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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 PalaceEpisode 62

Where did this come from?

Your Ladyship, the day before Sister Mingyu was due to leave the palace,

Concubine Shun sent a senior palace maid to send an embroidery pattern.

At the time, I saw,

that she held a box of embroidery box.

Gugu Liu, Concubine Shun is unwell.

We fear she won't be able to accompany Empress Dowager to listen to mediation.

Is Concubine Shun alright? Have you summoned the royal physician yet?

I have urged her many times.

But Her Ladyship is worried His Majesty would worry if he found out,

so she will just drink some ginger soup and will be fine

She is also rushing on the embroidered scripture for Empress Dowager.

She just won't rest no matter how I urge her to.

You ought to persuade her more to cherish her health

I will go and inform Empress Dowager now.

Yes.

Mistress.

Mistress. Careful of getting rained on.

Mistress.

Did you hear that clearly?

That's Consort Ling.

The umbrella!

Your Ladyship.

Your Ladyship, it's raining so hard so why are you here?

I want to see His Majesty.

His Majesty won't see anyone right now.

Supervisor Li, may you please make announcement for me.

I have urgent matter to see His Majesty.

Your Ladyship, it's not that I am not helping you, it's just . . .

Supervisor Li, just make announcement for me.

I will forever remember this kindness.

Your Ladyship, I will try. Will try.

Your Ladyship, you should return.

His Majesty says he won't meet and he won't meet you.

Let's go.

Mistress.

Mistress.

Mistress. Careful of getting rained on.

Mistress, Consort Ling visits.

Yingluo.

You're here.

I was just about to come see you.

Come see me?

After I returned, I thought for long.

Mingyu's death.

I am partially responsible too.

How are you responsible?

She told me about her illness,

but she asked me to hide it for her.

I didn't want you to be sad, so I dragged on, afraid of telling you.

I didn't imagine she's be so despaired to seek death.

Yingluo.

What are you laughing about?

This. You gifted it to Mingyu.

I saw that Mingyu's tools were all old.

So I gave her a gold set especially.

I didn't imagine it would become her death sentence.

If I hadn't asked you,

were you planning on telling me?

I wouldn't say.

Why?

I finally earned your trust after so much work.

I don't want to be drifted from you over this.

Yingluo. Mingyu did something foolish.

And I held secret from you.

But we both did so out of protecting you.

Speak.

You acquainted me on purpose.

What's your real motive?

I want to become your best friend.

Best friend?

Someone who hides things?

I did so out of your best intention.

You are lying.

I didn't.

Then why did you force Mingyu to die?

I didn't force her.

She chose it herself.

My biggest wrong,

is that I couldn't stop her.

But actually, I've helped you get rid of pain as well.

What do you mean?

Yingluo.

Mingyu was already helpless.

But you must live on well.

A short pain is better than a long pain.

Even if she were alive,

how long could she live for anyway? One day?

Two days?

Or a month?

After she marries into Duolar manor, she'd just be in more pain.

Now, she left free and light.

It's the biggest mercy on her.

I have helped you with my own way,

but how can you blame me?

You're crazy!

Yingluo, I say this one last time.

Mingyu's life was painful.

Death was the best choice for her.

You're not a God.

You're a human.

You can't oblige everyone's happiness, anger, grief and joy.

Let her go.

And you're free.

Shut up!

I did hide it from you.

And I even turned a blind eye to her death.

If you can't forgive me . . .

- What are you doing? - Then you take these scissors.

Stab it into my heart.

Let go. You let go!

Let go!

What are you doing? Help.

Your Ladyship.

- Your Ladyship. - Chenbi.

Your Ladyship.

Stop.

-Chenbi. - Empress Dowager.

Move. Chenbi.

Empress Dowager.

Let me see.

Hurry and summon the royal physician.

- Summon the royal physician. - Chenbi.

Yingluo.

Why?

Why do you treat me like this?

Capture her.

Empress Dowager! Empress Dowager!

Chenbi.

Empress Dowager!

Empress Dowager!

Empress Dowager!

Royal Mother, what has happened?

Ask her.

Say it.

Today, Consort Ling arrived very angrily.

