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.

Yanxi Palace Episode 52

Why would I harm 5th Prince?

That year, it was me who rescued this child.

Because I am in good relations with Noble Consort Chun.

So you deem with certainty that I betrayed Late Empress.

You create all kinds of difficulties for me but I endured it all.

I thought on Yongqi's account,

we could get along in harmony.

But I didn't imagine you'd develop such wicked heart.

How old is Yongqi?

He's utterly sincere with you and completely unguarded.

But you actually put such a poisonous hand . . .

Are you even human? Have you any humanity?

Where did such medicine come from, into Yanxi Palace?

Great question, Your Majesty.

The entire Forbidden City.

Other than Imperial Physician's Court, it's probably only Yanxi Palace that has it.

Your Majesty, I hear Consort Ling was injured in the right hand upon falling off the horse.

Senior Physician Ye prescribed a wolf's bane ointment.

To treat pain of bone dislocation and bleeding from fracture.

This ointment uses wolf's bane.

So Yanxi Palace would have it naturally.

Your Majesty. Consort Ling was granted royal grace but she does not repay it.

Instead she is jealous of Consort Yu and tried to kill 5th Prince.

A woman with such petty heart and venomous hand.

She truly makes one's hair stand up in anger.

I know that Your Majesty can't bear to punish Consort Ling.

But if everyone follows suit, then Forbidden City would be such chaos.

And just how chaotic would the imperial harem become?

I dare to beg Your Majesty to punish severely.

To serve as a stern warning to all.

So everyone knows that killing a royal heir is unforgivable.

Yanxi Palace has wolf bane's ointment.

Consort Ling is indeed unable to be spared of implication.

However, we can't just be certain

that she is the one who tried to kill 5th Prince.

Your Majesty is right.

Consort Ling has no children.

To kill 5th Prince with poison, other than venting of anger, what would she stand to gain?

Empress, 5th Prince and I,

we have been cared after by Noble Consort Chun generously.

Hence Consort Ling has insulted me many times.

Saying I am a social climber who knows no shame.

Even that Mingyu by Consort Ling's side.

She even gives me attitude before the crowd.

5th Prince is young in age and couldn't stand his mother being harassed so he spoke back a few words.

I didn't imagine it would court such deep grudge from Yanxi Palace.

To result in a disaster of murder upon 5th Prince.

Empress, you are merciful so you wouldn't know that such women exist in the world.

Your Majesty, if this incident is publicized, it will rile many talks.

It would be better to detain the Yanxi Palace personnel and interrogate each one slowly.

Just the eunuchs and palace maids are detained?

Consort Ling . . . how should she be handled?

Consort Ling is a 4th ranked imperial concubine so she is to reside in Yanxi Palace for the time being.

After the interrogations results come, we can make arrangements then.

Empress, you are delaying time for Consort Ling?

Now we have evidence and witness,

what is there to interrogate or ask?

Then by your account, we don't ask about it and just go straight to punishment?

Your Majesty. I know,

you pamper Consort Ling.

But 5th Prince, he's your own son.

Can you bear to see him suffer such pain? Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Yongqi, your mother is useless.

Your mother can't protect you.

And I can't set justice to your grievance. I should die . . .

Truth is not revealed yet but you're so anxious?

Your Majesty, I have always been useless.

I can only use this method, to appeal for justice for Yongqi.

If you insist on not punishing Consort Ling,

I can only use my death to show my conviction.

Your Majesty. You saw this yourself now.

I told you before,

that even if I don't cause trouble,

as long as Your Majesty's favor exists by me, others won't leave me be.

- Hurry. - Slower.

- What is it? - Faster now.

Consort Ling, you delude yourself thinking you can use your words to strip yourself from your crime.

Look! 5th Prince remains unconscious.

Consort Yu almost committed suicide. Haven't you sinned enough?

In the end, having Yanxi Palace searched, your prestige will obliterate completely anyway.

I urge you, instead of quibbling, you should acknowledge your wrong sooner.

Consort Ling.

I want to know. Did you do it?

Of course not.

Your Majesty, my witness will soon arrive.

What witness can you have?

You're just delaying time.

We're already here so there's no urgency not to wait.

Royal Physician Ye is here.

I greet Your Majesty. Empress.

- Get on up. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

So Royal Physician Ye is your witness?

Royal Physician Ye, it was you who prescribed wolf bane's ointment to Consort Ling?

It is.

Wolf's bane and fritillary bulb clash with each other.

