♫ The far and long roads ♫
♫ The man I miss is at a distant place ♫
♫ Seeking the truth in heaven and on earth, opening up the words deep in my heart ♫
♫ Not looking back ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful woman, if one's heart could be fragrant ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful woman, desolate like the moon ♫
♫ I worry when can I appreciate the grasses and flowers with beautiful woman ♫
♫ The ancient people didn't have time to leave some Yimoxiang (a type of plant) ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful lady, heart becoming fragrant on its own ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful lady, fragrant dreams ♫
♫ The whole world are drunk, one's whole life just follows the blue water ♫
♫ I'll drive and go away for an adventure, flying as I want in the nine skies ♫
Song of Phoenix
Episode 1
There's someone at the mountaintop, wearing fig leaf clothing and dodder vine ribbons. From the poem "Shan Gui" (Mountain Ghost) taken from the book "Nine Songs" by Qu Yuan
During the period of Spring and Autumn and the period of Warring States,
where the dukes and princes were under the Emperor to fight for the throne. The Chu Dynasty,
after hundreds of years of hardships to rid Chu Wei Emperor.
The country with a vast territory,
self-sustaining in food for ten years, becoming the strongest country
in the Yangtze river area.
Home to wonders, and a place endowed with the fine spirits of the universe.
Nurturing many talented handsome scholar.
Including one of the most prestigious scholar who is an open-minded poet named
Qu Ling Jun.
Brother Qu, you dreamed of a mountain spirit last night again?
To be honest, this world has so many women
that would willingly give themselves to Brother Qu.
Brother Qu isn't even willing to take one look at them.
This woman has been unforgettable to Brother Qu for years
and he even paints her! She is no regular girl.
Naturally!
Brother Qu, no matter how beautiful she is,
she's still a mountain spirit from your dreams. It's no use to think of her all the time.
It's worth nothing in the end.
What is worth nothing? I've only seen her in my dreams,
but I've continuously dreamed of her for so many years!
I'm sure we have a very deep fate.
Everyone, today is Dragon boat festival.
I have especially made auspicious sachets.
It'll ward off bad luck and ensure peace!
Everyone please support us!
♫ Orange, your wonderful trees in this world, were born to be suitable for the lands here ♫
♫ Your quality is faithfully unchanging, growing up on Jiangnan's lands ♫
Wait a minute.
This fragrant smells nice.
Auspicious sachets, please support us.
You have the mood to enjoy the fragrance?
The Dragon Boat Festival offering is about to start soon.
♫ Firm and unyielding qualities, your heart is vast and has no personal request ♫
♫ You distance yourself from the secular world, coming and going all alone, dare to walk horizontally than just follow the flow ♫
♫ Careful and meticulous, never rash ♫
Listen, it's the Orange Song.
Your poem has been made into a song by others.
You go over first. I'll be there later.
Don't wait for too long. Hurry and go over there.
-Do you hear me?-I got it!
♫ Careful and meticulous, never rash, not making a mistake ever since ♫
♫ I'll be your good friend ♫
Chu Dynasty
Father.
Where is your little brother?
Father, Little Brother Yuan has...gone to watch the commoners perform.
What?
Today is the grand ceremony. He dares not to come?
Running around like that, hurry and bring him here!
-Yes.-Hurry!
♫ Abiding with morality, having no ulterior motive, really comparable to heaven and earth ♫
♫ On the season were all life are withering away, I'm willing to be your friend ♫
Miss, I didn't do it on purpose!
Is this fragrance pouch yours?
I'll give this to you.
Miss!
Miss, I-!
You-!
I didn't do it on purpose, really!
I just wanted to ask you how did you know the Orange Song?
You're just a Jianghu performer. How do you understand Qu Yuan's poems?
The auspicious hour has come! Welcome His Highness!
The country may break,
When will the valiant warriors safely return home?
Birds fly back to their birthplace, foxes face the hill where they were born before dying; Drawing my sword and looking around
Why is my heart worried?
I request to invite the Dragon God.
Invite the Dragon God.
To rid the evil spirit and peace within the country.
How similar! Too similar!
Miss! You look too much like a girl in my dreams!
She's as beautiful as you are now!
Only she didn't wear any clothes, only wore some vines.
But, she's as beautiful as you!
You disrespectful superficial man.
-You bastard!-I already said it wasn't on purpose!
-Little Brother Yuan!-I didn't do it on purpose!
Brother Meng!
-Who are you?-Are you okay?
You dare to strike my little brother?
Brother Meng!
Brother, stop... fight... fight...fight. You boor, all you know is how to fight. Everything is just a misunderstanding.
