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[Sound of the Desert]

Episode 24

You...

Do you have anything to say to me?

Lie down and get some rest first. The cooks will make you rice congee.

Wu Ji...

Sure... I happen to be a bit hungry now...

Here, take your medication.

Is it bitter?

I've hired the imperial chef best at stewing chicken broth.

Have a taste of his soup.

Here, have a piece of chicken.

How is it?

- It's quite nice. - Good.

Days went by, and we've both been very careful.

We tried our best to make each other happy.

We pretended to forget about anything that was unpleasant.

Aren't you bored keeping me company like this?

Why would I be bored?

I have a lot to do to get you fully recuperated.

I already find it boring

and there's nothing fun here in Fair Maiden's House.

It definitely isn't as fun in Fair Maiden's House as in Wei Manor.

We'll go back to my place together when you've fully recovered.

Don't think too much.

Your health comes first.

What would you like to have?

Tender chicken? Abalone?

Sure.

House Mistress! House Mistress!

Shi's Shipping sent someone over.

- They say that... - Xin Yan!

Don't talk nonsense.

What did they say?

They said that... you can recuperate at the Bamboo Court if you wish...

But I've already replied them

that you're not going anywhere.

I said that my place is the most suitable place.

I can care for you the best. Am I not right?

I'll go and get you some food.

- I'm so chubby... - How could you not be?

You sleep and then eat and then sleep.

It's like keeping a little...

If you dare say that word, you are dead for sure.

Ms. Hong was the one who said it!

She said that General Wei told us to keep sending food and drinks.

He doesn't seem like a general he seems more like a pig farmer!

I was being honest, wasn't I?

Whatever General Wei feeds you these days you gobbled it all up.

You two even pretended to be happy.

Do you know that everyone in the house has to watch what we say?

We don't dare utter the word 'nine' in front of you two

or the word ' Shi.'

That's all in the past now.

Will you stop carrying that thorn around in your heart?

This is weird. Why isn't General Wei back here yet?

I have to prepare dinner now.

You don't have to prepare his dinner.

He shouldn't be back for a while.

Yes.

Where is he off to?

His Majesty summoned him to the palace.

He doesn't know what is so urgent either.

Summoning First Prince, Zhao Di

and Prince Zhao Pian!

The appointment of the Crown Prince has been postponed again and again.

Today, a decision will be made.

I've decided that the Crown Prince...

is to be First Prince, Zhao Di.

Your Majesty is wise!

- Thank you, Your Majesty. - Thank you, Father.

You may both get up.

I congratulate Your Highness.

Congratulations to the Crown Prince.

I've decided to appoint Pian Er as Crown Prince.

Is Your Majesty really going to appoint Qin Xiang's son as Crown Prince?

Wan Qian once told me that

if Your Majesty decides to act willfully

he will choose to quit his position and take me traveling.

Is that really Wan Qian's idea?

Or is that more your idea?

My idea is Wan Qian's idea.

What matters is that once Wan Qian quits his position

all of his subjects, the court officials and military officers

will retire along with him.

Wan Qian isn't the only important official and commander in the nation.

All in all, Wei Wu Ji is also a member of the Wan family.

Between wealth, power, fame, and kinship

when it comes down to making a final decision

he will still choose to support the Wan bloodline.

but if Your Majesty's most trusted Wei Wu Ji goes against you

then you lose Wan Qin, Sima Zan, and Wei Wu Ji.

However, if the Crown Prince is the son of Empress Wan

Your Majesty can be at ease that they will all serve you with utmost loyalty.

Your Majesty's Nan Dynasty will be secured and safe.

Congratulations, Auntie.

You are still in the favor of His Majesty.

From now on, you can enjoy the honor of the Crown Prince.

Your position and status are now safely secured.

I've already told you that His Majesty will make a wise decision.

The Senior Princess was worried that His Majesty favors Madame Xiang

so he might appoint her son as Crown Prince instead.

It now seems that His Majesty still has the Empress on his mind.

How could His Majesty possibly make the wrong choice out of selfish reasons?

I'd like to leave first.

Wu Ji!

Since the Crown Prince is now appointed

it is evident that His Majesty is in great favor of the Wans.

In the future, we must serve His Majesty even better.

You turned down His Majesty's offer to bestow marriage upon you.

That is not exactly living up to His Majesty's admiration for you.

