Dancing Beauty of Dunhuang

Cast

Pian-Pian: The No. 1 dancer in Chang’an, with an uncompromising personality, and renowned for her beauty. She was first in

Hou-ying-jie: Eurasian Looking, Grand Cheji-General (rank meaning commander of chariots & cavalry). Because his mother was a dancer from the Euro-regions, so his complexion is very different from Chinese from central regions. Direct and straightforward, very clear-cut in beliefs and emotions. (needs western actor)

Zhou-fang: Famous artist and painter. High and aloof, as if above this world. Originally does not care about romance, only obsessed about reaching the highest point in artistry. But disrupted by Pian-pian dancing, his world is peaceful no more.

Fei-long: Hou-ying-jie’s lieutenant, a master of combat, fearless in battle against any odds, but unable to express her true feelings. Because of her love for Hou, she is constantly trying to help him, but in the end, this love also leads her to betray Hou.

Shi-wu: Pian-Pian’s attendant and apprentice. She and Pian-pian are close like sisters, but her ambition to become the No. 1 dancer in Chang’an also makes her jealous of Pian-pian. This jealousy leads her to betray Pian-pian several times, but finally is able to realise that the highest level in art is achievable only through spirit and not in physical form.

Longshi Tuqizhi: King of Yanqi, who also likes Pian-pian, but even more about his lands. The example of what happened to Gaochang has made him fearful, so he allies with western Tujue and hopes to drive Tang forces out of the silkroad.

Qulizhui: Western Tujue general. On orders from his king to force Yanqi into an alliance against Tang China.

Qulihan: Western Tujue general, originally intended to ally with Yanqi by marriage and marry Longshi Moyanhua. Upon seeing Pian-pian, he was moved to accept her instead, unfortunately died in the fire accident on the way to complete the marriage.

Hou-jung-ji: Father of Hou-ying-jie, had always wished his son to exemplify himself and make greater achievements. A strict father.

Princeling of Zhennan : son of Zhennan Prince, a typical playboy. Tried to take Pian-pian by force and killed by Fei-long.

Fang-xuan-ling: Imperial Chancellor of Tang, an old fox in politics, intent on controlling the Silk Road, in the hopes of setting it as the high-point of his personal political legacy.

Wei-Zheng: Fang-xuan-ling’s political rival in this play, reserved and steady, many of his considerations are towards pragmatism, so he is against Fang’s proposal to make Gaochang into a protectorate province.

Xue-wang-jun: Tang Huguo General (rank meaning State Protector), Hou-ying-jie’s rival. Like Hou, a great warrior with an accomplished record, but somewhat lacking in honour and moral character

Film Script

Dancing Beauty of Dunhuang
A true story of Silkroad

Screenplay: Fei Yingli & Da Qi

Translated: Vince Lee
Screenplay research: Dion W Leech

Introduction

Across the sea of sand, dark clouds cover the sun, as corpses litter the field. The air is filled with the sounds of war drums, battle cries, galloping hooves, and the ringing of steel against steel as swords clash against each other. The endless Tuqizhi cavalry sporadically but systematically draws tighter and tighter against the lone forces being encircled.

His armor splattered in blood, Hou-ying-jie (Grand Cheqi- General, son of Hou-jun-ji, Minister of Civil Affairs and Left Yu ‘Hou’ (‘Hou’ – second highest rank of Chinese nobility, comparable to Marquis) of Tang) and his Lieutenant Fei-long leads a small band men desperately breaks free and makes a dash for it. An enemy arrow knocks off Fei-long’s helmet, and her long hair flutters out into the wind, a none-too-obvious sign that this warrior is a woman. Fei-long deftly catches another arrow flying at her and quickly uses it as a makeshift hairpin to tidy her long hair back into form, all the while scrambling to follow Hou-ying-jie as they make for the direction of Mingsha Mountain. With the pursuing troops biting on their heels.

Mingsha Mountain, inside the sealed Mogao Caves, the shadowy lights and the bodies of the four dead soldiers create an atmosphere of extreme strangeness. Pian-pian (a famous dancer in Chang’an), dressed in her ‘Heavenly Flight’ dance costume, keeps on changing and displaying her graceful dance postures (can model on flying acrobatics), whilst Zhou-fang (famous painter of Great Tang) stands to the side, sometimes concentrating on Pian-pian, sometimes waving his brushstrokes on the wall, yet everyone now and then appearing to be agitated, his gaze flickering around randomly as if he’s somewhere else. Pian-pian sees that Zhou-fang is unsettled, and gives a knowing glance over the bodies of the four dead soldiers and the meager supply of water and rations left in the corner of the cave. Pian-pian changes another posture, and absently speaks: He will come back and release us - as if speaking to herself, or trying to comfort Zhou-fang.

