Why aren't you getting changed?
I'm too hungry.
I can hardly stand straight.
How can I dance?
I am a widow.
My husband died not long ago.
If you are a reasonable man...
would you ask me to dance now?
Forget about dancing then.
-Your husband was a soldier? -No.
How did he die?
He was shot by arrows.
Do you know who killed him?
Does it actually make a difference?
General.
Another night. She's still not up?
I'm afraid not.
You've come several times to look in on her.
It's very kind of you.
On behalf of Miss Yu, I'd like to thank you.
Have you been changing the dressing of her wound three times a day?
Yes, I did as the doctor said.
If she awakens, let me know immediately.
Yes.
General, look! She blinked!
When she is awake, don't tell her that I visited.
I don't want her to know.
Love can be fortune or it can be misfortune.
For those who conquer the world… Well, I wish you good luck.
Love can be fortune...
or it can be misfortune.
Back then, I was actually scared.
I was afraid he came to punish me.
I didn't expect that he would propose to be sworn brothers.
At that moment, I stood here, and he was here.
And he was in tears.
He said,"We were not born together, but I hereby vow to die together."
Just like that, he greeted me as his big brother!
Wow, nice! That's great for us!
My Lord, if you are his big brother,
-then, all of us are his brothers. -Right!
He should at least greet me as his older brother!
Fan Kuai, how's the pain?
No matter. My Lord, I'm a tough man. I can stand a few lashes!
Thanks to the lashings you took,
I was saved, and so were all of us.
Those lashings also got me a sworn brother!
-Good deal! -That's definitely a good thing.
My Lord, he is seemingly careless, but he is actually a meticulous man.
Let me tell you, Cao Can went easy on you.
Otherwise, just like Yong Chi, you would have suffered greatly.
I know. It was Liu Ji who asked him to go easy on me.
Listen to me. Even if I am his sworn brother now,
we all have to be careful.
Don't make any trouble.
Otherwise we'll have to leave.
-We'll do as you say, Liu Ji. -Sure, no problem.
Hey, don't stare!
Good Lord, what a beautiful woman!
Damn right! Thin arms and long legs, Mighty fine!
-She's really graceful! -Right.
-I heard that she's a good dancer. -Really?
A cutie like that, I wonder, can she protect herself?
Even if she can protect herself, the men here will all come to harass her.
My Lord, you should take her as your mistress.
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Hey, Liu Ji, how long's it been since you slept with a woman?
-Your point is? -If you like her, take her with you!
You guys continue chatting.
-My Lord. -Where are you going?
None of your business.
-My Lord, where are you going? -What are you going do?
-Liu Ji, where are you going? -My Lord, where are you going?
Can't I take a piss?
A piss? You're probably off to flirt!
Is this porridge? I can't even see any rice in it.
Father, you have to put up with it.
We've no rice left.
How could it be? Don't we still have unharvested rice left in our field?
Harvest rice? Who dares?
What's more, it's gone, stolen away.
Yesterday, someone saw an army deserter.
He was so hungry he robbed anything he saw. Terrifying!
Deserters have come here already?
It's true!
Daughter-in-law,
tell your husband to come out from the cellar to have some fresh air.
Father, we can't let him out of the cellar at such a critical time.
Nowadays, Qin is catching army deserters while Wei is conscripting.
If we tell him to come out and he is conscripted,
then… then what should we do?
So let him just stay in the cellar.
When will things get better?
I can't… can't take this anymore. It's just water.
Go find some wild herbs.
All right. Father, I'll go now.
Lyu Zhi?
What is it?
Dad is hungry. He needs you to pick some wild herbs.
But, Sister-in-law,
our kitchen hearth is leaking.
I must repair it. Otherwise, we won't get to eat dinner.
Or maybe you can help me!
Let's fix this together, and I can go gather wild herbs for Father later.
This…
This is not a chore I can do.
Hey, Lyu Zhi, you should go get some wild herbs first.
I'm afraid when it becomes dark, you won't be able to see anything.
Can't you see that I'm in the middle of something?
Then can't you do it faster?
If you want the wild herbs now, go pick them yourself, Sister-in-law.
Father wanted you do it anyway.
It seems that you're not that busy. You've been listening in.
You're right. Father did ask me to pick wild herbs.
But I'm having a headache. I can barely move.
Lyu Zhi, I beg you.
Please do me a favor.
Sister-in-law, of all the house chores...
is there anything I'm not doing?
I think you can handle picking the wild herbs, right?
You think I'm begging you?
I was just trying to make you look capable. Whatever!
-Come in! -It's mealtime? Why didn't anyone tell me?
-Come in. You're just on time. -I forgot about you.
