♫ 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 a 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 is drunk, one's whole life just follows the blue water ♫
♫ I'll drive and go away for an adventure, flying as I want to in the nine skies ♫
Song of Phoenix
- Episode 22 -
Two hearts that are not the same only wasted the effort of the matchmaker; If the love isn’t that deep, it will easily break. - Xiang Jun (Lord of the Xiang ) from Nine Songs by Qu Yuan
Of course, if my son's marriage will successfully be completed,
I surely won't forget your goodness.
But this matter actually still has room to be reversed.
Please teach me.
For this marriage, it looks like we can only ask His Majesty
to personally grant this marriage so there won't be any danger of anything going wrong.
What Senior Minister said is so right.
But how am I going to bring it up?
How am I going to get His Majesty agree to grant this marriage?
Didn't Minister of War say earlier that I am the matchmaker for this marriage?
Then just leave this matter to me.
Minister of War must not forget
to invite me to the wedding.
Surely. Surely.
Good! Good!
Never thought that
Royal Uncle also loves Consort Zheng's dance.
I dare not.
But even though Consort Zheng's dance awes the world due to its beauty,
this song is a bit inferior to it.
I am not talented so I recently gathered songs from all over the world
and today, I am offering one to Your Majesty.
Okay. Okay then.
♫ Orange, your wonderful trees in this world, ♫
♫ Were born to be suitable for the lands here ♫
♫ Since you were given the mission of not to emigrate,♫
♫ You’ll live forever in this southern state.♫
What other song in the world After going in circles, in this vast world,
can compare to the Ode to an Orange song that Qu Yuan wrote?
My son isn't talented.
Thank you for Your Majesty's admiration.
This musical score is elegant and tasteful.
It is quite different from the one I heard before.
This musical score indeed is a perfect match with Qu Yuan's poem.
I also think that this tune and County Magistrate Qu's poem,
whether in artistic style or concept, they are really such a match.
And the composer of this tune and County Magistrate Qu
are really a perfect match.
Who was it?
This composition came from Yingdu's famous
number one zither player.
I heard before of the outstanding zither skills of Zhao manor's young lady.
No one in Yingdu can compare to her. Could it be...
Replying to Your Highness the Queen,
it is indeed Zhao family's daughter, Bixia.
I really never thought that subject Zhao's daughter
has such remarkable and refined artistic skills.
Your Majesty has praised her too much.
From the looks of it, as Senior Minister said,
the daughter of the Zhao's and County Magistrate Qu
are really a perfect pair.
Minister Zhao's daughter, Miss Bixia, has been good at playing the zither since she was little.
All musical tunes that she composes will eventually become outstanding works.
With County Magistrate Qu, it is exactly good music accompanying good poems,
very compatible.
Coincidentally, I heard that right now, Minister Zhao and Minister Qu
have plans to become in-laws.
Minister Qu, is there such a thing?
Oh...informing Your Majesty, there is indeed such thing.
I indeed had previously discussed with the War Minister such a thing.
Eh? I heard that dowries were already given.
How come it is previously discussed?
Qu Yuan expresses his feelings brilliantly. He is our Chu's pillar.
Zhao Bixia's beauty and talent are unrivaled. Her good name is known throughout Yingdu.
The Zhao and Qu families are also our Chu's prominent families.
Now that both families have intentions to be united by marriage,
with such a perfect pair,
why won't Your Majesty be do them this small favor and grant them marriage?
Since it's like that, let's follow what my Queen has suggested then.
I am approving this marriage.
I am granting the marriage of Qu Yuan and Zhao Bixia.
Let's set the wedding at the tenth day of next month.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Minister Zhao.
Minister Zhao!
Aren't you going to hurry and thank Your Majesty?
Oh...thank you, Your Majesty.
Minister Qu, congratulations.
Thank you. Thank you.
By that time, don't forget to invite us to the wedding.
I surely will. I surely will.
- I take my leave.- I take my leave.
Minister Zhao, congratulations.
You asked me before to bring together this marriage
and now, I already helped you fulfill it.
You owe me a very huge favor.
Senior Minister--
- Minister Qu, congratulations.- Thank you, Senior Minister.
Xia'er, how about trying these clothes on?
My lady, try this dress on. It's so pretty.
Xia'er, a woman must get married sooner or later.
Are you planning to hang on to the past and live like that forever?
A few days ago, didn't Father already say that he was cancelling the marriage?
This time, it was His Majesty who granted this marriage.
Who dares to disobey a wedding decree bestowed upon them by the King?
This time, even if you don't want to get married, you cannot refuse.
Mother...
My lady, I feel that Lord Qu is quite good.
He is handsome and has outstanding poetic talent.
