♫ 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 3
Your Highness, to me, this He Shi Bi is best.
Of course.
I don't know how many pairs of eyes are watching this He Shi Bi.
Have people watch it carefully. I don't want anything more to happen to it.
Yes.
Your Highness, Zhang He gave you such a precious jade.
He must be the most loyal!
Loyal? In this court,
which official isn't loyal to me?
Who dares to not be loyal to me?
Their loyalty comes with a price.
They're not giving me gifts.
They just want something from me.
Don't think I don't know what they think in their hearts.
Then...the only one who gives freely
is the Qu family.
Qu Bo Yong?
What he wants is reputation and integrity. There is no one in the world that doesn't desire anything.
You are right, Your Highness.
Your Highness, where will you sleep tonight?
My beautiful maiden!
You must've missed me badly.
Not so loud!
What is it? I want to laugh this loudly! What are you afraid of?
I'm afraid others will hear us. If this gets to the King,
we'll be done for!
You and I wanted to be together long ago in the State of Zheng!
If the State of Chu didn't destroy my State of Zheng,
and the king snatched me to be his concubine,
we would definitely be openly together right now!
I understand. But what can we do now?
Then you have to promise me to come see me every day.
You keep saying those nonsense words.
There are lots of eyes and ears in the palace. If this gets out,
our lives will be in danger!
Hey!
My Hua Ying Palace,
the king hasn't come here for at least half a month.
I think he probably forgot about me.
Right now, I have lost both country and family.
I'm all alone here.
Right now, I can only depend on you.
If you don't put me in your heart,
I might as well just die!
No no no. My lady, if you die, what am I supposed to do?
I promise you, okay?
Greetings, King.
The king?
What do we do? Where should I hide?
-I'll first--Your clothes! Clothes!
Go out the window!
I was thinking of my country,
So I performed some dances from the State of Zheng.
After dancing, my chest felt a bit suffocated so I opened the window to let in fresh air.
Your Highness, why have you come?
Last time,
I wasn't able to taste the soup you made, and I felt regretful about it.
So, I came today to spend time with you. Is that not good?
I have nothing more that I can ask for.
After so many years, I've finally returned.
Minister, do you think that Xiong Huai will give us the He Shi Bi?
Is that important?
Minister, we have come on the king's orders to get the Bi.
What does a He Shi Bi count as?
What I want is the world!
-Give the He Shi Bi back to me!-I won't!
-Give it back to me!-I got it, so now it's mine!
-I opened the chest first!-I won't give it to you!
-Give it to me!-No!
How ridiculous!
You two even dare to snatch the He Shi Bi?
The king will take your lives if anything happens to the He Shi Bi!
Give it to me!
This jade from the He family is the country's most valuable treasure, the genie among the jades.
Do you still remember what I told you before?
In terms of morality, a gentleman is like a jade. If your personality is comparable to this jade already,
then this jade will naturally be yours.
If you are not worthy of this jade,
stealing it will be useless.
Teacher, then who should this jade belong to?
Who this jade will belong to in the future,
you will naturally know when you two grow up.
I don't want to wait for the future! I want to know right now!
How dare you!
-Greetings, King Father.-Greetings, King Father.
You two dare to talk to your teacher this way?
You two can leave now.
King, they still have class.
Leave!
Your Highness, why won't you let them go to class today?
In your opinion, should I give this He Shi Bi to Zhi Lan or Zhi Heng?
You are asking me,
which prince can be your successor in the future?
Ling Jun, you are an imperial scholar.
You teach the princes poetry and calligraphy.
Naturally, you have some idea.
In your eyes,
which prince is more capable?
Zhi Lan is good with words. Zhi Heng is very brave.
They each have their strengths.
If one wants to stabilize the empire, words and bravery are both needed.
Stabilizing the world needs words Keeping the world safe requires martial arts.
Between the States of Qin and Chu, who is the martial arts?
The tyrannical emperor is waging war left and right, conquering the lands he invades.
The State of Qin is the martial artist, and also the best martial artist in the world.