-Be seated. Get him a bowl. -I was in the cellar all day. I'm hungry!
Hey. You've still got straw in your hair.
-What… What is this? -What is it?
It's bitter. It's a bitter herb. Why did you pick this kind?
Bitter herbs? I can't tell.
Oh my, it is the wrong herbs.
Are you trying to kill us?
I mean you. You picked the herbs, right?
Why would you pick bitter ones?
Father, you're wrong. Today's herbs…
wasn't picked by me.
Father, I picked the herbs today.
I was too busy in the house all day.
It was already getting dark and I picked the wrong herbs.
I'll be more careful next time.
Next time, just look a little more carefully.
But there aren't much herbs left in the village.
-Yes. -Everyone has picked them all.
Seems to me, you are just lazy.
If you can't find any nearby, just go a little further and look.
Walking a few more steps can't be that hard.
Stop it. Be quiet. Let’s just eat.
Actually, I should have gone to pick the herbs today.
But my head was hurting so much, I could barely move!
That's why I asked you, isn't it?
If you didn't want to, you could just say so and I wouldn't blame you.
But how could you pick this crap? What the hell do you mean by this?
You want to embarrass me? Or you want to kill us?
Sister-in-law, you're going too far.
If you don't like the porridge and can't eat anymore,
-I can make another pot for you. -Don't do that. Don’t.
Just eat this for today.
In times like this, we're lucky have porridge.
I tell you, daughter-in-law,
you shouldn't be too picky. We're all family.
I think it's good. I'd like another bowl.
Eat till you burst!
My husband was shot dead by this arrow.
It's an arrow from our camp.
But whatever is on your mind, I can promise you
that my men would never shoot their arrows at civilians.
Then that means my husband was just unlucky.
In today's world...
who's lucky?
I'm not lucky either.
Someday, I might also be shot by such an arrow.
I don't know...
how I can make it up to you.
It's not necessary, sir.
I only hope that I can lead a peaceful life.
A peaceful life?
Sufficient food?
Enough food for every meal.
Clothes to wear?
Warm clothes
To sleep soundly each day.
Peace of mind.
I can help you.
I'd like to know, do you smile?
Since we came to your home, I have never seen you smile.
Miss Yu, you're finally awake.
You were bitten by a poisonous snake. You've been in coma for days.
I managed escape death?
It's fortunate we got help.
Otherwise, you may have died, just as you expected.
We're in the Chu camp, right?
Yes, we're still in the Chu camp.
Otherwise, where can we stay?
By the way, General Xiang Yu didn't save your life,
nor ask about you. Let alone worry about you,
and look after you day and night.
General Xiang Yu didn't want me to tell you the truth.
General.
I do wonder whether these vicissitudes...
are in fact predestined.
General,
What holds your attention so deeply?
I have free time, I want to memorize every route we have traveled by heart.
What good is it for you?
Someday it may be useful.
-Han Xin. -Present.
You’re quite an intriguing fellow.
From my talk with you last night...
I am quite enlightened.
You have some interesting ideas. Will you come lead my men?
-Lead your warriors? I can't. -Why not?
My war strategy is useless to them.
General...
I have a request. I wonder if you can help?
What is it?
General...
I know you are acquainted with Xiang Yu. Can you recommend me to him?
I don't want to lie to you.
General Xiang Yu's temper is quite…
-What? -I’m afraid you can't tolerate him.
How do you know for sure? I haven't met him yet.
If it's too much trouble, forget it.
No problem.
Forget it.
I have an idea.
I'm not sure if you're willing though.
It's all that I can wish for.
General Xiang Yu's halberd guard is suffering from dysentery.
We need a man to replace him.
Why not just come join my camp?
Please recommend me to be the halberd guard.
What are our prospects?
Qin soldiers are on a winning streak.
We are at a disadvantage.
Long-range raid is not to our advantage. We need is to take them by surprise.
But now they've put up a strong defense, and are biding their time to destroy us.
We've missed our opportunity. Now is not the time to attack.
You mean we got to retreat to the East?
I must kill Zhang Han. I must avenge my uncle!
General…
There's no need to retreat. Look...
we're stationed here.
Nobody will help us.
But if Qin soldiers came to outflank us, we could besiege them.
We can order Liu Ji to station his men here.
He's not trustworthy. It’s too vital a location.
He's my sworn brother. He’ll listen to me.
General...
don't you think he's rather cunning?
He is my brother. He would dare to betray me.
How dare you? Who let you enter?
Sorry, general. I heard you discussing the war. I felt it's very interesting.
I was so interested I kept coming closer until I ended up here.
You are halberd guard. Don't you know you can't enter?
War strategy is beyond your rank. Get out.
Right. But how can you defeat Zhang Han? I've got some ideas.