Despite the sureness of her words, Pian-pian’s eyes could not help but display hesitation. Giving a light sigh, Zhou-fang looks as if he is about to speak but stops, his sad eyes avoids meeting Pian-pian’s gaze, and turns back to painting. Whilst Pian-pian looks at Zhou-fang with a complex mix of feelings…

Close to Mingsha Mountain, Hou-ying-jie is driving his steed on and galloping like mad, with his deputy Feilong following tightly behind him. Hou-ying-jie orders Feilong to go to Qianfodong first, but within a short while, Feilong returns, and swears that she will only break out with Hou-ying-jie together.

Hou-ying-jie and Feilong fights and runs all the way to Mogao Caves, suddenly, the sound of battle horns breaks through the dust-laden air, as two hidden group of horsemen laying in wait springs out from either side of Mingshashan’s and completely surrounds Hou-ying-jie and his men. Suddenly, the enemy formation parts to allow a path to be formed to the front ranks as the Yanqi king Longshi Tuqizhi arrives with his retinue. He commands Hou-ying-jie to throw down his sword and surrender, and give up the beauty Pian-pian. Without saying a word, Hou-ying-jie simply stares at him in anger. All of a sudden, the whole battlefield is quiet. The two opposing commanders simply locked in a contest of gazes as they size each other up….

(640 AD, Emperor Taizong calls the ruler of the western vassal state of Gaochang, Ju-wen-tai, to court, citing illness, Ju-wen-tai refused to come. Angered by the insult, Taizong commands his forces to subjugate Gaochang. Hou-jun-ji, Minister of Civil Affairs, leads his son Hou-ying-jie, General Xue-wan-jun and allied Qijiheli forces with a combined foot and mounted force of several tens of thousands strong and marched on Gaochang, after a great victory was won, Gaochang surrenders. Within the great Tang, the entire nation went into celebration)

At court, the Hou-jun-ji father son and Xue-wan-jun were recognized for their distinguished service, Hou-jun-ji was granted the title of Left Yu Hou, Hou-ying-jie was granted the rank of Grand Cheqi (Chariot-Cavalry) General, (Hou-jun-ji received his title young, the meaning of Taizong was to show that ‘no hounds for sons were born of tigers for fathers’ – no weak sons were born of strong fathers) Xue-wan-jun was granted the rank of Huguo (Defender) General, the three men thanks the emperor for his benevolence. The gathered court goes vocal.

To impress upon the new Gaochang king Ju-zhi-sheng and congratulatory envoys from other nations the prowess of the great Tang, a massive celebration the likes which has never been seen has been set up outside the Xuanwu Gate of the imperial city Chang’an. The celebration starts with the valiant and powerful grandeur of “Battle triumphs of the Prince of Qin”, and ends with the beguiling charm and elegance of “Clothes of clouds”.

(In Chinese history, the famous grand court dance of “Battle triumphs of the Prince of Qin” was originally a war song commemorating the exalted victories of Yin-Zheng, then the Prince of Qin.

After Li-shi-min ascended to the throne of Tang Dynasty, Li-shi-min personally rewrote this song into a dance, and after editing and modifying by court artists, it became a majestic performance of dance and music on a grand scale.)

Under the setting sun, thousands of troops dressed in brightly colored and polished armor holds spears and shields in hands, as they follow the vigorous beat of the music and performs in perfect formation, the sounds shaking the sky.

In battle armor, Hou-ying-jie performs in person, as he expertly beat on the many great drums arrayed before him with astounding skill.

Taizong, the hundreds of court officials and the foreign guests and envoys all watched, with blood boiling from the beats, the audience couldn’t help themselves but dance along with great enthusiasm. Turning to Hou-jun-ji and Tai-zong standing beside him, Ju-zhi-sheng could not help but sigh in appreciation that the Zhongyuan (Central, meaning Chinese) people were so gifted with many arts and talents, that even a warrior general knows how to play the drums. Taizong answers proudly that people of the Great Tang, from the highest nobles to the lowest peasants, all loves music and dance without exception. Hearing this, Ju-zhi-sheng and the other foreign envoys all stood in resolute respect and could not stop their exclamations.

