"Meimei just came from Princess of Glory's place and now is going to the Empress's to give my greetings" "Not sure if Jie Jie would allow me to go first" "Cai Yue, allow Promise Yu to go first" "Let's go" "She just became a Promise" "Who does she think she is?" "Talking about a young mistress behind her back." "That's not how you should behave" "Your servant will not do it again." "She is favored by the Emperor" "The more you gossip, the more trouble you'll get into" "Be patient and stay out of trouble." "See?" "Yes" "Let's go" "Yesterday at Mother's palace" "Ying'er sang "be together forever" very well" "I granted her a name" ""Lady of an exquisite voice"." "What do you think, Empress?" "She earns it" "Your majesty." "It's time to flip over a name board" "I heard that not every Princess Consort has served you" "Lingering Smile has been sick" "Lingering Chun is too young" "She doesn't understand anything about the world." "Is there anyone else?" "There is a Promise An" "Then I'll go with her." "Young mistress." "You are back!" "Young mistress." "Where did you go?" "I couldn't find you." "I was so worried!" "Where else can I be" "I was just visiting Precious Shen" "Didn't the Green House keep saying that hey didn't have these precious flowers?" "Why did they sent so many to us today?" "Congratulations, young mistress" "House of Respecful Affairs has delivered the good news." "Tonight it's you that will serve his majesty" "What?" "Today is your big day!" "His majesty flipped your nameboard" "As soon as the news came out, servants from the Green House came and sent us so many flowers" "The Imperial Kitchen also sent us some Ejiao (a kind of collagen supplements, donkey-hide gelatin)" "It's almost time" "I'll help you clean up" "I thought his majesty didn't even remember me" "Don't get nervous, young mistress" "His majesty is still reviewing the officials' memos" "He will be a little late" "In a bit, we will carry you inside" "You can lie down and wait for his majesty to come" "Young mistress." "What's wrong?" "Gugu." "I'm scared" "Don't be afraid" "What's wrong?" "I, I" "I'm not a mean guy" "The maids haven't taught you the protocols?" "I don't like to force anyone." "Another day." "Su Peisheng!" "Yes." "Carry her out" "Bring Promise Yu Here." "Yes" "What the heck." "I've never had to do such an ill-boding task." "The consort who was carried in is the exact same as when she's carried out." "The consort who was carried in is the exact same as when she's carried out." "It's so late." "Who is still singing?" "It must be the Lady with an Exquisite Voice" "It's not appropriate to sing loudly in the Forbidden City in the middle of the night." "But still" "His majesty has been busy with politics he needs someone lively to serve him." "There is a Precious Shen..." "Yes." "We met her during the audition." "Modest and prudent" "What his majesty needs is someone like her." "The empress will take care of the harem" "The Empress Dowager should just enjoy life" "The healthy way to live is to not worry" "He is my son" "The emperor has a huge harem" "So long as they do not overstep the boundaries, everything would be fine" "Otherwise I must still keep an eye out." "I heard that Meimei knows how to sing Kun Opera" "The Emperor really enjoys listening to it" "The Emperor is busy handling state affairs everyday" "A song from Meimei would most definitely help him relax" "No wonder Meimei gains the Emperor's favor" "What songs do you know how to sing?" "Peony Pavilion." "I was taught by my father" "Do you know how to sing "Return the jade intact to the Zhao state"?" "(meaning return something intact to its rightful owner)" "That song?" "Promise An must sing that herself" "So that she can move her audience by telling them her own story" "The Empress put so much effort into doing her this favor" "Yet she made such a joke out of herself" "The Empress must have grown many wrinkles from anger" "How could she compare to Niangniang's youth and beauty?" "Meimei, your words are really sweet" "This jade wheel is from my brother" "He sent through others from outside" "It is top quality jade" "Using it to massage your face could keep you looking young" "I'll give it to you" "Thanks, Niangniang" "Promise An is of a lowborn family and couldn't win the Emperor's favor" "Her life is finished" "Such a pity" "If I were carried out of the Emperor's palace like that" "I would not be able to face anyone" "Yet she's acting as if nothing