Subtitles by DramaFever
[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 33]
What are you laughing at?
Even if Madam Yuan's room is a bit lavishly furnished
should Your Majesty be so happy about it?
I'm laughing because we were all racking our brains a while ago
just to sneak into this room to get a stamp.
We even had to trouble the empress to play the zither.
Yet now, we've actually moved right into this room.
The change in dynasties and personnel is very cruel.
I wonder who will be living in our palace in the future.
As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter where I live.
Smooth-talker.
When I saw that you were wearing that hairpin
I knew that you weren't mad at me anymore.
I was wrong about Yuan Shao.
What did you say?
I was wrong about Yuan Shao.
Can you write that down?
Why?
I've said that I was wrong about 1,000 times
but this is the first time you've said it.
So I want you to write it down as evidence.
You've learned to sweet-talk just like Sima Yi.
You chose me.
You'll have to make do with my strengths and weaknesses.
I've missed you quite a lot lately.
Your Majesty was occupied with manipulating the battle to save lives.
How could you have the time to think about me?
What's concealed in one's heart can't be forgotten.
My father is heading back to the capital.
Come with me, Mentor.
I'll seek revenge for you.
Aren't you afraid that they will find out about our relationship?
What is there to be afraid of?
I used to be timid and cautious so as to be acknowledged by my father.
But I've realized that I was wrong.
However hard I try, I can never worm my way into his heart.
I have to attain my own achievements in order to redeem my sins.
Only by turning sins into power can I wipe out my sins for good.
Very good!
Master my swordsmanship first if you want to kill me!
Cao Cao's ceremonial parade is far more extravagant and lavish
than Your Majesty's.
How is he any less ambitious than Yuan Shao?
I didn't help him because of that.
You now know what the emperor is like?
You seem to have always known that.
Don't you forget that I knew him way before you did.
What did you mean when you said that the history was a lie?
It doesn't mean anything now.
Some secrets are best buried along with the times and some people.
The future is waiting to be written by you.
Pull over.
Pull over!
I want to fight on the battlefield.
Render merits.
Once I've rendered merits and attained an official post
no one will pick on my family again!
I couldn't save him.
I just wanted to save them.
Why didn't it work that way?
The nation is fragmented.
Our lands are split up.
The remains of my people in the Central Plain lie unburied.
Cui Yan was right.
I still haven't managed to accomplish anything at all.
You've already done so much.
The world is massive.
It's also so chaotic.
How can we possible change any of this in one night?
This isn't your fault.
Can you still tell if they are soldiers of Yuan Shao or Cao Cao?
Are they our friends or foes?
The imperial family of Han declined.
Yet we've made our people suffer in war and lose their homes.
This is my fault.
Take this blade with you to serve Minister Cao's army.
Minister Cao?
Who exactly is he?
He will be the victor of this battle.
Really?
Therefore, we must persevere.
Until the day the world is peaceful.
We must persevere until then.
Their remains are exposed out here in the wild.
The people are really pitiful.
That's why I won't give up on restoring peace to this world.
Never.
Set out!
[Vermilion Gate]
Your Majesty, congratulations on your victorious return.
Long live the emperor!
While I was away, did His Majesty stay here?
Yes.
I offered everything we had to His Majesty and the empress.
Very good.
What do you think of His Majesty?
Are you referring to his personality?
I don't think that he's as cold and sullen as you once told me.
He's very amiable.
He even saved Pi.
That did surprise me.
His Majesty changed so drastically that it caught me off guard as well.
Minister Cao, Lord Man seeks audience.
I'll take my leave then.
All right. After I'm done handling these matters
I'll visit you and Jie.
Summon Lord Man.
Yes.
Greetings, Minister Cao.
These are the scrolls of records on Dong Cheng's revolt
and Sima Yi's doings in the capital that you asked for.
"We went to the hills of the east and long were we there without returning."
Who would have known that
the changes in the capital over the past two years were that drastic?
[Dong Cheng's Rebellion]
Zhong Da!
Lang!
You're finally home!
It's been months since you left.
Father misses you every day.
- Yi! - Yi!
- Did you miss me? - Yes!
Who is she?
Please wait a moment.
What is it?
What is she doing here again?
Lang, not only is she here again, but she's here to stay.
She's here to stay?
No, she's a princess--
Lang.
She's not a princess consort anymore.
Her name is Tang Ying.
She's my wife.
This--
Listen up!
From now on, she's your second sister-in-law.
Wow! Yi has a wife!
The bride will have to show us her face!
- We won't let you in otherwise! - Exactly!
Just one glimpse! Just one!
