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

May the Buddha bless us.

May the Buddha bless us.

Master, I will return to our chambers

to prepare the scriptures for our next assembly.

- Master An Duo. - May the Buddha bless you.

Thank you for giving me your blessings. I'm just a maid at the icehouse.

I work so hard every day and have to suffer my lady's temper.

I often find it really difficult to keep going.

Whether your days pass easily or not

as long as your heart is at peace, you will get through them.

Master, you know, you're the only person who would speak to me so warmly here.

You are a pitiful person. How else can I pray for you?

When I speak with you, I feel that people are all equal.

It's as if I'm not just a lowly servant anymore.

Master An Duo, I wish for my future to be brighter.

May I ask you to bestow your prayer beads unto me

so that I might feel your benevolence at all times?

I wish that it brings you peace and blessings.

I know you don't believe in Buddhism

but I heard this monk is very skilled.

Maybe we should do it just for the sake of your unborn prince.

I suppose. I won't be going, though.

You and Li Xin can deliver my handwritten scriptures

- for him to read. - Yes.

It's so hot that it's vexing.

Why are you the one bringing the ice? Where's the icehouse maid?

She went to the Hall of Calming Brilliance to pray.

What kind of blessings could a servant girl receive?

Unlike Imperial Noble Consort Xian.

She's of such high ranking yet she went to fawn over the monk too.

Who knows if that's the case?

What good could come of a woman being solicitous of a man for no reason?

That's quite interesting.

Your Majesty is kind and devoted.

The people of the nation are grateful.

I'm sure my prayers will be even more effective because of it.

I leave everything to you.

In a while, the concubines will deliver prayers they've written for you to read.

I still have court affairs

so I will return to the the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Be cautious, Imperial Noble Consort Xian.

Thank you, Master.

Ru Yi, be careful.

Yes.

- I'll see His Majesty off. - I'll see His Majesty off.

Greetings, Imperial Noble Consort Xian.

- Greetings, Master Anji. - You may get up.

Master, my lady is kindhearted.

She ripped her handkerchiefs to copy the Heart Sutra 100 times.

She wishes to pray for Eldest Prince and Third Prince.

May the Buddha bless them.

After I recite the prayers

I will deliver it to the Buddha and bow to convey Noble Consort Chun's devotion.

Thank you, Master.

I take my leave then.

You are very skilled. The palace is filled with respect for you.

You light incense every morning at the Hall of Calming Brilliance.

You are indeed sincere.

I feel at ease while accompanied by the Voice of the Buddha.

I have two items that I might bestow you.

I brought this joss stick specially for this journey.

After lighting it, it will bring and infinite amount of blessings.

It's especially beneficial for the pulse and mind.

You can try it.

Thank you, Master.

This bronze incense burner is very exquisite.

If Your Ladyship enjoys wearing jewelry

you can wear a bracelet of the Seven Gems and it will bring more auspiciousness.

A bracelet of the Seven Gems?

- Thank you for you advice. - May the Buddha bless you.

Stop!

Are these all palace maids from the Hall of Calming Brilliance?

Yes. It's rare for a Buddhist monk to visit

so everyone wants to listen to him pray in order to receive blessings.

He's well-versed in Buddhism and looks very upright.

The maids are all doing their best to see him.

They don't see men from outside very often.

He may be a monk, but it's still best to avoid him.

Send him out of the palace as soon as the prayers are over.

- Yes. - Yes.

Move!

My lady, you've returned.

These joss sticks are from the master.

- Light them. - Yes.

Are preparations going well for His Majesty's Vast Longevity Festival?

The Imperial Household Department reports that everything is ready.

However, Your Ladyship still needs to go over the music and dances.

All right.

Empress Xiaoxian passed not too long ago.

His Majesty doesn't wish for the celebration to be too elaborate.

- Make it as simple as possible. - Yes. I will go make arrangements.

This smells so strong.

This is a special joss stick Master Anji created.

It can get rid of darkness and evil.

Where is Suo Xin?

Where else could she go?

She went to get Imperial Physician Jiang to come for a checkup.

My lady, here they come.

My lady, Imperial Physician Jiang is here.

Greetings, Imperial Noble Consort Xian.

