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Court Lady

Ep12

She wants to use just some food to impress others.

I'm afraid it won't work.

Just some food?

Even if it's dragon liver or a phoenix heart,

it can only satisfy our hunger.

Satisfying hunger is important.

Have you ever heard of "Food is the most important to people"?

It's a common saying.

Of course, I have heard of it.

It's not just a common saying.

It's from the Records of the Grand Historian: The Biographies of Li Sheng and Lu Jia.

"People are the most important to an emperor,

while food is the most important to people.

The Book of Documents: The Great Plan of Jizi lists eight aspects of governance.

The first is food, the second is cloth and currency,

third, rituals, then, engineering and land management,

The fifth is education,

sixth, penal system,

seventh, etiquette, and eighth, military force.

Food is placed first.

Another question for you.

People always talk about rivers and mountains, and "sheji" of a country.

So, what does it mean by "sheji"?

Ji, literally meaning grain, refers to the God of Grain.

Given that, emperors of different dynasties

worship Ji

and use it to refer to the country.

Your Highness

must have read a lot of books.

More than you can imagine.

When I can't fall asleep,

I can only light some candles and read books

to get through the night.

Do you often have trouble sleeping?

Yes.

Why is it?

Because...

I am Ke, the third son of the Emperor.

Dear guests,

your food is served.

Please enjoy yourselves.

Go ahead, eat.

What is wrong?

Your Highness's words

made me realize

how important food is.

Therefore,

I should show more respect to it.

It turns out that

Directress Fu also makes jokes.

This is not a joke.

But it's funny.

Alright. Let's eat

before the dishes get cold.

We get to know about the world's affairs by reading.

Though

sometimes the behaviors of Your Highness

can be rather unbearable,

you are truly knowledgeable

and well-learned.

I admire you sincerely.

So, you like men with knowledge?

I said I admire you.

I didn't say "like".

You are so stubborn

and always nitpick on words.

What on earth did your man do

to make you

fall for him?

Has the cat got your tongue?

Are you afraid that I would find him out

and kill him?

You...

Just kidding.

Eat, just eat.

Chen Ji.

Did you see an old friend?

A friend from King Han's Mansion.

He plays the role of Zhao Yun,

which makes the character come alive.

He is a performer?

The Crown Prince.

Excuse me, my friend.

May I ask where Huang's Silk Store is?

This is the Royal Pawnshop.

Huang's store is over there.

Dear guest, please wait.

Are you going to buy some silk?

How could I afford that?

I want to pawn this fan

to get some money.

May I have a look

at this fan?

Who gave you this?

My crops were trampled by some horses.

So, a master gave me this fan,

telling me that I can pawn it for 50 taels at Huang's Silk Store.

As compensation for my crops.

How about this?

I can give you 100 taels

and you sell the fan to me.

That sounds good.

Hey.

Go and get me 100 taels.

Sure.

Give it to this mister.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It really is King Zhou's.

You did a good job.

Go and collect your reward.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Xiu.

Though King Zhou is the son of Consort Yan,

he is still the brother of Your Highness.

Why do you always give him a hard time?

Why can't we live in peace and harmony?

Of course, I want harmony as well.

You see,

King Zhao, Yong, is the son of Consort Xi,

King Ji, Xiao, is the son of Consort Yanny,

and there is also King Qi, Zheng.

They don't need to worry about kinship relations.

Because no matter who is in power,

they will only be onlookers.

However,

the case is different for me.

The Crown Prince and I

were given birth by the same mother.

When His Highness has unspeakable trouble,

I will be the one to handle it.

In this case,

for Mother, for the Crown Prince,

and for you, most importantly,

I have to spare no effort to do my job.

But with such a noble status,

how could the Crown Prince be disturbed by King Zhou?

Since King Zhou got back this time,

he has done a series of things

that pleased the Emperor.

But still, he can be frivolous sometimes, given his age.

Father values agriculture the most.

If we let him do things recklessly,

sooner or later,

something will go wrong.

To avoid that,

we should warn him when it's necessary.

Stop worrying about it.

Just take one step at a time and play it by ear.

Anything you say.

Stop there!

Stop!

He is the one who destroyed several of our cities!

Kill him!

Today,

the Crown Prince handed in the Book of Han annotated by Yang Chishu.

What great news

for us to celebrate!

My child,

let's have three glasses of wine!

Father,

I just did what I am supposed to do.

You don't need to be too self-effacing.

The Book of Han is ancient and obscure.

Yan Du annotated it in the reign of Emperor Huan of Han.

But it's a pity that his work didn't get passed on.

