Subtitles by DramaFever
[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 6]
Scoundrel!
Can't you even recognize our Second Young Master?
Lord Man, you've worked hard.
I feel ashamed.
It was but a fruitless attempt.
Second Young Master was right to reprimand us.
It's my fault to have alarmed you.
You're too polite.
The capital is now in danger.
The assassin even left the head of the arrow in front of my manor.
As the son of Minister of Works, how could I sleep at ease?
If Lord Man requires any reinforcement, we have some guards at the manor.
Please discuss this further inside the office.
Sima Yi!
Come in here!
Cut off the flesh that's infected by the poison.
Then apply the medication in this bottle to it.
Is the imperial family this poor?
A princess consort even has to take charge of assassinations?
Is this how you intend to restore the imperial family to glory?
Bear with it.
I don't know anything about medical practice like Yi He does.
I heard that Young Master trained in swordsmanship with renown pugilists.
After seeing you in action, I realized it certainly is true.
Can you pick out any clues from their wounds?
One fatal stroke.
It's a very narrow incision.
It shows that the swordsman struck and withdrew swiftly.
But judging from the location of the wounds
the assassin would've been a bit shorter than these two guards.
The sword was also thinner and lighter than average ones.
I think...
The assassin is very likely a woman.
Okay.
This mask is quite exquisite.
All right.
I know what you're going to say.
Is everyone who has seen this mask already dead?
Did Zhang Yu see this mask?
Zhang Yu took his own life with poison.
A patriot.
Is this how you treat a patriot?
This doesn't concern you.
You don't understand them.
What are you doing here?
Do you think that I'll end up as Yang Xiu predicted?
I'll be arrested by Man Chong for going against him?
Then can you silence me like you did with Zhang Yu?
You're not fit to be silenced by me.
I know a lot more than Zhang Yu did.
Have you rescued Yang Jun?
How did you manage to do so?
The political powers in the capital are too complicated.
There's much I can use to my advantage.
It's enough to get what I want done.
Unlike what you think, we don't always have to kill to get things done.
What exactly is it that you want?
It's simple.
I want to take Yang Ping with me.
He doesn't belong with you.
That's impossible.
A princess consort barged into the commandant's office alone.
Both her martial arts skills and courage are remarkable.
The former empress is also an expert in martial arts.
Where did she receive training?
I believe that Cao Cao must be very interested in this.
If he could lay a finger on me, he'd have done so a long time ago.
If you have the intention to expose our plans
I'll kill you, no matter where you might flee.
There's actually such a skilled female fighter in the capital.
I'd like to challenge her to a match.
It'd be a derelict of my duty if you were to run into the assassin.
Therefore, it's best for you not to meet her.
Before my father set out
he said that with Lord Man in charge, my mother and I would be safe.
It's just that as the son of the Minister of Works
I can't only consider the safety of my family.
Recently, the palace caught fire.
Zhang Yu was killed.
The imperial family of Han has been taken odd actions.
Liu Bei rebelled in Xu Province.
Liu Pi rebelled in Runan.
Military forces were all drawn out of the capital.
None of the above could be just a coincidence.
If the imperial family seizes this chance to launch an unexpected attack
and conjure internal strife
I wonder how Lord Man will handle this.
Young Master, great insight.
We can't help but be driven to such a situation.
Only by pacifying Liu Pi and Liu Bei swiftly
can Master Cao rid himself of trouble and focus on tackling Yuan Shao.
The capital...
Prefect Xun and I will enhance the security measures.
General Cao Ren should be able to pacify Runan in 10 days.
We need only hold the fort for 10 days.
Ying!
Head home.
But your injury...
I'm fine. Leave quickly.
Ying, Man Chong always dips his secret weapons in poison.
I'm all right.
Can you set your mind at ease now?
Who is he?
Her savior.
Don't arouse any suspicion in Man Chong.
Head back right away.
Don't come here again before the insurgency.
Ying, you should know that my priority is to protect you.
I don't need you to protect me.
I'll head back now.
You must keep an eye on your wound.
"Those who knew me said I was sad at heart."
"Those who did not know me said I was seeking something."
I thought that a swordsman would care about the imperial family
but he only cared because of you.
You should also step out.
Have you forgotten that Yang Xiu and I agreed to meet up here?
Shut your mouth, then.
If I weren't so talkative
you'd have had me killed by now.
You wield a sword, and I, the tongue.
Both can take lives.
Save your strength.
I now know how you've trained in swordsmanship.
Prince of Hongnong was poisoned to death by Dong Zhuo
and you were left stranded among the commoners.
The emperor...
