymore?

Replying to Your Majesty,

I dreamed of Her Highness the Empress last night.

This is the first time that Her Highness visited me in my dreams these past two years.

She said that she missed this polished glutinous rice cake.

But the cook of Yuanming Garden doesn't know the taste that Her Highness likes.

I boldly made one myself.

You made one yourself and it is this quality?

Replying to Your Majesty,

it was Mingyu who took care of the snacks of Her Highness before.

I only served as her assistant. May Your Majesty forgive me.

Clever talk and ingratiating manners!

Your Majesty, I only wanted to fulfill the wish of Her Highness.

But I'm incompetent. I've let Her Highness suffer.

Mistress, what are your instructions?

Mingyu, last night,

where did you go?

I lost my handkerchief, so I went back to look for it.

- Really?- It's true!

Your Highness, please believe me. I dare not lie!

It's indeed Wei Yingluo.

She's quite ruthless.

Just a few words,

and those two people got executed.

Your Highness said it right. That girl

is a huge impending trouble.

No matter how crafty she is,

she can't predict things.

Don't we have a spy here?

Your Highness, I dare not do that! I would never dare!

You wouldn't dare?

Your Highness! Your Highness, don't! Your Highness, please spare me! Please spare--

Your Highness the Noble Consort Chun, I'm here to relay the verbal decree of His Majesty!

You know what you should say

and shouldn't say, right?

Yes.

Chief Steward Li, come in.

Your Highness the Noble Consort Chun, as decreed by His Majesty,

I must take Miss Mingyu to the Changchun Immortal Room.

Mingyu?

His Majesty wants to eat polished glutinous rice cakes.

He heard that Mingyu's culinary version is the most genuine. Hence, he's asking her to go there.

Aren't you going to hurry?

Chief Steward Li, I'm used to having Mingyu by my side.

With His Majesty just suddenly taking her from me,

it's a bit unbearable for me to part with her.

Your Highness, any person that His Majesty wants

even if you can't bear to part with her, you have to.

Miss Mingyu, move quickly. His Majesty is still waiting!

I will take my leave.

Your Highness, what should we do?

They are just two lowly palace maids.

Even if they ally together, what can they do to me?

Moreover, she's from my Zhongcui Palace.

She will be back sooner or later.

Miss Mingyu, it's all here.

Just focus on making the desserts.

Mingyu, are you alright?

I fooled His Majesty into thinking that a whole set of offerings must be prepared for Her Highness the Empress.

I earned you a day's time.

This is too risky.

Where are you hurt?

I...

Don't touch me.

Mingyu!

Let's go.

I'll take you to see His Majesty.

You can't. We really can't.

Why?

We can't...we can't possibly...

I'll ask for a doctor then.

No, you can't. Yingluo!

Yingluo!

Miss Yingluo, you're too bold.

If I didn't come this time and it's some other Imperial physician, what will you do?

The other hand.

Doctor Ye is now the pillar of the Imperial Medical Academy. You are highly favored by the Empress Dowager.

How can you be left behind whenever the Imperial family go out of the palace?

We haven't seen each other for two years, yet you're still this silver-tongued.

Doctor Ye, how is Mingyu?

Take this in. It will make it more bearable later.

That was close.

If we were a bit slower, this needle would continue to go up.

If it reached the head,

even the deities wouldn't be able to save her.

Say, what kind of person can be this heartless

to insert a silver needle inside a body? A person must walk, sit, and sleep.

The silver needle will move with one's body fluids and you'll be in severe pain.

Doctor Ye, thank you for today.

But the matter today...

Don't worry. I've been in the palace for quite a long time.

I know what can and can't be said.

But...I'm only able to find this needle hiding in a more superficial area of her skin.

It's possible that some have flowed into her internal organs.

I fear...

Doctor Ye, I won't die. Thank you for today.

Miss MIngyu, you must follow the prescription I gave you for the whole month.

You must take the medicine every day.

It will benefit your recovery.

Doctor Ye.

I'll walk you out.

Okay.

Can you tell me the truth now?

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

♫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?♫