In the Wei, Jin, and North-South dynasties,

over 20 scholars including Jin Zhuo and Chen Zan

added annotations to the book.

However, it's a pity that

as many scholars as there were,

they held different opinions

which couldn't be unified.

Until today, the Crown Prince handed in the book,

and the problem was finally solved.

If a country wants more talents,

education should be a priority.

And education starts with books.

I asked Yang Chishu to annotate the book

just to make some modest contributions.

May the culture and education of Tang

be more prosperous.

It is such a blessing for us

to have a prince with your foresight.

As the Emperor,

I will conserve the book in the Hongwen Pavilion

for our future generations.

Your Majesty,

I also have something valuable

to present to you.

Bring it in here.

You call this something valuable?

Your Majesty,

it took me 100 taels

to buy this fan from a peasant.

A peasant?

Yes.

What do you mean?

The other day, on the street,

I saw a peasant crying bitterly.

He told me that

the crops he grew

were trampled by the horses

of a young master during hunting.

The livelihood of a whole family was destroyed.

And the fan

was dropped by that master carelessly

when he left.

I felt sorry for that peasant,

so I gave him 100 taels

to buy this fan.

King Zhou.

The fan...

It's indeed mine.

But it wasn't dropped there due to my carelessness.

Instead, I gave it to the peasant...

Are you the one who ruined the crops?

Yes, I am.

You damn fool!

Do you know how hard it is to grow crops?

The support of the government is not even enough to develop agriculture.

You enjoyed field hunting in Zhou city,

and have trampled on crops before.

The censor impeached you many times,

but I pardoned you.

Now,

you even dared horse around here in Chang'an.

This time,

I won't let you off the hook so easily.

Under the order of Your Majesty,

I am responsible to educate King Zhou.

It is due to my negligence

that King Zhou made such mistakes.

Negligence?

If so, what right do you have

to assist my loved child?

Take my order.

Yes.

Qian Wenjing will be deprived of his appanages

and sent to Zhao city.

Father!

-The administrator has always been... -Shut up!

I'm not done with you yet.

Take my order.

Yes.

King Zhou, Ke, is unscrupulous and petulant,

who trampled on crops willfully.

As a punishment, he shall be caned.

Twenty times!

Yes.

Your Highness,

he is here.

Your Highness.

There you are.

I thought you also

called in the opera troupe of King Han's Mansion.

I didn't expect that I am the only one.

One gets tired of operas.

Do you know how to play chess?

Yes, I do.

Let's have a match.

Sure.

It seems that you are in a good mood today.

I am just laughing at you

who's made so many mistakes.

If you place

a black piece here,

your dragon will be taken out.

What if I put it here?

Won't make any difference.

If I put my white piece

right here,

you are bound to lose.

Do you want me to teach you?

That would be great.

Tuition fee first.

Tuition fee?

How dare you!

That's the jade pendant I gave you.

How dare you use it to pay the fee?

This is the only thing valuable I have.

Fine.

Put it away.

Why don't you perform something for me?

Okay.

But who is going to be the narrator?

I will do it.

Great.

A real man only worries about honors and contributions...

You should say "worried about"

when I take a step forward.

Then, fine.

You can say the lines yourself.

Sure.

A real man only worries about honors and contributions

rather than finding a wife.

He disregards his own safety...

Your Highness.

...To pay a debt of gratitude.

He treats his friends with good faith, virtue, and patriotism.

I will become such a hero with courage and uprightness.

I was born for loyalty,

and am willing to die for it.

Did you say that King Zhou was caned?

Why did His Majesty get mad at him?

It seems that King Zhou trampled on the crops

while riding a horse.

Duke of Chang then told on him to His Majesty.

The Duke even got some proof.

I heard that it was a fan.

Your Highness.

The Crown Prince is still teaching the performer to play chess.

He told you not to expect him tonight.

Your Highness spent quite some time

and energy on these dishes.

No more complaints.

His Highness rarely gets some leisure time.

Let him enjoy it as he wants.

Of course.

Mother.

Don't move and lie down.

I'm fine.

Only twenty times.

I can take it.

Ke, my son, you have suffered a lot.

As long as you can enjoy a peaceful life here,

I won't feel wronged.

People often say that

the Royal Palace is resplendent

in which we live an extravagant life.

But who knows about our hardships?

Ke,

listen to me,

go back to Zhou city.

Mother, I want to stay with you for longer.

Do you want to stay with me,

or stay with some other person?

What...what other person?

A lad would like to woo

a lass with pretty looks.

I don't have time to think about that.

I am just worried about Administrator Qian.

