Original subtitles

[Royal Feast]

[Episode 21]

Your Highness.

Would this make me less angry?

Nosy.

Your Highness, this Guilinggao might smell fishy.

Do you want to have something else?

I'm angry now.

Don't you know my body is full of internal heat?

Take it away.

Yes, Your Highness.

Add some honey and osmanthus.

Go now.

I'll get going now.

What's wrong? Are you not well?

It's just some tonic for women's health.

Take it away.

That's odd.

Why are you and Miaoxian taking medicinal decoction at the same time?

You didn't even summon any female physicians.

Why?

Did you prescribe it yourself?

I've never seen these palace maids before.

Huaping is too young.

Mother fears she can't manage her duties.

So she especially chose and sent

four clever palace maids to me.

[Kunning Palace]

Your Majesty,

the Eastern Palace sent them all back early this morning.

Was this the Crown Princess' wishes?

Mother, it was mine.

You can leave now.

Yes, Your Highness.

It's all right if you don't like them.

I'll send another four to your palace tomorrow.

Mother.

I'm not blaming you.

If you were common folk,

I'd never meddle in your affairs.

But are you?

You're the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

The prince of this country.

Who'll bear

the responsibility of this nation if you have no children?

Mother, I'm still young.

I'll have children sooner or later.

There's no need for you to be anxious.

I can't bear

to make things difficult for my daughters-in-law.

But everyone is waiting, watching,

and expecting the future line of the Great Ming.

How about this?

If you don't like

the concubines at the Eastern Palace,

you can select new ones

until you're satisfied.

Mother, there's nothing wrong with them.

I feel contented.

I know there's nothing wrong with them.

But you like none of them.

Mother, if you send them again,

I'll send them back to you.

So don't worry about this.

I'll take my leave.

Zhanji,

you can't run from this responsibility!

Come back here!

Your Majesty.

Why can't

he understand?

They'll be condemned as sinners

if I don't make it hard on them now.

As long as they have children,

they won't be criticized by others

and have a way to survive.

His Highness doesn't understand

Your Majesty's kind intention.

What should we do now?

Since he doesn't like the ones I chose,

I'll pick someone he likes, then.

What are you making?

Matron Meng.

The Prince of Wei coughs in the middle of the night.

I've read from the Materia Medica for Dietotherapy.

Make 50 holes in a cold pear

and fill the holes with pepper.

Simmer it with the residual heat of the charcoal.

It can be eaten after removing the pepper when it has cooled down.

This can alleviate cough.

So I want to give it a try.

Do you still remember what I said

about food preparation?

Food preparation is

to give full consideration to the diners' needs,

keep the original flavor and essence of the ingredients,

and make delicious delicacies from them.

Since you chose to specialize in medicinal cuisine,

other than considering the physical constitutions of the diners,

the choice of ingredients is important.

So tell me,

how did you pick this medicinal pear?

In "Pharmacopoeia",

only snow pear from Xuancheng

and Chinese white pear from Jingzhou and the north are suitable

to be used as medicinal ingredients.

But after a few experiments,

I noticed this year's fragrant pears which were sent as tribute,

also have effective results.

So I used it for medicinal food this time.

It's good to know how to distinguish the Pharmacopoeia records.

However,

the one eating it is a child.

The flavor of pepper is too strong.

He won't like it.

Why don't you switch it to butter and honey?

Also,

the pear peel can clear internal heat and quench thirst.

It's a medicinal ingredient in itself.

Won't the property of medicine be reduced if you remove the peel?

Previously, you said you were not familiar with medicinal cuisine.

I thought it was true.

As a cook,

we must always know the characteristics

of the ingredients in the world.

I understand.

Thank you for your guidance, Matron Meng.

Zijin! Zijin.

Matron Meng.

Kunning Palace ordered

the Imperial Food Service to send a midnight snack.

Only cooked taros are left.

Betel nut taro is not the only best taro our country has.

Fuding's taro has the most delicate texture

and it's the best ingredient to make taro paste.

