Subtitles by DramaFever
[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 35]
I've invited Minister Cao over today
to negotiate a deal with you.
If Minister Cao wishes to win the war in one single battle
and pacify the Central Plain
let the Sima family off immediately.
Since we're making a deal
how will I benefit from Your Majesty if I agree to it?
Minister Cao must be mostly concerned
that I will stir up a revolt here in the capital
while you're away fighting in the north.
I'll join you on your expedition in a disguise
to offer my assistance to you.
Minister Cao, what do you say?
The dragon lies in the abyss.
It rises when the clouds lift.
Your Majesty already won the gentries of the Central Plain over
by traveling to Guandu in disguise.
Should you travel again
how am I to trust that Your Majesty is doing so for my best interest?
Minister Cao, are you scared of me?
Since Your Majesty fears not the fatigue of traveling
to the land of the nomads
I certainly have no reason to oppose to your suggestion.
I still have one other condition.
The empress must come with me on the expedition to the north.
Is Your Majesty worried that I might harm the empress?
The empress and I are to share weal and woe.
Never are we to part.
It's been three years!
I've never answered to any of the imperial decrees.
Your Majesty, do you know why I've come to the imperial court today?
Why?
I'd like to see...
what kind of emperor now sits upon the throne.
When did Your Majesty begin to cherish your subject so dearly?
Since when are you and the empress ever so deeply in love?
Summon Man Chong back.
If any of them are still alive, they are really lucky.
Forgive me for being so bold as to draft a letter in your name
to remit the punishment.
Second Young Master should be on his way to Wen County now.
I do indeed appear to be too cruel in the eyes of Feng Xiao.
Cao Cao...
He's already working to break up your forces.
Your Majesty, did you insist on taking me with you
because you are worried that after he's dealt with Sima Yi, it will be my turn?
I'll be sure to keep you safe.
And Zhong Da.
I'll never let the two of you get hurt.
We must persevere.
The day... is about to break.
Beautiful nights are hard to come by.
How rare it is that you can gaze upon the moon and stars with me all night.
The day has broken.
Young Master Yang.
What are you still waiting for?
Attack!
Brother De Zu!
This is a great chance for you to render a merit.
You'd better seize it!
I will.
Don't save the hostages. Kill them all!
Hold on!
Young Master Yang.
If you wish to take lives, start with mine.
Hold it!
- I'll talk. - Lang!
Close the door.
You can take your time to talk after Sima Yi is dead!
Sima Yi...
Tang Ying.
Even if you hide here, you're still the princess consort of Hongnong!
Kill him!
Stop right there!
Minister Cao decrees to pardon the Sima family!
That slowpoke.
He nearly got me killed.
Minister Cao decrees to the Sima family.
The Sima family should have been annihilated
for colluding with Yuan Shao.
As the second son, Sima Yi, is a man of good judgment and wit
who rendered several merits in Guandu for rescuing the emperor
his entire family is pardoned from their sins.
Sima Yi is appointed as the literary assistant official
of the Ministry of Works.
He is to comply with the decree today.
There is to be no delay.
What is it?
Young Master, do you think that the position is too trivial?
Minister Cao acted in good grace. Accept the decree.
Quickly!
Minister Cao, thank you for such a gracious act.
Your Highness has had to put up with such an accommodation for days.
I'm here to escort Your Highness back to the capital.
Second Young Master.
Does this decree solely apply to the Sima family?
Exactly.
This man! He held an official hostage in an attempted assassination!
Arrest him!
Young Master Yang must be very disappointed again.
You're just lucky this time.
Next time, there's no knowing who will win.
Next time?
You've wanted to kill me every time.
But my life just keeps getting better.
As for you...
you were denounced by family and friends.
Even your own father is thoroughly disappointed in you.
Next time?
Do you think that you'll still have another chance?
Shut up!
Die!
Zhong Da!
- Zhong Da! - Zhong Da!
Zhong Da!
Zhong Da! Zhong Da!
Zhong Da!
- This... - Zhong Da!
