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 58

Empress Dowager.

What do you want to say?

Empress Dowager, when did you recover?

You should ask me when I gotten sick.

Consort Ling, if Empress Dowager is not sick,

would the Empress relax her vigilance?

How would she win His Majesty's compassion?

How would she also defeat the enemy by surprise?

How did you escape from the eyes of the Imperial Physician?

The Empress thinks she's smart.

She bribed Medical Inspector Zhang,

but she didn't expect that my Gugu Liu

is also an expert in using medicines.

Empress Dowager, you are overpraising me.

The needle trick can fool for a short time but not forever.

Hence, Empress Dowager must leave the Forbidden City.

Empress Dowager uncovered the truth

and suddenly left the Forbidden City.

His Majesty's guilty conscience must be at his peak.

Empress Dowager is indeed brilliant.

Consort Ling, you relied on Gugu Liu's

words and told a small story to His Majesty.

Regarding this, great minds think alike.

But your story is incomplete.

Let me complete it for you.

Consort Ling, do you know why Empress Dowager

wants to leave with you?

You have a quick brain

but your methods are still too soft.

You urged Noble Lady Qing to open her mouth.

Helping her is also helping yourself.

You were certain that His Majesty would guess that it was you

and wanted to use this opportunity to turn around. But you

are too trusting.

You have offended His Majesty.

If you sway in front of him every day, he will grow more tired of you.

Hence, now, you need to make him think of you and miss you

but he can't find and see you every day.

Consort Ling, you should thank Empress Dowager now.

She's helping you.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

You are the most likable person in Forbidden City.

I also wanted to find a companion for Yuanming Garden.

Empress Dowager, may I be bold?

I have another question.

Are you asking how Madam Qian died?

What do you think?

His Majesty really chased after?

Yes.

Empress Dowager is indeed a sly old fox.

Do you think His Majesty will pursue this matter?

That letter was kept by Mrs Wenfu.

Grand Imperial Consort hid it and Prince He found it.

From the start till the end, how is it related to me?

It's a pity that person from Yanxi Palace left with Empress Dowager.

Mistress, you won't be able to eliminate the root

before it becomes a big problem.

Why do I feel that

you hate Consort Ling more than I do?

To reply Your Highness, she's just a palace maid who betrayed me.

Naturally, she's not worthy of my thoughts.

When His Majesty knew that Empress Dowager went to Yuanming Garden to recuperate from her illness,

he immediately dispatched a large number of attendants to follow her.

He's obviously very concerned about the Empress Dowager.

If we take action during this period, wouldn't we be getting ourselves into trouble?

Not to mention, I'm stable like a mountain.

Consort Ling followed Empress Dowager to gain her favors.

but she has lost the opportunity to compete.

When she's back,

the kingdom in Forbidden City would have changed.

Your Majesty, it's a letter from Empress Dowager.

Read it to me.

I will abide.

At Yuanming Garden, all is well . . .

Your Majesty, all is well at Yuanming Garden.

Don't worry about me. The day before, I obtained a book,

Discretionary Comrades, Diet is Good, History is Slightly.

Who dedicated this book to Empress Dowager?

Your Majesty, this book was written by an eunuch in Late Ming.

Some of it has been censored out.

What Empress Dowager obtained, it should be the revised version.

I think it's not serious.

- Continue to read.- Eating is a discipline.

- mentioned that...- The freshest herring should be eaten in July.

Empress Dowager ordered Interior Bureau to make tribute and held an osmanthus festival.

A marvelous event watching the palace maids set out river lantern.

She even followed the tone of Empress Dowager in the first sentence.

None of the two sentences are original.

Continue reading.

There's it.

- Just these few sentences? - Just these few sentences.

No need to deliver this in the future. I get upset when I see it.

Your Majesty, Zhuo Zhong Chi said,

cutting grapes during the Mid-Autumn festival

Placing it in water and sealing it was said to preserve it until the first month of the next year,

but in less than ten days, they rot.

A book of misinformation is worse than no book.

Empress Dowager deliberately kept a moon cake

and order it to be delivered to Forbidden City and share it with His Majesty.

to share some family love.

- Where's the letter? - Your Majesty didn't you say...

I will read it to you.

I will read it on my own.

Quick. Over here, Empress Dowager. This flavor is not bad.

Hurry up. Leave it here.

Hurry up. Be quick.

Mingyu, I told you many times.

When doing the 'wasted eggplant', you should place the coins layer by layer.

Look at your handiwork. It's like chicken feet. You are really beyond help.

Gugu Liu, I have been making snacks for many years. Everyone praises my handiwork.

