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

The weather is so lovely today.

Exactly. It's your birthday.

It's an auspicious day.

His Majesty had the Household Department deliver birthday noodles this morning.

His Majesty will surely come to the Palace of Eternal Longevity tonight.

His Majesty hasn't been to the harem for a long while because of the Dzungars.

His Majesty will surely remember your birthday.

He will, he will!

Lan Cui, hang up sachets of camellia in the palace halls.

That's His Majesty's favorite.

Yes, I'll do it right away.

Wang Chan, display all the ceramic ware that the ceramic storage sent over.

Yes.

His Majesty will be so happy when he's here.

Chinese Han women always lament when they see the moon.

But when I look up to admire the moon

it reminds me of the days on the prairie

drinking kumiss and dancing in front of a campfire.

Are you homesick?

No, I'm just thinking about why I'm favored by His Majesty.

It's because my family is the Mongolian Barin tribe.

What's so bad about that?

Consort Ling always wishes to have a son.

I never have.

Everyone says that Consort Ling is greatly favored.

Why do I think she's the most terrified of us all?

A woman who can rely only on a man's affection

is like a rootless duckweed.

That's why neither of us are frantic, but she is.

It's because she has no one to back her up

that she has to keep vying for favor.

Do you think His Majesty adores us just like he adores her?

When His Majesty is with us

he likes having milk tea and grilled lamb.

He likes to chat about the prairie.

Consort Ling...

She can sing Kun opera.

What's wrong, Mei Ruo?

It's nothing serious.

I'm just a bit dizzy.

The mandarin ducks are so eye-catching.

Great!

Is this the new song you learned?

It's from "The Palace of Eternal Life."

"In the silver pond, the mandarin ducks are so eye-catching."

This is my favorite line.

What you like is different from the others.

Your Majesty, if I'm just like the others

you won't be fond of me.

You're gentle and yielding.

You're also very thoughtful.

You make an effort when you attend to me.

Moreover, you're very good at singing.

Whenever you sing songs of Kun opera, I feel relaxed.

It's because Your Majesty likes Kun opera.

When I first met the empress

we were watching the play, "Over the Wall."

Back then, the empress was very mischievous.

She also had a mind of her own.

She even sneaked me out of the palace with her

to look at the scenery high up on the tower.

Your Majesty likes "Over the Wall."

Shall I learn the songs and sing them for you?

You needn't learn songs from that play.

Yes.

I'm going to visit the empress.

You should go to bed early.

Your Majesty!

It's my birthday.

Aren't you going to spend some more time with me?

I already kept you company.

Get some sleep soon.

Your Highness, His Majesty is here.

Don't get up.

Your Majesty still came over at such a late hour?

You had some wine?

Bring me a bowl of sobering soup.

Yes.

What are you reading?

"Dreams of returning home are like rivers in spring."

"Long and winding, running throughout my hometown."

Ru Yi...

Do you think that the soldiers on the battlefield and Heng Chuo

are now thinking of their home country in their dreams as well?

Your Majesty is worrying about the war in the Dzungars

and the safety of Supreme Princess Duanshu again.

Your Majesty, just ease your mind.

You've long prepared and planned for the war against the Dzungars.

Everyone in the palace is praying for victory in the war.

The battle against the Dzungars will surely go well.

Supreme Princess Duanshu will also return safely.

By the way, Your Majesty

I've received news from Imperial Concubine Ying.

She is with child.

Really?

It's Imperial Concubine Ying's blessing and a good omen in the palace.

Good, good.

Instruct the imperial physicians to take good care of her.

I'll visit her tomorrow.

Ru Yi, I can only set my mind at ease for a bit when I'm with you.

It's good if you can be at ease.

Spring just arrived and there's good news all around.

Our battle against the Dzungars has been very successful so far.

It seems that we have a good chance of pacifying the northwest.

One who wins the hearts of the people shall win the world.

Father has treated the entire Dorbod tribe kindly.

Prince Tseren is doing his very best in the war against Dawachi.

There's also the Barin tribe assisting in the battle.

Dawachi attempted to seize power, and disrespected the Imperial Court.

His people definitely lost faith in him, and he is losing every battle.

We've received news of victory against the Dzungars.

Dawachi has written again to seek a peace treaty.

What is your opinion?

At this time, he's obviously asking for a peace treaty out of fear.

He just wants to buy some time.

He's not really serious about it.

If we allow such a cunning villain a chance to get back on his feet

I'm afraid he will only get back at us in the future.

However, Dawachi used your aunt as an excuse

asking me to take the marital bond into account.

Yong Qi, I know that you care most about sentiment.

Father, if sentiments are considered at the appropriate time and situation

it's then deemed as a great virtue.

However, Dawachi is only asking for a peace treaty

after suffering from defeat.

The grudge is now deeply-rooted.

If we were to consider sentiment now, we'd be condoning a villain.

Good!

Good!

Yong Qi, compared to how you used to place sentiment above all else

you are now also calm and rational.

I'm very pleased.

The tutors of the Palace School told me that

you often teach Yong Xuan to read and write

despite the ill will Yong Cheng once showed you.

You're the role model of the princes.

Yong Xuan has left his mother and now studies in the Palace School.

As his older brother, it's my duty to care for him.

Very good.

It's time for Yong Xuan to learn archery and horsemanship.

Yong Cheng should have been the one to look after him.

However, he's been very absentminded lately.

In your spare time

take Yong Xuan with you more often

to practice archery and horsemanship in the Southern Garden.

Yes, Father!

Hold this with both hands.

Pull hard.

Harder.

One, two, three, go!

You must pull hard!

Again. Here, hold this.

Pull hard!

Look straight ahead.

Aim well.

Get ready.

One, two, three, go!

Yong Cheng...

Your father finally allowed you to visit me in the Palace of Inspired Luck.

Don't look so dispirited.

Mother, I'm now living by myself outside the palace.

If anyone wants to harm me--

You're a prince. Who can hurt you? Who would dare to harm you?

When you're at the Palace School, you should care more for Yong Xuan.

He's all alone in the Hall of Collected Fragrance.

Who knows if the governesses are taking good care of him?

Are you worried about Yong Xuan?

He's doing great.

Father even told Yong Qi to teach him archery and horsemanship.

- What can possibly go wrong? - What did you say?

Yong Qi is teaching him archery and horsemanship?

How can Yong Qi possibly treat Yong Xuan well--

Care about me first!

You tried to arrange a marriage for me

but Prince Songtai and Assistant Minister of Works

refused to marry their daughters to me. I'm so embarrassed!

So what if they refused?

If it weren't that we've now fallen out of favor

I would surely have picked the best girl from my home country.

Whose princess consort is from Joseon?

I'll beg your father to bestow marriage to you.

Let's see who still dares to belittle you.

Yong Cheng, pull yourself together.

It's not over for us yet.

What else can we possibly do?

A pregnancy becomes stable after making it past the first three months.

You're still young, after all.

You don't seem affected by the pregnancy at all.

The Imperial Academy of Medicine reported that you're due in July.

There's indeed more to be cautious about during postpartum recuperation in summer.

This is my first pregnancy so I don't know much at all.

Your Highness and Consort Yu will have to give me more advice.

It's a lot more windy in the capital during springtime.

Be careful not to catch a cold.

It won't be good for the child if you have to take medication.

Exactly.

Your Highness is right.

I just don't know yet if I'm carrying a prince or a princess.

It doesn't matter if it's a prince or a princess.

The entire Barin tribe contributed to the war against the Dzungars.