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[Sound of the Desert]

Episode 9

I wonder if Hu Wei Li is still here in Jian-An?

Humbleton and Rascal, you could be my investigators.

Go and check if he is still around.

Forget it.

You're not capable of that anyway.

You didn't even bring back any news of the Ninth Lord.

I'm talking about you, Rascal!

What should I ask him?

It was about my sore throat last time.

How about shoulder pains this time?

I'll get him to write me a prescription.

I didn't want to disturb you.

But you keep playing that tune over and over.

It doesn't seem like you're going to stop.

It's you.

What were you playing?

It sounds familiar.

I can't come up with the name.

Luckily, you don't know that this is the love song that ladies of Yue

play to the ones they love.

Otherwise, you would tease me again.

I won't tell you what it is.

What brings you here?

I'm here to see how you're doing.

I'm very well.

Very well?

You've been in here all day long means that you're very well?

I'm happy not to go out.

You should have finished reading that big book you borrowed from me.

I already told you that it is for Qin Xiang!

You should also read it.

I have to attend to some matters. Make yourself at home.

Women's mood changes faster than the weather in the desert.

It was sunny a moment ago and now there's a sandstorm.

Your indifferent expression makes me feel even more attracted to you.

You're really annoying.

You're incorrigible!

Are you leaving or not?

You want me to leave?

Leave!

- Why have you come back again... - Where will I go if not home?

I was too angry, so I wasn't thinking clearly.

I wasn't throwing my temper at you.

It's good to show your temper.

You've been low-spirited for the last couple of days

and now you're livelier after Master Wei came to tease you.

What are you talking about?

Wei Wu Ji came to ask me

what is the matter with you these days.

Who knew that he'd dare to come over to make you angry?

I didn't expect that after Wei Wu Ji teased me

half of the negative emotions that I had been suppressing are gone.

He... Did he deliberately come over here to tease me?

He really is a bad person among good ones

and a good person among the bad.

What did the Ninth Lord write to you?

A prescription.

A prescription?

A prescription with honey added.

I'm afraid of bitterness.

Even if it is a prescription you would find it sweet with salt.

Xin Yue, Fair Maiden's House is doing brilliantly well.

I've just finished with the accounting yesterday

and the profit is enough to purchase another dance house.

- What do you think about that? - I definitely agree to that.

That's great! As for me...

- Master Chen! Please don't do this! - I'll treat you to a cup of tea.

Didn't I say that I'd only show you around the house?

- Come over here! - Why are you still touching me?

- Come with me. - Sir.

Sir.

Mutual affection matters the most.

If you really like Qiu Xiang

you should try to make an effort to make her fall for you

and follow you around willingly.

That would make you look sophisticated and romantic.

You have a point.

But I find it interesting when they are unwilling.

Stop right there!

Sister, I know that it's you.

I know that it's you!

I came out here on my own to mess around for some fun. Our King isn't here.

Mao Yun Zhu! Why are you always following us around?

I'd like to play with you!

Address me as your older sister and I'll take you out to have fun with me.

Exactly! Go on!

You don't even know how old you are.

You might be younger than me.

I don't want to address you as my older sister.

You shouldn't put it that way.

If you address her as your older sister, she'd have to take care of you

and even take you out to have fun.

If I were you, I'd been vying to address her as my older sister.

- Isn't that right? - Exactly!

I'm willing to do that as well!

All right then. I'll address her as my older sister from now on.

All right, we'll play together then.

My little sister.

- Hurry up! - Let's go!

Sister, are you performing dances for money as well?

How much do I need to pay for your freedom?

This dance house is mine.

I'm the House Mistress here.

I'm so stupid. Who could make you do anything against your will?

We would have punished that person with our itchy dart and itch him to death.

Did you visit Fair Maiden's House because you recognized me?

I wasn't too sure last night.

Everyone told me that you're dead.

I cried for a year because of that.

Why did the Crown Prince swear to the gods that you're dead even on his death bed?

Crown Prince?

- You saw the Crown Prince before he died? - Yes, Sister.

