Original subtitles

[My Fair Princess]

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by 🌹Fair Princesses🌹 @Viki

♫ When the mountains no longer have ridges ♫

♫ When the river water no longer flows ♫

♫ When time stops, and night and day are one ♫

♫ When all of heaven and earth ceases to exist ♫

♫ Still, I won't let you go ♫

♫ I won't let you go ♫

♫ Your tenderness is the one thing I yearn for in this life ♫

♫ When the sun no longer rises ♫

♫ When the earth no longer spins ♫

♫ When the seasons no longer change ♫

♫ When all flowers and trees wither completely ♫

♫ Still, I won't part with you ♫

♫ I won't part with you ♫

♫ Your smile is the greatest thing I long for in this life ♫

♫ We will be each other's company, living without regrets ♫

♫ Urging our steeds onward, enjoying the marvels of this world ♫

♫ Let's make merry with wine and song, singing our hearts out ♫

♫ Latching onto the years of our youth with all our strength ♫

♫ We will be each other's company, living without regrets ♫

♫ Urging our steeds onward, enjoying the marvels of this world ♫

♫ Let's make merry with wine and song, singing our hearts out ♫

♫ Latching onto the years of our youth with all our strength ♫

♫ We will be each other's company, living without regrets ♫

♫ Urging our steeds onward, enjoying the marvels of this world ♫

♫ Let's make merry with wine and song, singing our hearts out ♫

♫ Latching onto the years of our youth with all our strength ♫

♫ We will be each other's company, living without regrets ♫

♫ Urging our steeds onward, enjoying the marvels of this world ♫

♫ Let's make merry with wine and song, singing our hearts out ♫

♫ Latching onto the years of our youth with all our strength ♫

Here comes the Pearl Princess.

- Respects to Royal Father. - Rise!

- Respects to Teacher Ji. - Your Highness, please rise! Why is the big salutation?

Royal Father, what mistake did I make again? I'll kneel before you in advance.

You can punish me in any way you like but just don't make me write again.

I've already learned my lesson last time.

Why are you so scared? Stand up!

I'll just kneel. Anyway, it's easier just to kneel.

Get up!

Why are you kneeling when no one asked you to?

Teacher Ji and I checked on your homework today.

I've also just read through the essays written by Yongqi and Ertai.

I felt very comforted.

However, after Teacher Ji showed me your homework,

I felt dizzy.

Is this poem written by you?

- Yes. - You read it out loud for me yourself.

- I better not. - What do you mean by that?

I told you to read, then just read!

"Walking into a room.

Surrounded by four walls.

Looking up, I see rats. Looking down, I see cockroaches."

What kind of poem is this?

It's very realistic.

I live in the palace now, so everything is great,

but the room I used to stay in before looked just like this.

As Li Bai says,

"I lift my head to the moon, I lower my head and think of home."

He must have had a big window. He probably kept it open while he slept.

Thus, he could see the moon.

My house had a very small window, so there was no moon for me.

At night, the rats would climb up to the pillar and make lots of chattering sounds.

And the cockroaches are a realistic portrayal, too.

You call this a realistic portrayal?

I won't write realistic portrayals in the future then.

Is this poem yours, too?

Read it out loud for everyone to hear as well.

- Can I not? - Absolutely not.

"By the doorway sat a dog.

In its mouth, was a bone.

Then comes another dog. Fighting, they broke each other's bones."

You call this a poem, too?

You even dared to submit it?

I had no choice. Teacher Ji already said,

"Be it ghosts fighting or dogs fighting,

you must compose a poem and submit it to me."

What could I do? So, I just went with a realistic portrayal.

I've never seen ghosts fighting before but I've seen dogs fighting.

So, I wrote this poem,

and Teacher said the words I used to describe the dogs were not bad.

Didn't you, Teacher?

Your Majesty, Her Highness has already improved a lot.

She is indeed studying very hard.

