♫ 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 4
Oh, your youth dreams have always been different from others. From Ju Song, Ode to an Orange, the Nine Songs by Qu Yuan
If I became Quan County's magistrate,
I would definitely make the entire county's people live happily.
A magistrate? Can you become a magistrate just because you want to?
How do you know I can't become the magistrate?
I, Qu Yuan, swear here.
I will definitely become Quan County's magistrate
and make the entire county's people live happily!
Who did you say you are?
Qu Yuan!
You are Qu Yuan?!
He is Qu Yuan. He is my little brother.
Minister of War Qu is...?
He is my father.
Continue making things up.
I really am Qu Yuan!
Enough! Just who you are,
I don't care.
Just be yourself. Citing some lines from a Qu Yuan poem, then calling yourself Qu Yuan
is quite a disgrace to the clan's ancestral morality, isn't it?
He really is Qu Yuan! If you don't believe him,
you should believe me!
Believe you? You two are equally bad, why should I believe you?
You two saved my father. I will thank you here.
Please leave.
-Miss Mo Chou-!-Also, please don't come again.
Why are you so interesting?
You like Qu Yuan's poems so much, but you act like this when you see him? How strange.
Sirs, it is getting late.
This place is far from Ying Du. You should go back.
Why do friends have to leave so quickly?
Let's go.
From now on, don't associate with those two people anymore.
Father, what are you thinking about? You were the one that asked them to leave.
What if that young man really is Qu Yuan?
There is no if! Father, how could Qu Yuan be like that?
Listen up!
Let me tell you! Even if you meet the real Qu Yuan in the future,
-you are not allowed to associate with him!-Why?
There is no why! You can't because I said you can't!
Lan Tai Palace
Greetings, Your Highness.
Rise. Yesterday, you said you wanted to
lend this He Shi Bi to the State of Qin.
After thinking about it well, I still can't bear to part with it.
This He Shi Bi is our treasure.
It was only recovered with the ancestors' blessing.
I don't want anything to happen to it again.
Your Highness, do you know how this He Shi Bi was lost in the past?
They say Zhang Yi stole it.
If Zhang Yi can steal it once, can't he steal it again?
What do you mean?
The proverb is right: don't fear the thief, fear worrying about the thief.
If someone has their eyes set on this,
no matter how much protection there is, you won't be at ease.
Besides, if the peace between Qin and Chu is harmed for one He Shi Bi,
and the two countries go to war, both sides will suffer casualties.
If the State of Qin intends to start a war,
even if I lend the He Shi Bi to the State of Qin,
would I be able to avoid a war?
Even if a war can't be avoided, we got it first.
So what is there for us to fear?
this state of things has a visible side and a hidden side.
Both should be utilized in parallel. The visible one is to lend the Bi to Qin state.
The hidden one is to call up soldiers to avoid a mishap.
Endear strategy on martial issues and prepare for a rainy day.
These last few days, I kept thinking about these things.
But... since my accession to the throne I've been spending years on expeditions.
If we increase the army now, I'm afraid there will be too much movement.
If you feel that it is not right for the State to increase the army,
you can use the Qu family's name.
Why did you come here today, Ling Jun?
If I became Quan County's magistrate,
I would definitely make sure the entire county's people live happily!
A magistrate? Can you become a magistrate just because you want to?
I, Qu Yuan, swear here.
I will definitely become Quan County's magistrate and make all its people live happily!
Big Sister, after Brother Mo used that medicine,
he felt much better. He wanted to come and thank you personally.
But I stopped him.
Big Sister, what are you thinking about? Your heart isn't here.
Say...do you think that person Mr. Qu?
Of course not!
I think it's impossible too.
What kind of person is Mr. Qu?
He has a noble character and elegant and graceful carriage.
Not like him, so frivolous.
Big Sister, you haven't seen Mr. Qu before.
How would you know that he has elegant and graceful carriage?
His poems are so well written. He can't be that bad of a person.
There are a lot of people who can write poems but not all of them have good characters. Don't you know that?
How could those people compare to Mr. Qu?
All you talk about is Mr. Qu.
If I was Mr. Qu, I wouldn't come see you either!
If my name kept being mentioned by you like this, I'm going to have callus on my ear already.
Actually, I also think he cannot be Mr. Qu.
