Summary
Hon Nguyen De encounters an extreme beauty in his dream and immediately orders for a search. Mao Vien Tho is able to track down this lady, who goes by the name of Chieu Quan. Being angry at her unwillingness to bride him with a good amount of gold, Mao alters Chieu Quan's portrait by adding a dot beneath her eye. When presenting the portrait to the Han Emperor, he explains that the mole is known as a "marriage tragic tear" and that a man who married this girl will go bankrupt and if a ruler married her then the nation's will be ruined. Not wanting to risk the fate of his dynasty, the Han Emperor tells Mao to send Chieu Quan back home and awards her with a fair amount of gold and silver. However, Mao cast her off to the forsaken section of the forbidden palace.
One year past, the Queen overheard Chieu Quan's tragic melody and pays her a visit. Upon learning the truth, she informs the Emperor enlists Chieu Quan as an imperial concubine. Mao seeks help from the Huns up North. He presents Chieu Quan's portrait to the Huns Emperor and urges him to go after such beauty. Losing the battle, the Han Emperor is forced to give up his beloved concubine to the Huns. Sacrifices for her country, Chieu Quan is willing to walk the bitter path while waiting patiently for news of the Han's army coming to her rescue.
Fifteen years passes by and yet no news to the one who awaits. Giving up on her hope, Chieu Quan throws herself into the rive. Her body washes up shore and returns her back to the Han's territory. The Han Emperor is finally able to defeat the Huns. However, as he tries to execute the the leader, Chieu Quan's spirit appears and plead for his life. She claims that during her fifteen years in the North, the Huns leader treated her like in a gentleman and that peace between the two nations is what she wants.
Review
Although the film does not accurately reflect historical facts, it is a good movie. I'm not so fond of the Han Emperor for he only seemed to be obsessed with the outer beauty and never really take the time to explore one's inner character. In the movie, he never bothered to meet Chieu Quan first before making his decision to send her back home. In history, he never even knew about this concubine until the day she departed. Upon his knowledgement of such beauty, he turned around and put all of the blame on the painter. In my opinion, I viewed this Emperor as one of the worse rulers. As a sovereign, he didn't have the power to save one concubine. When a man can't even protect his woman, what good is he for - one might wonder.
I admire Chieu Quan for her courage and good heart. Again, one beauty always carried a tragic fate.
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