01x23 - Episode 23

[bunniefuu]

Let me.

I can do it myself.

Once you see what I can do,

I'm afraid you'll never

be able to do without me.

When will you stop boasting like this?

Don't move.

Your Highness,

Prince Xin and Prince Lie are here.

Let them in.

Yes, Your Highness.

The two brothers

must be here about their mother,
Consort Rong.

You should go see them.

There's no rush.

My wife's beauty

cannot be rushed.

Don't move.

=Blossoms of Power=

[Adapted from the novel, After My
Bloom, All Flowers Wither by Jin Huang]

=Episode 23=

All done.

Zhen Zhu and I will head
to the Imperial Garden first.

You can talk.

Changqing, Changying,

have a seat.

My mother was outsmarted.

The power over the inner palace

rightfully belongs
to the Crown Princess.

For our mother to relinquish her power

and enjoy her twilight years in peace

is also what Changying and I wish for.

You and the Crown Princess

can rest assured.

Changqing,

on the day of the blessing ceremony,

Consort Rong had a meticulous plan

and set a deadly trap for Xihe.

Anyone else would have found it
impossible to escape unscathed.

But she never dreamed that

in just one confrontation with Xihe,

she would suffer a crushing defeat.

In order to frame the Crown Princess,
Consort Rong

didn't hesitate
to damage the Emperor's prestige.

If I were to report the full truth
to our father,

her fate

would be far worse
than just being grounded.

Then why didn't you?

Exactly.

If it were me,

I would never let her off so easily.

It was the Crown Princess
who intentionally spared Consort Rong.

The Crown Princess feels
that the inner palace struggles

have already claimed two lives.

She has no desire
to drive anyone to their death.

Since that's the case,

we will let this matter rest.

You two brothers are both smart men.

Consort Rong losing her power

is actually a good thing

for the two of you.

Otherwise, with her in a high position

and so obsessed with power,

who knows

how much trouble she would cause
in the future?

We are grateful
for the Crown Princess's mercy.

I wonder how the two of us

can be of service to the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess has me by her side.

She doesn't need your service.

Just remember this favor,

and that will be enough.

Changying and I

will certainly

keep this favor
from the Crown Princess in mind.

Your Highness,

take care of yourself.

We will take our leave.

Farewell.

Your Highness,

why did you make the two of them

remember the Crown Princess's kindness?

The fact that these two brothers
admire the Crown Princess

is known to the entire imperial capital.

If they continue to pine for her now,

wouldn't it be even more troublesome?

Unrequited love breeds hatred.

I want to turn their admiration for Xihe

into gratitude.

With gratitude,

their relationship with Xihe

can be long-lasting and stable.

If their relationship with Crown
Princess is long-lasting and stable,

what about you?

Aren't you jealous?

These two brothers,

one excels in literature
and the other in martial arts,

are exceptionally talented.

They are highly regarded by my father

and respected by all the officials.

If they are friends,

we would be even more powerful.

If they are enemies...

I'm afraid that if I'm gone one day,

Xihe will be all alone.

Don't always think like that.

I know my survival is uncertain,

yet I can't bear to let her go.

Every time I see her,

besides feeling joyful,

I can't help but wonder,

if I'm really gone one day,

what else can I do for her?

How can I

fulfill her wishes?

Your Highness,

you will surely live a long life.

Physician Xie said

he will do everything he can
to find a way.

Don't worry.

Now that I have someone I deeply love,

this broken body of mine

no longer belongs to me alone.

How could I bear to leave her?

When His Highness takes his medicine
at night,

in his decoction,

add a spoonful of Slender-Leaf Qionghua.

Understood.

You've put so much thought into this,

why not tell His Highness?

He would definitely be overjoyed.

What's wrong, Your Highness?

After drinking the medicine today,

my lungs feel much more refreshed.

Did Yunhuai change the prescription?

No.

It's the same as usual.