King Zhao is domineering

while the administrator likes to exhort others candidly.

If they meet with each other,

I'm afraid the administrator will suffer losses.

You can't mention it now.

You can only ask His Majesty's pardon

when he is in a good mood later.

He was caned twenty times.

Such a strong prince ended up getting caned like this.

They were too harsh on him!

You have to bear it.

Your Highness.

Directress Fu,

you must be here to send the embroideries.

King Zhou is not in good shape now.

If you are here to send the embroideries,

be kinder and gentler to him.

Don't upset him.

Why didn't you tell His Majesty

that it was me who trampled on the crops?

I didn't do it to protect you

but to protect myself.

I only got caned twenty times

for trampling on the crops.

But if I was accused of disobeying the ban

and taking a female officer out,

the punishment would be much heavier.

No matter what it is,

thank you, Your Highness.

Then I'll give you a chance to pay me back.

Go and get the Records of the Grand Historian.

Turn the page to

The Biography of Liu Pi, the King of Wu.

"Liu Pi, the king of Wu,

was the son of Emperor Gao's elder brother Liu Zhong...

...'The king has long been beset by worries.

He does not dare to leave his territory himself,

but has sent me to convey to you his kind...

but has sent me to convey to you his kind...'"

That word is "huan", meaning good intentions.

It's the name of horses in ancient times.

Then it has been used to refer to joy.

"'But has sent me to convey to you his kind intentions.'

The King of Jiaoxi then asked,

'And what message would he send me?'..."

The Emperor couldn't bear the suffering

and sent troupes to the North"

Your Highness?

That's the end of it?

Yes.

Do you understand it?

Liu Pi, the king of Wu,

was the son

of Emperor Gao's elder brother, Liu Zhong.

During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen,

the eldest son of the king of Wu

was killed by the Crown Prince due to their fight

when playing chess.

Then, the king of Wu raised an army and rebelled against the throne.

Three months later, he suffered a crushing defeat.

He died and his country was destroyed.

Who'd have thought that being a king

couldn't guarantee him a safe and stable life,

but led to such a tragic end.

History

helps broaden our horizons,

so that we can see people and things around us clearly.

so that we can see people and things around us clearly.

Do you want to learn it?

Not today.

Come here tomorrow.

I can give you a detailed lesson

about The Biography of Liu Pi, the King of Wu.

This is...

What?

Now that you are a directress, I don't have the right to teach you anymore?

No. I don't want to bother Your Highness.

You have to come here anyway.

You know me.

I love to force people against their will.

General of Pacification

was brave and resourceful.

I can't believe that he was killed by the rebels!

What a pity!

It was such a pity!

I know you've always wanted to

cultivate him properly.

The men of General Sheng

took back the map of Anxi Gorge,

and I brought it here for you.

Lieutenant Xi,

you are incredibly loyal and devoted.

Father,

we now need more people in the Household Guards Barrack.

Why don't you send him there?

Are you willing to serve there?

Xi Tao,

you should think it over.

To be the household guard of the General

is even better than getting a raise.

As long as you show your loyalty,

your service

will be noted and awarded.

I am willing to have my body smashed to pieces

to repay the faith the General has in me.

Good.

You can get up now.

Thank you.

General,

those two men of General Sheng have been executed.

It took them great effort

to finally get back from Anxi Gorge.

Why did you...

They abandoned their leader

and ran for their own lives.

Shouldn't we punish soldiers like them?

Their heads shall be spiked on the city gate

for everyone to see with their own eyes

the consequence of being a coward.

Understood.

Father,

Sheng Chumu is already dead.

Why did you give so much credit to him?

It is just because he is dead now

that I reported his achievements.

You're right.

Even if His Majesty gives him more rewards,

Sheng Chumu will not be able to enjoy them.

Sheng Chumu.

Didn't you say that

you want to have a look at the Princess's palace?

Yuchi Liyan

was drunk last night and broke his leg.

Our boss said that

someone would be sent over there to take his shift.

Such a poor thing.

I'll volunteer my services right away.

Just stop it.

Where do you think you are going?

When you get there,

it will be too late.

I have already asked for the job on behalf of you.

You can go and work at the Phoenix Pavilion from today.

Thank you, Fan.

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You...

Hey, buddy,

are you new here?

I am here to take the shift of Yuchi Liyan.

I will start working here from today.

Sure.

His Majesty has praised you many times recently.

But don't you get carried away!

I will keep your words in mind, Mother.

Have you visited King Zhou?

I went to visit him once.

That is surely not enough.

As the eldest brother, you should treat your siblings with kindness and lenience.

Of course.

