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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 PalaceEpisode 65

Am I too strict with Yongqi?

Mistress, this group of princes now.

4th Prince has an explosive temper.

8th Prince is hedonistic in wine and women.

11th Prince is stingy by nature. None of them are favored.

6th Prince has been decreed to be adopted out.

And his hope of succeeding the throne was cut off long ago.

What's left is 5th Prince, 12th Prince and 15th Prince.

Mistress, you ought to make your resolute early on.

I promised Wei Yingluo

not to harm the princes in the palace.

Mistress. Now is not the same as before.

but with the situation now,

it's 5th Prince who's probably must valued.

Once he becomes the successor,

and you being the empress would naturally make you Empress Dowager.

However, what about 12th Prince then?

Did you think about this?

Empress has birthed a legitimate prince but to allow others to get the throne?

The future fate of 12th Prince,

his fate might just become like this aging and dwindling parrot's.

Step by step,

slipping into an abyss of misfortune.

Shut up.

My words end here.

May Empress the Mistress be prudent.

What's wrong?

What did you tell Her Highness just now?

It's nothing. Just casual talk.

Her Highness has always thought about Twelfth Prince's future.

So don't add fuel to fire already.

Empress has lived ten years of peaceful life.

She forgot all about the fight for the throne is pending now!

Once 5th Prince becomes the successor of the throne,

our 12th Prince, standing as the legitimate prince,

will soon become the new emperor's eyesore and flesh thorn.

His Majesty is in good health

and he has no intention to install the crown prince early so what's your rush?

You have to plan in order not to suffer defeat.

Waiting for what? Wait for the proper decree naming someone else written and sealed in a box?

Then it won't matter who's anxious then.

I know. No matter who succeeds the throne,

they will all need to honor our mistress as empress dowager.

But don't forget,

since 13th Prince died early,

12th Prince has become Empress's sole lean-on.

Can she watch with her eyes open, her beloved son bowing to 5th Prince as his subject?

You understand Empress. She's so proud.

She would never allow that.

At that time, the eggs are broken and the game's over.

Zhen'er, I'm actually being considerate of our own future too.

As for you,

think carefully about what I said.

Your Ladyship, 5th Prince is here to greet you.

Tell him I'm not here.

It's too late. Your Ladyship, 5th Prince is already outside.

You are so stupid.

If he sees this icebox and he starts scolding.

It'll never be the end again.

My Lady, it's too late.

What is this?

Your Ladyship, didn't you say to clean the storage in the backyard?

We brought this in earlier and we haven't put it away yet.

Quick, open it.

- My Lady...- Quick.

My Lady, be careful.

I don't know what sweet benefit you got from him. I'll have to settle this with you later.

Quick, hurry up.

This chest is not bad. Where did it come from?

This chest is huge. It can hold many things.

Greetings to 5th Prince.

Where is Mother Ling?

Her Ladyship was laying down here in the yard earlier.

She had a headache,

so now she's resting in the chamber room.

5th Prince, she's resting.

When I was young, Mother Ling would send people

to watch over my food carefully in the prince quarter.

How is it when it's her turn, she can't look after herself well?

If you catch a cold in this weather, it's hard to recover from such summer fever.

She'll complain that she can't eat iced food again.

She has three children now.

To be so stubborn and reckless still!

Look at this. It's only early summer.

All the ice from the ice bureau must be coming to Yanxi Palace.

This iced grapes and iced watermelon. Can she really eat it?

She'll have stomach pain after eating it and Royal Father will surely start scolding again.

And what a bad example to Zhaohua and the three of them.

Yes, you are right.

We will remember this.

I will definitely take good care of Mistress.

We won't let her catch a cold.

Prince, you must be busy with work. Why don't you go first?

I received my mother's family letter today.

I want to read it to Mother Ling.

I will wait here for her to wake up.

[ Yanxi Palace ]

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

Yongqi. I guessed you would be here.

What's wrong? You came for nothing again?

I can't hide anything from Royal Father.

The servants said Mother Ling was eating grapes half way,

then she went to take a small nap.

She's not awake yet.

She didn't finish her grapes

but she went napping?

We didn't finish our chess game that day. Let's do it today.

Alright.

Your Majesty, I will go prepare the chess table now.

May you move to the main hall.

No need. We'll play here.

Bring the chest here.

Royal Father, I won.

Let's have another round.

Yes.

Is there an end to this? I'm going to suffocate to death.

Quick, open up the cover.

