Subtitles by DramaFever
[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 15]
Dismissed.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty is still keeping Guo Jia's snake.
Aren't you afraid that he'll bite you someday?
He doesn't work for Guo Jia.
Your Majesty is so diligent.
You've just ended the court session and you're visiting Cao Pi.
There's a matter that I want you to get done.
Guo Jia has sent Deng Zhan to retrieve a portrait of me from Wen County.
Deng Zhan?
Since Young Master Yang already knows
what do you intend to do about it?
Take drastic measures.
We can't allow Guo Jia to interfere with matters in the capital anymore.
You can't have Guo Jia assassinated.
It's unlikely to succeed
and if it does, we'll infuriate Cao Cao to no end.
Your Majesty.
Guo Jia has many enemies out there.
We'll be sure to make it seem flawless.
It will be a bitter pill for Cao Cao to swallow
but he can't do anything to us.
I already told you.
We can't assassinate Guo Jia yet.
Why is Your Majesty afraid to tackle Guo Jia?
Guo Jia is more frightening alive than dead.
But Guo Jia could be useful to me.
Your Majesty... do you think that
Guo Jia can be deceived by your benevolence?
He is Guo Jia!
It's because he's Guo Jia that I'm well aware
he didn't serve under Cao Cao for the sake of wealth and fame.
A man like him will be useful to the imperial family.
Your Majesty, have you lost your mind?
Who is Guo Jia?
He's Cao Cao's most trusted confidant!
I am very clearheaded.
Be it to live in peace with Cao Cao or for the sake of the imperial family
we can't assassinate Guo Jia now.
Young Master Yang.
Do place the general interest above your hatred for Guo Jia.
Otherwise, once Cao Cao takes it out on you
I'm afraid the Yang family will be implicated.
If we don't kill Guo Jia, we'll have to kill Deng Zhan.
If we kill Deng Zhan, Guo Jia will only suspect us all the more.
Will Your Majesty keep killing every person Guo Jia sends to Wen County?
We can't kill Deng Zhan either.
If Deng Zhan is killed in Wen County, we'll get the Sima family in trouble.
Once the Sima family is exposed, my identity can no longer be concealed.
Your Majesty said so much
but you are just saying that we should do nothing at all.
Fine.
You can then...
head back and sit tightly.
I have proper matters to attend to.
Young Master Yang.
I have a very risky solution.
You'll have to get it done.
Eldest Young Master.
This is the messenger dove sent by Second Young Master.
[Remember this as Yi He's face.]
There is one other matter.
- Speak. - There's a visitor.
He claims to be from the Commandant's Office of Xu.
All right, I'll meet him.
I didn't expect the commandant's office
to keep investigating my godbrother's death.
I'm truly touched.
Please draw us a portrait of your godbrother
so we can capture the culprits soon.
Someone, bring me some paper!
Don't bother.
I've prepared some for you.
I'll comply with your orders.
It's done.
Thank you.
My second brother has been in the capital for days.
Do you know if he's safe?
Young Master Sima just rendered a merit in rescuing His Majesty.
His Majesty's rewards should arrive in Henei very soon.
I'm here on a military order.
I can't elaborate much more.
Sure.
I won't keep you for dinner then.
I'll take my leave.
How is this Yi He's face?
What on earth is Zhong Da up to?
He's always like this.
Tell me. Am I not very unlucky to have such a younger brother?
Eldest Young Master.
Mister Li from next door said that someone from the commandant's office
asked him for a portrait of Young Master Yang.
Did he draw him one?
He did.
This is bad.
I have a matter to report to Your Majesty.
Although the Ministry of Works has attended with great hospitality
this is, after all, the residence of an official.
It's against the regulations.
Minister Cao is far away in Guandu.
He's very worried that
Your Majesty has to put up with such humble accommodations.
I ask to remove security from the ruins of the palace quarters
and renovate the palace.
Your Majesty and the empress can then return to the palace.
I've imposed on the Cao family for quite some time.
Have the palace renovated soon.
However, the battle will soon commence.
The treasury will be quite tight on expenses.
Don't make it too luxurious.
Your Majesty shows solicitude towards the people.
How could I defy your orders?
There are also some other matters that I wish to ask Your Majesty.
On the day of the fire, was that young eunuch the only one who died?
Yes.
Libationer Guo, why would you ask me so?
It's nothing important.
When the commandant's office was cleaning up the ruins
they discovered some strange remains.
Your Majesty shouldn't have to worry about such trivial matters.