Night descends, as countless fireworks fly up into the air. In the cascade of sparkling fireworks, many female dancers dressed in soft-flowing gowns descend onto the stage from the sky.

The soldier who has finished their dance divides themselves into formations, stands firm and holds their shields flat and up high. The dancers land on the soldiers’ shield-tops, and start the soft and elegant “Clothes of clouds”. The change from something so powerful and masculine to something so gentle and feminine catches many in their breath and totally enthralls the audience.

Standing on a high platform next to the stage, the famous painter Zhou-fang is leading over a dozen of painters to capture this grand spectacle with their brushes so it could be kept on record for later generations to view.

Tang Taizong was angry at the fact that Zhou-fang refused to enter the palace and become the court head-painter, but at the same time he was impressed with the strength of his character, so he simply allowed it as a favor to Hou-ying-jie and did not trouble Zhou-fang further.

Hou-ying-jie arrives at Pian-pian’s dance house and brings her the accounts of the feast as it happened, as she is closest to his heart. Pian-pian is a famous dancer in the city of Chang’an (capital of Tang China), she is considered the finest flower amongst them all and her artistic talent is almost unsurpassed. A heart of pride makes her composure very different from other females; and her unique ideas and independent streak almost always marks her actions as rebellious or non-conforming. Aside from dancing, she does not care for anyone or anything else. Although a general, a man of martial occupation, Hou-ying-jie also loves the arts, and has always held Pian-pian as someone special and close to his heart; Pian-pian also appreciates the fact that he is young and gallant, so Hou-ying-jie is the only one allowed to enter her personal quarters as a close guest.

Zhou-fang admires Pian-pian’s dances, so as soon as he was out of trouble at the palace he has come to see her.

Although there was a Pian-pian dancing on stage, Zhou-fang points out that the one dancing was not the real Pian-pian herself. In actual fact the one on stage was Shi-wu (meaning ‘dance attendant’, as she does not have a real name), although she was Pian-pian’s servant in name, their bond was closer to sisters at heart. Shi-wu’s dance was all taught by Pian-pian herself, and until now, nobody has been able to tell the difference.

Hou-ying-jie was totally surprised, he expresses that Shi-wu’s dance was virtually the same as Pian-pian with almost no difference, how was Zhou-fang able to tell that it was a different person straightaway? Zhou-fang expresses that although the form was the same, the heart and soul was different. Pian-pian looks at Zhou-fang in surprise, an affinity for Zhou-fang instantly begins to emerge. Shi-wu is doing her best to disguise her defiance.

Just then, a man from Hou-ying-jie’s household comes to report and asks him to return to his household immediately.

At court, the emperor is holding council with his ministers. Gaochang has been subjugated; the problem now is what shall become of it. Tai-Zong intends to set it up as a Zhouxian (a provincial state or county) of Tang, those officials who follows the Hou-jun-ji family supports this idea. But the Hou-jun-ji father and son as well as Wei-zheng, an influential minister, opposes this idea. Hou-ying-jie’s reason being ”If we set as provincial territory, then thousands of garrisons are needed, posting troops out far, keeping up rotations with time, travelling to and forth, wastes money and resources, no the tiniest amount of benefit (no sliver of maize or inch of silk) can be gained”

Wei-zheng’s idea was to follow the example of the Eastern Tujue and appease the population, appease its people, retain their infrastructure, instate their heirs, so they would remain in long-term vassalage. Tai-zing was unmoved. Gaochang is to become Xizhou (provincial state of the west), and the office of the Anxi protector-generalship (protector-general keeper of the west) to be set up in Jiao-he (north-west of Tulufan in present-day Xinjiang), with a garrison force and a protector-general to be named. At the same time the next steps in pacifying the Yanqi is also discussed and planned in secret. After much counselling by his father, Hou-ying-jie volunteers himself for the new job of the Anxi Protector-General, with the condition that he is allowed to take Pian-pian as his wife.

Zhou-fang comes to Pian-pian’s dance house again to paint for her, deeply attracted by his arts and talents, Pian-pian intentionally tries to test Zhou-fang to see if he would have the same feelings for her. Using the excuse of asking Zhou-fang to paint a still-portrait of a lady-in-waiting, she lures him to the bedroom. When Zhou-fang discovers her semi-visible body reclining on the couch, his first reaction was to run away. But Pian-pian blocks his retreat, and simply expresses that her body and soul are both free, and they do not belong to anyone.