Slicing Fenghua taro and steaming

with meat is better.

Isn't it just right

to use these baby taros to make osmanthus taro seedling

and taro with scallion oil?

Well, for this one...

Zijin, come

and help me out.

Yes.

[Kunning Palace]

Matron Meng, please stay.

Go on.

Yes.

Your Majesty doesn't usually have midnight snacks.

Matron Meng sliced the cooked taros. She added nutmeg

and almonds into the mixture and lightly fried them.

Along with parsley and Bijian soup,

it can strengthen the spleen and stomach, calm the mind, and aid in sleeping.

Please enjoy your meal, Your Majesty.

Do you still remember our bet?

Silly child, why go all the trouble?

No one can go against the royal family.

If you refuse to budge,

no one in the world can save you.

Your Highness.

Please calm down, Your Highness.

I'll talk her out of it.

She'll change her mind.

When a human is born, it's like living in a cage.

You can only go against the natural order

when you die.

You don't say a word for half a year.

You face the window all day.

Do you think

you can detach yourself from this world?

They are many who can replace you.

But I just don't tolerate defiance.

Let alone rejecting me.

Your Highness,

I watched Li grow up.

She's a good girl with good manners

and she abides by the rules.

Please show me some grace

and give her another chance.

Silly child,

you only have two choices

if you refuse to enter the palace.

You can only become a nun or die.

You're still so young.

Don't tell me you want to shave your head

and spend your whole life at the temple?

Aren't you afraid of inviting trouble

for getting me into the palace?

It's all planned.

I suggest you stop being delusional.

Just accept and be the Great Imperial Grandson's concubine.

But I'm not willing to.

Do you dare to bet?

Once you know the prosperity of this supreme place

and meet my son,

your unwillingness will disappear.

When that time comes,

I'll wait for you to beg me.

This is my grace to you.

You've entered the palace for a while now.

So do you know what the supreme place in the world is?

Your Majesty,

the royal household,

wealth, glory, supreme power

are the highest power in the world.

Have you met the Crown Prince?

The Crown Prince is wise, farsighted,

intelligent, and decisive.

He also has a benevolent heart for the people.

Tomorrow, I'll relay my edict

to confer you the Crown Prince's concubine.

Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness.

Please revoke your order.

What?

I lack fortune.

I dare not accept it.

You don't admire imperial power after seeing it.

You don't envy glory after seeing it.

How carefree you are.

But there's a fate

between you and him.

Can you bear to cut it off?

When

I first entered the palace,

I came with a grudge.

But after spending time with the Crown Prince,

my heart has melted because of him.

Your Majesty,

I truly adore the Crown Prince.

But I have to choose between love and freedom.

I'm not willing to be a concubine.

Please fulfill my wishes.

Do you know what you're talking about?

Your Majesty has promised to let me go.

How dare you speak to me like this.

I'm the head of the imperial harem.

As long as I don't let you go,

you'll have to be submissive in this imperial harem,

be the Crown Prince's concubine,

and continue the royal family's line.

I'm childish, ignorant, stubborn,

and unreasonable.

I don't deserve to serve the Crown Prince.

You have the nerve to speak this way.

No matter how tough your bones are,

it's not tougher than a sharp ax.

No matter how strong your will is,

you can't shake the supreme imperial power.

You speak to me like this

because you're taking advantage of my tolerance and compassion.

After you've exhausted all my patience,

your older brother and every one of the Sun family will cease to exist

in an instant.

The people say

the Empress is gentle and generous.

But they were wrong about you.

Your will is far more determined than any man.

Your decisiveness is also far more comparable.

But

what I want is

to die without regret.

I'll take my leave now.

Your Majesty, this maid is rude.

You shouldn't tolerate her anymore.

As expected, it's sweet, crispy, and delicious.

She could have stood by

when I was in trouble.

However, she ran about for me regardless of past grievances.

Mother is right.

She's a good child.

Your Majesty...

I just want to see

if there's anyone in the world who dares to disobey the imperial power.

