Song of Phoenix (思美人)

Song of Phoenix

Episode 52

"She has orchids and wild ginger on; she breaks off a fragrant flower to give to the one she thinks about."

Your Majesty.

From what I hear, recently the house of Zhang Yi's

has had numerous deliveries of treasures from court subjects.

He's set a grand merit in the battle of Hangu Pass.

Of course many will want to win his favor.

I heard that even Prince Dang sent some beauties to Zhang Yi.

Did he accept?

No.

That Zhang Yi is quite unrestrained.

To not accept the gifts from the Crown Prince is rather disrespectful.

Just that, the Crown Prince does have an unique position.

The Crown Prince's doing, I fear . . .

It's true. As a Crown Prince, it's rather unsavory.

But he's given me a good idea.

How do you mean?

I struggled to come up with what gift to bestow on Zhang Yi.

But now, let's pick 20 beauties from the palace to send to him.

Zhang Yi is notorious for not being a lecher.

Would he accept?

Beauties sent by me would be different than beauties sent by the Crown Prince.

Furthermore, if he doesn't accept my beauties,

does he accept that I gift him the world of Great Qin instead?

Your Majesty, we suffered a great loss of 150 km of commerce land.

Qin and Chu are two nations with one rising and one dwindling in power.

I believe we should ally with Qi again

to reclaim our lost land.

Your Majesty, in your humble subject's opinion, it's not wise to attack Qin again.

Minister Qu, it was your idea to build the alliance.

Which ended up with our Chu nation in this great loss and shame.

Now, our Chu's under attack,

with our officers and soldiers held at indignation.

But now you say you oppose an alliance.

His Majesty is merciful to not seek blame from you.

But have you no regret or repent whatsoever?

Grand Advisor, the defeat at Hangu Pass isn't the fault of the alliance. What crime is there in Minister Qu?

I believe your words are erroneous.

If it hadn't been an alliance, the battle at Hangu Pass wouldn't have happened in the first place.

The two-faced attitudes of showing respect on the surface while dismissing in private and the divisions is what's caused the alliance to fail.

Enough.

Ok.

The defeat at Hangu Pass

is all my fault.

I know there was mistrust and suspicion in the alliance.

All stemming from our Chu nation's dispatch of troops.

I didn't listen to Minister Qu and fell into Zhang Yi's trick.

Now I personally seek for Jingchu punishment.

Mu Yi, bring the Jingchu wood.

Back then, my ancestor, King Wu

took an army to battle the Ba people and returned defeated.

The soldiers guarding the city gate closed the gate to forbid entrance.

My ancestor King Wen loved to hunt and cast aside politics.

And he suffered a canning from Bao Shen. I am not a gifted man.

I don't have my ancestors' scholarship or martial skills. However I know this.

A wrong needs to be punished. Let rewards and punishments be clear.

Minister Qu, you carry out the punishment on me.

- Your Majesty. - Minister Qu!

Your unworthy descendant Xiong Huai, ashamed before my ancestors.

Minister Qu, carry it out.

Your Majesty. No.

Your Majesty, you mustn't.

Your Majesty, are you asking me to be unjust and disloyal?

Didn't you say this?

A royalty is human too. A person just the same.

Do you not dare to carry out the punishment because it's me?

Start!

Vice Chancellor Qu!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, since you have the heart to self-reprimand, to self examine,

it is a great fortune for future of our Chu State.

In my opinion, why don't we hang the Jingchu Baton

above the Court hall so it can continue to caution the world.

In Chu, provided that everyone, from Your Majesty to

every one of the ministers and citizens,

be vigilant even in peaceful times, are willing to self examine,

then what fear do we Chu have of a powerful Qin?

Your Majesty, what Vice Chancellor Qu said is correct.

Vice Chancellor Qu is correct. From this day forth,

this Jingchu Baton will be place upon the Court!

With this baton placed here, it's equivalent to the ancestors of our Chu sitting here before us,

like the eyes of all of our citizens watching us.

If anyone were to lead the country astray, to corrupt the State, bring disaster and calamity to the State,

then they can come and receive the Jingchu Punishment themselves!

Your Majesty is wise!

Before, if his Majesty were in the mood,

he'd summon you and I to watch some song and dance to alleviate the stress.

But for the last few day, we haven't even seen him.

It's all Qin's fault.

Inhuman and brutal. Makes one angry just thinking of them.

This time the alliance of the six states lost to Qin,

it's inevitable that this Majesty despondent.

Sisters, you should all be considerate of his Majesty.

Of course, if we're not considerate, who else would?

If not, would it depend on Sister Ying?

Where is Consort Ying?

Sister Ying was trying to catch her rabbit in the Palace,

was mistaken to be an assassin and ended up twisting her leg.

