Song of Phoenix (思美人)

Song of Phoenix

Episode 72

You distance yourself from the secular world, coming and going all alone, dare to walk horizontally than just follow the flow. - Ode to Orange from Nine Chapters

Mother! I need to tell you some good news.

What is it?

King Father is going to execute Zi Shang!

What did you say?

King Father found out Zi Shang was in cahoots with Zhang Yi.

He will be executed today.

Are you startled? Does your heart hurt?

Let me tell you. Even if King Father doesn't kill him,

I would find a chance to kill him!

How ridiculous!

This is karma you and Zi Shang should have gotten long ago!

The sins!

Now you know what you and Zi Shang were doing were sins?

It's too late!

Your disgusting relationship with him,

must I say it?

Disgusting?

Then I'll tell you something even more digusting now!

I married your father while pregnant with you!

So now,

do you know who your real father is?

Your Majesty, the hour has come.

The hour has come! Prepare for the execution!

Wait!

I still have a secret. Don't you want to know what it is?

Your Majesty, don't-!

Speak!

I don't want to tell anyone else. Come here!

Speak.

Closer.

Even closer.

Even in death, I won't tell you!

Just give up on that idea!

Begin the execution!

Lotus Flower Palace

Your Majesty, you are still troubled about Grand Adviser Shang?

I really never imagined

Zi Shang was my Royal Uncle.

To do such a disgraceful thing like this.

He has brought shame to all of Chu State.

He has brought shame to me.

Your Majesty placed righteousness over family.

The people can't wait to praise you.

How can you be shamed?

Perhaps Zi Shang was right.

The political reform Qu Yuan and I created

truly is not advantageous for the ministers.

But I did for the good of the state.

Are you still thinking about what Zi Shang said?

I enacted changes for so many years.

Was it right, or wrong?

Because of what Zi Shang said,

you're now doubting yourself?

Today at court,

Zi Shang made me feel

that my and the king's changes perhaps only thought of the people

and ignored the court officials.

Do the changes really need to keep the court officials' benefit in mind?

If it is proper benefits, then of course.

But if it is just

the ministers who are hungry for power, then of course you must speak up for the people.

Actually, you and the king are not wrong.

It is the court officials' hearts that were wrong.

Their hearts have already collapsed.

Collapsed.

Hearts have collapsed.

What's important now is the matter concerning Qin State.

Do you think His Majesty will go to Wu Guan?

No.

Oh? Why not?

Since the king has let Prince Zi Heng stay in the State of Qi,

then how could he ignore his own son's safety

and ally with the State of Qin? If he does that,

would Prince Zi Heng still be able to come back?

That makes sense.

But perhaps you don't know about the Qin Queen Dowager, Bazi.

She is still a part of the king's worries.

As for whether His Majesty will go to Wu Guan,

I still don't know.

Yes, people's hearts have scattered.

The ministers' hearts have scattered.

How much longer can I stay king?

Your Majesty.

If one day, the State of Chu really falls apart in my hands,

how can I go face the previous king?

Your Majesty possesses a big heart and rare holiness.

How could the State of Chu be destroyed?

In you opinion, should I go

or should I not go?

Your Majesty. The alliance between Qin and Chu is such a major event.

I cannot make a statement on it.

You actually understand in your heart.

You're just not willing to say it.

This time, I'm afraid I don't have a choice.

I can only go.

Your Majesty!

Qin...cannot be trusted.

You're saying...I shouldn't go?

I mean...you should go,

but you must be careful and take care.

What you mean is the Qin's will attack me?

Why wouldn't I know that this is a dangerous trip?

Today Chu State has went from bad to worse.

Our victorious days have long passed. While Qin State

is ready for war and is formidable.

Even if I ally with Qi,

we may not be a match for Qin.

If I want to keep the empire my ancestors left me,

I can only make this journey.

I'll take it as it comes.

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Lotus Flower Palace

Royal Court

Yesterday, I thought over it for a long time.

The Qin king sent an ambassador thousands of miles here.

Not only did he offer us miles of land,

He also gave the He Shi Bi back to me.

He helped me remove the criminal in my court.

Since the King of Qin wishes to sincerely side with Chu,

I've decided. Tomorrow, I will personally go to Wu Guan.

Beloved Subjects, what do you think?

Your Majesty is intelligent.

Your Majesty! You cannot go.

Why not?

Your Majesty, we just allied with the State of Qi.

We agreed to subjugate Qin together, to share both the honor and the disgrace. If we publicly ally with Qin now,

What will we do about the Qi-Chu alliance?

Things change. As long as something is beneficial to us,

that is our friend.

Beloved Subject Qu, do you think that the Qi-Chu alliance can ensure

that we will not be invaded by Qin?

Your Majesty, Prince Zi Heng is still in the State of Qi.

If we ally with Qin,

I'm afraid Prince Zi Heng can't return anymore!

His Majesty is the King almighty.

Would he ignore the safety of the country for one prince?

Prince Zi Lan, you can ignore your brother's safety. But if the king ignores the Qi-Chu alliance,

I'm afraid he will lose the people's trust!

For the sake of the estate that the State of Chu has accumulated over hundreds of years, I have no choice but to do so.

Your Majesty, the Qin's are not to be trusted.

They must have a reason to ask to see you at Wu Guan.

This time if you go, you will surely be trapped.

If anything happens to you, then the country-!

You are being too serious, Great Shaman of Chu.

I don't think the State of Qin would be so extreme.

Your Majesty!

I originally wanted to help Your Majesty do something great.

Never thought that Your Majesty will actually break your promise with the world

just because of a Hanzhong territory.

Qu Yuan! How many heads do you have?

You claim that it's for the State of Chu's empire.

You're afraid of Qin! Qin has knocked you over!

Adviser Qu!

Qu Yuan! You're a lunatic!

Crazy? I'm not crazy!

You're the crazy ones! The king is the crazy one!

Your Majesty, you are being indecisive, not distinguishing who among your subjects are loyal and whose not, overturning what's white and black.

You're a useless king!

Enough!

I've already decided on the Wu Guan matter.

You don't need to say anything more.

You've been in a poor mood lately.

So what if I'm in a good mood?

So what if I'm in a poor mood?

Don't I still live every day like this?

Why?

You want to know why?

Of course!

So what if you knew?

Don't come look for me anymore.

What did you say?

Did I do something wrong?

You didn't. I was wrong.

We met too late.

I don't know what you're saying.

Are you trying to say you shouldn't have entered the palace?

Yes. I shouldn't have entered the palace.

If we met before Zi Shang,

then nothing would have happened.

Zi Shang?

Before I was taken here by the king,

I had already given myself to him.

Are you still willing to be with me?

I'm not the way you think I am.

Leave.

Did you give yourself to me?

What use is asking this now?

I'm asking you. Just answer.

Yes.

As long as you have given yourself to me,

all I did for you was worth it.

I cannot change your past, nor do I want to.

I only want your present and future.

You don't mind?

My life is despicable. Do you mind?

-Mother. -Lan'er.

Zhuang Qiao. Why are you here?