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 Epiosde 31

If doing it like this would make everyone in the palace imitate it,

that then is a truly good thing.

When empress was in charge,

she mainly focused on

controlling the outflow (expenses).

This induced a lot of criticisms from personnel in the palace.

Now, you're the one in-charge of the palace affairs.

You are very meticulous and thorough.

You are being respected by people in the palace.

Just be bold and go with your plan.

With your trust, I surely will do my best.

One more thing, because Shandong and the nearby areas suffered flooding,

there are a lot of refugees migrating into the capital.

I ask if we can set up porridge kitchens outside the Tiananmen Gates.

One, it can provide disaster relief.

Second, it can serve as praying for blessing for Empress.

It's a good thing to setup a porridge kitchen for disaster relief.

But the food and money would be a problem.

We then would be touching the silver vault of the Imperial Household Department.

But the days here in the palace is already quite hard.

Each one worried and looking bleak.

Isn't Consort Xian making it more difficult for everyone by doing that?

Noble Consort, don't worry. Based on usual practices, we can mobilize donations from gentry merchants.

May Empress Dowager make a decree on how happy it is to do good deeds.

People within the city would surely rally together in respond to it.

By then, without touching the silvers inside the Imperial Household Department vault,

this problem can already be resolved.

It's still Consort Xian who makes thorough considerations.

This way, we can accumulate good karma for empress,

and comfort the refugees.

It's hitting two birds with one stone.

Just boldly do it. I will fully support you.

Thank you for you graces, Empress Dowager.

Consort Xian is currently highly favored by Empress Dowager.

You are like a spring breeze who has obtained its wishes.

I am giving my best and all my heart in working for Empress Dowager and Empress.

I dare not bear the words 'spring breeze obtaining its wishes'.

You broaden the sources and reduce the expenditures. You do disaster relief and set up porridge kitchens.

You are in such a rush to win everyone's heart.

Do you want to become the empress?

Although Her Highness Empress may be sick,

but with miracle Physician Ye treating her, I believe she will recover soon.

I'm just managing the matters in the palace.

I haven't done anything that's beyond my duty. My heart and affection

can be proven by the heaven.

Your performance is not bad

but I'm a professional performer.

I can't stand this kind of amateurs.

Zhilan, let's go.

She's jealous that's why she's making slanderous remarks.

Your Highness, what should we do?

We will do what we should do.

Noble Consort, your skin is really like snow.

It's smooth and glistening. I envy you a lot.

If you also moisture yourself with milk every day

and soak in balsam, you will be like this too.

Noble Consort, you are a natural beauty and the top beauty in the six palaces.

How could I dare to be compared with you?

Stop being a glib talker.

I spent a lot of efforts and ideas

before I was able to eliminate that eyesore Empress.

Who expected that Consort Xian

would rescue the Empress Dowager at the Double Ninth Festival

and became famous overnight?

As for my strenuous fruits of labor,

she has beaten me to it.

Noble Consort, Consort Xian has obtained the favor of the Empress Dowager.

If you don't take actions first,

she will become political and harder to go against in the future.

She would be at Tiananmen Gate tomorrow to help in the disaster relief.

Do you know what you should do?

My Lady, don't worry. I understand.

We are distributing porridge tomorrow outside Tiananmen Gate for the disaster relief.

Everyone must go and help out.

Momo Liu, we have piles of work on our hands.

If we go to Tiananmen Gate tomorrow, how will we finish our work?

Consort Xian has given the instructions.

Those servants from Workhouse that will help outside the Tiananmen Gate

will be rewarded with one tael of silver and given a day off.

That much?

That's right.

Consort Xian is really great.

I have never received such rewards before.

That's right. Only Consort Xian would remember slaves like us at the bottom rung.

- We are even given a day off. - Enough, stop being long winded.

Go back and rest now. Be at Tiananmen Gate tomorrow between 11 pm to 1 am.

Yes.

Consort Xian said that

those in the six palaces who fall sick will be treated by a physician and given a day off.

