The Tragedy of Sun Shang Xiang and Liu Bei (Part 1)

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) My name is Sun Shang Xiang. I am a daughter of the late Sun Jian. My brother Quan rules over our kingdom. He’s been leading it since Ce died unexpectedly some years ago. As of yet, I had had barely any opportunities in battle but all that was about to change . . .

Sun Shang Xiang: Come in.

Sun Quan: Shang Xiang.

Sun Shang Xiang: Brother! I wasn’t expecting you to be here. I thought you had already gone out to battle.

Sun Quan: No. You see, I forgot someone very important.

Sun Shang Xiang: (OOV.) Oh?

Sun Quan: Shang Xiang, I want you to fight in the coming battle.

Sun Shang Xiang: Brother! Oh thank you!

Sun Shang Xiang: (releases Sun Quan) I will not let you down, brother. I promise you.

Sun Quan: I want you to be careful, ok? We’ve already lost brother and father out of the blue. I do not want to loose you.

Sun Shang Xiang: I’ll be fine. Any enemy who comes near me will get it.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) I could hardly believe it! I was going to follow in the footsteps of my brothers and father.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) It was the Battle of Chi Bi. We were allied with Liu Bei to defeat a man named Cao Cao. This was a great opportunity to show my ability.

Sun Shang Xiang: Come and get it.

Wei soldier 1: We have to fight a girl?

Wei soldier 2: Give me a break! It’s not as if she could fight.

Sun Shang Xiang: You’ll be eating those words soon enough.

Sun Shang Xiang: Trust me: you don’t want to mess with me.

Zhou Yu: She is a feisty warrior.

Sun Quan: Well, that’s my sister! She’s got the same spirit that Sun Ce had.

Zhou Yu: Yes. I believe she could be a great ally for this kingdom.

Sun Quan: Don’t let Cao Cao get away!

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) We managed to defeat Cao Cao but he was trying to escape. We were sent out to try and stop him. At this point, my entire life began to change.

Liu Bei: (OOV.) So, you must be Sun Shang Xiang.

Liu Bei: It is an honour to make your acquaintance. I am –

Sun Shang Xiang: (interrupts.) You do not need to announce yourself.

Sun Shang Xiang: I am glad to meet you, Lord Liu Bei.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) I couldn’t get Liu Bei out of my head. It was as if he instantly became a huge part of my life and I didn’t understand why or how. It was all going to become clear soon enough.

Sun Shang Xiang: Who is it?

Sun Shang Xiang: Brother. You wanted to see me?

Sun Quan: Yes, Shang Xiang. I have some news to tell you. You are to be married.

Sun Shang Xiang: Married?

Sun Quan: Yes: to Liu Bei of Shu.

Sun Shang Xiang: Liu Bei?!

Sun Quan: (OOV.) Yes. I shan’t lie to you: It was an unexpected proposal.

Sun Quan: However, this shall be beneficial for both our kingdom and his kingdom. It shall undoubtedly strengthen relations and hold a strong front against Cao Cao.

Sun Shang Xiang: That sounds -

Sun Quan: (interrupts.) Great (claps his hands.) You shall be wed in no time!

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over) I just didn’t understand it.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) It wasn’t as if we had been good friends for years. We only really met a few times! For another thing, he was 28 years older than me. He was as old as my late Father!

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) Despite it all, I still accepted the proposal. Liu Bei is a nice man with great principles and values on virtue. I was sure he and I would get along well.

Female attendant 1: My Lord, you may go in and see the Mistress Shang Xiang.

Liu Bei: My thanks.

Liu Bei: Mistress Sun Shang Xiang?

Sun Shang Xiang: Lord Liu Bei. It is good to see you again.

Liu Bei: I can say the same for seeing you.

Sun Shang Xiang: You could?

Liu Bei: Yes although (hesitates)

Sun Shang Xiang: What?

Liu Bei: Do you always have so many female attendants?

Sun Shang Xiang: Why, yes I do. It’s for protection purposes really, in case someone decides to attack. I can never be too careful especially with what happened to Ce.

Liu Bei: Yes. That was unfortunate and may I give my belated apologies.

Sun Shang Xiang: Oh. Thank you, my Lord.

Liu Bei: My pleasure.

Liu Bei: Wow.

Sun Shang Xiang: Come in.

Liu Bei: Shang Xiang, it’s a trap.

Sun Shang Xiang: What’s a trap?

Liu Bei: Lord Zhou Yu and your brother . . . I’m stuck in a trap. Whilst I am here seeing you, I am supposed to be captured and held for ransom.

Sun Shang Xiang: (shocked.) Can you escape?

Liu Bei: Yes. I can escape but –

Sun Shang Xiang: But what?

Liu Bei: I don’t want to leave you behind.

Sun Shang Xiang: Oh . . .

Liu Bei: I can take you with me. We’ll be safe and we can be together without coming under scrutiny.

Liu Bei: I know it’s a lot to ask but I do not want to be separated from you.

Sun Shang Xiang: I’ll do it.

Liu Bei: You’ll come with me?

Sun Shang Xiang: Yes. I will come with you.