Your Majesty, every year during the Double Nine festival, people in the palace must climb to a high height.

Empress Dowager hasn't recovered her health yet.

She's leading the palace maids and eunuchs to make vegetables.

It's rather interesting.

It's a pity Mingyu keeps trying and failing at it.

She often stamps her feet.

The embroidery maids are busy with making the winter clothes.

As long as they rush it day and night, it won't cause any delay.

Don't worry.

Remember to frequently turn over the fabrics in the stockroom.

I've already ordered them to do it.

But, there's one thing I must ask your permission about.

Today, Her Highness Consort Shu sent people to the Storage Office

and insisted on looking for old white fox skin.

After choosing among a hundred of them, she still wasn't satisfied.

Isn't that deliberately nit picking? I'm afraid that...

Empress Dowager has went to Yuanming Garden for such a long time and has been waiting for some joyous news.

But this tenth prince died upon birth.

Although His Majesty promoted Imperial Concubine Shu, it's still normal for her to be unhappy.

Just try to avoid her as much from now on.

Yes.

The most important thing now is Her Highness Empress is about to give birth.

The Imperial Household Department must make all the appropriate preparations.

Yes. I understand. Don't worry.

Who allowed you in here?

I...was sent by Chief Steward Liu to attend to you.

At first glance, you indeed look a bit like her.

Get up! Get up!

Hit me.

Chief Steward Yuan...

- Hit me...- No!

Hit me!

I've hit you!

I want you to hit me back, don't you understand?

Why didn't you fight back?

I didn't get any love anymore. Can't I even get your hate?

Chief Steward Yuan, have mercy!

Right, you're not her.

You're like a quail.

How could you be worthy to be compared to her?

Leave.

Tell Liu He that if he dares to pretend to be smart again next time,

I'll have his life.

Leave.

Got it.

His Majesty always just write those three words.

Isn't that brushing you off?

[Got it.]

Every month, we send him a letter and have written 35 of them already.

It was only starting from the 18th letter

did His Majesty start to write back.

This one today is already the 30th letter.

Empress Dowager has said that you should return to Forbidden City,

but you kept refusing to do so.

Yingluo, what are you thinking?

Yingluo, you're not writing any letter anymore?

Right. I'm not sending one this month.

Desheng, what's that?

This one? The monthly letter from Yuanming Garden.

Chief Steward Li, what is Empress Dowager thinking?

She has lived in Yuanming Garden for such a long time.

His Majesty has went there so many times this year,

but Empress Dowager refused to see him whenever he arrives.

Fine, if she doesn't want to see him.

But how come the monthly letters never stopped?

How could the anger of Empress Dowager dissipate that quickly?

Regarding this letter, it's being written by Consort Ling

to let His Majesty know the condition of Empress Dowager.

This way, even if His Majesty is mad at Her Highness,

he still has to accept this goodwill of hers.

Learn from her.

Walk slowly, Chief Steward Li.

Clear Fragrance of Life Observed

After 3 years, it's finally done.

Li Yu, immediately send this painting to Jiaxing

and bestow it to the descendants of the Qian Family.

Yes, I will immediately handle it.

Your Majesty, this is a letter from Empress Dowager.

[Well.]

Your Majesty...

Li Yu, go ask what's going on.

Yes, I will go right away.

Greetings, Mistress.

Your Highness Empress, Empress Dowager has already sent people to deliver

things needed for the bathing ceremony of 13th Prince on his 3rd day.

When Yongji was born, Empress Dowager didn't return to the palace.

On Yongjing's third day bathing ceremony, Empress Dowager is also not attending.

Looks like she has decided to stay for a long time in Yuanming Garden.

It's good that she doesn't return.

Once she's back, she'll keep making things difficult for you.

In these 3 years that she wasn't in Forbidden Palace, you successively have given birth to 2 princes.

You finally were able to live some comfortable days.

Zhen'er, don't say rubbish.

Yes.

While Empress Dowager is staying in Yuangming Garden for a long time, the more the people of Imperial Household Department should be meticulous in their work.

Don't let anyone say that you're slacking off.

Yes.

Your Majesty, I've asked around.

Empress Dowager suddenly contracted some colds a few days ago.

She was bedridden for 3 days. Good thing, the imperial physicians treated her on time

and took good care of her. She's now fully recovered.

It was Empress Dowager who was sick?

No. Her Highness Consort Ling also got sick because of attending to her.

Your Majesty, don't get anxious. When I was asking for information,

the condition of Her Highness Consort Ling has already greatly improved.