But why must he say he is? And he swore too.
I don't know.
Do you think he can become Quan County's magistrate?
Big Sister, I don't know, I don't know!
Qing'er!
What? You want to become Quan County's magistrate?
Precisely.
When I asked you the other day, you still had no intentions on becoming an official.
In just one day,
why have you suddenly changed your mind?
I have my reasoning.
Why must you insist on going to Quan County?
I will not keep it from Your Highness. I just returned from Quan County.
Does Your Highness think fish taste good?
Naturally.
Then, have you ever eaten fish without salt?
What are you trying to say?
I have eaten fish meat that wasn't seasoned with salt.
It as in Quan County.
And I personally saw that the local fishermen gave most of his fish to the local bully.
If he hesitates at all, he is beaten.
Only the remaining fish
can be sold for money. And the money from that is not enough to buy salt.
It looks like you got a lot from your trip to Quan County.
Then do you know why the position of Quan County Magistrate has been empty for so long?
Evil spirits have been wreaking havoc in the mortal world.
Within three years, four county magistrate died without doing any achievements.
Then you still insist on going?
Because only I can take good care of Quan County.
You have that much confidence?
Your Highness, you have three days to think it over.
If I can't do this, I will never become an official.
Princess, this is what the King ordered me to bring
to soothe your yearning for home.
If he really was worried I would miss home,
he couldn't have sent me here in the first place.
You are mistaken, Princess. The king is doing this to have a better reunion with you.
This is the Lao Qin (old Qin) wine from our Qin country.
Do you feel like this wine is a little bitter?
The hearts of Qin people are bitter. Bitter lands and bitter water will, of course, not produce wonderful wines.
Although the wines of Chu country are delicious, may princess
not to forget the pain of the State of Qin.
You have put in much effort, Minister.
But if a person's heart is dead, how can they tell if this wine
is sweet or bitter?
Princess, this secret letter is from the king.
Take the letter and these things back with you.
Since I married to the State of Chu, naturally I must
think for myself and my unborn child.
This world and it's battles
have nothing to do with me anymore.
Minister, please go back.
Master, someone has come from the palace.
Don't know why internal court officer is here?
Replying to War Minister, don't know how many men does the Qu army have right now?
Tens of thousands.
That's too little.
Is this the king's idea?
You really are the Minister of War. You understand immediately.
How many more men does he need?
This...will depend on your ability, Minister of War.
But, this matter cannot stir up too big a fuss.
Don't you have lands in Quan County too?
As I see it, you can draft soldiers from Quan County.
- Thank you for your suggestions, officer.- I'll take my leave then.
Please.
Father, why does the king want new soldiers at this time?
The king is leaving a backup plan to guard against Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi is in the State of Chu right now.
Does he need to increase his army to defend against someone like him?
Zhang Yi came this time with ulterior motives.
It won't due if you two stay with me all the time. If the troupe doesn't have you...
It's okay, Brother Mo. We are performing in Ying Du for now.
But, Qing'er and I have talked about it already. For the succeeding days, let's go back to Quan County to perform.
It'll make things easier to take care of you.
Don't worry, in a few days when I'm fully healed,
leave performing to me. You and Qing'er can just wait to gather the money.
Really? Then I will be waiting for when your body heals.
Big Sister, let me tell you something.
-What is it?-Come on!
What is it, acting so sneaky?
Guess...what is this?
What?
The thing you think about every day and night!
The thing I think about day and night? Just what is it?
Mr. Qu Yuan's new poem!
Really?
Right now, the entire Ying Du is spreading it around.
It wasn't easy for me to ask this from an old villager at Quan County.
-Hurry and give it to me!-No!
-Give it to me!-No!
Lo, there's someone at the mountain top,
wearing fig leaf clothing and dodder vine ribbons.
She has both expressive eyes and a ready smile:
“You admire me , Sire, for being so elegant.”
You're sure this is Qu Yuan's poem?
Of course! It's been spread through the entire Ying Du right now!
-How could it be fake?-But these lines,
-weren't they made up by that playboy rich master the other day?-Was it?
Yes! What he said the other day was precisely these lines.
It seems like it...
Could it be...he really is Qu Yuan?
Father, Mother.
Recently, our Xia'er's harp has additional sorrowful yearning in it.
