♫ 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 7
"When the blue water are muddy, they can clean my feet."- The Fisherman -
Good wine.
This wine is cultured with a lot of thought.
If you like it My Lord, I'll make you some more.
When good wine enters my throat, I already feel contented to have it only once in my life.
My Lord, you only like wine in your mouth, and not having a woman in your embrace?
My Lord, you have been working hard half of your life. How come you still have no wife until now?
You do not know.
In the past, I and Su Qin both were under the tutelage of Teacher Gui Gu.
What Su Qin studied is the vertical alliance method while what I studied
is the horizontal alliance method.
Teacher Gui Gu favors Su Qin more than me.
When I went down the mountain, I swore.
I surely must use the horizontal alliance method to unify the world.
I won't stop until I die.
My Lord, there are so many worries in the universe,
why are you worrying about the people and neglecting your own worries?
While my great ambition hasn't been fulfilled, how can I form my family?
Then Lord, were you ever concerned about the people around you?
If it wasn't for you who saved me, I would've died.
I respectfully admire you, My Lord.
If My Lord doesn't care, I am willing to stay by your side and serve you forever.
My lord! You don't like me?
Your body is useful for a greater purpose. It cannot be sacrificed to me.
A greater purpose?
You have always asked me to diligently train my piano and dance skills.
Was that also for your supposed greater purpose?
One day, when I rule the whole world,
I will definitely take you as my wife.
Little Sister Yin.
Big Sister? Why have you come?
I just came to see if your body is feeling better.
Yun Niang, you can leave first.
Yes.
Lan'er.
Hurry and kneel down.
Big Sister, what are you doing?
Lan'er is still and doesn't understand much. I brought him over today to apologize to you.
Zhi Lan. Hurry and apologize!
Concubine Yin, I know I was wrong.
Prince Zhi Lan, you do not need to mind. Hurry and rise.
No!
Today, I must definitely punish him to kneel all night.
Or else, he wouldn't know how big his wrongdoing was.
Why do that?
I'm alright, I'll be okay after I lie down for a while. Don't scare the child.
Little Sister, you are so magnanimous.
Then you mean, you forgive Lan'er?
Prince Zhi Lan is young. How could he understand so much?
Hurry and rise.
Thank you, Concubine Yin.
That's right.
You have a month until your due date.
I brought some good medicine
to help you nourish your body.
You must accept it.
You are too courteous, Big Sister.
What happened today, if the king finds out...
He'll worry about your body.
So...
Big Sister, where have your thoughts gone?
Don't worry. I won't tell the king.
-Queen Mother.-You're back?
Hurry and come.
This child. You always like to play. How are you going to succeed the throne in the future?
Queen Mother, I just played a bit with Zhi Lan.
Is that so?
That's right. Just now, when Concubine Yin was getting the arrow for Little Brother Lan, she accidentally slipped.
Really?
Then...is Concubine Yin okay?
She should probably be okay.
Concubine Yin is currently pregnant. Nothing bad can happen to her!
Go tell the King. In a bit, we'll go see her with the King.
Yes.
Your Highness, we can be at ease this time.
That's right.
If she didn't promise herself today, this would be a sickness lodged in my heart.
Lan'er.
You've suffered a bit today.
Princess, what's wrong?
I seemed to be feeling something weighing down on my abdomen.
I am happy that you have the heart to come see Concubine Yin with me, Queen.
As the mistress of the inner palace, I naturally wish that the inner palace is peaceful.
Provide a lot of descendants for the royal family.
Very well said.
Greetings King, greetings Queen.
King, you've finally come!
What is it?
The princess isn't doing very well today. Hurry and go in to see her.
She was fine yesterday. Why is she so weak today?
The princess fell onto the ground today.
What happened?
This...this...
Speak!
It was Prince Zhi Lan. He insisted that the princess climb up to help him get something.
The princess couldn't refuse him, so she could only climb up.
That insolent thing!
Come, Lan'er. Eat some more.
It's all food you like to eat. Come.
-Your Highness?-King Father.
Men! Capture Zhi Lan!
Yes.
Mother!
Zhi Lan!
-King Father!-Your Highness!
-King Father!-Your Highness, why are you doing this?
This brat created trouble, and you still dare to ask me?
- Mu Yi, flog him 20 times!- I'll abide.
King Father!
King! Please spare Lan'er!
-Mother, spare me!-King!
King!
-King!-King Father!
Zhi Lan is still young and doesn't understand. Please spare him!
-Hit him!-King Father!
I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!
Lan'er knows he was wrong! Please spare him!
You know how to have heartache for your son?
Don't you know that the child in Concubine Yin's stomach is also my child?
You let Zhi Lan go bully a pregnant woman.
You don't reflect on your crimes now, but instead beg me?
If anything happens to Concubine Yin,
you will be at fault!
