Original subtitles

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

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Watching the person in the mirror's countenance pale and grow haggard,

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Examining love together with regret, both new and old.

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Keeping watch still by a lantern though it is daybreak, drenched with tears,

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Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.

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Story of Yanxi Palace

Episode 6

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She committed a grave scandalous act. No one would dare mention it.

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Liar!

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My sister isn't like what you said!

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If you don't believe me, you can ask Momo Zhang.

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You are saying...

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...that Momo Zhang also knows?

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Your sister her most highly valued embroidery maid.

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How could she not know?

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Did you see that?

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Do it like that. Here.

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- Momo, be careful.

- Okay.

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Just move forward.

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Lighter. Ligher. You mustn't do it like that.

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Momo Zhang!

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Watch them.

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Walk slowly.

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What is it that you seem to be in a rush?

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Wei Yingning is my sister.

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Come with me.

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How many times have I told you

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to not mention that name again.

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You're breaking the taboo.

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But you never told me that she and A'Man are the same person.

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They are indeed the same person.

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It was even me who named her A'Man.

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- So what?

- Why?

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What 'why'?

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Not letting you mention her is because she disappointed me so much

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Your older sister committed a grave mistake.

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Everyone is saying that my sister committed a mistake.

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What mistake did she commit?

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Momo, say something.

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How come everytime I ask this question, all of you will just keep silent.

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I racked my brain just to get into the Forbidden City just to find out the truth.

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Momo, please tell me.

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A'Man did a scandalous act and got discovered.

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What scandalous act?

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For a woman, what else is more important than one's chastity?

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One night, she didn't return all night.

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When she returned on the morning of the next day, she got caught by Chief Steward Wu.

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At the fake mountain in the imperial garden, they discovered her dirtied inner skirt.

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My sister has always been clean-living and honest.

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She surely will not do such a thing.

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I also didn't believe it.

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A'Man is a very gentle and kind lady.

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How could she have illicit affairs?

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But I personally asked her.

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No matter how I asked, she only answered the same.

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That no one forced her. She was willing.

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For such a crime, based on palace rules, she should be caned to death.

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That time, Her Highness Empress Dowager just happen to be ill.

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It is forbidden to have any bloody act in the palace.

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Hence, she got caned 50 times and expelled out.

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Never thought, your sister couldn't accept it and committed suicide.

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Everyone was saying that my sister

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hanged herself because of shame.

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But I checked her wounds.

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My sister was strangled.

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What?

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She got strangled to death?

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Yes.

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If she really was willing to have that affair,

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how could she end up being silenced to death?

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Hence, this matter must have another story behind it.

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Momo, I must find out the truth. I mustn't let my sister die with such injustice.

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But...things have happened so long ago.

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How would you investigate?

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Oh, right, Momo.

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Have you seen this jade pendant?

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This...

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You recognize this jade pendant, right?

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I don't know it.

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The character in this jade pendant is Manchuriian.

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You have been in this palace for a long time.

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You surely know what's written here.

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If you won't tell me, I'll ask others.

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Stop!

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Momo, please tell me.

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Fuca Khara.

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What?

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The master of this jade pendant is the brother-in-law of His Majesty,

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the emperor's personal imperial guard, Fuca Fuheng.

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Fuca Khara.

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The master of this jade pendant is the brother-in-law of His Majesty,

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the emperor's personal imperial guard, Fuca Fuheng.

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Miss Yingluo seems to have prejudice against men.

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So what? Let me warn you,

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stop investigating the cause of you sister's death.

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She has committed a grave scandalous act.

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No one would dare mention it.

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♫ Willow tree on the palace wall ♫

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♫ Jade hair clasp ♫

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♫ Slender female hands ♫

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♫ Lonely wine, locking the autumn sorrows ♫

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Your Majesty, listen. Such beautiful voice.

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♫ Willow tree on the palace wall ♫

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♫ Jade hair clasp ♫

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♫ Slender female hands ♫

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♫ Lonely wine, locking the autumn sorrows ♫

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♫ It's hard to open the past ♫

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Greetings, Your Majesty.

