♫ 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 6
I blame you, Sire; I am desolate and I forget returning home. Perhaps you are thinking of me but you don’t have time? From the poem "Shan Gui" (Mountain Spirit) taken from the book "Nine Songs" by Qu Yuan
Master Jing Lian, one southsea pearl necklace!
- Lord Wu. - Thank you, thank you.
Lord Jing and Lord Cheng are here.
Let's go!
- Congratulations. - Lord Jing, Lord Cheng.
I am here to welcome you. Come on in.
Master, this time,
you really have went overboard your games this time!
What kind of plays isn't just for fun?
Come come come, come inside! Let's go.
Let's go.
Mistress, it's time.
Eat and drink a lot! Everything is good today!
The mistress has escaped! Catch her!
Don't move!
Don't let her escape!
Don't hurt the bride!
T-that's right!
Let go of me! Let-!
I've seen lots of tricks like yours before!
Forget it. We're not doing the formalities.
Bring her immediately-
-Master!-Who's there?
Father!
Wh-why is it you again, brat?
I wanted to ask, why is it you again?
I'm getting married today!
What's it got to do with you?
How brazen of you to abduct girls in broad daylight!
-Hurry and let her go!-Hurry and let her go!
Give my daughter back!
I didn't abduct her! She married me of her own free will!
Liu Wai Zuai! Even if I die, I won't marry you!
Do you call this free will?
Alright! I abducted her. So what?
It's her fortune that I like her.
How despicable!
You are using the fact that you have some power here in the county
and go oppressing the citizens and acting against law and reason.
The fishermen listen to you, but you can't act like this!
You abduct and harm others! The law of Chu won't let you do that!
Today, I will get justice for the people!
V-very well! You're quite amazing.
Do you dare to go with me to the magistrate's office?
Alright! I wanted to go there anyway!
The magistrate's office all listen to them. It's not a place to talk logic!
If the magistrate's office is unreasonable, then is there still any place in this county that is reasonable?!
Let's go!
Lord Jing, look! This brat
Did he turn stupid after being toyed around by me?
Since he is willing, then go play with him.
Alright!
Take good care of the lords!
-Watch my wife!-Okay!
Please.
-Tie her up!-Come this way.
Why is it so empty? There's not a person in sight !
Even the dead ghosts won't come.
What the deuce!
Even wants to go inside the magistrate office first?
M-mister! It's them!
I was holding a wedding today at home!
Look at my red colored happy event! (a wedding)
It's these people! They not only broke into my house,
th-they also wanted to abduct my wife!
Nonsense! You're lying!
Mister, please get justice for us!
How ridiculous!
That's right! How ridiculous!
The magistrate's office is a place to talk logic, got it?
M-mister, I have lots here. (money)
Enough, enough. I will take care of this case properly.
Who stands before me? Hurry and tell me your names.
My lord,
I am Ru Mao. Liu Wai Zui forcibly abducted my daughter, Mo Chou.
He even forced her to marry him! I have been wronged!
Didn't I already tell you to go back and enjoy your fortune? Why did you come again?
The magistrate's office is busy right now! Go back!
The people have wrongs to be appeased, the magistrate's office has an unfinished case. How can they go back so easily?
How dare you! Hurry and kneel in the magistrate's office!
I am not at fault. Why should I kneel?
My knees will only kneel to the heavens, the earth, the king, and my parents!
What do you all count as?
You are already in the magistrate's office and you still dare to be impetuous?! Don't you want to live anymore?!
-Kneel down!-Let go of me!
Beat him! Beat him!
-Kneel!-Beat him!-Stop!
Liu San. Am I in charge here, or are you?
M-mister, you are in charge.
Then hurry and shut up!
Y-yes...
Big brother, should we go look at Master at the magistrate's office?
What's there to look at? What can happen to him?
We have to keep an eye on her!
Let me ask you. Is it the truth that you intruded on the Liu house?
The truth?
You interrupted Liu San's wedding. Is that also true?
Liu Wai Zuai bullied us first!
Did I ask you?
-I'm asking you!-It's true!
Since it's like that,
why do you still say that you're faultless? Hurry and apologize to Liu San.
No no no! Just an apology?
M-mister, you love to joke too much!
Then what else do you want?
Do you want me to foolishly deal with this case?
You're not only foolish. You're the biggest fool possible!
You-! What did you say?
I said you're mixing right and wrong, black and white, not differentiating between truth and lies!
You-! You already admitted to your crimes. You still dare to protest?
Forget it, this isn't a place to talk logic.
This place is full of unreasonable people, yet it is a place that upholds law and reason!
Sir, this is not a place for reason but a place that must observe the due ceremony.
-Isn't that so?-What nonsense are you saying?
Liu Wai Zuai did so many bad things and abducted a fair maiden. Why am I wrong in getting justice for the people?
