The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

What do they mean by this? Are they still trying to bribe us?

We won't move away!

What is it that you want?

We've already brought you the gold and you're still not satisfied?

This isn't what we want.

Exactly! We don't want this money!

This isn't what we want!

Wei Qing, if the villagers act as violently as they did last time

escort me away immediately.

- Understand? - Yes.

- Let's leave now. - Princess Pingyang arrives!

Her Highness is here.

Be careful, my dear wife. These are all unruly villagers. They are dangerous.

Do not worry, Marquess.

I am the biological older sister of the reigning Emperor.

Princess Pingyang.

Joy and bliss to Princess Pingyang!

You may all get up.

I am here for two matters.

First, you injured the soldiers the last time they were here.

The imperial court has decided not to take any actions against you

for protecting your homes and upholding filial piety.

Thank you for having mercy on us, Your Highness.

Second, there's a common saying

'The kingdom, the State, the family.'

The root of the kingdom is in the State.

The root of the State is in the family.

The root of the family is in the person.

All people should contribute to the nation

to proclaim the family name and attain achievements.

It is meant to be a good deed.

Why have you fought against it so stubbornly?

Isn't that against the principles of loyalty?

Your Highness, digging up ancestral tombs and disturbing the peace of our ancestors

makes it difficult for us to be filial and loyal at the same time.

It is definitely taboo to move ancestral tombs without valid reasons.

But now the Emperor wishes to build a palace

and this concerns the important matter of our nation and dignity.

The merits will be sung forever.

You're contributing to the nation

and rendering a great service to the imperial court.

You shall honor your ancestors!

'Praised for generations'?

This is great!

This is wonderful! How great this is!

After you have moved your ancestral tombs away

His Majesty specially allows you to build a shrine for your ancestors

so that their kindness can be known and praised for generations.

Thank you for your kindness Your Majesty!

Thank you for your kindness Your Highness!

Don't stir up any trouble from now on.

Move to another farmland and make offerings to your ancestors.

- We will! We will! - Yes!

The gods have bestowed their blessings.

Lady Wei is carrying the first child of the Emperor.

This is the blessing of Great Han.

I've specially brought you into Chuande Palace today

to commemorate the ancestors' words of wisdom and good deeds

in order to purify one's thoughts and reflect upon oneself.

We'll pray to the gods and ancestors

to bless Great Han with an abundance of offspring.

Lady Wei.

Present.

Step forward to thank the gods for their kindness

and bathe in the holy virtues of our ancestors.

Pray for blessings and grace for your child.

Yes.

Lady Wei, it is your great fortune to be blessed by the gods our ancestors

and all the consorts here in Chuande Palace.

I, Wei Zi Fu, thank the gods and the ancestors of Great Han.

Grand Empress Dowager and I will be meditating in here from now on

to pray for an abundance of offspring for Great Han.

The harem will be left in the hands of the Empress.

I know that both Empress Dowagers have been abstaining from meat

and having a vegetarian diet to attain a peaceful mind.

My sisters and I would also like to pray for Lady Wei as well.

Good!

The Empress and the consorts have all done well.

In the future, when the gods bless the harem with a prince

you will all be awarded for it.

Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager.

Lady Wei, relax and just focus on nourishing the child.

Give birth to a smart and healthy prince for Great Han.

Yes.

The Empress is very virtuous.

I am at ease with you protecting the well-being of the imperial heir.

All the other consorts must also be in peace and tranquility

to thank the gods for their kindness.

We will follow the reminders of Grand Empress Dowager.

Greetings to the Empress.

Do not stand on ceremony.

Lady Wei is pregnant and this is a joyous occasion in the palace.

Even the birds and flowers are in prosperity to celebrate it.

I have also prepared a feast and dance performance as a celebration

so that we may all enjoy it with Lady Wei.

Thank you, Your Highness!

Lady Wei arrives!

The minute both Empress Dowager retreated to meditate in seclusion

both mother and daughter invited you over to a dance performance.

Could this be a conspiracy?

Grand Empress Dowager has ordered her to watch over the imperial heir.