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Who wrote the song lyrics?

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Replying to Your Majesty, I made it myself.

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I have embarrassed myself.

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Willow tree on the palace wall.

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Jade hair clasp.

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Slender female hands.

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The artistic concept is quite beautiful.

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It's just that there is no willow tree here.

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You were looking at bamboos, but singing about willow trees.

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Are you stupid or are you blind?

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Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

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It was because I grew up in Jiangnan and love willow trees a lot.

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Hence, I just casually made up those lyrics out of a whim.

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It has no other meaning.

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Out of all times,

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you just have to sing in the imperial garden at this time.

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You are sure that I will be lured by your beauty

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and tolerate your unruly behavior, is that it?

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You like singing?

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Then sing here in the imperial garden tonight.

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- Li Yu.

- Your servant is here.

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Look for someone to watch her. She must not stop until dawn.

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- Yes.

- Your Majesty, I was wrong!

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Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

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- I was wrong, Your Majesty!

- Noble Lady Shu, stop shouting.

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- You better save your energy.

- I...

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Watch Noble Lady Shu and ensure that she sings until dawn.

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Yes.

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♫ Willow tree on the palace wall ♫

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♫ Leaving with the wind ♫

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♫ One kowtow with every step ♫

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♫ Drawn-out love ♫

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♫ Very long hate ♫

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♫ Making a cocoon to imprison oneself ♫

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♫ Who said that love is eternal ♫

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♫ Breaking a thousand gold fur coat ♫

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Your Highness, the imperial physician will come tomorrow to check your health.

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Give the instructions, prepare for bath.

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Your Highness, you must not.

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Your health isn't good to begin with.

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It is too cold during the night

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Quickly go.

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Yes.

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Your Ladyship, the water is very cold.

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Pour.

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Your Ladyship, don't pour anymore.

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I really can't bear to.

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Continue to pour.

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Eunuch sir.

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Your Majesty.

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Where is Consort Chun's tag?

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Your Majesty, Consort Chun is sick again.

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Affairs Bureau took down her tag.

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I will go see.

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Tell the consorts and concubines in Yanxi Hall to adjourn.

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Yes.

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[ He (peace) ]

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Greetings to Your Majesty.

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Greetings to Your Majesty.

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What are you doing?

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I am sick and bored.

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I'm just sitting idly alone.

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You came just in time. I've mixed a new sleeping scent.

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Please come and examine it.

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It's no rush.

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Ouyang Xiu wrote something called "Beauty Yu".

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The beauty in the prose was full of love.

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But she couldn't tell anyone.

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So she would fiddle with charcoal as pretense.

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To air her woes of love to the ash.

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I wonder what worries you're holding, Consort Chun, to copy such gesture.

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There's nothing I can't speak of.

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Just that I was idling in boredom.

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So I wrote a couple of words.

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Is that so?

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And this "he" character signifies?

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Your Majesty's request is for a kingdom with equality,

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where the people are happy. My request is for

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the Empress to be safe and sound and harmony within the harem.

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However, if we want peace in the kingdom, talk is easy.

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For example, the Empress and Noble Consort

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have provoked each other many times and lost courtesies and attitudes.

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Although the Empress is magnanimous and doesn't argue with her,

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but as an Imperial Concubine, this is too disrespectful.

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There's such a thing?

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Yes.

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I understand.

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Your Majesty, you are a wise king

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and have always been tolerant of Noble Consort.

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Is it because the Gao family is powerful

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or perhaps, you are not worried about the Gao family at all?

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Or they have the backing of Ertai?

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You are worried about touching the Gao family.

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It will affect the benefits of the Er party

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and also trigger turmoil in the dynasty.

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Consort Chun, the harem is banned from getting involved in politics.

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Please keep this in mind,..

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If you commit this offence again, I will not let you off that easily.

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I respectfully see Your Majesty off.

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Mistress, you can still smile?