I don't care much for that sort of favor.

If I could be like my uncle, whose wife learned to love all whom he loves

and plans all sorts of strategies for the Wan family

that is a huge favor that I mustn't miss out on.

General Li...

Your Highness, don't be upset.

His Majesty broke his promise to you

but I will never do so.

You saved my life that night.

But I still haven't told you why I was out there alone on a stormy night

hanging on for my dear life.

It is Senior Princess Zhaoyang.

She made all those arrangements.

Her goal was to kill both me and my child.

If you hadn't saved me in time

my Pian Er would have been dead by now.

Her goal is to prevent you from taking the position of Crown Prince

from Empress Wan's son.

The Wans have taken authority in and outside of the palace.

They plan to blow hot and cold.

This is really outrageous.

I don't want to be bullied by anyone anymore.

I don't want to be at the mercy of anyone, leading a life of fear.

General Li, will you help me?

I will.

Even if I ask you to take great risks for me

and even if you might get killed should you fail the task?

Yes, I will help you.

No matter what you want me to do for you.

Even if I ask you to go up against the most authoritative power in court

and even if I want you to go against the decree of His Majesty?

Yes.

What I am after is the throne.

No matter what path you choose

and even if it is the throne that you are after

and whatever the outcome

be it life or death

I will never go back on my words.

All right.

Madam Yue, you won't even eat the soup when General Wei isn't around?

General Wei.

Xiao Yue!

Guess who is it that I've brought here to see you?

Who is it?

Hei Shi!

Jin Yu!

No, I should call you Xiao Yue now.

I'll get Xin Yan to get us some snacks to go with wine.

Thank you, General Wei.

I'm really happy to see you alive.

I'm also very happy to see you again.

She didn't even blinked an eye when she saw me.

But her eyes lit up the moment she saw you.

Now that you're both happy, I am unhappy.

Xiao Yue, don't you have a lot to say to Hei Shi?

Why did you only manage to say that you are very happy?

I...

This is the first time that I've ever seen Xiao Yue blush.

General Wei, it seems that you're not only skilled in fighting wars

but you're also skilled in taming willful girls.

You're bad-mouthing me the moment you get here?

You have to drink a cup of wine as your punishment.

Sure, drink up!

I'll drink with you as well!

I am sorry.

You don't have to apologize.

There was nothing you could do then.

Xiao Yue, did you know that Mao Yun Zhu married Hu Wei Li?

I ran into them already.

I even accidentally shot Mao Yun Zhu.

I see.

It was rumored that she was injured while going after General Wei.

I didn't expect that she was injured by you.

Because of you, Hu Wei Li has taken great care of Mao Yun Zhu and me.

Mao Yun Zhu didn't realize that. She was besotted with him.

After she learned the truth, she was very upset.

But this time after she was injured Hu Wei Li treats her differently.

Since Mao Yun Zhu is still alive

we no longer owe each other then.

Our childhood friendship is over, once and for all.

From now on, I have nothing to do with either them.

It's just that I never expected Hu Wei Li to change so much.

Xiao Yue, could you tell me what is different about Hu Wei Li?

He... He is less tolerant of others now.

He was ruthless in the past

but now he is a bit more cruel.

He is also very suspicious of others.

After he seized the throne for himself he no longer trusts in anyone.

He's always worried that someone like himself could be among his subjects.

Hu Wei Li is a man of great talents and bold vision.

We were all impressed by him.

But because of his suspicion, every king and prince lived in terror.

In the end, we could only choose to leave him.

A wise ruler is one who can strike a balance between doubt and trust.

He must use strategies to control all authoritative forces and powers.

I think that Hu Wei Li might have gone slightly overboard, but not too much.

There's an old saying 'If names be not correct'

'language is not in accordance with the truth of things.'

This is Hu Wei Li's weakness.

For your people, it's only right that he does well as your King.

Because he usurp the throne.

But once he makes a mistake, he will be reprimanded and reproached.

People will think that he isn't as good as the the deceased Crown Prince.

The intelligent Hu Wei Li is bound to detect your people's minds.

How could he not be furious?

Who knew that we aren't the ones speaking up for our King but General Wei?

Should our King hear such words

I'm sure that he would toast to a great rival like you as well.

Although bosom friends and buddies are hard to come by

a well-matched rival who appreciates you is even rarer.

Good! Then we'll drink to him!

