We’re not sure
when West Marquis and Childe Yikao
will come back.
There must be a ruler for the country.
What should we do now?
Yeah.
Don’t you remember
what Childe Yikao said?
If he can’t come back
with his father,
we will make Chide Ji Fa
the junior ruler.
So…
We’ll just wait for Childe Ji Fa.
Years ago,
West Marquis expelled Childe Ji Fa
out of Xiqi.
Don’t you
remember that?
He asked Chide Ji Fa
not to come back to Xiqi
ever again?
He also said Chide Ji Fa was so petulant
that he would
make people suffer.
Aren’t you the same?
Uh… uh…
You’re back, Chide.
We’re waiting for you.
Lord San.
Lord Nan.
You get the wrong idea.
I’m not back
to take my brother’s place.
Please calm down
and we’ll tell you
what has happened in Xiqi.
Lord San.
I just met my brother. .
He told me about it.
You met Childe Yikao?
But I failed to stop him
from going to Zhaoge.
He told me
there must be a ruler for the country.
He asked me to take his place.
This is ridiculous.
Brother Ji Fa.
You’ve been
expelled by Father.
How dare you come back to take the throne?
Do you think you’re doing it right?
Brother.
What do you mean?
I’d like to ask
why you come back.
Please calm down.
Before Childe Yikao left Xiqi,
he told us that
if he and West Marquis
failed to come back alive,
Childe Ji Fa
would take his place.
That’s what my brother wants.
Not my father.
Lord San.
Do you think my father would say so
if he were here?
But…
If we don’t have a junior ruler,
Xiqi will break down sooner or later.
Childe.
I totally understand your feelings.
But…
We’re in a desperate situation.
Could you comply with your eldest brother
and make Childe Ji Fa the junior ruler?
Brother Ji Fa.
What do you think?
Brother.
If you don’t want to
see me,
I can leave right away.
You’re now
looking at your former subordinates.
Look what they are doing!
In that very year,
you deployed them
without Father’s approval.
More than half of them were killed or wounded.
Brother Ji Fa, I’ll give you a chance.
You have one month.
If you manage to
develop them into picked troops,
I’ll be sincerely convinced
and respect you as the junior ruler.
If you fail,
I’m afraid you must leave Xiqi
and never come back.
He is
going too far!
Since you left Xiqi,
your soldiers
became disunited.
As you can see,
we can hardly call them an army
in this circumstance.
Could you really
stage a comeback within one month?
That’ll be much harder than you can imagine.
There are many other ways
if you want to
convince your brothers.
You don’t need to
use such a tough army.
Why don’t you…
Lord San.
I understand.
But I owe them.
This is something between them and me,
to be settled.
No one else is involved.
Now…
I finally have the chance
to face them.
If I fail to settle the problem,
I don’t even deserve to be a man,
not to mention the junior ruler of Xiqi.
Come on. Place your bet.
Open! Open! Open!
Who are you?
Among you, who uses the sword best?
Sword?
Him!
What?
Thank you!
Who is he?
You’re quick.
Who are you?
From now on,
I’m your coach for the training.
Coach?
We had some peace.
Why must we have a coach?
So annoying.
New coach?
Wait.
Are you Childe Ji Fa?
Yes. You’re Childe Ji Fa!
Really?
Are you the selfish,
arrogant and ignorant…
Exactly.
I’m the selfish, arrogant
and ignorant Childe Ji Fa.
Are you crazy?
If I had the sword,
I would have chopped off your head.
You really are crazy!
Did you drink in the daytime
or are you seeking your doom?
I’m seeking my doom!
If I can revenge my little brother,
I would rather die!
Childe, sorry!
I think
he got sunstroke.
Yes, sunstroke.
Tell me.
Do you still remember
Yintong?
Sure you don’t.
Insignificant men like us
are merely your chessmen
to make contributions.
Yintong
is my only brother.
You sent an army
without authorization of your father.
We went out to war with you
when we were
completely ignorant.
Then my little brother died a miserable death.
Look!
Just because you sent an army into battle,
these people
lost their companions and families.
their fathers,
brothers
and even children.
What about you?
To shirk responsibility,
you left Xiqi in a hurry.
For your sake,
we collapsed after the setback.
We were even called
losers of the army.
Sorry.
I was too young
to understand wars.
Too young?
Then you shouldn’t have been headstrong.
Fuck off!
If I see you again,
I will cut off your head
with my sword.
Are you really seeking your doom?
Childe Ji Fa, sorry.
Take him as a mad man.
Please spare him.
If you can feel better
by killing me,
do as you wish.
What did you say?