Zhou-fang is so scared of looking at Pian-pian’s body that he keeps on backing off. Just to test his reactions and to spite him, Pian-pian asks if Zhou-fang is a real man or not? And if he is simply scared of offending Hou-ying-jie because he is an abject coward scared for his life. Hearing this, Zhou-fang not only does not defend himself, but also eagerly nods in agreement. At the same time he gets his painting tools ready, and starts painting.

Just then, Hou-ying-jie comes looking for Pian-pian, and Shi-wu was unable to stop him. Seeing something was up from Shi-wu’s expressions, Hou-ying-jie breaks into Pian-pian’s room, but Zhou-fang has already left by then.

Inside the most cosmopolitan drinking house in Chang’an, which also has the most varied and murky mix of clients at the same time, Pian-pian’s form performing the Huxuan (foreign/barbarian spin) dance appears. (Huxuan is a dance consisting of very fast spinning actions, the dancer does not wear anything dancing costume but is wrapped in eight lengths of multi-colored silks, when not spinning it looks like a long dress, but when the dancer starts spinning the silk starts flying in the air and the body of the dancer underneath becomes partially visible. It could be considered a strip-dance of the ancient times, and often performed by lowly prostitutes) Pian-pian’s dressing style is even more revealing and alluring than most normal Huxuan dances.

Just then Hou-ying-jie and Zhou-fang arrives for a drink. A conflict then appears between the ‘princeling’ - son of the Zhen-nan prince (prince-pacifier of the south, although the word ‘wang’ means king, but these regional ‘wang’s are lords), Xue-wan-jun and Pian-pian. Xue-wan-jun insults Hou-ying-jie for the fact that his mother had been a dancer from the western regions. In anger, Hou-ying-jie came close to drawing his sword and a fight was almost started.

Because Hou-ying-jie has offended the princeling, Hou-jun-ji asks his son to kill Pian-pian to make amends, but Hou-ying-jie refused. Then a message has come in that the Zhen-nan lord has taken Pian-pian away.

Seeing Pian-pian in danger, Zhou-fang could not sit by and do nothing. He first uses the reason of painting a portrait for the lady of the Zhen-nan prince to gets close of the lady of Zhen-nan prince (the lord’s wife) and lets her know what happened, and shows her a portrait of Pian-pian. Unsettled by the beauty of Pian-pian from her portrait, she could feel if a woman of such beauty enters their house, she could become a threat to her position and power; so after careful deliberation she agrees to help Zhou-fang to rescue Pian-pian. But unexpectedly, a report comes in that Pian-pian is already gone and the Pinceling has been killed by the blade.

In disguise, Fei-long releases Pian-pian and Zhou-fang. Having not gone far, Hou-ying-jie catches up to them and arrests them again. Pian-pian admits that it was her that killed the Pinceling. Taizong orders Pian-pian’s execution by burning, and orders Hou-ying-jie to command the execution.

Risking death, Zhou-fang kow-tows to Hou-ying-jie to plead with him to let Pian-pian go, but Hou-ying-jie only agrees to let him see her one last time. Zhou-fang and Pian-pian meets on opposing sides of the cell-bar, and they are devastated with grief. Pian-pian asks him if he really loves her or not, and Zhou-fang nods to say yes. Pianp-pian smiles and tells Zhou-fang not to be sad anymore, she is happy now that she can die without any regrets.

At the start of execution, on top the tall pyre of wood, Pian-pian is dressed as if it is her finest hour, her beauty appearing almost unnatural in its radiance. Without any emotions, Hou-ying-jie orders the fire to be lit. Within the lights of the fire, Pian-pian sees a Buddhist utopia in the heavens, with many dancing to celebrate the wonders of the Buddhism, the lead dancer looks just like her but she is unable to see her face; in the light the fire Pian-pian sees a stage with an unnatural background and lights, the dancers on stage dancing to a sad and beautiful dance that is extremely strange and creepy (flying contortionist in acrobatics), the faces of the dancers also cannot be seen.

With teary eyes Zhou-fang looks on, as the Pian-pian in the fire has turned in his heart into the spirit of dancing – Fei-tian (flight to heaven), in a daze, he reaches out with his hand as if to touch his vision to make sure it’s real… suddenly, the fire flares up high into the sky and all is blocked from view…

No longer wishing to remain at this hear-broken place, Zhou-fang is still pondering about the visions of Feitian he saw in the fires of the execution, and wonders if the paintings of Feitian in the Caves of Thousand Buddha are on Mingsha Mountain could provide him with an answer. So he sets off with his friend painter Zhang towards Mingsha Mountain in the western protectorate to seek his answers.