She blames Imperial Concubine Shun to be connected with the death of Miss Mingyu.

Mistress knew that Mingyu is gravely ill and incurable.

She pitied Mingyu

and helped her cover up her illness, but got vented on with anger.

Consort Ling was talking in a very agitated manner and accidentally

stabbed Imperial Concubine Shun.

I'll go check on Imperial Concubine Shun.

Wait!

Royal Mother, I'm very worried about her injury.

I've already let the imperial physician check it.

Although there was a lot of bleeding, it was just superficial.

Her life is not in danger. No need to worry.

What you should think about now is how to handle the perpetrator.

Royal Mother, have you interrogated the people at the scene?

I've interrogated her.

There's also the palace maid Zhenzhu.

I've already sent her to the Office of Careful Punishment for interrogation.

As for Consort Ling,

I'll leave her to you.

Royal Mother, I thought you always liked Yingluo?

But I can't allow her to hurt He'an!

Royal Mother, Imperial Concubine Shun isn't He'an.

If I say she is, then she is!

No matter if it was accidental or intentional,

this act of Consort Ling is too overbearing!

She must learn a lesson from this.

Leave.

Yes.

Your Highness Empress, forgive me for being unable to get up

because I'm gravely injured.

You're great.

What did you say?

Consort Ling has spared no effort to attend to Empress Dowager.

She and her have a relationship accumulated for three years in Yuanming Garden that no one could surpass.

In Forbidden City,

Empress Dowager is her greatest backer.

But you, in less than 3 months,

was able to let Empress Dowager treat you like her own daughter.

Do everything to show her care to you. You have really changed my perception of you.

You've overpraised me.

Consort Ling is very scheming and is a hard rival to deal with.

You then made your move while she's grieving for the death of Mingyu and her mind was still confused.

You're superb in an extraordinary manner.

Your Highness Empress, are you willing to work with me?

You and me?

That's right.

We are arch rivals. How could we work together?

Towards the same enemy,

people can work together.

Imperial Concubine Shun, I'm liking you more and more.

Arise.

Your Majesty.

The imperial physician said

that you haven't fully recovered from an old injury and got injured again.

You mustn't be willful anymore and recuperate in bed.

Empress Dowager asks that Consort Ling be strictly punished.

You have always been close to her.

I want to ask how you think she should be punished.

Your Majesty, Consort Ling lost a best friend and got instigated by others.

Such situation should be pitied.

But because of her agitation, she accidentally hurt others. Such crime can't be pardoned.

In my opinion, we should heavily punish the servant that instigated her.

As for Consort Ling, just ground her to reflect on her actions.

Chenbi, what do you think?

I think that

Consort Ling didn't do it on purpose.

Your Majesty, please be lenient on her.

Okay. Just lock her in her palace to reflect on her actions.

Who was the person instigating Consort Ling,

you better stand out now.

Her Highness Empress is benevolent and giving you all a chance.

Confess now or else if sent to Punshimenr Bureau,

each of you might lose your life.

Take them away!

Your Highness Empress, it's him! He's the most favored eunuch of Consort Ling!

It's him! It must be him!

Don't slander me!

Your Highness Empress, I'm innocent.

I never instigated Consort Ling.

If it wasn't you, who did it?

Think about it well.

What has Consort Ling said or did?

If you remember anything, you might get punished lightly.

If you can't, you can only be severely punished along with them.

Your Highness Empress, I frequently heard Consort Ling cursing Imperial Concubine Shun behind her back.

What did she say?

She said that she's a seductress and shameless.

She's like Daji, a disaster that would harm the state and its citizens.

That day, she learned that Imperial Concubine Shun hid the secret of Mingyu.

Past and present anger accumulated in her heart.

Hence, she got so agitated and harmed others.

So, it means that Consort Ling has planned this beforehand?

That, I dare not say.

But Consort Ling bears a lot of hatred against Imperial Concubine Shun.

That is the truth.

Take them all away. Carefully interrogate each one of them.

And then hand them to the Imperial Household Department for their final sentence.

Take them away!

- Empress, have mercy!- Get up!

- Move! Hurry and move!- Empress, have mercy!

Move! Hurry!