He sent the ranger, Wang Fu, to bring you back to the capital.
Wang Fu's older brother is the best swordsman in the world, Wang Yue.
So Wang Fu can't be an amateur in martial arts.
That means...
Wang Fu taught you martial arts.
Wang Fu now serves under Dong Cheng.
He's even been entrusted with such an important task.
I don't believe this is a coincidence.
It's a pity that one is a ranger and the other a princess consort of Han.
"If you were the pine on the hill, I would be the slush in the rill."
The imperial family would never allow you to be with him.
As the power of the imperial family of Han grows
the disparity between the two of you only become impossible to close.
You've really spun a cocoon around yourself.
How depressing.
Shut up.
Love only comes knocking once.
You're so bad with words.
You're even easier to bully than Yi He.
The mood damper is here.
What if the imperial family joins forces with Yuan Shao?
I've heard that many officials colluded with Yuan Shao secretly
upon seeing how powerful he is.
Could the emperor's plot have to do with this matter?
Although you don't hold an official post
you know of the political affairs very clearly.
The emperor is now staying in the Imperial Secretariat.
Yuan Shao's men can't reach him.
But Yang Xiu is Yuan Shao's maternal nephew.
Yang Xiu is the most likely to collude with Yuan Shao.
Exactly.
It's exactly because he's the most likely to collude with Yuan Shao
that Prefect Xun promoted him.
The higher his rank, the more attention he draws
and the easier it is for him to slip up.
Yang Xiu is a clever man.
He won't collude with Yuan Shao at such a time.
Young Master Yang is really well informed.
Princess Consort succeeded in one lethal stroke.
How would I dare not to offer my congratulations right away?
When I got there, Zhang Yu was just about to take the poison.
Is there any difference?
Tell His Majesty that Zhang Yu didn't betray his trust.
You seem to have changed.
I heard that the assassin is injured.
Won't you show it to me?
How impudent!
I carried out the empress's orders.
Stop coming here after my tasks have been accomplished!
Don't regard yourself as a princess consort.
You are but a sword that we wield for the tasks.
You failed in your previous task.
Your entire sect was wiped out by Dong Zhuo.
This time, you can only succeed if you depend on me.
The son of a grand commandant who's served four reigns
actually intends to molest an injured woman.
Aren't you afraid that you'll disgrace your family?
What do you know?
How is she just some ordinary woman?
How am I just lusting after her good looks?
I've saved Yang Jun.
Although you're quite annoying, you won't go back on your word.
Tell me.
Where exactly is Yang Ping?
I won't break my promise.
It's just a pity that all your guesses were wrong.
You're lying.
You'll soon know if I'm telling the truth or not.
Although a miss is as good as a mile, you're quite close to the truth.
You already deduced that Yang Ping is related to the imperial family.
The imperial family is using Dong Cheng to take over the capital.
Why don't you try finding the answer close to Dong Cheng?
This is yet another trap.
Will you jump into it... or not?
If anyone dares to hurt Yang Ping, I will make sure that person pays for it.
Be it the Cao family...
or the lot of you.
Lord Man, I have a suggestion.
I wonder if I can say it.
Please do tell, Young Master.
The burnt palace quarters are in ruins
and the emperor has no residence.
The Imperial Secretariat is, after all, an administrative bureau.
There are too many people around and it's not well guarded.
We don't even know who gets to visit the emperor.
Why don't we invite the emperor to stay in the Ministry of Works
and my family will attend to the imperial family
the best that we can on behalf of my father.
Young Master, you have a more comprehensive perspective than I do.
Sure.
I'll ask the emperor about this.
I'll leave this to Lord Man.
Your Majesty, the head of palace guards, Yang Xiu, seeks audience.
Summon him in.
What's happening?
I'm here to report to Your Majesty
that you need not worry about Zhang Yu and Yang Jun.
I need not worry?
Are they both safe?
An assassin barged into the commandant's office.
Zhang Yu is dead.
Did you send the assassin?
Your Majesty... why do you have to look into this matter?
This is all my fault.
I allowed him to leave but failed to protect him.
You should now understand just how badly Man Chong suspects you.
He won't overlook any mistake you make.
What about Yang Jun?
I've told you.
If Yang Jun is dead, there will be no emperor of Han.
Yesterday afternoon
students of the Imperial Academy happened to visit Yang Jun.
They wanted to invite Yang Jun to give a lecture at the academy.
Man Chong happened to be there to arrest him
so he was obstructed by the students.
Yang Jun holds high prestige in the capital now.
Man Chong agreed to let Yang Jun wander freely
without having to stay at his office.
Thank you, Young Master Yang.
Will there be a problem with the students?