happened" "Yes" "Servants should not discuss the matters of Mistresses" "If there is someone who belittles their mistress" "I will report it to the Empress right away and throw him/her out of palace!" "Understand?" "Yes" "I was wrong" "Greetings, Precious Shen." "Greetings, Lingering Smile." "Jiejie, sit down" "Are you OK?" "I'm fine." "Thanks for your kindness" "The next time will be alright." "We still have time in the future." "You two still have a future." "I don't." "Young mistress, although it is February you still need to pay attention to your health." "These days are even colder than in January." "Young mistress has been sewing all day" "Hold this stove to keep warm." "It's still cold out, yet the Internal Affairs Authority doesn't provide enough winter clothes." "We have to work on most of them ourselves." "This morning I followed your order and brought some cakes to Young mistress An's place." "They were also doing needle work." "They said they're afraid that the money they receive monthly won't be enough" "By doing needle work they can ask eunuchs to exchange them for money outside the palace" "Both are ranked Promises" "Why is Promise Yu living so luxuriously?" "Don't gossip behind people's back." "Mei jie jie has already said" "The Emperor wants to reduce the expenses in the palace." "which palace isn't doing some needle work to supplement their expenses?" "Fortunately, we still have enough to spare" "Huan Bi, bring some money to Promise An's place tomorrow." "She'll need to spend more on clothing when spring comes around" "Yes." "Who is here this late?" "Hurry up and go see." "Young mistress Chun, why are you here alone?" "Please hurry come in." "Young mistress, Young mistress Chun comes." "Chun er, what happened?" "Don't be scared..." "Jie jie, I'm scared." "Bring her some tea." "Don't be scared..." "Chun er don't cry..." "Drink some milk tea and tell me what happened slowly" "Don't cry." "Here." "Just now Lingering Xin and I were going back to our place" "There was an unexpected gust of wind and the lantern that the palace maid was holding caught on fire and just then, Promise Yu passed by on the carriage and the fire startled the horse in front of the carriage" "and caused some shaking." "But I saw clearly the palace horse is well trained the shaking was insignificant." "But Promise Yu wouldn't let it go" "Lingering Xin Jiejie wouldn't back down either" "Lingering Xin has served the Emperor for a long time." "Her rank is also higher than that of Promise Yu." "She doesn't have to be humble before Promise Yu." "Promise Yu is in the Emporer's favor and has Princess of Glory behind her back" "She's been acting aggressive and willful" "Xin Jiejie has been unhappy about Promise Yu for some time" "They argued and," "Promise Yu, in a fit of anger, ordered that Xin Jiejie be locked in the Bureau of Cautious Punishment." "The Bureau of Cautious Punishment?" "That's where servants who make mistakes are kept and punished" "How can Lingering Xin be put in there?" "The Emperor and the Empress haven't stepped in yet to take care of the matter?" "Promise Yu said" "If anyone informs the Emperor or the Empress about this she would punish the director of the Bureau of Cautious Punishment." "Yu shi is so lawless." "What she has done is unheard of." "Jiejie, what to do now?" "Don't cry..." "Xiao Yun Zi!" "I'm here." "I'll let Xiao Yun Zi take you back first" "You've been startled, you need to rest well." "Tomorrow I'll discuss with Mei jiejie." "Then ask her to notify the Empress to take further action." "Xiao Yun Zi." "Here." "Escort Lingering Chun back." "Yes." "Poor girl" "At such a young age she has to stay in the palace and experience such frightening things" "No matter what they are both ranked Lingerings yet they are bullied by a Promise to this extent!" "In the palace, not having the Emperor's favor is so pitiful." "Yu has let her blessings make her arrogant." "Singing loudly at night, and lawlessly putting Lingering Xin into the Bureau of Cautious Punishment at her own will." "In my opinion, this is a good thing." "A good thing?" "Precisely" "Her sudden favor from the Emperor has already angered many concubines." "And yet she behaves rashly with no decency." "Isn't she digging her own grave?" "In this whole palace, only you can be so happy and carefree." "Outside is a chaotic mess" "What happened?" "The Empress Dowager has given the order to release Lingering Xin and comfort her by taking away