Hit him!
Stop hitting him!
King! It's my fault!
I didn't teach him well! Just hit me!
You want to protect him?
Very well.
Then don't blame me for having you beaten too!
Wait!
King.
Since Prince Zhi Lan knows he was wrong,
I think this punishment has imprinted the wrong on his mind.
King, just spare Prince Zhi Lan this time.
Since the Queen spoke on your behalf, then I'll spare you for now.
If there is a next time, I will double the punishment!
-Thank you, Your Highness!-King Father!
Mother!
What she gave my Lan'er today,
in the future,
I will definitely make her child repay it in double!
What? We still have to wait?
-Yes.-Royal brother, until when do we have to wait?
We have already waited for a long time!
Stop believing that Zhang Yi.
Saying that he is one of the four disciple of the Great Master Gui Gu.
If you ask me, he is just a rotten mouth.
Zhang Yi's words make sense.
The Chu Country after all is indeed different with Han, Zhao, and Wei.
Tiring the troops on a long expedition will only put us in a passive state.
Royal brother, you've become overly careful.
If we continue like this, when can we unite the world?
Who let you eat it?
Throw it out.
I'll say it again. Throw it out!
Royal Mother, this was sent over by uncle thru Zhang Yi.
Mother, you've left the State of Chu for many years. Do you not miss your home?
Ji'er, I'll say it again.
You are a citizen of Qin, and you will forever be a citizen of Qin!
You have no connection to the State of Chu.
Nor do you have an uncle.
Mother, I've made you angry.
I know I was wrong.
That year, if Xiong Xiang and Xiong Huai
didn't trick me out of the palace using hunting as an excuse,
how could I have married foolishly to the State of Qin?
You call Xiong Huai "Uncle".
But did you know?
He was the same age as you then.
He told me that he will not let me leave my country.
He said he wouldn't let his father use me in a political marriage.
But in the end?
He was the one that knocked me out,
and worked with Xiong Xiang
to give me to the political marriage horse carriage.
When I woke up and realized I had arrived at the State of Qin,
everything was already set.
So Mother, you didn't marry to the State of Qin willingly?
I am not Xiong Xiang's daughter.
But I always treated him as a father.
I treated Xiong Huai as my older brother.
But they, did they treat me as a daughter and a little sister?
Mother...
Ji'er.
You must remember what Xiong Huai did to your mother.
Mother. I remember.
Chu Liji.
My beloved hates the State of Chu so much.
Why worry that the grand scheme to destroy Chu will not work?
Master Liu, please spare me!
You already owed me hundreds of jins (monetary unit).
You still want to loan? No way, let me tell you.
Master Liu, I am sick, I really cannot fish!
Please give me a few more days, Master Liu. I'll give the fish I catch to you right away!
Did you know that I'm in a particularly bad mood today?
You are still going to make me unhappier, is that it?!
You're sick?
I'll...!
Master!
Are you okay, Master?
Was it the same area where the county magistrate hit you?
Qu Yuan...that damn cruel guy...
Stop holding me! Hit him!
Spare me! Spare me!
Hit him!
My lord, please get justice for me!
Master Liu, Magistrate Qu just gave the order.
You are not allowed to beat the fishermen at will.
-You didn't know?-He belongs to me!
I will beat him if I want to! So what?
Alright, Liu Wai Zuai, you must take the hard path?
Take him away!
-Master!-W-w-wait!
W-w-wait!
If you do this, doesn't that break the rules?
Rules?
You, come with us too to the county magistrate and file your complaint!
Master! Master!
Master!
Kneel!
Liu Wai Zuai, why is it you again?
Magistrate.
Say it. The county magistrate will bring you justice.
I was sick these past days so I forgot to pay fees.
So, Master Liu...Master Liu taught me a little lesson.
Liu Wai Zuai. Is he speaking the truth?
I'm asking you a question!
Magistrate, they take their boats out to fish.
They use my boats and eat my food.
If they give me some money,
so what? That's the rule!
Alright.
Then, you're saying I don't understand the rules?
I already taught you a lesson last time. But now, you publicly oppressed a citizen again and forcefully asking for payment.
Men! Take him away and lock him up!
Yes!
M-magistrate!
No! Magistrate!
Go!
I'm innocent!
Big Brother Magistrate is here!
Magistrate.
Uncle Mo.
Why did you come here?
-What are you standing there for?-Yes.
Magistrate, this is...?
Uncle Mo, your house needs massive repair.
Or else, fixing it every time a problem comes up won't work.
How could we trouble you with our broken down house?
We have troubled you, Magistrate. It is the county's fortune that you have a heart for the people.
That's not all!
Just now, the magistrate severely punished Liu Wai Zuai!
Not allowing him to forcefully take payments.
Magistrate, you've done a big thing for the county's people!
