Beyond the Realm of Conscience (宮心計)

Episode One

Third year in Taichung of Emperor Suen Chung's reign in Tang dynasty.

General Ma Yuen Chi of the Special Tactics Force was corrupted and unruly.

He planned to overturn the administration

by killing the emperor and usurping the throne.

He murdered those who challenged him or was loyal to the emperor.

He hunted down Emperor Suen Chung's bodyguard, Ko Hin Yeung.

He even set a trap to kill Emperor Suen Chung.

He took of the administration and consolidated his power.

He went as far as falsifying an imperial order

and appointed himself as the overseer of the kingdom.

He ruled the world.

I pray to heavenly mother.

Please reward the good and punish the evil.

I pray for the empress to get well and rule the palace again.

Please keep His Majesty safe

he will return to the palace and the administration again.

Both you and I are His Majesty's concubines.

We are equals.

It might be so before.

But now the overseer of the kingdom, General Ma, has agreed that

during this period when the empress is rehabilitating

I'll be in charge of the palace. You must listen to my order.

You've taken side with Ma Yuen Chi? You know he's a villain.

You're working hand in hand with him?

Kam Ling, even though we aren't good sisters anymore

I had really hopes that you will get on the right track again.

Do you know I'm pregnant too? I'm carrying His Majesty's child.

Whether you and I are carrying a prince or a princess is still unknown.

But I will say this.

You could never hope to be at my level.

It's never crossed my mind to compete with you.

You just won't believe me.

I got smacked because I believed you.

My lips were stitched together because I tried to help you.

I have suffered so much humiliation because of you, Lau Sam Ho.

I, Yiu Kam Ling, hereby swear that I will never trust anyone again.

Let others suffer the humiliation and the pain. I've had enough.

You always say we must do good deeds

speak good words, and show goodwill.

Tell you what. You are wrong.

Everyone cheats in the palace.

It's a place of tricks and deceit.

To survive, you have to play along and grab the chance.

That's how you climb up.

There are so many outdated practices in the Imperial Household Bureau.

Once I'm in charge of the palace, I'll replace all those who are in charge.

You once worked in the Bureau before.

How could you of all people not understand?

I regret it now. I shouldn't have spared you.

If I had exposed your bad conduct back then

you wouldn't have gone down this road.

Enough!

You're the one who wants to play your role like a sitting duck.

You like following the rules.

If you think kindness is so important...

you should wear this Phoenix hairpin.

Mother made this hairpin. It's a gift from the empress.

So what? Let me warn you.

If you behave properly, I will allow you to remain as Lady Tak.

Otherwise, I'll give the order to have you killed.

Mom, before you died, you told me to have a good heart

speak good words, and show goodwill.

I've done that already.

But you asked Kam Ling and I to help and support each other. I'm sorry.

I can't do it.

She isn't the Kam Ling I know anymore.

She isn't my good sister anymore.

- Sam Ho, Kam Ling. - Mom.

Madam.

You are hungry, yes? Go ahead.

Young mistress, you eat this.

- Let's share this. - Okay.

Here... Mom.

You eat it, Sam Ho. I ate before I came home.

Madam, is there any news about the old master?

He will be taken to Linzhou.

We'll hit the road early tomorrow morning so as to stay close to the old master.

At least we can look after him.

Why did the emperor exile dad once he came to the throne?

Every emperor has his own rules.

If a new emperor comes to the throne, will dad come home then?

You two must be careful. We are wanted.

Don't let the soldiers find out our identity.

Otherwise they will take us to the palace and we'll become slaves and maids.

We won't be free anymore.

It's good you know that. Now go to bed alright?

Let me sing you a song to help you sleep, alright?

I want to listen to the children's song of our hometown that you and dad always sing.

Red windmill, please turn for me.

Bless my home.

Give us good harvest and rain.

Don't be afraid, my flowers.

Red flowers blossom, give me a smile.

Bless my home.

Fluffy cloud listens to the wind.

Don't be afraid, my child.

Sam Ho.

Mom eats the two big ones. Kam Ling and I will eat one each.

Young mistress...

Mom... Mom.

Bureau Chief.

The empress will view the flowers on the third of this month.

It's still chilly in the spring.

The Furnishings Department must prepare a hand warming pan

- lest the empress will catch a cold. - Will do.