Or even

resist the arrangement of fate.

Wait here.

Why do you want to see me

at this late hour?

What is this?

An amulet for offspring.

I don't need something superstitious like this.

If this is why you want to see me,

I'll head back, then.

Your Highness, keep it.

I said I don't need it.

Big Sister.

It doesn't matter if you have no child.

I sincerely pray to heaven

for peace and joy in your life.

This is enough for me.

Big Sister,

why are you talking strangely?

Big Sister.

Big Sister.

[Qing'an Gate]

Ziping.

Stop daydreaming.

Why do you look distracted?

It's nothing.

I'm all right.

But I wonder how it'll take

to master cutting tofu.

What?

She saw Manager Fang prepare hydrangea tofu,

and later she heard there were 158 tofu dishes

at the Tofu Banquet.

She's obsessed with tofu now.

She kept looking at tofu every day,

and I don't even know what she's doing now.

Come with me.

[Chrysanthemum Tofu]

Your Highness,

His Majesty may have exempted Jiaozhi's gold and pearls,

and the purchases of Shaanxi and Sichuan tea.

However, many places still collect by force,

harass the people, and waste money.

For instance, the tribute of lacquer and azurite.

They never care if it's locally produced.

Everything is being levied.

The people were forced to sell their property

to buy lacquer and azurite at a high price

to complete the quota for the government.

Unscrupulous merchants took the opportunity

to drive up prices tenfold.

The people lost their homes and properties.

[Investigating Censor, Mei Shaoyuan] Why did you stop me from submitting the memorial?

You're not scolding the unscrupulous merchants.

You're scolding

the eunuchs Father sent out for purchase.

Do you know

the ones Father sent are

those he think highly of?

Some of them have been his trusted confidant for many years.

Do you think Father will believe you or them?

I can't let someone like you

get hurt from slander.

As the investigating censor,

I have to supervise the departments and report anything unlawful.

I can't just watch the eunuchs cause trouble

for the Great Ming.

Your Highness, you must watch out for the rats by your side.

Don't let them mislead you.

Your Highness.

I'll reward this tea to you.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Good tea.

It's good. Thank you, Your Highness.

Gentle water nourishes all things.

Flood destroys crops and harms the people.

Hence, people build water wheels

to prosper the countryside and build dams to prevent water disasters.

The water is so.

So are people.

The eunuchs were at war with Grandfather for many years.

There are indeed a lot of talents around.

He's indeed

an upright and valiant young talent.

What?

Let's go.

Follow me.

Come back.

Why are you here?

I'm here to see the one you like.

Zheng Sanbao fought bravely and skillfully for several voyages in the West.

Yishiha has sent many envoys to Nurgan

to appease the local ethnic groups.

Of course,

there's also someone like Huang Yan who gave out intel

of the Inner Court to hatch a sinister plot.

Eunuchs are like water.

They're no different than the officials.

There is no distinction between good and evil.

It depends on how you use it, that's all.

I beg to differ, Your Highness.

A knight errant can uphold justice

if he has the sword in his hand.

If it falls into the hands of bandits,

it'll become a sharp weapon to kill.

The reign of the Ming Dynasty concerns all the people.

Now, the Emperor is kind, and the Crown Prince is virtuous.

You can firmly grasp this sharp sword.

But who can be certain

that the Great Ming will have a great emperor every generation?

How bold of you!

Leave.

I said, leave.

Yes, Your Highness.

You're impeaching

[Xingyun Cottage] the imperial bodyguards

and the eunuchs.

I've told you so many times.

If you have something to say,

just tell me in private.

You scold others so openly.

Some people will plot against you.

Since you know he's a snake,

why do you keep him by your side?

Yuan Qi

has been serving me since I was young.

I fell down from the horse one time.

He rushed towards me to protect me.

He was bedridden for a year.

Shaoyuan,

even he's from a lowly birth,

he's still human.

I'll get the meals ready.

It smells so nice.

Zijin,

why does stinky tofu smell

so bad,

but it tastes so delicious?