I’ve giving you the chance
to revenge your brother with the sword.
Are you serious?
Yes.
Everyone here can be my witness.
Okay.
Uh…
Can you
revenge your brother
with such a poor skill?
Is he really the best among you
in using the sword?
You used the sword today.
Tomorrow, you have another chance
to use the blade.
Including all of you.
If you hate me,
bring it on.
Fa’er is drilling soldiers?
Yes, My Lady.
Childe Ji Fa
made a promise
in front of his brothers and ministers that
he would turn the losers back into picked troops.
If he fails,
he will leave Xiqi forever.
Do you want to see him?
No need. I’ll take care of it.
Let him do whatever he wants.
Brother Ji Fa seems confident.
If he really revives that troop,
will you accept him as the junior ruler,
Brother?
He will fail.
The troop was doomed.
Since most of them died
because of the fault of Brother Ji Fa,
they’ve been collapsing
and losing self-confidence.
They lost all disciplines with imputation.
Even my father
and Brother Yikao
failed to help them.
Not to mention Ji Fa.
Who comes first?
Next.
I’m going to defeat you today!
Well, that depends on what you’ve got.
Okay.
You made progress.
Do you think
you can keep humiliating me?
You look alike
your little brother.
You even use the sword
in the same way as he did.
Someone invites me with the sound of zither.
Stay here.
I’ll be right back.
Be careful, Junior Ruler.
In such a deep mountain,
no one lives.
It sounds weird.
I’m afraid you’ll be in danger.
Don’t worry. I know how far to go.
What did you say?
To avoid his weaknesses
as a left-hander,
your brother held his sword
with both hands.
Do you really remember my little brother?
The buddies who were dead
because of me.
How would I forget them?
Bi Mu who was good at riding and shooting.
Kun’er who was skilled in shooting.
Zheng Cheng who was loyal.
Shitou who was strong.
How would I ever forget them?
After I was expelled from Xiqi,
whenever I slept in bed,
their faces
came alive
in front of my eyes.
So I swear
I will no longer be militaristic
in the rest of my life.
I come back,
to prosper the army in Xiqi.
I have only one reason.
To save my people from disasters.
Therefore,
I need your help.
If…
you don’t want me
to be your leader,
or still hate me,
fine…
kill me with his sword
to revenge your brothers.
Do you really remember my brother Yintong?
When your brother was dying,
he called your name.
You’re Jintong, aren’t you?
Sorry.
Please forgive me for being rude.
I just need
someone to vent anger,
whoever he is.
Because I asked my brother to
go to the war.
I felt so guilty
when I heard he was dead.
If I don’t hate someone,
I wouldn’t have survived.
Then I started to hate you.
Please forgive me.
Please forgive me, too.
And me.
You must be Bo Yikao,
who was known
as the Saint of Zither?
Are you an immortal or demon?
I asked first.
But you’re asking rubbish.
You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked.
Then why did you ask me
whether I was an immortal or demon?
Are you sure
I’m not a human being?
If you’re a human being, what am I?
What do you think I am?
Demon or immortal?
You play the zither so well!
Does it matter
what you really are?
You heard the sound
and dared to come alone.
I really admire
your courage.
I can hear the sound of killing.
But I hear no killing intention.
If I fail to hear it,
how can I live up to my reputation?
Since you can
understand my music,
why don’t you compete
with me?
You look down on me?
No zither.
How about this one?
You get the wrong idea.
Is the zither
not enough for you?
No one hears it when the sound of zither is far too beautiful.
You must have heard of it, didn’t you?
When playing the zither,
we strive for the natural greatness.
When someone plays it,
he uses his heart only.
He plays with no one else
or shares with anyone.
He only feels and understands his own feelings.
That’s why I said no zither.
But I only hear that
people play the zither for peace.
The sound isn’t too low to be heard
or too high to keep others undisturbed.
That’ll be a great level.
How can we compete if no one hears it?
Tell me directly if you don’t want to complete with me.
Don’t try to cheat me.
When you want to compete,
you’re far away from striving for peach.
Why do you bother to complete with me?
You strive for the natural greatness.
I used to travel leisurely in the world.
I knew I could feel everything.
I abandoned practicing
and wanted nothing, but to play the zither.
Was I wrong?
What you said
is trying to tell the listener that
you’re indifferent.
Therefore…
you’re not really indifferent.
You’re not a human being.
Why do you insist on striving for the mental state of humans?
The more you get, the more you will lose.
Am I really wrong?
When I heard you playing the zither on the horse,
I realized you were not a human being,
but had the spirits of humans.