Sometimes, she even comes up with classical sentences.

With gradual teaching, I'm sure she will make progress.

Royal Father, Xiao Yanzi used to be illiterate,

but she's now able to compose some limericks.

That's already a commendable effort in itself.

Don't push her too hard!

Otherwise, she might end up developing a fear for words.

Prince Yongqi is right.

Your Majesty, Xiao Yanzi is able to compose poems,

differentiate between five and seven syllables, and can even make it rhymed.

She only started very late.

She was able to achieve so much today, thanks to Master Ji...

and his apprentices' hard work.

You wrote this kind of poetry, yet everyone is speaking up for you.

Read this next poem for me, too.

"Yesterday, I tried to write poem but failed miserably.

Today, I tried again but I shed tears of misery.

The more I write poetry, the skinnier I get.

As I lift up my pen, I cry for my parents."

- Is this another realistic portrayal? - Yes.

- Is it that hard to compose poems? - Yes.

- How dare you say so? - It is hard to start with.

If I say otherwise, I'll be deceiving Your Majesty.

Aren't you deceiving me now?

Who wrote it for you? Tell me the truth!

Although it was imitated to perfect your tone and word choice,

it's definitely not something you could write.

Was it Yongqi or Ertai?

Royal Father, it's definitely not fromme.

Your Majesty, I haven't helped her with any writing recently.

Royal Father, let me kneel before you.

Composing poetry is so hard!

I've really tried my best to learn it already.

However, the oblique tones are so complicated.

I barely understand what rhyming means.

Don't you try to change the subject!

Tell me now! Who helped you to write it?

I'll punish you both!

- Will I be punished to kneel or write? - Does it matter?

Of course! We can do it separately, she can do the writing,

and I'll do the kneeling.

- Who is she? - Ziwei.

- Ziwei composed it? - Yes.

She said poetry is too tough for me.

So, she just randomly wrote a few lines for me.

Xiao Yanzi, stand up!

Why are you kneeling when I've yet to punish you. What do you mean by it?

Rise!

Xiao Lan, I think you should be stricter with Xiao Yanzi.

She has so many helpers.

A few in class and even at home, too.

You can't go easy on her.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

Her Highness is in fact bright and has a lively persona.

She has her strengths.

In class, she has to behave conventionally.

For her, it's a torment.

Maybe if I taught her through daily life,

perhaps it could lead to twice the results with half the effort.

Chancellor Ji, you make a great point.

All right!

Teacher Ji, I'll leave her lessons to you.

I've been wanting to go out for a stroll lately.

I want to patrol around as a commoner to observe the citizens' conditions.

Come with me, Chancellor Ji.

- Yongqi and Ertai, you come along, too. - Yes.

- I want to go too! - You're a lady, so you can't.

Royal Father, aren't you going to be disguising yourself on patrol?

I can just pretend to be your maid,.

Royal Father, please take me along!

I'm so bored being in the palace, I'm about to fall sick!

With me by your side, we can chat and laugh. Wouldn't that be great?

If you want to go, I have one condition.

- What's that? - You have to recite Li Qi's "An Old War-Song".

"An Old War-Song"? What's that?

Who cares what it is! I just have to recite it.

Royal Father, if I can recite it, can you promise me one more thing?

You have a condition, too?

Speak, then!

You can't just bring one maid, can you?

Ziwei and I will go with you!

Sure! that Ziwei can come with you.

Long live, Royal Father!

What are these?

These are called "Easy-kneeling" but why did they drop with just one jump?

They have become "Easy-dropping."

Not good! It looks like it still needs modifying.

I'll have to study it some more.

Easy-kneeling?

[Shu Fang Zhai Palace]

Her Majesty decreed for Ziwei to head to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for questioning.

- Her Majesty? - Yes. Go now!

Her Highness isn't around now and has ordered us not to leave the studio.

Once Her Highness returns, we'll go over immediately.