Yes.

Consort Ling, what exactly did you want Royal Physician Ye to tell me?

Royal Physician Ye, I don't know medicine.

But if someone eats something wrongly, what's the first thing that should happen?

Eating something wrong?

Yes. A slight dosage of poison.

Or eating food that clash each other.

That's easy. Vomit.

Dare I ask Royal Physician Liu, did you get 5th Prince to vomit earlier?

5th Prince is weak and I don't dare to easily urge vomit.

So I could only have him drink detoxing medicine.

Has 5th Prince come out of critical stage?

I . . .

Of course not.

Don't you see that 5th Prince is still unconscious?

Since 5th Prince isn't out of critical stage yet,

then it proves that detox medicine is useless.

Why not try Physician Ye's method?

Consort Ling! Haven't you harmed Yongqi enough?

You want to torment him like this?

Your Majesty. May you trust Physician Ye's medical skills.

And may Your Majesty also trust that I have no intention to harm Yongqi.

Ye Tianshi, do you have confidence?

Be assured, Your Majesty. Allow me to check his pulse,

and prescribe a warm vomit-inducer.

Have 5th Prince take it and soon the poison will be rid of.

Alright. You prescribe immediately.

- Your Majesty. - I believe in Ye Tianshi's medical skills.

Your Majesty, 5th Prince is so frail.

How can he withstand such torment?

If something happens to Yongqi . . .

I couldn't live either.

Consort Ling is a murderer. How can you listen to her?

Escort Consort Yu to go rest.

Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty!- Your Ladyship.

Your Majesty!

[ Yonghe Palace ]

Reporting to Your Majesty.

5th Prince has already vomited all the food he took in today.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

There is no wolf's bane?

Your Majesty, wolf's bane dissolved as soon as it enters the stomach.

Even if he vomits, it's useless now.

But 5th Prince also vomited lots of undigested ginseng slices.

This, I find it very perplexing.

5th Prince has a coughing disease resulting from lung deficiency, hence the partaking of ginseng.

Even if you're deeming to restore 5th Prince's energy,

you can just use it for brewing ginseng tea. Why use so much?

Recklessly use of ginseng will cause harm to health.

Furthermore, 5th Prince is young and healthy-bodied.

Over-use of ginseng will instead cause energy obstruction.

Trouble to circulation of stomach and blood, and grave defect to health.

Hence he's unconscious.

Physician Liu, aren't you versed in pediatric care?

How did you commit such a grave wrong?

You . . .

Unless he was instructed by someone.

To frame Consort Ling on purpose.

Your Majesty, spare my life.

It was Consort Yu who insisted on using ginseng slices.

I already dissuaded her but she wouldn't listen.

Now it was Consort Yu

who was certain that 5th Prince took in wolf's bane,

and so I misread the pulse.

Wolf's bane and fritillaria clash. You misused ginseng for restorative.

How did you muddle them together?

Eating wolf's bane and fritiallaria together is fatal.

Consort Yu wouldn't bear for 5th Prince to lose his life.

So she could only bribe this royal physician to collude together for framing me.

Consort Yu.

Your Majesty. I didn't know overuse of ginseng is troublesome.

I am wrong. I am ignorant.

Your Majesty, it's all my fault.

I harmed 5th Prince for no reason.

And defamed Sister Ling too.

You are with crime indeed.

As the real mother,

you actually allow Yongqi to be harmed in order to frame Consort Ling.

You are unworthy of being Yongqi's mother.

Speak. Who gave you the nerves!

Consort Yu, you better confess the truth.

Or else you will be the culprit.

It was Noble Consort Chun. It was all Noble Consort Chun's instructions.

The idea was thought of by her and the ginseng was given by her.

Your Majesty, Yongqi is my flesh and bone.

If it hadn't been her forcing, I wouldn't have spared.

Your Majesty. It was Noble Consort Chun. All her doing.

Consort Yu! Have you gone mad?

I am very generous with you.

You venting out your resentment of jealousy to Consort Ling is one thing.

But I didn't imagine you'd pull me down to flee from your crime.

Even the fierce tiger won't eat its own cub.

How can a mother like you exist in the world?

Your Majesty! You must never listen to her.

Everything I said is true.

I can swear to Heaven.

Yes.

Interior Bureau's storage.

They will have record of Zhongcui Palace taking ginseng.

Mother. Royal Father.

Come.

Yongqi. Are you better?

Royal Father. I feel bad all over and very dizzy.