I heard so much in it,
sentiment,
hesitation
and reluctance.
Luckily, your reluctance
comes from love,
instead of greed.
When you miss something, you can have pure thought.
Reluctant because of love?
Pure thought?
Pure thought comes from no desire.
It also comes from pure feelings.
I hope you don’t have evil intentions
in your pure heart.
Evil intentions?
What exactly have you heard
when I played the zither?
You want someone
to feel the same as you do.
That’s love, instead of greed.
It takes pain
to stay by someone.
But it’s love, too.
Since you want to be a human being,
you need a full round.
Only when you know what to give up,
you’ll clear up your mind
and get into the level of no zither.
Why are you sure I want to be a human being?
Everything on the mountain
is a string,
including the flowers, water,
clouds and wind.
Don’t you hear them?
Let’s go.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
You freak me out.
Lanying.
why are you coming here
instead of sleeping?
Why do you think?
I haven’t seen you for weeks.
If I don’t come to serve you,
I won’t see you.
When I see you,
I don’t feel like sleeping at all.
How’s your stay here?
How is it?
It’s too luxurious for me.
The guestroom
is too big for me.
Besides,
people bring me meals
and wash clothes for me.
I really don’t get accustomed.
I haven’t gone to speak to you lately.
Are you bored?
Drawing maps
takes days.
If you keep me grounded for some more days,
maybe I will
talk to the wall.
Sorry to grieve you.
You know I’m grieved.
Why haven’t you come to keep me company?
After I settle down,
I’ll formally introduce you
to my brothers
and ministers.
And…
Someone who will like you.
Like me?
Who is it?
You’ll know when you see her.
Who is she?
Yeah. Who is she?
Who?
Tell me. Who is she?
You’ll know.
Tell me. Who is she?
Who? Who?
Three.
Lord San.
Are they
still the losers?
Four.
Chide Ji Fa
made it!
Seven.
Eight.
Two.
Ridiculous!
Come and look! Here comes Bo Yikao!
Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao!
Cool! How handsome he is!
Here comes Bo Yikao!
Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao!
What a handsome boy!
I would rather die,
if I could marry Bo Yikao, even for one day.
Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao!
Bo Yikao!
Bo Yikao, we have
great cherry wine.
Come and have a try.
Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao!
Childe, let’s hurry.
Or we may get delayed.
Don’t you remember the rule?
Riding a horse slowly to avoid people
is a rule in Xiqi.
But we’re not in Xiqi now.
In different places, people are the same.
Yes.
Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao! Bo Yikao!
His Majesty
commanded Bo Yikao to get to the palace immediately.
You met Bo Yikao?
Yes.
What’s he like?
Is he the one
who can help me to ruin the country?
I forgot.
I didn’t ask him before he left.
You only cared for completing on the zither
and forgot the business?
Your business
isn’t mine,
or Bo Yikao’s.
In his heart,
he never cares for
what you care for.
Forget it.
If His Majesty regrets
in the morning audience,
I’ll keep Bo Yikao as the hostage
and send Ji Chang back.
You’ll keep Bo Yikao?
What?
No way.
I can promise you anything,
except this one.
Why?
Because in my heart,
Bo Yikao is the saint,
instead of Ji Chang.
I heard
Bo Yikao had reached Zhaoge.
He’s no wonder Saint of Zither known all over the world.
Everyone in the palace is talking about him.
You come for him, too,
don’t you?
Aren’t you also on your way to Qianming Palace?
But I don’t think someone like you
could realize
the mysterious sound
even if you hear his playing.
Your Grace, don’t you remember?
I heard you
playing the zither
and learned some skills secretly.
That’s history.
Why do you bring this up?
I know
you love playing the zither.
I also know
you admire Bo Yikao.
But when he comes to Zhaoge,
he has to grovel,
even if he’s the famous Saint of Zither.
What do you mean?
You mean
he is going to be humiliated today?
Do you know
why he comes today?
It’s…
the trick of Daji!
In the name of
releasing West Marquis,
she forced Xiqi
to pay more tribute
to fill the national treasury.
Lately, Daji called you
to her palace, didn’t you?
You chatted and enjoyed tea.
You even told her
whatever your brother is doing.
Wake up!
Daji! The bitch!
What does she want to do with Bo Yikao?
The eldest son of West Marquis Bo Yikao
comes to see His Majesty
with great award.
Your Majesty. Here comes Consort Su.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Get up and raise your head.
I hear you’re known as the Saint of Zither
and are unparalleled in the world.
You have a valuable zither with you.
Why don’t I see it?
I gave it to someone else.
What?