- Here. - Drink up.

Three best things in life!

Great food and wine, bosom friends and reunions with old friends.

Wu Ji, I'll leave this girl to you.

She's suffered quite a lot of hardships.

Treat her well!

Don't worry.

I'll treat her better than anyone.

Am I right?

You two have arms around each other, saying whatever you want.

Do you still have any regards for me?

That symbol...

Why would I see the symbol of Gray Wolf in Jian-An?

The League of Gray Wolf?

Hei Shi, you've seen that symbol before as well?

It belongs to a mysterious organization in the desert.

It's said to be around for seventy or eighty years now.

They were said to be the incarnation of

the most brilliant bandits in the desert ever in history.

Incarnation of bandits? How terrifying could they be?

I have no idea either.

But someone witnessed the League of Gray Wolf kill bandits who were after

Nan Dynasty's merchants.

They even rescued Tartar merchants from the bandits.

All in all, wherever the League of Gray Wolf went

the rich, the poor, the criminals, the commoners, and merchants alike

will have to avoid getting in their way.

That is to say, they have great power in the desert?

Who cares about their power in the desert?

I'm not afraid!

Wu Ji! It's such a great joy drinking with you today!

Of course! Let's have more drinks then! Come on!

All right now!

Hei Shi, head back and have some rest.

Take good care of Xiao Yue.

Don't worry, I will.

- I won't see you off then. - Don't bother.

Let's head back inside.

I'm home!

The Ninth Lord mentioned before

that his grandfather was once the leader of bandits in the desert.

Young lady, you're really bold!

Not to say you, but even the bandits in the desert

stay far away from us when they see this symbol.

No wonder that I paid attention to that symbol.

Waiter, have you seen a lady from Central Plains about this height?

She's slender and good-looking.

I haven't seen her.

Could it be... that I was the young lady they were looking for?

The Ninth Lord was already looking for me at the time.

If he had found me then

what would it be like now?

We were once so close to each other.

Only a window kept us apart.

We gazed at each other through the window

but we still missed each other.

Xiao Yue... I'm so thirsty...

I'll get some frozen fruits in the cellar to make juices for you.

Xiao Yue, it's wonderful to have you by my side.

Don't leave me, please?

[Shi's Shipping]

My Lord.

Thank you for coming all the way here.

Please get up.

Do get up.

We know that the Ninth Lord is closing down all the businesses.

You wish to sever all ties with our league.

We regret your decision

but we've served Shi's Shipping since your grandfather.

We pledge our loyalty to you and will respect your decision.

Should you require our services in the future

we will offer you our utmost loyalty!

We're willing to honor and respect the Ninth Lord!

We're willing to serve the Ninth Lord!

Thank you.

I have nothing to offer in return.

All right then, hand this to Master Chen for me.

This is for Master Lin.

- Yes. - This is for Master Fang.

Have you remembered that?

- Got it. - Good.

Be careful.

All right.

Be careful!

House Mistress.

Xin Yue, why isn't your General Wei here today?

Wu Ji has a lot of relatives.

He's gone off early in the morning to greet them for Lunar New Year.

Are you going to Shi's Shipping to greet them for Lunar New Year?

No, it's fine. Ms. Hong, prepare some gifts for me and have them sent over.

Don't worry.

You've made me a new pattern?

Yes, take a look to see which one you prefer.

Anything that Ms. Hong prepares is good.

Have you got your mouth coated with sugar?

I think that the one you're holding now is better.

It's simple, and it suits someone like you who can't embroider very well.

Why do you suddenly want to do embroidery?

Wu Ji said that we have pledged ourselves to one another after all.

He wants me to embroider a sachet for him as a token of love.

I've never made an effort on embroidery anyway.

Besides, I don't have anything else to do.

I might as well give it a go.

If General Wei receives a sachet that you embroidered for him

he will be truly overwhelmed with joy.

I'll leave you to embroider it slowly.

I'll attend to other matters first.

It's really rare to see Miss Xin Yue with a needle and thread in her hands.

Ninth Lord, Mister Shi, Happy New Year.

What now? Are you going to make us stand here?

Aren't you going to invite us over to have a seat?

Please have a seat.

My Lord.

Is your hand all right?

Let me have a look.

It's all right.

It's rare to see you doing needlework.

I happen to be looking for a sachet.

Could you make one for me?

