The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

Shen Jia, you must remember that no matter when it is

no matter what status I am, you will always be my bosom friend.

Zi Fu...

Since we're like sisters, you should talk to me about your troubles.

You shouldn't keep them all bottled up.

What troubles could I possibly have? I am just feeling a bit sleepy.

Everyone had thought that you admired Duan Hong.

But now that I think carefully about it

if you had fallen for him and had been waiting for him all these years

- Could it be... - You're over-thinking!

How could that be?

So it really is Wei Qing.

It's been difficult for you all these years.

All these years, I've tried to avoid seeing him.

Fortunately, he has been very busy at work.

He doesn't come over here very often.

When I really can't avoid seeing him

I just pretend as if everything is fine and laugh along with him.

But every time after he left, I found it so hard to go to sleep.

I can tell that he knows about your feelings for him.

He does.

Of course, he does.

Many years ago, he had already told me that he would never fall for me.

I know that I do not have outstanding looks

and can't even be compared to wild flowers out by the roads.

I'm just like a young weed.

Like reeds.

But he told me that reeds are very useful.

Reeds can be woven into rugs to cover the heated brick beds.

They can be used to build houses and cover the rooftops.

They can also be made into flutes and produce music.

The roots of reeds can also be used in medicine.

He even praised me for my nimble hands and my kind-heartedness.

Do you know that since I was little no one has ever appreciated me like that.

But I know that in his heart, he only treats me as his younger sister.

But those words that he said to me...

I can never ever forget them.

Shen Jia, don't cry.

This is my fault.

This is all my fault.

Blame it all on me.

You've taken care of my daily life all these years

and helped me with trifles in life.

You cared for my princesses.

You are always very thoughtful and paid great attention to details.

But I knew nothing of your feelings.

As your sister, I've neglected you.

Shen Jia, I'm sorry!

I'm all right, Zi Fu.

I'll be fine after I've cried.

I know that feelings cannot be forced.

If the affection can't be mutual, I wouldn't want us to be enemies either.

In the future...

He already has my heart.

I can't take it back.

Actually, there isn't anything else that I ask for.

I just hope to stay by your side for a long time

to take care of you and the three princesses.

Shen Jia!

He said to me that 'Jia' is the young sprout of reeds.

I have to learn from its vitality.

Despite the rain and the winds, it still holds its head up high, fearlessly.

So I can live up to my name.

Don't worry, I will be fine.

I would live my life with a smile.

You are indeed like the young sprout.

You haven't let your name down.

We will continue to support one another in the future.

As your older sister

I'll never allow you to feel aggrieved again.

Clear conscience to all.

The spirit of Marquess of Weiqi seeks the blood of conniving villains!

Those who deceive one's superiors and delude one's subordinates

shall not taste the goodness in food! Die a painful death!

This was handwritten by the Marquess before his death!

It is his burial gown!

It is his burial gown!

Bound to be punished by the gods!

Bound to be punished by the gods!

Bound to be punished by the gods!

Empress Dowager arrives!

Greetings to Empress Dowager!

Brother!

Brother! Brother!

Brother! Brother!

Why won't you let the imperial physician diagnose your illness?

Brother! Brother!

Sister! You're here at the right time!

I'm not ill.

I'm at ease now that you're here.

I don't know anything about treating illnesses.

You should let the imperial physician take a look at you.

The imperial physician is useless.

I have to depend on you. What should I do, Sister?

Only you can hold them back.

Sister, don't leave me. Don't leave me!

Can you really be haunted by evil spirits?

Don't say it out loud.

They will hear you.

They are here! They are here!

Brother!

They are here!

- Brother! - Sister!

- You can't save me! - Send for the chief physician!

- Yes. - Hurry up!

- You can't save me! - Brother!

Brother! You will be fine.

As long as I'm still around, I won't let anything happen to you!

It's just like how you protected me and made great efforts for me

when I wasn't doing well in the harem.

They are really vicious!

When they were alive, they led troops to victory and killed many men.

Now that they are ghosts, they are not to be underestimated!

He's here to get me! They are here to get me!

Brother, don't scare me!

They wouldn't dare to lay a finger on you!

They wouldn't dare to lay a finger on you!

It won't work, my sister. It won't work...

You can't protect me anymore!

Duan Hong's witchcraft is really something!

He can summon winds and rain, gods and ghosts!

I really can't defeat him...

It's all right. He is just an Archery Steward.

I am the Empress Dowager.

I'm here with you so it will be all right.

Brother?

Brother!

Brother...

Sister... I can have you as my sister...

I am already content...

Brother!

Brother!

My brother...

The Chancellor is Your Majesty's uncle, so he should have a grand funeral.

I have already assigned officials to this task.

The burial ground is also chosen.

The shape of the tomb will be the same as the Chancellor's manor.

All the gold, copper and brass burial offerings are all already prepared.

All that is left to do

is to have Your Majesty pick out an auspicious day for the burial.

How is Mother?

Mother is still depressed and would like to recuperate quietly.

Mother has shut herself indoors for three days already.

She refuses to leave her chamber, nor will she meet anyone.

Instead of arranging Chancellor's funeral

I'd rather the Empress comfort Mother to see if she is all right.

Empress Dowager arrives!

Greetings to Empress Dowager.

Greetings to Empress Dowager.

Greetings to Mother.

- Greetings to Mother. - I'm worried about Mother.

Mother.

I'm here today to seek her out!

Among all the concubines, you should understand how I feel the best.

When your brother, Wei Qing got into trouble outside the palace

you chose to protect him even when you were pregnant.

Now that my brother is harmed to death

tell me how I should uphold justice for my brother?

There are 2,498 pieces of jade.

Count them for me to see if the number is correct.

Bear a witness to it for me!

Mother, this is the kind of jade that is used to make funeral gowns.

Why have you brought these items that are used in burial?

I've prepared these for myself, for I am soon to be dead!

My younger brother, Tian Fen, was petrified by the mourning ritual

that Duan Hong set up, and became ill from the fright.

He died for no reason!

I pledge with my life to seek justice for my brother today!

Please appease your anger, Mother!

Please appease your anger, Empress Dowager!

If Duan Hong is not killed...

this funeral gown will be made for me!

Please appease your anger, Mother.

- This matter... - I would like to see

if my filial son whom I carried in my womb for ten months

will defend a member of a concubine's clique or fulfill his filial duty

to sentence a vicious Duan Hong to death?

Tell me.

If it's not his life that you take today, then it is mine!

Of course, I hope that Mother lives long and well.

I know the importance of filial piety as well.

Parents, when alive, should be served according to propriety.

When dead, they should be buried according to propriety.

Offerings to them should be sacrificed according to propriety.

If Mother insists on threatening me with your life to murder my faithful subjects

I can only carry out burial and offering rituals for Mother in return.

You...

Mother...

- Mother! - Empress Dowager!

Go away!

Empress Dowager!

Please appease your anger, Empress Dowager!

- Unfilial son! - Mother, please hear me out!

I won't!

Mother, one can be faithfully filial or stupidly filial.

Confucius' disciple Zeng Shen damaged the gourd's root when planting it in.

He allowed his father to flog him as punishment.

He almost died.

He almost had his father commit murder and carry an evil reputation.

Confucius later reprimanded Zeng Shen, saying that he was stupidly filial.