Yes! We've received an order that no one is allowed to leave.

Her Majesty decreed you to go immediately.

Whoever dares to put it off is defying Her Majesty's decree.

All right, I'll go with you.

I'll go, too.

Her Majesty summoned only Ziwei, no other people is allowed to come.

Hurry up! Don't let Her Majesty wait.

Mingyue, Caixia, hurry to the Imperial Study

to inform the princess and Prince Yongqi.

Respects from Maidservant Ziwei to Your Majesty.

Lift up your head!

I heard you can sing, play chess,

and even write, can't you?

Respect to Your Majesty, I know only a thing or two.

Your "thing or two" is sufficient to seduce others.

Then wouldn't your "body" be able to swallow up a man?

- Your Majesty— - You better tell me the truth!

Why did you come to the palace?

Consort Ling trained you, didn't she?

Is the Fu family harboring you?

What things did you learn

to seduce His Majesty?

Speak!

Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand!

Consort Ling and I barely know each other.

My mother taught me all that I know.

It had nothing to do with the Fu family.

I'm definitely not seducing His Majesty.

I swear to God that I would never do something so unforgivable.

You look like a bewitching fox,

only doing indecent things.

You're still trying to find excuses?

Nanny Rong, Nanny Li, teach her a lesson.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you've wrongfully accused me.

You've really gotten me wrong.

I swear to you that I wasn't placed here by anyone to seduce His Majesty.

I'm not, I'm really not!

To His Majesty, I'm a nobody who doesn't even exist.

Miss Nobody, if you still won't tell the truth,

I'll turn you into a real "nobody,"

as if you never existed.

Save me!

Save me!

Save me!

Please spare me, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, spare me, please!

Your Majesty, please spare me.

Your Majesty!

Save me!

Please spare me, Your Majesty!

Save me! Save me!

Save me!

Your Majesty, I didn't.

I really did no such thing!

I only respect His Majesty like my elder.

Dear Heaven! If you can hear me, please save me.

Save me!

You can wail to heaven and whine to the earth,

but the palace is a place

where heaven and earth can't hear you.

Who told you to scheme your way into the palace?

- I did no such thing! - Respect for an elder?

I can't believe you have the gut to use those words.

- What right do you have to say those words? - Save me!

You learned a few words and now, you're just randomly throwing them out there.

Nanny Rong, lift her head.

Rise!

Your Majesty, it's not like that.

It's not what you think.

Your Majesty, it really isn't like that!

- Nanny Rong, tell her clearly! - Yes, Your Majesty.

Her Majesty has no time to waste on you!

You should reply honestly to every question asked today.

Then, we'll spare your life.

If you don't speak up,

you can say goodbye to this pretty face of yours.

And those zither-playing fingers of yours, too!

You'd better think hard!

Your Majesty, I'm but a humble royal maidservant with a petty life,

but I came to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility today, obliging to Your Majesty's decree.

The eunuchs and maidservants all saw me coming here.

Princess Pearl will surely investigate where I've gone to.

You know very well, with her personality, she will cause a huge commotion.

Your Majesty, you're the ruler of the East Palace.

Do you really want to be guilty of murder for a nonentity?

Aren't you eloquent?

You don't say what you should, yet you've said too much of what you shouldn't.

Nanny Rong!

Your Majesty, please spare me!

Your Majesty, please spare me! Save me!

Tell me!

You, Consort Ling,

the Fu Lun family, Xiao Yanzi,

and Prince Yongqi... What are of you all up to?

- Speak! - Speak!

Nanny Rong, I even pleaded for you in the Imperial Garden,

and now, you're treating me so mercilessly?

We're all servants!

If you hadn't mentioned the garden, I might've had some mercy on you.

Since you've mentioned it now, fine!

I... I'll give you a few more pricks.

Don't you think that I don't know!

Princess Pearl and you were just putting up a show!