How dare you gave it to someone else?
It should have been
mine!
Without it,
what will you give me?
Your Majesty.
I don’t have the valuable zither.
But I bring you priceless treasures
as many as I can find in Xiqi.
They’re more valuable than my zither.
Who wants the treasures from Xiqi?
I want your treasure!
Your favorite zither!
Bo Yikao.
You don’t bring the zither with you on purpose.
You don’t respect me
at all.
What else can you argue?
Your Majesty, when you want to condemn me,
I don’t dare to argue.
I just don’t want to get my father involved.
If so,
I’ll be at your mercy.
Somebody!
Take Bo Yikao away
and behead him before the public.
Please spare him, Your Majesty.
There must be some explanation
behind this.
Please kindly find out the truth
and forgive him.
Don’t help him.
If I don’t,
he will die.
Listen to me.
Your Majesty.
Bo Yikao is dull.
He doesn’t seem to understand you.
Childe.
You don’t have the zither with you.
But you can play the zither.
Your talent in playing the zither is priceless,
and much more valuable than your poor zither.
Childe Ji.
Could you also
leave your talent at home, too?
Rarely,
His Majesty has the mood for treasures.
Why don’t you play the zither
to make him happy?
Then you won’t let him down.
You two made some sense.
Bo Yikao.
When you fail to give me your zither,
play the zither for me then.
Show me what you’ve got.
If you have an undeserved reputation,
you’ll still be punished.
Whatever happens,
you mustn’t play the zither
in front of the King of Shang.
Otherwise, you’ll die.
Your Majesty.
Without my zither,
I can’t play for you.
No way.
I’ll take care of the rest.
Bo Yikao
mustn’t play the zither now.
Why?
Don’t get angry, Your Majesty.
Isn’t that easy?
You’re rich.
You can have whatever zither you want.
Childe Ji.
You really underestimate Zhaoge.
Go.
Get all the zithers I collected
to us
for him to choose from.
Oh, my God.
Isn’t it Sound of Autumn?
Oriole of Spring?
And Heaven?
I didn’t expect to see
all famous zithers here.
Your Grace,
you really have a prophetic vision.
You had such a preparation.
You can’t be
too deliberate, can you?
Deliberate?
I’m just
interested in the music
sometimes.
Don’t you know?
I like zithers, too.
Childe Ji.
I’ve heard a lot of your skill in playing the zither.
Today,
please kindly enlighten me.
She implored you.
What are you still dazing at?
Throughout the world,
the past
is gone with wind
like mist.
Bo Yikao.
You can’t
be saved,
like I was.
What?
We must think of a way
to stop Bo Yikao.
He mustn’t continue.
Why?
Those who love zithers
play with their own feelings.
Right now,
he’s playing
with the grieve over his father
and the hatred for His Majesty.
Why does he hate His Majesty?
I’m afraid Bo Yikao is doomed.
Could His Majesty understand rhythm, too?
Sure.
He’s addicted to sensual pursuits.
He has hired more than a hundred musicians
in the palace.
He’s been listening to the music all his life.
How would he not
realize the feelings in the music?
It must be Daji.
Her evil trick!
You’re seeking your doom!
Ji Chang is treacherous.
But I still keep him alive.
I’m well-known
for my kindness.
How dare you vent anger on me?
You sound treacherous.
Your Majesty.
You shouldn’t have vented your anger
into your music.
You really underestimated me.
Ridiculous and detestable!
Are you trying to hoax me?
Your Majesty.
In my ears,
Bo Yikao played a song
sentimental and beautiful.
A man like him
who can play such a beautiful song,
shouldn’t have
evil or treacherous intentions?
My dear.
You were enchanted.
You fail to realize
his evil intents in the music.
In his song,
he contained
the grieve over his father
and hatred against me.
If I let him and his father back to Xiqi,
they will rebel.
What a surprise!
He comes with a great excuse for his death.
God helps me!
Your Majesty.
I’m begging you to spare Bo Yikao,
even if I have to die for him.
It’s well known that
Bo Yikao plays the zither greatly.
He could wake up the drunk, enlighten the confused,
make the bad guys cry
and make heartless people cry.
Even grass and stones
would nod
when hearing his song.
Your Majesty.
If you kill
such a talent,
won’t it be a waste?
If your people know
you kill him,
they will complain
and be boiling with resentment.
So Your Majesty/
I’m begging you.
For the sake that
Bo Yikao plays the zither so well,
please show some mercy and spare him.
Talent?
If he has magic power in his song,
I don’t need severe laws
or millions of troops.
Instead, I can rule the country
by asking him to play the zither.