Yesterday, she's already able to leave her bed.

As for the letter, it was written by her palace maid in her behalf.

Your Majesty, don't get anxious.

Your Majesty, our army in the front line attained great victory. The leader of the Huolan Tribe

led 300 men to charge out of Mt. Balan in a flurry and eventually got captured by our army.

The army would be returning in a few days.

Great!

Immediately give the instructions

to prepare for the victorious return of our army. I must personally welcome them back.

Yingluo, I've been rushing you to return to the Forbidden City since a year ago,

but you kept refusing to.

Why?

I want to accompany you more.

You... You're still playing tricks in front of me?

I think you're

too happy with these comfortable days.

Just like a bird who flew out of a cage,

you don't want to return to the cage anymore.

Empress Dowager, what are you saying?

Say, it's just the fifth month,

yet you've started to set up preparations for the Dragon Boat Competition.

Do you really have any plans to return to Forbidden City?

I like it here.

I like the days of admiring flowers during the spring,

picking water lilies during the summer,

welcoming the wind during autumn, and admiring snow during the winter.

The more, I like accompanying Empress Dowager to light incenses and having occasional tours outside.

Empress Dowager, if His Majesty never remembers me,

I'll just stay here forever and not go anywhere.

Yingluo, in one's life,

it's like moving against the current. You should withdraw if you're not moving forward.

Now, you have me looking after you.

But if one day,

you're the only one left, what would you do?

Empress Dowager...

You're the imperial consort of His Majesty. You must return to the Forbidden City sooner or later.

Delaying it from day to day,

aren't you afraid of His Majesty forgetting you?

By then, you won't have any chance to make a comeback.

Think about it, how long has it been since His Majesty wrote you a letter back?

Mingyu, you say it.

Three months ago, Her Highness Consort Ling sent someone to enter the palace to deliver a letter with the wrong 'well'.

We didn't receive any reply letter ever since.

Yingluo, you have lived your good days with such pleasure.

You have totally forgotten the lurking dangers.

Think about it well,

why His Majesty isn't writing you back.

[Strict Temperament, Upright Disposition]

Mother.

Mother.

Fuheng.

- Fuheng. - Mother.

Son.

You are finally back.

I'm back.

You are finally back.

Mother, sit.

Son.

I'm not filial. I didn't even rush back when you are sick.

Please forgive me.

You were fighting in the battle field.

The messages were cut off.

How could I blame you?

Once again, you are successful in your battles.

His Majesty has given orders to construct an ancestral memorial temple

for the ancestors of the Fuca Clan,

and even especially posthumously bestowed commendations to your father.

His soul in heaven

would surely be proud of you.

Mother.

I should have returned earlier with Jaohui's Army,

but there were many matters to attend to. Thus, I could only return today.

I would like to go to the mourning hall to light incense for Father.

Alright.

I will go with you.

After we have paid our respects and lit the incense, I want to open the main door

and hold a lively celebration.

I want everyone in the capital to see

that we not only have the benevolent Empress Xiaoxian,

our Fuca Family

also has a real gyrfalcon (a fierce bird).

Mother, where is An'er and Fuqian?

I told Fuqian to take An'er

to get Hitara-hara

a memorial tablet for reincarnation.

What are you doing?

The walnuts are delicious.

Eat this.

Do you want to die?

You dare use a personally written letter of His Majesty as a waste bin for nut shell?

Don't blame him.

I did it.

Empress Dowager wanted you to do self-reflection. Did you do it?

I closed the door for three days. Wasn't it for self-reflections?

Is this how you self-reflected?

Empress Dowager left a problem for me.

I'm trying to solve it now.

Keep quiet.

I think you're not giving it any serious thought.

The people from the palace is here.

Take a look and see what you should do.

Consort Ling.

I was ordered by His Majesty to deliver a gift to Empress Dowager for the Dragon Boat festival.

Sir, Empress Dowager is with Buddha now.

I'm afraid she can't meet you in person.

I will leave the gift here and leave.

I won't dare to disturb Empress Dowager

but there's still someone else who would like to meet you.

♫Softly falling into the hollow of my palm,♫

♫Resting frozen in the center of my palm.♫

♫Our meeting across past incarnations was inevitable,♫

Mingyu, what are you doing?

Don't bother me.

You are being rude. Come with me.

You can stand here alone then. I'm leaving.

I wanted to hear what they are saying.

Why are you so angry?

Whenever I have a free time, I come here. I think of every ways to visit you.

But you? It was rare for us to see each other,

but you are only concerned about others. Why aren't you concerned about me?