The Crown Prince was severely ill.

He passed away quite quickly.

He died from an illness?

Is that so?

We grew up with him.

Is he that frail?

During winter, we tricked him into the frozen lake

and we got so sick from the coldness but he was perfectly fine.

Sister, it is true!

If the King wanted to kill the Crown Prince

he could have killed him when he caught him.

But the King gave orders to arrest him alive.

Otherwise, how could they possibly go after someone for so many days?

You don't even know that when the King heard the soldiers hurt you by mistake

how furious he was.

I've never seen him so angry before.

Thousands of soldiers who went after you all knelt down in great fear.

Moreover, the King refused to believe that you're dead.

He kept asking the Crown Prince how you died.

But the Crown Prince gave such a detailed description...

and he even said that he buried you in the quicksand.

The King turned the entire desert upside down, but he couldn't find you.

It was only then that he believed the Crown Prince.

I don't wish to look into those matters anymore.

Even if the Crown prince did die of illness

there's also Papa and the Queen.

Did they all want to kill themselves as well?

My sister!

The King had tried to persuade the Grand Tutor to assist him.

I remember that I had just gone to bed when I heard screaming from outside.

They were shouting that the late King's queen had killed herself.

Then someone was crying and saying that the Grand Tutor killed himself.

I thought of you, and couldn't make it to see the queen.

I went crying all the way to see the Grand Tutor first.

You saw Papa?

When I was running over to him, I saw the King rushing over as well.

The moment he saw Grand Tutor's corpse

the King tripped, and almost fell to the ground.

He stayed by his corpse till the morning.

Sister, I had hated the King for taking the Crown Prince's throne

but that night, he stayed up all alone.

He didn't move at all.

There was so much pain in his eyes.

I watched over him all night outside.

And I suddenly stopped hating him.

He must have his reasons for doing so.

And I really think that the King is a better fit than the Crown Prince.

I'm telling the truth! I'm really not lying to you.

The King went against everyone's objections and buried the Grand Tutor

according to the customs of Nan Dynasty.

I actually don't understand at all

why the Grand Tutor had to kill himself?

The Queen was Papa's loved one.

Papa went to the desert with the Queen from Jian-An.

The Queen killed herself because Hu Wei Li overtook the throne.

Papa no longer had anyone to protect so he didn't want to live on his own.

Who had caused all that to happen?

Hu Wei Li might not have killed them

- but they died because of him! - Sister!

That's enough, Mao Yun Zhu!

To you, that is but a story in the past.

But that is a scar on my heart.

It was once bleeding, and now it has finally staunched and scarred over.

Why do you have to appear before me

and tear open my wound?

Leave now!

Quickly!

Papa...

- Leave now! - Come on!

Leave now!

Jin Yu, I'll distract them. Then you'll run away on your own.

Weren't you once a wolf of the desert?

This time, you will become a wolf again!

You must get away from the hunters who are coming for you!

Don't! A-Feng!

A-Feng!

A-Feng! A-Feng!

Don't leave me behind!

I'll be back to find you!

A-Feng!

Do you want to kill the King?

Mao Yun Zhu... It isn't whether I want to kill him or not.

It's rather if he wants to kill me or not.

The King never means to kill you.

He really did give orders not to have you killed. Believe me.

Once some things are done, it should be done well.

Otherwise, he'd be in fear and worry.

It's just like how he would rather be in guilt and pain after Papa died

than let him off.

If I want to kill him

I'd be enemies with the entire Tartar tribe.

Then I could only live in hatred for life.

You really don't hate the King anymore?

I only hope never to see him again.

Papa taught me not to be trapped in agony.

Will we see each other again?

You've already chosen Hu Wei Li.

If we see each other again, I'm afraid that would put you in a tight spot.

Are you his concubine?

The King is very kind to me.

Because of that, Queen Yan dislikes me very much.

This trip to Jian-An, for example, no one consented to bringing me along

but I wanted to come with them.

And so the King agreed to it.

Queen Yan even kicked up a huge fuss over it.

But I still can't understand what the King is thinking about.