She made the first move!
Brother Yuan, hurry up and leave. It's almost the pay respect to the God's Ceremony.
If you still won't leave and hold things back, Father will scold you again!
Hurry and go!
Little Brother Yuan, hurry and go!
Miss! I'm very sorry for what happened today! I'll come find you again!
Your Highness! The Dragon God has appeared!
My Chu Country will have a prosperous fortune! This is being witnessed by both Heaven and Earth!
His Highness is wise, peace within the country.
Protect His Highness!
Your Highness!
Don't move! Don't move!
-Don't bother with me! Hurry and catch him!-You-!
-C-c-catch the assassin!-Stand down!
Let him go!
Wu Ming?
Chu Dynasty.
Lan Dynasty
Your Highness, great shot.
Seize the country, can be expected soon...
Greetings, Your Highness!
You may rise!
Chu Li Ji! How is the battlefield going? Let's hear it!
Royal brother! A report has come from the military!
A few days ago, our forces severely injured the Wei forces in Boyang!
Today, our army has completely seized Zhan Jiao.
Quwo, Fen Yin. This is so satisfying.
So, I especially had people bring food and wine to wait for you to come!
Chu Li Ji is indeed our Han Dynasty's hero.
Good. This battle has help wipe away our national humiliation.
Your Highness is wise and mighty. Why worry about a small State of Wei?
Today, I am extremely gratified.
Today, we will not stop until we are drunk!
Good! Your Highness!
Then I shall drink openly today.
Good!
That Zhang Yi, who does he think he is?
Greetings, Your Highness.
I heard that Minister Zhang Yi, who was originally from another feudal state, today in front of all other ministers,
put you in an awkward position.
In this world, is there anyone that can put me in an awkward position?
That Zhang Yi doesn't know what's good for him.
If you didn't take him in,
now, he wouldn't even have a place to stay!
Talented people will have some attitude.
Tell me. Will I want pride or the whole world?
What you mean is...
Princess Yin hasn't replied to my letters in a while.
I think that now that she's pregnant with Xiong Huai's child,
her heart no longer has the State of Qin in it.
It looks like Princess Yin is still a dead chess piece.
Now, we need a new plan to attack the State of Chu.
You mean, you're going to favor Zhang Yi?
Ju Manor
Second Young Master, you're back?
Ah! Yes!
It's good that you're back. I will go tell the Master and Madam.
They are in such a panic!
There's no need. I'll go over myself later.
Yes.
Brother Ling Jun, in my stay in Chu Country for these past three years,
if we are going to talk about bosom friend, I am afraid it can only be you.
Brother Wu Ming, in this entire State of Chu,
there are only a few that can match poems with me.
You are one of them.
If there is a next life, I hope we can still be best friends.
You distance yourself from the secular world, coming and going all alone.
Will rather move horizontally than follow the general flow.
Careful and meticulous, never rash.
Not making a mistake ever since.
In this world, besides Mr. Qu,
are there no other righteous men?
I don't think he's that great either.
They're all men. He's the same as those brats on the street today!
How could Qu Yuan compare to those bastards?
Okay okay, your great Poet Qu is the best.
But, who is he? The son of the Qu family.
His father is the Minister of War.
What could us little commoners have to do with them?
Big Sister, I think you should stop dreaming.
I know! I don't hope for much.
In this life, as long as I can see Mr. Qu from far away,
then I'll be satisfied.
You're a lost cause!
I'm leaving!
Why did you attack His Highness?
There's some things that it'd be better if you don't know.
Are you not afraid I'll kill you?
Brother Ling Jun, do you think that I
am a coward who fears for his life?
Don't call me your brother. The king is magnanimous and loves his people.
Yet you attacked him? I don't have a brother like you!
Magnanimous?
Xiong Huai, that bastard.
He attacked my State of Yue and forced my King father to die!
He killed countless innocent people too! Is that magnanimous?
You're from the State of Yue?
The doctor said that you should rest and recuperate but you just have to get up.
I already said I'm okay.
Do you think you're still young? You still rushed forward at this age.
-I-!-If the Minister of War didn't fight on the borders,
how can there be a land of the Chu and peace within it?
-Your Highness.-I am happy to see that you're okay.
Thank you, Your Highness.
It's all thanks to you. If the three of you didn't
risk your life to be dutiful to the throne, don't know what trouble could have befallen me.
You are protected by the heavens, Your Highness.
-I heard Qu Yuan is back too.-Yes.
Where is he?
Yuan'er! Yuan'er! The King has come to see you!
Yuan'er!
Yuan'er! Come open the door.
