Original subtitles

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

Watching the person in the mirror's countenance grow pale and 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 PalaceEpisode 30

Can you all hear that sound?

Sound?

Empress Dowager! Be careful!

Empress Dowager! Your Highness!

Get away!

Your Highness...

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness Empress!

Your Highness!

Quickly go call the imperial guards!

Protect Her Highness.

Whoever dares to run around and shout would be dealt with according to palace rules!

My arm!

Help! Help!

Empress has fallen off the building!

Your Highness!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Help! Quickly save Her Highness!

Your Highness... Quickly save Her Highness!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Your Highness, quickly wake up.

Your Majesty, you've been sitting for the whole night.

Should you go back first and rest?

Your Majesty, your health is more important.

I will be stay here to guard her.

If there are any news, I surely will report it to Yangxin Palace immediately.

Your Majesty, how about I ask them to make some snacks

and deliver it here to Changchun Palace?

Enough. Stop crying.

Quickly go out.

No. I'm going nowhere.

I'm going to guard Her Highness.

If not because of your negligence, how could Her Highness suffer like this?

Stop crying here. If His Majesty hears it,

you'll get caned.

Quickly go out.

You hear me?

Let's go.

[Shoukang Palace]

Are there any news from Changchun Palace?

Empress Dowager, it's already midnight. Sleep for a while.

If there are any news, I will report it to you.

It's all your fault for stopping me.

Or else, I would be in Changchun Palace now waiting for news.

It's way better than staying here and worrying.

Fuheng!

Mingyu! How is sister?

Her Highness Empress is still unconscious.

The imperial physicians only said that the child can't be preserved anymore.

They still don't know about the other things.

What do you mean by 'they still don't know'?

Fuheng, where are you going?

I'll look for Doctor Ye!

Miss Mingyu, stop crying.

It's all my fault.

It's because I had a moment of carelessness.

If I tightly held onto Her Highness Empress,

this matter today wouldn't have happened.

There were so many people in Yujing Pavilion that time.

Everyone got shocked because of the bats.

All are running wildly and bumping at each other.

Would you be able to pull Her Highness Empress by yourself?

You don't know. You don't know anyting.

Yingluo told me that no matter where I go, I mustn't care about anything else.

I just have to tightly guard Her Highness.

It's me who didn't listen to her.

It's my fault.

I should have protected Her Highness Empress.

That way, she wouldn't have slipped and fallen off Yujing Pavilion.

It's all my fault.

The mistakes have been done. Things have become like this.

Can crying resolve anything?

Her Highness Empress is already unconscious.

Everything is in disarray.

If you keep crying here in such grief,

other than adding to trouble, it won't benefit anyone at all.

Why not think about what to do?

Find her. I'll go find her.

- Miss Mingyu!- Let go of me!

How come both of them are like that?

Have they been possessed?

Empress Dowager, stop worrying.

Empress is a blessed person. She surely will be alright.

His Majesty is still in Changchun Palace.

If you go there, His Majesty must worry about you and the Empress at the same time.

I'm sure that there would be news sent here very soon.

Usually, you are quite quiet.

But during critical times,

all the other imperial consorts are in disarray.

Even Empress has fainted.

Only you was calm and able to stabilize the situation.

Indeed...

That group of bats has covered the whole sky. It really scared me so much.

Good thing, Her Highness Consort Xian was quick in reacting and very resolute.

She was able to protect Empress Dowager.

During that situation, I was also afraid.

It's just that Empress Dowager was still around. I dare not show any fear.

I could only put a bold face and do it.

Or else, if anything bad happens to you, I wouldn't be able to deny my responsibility for it even if I die.

Now, empress is sick.

Noble Consort Gao also got hurt.

But the order in the palace must be maintained.

Please exert more effort.

I don't know much.

Good thing Consort Chun is very quick-witted.

I will assist her in managing the palace affairs

and will try my best not do commit any mistakes.

That time, Consort Chun was just by my side.

When she saw the bats coming, she got so terrified as if she lost her soul.

For a weak lady like that,

I can't put my hopes on her.

But you, you don't have the delicateness of a lady.

You are courageous and unswerving like a man.

If I entrust everything to you, I'll be at ease.

Empress Dowager, don't worry.

I will surely do my best.

How come a good Double Yang Festival

would end up like this?

Mingyu!