It'll be alright. You will be better very soon.

Don't worry. Royal Father won't forgive lightly those who schemed after you.

Come. Take Noble Consort Chun to be confined to Zhongcui Palace.

The rest, into Punishment Bureau.

Before the sun sets today, I want the answer.

Your Majesty, then Consort Yu?

Detained as well.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Don't take my mother.

Don't take my mother.

Mother. Don't go.

Yongqi. Listen to Mother.

Later, you have to listen to Consort Ling.

Don't go. Mother.

- Don't take my mother. - Yongqi.

Consort Ling, you were compromised today.

Thank you, Empress, for easing my case.

If you had done so, no one could save you.

Since you didn't do it, the real culprit can't flee either.

May Empress take charge.

Your Highness, no matter how we interrogate, she won't confess.

Your Highness the Empress, my mistress was framed.

She really didn't frame Consort Ling and she also didn't . . .

Yuhu. Consort Yu confessed and Noble Consort Chun can't be washed from implication either.

As the close attendant, you should be punished first.

Noble Consort Chun birthed 6th Prince.

No matter what grave crime she commits, His Majesty won't kill him.

But you?

Your Highness the Empress.

I am willing to use my death to make amend.

But Noble Consort Chun.

She really is innocent.

What loyalty!

Regrettably, loyalty and filial piety can't both be devoted.

You have your parents too.

You should think through for them.

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

Your Majesty?

Why did you startle me?

I saw that you were in a daze alone so I didn't let them announce.

What? You're allowed to startle me.

But I can't startle you?

Your Majesty said you'd protect me.

But earlier when I was pressed by others.

You didn't speak on my behalf.

If I incline to you with everyone watching,

then you'd really become the entire harem's target.

So Your Majesty was supporting me?

If I don't support you

you wouldn't even have had the chance to quibble.

Reporting to Your Majesty. Empress is here.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Get on up.

Your Majesty, I have interrogated the palace maids and eunuchs of Zhongcui Palace severely.

I discovered a thorny issue.

Because it is linked to 7th Prince, and I can't make the call.

So I came to ask Your Majesty to decide.

Bring her here.

What you said to me earlier.

Repeat it to His Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Noble Consort Chun ordered me,

to get close to Fire Bureau's supervisor Wang Zhong.

To bribe him to work for us.

That year on the New Year's eve.

Late Empress was merciful.

She ordered all the servants to go and rest early.

Noble Consort bribed the junior eunuch of Changchun Palace to work for her.

To switch to chrysanthemum charcoal that bursts easily.

And arranged Wang Zhong to mess with the bottom of the auspicious barrel.

Causing to fire rescue with melting ice to die out halfway.

Causing 7th Prince to die in the raging fire.

Your Majesty, I had tried to interrogate the case of Consort Yu.

I didn't imagine by asking, the old incident came about.

7th Prince had a divine disposition of Heaven and enjoyed the confidence of everyone.

Your Majesty and Late Empress both adored him.

I never imagined Noble Consort Chun would hold malice over it.

If nothing had happened to 7th Prince.

Late Empress also wouldn't have . . .

It's a pity that everyone who served at Changchun Palace . . .

Your Majesty. My attendant Mingyu,

once served at Zhongcui Palace.

Mingyu.

Your Majesty, I was at Zhongcui Palace for two years.

Noble Consort Chun held a gentle attitude and was considerate.

But who knew, that one day,

I saw Wang Zhong and Yuhu together.

Then Noble Consort Chun mistreated me.

And wanted to kill me to keep the secret.

- Why didn't you speak back then?- I . . .

Your Majesty, Mingyu held it in for long.

But because she had no evidence. With just her own words,

to point out Noble Consort Chun was heavily favored at the time.

It would be akin to knocking a stone with an egg.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, palace maids have parents and relatives too.

Even if she won't value her own life,

she has to consider for her family still.

Everything I said is true.

I am willing to testify against my mistress and meet my death.

Your Majesty, I beg you,

spare my family on the account that I repaid some misgiving with my testimony.

After Yuhu's confession, I summoned Wang Zhong and indeed it was true.

What about Consort Ling's falling off the horse?

Consort Ling used to be at Changchun Palace.

She was devoted to Late Empress and she's garnered Your Majesty's pampering.

Noble Consort Chun was worried the old incident would come to light.

So she pushed Consort Yu to get rid of Consort Ling.

Horse falling didn't work so a second method was used.

To use 5th Prince's coughing disease,

as a way to frame Consort Ling for self preserving.