Rest assured, Your Highness.
Man Chong can't trace this back to us.
What about the assassin?
Man Chong investigated all night and yet he found nothing.
I've let Zhang Yu down.
Your Majesty treats everyone with benevolence.
But the outcome is quite the opposite.
Your Majesty should use this chance to reflect on your ways.
I'll be mentoring His Majesty.
The insurgency will soon be staged.
You'll also have to watch your words and actions.
I'll take my leave if Your Highness has no other orders.
Young Master Yang.
What about that letter?
I took care of it as Her Highness wanted.
Your Majesty.
This is a battle that you have to fight alone.
You must learn to forget what Yang Ping once was.
Do you want another tragedy like Zhang Yu's to happen again?
It was my mistake.
Thank you for saving my father.
Once these two cases are closed
the capital will be swept up by an even greater storm.
The insurgency you spoke of...
Does it have to do with Dong Cheng?
I can now tell you that the late emperor did make a pact with Dong Cheng.
The late emperor left behind posthumous edicts on two belts.
One was given to you.
The other was given to Dong Cheng.
Your Majesty, Man Chong asks to seek audience.
How dare he still come here?
Your Majesty!
You must stay calm, Your Majesty.
I am very calm.
You--
Don't you worry.
Your subject, Man Chong, greets Your Majesty.
Lord Man, do rise.
I'm very much comforted to see Your Majesty recover day by day.
Lord Man, you're so dedicated to handling state affairs.
What do you have to report so early in the morning?
I'm ashamed.
An assassin abruptly barged into the commandant's office last night
and Zhang Yu was killed.
Four of my guards were killed.
I've failed in protecting my ward.
I came to seek punishment.
He was killed?
I'd like to know who could possibly kill my subject
by barging into the airtight Commandant of Xu's office.
There were two assassins.
One carried out the assassination and the other came to their aid.
Both escaped.
I am now tracking them down.
There were two of them.
They killed an official and four guards of the commandant's office.
They even got away unscathed?
Lord Man.
Your commandant's office is in charge of defending the capital
and safeguarding the palace.
Yet you failed to protect just one official of mine.
"When a tiger or rhinoceros escapes from its cage"
"when a tortoise shell or piece of jade is injured in its repository"
"whose fault is it?"
As the warden, I can't shirk from my responsibility.
Please punish me, Your Majesty.
Chief Eunuch Zhang always dwelled in the Inner Palace.
He had no enemies outside the palace.
Who would want to kill him?
I'm incompetent.
I can only find out once we have arrested the assassin.
I thought that once we got to Xu Chang
I wouldn't ever have to be afraid under Minister Cao's protection.
However, assassins had my personal Chief Eunuch killed.
Answer me.
Will I be the next on their list?
Even if it means risking my life, I'll keep Your Majesty safe!
Danger now lurks in every corner of the capital.
Punishing Lord Man would only pain our allies and please our enemies.
What upsets me is that Zhang Yu was a veteran official of three reigns
who served me since I was a child.
He endured much hardship with me as we wandered from one place to another.
Over 18 years, he never once left my side.
Although he did make a mistake in the accident
I wanted to send him back to his hometown with a pension.
I wished for him to live out his days in his hometown in peace.
Who would have known...
I'd end up getting him killed?
I've let a loyal subject down.
I admit to my mistake.
It's a derelict of duty on my part in protecting Your Majesty.
An assassination indicates that someone is out to harm Your Majesty.
The Imperial Secretariat is, after all, an administrative bureau.
Its security measures can't be perfect.
May I be so bold as to ask Your Majesty
to move to the safest place in the capital?
Could it be the Commandant of Xu's office?
I wouldn't dare suggest that.
It's...
the Ministry of Works.
I heard that His Majesty flew into a rage this morning
and reprimanded Lord Man.
Did you let him get the better of you?
His Majesty must be feeling hard-pressed these days.
He has much anger to vent.
It's understandable.
He knows that he can't deal with you, so he can only vent through words.
We saved that fellow from the clutches of Li Jue and Guo Si.
We have him fed well and looked after.
And he just consistently stirs up trouble for us.
How ungrateful.
Once I leave, the capital will be left without military forces.
I don't believe that he will behave.
General, don't worry.
Prefect Xun and I are able to handle the current disturbance.
Duke Cao is met with difficulties at the frontline.
It's a pivotal moment in attaining victory.
You were entrusted with an important task.
You need not worry about troubles back here.
I know that Guo Jia is giving you instructions.
But even if Guo Jia were a deity, he couldn't have foreseen
the emperor burning down his own palace quarters.
That's why I said it's best to be cautious.
