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[Sound of the Desert]

Episode 15

The influence of Shi's Shipping is weakened in Jian-An City.

You're not isolating yourself only for the sake of His Majesty

but also to control the ambition of

Shi's Shipping's old tribes in the desert.

You have to deal with His Majesty

as well as offer assistance to the poor in the desert.

You also have to consider the issue of the Tartars' threat on Nan Dynasty.

One slight mistake and all will be lost.

He told me such confidential matters.

Does that mean he trusts me?

Then, is he willing to accept my feelings for him?

Ninth Lord, you already know how I feel about you.

I would like to ask you again.

Don't answer me now.

I can't bear with the pressure that you may give me a cruel answer.

It's Lunar New Year in a few days.

You once told me that is a good day.

We reunited that day

and it is also my birthday now.

I'll wait for you in my dance house.

If you don't show up...

I will know your answer then.

But...

But I hope that you will show up.

I'll take my leave now.

Wait a minute.

Don't turn around.

I'd like to ask you a question.

Would you like to have a family?

I do.

I'd like to have a lively family.

When I see those couples bickering with children in their arms

I am always very envious.

I'm envious of those with parents and siblings.

How blissful it must be to have a big family.

How about you?

So do I.

These are the nicest words that I have heard tonight.

Wei Wu Ji...

He treats you very well?

Go home.

Be careful on your way home.

Ding Ling, you mustn't forget us.

You must visit us often!

Ding Ling, we will miss you! Ding Ling!

- You must remember us. - Don't forget to visit us.

Come and visit us often.

All right, stop mumbling.

Get dress up. We'll head over to The Villa.

We have to receive some guests.

Don't make Fair Maiden's House look bad.

Yes, we understand!

- Go on then. - Let's go inside.

Xin Yue, why don't you come with me later?

It's all right. I have already discussed this with Ding Ling.

I won't be present at the wedding reception.

Why is that?

Today is an important day for me.

Important?

I've invited the Ninth Lord over.

Then it really is very important.

I'll go dress up to take care of the reception.

Don't worry.

It's Lunar New Year in a few days.

You once told me that is a good day.

We reunited that day, and it is also my birthday now.

I'll wait for you in my dance house.

If you don't show up

I will know your answer then.

Ninth Lord.

Ninth...

You were in this outfit when I first met you.

You were standing next to your wolf brother under the sun.

Your long skirt swayed and your hair danced in the wind.

You looked so blinding that you seemed almost out of this world.

I never looked at women carefully.

But I couldn't help staring at you then.

What is the matter?

If you're not happy in Jian-An City come with me to the desert next year.

I haven't seen my wolf brother in three years.

I wonder if he is all right.

It would be good to go back and take a look at him.

It's decided then.

I can't promise you yet.

I still have some matters at hand.

Once they are all taken care of

I may return to the desert.

All right.

At least I get something to hope for

instead of being turned down right away like last year.

It's fine. You don't have to shield me from it.

I'm sorry.

He gave it to you?

He gave it to you?

I am not sad.

I will not be sad.

I won't be sad for someone who doesn't like me.

I'm going out for a walk.

I've only had a bit to eat this morning.

I'm hungry. I'd like to have some noodles.

It's very late, and it happens to be New Year's Day.

I figured that no one is selling noodles on the streets anymore.

Today is my birthday.

I only want to have noodles.

Here you go.

See how good my culinary skills are?

Here.

You cook quite well.

Have a bowl of noodles, and then a cup of tea.

That is just right.

Do you have any wine?

Happy birthday.

General Wei.

Is the lady awake?

Not yet.

Bring some water over.

Yes.

Which person who practices martial arts sleep like you do?

Wake up.

It is already past noon.

If you keep on sleeping, you won't be able to sleep tonight.

Does your head hurt?

It doesn't hurt.

It used to hurt whenever I drink wine. How weird. Why doesn't it hurt today?

What wine did we have last night?

It's not any special wine.

It's because of this ball-shaped incense holder above your head.

I've put in some medicinal herbs.

I got the physician to prescribe it for me last night.