It's nothing. I'm just doing my job.
As the magistrate, if I don't work for the people,
why bother being the magistrate?
It looks like I really must thank you, Lord Magistrate.
Evil people like him who forcefully take provider fees
and has beaten people numerous times, not eliminating them will really make me feel bad.
Besides, I once said that I wanted to change Quan County.
Change yourself first.
Liu Wai Zuai is despicable. But today, you got rid of Liu Wai Zuai,
and tomorrow there might be a Ma Wai Zuai, Yang Wa Zuai, Lu Wai Zuai.
Can you get rid of them all?
You are only treating the superficial part and not the root.
I indeed am aiming to treat this root cause.
-Be careful!-Go towards the right!
-The right side!-Have some water.-Thank you, give it to Magistrate Qu.
Magistrate Qu, have some water.
This is...?
This is the herbal tea my daughter made.
It doesn't taste as good as that in your home. But it can refresh you, cures poison, treats boil, and improves your vision.
-In a bit, have the brothers drink some too.-Okay!
That's right. Um...where did Miss Mo Chou go?
The house is fixed. I'll go back first.
Then what are you standing here for?
I came to tell you to come to the magistrate's office tomorrow.
The magistrate's office? Why?
Are you saying that I won't be able to treat the root cause? I'll then let you see tomorrow how I am going to treat this root.
But I don't have that idle time.
It's getting late. I'll go back first.
-Let me help you.-There's no need.
-Let me help you!-Don't get your hands dirty!
Who said that? I'm saying i'll help you!
I'm saying I don't need it!
-Give it to me!-No!
Give it to me!
Are you okay?
I didn't push you on purpose!
Qu Yuan!!
Big Brother Magistrate helped us fix our house!
From now on, our house won't leak when it rains anymore!
Father! Big Brother Magistrate is a good person! He will definitely be a good official in the future too!
Don't say things too early. We can only see a person's true character as time goes by.
Big Sister! Big Sister! Big Brother Magistrate fixed our house!
How did your dress get wet? Hurry and change, or else you'll catch a cold.
Okay.
-I said I'll help you!-I said I don't need it!
Give it to me!
Yang Jiao! Hurry! The water is already boiling!
Coming, coming!
Say, what's up with our magistrate today?
He just have to invite so many fishermen.
Cut the crap. Our magistrate's intentions,
I think only the heavens will know them.
-Hurry up and get to work.-Hurry up!
What is the meaning of this magistrate?
What can he still be thinking about in inviting us here for a meal? Of course, it is to make connections.
Not necessarily. That Liu Wai Zuai is still locked in prison.
I heard he's been starved for a full day and night!
What? Still want to kill a chicken for the monkey to see? (scare tactics)
Today, I asked you all to come
to treat you all to a meal.
Please.
Magistrate, it's enough that there isn't much fish.
-You can't leave the salt out too!-That's right!
Magistrate, how can a human drink this soup?
Is that so? You feel like no human would eat this?
Zhu'er, Yang Jiao.
I'm so hungry!
No, really...
Full...I'm so full.
When I first came to Quan County,
my first meal
was in a fisherman's home. At that time, I was the same as you.
I also felt then that this thing is so hard to eat.
But it is exactly these stuff that we feel is so hard to swallow,
Those fishermen can barely eat that even once.
Everyone. Fishermen have no fish to eat.
Don't you feel like that's strange?
It is exactly because you all were forcefully taking provider fees that you pushed them to this state.
County Magistrate, paying the provider fee is the usual practice in the whole county.
Is that so?
Then I'll have to break this rule today.
Starting today, there will be deduction in the provider fee in the whole county.
From the usual fifty jin, it will be reduced to just ten jin.
For the rest, it would be deducted by 1/5.
This...ten jin?
M-magistrate Qu! Are you joking?
What do you think?
Everyone. Do you have any objections?
Alright. Since there are no objections,
then it's decided! Who will stamp their thumb print first?
A-alright!
I can pay up some stupid fish!
Everyone come over, Magistrate Qu has something to announce!
Excuse me, thank you.
Liu "Twisted Mouth".
Get lost!
From today on,
the county's daily provider fee for every family everyday
will be changed to 10 jins for those paying 50 jins.
As for the rest, it will be deducted in a 1/5 ratio.
The fishing lords cannot privately increase the fee
and they cannot oppress or torment the fishermen.
-Good!-Good!
It looks like Qu Yuan really does want to change Quan County!
It's true!
It's just because he's new. Weren't the previous magistrates like this too?
But...I think he's different from them.
How do you know?
A feeling! Didn't you feel it?
Nope!
Thank you, Magistrate!
Let's go!
Lord Jing, that brat Qu Yuan isn't not giving us face!
He's clearly hitting our faces!
As I see it, we should teach him a lesson!
It's not time yet.
T-then what should we do?