You bullied me, then pretended to be benevolent.

Your Majesty, please don't treat me this way.

Who has no parents? Who has no children?

Please build good karma for the twelfth prince.

Look! He's just outside the window watching you.

Your death is upon you, yet you're still full of nonsense.

I shall kill you today.

You'll be nothing but a dead maidservant.

Your Majesty, look!

The twefth prince is really just outside the window watching you.

Nanny Rong, torture her!

Your Majesty, look!

The twelfth prince is just outside the window watching you!

Heavens are above and hell is beneath us.

You'll reap what you sow.

You will reap what you sow.

Nanny Rong, I shall leave this to you.

I don't have time to dawdle with her!

Help me to question her properly.

Yes, Your Majesty.

No! No!

You...

No! [Twisting Lucid Waters]

Your Majesty, please save me!

Your Majesty!

Save me!

No!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness, it's bad!

Her Majesty sent people and they took Ziwei away.

- Why did you let her go? - We had no choice as so many of them came.

She was escorted away like a convict.

- How long has it been? - It has been a while.

His Majesty was in his study, so we dared not go in to report to you.

- Xiao Dengzi, Xiao Zhuozi, hurry to the officials' reception hall and inform Master Fu! - Yes, Your Highness.</

I'm going to save her now!

- I have to save her! - Don't rush!

- Let's go back to your studio first! Maybe she's already back. - No, it's impossible!

Her Majesty will try to kill her for sure.

I'm going to save her now!

Wait, I want to go, too!

Xiao Yanzi, the situation is still unclear. Don't be rash!

Caixia, Mingyue, return to the Shu Fang Zhai Palace first.

- If Ziwei is back, let her stay in the room and wait for us. - Yes, Your Highness!

Here comes Princess Pearl! Here comes Prince Yongqi!

Respects to Princess Pearl!

- Respects to Princess Pearl! Respects to Prince Yongqi. - Your Majesty, where did you take Ziwei?

What do you want? Return her to me!

What is it? What's the ruckus about?

Princess, you don't have to abide by the rules in your palace.

But at my Palace of Earthly Tranquility, I hope you will behave.

Respects to Your Majesty.

I heard my servant, Ziwei, was summoned by you.

If you're done questioning her, could you return her to me?

I've tons of work waiting for her to do.

I can't be without her.

Is it Ziwei?

Isn't it the new maidservant?

Yes, exactly that new maidservant.

The one whom you punished before.

Royal Mother, Princess Pearl and this maidservant are very close.

She takes care of the princess' daily life.

If Royal Mother doesn't need her for anything else, please let her go back.

She is just a maidservant, yet you've come looking for her, too.

Even Second Young Master Fu is here, as well.

Aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill?

Here comes Lord Fu!

Young Master Fu has come, too.

Respects to Lord Fu!

Greetings from your courtier to Your Majesty.

Long live, Your Majesty!

Has Young Master Fu come here for that maidservant Ziwei as well?

Your Majesty, that maidservant is a small matter but Princess Pearl is the serious matter.

Everyone in the palace is aware that Your Majesty and Princess Pearl are not on good terms.

Your Majesty, there's no need to ruin your relationship with Princess Pearl for a maidservant.

Should Your Majesty be willing to let Ziwei go,

Princess Pearl will thank you with tears of gratitude.

Who said that the maidservant is at my place?

Your Majesty, it was you who sent your men to call for her.

I saw it with my own eyes and I heard it, too.

How could you say that she's not here?

You're just a maidservant, how dare you raise your voice at Palace of Earthly Tranquility?

- Cuihuan! - Yes.

Teach her a lesson. Slap her!

Who dares to slap Jinsuo, might as well just slap me!

Your Majesty, if you're angry, just take it out on me.

If you've got questions, you can ask me! Please let my people go!

If you don't let Ziwei go today, I'll complain to Royal Father immediately.

I'm not afraid to blow things up.

