Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (Legend of Ruyi / Hou Gong Ruyi Zhuan / 如懿传)

Look at how cocky A'ruo seems today.

Greetings, A'ruo.

Those at the Palace of Prolonged Happiness can gloat now.

Greetings, A'ruo.

Consort Xian is in favor now.

Greetings, A'ruo.

Even her servants are cocky.

Greetings, A'ruo!

Get back to your chores!

Careful.

Watch the steps.

Carry those items carefully.

They're gifts His Majesty sent from the Imperial Household Department.

Don't you dare be careless with them!

My Lady.

These are new fabrics sent from the Imperial Household Department.

They look much better than the previous ones.

Don't you feel smug carrying His Majesty's gifts all the way here?

Everyone in this palace is a brown-noser.

They always frowned upon seeing us and pulled a face.

Who knows what they really think?

It's exactly because they are such brown-nosers

that they know who is in favor.

Don't write it all over your face.

These bolts of wool aren't included in the quota.

These are gifts from the Imperial Household Department.

A'ruo.

Here are two more wool robes with lamb hide collars.

A pink-violet squirrel fur-lined coat and a magenta cotton dress.

These are gifts from the Imperial Household Department.

I checked with Her Ladyship several times, we can keep them.

Those people...

I know just what sharp eyes those people have.

They're always so observant.

I'm happy for you, His Majesty visits you often.

The happier you are, the less it should show on your face.

All right, it's almost New Year. Go get changed.

You'll look a lot more festive in new clothes.

Thank you, My Lady.

Each of you can pick two pieces.

A'ruo, you can pick first.

My Lady.

The gifts His Majesty sent are outside.

Please have a look.

My Lady.

His Majesty had someone send these over.

They're so pretty.

I haven't gotten to Jiangnan yet.

But the green plum blossoms got here first.

His Majesty remembered...

that the green plum blossoms in Suzhou and Hangzhou are my favorite.

There's nothing more precious than two knowing hearts.

Doesn't that mean to remember each other's words and actions?

His Majesty bestows whatever Your Ladyship likes.

His Majesty kept it all in mind with care.

It's so rare to find these green plum blossoms

from Suzhou and Hangzhou.

It's a trail of green plum blossoms' fragrance between two hearts.

Green plum blossoms are rare.

But His Majesty's sentiments are even more rare.

San Bao, move these to the backyard and take good care of them.

Yes.

Moreover, none of you are to show off to anyone.

You're not to get into any conflict with Noble Consort's servants either.

- Yes. - Yes.

We'll keep that in mind.

It seems that when His Majesty ascended the throne

he only gave Consort Xian the cold shoulder

because he was wary of Empress Dowager.

But now, he...

Your Highness, Wang Qin has reported back.

He also asked that you take precautions against Consort Xian.

It's best you remind Wang Qin.

Tell him to be careful.

He has offended Consort Xian.

That's exactly why he's scared and wishes to rely on Your Highness.

He fawns over both me and Noble Consort.

Someone like him is no more than a fence-sitter.

He's not on my side.

But he can be of use to us.

He is indeed of use to us.

But Wang Qin is sly and cunning.

He's not easy to win over.

My Lady, the medicine was just decocted.

Have it while it's hot.

Second Female Attendant Mei.

I'm too ashamed to see Your Majesty.

However badly your face is hurt, I've already seen it.

What are you afraid of?

I'm ashamed to see Your Majesty

because I've hurt my face...

And talked back to Consort Xian out of sheer recklessness.

You've talked back to quite a few people.

Let me have a look.

You didn't even tell me that Noble Consort slapped you.

I know that my status is lowly.

I didn't mean to talk back to Noble Consort.

I have parents too.

I can't stand to be insulted by her.

But I didn't tell Your Majesty about it

because I didn't wish to look bad.

I made a mistake, so I should bear the consequences.

What would it make me, if I troubled Your Majesty?

But you still complained to the empress.

When I was slapped, the empress only spoke up for Noble Consort.

Now, I just want the empress to know

how ruthless Noble Consort is!

But Su Lian was the one who brought you the cream.

Haven't you suspected her?

I actually suspected the empress of instructing Su Lian to do it.

But why would the empress pick on me?

If there's anyone she can't tolerate, it should be Consort Xian.

Shut up.

Is the empress someone you can criticize?

I acknowledge my mistake.

But I'm angry too.

I wish to be Your Majesty's woman despite my lowly status.

Others look down on me.

But getting slapped is punishment enough.

I already accepted it.

But why would someone still try to harm me?

You're lowly, and yet I favored you.

It has put you in a difficult position.

Do all of Your Majesty's women have to be from prestigious families

to be seen as qualified?

If one's parentage is lowly, one has to be bullied.

I refuse to give in to that.

I wanted to console you, but you didn't cry over it.

That's quite rare.

How about this?

I'll tell others that although you were born lowly

no one can say a word about it as long as I want you by my side.

I'll be sure to serve you as best as I can.

Have your wound healed properly.

Attend to me when you've recovered.

I'll see Your Majesty off.

I had such a fright.

I thought His Majesty came to punish you.

Of course not.

His Majesty dislikes it when others deem me lowly and bully me.

My Lady, look.

This matter raised quite a racket.

Although Consort Xian was proven innocent

the empress and Noble Consort weren't proven entirely innocent.

The imperial physician already applied medication on your wound.

Don't use the ceylon leadwort again.

I'll throw it away.

My lifetime of wealth and glory were bestowed by my mistress.

Why would I worry about this face?

I had no face to begin with.

I had to be sassy and adorable at the same time.

My Lady, don't think so little of yourself.

Doesn't His Majesty dote on you all the same, even when you're bullied?

I have to thank my mistress for her reminders and guidance.

His Majesty wouldn't have taken my side if I was just slapped a bit.

I had to be wounded and pitiful for His Majesty to get angry.

My mistress had to arrange for Man Zi to take the fall for it too.

I can't get slapped by Noble Consort for nothing.

Our mistress said that your face will definitely heal.

You'll still be in favor.

Playing the victim...

Noble Consort is good at it.

And so am I.

These outfits are gifts from the Imperial Household Department

as instructed by the empress.

The empress is very diligent and thrifty in running the harem.

She's obedient and filial to you.

How sincere could the empress be?

It's just one trouble after another in the harem lately.

She has annoyed the emperor.

So she has to pretend to be filial to me to please the emperor.

Second Female Attendant Mei has performed very well.

Although you did give her a hint

she really had the courage to smear ceylon leadwort on her face.

After stirring up such a fuss, she has secured her status even more

and suppressed the empress and Noble Consort.

Killing three birds with one stone.

Only if the harem is in chaos

can I have a justified cause to step up and manage it.

Indeed.

It's just that Consort Xian benefited from it.

She's even more favored now.

The emperor has given her the cold shoulder for quite some time.

I don't have to push him too hard.

This is the first day of a new year.

The whole harem is joining Empress Dowager for drinks.

She's bound to be delighted.

Elders are always fond of some cheer.

It's the first day of a new year.

Greetings, My Lady.

My Lady, may you be blessed with glory and peace.

You're best at saying such wishes.

You've come late.

Were you dressing up?

These are all gifts from you, My Lady.

It's a festive day, I had to wear them, of course.

Suo Xin.

Didn't you get two pieces too?

Why aren't you wearing them?

The winter clothes need to be washed.