The Virtuous Queen of Han (衛子夫)

Episode Twelve

Why haven't I seen you wear that pair of shoes that I made you?

I'm worried that if I walk around in the shoes that Miss Shen Jia made me

it would be a hindrance to your future marriage.

By then, not only will Xi Niang blame me for it

but you would blame me as well. Right, Sister?

In the future, if you want to make more shoes

you should make them for the one that you love.

Wei Qing!

Duan Hong.

Miss Shen Jia.

Duan Hong, you need to see His Majesty about something?

I have to see him about something as well.

- Let's go in together? - Sure...

Shen Jia, Duan Hong and I still have matters to attend to.

Why don't you go and get the princess' floral ball now?

- Greetings to Your Majesty. - At ease.

Wei Qing, you're an uncle now.

Have you met the little princess yet?

Yes, the little princess is very smart and agile.

I came in to find Your Majesty and my sister enjoying family time.

I almost forgot that I have to see you both about an official matter.

- Wei Qing, I'll talk to you first. - Sure.

Duan Hong, you haven't held the little princess in your arms yet?

Here you go.

- Wei Qing, this way. - Yes.

This part is almost finished.

In my opinion, we could build a few more gardens

between Shanglin Imperial Park and Jianzhang Palace.

We could then gather rare flowers and trees that would help with agriculture.

Duan Hong, you should relax a bit.

Just rock her gently, like this.

Put your hand here.

Use the other hand to support her.

That's right. Just like this.

What do you mean by circling this part with red ink?

The foundation is too loose in this area.

It needs to be solidified with more rocks.

This part of the foundation also needs to be repaired.

This is Uncle Duan who is carrying you now. Do you know that?

Don't cry. Be good. Here, I'll take her.

What do you plan to do with this empty spot?

This area is specially set aside for military training.

We can use it to train the soldiers and organize the troops.

Good!

Wei Qing, you consider everything very carefully indeed.

You have not let me down.

Thank you for your compliments, Your Majesty.

'Since she went to her husband, why do you think of her further?'

- Wei Qing, what brings you here? - Why? Can't I just come over?

You seem to be in a panic. Could you be writing about your feelings

and was afraid to be seen?

I was just writing randomly.

Writing randomly?

You must be full of emotions to be able to come up with such lines so randomly.

Wei Qing, don't make any assumptions.

The meaning of these words is very obvious.

Whom I used to love is already married, why do I still miss her?

I'd like to know who it was that you used to love and who it is that you miss now?

Don't tell me that the one you used to love is that woman outside Shanghaiguan!

Or should I say that she is your childhood playmate

that orchid in the palace, my sister the love of His Majesty, Wei Zi Fu?

No! Don't make such assumptions!

Wei Qing!

Duan Hong, since we were little

you've treated me as your younger brother and I regarded you as my older brother.

Since we reunited

You taught me the rules of the palace

and you taught me swordsmanship. I regard you as my mentor!

When I was captured, you risked your life to save me.

I regard you as my savior.

Today, I'm not here to force you or to embarrass you.

It is for the safety of my sister that I have to be straightforward with you.

Wei Qing, get up first.

The feelings you have for my sister, You can choose to admit it or deny it.

I saw it very clearly today. I only have one question for you.

If I was not the one who spotted your true feelings today

but His Majesty, what would happen then?

I know that I shouldn't and I would never ever dream of it!

That is why I've sworn to the gods to keep my love for her forever buried.

I just want to protect her quietly.

You said that you would always protect my sister.

But to have designs on another's wife is already a death penalty.

Not to mention His Majesty's woman.

Would you still be alive to protect her?

The orchid may be beautiful, but it is already taken.

Duan Hong, if you do so, what regards do you have for the affiliation

between monarchs and courtiers?

What regards do you have for my sister's safety?

How would I not know the danger behind this?

I've done my best to avoid any suspicion!

But I'm always around His Majesty so I have nowhere to run!

If you have nowhere to run, then there is only one word for you.

Leave.

It may sound strange.

I've gone past here very often to get to Weiyang Palace.

But I've never found anything special about this place.

Yet when I look closely today, I found that the scenery here is beautiful.

Especially the clear lake.

It reminds me of the little river that we used to float bamboo lanterns on.

The scenery here is indeed beautiful.

That year when His Majesty brought me to the palace we went by here on the boat.