In the palace, I'm infamous for being unruly.

Is Your Majesty trying to be infamous like me?

Your Majesty, just because of a petty servant,

this is really not worthwhile.

Royal Mother, this is just a small matter.

It's best not to alert Royal Father.

If Your Majesty had any questions to ask, I suppose you're done by now.

Please allow Princess Pearl to take her back.

You all are so weird.

I called Ziwei here to ask her a few questions.

It shouldn't be necessary for everyone to get hot under the collar.

Moreover, that Ziwei was only at my place for a while.

After that, I allowed her to leave.

You all came here and caused a ruckus at my place.

Have you gone back to the Shu Fang Zhai Palace to check?

If she's not there,

could she be with Consort Ling?

You've already allowed her to go?

I did! She left a long time ago.

Didn't I say to go back to check first?

But Her Highness lost her patience.

- We shall take our leave. - Let's go!

You can even call for the twelfth prince?

Even if you call for any other prince, it'll still be useless.

Calling for His Majesty is useless as well.

I advise you to stop this stubbornness.

Tell the truth!

Who sent you to serve His Majesty?

You want to be a concubine, don't you?

You think with your beautiful face,

you can seduce His Majesty, don't you?

Still won't talk?

Do you think if you don't talk, I can't get it out of you?

- Spit it out! - Save me!

I'll talk. I'll talk!

I'll talk.

You're finally willing to say it?

I'll say it.

- I'll tell you. - Louder.

- I'll talk... - I said, louder!

I'll say it...

Speak louder!

Speak louder!

I'll say it...

I say, Nanny Rong,

you're so pitiful.

What do you mean?

For some people, their hearts stay noble, despite being servants.

That's not pitiful!

Some servants...

become servants... right to the core.

That's really pitiful.

You!

- Ziwei! - Ziwei. - Your Highness!

- Ziwei hasn't returned yet. - No, she isn't.

We've been lied to!

Ziwei must still be with Her Majesty.

Oh no! Her Majesty won't hand her over just like that.

- What should we do? - Don't panic! Let's split up and look for her.

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Guizi, you search Prince Yongqi's chamber.

Mingyue and Caixia, you search Consort Ling's chamber.

Xiao Dengzi and Xiao Zhuozi, you search the entire Imperial Garden.

We will search the Shu Fang Zhai Palace thoroughly once more.

Ziwei! Ziwei!

Ziwei!

Young Miss. Young Miss!

Ziwei!

What should we do?

[Shu Fang Zhai Palace]

Anything?

Stop searching! If Ziwei was back, she'd know we'd be worrying.

She's such a thoughtful person so she wouldn't disappear for no reason.

She's definitely still at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

I should've gone with her.

I chased after them saying I want to go as well,

but the eunuchs held me back and wouldn't let me.

I should've just ignored them and followed them!

If you did, we'd just have another person missing.

It wouldn't help Ziwei at all.

Luckily, you didn't follow.

When Royal Father summoned me, I should've just brought Ziwei along.

Why did I leave her at the Shu Fang Zhai Palace by herself?

Erkang, just kill me.

I've lost Ziwei already!

Be brave and calm down!

Let's analyze it together.

What does Royal Mother want to do with Ziwei?

This matter is just so odd.

Royal Mother is the empress.

Why is she being so hard on just a maid?

- I'm going to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility again! - I'm going, too.

- Me, too. - Me, too! - All right!

Let's analyze the situation first.

Let's not get anxious.

We've just returned from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

Her Majesty said Ziwei wasn't at her place.

If you all go there now, the outcome will just be the same.

Since Her Majesty insisted Ziwei isn't there, she'll refuse to answer, regardless of what you ask.

We don't have evidence to prove that Ziwei's there, either.

Yes, Ertai is correct.

Going there now will only bring disappointment.

- We'll still be at wit's end. - What should we do then?