Yingluo!

What has happened?

Empress Dowager organized a Double Yang Festival celebration in Yujing Pavilion.

But don't know why, a group of bats suddenly got lured towards there.

The place was in chaos. Her Highness Empress...

Empress accidentally fell off the stone steps.

How is she now?

The whole Imperial Medical Academy is treating her.

But Her Highness is still unconscious.

Didn't I already tell you. No matter what time, you must—

I didn't mean to. That time, there were so many people.

I didn't know who pushed me and then I suddenly fell.

Who is the first one that discovered Her Highness Empress has fallen off the stony steps?

Men! Empress fell off the building!

It's Noble Consort Gao. She's the first one to shout it.

I just knew that it's her.

You suspect Noble Consort Gao?

No... Impossible.

Noble Consort Gao kept holding onto Her Highness Empress.

Her hand even got dislocated because of it.

If she intended to harm her, why then did she save her?

Was she able to save her?

If she wasn't able to save her, then it means her actions were just to cover up the truth.

Let's go to Changchun Palace.

How do you cure people? Can't you see that Her Highness is in so much pain?

Your Highness Noble Consort, how could joint reduction not be painful?

You must endure for a while. This will be over soon.

- You're still going to massage it?- Enough!

You useless thing. How come it took you so long to reduce my shoulder?

- I will take my leave.- I'm already having cold sweats.

Your Highness, why must you hurt yourself?

My heart aches just by watching you.

That's right, Your Highness. You usually feel upset just by losing a hair strand.

The more if it's a shoulder dislocation.

What do you all know?

I was so near the Empress.

If I just watched her and did nothing,

won't all the blames fall on me?

Now, I got hurt because of her.

Although I wasn't able to save her, I did give my best.

Even His Majesty won't be able to say anything harsh.

Lighter!

- Yes.- Your Highness have gave it a thorough thought.

I'm impressed with your ruthlessness.

Although inflicting pain on oneself to earn the pity of others is quite a rotten trick,

but it's useful.

Let's hurry.

Let's quickly go in too.

Why are you not moving anymore? Her Highness Empress is still waiting for us.

I'm not going anymore.

Why are you not going in anymore?

Her Highness Empress kicked me out of her palace.

I'm already not a member of the Changchun Palace.

Why would I go in?

Wei Yingluo, say that again.

I'm not a member of the Changchun Palace anymore.

Her Highness Empress still being unconscious has nothing to do with me anymore.

Her Highness Empress was so good to you.

Now, she's unconscious and you still dared say such words?

Do you still have a conscience?

Indeed. We've served Her Highness Empress for so many years.

Who hasn't been here longer than you?

But Her Highness just like you the most, even Erqing couldn't compare.

Saying such cruel words now, aren't you wronging Her Highness?

What's wrong with going in and looking at her? Would you lose a flesh?

You after all still came from Changchun Palace.

Have you forgotten your previous master-servant relationship?

When Her Highness Empress expelled me out, no one beg for leniency.

I ended up being a servant in Workhouse and suffered enough laborious work.

Now, everyone are spouting righteous words. Each one saying that I'm heartless.

On what basis? If I enter and look at Her Highness Empress, would she wake up?

- You...- If I have such time to do that, it's better to just do more work.

Or else, the one starving would be me, and not you people.

- You're totally evil!- Are you all done?

I really have a lot of work to do.

I'm not all of you, high ranking palace maids that's so pampered.

You just need to open your mouth and you'll have good clothing and food.

Leave! Immediately leave! You're not welcome here!

Now that Her Highness Empress has fallen,

Changchun Palace won't also be favored place anymore.

Even if you all kneel and beg me, I don't care.

Leave! Immediately leave!

Evil woman! She's really an evil woman!

Forget it, Mingyu. Stop being mad.

The health of Her Highness Empress is more important.

- As for others—- Imperial Guard Fuca, why are you still chasing after her?

Just let him be.

What are you doing?

Imperial Guard Fuca, do you still have questions to ask?

Yingluo, why did you do that?

You touched my hand earlier.

Why didn't you look at it closely?

Did you see it clearly now?

These were originally the hands of an embroidery maid.

There's not one scar nor callus.

Only hands like that has the right to touch the softest fabric.

But now, these hands are full of wounds and blood.

Even if they heal,

I won't be able to hold a needle with thread anymore.