It indeed feels much more comfortable
than before.

All right.

Xihe, drink a bowl of ginseng soup
before you sleep.

I'll drink it myself.

I just took the medicine,

and the burning sensation
in my lungs is gone.

I finally realize

that being free from illness and pain

is so pleasant.

I've never liked owing people favors.

We agreed on mutual benefit,

and I keep my word.

♪A wall that collapses at a single push♪

♪Frost that melts at a single smile♪

♪How can you be this wonderful♪

♪I've hidden so many words♪

♪Too reluctant to tell you♪

If you keep looking at me like that,

I might not be able
to restrain myself much longer.

♪The sand that slips away
with one grasp♪

♪The flower that withers
after one bloom♪

♪Silently buried deep inside my heart♪

♪Every answer I gave♪

♪Was both bittersweet and absurd♪

♪Hiding my tear-filled eyes
when I hurt you♪

♪How hard it truly was?♪

♪The wounds that healed
with just a little comfort♪

♪The lies made whole
with a single embrace♪

Looking at me like this,

do you think I

am a feast for the eyes?

I see you as someone

I can weather any storm with.

I don't want to weather storms with you.

I'd rather

share your bed.

Why are you always so frivolous?

What is this?

The line.

Your Highness,

I hope you keep your promise
and follow the rules.

You are bullying me again.

The bell didn't ring.

What are you doing?

Ever since I was a child,

I've been terrified of thunder.

If I hadn't seen with my own eyes

that you take three lives
all by yourself,

I almost would have believed you.

I'm really scared.

Go away. Move over.

But with the bell ringing like this,

I can't sleep either.

As long as you don't move,

the bell won't ring.

[Clarity and Serenity]

[As Exquisite As Snow]

Tian Yuan,

do you have any siblings?

I have a younger brother.

Your brother isn't named Di Fang, is he?

Yes.

His name is Di Fang.

[Clarity and Serenity]

Today, I'm going to Sixian Hall.

It's my first time meeting
those female officials.

What are your plans after court?

Are you trying

to make me report my whereabouts?

You sound just like a new bride
questioning her husband.

Wear this.

- Greetings, Your Highness.
- Greetings, Your Highness.

Today, I take on the heavy
responsibilities of the East Palace,

and manage the inner palace.

Holding my first morning assembly
at Sixian Hall,

you all must fulfill
your respective duties,

and not disappoint His Majesty.

- We will keep that in mind.
- We will keep that in mind.

I reviewed some accounts today.

The General Palace Service's
monthly allowance from last month

was overspent by 300 bolts of silk.

It was claimed to be
for the repair of Hanliang Hall.

But as far as I know,

this expense

should have been covered
by the Palace Domestic Service.

Record Officer Liu,

bring out the General Palace Service's

tally records
with the Palace Domestic Service.

I deserve to die.

For the repair of Hanliang Hall,



and five pillars of golden-thread
Zhennan were added.

Your Highness,
you summoned us so suddenly,

I haven't had the time to record it
in the ledger yet.

But every expense is clearly traceable.

Is that so?

To answer Your Highness,

by rule, accounts are only tallied
and recorded at the end of the month.

Record Officer Liu

has done nothing wrong.

Kneel.

The Palace Domestic Service
allocated funds for repairs last month.

The tally number is

Bingxu 79.

Yet the General Palace Service
used inferior materials,

replacing them with old tiles
and golden camphor,

and reported false accounts.

Whose pockets did the money
from both sides go into?

Wardrobe Mistress Jiang,

during the Dragon Boat Festival
three years ago,

did you withdraw a batch
of cloud brocade

from the storehouse?

Yes.

[Signed by Wardrobe Mistress Jiang]
Why is the ink of this record

darker than the rest?

Using old ledger paper

to copy with new ink.

It must have been hard for you.

You even managed to find the
green vine paper used three years ago.

I deserve to die.

I beg you for forgiveness,
Your Highness.