But if he is willing to make me his concubine

I will surely agree to it.

You are indeed a woman of the Tartars.

You'd admit to your affections and marry whom you desire.

You would never be shy about your affections.

You don't have to mind me.

Although we're close friends

it is your choice to like Hu Wei Li.

I just hope that I would never have to see him ever again.

Mao Yun Zhu, I wish you every happiness.

Go back now.

If you still care about our childhood friendship

just pretend that you never saw me.

Jin Yu no longer exists.

She is dead.

She died that year in the desert.

According to the traditional customs here in Central Plains

the employers and the elderly would give out red packets

to wish you all an auspicious year.

This is great!

You will have great luck for the entire year after you get the red packet!

- Great! - Thank you, Ms. Hong!

Come and get your red packets.

- Give it to me! - Here you go.

- Thank you! - Here's yours.

- Yours. Good girl. - Everyone gets one.

Thank you, Ms. Hong!

Look how sweet Ding Ling and Mister Qin are together!

Perhaps after new year, there's going to be a wedding here in our house!

- Xin Yan... - Don't be shy, Ding Ling.

We can all tell that you and Mister Qin are a perfect match!

- Am I right? - Right!

Yes, the greatest bliss is to find someone to lead a life with you.

In the new year, I wish that you all find your perfect match soon

and for those who already have loved ones, to get married soon.

I'll go and practice on my zither first.

I'll go with him.

You haven't picked up your red packets yet.

That's a lot of gifts. You are from...

Master Wei told us to send these over.

- Thank you, Madam Yue. - Master Wei? Here.

- Please come right in. - Sure.

These new year gifts are some small tokens from our young master.

- Please accept them, House Mistress. - These are just small tokens?

Master Wei is really generous.

These are so pretty.

Take a look at them!

You may take any that you like or any that suits you.

All right, all right.

I want this!

This is so pretty.

You didn't even take a glance at his gifts.

That is so heartless.

I don't want them anyway.

I might as well give them away as gifts so they don't go to waste.

That's true.

The good things were already taken by them.

Only this is left behind.

I'm afraid no one is interested in it.

What strange instrument is this?

None of us has seen this before.

This is a duo-horn Ever Buree. This is a Tartar musical instrument.

I used to play it often when I was in the desert.

But I haven't seen it anywhere here in Jian-An.

So he made an effort to choose gifts especially for you.

I believe it must have taken him a lot of effort to find this.

Master Wei seems quite half-hearted

but he is very thoughtful when it comes to you.

Do you not like it, or are you not accepting of his good will?

I've been in Jian-An for such a long time

I'm no longer familiar with the instrument.

What comes to my mind is what we should get Shi's Shipping for Lunar New Year?

We have to get them useful gifts.

I wonder how they spend New Year's day?

What do Uncle Shi and the rest of them like?

No wonder you don't care about what lies before your eyes.

Your heart has already flown elsewhere.

It's just that... although you don't accept Wei's gifts...

the Ninth Lord is too difficult to read.

I don't know if he would accept your gifts.

The Ninth Lord.

What's the matter?

The Ninth Lord asked me over to Shi's Shipping tomorrow noon.

This is the first time that he asked me over to visit him.

Really?

Tomorrow is the first day of the new lunar year.

The first person he wants to see on the first day of the year is you.

I really should congratulate you.

By the way, your red packets really bring good luck.

You're welcome.

I believe that I'll get to have many new experiences with him! Many more!

That is for sure.

Many good things would happen.

I'll get you more red packets now.

The more, the better!

I didn't even realize that I have collected

so many autumnal leaves and notes.

I just don't know when I should tell the Ninth Lord about my sentiments.

Grandpa, I'm here to greet you on New Year's Day.

I wish Grandpa Shi great energy and health!

- How have you been? - Very well!

I'm really happy that you could come and visit me!

Look at you! You're especially pretty today.

Grandpa, Xin Yue didn't dress up for you.

So... Who did this young lady dress up for?

Do you even need to ask? It's for our Ninth Lord, of course.

