[English subtitles are available.]
Winter Begonia
Episode 24
Today’s performance
relies on you.
You can count on me.
Not bad.
-Bravo! -Bravo!
-Brilliant! -Bravo!
♫Command at the throne♫
♫Resist foreign invaders♫
♫I miss my boys♫
♫All the time♫
♫Think a lot at Longhutai in the autumn ♫
♫The green mountains and the sun♫
♫The mountain and sea are like wall and moat ♫
♫Like people wear rosy clouds♫
We get used
to Mr. Shang’s female roles these years.
Today we can watch a different performance.
It’s really gratifying.
♫I am ♫
We have plenty of time.
♫ The eternal emperor of the Great Qi♫
As long as he has me,
Shang will have more classic operas.
I am not talking about you, Mr. Du.
Let me tell you.
♫Since I ascended the throne♫
Without you,
♫I’ve been devoted to the country♫
there are still others writing for Mr. Shang.
♫It’s hateful that the enemies♫
♫Occupied my territory♫
Can they be compared with me?
♫I intend to resist the enemies personally♫
I don’t bother talking with you.
You know nothing about opera.
♫But I have no son♫
I’m going to the box.
♫To rule the country♫
It’s clearer to watch there,
without layman
♫I may summon my empress♫
talking nonsense.
♫To discuss with her♫
Who does he mean layman?
Ridiculous.
♫Yes♫
♫Summon Empress Chen to the court♫
Let’s go to the box as well.
OK. Let’s go.
♫The position of crown prince is vacant♫
♫Not good for the country♫
♫The son of Lord Zhong ♫
♫I’ve ever seen him♫
♫He is good-looking and decent♫
♫His family have been loyal for generations♫
♫Your Majesty, you may take him as foster son♫
♫On the one hand, he can be the crown prince♫
♫ You can feel relieved♫
♫On the other hand, it can settle the emergency♫
♫Don’t let the enemies look down on us ♫
Let me do it. Let me.
♫Well♫
♫Your Majesty♫
♫The enemy forces have taken Eastern Gate ♫
♫Please disguise yourself♫
♫Let me cover you out of the capital first♫
♫Alas♫
♫Since I am cornered♫
♫I have nowhere to go, do I♫
♫I hate the enemy’s guts, and haven’t avenged ♫
♫No one helps me when I’m in need♫
♫All enjoy the rank and emolument, yet not loyal to me ♫
♫I shall die for my country, how can I succumb to enemy♫
♫If I flee as you said, how can I face my ancestors♫
♫Soldiers♫
♫Go to the fortress with me♫
♫I’ll kill enemy on the battlefield in person♫
Why are you laughing?
Mr. Liu.
♫All officials, attention ♫
This opera is childish.
♫I’m afraid I can’t go back alive♫
Enemies are coming, while the emperor doesn’t run
♫From the battlefield♫
and goes to the battlefield.
♫I have something urgent to tell you♫
The emperor is too foolish.
♫I confer your son Yi’ning as crown prince♫
Even a landlord would
escape to survive, not to mention
♫You shall take good care of the crown prince♫
the ruler of a country.
Sounds like you ever saw an emperor.
♫Let him eliminate the enemy and recover my territory♫
♫I count on you♫
♫Yes, Your Majesty♫
His Majesty.
Empress Zhen.
♫Unsheathe the sword, moonlight shines on the rope♫
-Bravo! -Bravo!
Excellent performer!
-Excellent performer! -Bravo!
-Excellent performer! -Excellent musician!
♫Recalling the previous dynasty♫
What is the crap?
I can’t even understand it!
Refund!
-They’re performing well. -Stop!
-He’s causing trouble. -Refund!
Refund!
-Stop! -Do you know how to play operas?
Refund!
Can you play operas?
How can we watch the show?
♫Only see the fire burning♫
Get down! Get down!
The show just started
and he couldn’t understand it?
They must be competitors.
That’s why
they want to ruin the show
before the viewers applause.
-Refund! -Refund!
Refund. You hear me?
What is the crap?
♫Imperial aura embraces♫
Refund!
What the heck is the opera?
What is the crap?
Hey. Hey.
Hey. Cut it out.
♫If only an iron hoop could cover the territory♫
How come they make a scene for a new opera?
It must be that rat Jiang Dengbao.
Zhouzi was just recruited days ago.
His hide is itchy again.
Cheng.