Who should I thank for this?

- Your sister.- Yingluo.

A few days ago, I was removing grasses.

Because I looked forward for Empress to notice me, I got whipped a few times by Momo Liu.

If not because she missed a bit, my face would have been damaged!

But from start to end, Empress didn't look at me one bit.

In her eyes, I'm no different with those dirty mud on the imperial lane.

For a cold mistress like that, why must I worry about her?

Yingluo, although Empress expelled you out of Changchun Palace,

she still taught you to study and to identify words.

You can choose not to treat her as your mistress,

but she's still your teacher.

She's now unconscious. Is it that hard for you to visit her?

How come you all like to do useless things?!

If I go visit her, would she get better?

I'm not an imperial physician nor a deity.

My tears are not some miracle medicine.

If I stayed too long here, I'd get beaten and punished when I get back.

Would any of you people standing on high places and blaming you be willing to suffer the punishment in my behalf?

Do you know how painful a whip is?

- Yingluo.- Enough!

From the moment that Empress drove me out of Changchun Palace,

our master-servant relationships, teacher-student relation, have been severed.

Fuheng, you and your sister are the same.

Both are pampered and of high status.

People like you won't be able to understand my pain and grievances.

If you keep pestering me, I will just hate you more extremely.

I heard that you lost your temper in Changchun Palace last night.

Don't know what you're thinking right now.

Aren't you the bug in my stomach?

Guess it.

I'm guessing that you're coming up with a scheme right now. Am I right?

You're wrong.

I'm just a lowly slave of Workhouse.

How could I have the right to get involved in palace fights?

This time, I don't want to care.

I'm unable to care.

Just want to srub my commodes well in exchange for mantous that can fill my stomach.

That's what I should do.

I've gotten sick of hearing those words from the imperial physicians.

I want to know if there are any way to make empress wake up.

I did some acupuncture treatment Her Highness Empress. Her life is temporarily safe, but...

when will she wake up, I also have no confidence to say so.

Even you are out of methods?

The brain of Her Highness got injured. There's a huge internal hematoma.

Now, she's conscious and her pulse is deep and slippery.

Her illness is too grave and her health is too weak.

We can only do our best and listen to the will of the heaven.

Hope that Her Highness is worthy for the heaven's help.

That she will be blessed to wake up sooner.

Your Highness Consort Chun.

- You...- What did Doctor Ye said. When can Empress wake up?

Doctor Ye also is not sure when.

He can only do his best and leave the rest to the heaven.

Fuheng!

Sister, why are you here?

Why are you teary eyed? Is the condition of Her Highness Empress not good?

Her Highness is still unconscious.

I was just too anxious, hence, I lost myself.

Little sister, no need to worry. I understand your thoughts well.

Let's go and I'll accompany you to visit Her Highness Empress.

Are there still bats at the back?

Quick!

How is the investigation?

Empress Dowager pays a lot of attention on taking care of health. The Imperial Kitchen prepared some deer blood as cubes.

Empress couldn't tolerate the raw meat's smell. It was immediately asked to be removed after just getting served.

The palace maid carelessly spilled the blood all over the floor. The deer blood's scent was too strong.

It lured all the bats from the deep forest outside the palace into here.

We indeed discover a lot of bat lairs. The palace maids here also said

that they would usually see bats gathering in this place.

Usually, there would only be at most 10 plus bats.

But that night, there were thousands. I don't think this matter is that simple.

What you mean is this was a set up?

Where's the palace maid that spilled the meat?

That palace maid was careless.

She fell off from the railings of the Yujing Pavilion and died right there and then.

Now, we don't have any witness. What did all the other people on the scene say?

I've already sent men to interrogate all the palace servants that were at the scene.

Everyone is saying that the bats knocked off the lamps.

It was chaotic everywhere. No one really saw who pushed Empress.

What about Chuxiu Palace?

You suspect Noble Consort Gao?

Whoever is closest to Empress that day would be the prime suspect.

But just to save the empress, Noble Consort Gao's left shoulder got dislocated.

After being the joint was returned by the imperial physician, she's currently recuperating.

From the looks of it now, we don't have much evidence.

The best way is to wait for empress to wake up.

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

Have you heard it?

Empress is unconscious for more than 10 days. She's still hasn't woken up yet.

Tuixiu Mountain is so high, and the steps going up is so steep.