Whether you're willing or not

you still have to go on with your life.

General, the water is ready.

It seems that I have no choice but to get up.

I'm going to get up now.

Shouldn't you spare me some privacy?

Lazy cat. You had better hurry up.

I'm starving. Don't blame me if you only get leftovers.

My Lord, lunch is ready.

You should have lunch.

My Lord, I really don't understand.

Xin Yue is lovely, but why do you always push her away from you?

My Lord, you are our only hope.

Your grandfather is a warrior of the Tartars.

Only you can help us overcome all these obstacles.

Xin Yue is deeply in love with you.

Are you really oblivious to it?

Mo Xun, I've always been concerned about you and Shi's Shipping.

I also know that you still interact with people in the desert.

If you keep your nose clean...

I will also be honest with you as your uncle.

I wouldn't resort to violence.

My Lord, I know that there are words that I shouldn't say to you

but you hold happiness in your hands.

As long as you are willing it isn't too late yet.

My Lord, not only do you bear responsibility for your own honor

but also the reputation of your grandfather.

You should unite all our powers to make a comeback for Shi's Shipping.

Even if you won't do it, I will work to the bones to protect Shi's Shipping.

I will unite everyone to assist you.

My Lord, what is your reason?

You wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you.

My Lord, tell me.

I really want to know.

I let her go because I care.

Because you care?

So you had to let her go?

Xiao Yue, I mustn't let you take the risk with me.

You shouldn't have to share my family's burden and suffer.

You don't have to live a life of restrictions.

If anyone should bear such a burden, I alone should suffice.

I know that I can't give you the happiness you desire.

I can't give you the loving family that you long for.

Xiao Yue, just take it that I have let you down.

House Mistress, it seems that the flowers won't bloom this year.

Why don't I plant a few new ones for you?

Don't bother.

Look at this patch of Lovers' Vine. There are no flowers and grass at all.

It's all bare and spare. How ugly.

Why don't I pick a few pretty peonies and plant them here for you?

There's no need for all that trouble.

If it's bald and spare, then leave it as it is.

Xin Yue, Uncle Chen from Wei Manor is here to see you.

Uncle Chen.

What is it that had you make this errand in person?

The Young Master is getting ready to go to war.

He really can't make it over here in person.

So he sent me here to pass on a message to Miss Xin Yue.

The Young Master will leave Jian-An at dawn tomorrow

to head towards South Mountain.

So soon?

The Young Master hope to see you before he leaves.

With your encouragement

the Young Master would fight the battles in great spirits.

If Miss Xin Yue could make it

I hope that you could spare some of your time to see him off.

I understand. Thank you for coming over.

I will take my leave now.

- Take care. - Yes.

[Shi's Shipping]

As snow on mountains, my love is pure.

As moon among clouds, my love is bright.

You are unfaithful to me, I have heard

so I come to have our relation severed.

Together we have our last drink today

Next dawn we will go separate way.

On the bank of imperial canal, we walk slow

canal waters eastwards and westwards flow.

Grief upon grief and sigh upon sigh

the newly-married woman need not cry.

She wishes to have a faithful sweetheart

till their hair turns gray and never will part.

Ninth Lord, you once said that

my feelings do not match the meaning of these lyrics.

That is why I couldn't master the tune when it changes tone.

Today, my feelings are that of the lyrics.

I should have played the tune really well.

But I'd rather not to ever master this tune.

I'd rather not understand its lyrics.

Xiao Yue, you're upset and obstinate.

You buried your sorrow and grievances in your heart.

How could I not understand that?

I couldn't bring myself to tell you

because I'm afraid that if I do

I would keep you here with me out of selfishness.

I can't give you a blissful family.

It turns out that you've done so much more for me than I know.

I thought that it would do you good to turn you away.

I didn't expect that it would hurt you so deeply.

Ms. Hong, I'm leaving.

You must be furious when you read this letter.

Don't be mad. All the dance houses and whore houses under my name

here in Jian-An City as well as some pawnshops

are now all left in your name.

I know that I am being willful.

