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[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 9]
You surrendered to Cao Cao and then rebelled against him.
Now, you've surrendered to Cao Cao again.
You're fickle-minded like a rat looking both ways.
Why exactly would you do so?
You've been assisting all of these treacherous rebels.
All of them were defeated and killed one by one.
Only you...
are left standing.
You stirred up chaos in the world time after time
and then restored chaos to order.
Why exactly did you do so?
I... did so for Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I... thank Your Majesty.
Is that man Zhang Xiu, the one who killed Ang?
Even the emperor hates him so much.
Your Majesty.
Since the rebellion's been pacified, the rebels should be executed soon
and publicized to all officials so as to appease the people.
As for the merits and rewards, they can be discussed later.
I'm also listed among Dong Cheng's three tiers of clan members.
How does Minister Cao intend to deal with me?
I wouldn't dare consider it.
Your Majesty.
It's best to bury Honored Lady Dong to rest in peace first.
- Prefect Xun. - Present.
Dong Cheng may have committed treason
but Honored Lady Dong never made a mistake
in serving His Majesty all these years.
Please bury her according to the rites of a consort.
Yes... Your Highness.
Set up her funeral hall here in the Ministry of Works!
I'll pay my respects to her personally.
Your Majesty!
It's against the rites to set up a funeral hall for consorts
in the Ministry of Works.
Since the Ministry of Works can serve as my palace
why can't my consort's funeral hall be set up in here as well?
Or should I say that all rites and regulations are decided...
by Prefect Xun to do as you please?
I did not mean to imply that!
Prefect Xun, please obey His Majesty's decree
and have Consort Dong's coffin brought to the funeral hall.
I'll cleanse and dress her up myself.
Yes... Your Highness.
His Majesty isn't fully recovered.
As for appeasing those in the city, I'll leave Prefect Xun in charge.
Yes.
You may all rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness.
Generals.
You deserve credit for rescuing the emperor.
The imperial court and Minister Cao won't let your efforts go to waste.
Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
The ritual of the Green Emperor is in two days.
Minister Steward Kong made great efforts this year to reinstate rites.
According to the rites
Your Majesty has to lead the officials to light incense tomorrow in preparation.
Hasn't the Ministry of Works already prepared for it?
When have I ever been able to make any decisions for rites...
or anything in this world?
I remember that you had an older brother, Cao Ang.
He died in Wan City a few years ago.
Your Majesty.
Indeed.
When I was 10 years old, my brother was unfortunately killed.
If you see your enemy... what will you do to him?
When my brother died, I was also in the army.
If I hadn't escaped on a horse amidst the chaos
I might have died with my brother then.
I never once dared to forget that sight. Not even for a day.
I can't wait to skin and debone my enemy, devour his flesh, and sleep in his skin.
Look!
The enemy who killed your brother is right there in the imperial court.
He even rendered a great merit for the Cao family.
Your Majesty.
I witnessed it all.
This is the misfortune of the Han Empire.
It's also my family's misfortune.
I've failed you.
I've also let my brother down.
I couldn't protect his subjects...
Even his only offspring...
I've failed to protect him.
None of us expected Zhang Xiu...
to actually surrender to Cao Cao.
Elder Statesman Dong fought valiantly.
However, I didn't even manage to assist him in any way.
All I did was wait here.
I waited while they sacrificed themselves for nothing.
I waited while Consort Dong...
died wrongfully.
We won't forget to avenge Sister Dong's death.
She will watch over the imperial family of Han
as we restore it to glory once again.
Consort Dong and my brother's only child died prematurely
because of my incompetence.
Will they only hate me all the more as they watch us from Heaven?
This isn't your fault.
The imperial family of Han is too weak.
We can't take them head on.
Your Majesty... please leave the room first.
I have to change Sister Dong's attire and have her groomed.
But...
But this is my fault.
If I had dared to head out last night
if I dared to head out there to protect them...
it might not have ended up as such.
As for my brother...
I've sinned against him.
Consort Dong's death was an accident.
That doesn't matter anymore.
What matters is... Why does it have to be Zhang Xiu?
I also didn't expect Man Chong to have that trick up his sleeve.
He'd actually make up with Cao Cao's arch enemy.
Now that they have Zhang Xiu's cavalry of Western Liang
Cao Cao has become even more powerful.
Don't worry.
I'll find a way.
It's just that we'll have to be even more cautious from now on.
Your Highness.