Promise Yu's title of "Lady of an exquisite voice"" "and restricting her to her own quarters to self-reflect for half a month." "The order came from the Empress Dowager?" "Yes." "Why didn't the Emperor and the Empress take care of this but the Empress Dowager instead?" "The Emperor is busy with state affairs." "He doesn't pay attention to these small things." "The Empress was at the Empress Dowager's palace when they received word of the matter" "That's how the matter fell into the Empress Dowager's hands" "The Empress Dowager is at once both strict and merciful." "She's using this small punishment for a severe wrongdoing to give her a warning" "Yes, though Yu is still a Promise, she lost her title, her status is much lower than it was before" "My calligraphy is nice and smooth today. (she wrote "Satisfactory")" "Keep this one." "Yes." "Yu has been punished." "She'll give it a rest for awhile." "Niangniang can do calligraphy smoothly with this peace of mind" "The Empress Dowager cares for your wellbeing the most indeed" "Promise Yu is at the peak of her favor with the Emperor" "If I punish her at this time the Emperor may request me to be more merciful toward her." "rather than putting myself in a difficult position where I need to compromise my authority or my relationship with the Emperor the best way is to have the Empress Dowager take care of the matter." "No one can question the outcome." "Niang Niang thinks thoroughly." "The weather is so nice now." "Young mistress no longer drinks the medicine as much" "Look like your health is improving a great deal" "So long as everything is peaceful it's fine to not drink the medicine" "Young mistress has been unwilling to get better" "Now that you've finally stopped taking the medicine you should take a walk under the sun." "This way your appearance can get brighter." "Young mistress said a few days ago that you wanted to build a swing near the palace gardens outside Palace of Shattered Jade" "Xiao Yun Zi has finish building the swing" "That area is full of apricot flowers." "Why don't the young mistress go take a look?" ""Sitting in the shade of apricot flowers, playing the flute until dawn"" "You two insist on me going outside, huh?" "Then let's go." "Liuzhu" "Bring me my flute." "Hurry!" "Who are you, royal sir?" "Can you guess?" "Is it possible that you are Emperor?" "You are a Duke?" "Have you heard of the Duke of Fruit (17th prince)?" "Are you really the Duke of Fruit?" "Have you ever seen..me?" "Since I entered the palace, I have never even seen the Emperor." "Then how can you know that I'm not the Duke of Fruit?" "It seems that age doesn't quite match." "A person's age and appearance are often inconsistent." "If you say so." "I am a Lingering from the House of Zhen." "Greetings, Duke." "You are the Lingering who has been sick?" "How can Your Highness know the affairs of the Inner Palace?" "I heard...from my royal sister-in-law (the Empress)." "On New Year's Eve" "His Majesty asked about you." "I was present." "I see." "Are you feeling better?" "Why don't you put on warmer clothing?" "You are too kind" "I am much better now." "Liuzhu, this is the Duke of Fruit." "Greetings, Duke." "Just now you played the piece "Heaven Image of Apricot Flowers"" "It suits the surroundings very well." "Are you very familiar with this piece?" "If you use a clay flute to play it in the evening of spring the song will be even more charming." "By using the vertical flute to play just now you have lessened the melancholy of the song and have added some liveliness that takes away the winter wind." "I'm still lacking in skill." "I hope the Duke will forgive the flaws." "You play very well." "But when you reached the line that sings" ""the beautiful blossoms by the shore makes me unwilling to depart "" "the sound of the flute became somber sounding much like a suppressed sob" "Is it that you are missing your home?" ""The musician plays a subtle mistake, and Sir Zhou is aware"" "The Duke's music ears are even better than that of Zhou Gong Jin (famous general and musician during Han Dynasty)." "I haven't heard such beautiful flute music in a very long time" "Not since.." "Empress Chun Yuan passed away" "Never since then have I heard such beautiful music" "I dare not accept such praise" "I dare not compete with Empress Zhun Yuan." "I shall head back to my quarters now." "Please do as you wish." "Ok." "Young mistress, you are back." "Pei'er" "Find out for me if the Duke of