But since I came to Jian-An City

I have been learning hard.

I've learned how to be a local here in Jian-An.

I've been learning how to grasp propriety in my words and actions.

But now, I am tired.

I miss those days in the desert where I could be reckless.

I'm leaving now.

I might return some day.

But I might never return as well.

Therefore, Ms. Hong, don't miss me.

There's one last thing that I need to trouble you with.

After a few weeks or two

send this sealed letter to the housekeeper at Wei Manor.

Yours, Xin Yue.

My Lord... My Lord.

What's the matter, My Lord?

My Lord, what's the matter?

My Lord?

Get me a horse carriage.

A horse carriage?

Hurry!

My Lord, where are you going?

What's going on? Where is the Ninth Lord rushing off to?

- He didn't tell me. - What exactly happened?

I went to the Ninth Lord's room this morning and found his room in a mess.

I think that he must have stayed up all night.

You two should hurry after the Ninth Lord to protect him!

I'll head out now and you'll bring along some men to catch up with me later.

Yes.

Young Master, it is almost time.

Uncle Chen, did you tell Xiao Yue that I leave for war today?

I did. I went there in person.

Xiao Yue does know about it.

It seems that she has decided to stay in Jian-An.

Young Master, you must take even more precaution in this battle.

You took over the Tartar's hinterland with just eight hundred riders.

It was a great victory and won you great fame.

This time, the Tartar troops must now be very cautious of your army.

Uncle Chen, one has to roll with the punches.

Do you doubt me?

Why would I?

But those officials are not impressed by you.

They think that it is sheer luck.

Even His Majesty may still have some doubts.

I watched you grow up.

I have every confidence in you.

I understand.

But I can do nothing about what others might think.

I can't be bothered.

You can say so

but General Li Da, who fought so many battles and never accomplished much

was not made a marquess either. What about you, Young Master?

You made a name for yourself with just one battle

and was even made a marquess.

There are bound to be those who are jealous of you.

Only mediocre people would not be envied.

The title of a marquess is one matter.

His Majesty doesn't dare to let me lead a huge army to war. That is the truth.

It's good that you understand that.

He only gave me an army of ten thousand soldiers to test my ability.

Only my victory could shut those court officials' mouths up.

This time, I have the confidence to return with great victory.

By then, I would have them all convinced.

You're absolutely right, Young Master.

Could Xiao Yue be waiting on the city walls again?

- Hurry up! - All right.

Hold on tightly!

Sir, I wish to hire a carriage to the desert.

How is it? Did you find her?

No!

Are you all so stupid?

Are you all corpses?

- How come none of you see her leave? - We were all asleep last night.

- How would we know... - How dare you talk back at me?

- Ms. Hong! - Stop yelling! It's so annoying!

- Ms. Hong! - Ninth Lord...

Ninth Lord, I don't mean to scold you.

- I was just... - I need to see Xiao Yue.

Xiao Yue? I want to see her as well.

I'd like to seek her out to scold and beat her up.

She disappeared early in the morning

and even said that she is going to leave Jian-An.

All she left me was a letter.

Did she say where she is going?

She only said that she is going back to the desert.

She also left a letter to General Wei.

She had asked me to send that letter over to Wei Manor a few weeks later.

I already had that letter sent to Wei Manor in a panic.

Hold on.

Brother! We can't find him!

You are all to wait out here.

- Yes. - Let's go in.

Ninth Lord, what exactly happened?

Xiao Yue left.

She left Jian-An to return to the desert.

Xiao Yue couldn't ride horses, so if she is going back to the desert

she would surely hire a carriage.

Send our men to all the the livery stables.

Ask them if there is a young lady who hired a carriage to the desert.

- Yes. Second brother! - Present!

Check all the livery stables here in Jian-An City.

Yes! Let's go!

My Lord, no matter what happens

let's head back home to wait for the news, all right?

Uncle Chen!

Uncle Chen.

This is a letter left behind by the House Mistress of Fair Maiden's House.

Please pass this on to General Wei.

You said that she left this behind?

Where has your House Mistress gone to?

