Story of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略)

Watching the person in the mirror's countenance pale and grow haggard,

Examining love together with regret, both new and old.

Keeping watch still by a lantern though it is daybreak, drenched with tears,

Watching others meet as promised, as twilight falls.

Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 47

Then why haven't you left?

Your Ladyship.

His Majesty granted me 80 floggings.

I escaped death but with no where to go.

I betrayed you, and offended Noble Consort Chun, and I even forsake Junior Concubine Jia.

Someone like me has no living path no matter where I go.

Hence, even if you live in the cold palace,

I will serve you till the end now.

You're a servant who speaks so bluntly.

You've got nerves indeed.

I am unworthy of Your Ladyship's compliments.

Even if all the servants of the palace die off.

My mistress still won't employ an ingrate like you.

You pack up your own stuff and get lost!

Your Ladyship, I have indeed committed wrong.

But Forbidden City is Forbidden City.

Climb up an trample below, betrayal and toppling are all common happenings.

After these incidents, you behold my lifeline.

I will never dare to betray you ever again.

If you will employ me,

you have found yourself a loyal dog.

I am willing to watch your home and garden, loyal with my life.

Your Ladyship.

What a pity. Now my doors,

won't need a guard anymore.

Your Ladyship, His Majesty is just thinking awry for the time being.

One day he will think clearly through.

Your Ladyship still has the opportunity to erect again.

You must not despair.

That bunch of scums.

How dare they dismiss you with this food.

Stop there.

Yingluo!

By palace rules, every concubine's allotments are set.

But did they follow accordingly?

Lack of food and less clothing. Languishing in everything.

Such obvious bullying is clear trampling of you.

Didn't Xiao Quanzi already say it?

In Forbidden City, climbing up and trampling below,

betrayal and toppling are common happenings.

Even he understands that but you don't?

I just feel so unjust!

His Majesty clearly knew it was the junior Concubine Jia that framed you

but why is he still treating you coldly?

Because Fuheng and I had a past.

In the past he was in the battlefield but now he's back.

Every time His Majesty sees him,

he is reminded of it.

It's a fish bone stuck in his throat, tormenting him.

But you're innocent!

His Majesty shoulders the world, rising early and sleeping late.

He doesn't care what kind of a woman lays in his dragon bed.

As long as she's beautiful and gentle.

Someone who can ease the pressure of his work is plenty.

Hence in this harem, each and every stem of flower,

with glamour or with elegance or with nobility.

Other than the ability to bring a different sentiment,

after a long time, to His Majesty,

they are just unclear and muddled face after face.

Since His Majesty is upset to see me,

he won't see me again.

At this rate, not to mention some revenge,

you won't even get to preserve yourself.

Yingluo, what are we to do?

Your Ladyship, Noble Consort Chun is here to visit.

Greetings to Noble Consort.

I haven't seen you in such a long time.

You've became thinner.

Thank you for your concern, Noble Consort.

I am quite well.

That's good then.

On my way walking in here,

other than a palace maid by the gate,

I didn't see anyone else.

It's just too unruly.

Concubine Ling, you ought to manage your servants better.

Thank you for your pointer, Noble Consort.

However, everyone has their own ambition.

Now that Yanxi Palace is a cold place,

they each want to aspire for their opportunities up.

It's all understandable.

That's true.

Compared to that one in Chuxiu Palace throwing wild tantrums all day,

that junior Concubine Jia that's upsetting the heavens and lamenting the people.

Concubine Ling, you are truly more aware.

At least you know your own actions.

And you don't resent the heavens or others.

Noble Consort, your visit today,

what is the main reason?

Look. Everyone says you were originally an embroidery girl.

That your embroidery is delicate and more clever than divine.

I selected a piece of your embroidery work on purpose to present to Shoukang Palace.

Empress Dowager saw it and was so delighted by it.

She wants you to embroider a scroll portrait of Buddhist Bodhisattva.

Noble Consort Chun, my mistress had a hand injury before so she can only do coarse work.