Am I putting you on trial or are you putting me on trial?
Enough. Since the new magistrate will arrive soon,
hurry and go. Stop creating trouble here.
D-d-don't, Mister!
You'll let him go just like that?
Let me tell you! He even brought people to injure me a few days ago!
Today he mocked the court!
You will let him go just like that?
M-mister, come here.
Mister, you must punish them heavily!
Don't worry! There's lots of good benefits.
That's enough!
Benefits? I was right!
You took bribes and favored the guilty! Can you answer to the king and the people?
Do you have nothing better to do? We're letting you go and you're still not leaving?
Do you want to get hit?
Enough!
Stop creating trouble here. Hurry and leave.
This case hasn't been resolved yet so why will I leave?
That's right! Why should he leave?
Then what else do you want?
First, I will charge Liu Wai Zuai for abducting a fair maiden and bullying others!
Second, I will charge you two for playing favorites and working in cahoots with evil people!
Third, I will charge you for not caring what is guilt or innocence, truth or lies!
How ridiculous!
How dare you!
-How dare you!-Have you gone crazy?
Today, I will not only wreak havoc but also convict you of your charges!
That is the magistrate's seat!
Hurry and come down! Come down!
You are...the new magistrate?!
He really became the magistrate!
Big brother, why isn't Master back yet?
That brat offended Master.
If Master doesn't shred his skin to pieces, would he come back?
Don't worry!
Liu Wai Zuei, you abduct women, oppress your neighbors.
Your crimes are enough to spank you 100 times!
-Men!-Here!
-Carry out the punishment right now!-Yes!
- L-l-lord! I was blind! I angered you! Please spare me!- Go!
- Lord, please have mercy! And also, you didn't really say that you are the magistrate.- Hurry and go!
-My lord, spare me! He didn't say it!-Go!
My lord, spare me!
Spare me!
Do you three know what you did wrong?
I didn't know that magistrate has arrived and was disrespectful and mistakenly hurt you.
I was even wrong when I just brushed off this case, didn't really investigate the cause, and was biased towards the rich and powerful.
Since mister knew the Chu law so well,
Then tell me. How should I punish you?
According to law...they will be slapped thirty times,
and will lose their pay for a month.
Magistrate! Magistrate, we were just
temporarily muddled!
Magistrate, we know we were wrong! We will definitely change for the better!
Please spare us!
After committing such a big crime, you still have the face to ask for mercy?
Magistrate, I did not investigate the details. I am to be severely punishment.
Very well. You have some backbone.
Men!
Lord Qu, they didn't commit a huge wrong,
so please spare them.
He is right! Please spare us!
Uncle Mo! Why are you speaking on their behalf?
What do you know?
Lord Qu, Liu Wai Zuai has received his proper punishment.
I only ask that my daughter can be released right away.
Alright. Since someone begged on your behalf,
then I'll spare you today. If you do it again, I will not let you off easily!
Thank you my Lord!
Lord Jing, come! Drink wine!
You aren't worried about Lord Liu at all?
We are in Quan City!
In Quan City, whoever dares to touch Liu San and our people,
those people aren't born yet.
I think this time, that brat
will be severely beaten!
Lord Jing, Lord Cheng.
Our master...has been carried back!
Huh?
Liu San! What happened?
Who was it? Who beat our Master to this state?
Hurry and loosen Miss Mo Chou's ropes!
H-hurry and let Miss Mo Chou go...
Miss Mo Chou, please do not hold it against me...
-Big Sister!-Big Sister!-Mo Chou!
-Big Sister!-Father!
-Yi'er!-Big Sister!
-Mo Chou, are you okay?-Big Sister!-I'm okay, Father.
What are you staring at? Hurry and bow to the new magistrate,
Magistrate Qu!
Big Sister, it's all thanks to Big Brother Magistrate this time!
Yes!
I never imagined he really would become a magistrate.
Thank you, Magistrate Qu.
Just call me Ling Jun.
How could I do that? You're still the magistrate.
You are a nobleman. We are only commoners. We each have our own fates.
Mo Chou! How could you talk to Lord Qu like that?
Lord Qu, it's all thanks to you today.
I would like to invite you to my home
to show my gratitude. Will you come?
Father! He still has his own things to do. Why should he come to our home?
Mo Chou!
My Lord, please.
That's right, Big Brother Magistrate! Let's go together!
-Please.-Please.
-Big Sister, let's go.-Big Sister!
Master! Are you okay?
It hurts!
Bastards! Not so hard!
Lord Jing,
hurry and give me an idea
to get revenge!
That's right!
Such a small matter turned you into this mess?
How embarrassing!
Master! Are you okay, Master?
Master, you've suffered!
Liu San, does it hurt?
-What nonsense!-Could it not hurt?
Nurse your wounds at ease.