Consider yourself lucky. Remain here tomorrow.

Everyone, dismiss.

So great.

Consort Xian is really great.

Awesome.

Consort Xian is really great.

She was calm and collected, and won everyone's heart.

Yingluo, your Empress, compared to her,

there's a great difference.

Did I say anything wrong?

Are you crazy? Your fever is very high. Why are you doing out here?

Go back and rest.

What are you doing?

Yuan Chunwang, put me down.

Stop talking. I'm your older brother.

Put me down.

You are making preparations to keep vigil at Imperial Concubine Yu's tomb?

Yes.

How long will you be gone?

Three years.

You are a very filial son.

I'm touched by your filial piety.

I have always been absurd,

repeatedly created troubles and caused mother to worry

and had sleepless nights.

For all these years, I have wronged mother.

Being able to keep vigil at her tomb for three years

is the only thing a non filial son

can do.

A non filial son?

Yes.

You are definitely a non-filial son.

You are the biological son of Imperial Concubine Yu

but you are also a brilliant royal son.

You are my biological brother,

a prince of the Great Qing.

All these years,

you have been listening to a woman.

As a prince who loafed about, you have committed many wrongdoings.

You wasted a lot of time.

As of now, you are still impenetrably thickheaded and doesn't know where your fault lies.

Why are you looking at me?

Could it be, in your eyes,

I'm one who would kill ruthlessly?

An Emperor who is intolerant and not magnanimous?

Imperial Concubine Yu was born in the harem.

She has limited vision.

She only knew that

she can't repeat the event where the sons of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty competed for the throne.

But she almost caused your life.

If it's as what she said,

you will always be a useless person.

You might as well hang yourself now

lest you tarnish the reputation of the Aisin-Gioro family.

Your Majesty.

Hongzhou.

I have always given you chances.

I have always hoped you would open your heart to me.

But I waited for ten years

but you are still so absurd.

You are still so dim-witted.

Get lost. Go and keep vigil at your mother's tomb.

Don't ever return to Forbidden City!

Emperor Brother, I'm dim-witted.

I was wrong.

Your Majesty, please don't be angry.

Your Majesty, please forgive me.

Hongzhou,

you are a descendant of the Aisin-Goro clan.

The distinguished Prince He of the First Rank.

If just to avoid political strife,

you would hide you aspirations and dreams

under the pretense of absurdity,

will you be able to face Royal Father in the future?

Will you be able to face the ancestors of the Qing Empire?

I...will end my words here.

If you still have ambitions, then think about clearly

what you can do for

the nation and its citizens.

[Yangxin Palace]

Prince, you must be careful.

This...what's wrong with him?

Stop!

Prince He of the First Rank.

Your Highness Consort Xian, are you here to look for His Majesty?

The palace is having a porridge kitchen to provide disaster relief. I need to report some layouts to His Majesty.

I still have to do something. I won't disturb you anymore.

Prince He of the First Rank.

Your Highness Consort Xian, do you still have any instructions?

Prince He of the First Rank, why are you crying?

Sorry. I was disrespectful.

If you go out of the palace like this, the whole Forbidden City will be in a midst of a scandal again,

saying that you two brothers are fighting.

Thank you for reminding me, Your Highness.

I just suddenly remembered my mother.

The sudden burst of sorrowful emotions probably made my eyes turn red.

Prince He of the First Rank is so filial to your mother. It's really touching.

But remorse and grief are useless.

Why not do something more meaningful?

Didn't we already say earlier

that Her Highness Consort Xian would be distributing porridge outside the Tiananmen Gate tomorrow for disaster relief.

This is a good matter that will benefit the citizens.

If you have the time to cry, why don't you just come and help out?

It's also accumulating some good karma for Imperial Consort Dowager Yu.

Zhen'er, don't say nonsense.

But, if an absurd person like me

appear in Tiananmen, I fear that it will invite ridicule.

If Prince wants to do a serious matter that will make others look at you in a different way,

the Tiananmen disaster relief is a good first step.