Move!

So, Your Highness Empress has colluded with Imperial Concubine Shun.

Consort Ling, the doting of His Majesty,

the trust of Empress Dowager, the accompaniment of a best friend,

the freedom in life, you're losing them one by one.

If I'm you, you better think about why you've ended up in this state.

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May Your Highness Consort Ling have your meal.

Your Highness, you've contracted a cold.

Do you want me to ask for an imperial physician?

How is there still an imperial physician who's willing to come here? No need to do such trouble.

For a person as kind as you,

that hateful servant Xiao Quanzi

has now been transferred to Qianqing Palace

by ruining your reputation.

A person will go up to higher places. Water will flow downwards.

There's nothing to be surprised about.

But a person still must have a conscience.

Everyone here in Yanxia Palace

got caned, except him.

Chief Steward Yuan.

Get out.

Is Mingyu that important?

She's just a servant.

Is it worth it?

Just for her,

the distinguished and intelligent Consort Ling went to confront Imperial Concubine Shun?

And in the end, didn't you just fall into her trap?

Starting today, you're not allowed to deliver food to Consort Ling.

He'll be in charge of everything here

in Yanxi Palace.

Chief Steward Yuan, Her Highness Consort Ling—

For palace matters,

you should just not ask what sholdn't be asked.

That is the way to survive.

Understand? Leave.

Yes.

Before, you kept contradicting me.

Do you know why I'm still using you?

I've betrayed Consort Ling. If she's still alive,

I surely won't have good days.

Smart. I like making deals with smart people.

Thank you, Chief Steward Yuan.

Remember, I don't want to hear any rumors.

Yes.

It's you.

Consort Ling. The mountain doesn't turn but water turns.

I came back.

Us master and servant are truly fated.

This is my meal?

These two months,

you have suffered stomach troubles.

Royal Physician has said long ago.

Everyday, one bowl of clear porridge.

This is clear porridge or clear water?

People need to be sensible.

The present isn't the past anymore.

A clear porridge is pretty good already.

Xiao Quanzi, how did I treat you before?

Now you repay my kindness with grudge?

Repay kindness with grudge?

Consort Ling. Look clearly.

Look! Other than me now,

who is willing to come to this ghostly place?

I give you respect and you don't want it!

You don't want to drink it, then starve.

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

Dog of a servant.

Sister, look at you.

Just a few days, and you've thinned out so much.

Your complexion is so pale too.

It's such a pain to watch.

Only that venomous woman Consort Ling!

To do such a ferocious act.

Sister Shun, these here,

are all medicines I've stored preciously.

It's most suitable to be used by those with weak body.

Whatever you lack, let me know.

Whatever I have, I will not spare.

[ Luminous like Dew ]

Sister. Now, I've thought through.

You just reunited with your parents and family not long ago.

It's understandable that His Majesty and Empress Dowager would favor you.

But you're also an honest person.

So that's how you became the subject of a petty person's jealousy and victim of dissension.

Sister. In the past,

I also suffered instigation by the crafty one.

So I misunderstood you.

Yes. I did make a lot of wrongs in the past.

May you be understanding.

Since we are all sisters and that's such a great fate.

We'll need to get along well in the future.

You saw Consort Jia and Consort Ling,

both getting punished in a row.

You're worried that calamity is near you now.

Concubine Shun. Sister Nalan is sincerely seeking peace.

Why do you force her so?

Addressing me as sister?

The likes of you?

Unworthy.

You!

Savage!

You're still not leaving?

Now that you're the most popular in Forbidden City,

Consort Ling couldn't be compared to you since long ago.

Can you be graciously lenient and let her go?

You plead on behalf of Consort Ling?

Yes. I plead on her behalf.

I thought the women of Forbidden City,

only know to envy and bitter.

To fight against each other.

We are all women the same. There exists someone like you,

pampered and rising to high soar.

But there exists also those like me, limited ability and pacified to survive.

But to me, Forbidden City is no different than His Majesty's court.

Empress is the master. Consorts and concubines are colleagues.

Harem is boring and lonely.

To have another friend to enjoy flowers and play chess.

Peaceful and harmonious. Isn't that good?