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I was scared to death just now.

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How could you say that?

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If I didn't say that, would His Majesty leave that immediately?

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Your Majesty, you are simply leaving like that?

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She's deliberately rushing me to leave. Why would I remain and not leave?

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Your Majesty, why did you come here then?

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Out of curiosity.

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She's always finding ways to reject me. I wanted to check

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if there are any new statements.

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Let's go back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

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Take the sedan for the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

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No. Go to Changchun Palace.

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Take the sedan for Changchun Palace.

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Your Majesty, where did you come from?

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I just came from Zhongcui Palace.

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Your Majesty. Consort Chun's personality

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is indeed arrogant but under the sun,

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which outstanding and talented woman wouldn't have her own temperament?

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Your Majesty, once in a while, just let it be.

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I feel that Consort Chun always shut off her heart

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and full of secrets.

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She's always finding ways to alienate herself from me.

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Your Majesty, what secrets would Consort Chun has?

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She's just sensitive.

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She's just sensitive.

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You must be more considerate.

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Enough. Let's not talk about her.

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My Lady.

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Your Majesty. After some thoughts,

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I need to tell you something.

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When Emperor Kangxi was still alive, a carpet in the palace

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could be used for thirty or forty years.

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But the carpet in Chuxiu Palace is replaced every year.

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They also use ivory seats and expensive red candles endlessly.

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If the harem is like this and the preceding dynasty does the same,

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it will be extravagant and extremely wasteful.

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We need to conduct a comparison. If this continues,

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the atmosphere will be ruined.

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What are you implying?

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As the Empress, I need to lead by example.

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The first priority is to abandon the gold and jade ornaments

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and replace them with velvet flower ornaments. Secondly,

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I have decided to reduce the expenses for Changchun Palace

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as the role model for the six palaces.

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You are right.

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The harem shouldn't spend lavishly with high wastage

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and follow by example.

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But this is not urgent. Do it gradually.

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Your Majesty, what about the methods of reducing expenses?

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You can decide.

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I'm tired too. Have an early rest.

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Yes.

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My Lady, you must think of a solution

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to have another first-born son.

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What are you talking about?

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His Majesty values you the most.

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You have been unhappy because of Second Prince.

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Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, you must not miss this opportunity.

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Or else, Noble Consort Gao will be more pleased.

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How could I get near Fuca Fuheng?

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For this year, the Embroidery Workshop has been rushing to finish

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the usual clothing of His Majesty and Empress Dowager.

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Next month, just happens to be the birth date of Her Highness Empress.

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Each palaces and workshops are preparing their gifts.

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Based on usual tradition, our Embroidery Workshop

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will give Her Highness Empress a phoenix robe as a tribute.

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For the style this year, we'll be using a phoenix wearing a peony.

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As for the main seamstress,

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I'll hand it to Yingluo.

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Momo, you always leave the good things to Yingluo. What about us?

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You even have the nerve to ask?

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Was I usually too nice to all of you?

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Look at that thing you're sewing.

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Can you really discern the difference of a phoenix to a common hen?

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I indeed can't embroider better than her,

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but I do can discern between a phoenix and a hen.

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Today, I'll give you my words,

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that if any of you dare to stand out and claim to sew better than Yingluo,

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I'll then hand this work to you.

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If there's none, just focus on doing your own task.

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Momo! Momo Zhang!

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Momo, I want to ask a question.

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You leave first.

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Embroidery requires days and months of experience.

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I'm still young. No matter how good my skills are, it's limited.

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The palace maids in the Embroidery Workshop, the great masters from outside,

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their embroidery skills are way stronger than mine.

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Why did you choose me?

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The usual practice in the palace is that the birthday gifts of the empress and the imperial consorts

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must be handled by the new palace maids.

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If the mistresses are happy that day, you surely will get heavily rewarded.

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Even if you don't do well, you won't get criticized harshly.

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This is giving you girls a hope, a chance to stand out.

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You just love to inquire up to the root.

