Song of Phoenix (思美人)

Song of Phoenix

Episode 53

I hear the good lady calling me, I shall drive my carriage along with her. --- Nine Songs: Lady of the Xaing

Jie Jie, there's a few Yue guards coming towards us.

The war just stopped. They are naturally on more vigilance.

Then, did you figure something?

For now, we just have to take one step at a time.

I didn't imagine how vicious Jing Po was.

Fooling everyone.

King of Chu pardoned me but I didn't imagine how complicated things would get.

I still want to thank you for all you did on my behalf before the King of Chu back then.

But getting back to the topic on hand, you're the King of Yue's only blood offspring.

Why have you fallen to this now?

Don't you think this place is actually most suitable for me?

Instead of fighting over the throne with my aunt out there.

I don't want to see more loyal subjects and men lose their innocent lives.

You think it's so quiet in here, do you?

You don't see anything anymore, is that right?

Let me tell you. You are wrong.

Do you know that thousands of citizens out there

are getting deluded by your aunt

bidding their lives away for nothing over at the borders?

Let me tell you, once Chu nation attacks Yue,

your last home front will be precarious too.

You think being in here means nothing will happen outside?

But this isn't all to be blamed on my aunt.

Chu nation is pressing Yue and Qin is also pressing Yue.

It's already precarious for Yue.

So many things, I can only bury in my heart.

What do you mean?

Actually that old battle between Chu and Yue can't all be blamed by Chu.

It was Zhang Yi who wrote to my royal father and my royal father trusted him.

Which led him to dispatch the army to attack Chu.

For that fiasco.

What did you say?

When my royal father passed away, I saw their letters.

Then why didn't you tell your aunt?

How do I tell her? Do you mean I should

go and tell her our wars were all instigated by others?

To tell her that our revenge is a joke?

No. I can't tell her.

Now Qin is scheming the same as it did before.

Do you want to see Yue nation fall into Zhang Yi's net again?

Princess, are we truly to kill of Chu's enjoy?

That's not our fault. He brought himself here.

Are we supposed to escort him back?

It's true. Chu has offended our borders.

If we don't kill the Chu envoy, our grudge can't be dissipated.

But if Chu sends an army, then . . .

What are you scared of?

If they want to battle, we'll battle to the end.

To die in the battlefield is giving our utmost loyalty to the late king.

Enough. I will have this Chu envoy killed for sure.

No one is to dissuade me.

In three days, in this place,

I will use Qu Yuan's blood to pay my respect to my seniors.

Princess, we discovered two wenches in our fortress with suspicious behavior.

They were speaking mysterious so we captured them awaiting your assignment.

When did we start reporting such trivial matters too?

Just kill them off.

However they were speaking some strange things and that if we don't bring them to see the princess,

then a huge calamity will befall on Yue land.

Who are they to curse our Yue nation so?

They want to die? Bring those two here.

Let me see what skills they have.

Yes, ma'am.

Mo Chou at the Princess's attendance.

Mo Chou? Where are you from?

Where I am from and who I am are not important.

The reason I am here today is to tell Your Highness a very important matter.

Speak.

Within a few days, Yue will suffer a great earthquake.

When that time comes, mountain and water will collapse and people and beats will perish.

You mean there's an earthquake happening at Yue land soon? That's impossible.

Why is it impossible?

The land of Yue has been peaceful since the beginning.

We've never had any earthquakes.

Just because it didn't happen before, it doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.

Princess, how can you vouch for tomorrow's happening?

In the Three Hundred Poems, the big earthquake during the time of King You . . .

how many people died? Do you all not know?

True.

Unless Princess desires to see that it happens again

before you believe it.

On what account should I believe you?

I dare to ask Princess. In the land of Yue, have all the animals been fleeing out of their nests and caves recently

escaping everywhere?

It's true. It's really true.

Let me ask Princess again. Have all the flying beasts

crying out despite day or night?

It's true. The birds are crying

keeping people awake at night with anxiety.

Then that's it.

Another thing. I can only tell the princess.

How do you know?

I cannot disclose the secret.

