定当以头抢地 以死相谏 现在圣上就在面前
“they would kowtow and offer advice even at the cost of their lives? Now the Emperor is right before you.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
不必如此 适才是谁说 若能面圣
“no need to say all this. Who was it that just said if they could meet the Emperor,”
定当 以头抢地 以死相谏 现在圣上就在面前
“they would kowtow and offer advice even at the cost of their lives? Now the Emperor is right before you.”
一个个都怎么了
“What's happened to all of you?”
“You were so brave when making grand threats, but now you do not dare say a single word to his face.”
In imperial China, an upright official's willingness to die while offering criticism was revered as the highest standard of moral integrity and Confucian loyalty.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
to knock one's head violently against the ground
A classical literary idiom used to depict extreme grief, desperation, or dramatic defiance.
to risk death to remonstrate with the monarch
Refers to the ultimate display of loyalty by imperial court officials who advise the ruler even at the cost of execution.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“dying wretchedly, strung up on the city walls”
“saying he would offer your head to surrender.”
“can go all out to fight for the top spot.”
“wanting to repay with his life.”
“If your darling touches the taboo and gets executed,”
“Please grant me death, Your Majesty.”