I'll leave this to you and the commandant's office.
By the way, when will you have the time to give lectures?
I'd like to know what Your Majesty wishes to learn.
Prefect Xun gave lectures on the classics and essays.
Why don't you give me lectures on politics and current affairs?
There are always tons of reports submitted by the officials each day.
Aren't those enough for Your Majesty to understand politics and current affairs?
That certainly is different.
I'd like to know what the general trend of events is like from your perspective.
Sure.
I'll hold a lecture for Your Majesty tomorrow.
If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now.
I had the private quarters set up personally.
Apart from the late emperor's body, there won't be any other flaw.
I know that he's using reverse psychology.
He said he'd remove security measures
so it's obvious that he's tempting us to take action out of guilt.
Reverse psychology?
Guo Jia is laying traps for you all the time.
You have to be very cautious.
But it doesn't seem right...
What is it?
How could he possibly use reverse psychology in a way
that I could spot right away?
His Majesty is very clever.
He could tell that I was using reverse psychology.
Should we still spread rumors of the remains in the palace ruins?
Definitely.
We weren't using this trick to fool His Majesty anyway.
Besides, Deng Zhan will return very soon.
Send someone to fetch him.
Someone will surely be out to stop him from returning safely.
Yes.
Is it the young master of the Sima family?
Your father and Duke Cao are old friends!
Why do you have to go against Duke Cao and seek your own doom?
We're only fighting against each other now
because you also know who Yang Ping truly is!
There's an ambush...
Lang!
Zhong Da!
Zhong Da, where are you?
Lang, I'm over here!
- Zhong Da! - Lang, I'm over here!
- Zhong Da? - Over here!
Zhong Da, are you all right?
I must have been jinxed.
You calculated so accurately.
If you didn't ambush him from here, I really couldn't have defeated him.
This is where the small trails and official route meet.
A fool like him only takes the wide routes.
As my brother, how could you not attack him from here?
Bear with it.
Zhong Da, Deng Zhan mentioned Yi He's true identity.
What does he mean?
Why can't he get a real portrait of Yi He?
Isn't Yi He already dead?
Why would a dead man's portrait get our family involved?
It's not as if he's some imperial family member or vicious criminal.
Zhong Da, listen. Deng Zhan serves under Cao Cao.
Now that we got rid of him, won't Cao Cao...
Are you sure about this?
Lang, it's a long story.
I'll tell you about it when we get home.
Let's take a look at him first.
Come.
Slowly.
I'll finish him off!
Lang.
We can't kill him.
If we do, Guo Jia will have an excuse to pick on our family.
What should we do?
Are we to send him back?
That won't do either.
Isn't that as good as killing ourselves?
What should we do?
We'll think about it.
Look for the portrait first.
It's not on him.
Lang, search the spot where he was hiding.
Sure.
He nearly had us fooled.
Who would have known that he already had so many portraits
before he came to our manor?
It seems that he already knew what Yi He looked like.
I thought I had him fooled.
Guo Jia's subordinate wouldn't be that simple-minded.
We went to great lengths to get these portraits.
- We might as well burn them. - No.
If we burn them all, Guo Jia will only send more people here.
What should we do?
Swap them over one by one?
That won't work either.
There must be some secret code in these portraits.
If we swap the portraits out and Guo Jia notices
he will still target our family.
We can neither kill the man nor swap the portraits out.
What are we doing here?
Don't worry, I have it planned out.
Quickly! Help me up!
Faster.
Deng Zhan?
You're down on your luck.
Take a look to see if he's dead.
- Yes. - Yes.
He's still alive!
All right, take him away.
Yes!
Who are they?
Yuan Shao's men.
It seems that Yi He and Yang Xiu are quite capable.
Who is it?
Stop right there!
What are you doing?
I'm an official.
Step aside!
Tie him up and send him to the commandant's office!
Court Adviser Zhao.
What are you doing so late at the ruins of the palace?
I went for a stroll.
I wanted to see how the renovation is going.
You went for a stroll so late at night?
You're a scholar.
Don't force me into taking actions
that would be disgraceful to the educated class.
I know about your methods.
But all I did was to take a walk in the palace.
Can you kill me for that?
Man Chong!
You're lynching an imperial official in interrogation!
I have dozens of reasons for interrogating you!
Listen up.
If you hesitate any longer, your little face will be ruined.
It will be too late to regret it.
Forget it.
Let him go.
Tell us everything that you know.
My eyes were rinsed with the dew of autumn and can’t be deceived by men.