I will get revenge for you!
Thank you, thank you Lord Cheng!
That Qu brat! I'm not done with you yet!
Walking back and forth,
looking far from this city gates.
Not seeing you for a day is like three days have gone by.
My lady, are you thinking of a certain young man again?
Hush.
How is it?
Still no news. The people we sent out have almost searched the whole Chu country.
Where could he have gone?
My lady, as I see it, it won't work if you just miss him every day.
These past few days, you seldom play the konghou (Chinese harp).
On the few occasions you do play, I only hear sad notes.
I'm about to cry listening to it.
This Cang Yun does have some talent.
The guests that I choose, of course, have exceptional talents.
This guest of yours is really diligent in getting our Xia'er's attention.
Bixia.
Where have you been?
You missed me?
No I didn't!
Did you like the song I played just now?
It has a long, ancient feel to it, just like travelling through a distant land.
The my trip didn't go to waste.
I got this from the State of Yue.
Ping Tian Yin? (Heaven Song)
You actually found Ping Tian Yin?
You indeed have studied music since you were little.
That's right, this piece was made by famous Jin country musician, Shi Kuang.
Although he was blind, his heart was as bright as the moon.
It's said
that this song has been lost for over 300 years!
That's right. This song was passed down to the State of Yue.
It then got lost, its whereabouts unknown.
As the number one pianist in Chu, how can you not have listened to the world's best song piece?
You left home for so long
for this?
As long as I can make you happy, let's not talk about ten thousand miles.
Even if it's a hundred thousand miles, it's worth it.
But...did you ever think of this?
During these days, I was so worried about you.
You were afraid I wouldn't come back? I didn't tell you so I could give you a surprise.
If you never came back, I would never play the konghou again in this lifetime.
I only play my konghou for those who understand me.
Royal Brother, didn't Zhang Yi just go to the State of Chu to borrow a jade?
Do we need to welcome him like this?
I'm not welcoming Zhang Yi.
It is the State of Qin's world!
Minister.
Minister! The king has personally come to greet you! Hurry and come down!
That Zhang Yi! He's so brazen!
How ridiculous!
Minister! The king has personally come to get you.
What are you waiting for?
If you still won't come down, I'll flatten your carriage!
Chu Liji!
The minister has had a rough journey to the State of Chu.
Since he fell asleep, let's not bother him.
The State of Qin's sky is much better.
-Greetings, Your Highness.-Rise.
Why are you here, Your Highness?
I came to welcome you.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Was your trip smooth, Minister?
You managed to borrow it?
Yes.
Royal brother, just what does the He Shi Bi look like? It has such a big reputation!
-Bring it here, let me take a look.-Stop!
Royal brother, now that this has come to our State of Qin,
naturally it belongs to us!
Why can't I look at it?
How ridiculous!
Minister, come with me.
I think only Your Highness will not treat this jade as a treasure.
What I want is the world!
Before going to the State of Chu, you said
that the State of Chu wouldn't lend the jade. When that happens,
we will use the excuse of Chu offending the name of Emperor Yan and send troops to conquer them.
But right now, we don't have any reason to wage a war
and you even were able to borrow the jade!
Your Majesty, if Chu country didn't lend us the jade, we will have the reason to wage war on them.
Even if they did lend us the jade now, it doesn't mean we still won't have a reason to do it.
Minister, what are you thinking about? Hurry and talk!
If I told you,
that this jade is fake, would you believe me?
This is fake?
Your Highness. How many people have seen this jade before?
It's real if you say it is.
It's fake if you say it is.
You mean...
I'm saying this jade is fake.
We still can use the reason of them offending Emperor Yan
to send soldiers to Chu.
Minister, you are intelligent!
Minister, hurry and prepare to send soldiers to Chu!
I believe that with you participating,
Chu's destruction will occur very soon!
I cannot.
Your Highness, the State of Chu has long been asleep, but it is still a fierce tiger.
In the past, when King Wei of Chu conquered the north and south lands,
he left Xiong Huai with ten years worth of rations and millions of valiant soldiers.
We must not belittle them.
Moreover, the three Jins have always been at war with us most of the time.
If the Qin and Chu will start a war, the three Jins will surely ally with Chu to attack us.
What does Your Highness think is our chance of winning?
Then as you see it, what should we do?
Feed our horses and sharpen our weapons. Wait for the right time.
Wait?
That likely wouldn't work, would it?
Your Highness, do not worry. I have a plan.
Magistrate, we cannot give you much.
This fish is fresh. Try it.
Okay.
Father, how could a rich young lord like Magistrate Qu
eat bland food like ours?
No! I love eating it!
Hey, Big Sister! You put salt in it today!
That's right. You earned it by saving me.
Thank you Big Sister!
I didn't put the salt in for you. It was for Yi'er.
The rain came down so suddenly.