Teach him a lesson when you can.
Last night, Second Young Master suggested
having His Majesty move into the Ministry of Works.
Zi Huan?
What does he plan to do?
I think that he means to share the burdens of Duke Cao.
That nephew of mine is no less calculating than his father.
He means to keep an eye on the emperor personally.
Then he's going to take credit for it.
My sister-in-law has three sons: Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi.
They are all clever in their own ways.
It's hard to tell if they will end up conflicted like Yuan Shao's sons.
I'm in no place to comment on Duke Cao's personal matters.
Please.
My brother's personal matters are as good as state affairs.
The capital is now at its most vulnerable.
Therefore, I'll have to trouble Lord Man in terms of state and family.
If the capital is lost when I get back...
General, you can then behead me.
Sure.
Set out!
The capital really is as fragile as eggshells now.
From today onward, all gates are to be locked up!
Over the next 10 days, the city will be under the martial law!
Yes!
General Dong will soon rise in rebellion.
Are we really going to move into the Ministry of Works at such a time?
Since Man Chong dares to suggest it, it must be a decision from the minister.
We don't have a choice.
But once we move in, we'll be monitored even more closely.
Then we won't even be able to move about freely.
How are we to help General Dong?
You'll be helping him by doing nothing at all.
Yang Xiu will be sure to keep you safe.
When it's all over, Wu Shuo will come to escort you to the palace
to make a decree.
We should just act cautiously at the Ministry of Works.
The rainstorm is upon us and yet I'm trapped in a corner.
How excruciating.
This is all within the late emperor's plans.
Your existence is our greatest weapon.
You need not storm the battlefield with them.
I just wish I could help you in some way.
Have I said something wrong again?
No.
I didn't know that you could be quite fierce when you lose your temper.
I'm just feel bad for Zhang Yu.
Have him buried lavishly and confer a posthumous title.
Is this the signal that the city gates are locked?
Yes.
The rainstorm will soon be upon us.
The capital will soon become a battlefield.
I wonder where Zhong Da is now.
Did he come to the capital?
It's best if he didn't.
You're right.
We'll just wait for two more days.
In two days, when General Dong succeeds
we can then be free.
Then we'll ask Zhong Da to help us.
- What is it? - Second Young Master.
We received information on the Imperial Secretariat.
The emperor has to be relocated to the Ministry of Works.
The emperor has taken some measures.
The Ministry of Works is bound to take action.
That's why they are going to have him under house arrest.
The capital is sure to descend into chaos within five days.
I'll be very busy these two days.
Shopkeeper Zhang, I'll make the arrangements now.
Gather our men and start preparing in advance.
I want 20 horse carriages.
Bear this in mind. They must all look identical.
The coachmen must also be dressed in identical attire.
Second Young Master, are you taking someone away from here?
Yes.
Are you able to get that done?
Yes.
When Dong Cheng rises in rebellion
he will surely strike from here, here, and here.
Second Young Master, this is--
- This-- - What is it?
Are you scared?
Second Young Master, I can go to great lengths for the Sima family.
However, if we make such a huge move now
we'll expose what we've been doing in the capital for years.
We might even implicate the Henei Commandery.
Is this worth it?
Will Master approve of this?
Don't worry.
The imperial family is up against Cao Cao.
They have to do everything secretly.
They won't dare to condemn us openly.
Besides, it's all worth it, just for him.
"The ice on the lake thickens to three meters."
"The snow on the road extends to a thousand miles."
"My heart prevails like pines and cypresses."
"What is your love like?"
Mother. Second Brother.
Did I dance well?
You secretly studied my swordsmanship again.
It's a pity that the plum blossoms are too light.
They carry no weight at all.
I'd also like to have a sword like Pi's.
It's just like what you wrote in your poem.
"Carry this precious sword of mine."
"Why do you wield it up and down alone?"
"I sigh at its beautiful balance and grand spectacle."
"White as the drifting snow..."
"sharp as the autumn frost!"
As a young lady, instead of studying and learning to embroider
why do you play around with weapons?
You're not to come to these quarters again.
Why?
I don't want to stay in my room all day.
These quarters will be offered to the emperor.
Your father's main hall, study, and bedroom must be tided up quickly.
The emperor will arrive tonight.
Why is the emperor coming to our home?
I got it!
The emperor's home burned down, right?
His Majesty and the empress will stay here
so we have to abide by the regulations in attending to the emperor.
It's especially so for Jie.
You must know your manners.
You're not to run around playfully like you used to.
Pi, take your sister with you.
Yes.
I have to instruct the servants to tidy up the quarters quickly.
Come!
Pi!