In the painted grottoes, Zhou-fang unexpectedly meets with Hou-ying-jie, who has been invited to come and view the wall paintings. It is then he finds out that Pian-pian had already been saved by Hou-ying-jie from the pyres during execution, and that the whole execution and burning scene was but a charade put on by Hou-ying-jie to make everyone belief that Pian-pian has died. He had planned and prepared it from the start, but unfortunately Pian-pian has lost her memory in the fire.
Hou-ying-jie takes Pian-pian with him to go to his new posting, but was attacked by Longshi Tuqizhi on the way, and Pian-pian was taken in the attack. Zhou-fang begs him to rescue Pian-pian, in jealousy, Hou-ying-jie plans to kill Zhou-fang. The painter Zhang who was also painting for his patron Lord Li begs his patron to save Zhou-fang from Hou-ying-jie and let him go in secret so Zhou-fang can go look for Pian-pian.

Enraged after hearing Zhou-fang has ran away, Hou-ying-jie orders Fei-long and Shi-wu to look for news of Pian-pian, and that they must find her before Zhou-fang does.

Captured by the bodyguards of the Yanqi King Longshi Tuqizhi, Pian-pian was brought before Tuqizhi. Delighted upon discovering Pian-pian’s beauty, Tuqizhi takes her back to Yanqi.

(On the collapse of Gaochang, the western Tujue Kehan (title of its leader) Yibiduolu, in an effort to shore up closer ties to Yanqi, orders an important Tujue lord Qulizhui to propose for the hand in marriage of Tuqizhi’s daughter, Longshi Moyanhua, to Qulizhui’s younger brother Qulihan. So that the two nations would become allies in marriage, to better support each other against the Tang Dynasty)

Following his Kehan’s orders, Qulizhui leads the marriage delegation to Yanqi to ask for the daughter of Tuqizhi, Longshi Moyanhua, to be married to his own younger brother Qulihan. Although already favoring an alliance with the Kehan Yibiduolu, nevertheless Tuqizhi was reluctant to let his daughter go because Qulihan was reportedly a man of violent temperaments. In desperation, he dresses up Pian-pian as Moyanhua to be married in her place instead. Deeply impressed by the beauty of his bride-to-be, Qulihan returns happily.

Putting on her wedding gown, Pian-pian sets off on her marriage to Western Tujue. Whilst camping in the desert during the night, a solider accidentally caused a tent to be caught on fire. In the lights of the fire, Pian-pian saw the vision of the faceless Feitian and the other faceless dancers from that strange stage again. Suddenly all her memory returns, and she escape in the chaos. But her groom Qulihan unfortunately died in the fire.

After receiving word that the bride has ran away, Qulizhui presumed that Tuqizhi was not committed to forming the alliance and was enraged. After returning to Yanqi, he finds out the bride that ran away wasn’t Longshi Moyanhua, but does not feel any likings towards the real Moyanhua. He orders that Longshi Tuqizhi must either find Pian-pian, or send troops to attack Xizhou in alliance with Western Tujue to drive the Tang forces and the Anxi Protector General out of the Silk Road.

Caught in a precarious situation, and under the power of western Tujue, Tuqizhi had no choice but to agree.

In the endless desert, Pian-pian is almost close to death. However, her time was not yet meant to be, as a troupe of traveling performers discovers and saves her. She follows them in their travels and dances in performances in exchange for living. At the same time, Pian-pian witnesses completely different dance styles to what she used to know back home, and learns the famous local skill of playing the Pipa in reversal style; she also learns from many visiting Indians their religious dancing styles for worshipping the Buddha. Slowly and gradually, she is able to combine all these into a new type of dancing.

Pian-pian is constantly reminded of the vision she saw of Feitian, and so names her new dance “Feitian” – “Flying to Heaven”. She decides to give up the idea of returning to Chang’an to look for Zhou-fang for now, and go the Mingsha Mountain first to see the Feitian paintings in the Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s. Both to satisfy her curiosity about the images of Feitian that she has repeatedly seen, and somehow feeling inside that she could find her answers in the Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s.