Would you like some tea?

It's fine.

We're just here to take a look at you.

We'll leave after a while.

By the way, I have a message for you from Xiao Feng's grandfather.

He would like you to visit him when you have the time.

If you're unwilling to go to Shi Manor because of me

I could avoid seeing you.

Why would I?

That's good to know.

We'll head back now.

My Lord, this is the account book that you asked for.

My Lord, I'm begging you.

Don't make it so hard for yourself.

Don't choose to run away because of Xiao Yue.

I'm not making things hard for myself.

I just wanted to see if she is doing well.

I also don't want her not to visit Xiao Feng's grandfather because of me.

My Lord, you have Xiao Yue's best interests at heart at all times.

If she chooses to stay with Wei Wu Ji

will you also allow her to do so?

Are you going to give her up?

If you choose to do so

I won't mention a word of it again.

I've never given her up, not once.

House Mistress, Mister Jin Yan is here to see you.

Don't bother looking around. The Ninth Lord didn't come with me.

He doesn't know that I've come over here either.

What is it that you want to say to me?

If you're here to persuade me, then save your words.

No, I'm not here to persuade you.

We all knew how devoted you were to the Ninth Lord.

We remembered it very well.

It's just that the Ninth Lord isn't fortunate enough.

I'm only here to tell you about some matters that you don't know, but should.

Xiao Yue, did you know that after you left Jian-An City

the Ninth Lord began to search for you?

I only learned about that a few days ago.

- Did you send the League of Gray Wolf? - That's not all.

Not only did the League of Gray Wolf search for you

but also the assassins of all tribes, bandits in the desert as well as

Muslim lands and members of their royal family.

But you disappeared without a trace.

No matter how many people you have in the desert, how could you find someone

who wasn't there in the first place?

Exactly.

Exactly...

We managed to track you after you left Jian-An City

but we only got as far as the inn in Liangzhou.

Then all traces of you vanished again.

No matter how hard we tried to get news of you

there was nothing at all.

The Ninth Lord went to Wei Manor especially for you.

He asked to meet the housekeeper of Wei Manor.

The Ninth Lord has never begged anyone.

Even when Shi's Shipping was at its worst

he did not beg the Emperor for help.

The emperor is still his uncle.

Who knew that the first person he begged was but a housekeeper at Wei Manor?

He begged Uncle Chen?

He asked Uncle Chen if Wei Wu Ji had searched for you.

He begged Uncle Chen to notify him of your whereabouts

if General Wei found you.

If you refused to let him know where you were

he asked that Uncle Chen conveyed his message to say 'He is willing...'

'He is willing to admire the flowers with you.'

No matter how long he has to wait

he will wait for you to come home.

But do you know what Uncle Chen answered him?

I'm unwilling to remember that humiliation.

The Ninth Lord shouldn't be humiliated!

Such a humiliation should only happen once to a person!

It is enough.

Later on, General Wei returned to Jian-An.

The Ninth Lord went to see him.

General Wei was very polite.

But when he asked about your whereabouts

he said that he had no idea.

He lied.

The Ninth Lord is a righteous man.

He is just and upright.

Even in this situation, he refuses to stab anyone in the back.

He only thinks that he has let you down.

It all turned out this way because he wasn't honest with you.

He didn't cherish you then.

So this is his punishment.

That's enough.

I get it...

I understand.

I thought that I should tell you about this.

But I can't consider that much anymore.

I told you about these matters so that you will know the entire truth.

Only then is it fair to you and Ninth Lord.

General Wei is one amazing man.

He's an invincible general on the battlefield

and a tender man in private.

He is a true hero.

Xiao Yue... No matter who you choose to be with in the end

I will be happy for you.

I'm home!

General Wei.

What is it? Why haven't you had dinner at such a late hour?

She didn't even take a bite!

The food is exactly how it was when I brought it in.

Xin Yan, you can leave when you've tidied things up.

What's the matter?

You're angry at me for coming home late?

Have you been reprimanded by your relatives?

You don't have to worry about me. I'll take care of it.

You haven't told me why you won't have your meals.

Nothing is the matter.

I had some fried donuts and sat around all afternoon.

I wasn't hungry so I didn't have my dinner.

All right then, you don't have to have dinner if you don't want to.

When did you start playing around with this?

Is this for me?

It isn't for you. I'm making that for myself.