You are all veterans in the palace.

Have you become so accustomed
to a life of leisure and luxury

that you focus all your thoughts
on embezzlement?

Matron Cui,

how should this matter be handled?

To answer Your Highness,

according to the law,

those who embezzle more
than ten strings of coins

will receive twenty lashes
and forfeit three months' salary.

Those who embezzle more
than fifty strings of coins

will receive eighty blows
and be demoted to menial labor.

For more than
one hundred strings of coins,

exile for 3,000 km,

and confiscation of property.

There's no need to recover

the overspent money this time.

Since you two record officers
love repairing palaces,

I will grant your wish.

Two halls and three pavilions
in the Six Palaces caught fire.

The Ministry of Works said
it requires 900 strings of coins.

I will only give you 600.

The remaining deficit,
you'll make up for it yourselves.

Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness.

Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness.

Wardrobe Mistress Jiang,

what you should do
with these shady old accounts,

I shouldn't have to teach you, right?

Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness.

From this day forward,

all services must clear their backlogs,

reorganize their accounts,

and thoroughly inspect the gates.

If there are any more mistakes,

I will definitely not spare you.

- Yes, Your Highness.
- Yes, Your Highness.

The state classics
of the Hongwen Pavilion,

the mathematics
of the Chongwen Pavilion,

annotations in indigo ink,

and promotions in official ranks,

I can grant them all to you one by one.

Whether you are an embroiderer
from the Palace Workshop Service,

a cook from the Imperial Food Service,

or even a maid
from the Palace Laundry Service,

merit will be rewarded,

and the capable will be promoted.

The palace is a vast and complex world.

But I will not let
your talents be buried.

The abacus skills you practiced
by the window,

the texts you memorized by lamplight,

the embroidery patterns
hidden by your pillows...

From this day forward,

talent shall be your vessel,

and ability your oar.

In my hands,

this seal
for managing the Six Palaces

can support a woman's soaring ambitions

and her strategies to secure the nation.

I will allow you all

to earn your positions
through your talents.

- Thank you, Your Highness.
- Thank you, Your Highness.

Tired?

Come have a seat.

You've worked hard all day.

You should relax.

By tomorrow, the entire palace

will surely be calling me ferocious.

What's wrong with being ferocious?

I happen to like ferocious.

When you're out there,
you're a force of nature,

decisive and commanding.

And I'm at home,

obediently waiting for you to return.

This feeling

is incredibly reassuring.

Your favorite plum blossom candy.

I suppose I can be considered

a competent, supportive husband.

Your words

make me feel
I've truly overstepped my bounds.

You don't have to be gentle.

And you don't have to be virtuous.

I'm willing
to be your supportive husband.

I will always support your ambitions.

My wife

will be my lifelong glory.

[Qianli Horse Shop]

Come and take a look.

Come again soon.

[Yuheng Gate]

I want a hot one.

The quality of this saddle is excellent.

Sturdy and durable.

Yes.

This tassel is very beautiful. Look.

Young Lady,
if you wish to buy riding gear,

you only need to tell the butler.

This is not a place you should be.

If we're here today

and run into someone we know,

your reputation will be...

The riding gear I want is custom-made.

Uncle Qing can't read blueprints.

It would be useless for him to come.

Don't worry, nanny.

Those well-bred young ladies
from noble families

would never come to a place like this.

What kind of horse do you want?

Not enough money. Where's your money?

Here.

Pay him before he gives it to you.

Is that what this means?

This is already the cheapest.

Add a little more money.

Nanny, wait for me here.

I'll be right back.

Where are you going?

This one is fast.

This one has great stamina.

They're all fine horses.

What does this mean?

It's a purebred.

I don't know.

Your Highness.

What's wrong?

What happened?

We want five horses.

But for some reason,

the owner is very agitated.

Hello,

these men are my friends.

They mean no harm.

They're just not familiar
with the Suta language.