The pressing matter at hand now is to calm His Majesty down.
In the imperial court today
His Majesty's words and actions drew attention from all.
Jia Xu...
After all, he is one who met and knew the emperor.
Young Master Yang, you must have heard of the saying
"The rage of an emperor will bring forth lands drenched in blood."
Wen He (courtesy name), why would you enrage His Majesty?
Don't worry, Marquis.
Either His Majesty or Duke Cao would be displeased.
What should we do now?
I'll pay a visit to some old friends in Chang'an.
From now on, your future is in their hands.
Wen He, I'll have to trouble you, then.
It's been five years.
I've met His Majesty again.
Prefect Xun.
What happened with Consort Dong?
She was an imperial consort.
She was even carrying His Majesty's child.
Even if Dong Cheng was guilty
the punishment shouldn't have been extended to her.
Dong Cheng's accomplice, Wang Fu, attempted to escape
by holding the consort hostage.
Our soldiers went in pursuit and killed him.
Sadly...
Her Ladyship suffered badly from the fright and bled out too much.
Nothing could have saved her.
What about the others?
Chong Ji, Wu Shuo, and Wang Fu were all executed.
Their corpses serve as evidence.
Dong Cheng was imprisoned.
The rest were either arrested or killed.
No one escaped.
The capital is now safe and sound.
30,000 men of Western Liang's cavalry are now stationed
inside and outside of the capital.
How is this safe and sound?
Prefect Xun, rest assured.
Before Zhang Xiu surrendered, he signed a military order.
After the unrest is pacified
his cavalry will retreat from the capital.
They won't ever harass our officials and people.
To have had the Northern King of Spear, Zhang Xiu, surrender
Lord Man must have quite amazing skills.
I'm too flattered.
But only Libationer Guo is capable of making Zhang Xiu pledge allegiance to us.
The only person who can accept Zhang Xiu's pledge of allegiance
on behalf of Duke Cao is also Libationer Guo.
Libationer Guo and Jia Xu pulled the strings.
Guo Jia?
I knew it had to be Feng Xiao! (Guo Jia's courtesy name)
What about Yang Xiu?
Has he long surrendered to Libationer Guo as well?
Libationer Guo long predicted that the capital would descend into chaos.
Hence, he arranged for Zhang Xiu to serve as reinforcement.
Yang Xiu switched sides at short notice.
He informed me of the exact time of their actions
so I could prepare in advance.
Therefore, we managed to reduce the casualties.
When Duke Cao left for war
he ordered me to defend the capital.
The capital was in serious trouble.
Yet I've only just found out about what you all did!
Forgive me, Prefect Xun.
Due to the feud between Duke Cao and Zhang Xiu
I dared not mention it until the very end due to his sensitive identity.
You handled it very well.
It was nice and clean.
Libationer Guo is away in Guandu, but he's kept the capital on his mind.
I heard that His Majesty flew into a rage in the imperial court today.
The emperor bestowed his imperial saliva to the veteran official.
I wonder how this unprecedented incident will be recorded in history.
Judging by His Majesty's temperament
it's rare for him to forget his manners.
Your Majesty...
you haven't eaten anything all day and night.
These... were all delivered from the commandant's office.
The reports on Dong Cheng's rebellion.
They managed to come up with such a huge pile overnight.
No details were left out.
They must have already had this all planned.
Cao Cao is too cunning.
Dong Cheng...
Right from the beginning, he had no chance of winning.
Isn't there the regulation
that you can't come here unless I summon you for the night?
Today... it doesn't matter.
I just wanted to see Your Majesty.
What is it?
Do you not wish to see me?
It isn't so.
I'm afraid to see any of you.
Ever since I came here, all of you have kept me protected.
Not only does Cao Cao not regard me as the emperor
but the rest of you don't either, do you?
I'm just a helpless child who knows nothing at all.
In order to conceal my identity...
so many have already died.
Last night, if it had been my brother...
surely you'd have charged out of here with him.
I've let him down.
I couldn't even protect his own offspring.
No.
Even if it were the late emperor, he wouldn't have gone out.
Your Majesty.
I've witnessed too many sacrifices and separations.
General Dong's defeat and Sister Dong's death...
You're not to be blamed for any of those.
In such turbulent times, we're all as fragile as eggshells.
Only by keeping ourselves safe can we plan for the future.
Upon the imperial court, there are a great many officials.
They chant in respect of the emperor and kowtow in etiquette.