- You...
- Zhong Da! - Zhong Da!
Are you awake?
Does it hurt a lot?
I'm all right.
It's just this spot...
and my legs.
Why can't I feel my legs?
Am I paralyzed?
You can't feel your legs?
The sword stabbed into the left side of your chest
but it didn't sever any tendons or bones.
How could you be paralyzed?
You...
You shouldn't harm yourself even if you don't wish to be employed by Cao Cao!
Do you know that you could have died
if that sword had stabbed just a bit deeper or slightly more to the side?
Don't be mad at me.
Sit down.
I'm sorry.
I won't be able to give you the wedding I've promised yet.
As long as you can go on living
you should know that... I don't care about anything else.
When it comes to my marriage, I'll fend off the god of death.
We will definitely be together.
The princess consort's outfit and carriage are ready.
Your Highness, please get ready to leave.
Be careful.
Your Highness, please board the carriage.
Young Master Sima, please board the carriage.
Zhong Da, take care.
You mustn't act willfully again when you get there
and go against Minister Cao.
Do take care of Father for me.
I can then set my mind at ease.
I will.
Zhong Da...
you have to be very cautious.
Yes.
Thank you, Lord Man.
Zhong Da.
Is it that frightening to be recruited by my family?
Do you have to resort to such extreme means to turn it down?
When we were in Guandu, didn't you promise to assist me?
Indeed.
I can assist you.
But I shouldn't be recruited by Minister Cao in such a manner.
You should know how I am.
I won't be tied down by anyone.
Zhong Da is lying to me again.
You're already answering to someone's every demand.
You just refuse to admit it.
Young Master Sima was stabbed on the left side of his chest.
Yet his lower limbs are paralyzed.
This is unprecedented.
Sir, if you can heal my legs
the Sima family is willing to reward you 1,000 gold taels.
Young Master's injury is indeed unprecedented.
Hold on.
Since the paralysis was caused by the injury in the upper torso
what's the use in treating the lower limbs?
I'll try treating the meridians around the wound.
Sir, is this really incurable?
Young Master Sima is so determined.
Do you really wish to give up on marriage and children?
The lady I saw at Sima Manor seems to be very devoted to you.
That lady you spoke of...
You can't stop her from coming to me.
When she has to leave, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop her either, will I?
Young Master's determination and courage are unlike any other.
It's a pity that you seem to have forgotten...
However much Minister Cao cherishes men of talent
there's a limit to his tolerance.
I'm already paralyzed from waist down.
I can only live out my days lying in bed.
My wife left just like that.
Libationer Guo says that I'm just pretending to be injured.
What do I have to gain from this?
What if you have no choice but to do so?
For example...
His Majesty?
In order to offer your service to His Majesty
you'd rather render yourself disabled.
In order to save you
His Majesty would rather serve as Duke Cao's hostage.
The emperor and the poor scholar.
If this is just a mutual appreciation between the ruler and his subject
isn't that a bit unconvincing?
Young Master...
could you be His Majesty's lover?
Indeed!
There are emperors and subjects who would sacrifice for one another.
For instance...
Minister Cao and Libationer Guo.
However, I was born bold and liberal.
I dislike restraints.
I won't serve anyone.
Nor am I willing to be threatened and controlled.
Be it by Minister Cao or His Majesty.
Since Young Master Sima hasn't recovered after being pricked so many times
how about...
we give this a try?
How about it?
Young Master Yang.
That may not be necessary.
I think both of his legs are useless now.
If this continues, the blood and bones will become necrotic.
It might even endanger his life.
Why don't we...
saw off his legs?
His Majesty arrives!
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Do rise.
Were you sent from the Imperial Academy of Medicine?
No, I'm Young Master Yang's family doctor.
I might only have some basic medical knowledge
but I can tell this isn't the way to treat this injury, is it?
Shouldn't you remove the needles?
Yes!
Who wounded Official Sima?
It was an accidental injury caused during the arrest.
Your Majesty.
I rammed myself into Young Master Yang's sword.
