Nations in turmoil.  The Kingdom of Wu triumphs over Yue.  The conquered Yue people strain their eyes and weep blood staining battle dresses of their sons on expeditions. Li Fan the Yue Minister, and Shi Xi the Yue country maiden, two hearts of total strangers brought together for the common goal of restoring their nation.  They have innocent loyal hearts of crimson will to save their people from tyranny and revive their kingdom.

Life, beauty, dignity, romance, all abandoned.  Personal values are placed second to the realm.  When honour is at stake, there is no regret. Li Fan presents his beloved Shi Xi to the Gusu Tower at the Wu capital, to bewitch King Fu Cha of Wu and undermine his reign.

At the royal capital, Shi Xi realizes that politics is not simply black or white.  In Fu Cha’s eyes the people are Wu nationals.  In the eyes of the Yue King Gou Jian, the people are Yue nationals.  How does one distinguish between the two peoples?

Chosen to be the King’s consort, what Fu Cha sees, she gradually comes to see too.  The more she takes in, the more troubled is her heart.  Is it love or obligation?  She has no time to get to the root of the matter.  The kingdom is overthrown.  The mission to save her own people and restore her nation is accomplished.  Fu Cha is gone.  So is Zheng Dan her comrade at arms entering the Guanwa Palace together.  Shi Xi’s heart is also dredged empty on one side.

The Wu Palace is burnt down.  Li Fan dashes into the inferno to look for his Shi Xi.  After the storm in his old home, Fan Li knows full well that the day of accomplishing his mission is the time for demob and retirement – putting away the bow after birds are shot down.  Two innocently crimson hearts, each dredged half empty, reunite as one.

One is not yet grown old, but one’s sentiments have already aged...

Dance with fan to hide tears
My eyes are blurred
PAK Suet-hung

A conspiracy to rebuild a nation
was woven from eroded passions
LEUNG Hon-wai

The sacrifice of true love was
rewarded with a crumbled nation
HONG Hai, PAK Suet-hung

A lonely lover’s death
was triggered by an invisible treason
Susanna CHENG

I dream of her
HONG Hai, PAK Suet-hung

Maurice LAI, Elki NGAN,
HONG Hai, SZETO Chui-ying ,
PAK Suet-hung , LEUNG Hon-wai ,
Man LAW, Susanna CHENG