General, would you be interested to find out more?
Drag him out.
Forgive me, general. His name is Han Xin.
I recommended him. He's loyal and trustworthy.
But he's… talkative.
As you were the one who recommended him, teach him the rules.
Next time, I'll not spare him.
I see.
-Get out. -But I can help!
Get out!
What the hell are you're doing? What are you trying to do?
Do you realize you almost got yourself killed?
I know how to defeat Zhang Han, but he won't listen!
What’s your damned idea?
Keep your mouth shut or you'll be killed!
I only want to help. Why should I be blamed?
You really don't get what your duty is.
I only know that I've said what I should.
You said I'm talkative. You really think so?
You've been warned by the general.
I've told you what you should do.
I recommended you here.
Don't get me in more trouble.
Be good.
Shall I hold that halberd for you?
No need.
Go, go, go.
Minister Song.
Your Majesty.
Tell me. Who can be the new chief general?
I'm asking you. Why can't you answer me?
Your Majesty,
right now, only you can be the chief general of Chu.
Why me?
Your Majesty...
Xiang Liang died for our cause, it's a national misfortune.
But it's a good opportunity.
You know that the world
has taken General Xiang's men as the symbol of Chu.
Now that Xiang Liang is dead.
Your Majesty, you should take this chance to regain military power.
As the the chief general, you can exercise greater control.
What if Xiang Yu doesn't agree?
I see where you are coming from.
But I think as a subject of Chu, one should know that you are the king.
I'm sure Xiang Yu understands this.
If you think he will be a problem,
I may appoint him the Marquis of Changan, the Lord of Lu.
I'll also appoint Lyu Chen as Minister,
and order Lyu Chen to take his warriors and join Xiang Yu's men.
Thus Lyu Chen and his son Lyu Qing can restrain Xiang Yu’s power.
That may not be enough.
Your Majesty, Xiang Yu is very arrogant.
I'm afraid Lyu Chen may find it hard to restrain him.
I don’t know if you've noticed that
in Xiang Yu's military, there is a man called Liu Ji.
He's a great man.
I've heard of him.
Liu Ji is an honest manand has won quite a few battles. He's reliable.
I think we could perhaps send him over to guard Dangyang city.
You mean to say, support Liu Ji to restrain Xiang Yu?
Exactly.
Is he really reliable?
Easier to deal with than Xiang Yu.
Good. Then I appoint Liu Ji the Marquis of Wu’an.
Yes, sir.
General Xiang Yu, Mr. Fan.
What news do you bring?
King Huai made an edict.
He ordered that we make haste to Pengcheng.
He plans to gather vassals in Pengcheng to discuss how to conquer Qin.
Damn it! Vassals talk
fire and brimstone. But when it's time for battle, they're nowhere to be found.
With all this back and forth, we will never exploit the opportunity to fight.
King Huai is a total fool.
He's not a fool.
General, calm down.
Since we've already missed the best opportunity to attack,
We might as well pay him a visit. Better to know what's on his mind anyway.
Mr. Xiao, what does King Huai say?
He praises you for what you've done.
He says that you went alone to save Xiang Liang. He's very moved.
He's appointing you Marquis of Wu'an.
-Really? -Marquis?
-He's appointing me Marquis? -Right.
-Marquis of where? -Marquis of Wu'an.
Congratulations, my Lord!
Wait, there's more.
He's ordering us to bring our men and hurry to Pengcheng.
He’ll gather vassals together in Pengcheng and find a way to attack Qin warriors.
Go to Pengcheng? What does it mean?
He's arranged a house with a courtyard for you.
You can settle there.
He'll give me a house? I can live there?
What's he thinking?
Mr. Xiao...
did he give Xiang Yu such a house?
I heard that he only appointed Xiang Yu a marquis but didn't give him a house.
-He didn't? -Right.
Then why would he give me a house? What's he doing?
-I can't take that house! -Why?
Consider this, Mr. Xiao.
He gave me a house but not Xiang Yu
this could cause a conflict between Xiang Yu and me.
When Xiang Yu finds out, he will be angry.
No, my Lord...
you should take the house.
-But why? -Think about it.
Why did King Huai appoint you Marquis of Wu'an?
He could have done it sooner or later, but he chose to do it now.
I think he has an ulterior motive.
He wants you to restrain Xiang Yu.
You should accept his appointment and the house.
For one thing, it's King Huai's appointment so it would be rude to refuse.
For another, from now on, you can stand shoulder to shoulder with Xiang Yu.
Thirdly...
you'll finally no longer be an exiled bandit any more.
Your appointment has been announced,
so you're practically half a marquis already.
Therefore, you must take the house, together with the title.