How did you know?

Your thoughts are all written on your face.

Prince! Prince!

I just went to gossip with some eunuchs.

When I returned, you're gone.

Why didn't you call me?

Are you serving me or the other way around?

Is there anything on my face?

Prince, what am I looking for?

Are there anything written on it?

None. There's not one word.

Not all can be worthy of the being described as having pure heart and spirit.

Jinxiu, where are you going?

I forgot something and going back to get it.

You all leave first.

Fall in line! Be orderly!

Everyone, don't rush! Each will get their share!

- First come, first serve! Fall in line properly! Don't push!- Thanks!

-Don't push forward! - Thanks!

- Don't push!- Thanks!

- Thanks!- Fall in line!

Fall in line properly!

Everyone, don't rush! Each will get their share!

Thanks.

- Thanks.- Fall in line properly!

Don't push forward!

Thanks.

Thanks.

- Fall in line properly!- Thanks.

Fall in line properly!

- Let us pass! We also want to eat!- Don't push!

Don't push! Go to the back of the line!

Don't push! There are too many people in front already!

Step back! First come first serve!

Don't push! Go fall in line!

I'm talking to you! You're still pushing?!

Go fall in line! Fall in line!

Fall in line!

Step back!

Let me tell you that if you all don't go fall in line, we won't distribute the buns anymore!

- Don't push!- What right do you have to not give us any?!

Everyone, don't push!

Stop pushing forward!

Go to the back!

Chief Steward Wu, how come it's so chaotic?

Your Highness Consort Xian, don't know from where this sudden flux of refugees come from.

The whole place is in disarray.

Look. Should we stop it for a while?

What is this?!

Weren't the imperial consorts from the inner palace showing charity here and distributing some porridge? What is this?!

This clearly is water.

Look. You can even see your reflection on it.

Look! Look at this bun!

Not only is it made of coarse grains, there are even sand inside!

Can this be eaten?! Look at how my teeth got damaged!

Indeed! Are these for people to eat?!

Your Highness, they are totally saying rubbish!

How is there any sand in our buns?!

We traveled thousand of miles to come below the feet of the emperor. We thought that we'll have something to eat and clothes to wear.

But in the end, we kept being driven away by officers.

Women won't spare us any alms at all.

Our clothes are tattered, our stomach empty.

We can only sell our children.

Didn't the palace say that they are conferring benefit and giving out food?

Totally just lies!

They are liars! Liars!

They are liars!

Liars! Liars!

Why still fall in line? Let's just go grab them!

Later, there won't be any more buns!

Take them! Quickly pick them up!

Didn't you say that you're giving out porridge?

These food are totally not enough!

What do you mean by giving out porridge?! This is totally just some trickery!

Let the person-in-charge face us! Release the food!

Release the food!

Release the food!

Everyone, calm down!

Listen to me talk! Listen to me talk!

There will be a new batch of food coming, okay?!

- What are you doing?! Move back! - What are you doing?!

Hurry! Hurry and call for more men!

Your Highness, let's quickly return to the palace.

It's her! The food are not enough! Why do such fake act of charity?!

- She's a big liar! Catch her!- What are you doing?! Move back!

Capture her! Liar!

Move back! Move back!

He killed him! He killed him!

He's not a refugee!

What refugee?

A real refugee would come from Tianjin or Shandong.

What they are wearing are grass shoes. Its sole has long been tattered from the travel.

Look at him. What he's wearing is cloth shoes.

He's not a refugee. He's a bandit with evil intentions who mingled among the refugees!

Nonsense! You all are together!

- After killing someone, you still are falsely accusing us?! Kill him! Kill him!- Indeed!

Anyone who moves forward, will end up like him.

Move aside! Move aside!

Move aside!

Greetings, Your Highness Prince He of the First Rank.

Your Highness Consort Xian, are you alright?

I'm fine.

Your Highness Consort Xian, there are a total of 8 people who started this ruckus.