Mo Chou, bring the wine over here.
Okay.
Father, the wine is here.
Okay.
This wine was personally brew by my daughter, Mo Chou. It's a cold rainy weather outside.
Magistrate.
Today, you saved my daughter.
I am respectfully toasting County Magistrate.
Uncle Mo, you are being too serious. It is part of my job. Please.
What good wine!
Being able to punish Liu Wai Zuei today, I really feel so happy.
Magistrate, you don't know.
Liu Wai Zuai, Jing Yan, and Cheng Hu are the three bullies of Quan County.
Today, you offended him for us.
I'm afraid you'll become the target of his enmity.
If I was afraid of offending them, I wouldn't have become a magistrate.
Being more careful isn't bad. It was because the past county magistrates were--
Uncle Mo, they are they. I am I.
The rain is falling harder.
It's leaking again!
Let's move somewhere else.
Let's go over there.
I'm sorry. Come, eat.
It's leaking over here too!
Let's move somewhere else.
Okay.
Father, the rain is leaking through more and more. How are we going to eat?
Get down.
Miss Mo Chou!
How could a girl do this sort of work?
What kind of rich nobleman does this sort of work?
Let me do it.
Careful, it's slippery!
Oh? Why did you come up here?
♫ 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 ♫
Mo Chou! Are you okay?
Father, I'm okay. We'll clean this place up.
Dad, seek cover from the rain at my place.
Okay, be careful.
Miss Mo Chou, just now I wasn't-
Your frivolous and vagabond character will never be changed.
Lady Mo, I really didn't do it intentionally.
I swear, I really didn't-
I don't have the time to listen to your nonsense.
You're not angry anymore?
You saved me,
but don't think that this way, I'll forget
how you treated Brother Meng Yuan.
Hey, let me help you!
The king has come so often lately. He really does favor you.
What often?
He's just favoring the child.
He's never cared much about me.
You're overthinking things again, aren't you?
It's getting hot. Let me help you back to rest.
It was so hard to come out and take a walk. I'd like to stay longer.
I'll go get some refreshing soup then.
Wait for me here, Princess. I'll be right back.
My turn!
Look, didn't I win?
Your arrow is long and can fly far. I wouldn't be surprised if you won.
If you think you're good, stay farther away. If from five steps away,
and throw the arrow into the pot, then you win.
Fine! When I win, don't go back on your word!
A man never goes back on his word. If you lose,
then you have to give the feather arrow to me. How about it?
It's a promise!
One, two, three, four, five.
Didn't get it in, huh?
Enough. Neither of us are tall enough.
How about this? I'll go find someone to help. But you must admit your loss.
When I find someone to get it down,
this arrow will be mine!
Hey! Hey! This-!
Concubine Yin! Can you help me get the arrow?
So high up? How can I?
Concubine Yin, if Zhi Heng gets someone to come, my arrow will belong to him!
Concubine Yin, please help me! Please!
I'll give it a try then. Go move that stand to over here.
Okay!
Highness.
Come.
Be careful.
You're so close!
You'll get it soon! You're so close!
Concubine Yin! Are you okay?
Concubine Yin! Concubine Yin, are you okay?
Concubine Yin! Concubine Yin!
-Princess, are you okay?-Concubine Yin!
What did you say?
Mother...I just asked her for a little favor.
Who knew she'd fall?
She's your father's favored woman right now!
Even I have to give her respect! Do you want to get me killed?
M-m-mother, I won't dare to do it again!
-There's still an again?-My Lady,
right now isn't the time to be angry.
We still don't know if Concubine Yin is okay.
If the king finds out about this, what am I supposed to do?
Yes, let's hurry and think of something.
Cry cry cry, you only know how to cry!
Come with me to Jiangli Palace now.
Take responsibility for your own wrongdoings!
♪ The reeds and rushes are deeply green, And the white dew is turned into hoarfrost. ♪
♪ The man of whom I think, Is somewhere about the water. ♪
♪ I go up the stream in quest of him, ♪
♪ But the way is difficult and long. ♪
♪ I go down the stream in quest of him, ♪
♪ And lo! he is right in the midst of the water. ♪
♪ The reeds and rushes are luxuriant, And the white dew is not yet dry. ♪
♪ The man of whom I think, Is on the margin of the water. ♪
♪ I go up the stream in quest of him, ♪
♪ But the way is difficult and steep. ♪
♪ I go down the stream in quest of him, And lo! ♪
♪ He is on the islet in the midst of the water. ♪
Greetings, My Lord.
Your zither skills are improving.
It is thanks to your teaching. I am stupid,
I have only learned a little bit up until now.
Yue Yin, you are being too humble. Your talent will soon surpass your teacher.
I knew you'd return today.
I especially prepared some wine and food to serve Lord.
Very well.
♫ 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 ♫