Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The gentle Empress Team @Vikip

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

Examining love together with regret, both new and old.

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

Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.

[ Story of Yanxi Palace ]

[ Episode 29 ]

Let me tell you that a gentleman is also a man.

You're wrong.

You!

You really know how to hurt and insult me.

But let me tell you that since it was you who provoked me first,

I will never let you repay your debt to me through this manner.

I'll let you owe me forever until you feel guilty.

Once you marry me,

I will then slowly make you pay.

Young Master,

you really think that there will be a day?

If you're not willing to have an audience with the emperor, I won't force you.

If you want to stay here in Workhouse, I will wait for you.

I will wait until you abandon your grudges and let go of your burdens.

No matter how long, even if I have to use a whole lifetime,

I will wait for you.

So, you're a paper tiger. (feigning fierce)

- You...- Go back. I'll get going now.

Quickly fasten your dress.

- Li Yu.- I am here.

How long has that servant been scrubbing commodes in the Workhouse?

Replying to Your Majesty, it's more than a half month.

She didn't cry?

She didn't beg for mercy?

I think she wouldn't cry until she sees a coffin.

Even when she sees a coffin, she will get in first and lie down for a while.

I understand what you mean.

I will instruct people now to increase her workload.

Add until she cries.

Yes.

She's Wei Yingluo?

Yingluo, quickly make a bow.

What did you put inside the commode?

Replying to Supervisor Zhang, I placed charcoal ashes on the ordinary commodes,

and placed fine sands on those of the imperial consorts. I couldn't find any better materials.

How could it be better?

The wood shavings of agarwood is the best. I guarantee that you won't smell any stink.

Look at how clear that water is. It can even reflect a person's image already.

You're great, Wei Yingluo.

I finally knew why Empress praised you a lot.

Supervisor Zhang, you have said it too seriously. I'm just doing my job well.

You hear that? Do as she said.

Yes.

Placing a person like that here is a waste of her talent.

Find her something less laborious.

Wei Yingluo, you're able to clean commodes in a manner apart from everyone else.

That's called being pretentious.

Quickly wash them. After washing, dispose of the water.

A person who doesn't know to appreciate favors.

You have a naturally good-looking face.

How come you have a wood-like brain?

For Supervisor Zhang to like you is a fortune you've earned from your past life.

If you follow him, you don't need to be this most lowly eunuch position.

I'm a man,

not a rabbit.

Just you wait. You'll suffer.

So, you can speak.

You're sure that she brings that man food every day?

That man is usually very vigilant and he fights fiercely.

But he never touches our food here.

Now, we finally find a chance.

Eat.

You haven't eaten for a day.

So, you're here sneaking to drink cold water.

This is a mantou I left for you. Eat it.

You think I want to socialize with you?

If you get sick, I'll be the one to deliver the dung out of the palace.

Eat it.

Chunwang, let's see where you can run to now.

Why are you still lying down? Quickly get up!

Get up. Let's quickly go.

Hurry! Let's go!

Quickly go!

If we leave him here and he talks,

none of us can life.

Okay. I'll help you one more time.

Tomorrow morning,

the dung cart would be transported out of Forbidden City.

A manure cart is very dirty. The guards are already used to seeing it.

They surely will not check it.

Without a waist badge, he then has left the palace without permission.

If he returns, he would be executed. He naturally won't dare to come back.

Why are you looking at me?

Look at me.

Even thought I'm not extremely beautiful,

my looks are still acceptable, right?

How come this Supervisor Zhang didn't like me,

and instead liked you?

Too bad...

He has eyes but couldn't appreciate an item with gold and jade inlays.

That's more like it.

A person like that is a villain. No need to punish yourself because of him.

Without him, you can be at ease and eat now.

No need to avoid people and eat the food disposed in the canal.

Or, drink cold water.

How did you know?

I...

I'm smart.

That incident earlier really scared me.

I'm so scared that my hands are still trembling now.

But this man inside this dung cart is a huge trouble.

Be careful tomorrow.

You go back first. I know what to do.

Okay.

What are you doing?

You're talking.

Hey, you didn't talk with me the whole day today.

I thought that you've become a mute too.

Wei Yingluo, when you just arrived here in Yongxiang (Forever Alley),

just to find out the truth about me, you chatted with me with half-sincerity.

After getting found out by me, why are you not talking anymore?

Yuan Chunwang. You're the one who knocked Supervisor Zhang unconscious.

How come you still act as if nothing happened?

- Aren't you afraid that I—- Don't say such rubbish.