Our lord is really blessed!

I just got here, and you are already teasing me.

Are you turning me away? All right, I'll leave now.

Xin Yue!

The Ninth Lord is waiting over there for you!

Hurry up and go over to him!

I'll come and get you later.

Why has he put plum blossoms in the room when he never puts any flowers up?

He's prepared these plum blossoms specially for me.

The fragrance of plum blossoms is light and not intrusive.

Not matter how non-intrusive their fragrance is

what matters is that it makes one happy.

Do your shoulders still ache?

No, they don't... Yes, they do!

Do they still ache or not?

They still ache a little bit.

Think carefully before you answer me.

If it aches, it aches. If it doesn't, then it doesn't.

Your words and actions say the opposite.

They don't ache as much as they did before.

They just ache once in a while.

Isn't your right shoulder the one that hurts?

Why does the left hurt as well?

Aches... can move around.

Why am I so forgetful?

I lied about shoulder pain, but I don't even remember which shoulder I said.

Now that you're busy with your business, you should rest well.

You're a girl, so you're more frail.

Don't wear yourself out.

Look at yourself.

You always have sore throat, headaches, or shoulder pains.

Ninth Lord, you should know that every thoughtful word from you

is just like the sun in winter.

It is so warm.

Why have you asked me over?

You said that you don't remember when you were born.

We reunited on this day last year

and it is also the first day of Lunar New Year.

So I decided to make this day your birthday.

I asked you over to celebrate it with you.

It is also to commemorate our reunion.

My birthday?

Today is my birthday?

Is that all right with you?

Is the Ninth Lord only treating me to a bowl of noodles?

The god of birthdays lived to a ripe old age of eight hundred when he was mortal

because he had a long face.

Face and noodles could be written with the same word, 'mian.'

So long noodles could mean a long face.

It symbolizes longevity.

Today is your birthday.

I made you noodles to wish you great heath and longevity.

I've never celebrated my birthday.

And I never knew about such stories.

I've always thought that meat tastes the best

but this is the first time I think that noodles are the best.

The sun sets earlier in the winter.

It's not late yet.

You're right.

I've learned a new tune recently.

I play it better than I used to.

You still have the time to learn new tunes?

It seems that you aren't so busy after all.

What tune is it?

I'll play it for you?

We'll see if you know it.

What a beautiful evening

drifting down midstream.

What a beautiful day

that I ride in a boat with the prince?

I'm too bashful to take a glance

for there is a secret that I could not share.

My heart longs to know you, my prince.

Trees live on mountains and branches on trees.

My heart lives for your affections

but you do not know that.

The tune is quite nice.

But you didn't play it well.

It's getting late. You should head home.

Do you really not know the song?

It's getting late.

You should head home.

Why?

Do you really not know?

At least, my affections aren't really revealed.

I can still act as if nothing has happened

and leave with my dignity intact.

Are you hurt?

His Majesty just bestowed this outfit to me a few days ago.

It's gone to waste now, but you can still use it as a cape.

It is still better than the one you have on.

What are you doing on the streets?

And you even look so depressed.

I've just been to greet my uncle and aunt for New Year's Day.

I know what tune you were playing the other day.

I hummed a few notes the other day and His Majesty overheard me.

His Majesty even asked me teasingly

'Wu Ji, which lady sang the love song of Yue to you?'

I understood right away what the tune means.

It is a love song used by women to confess their affections.

I then looked it up

and found the two hundred years old story behind the tune.

Chu State and Yue State were neighboring states.

Prince E of Chu State went past Yue State on a boat.

A woman of Yue State who was rowing the boat fell in love with him.

They didn't speak the same language, so she sang this tune for him.

Prince E understood the meaning behind her tune

as well as her affections.

He took her home with a smile.

I believe many women wish to imitate the woman of Yue to pursue their happiness.

But not every woman gets to fulfill their wish.

Come with me.

I'll take you to an interesting place.

General Li, here!

Fill his cup! Drink up!

Here's a toast to you!

General Li, you're here as well?

Here! We'll toast to you!