I asked for it.
Your Majesty should know very well why Young Master Sima is injured.
I've brought Palace Steward Leng to treat his injury.
Young Master Yang.
Please take your family doctor with you.
I'll walk Young Master Yang out.
I'll take my leave.
You do have quite a temper.
Are your legs all right?
They are fine.
Fortunately, you came just in time.
Otherwise, Guo Jia would have had my legs sawed off.
Guo Jia wouldn't.
Are you speaking up for him?
I owe it all to Guo Jia's help.
This is all my fault for implicating the lot of you.
Are Godfather, Lang, and our brothers all right?
My father had quite a fright.
Fortunately, he isn't hurt.
Cao Cao won't lay a finger on them again.
It took me so much effort to get you on the right track.
You messed it all up in one go!
Why are you so dumb?
You're even more hopeless than my legs!
I know that.
That's why I don't want any of you to bear my burdens anymore.
This is my choice.
I really am willing to help him win this battle.
Aren't you afraid that he'll kill you while you're out on the expedition?
He wouldn't dare do so.
All right.
Anyway, you're on your own now.
But you'd better keep this in mind.
You have to make it back here alive.
I had my legs disabled for your sake.
You have to look after me for life.
If I am to look after you, what about Sister Tang?
Her?
What does she know about looking after anyone?
Palace Steward Leng.
How are Young Master Sima's legs?
I'm not well learned in medical practice
but it does seem impossible to heal his legs.
Libationer Guo.
Should we saw my legs off?
I think not.
One day, they will come in handy.
I have a matter to report.
Princess Consort Tang has moved into her new royal manor.
After all, she was once an empress.
She's also Your Majesty's sister-in-law.
It's against the national prestige for her to live in a shrine.
Libationer Guo is the unprecedented prodigy of our times.
You don't have to beat about the bush, do you?
Minister Cao knows about me and Princess Consort Tang.
He's keeping her under house arrest in order to threaten me.
Am I right?
I actually am in great awe of Princess Consort Tang.
I also hope that she can find a loving spouse.
I'll never forget that you once saved Princess Consort Tang.
Neither she nor I can be coerced against our will.
A mutual affection doesn't only lie in marriage
or everyday intimacy.
Libationer Guo.
Minister Cao also knows that Princess Consort Tang is my only kin.
I understand.
Princess Consort Tang won't be mistreated in any way.
Your Highness, please leave the carriage.
Welcome back to the manor, Your Highness!
In order to welcome Your Highness back to the capital
he had the Royal Hongnong Manor renovated.
I wonder if Your Highness is pleased with it.
Thank you.
I believe that Your Highness must have understood my father's kind intentions.
Please convey this to Young Master Sima.
[Royal Hongnong Manor]
Shut the doors.
Is Sima Yi really paralyzed?
Both His Majesty and Young Master Yang brought skilled doctors to treat him.
They both said that he won't recover.
Perhaps...
he might really be paralyzed.
Does he think that there's nothing I can do about him
if he's paralyzed?
Master, you're soon setting out to conquer the north.
There's no point in getting angry at an arrogant scholar.
If Master really wishes to take His Majesty on this expedition
there is much for you to prepare and arrange in advance.
Feng Xiao.
Do you think that His Majesty proposed joining me on the expedition
because he truly wishes to cooperate with me
or because he is conspiring against me?
Judging by His Majesty's actions in Guandu
he does intend to cooperate with you.
Guandu?
Wasn't His Majesty like a duck to water in Guandu?
Tell His Majesty.
I am not Yuan Shao.
If he truly wishes to collaborate with me
he'll have to demonstrate his sincerity somehow.
Master, you mean...
Abolish the empress.
Marry my daughter instead.
His Majesty brings the empress along wherever he goes.
The emperor and empress are deeply in love.
I'm afraid this isn't a good time to suggest abolishing the empress.
Minister Cao, Second Young Master has been kneeling in your room for two hours.
Can you... take a look?
Did I tell him to stay on his knees?