It's you who knocked him out.

Have you forgotten? That night...you were so resolute.

Lodging a complaint against yourself is accusing me. Accusing me is accusing yourself.

We are ants walking on the same rope.

- You won't be that stupid.- You...!

What are you doing?!

Flying into a rage out of humiliation...

Wei Yingluo, it has always been you threatening others

and never the other way around, right?

Do you feel so mad right now? So want to chop me into pieces?

Come...

Yes! It's my first time meeting someone more evil and more shameless than me.

Forbidden City is indeed a place that hides tigers and dragons.

Each one better than the other.

That's more like it. Let me tell you, Wei Yingluo,

that the Forbidden City hides tigers and dragons.

Each one better than the other.

Treating women like that is very disrespectful. Do you know that?!

What should I be afraid of? There is no good manners between men and women between us.

Moreover, I'm not some young master from a respectable and noble family.

I've never been educated and don't understand any logic.

- Get up.- I won't.

Get up first!

So many women here in Workhouse likes you. I don't want to be the enemy of everyone.

Don't worry. This is Yongxiang.

What does that mean?

It means that the most lowly palace maid of the Workhouse

will also look down on the lowly eunuchs here.

There so called liking is just going after my superficial look.

That Jinxiu you speak of has never stepped into here.

I'm unable to bear a liking like that.

Is it because of that that's why you don't like her?

I don't like women.

Then you like...men?

- What are you laughing about?- I don't like men...

You don't like men nor women.

I just like myself, okay?

Wei Yingluo, let me say something serious with you.

Fuca Fuheng will forever stand under the sunlight.

You can only stand in the dark corner.

You two can never be together.

I'm saying the truth.

Hey! What is it now?!

Yuan Chunwang! Did you peek that day?!

No! No! I really didn't!

- I just...- You...

- I just saw a little.- Tell me what you saw!

Pink... I didn't see anything!

- No color at all.- You!- None...

- I didn't see it. I really didn't see it.- Yuan Chunwang!

- I didn't see it.- You asshole!

Don't.

- Shut up!- It was pink.

- It was pink!- Stop right there! Don't talk! Stop right there!

Did you hear it? Supervisor Zhang went missing.

Chief Steward Wu got so mad saying that he did things so carelessly.

He wants him captured and be punished.

A beast like that should disappear forever.

What are you all saying?! Quickly work!

Her Highness Empress is coming. Quickly kneel!

Kneel!

Kneel!

Quickly go back to work.

What are you looking at?

You are now a lowly slave of the Workhouse.

You think mistress Empress will still remember you?

Stop thinking of leaving this hard sea.

Quickly go back to work.

Work!

You! I told you to remove the grasses and you're just dilly-dallying.

- Work! Stop being lazy! - I dare not do it again, Momo!

Quickly!

A heart higher than the sky, a life thinner than a paper.

This is an innate servile fate.

If you don't work for a day, you won't be able to eat anything.

Quickly go back to work!

Stop waving your hand. I can see.

Wei Yingluo got sent to Workhouse.

You're not worried at all?

Imperial Consort Dowager Yu suddenly died and caused a huge ruckus in the palace.

Getting punished to go to the Workhouse is actually a form of protection towards Wei Yingluo.

That maybe right, but Yingluo has a unique personality.

A delicate lady getting sent to do such laborious work,

will she really not develop any grudge?

Still scrubbing?

Yuan Chunwang?

Call me Brother Yuan. So disrespectful.

So cheesy. I'm not calling you that.

After I exposed your real character, you've become more unbridled.

Give me your hand.

- What are you doing? - Know to appreciate a good intention.

This is called Cephalanoplos thistle. It mainly relieves inflammation and pain.

Is it painful?

People like us are just rotten lives in front of those high status people.

When we're still useful, we're their guard dogs.

When we're useless, no one would even look at you even if you die on the streets.

Hence, one must cherish our own life.

You hear me?

Come... You do it yourself.

Look at how good I am to you.

Can that Fuca Fuheng of yours love you like I do?

Let me tell you that it's useless no matter how he loves you.

He likes you because you're young, beautiful, novel, and interesting.

After a few years, when that novelty of yours pass,

will he still love you like he used to?

In my opinion, he won't.

I know that you are capable and scheming.

So what?

Don't forget. Fuheng lost the trust of the emperor because of you.

You think he won't hate you?

I just like him. You can't do anything about that.

Tell Fuheng to scrub this for you then!

I didn't ask you to scrub it for me!

Take this back.

You Wei Yingluo...