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Your silly sister is my most favorite disciple.

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Even if it's just for her sake, I will take care of you more.

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Okay already. Frowning isn't allowed here in the palace.

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No matter when, you must always smile.

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When the masters see it, they will feel happier.

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Yingluo! That's the peacock feather thread?

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Momo Zhang said that the peacock feather thread

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is made from peacock feather, gold, and silver threads.

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Even the best weaver can only create a meter a day.

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Quickly look. If you look at it under the light, it looks rainbow-colored.

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So beautiful. I also want to give it a try.

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Yingluo, if you do well, maybe in the future,

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you can embroider the emperor's robe.

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Stupid.

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To make His Majesty's robe, the draft must first be drawn by the Ruyi Library.

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Once His Majesty approves it, it will be sent to the weaving factories in Suzhou, Jiangning, and Hangzhou.

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Once the weaving of the fabrics are done, it will be sent to us to be transformed into a clothing.

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His Majesty's royal robe would require 595 seamstress to finish it in 2 years.

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With your current standards,

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don't even talk about the emperor's robe, you might not even touch a court dress.

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Okay already. Just behave and return to making the spring clothing.

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Yes.

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Yingluo. This peacock feather thread

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is very precious. You must use it properly. No mistake is allowed.

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Or else, your head might be in danger.

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Yes.

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Everyone, go eat first.

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It's time to eat.

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Let's go.

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Yingluo, temporarily put down the matter about your sister.

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Just focus on doing the phoenix robe in front of you.

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Yingluo, you're using the couched gold thread method?

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Yes. The peacock feather thread is different from the usual thread.

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It's more appropriate to use the couched gold thread or the chain-stitch techniques.

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But, even if you want to work, you shouldn't do it starving.

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Let's eat first. Okay?

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Not anymore. I'll just stay here.

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The peacock feather thread is very precious. No mistake must happen.

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Ha? You will keep guarding it here?

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In embroidering a phoenix robe, won't it at least take more than a month?

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Don't you want your life anymore?

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How about this? I'll take shifts with you.

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No need. I can do it.

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What 'you can do it'?

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You have to work in the morning and then guard it at night.

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You really think that you won't collapse?

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If you don't want me to guard it for you at night, then just let me guard it for a while.

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Just a while.

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Quickly go eat. That will not take you even half an incense time.

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Quickly go... It will be fine.

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You must watch it well then.

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Got it. It surely will be fine. Don't worry. Quickly go.

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You must be careful.

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Oh, no! Fire! Fire!

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Help!

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How come there's fire?

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Be careful!

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Quickly take it away!

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Quick.

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Who did this?

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How come it's like this?

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Who is so wicked to use charcoal fire to warm her clothes? It almost caused the room to be on fire!

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My god! If our room gets burned down, where will we sleep tonight?

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Indeed.

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- Who's clothing is this?

- This is mine.

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Who placed it beside the charcoal?

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Jixiang, did you do this? Why must you bake your clothes inside the room?

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Indeed. You frightened all of us.

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I didn't.

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Jixiang, why are you here? What about the embroidery workshop?

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I...heard people shouting that the palace maid dormitory is on fire,

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hence, I didn't think twice and just ran to here.

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- You stupid girl.

- What's going on?

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- Yingluo! Yingluo!

- What's wrong with her?

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Something's off. Let's go take a look.

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Yingluo! Why are you in a rush?

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How could this happen?

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What's going on?

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Oh, my go! The peacock feather threads are missing.

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She deserved it. All the good things gets taken by her.

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This time, she finally had her misfortune.

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Indeed. Let's see how she'll submit her task.

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If Momo handed me the task, I won't be like her.

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This time, she probably will get expelled out of the palace.

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Not only that,

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this matter is punishable by execution.

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With all of you accompanying me in death,

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I'm not sad at all.

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You...what nonsense are you saying?

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You were the one who lost the items. Why must we all die with you?

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The phoenix robe is the tribute gift of the Embroidery Workshop. We all are one body.