At the court of the Anxi Protector-General, Hou-ying-jie receives a letter from Fei-long, and finds out that it was the Yanqi, not the Tujie, that had attacked them previously. Sensing immediate war looming in Xizhou, he dispatches requests for reinforcements to Tang immediately.

Mingsha Mountain, Zhou-fang is searching for Pian-pian along the silk road. When he hears that an eastern dancer has invented a dance called Dance of Flying to Heaven, he knew it had to be Pian-pian and is giddy over the news.

In a giant outdoor stage, Pian-pian and some local dancers are dressed in the same style, playing the reverse Pipa, as they put on the new dance of “Flying to Heaven”, a scene of astounding beauty, dazzling the large crowd gathered. Seeing it from a distance, Zhou-fang is belated. The dance of ‘Heavenly Flight’ has him utterly stunned, especially the reverse Pipa, which sent his vision immediately back to the Feitian he saw in the fires at the execution.

Overjoyed, Zhou-fang runs towards the stage, as Pian-pian also discovers him. The two embraces tightly, as tears freely ran down both their cheeks. Suddenly, Longshi Tuqizhi’s men appear to come capture Pian-pian, and the situation is thrown into chaos. Pian-pian and Zhou-fang manages to escape the clutches of Longshi Tuqizhi’s men, but ends up in the hands of Fei-long and Shi-wu.

Looking at Pian-pian, Shi-wu flatly states there is no need for her to say sorry to Pian-pian, because she is just as selfish as Pian-pian is. For her love, Pian-pian would let Zhou-fang die for her, so Shi-wu herself would also not regret betraying Pian-pian so she could become the first dancer in the nation.

When Pian-pian and Zhou-fang is brought before Hou-ying-jie, Hou-ying-jie is smug with satisfaction, but Pian-pian’s insistence that she would only be with Zhou-fang enrages him and he threatens to kill Zhou-fang. To save Zhou-fang, Pian-pian decides to give herself to him. Watching the approaching naked form of Pian-pian, Hou-ying-jie is not only un-aroused, but flies into even more rage. With his heart gripped by twisted bitterness and his dignity violently affronted by the fact that a woman he loves would giver herself to him to save another man, in his twisted rage he further resolves himself to killing Zhou-fang. Pian-pian grabs Hou-ying-jie, and swears that if Zhou-fang dies, she will not live either. Hou-ying-jie is pained, as he does not wish to see Pian-pian die. Just then, report comes in that the allied forces of the Yanqi king and western Tujue is heading towards Xizhou. Taken back by the turn of events, Hou-ying-jie decides to handle the pressing enemy forces first and not kill Zhou-fang for now.

The allied forces of Yanqi king Longshi Tuqizhi and western Tujue Kehan Yibiduolu made a surprise assault on Xizhou, outnumbered and unfamiliar with desert fighting tactics, Hou-ying-jie’s forces suffered a rout and tens of thousands of troops are retreating towards Mingsha Mountain.

Tuqizhi and Qulizhui states that as long as Hou-ying-jie hands over Pian-pian, all can be resolved. Hou-ying-jie expresses that because Pian-pian is a famous dancer from Tang, the emperor himself needs to grant the permission to release her to a foreign power. Qulizhui replies by expressing that he can ask the Tang emperor for her hand in marriage, and is confidant that the permission will be granted.

Hou-ying-jie still refuses to submit, and steels himself to throw all away in a desperate gamble and attack the enemy in a last-ditched battle. Not wishing to have so many men die for her, Pian-pian asks that Hou-ying-jie give her up. Hou-ying-jie simply informs her calmly that he would not give up the woman he loves, under any circumstances. Hearing that, Pian-pian is somewhat touched.

In the first meeting with the enemy, Hou-ying-jie managed to pull off a final resounding victory and returns victorious. But suddenly he receives imperial decree from the emperor of Tang, promoting Pian-pian to the title of princess of Anxi, to be given in marriage to the Western Tujue lord, General Qulizhui.

Just when Hou-ying-jie thought everything was going to plan, Shi-wu comes to report that: afraid that Hou-ying-jie would not carry out the emperor’s orders for Pian-pian, Fei-long has informed their secret plan to capture the Yanqi king and Qulizhui to the enemy. Hou-ying-jie is shocked.

As mandarin Li goes outside the city to welcome Tuqizhi and Qulizhui in person, he is killed and a bloody battle erupts. As battle overtakes the city, the entire city of Shazhou descends into a living hell.