Fruit came to the palace today or not." "Yes." "Young mistress is worried that the person discussing flute music with you just now is not the Duke of Fruit?" "What do you think?" "It's best to be cautious." "Greetings, Your Majesty." "Rise" "Thank you." "Why did you come so early?" "Your Majesty had people inform me early this morning that you have an original artwork by Wu Dao Zi" "I couldn't wait to see so I came here immediately" "No need to hurry." "The painting cannot run away." "Oh, but you see, famous paintings are like beautiful women." "I cannot be late, even if it's just a second." "If you love beauty that much, why haven't you married yet?" "I was planning to get married, but just now at the door of your palace" "I saw a pretty girl raining flower blossoms (crying) and that was enough to frighten me out of my marriage plans" " Su Pei Sheng." " Your Majesty." "Yu is here?" "In response to Your Majesty, Promise Yu came early morning crying, asking to see Your Majesty." "I informed her that the Emperor was not here." "She cried for a long while before she left" "Just ignore her." "Yes." "By the way," "I remember there is a wonderful jade vertical flute" "You find it for me." "Yes." "Where did you go, Royal brother?" "I went to visit the Empress Dowager and passed by the royal garden on the way back so I took a walk by myself." "unintentionally leaving you here to listen to a woman crying." "Love at first sight in the Garden of Winter Plums." "How does my Royal brother like this girl from the Yu family?" "So So" "Not as gentle and charming as that night in the Garden of Winter Plums" "Which is why they say, it's better to miss one another than to actually meet" "Come, let's go appreciate the painting." "In response to young mistress, the Duke of Fruit did come to the palace early today." "Now he is appreciating a painting with the Emperor in the Hall of a Resting Soul." "I heard that the Duke looks very stoic... and nearly 40 years old?" "Not at all" "The Duke was born in the 35th year of Kangxi's reign." "He should be around 25 or 26 years old now." "A Duke who is around 40 years old..." "That must be the Duke of Perseverance (Duke of Heng)" "He is down to earth and loves to joke with us servants" "How about His Majesty?" "I don't know." "His Majesty rarely comes to the Harem." "When he does come there are a lot of people surrounding him" "My status is lowly so I can't see His Majesty." "You're right." "No matter where His Majesty goes, there are a lot of people who follow him ." "You can leave." "I'm tired." "Yes." "I sympathize with what has befallen Meimei." "But this was the Empress Dowager's decree." "Even His Majesty can't do anything." "I have served in the palace since I was young." "I know that the Empress Dowager has a soft temper and is gracious to all." "She never gets involved in palace affairs" "But why does the Empress Dowager not let go of a small mistake I made" "There must be someone instigating her anger." "Whether that's true or not at least your half month restriction has passed." "The Empress Dowager cannot say any more regarding this matter" "But... but His Majesty still refuses to see me." "That's true... and if this continues" "I fear His Majesty will probably forget you." "Niang Niang, please save me." "I don't want to live isolated in the deep palace" "I don't want to go back to the Garden of Winter Plums and slave away at others' wills" "Niang Niang, please!" "Yes." "Since the person you want to see is His Majesty" "If he refuses, Meimei should naturally find other solutions so that he does not refuse." ""It's harder to be cold and detached when you look someone in the eye"" "His Majesty won't be heartless toward you when you see him." "But... but I don't know what to do..." "Do what you are good at." "Niang Niang, thank you for your advice." "Songzhi, escort Promise Yu out." "Yes." "Promise Yu, this way." "Niang Niang," "This Promise Yu had gotten much attention from the Emperor" "Without her, you would have one less person to compete with" "Why help her?" "It was the Empress Dowager who punished her, not the Emperor" "If one day the Emperor thinks of her again better that she is indebted to me so that she will follow me without question and help me split the Emperor's love away from Precious Shen" "Niang Niang, this Precious Shen has just entered the palace not so long ago" "She doesn't have stable footing here yet." "Niang Niang, I think perhaps you need