I couldn't take my eyes off it.

His Majesty was afraid that I'd suffer hardships in the palace.

But I had no fear at all.

There are indeed a lot of disputes and conflicts here in the palace.

You and Wei Qing have both suffered a lot of hardships.

But it would all turn out for the best.

Yes, all those obstacles in the past are not worth mentioning.

But they are all in the past now.

Now, all the favor and love cannot be measured.

I am already content.

If so, then why did the tune that you played give off a mild sorrow?

Recently, His Majesty has been troubled by the wars at the frontiers.

He mentioned that Zhang Qian hasn't returned from his mission to the west.

No one has heard from him yet.

That is indeed a thorn in His Majesty's flesh.

I had already invited His Majesty over to Orchid Pavilion

to have some wine and play the zither.

His Majesty was still worried about possible chaos at the frontier.

I am but a woman and could not share the burden for him.

The situation is complicated at the frontier.

His Majesty does indeed need someone to share this burden.

His Majesty has too many things to consider.

Actually, you've been helping His Majesty all along.

In the case of Ji An's distribution of grains

you helped His Majesty so that he could leave the palace to investigate the case.

You weren't afraid to offend Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager.

As for the villain, Han Yan

it's because of your concern for servants that we found a valid reason to kill him.

And...

You've continued the bloodline of the imperial Han family

and just gave birth to the Emperor's first child.

Isn't that sharing the burden of His Majesty as well?

You're still so good at comforting me.

I remember when we were little whenever I was unhappy

you'd play the ocarina for me, to cheer me up.

Speaking of which, I haven't heard you play ocarina in a long time.

It's been so many years already.

I couldn't play it well then. I always played it out of tune.

It was so nice of you to smile so happily then.

But I heard from His Majesty that you now play it very well.

I haven't played it for a long time. I could only play some old tunes.

And I've already long lost that ceramic ocarina of mine.

Let's not bring up the past. And don't be bothered by troubles.

Don't worry. As for the matters of the frontier

there will be someone to share His Majesty's burden.

- Who else is here to challenge me? - Me!

Who else dare to compete with me?

I'll compete with you.

Supervisor of Jianzhang Palace, Wei Qing.

I learned that His Majesty has set up a ring here today

to choose generals and train soldiers. I'm here especially to seek advice.

Use the coming force to attack the opponent.

To move left, first move right. Sometimes safe, sometimes dangerous.

He leaves the opponent at large to capture him later.

It's hard to tell if he would go forward or back.

Thank you!

Wei Qing, let me ask you this.

As a commanding general, what virtue and talent should you have?

The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence

courage, and discipline.

With those five qualities, he can lead a victorious army.

Among the five qualities, why does wisdom come first?

Those who are wise, know their enemies as well as themselves.

Make use of our strengths to combat the enemies' weakness.

Why should a commander be trustworthy?

Trustworthiness is the foundation to gaining trust of the soldiers.

A commander must be a man of his word. His punishments and rewards are just.

All soldiers will respect him and obey his command.

And what about benevolence?

The battlefield is a place of life and death.

How could one be benevolent?

Benevolence is the key to having soldiers adhere to the commander.

A benevolent commander can empathize with his subordinates and be their role model.

- Hence, all soldiers adhere to him. - Good!

Wei Qing, step forward to receive your title!

Present!

You are skilled in archery and horse riding. You are well-read in the art of war.

Moreover, you have the talent of a commander.

I hereby award you the title of Superior Grand Master!

You will be in charge of training the soldiers and building a courageous army.

Destroy foreign enemies and pacify the inner rebellion!

Thank you, Your Majesty!

I will do my best so as not to let Your Majesty down!

You may be dismissed!

Yes.

This year's banquet to admire flowers is different from the previous years.

It happens to be Princess Weizhang's one hundredth day anniversary.

The apricot blossoms are in a particularly vibrant full bloom.

It is a sign of great auspiciousness.

The apricot trees are blooming in great abundance.

It must be celebrating the birth of Han's little princess.

Pingyang has said it well.

Lady Wei was recommended by you in the first place.

You deserve the credit for the birth of Han's new daughter.

I reward you a gold and purple jade hairpin.

Thank you for the reward, Grandmother.

In my opinion, the apricot trees are blossoming so well

as a sign of Great Han's continuity of bloodline