Xiao Yue... What exactly happened?

You can argue with me or scold me.

But don't stay angry at me without telling me the reason.

Shouldn't a husband and a wife be honest with each other?

Who is your wife?

That's not what I meant. I...

I'm sorry.

You don't have to apologize.

I should be the one to apologize.

I can't marry you and give you a legitimate status.

As for that, I care about it, yes, but it doesn't really bother me.

I'm not upset about that.

Have you really been completely honest with me?

Of course.

You met up with the Ninth Lord then.

If you're referring to the matter about the inn in Liangzhou

I don't think that I've done anything wrong.

Since he didn't like you, why should he keep pestering you?

You gave him chances again and again.

What could he possibly think of only after you left?

Wei Wu Ji!

For your own selfish reasons, you humiliated him

and kept information from him.

You acted despicably!

You're still speaking up for him.

What am I to you?

Yes, I have selfish motives.

My selfish motive is to stop him from hurting you!

I just wanted you to forget all the unhappiness

and stop being caught up in your past anymore!

My selfish motive is to make you happy!

Make me happy?

You kept me in the dark.

How can I be happy?

How will I be happy?

Was I wrong, shielding you from harm to keep you happy?

If you think that I've done wrong

then fine.

I apologize to you.

- Anybody there? - What's wrong?

Hurry up!

- Go and fetch a doctor quickly! - Yes!

Over there.

What is the matter? What happened to Wei Wu Ji?

Not even armies could hurt him

but why would he fall from a horse for no reason?

He is even injured this badly! What is this about?

Your Majesty, this...

This could be an accident.

No matter what, you have to save his life!

Your Majesty, we already read General Wei's pulse at his manor

but he is really down with a weird illness.

We can't do anything about it!

You can't do anything about it?

I said that you have to save him then you have to save him!

If you can't save his life I will have you all dead

so that you can be buried with him!

Your Majesty, we won't dare to neglect your orders.

We will surely do our very best to rescue General Wei!

- Yes! - Your Majesty.

This is an accident.

Punishing the imperial physicians won't help at all.

Get lost! Get lost now!

- Thank you, Your Majesty! - Thank you, Your Majesty...

My Empress, it isn't that I don't understand the situation

but Wu Ji is now my right-hand man.

I can't have him leave my side.

Wu Ji is unyielding, so I believe that he will overcome this.

General Wei might be victorious at war, but he is still troubled by romance.

Romance? What about it?

My dear, do you know something about that?

Your Majesty, to be honest with you

although General Wei and Xin Yue seem to be deeply in love

Mo Xun still stands between them.

Mo Xun?

What has Mo Xun got to do with this matter?

They're both in love with her.

Love hurts easily.

Even if one is a great commander.

Why should Xin Yue have someone like Wei Wu Ji who loves her so deeply?

Although I have Li Ji, who is almost as devoted as Wei Wu Ji is to her

and who would do anything for me

I can only make use of his love as my tool to success.

I can't fall in love like Xin Yue does.

- What should we do? - Exactly.

How can she not drink or eat at all?

I don't know...

Ms. Hong.

General Wei used to come over here every day.

Why haven't we seen him for the past few days?

Xin Yue, what happened between you and General Wei?

Tell me about it.

We can give you some advice.

Don't keep it all bottled up.

I'm fine.

All right then. It's fine as long as you are all right.

We didn't even eat anything.

I'm already starving.

We'll go and make you some tea.

Let's go.

Ms. Hong, can you tell me what they were talking about?

How can I possibly not know?

Xin Lan gazed at Xin Yan with a look of doubt in her eyes and said

'Has Madam Yue had her meals today?'

Xin Yan said, 'Not yet.'

Xin Lan said, 'Not yet?'

'I haven't eaten anything yet either. I'm starving!'

Then Xin Yan peeked at you.

'Why don't we go grab a bite without Madam Yu knowing?'

They exchanged a few glances in agreement.

It is that easy!

You're making it up!

If I don't make up funny stories, would you even smile?

You looked so down these days.

You're upset, so we get upset as well.

Xin Yue, why are you so hard on yourself?

You obviously miss him very much

and you look so troubled.

Why don't you visit him

and show him that you care?

House Mistress! Uncle Chen from General Wei's manor is here.

He said that he wishes to see you.

This is good. Someone is here to help you patch things up.

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