Do you know about Zhang Yi?
Zhang Yi?
I have no place to stay right now. I hope you can take me in, Minister of War Qu.
It will depend if you have some capability.
No one in my household stays for free.
Do not worry.
As long as I still have my tongue, I will find a way to survive.
In the domestic sphere, I can share your burdens, ease your worries and hesitation.
In the public sphere, I can hold out against a great million-soldiers army.
How can this chess game be beaten?
Minister of War Qu,
do you think I can stay?
Who are you?
My son, Qu Yuan.
I've heard of your name. But, you can't even beat me.
How can you fight against thousands of soldiers?
Just winning in one round of chess, how can that be called being courageous?
It looks like you're not willing to admit loss.
Okay. Let's have one more competition.
Okay!
I just asked him a few questions then.
Oh?
I'll ask you, first: "Upon what are the heavens folded? Where are the twelve stages divided?"
"How are the sun and moon attached? How are the constellations arrayed?" (Heavenly Questions by poet Qu Yuan, Verses of Chu)
Please answer my question.
Repeat the question.
I'm just asking where the earth and sky exchange,
and where the moon and sun sleep.
You can't even answer that.
Father, wasn't I right? He's just bragging.
You can't even answer my son's question.
And you still confidently talk about thousands of soldiers?
I think you should go back to where you came from.
I didn't think that you could destroy Zhang Yi's reputation at such a young age.
That's right, Your Highness. Why did you mention him today?
Zhang Yi will come here tomorrow as a Minister of Qin.
Oh? Zhang Yi is coming again?
Do you think he'll come with words or martial arts?
A scholar will use only words while a warrior will use force.
That's what you say, but I'm afraid it won't be that simple.
You're worried about the State of Qin supporting Zhang Yi?
The Qin Country is occupying lands left and right. Everyone can see its wolf-like ambition.
There has been no conflicts in the last decades because of our Qin-Chu marriage alliance.
But we rarely have any interaction.
Now, the State of Qin has sent an ambassador here.
They must have a goal.
Zhang Yi is also full of tricks. I cannot let down my guard.
Your Highness, I beat Zhang Yi ten years ago.
When Zhang Yi enters the palace tomorrow, I'd like to meet him again.
It's just that Zhang Yi isn't the Zhang Yi of the past anymore.
Your Highness, I am also not the Qu Yuan of the past either.
Didn't you say that you didn't like to interfere with worldly matters?
Then it'll depend on what the matter is.
Yuan'er!
Father.
The King really let you come to court?
Of course! If the king didn't let me come, how could I be here?
Restrain yourself. Don't create more trouble.
Greetings, Your Highness.
You may rise.
Thank you, Your Highness.
The Minister of Qin, Zhang Yi has come to visit.
Ministers, what do you think?
Your Highness, Zhang Yi has a silver tongue
and his actions are very sneaky.
His words and actions must not be trusted.
I believe that we must be more careful.
Your Highness, Zhang Yi has arrived.
Hurry and bring him in!
Wait!
Your Highness, Zhang Yi has just come to the State of Chu.
Let him wait some more. It's not a bad thing to let him admire the scenery of our State of Chu.
That's good too. Do as the scholar says.
Chu Palace Hall
Minister, the State of Chu is being too rude in treating you like this.
No matter. How can one accomplish a great enterprise without being able to cope with a moment of dishonor?
I want to see
how long that Xiong Huai can make me wait.
Your Highness, Zhang Yi is still the minister of Qin. If we let him wait this long,
I'm just afraid it might cause some dispute.
Scholar, what do you think?
You have the final say, Your Majesty.
Let him come in!
Minister Zhang Yi, please come in.
Greetings, Your Highness.
Please rise, Ambassador of Qin.
I heard that the Qin Emperor has made you his Prime Minister.
I was just about to send my congratulations and you already came to my country.
I really didn't imagine that a Minister of Qin would have such fast legs.
What Your Majesty said is right. My Emperor heard that the king of Chu is intelligent and skilled in martial arts. He knew that he is way inferior than you.
