The Mournful Melody

The musician Zhao Weiyi plays sad tunes at the military, triggering the war-weariness among soldiers. The ambitious yet reckless Emperor Ming almost sends Weiyi to jail, yet turns out to withdraw the troops under the advice of the Queen. After returning from the battlefront, the Emperor is fed up with his duties. The Queen has no way to encourage the Emperor. Meanwhile, the maid Yulan introduces Weiyi to the Queen. Playing the tune “The Sorrow of Separation and Chaos”, Weiyi touches the Queen’s heart. To learn the music, the Queen and Weiyi play to each other for the whole night till dawn. Appreciating the talents of Weiyi, Yulan expresses her love towards him. However, Weiyi has no interest in her. Yulan is so ashamed and angry that she accused the Queen of infidelity. The emperor’s brother Liu Gang stirs up the lies in front of the Emperor, who is furious at the Queen playing music with another man. Fearing the Emperor will pose a threat to the talented, the Queen asks Yulan to leave with Weiyi. Liu Gang puts on a trial against the Queen of with so-called evidence. The Queen is prisoned and sentenced to death. Yulan finally reveals the truth in her last letter. Her sister Yumei asks for assistance from the Queen’s father Xiao Hui. Explaining the truth to the Emperor, Xiao Hui leads everyone to where the Queen is prisoned. Weiyi has been executed. However the Queen has committed suicide and her last words to the Emperor are “to appreciate and accept honest advice”.