Why are you still so calm?
Don’t you do something?
♫The war is going on in Jiangnan♫
Mr. Shang is experienced.
He doesn’t need my help.
Get down!
♫The northwestern territory is also at stake♫
What the hell is that?
-Silent. -No one understands this.
-Hey, stop. -Don’t look for trouble.
♫The dynasty prospers and lasts two hundred years♫
-Get down! -Be quiet!
Right.
Get down!
Right.
You may leave.
He doesn’t fail as long as the show goes on.
♫Now it ends up ♫
Get down now!
♫In the chaos♫
Have you ever performed?
Do you know how to perform? Stop it!
-Get down! -Refund!
Leave if you don’t want to watch.
You hear me? Refund! Stop it!
Stop! I...
-Bravo! -Bravo!
Leader is awesome.
What... What are you doing?
You want to kill me?
Bravo!
♫The territory is vast♫
Xirui did a good job.
They are frightened.
What the heck is that?
Get out! Scram!
Leave. Leave.
Leave. Go.
Go.
Get out.
♫The subjects abandon me when I’m in need♫
♫Ancestors fought up and down the country♫
Cheng.
You knew Cao Guixiao would come,
so you remained calm. Right?
♫But now it ends in my hands♫
♫Feel sorry to ancestors and forebears♫
This commander is impressive.
He must be a high-ranking official
whoever killed enemies in battlefield.
♫I blame myself, and issue the edict♫
Of course he is.
That is Mr. Cao.
He went to the military academy at 15 or so.
It’s common to fight on battlefield.
Not to mention deal with two punks.
♫I entrust my queen to bring children up♫
Not like us.
We’re just jugglers.
Act and kill on the stage,
and then still eat and sleep together.
So what?
Even if the commander didn’t come,
♫And restore♫
our leader could still
beat their teeth out.
He didn't have to help.
I won’t perform all the lifetime.
♫The nation♫
Wait and see.
I’ll kill true enemies and be a hero
♫The peace is long gone♫
sooner or later.
Mr. Cao. You...
No one can come in without my orders.
Yes.
Mr. Liu.
Let me introduce myself.
Cao Wanjun's eldest son,
Commander of the First Division in Army 270,
studied in Japan at 15,
in the Soviet Union at 18.
You master tons of military theories,
but you haven’t engaged in any tough war.
♫After I die♫
♫All is on crown prince♫
Mr. Liu is
♫Now I feel relieved♫
quite knowledgeable.
I thought
your father would come.
I didn’t expect it’d be his son.
I come here
to ask Mr. Liu for a chance
to engage in a tough war.
I’m not in the military.
Nothing I can help.
Mr. Liu.
I know why you come to Peking
this time.
I’m a military man.
I won’t beat around the bush.
The arms which Cheng Fengtai smuggled
were for me.
Please return them to me.
OK. Since Mr. Cao is straightforward,
I’ll get right to it.
What did you smuggle the arms for?
For strife?
For opium?
Or for a rebellion?
Get prepared to fight against foreign enemies.
As the opera said just now:
Cast a vast iron hoop
to cover the territory.
I’ve seen
many young men like you before.
At the beginning,
they were all hot-blooded and swore
to strengthen forces and resist Japanese enemies.
As a result,
they were ambitious but incapable.
They even ran way
or were eliminated
before confronting enemies’ main forces.
Some went abroad with money and belongings
to be officials.
Mr. Cao,
are you different from them?
What you said wasn’t the worst.
Years ago, someone
attained German arms
and then surrendered to Japanese,
making government a laughing stock internationally.
I know
your concerns.
If someone I don't know
comes to me and brag,
I won’t believe in him either.
I think
those people gave up
because they gained the guns and money too easily.
If they pay the price
for what they get,
I believe
they’ll be able to achieve something.
Mr. Cao.
What price would you pay?
Everything I have now,
including
my uniform,
is given by my father, Cao Wanjun.
Only my mind
is up to me.
Mr. Sun.
Sir.
Bring the stuff in.
Yes.
You... What are you doing?
This is Ichiro Kitahara,
a captain in the Japanese army.
Here is his sword.
Asians all look alike.
Who knows if you killed innocent for credit?
No hurry.
Let’s watch the opera.
In a while,
someone will prove it for me.
Mr. Cao. Be seated.
Please.