Alright.

Alright, that Noble Consort Chun!

Such evilness.

Take her down.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty, spare my entire family.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Noble Consort Chun killed 7th Prince.

Her crime is not forgivable.

Starting today, strip her title.

Demoted to a second class attendant.

Confined to Cold Palace.

Your Majesty is sage.

Consort Ling, this time, I've helped you.

Your Highness isn't helping me.

- You're helping yourself.- Huh?

Noble Consort Chun is only second to you.

And she's bore 6th Prince.

If she falls,

the greatest one to gain is you, Empress.

Consort Ling was loyal and devoted to Late Empress.

How touching.

Yingluo, Her Highness who is above,

if she knew the killer of 7th Prince got punished.

She would be so happy. Let's go prepare tribute items.

To go and pray to Empress at Changchun Palace.

So she can be happy too. Alright?

Hailan Cha.

May Your Majesty instruct.

Do all women have two faces?

Well . . . I am not yet married.

So I can't be clear.

Before, when I saw Noble Consort Chun,

I only thought she was gentle, likable and talented above others.

I never imagined,

under such gentle exterior skin,

hides such heart of a poisonous snake.

Yongcong was so little.

But she could do that.

All these years. To mention Yongcong,

not a sign of guilt at all.

A woman like her staying by my side all along.

How scary is that?

Your Majesty, no matter how beautiful the painted skin,

the real face will show eventually.

Noble Consort Chun is punished but she courted it upon herself.

I keep thinking,

that Consort Ling has been guiding me all along.

To investigate the truth.

To punish Noble Consort Chun.

Your Majesty, Consort Ling is an old member of Changchun Palace.

She is dispositioned to hate evil.

If she did so, that's not strange at all.

Late Empress was as gracious to her as the deep ocean.

I am not surprised that she would return the grudge.

But whether she . . .

Your Majesty, what are you worried about?

Nothing. You may go.

Yes.

Your Majesty. 5th Prince.

He's kneeling outside the hall and unwilling to stand.

Saying he wants your leniency on Consort Yu.

Tell him,

Consort Yu is not worthy to be a mother.

Go now.

Yes.

Yongqi, you are too stubborn.

Consort Yu's sins are not forgivable.

I won't plead her case.

Mother may have ten thousand wrongs,

but she's my mother who gave me life no matter what.

Watching over me to grow. Yongqi's every meal and drink,

every word and conduct were all prepared by her meticulously.

She has taught me earnestly. Even if the world scorns at her,

only Yongqi cannot.

Empress Dowager has always adored her grandson.

May you forgive my mother's life on my account.

I beg you.

I beg you, Royal Grandma.

Royal Grandma, I beg you.

Alright. Alright. Get on up now.

Royal Grandma, only you can save my mother now.

I beg you.

Allow me to think it more.

What's really wrong with you?

I can't sleep.

His Majesty summoned the military officers to discuss affair.

He says he won't come.

I'm not talking about that.

Then why can't you sleep?

I just find that something's off.

You are just too worried.

Careful even if you're still young,

your hair will grow white from worrying.

Where are you going?

Wait for me.

Don't get chills.

Spring

I had thought, the one who comes here tonight,

would be Wei Yingluo.

I didn't think it would be you.

Wei Yingluo?

I finally fathom it.

Wei Yingluo fought for favor with all her might.

She didn't care if the harem hated her. What it was really for.

Of course it was for,

you to grow jealous and grow anxious.

No. And let you be frightened.

Frightened that she would use royal pampering,

to dismantle what happened to 7th Prince back then.

The more ostentatious Wei Yingluo became,

the more you might act. As long as you act,

there will be a loophole somewhere.

She spread news of horseback riding on purpose.

And lured me to act. Actually, even if I didn't act,

she would still create a situation,

to plant suspicion in His Majesty.

One step wrong and all steps wrong.

She waited for this chance precisely.

But Empress?

You were in the middle.

What role did you play?

Me? Noble Consort Chun and Consort Ling begrudging.

I am the empress of Great Qing.

Of course my role is to be just.

I am such a fool.

I have been your pawn all along.

Late Empress's death.

It is really not linked to you?

- Of course. - You're lying!

You saw my affection for Fuca Fuheng.

You planted a rift in my devotion to Late Empress. That was the first step.

You told me the harem is lonely.

You told me to have a child.

You lured me to develop intention to fight favor on purpose. That was the second step.