not worry so much" "Yes, she JUST entered the palace and already she has somehow gotten the Emperor to allow her to learn how to manage the Inner Palace." "This is what makes me worry the most" "Stop." "You are all to go back to the Hall of a Resting Soul." "I'll take a walk by myself" "Your Majesty, her Empress Dowager has just commanded me to serve you attentively" "If I don't go with you then aren't I digging my own grave?" "You are digging your own grave right now." "Uh..." "Lower the palanquin." "Don't mention this to anyone." "Yes" "Go" "Higher?" "A little" "I knew you'd be scared" "Later I'll push you" "Alright!" "I am not afraid of anything." "Liuzhu!" "You dare to play tricks behind my back" "Your Highness..." "If you're scared, step down" "I'm not scared." "You can push as you like" "Higher!" "Go higher!" "Young mistress!" "Greetings, Duke." "Young mistress, are you Ok?" "Why are you shy now?" "Were you not a brave heroine just a second ago?" "I was improper." "I had not known that the Duke enjoys silently spying on people from behind." "Ah." "You are blaming ME for being improper." "I was just passing by and remembered Lingering's flute piece from that day" "I hoped to run into you here again so that I might enjoy that beautiful music once more" "But I did not bring my flute with me today" "Then I can only wait for next time" "This area is full of apricot blossoms." "Your piece from last time was also about apricot blossoms" "Do you like apricot blossoms very much?" "Apricot blossoms are not as vibrant as peach blossoms nor as lofty as winter plum blossoms they are particularly warm and serene" "People are like flowers, just as flowers are comparable to people." "Only those who are warm and serene would like warm and serene flowers" "But I don't actually like apricot blossoms" "Oh?" "Do tell." "Apricot blossoms are beautiful, yes, but the fruit is very sour." "what's more, it's kernal is extremely bitter." "if a person's character and life experiences are all beautiful in its beginnings but meet a tragic and downtrodden end then what is the purpose?" "if that were the case, i'd rather choose to be a pine or cypress an evergreen tree that stays constant, despite being without blossoms and without fruits." "I've never heard of such insights" "It is rather new and thoughtful" "I spoke merely nonsense, apologies for my silliness." "I've disturbed you today." "I have two flute scores five days later, at the same hour" "I will take them here to appreciate them with you" "I do hope Lingering will come to meet me." ""Obedience is better than politeness." (she agrees)" "I have one request that I hope the Duke can agree to." "Go on" "It's inappropriate for me to have met you like this." "please don't let others know." "To avoid damaging each other's unpolluted reputation." "Since it's a fact that our reputations are unpolluted, who can damage it?" "Your highness may not be aware" "You and I are upright and honest" "But in the Harem, the more mouths, the more gossip." "I don't want to stir up trouble without cause." "Okay." "Thank you, Duke." "Who is on the outside?" "There is no one." "Young mistress, is everything alright?" "He and I are separated by our status." "How can he possibly be my soul mate?" "Young mistress, you must be tired from reading." "Why don't you rest for a while?" "Ugh, the paint on this table has come off too." "but Internal Affairs Authority doesn't bother to come repair it." "Xiao Yun Zi went to address this issue a few days ago." "I imagine they will come repair it in a few days" "Your Majesty, please take a break." "Your Majesty, why did you stop playing?" "I had been listening with respectful attention." "I don't play very well and so should stop playing." "The flute music of Empress Chun Yuan was the best in the Palace." "and now there is someone who plays just as well as her" "Your Majesty means the 17th Duke?" "17th Duke is best at playing the (horizontal) flute." "Su Pei Sheng." "Yes." "Go to ask 17th brother to come." "Yes." "You were gone an entire afternoon, why do you look so unfortunate?" "I went to the Internal Affairs Authority, and got a lot of mocking words for no reason." "We're just asking them to fix a table not like we're requesting them for our monthly salary how come we've gone so many times and still no success?" "Princess of Glory has the upper hand in the palace her followers, those dogs who do nothing but bully the weak have made it a point to