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

Great!

Your Majesty, what is it that made you so happy?

Tibet's ruling prince Gyurme Namgyal intended to rise in rebellion

but Yue Zhong Qi immediately pacified the unrest.

I'd like to see who else dares to be disobedient.

Who would dare disobey in the face of Your Majesty's might?

Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Ling said

she just learned to play the moon guitar and would like to play it for you.

She's waiting outside now.

- Send her in. - Yes.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

- Greetings, Empress. - Get up.

Imperial Concubine Shu, what's the matter?

What's wrong?

My mistress has been dizzy and unwell these days.

She wanted to try the pear from the tribute and had half of it.

She threw up all night.

This is...

Could she be with child?

Definitely not.

I'm too frail.

I've been taking the fertility medicine that His Majesty bestowed to me for years

but still I have yet to conceive.

The imperial physician did say that I have a slim chance in conceiving.

- Li Yu. - Present.

- Summon Qi Ru. - Yes.

How is it?

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Imperial Concubine Shu's pulse is that of a pregnant woman.

It's already been two months.

Really?

I am positive.

Good. This is great.

Congratulations, Your Majesty and Imperial Concubine Shu.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

I've been hoping for years.

I thought that there was no chance.

For the past half-year

I only had the fertility medicine every now and then.

Who would have known that I'm now with child?

It's because of your sincerity that the gods have blessed you.

They made your wish come true.

That fertility medicine is meant to strengthen your health

to improve the chances of pregnancy.

Imperial Concubine Shu has been taking it for years.

Now that her health has improved, it's natural that she's conceived.

Imperial Physician Qi is right.

I'll have to trouble you to care for me during my pregnancy.

Yes.

Your Majesty, please consent to it.

If that's your preference, I'll let Qi Ru look after you.

You've been an imperial concubine for many years.

Now that you're with child, I'll promote you to Consort.

Thank you so much, Your Majesty.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Congratulations, Consort Shu.

I happened to visit at the right time today.

How I wish to have a bit of your good luck.

Thank you, Imperial Concubine Ling.

Your Majesty, I'll head back to get some rest first.

Sure.

Your Majesty, I'll walk Consort Shu back.

She has just conceived.

It's best that nothing goes wrong.

Empress, you're so thoughtful.

- Qi Ru. - Present.

What was that about?

Consort Shu suddenly conceived.

It must be that she hasn't been taking the fertility medicine regularly.

Your Majesty is kind so that medicine was decocted to a mild effect.

It's not meant to render her sterile.

Taking it after attending to Your Majesty can ensure its effect.

Jin Bao used to watch Consort Shu as she drank it up.

But who knew Consort Shu actually stopped taking it without anyone noticing?

Has Consort Shu noticed something amiss with that fertility medicine?

That might not be the reason.

It could be that Consort Shu no longer had any hope of conceiving

so she didn't take the medicine regularly.

She conceived unexpectedly because of that.

Your Majesty, please advise on how to handle Consort Shu's pregnancy.

The child is innocent.

Forget it.

Since she's lucky enough to have conceived...

Keep the child.

Take care of Consort Shu and the imperial offspring.

Yes.

I heard from Noble Consort Chun that in the early stage of pregnancy

she couldn't stand the cold.

Your bed has to be softer and the padding must be thicker.

The Imperial Kitchen will deliver nourishing soups every day.

Yi Huan, what do you like? I'll prepare dishes for you.

Thank you for your concern, Empress. Thank you, Imperial Concubine Ling.

You've been too careless.

You didn't even know you were with child?

The imperial physician often said that I'm too frail to conceive.

Who knew this would happen?

Yi Huan, you've been a favorite for years.

It was only a matter of time until you conceived.

I've been married to His Majesty for so many years.

I've been hoping to conceive a child for so many years.

I am finally with child.

This child is formed with the flesh and blood of me and His Majesty.

From now on, there's a bond between His Majesty and me that can't be severed.

Only now is my life worthwhile.

I'm happy to see Consort Shu's wish come true.

However, I can't help but feel upset deep down.

Honestly speaking, I've also taken the same fertility medicine

that Consort Shu took.

Where did you get the prescription from?

Empress, please forgive me!

I'm too eager to have a child so I had my maids go through the medicine dregs.

I had the prescription filled in private.

But I've been taking it for so many years

and still I have yet to conceive.

You're just eager to conceive.

Get up.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Consort Shu might not have conceived because of the medicine.

Why don't you stop taking the medicine like Consort Shu did?

Just recuperate well and you might then conceive.

Hopefully the gods can also bless me with a child like Consort Shu.

What is the matter?

My lady!

- My lady! - My lady!

This is all medicine!

My lady, how can you drink it all?

No...

Consort Shu is already with child.

Why haven't I conceived yet?

My lady, don't you find it strange?

Back then, Consort Shu didn't conceive when she kept drinking the medicine.

But now that she stopped taking it, she actually conceived?

What nonsense are you spouting?

I can't put a finger on it either.

My lady, just stop taking the fertility medicine first.

We'll send the dregs out of the palace and have doctors take a look at it.

Do you suspect that there's something amiss with the medicine?

I'm not certain either.

But I just think that we should be more cautious.

After all, Consort Shu only conceived after she stopped taking it.

All right.

I'll leave this to you.

If you get it done well, I'll reward you handsomely.

After so many years

I thought it was good enough that Consort Shu remained a favorite.

She has now suddenly conceived?

His Majesty has doted on Consort Shu for years.

He's not wary of her anymore.

No man is devoid of feelings.

Consort Shu is so devoted to him.

The emperor should understand that.

Consort Shu's disadvantage is that she's too deeply in love.

That's why she wouldn't help you scout for information

or speak up for you like Imperial Concubine Mei does.

Consort Shu is pitiful.

She doesn't know that His Majesty has been wary of her all these years.

Sometimes it's better not to know.

It might not always be so bad to be silly.

As for Consort Shu, she's a disobedient pawn

who has refused to do much for me.

After having a child, Consort Shu will only side with His Majesty even more.

What if I get to raise the child once it's born?

If so, Consort Shu will surely obey you.

Fu Jia, deliver the donkey-hide gelatin that was offered by

the provincial governor of Shandong as a tribute a few days ago

to Consort Shu as nourishment so that she can give birth to a chubby prince.

Yes.

Chun Chan, I've handed the prescription that you asked me to look into

over to your aunt when I left the palace to make purchases.

This is a letter from your aunt.

It's just that I can't read.

I don't know what she wrote.

It's a folk medicine that I use on myself.

Only my family knows about it.

Thank you, Eunuch.

Thank you, Chun Chan.

How could this be?

It can't be true...

Chun Chan...

What doctor did your aunt ask?

Could he be some quack doctor who took a quick look to put me off?

It isn't so! How would my aunt and I dare to do so?

She went to all the most famous doctors in the capital.

My aunt was worried so she even visited three or four more doctors!

My lady!

It can't be...

How could this be?

It can't be...

My lady, we've suffered such a huge loss this time.

Indeed we have.

Yet I brought this upon myself.

But Consort Shu conceived right after she stopped taking it for half a year.

It will be fine once you stop taking this medicine immediately.

Why did Consort Shu stop taking it?

Why didn't she tell me that she had stopped drinking it?

It can't be. We got this medicine in secret.

She couldn't have known about it.

However, the empress...

You did mention this to her.

You're right...