小臣确实是爱打牌
“It’s true I enjoy playing cards”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
陛下
“Your Majesty!”
小臣 确实是 爱打牌
“It’s true I enjoy playing cards”
“I admit I have harmless hobbies, so you do not need to suspect me of political scheming.”
In Chinese imperial court politics, capable officials often intentionally displayed petty personal vices like gambling or drinking to convince suspicious rulers that they had no imperial ambitions.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
your humble servant (used by officials before the monarch)
A classical humble self-referential term used exclusively in historical contexts by officials addressing an emperor.
to play cards or mahjong
A very common everyday spoken phrase referring to social card-playing or tile games.