Was there some misunderstanding?

They want to buy several horses,

but they think the price is too high.

But this really is my lowest price.

The owner thinks
you're haggling over the price.

No.

We want more fine horses.

Money is not an issue.

Yes.

They want five good horses.

Price is not an issue.

Let's go pick the horses.

You can take them.

Let's go.

Give it to me.

Follow me.

Thank you for helping me out,
County Princess Huaiyang.

I didn't expect you to be fluent
in Suta.

I used to be Princess Pingling's
study companion.

I learned a little Suta with her.

I only know the basics.

It's just enough to get by
when shopping.

Careful, County Princess.

This horse hasn't been tamed yet.

Come.

You have a good eye, Your Highness.

This is a famous horse
from the Western Regions.

It can travel 1,000 km a day.

It crosses rivers and climbs mountains
as if walking on flat ground.

The King of Ningyuan in the Western
Regions once presented two to us.

They were deeply loved
by the late Emperor.

I didn't expect you

to be so knowledgeable
about horses as well.

I love riding horses.

I know a thing or two.

You flatter me, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Young Lady, it's getting late.

We should head back.

Okay.

I will take my leave now.

Please excuse me, Your Highness.

Thank you again for your help.

It's just that warhorses are hard
to come by in the army.

I want to ask these people about how
to raise horses and prevent diseases.

I wonder if you could spare some time
these next few days...

To be able to help the soldiers
in the army

would be my honor.

Your Highness, if you need anything,

you can come find me anytime.

[Yong'an Palace]

I heard you've been getting close
to Prince Lie lately.

If you're interested in him,

just tell me.

I deeply thank you for worrying
about my marriage, Your Highness.

However,

I'm afraid I must
decline your kind offer.

What do you mean?

I have made up my mind

to never marry.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

Women in this world,

other than nuns
who have entered the convent,

have no reason not to marry.

You are the daughter of the Duke of Wei.

You have a noble status.

You have excellent looks and character.

Why wouldn't you marry?

I believe

if I am lucky enough
to meet someone I truly love,

marriage would naturally be a blessing.

Just like my sister
and the Crown Prince.

That's a love
that even immortals would envy.

But,

if I am not destined
to meet someone I love,

not marrying

is also a perfectly fine choice.

You are still young.

People will say your standards
are too high and you refuse to settle.

If you grow older
and still can't get married,

you will be criticized by others.

I am not afraid of that.

My mind is made up.

Nonsense.

Do your father, brother,
and sister know about this?

This is my own business.

Even they cannot change my mind.

Since ancient times,

children's marriages have always
been decided by their parents.

Go back and tell your sister

to teach you some sense.

Yes.

I will do as you say.

I've prepared your bathwater

in the side room for you.

Have a good soak and relax.

All right.

You're getting more and more perceptive.

You may leave.

Who's there?

Come out!

It's me.

Cui Jinbai?

You snuck into my bathroom...

What... What do you want?

I...

I didn't do it on purpose.

I just wanted to talk to you,

so I waited for you inside.

I didn't know Jin Shan
would come in to draw a bath.

He left right after pouring the water,

and closed the door
to stand guard outside.

I... I couldn't get out.

A likely story.

You... You sneaked into my room.

You're just being insolent

and acting like a total lecher.

Me, a lecher?

Why don't you think
about what you've done?

When we first met,

you pestered me every day.

Perfect timing.

Is the water warm enough?
Let me add some more.

Who let you in?

Lecher!

Get out!

What are you doing?

It's still early.

And you're already in bed?

Come here.

I have a question for you.

Did you just buy it?

It's so new.

I've never had feelings
for anyone else in my life,

so I don't know

how to make the person I like happy.

I had to copy your example.

It's really hard to learn good things,

but so easy to pick up bad habits.

Don't copy me.

For my absurd behavior back then,

how many times have I apologized to you?

What do you mean by that?