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If Empress asks about it, you think she will just go after my mistake?

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If you have the time to feel happy about other people's misfortunes,

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why not rub your neck if it's cold!

396

What should we do? I still don't want to die.

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Spit! That word is forbidden in the palace.

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What time is it now? You still care about the prohibitions?

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She surely is fooling us.

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But the phoenix robe is indeed the birthday gift of the Embroidery Workshop.

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Now that it's destroyed,

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if we're unable to give out any birthday tribute,

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what should we do?

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That's right. What should we do?

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What happened?

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Who did this?!

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Who did this?!

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Momo, it's my fault.

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Momo Zhang, it's all my fault.

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It's me who lost the peacock feather thread.

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If anyone must be executed, just kill me.

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The peacock feather thread is also lost?

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Get up.

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What's the use of beheading you? Can that erase the crime?

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Momo Zhang, for what happened today,

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I'm the person who should bear the responsibility the most. But since the matter has come to this,

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there's no point to kill anyone.

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If we're unable to submit any phoenix robe to empress, don't one of you think of escaping!

419

If everyone will stop their tasks for now,

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do it day and night,

421

there will still be enough time to come up with another phoenix robe.

422

But what about the peacock feather thread?

423

We can rush to the Imperial Household Department and ask them.

424

Imperial Household Department? And tell them that we lost the peacock feather thread?

425

We all will then lose our head with you.

426

Let's sew the phoenix robe first.

427

As for the peacock feather thread,

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I will think of a way.

429

What idea can you still come up with?

430

Let's just sew the phoenix robe first.

431

That's way better than just sitting and waiting for death.

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Yingluo. I'm sorry.

433

It's all my fault. I was too careless.

434

I didn't think there would be thieves in the palace.

435

If Empress wants to kill,

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then put all the blame on me.

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Yingluo. I'm sorry.

438

I really didn't mean it. I'm sorry.

439

Stop crying.

440

If crying helps, the forbidden city would be long sunken by tears.

441

I already told you.

442

This isn't your fault. I'm the one to blame if anyone should be.

443

It's already happened so if you have time to cry here,

444

it's better to think what we can use to substitute the peacock feather thread.

445

Yingluo, Yingluo, can this do?

446

This is gold thread.

447

Peacock feather thread has seven colors of hues under the sunlight.

448

But this will be easily obvious.

449

Gold thread and silver thread, we have those.

450

But where would we go to find peacock feather thread?

451

And we don't have the time to do so anyway.

452

Jixiang. What's that?

453

That's fur we use in making winter robes.

454

And it's inferior in quality so it's useless.

455

Still not opening the door?

456

I know.

457

How can she finish the phoenix robe without peacock feather thread?

458

She locked herself in there. She wouldn't commit suicide, right?

459

She committing suicide is one thing but that will implicate us.

460

If Empress gets angry we will all suffer disaster alongside.

461

Jixiang. Yingluo told you.

462

What she will do?

463

I asked her. She wouldn't tell me.

464

She wouldn't tell you? Is that mean we're supposed to hold hope?

465

Why am I so pitiful? To come to the embroidery house.

466

I have the most chores and I can't even save my own life.

467

Even if Empress casts blame,

468

she wouldn't have all of us beheaded.

469

At most a severe reprimand.

470

But that peacock feather thread is too precious.

471

And it's regarding Empress's birthday gift.

472

The interior bureau wouldn't take it easy on us.

473

Then, Yingluo will be pushed out as the sacrificial lamb?

474

Is that it?

475

What . . .

476

She's out.

477

Look.

478

Where is she going?

479

What is she doing?

480

She's so dumb.

481

She's going to Changchun Palace like that?

482

I've prepared a pair of wishing jade.

483

May you have a long life and all things to your wish.

484

Empress. This is the gift I've prepared.

485

Consort Chun, what is this?

486

It's a piece of warm jade.

487

The so-called warm jade is basically Hetian jade.

488

We have so much of that in our palace.

