The Assassin

1

In 7th century China,

the Tang Dynasty is in decline.

The Imperial Court seeks to protect itself

by establishing garrisons

at the frontiers of its empire.

Two centuries later,

the militarized provinces

waver in their loyalty to the Court.

Some move to distance themselves

from the Emperor's control.

At that time, Weibo asserts itself

as the strongest of those provinces.

That man poisoned his own father,

he killed his own brother.

His guilt condemns him.

Cut him down for me, expertly.

As if he were a bird in flight.

Don't pinch it!

Where's it going?

Where does it fly to?

Where indeed?

I want to touch it.

Where's it going?

Play with the ball.

Why did it take you so long?

The governor's son was there.

I could not bring myself to do it.

Another time,

first kill the one he loves,

and then the man himself.

You have mastered the sword

but your heart lacks resolve.

I shall return you to Weibo

to kill your cousin

Tian Ji'an.

The Assassin

My lady,

a nun is here.

She says she is bringing Yinniang back.

As your humble servant,

I bow to you, Your Reverence.

Yinniang has completed her studies.

Today she returns.

I'll take my leave of you.

The King of Kophen's bluebird

failed to sing for three years.

One day the Queen remarked:

Birds sing only to their own kind,

set the bird before a mirror!

The King heeded her advice.

The bluebird saw its own image,

it sang of its sadness,

it danced,

until it expired.

Yinniang, these clothes are for you.

While you were away with the nun,

your mother made them for you herself,

every spring and autumn.

Grandmother, my respects.

Rise.

This is from your Master.

She asked the tea-traders to bring it here.

This jade was given

to Princess Jiacheng

when she was obliged

to marry the Lord of Weibo.

Her brother the Emperor

offered it as a farewell gift.

This jade

symbolizes a decisive break.

His Majesty was commanding her

to depart from his Court and to secure Weibo.

To prevent Weibo

from invading His Majesty's lands.

That year, your uncle and I

were in charge of ceremonial protocol.

I recall

that the princess refused her usual carriage.

So His Majesty gave her

an Imperial gold carriage.

When Princess Jiacheng reached Weibo,

she abandoned all her former customs

and adapted to the manners of Weibo.

She sent away the retinue of staff

provided by His Majesty.

She lavished gold and silk on them,

so that they could have their freedom.

Since then,

the Court is the Court

and Weibo is Weibo.

The Princess implemented that decisive break.

When her son Tian Ji'an came of age,

she divided two matching jades:

One to her son, one to you.

She wished the two of you

to maintain the imperial edict.

To be resolute

in preserving the peace between

the Imperial Court and Weibo.

His Majesty passed away four years ago.

One year later,

his nephew and heir also passed away.

When the imperial messenger

brought the sad news,

Princess Jiacheng coughed up blood

and hurled her pearls and jades

to the ground.

That year,

the glorious white peonies

she brought from the Court

withered overnight.

The Princess had one last concern.

Her heart was troubled by the thought...

that she had let you down.

A year ago,

the Court sent an official to Chengde

to console Wang Chengzong

for his father's death.

He persuaded Wang to pay

the Court taxes on salt and iron

and give away two provinces for a promotion.

The Court immediately established

in these two provinces

the Baoxin Garrison.

Lord Tian, you have a man in Chengde,

seeding trouble between

Wang and Xue Changchao.

He tells Wang that Xue has

secret dealings with the Court.

That will goad Wang

into capturing Xue,

so Xue will not be able

to receive his promotion!

This plan must be curtailed!

At the moment,

the Imperial Court is

actively extending its domain.

The Court will certainly be offended

and send troops into Weibo!

Their new provinces adjoin Weibo,

and it is where they built

their new garrison.

The Court is showing off its strength

to intimidate us in Weibo.

It is time to act.

The Court could take Weibo

as easily as it took the Wushu provinces.

It will not be so easy to seize Weibo.

We are not like Wushu.

The Wushu garrison

was encircled by the Court.

Their rulers behaved as autocrats

and commanded no popular support!

Thus,

the population instantly ceded

to the Court's army.

There is no comparison with Weibo.

Our fifty-year history has forged bonds

between ruler and ruled.

Furthermore,

even if Wang and Xue fall out,

they are related by marriage.

Their quarrel will not spill over borders.

Xue Changchao has interests in Weibo.

He does not always obey the Court.

My lord,

setting Wang against Xue

would offend the Court

and they will send troops.

It will place Weibo in grave danger!

Lord Tian is arriving.

It was a woman in black.

Your son saw her while he was playing.

She seemed to mean him no harm.

The guard says

my brother will be banished.

His blunt speaking caused offense.

How is he?

He had a stroke.

Yinniang is back.

I heard.

The nun-princess brought her back.

Lord Tian is here.

You're thinking about that woman?

Tian Xing will be sent away.

He provoked panic.

They all support the Court!

Cowards, all of them!

It was Yinniang.

It was her.

I understand.

She wanted me to recognize her.

Who?

Yinniang.

She wanted me to recognize her

before taking my life.

She wants me to know why.

These jades were given...

to my mother when she married

into the Weibo clan.

When I came of age,

Mother gave one to me,one to Yinniang.

One jade each,

she betrothed us.

Mother intended us to wed

when Yinniang turned fifteen.

The following year,

Yuan, the Ming lord,

formed an alliance with Weibo.

Father wanted to cement

the alliance with a marriage.

I was born to a concubine, Mother adopted me.

To be sure that I would inherit Weibo.

Mother betrayed her promise to Yinniang.

Back then,

Yinniang stayed in the forest.

Like a phoenix!

She broke into the Yuans' mansion.

Their guards wounded her.

She could have died.

Mother asked her twin sister,Princess Jiaxin,

to take Yinniang away.

I feel for Yinniang.

When I was ten I had a serious fever.

The pain was unbearable.

The doctors were no help.

A small coffin was prepared.

Yinniang's father suggested

I be rolled in a bamboo mat

and put in a cool spot.

After three days and nights,

I was cured.

In my delirium,

I sensed a presence.

It was Yinniang.

No one could have made her leave.

Excuse me, sir,

our guard has a report.

Speak.

Lord Provost,

an assassin entered Lord Tian's mansion.

Our guards are in pursuit.

What is the situation?

Nothing is certain.

I withdraw.

We should not have allowed

the nun to take Yinniang away.

What choice did we have?

We had to save her somehow.

Do you realize?

Yinniang is back

to kill Lord Tian

on the orders of her Master!

Provost,

a messenger is here.

Lord Tian urgently requires your presence.

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