Wow! She's so beautiful!
Scoundrel!
Do you know who she is?
How dare you bring her home?
I've spoiled you rotten!
Father, she's my beloved.
I won't marry anyone else but her.
You...
You're even going against the gods now?
Father!
I've already taken care of her identity.
There's no Princess Consort Tang anymore!
Cao Cao won't come to pester you.
You've taken care of it?
She's a princess consort and a former empress!
She's someone that even I have to kowtow to!
How can you take care of her?
What will happen if anyone finds out that you've abducted a princess consort?
If Cao Cao uses this to threaten you, what will you do then?
Are you trying to get our entire clan annihilated?
Father, she and I are both willing in this marriage.
This isn't an abduction.
How dare you still--
Subject Sima Fang greets Princess Consort.
My father doesn't understand.
I'll explain it to him.
Duke Sima, what he just said is true.
He and I are both willing to marry each other.
I wanted to come back here with him.
Get up.
This...
During the rebellion in Luoyang
I once saw Duke Sima in the imperial court.
After you narrowly escaped from the clutches of Dong Zhuo
you insisted on resigning and returning to your hometown.
I understand that you did so to protect your family.
Just like Duke Sima
after having pulled through a near-death experience
I also just want to have some peaceful days.
Whatever identities I used to have
I've returned them to the imperial family.
In order to take me away
both His Majesty and Zhong Da have made great efforts.
I appreciate their kind efforts and I'd like to ask for your blessing.
One day, should there be any danger
I'd like to overcome it with Zhong Da and protect the Sima family together.
Father.
Guo Jia has agreed to let me take Ying away from the palace.
Tang Ying is no longer Princess Consort Tang.
Besides, the only ones in Wen County
who know about her identity are you and Lang.
As long as neither of you tell anyone
no one will know that she was a princess consort.
Therefore...
Father, please give us your blessing.
Please get up.
Miss... Miss Tang.
Please get up.
Get up quickly.
Father.
Get up. Come here.
See? I told you.
My father is the most sensible man.
Yi! All the neighbors heard that you brought a wife home.
- They are all here to see her. - She's here. Look.
Close the door! Close it quickly!
- No one is allowed in! - Yes!
Quickly!
Don't I foretell very accurately?
You nearly gave me a fright.
I thought that you were going to back down again.
I won't.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Sir, please do rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You are dismissed.
- Yes. - Yes.
On the way here, I was traveling with Cao Cao's army
so I didn't have the chance to speak with you.
I hope that you won't take it to heart.
I understand the predicament Your Majesty is in.
It pains me to see the decline of the imperial family.
I heard that Minister Cao recruited you as his administrative aide
but you turned down his offer.
Yes.
I surrendered to the imperial family.
Not the Cao family.
If it weren't because of my admiration for Your Majesty
I'd have forfeited my life for my master, just as Duke Shen did.
I won't have to end up being called a disloyal subject now.
Your Majesty.
If Minister Cao won't allow me to be an official of the Han Empire
I'd rather resign and return to my hometown!
I understand how loyal you are.
However...
I'll need you to join Minister Cao's government.
Your Majesty!
First of all, we've just taken Hebei back.
We'll need someone like you who knows the region well
to ensure that it can recuperate.
This is for the sake of our people.
Second, even if you become an official of the Han Empire
you won't get any true authority.
Instead, you'll be able to do more under Minister Cao's government.
This is for your sake.
Your Majesty.
I am not one to pursue official rank.
Let me finish.
Third, you should know the predicament I am in.
Minister Cao has planted his informants all around me.
Even for Liu Yi, Lu Yu, and the other students
although I can save them from Ye City
I can't protect them here in the capital.
Therefore, I'll need someone to be my informant
within Minister Cao's government.
It's also to protect those scholars on my behalf.
I understand that you're an upright and conscientious man.
This might be too much to ask of you.
It also puts you in a difficult position.
But I...
I have to ask this favor of you.
Your Majesty!
You have the magnanimity of a wise ruler.
Sadly, the current situation puts the imperial family at a disadvantage.
Moreover, the feudal lords have held you as their hostage.
It's like a dragon lying low in the abyss.
You can only await the opportunity to take action.
Your Majesty.
I won't hesitate to lay down my life for the imperial family
come hell or high water.
How would I dare to feel aggrieved at all?
With a subject like you, there's hope for the imperial family.
With a subject like him, there's hope for the imperial family.
Master, Guo Jia seeks audience.
Feng Xiao, please come in!
Are you feeling better, Feng Xiao?
Thank you for your concern, Master.
I've recovered.
