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

My Lady, since you left the Cold Palace and eased your mind

the stagnation in your liver has dispersed

and rheumatism has improved.

That's good.

Suo Xin, the bangle.

Jiang Yu Bin, find someone outside the palace that you trust

to get rid of all the tonka beans.

I'll put it on after that's done.

Otherwise, the empress might doubt me.

Yes.

My Lady, Madam Yu Hu is here.

Invite her in quickly.

Your servant, Yu Hu greets Consort Xian.

Your Ladyship, I've come today in regards to the guard of the Cold Palace

Ling Yun Che's reassignment.

There are available positions at the Palace of of Earthly Tranquility

and Gardens of Perfect Clarity.

I wonder what your preference is?

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is where

the emperor and empress spend the night of their wedding.

After the reign of Emperor Shunzhi

it's used as the venue where the Shaman prays to the gods.

It's a nice and quiet place to be in.

I'll make the arrangements.

Even if Your Ladyship doesn't ask His Majesty for this favor

His Majesty would have also rewarded Ling Yun Che.

Why?

It's because when Your Ladyship was banished into the Cold Palace

His Majesty had me contact Ling Yun Che and Zhao Jiu Xiao

to protect you.

Ling Yun Che and Zhao Jiu Xiao definitely performed outstandingly.

Particularly Ling Yun Che.

He saved your life in several accidents.

I'm also deeply grateful to him because of that.

His Majesty has always had Your Ladyship on his mind.

Otherwise, how could Noble Lady Hai assign Imperial Physician Jiang so easily

without anyone noticing?

This is because His Majesty instructed Qi Ru secretly to consent to it.

It seems that His Majesty has always kept Your Ladyship on his mind.

This painting was kept at Lang Shi Ning's for quite some time.

I only just retrieved it.

I heard that Noble Consort doesn't like this painting

and asked Your Majesty to throw it away.

Even if this painting is thrown away

the person in it isn't. She's always in my heart.

I keep thinking about Qing Ying.

Qing Ying had a much more carefree life then.

As for Ru Yi...

She was pulling through tough days in the Cold Palace.

Simply with traditional knots, she made 326 of them.

Handkerchiefs...

She embroidered 112 of them.

When I was in the Cold Palace, I knew that Your Majesty won't forget me.

But I didn't know that Your Majesty would know about this.

You actually knew it so clearly.

Those traditional knots and handkerchiefs you made

were all sent to me for review before they were sold outside the palace.

When I saw those handiwork, I knew that you could make it.

I knew that you didn't despair.

Those cape honeysuckle blossoms...

Were they able to bloom in the Cold Palace?

Did they bring you any comfort?

They blossomed every year.

They blossomed very well.

Your Majesty even sent someone to protect me.

Yu Hu told you about it?

Cape honeysuckle grows easily.

It can also treat wounds and aches.

I knew that you had a hard time in the Cold Palace.

Therefore, I hoped that you could survive like the cape honeysuckle.

I also know that you're fond of the green plum blossoms

so I gave you the green plum blossom powder.

I've used it today.

The light and refreshing scent of plum blossoms suit you the most.

You once told me

that however extravagant and luxurious any gift might be

they are nothing compared to the hands of mine

that will never let go of you in times of despair.

From now on, I'll hold on to your hands forever.

You can just rely on me.

All of you are new here.

Let me tell you the regulations.

The chores here at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility

aren't exactly important but they aren't trivial either.

This is where the emperors hold their weddings after the coronation.

It's the union of the sun and moon.

It's extremely honorable.

However, after Emperor Shunzhi's reign this is the venue for prayers.

Apart from the empress who would bring other concubines here

to pay respects to the gods

there's not much to be done here.

But all of you will have to stay alert!

None of you should neglect your duties!

- Do you hear me? - Yes!

All right, it's time to rotate shifts.

You can all rest in the servant's quarters.

The next shift, take over!

I told you to break off branches of the pine tree

to offer to the gods on the first day of New Year.

How dare you slack off and only break off a few?

Madam, the pine trees are too tall for me to reach them.

That's why I only broke off a few.

Madam, I really didn't slack off.

How dare you talk back at me?

Ever since you got into the greenhouse, you've always been absentminded.

What is it?

Do you think that you're one of the mistresses?

Look at how lowly you are!

Madam, I won't dare to do so again.

If you don't bring back more pine branches today

you won't be having dinner!

Wipe your face.

Stop crying.

Yun Che...

I'm too ashamed to see you.

I ended up working in the greenhouse.

Everyone bullies me!

How about this?

I'll help you with the pine branches.

Did you overhear everything?

Yun Che...

You're not stationed at the Cold Palace anymore?

After Consort Xian left the Cold Palace, she's offered me some help.

I am now... stationed at the Palace of of Earthly Tranquility.

Really?

That's great.

Your hands...

Who would care about my hands?

Yun Che...

I was wrong. It was my fault.

No one is nice to me.

You're the only one who truly treats me well.

Let's go.

People tread on the path of snow in search of red plum blossoms.

My Lady, you insists on looking for white ones.

What's so nice about the white plum blossoms hidden in the snow?

Red plum blossoms among the white snow is a beautiful sight.

But the white plum blossoms concealed in the white snow

can only distinguish from the snow by its fragrance.

I think that the beauty in this world is hard to come by

when it's distinguished over time.

Consort Xian's words truly won me over.

Imperial Concubine Shu.

If Your Ladyship doesn't mind

please call me by my first name, Yi Huan.

I can then address you as Ru Yi.

We won't have to address each other Your Ladyship this and that.

It all sounds very corny.

Yi Huan, you're very outspoken.

Where have you just come from?

I just had lunch with His Majesty.

His Majesty's favorite dish is a light plum blossom broth.

What a coincidence to see you admiring

plum blossoms just as I walked into the Imperial Garden?

There are only plum blossoms in winter.

Such a coincidence can't be too hard to come by.

You're right.

I've run into you today by chance and found that we have much in common.

Should you have some time

please do visit my quarters, the Palace of Gathered Elegance.

Sure.

I take my leave.

Yi Huan might seem aloof but she has quite a character.

It smells so nice.

Aren't you stationed at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?

What are you doing here?

Greetings, Consort Xian.

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is accepting New Year offerings.

They are putting up pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms every day.

That's why I've broken off these branches of red plum blossoms.

I heard Your Ladyship's voice just now

so I waited out here for you to greet you.

It doesn't seem that you've waited out here just to greet me?

Well... Your Ladyship saw right through me.

Just speak your mind.

There's a maid in the greenhouse called Wei Yan Wan.

She came to see me.

You just started to do a bit better and someone already approached you?

No... no, that's not what I meant.

She is--

She must be the one who got you all drunk and depressed?

Your Ladyship is absolutely right.

Although Yan Wan abandoned me then to pursue her career

she somehow ended up being demoted to work in the greenhouse.

The chores in the greenhouse are laborious.

I ran into her by chance and learned that she has suffered quite a lot of hardship.

Have you forgotten that she abandoned you

the moment she cried on your shoulder?

It's not that I'm too soft-hearted but she just seems to be too pitiful.

When I saw her that day, she kept crying.

She also said that she knew she was wrong so she was too ashamed to come to me.

She was too ashamed to see you but she still did anyway.

She even told you so much that would make you feel bad for her.

What have you promised her that you need to ask me for help?

Consort Xian, please reassign her out of the greenhouse.

Find her another chore.

I don't dare to ask for much except that...

she doesn't have to work too laboriously and get bullied by others.

At the moment, the greenhouse can't afford to lose any servants

because they will need to make deliveries to all the palace halls.