Greetings, Your Highness.
You may rise.
What? You're not going to invite me in?
No, Your Highness. The room is too dirty, I'm afraid it'll hurt your eyes.
Ling Jun has always been bold and unrestrained, neglecting minor details.
When did you start to mind such things too?
Your library is elegant.
Magnolia and orchids trying to compete for beauty, bamboo documents and official correspondence.
- Ling Jung is indeed my Chu's top poet.- Your Majesty, you've overpraised me.
Who is the girl in this painting?
Your Highness, this is...
the girl in my dreams.
Never thought that in Ling Jun's dream, there is such a beautiful woman.
If it's not too late, I'd like to meet her.
This is a mountain spirit. How could we meet her in this world?
A mountain spirit?
Ling Jun's poetic talent is really out of this world.
You are skilled in both poems and paintings, is a great fortune of our Chu.
Now, you are just a small poet.
Are you interested in using your talent for poetry in politics?
Your Majesty, Yuan'er is innately naughty and mischievous.
It's alright if you let him write poems and draw. If you let him participate in politics,
then I'm afraid-
The person I'm asking is Ling Jun.
I'm afraid I don't have a talent for politics.
How do you know if you've never tried?
Because everyone around me says I can't.
Yuan'er! What are you saying?
The truth.
Goodbye, Your Highness.
Ling Jun.
Your Highness.
Intellectual and talented individuals should also put the helping all the citizens as their life goal.
If you cannot give back to your country, what's the use of being good in poems?
I hope that one day, not only are you good in poems,
you also already have an ambition to repay your country and be my Chu Country's roc (a mythological beast).
Thank you, Your Highness.
Protect the King!
Look out!
You were the one who attacked me yesterday too?
Xiong Huai! You got lucky today!
I won't let you go even if I become a ghost!
How ridiculous! You're still so stubborn in the face of death?
I am deserving of death to let Your Highness be frightened.
You are not at fault, Minister of War.
This sword...does it belong to the Qu family?
Minister of War. Does this sword belong to your family?
Can I...take a look?
Ah...
Minister of War Qu, does this belong to your family or not?
This...this...
-Take him away!-Wait!
Your Highness! This sword is mine!
-Shut up!-Little Brother Yuan!
Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with my father and brother. This sword is indeed mine.
Then it means that my assassin
used your sword?
Alright. You dare to take responsibility. Excellent.
I didn't know Wu Ming took my sword!
Wu Ming?
You know him?
He's my poet friend.
Qu Yuan, the assassin has been hidden in your room all along.
-right?-Wu Ming was seriously injured, that's why-
Enough!
Hurry and take him away!
Your Highness! There must be a misunderstanding! Please investigate thoroughly!
Mu Yi! How is Wu Ming doing?
Mr. Qu, it's already come to this and you still worry about others?
Just watch over yourself first.
Mu Yi! I'm innocent! I want to see the King!
Mu Yi! I want to see the King!
Your Highness.
If you came to beg on Qu Yuan's behalf, then there's no need.
My Qu family has been loyal subjects for generations.
No matter what, I won't believe
that he'd do something so traitorous!
Wu Ming and Qu Yuan have a close relationship.
Wu Ming was hidden in the Qu mansion.
Wu Ming also used Qu Yuan's sword to attack me.
The evidence is irrefutable. What is there to explain?
Because of your merits, I will not punish the entire Qu family.
That was already my greatest mercy. Go back now.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Your Highness.
My child is lacking because I did not teach him well!
But no matter what, I will not believe
that he will rebel and assassinate you.
If Your Highness must convict my son,
then please punish me with him!
It is all my wrongdoing!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Your Highness!
-Greetings, Your Highness.-Greetings, Your Highness.
You may rise.
-Thank you, Your Highness.-Thank you, Your Highness.
Beloved, you are pregnant. You should not move around so much.
I was so worried when I heard you were attacked by an assassin.
They say that a father and son's hearts are linked. When Your Highness was in danger, he was uneasy too.
Today, he continuously kicked my stomach.
Your Highness,
I heard the assassin has been captured, right?
Your Highness, are you okay?
I heard that Your Majesty was attempted to be assassinated. I cannot eat or sleep.
You've worried me!
I am alright.
Today, I personally made a white lily and lotus soup.
Why don't you come to my chambers right now to try it?
His Majesty has busy matters to attend to. Where does he get the leisure time to do such things?
Your Highness, you must be more careful from now on.
Yes, or else the child in my stomach will not be at ease.
Don't worry. It won't be so easy to attack me again.
Your Highness!
You still have me in your eyes?