A man like that, you probably won't be able to find a second one in this world.
I'm guessing that the Qu family also knows about this news already.
Of course. His Majesty granted this marriage in front of all ministers.
The Qu family will also force Qu Yuan to marry.
I'm sure that would be the case.
Hey...? My lady, why are you now concerned about Qu Yuan?
No, I must tell Qu Yuan about this immediately.
Let him and Miss Mo Chou quickly think of a way.
My lady, you already can't protect yourself and you still are being concerned about him?
I already am destined to have no fate with blissfulness.
I cannot let them not have it too.
My lady, you couldn't really have fallen for Qu Yuan already, right?
In this lifetime, would I still have that kind of romantic affection?
County Magistrate.
Come in.
County Magistrate, young Miss Zhao wishes for an audience.
Zhao Bixia?
Please.
Miss Bixia, what have you come for today?
His Majesty has bestowed the marriage.
What!
The ceremony is to be completed in a few days.
I'm sure someone will come inform you soon.
What do you intend to do?
No, I will not agree to this marriage.
I understand.
I came to warn you, so that you can make plans.
I'll head to Ying Du immediately and beseech His Majesty to take back this edict.
His Majesty granted this marriage in front of all the Ministers and Officials of the court.
Moreover, Minister of War Qu and my Father both agreed.
How could His Majesty take back his own edict?
No matter what, I have to try.
Calm down. What if His Majesty refuses?
By that time, you won't even have room to negotiate.
Right now, there is only one method.
Miss Mo Chou.
Cai Wei, what are you doing here?
My Lady and Young Master Qu are discussing things inside.
Oh, okay, I'll wait a bit here then.
Mm.
What?
You want me to take Miss Mo Chou and leave?
Apart from leaving, is there any other method?
The relationship between me and Mo Chou has always been honest and open. Why would we start hiding and deceiving?
On the surface, it seems that our family background and status
allows us to live a carefree life, in reality it's nothing but a yoke.
Exactly what you want to do, you decide.
What is she doing here?
Mo Chou? What are you doing here?
I'm asking you, what is she doing here?
What else but the marriage?
It really is like that.
Mo Chou! It's not what you're thinking! Mo Chou!
She really told you that?
Yes!
Alright, I wrongly blamed her.
Mo Chou, are you willing to leave with me?
To where?
To the ends of the world. No matter where,
as long as I can be with you.
But what about the people of Quan County? You don't care anymore?
I will ask Shi Jia to take care of the magistrate's office for me.
We'll find a different way to deal with it in the future.
I can't care about that much right now. I just want to be with you.
Are you willing?
If we do that, there will be a lot of suffering.
You're not willing?
I was being too selfish. I didn't think about you.
I'm afraid that YOU will suffer!
Then...you're willing?
Okay! We'll leave as soon as the sun rises tomorrow!
I'll wait for you here! I won't leave until you come!
I won't leave until you come.
Xia'er!
Xia'er, where did you go?
Look at how worried your father was.
I went out for a walk.
You're about to be a married woman. It looks awful if you're running around everywhere!
I won't marry Qu Yuan.
This is a royal order! You must marry him if you want to.
If you don't want to, then you must marry anyway! You don't have a choice!
-Xia'er!-You-!
You-!
This is the great daughter you taught. I can't even talk to her!
This-!
-Sit. Hurry and sit!-This...
Yes.
Shi Jia, we have known each other for so long, but we still haven't drunk wine together yet.
Come, let's drink together today.
Lord Magistrate, you're making things hard on me.
Shi Jia, why do you never drink?
I was born in a chaotic world.
I dare not get drunk.
What I would like to hear is: why wouldn't you dare?
With all rulers these days,
their grand ambitions are so big that wars are erupting everywhere.
In the west we have the ambitious Qin, in the east there is the snatching Qi.
Within the government, you have ones secretly hiding.
Right now in Quan County,
the nobles are greedy for riches,
openly domineering.
The normal citizens are unbearably suffering.
My strength is weak and my talent is thin,
how could I not always keep my head clear?
Your worries make sense.
It's just that of the people in this world,
there are a lot of people that are clearly awake
but their doings are a total mess as if they were drunk.
Drink wine to get a bit tipsy
for you to be more clearly awake.
When County Magistrate drinks wine, although your body is drunk,
your heart is awake.
And there are some people whose body is awake,
yet their hearts are drunk.
Well said! Shi Jia, you are a rare, clear-minded person!
For your clear-mindedness! Come!
This...
Fine. If you won't drink, then I will.
Shi Jia, if I leave Quan County to you,
can you take up the responsibility?
Lord Magistrate, are you going to return to Yingdu?
