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

"Ancient nine prefectures, now a change in system."

"Renamed as provinces, 35 in total."

"Scholars, farmers, merchants, and laborers."

"Four occupations, all fundamental to the nation"...

Greetings, Mother Xian, Mother.

Get up quickly.

When we headed out, Yong Qi was still memorizing

"People at birth are naturally good."

You've already memorized so much?

You're really clever.

Yong Qi is already five years old.

It's not too early to start memorizing texts.

Governess, take Yong Qi with you.

I wish to speak to Ru Yi.

Yes.

I take my leave.

Ru Yi, judging by what His Majesty said today

he intends to anoint Yong Cong as the crown prince.

Yong Cong is the legal son.

He's definitely qualified as the heir apparent.

I don't think being the crown prince matters.

The health of our children is more important.

I heard from Imperial Physician Jiang that when Yong Cong turned a month old

he already started taking medicine, because of a deficiency from birth.

How does such a young child take medicine?

It's said that the wet-nurse takes the medicine first

and then she feeds him with half of her breastmilk and half of the medicine.

It seems that his deficiency is quite serious.

Indeed.

Yong Cong is already three months old.

But he always lacks in energy.

Not to mention that he catches a cold easily

and he also doesn't grow much.

You're right.

Seventh Prince is a bit feeble.

Have you put the amulet I got from Bao Guo Temple

on Seventh Prince yet?

He's been wearing it.

It pains me to see Yong Cong like this.

Why hasn't he grown much?

Is it that the wet nurse doesn't have enough breast milk

so Seventh Prince can't have his fill and therefore lacks in energy?

Is that why he catches a cold easily?

Madam Fuca, since I received the decree to breastfeed Seventh Prince

we didn't dare to add any salt to our daily meals.

I've been drinking soups of rice paper pith and cowherb seed.

There's plenty of rich breastmilk.

However...

Seventh Prince refuses to drink.

Useless!

Where's Qi Ru?

Your Highness, Imperial Physician Qi is here.

Send Imperial Physician Qi to the heated chamber.

Yes.

Take good care of Seventh Prince.

Yes.

How can she blame us for this?

Don't say another word.

Don't cry... don't cry.

What's the fanning for? And the ice?

Don't you know that the empress can't stand the cold?

You're dismissed.

- Yes. - Yes.

Imperial Physician Qi, be honest with me.

It's been three months since Yong Cong was born.

But he's already caught a cold twice.

This isn't the common cold season.

Why is Yong Cong so frail?

That's right.

Seventh Prince always seems to look dazed.

He isn't very energetic. Why is it so?

Your Highness, Madam Fuca.

Please forgive me for being blunt.

Seventh Prince was born prematurely.

He's particularly feeble.

He will need special care.

Imperial Physician Qi, Yong Cong...

Will he be able to reach adulthood?

Infants are delicate.

If he can survive to 10 years, he should most probably be fine.

To 10 years?

Does that mean he's at great risk before he turns 10 years old?

Imperial Physician Qi, you'll frighten the empress

by giving such an answer.

I am telling the truth.

Raising Seventh Prince will require meticulous care and caution.

Answer me.

Will the empress be able to conceive another son?

Madam Fuca.

It's now early July and very warm at the moment.

Yet Her Highness can't even stand using ice in her quarters.

What do you think?

My body constitution turned cold after the childbirth.

Not to mention, using ice...

I even feel a bit cold when I wear thinner clothes.

Your Highness, it will be good if you have some mung bean soup

braised with lily bulbs.

When I have some, my stomach goes cold and clammy.

However, I keep sweating in the afternoon when it's warm.

That's really unbearable.

You have the symptoms of both heat and cold intolerance.

Your Highness.

You mustn't be overly concerned with troubles or overexert yourself.

Otherwise, you'll suffer damage to your fundamentals.

You've posed so many questions.

Is it because the empress is unlikely to conceive again?

Should Her Highness wish to conceive again...

it's almost as impossible as flying to the sky.

If so...

Imperial Physician Qi, please do make an effort

to ensure that Seventh Prince grows up safe and sound.

Yes.

From what you just said

the empress has become very frail after the childbirth.

Yes.

It's midsummer, but she can't stand using any ice.

However, she sweats cold in the afternoon.

She was already worried about raising Seventh Prince

and she were to still trouble over affairs in the harem...

I'm afraid the empress will suffer from a huge deficiency in vital energy.

Then she won't be able to recover.

Today is the Double Seventh Festival.

Then there's the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts coming up.

My birthday, Mid-Autumn Festival, and then Double Ninth Festival.

The biggest events in the harem come one after another.

It is indeed too much work for the empress.

I understand.

You're dismissed.

Yes.

- Ru Yi. - Yes?

It's such a starry night.

If you have any wish, make one quickly.

I heard that wishes made on Double Seventh Festivals often come true.

All I wish for is to be with Your Majesty everlastingly.

How long is everlasting?

As everlasting as it possibly can.

I'll always be with Your Majesty.

Never will you leave me?

Good!

Ru Yi.

I'll have to discuss a matter with you.

The empress is frail after childbirth and isn't capable of managing the harem.

Mother is also much older now.

She doesn't have the stamina.

After giving it much thought, you're still the most suitable one

since you assisted with managing the harem once.

I'm not very meticulous.

Could I ask that Noble Consort Chun manage the harem with me?

Noble Consort Chun is very gentle but she's easily suggestible.

She doesn't have her own opinions.

The affairs in the harem are complicated.

I'm afraid that she won't be of much help to you.

Your Majesty has thought it through. Why bother asking me?

Since I'll need your assistance, I have a gift for you.

- Jin Bao. - Yes.

Am I the only one getting this gift, or do all the concubines get one?

This is the beaded flower that's now a trend in the palace.

I had it made just for the Double Seventh Festival.

The empress's is the bergamot.

Noble Consort Chun's is the hydrangea.

Consort Jia's is the gardenia.

Consort Yu's is the rambler rose.

Imperial Concubine Shu's is the mock lime.

They each get one.

As for the rose, it's your signature flower.

This means our relationship is different from everyone else's.

Just like you said, it's everlasting love.

I hope you'll like it.

The rose really suits you.

- Am I pretty? - Yes!

Ru Yi, I really hope that we'll be together everlastingly.

It's the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Everyone must keep in mind what the taboos are.

Wipe this door clean.

It's never wiped clean.

Be sure to look into the water basin when going in and out.

You must not say anything that is a taboo.

You should all pay more attention.

It was fine during the day. Why is it raining now?

We can't even release the lanterns.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is supposed to be the day ghosts roam at night.

It seems to be raining more heavily.

It won't stop anytime soon.

As the saying goes, "Ghosts don't walk on dry land."

What you just said is so scary.

Exactly.

Why don't we not release the lanterns?

Let's head back?

Let's head back. Let's go.

Yong Cong!

Yong Cong...

Mother is here.

Don't be frightened.

Good boy.

Good boy.

Yong Cong. Close the door quickly!

Infants have pure eyes.

I'm afraid he might have seen spirits.

Your Highness, it's best to invite a statue of Buddha into the palace.

Su Lian, go and invite the statue of Buddha in my prayer room.