Before battle, Hou-ying-jie sealed Pian-pian and Zhou-fang inside the cave, Pian-pian was to dance and Zhou-fang was to paint. He also left four of his trusted guards to make sure that the two of them would complete the painting task. Food and water sufficient enough to support six people for a month was left in the cave, as well as air-holes for breathing was drilled for them. Hou-ying-jie promising that when the time comes, he will come and open the secret mechanism which only he knows that seals the cave and release them. He also tells Zhou-fang in private that, if he wishes to live, he should vanish after they complete the paintings. But Zhou-fang knows that, once the painting is completed, there is no way that Hou-ying-jie would let him off with his life.

One month’s time has long since passed, and there is not water and food remaining in the cave. A soldier suddenly nods towards another, and the two of them pulls out their weapons and kill each together at the same time. Pian-pian and Zhou-fang is stunned by what happened, not knowing how to react. The other two remaining soldiers appear as if nothing has happened, and remaining expressionless, mentions to Zhou-fang and respectfully asks him to continue painting. Zhou-fang again continues painting, and Pian-pian continues to strut out her dance poses.

Ambushed, Hou-ying-jie is suffering defeat, the fight becoming very bloody and desperate.

Inside the cave, one of the soldiers looks at Zhou-fang and says: Xiansheng (a respectful title similar to dear sir), please make sure you complete the painting, we have to go first. Upon saying that, both of them commit suicide.

Pian-pian looks at the body of the soldiers with teary eyes, and turning back to Zhou-fang with hopelessness clear in her expression, she asks if Hou-ying-jie is no longer able to come back. Without speaking, Zhou-fang turns back to painting, although his hand holding the brush is somewhat shaky. Drained and no longer able to pose anymore, Pian-pian simply sits on the floor and stares at the dead soldiers with totally blank eyes.

On the battlefield, Hou-ying-jie, his armor soaked in blood, is leading Fei-long and a small group of men making a desperate ragtag escape towards Mingsha Mountain, with their enemies pursuing hot on their heels. Fei-long suddenly removes the arrow being used as a pin in her hair and plunges into Qulizhui’s chest, whilst Qulizhui’s blade enters her chest at the same time. Hou-ying-jie laughs out to the sky: For the nation, how can the great Tang give away their women in a bid to gain peace; for my person, how can a seven-foot man (a true man) give away the woman he loves. Giving a last look towards Mingsha Mountain, Hou-ying-jie gives a last roar and draws his sword against his own throat.

Watching Hou-ying-jie commit suicide outside through the breathing hole, Pian-pian is filled with tears. Taking one last look at Zhou-fang, she suddenly smashes herself headfirst against the cave wall, as blood begins to gush.

In total sadness, Zhou-fang holds up Pian-pian’s body. The still-lingering Pian-pian first looks at Zhou-fang, then at the unfinished painting, and then closes her eyes and dies.

Outside on the stricken battlefield, Fei-long slowly crawls out from a mountain of corpses with great difficulty, with each action pained in slow motion, she crawls towards the entrance of the cave, leaving a trail of blood behind her…
The cave slowly opens. Using her last ounce of strength, Fei-long tells Zhou-fang to get out of the cave immediately, otherwise the entrance will automatically close itself soon, and there won’t be anyone else that can open it anymore. So saying, with wide-open eyes, she finishes her last breathe!

Zhou-fang puts down Pian-pian’s body and slowly walks to the entrance of the cave. Just then, Shi-wu arrives outside the cave on camel and seeing everything, breaks down and cries.

Zhou-fang tells Shi-wu to return to Chang’an and take Pian-pian’s new ‘Dance of Heavenly Flight’ back with her and spread it. Walking to the cave entrance, Zhou-fang takes a look at the free world outside. Then, looking back to the body of Pian-pian and the unfinished painting still inside, he walks back into the cave.
In the ensuing silence of everything else, the creaking sound of the entrance as it begins sealing itself again is almost amplified; as the cave entrance slowly closes.

Afterwards, with support from Western Tujue, Yanqi has remained in control of the Silk Road. This lasted until late 644 AD, under the repeated request from the Left Yu Hou Hou-jun-ji, Taizong ordered Anxi Protector-General Guo-xiao-luo to campaign against Yanqi; beat back the Western Tujue reinforcement and captured the king Longshi Tuqizhi. Soon afterwards, the land became the new Yanqi Protectorate, contributing a major step towards Tang’s eventual unification of the western regions of Central Asia.