Then you mean you're going to leave Quan County for a few days?
I'm not sure how long I'll be leaving for yet.
Perhaps, it'll just be for a little while.
Perhaps
a few years.
Perhaps, I won't return again.
Where are you going, Lord Magistrate? Have some changes occurred?
I just have to go deal with some personal matters.
Suddenly having to leave the Quan County people,
my heart feels a little uneasy.
Since you can't bear to leave, then stay.
Think of a way to fulfill both ends.
I've already thought this through.
Then the people of Quan County
will really lose a good magistrate.
It's okay. You will be here.
Very well. I, Shi Jia, will definitely do my best.
I do not dare to forsake your hopes.
I, Shi Jia, will now drink to you.
Shi Jia, but you said you don't drink alcohol?
It's hard for me to find a bosom friend so I must drink today.
To celebrate you leaving this land of rumors to live free,
today, I will break my rule once.
Okay. Shi Jia, for numerous words that we want to say,
let us put them all in this toast. Cheers.
Cheers.
Father, Yi'er! It's time to eat!
Be careful.
Wow!
Father.
Today is like a New Year's feast!
No, that's wrong. We don't eat such delicious meat even for the New Year!
Big Sister, what's the occasion?
-Is it someone's birthday?-Today isn't anything special.
I just wanted to make something delicious for you to eat.
How is it, Yi'er? Is it good?
Delicious, very delicious.
Here. Taste the glutinous rice I made.
Yi'er, you're grown up now.
Of course!
Then, will you take good care of Father?
Big Sister, you're wrong.
What is it? You're not willing?
I have to take good care of you too, not just Father.
In the future, I'll be the one to support this family.
Big Sister, you can just cook at home. I'm a man!
I will go out and do great things! I'll be a General!
In the future, I'll make Father and Big Sister live well!
We can eat such delicious things every day!
Then what if I'm not here one day?
Will you make food for Father just like I do?
Why wouldn't you be here?
Su Qin, it's hard to keep a daughter around once they grow up.
Father, what's wrong?
Father! How could this be?
I'm old, I'm useless now.
Did Liu Wai Zui beat you into this?
I'll go look for him!
Mo Chou, stop creating trouble.
We cannot attract the attention of Liu Wai Zui.
Father!
I am old.
Even if they didn't beat me last time,
some problems would arise with my body.
Mo Chou, haven't you always
wanted to ask about your mother?
Haven't you always wanted to ask why
I won't let you be with Lord Qu?
Today, I will tell you.
Your mother...
She was not a common citizen.
She was...she was the Grand Shaman of the State of Chu.
The Grand Shaman of Chu?
Your mother knew divination and prophecy techniques.
Later on, she was brought into the palace
and conferred by the previous king as Grand Shaman of Chu.
All the offering ceremonies and fortune-telling inside the royal palace
were managed by her.
The previous king even always asked your mother
to predict the fortunes of government matters.
So it was like that?
But I forgot about all of that?
When you were sick as a child,
the illness was too severe.
Father.
What happened to my mother?
Why did she leave so early?
Your mother was plotted against.
She saved us and died alone.
Fusheng tower
-Big Brother, why did you bring me to this inn?-You'll know in a bit.
Mother, Little Brother Yuan has come.
Mother? Why have you come too?
I came to ask you to return to Yingdu.
Mother, I won't marry Zhao Bixia!
You already know?
Little Brother Yuan, it is the King's order this time.
We won't be able to go against him.
I don't care. I will only marry Mo Chou!
What if I won't agree?
I've already decided on this. If you agree Mother,
I will serve you and Father with Mo Chou.
If you don't agree, then consider me not filial.
What did you say?
I've already decided with Mo Chou.
We'll leave here and go to a place where no one knows us.
For a Mo Chou, you don't even want your parents anymore?
Mother! I don't want to marry Zhao Bixia! Just fulfill my wish!
Little Brother Yuan, you're being too rebellious!
The King has already given the order. This is a royal order!
Get up.
If you don't agree, I won't ever get up!
Mother, I didn't understand what love was before.
But now I understand! My heart will only have Mo Chou in it, it has no space for anyone else!
I know Mo Chou is a good girl.
If the King hadn't ordered marriage, I wouldn't force you to marry the daughter of the Zhao family.
But now that it has come to this, do you know what it means that a royal order cannot be defied?
The King ordered the marriage and you want to run away!
Nine generations of this family will have to be killed!
Are you willing to watch so many people in the Qu family
all get buried with you?
Besides, you and Mo Chou,
where can you two go?
Are you going to change your names and hide for life?
Are you willing to watch your lover
live frightened, wandering days with you?