But which of them truly supports me as a true emperor?
Cao Cao...
He has Xun Yu and Guo Jia.
Now, he even has Zhang Xiu's cavalry of Western Liang and Jia Xu.
Yet I am all alone.
How would you have me... plan for the future?
I really can't bear to see more people sacrifice for me
as I stand on the side watching helplessly.
We are too weak.
Too weak.
I used to have this misconception.
I thought I had this force at my side to depend on.
Now I realize that I was wrong.
I'm actually all alone.
Your Majesty...
You don't have to be so worried.
Sister Tang...
and Yang Xiu...
They are both Your Majesty's loyal subjects.
They will both protect you with their lives.
Yang Xiu?
Yang Xiu totally belittles me.
Everyone is but a chip on the gambling table.
Princess Consort Tang and I are nothing more than his puppets.
My brother left the nation to me.
Yet I can't have it within my control.
I really hate myself so much.
I hate how timid and weak I am.
Your Majesty, you still have me.
I'm your empress.
I'm also your wife.
Whatever hardships and obstacles might come our way in the future
I'll always stay by your side.
In this world...
we are each other's kin.
This isn't right...
It shouldn't be so.
This isn't how it should be.
You only came to console me to trick me into this, didn't you?
It isn't what Your Majesty assumed.
What is it, then?
Here in the capital, only you, Tang Ying, Yang Xiu, Yang Biao, and my father
knew of my true identity.
You're also the only ones who didn't take part in Dong Cheng's plan.
Is this a coincidence?
It's no wonder that you wouldn't let me take part in Dong Cheng's plan.
The lot of you were never on Dong Cheng's side in the first place.
We certainly can't allow Dong Cheng to know of such a confidential matter.
In the beginning...
I thought that although the forces opposing Cao Cao were weak
we shared a strong solidarity!
But I was wrong.
I thought that you'd manipulated me into encouraging Dong Cheng to rebel
in hopes that he would truly succeed.
But I was wrong again.
Is this the surging undercurrent that you once spoke of?
To plot against your own comrades and vie for authority?
Is this what you think of me?
Enough explaining!
You always have a reason for lying to me and keeping me in the dark.
I don't know if what you said is true or false anymore!
I need to think this over.
I have to think it through.
Sir, that was how Wang Fu died.
Wang Fu had soft armor on.
An ordinary person might not have been able to stab him, even with great force.
And she was just holding the sword.
Wang Fu killed himself!
Tang Ying is skilled in martial arts.
She might be that female assassin who barged into my office that night!
The princess consort?
She's an assassin?
These are turbulent times.
If commoners can become bandits
why can't a princess consort be an assassin?
Wang Fu deliberately killed himself.
Was it to protect her?
That means Tang Ying must have also taken part in it.
It's by no means a trivial matter
that the princess consort took part in the rebellion.
She's a princess consort, unlike Zhang Yu.
We'll need more evidence.
I'm willing to testify against Tang Ying.
Why isn't His Majesty here yet?
Minister Steward Kong, fret not.
I'll take a look.
Prefect Xun.
His Majesty has yet to wake up.
Please do allow me to inform him.
He's still in bed?
Yes.
Please inform His Majesty that all of the officials are waiting
to meet him for the morning session.
Yes.
We need His Majesty to appease the people after the unrest.
Let me leave.
I have to see Zhong Da.
This is a critical period.
You mustn't go to him.
Your Majesty, Prefect Xun is here to invite you to the morning session.
I have to see Zhong Da now.
If you try to hold me back again
I won't be... the emperor anymore.
Prefect Xun.
Announce to the officials.
His Majesty is unwell.
He will be absent from the imperial court today.
His Majesty is unwell today.
He is to be absent from the imperial court for a day.
All reports are to be submitted to the Imperial Secretariat.
Imperial court is dismissed!
It's no wonder that His Majesty is so angry.
This is a serious matter.
Even Zhang Xiu came to the capital.
I was waiting for His Majesty to condemn you of your crimes!
Since His Majesty isn't here, I'll do it!
Who gave you the authority to let the soldiers of Western Liang enter the city
without discussing with the officials
and getting the permission of His Majesty?
Zhang Xiu surrendered and betrayed us time after time.
Your motive is questionable for placing a dangerous man
like Zhang Xiu by His Majesty's side!
Minister Steward Kong.
This is just a contingency plan to pacify the rebellion.
The rebellion?
