The Tragedy of Sun Shang Xiang and Liu Bei (Part 3)

Sun Shang Xiang: Come in!

Messenger: A letter has just arrived from the court of Sun Quan.

Sun Shang Xiang: Thank you.

Zhang Zhao: (voice over.) Dear Mistress Shang Xiang, I know you are probably still mad at Lord Sun Quan for trying to entrap Liu Bei. I write to you to bring you sad news. Your Mother is gravely ill and has little time left. She has been asking to see you and Liu Chan. Please come back and visit her if only for a short while. Kindest regards from Zhang Zhao on behalf of Lord Sun Quan.

Liu Bei: (OOV) Shang Xiang?

Liu Bei: What is the matter?

Sun Shang Xiang: I have just received a letter from Zhang Zhao on Quan’s behalf. He says my Mother is gravely ill and has little time left.

Sun Shang Xiang: She wishes that I visit her with Liu Chan. Is that ok, my Lord?

Liu Bei: Of course. I can’t refuse the wishes of a dying woman.

Zhuge Liang: Is everything alright, my Lord?

Liu Bei: Yes.

Zhao Yun: Where is your son?

Liu Bei: He is with Sun Shang Xiang. She received a letter asking her to visit her dying mother in Wu.

Zhuge Liang: Who sent her this letter?

Liu Bei: It was written by Zhang Zhao on Sun Quan’s behalf.

Zhao Yun: Are you sure it’s not a trap?

Liu Bei: What are you trying to insinuate? Are you suggesting that Shang Xiang is trying to trick me?

Zhuge Liang: I don’t think Mistress Shang Xiang would try and trick you but I have my suspicions on the truthfulness of the letter. How do we know it’s not a trap?

Liu Bei: She wouldn’t . . . I mean . . . it’s been 2 years!

Zhuge Liang: I doubt Mistress Shang Xiang would do such a thing. However, Sun Quan is another matter. Zhao Yun, grab a horse and stop them.

Zhao Yun: Mistress Shang Xiang, no!

Sun Shang Xiang: Whatever is the matter?

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over) I never returned.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over) I returned to my brother’s court to realise that I had been used as a tool the entire time and relations between us and Shu crumbled.

Sun Quan: Shang Xiang, are you alright?

Sun Shang Xiang: (sighs.) Yes I suppose.

Sun Quan: Good. Liu Bei shall pay for trying to attack us.

Sun Shang Xiang: I can see why he would attack us.

Sun Quan: Shang Xiang?

Sun Shang Xiang: We did have his sworn-brother Guan Yu executed.

Sun Quan: (raises his hand as if he were about to strike her) I was right to have him executed!

Sun Shang Xiang: I’m sorry!

Sun Quan: (harshly.) If you don’t believe then you cannot fight.

Liu Bei: Sun Shang Xiang?

Sun Shang Xiang: Lord Liu Bei. I – I don’t know what to say.

Liu Bei: Must we fight like this? Can’t we be like we used to be?

Sun Shang Xiang: I can’t. I am loyal to my brothers and my father.

Liu Bei: If you are loyal to them, why do you not walk away?

Sun Shang Xiang: I – I don’t know. It’s not exactly easy.

Liu Bei: Must we live separated lives if it makes us both unhappy? (Pause.) Please Shang Xiang.

Sun Shang Xiang: Goodbye, Liu Bei.

Liu Bei: Farewell, my love.

Sun Quan: Shang Xiang, there is something I must tell you.

Sun Shang Xiang: What is it?

Sun Quan: It is of Liu Bei.

Sun Shang Xiang: (intrigued.) What is it?

Sun Quan: He – he has died.

Sun Shang Xiang: (like a whisper.) No . . .

Sun Quan: (OOV.) He probably died from the shame we placed upon him in the Battle of Yi Ling. He has been succeeded by his son, Liu Chan.

Sun Shang Xiang: And I never told him . . .

Sun Quan: (OOV.) Told him what?

Sun Shang Xiang: Um . . . nothing.

Sun Quan: Ok. I have to go now. I’ll see you later.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) The worst part of it was that I never told him how I felt.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over.) It wasn’t like it was that hard to say. People say it all of the time. Could it have been so difficult for me to tell Liu Bei the simple truth?

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over) I guess it wouldn’t have really been easy. After all, I am a sister of the Emperor of Wu and daughter of the Tiger of Jiang Dong.

Sun Shang Xiang: (voice over) I don’t suppose it changes just how sorry I am to Liu Bei. I am sorry for fate separating us. I am sorry my brother came between us. I am sorry that I never told you this:

Sun Shang Xiang: I love you