Young Miss is delicate, she won't be able to withstand torment.

I have a very bad feeling.

Her Majesty and Nanny Rong looked so fierce.

They might have called her over just to vent out their anger.

At the Imperial Garden last time, we even slapped Nanny Rong.

She's getting her revenge now.

I'm telling Royal Father! I'll let him decide!

Don't act hastily! Let's talk it through first.

After we discuss it, won't Ziwei already be dead?

Do you think Royal Father would question Royal Mother for a measly maidservant?

Even if he does, if Her Majesty still insists that she's not at her palace,

what can Royal Father do about it?

If you want Royal Father to help, you'll need evidence

to prove that Ziwei is held hostage at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility;

otherwise, not only will we not be able to save Ziwei,

it may force Her Majesty to kill her in order to silence her.

Kill her to silence her?

According to your analysis, won't Ziwei definitely die?

Everyone, listen!

It's dark now.

Let's wait for another hour.

When it's completely dark, I'll pay a night visit to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

- A night visit? - Indeed.

I admit Prince Yongqi's analysis is correct

but I'm so distraught now.

I don't care to think straight.

If I keep on waiting, I'll lose my mind.

I must take action!

I need to know clearly if Ziwei is really there or not!

Deep down, we all know she has to be there!

We just don't know which room she's in.

Luckily, it isn't too big.

I can search each room, one by one.

Once we're sure that Ziwei is there,

Xiao Yanzi can then go to His Majesty with reason.

If I fail and get caught, you must do all you can

to beg His Majesty to save Ziwei and me.

Rather than you doing it alone, why don't I go with you?

Even if you go, you still can't go now.

You must wait until it's late and quiet.

Rather than just the two of you, why don't I come along?

If anything happens, at least, I'm a prince.

I can back you up.

After all, nobody would dare accuse a prince of being an assassin.

I want to go too! Many hands will lighten the work.

Once we find Ziwei, we'll save her.

If you really want to help and save Ziwei,

just stay put at the Shu Fang Zhai Palace and don't do anything.

Just wait for our news!

Otherwise, we'd have to take care you, which would make things more chaotic.

Let's not waste time and discuss our strategy now.

All right!

[Shu Fang Zhai Palace]

Who are you? Are you an assassin or one of us? State your name!

If we alert the guards, I can't do much then.

If you're a warrior, follow me!

Sai Wei, Sai Guang.

Prince Yongqi.

Rise!

I'm here to ask you both something.

How's Ziwei?

She was being tortured by Nanny Rong so she won't last much longer.

You are good men so I respect you.

How could the Palace of Earthly Tranquility commit such crimes?

I believe you won't associate yourself with evil acts,

nor fight your own people.

I'm going to save Ziwei now.

- Just pretend you never saw us. - That, we can't.

If you want to save her, you'll have to kill us.

- Do you think I dare not? - Ertai, don't be rash!

Besides loyalty, have you no morality?

If we had only loyalty but not morality,

we would've summoned the guards when we ran into you.

By now, the imperial guards would've surrounded you.

Then why are you still in our way?

Her Majesty ordered us to guard her.

If we lost her, we'll lose our lives, too.

Now, Prince Yongqi knows Ziwei is here.

It'll be dawn soon in a few hours.

Why don't you wait till then to publicly approach the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and ask for her?

If you barge in then,

we probably won't be able to stop you.

For the next few hours, what will happen to Ziwei?

Nanny Rong was long worn out.

She's too tired to interrogate.

For the time being, Miss Ziwei is safe.

- Can you guarantee? - We promise, we'll watch out for her.

Dear warriors, Princess Pearl and I will remember this.

Let's go! We can't stay too long here.

Don't forget! This is the palace.

You're an imperial guard. Let's hurry and leave!

Respects to Your Majesty.

Xiao Yanzi, what did you do this time?

Lamei said you came after midnight and have been kneeling here since.