I'm not sure what is going on.
Mother, you're worrying too much.
It's better if it's like that.
Xia'er, you're harps tunes is what the Chu citizens need.
And these pair of hands, if between your fingers there would be a bit more grief,
then all Chu citizens will fall into grief.
I also feel that Bixia recently seems to have some problems.
As her mother, you must care more about her.
Of course, how can a man understand
a girl's thoughts?
That's right. Did you find it?
The musical score or the person?
- You tell me.- I wasn't able to find the musical score.
Then what about the person?
Just where did he go?
Big Sister, I'm getting more and more confused!
Haven't you always admired Grand Poet Qu?
This time, you've seen Grand Poet Qu's face.
Why do you look so uneasy?
I never imagined he'd be Qu Yuan.
Why can't he be Qu Yuan?
I have always thought that Qu Yuan is a man with elegant and graceful carriage, noble moral character.
I never imagined that he'd look like that.
As I see it, that young man
he isn't that unbearable like what you are saying.
I kind of feel that this young man is quite handsome.
He does have some fate with you.
You think every day that you want to see him once.
The moment he saw you,
he said you were the girl he saw in his dreams!
You're still talking about that?
Okay okay, I won't talk about it, okay?
I really wish I never met him.
Why?
At least this way, he still looks the way he looks in poems.
Of course a poet writes good things.
In any case, I won't believe it.
Are the poet and the poet in the poem two different people?
There are so many poets in this world.
If they all look the way they do in poems, wouldn't they all be the same?
Brother Meng is recovered! This is wonderful!
This time, it's all thanks to Mr. Qu for treating Brother Meng's illness!
-Good!-Big Sister,
how do you intend to thank him?
How am I supposed to thank him?
Give him your body?
You want to go? Then you go!
I wouldn't go!
Don't run! Hey, who is that guy?!
Stop! Stop right there!
Stay back! Stay back!
Stop right there!
Bring them all out!
-Don't move!-Be careful!
-Kneel down!-What's going on?
It looks like they're drafting soldiers!
Drafting soldiers?
Don't move!
What are you doing?
Who are you? You dare to obstruct official matters? Get lost!
Who are you? Who let you go snatch people? Is there still royal law in this world?
Royal law? We are from the Minister of War!
The Minister of War gave the order! Whoever dares to resist will die!
The Minister of War? You're talking about Minister of War Qu?
Is there a second Minister of War in the State of Chu?
Let's go!
Don't take him! He's still hurt!
I'm hurt too. Why don't I take you too?
-Then you can treat my wounds.-You-!
Where did a nosy bitch like you come from?!
Big Sister!
Let go of me!
Stop! Let go of her! I'll go with you.
Brother Meng! Brother Meng!
-Brother Meng!-Mo Chou!
Don't worry, I'll be okay. Take good care of them.
Take them away!
Brother Meng!
Go! Go!
Husband!
I never imagined that the Qu family would have such thieves in their household!
Husband! Husband!
Qu Yuan!
Mountain spirit, are you human or a spirit?
Did you become Miss Mo Chou and come to this world?
Or did Miss Mo Chou become you
and come to my dream?
Second Young Master!
-What is it?-There are two young women looking for you outside.
I won't see them! So many people come to see me every day.
If I had to see them all, even if I cloned myself I wouldn't be able to keep up!
I already told them you won't see them.
But the one next to her called Qing'er just won't leave.
-Qing'er?-Yes.
Then is the other one called Mo Chou?
Yes.
Mr. Qu!
Mr. Qu, it really is you!
Miss Mo Chou, you finally believe me!
P-please come inside!
Wow!
I've made you wait.
I came with Qing'er today-
I know. I've already told the king
that I want to become Quan County's magistrate.
I've always kept my word.
It's not that!
Then it was to prove that I'm Qu Yuan?
Yes, and no.
I heard the Qu family military is drafting soldiers, right?
That's right. I was the one that told the king to do that.
Why?
Right now, the world is being fragmented by rivaling warlords. The flames of war is rising everywhere.
If we want peace for the State of Chu,
then it must have a strong army that can protect this peace.
Is that the reasoning behind the drafting?
The word 'Wu' is formed by combining 'Zhi' and 'Ge'. If one really want wars to be stopped (zhi ge),
one must have a military force (wu) that is formidable.
