Temptation of a Monk (1993)

Joan Chen: Princess Hong-e - Scarlet, Qing-shou - Violet

Photos 

Quotes 

• General Huo Da : [kneeling down]  19th Princess Hong-e.

  General Shi Yan-sheng : [kneeling down]  Shi Yan-sheng, General of the Crown Prince Jian-cheng, attends Your Highness.

  Princess Hong-e : What was that?

  General Shi Yan-sheng : Shi Yan-sheng, general of the Crown Prince...

  Princess Hong-e : Forget it. Come drink with me.

  [a servant brings them a drink] 

  General Huo Da : I thank Your Highness.

  General Shi Yan-sheng : I have duties to guard His Highness. I can't drink.

  Princess Hong-e : Fate makes us meet, never mind. Drink.

• Princess Hóngè : Pick up the petals. Don't leave a single piece!

  General Shi Yan-sheng : I must go to the Palace to see His Majesty.

  Princess Hóngè : You've hurt this flower. It aches... Doesn't your heart ache?

• General Shi Yan-sheng : Everyone is having a good time.

  Princess Hong-e : Yeah. My brother, whose hands have his brother's blood, is now Emperor. Peace reigns. The people all call him a good monarch.

  General Shi Yan-sheng : And the Crown Prince's followers?

  Princess Hong-e : Those who rebelled were betrayed, beheaded. Of those who surrendered, many became Generalissimos, singing praises of my brother the Emperor. Huo Da is a grade one Generalissimo. His troops defeated the Eastern Turks. Great exploits, great fame.

  General Shi Yan-sheng : This world... is not the world I still long for in my dreams...

• Princess Hóngè : Beauty is transient. Remember how I look now... Remember well.

• Qing-shou : [kneeling]  My worldly name is Qing-shou. My late husband was General Zhang Jin. He led an attack on Eastern Turks. Was ambushed, alas. Died on reaching home. His family is Buddhist. Long connected with your temple. Hope he could be cremated here.

  The Abbot : Our temple's dilapidated, unfit for funerals.

  Qing-shou : It's my late husband's last wish.

  The Abbot : There's no extra hands. Madam, please rise.

  Qing-shou : [stays knelt] 

  The Abbot : I, Madam... I'm 100 years old. I've forgotten the "Great Deliverance Chant".

• Qing-shou : You're not a monk... You've caressed me...

  Shi Yan-sheng : You're Hong-e.

  Qing-shou : I'm just a widow...

  [caresses his body] 

  Qing-shou : Your body's like a general. A general who's cut thousands of heads...

• Princess Hong-e : Take me with you. I only trust my first sight, trust my heart's pounding. I don't think I'll live very long. I can't bear to be 30, I'll kill myself. So have no fear. "For life" is not that long.