Other than that person I killed, there are still 7 of them.

There's still him, him, and him!

And those 2 over there. And those other 2 at the southeastern corner.

A total of 8 people.

How did you know who among them are fake?

Replying to prince's question, when they arrived. I've already closely monitored them.

They merged within the refugees and were even deliberately pushing and dividing the people.

If you don't believe me. Just arrest them and interrogate. You'll know the truth.

Capture all of them!

Come over here! Don't move! Move!

On what basis are you arresting me?!

Everyone, fall in line! Wait for the resumption of the food distribution!

Prince He of the First Rank, thank you.

I reported to His Majesty in advance. That's how I could dispatch the soldiers here.

But there are only that much food and that many people.

I fear it's inadequate.

Lord, your Highness. You can see who the real refugees are.

They are drifters who have traveled along dusty roads and gone through hardships.

They are emancipated with shallow complexions and have weak constitutions.

As for those crafty scoundrels, they have good vitality and plump cheeks.

They are deliberately here to commit frauds.

Who would commit fraud for food relief?

The rogues of the capital, hooligans, vagabonds

or to put it simply, they were deliberately hired by someone.

Why would they do that?

Because of their frauds, the real refugees won't be able to get the food rations.

After a period of time, they will naturally complain.

It may even create a major disorder.

This is very evil.

Did you see it? Hit it that way.

Here, hold this properly.

Come, strike.

This is not the right way. Watch this.

You little rug rat.

Stop hitting him. I'm begging you.

Can't we do it again?

Noble Consort has ordered that it's only for a month.

If you don't train well, you will lose your lives.

Half of the craftsmen have already died.

They were totally disobedient.

This is a lesson from your failed predecessors.

Continue to train!

Come, put it down.

Son, let me tell you.

You are now training with sand.

When you perform, you will be using hot melt iron.

If you are not careful, you will lose your life.

The chassis must be stable.

When you strike, it must be in a circular motion.

You must not move your hands.

Grandfather, I don't want to train.

I want to go home. I want to go home.

Foolish child, we can't go home anymore.

Who says you can't go home?

I have something to say to your grandfather.

Go and train over there. Okay?

Go now.

Miss. In order to pass down these skills of thousands of stunts,

Lord Gao forced all the blacksmiths in the city to train in this.

We need to perform at His Majesty and Her Highness' birthdays.

Even if we fight for our lives, we can't escape.

What solution do you have?

A blaze of colors is make the people happy.

But once they enter the palace, it becomes a powerful game for the consorts.

They are forced to become tributes.

Suffering unbearable pain for generations.

I have a solution now to help you escape from this wretched plight.

The porridge we have aren't enough to supply the large number of refugees.

Other than children below ten years old

and elders who are above sixty years old,

the rest must build porridge racks.

Why? We refuse to work.

We refuse to work. We want to eat and have buns.

We refuse to work. We want to eat.

Zhili, Shandong and other places have been flooded.

Countless of people have flooded into the capital.

Forbidden City and the wealthy families have donated grains for porridge out of kindness.

But this kindness should be given to those who really need help.

Consort Xian, this may not be a good idea.

Every bowl of porridge and every piece of bun here

are from the hard work of the people

who toiled night and day to produce this.

Every single grain didn't fall from thin air.

Others gave these to you as gifts.

If they didn't donate, you shouldn't take it for granted. Thus, you don't have the rights to question this.

You also don't have the rights to demand for it.

Only by working hard to get food

will it truly become yours. No one can take it away.

Now, the children, old, sick, or weak people

would be given food without any payment.

As for others, all must go work!

We don't have any strength to work!

Shut up!

Everyone, listen!

We have to build eighth porridge stalls in Tiananmen Square.

Outside the city, we also must build a refugee camp.

If you're willing to come work, come here to register.

We would distribute the food based on the number of people.

After eating, hence, regaining strength,

use your own labor to exchange for your food the next day.

Those who want to obtain food without working for it,

won't receive any grain of rice at all!