Then why didn't you join the army?
Me?
Is that something that I should be doing?
So you guys went around catching people to join the army?
Miss Mo Chou, what are you saying?
Brother Meng was snatched away by your Qu family soldiers!
I wondered what the problem was.
It is his fortune to join the Qu family soldiers.
Do you still remember my big brother?
Miss Mo Chou, you fought with him once, so you should know best.
Don't look at my brother as being not good in conversing with people but he is someone who has made great military achievements.
He is a general personally conferred by the Emperor.
You can really say it in such a relaxed way. Brother Meng Yuan's illness hasn't fully healed yet.
That's right, he's not fully healed yet!
Mr. Qu, can you ask your family
to let Brother Meng out?
How could I do that? Meng Yan does have an illness,
but is he the only one that is sick?
Even though my father is in his old age,
but he still took a sword for the king and is busy every day!
If everyone used this reason to avoid the draft, then who would fight for the State of Chu?
Why do commoners have to fight on the front lines,
while the sons of nobility can just sit idly and reap the fruits of other people's works?
Qu Yuan, I really did see you wrong!
Qing'er, let's go!
-Hey! Miss Mo Chou!-Big Sister!
Miss Mo Chou! Listen to me!
What else is there to say?
I initially thought that Lord Qu is a rare man with elegant and graceful bearing
and noble morals. He is unlike other sons of nobility.
Now, it seems like the Ling Jun in the poem, and the Mr. Qu outside of the poems
are completely two different people.
-Hey! Miss Mo Chou!-Big Sister!
Mr. Qu, I'm begging you, please save Brother Meng!
Please!
Big Sister!
Look at your fiery temper. Just a few words and you got ignited already.
It's a waste of time to say one more word to people like him!
Then what about Brother Meng now?
I will think of a way myself!
Big Sister!
Two.
Three.
Two.
Three.
Extend up and straight.
Come. Squat. Okay.
Stop! What are you two doing?
Soldier, I want to go in and see my big brother.
Who is your big brother?
His name is Meng Yan, he is a newly drafted soldier.
This is the military barracks, you cannot go in as you please. Go away.
But soldier, my big brother is very sick. I'm afraid he can't keep up.
That's not my problem.
We know General Qu Yong.
Look at yourself. It's obvious you're a lowborn commoner.
Is the Qu family someone you can just make connections with? You are biting more than you can chew.
- What did you say?- What? Doesn't want to accept it?
Sister. Sister, don't get angry with them.
Soldier, can we talk over there?
Soldier, look. Can we ask a favor from you?
That's more like it.
Big Sister, let's go.
Wait!
The soldiers are still practicing. Wait here for two hours.
-Huh?-You-!
Or else take your stuff and leave right now!
Soldier, let's okay.
We'll wait, we'll wait.
Why do the commoners have to fight on the front lines, and the rich young lords
can just sit down and reap the benefits?
What a good 'each has their own fate'.
Qu Yuan, I really saw you wrong!
Now it looks like the Ling Jun in the poems and the Mr. Qu outside the poems
are completely two different people!
-Little Brother Yuan, what are you doing?-Aren't you supposed to be at the barracks?
Can't I come and take a breather?
Big Brother, let me ask you. Why is it that during war,
all the soldiers are the front are commoners?
Where else would the front line soldiers come from?
We nobility have our own type of fate. Like me,
other than training martial arts, I still have to lead soldiers to war. Slaves also have their slave fate.
The commoners are supposed to rush at the front. That is their fate.
If it really is like that,
then that is Heaven's unfairness!
What is unfair? Why are you suddenly asking about that today?
Do you still remember Meng Yan?
Mm.
Hold it tightly!
Did you not eat? You're so weak!
I have tuberculosis. I still haven't fully recuperated yet.
I've seen lots of people with your illness before!
- Men!- Here!- Teach him a lesson!
Who brought in such a weakling?
My lord, as I see it, the illness he has is...
- What is it?- Tuberculosis.
- Tuberculosis?- Indeed.
When I followed with Lord Zhang last year to attack the Wei's, there is such infection that spread in the camp.
What are you waiting for? Drag him out!
Yes!
Ju Family Military Camp
You really won't let me in?
The military barracks cannot be forcibly entered. Do you want to try and break in?
