Deep in the inner palace,
there lives a consort known as the Raven Consort.
She holds a special position. Despite her title of consort,
she does not perform nighttime duties.
Though she lives in the inner palace,
she has no contact with the emperor.
It is said that she can use mysterious arts...
You're just a bird. What are you so worried about?
Oh, it's a skylark.
Songbirds make everything feel so nice and colorful when they sing.
I'm sure it would, were it still alive.
What?
It vanished.
It was the ghost of a skylark.
Apparently, it failed to cross over to the other side.
Then perhaps that was the Skylark Princess's bird.
The Skylark Princess?
There was a princess known by that name.
She apparently kept a skylark that was rather fond of her.
Where is she now?
She's dead. She slipped and fell in a lake.
Poor thing.
It must still be wandering this world,
unable to return to its princess.
Your Highness, would it be possible for you to send that skylark to paradise?
It's likely possible.
Please help it, then!
It's too pitiful to leave in its current state.
Oh, right. Making a request requires payment.
What should I offer?
I do not require payment to save a single bird.
Really?
Tell me what you know.
I shall play the best role of all
The saddest role where one kills the most
Even at the ends of this square ocean, people change and are replaced
You forget that you're playing a role in this world
Everyone is just a bird in a cage
We all look forward to the day we can escape
And once it's within our grasp
The great big sky overwhelms us
MYSTERIOUS
Call out the name and bring calm
No one can stop your MYSTERIOUS
My MYSTERIOUS
Now, I shall play the best role of all
Raven of the Inner Palace
Canglang Hall
Your Highness, allow me to join you.
Why did you follow me?
The emperor's attendant instructed me to protect you.
Episode 4 The Skylark Princess
This is the palace where the princess once lived.
But why did you want to come here?
If that princess's pet skylark is a ghost,
then it must still feel some attachment to this world.
I must remove the cause if I'm to send it off to paradise.
It would seem she was treated rather coldly.
Her mother was a court lady.
She apparently didn't have enough to eat at times.
What is it?
Nothing.
This must the lake where the princess died.
I don't sense any ghosts here.
The princess seems to have moved on without issue.
Raven Consort, look at this.
Did someone leave these here?
Probably. It would seem there's someone who was close with the princess.
I'm going to go ask around.
You stay here.
Yes, Your Highness.
She said what?
Pohe Palace
Unbelievable!
Right?
You there.
Oh! You scared me...
I'd like to ask you about something.
Who are you?
I'm from the Ye Ming Palace.
The Ye Ming Palace? As in the Raven Consort's palace?
I have questions about the Skylark Princess.
Is there anyone here who was close with her?
The Skylark Princess?
That was so long ago.
All we know are rumors.
But I believe I heard the late Crane Consort sometimes delivered food to her.
The late Crane Consort?
Would that be Xie Fei, the mother of the current emperor?
Oh, I've heard that, too!
The woman who used to serve her might know something.
What's her name? Where is she now?
She's a lady-in-waiting for the current Crane Consort.
Her name is Yang Shiniang.
Yang Shiniang. You've been very helpful.
If you mean to go meet her, you cannot right now.
The Crane Consort is in the middle of selecting fabrics.
It's a very big job.
It'll probably take all day.
Merely selecting fabrics?
It's merely selecting fabrics, but it's not just selecting fabrics.
Sometimes the fabrics she doesn't choose are given to her ladies-in-waiting.
After all, the Crane Consort is a generous person.
Having some kind of backing goes a long way.
If only we were ladies-in-waiting, too.
Does every palace normally do that?
Some don't.
You're out of luck if yours doesn't.
Out of luck...
Is that how it works?
I've never given her anything like that.
I said I'd join you whenever you go out.
It's not necessary for you to always accompany me.
Even though you took Wen Ying with you?
He simply chose to follow me.
What is a lady-in-waiting meant to do if not accompany her consort?
Are you saying you don't need me?
That's not what I meant.
In any case, let me know next time.
Jiu-Jiu, this is for you.
What? Why all of a sudden?
Didn't His Majesty give this to you?
I can't accept this.
You don't like it? Would you prefer clothes instead?
I don't want anything from you.
But isn't it better to receive some kind of gift?
Do I seem that greedy to you?
No, it's not that...
I thought I was doing my best to faithfully serve you,
but this...
How could you?!
Why is she upset?
The Raven Consort tried to give you hairpins from His Majesty?