What happened? Your eyes are swollen like walnuts.

Royal Father,

I'm at wit's end already.

Please save me and Ziwei!

If Ziwei dies, I also can't live on.

Royal Father, I'll be honest.

Ziwei's not an ordinary maidservant.

She came to the palace because of me.

She is my sworn sister.

Back then, I swore before both Jade Emperor and Yama.

I promised that we would live and die together.

Now, I've caused her so much pain.

I really can't live on anymore.

Tell me slowly!

You've made me so confused.

What happened to Ziwei?

Yesterday, while Royal Father and I were discussing my homework,

Her Majesty summoned her to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

After that, she never returned.

Is that so?

Have you searched the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?

I went there.

Prince Yongqi and the Fu brothers went with me,

but Her Majesty said Ziwei left a long time ago.

Royal Father, Ziwei would never do this.

I'm sure she has been locked up and tortured by Her Majesty.

I'm not even sure if she's alive or dead now.

Royal Father, I'm begging you, please save her.

Or else, it'll be too late.

Are you that certain

she was captured by the empress?

But why would the empress lock her up?

I know... I just know it!

Royal Father, please save her!

Someone personally witnessed Nanny Rong torturing her.

Royal Father, I'm begging you, please!

Please!

Think of the time when she entertained you by playing Go with you the whole night. Please save her!

Only you can save her.

Your Majesty, look at how anxious Xiao Yanzi is.

Whatever it is, you should go and take a look.

- Guards! - Royal Father, no need to summon for anyone.

Prince Yongqi, Erkang, Ertai, and Jinsuo have all been waiting outside.

- Come here, Erkang! - Your Majesty.

Xiao Yanzi was a blubbering mess.

What evidence do you have that the empress has imprisoned Ziwei and tortured her?

Your Majesty, Ziwei's disappearance has made Her Highness sick with worry.

We dared not alert you before, so we had no idea what to do.

There was still no news of Ziwei late last night.

Being out of options, I paid a night visit to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

There, I personally saw Ziwei locked in a secret chamber.

What?

You paid a night visit to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?

Royal Father, it's I who begged him to go.

If you want to punish someone, please punish me instead.

As long as we can save Ziwei, I'm willing to take any punishment.

Royal Father, I also went with Erkang.

At the time, we were at our wit's end.

Your Majesty, I was there, too.

Are you all certain that the empress has Ziwei locked up?

Your humble courtier is willing to swear upon my life.

I promise that I'm speaking nothing but the truth.

- Here comes His Majesty! - Respects to Your Majesty!

Empress!

Respects to Your Majesty.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Blessings to Your Majesty.

What brings you here so early in the day? There's quite a number of you, too.

Empress, why did you summon Ziwei to your palace?

Your Majesty, she is just a petty maidservant.

Is she really worth personally coming here for?

I'm afraid if I don't come here myself, you won't ever hand her over.

Your Majesty, that maid, Ziwei, speaks rudely and behaves disobediently.

I summoned her over just for a lecture.

After that, I let her leave.

What? Is she not at the Shu Fang Zhai Palace?

Could she have dressed up as an eunuch and sneaked out of the palace?

Your Majesty, what have you done to Ziwei? Hand her over now!

Or else, you'll never hear the end of it.

I don't care if you're the empress.

I don't care how much power you've got.

It's already a known fact that Ziwei is detained in this palace.

How dare you lie through your teeth?

You're the empress! How could you lie?

- Tell me! - You're outrageous!

This is treason!

Guards! Guards!

Ziwei doesn't know martial arts nor does she ever dare raise her voice.

Yet, you say she behaves rudely and disobediently?

I know! You intend to kill her, don't you? - Guards!

If Ziwei loses a single strand of hair on her head,

- I'll kill you! - Are you rebellious?

I'll fight you with my life.

I don't care if you're the empress!

- Guards! - No way!

Let's die together! There's no point in living. I'll kill you!