Who are you fooling?!

What right do you have to do this?! Indeed!

Consort Xian, a move like that has never been done before.

Prince He of the First Rank, they are indeed refugees.

But this was a natural disaster. Nobody owes them.

Now, all of these people seeking disaster relief

are displaying an attitude of seeking debts.

Which means if this charity movement won't ask for payment at all,

no one would cherish it then.

Enough! Stop wasting energy with them!

We won't work! Let's go!

Prince, look.

Why would we go work? Le'ts go.

Did you see it? If this charity is completely free,

there would be a lot of people pretending to be refugees to get food.

When I asked them to work, those who doesn't truly need food

won't return anymore.

You're forcing those faking to get food to leave.

If one isn't extremely starving,

who would be willing to use hard labor in exchange for food?

Zhen'er, arrange for those old people and children

to fall in lane and continue distributing the porridge.

Fall in line!

Don't push...

Fall in line! Everyone will get their share!

It's starting...

- Come, everyone will get one!- Thanks. Thanks.

- One by one!- Thanks.

Consort Xian, you indeed are full of ideas.

Giving food during times of war will invite gratitude. Giving food during peaceful times will invite grudge once you suddenly stop giving.

Incessant help will make people lazy

and destroy their temperament. I want them to know

that if they want to be helped, they must help themselves first.

As for the food, they should be left to the ones who really need them.

But the refugees have traveled far and most of them are sick and weak.

They need the imperial physicians to examine them. We must arrange for that.

Don't worry. I'll make the arrangements.

From which palace are you from?

Replying to Your Highness, he's just a lowest rank eunuch who scrubs commodes.

Replying to Your Highness Consort Xian, I came from Workhouse.

You never ask the background of a hero.

Workhouse now is missing a supervisor.

You fill that position then.

I thank Your Highness Consort Xian for your graces!

I will accept your command.

Imperial Guard Fuca.

Empress isn't awake yet?

Thanks. I still have to go on duty.

I'll just visit Empress next time.

Imperial Guard Fuca!

Do you still need anything?

I...

I heard from my grandfather

that His Majesty has intentions of bestowing us marriage.

I want to marry the lady I love.

The order of one's parents, the advice of a matchmaker.

Moreover, this is a decree from the emperor.

Can you go against it?

Erqing,

before meeting her, I might accept this kind of marriage.

But now, I clearly have someone I love,

yet I still will marry you. That's truly delaying your future.

Even if Yingluo was that heartless,

you still won't change your initial heart?

Erqing, you will meet someone better.

A person who truly cherishes you.

But that person isn't me. Sorry.

Erqing, is the medicated pillow I made for Empress still around?

Erqing.

Sister Erqing.

Her Highness Consort Chun is calling you.

Your Highness Consort Chun.

How come you're in a daze?

What has happened?

Nothing. Your Highness, what are your instructions?

Is the medicate pillow I made for Her Highness Empress still around?

Those drugs I used are for nerve calming.

Now, we must change them to medicines that can clear the mind and stimulate the spirit.

It's still around. I've put it inside a chest. I'll go look for it now.

Erqing, what's wrong with you today?

The past you has always done things properly.

Isn't it all because that Imperial Guard Fuca kept thinking about that Wei Yingluo?

He actually dared to refuse the bestowed marriage of His Majesty.

Hupo.

- Your Highness, be careful.- Your Highness Consort Chun, be careful!

What? His Majesty

wants to bestow marriage to you and Imperial Guard Fuca?

Your Highness, don't listen to the nonsense of Hupo.

- Your Highness.- The floor is full of shattered pieces of ceramics.

Be careful of hurting your hand.

I will be careful.

Before, Her Highness Empress said

that she'll find an appropriate marriage

for you and and Mingyu.

Never thought that His Majesty now

is more impatient than Her Highness Empress.

Isn't it all the fault of that Wei Yingluo?

If not because she bewitched Imperial Guard Fuca to fall madly in love with her,

this would have been a good marriage.