Eunuch Yi Siha
That's right. As though I could accept something like that!
The Raven Consort doesn't seem to realize she's a noble.
She dresses herself,
and she wanders off as soon as I take my eyes off her.
Are you listening, Yi Siha?
You must really like the Lady Consort.
What?
Every time you come here, she's all you talk about.
Well, that's because... I can't complain about her in the inner palace, is all!
Huh. I thought you two were close,
but I guess things are complicated.
Why am I trying to please Jiu-Jiu?
Perhaps I shouldn't keep people here, after all.
I should send Jiu-Jiu back to the palace she was serving before.
I'm sure that would be better for her, too.
What's this scrap of wood?
Why are you here?
I told you not to come here anymore.
You sound dispirited. Did something happen?
Silence.
Is this a fat lizard?
No, it's a bird.
Is it a gift for someone?
No. It's none of your business.
What kind of bird were you intending to carve?
I haven't decided yet.
I simply wished to create a bird capable of flying across the sea.
It should be a cave swallow, then.
They're strong fliers.
That's nice work. You really are good at that.
I'm not finished yet.
Someone taught me how to carve when I was little.
His name was Ding Lan.
He was close in age to my father, but he was my friend.
Ding Lan?
You mustn't mention his name in His Majesty's presence.
So, what do you want?
Surely you didn't come here to carve a bird.
I thought I'd give these to you.
Paper-bubble candy.
I'm glad you seem pleased.
I'm not pleased.
What is it?
I'd like to ask for your opinion on something.
Do you ever give things to Wei Qing?
Things? I've given him a sword.
Did it make him angry?
I think he was happy about it. Right?
Yes, Master. I'll treasure it for life.
I see.
What happened? Tell me about it.
I see.
She became upset,
but you don't know why.
Not all ladies-in-waiting work for gifts.
It probably offended her that you thought she did.
Is that so? Then she should have said so.
There is much you don't know about the world.
You shouldn't take what little you've heard at face value and do such silly things.
Besides, you don't understand the subtleties of the people closest to you.
At this rate, you'll only upset someone again.
Are you mad at me? Why?
Who gives a gift they've received to someone else?
You said I could throw it away.
I never said you could give it to someone else.
Don't split hairs.
Shouxue, what happened to the amber fish?
I put it away.
I see. Whatever you do, don't give that away.
Ding Lan made that.
It's a symbol
of my promise not to kill you.
Hold onto it.
Why did you give me something so important to you?
I don't know.
I'll finish this by my next visit.
And if you feel like giving your lady-in-waiting a gift, give her food.
That won't upset her, just as you're not upset now.
I'll be back.
Xiangniao Temple
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I am Xue Yuyong of the Ministry of Works.
Ministry of Works Xue Yuyong
I heard you had fallen ill. Have you recovered?
I seem to be feeling much better the past few days.
How can I help you?
I'm not sure how to help you with that.
You're a priest of the goddess Niao Lian.
You must know about the Raven Consort.
As I said, I do not know anything about the Raven Consort.
I heard the Raven Consort was a priestess of Niao Lian.
Gods and priestesses are two different things.
The Raven Consort is outside my expertise.
Then have you ever heard this phrase?
"The Raven Consort could have everything if she so desired."
What does it mean that the Raven Consort and emperor are like oil and water?
Are there perhaps secrets even I am unaware of?
You should ask the Raven Consort about matters concerning her.
Now that you mention it,
they say the Raven Consort can drive off miasmas that prevent sleep.
Why don't you ask her to do that for you?
You look pale, Your Majesty.
Canglang Hall
Are you making an offering of flowers?
I am the Raven Consort.
Shiniang, I've been waiting for you.
Lady-in-waiting Yang Shiniang
For me?
Are you ill?
No, I simply develop a cough when the seasons change.
You wish to speak with me?
Yes.
It's the ghost of a skylark.
Do you recognize it?
Yes. After all, it was rather fond of the princess.
I'd like to send it off to paradise.
To that end, I'd like you to tell me about the princess.
You were close, were you not?
I allowed her to die all alone.
She was sickly and was sometimes bedridden.
But she was not given any medicines.
Requesting them from the court physician required the empress dowager's permission.
When she felt well, she grew vegetables and flowers in the garden.
I occasionally helped her.
The princess was kind to me.
When I'd just entered the inner palace and was missing my family, she consoled me.
