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[Sound of the Desert]

Episode 26

Your Highness!

You're finally here.

You've been waiting for long.

You have to come to the palace especially for me.

In comparison, waiting here by the lake for a while isn't much.

Regarding Wei Wu Ji's matter, I've let you down.

It's all right.

I'm thinking that since His Majesty favors Wei Wu Ji so much

we might as well go along with it

and assist Wei Wu Ji in gaining power, and let him become Wan Qian's enemy.

'When the snipe and the clam grapple, it is the fisherman who profits.'

We just need to egg them on

to break off the relationship between Wei Wu Ji and the Wans.

We'll let the Wans fight among themselves?

One has power firmly grappled, and the other is a favorite of His Majesty.

It seems that it will only cause destruction to both parties.

That is when we strike.

Wu Ji, you've kept on offending His Majesty because of Xin Yue.

You managed to get by this time because His Majesty took your side.

But how will the other court officials think of you?

You were seriously ill this time because of Xin Yue as well.

She will eventually cause your downfall.

Auntie, you've made it sound too serious.

This was entirely my idea.

Xin Yue was just going along with my mischievous act.

Your act of mischief is trouble to the entire Wan family!

You got by today with His Majesty's favor.

But how will you stay that way?

Should the day come when you're no longer in favor

who will take your side to protect you?

All right, that's enough.

Wu Ji has just recovered from his illness and overcome a crisis.

Let's not be too harsh on him.

His Majesty and the tutor no longer take this matter to heart.

Why would you be so harsh on our own family member?

Fine, I won't say anything more.

If he stirs up more trouble, we'll have to handle it for him.

[The Villa]

Please come in.

Is General Wei here to have a meal?

No, it's fine. I'm just here to take away three dishes.

Abalone, candied white ear fungus, and drunken fish.

- Have you got that down? - Yes.

General Wei, have a seat while you wait.

- I'll just wait here. - Yes.

These are all Xiao Yue's favorite dishes.

I'm sure that this will make her very happy.

- Young Master. - Young Master.

Uncle Chen! Where is Xiao Yue?

Miss Xin Yue has gone back to Fair Maiden's House.

She's gone home?

Didn't I tell her to stay for dinner?

Miss Xin Yue said that she left in a hurry yesterday

so she didn't get to notify the girls in the dance house.

She went back there early this morning.

I was about to send someone to bring her back here.

Uncle Chen, warm up these dishes for me.

- Yes. - I'll go and fetch her myself.

Don't wait up for me.

Young Master!

Xiao Yue, I can't thank you enough for coming here to see the Ninth Lord.

Thank you. Your presence makes a huge difference to his condition.

Go on.

Xiao Yue, come over here.

I have to talk to you.

I don't wish to keep anything from you.

General Wei has already sent his men to Shi Manor many times.

He also made a visit in person in the middle of the night.

It's up to you.

If you wish to leave now, I'll send someone to take you home.

That's not necessary.

I'll wait here until the Ninth Lord wakes up.

Ms. Hong!

Ms. Hong, this man serves the Ninth Lord.

He said that he has a message for the general.

Go ahead.

The Ninth Lord used up all his strength treating the general's illness.

He is still in a coma.

Xin Yue has been watching over him in Qing Garden since last night.

She said that she will return home once the Ninth Lord wakes up.

The Ninth Lord is ill?

He's ill and still unconscious.

- All right, we understand. Xin Yan. - Yes. This way, please.

Since Xin Yue came here to the Capital

the Ninth Lord has taken care of her.

I believe that she is only taking care of him because of their friendship.

Once the Ninth Lord wakes up

she will come home.

General Wei, why don't you head home first?

Xin Yue, how could you not know where to draw the line?

Young Master, Miss Xin Yue didn't come home with you?

His fever has finally gone down.

His pulse is also back to normal.

This crisis is finally over.

Thank you, Imperial Physician.

Xiao Yue!

I'm here.

Where is Xiao Yue?