Smells good, right?

Zijin.

The first one is mine!

It's mine. You can't take it.

It's all mine. Mine.

It's all mine.

Let me have a bite.

Careful. It's hot.

Zijin.

You ran away so fast.

You ignored me when I asked you questions.

What do you want now?

I...

Try it.

Matron Meng is here.

This year's Lantern Festival,

they will set up a lantern display of Aoshan Mountain in the palace

to pray for peace in the world.

His Majesty is also going to hold a banquet for all the officials.

All of you need to keep your heads up

to manage it.

-Yes. -Yes.

Matron Meng.

If I remember correctly,

the contest winner

between us has not been decided yet.

Matron Hu,

don't you want to give up

at this point?

No matter what, I'm still the matron.

In terms of rank,

it's not your place

to behave presumptuously in front of me.

Is this still necessary?

Matron Meng,

you've already taken control of the Imperial Food Service.

But it's still a competition.

Without determining the victor,

how can one convince everyone?

Are you willing

to accept the challenge for a third-round?

What's the wager?

We can compete

during the banquet for the officials.

If I win by chance,

you're to admit that your skills are inferior

to mine in front of everyone.

If I lose,

I'll leave the palace

and never step inside the Forbidden City.

What do you think?

As you wish.

If she was not

the Crown Princess' sister,

she wouldn't have been alive until now.

Now, she brings disgrace upon herself.

Matron Meng will definitely take this chance

to chase her out of the palace.

Am I right, Zijin?

Let's not talk about this anymore.

Can you do me two favors?

Two favors?

It's sweet douhua? (*a Chinese snack made with very tender tofu)

Douhua shouldn't be sweet.

Your Highness,

the Imperial Food Service prepared it.

Why would it be sweet?

Why did they make

sweet douhua?

What did they add in here?

Your Highness,

they might have

added sugar or sweet syrup

in it.

Osmanthus is likely too.

I'm not sure of the specifics.

Why would anyone

add sugar in douhua?

Your Highness might not know this.

My maternal grandmother

is from Jingzhou.

She has made this sweet douhua

since I was young.

It's especially sweet and fragrant.

But

there's only one bowl.

Why are the flavors of saltiness

and sweetness separated?

I saw how they made it.

(They used)

(a copper sheet in the bowl to separate the two flavors.)

(The copper sheet was brushed with...)

(As for the specifics,)

I'll let you know

after I ask them the methods.

What nonsense.

Douhua can only be salty.

[Xingyun Cottage]

I've already helped with the first favor.

Just do me one more favor.

You never talked about him before.

Did you meet

outside the palace?

Since you like him,

why do you ask for my help?

I just became a table maid.

My pay is limited.

I don't even have any jewelry

or silk handkerchief at all.

As for poems and sayings,

I don't know all those either.

How am I supposed to express my feelings?

So I could only prepare

one or two delicious meals

with all my heart.

Just help me this once.

My kind Zijin.

Please help me, Zijin.

Please, kind Zijin.

I'll be forever thankful to you.

Go now. Quickly.

Ziping.

Go.

Tell the Imperial Food Service

to never make sweet douhua.

Yes.

Your Highness,

I think Official Mei

wants to borrow this book.

He forgot to take it with him.

I'll send it to him now.

Give it to me.

The whole room is full of a weird sweet smell.

I'm going to take a stroll.

I can't believe

someone loves sweet douhua.

Official Mei.

Manager Yao.

This meal is prepared by the Imperial Food Service for you.

Thank you.

Your Highness, why are you glaring at me?

Where's the food box?

What food box?

That's not for His Highness.

Your Highness!

Not this one!

Give it to me.

Didn't Your Highness say

no one is allowed to mention her?

I naturally wouldn't dare to defy your wishes.

Get 20 strokes of punishment.

Your Highness, please.

Food and drinks are provided

for ministers who enter the palace.

Normally,

it was the Court of Imperial Entertainments' job.

But they're not serious in their work.