It's already fortunate for Empress to still be alive.

But with her collapsing like that, what about the palace?

If you ask me, Consort Xian is more magnanimous than Empress.

When Empress was handling the inner palace, she kept asking people to stop being extravagant and wasteful.

She ordered the inner palace to decrease its expenditures.

Now that Consort Xian is in charge, there are meat in the dining tables here in Workhouse.

Empress was still once your mistress.

So ruthless and heartless.

No wonder people are saying that you're a heartless monster.

Since you're afraid, why do you still keep provoking me? I really don't know what you're thinking.

If it's just to vent some useless anger, you better just save your strength.

Go back and work.

Jinxiu, are you so idle again?

Hurry and deliver the cow's milk to Chuxiu Palace.

Momo, how come it's always me?

The cow's milk is so heavy, and I must deliver it three times.

I don't want to go anymore.

If you don't go, who will go? If you keep complaining, be careful of getting flogged.

Let her go.

Hasn't it always been the newbie delivering the cow's milk to Chuxiu Palace every year?

Momo, that was a rule that you personally set before.

Sure. I'll go then.

Okay already. Don't be idle too. Squat on the three palaces to remove the grasses.

Yes!

You think delivering cow's milk is easier than cleaning commodes?

Let me tell you

that when you arrived in Chuxiu Palace, you would have enough torment to take.

You move so slowly! Do you want to be caned again?

Oh, an old acquaintance.

Sister Zhilan, I'm here to deliver the cow's milk.

Her Highness Noble Consort is waiting for it. Quickly go in.

Yes.

Wei Yingluo?!

How come you ended up in such dire straits after leaving Changchun Palace?

You were once so full of life before.

Now, you're being blown by the wind and exposed to sunlight.

Do you want me to help you?

Your Highness Noble Consort,

I've delivered the cow's milk. I'll take my leave.

Your Highness bestowed you some cow's milk. That's a great grace. You still haven't thanked her, so where are you going?

What else do you still want to do?

Look at this pair of nimble hands.

They have now become coarse and horrible looking.

Why don't I just remove it for you, so they'll stop being an eyesore.

Don't worry. I'll tell the craftsmen to make you wooden hands.

I guarantee that they'll be more powerful than this.

What? You're still glaring at me like that?

Don't you want your eyes too?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

- Where's Noble Consort Gao?- I...

Noble Consort... Her Highness Noble Consort...

Your Highness Noble Consort, His Majesty is here!

Wei Yingluo, if you know what's good for you, then shut your mouth. Or else, don't think of leaving this palace alive.

Your Majesty!

Get up.

Didn't your arm got dislocated? Why are you not lying on your bed?

The imperial physician has already reduced my shoulder joint. I feel much better.

I was just ordering people to carry water for my bath, when I bumped into this servant maid.

So clumsy. She spilled the cow's milk.

Look. My dress is already wet.

So dumb and clumsy. Quickly leave.

Yes.

Your Majesty, why didn't you inform me beforehand that you're coming?

I could have made some preparations. Look at all the spills inside this room.

It's so inconvenient.

I heard that you're sick, so I came to check on you.

Since you're fine, I'll return to Yangxin Palace then.

Li Yu, place the gifts over there. Nurse your health well.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, it's raining so hard. What are you searching?

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, isn't that...

Stop acting so pitiful in front of me.

What I hate the most is a pretentious woman like you!

Go someplace where I can't see you!

Your... Quick! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, even if you give Miss Yingluo that umbrella,

she wouldn't dare to use it. It's an umbrella for the emperor.

If she uses it and takes it back with her, don't know how big of a trouble it might cause.

She's a natural-born rebel. She's just reaping what she sowed.

Li Yu, when did it become a trend to bathe in cow's milk here in the palace?

Your Majesty, this...

Noble Consort Gao preserving her skin is also just to make you happy. It's understandable.

The cow's milk are supplied to the Imperial Kitchen for cooking purposes. No one is allowed to waste them.

Starting today, send an order to the Imperial Household Department

The amount of cow's milk supplied for each palace will be according to their ranking.

A wasteful action like this is strictly prohibited.

- Can't you understand?- Yes.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Stop!

Your Highness, it seems to be a weeding palace maid of Workhouse has fainted.

Ask for an imperial physician to examine her.

Let's go.