I will visit him later.

After being caned twenty times,

King Zhou has been staying in bed for days.

His Majesty has been really concerned about him,

and has given orders to the hospital many times.

My son,

King Zhou was punished so heavily.

Does it have anything to do with you?

Mother,

I didn't give any orders.

It's just that those subordinates

wanted to fawn on me.

-However... -Directress Fu, please.

If it can take King Zhou down a notch or two,

and make him behave,

it isn't such a bad thing.

This is the Apricot Trees with Swallows embroidery Your Majesty asked for.

It's finished.

Present it to me.

Yes.

Directress Fu,

you have been careless at work recently.

The Crown Princess said that

the clothes you have handed in lately

were poorly embroidered.

Some even came unstitched.

It was my ineptitude.

I'll run a thorough investigation into it.

Be more careful.

When you serve the Crown Princess,

negligence won't be allowed.

I understand.

Please excuse me.

Directress Fu has always been considerate.

Why does the Crown Princess always give her a hard time?

Mother,

if the Princess says it,

Directress Fu must have done something wrong.

This is too small a thing

for you to worry about.

It's just because this is so small a thing

that we know the Princess is not broadminded enough.

How will she be able to put up with all those consorts?

Tell her not to

create difficulties for Directress Fu anymore.

Yes.

Is this coming from the Empress herself?

Yes, it is.

The Crown Prince added that

Your Highness should not

get into more trouble with the female officer the Empress thinks highly of.

You can leave now.

Understood.

How dare Directress Fu

play such a dirty trick before the Empress

and make Her Majesty blame you?

I used to think she was a kind person.

But to my surprise, she is so vicious.

Don't be fooled by her meek looks.

Should we just bear with it?

His Highness has already warned us.

I don't want to upset him.

So,

we will suck it up for now.

Get back here.

Did I ask you to do it?

My kite!

I'll get it for you.

My handkerchief!

I'll get it for you.

The medicine is too bitter.

-I don't want it anymore. -I got you!

Officer Sheng,

what on earth

are you doing here?

I'm drinking the medicine

for Your Highness.

"Six in the third place:

some troops will be carried as corpses.

Ominous."

"Yushi"

means to carry corpses in wagons.

The Book of Changes is too obscure.

Fortune-telling and hexagrams

are made too hard and complicated.

Wrong.

The Book of Changes is supposed to reflect the changes of all things.

However, the utilitarian character of people

prevents us to understand the book properly.

In this case, we regard it as the book of fortune-telling.

Your Highness...

Your...

This is my handkerchief.

Why is it with you?

I found it.

Then you should give it back to me.

Compared with that infamous Sheng Chumu,

why am I not good enough?

How...how did you know about that?

I didn't expect that

the bet Sheng Chumu had with Lu Qi

was because of you.

If it wasn't for me,

they wouldn't have had the imperial martial arts competition.

Nor would they have set out for the expedition.

I don't even know

how Chumu is doing now.

"Some troops will be carried as corpses.

Ominous."

You...

Though you can't take the Book of Changes as a book of fortune-telling,

it does tell your fortune sometimes.

After today,

I won't come here to read books anymore.

I was just kidding.

He died in the battle?

Explain it to me.

What do you mean, "died in a battle"?

That is impossible.

Our brother was skilled in martial arts.

How could he be killed by the rebels?

Say something!

Say something!

Chumu.

Mother!

Mother, Mother!

Mother, wake up! Mother!

Mother.

Mother.

Chumu.

Chumu!

Father,

it must have something to do with Lu Yunji.

It must do!

He was the chief commander

and our brother was his lieutenant.

Now our brother is dead.

Why is he safe and sound?

We'll report this to His Majesty,

and have Lu Yunji pay with his life!

Right.

Shut your mouths!

-Father! -Father!

Pitchers that goes often to the well may crack.

Generals who go on the battlefield may die.

When fighting on the battlefield,

men get killed.

If you ask His Majesty to punish Lu Yunji,

will he even listen to you?

But this is exactly what Lu Yunji has wickedly plotted!

Father!

Our big brother didn't deserve this!

Your big brother

destroyed several cities of the rebels,

fought in battles bravely, and never gave in!

He served his country with loyalty.

He is a great brother you can look up to,

and also a great son

that I am proud of.

He is a great son that I am proud of!

Father!

Father!

Father! Father!

Father!

Father! Father!

Father! Father!

Father!

My dear,

the dead can't be brought back to life.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

But you have to take care of yourself.

In the past,

I always complained about what a disappointment

and failure Chumu was.

Now he died serving our country in the battle.