Seeing the two of you in love like you were as you came in...

If I don't marry the two of you already, it would be unjust of me.

My lady is making fun of me again.

I thank you on behalf of the both of us!

My lady, why don't we proceed with your checkup first?

All right.

Everything is well, my lady.

That's good.

It might be difficult to expect a child now.

I heard you've been saying prayers at the Hall of Calming Brilliance a lot

and have become familiar with Master Anji.

You're kind and virtuous, so I'm sure your prayers will be answered.

If so, I'd have to give those blessings to Suo Xin first.

When September passes, it will be half a year since Empress Xiaoxian died.

And then, I'll betroth Suo Xin to you.

You must treat her well.

With your words, I wouldn't even mind waiting another decade.

You can wait, but Suo Xin can't.

After you marry and have children

you should bring them into the palace so I can be their foster mother of sorts.

Then I could experience the joy of family.

- Thank you, Your Ladyship! - Thank you, my lady!

His Majesty loves a beautiful view. I don't believe he won't come.

Where are these fireflies from?

Your Majesty, they seem to be coming from the Palace of Eternal Longevity.

I heard Noble Lady Ling likes fireflies and often requests people to catch them.

Your Majesty has been stressing over the Jinchuan war.

Perhaps you can pay a visit to the Palace of Eternal Longevity?

All right, I'll go have a look.

Yes. Lift the sedan chair!

Announcing His Majesty!

"Hunan bamboo floats under the moonlight."

"Fireflies dance among the lotus flowers."

It's indeed something special.

Your Majesty.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

You may all rise.

Was this your idea?

It's just a bit of my regards for your upcoming Vast Longevity Festival.

Poetic and graceful, very nice.

My lady, you look so pretty tonight.

It's a new color the Imperial Household Department created, right?

His Majesty likes a faint red color.

It is indeed rich in color, a perfect shade.

I heard that Noble Consort Jia had deducted a balm

from the Imperial Academy of Medicine

which is made of pearls that come from the southern sea.

If His Majesty permits it, why can't it be used?

Who's there?

Intruder!

- Intruder! - There's an intruder?

- Split up! - Capture the intruder!

- Check up front! - Go look over there!

- My lady, there's trouble! - Come in and report, San Bao.

- What's going on? - My lady.

I'd just heated up hot water and was bringing it to heat the room

for Your Ladyship to use when I saw a white-clothed intruder.

I was so frightened, I started yelling.

When the intruder heard me, he climbed over the wall and ran.

Why would the Palace of Earthly Honor have an intruder?

- Have you captured him? - He ran too fast and disappeared.

But I heard the guards surrounding the place giving chase.

I don't know if they caught him.

Go quickly and report to His Majesty to send more men

to search the Palace of Earthly Honor and the Eastern and Western Six Palaces.

And most importantly, protect His Majesty.

I'll go right away.

The guards pass the Palace of Earthly Honor in shifts.

They aren't supposed to be here at this hour.

How could they have come so quickly?

It could be because you've just become Imperial Noble Consort.

All the more reason for an intruder to not be able to get into this palace.

That's true.

Ru Yi, do you know what happened last night yet?

After all that ruckus, we still didn't manage to catch the intruder.

His Majesty came first thing in the morning

and even rebuked the palace guards.

Thankfully, the whole palace was fine.

That's good to hear.

It's just... where would an intruder come from?

It's very strange.

Yes. How did they get in?

I'm sure you all heard about the intruder in the Palace of Earthly Honor.

- We failed at our duty. - We failed at our duty.

An intruder managed to get into the Imperial Noble Consort's palace.

- Ling Yun Che! - Present.

Take your men and make inquiries of everyone in the palaces.

Yes.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

My lady would like to invite you to the Palace of Inspired Luck to eat.

I hear you.

- Is Noble Consort Jia feeling better? - With your accompaniment, naturally.

- Make sure you shut the windows tightly. - Yes.

Once is enough for this kind of trouble.

Make sure to keep the doors shut tight.

I understand.

- My lady, Eunuch Li is here. - Let him in.

Greetings, Your Ladyship.

His Majesty must be taking his nap right now.

What brings you here?