You're so fortunate to bump into the sedan of Her Highness Consort Xian.

If this is another person, who would care about the life of a servant?

That's right. Among the masters here in the whole Forbidden City,

only Her Highness Consort Xian has such benevolent heart.

When you burn incense and pray to Buddha next time, you must remember this grace of Her Highness.

Where am I?

Momo Liu saw that you're sick, so moved you into the stockroom. Come.

Get up. Since you're sick, so stop hiding it already.

You... If not because people found you,

you might have died midway.

Here. Drink your medicine.

It's not grave.

I just got soaked in the rain and developed a cold.

Continue acting tough. You clearly has a strife with the Chuxiu Palace.

You still volunteered to go there.

Are you crazy?

If I'm able to hide from it now, will I be able to avoid it next time?

I can't avoid them forever.

Drink this first.

You can fool others, but not me.

Honestly tell me, why did you deliberately angered Noble Consort Gao?

Say it.

I feel a bit dizzy.

I'll sleep for a while more.

Throwing eggs onto a rock.

Overestimating one's strength. Look at yourself now.

I'm really mad now.

Let me tell you that other than me, no one else would care for you.

You're not allowed to go out and risk danger again. You hear me?

Remember.

Lord Fuheng, why are you here?

Just casually walking around.

I personally saw you ordering that eunuch to bribe the supervisor of Workhouse.

You saw it wrongly.

Don't you usually hate such action?

How come just for Wei Yingluo, you can forego even your principles?

Shut up!

Don't think that I don't know that you're asking her to take good care of her.

Hey! Where are you going? Wait for me!

How is your arm?

Empress Dowager, my arm is better. Thank you for worrying.

Too bad, I was too incompetent.

In the end, I still wasn't able to save Empress.

You've tried your best.

It's just that misfortunes are following the empress,

hence, an accident like that happened.

These past days, not only Empress Dowager was worrying,

even His Majesty rarely smiled.

In a few days, it will be your birthday.

I am thinking of organizing it.

There's still 6 months before my birthday.

You're too rushing.

Now, Changchun Palace

is covered by gathering clouds and rolling mists.

How can I be in the mood to celebrate?

Empress Dowager, it's exactly because of that, hence,

I invited an acrobatic troupe from the commoners

to perform for you and His Majesty, so as to make the atmosphere lively.

It would also be able to drive away the gloomy atmosphere here in the palace,

so people will stop having knitted eyebrows and feeling frightened

Empress Dowager, Her Highness Consort Xian is here.

Quickly let her in.

Greetings, Empress Dowager.

You came just in time.

I've read the account books you've submitted yesterday,

Are you confident that you'll be able to handle the opening of the moat well?

Open the moat? What do you mean?

Since the 16th year of Emperor Kangxi's rain, the area encompassed by the moat had lotuses and chestnuts planted on them.

But we only use a third of these ingredients as food.

The rest are just wasted.

Hence, I suggested to Empress Dowager

to sell the lotuses and chestnuts.

Also, breed some fishes and waterfowls within the moat.

All the money that we'll earn would be noted in the books.

How much can we get from that and we still have to exert a lot of efforts?

A fox's fur coat isn't made from just one fox's skin.

It was made from several fox's skin merged together. Just like accumulating sand to make a tower.

The most simple method is to rent out the lotus flower garden out. I've calculated it.

We can collect 125 taels and 9 coins of rents every year.

It's still an income.

Consort Xian, you've just started handling the affairs of the palace and you're already touching an old rule of the palace. Isn't that inappropriate?

Old rules may not be always good.

Just like how the Imperial Household Department used to manage 26 pawnshops.

His Majesty has closed 15 of them this year.

He loaned the money to the businessmen.

The interest earned was higher than the profits obtained from the pawnshops.

There are also old rules that couldn't be managed anymore.

During the time of Emperor Kangxi, there are only 57 households working for the Imperial Household Department.

Now, it has doubled.

If we keep following the old rules, how are we going to clearly manage them?

In managing finances, it's not about earning more money,

but to let the people in the palace see

is completely different with the extravagant Ming Dynasty.

The food, clothing, and usage of resources is 10 to 20% less than theirs.

Even opening up new fund sources and decreasing the expenses have all been implemented.

If by doing this, everyone in the palace will follow,

it then will truly become a good thing.

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?♫