She didn't leave us any details.

She seems to have returned to the desert.

The desert?

Young lady, are you afraid of being in strange lands alone in the desert?

I'm going back to where I come from.

I've already left Jian-An!

I'm going to start a new life!

Young lady, since you came from the desert you should know how to ride horses.

Why didn't you pick a good horse for yourself?

I never got the chance to learn how to ride one.

That is why I still can't ride horses.

With your intelligence, if you are willing to learn

you will surely be able to ride well.

Which horse would dare to run with the wolves?

I'll learn to ride one when it does.

Uncle, how do we get to Dunhuang City?

We'll get to South Mountain first, and then to Qiutu.

Then when we get to Xiaorouzhi, we'd be in Dunhuang City.

I heard that Jian-An has sent troops to repel the Tartars.

General Wei's army would go past South Mountain in a few days.

Is there another route that doesn't go through South Mountain?

If we are not to go through South Mountain

we would have to go to Duye Mountain first.

Then we have to go to Qingshan before we reach Dunhuang City.

But then it would take us two to three more days.

Sure, we'll take this route then.

This...

I'll pay you more.

All right then.

We'll take the second route.

- We won't go with the team. - Sure!

- My Lord! - We have news.

She did hire a carriage to leave Jian-An City.

Shen Xing, send a message out with the pigeons.

Get the league of Gray Wolf and all the bandits in the desert

to stall her the best that they could.

Yes!

Uncle Shi, notify all our former brothers who are at the frontier

- to look for her as well. - Yes.

My Lord, since Miss Xin Yue is going back to the desert

how could we possibly not be able to find her?

What's most important for you now is to nurse you back to health.

If Miss Xin Yue sees you in this state when she gets back

she would be upset again.

Yes, only if you take good care of your health could you find Miss Xin Yue.

I'm all right.

Uncle Shi, go and handle this matter quickly.

Sure, leave it to me.

My Lord, don't worry.

We'll bring Miss Xin Yue back as soon as possible.

Xiao Yue is more quick-witted than anyone else I know.

If she don't want to see me

it is useless even if we send out all the men we have.

Should she get back to the desert

and back to the wolf pack

our chances will be even slimmer.

General! I am here to deliver an urgent letter

under the orders of Housekeeper Chen.

- Uncle Chen sent you here? - Yes!

You are dismissed.

Yes!

I've gone back to the desert.

I'm sorry. I didn't leave with you.

By the time you read this letter

you would have returned in victory after months of battle.

I'd probably be chasing a lamb with my wolf brother.

Or probably doing nothing at all

watching the sun set.

Ms. Hong said that those intertwining vines are just like our lives.

I was thinking that perhaps life really is like those honeysuckle vines.

But life isn't all intertwined and complicated.

It is like the blooming and withering of flowers.

Just like those silver petals and gold pistils.

We encounter, and then we bid farewell.

We face each other, and then we turn away from each other.

Fate brings us together and takes us apart.

A vine of flowers display the cycle of life in its ups and downs.

This time, I choose to turn away and leave.

We may never meet again after this departure of mine.

I can only wish the best for you.

Xiao Yue, you lied to me again.

This is the first letter that you wrote to me.

But I believe that this won't be the last one.

Xiao Yue, I don't believe that you're harder to track down than the Tartars.

Lad, do you have a clean room available?

Yes. How many nights are you staying here?

Just one night.

Should we prepare meals for you?

Just some simple dishes will do.

- Send the meals to my room. - Sure.

Young lady, this way, please.

In addition, please prepare hot water and a wooden tub for me. I need a bath.

Sure! I'll have that ready for you shortly.

This way, please.

It's so comfortable.

There are so many hot springs outside Jian-An City.

I won't get to enjoy them anymore.

Qing Garden...

Stop thinking about it.

You're not to think about it anymore.

You must forget everything about Jian-An City.

Young lass, tell your boss not to boil any more water.

There is still a bucket left.

You... What are you doing here?

It must be Ms. Hong.

Didn't I tell her to give him the letter in a few weeks?

She must have betrayed me!

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