He especially sent a trusted adviser like me to come here and pay an official call.
This is to show our friendship with your country and also to request for one matter.
Oh? What is it?
I came on request of the King of Qin to borrow your state's treasure,
the jade of the He family, to be offered to the Flame Emperor.
To borrow the He Shi Bi?
Precisely.
You speak quite directly, Minister Zhang.
The He Shi Bi's first disappearance also had to do with you.
Today you still have the face to come borrow the He Shi Bi?
What a joke!
The Qin is doing a offering ceremony but you have to borrow our country's treasure?
What logic is there to that?
Your Majesty, the Flame Emperor is everyone's founder ancestor.
To make an offering to our founder, we should offer the world's most precious treasures.
May I ask, what other treasure in this world can compare to the jade of He?
What if I won't let you borrow it?
Unless Your Majesty wants to offend the Flame Emperor,
disappointing and disrespecting the whole world?
This-!
What morality or ability does Qin has to organize an offering ceremony just like that?
Why can't we?
In this world,
only Zhou Tian Zi (the emperor of Zhou who calls himself the son of heaven) has the right to make an offering to the second emperor Flame Emperor.
But now, the Qin king is openly doing a sacrificial offering. Could it be that the Qin king wants to imitate Zhou Tian Zi?
Who are you?
I am Qu Yuan.
Where are you going?
In this big world, there will be a place for me to stay.
In this world? I've heard you've been to many places before.
Can you tell me what the world is?
What does the world look like in your heart?
The world is wherever my heart feels content.
How childish.
In ten years, I'll tell you what the world is.
Qu Yuan?
Your Highness, as far as I know, Qu Yuan is just a poet.
No official title or office, what right does he have an official debate with me?
This is my court.
My dear Qu is our current Grand Scholar. Why can't he?
Grand Scholar?
Just a little position like an ant or fly, you are not fit to talk about the world.
Your Highness,
in three days, I will begin my journey back to Qin.
No matter what, in three days, you must give me an answer.
- What absurdity. - Yeah.
I will take my leave.
Minister.
They won't lend the He Shi Bi?
It won't work if they lend it.
It'll be even worse if they don't lend it.
It was so difficult for me to find the He Shi Bi.
I don't want anything to happen to it again.
Drive Zhang Yi out of our border. Court dismissed.
You are intelligent, Your Highness.
Wait!
Your Highness,
I believe that we must lend the He Shi Bi to the State of Qin.
What are you saying?
First you were saying don't lend it, now you are saying we should!
This is court! You cannot speak rashly!
I said earlier not to lend it to him to preserve the majestic presence of our Chu country.
Now I'm saying we should lend it for our state's future safety.
This...
You...you really have knowledge and experience.
Just being this young and you dare talk about our Chu's governance and long term peace?
Minister of War, you have such a good son.
My son is indeed a bit speaking carelessly.
Hurry and apologize to the king!
Father! I am not at fault! Why should I apologize?
Just what are you up to?
Your Highness, what I'm worried about now,
is that Zhang Yi borrowing the He Shi Bi is just an empty trick.
I'm afraid the State of Qin has other motives.
As you see it, what is the State of Qin after?
The Qin is a country that's like tigers and wolves (ferocious beast). If we disrespect them,
aren't we giving them a chance to use this against us?
Giving them a chance to use this against us?
You mean that the Qin are going to attack the State of Chu?
Since Shang Bian's reforms were implemented, the Qin country now is already very different from what it used to be.
If war will start, we still aren't sure who will be the victor and who will be the weak one.
What if the State of Qin won't give it back?
If the State of Qin gives the Bi back,
Our State of Chu will not only will only be unravaged, but also earn the reputation of being generous.
If they don't return it, the State of Qin will lose the world's trust.
Emperor, the word 'trust' is way more important than the jade of He.
Ling Jun, as you see things,
will the State of Qin really attack us under pretenses of the He Shi Bi?