I-is there nothing we can do?
Why bother thinking of a way? Just follow the old rules and just-
You can't. Qu Yuan is a county magistrate that was personally conferred by the Emperor. You plan to stab the Heaven too?
Lord Jing! This won't do, and that won't work either!
Then you tell us what we should do. That man's tail right now is already sticking up to the sky. (far-reaching power)
He is already rubbing it on our face.
T-then...!
I am more afraid if he doesn't stick up his tail. Just don't let me find an opportunity.
Or else, I'll make sure to cut his tail off.
My Lord, what news did you get from Mu Yi?
I couldn't get a word out of Mu Yi.
What should we do then? Jing Po's wife and the current Nan Hou (Southern Queen) are sisters.
We have no one in the court!
At the beginning,
father got the district magistrate position form Jing Po's father.
The Jing family has always resented that.
If this time we let Jing Po become the district magistrate, I'm afraid that the Zhao family
will have no peace anymore.
How about you ask the King?
Then isn't that just asking the King for a position?
From the looks of it, we still need to go to Zi Shang.
Get me that gold inlaid with jade.
Aiya! What a good jade! What a good jade!
This jade is crystal clear and resembles nature itself.
How rare!
If Minister Shang loves it, I'm willing to give this jade to you.
You do not need to be courteous, Lord Zhao.
You are an expert in jades. If you leave it with me, it'll be dirtying a treasure.
That's right. Lord Zhao, you came for a different reason today, right?
You know how the King's personality is. There are some things where if you don't say it, you'll be okay.
If you say too much, it might induce an opposite effect.
Jeez, I might need Minister Shang to enlighten me about that.
The ones in power in the court are you and the Jing and Qu families.
Qu Boyong doesn't have any interest in being the district magistrate.
What Minister Zhao is defending against is most likely just one person, right?
But...how should this person be guarded against?
The Chu has three defenders. The whole world knows this.
Whoever the Qu family favors, wouldn't that make the situation clear?
I'm afraid, this sort of matter,
Qu Boyong wouldn't be willing to get involved.
I heard that your daughter is already 28 years old, beautiful and talented, with piano skills that is above everyone else.
The young master of the Qu family, Qu Yuan, is young but extremely talented in poems.
He has also been made Magistrate of Quan County.
He will definitely be favored in the future.
What Minister Shang means is...
In this world, there's nothing better than a pleasant merging of poems and piano, a perfect combination.
Zhang Manor
My Lord.
Yue Ying, how long have you been here?
My Lord, it's been three years.
Three years. In these three years, I've made you practice dancing and zither playing every day.
It's about time to use that.
I will listen to your orders, no matter what it is.
Good. I was not wrong to save you.
Pack your things. You set off in five days.
Where am I going?
The State of Chu's palace.
My Lord! I do not want to go to the State of Chu!
You were just saying you'd do whatever I asked. Why do you say you're not willing?
I am willing to do anything for you, but not leave the State of Qin!
You love the State of Qin so much?
I was born and raised here. How can I not love it?
Three years. You have already been with me for three years.
I never thought that you are the same as everyone, so short-sighted.
In this chaotic times, it is exactly the time for heroes to use their might. How can they be hindered by just some thoughts of yearning for their country or home?
What we want...is the world!
I am just a woman. I only wish to serve Lord for hundreds of years.
I never thought of the world!
There's no need to keep talking. I have made up my mind.
Your Highness, I have received news that the King of Qi is searching for the most beautiful women in the world.
Everyone knows he loves playing around with women. What's so strange about that?
The beautiful women he finds this time are to be given to Xiong Huai.
Sending the most beautiful women in the world to the King of Chu?
The State of Qi wants to create a good relationship with the King of Chu?
Doesn't His Majesty want to use this to create some issues?
What issues?
Why not use this opportunity to send a female armament?
As they say, the hero uses a sword, while a beautiful woman uses her waist.
if a woman is used well, sometimes they become more useful than a man.
The Qi Country is claiming this to be an alliance marriage but they actually are sending a spy.
They worked so hard, and haven't they set a perfect path for our State of Qin?
- We just need to slightly borrow from their effort.- She is the female armament you are talking about?
This woman is both talented and intelligent. If we send her to Qi to join the beauty competition, she surely will win it.
When that happens, the King of Qi
will send her to Chu and she will be our living pawn in this game of chess.
The Qi and Chu countries will then both fall into the palm of my hands.
You are correct, Your Highness.
Greetings, Your Highness.
Rise.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Miss, do you know that when you go this time,
it will be very difficult?
I know. If I can help the State of Qin rule the world,
I am willing to give all of my meager contribution and will not refuse it even if I die.
Even a young girl like her is willing to serve her country, why will His Majesty still worry that you won't get the world?
Good! I will wait for your good news.
♫ 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 ♫