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

Greetings, Consort Xian and First Female Attendant Hai.

I'm here to convey His Majesty's verbal decree.

His Majesty asks that Consort Xian make her way

to the Empress's quarters immediately.

Yes.

Ru Yi, could something have happened again?

It shouldn't be.

Don't worry.

Last time, it was His Majesty.

He's always making fun of me.

So what if I do?

Your Majesty, Consort Xian has arrived.

Greetings, Your Majesty, Empress, and Noble Consort.

Get up.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Have a seat.

Your Majesty.

I've asked you to come over to the empress's palace urgently

because there's a matter to discuss.

I was checking to see how Yong Huang is doing in school.

I only told him to write me a few characters

but who knew that he'd be staring at the pastry Noble Consort gave him?

Yong Huang might be the eldest prince but he's after all just a child.

Your Majesty, you mustn't blame him.

We could just have his tutor discipline him.

I had thought so as well.

However...

I've noticed a few bruises on his arm.

Yet none of his servants noticed it.

Exactly.

Those governesses attending to the eldest prince are too careless.

They dress the eldest prince every day

and yet they didn't notice the bruises on his arm.

It's either they are too careless or that they didn't dress him themselves.

When I saw the bruises on his arm, I felt so upset.

Noble Consort is right.

The fresh set of clothes on Yong Huang were all put on him at short notice.

His worn clothes haven't been washed for three or four days.

There are so many greasy stains on them.

This is my fault.

Yong Huang's governesses are new.

Those new servants must have been careless and lazy.

I'll be sure to punish them.

I'll deal with his servants myself.

It isn't that you didn't make an effort.

The servants only bully Yong Huang because he doesn't have a mother.

Therefore, I think that I should get Yong Huang a foster mother.

Your Majesty, please let me adopt Yong Huang.

I'll surely look after him very well.

Consort Xian, do you share the same sentiment?

If Your Majesty can entrust Yong Huang to me

I'll be overjoyed.

Actually, I've at least given birth and raised my own children.

- If Your Majesty can entrust-- - All right now.

I know that you're all fond of children.

However, Yong Huang will have to like you as well.

Therefore, I've sent for Yong Huang.

He'll decide who gets to be his foster mother.

- Wang Qin. - Present.

- Bring Yong Huang here. - Yes.

Greetings, ladies.

Yong Huang, come here.

Tell me.

Which of them would you like as your mother?

Father, I have a mother.

My mother is Consort Zhe.

I know. No one can replace your mother.

I just wish to have someone look after you

and love you as your mother would.

Pick one.

Yong Huang.

Come to me.

Yong Huang.

I have tasty snacks here.

Come to me quickly.

Noble Consort Hui, I'm not hungry.

Consort Xian.

Yong Huang, do you mean that you'd like Consort Xian to be your mother

and not the pastry from Noble Consort Hui?

I'm not hungry. I want Consort Xian to be my mother.

Sure!

The relationship between mother and son is destined.

Consort Xian, he's now your child.

Your Majesty!

- We just said-- - That's enough.

You're quite frail.

He's also too playful for you.

Moreover, Consort Xian has more time on her hands.

It's better to leave Yong Huang in her care.

Consort Xian.

You'll have to take good care of Yong Huang.

It's my blessing that Your Majesty entrusts Yong Huang in my care.

I certainly won't let you down.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you, Father.

All right, get up.

I've begged His Majesty so many times.

Just when I'm about to get what I want

Consort Xian comes along and walks away with it.

My Lady, don't be angry.

Consort Xian is no longer in favor.

The eldest prince will understand soon.

Then he'll know he has much to gain if he chooses you.

Consort Xian and I both don't have children.

Yet now she suddenly has a son.

He's even the first born son.

Doesn't that make her rise above me?

I must snatch Yong Huang from her.

Be careful, Your Highness.

Go to the Hall of Collected Fragrance!

Give those servants a sound slapping!

They couldn't even take good care of the eldest prince

and stirred up such trouble!

Your Highness, calm down.

Yong Huang is mistreated.

His Majesty is bound to blame me the legal mother for not being attentive!

It's true that I didn't like Consort Zhe

and I don't like how competitive Yong Huang is

but I have done my duties as his legal mother.

I've never mistreated him in any way.

It's the servants' fault.

They have spoiled your good intentions.

However, the eldest prince already tries to outdo others as the first born

even when he doesn't have a mother.

Now that he has Consort Xian, won't he become even more ambitious?

His Majesty clearly gave Consort Xian the cold shoulder.

Why would he entrust Yong Huang in her care?

Could it be that the eldest prince and Consort Xian already colluded

so he purposely chose to be close to her?

Can that be possible?

This is just my assumption.

Consort Xian hasn't had any children.

Now that she's adopted the eldest prince

isn't it just like Empress Dowager and His Majesty?

She can then be promoted because of her son?

Could it be that she is after my position as the empress?

Consort Xian nearly became the princess consort then.

How can she possibly not bear a grudge against you?

She now has the eldest prince.

She might even be after Second Prince's position as the crown prince.

No one is allowed to plot against my son.

Consort Xian has fallen out of favor for days.

She still managed to get a son, a first born son even.

Such a scheming mind. Who can outdo her?

I've underestimated her.

I had thought that without her aunt, she can't possibly do much.

But now...

Yong Huang has now gone to Consort Xian.

It's not too late yet.

Those servants who served the eldest prince must be punished

but his wet nurse and governess will still stay with him.

We can at least get some information.

Su Lian, go over to them right away.

Your Highness, fret not. I'll take care of it.

You don't have to worry.

I'll head out right away.

Our mistress has returned.

- San Bao. - Present.

Tidy up the east wing for the eldest prince.

Yes.

From today onward, the eldest prince is now my son.

He's going to be raised here.

Congratulations, Your Ladyship!

Congratulations, Eldest Prince!

A'ruo, the governesses who served the eldest prince will come here later.

You'll see to them.

Yes.

Let's go.

Yong Huang.

You're now in the Palace of Prolonged Happiness.

There's nothing to fear anymore.

I'm not scared as long as I'm not in the Hall of Collected Fragrance.

Sit over there.

Does it hurt?

It doesn't.

Silly child, how could it not hurt?

I got myself bruised so it surely doesn't hurt.

Besides, if I didn't tell anyone, who would know that I have bruises?

The governesses never cared about me.

It's exactly because they didn't care that you should look after yourself.

I had no other choice but to come up with this plan.

Bear with it. It's going to hurt.

You're trying to help me. I understand it.

If it weren't that you had sent Suo Xin to bring me food

I'm always starving.

All the other children at your age are carefree.

Yet you have to understand all this.

I feel so bad for you as well.

I'm happy to be here and so are you.

Yong Huang, if you're not used to calling me Mother

just call me Consort Xian.

Your biological mother is Consort Zhe.

But I'll treat you well just like my own son.

Consort Xian, I chose you because you're kind to me.

But why did you choose me?

It's because I'm all alone without a child.

As for Yong Huang, you're all alone without a mother.

Therefore, two lonely people should depend on each other.

It's like in winter, if two people feel cold

they will feel warmer when they lean against each other.