- Mistress. - Another round?

Another round and I will surely suffocate to death.

You are already a mother

To carry out this kind of conduct?

You want the entire Forbidden City to laugh at you? Disrespectful as a mother.

Your Majesty, you clearly knew I was in the chest,

and deliberately tortured me.

Disrespectful for a king!

Mother Ling, can it be that you are hiding from me on purpose?

When did I?

If I hide once, you come ten times. What's the use of hiding?

What are you saying?

Yongqi is caring of you.

I know that Yongqi has good intentions.

But now that I'm at this age,

I really don't want another mother.

When I was young, I was under great care of Mother Ling.

I've regarded you as my real mother since long ago.

At the time you birthed Little 15th,

- Your Majesty. -Your life was hanging on the line and Zhaohua came to me crying.

At the time, I made up my mind.

If Gods can protect and allow you to survive,

I would surely urge you always to treasure your health.

I...I usually take note. It's true.

Last two years, your stomach disease has gotten worse.

Royal Father has long instructed your palace kitchen

to make a bowl of goat meat soup everyday but did you drink it?

When you birthed Zhaohua, you were left with postpartum illness.

When you get wind on you, you get a headache.

- Earlier you were sitting by the area with strong wind.- I...

Is this how you take care of your health?

If your health is well, Zhaohua and the others could've been raised here at Yanxi Palace.

And not end up with this parting of mother and children.

Royal Father, I'm very angry.

I fear I might disrespect Mother Ling so I take my leave first.

Yongqi.

Yongqi, I just couldn't endure it for a short time.

I don't see you looking so flustered often.

Your Majesty is happy?

I do feel consoled indeed.

Tell me.

Yongqi, that child, who does he take after?

He's scolding and nagging all day long.

He wasn't like this when he was young.

He doesn't know

but I do.

Your Majesty, what do you know?

These last ten years, we've had two sons and two daughters.

Pity that Yonglu wasn't preserved.

The night Yonglu died,

you accompanied him all night.

You never slept. I saw it all.

A month later, you sent Zhaoyu

to Shoukang Palace to accompany Zhaohua.

You entrusted Yongyan to be raised by Consort Qing.

Everyone says you are so harsh and selfish.

To win Empress Dowager's favor and coax Consort Qing.

But only I know.

Zhaohua is your eldest daughter.

You sent her to Shoukang Palace to console Empress Dowager.

Yingluo, after the incident of Chenbi,

you've always held great guilt towards Empress Dowager, right?

Your Majesty, Zhaohua is a person.

I would not use her to make amends for my guilt.

But you are worried that you are not in good health

so you want to seek new backings for them. Isn't that so?

I'm warning you.

Wei Yingluo, you are disallowed to hold such ominous thoughts. Not even a speck of it.

It's only because your body was harmed after birthing Yongyan.

The Imperial Physician already said,

if you focus on recuperating, you will slowly recover.

I just want you to accompany me.

Ever so long.

If you end up like Rongyin,

leaving me halfway,

I will never forgive you.

Your Majesty, didn't you say

that a disaster lasts a millennium?

Yingluo will surely try hard.

To live ever so long.

Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?

Your Highness, you're sweating quite a bit.

I will prepare a new sleeping gown and help you change.

No wonder you're not feeling well.

Your menstruating.

I've already prepared in advance and I'll go fetch it now.

Your servant Yuan Chunwang greets Prince He of the First Rank.

I haven't seen my royal sister-in-law for so long.

But I do see Little 12th often.

Have my sister-in-law be assured.

With me watching Little 12th learning martial arts,

I will not let him languish.

Prince.

Empress's favorite parrot died last night.

She is heart-broken and downcast all day.

I dare to ask Prince, where did that parrot come from back then?

So I can find one the same for Mistress.

Leave this to me.

Thank you, Prince.

If His Majesty would be so attentive to Mistress like you are, how great would that be?

And Mistress wouldn't be left to worry so much.

The last ten years, Noble Consort Ling has garnered the royal favor consistently and giving births in successions.

His Majesty is seduced by her and it's hard to avoid languishing in attention to Empress.

However, she is still the central palace, the empress.

Noble Consort Ling cannot surpass her.

Oh, Prince! Empress is heavy-clad with worries all day everyday.

It's not just for the struggle of harem.

Prince, you are the biological brother that His Majesty trusts the most.

Has His Majesty ever mention to you?

Talk about what?

Forgive me for speaking in error.

