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

Lü Yun.

Imperial Concubine Wan, what brings you here?

I've heard that the empress is going into labor soon.

I couldn't sleep after hearing that.

I can't fall asleep either.

That's why I've come to chant sutras to calm my mind down.

May I join you?

Sure.

The empress has already endured so much suffering.

I hope that she can give birth to this child safe and sound.

Here, bring me the water.

Imperial Physician Jiang is so accurate.

Her Highness really went into labor prematurely.

Judging from the pregnancy, it's premature by about two months.

Her Highness's child is in the breech position.

This will be a difficult labor.

Among us, Governess Tian is the most experienced one.

We'll need her to correct the position.

Exactly, only then can the childbirth go well.

Let's go.

Li Yu, I can't enter the delivery room.

Summon a midwife over to ask why nothing is going on.

Yes.

Your Majesty, why don't I go and take a look?

Consort Yu, Her Highness's child is extremely auspicious.

If there are too many people in there, some might jinx it.

Too many cooks spoil the broth. Just wait here with me.

Yes.

Your Majesty, rest assured.

Her Highness already gave birth twice.

She will be fine this time as well.

She will surely give birth to a little prince, safe and sound.

But this child is only a bit more than seven months old.

Your Majesty, I've already calculated.

Her Highness went into labor at a quarter past one

in the morning of November 21st.

It's an extremely auspicious hour.

Be it a girl or a boy

Her Highness will surely give birth safely and greatly blessed.

- The child will be very auspicious. - Good.

If it's a princess, I'll confer her as a state princess immediately.

If it's a prince, I'll name him...

I'll name him Yong Jing.

"Jing," the luster of jade.

"Jing"?

The luster of jade.

The princes are named with "Yong."

The princesses are named with "Jing."

Your Majesty named him so because you hold him in high regard.

When Her Highness conceived, the Purple Star glowed with radiance.

There can't be a more suitable name that Your Majesty could have given.

My ending here is hard to tell.

Her... her life and death are also difficult to predict.

My lady.

Have some tea to soothe your throat.

It's already dawn.

Have we heard from the empress yet?

She's been in labor all night, but the child hasn't been born yet.

Hand over that prescription to Governess Tian

once we're informed of the empress's misfortune.

I understand.

Will that prescription work?

Governess Tian's daughter suffers from a hereditary disease.

Not even a miracle can save her.

Since it's useless, that prescription...

It's just to ease her pain during a relapse.

Governess Tian loves her daughter so much that

she actually thinks her daughter can be saved.

What should we do when Governess Tian finds out some day?

Once the empress suffers a misfortune during childbirth

how long do you think Governess Tian can still survive?

Bear with it, Your Highness.

She's taken so many bowls of labor induction medication.

The imperial offspring is still small. It shouldn't take this long.

Why isn't there any movement at all?

The child is born...

It's born...

Why is it so quiet?

Has the child been born?

But...

why isn't the child crying?

Your... Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, please forgive us!

What happened? Is the empress unwell?

Your Majesty, the delivery didn't go smoothly

and it took a long time before a little prince was born.

It's a prince?

That's good.

It's indeed a prince.

However, when the little prince was born, he was already dead.

How could that be?

Your Majesty, the empress is almost 40 years old.

Her body is no longer as suitable for childbearing as it once was.

Moreover, the little prince was in the breech position already.

Her Highness gave birth prematurely, and the delivery was difficult, so...

So...

How is the empress faring?

The empress used too much strength in giving birth

and passed out from the lack of breath.

I've already fed Her Highness ginseng soup.

She will recover after some rest.

How could this happen to my legal son?

I didn't expect 13th Prince--

Didn't you say it's an auspicious child?

How did this happen?

Your Majesty, please appease your anger!

I've observed the celestial signs.

This is indeed destined to be a prince.

As for why he was stillborn, I really don't know the reason.

Your Majesty, forgive me for saying this boldly.

It's said among commoners that if a child is stillborn

the mother must have jinxed it with her tough life.

How dare you say such nonsense to slander the empress!

I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty!

I'm telling the truth!

There is indeed such a saying among the commoners!

If the child lives and the mother dies, the child jinxed the mother!

If it's the other way around, the mother jinxed the child!

Lowly maid!

You were the ones who failed to deliver the child!

How dare you still speak so insolently against the empress!

I won't let you off!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Consort Yu, the midwife is right.

The empress was born at 5:15, in the afternoon of February 10, 1718.

It was an auspicious birth date.

It's a great match with the Purple Star!

An auspicious child should be born!

But then this...

However, the Purple Star can't cope with the empress's destiny

so it resulted in deaths of her children, impediment of her husband

and the lack of offspring!

You...

Before the little prince was born

you came up with flattery and called his birth auspicious!

Now that the little prince wasn't born safe and sound

you blame it all on the empress!

You...

Your Majesty.

I beseech you to punish the midwife, Governess Tian

and the Head of the Astronomical Bureau for telling lies to slander the empress!

- Your Majesty, please spare us! - Your Majesty, please spare us!

I wouldn't dare to lie!

If the prince was born safely, he would surely be outstanding!

However, his mother jinxed him and hindered him from being born!

There was nothing I could do!

Fifth Princess was also born with a heart condition.

She then died as a young child.

Your Majesty, thinking back to it

it could have been related to the empress's destiny!

What a load of nonsense!

You deserve to die!

Your Majesty, you mustn't spare any of these servants!

13th Prince, Yong Jing...

He is my legal son.

My beloved child.

Yet the gods would not breathe life into him.

Our fate as father and son can't be fulfilled.

13th Prince shall be posthumously conferred as...

Prince Daorui.

He shall be buried in Crown Prince Duanhui's mausoleum.

The midwives and related personnel...

have been inadequate in caring for the empress during labor.

All of you are banished from the palace and never to be hired!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

- Head of the Astronomical Bureau. - Your Majesty...

You slandered the empress with your insolent lies!

Remove him from his post and banish him from the palace!

Consort Yu.

The empress had a tough labor.

You'll stay to look after her.

In regards to the 13th Prince...

break the news to her slowly when she regains consciousness.

I have to attend the Imperial Court.

Your Majesty.

Won't you take a look at 13th Prince?

I wouldn't dare to.

I also can't bear to face the fact that my child died.

[In the 20th year of the Qianlong reign, 13th Prince Yong Jing passed away.]

[He was posthumously conferred as Prince Daorui]

[and buried in Crown Prince Duanhui's mausoleum.]

Master Ling! Why are you still standing there?

Get going!

Rong Pei, I'll leave you in charge first.

Ru Yi has lost another child.

I really can't imagine how upset Ru Yi will be

when she wakes up and learns of the truth.

You're concerned about Her Highness but you should also care about your health.

Otherwise... who else can keep the empress company?

It's snowing again.

It's so unbearably cold.

Consort Yu.

How is Her Highness?

She's still unconscious.

Why... why couldn't they save the child?

Why couldn't they save the child?

Her Highness doesn't know about it yet, does she?

What are we to do when Her Highness wakes up and learns of it?

Where is His Majesty?