He Shi Bi is a treasure of this world. But if it is just for that,
do you think an ambassador of Qin would have to personally come?
I thought you only knew how to draw and write poems.
I've seen a whole new side of you today.
However, in the court,
you went back on your word. Are you not afraid I'll punish you?
Is Your Majesty really unable to hear tactful words?
You think you are the only intelligent person in the State of Chu?
Who doesn't have more right or experience than you in the court?
Then it means that they are just pretending to be muddled when in fact, they knew it from the start?
The smarter you are, the more you want to protect yourself.
As I see it, that is deceiving the king!
There is no greater crime in the world than deceiving the king.
You are still young.
There are some things that you'll understand slowly.
Let me ask you again. Are you willing to join the court as an official?
I really need
a minister who can provide fair and impartial suggestions like you.
Your Highness, I cannot do that.
Why?
I was originally a poet.
I just want to invest my feelings to the beautiful landscapes.
I don't like to be together with those degenerate ministers.
I indeed need a clear flowing water like you
to wash off the degenerate air in this government.
Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine.
I just caught a cold, but I need to take medicine for three days?
The Chu Country's rise and fall depends on Your Majesty's safety.
We cannot be careless.
Forget it, forget it.
May I ask Royal Physician if tuberculosis can be cured?
Is there someone ill in your home?
It's just an old friend of mine.
Tuberculosis is an uncurable disease. Usual medicines usually can just relieve the symptoms but not cure it.
Unless you can use the exquisite ingredient Eh Ye Lan that doesn't wither as a guiding drug.
But this plant is very rare.
Eh Ye Lan that doesn't wither forever?
Precisely.
-Thank you Doctor!-Goodbye.
Your Highness, I will first take my leave.
Your Highness, this Qu Yuan is too brazen.
You offered to make him an official, but he won't accept it!
Reading Ling Jun's poems and observing his speech and actions,
you think he is someone who doesn't care about his country, a carefree and forgetful person?
He's a bit different from those playboy good for nothing young men.
One day, he will slowly understand.
♫ The far and long roads ♫
♫ The man I miss is at a distant place ♫
♫ The white horse galloping, vast and magnificent stars ♫
♫ The heart is sick with melancholy ♫
♫ Unhurried floating clouds ♫
♫ The returning bird left one’s far birthplace ♫
Yuan'er, what's wrong?
Mother. Brother Orchid is dead.
♫ Not looking back ♫
♫ Thinking of a beautiful woman, ♫
Mother, Brother Orchid is dead.
There's no more flower that can accompany Big Brother Orchid anymore.
♫ 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 ♫
Brother Orchid, we've been together for so many years.
This time, it really is to save someone's life.
So I hope you can understand.
Fish on sale, fish on sale! It's fresh!
Freshly caught fish!
It's fresh! Fish on sale!
Master Liu.
How is business going?
This is my gift to you, Master Liu.
Go slowly, Master Liu.
You ought to know what to do?
Fresh fish! Freshly caught live fish!
Come take a look!
Give some more in the future!
Fish on sale!
Master Liu.
Lu Mao.
Do you think I wouldn't find you if you hide here?
Master Liu, please let me off. I haven't earned any money yet.
He says he doesn't have money.
Then take whatever there is!
These are my grain rations for my family.
- Take them away, take all of it. - These are all my family's grain rations.
You need to leave them behind so I can sell them to make a living.
Stop!
What did he do wrong? Why are you beating him publicly?
What does that have to do with you?
-Master, are you okay?-Beat him!
You just wait! Let's go!
Well beaten!
-Old man, hurry and get up.-Thank you.
-Are you okay?-It's not a big deal.
You guys should stop picking up the fishes.You've offended Liu Waizui.
He will come back for you! Hurry and run!
It's okay, Old Man.
-It's okay!-Hurry and go! It'll be bad when he comes!
Little Brother Yuan, hide. Leave this to me.
Big brother, can you take so many people alone?
Just them? I can deal with them with my eyes closed!
Beat them! Beat them so much,
their mother can't recognize them!