I searched through the entire desert

but I couldn't find her.

I know that I've done wrong.

I was wrong...

This way, please.

I saw...

- Keep an eye on the Ninth Lord. - Yes.

I saw those autumn leaves that you left me.

What is going on?

Isn't his fever gone already?

Why is the Ninth Lord still nonsensical?

Don't worry. Although his fever is gone he isn't completely conscious yet.

Let him sleep and he will recover.

But make sure you don't agitate him with words.

Just go along with whatever he says.

Yes, thank you so much.

I'll take my leave now.

Xiao Yue, please.

Don't worry.

I won't say anything to hurt the Ninth Lord.

Here.

- Leave him to me. - Yes.

Thank you, young lady.

If it's too tiring for you to sit up

just let me know.

I'll help you lie down again.

Sure.

Are you looking at that corridor outside the room?

It's called the Gazing Corridor.

When my grandparents were young, they were very much in love.

One time, when my grandmother was playing the zither in the room

my grandfather had to head out for an urgent errand.

He kept turning around with every step he took

and he kept on gazing into the room.

The servants teased him behind his back.

They called this corridor the Gazing Corridor.

When my grandfather learned of this, he didn't get angry at all.

Instead, he changed the name of the corridor.

Sadly, my grandmother was in poor health.

Before I was born

she had already passed away.

I kept thinking how they must have held hands and strolled in the corridor.

If I can accomplish half as much as my grandfather

my life wouldn't be in vain.

If I were to tell Xiao Yue about this

will it be too late?

Will she still let me admire the flowers with her?

She will. She definitely will.

When you're fully recovered

you can go to Mount Tianshan to look at snow lotuses.

That's what I thought as well.

I'm sure that the gods will not be unfair to me.

Xiao Yue will surely come back to me.

The gods are unfair to you.

Your family passed away when you were young, and your health is weak.

Although you are wealthy

your riches are the heaviest burden that you have to carry.

It keeps you from the freedom that you seek.

Young lady, you should be happy.

I... I am happy.

The imperial physician said that you have to remain calm and at ease.

You have to rest more.

Sleep some more.

Sure.

I've actually always wanted to be a doctor.

I don't have to worry about anything else.

I'll run a small clinic and see to some patients.

Xiao Yue will pick the herbs.

I'm sure the business will do well.

With your medical skills, the business will be too good.

You won't even have the time to stop for a bowl of tea.

That won't do. I must have some time to keep Xiao Yue company.

I might as well put up a sign in front of my clinic

to say that I will only see to twenty patients a day.

That's good. If someone insists on having you treat him

you can get Xiao Yue to drive him away.

I still want to take her to Snow Mountain.

In winter, you can go to Mount Flames.

Yes, and taste the fishes in the Blue Moon Lake.

I haven't grilled any fishes for her yet.

I got the recipe from an old book.

It's said to be the secret recipe of the ancient King Huangdi.

Although I don't know if it's real or not

the taste of the fish is really the best in the world.

I've also heard of it.

The colors of the waters in the Blue Moon Lake will change

according to the weather.

There's indigo, turquoise

jade green, dusty white...

There are almost twenty different colors.

Then I have to live there for at least a year to see all twenty colors.

Where else do you think that Xiao Yue would like to go?

I beg you, gods.

Please be kind to him for once.

Make him forget everything that happened today.

Forget everything.

Forget me.

House Mistress.

Hurry up!

House Mistress.

General Wei came here yesterday.

He threw a huge tantrum.

- Uncle Chen. - Where is the Young Master?

The Young Master won't allow us to follow him.

Get a few more men to search in all directions.

- We have to find the Young Master! - Yes!

Uncle Chen, is Wu Ji in the manor?

He isn't here.

I've already sent men out to look for him.

I've never seen him look so upset.

He went to Fair Maiden's House yesterday and stayed there all night.

I thought he was with you.

He just came home today at noon.