I'm sure the empress will like this glass you designed.

I will be honored, Bureau Chief.

The empress has been coughing these past few days.

Why don't we prepare the honey dew dumpling instead of the crystal cake?

It's soothing for the throat.

Let's also put a Persian date in the tea to make it sweet.

- You do that, Head of Chefs. - Yes.

The Jewels Department does know how to please the empress.

You guys know she likes the Phoenix pattern.

Don't forget to give a lucky name to the hairpin.

Deputy Head Yuen has suggested a name.

Grateful for your comment, Bureau Chief.

What is it?

It's 'Phoenix Welcoming the Sun'.

The emperor has come to the throne recently.

The empress will assist in the administration.

The name fits the situation perfectly.

Good.

Thanks for your compliment, Bureau Chief.

Our Embroideries Department is in charge of the seasonal attire in the palace.

Now it's springtime. The flowers blossom.

I think this jacket is perfect for the empress when she looks at the flowers.

It seems that you need to put some birds there.

Yes. But we need to match the ornaments the empress is going to wear.

We've already asked the Jewels Department time and again.

But they still can't give us a definite answer.

Now you know it will be a phoenix, can you finish on time?

We shall expedite the work. We won't fail you, Bureau Chief.

Then get ready. Don't make the Bureau a disgrace.

Yes, Bureau Chief.

There are some new maids.

I want to assign them to your respective departments.

Some of them are the family members of the imperial prisoners.

I want to discuss with you all where to assign them.

Bureau Chief, do you mean Madam Lau from Yangzhou?

People say she's good at needlework.

The Embroideries Department wants to see how good she is.

Actually Madam Lau makes jewels better than doing needlework.

Her maiden home, the Kong in Yangzhou

has been making jewels and ornaments for three generations.

Even though they aren't official craftsmen, they are renowned Jiangnan.

Although Kong Choi King is a girl, her dad loves her very much as she's really clever.

He's taught her everything.

Head of Jewels Sung, it appears that your subordinate

needs to learn good manners apart from learning how to make jewels.

Or will you say she's forgotten that

when the Chiefs are talking, the Deputy Heads shouldn't interrupt.

Head of Embroideries Chung.

The Embroideries Department is in charge of sewing and knitting.

In theory, you would only prick yourselves.

How come you prick others too?

I just told everybody what I knew.

Stop, we just work according to order. We should help each other out.

Bureau Chief, actually, I've asked Madam Lau to wait outside.

Let's meet her then.

Then we'll decide which department she should join.

Bureau Chief.

All of us are imperial maids in the palace.

Condemned or not, all of us work for the empress and His Majesty.

We are equal in status.

So long as you are faithful, I won't treat you bad.

I'm grateful for your teaching, Bureau Chief.

We heard your craftsmanship is superb.

Let the heads ask you some questions before we decide which department to put you in.

I'll do my best then.

The theme for this gold hairpin is the Phoenix Welcoming the Sun.

The empress is going to wear it when she looks at the flowers.

The eye of the phoenix will be a luminous pearl from Persia.

A luminous pearl is round and crystal clear.

It's small in size, but its brightness is top of all the pearls.

You can see it a hundred miles away.

Madam Lau is really knowledgeable.

How about the tail of the phoenix? What will you put there?

I'll put rubies and turquoises there alternately

and tie them together with golden thread. It will be bright and grand.

Madam Lau, don't be afraid. Feel free to talk.

No matter you are right or wrong, Deputy Head Yuen will remember it.

As the phoenix eye is a luminous pearl

it will become the focus of everyone's attention.

If you put precious stones at the tail, I'm afraid it will be inappropriate.

Why?

The brightness of the luminous pearl's soft.

It's already the focus.

You shouldn't put other precious stones there to distract people's attention.

Besides, the luminous pearl is light and the precious stones are heavy.

You need a very meticulous layout to make the pin balance.

What's your suggestion then?

You should use the feathering method for the tail.

When a phoenix flies, it shows its beautiful feathers.

You should glue the feathers of a river kingfisher to the tail of the phoenix.

It will be so bright and colorful.

Meanwhile, it won't outshine the luminous pearl.

I'm afraid Deputy Head Yuen may not be able to do so.

Everyone knows the feathering skill is really delicate.