I don't care!
Stop!
Brother Meng! Brother Meng!
Brother Meng!
Brother Meng! Are you okay?
Water..
Do you have water? Is there any water?
Thank you!
Brother Meng, drink some water! Slowly.
Brother Meng! Brother Meng!
Brother Meng!
It was you! You caused this to happen to him!
-Stop!-Big Sister!
Treating Brother Meng's injury is more important!
Breaking into the military barracks is a crime! Hurry and get lost!
Let's go!
Brother Meng!
Let's hurry and go!
Take this money and take him to a doctor.
Thank you.
Let's go!
Greetings General, Second Young Master.
Bring the new soldiers over here!
Hurry and go!
General, Meng Yan he...
What happened?
He was diagnosed to have tuberculosis and has already been dragged out and repatriated.
Little Brother Yuan!
Little Brother Yuan! Where are you going?
Mo Chou...I'm going to die soon...
Brother Meng, don't talk nonsense.
I know my body best.
I should have died early this year already.
Brother Meng, stop talking nonsense! Didn't you say
that you'd take care of me for life?
You can't go back on your word!
In these years,
actually, I've been dragging you down.
Mo Chou...in these years,
to be able to
be together with you all,
I am very satisfied.
Big Brother, stop talking.
Stop talking!
Mo Chou,
when I'm not by your side,
you must...take good care of yourself.
Brother Meng!
Big Sister Mo Chou!
Qu Yuan has come.
I heard Meng Yan came back.
Are you still angry at me?
What do you want to say?
Miss Mo Chou, I know you don't like me.
Even if the whole world is dirty, only I am clean and pure. The Heaven and Earth can bear witness to it.
Enough! Stop talking!
Let him talk.
Let him talk as much as he'd like.
Alright, since everyone is here,
why don't we all listen if my reasons are right or wrong.
Our State of Chu
is it the rich people's State of Chu?
Is it the commoner's State of Chu?
Yes.
But not entirely.
It is everyone's State of Chu.
So, when the State of Chu is in trouble,
all of us must fight for the State.
Ever since ancient times, the rich have taken orders from the king and stood on the front lines.
Our Qu family, for generations,
has fought on the front lines for the country.
If the rich can be like that, then are the commoners
supposed to do nothing for the country?
The country belongs to everyone. Only when the country is at peace
can the people be at peace. For all of our peace,
every man should pick up their spears and fight for the country!
Hey! You!
This is the responsibility! As a citizen of Chu, that's what they should do!
Alright. Well said.
Are you done yet, Mr. Qu?
If you're done, please leave.
What's wrong with all of you? Was what I said wrong?
What good is it for a man like Meng Yan to stay in a circus troupe all day long?
As a man, he should fight for the country!
-Hey!-Come with me!
Come here!
Didn't you have something to say to him? Say it!
Meng Yan?!
Didn't you say that as long as he joins the Qu family soldiers,
then he can become a big hero?
But he just went there for a day and he already got tormented to his death.
How could this be?
That's right!
Meng Yan can't accomplish much in our circus troupe.
Perhaps he can't be a big hero.
But at least, at least, he can live!
Don't touch him!
Mr. Qu, I still have a question to ask.
Didn't you say that everyone
should kill the enemy for their country?
Alright.
Then I'm asking you to kill the enemies for the country
and achieve your military merits. Be your noble lord.
We!
Are just slaves who are like ants!
We aren't from the same world!
Leave.
Miss Mo Chou.
Leave!
Miss Mo Chou!
Leave!
-Miss Mo Chou!-Get lost!
Mountain Spirit
Minister of Qin, why have you come here today?
Minister, being the Royal Uncle, you are the country elder that I surely must go to.
For the good relationship of Chu and Qin,
I hope you can put in some good words for me in front of the king.
Minister, this is...?
I heard that Minister was born in the Wu year.
You are exactly one cycle older than me (12 years).
I also admires Minister a lot and really want to make an acquaintance with you.
I hope you will accept it no matter what.
Minister, what do you want?
Greetings, Your Highness.
What is it?
I came to ease your worries.
What worries do I have?
Your Highness is not willing to lend the Bi.
But you must lend the Bi.
Let's hear it.
Your Highness, please look at what this is.
♫ 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 ♫'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 ♫