His Majesty granted him abundant rewards

and posthumous honors.

He's finally brought glory to the name of Duke of Lu

and made great achievements.

But I would rather him

be the younger brother

who only knew about going to brothels,

seeking carnal pleasure,

and getting into trouble.

At least this way, I would still get to see him.

He would be talking in front of me

and smiling at me.

He could have stayed in Chang'an comfortably,

and become a duke in the future.

Why did he go on the battlefield?

That's what I mean.

I heard that

Sheng Chumu died distressingly.

Is that so?

Directress Fu!

Directress Fu!

Directress Fu!

What...

What did you just say?

Did you say that Chumu is dead?

Directress Fu!

Are you all right?

Directress Fu.

-Directress Fu! -Directress Fu!

Directress Fu!

Directress Fu!

-Cheers! -Cheers!

Congratulations on your success of wiping out the rebels

and your admirable contributions to our country, General!

All the generals here should be given the credit.

Let's enjoy the evening and get hammered!

We'll have more wine!

-Come on. -It's such a pity that

the General of Pacification didn't get to see our victory today.

You are right.

If it wasn't for the map Sheng Chumu gave us,

we wouldn't have conquered Anxi Gorge

with half the effort.

Here.

Father,

even today,

you still remember the insignificant credit of Sheng Chumu.

wasn't he truly blessed

to have met such a benevolent commander in chief like you?

Am I right?

Come on, generals,

let's have a toast to the General of Pacification.

Hear, hear!

Come on!

To the General of Pacification.

-Cheers! -Cheers!

Have a good rest, General,

we shall leave now.

He just can't hold his liquor!

Father,

I need to leave now.

Take Young General back to rest.

General, you didn't drink too much, did you?

I am fine.

General, let me take you back to your room.

Here.

I am fine.

I am alright...

I am totally fine.

For my mother,

and for my brother-in-law...

Assassins!

Father!

Father!

Father.

They should be the remnants of the rebels

who wanted to attack us at night in their final effort.

Thanks to Xi Tao tonight.

If it wasn't him who risked his life to protect me,

I would have been killed.

You did a good job, man.

I was right about you.

Your sword may have been dropped into the sea.

Look how much pain he is in.

Boss,

why on earth did we save him?

He even stabbed you with a sword last time.

Why don't you just let him drown in the sea?

What do you know?

She had some porridge yesterday,

but today, she wouldn't even eat that.

Even the imperial physicians couldn't do anything about it.

What can we do about it?

She must've been infected with the plague.

It's not the plague.

The physician said she is sick with grief.

That's none of our business.

Come on.

Get her out of here.

Where are you taking her?

The sanatorium.

That's where people with serious illness are left to die.

It's full of toxins in the sanatorium.

Even healthy people wouldn't last in there.

If we don't take her to the sanatorium

and the disease gets spread in the Palace,

who can be held responsible for it?

Take her away.

No, you can't do it.

No way.

Who the hell are you?

How dare you tell us what to do?

What are you doing?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

You can't let them take Directress Fu to the sanatorium.

Your Highness!

We are just following orders.

My order for you is

to get out, now!

Yes, Your Highness.

We'll leave now.

Come on.

I'm glad that you are still sensible.

At least you didn't send her to the Peak Pavilion directly,

but took her here to me.

Otherwise,

there would be rumors.

Thank you, Mother.

You have suffered so much.

I should make your life a little bit easier at least.

Chumu.

Chumu.

Can't you just find someone who has you in her heart?

Chumu.

Otherwise,

how miserable you would be!

Chumu.

Sheng Chumu is dead.

She will get over him.

Doctor.

My father...

You must think of some way to save him.

Use all the precious medicine you have.

Mental problems can only be solved with the right relief.

Young Masters,

you should try to console the Duke

so that he wouldn't indulge in distress.

Otherwise, his liver would be damaged.

Even the best medicine wouldn't be able to cure his illness.

Thank you, doctor.

My dear,

I was wrong.

You told me before that

it didn't matter however wayward

or mischievous Chumu was

as long as he is safe and healthy.

I should have listened to you.

Say no more.

Have some rest.

I am a careless father

who doesn't know how to educate his sons.

After Chumu was born,

if I had money,

I'd let him have what he wanted.

If he didn't make any progress,

I'd chase him around and beat him.

Since Chumu was born,

I've never had a proper talk with him.

Yesterday, I got out of bed

and I went to the backyard directly.

Seeing the door of Chumu's room was locked,

I felt as if a knife was stabbed in my heart.

I lost all my strength at that moment

and couldn't even stand on my feet.

My lord.

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