♫Report♫
♫Your Majesty, enemies are coming ♫
♫Empress Chen killed herself for country out of sorrow♫
♫Ah♫
♫Heard that the Empress died♫
Cheng. You see?
♫It grieves me♫
Mr. Shang is an all-rounded musician
and performer.
♫Empress, wait for me in heaven♫
I've been confused by something.
Mr. Shang performs the male role well.
Why did he change his role to females?
Mr. Shang
learned male roles before he changed voice when young.
But he failed when he
changed his voice.
His father was hot-tempered.
♫Empress♫
He beat Mr. Shang with such a thick stick,
and said Mr. Shang
ruined his voice because he learned female roles
from Jiang Mengping.
♫ Put on gears and rush to the gate♫
His father was unreasonable.
Mr. Shang must have been wronged
and beaten a lot when he's young.
Mr. Shang learned Marital roles originally.
Martial roles lie in strong physique.
Being beaten is common.
But Mr. Shang
played male roles well.
It’s good indeed.
Cheng. Many of my friends
also play males well.
It’s good,
but they can’t perform
the exclusive move on stage.
There are knacks in it.
If that move isn’t taught by master,
their popularity won’t last long.
He comprehends the opera
thoroughly.
Mr. Shang’s style to play male roles
belongs to the school of Shang,
taught by Shang Juzhen.
But his female roles’ style
isn’t subject to any school.
It seems like many schools,
but not like much.
Anyway,
we all think his tone
is wonderful and pleasant.
That's why
his performance of female roles is more well-known.
I will
tell Mr. Shang
to write down all his experience about opera.
Maybe
the future generations can benefit from it.
[First Theater]
Mr. Liu. Please look over this.
[Report from Central Executive Committee of Nationalist Party of China]
It says
this morning
a squad of Japanese soldiers
was annihilated by well-armed bandits.
The squad leader was Ichiro Kitahara.
Looks like Mr. Cao
was a hero indeed.
It’s just a captain.
Not a big deal.
In the future,
I’ll repay you
with more valuable heads.
Mr. Wang.
Put away Mr. Cao’s present.
Yes.
You specially came to me
and made the request.
Did Command Cao know it?
If I could persuade him,
I wouldn’t have risked my life
and pushed Cheng Fengtai
to smuggle arms with me.
I know you’re determined to fight Japan.
But I don’t know
Commander Cao’s attitude.
My father
has been wavering.
You came in Peking,
but he didn’t visit you in excuse of sickness.
I tried to persuade him.
He yelled at me.
Look.
He even hit me.
He is old
and gets confused inevitably.
I wish him
not to do anything wrong to the country.
What do you want then?
Mr. Liu. I hope you can
persuade him to hand over
his military power to me
and let me lead army
to the battlefield.
Mr. Cao, you’re determined
to serve the Party and the nation.
That’s admirable.
I’ll certainly consider your proposal.
Thank you, Mr. Liu.
Enjoy the show.
Goodbye.
-Bravo! -Bravo!
-Excellent performer! -Excellent performer!
-Bravo! -Bravo!
Excellent musician!
Mr. Shang
did a great job today.
I think
he’ll be the leader of opera association for sure.
Cheng. Your investment is worthy.
Excellent musician!
-Bravo! -Bravo!
Zhouzi. Your performance was amazing.
I’ll help you in a while.
His appearance in costume was great today.
Right?
His makeup was good as well.
I don’t even want to remove it for him.
Then keep it.
What’s going on?
What are they doing here?
I don’t know.
Why are they here?
Right.
You performed so well.
The appearance was handsome, too.
Don’t move. Behave.
Leader! Leader...
Mr. Zhou.
I can’t afford to be your leader.
Isn’t Shang Xirui your leader?
I didn’t feel it right.
How could the Spring and Autumn Love
be so weird that day?
I see.
You’ve long hooked up with him.
Bite the hand that feeds you.
I’ll tear you apart.
Mr. Shang! Help! Help...
Don’t move.
Mr. Shang.
Who are you calling for help?
Who can help you?
I still have your title deed.
You'll never leave Yunxi Theater.
Help!
Help! Help!
What are you doing?
What’s happening?
Let go!
-Don't move! -Who are you?
How dare you make a scene in Shuiyun Theater?
Stand right there! Don’t you dare!
Don’t move.
What are you doing?
Hey!
When I debuted and went popular.
Let go.
You’re still in your mother’s belly.
You shrew.