Tell him if he can't stand it
he can head back to his room.
Yes, yes.
Isn't Master too harsh on Second Young Master?
I defied Father and conveyed your orders without permission.
Please punish me, Father.
You...
Do you really want Sima Yi that much?
It's just that I cherish a man of rare talent.
Liar!
I wouldn't dare.
I'm still alive but you're already eagerly looking for your strategist.
What exactly do you want him to get you?
I don't mean otherwise.
For the past 10 years, I've seen Father work so hard day and night.
You've been fighting endless battles.
It's all because the nation is yet to be united.
My eldest brother passed away.
Filling in as the eldest child
I feel guilty for not having been able to share Father's burdens.
Sima Yi is accomplished in both pen and sword as well as wits.
I'm asking for his assistance so that I can be of help to Father
and pacify the world soon.
It isn't that I can't give him to you.
However, right now...
you don't have the ability to manipulate him.
Grand Commandant, do you mean to make me leave?
Cao Cao has pardoned the Sima family, but he might not spare you.
You can't stay in the capital any longer.
Return to your hometown immediately.
Will it really be fine that a person is missing from the commandant's office?
Although I'm no longer in power
it's not a problem for me to rescue someone.
This is the second time you've saved me.
I'd never be able to repay Grand Commandant's kindness.
After having gone to my rescue, we can call it even.
The world is now in a whirlwind.
Even the sword isn't enough to dispel uncertainties in an unstable world.
Yuan Zhi, don't be a swordsman anymore.
Resume your past identity.
Become a scholar again.
Commoner, Xu Fu will never forget Grand Commandant Yang's kindness!
Here, get up.
Grand Commandant Yang, what do you plan to do next?
The Yang family have always been subjects of the imperial family.
I'll do my very best to repay His Majesty's kindness.
I dare not consider anything else.
Grand Commandant Yang.
Sometimes, the general trend of events is irrevocable.
Let go when it is time to do so.
But then there should always be a martyr who dies for a just cause.
Besides, I believe that righteousness still exists.
Everyone still upholds morality and justice within our minds!
I'm dragging out this aging body of mine
so as to witness this justice and morality within us!
Morality and justice are what we look up to.
Grand Commandant Yang's noble character is truly a role model for us!
I shall always look up to Grand Commandant Yang!
Are you actually fond of doing so?
Yang Xiu bullied Sima Yi right in front of you
but you didn't even help him!
I'll get jealous if you hit your husband for some other man.
That hurts!
Spare me. I won't dare do so again.
I won't dare.
He only got pricked a few times. He's not even disabled.
You already feel bad for him.
Why don't you feel bad for me instead?
You're always bullying the others.
Why should I feel bad for you?
Why are you coughing again?
Does your chest hurt?
It seems to have gotten more severe this time.
I'll get the medication now.
Don't bother.
Just massage my chest and the pain will be all gone.
Guo Feng Xiao!
You overcame obstacles with them.
I know that you're fond of those young people.
But I can't let them wander off too far.
I'm worried that they will go against Duke Cao.
Don't you think that the world will eventually belong to them?
It might be a bit too early to say so.
Have a look.
This is your home in the capital from now on.
Thank you, Second Young Master.
Zhong Da, you can still make another choice.
I thought that you came to bid me farewell.
Indeed.
I'll follow my father on his expedition tomorrow.
You still have one last chance.
Stand up right now and come with me.
I'll let you and Princess Consort Tang be together.
Could you possibly have the medical skills of Hua Tuo
to make a paralyzed man stand on his feet again?
Is the emperor the only one who can get you to stand on your feet again?
You're right, Second Young Master.
His Majesty did save your life.
But you think too highly of His Majesty's medical skills.
Zhong Da.
The three of us have saved one another at some point.
We only managed to survive until this day because of one another.
Since we're alive, we should keep looking forward.
Is it worth risking your life and everything you have
for an empire that's destined to crumble?
In my eyes...
what I see isn't an empire.
However, I have my principles.
"My mind is not a stone; it cannot be rolled about."
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