Did I say wrong?

As you said,

it's not that you don't dare to fight.

It's that you can't.

What qualifications do you have,

to plead with me?

Alright.

I cannot fight.

But Consort Ling is in this plight already.

Can't you let her go?

The one who wishes her dead.

It's never been me.

Yizhu, send off our guest.

Fuheng. Liu Dezhao's punishment. You set it as exile.

Why?

Per my investigation, though Liu Dezhao lied and acted deranged,

he is merely just a madman who can't decipher cold and hot.

Shandong's river commissioner, Bai Zhongshan.

He searched and found anti-Qing and pro-Ming resurrection tonsure literature.

A madman can accomplish such an act?

Fuheng. Don't let that treacherous criminal fool you.

Your Majesty. This man has really gone mad.

And totally illiterate.

By my supposition, the so called anti-Qing and pro-Ming resurrection and tonsure literature.

It was completely a calculated planting by the local governor in pursuit of promotion.

What do you mean by that?

To capture a madman,

and to capture a traitor. Which is the bigger merit?

Fuheng. You don't suspect the traitor but you suspect our own people instead.

I really suspect if you are truly a subject of Great Qing.

It's black and white and clear justice.

Don't quibble.

Making absurd remark on my dynasty in clear daylight. It's an act unfilial and rebellious.

Even if he's a madman, his crime isn't forgivable.

Send my decree. Liu Dezhao.

He's to be cut into a thousand pieces. Pledge to all the provincial governors.

Consider this a warning. Anyone who tries to usurp or slander the court.

To be killed without exception.

Your Majesty is sage.

There's another urgent matter.

In Jiansu's Tongshan county. The dike at south bank of the Yellow River is breached.

Tongshan Minister Li Dun and General Zhang Bin have encroached upon state treasury and delayed work, hence should be beheaded aptly by law.

But Gao Bin's punishment still awaits Your Majesty's words.

Your Majesty. Gao Bin is indeed suspected of sheltering his underlings.

But he did not fail his own duty.

Gao Bin retrieves money to renovate the dikes yearly.

Come this key moment,

and he repays me as such?

Gao Bin has governed the rivers for years and he's always been earnest and diligent.

Now we are amid the heart of struggle between river management and defense against natural disasters.

It's better to remove him from his post for the time being but retain him for future work.

Gao Bin has not been stern with his underlings and turned his back against your royal grace.

Now the river dike is destroyed and as the river supervisor, he is duty bound.

Lord Fuheng, what favor has he given you?

That you plead his case like this?

I and the House of Gao have always been incompatible as fire and water.

If you say I received a benefit from him, that is the biggest joke in the world.

To kill Gao Bin, then who will control the river? Prince He, do you even know?

- You! - Enough.

Tongshan Minister Li Dun and General Zhang Bin are to be executed on the spot.

As for Gao Bin.

- Tie him to the execution grounds as well.- Your Majesty.

What is said is right. Gao Bin is useful and I cannot kill him.

However, he can spare the death, but not the live punishment.

Let him look, then release him

Do not tell him in advance. Have him deem his head is not secured.

So he can remember this teaching. Kneel for dismissal.

I take my leave.

Is there something else?

Regarding Gao Bin's punishment.

You deem I am too cruel to him?

Your Majesty, why must you frighten him?

Hongze and Gaoyou floods.

As the river supervisor, he delayed the situation but I spared him.

Henan external river governor, Chen Keji.

He was found to have caused deficiency in treasury and he harbored him but I pardoned him once again.

This time, Tongshan's breaching.

Not only does it threaten the dike for the higher grounds,

but it threatens Huayang flooding from below.

That extreme incompetence cannot be pardoned.

Me not killing him is already being very merciful.

Your Majesty. But you already know.

Gao Bin is a competent subject.

As for controlling the rivers. It's a serious matter.

He could not pull strongly against a crazy situation,

but he's tried his earnest. Furthermore,

he's the biological father of Late Noble Consort Huixian.

His age is already over 70.

Your Majesty can kill or release but you cannot humiliate him.

Or the world might misunderstand.

Fuheng.

Just for whom,

do you really plead?