It's best that you don't lie.
Even if you shut your mouth and eyes
I... can still read right into your mind.
This concerns the emperor?
This is related to that dead young eunuch?
Could it be...
You're doing this because of a woman?
I've got it.
Consort Dong.
Guo Feng Xiao!
Man Bo Ning!
Get Guo Jia out here to see me!
This is why I didn't allow you to lynch him.
I'm not afraid of him.
It's a lot more troublesome to offend a gentleman than a scoundrel.
Set him free.
Take him away.
Hand him over to Master Kong.
Send my regards to Minister Steward Kong.
Libationer Guo.
How did you know that he was doing this for Consort Dong?
Man Chong.
You're good at everything.
However, you're too serious and boring.
Those tales of romance and secrets are more useful
than your instruments of torture and information.
You're right, Libationer Guo.
Did you only set him free as bait for the bigger fish?
I know everything that he knows.
There's no point in keeping him here.
Since he went searching in the ruins, he must still be investigating.
Now that we've let him go...
he can lead the way.
As for me, you know how lazy I am.
I dislike it the most when I have to handle matters personally.
I'll let him investigate and then hear it from him to save me the trouble.
What are you praying for?
I'm praying for the late emperor to watch over us in Heaven
so that we can overcome this obstacle successfully.
I wonder if Zhong Da succeeded.
I wonder how much Guo Jia already found out.
In the worst case scenario
even if he finds out that I look just like Yang Ping
he doesn't have any evidence to prove that I am Yang Ping.
At worst, we'll just make a scene.
If Guo Jia follows this clue and keeps investigating
he will eventually get to the bottom of it all.
Cao Cao won't acknowledge you as a descendant of the imperial family.
And then...
we'll all be doomed.
Are you willing to leave with me?
Leave?
I've made another mistake.
I know that you won't abandon the imperial family.
I hope that my brother can protect the imperial family.
Lang...
You've been unconscious all night.
You're finally awake.
The doctor said that you lost too much blood
and the wound on your chest has yet to heal. Stay still.
It's all because of that nasty guy.
He ran off to the capital without even saying a word.
I ended up being just as unlucky all along the way.
If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be so badly injured.
Once I get to him, I'll be sure to teach him a lesson.
Who are you talking about?
Could it be that Yi He...
Lang.
Yi He isn't dead.
I've been running around busily and risking my life lately.
I nearly died on the road because of him.
Come here.
Liu Ping is Yang Ping.
He really is still alive.
You...
Don't scare me!
Say it again.
Yi He's identity is...
It's absolutely true.
Yang Ping is Liu Ping.
The reigning emperor.
This is an earthshaking matter!
How can you only tell me now?
I have to discuss this with Father!
This isn't the fabric we use in the palace.
There's no such pattern in the ones offered to the palace.
Then... can you tell where this fabric came from?
I'll take another look and think about it.
This seems familiar.
This pattern seems to be from...
Henei, Wen County.
Wen County?
Exactly.
It's from Wen County.
Nowadays, Wen County has the best weaving skills.
I can't be wrong about it.
Wen County?
Wen County...
Isn't that where the Sima family is?
On the day of the fire, Yang Jun was killed in a robbery.
Could it be that Yang Jun's son was raised in the Sima family?
Could it be that...
Yang Jun's son was in the palace that day?
Sir!
Don't you want this piece of silk fabric anymore?
Thank you.
It means Yi He feigned his death and went to the capital.
He swapped places with the emperor and inherited the throne.
No, he took the throne in the name of the reigning emperor.
Exactly.
This is a serious matter.
Did you see it and hear it for yourself that His Majesty admitted to being Yi He?
Father, it's absolutely true.
Every word I said is true.
Yi He was born into the imperial family.
It seems that Uncle Yang already knew but he's kept it from our family.
In an emergency, Yi He had to replace the emperor
but he didn't reveal a word to us.
If it weren't for Zhong Da
our entire family would be kept in the dark.
If Guo Jia and Cao Cao gradually unveil Yi He's true identity
this will get our entire clan wiped out.
Lang, now that it has come to such
there's still a way to turn things around.
Turn things around? How?
Yi He grew up with you.
The two of you have been to every place in Wen County.
Hundreds of people have met him, if not thousands.
We managed to intercept Deng Zhan.
But if Guo Jia sends someone here again
it's bound to be exposed.
If Uncle Yang had told us Yang Ping's identity in the first place
we could have raised Yi He like a daughter
and things wouldn't be so complicated now.