Enough, Hupo. Stop saying nonsense.

Imperial Guard Fuca likes Yingluo.

Everyone knows that.

I dare not make extravagant hopes.

It's just too bad.

Why are you glaring at me? What happened?

Nothing...

Your Highness, someone sent a secret complaint letter.

Since I handled palace affairs,

I would receive a lot of complaint letters.

Is there anything strange about that?

Your Highness, this time, it's different.

Really?

Your Highness, someone is scheming to offend a superior.

Should we immediately...

No.

Your Highness.

No rush.

The mantis preys on the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Just patiently wait.

It's enough for that Consort Xian to put on an act inside the Forbidden City.

Now, the whole capital is praising her.

Saying that she has awe-inspiring demeanor, able to make the masses submit to her.

When have I not opened up soup kitchens

outside the city during winter?

Those bastards, they've all forgotten about it.

In their eyes now, there's only Consort Xian.

All my hard work were fed to the dogs?!

Your Highness, calm down.

If you do good things every year, others won't find it novel anymore.

Consort Xian usually are so quiet.

Now that she's able to do some great deed,

it naturally will invite attention.

But, Your Highness, if we're able to organize the birthday party of Empress Dowager appropriately,

are you still afraid of not taking the limelight?

For the birthday banquet this year,

I must get my dignity back.

Zhilan, how is the preparation for the birthday present of Empress Dowager?

Your Highness Noble Consort, the training for the 'Thousand Purple and Red' is done. You can go check it anytime.

Tell them to prepare for tonight.

I'll personally check it.

Yes.

But...

But what?

Four blacksmiths attempted to escape and were killed on site.

Four of them?

Even if it's 40 or 400,

I don't care.

What I want is result.

Yes.

I heard that you lost your temper

outside Tiananmen Gate.

You shocked Prince He of the First Rank.

Is it true?

Your Majesty, stop laughing at me.

If not because Prince He of the First Rank came with sodlers today,

I would have been eaten alive by those refugees.

It's easy for a person in extreme hunger to lose rationality.

Just to restore order immediately,

I have no choice but to employ some little trick.

It's not really worthy to be mentioned.

Not only Prince He of the First Rank praised you,

even Liu Tongxun who's tasked to supervise the building of the refugee camp,

only has praises for you.

He said that you're resolute in handling matters

and has the proper degree of awe-inspiring presence.

To get a praise from the old stubborn man

is harder than going up the sky.

Consort Xian, you made me look at you in a brand new light.

I'm just a woman from the inner palace.

What I can do is really limited.

The one who's trying to control the flooding and help the refugees is Lord Gao Bin.

What he's doing is the one that will benefit the nation and would be remember forever.

Consort Xian, you clearly knew that it was Noble Consort Gao

who deliberately hired those troublemaker.

You still praised her father?

She and I indeed have a little misunderstanding.

But how could we let trifle matters here in the inner palace affect state affairs?

Although Noble Consort Gao is a bit willful,

she's loyal to Empress Dowager and to you.

I know that because for the birthday of Empress Dowager,

she especially invited blacksmith slaves

to perform the unique stunt 'Thousand Purple and Red'.

Thousand purple and red?

What I know isn't that accurate. I just know that it's a rare sight.

Your Majesty, Noble Consort is asking the performers to do a dry-run tonight. Why don't you go look at it?

Let me have a chance to see it too.

- Li Yu.- I am here.

Go ask around where Noble Consort will be holding the practice performance.

Yes.

His Majesty is here.

Your Majesty?

Why did you come?

You didn't even inform me beforehand,

so I could have prepared.

Aren't your people been practicing for a long time?

Tonight, I especially came here

to enjoy some eye feast.

Your Majesty, you must be joking.

Your Majesty, you're clearly doubting me.

You must be worried that I'll cause a huge joke during the birthday banquet of Empress Dowager.

Your Majesty, you're wrong this time.

I believe that Empress Dowager will surely like this gift.

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?♫