The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

- Congratulations, Chancellor. - Congratulations, Chancellor.

Congratulations, Chancellor.

- Congratulations, Chancellor. - Congratulations, Chancellor.

I've already told you that I don't want to be here.

Look how much others despise you.

- We have to go and make a toast. - I'm not going.

Don't forget your manners.

Come on.

- Let's go. - Good, good.

Congratulations, Chancellor.

Drink it up.

Chancellor, the Marquess of Weiqi and I are here to toast to you!

I am already drunk so I can't drink anymore.

Princess Pingyang arrives!

Greetings to Princess. Greetings to Marquess of Pingyang.

- Welcome! - Be at ease.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Congratulations, Uncle.

Congratulations, Uncle.

This is something from Princess and me. We wish you and Auntie great marital bliss.

Thank you!

Please have a seat.

Tian Fen!

Is this the way to host your guests?

You show no respect at all!

Marquess of Weiqi was after all conferred by the late Emperor.

Guan Fu, you've drunk too much.

Guan Fu, here.

Get lost!

If you meddle in this, mind your husband first!

Don't have him bring home another bastard!

All right, that's enough.

Your Highness, don't take it to heart. Guan Fu had too much to drink.

Let's leave now.

Tian Fen! You're now highly-ranked.

You've forgotten that when Marquess of Weiqi served as the General

during the reign of the late Emperor you were but a petty official?

What kind of behavior is this to disrespect him so? Unacceptable!

Didn't you only get this position as Chancellor because of your sister?

Insolence!

You accept bribery and confer official ranks for money.

You've abused the law to take bribes!

You dispossessed others of their lands.

You bribed the harem!

These are but petty crimes to you!

I even know of schemes of yours that would get your entire clan killed!

The evidence is irrefutable!

Guan Fu is drunk and stirring up trouble!

Guards!

- Present! - Arrest him!

Yes!

This is so sweet.

Your Highness really treats us so kindly.

She always treats us to the best articles of tribute.

Empress Dowager treats the Empress well.

Chancellor's wife brought dates from the state of Yan for Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager gave them all to the Empress.

If my sisters like them, do feel free to help yourselves to more of them.

Empress Dowager arrives!

Happiness and peace to Empress Dowager.

You may all rise.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Mother, you have arrived with perfect timing.

I have just shared the dates that you gave me with my sisters.

They all said that the dates are sweet and delicious.

Thank your for the kind gift Empress Dowager.

Empress knows well to put the general interest above all else.

All concubines know where you stand.

But some people may be good at sweet-talking

and yet their minds...

Madame Wei!

Present.

Are these dates good?

Empress Dowager dotes on the Empress.

The Empress cares about me.

- The food that she bestows to me are all... - You enjoyed delicacies in the palace

but do you know that the Chancellor was humiliated by Guan Fu

on his wedding day because of you, and lost all appetite?

Please appease your anger, Mother.

My sister has always treated others with generosity.

How could she have embarrassed the Chancellor?

There must be a misunderstanding.

Even if she is at fault, it must have been unintentional.

Unintentional?

I think it must have been done purposefully.

You said that filial piety comes first.

These words were seemingly to help guide His Majesty.

You were actually plotting to cause even more trouble to sow discord between them.

Pardon me for my ignorance. Please explain it explicitly.

Ignorance? You are way too clever!

The Emperor favors you and now you've become spoiled.

You told your older brother to ask the Chancellor for land out of greed!

The Chancellor reluctantly claimed the land for you

and then you don't dare to accept it for fear of being reprimanded.

It's fine that you don't want it

but your shameless brother claimed that the Chancellor offered him the land

as a bribe, to curry favor with His Majesty!

He slandered the Chancellor.

Those siblings of yours who are without merit and titles throw their weight around.

They are arrogant and unruly.

This is all because you have turned a blind eye to it!

Do you know acknowledge your sin?

I have not sinned.