Do you regret it?

Of course I regret it.

I regret it more than anything.

Cui Jinbai knows your true identity.

Risking the charge
of deceiving the Emperor,

he is still deeply in love with you.

That's truly rare.

No.

I need to go see Madam Liu.

Why see her?

To have her arrange a marriage for me.

Arrange a marriage for you?

Not a real one.

I just want to use this marriage

to fend off Cui Jinbai.

You're just digging a bigger hole

to fill a smaller one.

Young Lady Meng, after you.

Thank you, Young Master.

I heard from Madam Liu

that in the Imperial Guard,

you are highly respected.

You've solved cases
and earned merit,

and are deeply trusted by His Majesty.

You are also straightforward
and upright,

often standing up for justice

and helping the weak.

Truly a role model for young talents.

You flatter me, Young Lady Meng.

It's not my credit alone.

Without the cooperation
of my subordinates,

with just my own strength,

I would never have succeeded.

Young Master Bu,

you truly don't take all the credit.

You are so humble and modest.

Truly a man of noble character.

I wonder,

what kind

of ladies do you like?

I think...

What are you doing here?

Coming to a teahouse,
naturally, is to drink tea.

I heard you were on a blind date here,

so I came to take a look.

Greetings, Young Lady.

Are you done looking?

If you're done, hurry up and leave.

You ordered so many
of my favorite pastries.

Did you know I was coming?

Your favorites?

I just ordered randomly.

You ordered randomly,
yet they suit my taste perfectly.

Young Master, it seems you and I

are truly on the same wavelength.

I already took a bite.

Want some?

Shut up.

We were just talking about flying kites.

How about we go fly kites together
tomorrow?

Sure.

Let's all go together.

Young Master Bu and I are good friends.

He's always been reckless,

so I really can't help but worry.

That's why, no matter what he does,

I have to be with him.

I heard that when you were in Shunan,

my aunt took great care of you.

Her birthday is coming up,

so I've prepared a small gift.

I'd like to ask you to pass it on.

I hope she likes it.

This is a Celestial Silk Brocade Quilt.

It was a gift from Crown Prince.

It's the only one of its kind
in the imperial capital.

Young Master Bu,

please

give this to Aunt for me.

Great tea.

[East Palace]

You must know by now.

Empress Dowager wants to arrange
a marriage between you and Prince Lie.

What are your thoughts?

What do you and Father think?

Do you also want me
to marry as soon as possible?

You're overthinking this.

You're the daughter of the Duke of Wei.

Now that you've come of age,

the Empress Dowager and His Majesty
will naturally look into your marriage.

If you don't have feelings
for Prince Lie,

it's fine if you have
someone else in mind.

Among all the princes,

Prince Lie is a man of good character.

He's also a capable general
who expands our borders

and defends our country.

His Majesty values him highly.

He's already the General
of the Gallant Cavalry,

and his future is limitless.

As your sister,

I just want you to marry a good man.

I...

If I never get married,

would you despise me?

Why don't you want to get married?

I...

I don't want to be trapped
in the inner courtyard,

and I hate the idea of being tied down.

If I marry someone I don't truly love,

I'd have no control over my own life.

Whether I like it or not,

I'd have to put my husband's family's
reputation first,

and force a smile.

Yingruo,

rest assured.

Even if you never marry,

Father and I would
never ignore your wishes

and force you into a marriage.

As long as you're happy,
that's all that matters.

Hearing you say that

puts my mind at ease.

[Hanzhang Hall]

Your Highness,

Matron Cui has followed
your instructions

and submitted her resignation
to the Empress Dowager,

claiming she wants
to retire to her hometown.

The Empress Dowager has approved it.

Shen Xihe punished
a few of her trusted aides,

so she was already scared
out of her wits.

You predicted it perfectly.

She didn't want to fight a losing battle
and ruin her reputation.

With Matron Cui gone,

it's like pulling the rug out
from under her.