I'm doing this for your sake, do you know that?

You're jealous of me.

You're jealous that someone loves. Jealous that I have a way out. Jealous that I'm full of hope.

Why are you looking at me?

I know everything just by looking in your eyes.

Wei Yingluo... Did you notice it?

The two of us are completely identical.

Just based on your gaze, I already know that you're thinking of something evil.

When I say the first part of a statement, you already know what I will say next.

We're like looking at each other in a mirror.

Wei Yingluo, stop liking Fuheng, okay?

Like me instead.

Two snakes are both cold-blooded animals.

How could they then provide heat for each other?

If we can't provide heat for each other,

if we can't mutually provide heat, we could at least take care of each other, right?

Yingluo, let's make a pact of alliance, how about it?

Making an alliance should be fine, right?

Make an alliance?

How?

What are you doing?

Wei Yingluo, come up here.

Are you coming up or not?

Wei Yingluo killed Supervisor Zhang!

Are you crazy, Yuan Chunwang?!

Yingluo, look at the galaxy above.

Actually, no matter how noble the status of a person is,

even if he is the descendant of the heaven,

he's still just a very small star among the bright galaxy.

Hence, who can really be more noble than anyone?

Yingluo, look.

One day, I will make everyone know

that I, Yuan Chunwang, a wild man who came from a lowly family,

will be able to walk far and fly high in this Forbidden City.

YIngluo, why don't we do this?

Starting today, I'll be your older brother and bosom friend.

Let me protect you.

The two of us warming each other and supporting each other.

Live in this deep palace together.

Okay!

Is it okay for me to be your lover?

Dream on!

Yuan Chunwang!

I told you that I can guess your every move.

Quickly call me older brother!

Quickly clean up all these things and go back!

You all look carefully. Her Highness Noble Consort wants to make rouges.

She just wants the petals with the purest color. All others are rejected.

Your Highness, look. This color is very nice.

Don't be so rough. You'll hurt the flower.

Okay. Yes.

Greetings, Your Highness Noble Consort.

Consort Xian, you're such a kind person.

You show so much care for even just one flower.

Recently, I've been personally leading my palace maids to make rouge.

I come here to pick fresh flowers every day early in the morning.

Consort Xian is here to...

Replying to Your Highness Noble Consort, I'm here to harvest dew for tea.

Make tea?

I think that's not true.

Since empress got pregnant,

you would pick dew here every morning and send them to Changchun palace.

Aren't you fawning too much?

I can't understand.

Why must you imitate Consort Chun?

Acting like some lackey everyday, closely following the empress.

What are you after?

May Noble Consort be careful with your words. No matter how useless I am, I'm still a consort.

If I've become a lackey, what then will become of His Majesty?

Zhilan, did I hear it correctly?

Were you able to clearly understand what Consort Xian said earlier?

Your Highness, Consort Xian said that you should be careful with your words.

The sun has risen from the west!

The Consort Xian who would usually be very cautious in speech and actions, and would always bear patiently,

how come you've become so clever, eloquent, and overbearing?

Who gave you the boldness to question me?!

Your Highness Noble Consort has national grace and divine fragrance. (outstandingly pretty)

You also have the Gao clan as your backer.

Of course, you could terrify the inner palace and walk without fear.

But don't forget that

A flower will not stay red for a hundred days; a person will not have good fate for a thousand days.

Once the empress give birth to a legitimate son and becomes the mother of the crown prince,

by then...

Her Highness Empress loves to drink sour plum soup the most.

I'm picking some now and won't accompany you anymore.

I will take my leave now.

You...

Your Highness, that Consort Xian is being extremely daring.

She dares to openly contradict you.

Of course, I wouldn't put any importance to a measly Consort Xian.

For her to dare to be so arrogant now,

isn't all because she has empress backing her up?

No matter how you look at it, it's the mistress of Changchun Palace that's having a child.

His Majesty has always been hoping for a legitimate child to succeed the throne.

If this prince safely gets born,

I fear that it would be like what Consort Xian said, that you will not have any more shelter.

That will still depend if she's able to bear one or not.

Your Highness, you have a new plan?

I can't continue waiting anymore.

Or else, I will be like the flower soil here in the Imperial Garden,

getting trampled on by anyone.

Zhilan, quickly call Noble Lady Shu to come to Chuxiu Palace.

Say that I have an important matter to discuss with her.

You clearly knew that Her Highness Noble Consort would come here everyday to pick some fresh flowers.

Why did you not change to another area?

Of course, it's because I want her to see me.