Anyway, it's impossible for us to stay aloof of it all now.
We should think about how to handle the aftermath.
The truth will come to light sooner or later.
It's obviously a different emperor in the imperial court now.
Despite their identical appearance
any slight difference in his gestures and mannerisms could get us all killed!
Why don't we just--
No!
Why not?
Instead of waiting around for Guo Jia to expose Yi He's identity
we might as well just announce it honestly once and for all.
Zhong Da, you don't have a clue just how scary Guo Jia is.
Guo Jia has never once miscalculated or made any mistakes.
He has his eyes on Wen County. He'll deal with our family next.
Do you think we can get away with this?
Don't be silly!
We'll expose Yi He's identity.
Leave it to Guo Jia and Cao Cao to make a choice.
Cao Cao will still need an emperor as his puppet.
He won't dare to kill the emperor, so Yi He will be fine!
Our family will also be fine.
We didn't know about anything in the first place anyway!
Lang, do you even know what Cao Cao is like?
Do you really believe after Cao Cao finds out that the emperor was replaced
he will still spare Yi He and the Sima family?
I've already confirmed with Man Chong that Yi He is dead.
Father. Lang.
Since the day Uncle Yang sent Yi He to our family
we were already on the same boat and we couldn't get off.
Zhong Da, you're too reckless.
You think too highly of yourself!
- I-- - That's enough!
This concerns the safety of our family.
You must keep this a secret.
Not a word can be revealed.
I understand.
Let me think this through.
I have to think it through.
Guo Feng Xiao, wake up.
Before Yuan Shao makes it past Guandu, don't bother waking me up.
Didn't you say that you're giving the emperor a lecture today?
It's all right to keep the emperor waiting.
Cao Cao has always been very strict with military orders.
Do you behave like this in the military camp as well?
A few words from me are enough to keep the battle going
at the front line for days or weeks.
That's why I need to sleep for a while longer.
I'll then have the energy to speak later.
You think too highly of yourself.
If a few words can predict a year ahead
or even 10 years, or a generation
that counts as true capability.
Why don't you predict if your master will win or lose this battle?
You truly wish to know?
Libationer Guo, I have a matter to report.
Come in!
Should I... come in?
I'm afraid it isn't appropriate.
Do you want me to get up and welcome you in?
Of course not.
You--
Hong Chang, look.
We both forgot to undo this red thread.
Man Chong.
You rarely get to enter my bedroom.
Do you have to be so nervous?
I'm too stupid.
What is the matter?
Just now...
I was just informed that in the northwest
there's disturbance from Yuan Shao's troops.
Yuan Shao's army suddenly appeared in our hinterland?
Deng Zhan is sure to pass by there on his way back.
They must have come for Deng Zhan.
I'll go and get him back right away.
I'll take my leave!
A spilled bucket of water interrupted a bit of bed-rocking.
The people in the capital are really good at playing tricks.
Counting on your words, Yuan Shao's men did cross Guandu.
It sounds as if you're quite pleased?
Definitely.
Someone is smarter than you.
That's so rare and interesting.
Libationer Guo, you're here.
Prefect Xun, you've worked hard.
You've been discussing Mencius with His Majesty.
His Majesty chose it.
The learnings of kingship.
I wonder what Libationer Guo will lecture His Majesty on?
Heaven and earth, the six directions, and the eight outer regions.
Anything that His Majesty likes.
Feng Xiao.
It's best to guide His Majesty with the learnings of sages and kingship.
After all, that will benefit the people and nation.
I understand.
Libationer Guo Jia greets Your Majesty.
I ask to give Your Majesty a lecture.
Please do.
These aren't what Your Majesty needs.
If there's anything you wish to know, just ask me.
At the moment, the Battle of Guandu is the most pressing matter.
This battle will not only have an impact on the Central Plain
but on Duke Cao, you, and even more so, me, as well.
Tutor, please do tell me about Guandu.
Between Duke Cao and Yuan Shao, who is at an advantage?
It's definitely Duke Cao who has the upper hand.
Your Majesty doesn't dare to be honest with your opinion.
I ask to leave now.
Everyone thinks that Yuan Shao has Hebei Commandery in his clutches
with elite soldiers of 400,000 men.
His army is four times that of Duke Cao's.
However, Duke Cao has you, who can maneuver troops miraculously.
It can't be difficult for him to pit the few against many.
Your Majesty still isn't being completely honest with me.
All right, then.