target the Palace of Shattered Jade" "It's fine that they mock me but they even insult the young mistress and she has to unfairly bear the grunt of those ugly words" "Those bastards in the Internal Affairs Authority dare to be so lawless?" "In the winter they don't give us our goal" "Now they don't even come to repair a table corner shhhh...the young mistress is inside if she hears you it will make her sad" "What shall we do?" "we have a long time ahead of us..." "Us servants can make do" "But my young mistress..." "young mistress, how can she bear this unfair treatment?" "This Huang Gui Quan (eunuch in charge of Internal Affairs) relies on the fact that he's a distant relative of Princess of Glory all he does is bully people!" "my dear lady, my dear lady please calm down and lower your voice" "If the Internal Affairs Authority is busy, let's just make do with this table it's not a big deal anyway" "Yes regarding what just happened, neither of us heard anything." "don't scold them a word yes" "Serving a young mistress like me has truly caused you guys much pain" "Young mistress, why say such a thing?" "your servant dare not make you feel this way" "I have never thought that serving you has wronged me or caused me grief" "In the Harem, flocking to the side of powerful people is a normal act of course they wouldn't take a sickly consort with no favor from the Emperor seriously" "My Royal brother must have heard beautiful flute music somewhere to make you so obsessed with flute music all of a sudden" "These days you've already listen to all of the court musicians who can play a flute." ""like scratching an itchy foot when you are wearing boots" it cannot be compared, and cannot satiate my desire." "Is it that difficult for you to hear this person play again for you?" "Can I ask...who this beauty might be?" "You are too clever." "Promise Yu, the Emperor and the Duke are inside and won't see any consorts." "Every time I come you tell me that His Majesty is with the Duke do you think I am that easy to lie to?" "your servant speaks the truth" "If young mistress won't believe me" "I cannot do anything about it" "Then Xia Gong Gong, please go announce me one more time" "I've already informed young mistress," "The Emperor is with the Duke and has commanded that he will see no consorts what's the purpose of just making things difficult for us servants?" ""Wake up from the dream by the chirrup of orioles"" ""The spring sceneries pluck at the heartstrings everywhere."" "I heard that Promise Yu knelt in front of the Hall of a Resting Soul for nearly the entire night." "That's why the heart of His Majesty became soft." "It's not because of kneeling but because of singing." "I heard that she's nearly lost her voice from singing all night." "Regardless, she has gained the Emperor's favor again." "Look at the airs she's giving herself." "We were the same palace maids once she sings one song, and suddenly she's a mistress and us?" "we have to endure bullying and mocking just to receive our monthly salary that is rightfully ours" "We are all people but have different destinies." "On that note," "Yu isn't even as pretty as you are, sister Huanbi." "Don't talk nonsense" "Xiao Xia Zi, come here" "young mistress, what can I do for you?" "Since you're not doing anything, crack these walnut for me" "Yes" "Use your bare hands" "In response to young mistress, the walnut's shell is too hard" "I'm afraid even if I destroy my hands, I still cannot crack it" "Are you being lazy?" "Aren't you always the most loyal to His Majesty?" "If the Emperor wants to eat walnuts" "So what if you ruin your hands?" "Xiao Xia Zi, what time is it?" "It's 1:30 p.m, Your Majesty." "Fool!" "Why didn't you wake me?" "But, Your Majesty, you normally always sleep until this hour" "Slap yourself" "Clothes, clothes" "Your Majesty" "You really are a fool you had been so focused on cracking walnut for His Majesty to enjoy you forgot the time His Majesty needs to gets up look at all the blood on your hands!" "how can you do your job later?" "Alright alright, forget the walnuts, take your leave." "Yes" "Go, go, go" "I'll take a walk" "Your Majesty, it's raining outside" "If it's not, then what would be the purpose of the term "appreciating the rain"?" "You!" "Go back to your place." "Your Majesty" "Stop" "Your Majesty," "Empress Dowager ask you to go to Palace of Health." "Thank you for watching!" "Please join us!" "Presented by the Legend of Zhen Huan Team"