I've finished reading all of the scrolls from the commandant's office.
It's very thrilling.
Indeed.
When we were both away from the capital
the imperial family took quite a few actions.
The emperor has grown up after all.
He's also extremely intelligent.
It's expected that he would take action.
Master, do rest assured.
Everything is still within your control.
Is it?
Both Dong Cheng and Zhang Yu are dead.
That doesn't matter much.
However, he is so deeply involved with the Sima family.
It's completely unexpected.
I thought the emperor had only recruited Sima Yi.
Little did I expect...
the entire Sima family to be involved.
Feng Xiao, aren't you interested at all in looking into this matter?
Man Chong and I already did.
First of all, we didn't manage to find out anything.
And secondly, Sima Fang used to be an old friend of yours.
An old friend?
If he were an old friend of mine
he shouldn't have colluded with the imperial family behind my back!
How about this?
Sima Yi must have gotten home by now.
I'll give him a chance to see if he's willing to be recruited.
Feng Xiao, ask him a question on my behalf.
Master, what would you like to ask him?
Where is Yang Ping?
It's flying!
Go and play by yourselves.
I've won again! I'm the best!
Hong Chang.
You've done so much for me and my father.
Has Cao Cao already found out about your identity?
If we continue to live here, won't it be too dangerous?
It will be fine.
Is it because of Guo Jia?
Is Guo Jia worthy of being trusted with the rest of your life?
We met during such turbulent times.
Time fleets by so quickly.
What lifetime is there to discuss?
Seeing how the children are so carefree, I've already let go of my hatred.
My dear sister, you've had such a hard time for half a lifetime.
It's time that you settle for your own happiness.
Why do you sound like a little old man at such a young age?
Your life has just begun.
There's much happiness for you.
I...
I'm actually exhausted.
All right now, go and play with them.
Look! He's here.
Brother!
I'll let him soothe your fatigue.
Brother!
Come and play with us!
It's rare that you're behaving so well today.
What is it?
Does Minister Cao want to kill me?
He gets the world, and I get the beauty.
There's no conflict in it.
That's the principle that Duke Cao and I have in common.
You make it sound as if you have no desire to take the world.
Every inch of land means the same to me as the squares on the chessboard.
However, it's more interesting to play the game
at the scale of a nation.
What could it be that made you so troubled?
You'd be more suitable than I am to talk about one matter.
Before I came here
I had a letter delivered to the Sima family of Wen County.
There are only four words in it.
Go and tell His Majesty.
"Where is Yang Ping?"
It turns out that you and Yi He--
No, I mean, His Majesty.
The two of you pulled off such a huge feat in Guandu.
Does this mean that his identity can be concealed for the time being?
I'm afraid not.
The Battle of Guandu has ended.
Cao Cao is no longer held back by any imminent threat.
Once he returns to the capital
he'll have more time to deal with the imperial family.
What should we do?
Cao Cao is far more frightening than Guo Jia.
You even brought a princess consort home.
This is a huge calamity!
Lang.
You're wrong.
There's no princess consort here.
We only have Miss Tang.
Thank you, Father.
Father, you're just deceiving yourself.
We can only hide her for some time, but not a lifetime.
Since Dong Zhuo took over Luoyang
I resigned and returned to our hometown.
I had just wanted to raise all of my sons well
so that I wouldn't let your mother and the ancestors of the Sima clan down.
However...
I'm also an educated man.
I know what a man can do and what he shouldn't do.
And there's what he has to do.
Right now, we're already at the point when we have to do what we should do.
I'm an official of the imperial family, after all.
Are these meant to be my wedding dresses?
These aren't wedding dresses.
I'll get someone to make it.
These are what you can wear at home.
You didn't bring any clothes with you.
I bought you a few outfits to add to your dowry.
Aren't these too bright?
They don't seem to suit me.
Have you never worn such bright clothes?
Although I was born into a prestigious bureaucrat family
my father followed strict rules of conduct
and never allowed females to dress in colors.
Then I entered the West Garden Guards and the palace...
I didn't seem to like whatever I wore then.
I don't remember much of it.
A woman will doll herself up for a man who loves her.
It's good that you're wearing such colors for the first time for me.
What are you doing?
I'll get you changed.
What did you think I was going to do?
That?
We'll have all the time in the world to do that after we're married.
I won't peek.
You can get changed on your own.
What are you laughing at?
Do I look ridiculous?
I'm just so happy for myself.
I have such great taste.
I found myself such a beautiful bride.
I'll get the tailor to make you a wedding gown
10 times more beautiful than this one.
It will take everyone's breath away.