Prince, Her Highness is waiting for me to return.

I'm taking my leave.

What's the stuttering about? He stops halfway?

Even if he doesn't finish, I know what my royal sister-in-law is worried about.

Examiner Zhang, perhaps it's Empress's menstruation that's not coming smoothly.

Can you give her a prescription to restore?

I not only feel stuffy in my chest, I also can't sleep at night.

What exactly is going on?

Your Highness, I have already reminded you

that humans have five viscera that turn into five vital energies.

A lifetime's joy, anger, grief, worry and fright.

Stop beating around the bush.

Get to the point if you have anything to say.

Empress, on the surface,

you are weak in health with liver and spleen in disarray.

And you upset your liver energy often which has built up knots.

At times it may cause a collapse in blood but nothing serious.

As long as you take in aging tonic to adjust your blood and energy.

And you will see recovery.

After I am recovered, would I be as good as before?

Empress, no matter how we treat you,

the root of the illness is still in your heart.

I have something usurping to say.

You are seated in the phoenix seat.

By logic you should set your mind to peace.

Why do you fight with the other consorts for a temporary gain?

Jealousy courts worry and worry courts fright.

When dragged out long, you can't evade getting ill.

A momentary gain?

You mean I am easily jealous?

Your Highness, Your Highness.

This is not what I meant.

Get lost!

When I look into the mirror,

I keep feeling that I'm different from the past.

It seems I've gotten haggard.

Paled out, haven't I?

Your Highness, there's no such thing.

What did he just say?

Jealousy courts worry and worry courts fright?

Everyone's discussing about me behind my back?

That I am a crazed empress who mood swings?

Is everyone saying that I'm crazy behind my back?

Your Highness, they didn't.

No.

I have not gone crazy.

I'm very normal.

It's them who are crazy.

Zhen'er, help me brush and put on makeup.

I'm going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Your Majesty, why do you have two paintings exactly the same?

This is Huang Gongwang's

"Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" which I received a copy two years ago.

Fuheng sent another today.

Come look. Which is the real one?

I think this is the genuine piece.

Is that so?

Lord Fuheng is versed in battles.

But he's not versed in examining paintings.

Your Majesty, did you forget?

Two years ago he sent a pair jade vases.

It was the work of Interior Bureau.

It made a round in the glazed factory.

And it somehow became a great work of Tang Dynasty!

He got conned for a thousand taels.

But I think this time, Fuheng's discernment is right.

Look. These Yuan Dynasty painters, their titles are usually after they've painted.

Look at the old painting.

Its title is on the upper side of the painting.

Isn't this strange?

Well, that's just the act of someone who tried to make a fake into a genuine trick.

How are yo deceived by it too?

Your Majesty, take a look.

This old painting. It's brush stroke is imposing but hazy.

The change is unbounded.

This new work can't compare.

Is that so?

Should you look more carefully?

You are right too

but look at the fake one and it's not too bad either, right?

Put away these two paintings.

The genuine one, be careful with it and send it to Shanxi Hall.

Give it to me.

Your Majesty saw it wrong momentarily.

Perhaps your eyes aren't clear.

Maybe you should get a pair of Western glasses.

I can still shoot with great precision.

How am I to the point of an oldie with dazed eyes?

I just saw it wrong for a moment and that's all.

Talking about old, unclear eyes,

I really feel that

Empress has aged quite a bit these last couple of years.

You mean, Empress?

Yes.

Her mood is becoming more weird.

When I chat with her, it just gets more unfocused.

But when I leave, she throws a tantrum.

She's a totally different person.

Your Majesty...

Your dragon health is well.

Great handsome look.

You look no more than 34 or 35.

But it's quite different for women.

At this age, women need to face,

haggard appearance and unhappy moods.

it's also something normal.

Wei Yingluo,

you are getting old too!

Even if I'm getting old,

I'm still sixteen years younger than you.

Your Majesty...Your Majesty, forgive me.

I know my wrong.

I've really wronged.

At your age already!

If you squeeze me more, I'm really going to get wrinkles.

- You know to be scared? - Let go.

You said I was old earlier but why won't you scared then?

Are you going to say more? Huh?

- Your Majesty. - Are you? - I said just now that you're . . .

34 or 35.

Your Highness the Empress. Allow me to announce.

No need.

I wanted to discuss escaping to Yuanming Garden to escape the heat.

Since His Majesty is still busy,

I'm going back.