When he got home, he locked himself in his room.

he wouldn't eat or drink or see anyone.

He left the manor by himself just before you came over.

He wouldn't let anyone follow him either.

Uncle Chen, do you know where Wu Ji went?

I don't know.

Miss Xin Yue, why don't we both look for him as well?

Sure.

[The Villa]

- Miss Xin Yue! - Is the General home yet?

- Not yet. - No.

Miss Xin Yue, General Wei hasn't been here.

[Senior Princess Manor]

Wu Ji, where exactly are you?

Wu Ji! Wu Ji!

Wu Ji!

Wu Ji...

Where are you?

Are you going to leave me?

Do you know that since two days ago

I was as tense as a tightly strung string?

I didn't even get to rest.

Since I returned to Jian-An

I've been like a bean caught in a stone mill.

I'm almost ground to bits by the two millstones.

You're the two stones that are in pain.

But do you realize how much pain I am going through?

I thought that you would never come back to me again.

Before you were mine

I told you that I would never give you up.

Now, it's even more so.

I thought that you don't want me anymore.

I am so tired...

Xiao Yue, I missed you so much.

Are you willing to stay with me?

I'll take it that you're willing, if you don't say a word.

Xiao Yue... What should we do if we have a child?

Then so be it.

Can't we afford to raise a child?

Even if I still can't marry you after you're pregnant

do you know what that means?

Do you know what others will say about you?

I do.

If it had been someone else, they would have been scared.

But would we be concerned about what people may say?

If I am with child, I'll have the child.

Would the mighty General Wei not be able to protect me and our child?

Xiao Yue...

The gods will be our witnesses

and so will the sun and moon.

I will make you my woman.

Bear my children for me.

I will be your unlawful wife.

By the way, how did you handle Li Ji's accusation of me

being an assassin for sneaking in here that night?

I know what you're worried about.

Don't worry. Do you remember the last time we sneaked into the palace

late at night and ran into His Majesty?

In His Majesty's mind, we are unorthodox.

They can complain or accuse me of misconduct however they please.

Not only did His Majesty ignore them but he was even more relieved.

Relieved?

You're right.

A willful man who does whatever he pleases can't make it to the top.

Unless Li Ji has other theories or evidence

it is true that we have nothing to fear.

Come in.

Young Master, this is the instruction from Imperial Physician Zhang.

- All right. You may go. - Yes.

List of nutritious food...

I can't eat... and that.

Take a look. I can't eat anything.

What instruction is this? I might as well not eat at all.

Are you saying that you won't follow an imperial physician's instruction

to nurse your health?

Don't worry, look at me.

Am I not still strong and healthy?

How well do you think I performed just now?

- I'm off to the Imperial Court! - Stop right there!

Wei Wu Ji!

Why are you kneeling here?

We deserve to die!

What's the matter? Get up now.

Get up!

We've gotten used to being maids

so once we hear things being thrashed in the master's room

our first reaction is to get down on our knees

and say that we deserve to die.

But we usually didn't know what happened in the room.

Is General Wei that scary?

I've never seen him scold or punish his servants.

You're right.

He has never really scolded or punished anyone.

I heard other sisters say that the maids in other manors

all wanted to serve younger masters.

They will have a chance to make it to a higher status.

But it's never been like that in our manor.

We all hope that if we get to be with the General...

I'm going to imitate what you just said to the General.

Don't! Miss Xin Yue, please don't tell him about this.

I... I was too talkative.

I can choose not to tell on you.

But you have to obey my every word.

Miss Xin Yue, haven't we always been obedient to you?

We also told you everything that you wish to know.

All right, I know that you're kind.

I won't tell on you.

We'll grab a bite at The Villa when you've tidied things up.

Sure!

Miss Xin Yue, you're sometimes fierce

sometimes gentle, and sometimes pitiful.

No wonder the general can't do anything about you.

Uncle Chen.

Miss Xin Yue, I'm here to take the Imperial Physician's instruction.