Have you met the emperor?
I haven't.
But I suppose he must be the one who hates Father the most in the world.
Father saved him from Li Jue and Guo Si.
Why would he hate Father?
How can there be two suns in the sky?
I find the emperor quite pitiful.
He was first abducted by the feudal lords along the way
and when he finally got to Xu Chang
his palace was burnt down after just a few years.
The emperor is only 18 years old, isn't he?
He's already suffered so much hardship at a young age.
Since he's so pitiful, he can have these quarters.
Girls' minds are so hard to read.
But our emperor surely won't appreciate such sympathy.
You must wait for me!
Don't fall quietly on your own!
His Majesty is moving into the Ministry of Works?
If he refuses to compromise at such a time
Man Chong will only suspect him all the more.
It's good that His Majesty is staying there.
Man Chong thinks that once he has His Majesty under control
he has nothing to fear.
What about His Majesty?
Once we rise in mutiny
the Ministry of Works will hold His majesty hostage immediately.
We only have 750 men.
We need all of them to tackle the Commandant of Xu.
How are we to rescue His Majesty?
Cao Cao might be a devious god.
But his wife and children aren't.
The Ministry of Works... Don't be scared witless by it.
While Cao Cao is away
all that is left there is women and children.
Don't you have some highly skilled pugilists under your service?
There are 50 palace guards and some eunuchs.
That's enough to take over the Ministry of Works.
Once this is done
I'll escort His Majesty to the palace.
His Majesty will then make a decree to suppress Cao Cao's forces.
As long as Wang Fu can follow my instructions
and gather up all of his men
we can still succeed by carrying out our original plan.
The survival of Han Empire's imperial lineage lies in this feat.
Young Master Yang, we'll depend on you!
General Dong.
This is too flattering.
[Dong Manor]
Young Master Yang, take care.
Concubine of your subject, née Bian
welcomes Your Majesty and Your Highness with the household of the Cao family.
Lady Bian, do rise.
My lack of virtue brought about the fire in the palace.
We're here to intrude upon the Ministry of Works.
Our house is complimented by your gracious presence.
It's our utmost honor.
I'll lead Your Majesty and Your Highness into the manor.
The emperor is quite nice.
Our manor is fairly small.
It's unlike the palace.
Your Majesty will have to put up with it.
I've arranged for my husband's council chamber
to serve as the imperial court.
Your Majesty's private quarters are my husband's bedroom.
The guest room in the west wing is now Your Highness's private quarters.
It's just that the concubines, maids, and eunuchs will have to make do.
The empress will be in the west wing?
If Your Majesty doesn't like it...
It's all very well arranged.
This was all thoughtfully arranged with such haste.
Lady Bian is indeed Minister Cao's better half.
I'll escort Her Highness to settle into her quarters.
- Pi. - Present.
Escort the emperor to take a look in the study.
Yes, Mother.
My father loves books.
Even when he is fighting battles, he still can't put books down.
I heard that in Your Majesty is also fond of reading in your quarters.
Therefore, I boldly decided to leave my father's books in here.
I wonder if this is to Your Majesty's liking.
It's very good.
I also like to collect books in my quarters.
However, I had to wander from place to place several times
so many of them were lost.
Father often said that when the world was finally peaceful
he'd surely recruit men of talent to mend the classics.
Essays are the fundamental and best references in governance for eternity.
Did Minister Cao say so?
That was what I wrote in my essay.
Your Majesty must find it ridiculous.
"The hooves of the Qilin beast."
"Just like that good young man of great benevolence."
You have such great views at a young age.
You do live up to Minister Cao's mentoring.
Thank you for your compliment, Your Majesty.
What are Your Majesty's favorite books?
If we don't have them here, I'll get them for you.
Yang Ping!
You're slacking off from training in sword-fighting again.
If you lose next time, you won't get any food.
I don't want to learn to kill!
I want to save lives.
You do too poorly in martial arts, so you're studying medicine as a backup?
But that's useless.
In such turbulent times
once the horses storm past the battlefield, only blood is spilled.
Can you save them?
For instance, if a hunter is accurate in his aim
you won't be able to save the prey even if you know medicine.
You might as well learn how to transgress souls from foreign monks.
Hey!
This might be able to help you save lives.
What is this?
"The Sage and the Way of the Ruler."
It's based on benevolence and virtue.
Yes! This is what I wish to study!
Only a fool like you would believe in it.
The way of the ruler is just a means to deceive the people.
Unless you're the emperor.
But the one who doesn't believe in the sages and the way of the ruler
is actually the emperor.
When I was a child, my older brother once said to me...
this book can save lives.
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