Sounds reasonable. I'll take it then.
Additionally, we should find a way to be independent of Xiang Yu's camp.
The more highly King Huai regards you, the more jealous Xiang Yu will be.
If things continue like this, you find yourself in a tricky spot.
-Right. Lu Wan. -Yes.
Tell our soldiers to prepare to go to Pengcheng.
Yes.
Mr. Xiao, for this trip to Pengcheng...
I think I should take another man with me.
Princess, I've brought some water for you.
Princess, since Chongxin told you he would send your letter to General Zhang,
you've stayed up for several nights.
You've been thinking and writing.
My hands are numb rom tending to the oil lamp.
Now I wonder what it is that you're writing in that letter.
There's so much to say, I don't know where to begin.
My thoughts abound, but I don't know how to organize them.
So I write and revise, again and again.
Princess, I think you should take it easy. When we remove the Bezoar,
and when you see General Zhang, you can talk to him about whatever you want.
In Bolangsha and after,
we've experienced too much.
If I meet General Zhang now...
I'm afraid I would just forget how to speak entirely.
Is that the letter to General Zhang?
You told her to write a letter to General Zhang, we could send it to him.
She then began to write but tore it up many times.
She revised her letter, over and over.
My, what a thoughtful princess!
I never imagined that she could write such a vivid letter.
Why should we send the letter for her?
Help her send a letter?
It's more like she's helping us send a letter.
Excellent. Most excellent.
Great! Great!
The more sincerely she writes, the easier it will be for me.
It seems that Heaven is on my side.
I'll not fail Heaven then.
It's exactly the same!
Brother, how did you learn the princess’ handwriting?
My sister, all these years in the palace. You may not know this.
Zhao Gao may be known for his abilities,
but I've many hidden talents too.
Even the princess herself cannot match my skills in embroidery.
To copy handwriting is nothing.
Your copy is perfect.
You are right.
Who would know that the late emperor's edicts were written by me?
Not only Zhang Han,
but the princess herself will think that this letter was written by her!
My Lord, my Lord!
-How is it going? How are preparations? -My Lord,
Yes, we've prepared everything.
Take as few items as possible. Give all our provisions to the villagers.
To the villagers? Then where should we get our food?
We’ve stayed here for long enough and we owe them a great debt.
Besides, there’ll be plenty to eat over in Pengcheng. Hurry!
Yes, sir!
Sir...
you really are a good man.
Am I?
You haven't seen me being bad.
Hope everything goes well. Hope you'll return soon.
Why don’t you come with me?
Why should I?
I can't promise that you'll be wealthy. But I'm sure that you'll never be hungry,
and nobody will dare to bully you.
Think carefully. You should know we won't return.
Hurry. Hurry. Move. Faster!
Go on.
I want go in, too!
Don't be silly. Don't make trouble.
Why are you even here? Go away.
Go away.
Pain in the ass.
-Stand up. Get on your feet. -What are you doing?
Why are you crying?
She almost got us into trouble.
My husband is hiding in there. What if he's discovered?
How can you push her to the ground?
She's still a child. Can't you be kind to her?
I didn't mean it! What a child!
How could you do this? She's your niece.
-Come on. Let's go. -Look at you all hot-headed!
How dare you shout at me?
You’d better have a look of yourself in the mirror.
You've got mud on your face. No wonder your husband isn't back.
Liu Ji will come home.
He'd better not come back.
We're in all this trouble, all because of him.
Am I wrong? You feel wronged?
He can only bring disaster.
Now what was that you were saying? How dare you speak like that!
What will you do?
What crime did my husband commit? What he's doing is of great importance.
What is your husband doing? What did you tell him?
He doesn't join the army nor share the labor work. He's hiding every day.
I'm doing every little god damned thing around here.
Were it not for Liu Ji's sake, I would have left,
and you would've starved to death.
Whoa! What a strong woman. You mean my husband is good for nothing.
But what about your husband?
All he can do is make a lot of babies.
What has he done for the family? Tell me?
What did you say? Say it again.
I'm done.
Repeat what you just said.
Why? What are you going do about it?
Try repeating what you've just said. Say it!
Daddy, Lyu Zhi beat me.
-Father, look! -What is it?
Lyu Zhi wants to hit me!
Beat you?
Look at her! What a cruel woman!
She needs discipline, Father.
How come she doesn't beat anyone but you?
I bet you offended her. Listen. Go apologize to her.
Why should I? She wants to beat me. Why should I apologize to her?
I will not!
You… you…
Lyu Zhi, don't blame her.
I know it's her fault. Let me apologize on her behalf.
Don't say this, Father.
I've thought it over.
I'd like to take my child back home.
Subtitle translation by Min Wei Wong