But despite being a court lady, I got into an argument with the princess.
Something happened the day after.
The skylark came and chirped at me as though it wanted something.
I had a bad feeling about it.
But because of the events of the previous day,
I was too ashamed to face the princess.
Before I knew it, the skylark was gone.
And the princess was found here...
Every day, I think about how things might have been different
if I'd listened to that skylark.
If she was sickly, then the cold waters of this lake must have been fatal to her.
It would have been difficult to save her.
Still, I wish I could have at least held her hand before she died.
I wish I could have told her I was there for her.
I'm sorry for making you talk about such painful memories.
You should request an infusion of fritillaria bulbs from a doctor.
Raven Consort, please help that skylark.
I can't help but think of it as the Skylark Princess herself.
I heard you've been looking into the Skylark Princess.
You always show up no matter where I go, don't you?
Where did these come from?
A lady-in-waiting who had dealings with the princess left them for her.
I see. So she has people to leave flowers on her grave.
They're sweetbriar. The princess herself apparently grew them in the garden.
She must have liked those flowers.
That may not be all.
The princess also grew honeysuckle and chrysanthemums.
They're all ingredients for medicines.
The princess was probably growing medicinal flowers herself
and drinking infusions made from them.
She had some knowledge of medicines.
And...
I believe it's also the reason she fell into the lake.
Those are fritillaria.
They're used to make a cough suppressant.
I see. So she slipped while trying to harvest those,
though there was no reason for her to force herself to do so.
No, she had to.
Most likely, she did it for that girl who coughs at the change of the seasons.
By the way, what happened to your bird carving?
The cave swallow?
It's done.
It's well-made.
Go on.
Now, follow that bird.
Tell the princess
that Shiniang still cares for her.
That should do it.
That swallow will lead the skylark to paradise.
So that's why you needed a strong flier.
It's a good thing I made it.
Quiet, you.
However, I do appreciate that you made a good bird.
Thank you.
What is it?
That was novel.
It was delightful, as though a stubbornly aloof cat finally showed me some affection.
I don't have a shred of affection for you!
Wait. I'm here because I wanted to talk to you.
Have you reconciled with Jiu-Jiu?
We have no need to reconcile.
You shouldn't push her away.
It will only disappoint you.
I'm not pushing her...
What is this bird?
A willow tit. It's like you.
Because it's small?
Small and sweet.
The man who taught me to make these was a cheerful and amicable man.
I loved Ding Lan.
That day, he went out to get some hollyhock.
I told him it wasn't necessary, but I liked pickled hollyhock.
That was the last time I saw him alive.
The empress dowager knew exactly how much I depended on Ding Lan.
So she tortured him to death.
His corpse was like a tattered rag.
I'm sure you have some reason to turn people away.
But you should reconcile with her.
It'll be too late once she's gone.
I sent off that skylark.
Th-Thank you.
Jiu-Jiu, I'm sorry about yesterday.
I'd heard consorts give gifts to their ladies-in-waiting.
I simply thought I ought to give you something, as well.
I thought it would make you happy.
I did a foolish thing.
Your Highness.
You have nothing to apologize for.
There isn't a servant around who talks back to her master.
Hongqiao scolded me.
She said I'd forgotten my place as a lady-in-waiting.
I was so worried you'd throw me out eventually.
I'm not that kind of person.
This is my first time keeping a lady-in-waiting.
I merely don't know what to do.
You mean you'll allow me to stay?
Do you wish to remain here?
I'd be too worried about leaving you alone.
You're so tense all the time.
You must be exhausted every day.
We know you dye your hair.
But, Hongqiao and I will never tell anyone.
You can relax more when you're here.
Thank you.
Oh, right. I have something for you.
Are you sure?!
Yes.
I'm so happy!
But, what should I do?!
I couldn't eat something so special all by myself.
I know. Let's eat them together!
My fate had tainted
The heavily falling snow black
The sun shines in gradually
And so, she acquired more things she couldn't abandon.
And freshly melts it away with its summer warmth
The dream you saw in your eternal sleep
I'll do whatever I can to make it come true
(I want to help you, it's true)
Because you made your wish to me
Just like the sun shining through the darkness
The bouquet of light
That you had given me
Still connects the seasons that will never meet
The proof of this pain
Will it be able to stay the snow that falls in the summer?
Mother, Ding Lan.
Episode 5
Confidant