Forward!
Are you okay?
This...this...!
You're not allowed to sneak a bite!
Big Sister! It's just a mouthful of soup!
You can't even take one mouthful of soup!
Our father is working hard to sell fish outside. We must wait for him to return.
Do you hear me?
Then when will Father return?
He should be back soon.
We're here, it's here.
Please come in to sit.
Mo Chou! Yi Er!
I'm back!
Father! Father is back!
Father!
-Father!-Father!
So your name is Mo Chou?
It's you guys?
Big Sister, do you know them?
-Mo Chou!-Miss Mo Chou! Miss Mo Chou!
What are you doing?
Put it down! Mo Chou!
-Stop it!-What are you doing?
Father!
Father! Why are you hurt?
-Miss Mo Chou, listen to me!-Shut up!
Last time, you got my big brother hurt!
This time, in Quan Village.
you've gotten my father hurt! Just what do you want?
-You've misunderstood!-Shut up!
I'll hit every rich boy like you everytime I see one!
Miss Mo Chou! Miss Mo Chou!
This young man saved my life!
What?
Father, endure it for a moment.
That Liu Waizui is too much.
I must get revenge for you!
Miss, please be calm. My brother and I have already taught him a lesson.
I don't think he'll dare to act like that again for some time.
You two saved me out of the goodness of your hearts. I must remind you,
Don't be careless, that Liu Waizui is not someone you should mess with.
What does he count as?
He's acting like a bully in front of me, he's just seeking his own death.
Mo Chou, hurry and apologize to these young men.
But in Ying Du, they were the ones who bullied us first!
Miss Mo Chou, how many times do I have to say it? It really was a misunderstanding!
A misunderstanding? Was hurting my big brother also a misunderstanding?
That's right, I came to bring you some medicine.
This is known as Yaoyin (Chinese Medicine)A medicine that Miracle Doctor Fuyi Ding has prescribed.
He'll be fully healed in three days.
Just based on this?
Hey, this is the high quality never withering He Ye Lan.
There's no second one in the entire State of Chu!
I'm not sure if it'll help!
Mo Chou!
Uncle Mao, we indeed were in the wrong before.
That's the way my daughter is. Please do not mind her.
If you don't mind, stay and drink some soup.
Please eat while it's hot.
What is it?
Nothing. It's delicious.
We usually make a living off fishing,
but we don't usually get to eat fish.
No way! Fishermen can't eat fish?
The extra fish we get is sold on the market.
Eat while it's hot.
I'm hungry after a fight! Then I'll help myself!
It seems like you forgot to put salt in the fish.
We can't afford salt. I've heard dad say, only fishes can afford to eat salt.
There's not even salt?
Go!
It's still off by a bit.
I never imagined it. It's only half a day from Ying Du,
Yet there's a world of difference.
Rich young men like you who live in Ying Du,
how would you know our commoners' suffering?
Although Your Majesty is the king of Chu, but the government decree is deserted in the wilderness.
-Do you see?-Uncle Mo, why do you say that?
There are so many counties in this world. Can the King care about them all?
Just like when Zhou Tian Zi conferred so many people as marquess and gave them lands,
but now, how many of these marquesses still listen to Zhou Tian Zi?
What can't be managed?
Whoever doesn't listen,
won't it be finished if he just takes off their head?
It'd be good if it's as easy as you say.
Quan County became this like,
not only because our county officer doesn't know how to govern,
but it's more because of the presence of evil people that suppresses the citizens, the rich and powerful colluding with each other.
How ridiculous!
Enough.
A rich young man like you isn't much better.
Miss Mo Chou, can you not always associate me with such things?
If I was Quan County's magistrate,
I would definitely make sure the entire county's people lived happily.
Can you become a magistrate just because you want to?
How do you know I can't become a magistrate?
I, Qu Yuan, swear right now. I will definitely become Quan County's magistrate
and help all the people of the county live happily!
Who did you say you were?
Qu Yuan!
♫ 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 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 ♫
♫ 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 ♫