A delicate portrait like the Bodhisattva . . .

What are we to do though? I already recommended it to Empress Dowager.

Can't be that I run there now to tell Empress Dowager you can't?

Noble Consort, in how long do you present this portrait to Empress Dowager?

Not too long or too short. One month.

May Noble Consort be appeased.

I shall do my utmost.

Consort Ling, then you'll be toiling. Rest up for now.

Yingluo, she's rubbing your injury on purpose.

How can you easily say yes?

Noble Consort Chun made it clear.

That this embroidery portrait is for Empress Dowager.

If I say no it's a grand disrespect to Empress Dowager.

She's waiting to get dirt on me.

But your hand.

Xiao Quanzi.

Sister Mingyu.

Where did you get the new coal?

I retrieved it from Interior Bureau.

You're lying.

I went to retrieve in the morning and they fobbed me off.

I can't even get it, so not to mention you!

The coal even had cypress scent added.

Mistress was focused on embroidery so she didn't notice.

If you won't tell me still, I will go and tell Mistress now.

No, no.

Don't say it.

It was from Guard Zoulun.

Why don't you go inside to find me?

Yanxi Palace is a cold palace now and everyone evades.

It's best not to let others see me and you together.

What a fool. What if you freeze waiting here?

I just want to thank you.

The coal with the cypress and the fire pot for the night.

Mistress is coughing and even loquat syrup was sent in.

Even Xiao Quanzi is attentive in every way.

Everything you did. We are really so grateful.

Just that, we have enough coals now.

We really can't accept more.

You are talking about those things.

I said I would help you and I am keeping my word.

Thank you, Hailan Cha.

I don't know how to repay you.

It's too cold. Hurry back now.

Go.

Come out now.

I did deliver the coals.

But I didn't send any cypress scent.

And the fire pot or the loquat syrup.

Bribing Xiao Quanzi and stuff. Of course it wasn't me.

Tell me. You did so many things quietly for her.

Why won't you tell her though?

Fuheng. Stuffing it all inside you.

Is that how you are good to a person?

We haven't sparred in so long. Let's go.

Look. This Bodhisattva portrait.

Bemoaning the universe and pitying mankind. Merciful and benevolent.

That face is round and tenderly white.

The folds are so alive.

This time the embroidery house has truly outdone itself.

Empress Dowager is complimentary. This embroidered portrait is a gift to you.

How would they dare not to be diligent?

I think Noble Consort Chun's originally painting was the fine example.

So the embroidery girls were able to copy and create this outstanding work.

In order to paint the Bodhisattva portrait, Noble Consort analyzed all the Bodhisattva portraits in Forbidden City.

She painted for over a month and countless sheets of paper.

In the end, she finally picked one out that she was content with.

To do my utmost for Empress Dowager is my fortune.

Hang this portrait.

Yes.

Greetings to Royal Mother.

Get on up.

What are you looking at, Royal Mother. May I see also?

Look at this Bodhisattva portrait.

Splendid and magnificent. So lifelike.

It's so rare to see a good artwork like this for the past years.

The hair of this Bodhisattva is so vivid. It doesn't look like it's thread.

Could it be...a real person's hair?

The embroidery maid sewed in her own hair?

Manchurians and Han people are different.

For Manchurians, cutting off one's hair is disrespectful,

while Han people sewing in their own hair

would show more their sincere devotion.

There had been this kind of practice ever since. It's called hair embroidery.

This spot is clearly blood stain.

Your Majesty, it might just be a coincident.

The embroidery maid was afraid that her blood has stained the work,

hence, she embroidered it into a heart.

This embroidery maid is so meticulous.

I so want to meet her.

Empress Dowager, this embroidered image wasn't done by just one person.

It was done by all the most outstanding embroidery maidens of the Embroidery House.

If Empress Dowager wants to meet them, I'll personally call for them.

What Empress Dowager means is

she greatly appreciates the skills and diligence of this embroidery maid.

Just spread the decree to reward her.

Yes. There are so many highly-skilled embroidery maids

here in the palace.