How dare you argue with me?
What are you talking about?
You hit her?
Shuiyun Theater is capable, huh?
You tricked my apprentice here
and performed for you?
What?
It’s Shang Xirui’s dirty trick, isn’t it?
Call him here!
Old man, how dare you call our leader?
Beat him up!
Hit!
What are you doing?
You traitor!
Let go!
You ungrateful bastard!
What are you doing?
-Let go! -Stop it!
Enough! Stop!
What are you doing?
Let go! Let go!
-Stop! -Let go!
Let him go! Let go!
Let go!
I said stop it. Didn’t you hear me?
I’m not your man.
Why should I listen to you?
You meddle with our theater’s business?
You played the emperor on stage.
You really take yourself as a true emperor?
We had a deal
of one month. Right?
You have the nerve to bring it up?
I was too careless
and fooled by you.
Who was that stranger Mrs. Wang?
Was she a shill sent by you?
You played the dirty trick
to get my man.
You’re going to be struck by lightning.
That’s our grudge.
Why did you hit him?
Hit me if you want.
Fine.
You asked me to do this.
What are you doing?
How dare I hit you?
You have someone powerful support you.
But he
won’t get it over easily.
Zhouzi.
Do you want to return to Yunxi or stay in Shuiyun?
Zhouzi.
If you want to stay here,
say it loudly.
Say it.
I want to stay in Shuiyun!
You...
-Fine. -What are you doing?
Sixi’er.
Don’t force him!
I will pay you tenfold money of the title deed.
From today on,
Zhouzi is Shuiyun’s performer.
Tenfold?
Yes. Not one cent less.
Tenfold?
Buh.
In your dream.
I just want him to die,
no matter how much money you pay.
Leader! Leader!
Mr. Shang! Mr. Shang!
Mr. Shang!
-Leader! -Leader!
-Zhouzi. -Zhouzi.
Leader! Leader!
Zhouzi.
He still has breath.
Take him to hospital.
Hurry. Hurry.
You see?
Hadn’t Shuiyun Theater forced him,
how could he hit the wall?
You...
Don't take him to hospital.
Come and take him back.
Whether alive or dead, that’s his fate.
-Yes. -Yes.
-Leader. -Leader.
Zhouzi...
-Leader! -Leader!
Mr. Shang.
The title deed is still in my hands.
Alive, he is Yunxi’s performer.
Dead, he is still our corpse.
Mother.
This...
[Condolence]
Did Fujin go peacefully?
She passed away in her dream,
without suffering
from pain.
Fujin was blessed.
Pull yourself together.
That day in the mansion,
I distantly heard you singing.
There’s a part with high pitch.
I forgot the lyrics.
After that part,
I heard Fujin
called His Majesty and Empress Zhen.
When I came in to see her,
she had passed away.
Fujin was loyal.
Father, you’re here.
I saw Fujin
not long ago.
I never thought
we’d meet again like this.
You’re too kind.
It’s unexpected.
You ever held me
and took birds’ nest in this yard.
It’s even more unexpected
that you’re a commissioner now.
Yet
I became the last lord of Manchurians
who didn’t make it to be conferred.
Lord.
Times change. Dynasties transit.
I will never forget
the great kindness
of the late lord and Fujin.
I felt a lot
on this journey in Peking.
Beijing
changed into Peking.
Back then my ancestors led Eight Banners
unified the country.
But unexpectedly,
they were expelled back to hometown.
The emperor
even stayed with the Japanese invaders.
What a shame.
Lord.
Your patriotism is moving
and admirable.
Times have changed.
Now Manchurian and Han
are all the countrymen of the Republic of China.
In the future,
we have to fight the enemy together
and defend the country.
Pull yourself together.
Shang.
The Tale of Dragon you performed last night
was excellent.
Everyone has the responsibility
to protect the country.
But the people don’t understand these nowadays.
You should enlighten and influence them by your play.
Father, I won’t let you down.
Shang.
When I
first met you in Nanking,
I felt that your moves
on the stage
were quite like Ning Jiulang’s.
Now I feel
your views are indeed
like Jiulang’s.
Father.
You compare me with Jiulang.
I can’t afford it.
No. No.
Both you and Jiulang are ambitious.
Back then Ning Jiulang
wanted to modify operas,
but he was too timid to do that.
He just slightly polished some operas.
He didn’t creatively make operas
until he met you.