She came all the way from northwest,

so she has no trusted aides
in the palace.

Finding someone to replace Matron Cui

won't be easy.

Without her own people
in the General Palace Service,

how will Shen Xihe

manage the Six Palaces?

What are you thinking about?

You're so lost in thought.

I was thinking
about Matron Cui's resignation.

The General Palace Service
can't go unmanaged for even a day,

but I haven't been
in the palace for long,

so I don't really have
anyone I can trust.

Want to hear your husband's opinion?

Yes.

You do, huh?

So cute.

Be serious.

I saw Shen Yingruo in the palace today.

I heard she

plans to never marry.

Yingruo's extraordinary
insight and courage

truly surprised me.

In terms of both character

and intellect,

she's open-minded and upright.

Father is far away in northwest,

and hasn't cared much for her,

but she holds no resentment.

Even towards me, her eldest sister,

she shows no hostility at all.

It is indeed rare.

Don't you find it strange?

Shen Yingruo has a crazy
and vicious biological mother,

yet she didn't grow up to be

a dark, paranoid, and scheming woman.

What are you trying to say?

Her nanny, Madam Tan,

was loyal to your mother.

Your mother once saved Madam Tan's life.

Before your mother passed away,

she arranged for her
to be Shen Yingruo's nanny.

"Whether it's a boy or a girl,

there's no need to harm or ruin them.

Just raise them to be

able to distinguish right from wrong."

Mothers and daughters
are natural allies.

You are just like your mother.

Resourceful and strategic,

but never with the intention
to harm others.

Open and upright.

How did you know all this?

After Xiao died,

I was worried Shen Yingruo
might plot against you,

so I had someone investigate.

I learned the whole story,

and only then did I feel at ease
about her.

Madam Tan was once the head
of the Imperial Ceremonial Service.

She served in the palace
for twenty years,

and served as Lady of Ceremonies
for eight years.

Eight years?

To have held the position of Lady of
Ceremonies securely for so many years,

she must have a keen eye.

Who is useful,

who is suspicious,

who is innocent,

and who is smart,

she must know them all.

We are thinking the same thing.

Madam Tan

is the best successor to Matron Cui.

You have already done so much for me.

Even where I can't see,

you are still worrying
and paving the way for me.

You were the one who said it.

Support each other,

and help each other succeed.

If one day,

I am suddenly gone,

you can still overcome any obstacles,

stand at the heights
you want to reach,

and live the life you want to live.

I just hope

you can live a little more freely.

I'll go get some more tea and snacks.

[Cultivate Virtue
and Practice Righteousness]

I admire the Crown Prince's
majestic bearing,

and I am willing to marry
into the East Palace

as a secondary consort.

Has Crown Princess not
asked even once about Princess Yaoxi?

No, she hasn't.

Princess Yaoxi and the Crown Prince
had a great conversation,

and sat in the front courtyard
for a long time.

This can't go on like this.

If she doesn't come looking
for me, I won't go back.

♪I've hidden so many words♪

♪Too reluctant to tell you♪

♪So never uncover♪

♪The sand that slips away
with one grasp♪

♪The flower that withers
after one bloom♪

♪Silently buried deep inside my heart♪

♪Every answer I gave♪

♪Was both bittersweet and absurd♪

♪Hiding my tear-filled eyes
when I hurt you♪

♪How hard it truly was?♪

♪The wounds that healed
with just a little comfort♪

♪The lies made whole
with a single embrace♪

♪Pretending to be brave
as if I'd never been hurt♪

♪It's a shame I never could♪

♪Give you a moon in return♪

♪With the same open heart you loved me♪

♪I've crossed the wasteland of memories♪

♪Never knowing I was lost♪

♪Why don't you take me away?♪

♪Lead me out of this endless game
of hide-and-seek♪

♪You'll never♪

♪Know how much I long to, long to♪

[No animals were harmed
in the making of this film]