489

I don't know if this piece of warm jade in your holding is any special?

490

This piece of warm jade, when in the cold winter, by wearing it on you,

491

it can give a faint warmness and perfectly suited for Empress's disposition.

492

Birthday gifts are best in pairs.

493

Just that I searched all over the nation and only found one.

494

- May you forgive me.

- You're thoughtful, Consort Chun.

495

I like it very much.

496

Empress. I had someone carve a gemstone miniature tree.

497

There's ruby in each flower with a layer of gold. Do you like it?

498

It's so pretty.

499

What status does Empress hold?

500

Why would she be pleased with such an ordinary item?

501

Empress.

502

Noble Consort.

503

You're late.

504

I was preparing your gift so may you not blame me for my tardiness.

505

I wonder what present you've prepared, Noble Consort.

506

Empress.

507

I ordered someone to carve

508

a figurine of the child-gifting goddess.

509

Do you like it?

510

Empress has not yet recovered from her pain of losing her son.

511

Noble Consort's doing is openly stabbing a knife into Empress's heart.

512

By the rules of the ancestors.

513

Only Empress can use pure gold fixtures.

514

So I had the workshop

515

make this pure gold goddess figurine.

516

In order to compliment your lofty ranking.

517

Look. This is pure gold here.

518

Noble Consort Gao.

519

This goddess figurine should remain in your Chuxiu Palace.

520

I am still young.

521

If I want to have a royal heir, I have lots of opportunities.

522

So this figurine

523

should be gifted to the one who needs it the most.

524

Noble Consort Gao's beautiful intention.

525

This generous gift.

526

I shall take it.

527

Gift offering ceremony by Palace Workshops.

528

Empress's mood isn't well. You all be vigilant.

529

Yes.

530

Palace Workshops present a pair of rosewood peacock fans.

531

A rosewood throne carved with flowers.

532

A pair of cloisonné waxed divine cranes.

533

Jade Workshop presents two boxes of four piece jades.

534

Two pieces of wish handles made with tsavorite.

535

Royal Kiln presents two emerald flower vases.

536

Two double fish crystal vases.

537

Glassworks House presents a pair of ivory-carved dressing boxes.

538

A handheld mirror.

539

Next girl. Are you the palace maid from embroidery house?

540

Why aren't you going in to present your gift?

541

Sister. Can you allow me to wait a bit more?

542

What are you waiting for?

543

I didn't think she'd be here.

544

She should be punished instead.

545

Embroidery House presents the gift.

546

- Alright, come quickly.

- Let me wait more.

547

It's already the last hour.

548

Or you will cause a hold up.

549

Congratulations to Empress.

550

May you live eternally in blessings.

551

That girl is . . .

552

Why aren't you removing the silk when you're inside the hall?

553

Yes.

554

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555

♫The Forbidden Palace's walls surround them, feeling like a good place to reside.♫

556

♫As the walls sever the setting sun's rays, they lose their past dreams as it grows cold.♫

557

♫Decaying leaves cover the neglected shuttered window, that remembers the cold winds of twenty harvests.♫

558

♫Knowing only how to go with the flow, and pass the years.♫

559

♫Unmarried and hopeful, the heavy, dark gates are locked, ♫

560

♫Cultivated and proud, gem-like beauties, and yet somehow♫

561

♫Flowers who stay may endure breakage, causing them ask to change their karma♫

562

♫Can not an empty branch give them a carefree place to rest upon?♫

563

♫Longing to be together with him, separated as the illumination in the western window declines,♫

564

♫At leisure to be melancholy, also perplexed and worried about it all.♫

565

♫Who will pity her, and record her lifetime full of misery?♫

566

♫A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.♫

567

♫Longing to be together with him, separated as the illumination in the western window declines,♫

568

♫At leisure to be melancholy, also perplexed and worried about it all.♫

569

♫Who will pity her, and record her lifetime full of misery?♫

570

♫A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.♫

571

♫A pretentious, showy vision on a stage.♫