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

Don't your hands hurt a lot lately?

We've already made two sets of padding for knees and elbows.

Leave these to me.

It's all right. I'll do it.

This is for Imperial Concubine Dowager Ji.

My hands are much better now after applying Jiang Yu Bin's cream.

It's just difficult for him to come in here.

We're in such a predicament, but Jiang Yu Bin still cares for us.

This is already very admirable.

Suo Xin, you can actually be with Jiang Yu Bin.

You don't have to be here in the Cold Palace with me.

No. My lady, my friendship with you matters more than anything.

Ru Yi! Ru Yi!

Someone seems to be banging on the door.

Ru Yi!

Ru Yi...

Ru Yi...

Ru Yi...

Ru Yi!

Hai Lan?

Ru Yi!

Hai Lan, what's wrong? What happened to your hand?

It was the empress, Noble Consort, and First Female Attendant Shen.

They were so overbearing.

They stepped on my hands and made me kneel in the rain as punishment.

I really can't hang in there without you by my side...

Hai Lan, have you been bullied?

Ru Yi...

But you have to learn to defend yourself, Hai Lan.

I can't defend myself...

I'm such a useless person.

Hai Lan, it isn't so. You're very bright.

You can surely defend yourself.

Do you remember when I was framed for the Ceylon leadwort

but you were the one who spoke up for me in front of His Majesty?

You were able to do so then.

Why can't you now?

That day, I wanted to clear your name.

Moreover, His Majesty also held you in high regard, after all.

But now, those who bully me are either high up in position and power

or favored by His Majesty.

I'm all alone by myself.

What can I possibly do?

Hai Lan, if you can't rely on your abilities to defend yourself

you should make use of someone else's power to protect you.

Someone else's power?

Are you referring to Empress Dowager?

Or His Majesty?

I was always by your side.

Empress Dowager dislikes me.

And His Majesty...

I'm scared of His Majesty.

Hai Lan, if necessary

you'll have to try to get close to both Empress Dowager and His Majesty.

I know that you've always been scared of His Majesty.

But you can't keep living in the shadows.

I can't do it...

Without you, I can't do it.

Hai Lan, I'm now in the Cold Palace.

I can't protect you.

You have to learn to protect yourself.

You have to pretend that you don't have me around anymore.

When you hit rock bottom, courage must rise from within you.

If you lead a better life, I can then feel more at ease in here.

Do you understand?

Don't stay out here in the rain.

Head back to the palace quickly, get changed, and warm yourself up.

Go now.

Quickly.

My lady, you're really making an effort for the empress.

You're still chanting sutra for Second Prince at such a late hour.

Her Highness is so worried for Second Prince.

I should share her burdens.

You've already done all that you could for the empress.

How can I not do my best?

Even if I have selfish reasons for doing so

bringing Lady Ula-Nara down is as good as relieving

the empress's years of worry.

Getting rid of Imperial Concubine Mei and Imperial Concubine Yi's children

is one way to secure Second Prince's position.

Fortunately, we have Su Lian to help us.

We can regard this as assisting the empress.

Now that His Majesty holds Master Gao in high regard

and the empress relies on you, your position is considered secured.

All I hope is to remain in His Majesty's favor

with a child of my own and I'll be very content.

My lady!

- Where are you? - My lady!

- My lady! - My lady!

Where are you?

- Ye Xin! - My lady!

Quickly!

- My lady! - My lady!

- My lady! - My lady!

Kneel right here for four hours.

Let the heavy rain cleanse your filthy heart.

This is one of the plum blossom sachets that Noble Lady Hai

made for the one in the Cold Palace then.

Noble Lady Hai really carries it every day.

Ru Yi...

Ru Yi...

Ru Yi...

Hai Lan.

I'm now in the Cold Palace.

I can't protect you.

You have to learn to protect yourself.

You have to pretend that you don't have me around anymore.

When you hit rock bottom, courage must rise from within you.

If you lead a better life, I can then feel more at ease in here.

Do you understand?

Greetings, Noble Lady Hai.

Hai Lan, here you are!

Greetings, Imperial Concubine Chun.

You look so different today.

You never cared much about dressing up.

After being ill for a few days

not only do you look more energetic now, but also more refined in your appearance.

Recovering from an illness is like being reborn.

Ye Xin told me that when I was ill, you've been to visit me.

Therefore, I've come today specially to thank you.

Hai Lan, don't be so polite.

Now that you've recovered, I really am very happy about it.

You also know that since Ru Yi was banished into the Cold Palace

I have no one to talk to.

If you don't mind, I'll accompany you.

Imperial Concubine Chun is here.

Imperial Concubine Jia has arrived as well?

Noble Lady Hai is also here?

Greetings, Imperial Concubine Chun.

Greetings, Imperial Concubine Jia.

I heard that Noble Lady Hai had been ill for several days.

Now that you've recovered, you should be out and about.

You now dress up...

You dress up differently now as well.

Imperial Concubine Jia is right.

I should be out and about more often.

All right, don't just stand here.

Let's sit and chat.

Imperial Concubine Jia, did you just come from the Hall of Mental Cultivation?

I was chatting with His Majesty

but then he summoned the imperial physician

to ask about Second Prince's condition.

I had to be sensible enough to take my leave.

Second Prince is still ill.

His Majesty isn't in the mood to think about anything else.

Is it not so?

Among the princes, His Majesty favors him too much.

Imperial Concubine Chun.

His Majesty hasn't visited Third Prince for quite some time.

How can my child be compared to the empress's legal son?

He shouldn't only dote on the legal son but not the other sons?

If you say so, I'll really have to be worried about my child.

You can't put it like that.

If you're expecting a son

he will be the first son after His Majesty ascended to the throne.

He's especially precious.

How can he be more precious than the legal son?

Without the legal son, at least His Majesty will then

show our illegitimate sons some care and concern?

You shouldn't say that.

I was just joking.

What are you doing there?

I'm a new imperial physician at the academy.

I've just been to visit the governesses.

I lost my way and ended up here.

This is the Cold Palace.

How can you lose your way and ended up here?

- Yes, yes. - Leave now.

Yes, yes.

Let's go.

Eunuch Ma.

Eunuch Ma, what are they having today?

There are three nicer ones.

Those are for Imperial Concubine Dowager Ji, Lady Ula-Nara, and her maid.

By the way, you should keep an eye out.

Don't let any unrelated personnel enter the premises, all right?

If he comes here again, I'll teach him a lesson.

It's time for your meal!

This is a reward from my mistress.

I thank Noble Consort Hui for her reward.

You handled Lady Ula-Nara's meal, didn't you?

I did.

As instructed by Noble Consort Hui

the food looks totally harmless and appetizing.

No one can find fault with it.

My mistress definitely makes no mistake.

- Yes. - We'll have her suffer in there.

Second Prince hasn't recovered yet.

Exactly.

His asthma is getting more and more serious.

Oh, right. Ke Xin, be sure to remind Governess Su

to tell Yong Zhang to lower his voice.

Don't let Second Prince hear him and feel bad again.

Yes.

The empress has been crying so much that her tears can fill up an urn.

She must be filled with remorse now.

Why would you say so?

I heard from Yong Huang that

since Second Prince started attending the Palace School

the empress has had high expectations of him.