Hailancha!

Look at her. She's really a foolish girl.

I wonder what she's worried about. She even hid there to sneak a peek.

What do you think she is worried about?

Fuheng.

Erqing is dead.

I know.

If this is the reason you are here,

let me tell you. She died for her sins.

I won't be guilty conscious about this.

I won't apologize to you.

Yingluo, I'm not here for this.

Go back. Go back to Forbidden City immediately.

Why?

- Because of someone. - Someone?

Yes, for a woman.

Perhaps, with her appearance,

will make everything that you meticulously devised

to obtain turn to nothing.

Think for your own sake.

Go back. Depart immediately.

Fuheng.

What are you talking about?

I don't understand.

Yingluo, do you still remember the horizontal inscribed board that His Majesty granted to the six palaces?

He even ordered the calligraphy master to make 12 copies

of the famous stories of ancestral virtuous imperial consorts

as a palace guidance painting.

I remember

but how is that

related to the matter you're talking about?

Beauty, loyalty, humility, righteous, and brave.

All these beautiful words can be used to describe her.

I'm not exaggerating at all.

With a woman like that by His Majesty's side,

Wei Yingluo, what should you do in the future?

I don't believe there's such a perfect woman in this world.

Reality has proven you wrong.

Fuheng.

Are you helping His Majesty to persuade me to return to the palace?

Wei Yingluo, you are an ambitious woman.

Even if you entered the palace with a motive,

since you have entered the palace,

you must obtain His Majesty's favor and must monopolize it.

This proves that you have definitely won His Majesty's heart

letting him miss you so much.

But from now on, you are already not that most unique woman.

In this past 3 months, His Majesty has never remembered you by even a day.

Maybe, the days here in Yuanming Garden made you feel comfortable.

It numbed your sharp senses. Or maybe, you were too overconfident,

that you forgot the saying,

"There will always be another better person out there, another better sky out there."

Then this better person,

this better sky,

who is she?

The daughter of the governor of Huguang.

His Majesty personally changed her name into...

...Chenbi.

All the mist completely disappeared. The bright moonlight shines on thousands of miles of land.

The fluctuating light flashes some gold hue. The quiet moon shadow is like a jade that have sunken into the water.

The songs of the fishermen are being sang by us. This kind of happiness is unending.

This must be how one would imagine the scenery in the essay "On Yueyang Tower".

Let's go.

Where are we going?

To say farewell to Empress Dowager.

We are going back?

Yes. Set off immediately.

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

[ Yanxi Palace Gate ]

Greetings, Consort Ling.

Rise.

Xiao Quanzi, you did well this time.

I told you to return first and make the arrangements,

and you were able to do so in such a short time.

For this, I dare not take all the credit.

When I returned to Yanxi Palace, everything has already been set up.

Then, these servants...

All were sent by the Imperial Household Department.

Yingluo, His Majesty still misses you.

You still haven't returned, but everything has already been prepared.

How about it? Is Consort Ling satisfied with

how Yanxi Palace was fixed up?

Greetings, Consort Ling.

Yuan Chunwang, it has been a long time.

Consort Ling, the Empress is still waiting for you.

May Your Highness Imperial Consort go to her now.

I know that you were returning, so I immediately sent people to fix your place.

I wonder whether you like it.

If you need anything else, you can notify Chief Steward Yuan any time.

Why are you looking at me this way?

Your Highness. As the mistress of the six palaces,

you gave birth to 12th Prince on the 17th year reign of Qianlong.

This year, you gave birth to 13th Prince.

The entire harem is under your control.

What kind of woman,

who has joined the palace for just three months,

is already making you uneasy?

When you see Imperial Concubine Shun,

you will be just like me,

bearing alarm in your heart.

No, it's terror.

There's such a beauty in the kingdom?

How is she compared to the late Noble Consort Gao?

Beauty is not only in the surface.

His Majesty has seen so many beauties. How then could he

get enchanted with just a beautiful face?

Your Highness Empress, even if Noble Lady Chang is a one of a kind beauty,

currently enjoying the favor of His Majesty,

she is of no threat to your position.

I don't understand what reason

could make you lower yourself to show me kindness?

Your Highness Consort Ling, Noble Lady Chang has now been promoted to Imperial Concubine Shun.

She has an illustrious background.

Her ancestor is one of the people who established this empire.

Her grandaunt is the Empress Xiaozhaoren of Emperor Shengzhu.

His Majesty personally named her Chenbi and is favoring her a lot.

It's way more than how he favored you before.

Hence, we must work together to resist her.

I've already experienced your kindness.