After I had Yongrong, it was also you who told me.

Later when 7th Prince is grown,

he will be the most suitable to succeed the throne.

How His Majesty adored Yongcong above all.

That he would make him the heir for sure. That was the third step!

These are just your suppositions. Have you any proof?

I guess . . .

Interior Bureau switched to the easily explosive chrysanthemen charcoal that year.

It was your doing as well.

Don't forget.

Late Empress was in post-partum at the time. You managed the six palaces.

Interior Bureau's every move. Can it be unseen by you?

It was you! You put the dagger in my hand.

You made me before your errand girl!

No! Not just those.

You knew 7th Prince was Late Empress's everything.

If he died, Late Empress would be done with.

Nara!

You entrenched yourself at every step.

Step by step you forced Empress to die.

And from the very beginning,

you were waiting to remove and replace.

Continue.

You killed Seventh Prince

and forced the late Empress to kill herself.

You lured me and Wei Yingluo to fight each other to death

and in the end, used her

to force me into the abyss.

As for your hands,

they were clean from the beginning till now.

What a joke.

What a joke!

What a joke.

I...

Who was I fighting for?

Who was I working for?

It was just a big empty dream.

I made his wedding clothes for him!

Madam Nara, why are you so ruthless?

- Why?! - Why?

Because Fuca Rongyin is too hypocritical and hateful.

As for you,

I merely want serve and be by His Majesty's side

but you kept bribing, threatening

and ordering me to be wedged between Madam Fuca and Madam Gao.

I couldn't take it till I couldn't breathe.

Who was ever kind to me?

My mother died.

Every night, I would dream of her lying in bed,

full of blood and interrogating loudly.

Who would know this kind of pain?

It's obviously inhumane people like you who wants me to be righteous.

This is the greatest joke in the kingdom.

Second Class Attendant Su. Your hatred for the Empress

stemmed from your love for Fuheng.

The deeper the love, the greater the hatred.

You still say this was for the future of Yongrong?

Don't make yourself sound so noble.

You did it because of hatred and discontent!

No, I did it for Yongrong.

Everything I did, it was for her.

Then...are you now...

thinking of Yongrong...

or Fuheng? Or perhaps, what you did to Fuca Yongrong?

She fell from the corner of the pavilion

and was badly mutilated.

When you dreamed of her,

did she ask you why you wanted to kill her son?

Yes.

I was discontented.

I was very discontented.

I did so much

and in the end, I had nothing.

I hated Fuheng.

I hated the late Empress.

I hated them

for regarding me as nothing. Thus,

I personally killed Seventh Prince.

I wanted them to regret

This was a sin.

It was a lifetime sin.

But fortunately,

I will be seeing her soon.

Tonight...

aren't you seeing me off?

It's good that you understand.

Take action.

[ Yonghe Gate ]

Mother Consort Ling.

- Where did you go? - I just came back from Shou-An Palace.

Mother Consort Ling, do you have something on?

Everything's fine.

Yongqi.

Your mother said some final words to you.

Is that right?

Yes.

What did she say?

Can you tell me?

Your Majesty, it's daylight soon.

No matter how important the affairs of the country are, you should still take care of your health.

I know this very well in my heart.

Your Majesty. Second Class Attendant Su...she...

I heard the blood were all over the place.

Her neck was broken.

Broken?

This is what I heard too

but I heard that the palace maid who was responsible for cleaning,

fainted from shock.

What could it be that could break a person's neck?

Your Majesty, this is a string from a kite.

This case ends here.

Forbid anyone in the Forbidden City to talk about this.

If there's any violation, punishing according to the palace's law.

I will abide.

You can leave now.

I will abide.

The string of the kit may seem like it's nothing

but once it's tightened, it can break a person's neck.

What's going on?

This way,

everyone will suspect that it's Yingluo who killed Noble Consort Chun.

Yingluo.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Why? Could it be because...

Mother said that I must listen to you in the future.

Yingluo, where are you going?

Yingluo!

Wait a moment.

Consort Ling, Empress Dowager has ordered me

to see Consort Yu off to cultivate Buddhism.

The Empress Dowager wants Consort Yu to leave and cultivate Buddhism?

It's for mediation.

Momo, I would like to talk to you for a while.

Why?

The spoils go to the victor.

You won. You should be happy.

Do you still need to get to the heart of matters?

I can't figure it out.

Consort Yu,

you lost too quickly

and easily.

It's making me suspicious that you have already found out earlier.

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?♫