I don't understand.

Haven't you always been forbearing?

Why did you especially bump into her today?

You will understand in the future.

Let's go to Changchun Palace to deliver the dew.

I order Zhong Yongtan to meet Governor Zhou Xuejian to provide disaster relief.

This matter hasn't been initiated yet, but everyone already knows about it.

How could my secret letter got leaked?

Your Majesty, based on my investigation, it's exactly because Zhong Yongtan and the Orongan, the eldest son of Ortai, are very close.

The news was initially leaked by Zhong Yongtan.

He has lots of guts.

He dared to leak the content of a secret imperial letter.

In your opinion, how should I deal with him?

Replying to Your Majesty, Zhong Yongtan is an important ally of Ortai.

If we don't handle him properly, it might incite an unrest.

May Your Majesty think about it carefully.

Spread my decree! Zhong Yongtan leaked a secret imperial letter

and is immediately being removed from his post. He is to be taken into the Office of Careful Punishment.

Order Prince Zhuang of the First Rank, Prince Lu of the First Rank, Prince He of the First Rank, and Prince Ping of the Second Rank,

Grand Secretaries Zhang Tingyu and Xu Ben,

and Minister Necin to do the public trial.

Not only Zhong Yongtan, Orongan will also be imprisoned.

Your Majesty, you're going to touch Ortai?

Indecision invariably leads to trouble.

They have repeatedly challenged my limit.

I want to tell them that regardless if it's Ortai or Zhang Tingyu,

I would not allow anyone to offend the imperial power.

One more thing.

Governor-General Yin Jishan of the two rivers, and Governor-General Bai Zhongshan of the Southern Yangtze River

are against Gao Bin's flood prevention and water conservation construction project

in Yellow River and Hongze Lake.

What is your opinion about this?

Dividing the downstream water flow

and preventing the upstream from overflowing is what should be urgently done to save this disaster.

Gao Bin once said that the river water conservation project would affect the seven provinces of Su, Huai, Xu, Hai, Feng, Ying, and Si.

There would be an estimated 148 ditches and canals made.

If it can be successfully dredged, it would surely be a good thing that will benefit the empire and its citizens.

Hence, I must heavily reward Gao Bin

and release 1.9 million taels of funds

mainly for the management of the riverways of the lakes.

Your Majesty is wise.

How am I wise?

This way, not only will the citizens benefit from this achievement that will last for thousands of years,

Gao Bin will also loyally serve you more.

He and Ortai will now be of separate paths.

The Ortai alliance falling apart, while the Zhang alliance would surely introspect and increase their vigilance.

Isn't this a good thing?

Fuheng,

if you could be more precise in choosing a woman like the way you handle state affairs,

I will feel more comforted.

Your Majesty, I still believe that my choice is right.

Your Majesty, the banquet in Yingjing Pavilion is now ready.

I'm handling state affairs.

Instruct empress to make sure that the matter is handled properly.

Yes.

One day, I will personally remove the mask of Wei Yingluo.

Slowly.

Your Highness, the imperial physician said that you should recuperate in peace.

Today, Empress Dowager is holding a banquet in Yingjing Pavilion.

It's inconvenient for you since you're pregnant.

Why not just ask to be excused from it?

Empress Dowager has always been forgiving. She won't blame you.

Mingyu, because of the matter of Imperial Consort Dowager, Empress Dowager has been depressed.

It's not easy that she was finally able to prop her spirit up and organize a Double Yang Festival banquet.

If her Highness doesn't go, won't that kill everyone's joy?

Although Empress Dowager won't say anything,

that mistress of Chuxiu Palace would surely incite trouble.

By then, she'll surely say that Her Highness is using the child in her womb

and is acting delicate just because she's being favored.

But Her Highness is clearly not feeling well.

Your Highness, should we have an imperial physician go with us?

Look at how nervous you two are.

I'm feeling very well.

It's just that lately, I feel so tired. Too lazy to move around.

Quickly dress me up so we won't be late.

I'll accompany you later.

Me too!

If you two both go, who would take care of Changchun Palace?

Erqing will stay behind today, while MIngyu will go with me to the banquet.

Yes.

Yes.

My recent complexion is too ugly.

Place some make-up and don't let Empress Dowager see it. Or else, she'll worry again.

Stop crying and don't let others hear it.

Enough. Come.

Quickly wipe it dry. Stop crying.

Stop crying...

Stop crying.

Be careful of inviting the attention of the guards and you two will surely lose your lives.

Stop scaring people!

Stop crying. Be good.