Imperial Physician Zhang asked me to pass on a message to you.

He said that the Ninth Lord's condition is now stable.

He is fine.

Miss Xin Yue, would you like to visit the Ninth Lord?

It's fine that he is now stable. It won't be necessary.

All right.

Slowly!

My Lord.

It seems that you're much better now.

Was Xiao Yue here?

She was here.

Where is she now?

She kept you company for a night, and went back to Wei Manor.

Has General Wei regained consciousness?

Yes, General Wei had regained consciousness as well.

You risked your life to save him, so how could he not be alive?

Don't worry. He is doing pretty well.

That's good then.

My Lord, you jeopardized your own health in order to save General Wei.

It isn't worth it.

Xiao Yue wouldn't worry now that General Wei is fine.

Yes, you always have Miss Xin Yue's interests at heart.

We won't talk about this today.

You just recovered, so you should think more about yourself.

Xin Yue has let the Ninth Lord down.

I'm the one who has let her down.

I didn't cherish her.

I've hurt her too deeply.

If an opportunity is missed then it is missed.

As long as she can be happy

then everything that I do now is worth it.

- But, Xin Yue... - That's enough!

My Lord, you've just recovered.

Have a good rest.

I'll get you some food.

Leave now.

Xin Yue, how is your stay at Wei Manor?

I'm doing very well.

Uncle Chen got me two maids.

They are really nice to me.

As for the rest of the people in manor, they pretend to greet me with smiles

but they all have different ideas in mind.

It's hard for an unmarried lady like you not to be frowned upon.

Honestly speaking, from the Emperor to the soldiers

and the servants in the manor

they all know that I am Wei Wu Ji's woman.

Wu Ji treats me like his wife as well.

But everyone else still sees me as an unmarried woman.

They see me as some lady that Wu Ji has fun with at times.

Perhaps, I might be gone soon.

They ignored my existence.

You're sure to be upset having to be with General Wei like this.

This General Wei...

I don't care about what others think about me.

Don't be worried.

You must remember that

this is your family home.

Should anything happen, you have to come to us for help.

I'll be here waiting for you.

Ms. Hong...

I've made a guest list for Your Highness's birthday banquet.

Please take a look and let me know if I need to make any corrections.

The Senior Princess has always made arrangements for me.

I'll just go along with your arrangements.

Thank you, Senior Princess.

Thank you for your trust in me, Your Highness.

I was just thinking whether I should invite Miss Xin Yue along?

Madam Wei, how is it between Wu Ji and Xin Yue now?

Those two sometimes have huge rows

and sometimes they are inseparable.

I can't do anything about them.

General Wei arrives!

General Wei.

Everyone is here?

Greetings to everyone.

Don't bother.

Wu Ji, you're here at the right time.

We're talking about you and Miss Xin Yue.

Xin Yue and me?

There's nothing to talk about us.

She comes from a brothel and grew up in the desert.

Her personality is one of a kind.

She can't be compared to ordinary people.

Of course. One cannot talk to summer insects about the ice.

- You... - Wu Ji.

Similar sounds echo one another and the same odors merge together.

People of an inclination fall into the same group.

Don't do anything on a whim.

Exactly.

Even if ice and burning coals can't be in the same pot, we're still family.

We should still speak nicely to each other even if we have disagreements.

That is right.

You can all see how devoted Miss Xin Yue is to Wu Ji.

Wu Ji, you must come to my birthday banquet with Miss Xin Yue.

I obey your orders.

I thank Auntie on behalf of Xin Yue.

Xiao Yue!

You're so beautiful.

You usually don't dress up much going to the palace.

Why have you dressed up so well today?

I seldom attend the banquets in the palace.

But this is the Empress's birthday banquet.

She especially asks you to bring me along with you.

Doesn't that mean she already acknowledges our relationship?

You're right.

I believe that if it hadn't been for Her Highness

keeping her sisters and brothers-in-law in line

I'd have had more difficulties to overcome.