I remember, years ago,
Jiulang played emperor to support you.
That Peking Opera
was Iron Crown Diagram. Right?
It’s said the lyrics were well modified,
the moves and tone even better.
Lord Qi was moved
and cried.
The lyrics
were modified by Mr. Du.
Jiulang and I
composed the moves and the tone.
Good.
It’s a pity that I had business in Nanking
and missed it.
Later, I heard that you went to Tianjin
to perform for the emperor.
Especially your line:
I vow to bring justice to the monarch,
even if I would be smashed
into pieces.
It made the emperor cry.
I didn't know if the emperor cried or not.
I don’t care about viewers
when I perform.
Viewer?
Performing for the emperor
is a great honor.
You call emperor Xuantong
one of your viewers?
You are bragging.
But I like your stubbornness.
Is the opera still on show?
Since Jiulang retired,
Iron Crown Diagram has been hung up.
Why?
No one can play Emperor Chongzhen
as well as Jiulang does.
What a pity.
Then
my godfather repeated that
it’s a pity he didn't watch Jiulang’s performance.
He also asked me a lot about Jiulang.
Did he miss Jiulang so much?
Not only him.
I missed him too.
It’s been a long time since we met.
I’m dying to perform
with him again.
How can I let you die
for this?
I have an idea.
Cheng, what do you mean?
Liu Hanyun will return to Nanking to report at the end of this month.
Commander Cao asked me to arrange banquet for him.
If you really want to see Ning Jiulang,
you may invite Jiulang
to perform with you in his name.
Will it work?
I don’t know Jiulang’s temper.
I am not sure,
but you can have a try.
That’s a must, Mr. Cheng.
Got it, Mr. Shang.
I’m going back to draw up an invitation.
Leader.
Sixi’er drove out the doctor
you invited for Zhouzi.
He didn’t allow him to treat Zhouzi.
Zhouzi hit the wall hard.
He can’t die. I’m going to see him.
Sixi’er won’t let you in.
Don’t fight with them.
Your leader has never
cared about someone so much.
Zhouzi is lucky.
Right.
Don't move. Lie down.
Sixi’er
didn’t let me in.
So, I went over the wall to see you.
Is Sixi’er a human?
How come he left you even without water?
He has always treated me harshly.
He doesn’t let me perform.
Thanks to Mr. Shang,
I performed finally.
But he hates my guts now.
Mr. Shang.
I may die here.
I see you
before I die.
I...
I don't have any regret.
Zhouzi.
Cheer up.
You
are a genius performer.
Don’t die in Sixi’er’s hands.
Zhouzi. Zhouzi.
I try so hard to teach you and save you.
You know why?
I want to take you as my apprentice.
I will pass all my teachings to you.
Zhouzi. Zhouzi.
The doorman has gone inside long
and didn’t reply us.
Mr. Cheng.
Jiulang still doesn’t want
to see me, does he?
It’s in vain.
Let’s go home.
Mr. Shang.
I haven’t asked you.
Since Ning Jiulang taught you operas
and you admire him so much,
how come he’s reluctant
to see you now?
Jiulang is no ordinary man.
How could I know what he thinks?
You probably offended him.
I didn’t.
I got along well with him.
One day,
he prepared many dishes to treat me.
I ate all up.
Then he said he had nothing to teach me anymore
and drove me away.
He is your master,
and you should prepare dishes for him.
Look at you.
Your master prepared dishes for you.
Shame on you. You have no manners.
If I were Ning Jiulang, I would also drive you away.
Mr. Shang. Mr. Cheng. Please follow me.
Please.
The people in Peking said
Lord Qi is the richest among the elders.
It lives up to the name.
Cheng.
I’m wondering.
The emperor has run away.
How come the princes and royal descendants
are still so rich?
The antiques and the land
left by their ancestors
are enough for them to live on.
Besides, Lord Qi is far-sighted.
He set up industries in the concession long ago.
Even the emperor spoke highly of him
and meant to invite him
to be the Minister of Industry.
Didn’t he agree?
Well,
I don’t know.
Maybe he’s old
and didn’t want to leave homeland.
When you left Pingyang,
weren’t you upset?
No, I wasn't.
I was happy.
My father told me about Peking, the Forbidden City
and the like when I was young.
So, I expected to perform in Peking
when I grew up.
People move up the ladder.
I was very happy when I left Pingyang.
You are no ordinary man as well.