Hao men ye yan Page #2

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Is this your work?

These are the words of a song from Yue

Can you sing it for me?

It is about a Prince sailing down a stream

and the rowing girl falls in love with him

She sings this song

So it is a love song

No

it is a song about loneliness

You can sing to your young friend Qing

She would not understand

No one can really understand another person

If we did

we would not feel so lonely

When your father allowed you

to pursue the arts

I was against the idea

To me, a man should not be

a lonely musician

a product of warm hills and soft streams

A proper man is a prince

who rules over his kingdom

with strength and courage

That is only your idea of a man,

Empress Mother

But you have responsibilities

They're bestowed upon you

by the heavens above

passed on to you by your ancestors

expected of you by your people

Hasn't my uncle assumed

these responsibilities in me?

He...

His Majesty has commanded me

to greet you here

You have allowed the Prince to slip away

insulting His Majesty with your incompetence

What do you suggest you should do?

We shall offer up our lives as penance

Very good

Your families will be spared

We thank his gracious Majesty for his lenience

Clean the bridge

This palace is falling to ruin

The late Emperor was a thrifty man

but I am not going to suffer the way he did

Pave the ceiling

with flowers in gold leaf

Yes, Your Majesty

May I enquire

should the central pillar be painted in vermilion

or ink black?

Vermilion is the color of blood

and gold represents glory

Which glorious dynasty

has not been forged with blood?

Minister Yin

Your Majesty

I envy you

for having such a personable and astute son

gifted in both cultural and military affairs

Unlike my nephew

your Crown Prince

who only knows to sing and dance

If Your Majesty does not like

the snow leopard carving

it can be replaced at once

I like it

When it snows

this creature stays inside

the cave to groom his fur

When the sun comes out,

it emerges shiny and sleek

it knows about changing with the weather

This is a clever beast

May your servant suggest that

a tiger would be even more appropriate

According to the Book of Change

a great man descends from a tiger

a gentleman from a leopard

Your majesty is a great man

The tiger has an appropriate air of majesty

Governor Pei Hong of You Province

Your Majesty

Why are you silent?

I was thinking, perhaps

this snow leopard should be gifted

to Minister Yin

Why is that?

Because he too knows how to change

with the weather

Governor Pei's suggestion is excellent

We shall bestow on Minister Yin

this beautiful carving

My deepest gratitude to Your Majesty

As for a replacement...

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