Say that again!

It is the same answer. I have not sinned!

My family and I have always kept our mother's teachings in mind.

Sow nothing, reap nothing.

My older brother has never asked anyone to claim any lands.

You mean that the Chancellor has wronged you?

I wouldn't dare to say so.

It's just that...

It's just that the Chancellor did indeed offer the land to my brother.

But my brother did not accept it in the end.

You are saying that the Chancellor has falsely accused you?

The Chancellor offered land in attempt to bribe the Wei family?

And the Wei family rejected the offer?

Please appease your anger, Mother.

Madame Wei, you might have nothing to do with the extortion and rumors.

But no matter how much you value your family

you shouldn't have made Empress Dowager so angry.

My family has never mentioned a word about the Chancellor's offer.

I could not possibly admit to the sin of slandering the Chancellor.

The land we speak of originally belonged to Marquess of Weiqi, Dou Ying.

I believe that Guan Fu only learned about this matter because of that.

I ask that Empress Dowager and Empress see this clearly.

Mother, that is to say that Wei family is clean and righteous.

They are of sublime virtue.

It has nothing to do with the Wei family that the Chancellor was insulted.

Is that so?

Is the Wei family really not greedy, competitive, argumentative, and jealous?

Don't assume that we have all forgotten where you've come from.

Your mother was but a servant. She was but a wild peasant!

How dare she act so virtuous that her virtue surpasses that of the Chancellor?

Don't you dare try to deceive me!

Every word that I've said is true.

Although my mother was a servant, and struggled through her life

she knew much about the ancient teachings of virtue.

My mother taught all her children to be self-disciplined and abide by the rites.

She despised greed and theft.

Even if we starve to death, we won't steal even a grain of rice!

My family might have all been servants

but we know that neither poverty nor destitution

will swerve us from our principles.

Neither riches nor honors can corrupt us!

My siblings did not extort any lands nor did they slander the Chancellor.

Moreover, they are not arrogant and impudent!

I ask that Empress Dowager investigate into this matter.

You... you...

You... How dare you...

You...

Madame Wei, how many years have you been in the palace?

Have you completely forgotten about the etiquette and rules of the harem?

No matter what, you do not talk back.

Do you still have any regard for Empress Dowager's dignity?

I did not mean to talk back to Empress Dowager.

Mother, are you all right?

Don't get so angry that you fall ill.

Please appease your anger, Empress Dowager!

This is all my fault. I haven't disciplined the harem well.

That's why Mother is humiliated and offended.

If you are to punish anyone, punish me instead.

This is what it means to put the general interests above all else! Do you understand?

It's a waste that I've doted on you for so long. You treat me in this manner!

You...

Empress Dowager!

- Summon the doctor! - Yes!

You've really gone overboard! You've made Empress Dowager sick with anger!

Please appease your anger, Empress Dowager!

- I... - Shut up!

This is all my fault.

I was eager to protect the reputation of my family members

and offended the elderly with disobedience.

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

Get up now.

Have a seat.

Do I not know what you are like?

Fortunately, Mother is all right.

Let's just say that this is understandable.

Your hand is so cold.

Here.

How do you feel now?

It is so warm.

The fire may be warm but you will burn yourself if you get to close to it.

I understand.

In the future, I will have a sense of propriety in everything that I do.

I will try to appease Empress Dowager's anger and soothe her mood.

Then I am relieved.

But some people always make me worried.

What a reckless rogue.

Your Majesty is referring to... Master Guan?

His criticisms have ignited such flames.

It is just like those burnt coals in the stove now.

He's unable to fend for himself.

Is there really no other solution?

I had wanted my sister to intervene but Guan Fu was really ungrateful.

My sister was kind enough to step in to stop him

and yet she was also insulted by him.

This time, my sister will not be involved in this matter.

Mother wants Guan Fu's head to uphold justice

for her daughter's reputation and her brother's dignity.