Even if Your Majesty finds it uneasy to say it aloud
there's always a reference to the so-called miraculous maneuvering.
Although Duke Cao is outnumbered and he's not as well known as Yuan Shao
Duke Cao has 10 victories while Yuan Shao has 10 defeats.
Tutor, may I ask what those 10 victories and defeats are?
He triumphs in principles, humanities, governance, magnanimity
strategy, virtue, benevolence, wisdom
literary capacity, and military capability.
It won't be difficult to defeat Yuan Shao with these 10 victories.
Perhaps you're right to say that
he triumphs in civil and military capability.
Yuan Shao governs Hebei and it has become stable gradually.
Battles occur in the Central Plain year after year
and the people are rendered homeless.
I'm afraid it's hard to convince everyone of his victory in governance.
The results of governance lie not in the outcome of the moment.
At the moment, the error in governance is leniency.
Yuan Shao makes the same mistake.
Hence, he is not to be feared.
Duke Cao requires strict discipline.
Hence, all officials and people abide by the system.
Therefore, he triumphs in governance.
Yuan Shao appears tolerant but is grudging at heart.
He doubts anyone he recruits, appointing only those close to him.
Duke Cao might be stern, but he's perceptive.
He trusts those he recruits, employing men according to their talents.
This is his triumph in magnanimity.
Should this go on, the Central Plain is sure to prosper.
Hebei will then suffer from internal strife.
However, the iron hand chills the hearts of people.
Your Majesty, how do you define benevolence?
Love thy people.
When Yuan Shao see those suffering from hunger and cold
he cares for those nearby, but not those out of sight.
That is superficial benevolence.
He doesn't truly love the people.
Duke Cao pays attention equally to all
and treats all men with honor and sincerity.
He leads his men with thriftiness.
But he's generous to reward those who render merits.
Whoever is loyal and insightful will be employed for their talents.
He doesn't overlook the general interest for petty gains.
Therefore, he triumphs in benevolence.
How can he be benevolent when he can't abide by the rites?
How can he be benevolent when there's no leniency?
How can he be benevolent when he can't aid those in famine?
There's a difference in the scope of benevolence.
To save a man or two from famine is but trivial benevolence.
To have the unyielding courage in saving all people from the flame of war
and soldiers from wrongful deaths of poor policies
is the general benevolence.
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
I have urgent military information to report.
What is it?
A troop of Yuan Shao's pulled off a sneak attack
northwest of the capital last night.
Yuan Shao's army has entered the capital?
How is the situation?
They attacked from the West Gate.
The first attack failed and they immediately retreated.
It was late at night so the garrison didn't dare to pursue them.
When I led the soldiers in pursuit, they'd already fled.
It's good that there weren't many casualties.
Isn't Yuan Shao a bit too daring?
Has Deng Zhan returned?
General Deng might have run into Yuan Shao's army as they retreated
so he was taken prisoner.
Deng Zhan really is too unlucky.
When General Deng was captured, he buried the five portraits in the snow.
I have already retrieved them.
What portraits?
I promised Sima Yi's family that I'd seek out the culprits
who killed Yang Jun's son.
A few portraits of Yang Ping were drawn in Wen County.
Your Majesty, there are still some matters I have to handle.
I'll take my leave.
You have really good timing.
Young Master Yang is here.
Isn't Libationer Guo assigning me to take over the Cavalry of Western Liang?
I'm here to pick up my documents.
Why don't we head back together?
Sure.
Leng Shou Guang, get the horse carriage ready!
His Majesty and I are going to visit my father!
- Yes! - Don't bother.
You're dismissed.
Your Majesty!
I said don't bother!
I mustn't leave.
We brought you here to the capital to save the imperial family.
But now that we have failed, you don't have to die for it!
Leave now! It will be too late tomorrow!
- I can't leave! - Go!
I can't leave!
Since I decided to return, I'm not just some pawn you can manipulate anymore.
I'm the emperor.
I also represent the imperial family of Han.
Be it for you or the imperial family
I mustn't leave.
However...
once Guo Jia sees the portraits...
it will all be exposed.
Not even I can save you then!
Please believe in me once more.
Believe in Zhong Da as well.
Guo Jia still hasn't taken any action yet, has he?
Hasn't Yuan Shao's army already taken Deng Zhan hostage?
Perhaps this is all part of Zhong Da's plan.
We've pulled through so many challenges.
Besides, haven't you always been stronger than I am?
There is still hope.
We'll surely pull through this obstacle.
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