Are we really going to have such a big wedding?
There are many bureaucrat families in Wen County as well.
Will any of them recognize me?
Come here.
Look.
The lady whose face lit up like springtime in the mirror is so pretty.
Is she the same as that Princess Consort Tang who lived in the shrine?
Destiny... can really be turned around.
Past youth and beauty can actually be restored.
Dark hair and fair complexion...
Youth is so precious to us.
That's why we have to throw a glamorous wedding.
Our halls will be filled with guests.
The gods will be our matchmakers.
The earth will bear witness to our love.
The emperor will be my best man.
The empress, your maid of honor.
We'll feast on pork and lamb.
We'll dig out my father's precious 20-year-old wine.
We'll feast on the three meats for offerings
and drink the nuptial wine.
From then on, we'll be blessed with many children
and grow old together.
We'll have everything that the others have and even more!
Because this is the life and the wedding
that Sima Yi and Tang Ying rightfully deserve.
I've been really happy here in your home for the past few days
but it also feels surreal.
I sometimes think that it seems as if I've died and been reincarnated--
Knock on wood.
Why would you say that word again?
Listen up. Even if you die, I'm bound to follow suit.
I'll go and be reincarnated with you.
Promise me.
If I should die, you must go on living.
If you should die
I'll have our wedding in the netherworld.
I'll make the God of Death officiate our wedding.
The demon attendants have to be our groomsmen.
The goblins have to carry your dowry.
We've been rushing around all this time and now we can finally be together.
What's the matter?
I never thought that they would rebuild the private quarters
just as they once were.
When I just walked in, I was quite disconcerted by it all.
Is this the kind of chamber that my brother used to live in?
Your Majesty, you know that I can't drink very well
but you prepared this anyway.
Do you want me to make a fool of myself?
Here.
Tonight, we'll drink to congratulate Your Majesty.
We'll celebrate the victorious return of our emperor.
This...
This is to congratulate Your Majesty for winning the people over
and making the reputation of the imperial family known to all.
This...
we'll drink to wish Sister Tang every happiness from afar.
I've thought about my brother.
I know that you'll think of my brother when living in the palace.
You're afraid that you'll betray him if you choose to be with me.
That's why you're trying to get yourself drunk.
But there are some matters that need to be discussed when we're sober.
In regards to...
the late emperor?
Yes.
If I continue to act as him, he can never be worshipped.
But when the imperial family is restored to glory one day
and my identity is disclosed
you'll be criticized by everyone.
Honestly...
I stopped thinking about the future a long time ago.
I even had a hunch that I wouldn't live to see that day--
The only hope that kept me here in the first place is to save you.
However, if the late emperor can't be worshipped as he rightfully should
I'll hate myself for life.
I've just drawn myself a prison.
The more I want you to become the real emperor
the less possible it is for us to be together.
I... I shouldn't have fallen for you, but...
why can't I control myself?
If the imperial family can be restored to glory
I'll adopt an imperial relative as my crown prince.
I'll leave the nation in his hands.
Then I'll fake my death.
My brother can then be worshipped as he should be.
No, that won't do.
You're the last true heir to the imperial lineage.
When I accepted the late emperor's plan, I already decided
that on the day the imperial family was restored to power again
I'd kill myself to prove my chastity.
I'd rectify the identity of the late emperor.
But now...
I don't wish to die anymore.
Why am I...
Why am I such a coward?
You've already sacrificed too much for the imperial family.
Leave the rest to me.
We will be together.
This way, please.
Miss Ren, just a moment.
Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live the emperor and empress.
Sister Ren, please get up.
What brings you here so early in the morning? Is it urgent?
If it isn't important, I won't disturb Your Majesty and Your Highness.
You are all to step outside.
Your Majesty, where is Yang Ping?
Fret not.
I'm not concerned about the secrets of the imperial family.
That was Guo Jia's question.
Last night, he acted upon Cao Cao's orders
to send this question to the Sima family of Wen County.
Your Majesty, Your Highness.
I'll take my leave.
Thank you, Sister Ren.
Cao Cao...
He still won't let us off.
I have to inform Zhong Da in advance.
Cao Cao is trying to see how the Sima family will react.
He's also trying to see how I will react.
Leng Shou Guang!
Yes.
How are those messenger doves that I told you to train?
They can travel between the capital and Wen County just fine.
Good.
Send this out immediately.
Yes.
Summon Guo Jia to the palace.
Are you going to question Guo Jia face to face?
Since he's sent Sister Ren to inform us
he doesn't wish to go against us.
I'll have to test Cao Cao's limits.
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