It's been so many years why hasn't she recovered from her madness.

Perhaps it's because Sister Ying isn't feeling well that she didn't come.

Not feeling well?

Who'd believe that? Isn't it because Qin won over Chu?

How can she not realize, a married woman is like a tipped pail of water (cannot be returned).

Even if Qin wins, what can she do?

Enough, stop talking about this.

Qin is able to win,

because the State of Qi is too cunning.

The King of Qi may look righteous and benevolent

but in reality he's full of nothing but filth.

So tell me how his Majesty is to fend against it?

Then Sister Zheng, you can report to his Majesty,

that just relying on your mouth, Chu would be able to defeat Qin and bring peace to the world.

Sister, I'm not feeling well, I'll take my leave.

Okay, go back and rest well.

Your mouth is really very annoying.

I respectfully greet your Majesty.

Jing-qing please rise.

Jing-qing how is the expedition against Yue going? Quickly tell me.

I have not made much progress, there has already been a large number of casualties.

Seeing that the situation is not good so I could only have the troops guard the borders

and rushed came back to report to your Majesty.

The situation is really very critical and I do not know if we can win!

What a joke, have I not given you enough troops?

Can you not even handle just the remnants of the defeated Yue?

If this battle is lost, it is not the fault of the battles,

but the fault of a person.

What do you mean by that?

I've felt it is fishy that the Yue knows the battle plans of us Chu.

They are able to see through all of our plans with ease.

Later on, I found out that the leader of Yue

really did have much relations with us Chu.

What?

Your Majesty, Ministers, do you all still remember

Wu Ming?

Wasn't he the one who attempted to assassinate the King back then?

Your Majesty, back then you were merciful and release Wu Ming.

And it was also under the suggest of Vice Chancellor Qu.

- Is this real? - It most definitely is.

Back then your Majesty released Wu Ming but he did not appreciate your favor

Instead he focused on training his troops and gathering horses. Waiting for the opportunity to raise his army in revolt.

I feel bitterly disappointed for your Majesty.

Qu Yuan, Wu Ming was found from your Manor back then,

and he was even using a sword from your Qu family.

Later, you were the one who accompanied him in jail and also the one to plead for leniency for him.

We never thought that after his Majesty listened to your advise and released him

that it would lead to this much trouble for Chu.

Qu Yuan, what sin have you committed?

Qu Yuan.

Your Majesty.

What did you say to me back then?

That the sword can only add to hate and not vanquish hate.

The person you spoke for has now become Chu's great threat.

What do you have to say?

Your Majesty, I understand the kind of person Wu Ming is.

He would not break his words and do such a treacherous act.

Then well me where all those rebellious troops came from?

Qu Yuan,

did you not just ask that I be vigilant even in peaceful times and be willing to self examine?

How trusting I've been of you,

but you keep trying to save Wu Ming and would actually do something like this!

biting back on Chu!

Do you want the world to laugh at me?

Your Majesty, I'm willing to accept all responsibility without complaint.

If Vice Chancellor Qu you hadn't easily trusted him all those years ago,

our Chu would not have the troubles of today!

This is no one but Qu Yuan's fault.

He aught to die to atone for his crimes.

Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot. The Vice Chancellor may have made a mistake on this,

but in the battle at Han Gu Pass, he gave meritorious service in saving the King, that is known to all.

Your Majesty, to kill a meritorious official after a large battle,

will cause discontent amongst the people and how will it garner esteem from the world?

Your Majesty, I have a great plan to subdue Yue.

Without using a single soldier we'd be able to make Yue submit to us.

Speak.

Since Vice Chancellor Qu is in such good terms with Wu Ming

why don't we send Vice Chancellor Qu to Yue as emissary. He is sure to be able to convince Yue.

In this way Vice Chancellor Qu can make amends for his past faults.

Is it not two birds with one stone?

No. This trip would be too dangerous, absolutely not.

I only just thought of a way for Vice Chancellor Qu to make up for his mistakes,

as for if Vice Chancellor Qu is willing to make this trip,

it's up to you.

Your Majesty, I am willing to head to Yue to pacify Yue's rebellion.

I'm willing to atone for the mistakes that I made.

Have you thought it through?

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You've really thought it through?

This is something I had created, there's nothing I can say.

This time heading to Yue, it will be very dangerous. No one will be able to accompany you.

Thank you for your concern your Majesty.

Even I die in Yue, it is something I deserve.

I thank your Majesty very much for allowing

me one more opportunity to serve the country.

If this is the case, then why did you have to save him before?

Now I've became an idiot, to have been tricked by him like that.

Tell me, do you have any regrets?

Your Majesty, I have never regretted it.

He had tried to assassinate me.

In your heart does my life not compared to that of a dependent-guest*? T/N: guest followers of aristocrats