Your Highness, please calm down!

His Majesty is here. He'll uphold justice.

Sai Wei, Sai Guang, tie up Xiao Yanzi!

- I'm must teach her a lesson today! - Yes, Your Majesty.

Who dares to be so impudent in front of His Majesty?

Your Majesty, our priority is to save Ziwei.

Empress, I already know that Ziwei is here.

Don't give me any more excuses.

Have you no propriety?

Hand over Ziwei now!

Your Majesty, you brought this unruly Princess first thing in the morning

and caused such a ruckus in my place.

She argued and fought with me.

Am I the one lacking in propriety now?

As the empress, you detained a maid and abused your authority.

Now, I've personally come to ask for her, yet you still refuse to release her.

Do you have no respect for me?

Your Majesty claims Ziwei is at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, what evidence do you have?

Are you saying she's not here then?

Can you swear to the Heavens that Ziwei is truly not here?

If you're telling lies,

you'll be subjected to the law as commoners are.

All right!

Even if Ziwei is here, she is only a maidservant.

I'm asking the princess to give her to me

and serve by my side. May I not?

An empress who spread lies and behaves imperiously.

How repulsive!

Your Majesty, are you implying that my status cannot even compare to a maid now?

How could you say those words to me?

Maids are humans, too.

Maids have parents, too.

Maids were born and raised by their parents, too.

An empress is a mother of the nation.

Where are your motherly characteristics?

Don't you know how to honor elders as we do our own parents,

and to care for other's children as our own?

If you're unable to live up to the role,

it's best you abdicate from the position.

Hand over Ziwei now!

I'm merely eliminating a threat for Your Majesty, I can't hand over Ziwei!

Erkang, Ertai and Yongqi, go and find Ziwei!

As commanded!

Okay, it's dawn now.

I've had enough sleep.

We can start working again.

Who sent you to the palace?

Speak!

Who sent you to seduce His Majesty?

Speak!

I'll see how long you can play this game.

If you insist on being stubborn,

we'll slowly play along.

I won't let you die.

I'll let you suffer in despair,

straddling the line between life and death!

Nanny Rong, why are you treating me like this?

- We've nothing against each other. - Nothing against each other?

You and Xiao Yanzi ganged up to bully this old lady here!

Today, I'll make you pay!

- Found her! - She's here!

Ziwei. Ziwei! Ziwei!

Her Majesty, save me!

You wretched old lady! How dare you torment her?

Her Majesty, save me!

You, witch!

You, heartless demon!

How dare you scream?

You, vicious old lady, you're better off dead!

Ertai!

- You can't kill her here. - Your Highness!

- We have to save Ziwei first. - Your Highness—

This old lady can be punished anytime.

Royal Father is still waiting outside. Don't waste time!

- Let's go! - Prince Yongqi, please save me!

Even if I don't kill her, someone else will.

Let His Majesty punish her.

Come along!

Ziwei, I'm so sorry I came late.

I knew you would come to my rescue.

I always knew.

I kept my faith.

[Twisting Lucid Waters]

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by 🌹Fair Princesses🌹 @Viki

♫ I can't blame anyone for my broken heart ♫

♫ Because meeting you was perfect ♫

♫ It doesn't matter even if my tears run dry and my heart burns into ashes ♫

♫ I'll break free from my cocoon to fly away with you ♫

♫ But I fear you'll leave and never return ♫

♫ Though it's already good enough that you once loved and cared for me, and had me in your heart ♫

♫ As I soar to you, the rain gently falls ♫

♫ Like your warm embrace around me ♫

♫ I'll soar to you, no matter the distance ♫

♫ Though the journey is full of pain and tears ♫

♫ As I chase you, the wind gently blows ♫

♫ If you have no resentment, I have no regrets ♫

♫ Love is so beautiful. My heart is intoxicated ♫

♫ By the feeling of being loved ♫