This bowl of iced lotus seed soup. Be sure to watch so that His Majesty not over indulges in it.

Or it may harm his intestines or stomach.

I will abide.

Your Majesty, Her Highness Empress personally delivered this bowl of

Iced lotus seed soup.

Leave it there.

Be careful that you don't wet this painting.

About this...

Go.

Take this

and store it well.

Your Majesty, didn't Noble Consort Ling say

Lord Fuheng sent a counterfeit?

When I was at the door, I accidentally overheard it.

She? She was afraid that I would be so worked up again

in putting stamps all over this painting,

hence, she claimed this genuine as being a counterfeit.

Her little petty thought?

Actually, I already could see through it.

I just didn't want to expose her.

Your Highness, you made the genuine one into a counterfeit on purpose?

That's right.

But that's a crime of deceiving the emperor.

At any rate, he won't expose me.

Why?

His Majesty loves his dignity.

If he admits the one Fuheng sent is a genuine one,

then he's actually stored the counterfeit as a genuine one previously.

And he even happily admired it numerous times,

and put on so many number of stamps.

Once it's known to the outside, wouldn't he become a joke?

So even if he could right away which is the real,

he won't expose me no matter what.

There is no wrinkle by the corner of the eye.

And the skin is the same as before.

I've tried all ways to preserve my current beauty.

But my body is telling me,

that everything was in vain...

Your Highness. Your Highness, the Empress.

Every woman grows old.

Even if the favored Noble Consort Ling will get old too.

She?

Will she grow old too?

Yes, Your Highness.

But she's younger than me by 10 years.

A whole 10 years!

How many 10 years does a woman have?

Did you hear them earlier?

She was laughing at me there.

She laughed about me being old.

Your Highness.

Also. Those consorts and concubines that were like flowers.

They're all laughing at me, this empress who is majestic.

Her flesh rotting little by little.

Zhen'er. Zhen'er, tell me.

In a few years, will my face be full of blue veins?

Will I be full of wrinkles and my whole head white?

And my face will never shine like satin.

His Majesty will dislike me.

Even the servants will pity me and laugh at me. Right?

Will they? Will they?

They won't, Your Highness.

They will.

Mistress. Empress Dowager's old too.

Stop talking. Stop talking.

Empress the mistress, the empress dowager is over 70.

But she's never had to worry.

Why? Because she has a son to depend on,

and not her husband.

These two have an enormous difference.

Mistress, you should think carefully.

When did it become a dog's turn,

to teach me?

Mistress.

The old you was so decisive and sure.

All these years, you were able to

govern all the ambitious consorts within your grasp.

And a bunch of subjects in the royal court have come forward supporting 12th Prince.

And look at Fuca House. Their family is deeply and glorious rooted with stars of generals.

Producing a line of capable individuals, but their empress was weak.

Mistress. You are the exact opposite.

You basically rose all on your own.

And you brought up the clan of Hoifa Nara to today's glory.

Imagine that skill and that resolute!

Fuca Rongyin can never even come close to compare to you.

Never ever is she enough.

But, Mistress,

you have changed.

Changed?

You've changed to faltering and hesitant and soft.

I swore that I wouldn't harm the princes in the Forbidden City.

Mistress, a great person like you.

Would you hold true value to mere words?

Forgive me for being bold. What you worry about,

has never been Wei Yingluo.

What you worry about is the current emperor.

You are not afraid of failure. You're afraid of hurting his feelings.

That you might lose him completely.

Your Highness.

Someone strong like you.

Why can't you put aside the petty love of a common woman.

And escape from emotional shackles?

You clearly could win beautifully.

But you keep enduring yourself to bitterness.

I feel you've cheated yourself.

My matters don't require your enlightening.

Go to Punishment Bureau and receive 40 floggings.

- Your Highness...- What he just said, if this leaks out,

it will surely implicate me.

If not because I considered your feelings, I would have had him flogged to death.

Why do you bother?

Why are you crying?

She's so angry. It proves I've spoken of her pain.

You clearly know Empress is cold on the surface,

but she's fully devoted and infatuated with His Majesty.

To see herself getting haggard in age,

what a cruelty it is.

How can you poke her where it hurts?

If I don't do so, how can I wake her completely?

You...what are you trying to do?

I want her to see herself clearly.

See the emperor clearly and see clearly the road under her feet.

But Empress won't bear to give up His Majesty.

If she can't spare the tough act,

I will do it myself.

What did you say?

Prince. These last ten years,

I have seen to clarity now.