I should thank her for watching over me.

So you changed your usual manner and dressed up so beautifully?

All right, you have my full support.

I'll make everyone envious by showing up with you proudly and openly.

- You're here. - Master Li.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

We wish the Empress longevity and great eternal bliss.

Wu Ji,you have arrived.

- Mother. - Madam Wei.

Miss Xin Yue looks beautiful and absolutely charming today.

Thank you for your compliments, Madam.

Wu Ji, you've just recovered from your illness, so you must be careful.

Don't dismiss the importance of nursing your health.

Thank you for your concern, Mother.

Xiao Yue will take good care of me.

All right. Her Highness is already seated in the side hall to accept greetings.

Let's go in now.

It's all right.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

May the Empress bring harmony with your great virtue and be blessed with longevity.

All right, have a seat.

I'll head over there first.

We'll give our birthday blessings to Her Highness.

You should go alone.

Since I'm already present, the Empress knows my sentiments.

If we greet her together, she will be in a dilemma.

I didn't think you would have her interests at heart.

I sometimes wish that you could be a bit dumber.

Don't always think of others first and suffer alone.

Wu Ji greets Your Majesty.

I wish the Empress long life and eternal bliss.

Good. Wu Ji, you now have a better sense of propriety and manners.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Madame Xiang arrives!

This is now the power struggle between Qin Xiang and the Wans.

Qin Xiang has displayed her full ability instead of being reserved.

This is showing the officials in a subtle manner

who matters more to His Majesty.

Although this is Empress Wan's birthday banquet

she will become just a supporting role.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

I wish the Empress great bliss and peace.

May all things go well for Your Highness.

Don't stand on ceremony. You aren't in blooming health.

You don't have to bow.

It's good enough that I know your sentiments.

Thank you, Your Highness.

My dear, tell me when you feel tired.

Don't push yourself too hard.

Thank you for your concern Your Majesty.

This is my duty.

You're the most beautiful one.

Your Majesty, the tribes have offered the palace beautiful dancers.

Among them, I've selected nine of the best dancers

to choreograph an exotic dance for Her Highness's birthday.

Good! Summon them in to dance for the Empress.

Yes.

It's indeed wonderful. You're all to be heavily rewarded.

It is indeed a gorgeous performance.

These beauties all came a long way to come to Nan Dynasty.

They are all single and have no one to depend on.

No reward is better than giving them a home.

All the young and talented are here in this hall today.

Why don't Your Majesty play the matchmaker?

Give them a home to settle in.

I've also heard that in the annual tribal horse races

it is the best opportunity for ladies to express their love to men.

All right, I will also adopt the tribal traditional custom

and allow you to choose a man for yourselves.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

His Majesty has already announced his oral decree.

If any of those girls chose Wu Ji...

Although Wu Ji went against His Majesty's wishes last time

that was before His Majesty even brought up the marriage proposal.

They were only discussing the official residential manor then.

But that has already made Wu Ji swear to celibacy till the world is at peace.

Today, His Majesty gave his word before the officials and foreign guests

If Wu Ji goes against His Majesty again...

Only a hero is worthy of such a beauty.

Look! If that beauty gets on one knee to toast to Wei Wu Ji

it means that she has chosen General Wei.

I see.

Well done.

Luckily, this smart Tartar girl changes her mind at the last minute.

She made a huge bet

to get out of her destiny as a pawn.

Congratulations to the both of you! What a charming couple!

A match made in heaven.

But Xin Yue, you performed without even asking for permission.

Where do you think you are?

Isn't this a bit inappropriate?

Madame Xiang, this is the Empress's birthday banquet.

Empress Wan is the hostess.

I wouldn't dare to usurp her authority.

Xin Yue, you're using the Empress to threaten me?

You've become a dagger in the Empress's hand

and you're now going to stab me?

No matter how much His Majesty favors you, you're just a concubine.

It's the Empress who runs the harem.

You have no right to speak today.

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