It's better to not proceed in joining forces this time.

When she entered the palace, she's like a flawless white jade.

I heard that when she was younger, she once wandered among the commoners.

She grew up without worries within the mountains and fields.

She only got found not long ago

and became the most favored woman in the Forbidden City.

Wei Yingluo, are you not worried?

If you don't fear her, you wouldn't have immediately returned to Forbidden City.

Here in the Forbidden City, there's no friends or foes, just self-interest.

Only with us joining forces can we stand a chance against Imperial Concubine Shun.

Or else, not long from now,

you will leave Forbidden City dejected

and return to the side of Empress Dowager to live the rest of your life.

Think about it clearly.

I'm sure that you'll give me a satisfactory answer.

Your Highness Empress, say, will Consort Ling agree to work with you?

Listening won't do. Seeing is believing.

As long as she sees that Chenbi,

she naturally would obediently return to beg me.

Okay already. Let's go back for an afternoon nap.

What are you laughing about?

Have you seen her?

You are a smart person.

I know that once you saw her,

you surely would turn around.

That woman is too good.

Anyone who has interacted with her would want to get close to her.

That includes His Majesty up to the eunuchs and palace maids here in the palace.

Maybe, that is her charm.

Consort Ling, before we start working together, let me warn you

to stay away from her and don't get bewitched by her.

I won't.

Hope so.

For the first step, what to Empress plans to do?

Of course, it's to support you up the ranks.

You want to borrow my hands

to divide the attention being enjoyed by Imperial Concubine Shun?

Wei Yingluo, can you do it?

As you wish.

Okay. Let's wish our collaboration will be a success.

Yingluo, are you really going to work together with Empress?

Why not?

But I don't understand. You've already refused it initially.

But after seeing Imperial Concubine Shun, you immediately changed your mind.

Is she that special?

Look at this face!

What's wrong?

This face...

...is not adorable at all.

As if with just a blink of the eye, bad ideas would come out.

How could you say such things about yourself?

I'm saying the truth.

Sister once said that I have a quick-witted face.

It's a good thing, but also a bad thing.

Good thing is no one would dare casually bully me.

The bad thing is...

Everyone thinks that I'm too scheming.

What's different about the face of Imperial Concubine Shun?

Her face...

...is what I want the most.

Fairly white and flawless. Gentle and amiable.

It makes people want to dote on her.

This is the reason why you're working with Empress?

Not only her looks.

Also, that bearing.

Mingyu. Let me ask you this.

What kind of woman is scariest in the imperial harem?

Like Empress? Like you?

I don't know anymore.

A woman that's so naive to the point of being free of impurities is the scariest,

because she can easily obtain a man's heart.

Especially for a very complicated man like the emperor.

How good will it be if I have a face just like hers?

Right. It would be way much easier to seduce His Majesty with a face like that.

Wrong!

Having a face like that, it would be more convenient for me to do evil things.

You, you, why waste so much effort?

Isn't he not bothering you exactly what you want?

Yingluo, could you have just discovered

that you have fallen in love with His Majesty?

No way.

Why then did you immediately return and is this mad?

This concerns my dignity and this competitive drive.

But His Majesty just like women who are like Imperial Concubine Shun.

Why don't you imitate her?

Wei Yingluo is Wei Yingluo! Why must I imitate others?

You can then only sit here and wallow in self-pity.

Your Majesty, I've already arranged for a guidance momo

and would send her to Lijing Pavilion soon.

No need to force it.

I find Imperial Concubine Shun already good and very unique.

It's her great fortune that Your Majesty loves her so much.

But she still must learn the rules.

What if in the future, she has to welcome the Empress Dowager or attend some ceremony?

It can't be helped for her to feel uncomfortable.

You are more thorough in thinking things like that.

Just send Imperial Concubine Shun to Yanxi Palace.

Tell Consort Ling to teach her well. Just make such arrangement.

Yes.

That is a Dragon Boat Festival gift that Consort Ling gifted Yongjing.

Everyone else gave gold and silver ingots, bracelets, or lockets.

while Consort Ling gave something more appropriate.

Zhen'er, instruct Medical Investigator Zhang

to examine the health of Consort Ling.

She had been in Yuanming Garden serving Empress Dowager.

Not minding any illness, being unable to sleep well, and not taking in delicious food.

He must do his best to nurse her health.

Yes.

Your Highness Empress, say, can Consort Ling succeed?

It will now depend on her abilities.

She had been in Yuanming Garden serving Empress Dowager.

Not minding any illness, being unable to sleep well, and not taking in delicious food.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

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