Why are you crying?

This lady, just to prepare for the birthday of Empress Dowager, Her Highness Noble Consort

especially had us stay here in the palace.

to perform our special act "Thousands of Purples and Reds".

Then he...

How come he's like this?

This "Thousands of Purples and Reds" is

splashing molten iron on the brick wall.

It's like thousands of fresh flowers blossoming. So indescribably wonderful.

Commander Officer Gao Heng knew about this act of ours.

He used the excuse of sending a birthday greeting

to abduct us into the palace.

He even forced some of our co-villagers and my grandson to learn it.

In this performance, a certain amount of strength is required.

- Yingluo...- He's still a child.

How could he not get hurt?

Stop meddling... Let's go... We can't help you with this. YIngluo, quickly go...

Stop pulling me! I can walk by myself.

Miss, just leave.

Let's go.

If I don't pull you away, you surely will meddle. Don't I still know you?

Let me tell you that not only the 'Thousands of Purples and Reds',

even those embroidery maids from your Embroidery House,

they surely would be working happily if they were outside among the commoners.

Once you enter the Forbidden City, you have to rush the work every day and night. Before they even reach the age of 30,

they would get blind and their hands would tremble, becoming a useless person.

This is the Forbidden City. This is power.

As long as you didn't climb up to a high position and become a nobility yourself,

you can only wait for others to dictate your fate.

Hence, while you still are unable to fend for yourself,

don't say anything, pretend to not see anything.

Enough already. It's already so late. Let's quickly go.

It's not convenient to go up this Yujing Pavilion.

Didn't I tell you to rest in Changchun Palace and not come anymore?

It's rare for Your Highness Empress Dowager to have this kind of interest. I should be attending by your side.

Moreover, I'm healthy.

Just because I'm pregnant, His Majesty ordered that

I just lie down in Changchun Palace everyday. I really can't take it anymore.

Today, I just want to use this Double Yang banquet to come out and take in some fresh air.

I'll treat this as Empress Dowager's graces then.

You...

You should still prioritize in taking care of your health.

Stop pushing yourself too hard.

There are a lot of affairs to manage here in the palace.

I indeed am sensing that my energy couldn't catch up with it.

Hope Empress Dowager can be merciful and remove the heavy burdens on me,

so that I can peacefully focus on my pregnancy.

Who is your choice then to manage the inner palace?

I feel that Consort Chun does things in an appropriate manner and is very thorough.

Consort Xian has noble character and is admired by the whole six palaces.

If the two will work together, they surely can manage the inner palace in good order.

Let His Majesty have no unnecessary worries.

I also admire the people that you recommended.

Starting today, you two must work together to manage the affairs.

Don't disappoint the empress.

I surely will do my best to unburden the empress.

- Get up.- Yes.

Today is a family banquet, so no need for formalities.

Everyone, please take your seat.

Yes.

This chrysanthemum wine is refreshing and sweet, beneficial for the liver and eyes.

His Majesty even especially ordered the Imperial Kitchen

to use the remaining black chrysanthemum last year to make wine.

Empress, quickly taste it. See if there's any difference between this wine and that one before.

It seems to be more bitter.

Empress Dowager, in this chrysanthemum wine,

there is angelica, foxglove, and wolfberry.

It can help lengthen one's lifespan.

Consort Chun is indeed well-versed in medicines.

Just lightly smelling it and I'm unable to hide anything from you.

Wine can cure hundreds of illnesses, chrysanthemum can hinder aging.

Your Highness Empress, why are you not drinking?

Your Highness Noble Consort, Her Highness Empress is currently pregnant.

Chrysanthemum wine is a bit cold and isn't appropriate for her to take in.

I've already prepared a warm milk tea for Her Highness.

So that's the case. I didn't make thorough considerations.

May Your Highness Empress forgive me.

It's exactly because I considered your health,

hence, I ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a hot pot,

remove the crabs, and serve some deer meat.

Don't drink the wine anymore.

Drink some hot soup to warm your body.

I thank Empress Dowager for understanding.

Are everything prepared?

Noble Lady, don't worry. Everything has been adequately prepared.

Your Highness.

Although deer blood is very nutritious,

but it increases circulation. Her Highness mustn't eat it at her current condition.

Quickly remove it!

Can't you see? Quickly take it away!

Yes... I will remove it right away.

I was wrong! I was wrong! May Your Highness Empress Dowager forgive me!

How do you do things?! Quickly clean that up!

Yes! Yes!

The raw meat scent is too strong.

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?♫