The Empress wouldn't dare to be so bold in her actions?

The Empress specially holds a celebration for my unborn child.

How could I not be present?

In a performance, there will be musicians, actors, and dancers.

There are too many participants. Who knows what might go wrong?

We must be very cautious.

I have Xi Niang and Shen Jia with me.

Moreover, I have Duan Hong to protect me.

I am sure to be fine.

- Greetings to the Empress. - Get up quickly.

Lady Wei, I've specially arranged a soothing dance performance for you.

Here.

Here, let's drink this up.

Sister, this performance is very special.

Sister, are you all right?

Insolent actors! How dare you choreograph such a scary dance!

If Lady Wei's child is hurt, nothing would save your life!

- Please forgive us, Your Highness! - Your Highness.

This is an exciting magic performance. They did not mean for it to be scary.

Please appease your anger, Your Highness.

Isn't that so?

You may all be dismissed.

Yes!

Jiao Er, you are too nervous.

These performances today are all prepared to make Lady Wei happy.

How could they mean any harm? The Empress only thinks of Lady Wei now.

Lady Wei, you must take good care of yourself.

You must not abuse the Empress' concern for you.

Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Grand Princess Dou.

I am sure to protect my child well.

- Attendants! - Present!

Bring forth a cheerful dance! The show has just begun.

Yes!

Who on earth are you? Why have you captured me?

Who on earth are you?

Who are you? Why have you captured me?

Who on earth are you?

It's one performance after another, with meals after the performances.

They sure held us there.

Look how exhausted you are.

Here, have some ginger soup, quickly. It will soothe and calm your mind.

Thank you, Uncle Yi.

At first, I thought that the Empress must be up to something bad.

But it seems that we have been oversensitive.

You have all been oversensitive.

Actually, as long as Duan Hong is here, we have nothing to worry about.

Didn't we say that we are like a family?

It's only right that I protect my sister.

Not to mention it's His Majesty's orders.

Although it was just a false alarm

I couldn't help thinking that something was amiss.

Lady Wei!

Marquess of Pingyang sent a messenger to inquire if Master Wei is here?

Why would the Marquess ask such a question?

Master Wei was expected to bring family registry to Jianzhang Palace

to discuss official matters with Marquess today.

It is now already late at night, but Master Wei has yet to show up.

We should really celebrate today.

The imperial physician said that Lady Wei stayed up all night

sitting around to wait for news.

She's even caught a cold!

That's inevitable.

She's always showing off how important her family is to her.

Now that her favorite brother is in trouble how could she possibly be able to sleep?

She announced her pregnancy to Grand Empress Dowager.

She thought she and her child would be safe by doing so.

I told you so. Even if no one lays a finger on her now

she might not be able to hold on to her child.

She can't blame anyone for her own mishaps.

Now, she is about to make a huge blunder.

Didn't Wei Qing arouse ill will because of land expropriation?

Even if she suspects us of something

she couldn't possibly find fault and accuse us of this matter

without any evidence, right?

Exactly! When Wei Qing had an accident

we weren't able to get in touch with anyone outside the palace.

We were all there to watch the performances with Lady Wei.

I even lost my composure to protect Lady Wei.

Everyone was there to witness it.

If she accuses us of anything, she'd be accusing innocent people.

There's nothing she could do about it.

She must be going crazy with anxiety, and now she's also fallen ill.

I'll make use of Wei Qing to torture this little bitch.

How are you going to do it?

We'll have his ear cut off today, and then his hand tomorrow.

We'll throw them out before her eyes.

We'll see if she can still hold on to her child!

Zi Fu... Have some rice congee while it is still warm.

I've ground some hawthorn and added it in.

It's even more tart and tasty.

I know that you have no appetite.

But no matter what, you mustn't starve your child.

You are going to be a mother soon. You have to think of your child.

Have you found him?

Princess Pingyang has also sent her men to look for him.

We should be able to hear from them very soon.

Don't worry. Wei Qing is smart and brave.

He is highly skilled in martial arts, so he will definitely be fine.

Wei Qing has always been kind to others.