The food

they made was hard to consume.

His Majesty has reprimanded the Court of Imperial Entertainments

and used that reason

to push the task for the annual banquet

to the Imperial Food Service.

Really?

Of course.

I didn't say anything unnecessary.

The food box

was delivered through me.

Why did she look so happy, then?

Did he accept it?

That's great!

I've finally had my revenge!

Make way! Make way!

What?

I used bamboo worms, bee pupa, and grasshoppers

(as the meat fillings)

(for the sticky rice dumplings.)

Don't look at me like that.

Fried bee pupae are crispy and tender.

It's a top-grade delicacy.

Yin Ziping!

You're obviously picking on

Official Mei on purpose.

Perfume satchel for sale!

Slow down!

You're hurting me!

Why steal?

Let me go!

You learn bad things of all things at this age.

Follow me to the government office!

I didn't steal! I didn't steal any money!

Let me go!

Let me go!

What's going on?

She tried to steal.

Take her away!

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

(I've said all the good things I could)

(and begged him for an hour.)

(He still sent me to the bailiffs.)

He wanted you to change your bad ways

and live as a decent person.

He still didn't let me go after that.

He kept waiting outside the prison

and forced me to be an apprentice at a restaurant.

You need a guarantor to work as an apprentice at a restaurant.

He personally vouched for you

and forced you to earn a living to support yourself.

He's such a nice man.

Don't let him trick you.

On the surface,

he looks like a gentle scholar.

But he's evil and heartless.

He even took my pay.

There must be a misunderstanding in this.

There's none at all.

I'm already kind enough

not to add arsenic to his food.

Yin Ziping!

Zijin.

Zijin,

the wines from the Imperial Winery are here.

Go and verify the list.

All right.

Ziping,

go and help her out.

Jinhua Wine, Changchun Wine,

and Taixibai Wine one jar each.

Changqing.

Yes?

Tell them to move these inside.

Yes.

Move these quickly.

-Yes. -Yes.

Be careful.

Hantanchun Wine and Five-flavored decoction.

Move all these inside.

Be careful.

Lotus Wine, Osmanthus Wine,

chrysanthemum pulp, and orchid decoction two jars each.

Careful.

Let me see.

This is the wrong character of "xi".

This is how you write it.

Write it again.

It's almost the same.

No, it's not.

See?

Watch out!

An accident happened at the wine storehouse.

Yao Zijin is seriously injured and unconscious.

Were you behind this?

Why would I do that?

You're helping me rise in position

to take over the Imperial Food Service.

I may not know

what's your true purpose.

But you can do anything

to get rid of obstacles.

The eunuch was caught

and is still locked in the Palace Surveillance.

What did he say?

He insisted that it was an accident.

Should you be happy

that your opponent is injured?

I...

Manager Ji,

when is Zijin waking up?

You're also injured.

I'm fine.

Is she all right?

She was lucky to have you block it for her

when the accident happened.

If it hits her head,

I'm afraid

she might never wake up.

What about her hand?

Will there be an aftereffect on her hand?

Matron Meng,

Manager Yao needs

a careful recuperation.

I can only identify

what's wrong with her condition

after she wakes up.

From today on,

everyone will move out from here

so she can recuperate at ease.

Apply the herbal ointment for her first.

Yes.

Warm wine may be beneficial.

But only certain wines.

Different wine

uses different level of heat.

We can preserve its original flavor by doing this.

I only know cold wine is harmful to the stomach

and harmful to the lungs if it's too hot.

So only warm wine can be consumed.

Yet, I didn't know there was much to learn

about warming wine.

Why don't you teach me?

Is that okay?

Zijin,

you're finally awake.

Ziping.

My hand.

Zijin, calm down.

Manager Ji said

you'll recover

if you take proper rest.

You must be careful with your hand.

It hurts.

Your Highness.

His Highness had some drink.

He said he had a little headache.

He's already resting.

What's the matter?

Since His Highness is already resting,

I'll report

the state affairs later.

I'll take my leave first.