Princess. Why don't we ask this miss

how we can resolve the calamity.

So tell me, what are we to do now?

I don't know the exact time of the earthquake. I can only calculate an estimated time.

So in this time being,

I ask that the Princess tells all the people not to sleep.

They cannot stay at home no matter what.

Everyone needs to gather in an open space.

That's the only way to minimize loss at best.

Miss, since you can calculate that an earthquake will happen,

do you have a way to prevent the earthquake from happening?

I fear that's too difficult.

Can we enshrine the Gods?

From what I see, the earthquake cannot be prevented.

Even if you enshrine to Gods, you can only lessen the sufferings upon the people.

Then, you set up the altar at once.

Yes, ma'am.

Is there another thing?

Princess, if what I say is proven,

and I assist you in rescuing your people,

could the Princess promise me something?

Indeed you come with a condition. Speak.

To you, it's something easy.

But after the enshrinement, it won't be too late to discuss it.

Fine.

Jie Jie, what all did you say to her?

Let's talk about it after we are out.

Thank you Brother Qu, for rescuing me in Chu.

Now you are in this predicament but I am incompetent to assist you.

If there's another life, I will surely repay my debt then.

Life and death are up to God.

To be able to spend prison time in your company

to exchange words and poetry,

isn't it another excellent way of living?

Eat now.

Where's the wine?

No more wine. Something big's happening.

What big happening?

Two mysterious witches came.

Saying we'll have an earthquake here soon.

Qu Yuen, don't you guys love witches in Chu?

Tell me, are witches really that mighty?

I think it's all foolish tricks.

Is this how we are supposed to carry out the ritual?

Yes, it really works.

These 2 better not fool me.

Sister, what are we dancing right now?

It is a ritual dance.

Sister, ritual dance? Isn't this just the dance we did at the circus?

Don't say nonsense. Just follow my lead and it'll be alright. Hurry!

What are they whispering about?

They're probably reciting the spells.

Sister, what did you say to the Princess just now? After you spoke with her,

her entire (facial) expression changed.

I told her that she probably haven't had her period in a while.

From what I'm guessing, it has probably been 3 months since the last time.

How do you know?

Just look at her. Her skin color isn't great and horrible temper. I'm sure it's because her period hasn't been coming that caused it.

What are they saying?

Sister, about the earthquake.. how accurate is that?

Honestly, it was just a feeling.

Don't scare me like that!

You just escaped death in Chu,

why are you here risking your life again?

Don't think too much about it. At this point in time,

we will just have to react as it happens.

What?

Keep dancing! Quickly!

Princess, you've already thought about for half a day, what are you planning on?

I don't understand any of it.

Yue rarely ever have outsiders that visits,

but some unknown shaman comes showing up

and everything she says are extremely accurate making it impossible for me to not believe it.

They probably just coincidentally guessed correctly. If they really are just making everything up,

and playing with us then they've really fooled us.

Let's just trust them for a couple days. It won't hurt to trust them once.

I want you to post a notice right now telling everyone

not to be inside houses for three days. They must be in open space. No exceptions.

But what if these 2 shamans are lying to us? Then what should we do?

Just lock them all up so that not even a moth can come out!

Yes.

Come on.

That's good.

Prince Zi Lan, what is it that you want to do?

I prepare a surprise for you! Just follow me.

What kind of surprise is it? Must I be blindfolded?

Come on, just hurry up! Everyone is waiting for you!

Don't rush, don't rush!

Prince, what is this place? -Careful, steps.

I can't play with you.

We're almost there, almost there!

What smell is it? It smells very nice.

Of course they smells nice! They also look and feel nice!

Come on, come! Almost there.

Come. We've arrived.

Prince Zi Lan.. you... what are you doing?

What's wrong? You don't like them?

Look over here! There's more here too.

These are all the beautiful women that I personally picked!

You can choose whoever you like. You can choose anyone from the Huaying palace!

Of course, that doesn't include my Royal Mother.

Prince Zi Lan, what kind of person do you take me as?

Seems like you aren't satisfied with anyone of the women here.

That's too bad. I'll just have to find better ones for you.