- Here! - Drink!

- Bottoms up! - Bottoms up!

Drink it up!

Here, fill it up!

Your nose is really sensitive. The fresh venison has just finished roasting

and here you are.

- General. - General.

Everyone, this is my new friend Madam Yue of Fair Maiden's House.

I know Madam Yue.

We met once.

Nice to see you, Master Li.

Nice to see you.

We're all friends now.

Don't be so polite with each other.

We'll eat meat and drink wine.

- Yes! - Here.

Here you go.

You don't make a fuss at all, knowing that you'll be punished for being late.

- Great! - Great!

She's my friend, so I'll drink these two bowls for her.

Madam Yue went for it despite being poor at drinking.

That is one woman of great spirit.

How rare.

Here, I'll drink the next bowl with you!

Sure!

You are such good buddies.

One is passionate, and the other cold. You compliment each other.

Another one.

- We'll drink it up together! - Yes!

- Here! - Bottoms up!

Have some meat to relieve the alcohol.

'A great wind rises'

'clouds fly and scatter.'

'A great wind rises'

'clouds fly and scatter.'

'With power over the four seas, I return to my homeland.'

'Where shall I get brave warriors'

- 'to safeguard the four quarters?' - 'to safeguard the four quarters?'

Don't drink so much.

Stop drinking.

'A cup of wine relieves a thousand troubles.'

This saying does make some sense.

Here, let's have more!

Sure.

Great wind rises, clouds fly and scatter!

'With power over the four seas, I return to my homeland.'

All right, stop singing now.

Here, come back inside.

You had so much to drink, and now you went out in the cold wind.

Don't blame me if you wake up tomorrow with a headache.

Why are you so concerned about me?

What happened to your hand?

Who did you fight with in your sleeves?

I did it to myself.

Why would you do this to yourself? Does it hurt?

It hurts.

It hurts here.

Xin Yan, go and make some soup to help sober her up.

Yes.

Ms. Hong, Xiao Yue's hand is hurt.

Please take care of it.

Don't!

Don't go! Explain to me.

Why?

You didn't understand?

Didn't you get what I meant?

Or is it...

All right, I get it.

Have a good rest.

We'll talk when you've had some rest.

No!

I want to know!

You're drunk.

Why are you so nice to me?

Can't you treat me less nicely?

I wouldn't be so upset if you had treated me worse...

Why are you so nice to me?

Ms. Hong, I'll leave Xiao Yue to you.

I understand.

Her fingernails... Trim it for her.

In case she scratches herself instead of someone else.

Here.

You don't usually drink

and when you do, you get so drunk.

My head hurts so much...

Of course.

How did I get home last night?

You were totally drunk, how else could you get home?

Master Wei brought you home.

He even carried you into your room

so that you could lie down and rest.

You really can't remember a thing?

It seems that getting drunk really does make one lose one's senses.

I mustn't let my emotions get the better of me again.

It's fine that you know it now.

I remember that you bandaged my hand up for me.

Yes, I did bandage it up for you.

But Master Wei watched me do it on the side.

He kept reminding me to trim all your fingernails.

His expression went dark and muttered

that you'll scratch yourself instead of someone else.

All the effort that I made on your nails went down the drain.

But when I saw that expression on Master Wei

I really couldn't bring myself to find any excuses not to do it.

Master Wei treats you undeniably well.

Stop thinking too much.

Have some soup to sober up, and then have some millet porridge.

Take a hot bath

and then you won't feel so bad anymore.

Tell me. Was I wrong to do that?

I shouldn't have played that tune to the Ninth Lord, right?

If I hadn't done that, at least I still receive notes from him every night.

We could still express concerns for one another.

You two are so lucky to be together.

Did you understand what I just said?

The shoots have sprouted!

This is great.

I've waited a hundred-some days for you.

You've finally grown!

I understand it now.

Even the Lovers' Vine is growing with such a great effort

how could I give up so easily?

As long as I persevere

the Ninth Lord and I will eventually grow to be affectionately connected

and our relationship will blossom.

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