I don't understand what Your Majesty means.

You want me to consider an old tie.

You don't seem to be speaking for Noble Consort Gao.

You seem to be helping Yanxi Palace.

Your Majesty, I don't dare to meddle in Palace Affairs.

It's best if you don't.

You may go.

I take my leave.

Sir Fu. Sir Hailan Cha drinks all day.

May Your Lordship seek a way to help.

Lord Fuheng, may you hold your step.

Concubine Shun, you plotted to lure an external subject here.

Aren't you afraid others will find out and ruin your reputation?

You're not afraid Consort Ling's life is in danger?

Then you see to your own convenience.

Concubine Shun, if this your scheme to win favor, you've already outshine among the six palaces.

Why do you still try to eliminate Yingluo?

Wei Yingluo. She's your beloved, is she?

That day, I saw your beloved scented pouch.

I saw the special pattern on it.

After I entered the palace, I started to understand.

So Wei Yingluo was actually Lord Fuheng's beloved.

But why then did you lose her?

Just get to the point if you want to say something, instead of talking in circles.

Everything that was supposed to be yours.

You watch someone snatch them away.

Now, you're abandoned and defeated.

How do you feel now?

Absurd.

The Wei Yingluo now is just holding on by one breath.

What did you say?

She offended just too many.

Now she befalls to this plight.

Naturally someone will settle scores with her.

She's cut off from news and served clear water only daily.

How long can she really last?

This is all thanks to you.

No. It was because of you.

Because of me?

She and you had marriage promise and she was destined to be your wife.

But you? You abandoned her without reservation.

She befalls to this plight today.

And you're the true mastermind behind it.

You've got nothing to say now, right?

So many years, every time you hear the name, Wei Yingluo.

Your heart, has it been very painful?

Very sad? Very regretful?

Since I chose this path,

I have nothing to regret.

You're scared!

Scared of what?

You're scared of facing the past. Scared of facing yourself.

Clearly you can't bear the heart ache, but you keep telling yourself.

I don't regret.

It's all in the past.

Everything will get better.

Are you actually deceiving others?

Or are you deceiving yourself?

Yingluo should have had a happy life.

But because you, she's completely ruined.

Look. You are clearly very furious.

If it were another man,

he's be cursing me by now.

But you? You are clearly very angry,

but you won't forget the morality and cultivation engraved into your bones.

But just for that precisely,

you've lost your true love.

Are you done speaking? I've got work.

Why do you have to concede your love to another?

Because he's the emperor, the master of the world,

that he can just snatch one's beloved?

Fuheng. That person snatched your most beloved from you,

but he won't cherish her.

And you have to cower and bow and hold yourself down to him.

That's not fair.

What you said just now. Once heard by His Majesty.

What kind of an ending will that be?

Will he believe it?

Now, he's certain you and Consort Ling have unresolved love.

Everything you say,

would all just become excuses for her.

What? I guessed right?

Fuheng. You have been fettered by rules to your superior for so long.

How much lament must you hold.

To make you suffocate.

To make you tormented, about to go mad.

Wake up already!

Water.

Water.

What is it?

Water.

You and I have been servant and master.

How did I treat you usually?

His Majesty only ordered for my confinement.

If I died,

will you survive?

Supervisor Yuan.

Everyday, one cup of clear water.

Today, she's already had it.

Yes. Yes, yes.

You go. There's no business left for you here.

Yes.

Yuan Chunwang, you loathe me so much.

You can't wait for me to die?

What do you think?

Everyday, one cup of clear water.

You are trying to kill me.

Yingluo. Do you know what I want to hear?

You won't say it?

You want me to beg you for forgiveness?

Never!

Supervisor Li.

Starting today,

the clear water is spared.

Supervisor Li, you can't do that. If she dies . . .

Just a consort who's lost favor completely.

If she stays in this cold palace, it's death sooner or later.

No one cares about something that's bound to happen.

Consort Ling. She's so fierce.

She falls to repression greatly and never regains her stand.

Despondent and falls ill.

But Supervisor Li.

What's the nervous fuss for?

Even the royal physician's court wouldn't speak otherwise.

Yes, I got it. Got it.

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

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