I heard you've been pleading not guilty for a good while now. I summon you to ask you,
Why do you plead thus?
Qu Yuan is pleading not guilty on Wu Ming's behalf. Qu Yuan pleads Your Majesty to spare him.
What are you saying?
You can't even protect yourself now, and yet you want to beg on behalf of the assassin?
From what I can see, you already have gone insane!
And that it is quite serious.
Your Highness, Wu Ming is the son of Wu Chang, the king of Yue.
Can the son of Wu Chang repeatedly try to kill me?
Your Majesty, if not because Chu attacked Yue first, then there wouldn't be this kind of situation now.
The country is gone, where will the souls rest?
When will the valiant warriors safely return?
For these past years, I kept reminding myself not to forget to avenge my father's death and the lost of my country.
Have you seen a 70 year old man escape the fire and cry in pain while holding his son's body?
Have you heard the screams of pure young ladies dragged into the military barracks?
You've never heard it before!
Brother Wu Ming, the war between Chu and Yue has already gone for so long.
Two countries fighting?
The Chu Country is over confident for being strong. It was always your country who was attacking our territory.
Your Chu's iron horsemen repeatedly trampled upon our Yue's lands and rivers.
If it was you, would you get revenge?
Would you get revenge?!
As you put it, I asked for all this?
I do not dare to say that.
What is there left that you don't dare to do?
Don't think I don't know what you're thinking.
You think I like to attack Yue?
If I don't attack them, then they'd attack us!
In this world, if you want to protect yourself, then your fist must be stronger than others!
Your Highness! If all the kings in this world thought like you, would there still be a future?
What king doesn't think like that?
Do you know how my State of Chu has lasted for so long?
It's due to being vigilant even in peaceful times. It's due to opening more eyes that others.
I cannot even close my eyes when I sleep!
So, I dare to ask Your Highness to spare Wu Ming!
What nonsense are you saying?
Your Majesty, a sword can only add hatred and grudges. It can never kill all of them.
Then where is your sword? When it aimed towards me,
Do I not have hatred?
It's because of this that Your Highness must understand how Wu Ming feels!
The insult of losing the war. The pain of losing his father.
Your Highness, Wu Ming is in the prisons right now!
It's easy for Your Highness to kill him!
But have you thought about it? If you kill one Wu Ming, there will be a second Wu Ming, and a third!
Can your prisons hold them all? Can your sword kill them all?
Qu Yuan, your mouth is full of nonsense.
Are you not afraid I'll kill you?
In my heart, Your Majesty has always been a good king with unrivaled moral integrity.
If you want to kill me now,
then fine. Then I guess I just saw you wrong!
How ridiculous!
♫ Day and night, summer and winter, nonstop changes ♫
♫ Herbs and trees, prosperity and decline, would still depend on a beautiful woman ♫
♫ Rumors brought by wind from all over ♫
♫ inciting ministers with different dreams ♫
♫ Asking the Heaven if it can bear witness to one's loyalty ♫
♫ Muddy and clear, beauty and ugly, overturning all living creatures ♫
♫ Angelica and magnolia, orchids and quan, have heard time spitting their fragrance ♫
♫ Why must you proceed against the current? ♫
♫ Why must a lonely flower admires herself? ♫
♫ No one knew that one's birthplace has become someone else's territory ♫
♫ Outstanding in a chaotic world ♫
♫ Who can understand one's desire? ♫
♫ Going far to travel ♫
♫ Yet one's heart is tied with one's home ♫
♫ Drinking one 'Li Sao', the pain of separation ♫'Li Sao' is a famous Chu poem about separation.
♫ Getting drunk for a lifetime of dedicating oneself for one's country ♫
♫ Coping with the long, long road; hard to beg the heaven and the earth ♫
♫ How much excellence can grieving citizens produce? ♫
♫ Singing one 'Li Sao', pain of separation ♫
♫ Sighing how hard it is to keep a bosom friend ♫
♫ For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart, I’d not regret a thousand times to die. In the end, turning into ashes. ♫
♫ If this dream is difficult ♫
♫ let's just leave it to the next generations to ponder ♫
♫ Outstanding in a chaotic world ♫
♫ Who can understand one's desire? ♫
♫ Going far to travel ♫
♫ Yet one's heart is tied with one's home ♫
♫ Drinking one 'Li Sao', the pain of separation ♫
♫ Sighing how hard it is to keep a bosom friend ♫
♫ For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart, I’d not regret a thousand times to die. In the end, turning into ashes. ♫
♫ If this dream is difficult ♫
♫ let's just leave it to the next generations to ponder ♫