The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

Zi Fu, there is an urgent report from the frontiers about the war!

Gongsun Ao ran into the enemies and was defeated!

Seven thousand soldiers were killed!

Wei Qing will surely be fine.

Zi Fu, there is news from the battlefields.

General Li Guang's army was totally wiped out.

Is there any news of Wei Qing?

Li Guang, Gongsun Ao, Gongsun He, and Wei Qing

are the four commanders.

Now two of them have already fallen.

If an experienced General like Li Guang suffered a complete defeat

then a novice like Wei Qing would be...

Mother!

Zi Fu, don't worry.

Nothing I say ever comes true.

Wei Qing will surely be fine.

Don't worry.

You have to take good care of yourself.

Autumn is coming to an end, and winter is just around the corner

but you are still sweating so much.

You are carrying a child but you keep losing weight.

I am really worried about you.

Zi Fu, Xi Niang is right.

This pregnancy is unlike your previous ones.

You must not be overly worried.

Is there a problem with the child?

Be honest with me.

You don't have to be worried about that, Madame.

Some women have the same symptoms as you do in pregnancy.

So...

What illness is it?

Gestational diabetes.

Diabetes?

- Madame Wei. - Duan Hong.

Do you have news of Wei Qing?

Not yet.

I thought...

I'm very worried about him.

Wei Qing is mighty and brave. He is not like the others.

He is sure to win the battle and return victorious.

I am worried about you instead.

Uncle Yi told you about it?

Why didn't you take good care of yourself?

You're concerned about Wei Qing, and he is concerned about you as well.

If he sees you in this state when he gets back

he will be very upset.

I just get thirsty and drink a bit more water, that's all.

Really?

Uncle Yi said that he couldn't talk around you.

Why wouldn't you take medications for your illness?

Although those medications could help strengthen my kidneys

they would affect my child.

Uncle Yi said that if you refuse treatment

your illness will aggravate as the child grows.

You will suffer from anemia and dizziness.

You open yourself up to infection.

If the illness is mild, it might lower your quality of life.

If it's severe it will cost you your life!

That is just an assumption!

As long as I pay attention to my diet and stay calm

my child and I will both be all right.

Moreover, Uncle Yi can help me control my illness through food intake.

If Uncle Yi could guarantee your safety, he wouldn't have grumbled about it to me.

But as a mother, knowing the medication

could affect my child or even cause a miscarriage...

How can I ignore the safety of my child in order to save mine?

But as your brother, I cannot allow you to risk your life!

I strongly believe that as long as I stay strong and kind

the gods will watch over me.

I'll be fine and so will my child.

Wei Qing promised me that he would return.

He will be all right as well.

You don't have to persuade me anymore.

I have already made up my mind.

I knew that I could not persuade you.

But I cannot permit you to make your own decision!

Duan Hong.

What do you plan to do?

I'll report this to His Majesty.

I beg you not to!

I'm really looking forward to the birth of my child

to enjoy my lifetime with him.

I know that.

For the sake of your safety, I'm afraid that I cannot listen to you.

Duan Hong, I beg you to let me do as I wish.

You are not a parent yet.

How can you understand how I feel?

Perhaps I can't understand what a mother feels

but His Majesty would know what it feels like as a father.

It's the most appropriate that he makes the judgment.

No!

Do you want me to beg you on my knees?

His Majesty arrives!

Duan Hong... I'm begging you.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

- Don't stand on ceremony. - Greetings to Your Majesty.

- Get up now. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

Have you told Madame that Wei Qing could not be found?

I have already reported this morning's military news to Madame.

Zi Fu, the region beyond the Great Wall is vast and sparse.

There isn't much population out there.

Perhaps we just lost track of his news.

His life might not be at risk.

Zi Fu, are you feeling unwell?

Summon the Minister of Imperial Medical Affairs!

That's not necessary.

I am just worried.

I am not ill so I won't bother the Minister to come over.

But you keep sweating.

Your palms are warm and shaking.

It doesn't seem like you're fine.

I am just anxious at heart and constantly worried.

Your Majesty.

I just mentioned the news of Wei Qing to Madame Wei.

She immediately became anxious and restless.

I'm afraid that it isn't the treatment of the imperial physicians that she needs now

but more of a cure for her troubles.

Just try to be at ease.

I wouldn't have trusted the wrong person.

Wei Qing is outstanding in martial arts and he has great strategies.

I'm sure that he will return home safely.

You mustn't be too anxious.

You have to take good care of your health.

Don't forget that you're tied to our child through flesh and blood.

His Majesty is right.

The mother is tied to her child through flesh and blood.

Madame should do her best to stay relaxed to ensure good health.

Thank you for your concern, Duan Hong.

Please rest assured, Your Majesty.

I promise Your Majesty that I will rest well to keep our child safe

and provide the imperial family with another healthy child.

This horse is agile and strong.

It is fit and extraordinary.

Its head held high and its gallop seems to outrun that of a tiger or dragon.

It can defeat all enemies.

The horse is raising its head, neighing and galloping forward.

Its tail swinging to struggle free.

It seems to be fighting hard to gallop out of distress.

Its look of utter desperation shows that it doesn't shy away from danger

nor does it fear death.

Its great aspirations can help to relieve it of its distress

and realize its ambitions.

You can't keep this a secret anymore.

My child is due in three months.

We'll keep this a secret for as long as we can.

Look at you now.

Your lips are too dry and you're always thirsty.

If my lips are dry, I'll use more of the lip balm.

If my face is pale, I will use more make up.

But your pulse is weak

and you are suffering from internal heat due to a deficiency of Yin.

Minister of Imperial Medical Affairs will spot it right away.

You can't always get your maids to say that you're admiring flowers.

You can't hide forever.

Zi Fu!

Wei Qing... There's finally news of him!

He was away to ambush the enemies.

He's sent a messenger back with a report

to say that he will follow up the victory.

It is triumphant news!

This is wonderful!

Uncle Yi, I already told Duan Hong that

I believe that gods will bless all who are kind and strong at heart.

My child will be fine.

I will be fine as well.

Wei Qing promised me that he will return to meet my child.

Wei Qing will be fine as well.

This great news from Wei Qing is a sign from the gods.

I know that I can definitely give birth to my child safely.

I can watch my child grow up healthily.

Uncle Yi, I can definitely do that.

I hope that your confidence and persistence can persuade His Majesty.

Otherwise, should anything happen

I'm afraid that the blow would be too much for him to take.

Uncle Yi, I know that you're skilled in divination.

You wish to have your fortune read?

No, I wish to ask for the most auspicious trigram reading.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Here, come and tie my belt for me.

Yes.

Do you remember I once said that

I hoped you could tie my belt for me every day?

I remember.

It is already the gods' blessings that I am in your favor.

I've never dared to hope for such an extravagance.

I'd just finished the session in imperial court and wanted to relax.

But then you arrived.

I got news of Wei Qing today

and the weight is now lifted off my shoulders.

I was coming here to thank Your Majesty, but you were busy with national affairs.

I didn't dare to disturb you.

The situation at the frontier is always changing.

I am indeed exhausted and overwhelmed.

Fortunately, triumphant news came in.

The situation looks promising, so I can finally relax a bit.

You must be quite relieved as well.

No matter the circumstances

I'm already at ease as long as I am with Your Majesty.

Well said.

Then you must remember that from now on