♫Dye with ink, brush up the feathers. Cannot wipe away the parting words said before separating .♫
♫ With the moon, I ask my love, when will you fulfill your date of return? ♫
Father, I want to learn the sword and martial arts!
A woman shouldn't do sword dances. What will that look like?!
Mother, let me!
I will also surely be diligent in learning how to play zither, play chess, poems, and drawing too.
Since Mo Chou wants to learn martial arts, just let her learn a little.
You really like to spoil her.
There's nothing bad about learning martial arts. She can use it for self defense too.
Like this. Look.
♫ Horse-hoof sounds accompany you when you stepped into troubled times of the past ♫
♫ That destiny is quite faint, makes it hard for one to sleep ♫
♫ The other bank is bright purple and red ♫
♫ Sending off the autumn wind with a worried look ♫
Mother, I want to be with him for life.
We already have gone through so many trials.
We have already depended our lives upon each other. Neither is able to leave the other behind.
Mother, you loved me so much as a child.
You never refused anything I wanted.
This time,
you won't reject it like Father,
right?
♫Dye with ink, brush up the feathers. Cannot wipe away the parting words said before separating ♫
♫ With the moon, I ask my love. When will you fulfill your date of return? ♫
♫ The boat I ride floats, causing ripples ♫
♫ The lingering zither sound cuts the horizon ♫
♫ Vermilion lips, longing for an old friend ♫
Is he worth you doing this? He's not worthy of having your love!
-My Lady!-He's not worthy of you doing this for him!
If you die, those who care about you will be so sad!
♫ That destiny is quite faint, makes it hard for one to sleep, The other bank is bright purple and red ♫
You're Zhao Bixia?
They all say that your beauty is the best among the whole city of Yingdu.
As I see it, you're not that big of a deal.
In any case, if you marry me, I won't treat you poorly.
I don't mind marrying one more.
My Lady, hurry and leave! My Lady, hurry and leave!
To where?
To escape your marriage! I've already researched it! If you don't leave now, there will be no time!
Last time, it's because I wasn't tight with my mouth so we were unable to leave.
Don't talk about the past anymore.
I said too much!
My Lady, hurry and leave!
I won't leave.
Why? Do you want to marry Master Qu?
Qu Yuan won't come back.
You're that certain?
No one can take Miss Mo Chou's
place in his heart.
Is it pretty?
Of course.
Mother left?
In the end, you went looking for the mountain spirit.
No, I want to be with Mo Chou.
Miss Mo Chou is in Quan County.
Just what are you saying?
Mo Chou is your reality, and the mountain spirit is just your dream.
You can't take Mo Chou away, and you can't find the mountain spirit either.
I don't know what you're saying.
You know everything, you just won't admit it.
♫ 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 a 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 is drunk, one's whole life just follows the blue water ♫
♫ I'll drive and go away for an adventure, flying as I want to in the nine skies ♫
♫ Unhurried, floating clouds, the returning bird left one’s far birthplace ♫
♫ 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'm sorry,♫ I worry, when can I appreciate the grasses and flowers with a 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 is drunk, one's whole life just follows the blue water ♫
♫ I'll drive and go away for an adventure, flying as I want to in the nine skies ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful woman, if one's heart could be fragrant ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful woman, desolate like the moon ♫
♫ The whole world is drunk, one's whole life just follows the blue water ♫
♫ I'll drive and go away for an adventure, flying as I want to in the nine skies ♫
Yuan'er.
Mother, just let me go say farewell to Mo Chou.
Would you still bear to come back after seeing her?
Since I already agreed, I definitely will not run away again.
It's not that I don't trust you. I just don't trust the affection.
Mother!
Yuan'er, you still have to be separated in the end. Let the past
become the past slowly.
But, Mother-!
Mo Chou, I'm sorry.
♫ One full moon, reflecting a bright scene ♫
♫ Clear memories stirred up a slight waning ♫
♫ Tears fall on the scrolls, dreams shattering ♫
♫ For whom am I painfully drinking, making an oath about love and hate ♫
♫ In this mortal world, looking back and flashing a graceful and unrestrained smile ♫
♫ Wishing that in this lifetime, I can go through it with you with innocence ♫
♫ 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 Heaven if it can bear witness to one's loyalty ♫
♫ Muddy and clear, beautiful and ugly, overturning all living creatures ♫
♫ Angelica and magnolia, orchids and quan, have a hard time emitting their fragrance ♫
♫ Why must you proceed against the current? Why must a lonely flower admire 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 ♫
♫ 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 ♫
♫ I lamented the numerous sorrows in the life of the citizens ♫
♫ 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 ♫
♫ Getting drunk for a lifetime of dedicating oneself for one's country ♫
♫ 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 ♫