In the entire Forbidden City, only you Prince

cares about Empress the most.

And only you care about what's best for her.

If you still don't help her,

her future path will only get that more more difficult.

I will find an opportunity to persuade His Majesty.

Persuade what?

Persuade him to be kind to Royal Sister-in-law and 12th Prince.

That's a dream Empress has been waiting for for long.

It has been thirty years.

Was it achieved?

The so-called kind treatment would only be pity.

Empress is such a prideful person.

She'd never care for the pity of others.

Prince. Allow me to overly speak once.

Now we can't count on His Majesty anymore.

Only you can help Mistress and 12th Prince.

And only you have the ability to do so.

Let me think about it.

Let me think about it.

To help them is to help yourself too.

5th Prince and Yanxi Palace are close.

And also in alliance with Fuheng.

Don't you forget now. These last 10 years, you and Fuheng,

are already like water and fire.

One subject for one emperor.

If 5th Prince really ascends,

Fuca House will be more fierce than tigers.

And you, a royal uncle,

would have to make way and stand aside.

Not just 5th Prince. Even if it's His Majesty.

Has he even trusted you full-heartedly?

Lord Fuheng.

Your Majesty, since you've left to me,

this Imperial Examination. May you return now and rest.

I will see to it earnestly and select the best qualified scholars to serve the court.

I will look at it more.

It's past the meal time.

Why do you toil yourself bitterly here?

It's not urgent.

Your Majesty, do you suspect that I might use personal relations to promote?

Or try to make the scholar my own man?

You want this hat?

I would never dare.

You don't dare?

Based on what you just said,

I can behead you.

Your Majesty, your brother just misspoke.

I deserve to die. Your Majesty, please forgive me.

I heard what you just said.

you hold a complaint against me but you don't dare to speak up,

but I'm giving you the opportunity now.

Speak.

Your Majesty. Your brother doesn't dare to begrudge you.

Even if you give me 100 nerves.

I wouldn't dare to.

Rise.

I gave you the opportunity and you wouldn't say.

So never say it ever then.

Head to Yanxi Palace.

Your Majesty, Empress has delivered some snacks again.

Saying she invites you to Chengqian Palace if you have time.

Your Highness, His Majesty is here.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

You're looking rosy today, Empress.

Your mood seems better too.

Your Majesty surely likes to make me the joke.

I am busy with ordinary matters of the harem all day.

I've already become an ordinary person.

What great delicacy are you enjoying?

What is this?

Your Majesty loves to hunt deer but you can't tell?

Deer fetus?

Deer fetus boiled with dark sugar.

And it will make deer fetus soup.

It's a great tonic that repairs the kidney.

I will instruct them to deliver some to Yanxi Palace later.

Fine. No need.

She doesn't need this.

Yingluo isn't like you.

You're always stressed working on various palace matters.

She is happy go lucky all day.

Painting and boating and going around wildly with the kids everywhere.

She won't need it.

Your Majesty. Seventh Princess and Ninth Princess have grown up.

In a few years, I will have to select their prince consorts.

And they should draw in and learn the rules now.

Though they are imperial princesses,

they can't be the laughing stocks of the subjects.

Fifteenth Prince is already six years old.

He should be like his older brothers,

learn the books in the morning, then riding and archery in the afternoon.

But Noble Consort Ling tries all ways

teaching him to pretend to be sick and run out there to play.

The teachers have complained about it so many times,

but Noble Consort Ling isn't giving it any importance.

Maybe that's an exaggeration.

Your Majesty, I speak these and you don't like to hear them.

but for the sake of a child's future, I must say these.

It's one thing with the princesses,

since with their lofty backgrounds we won't worry that the subjects might languish in their treatments of them.

But as for Fifteenth Prince,

he's chasing after cats and dogs and climbing up to the roofs to pull apart the shingles.

Other than having a strong body, he has no skills.

He was able to recite and read poems at the age of 3.

But now, his studies were cast aside on the back burner.

A great potential going to waste.

It's quite painful to watch.

You're right about this. I will scold her well.

But regarding the marriage of both princesses,

there's no need to get involved.

I will personally choose the candidates.

An ordinary foolish boy.

Can't match to my precious princess.

Since Your Majesty is willing to persuade Noble Consort Ling,

I don't have to worry then.

You are going back now?

I remember that I have something to do. I will visit you on another day.

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

Forgetting Each Other

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

♫All the memories completely vanish.♫