Dong Cheng seemed to be more of a loyal subject than Zhang Xiu!
Minister Steward, mind your words.
Zhao Yan!
We'll head back to write up our reports.
Even if His Majesty might not get to read them, we must still write them!
[Ministry of Works]
Set out.
Stop!
Who is heading out?
The empress is visiting the princess consort.
How is this regulated by the commandant's office?
A rebellion just died down.
All households of the palace must be closely guarded.
Treacherous people must not get near the empress either.
General Zhang.
Starting today, you'll be in charge of the palace guards.
According to the regulations
you must examine every person who enters the premises of the palace.
Yes.
- Inspect carefully. - Yes.
What did you say?
There aren't enough palace guards.
General Zhang will be guarding the palace with the soldiers of Western Liang.
Don't you know what they are like?
How would you dare allow them anywhere near His Majesty?
Have you forgotten about the Battle of Wan City?
Do you have any respect for Lady Bian and Second Young Master?
You--
It will just be 10 men.
Are you afraid of them?
This is an order from Libationer Guo.
I'm only acting upon his orders.
General Zhang.
You should just carry out his orders.
Your Highness, forgive my manners.
General Zhang, you had better inspect very carefully
if I'm smuggling any treacherous people out of here.
Your Highness, forgive me.
I'm only carrying out the orders.
May I leave now?
Yes.
Your Highness, please set out.
Hold on!
This young eunuch just joined us.
He's inexperienced.
Lord Man, please don't mind him.
Set out!
Young Master Yang, please stay.
Lord Man.
You kept stalling the empress's carriage.
Do you really have no regard for the emperor?
I wouldn't dare do so.
I'd just like to invite you over for a chat in my office.
There's still much that I'd like to learn about last night's rebellion.
Guard the entrance.
General once stormed the battlefields, but now you're guarding Cao Cao's door.
[Hu Che Er]
Don't say such nonsense.
We're now serving under Duke Cao.
Don't you know you should be cautious?
You should never have listened to Mister Jia in the first place!
[Prince of Hongnong Shrine]
Pull over.
Your Highness.
The shrine is a place of tranquility.
Don't come close and cause a commotion.
Yes.
You.
Escort me into the shrine.
He's still asleep.
Sima Yi, you were right.
They have come.
Get up.
Zhong Da.
I know that you're not asleep.
It's just that you now hate me.
You blame me for deceiving you.
I didn't have a choice either.
I've actually missed you a lot.
I miss those days in Henei when we hunted and studied together.
Not one day goes by where I don't miss all of you.
I'm at fault for leaving without bidding you farewell.
If you're still mad at me, you can beat me up like you used to.
How impudent!
How dare you behave so atrociously before His Majesty?
- Stop it! - Sima Yi!
Your Majesty is finally willing to grace this shrine to meet me.
How honored I am.
We're greatly honored by your presence.
Zhong Da, I know that I've done wrong.
Stop being mad at me.
Can't we be like how we once were?
You've done wrong?
What did you do wrong?
I shouldn't have left without leaving you a word.
I worried you.
I also shouldn't have kept it from you when I arrived in the capital.
I didn't even write you a letter.
I really am in the wrong.
Won't you forgive me?
You were indeed in the wrong.
And you're terribly wrong!
Since you left Wen County, you started making mistakes.
But your greatest mistake wasn't that you kept me in the dark.
It was being toyed and manipulated by some women and scoundrels.
Sima Yi's godbrother has been manipulated like a puppet.
You really made me look bad.
Zhong Da...
You don't have to look at her.
She didn't reveal a word to me.
This entire matter is very obvious.
Dong Cheng rose in rebellion.
He wouldn't have taken action without His Majesty's orders.
Only the two of you, Yang Xiu, Yang Biao, and Uncle Yang
are completely unharmed.
Zhang Xiu's cavalry entered the capital at a precise time.
This insurgency must have leaked out quite some time ago.
Who could have betrayed Dong Cheng?
Grand Commandant Yang is too old.
The empress is of a prestigious identity.
I believe that such petty and laborious errands are handed to Yang Xiu.
Last night, did Your Majesty already assume that this was so?
In order to protect the imperial family of Han, this plan must be carried out.
I had intended to tell you later.
Forget it.
Man Chong already had his eyes on you after the palace fire.
Therefore, you manipulated Yi He into deceiving Dong Cheng.
You made that foolish Dong Cheng charge right at the enemies.
Once Dong Cheng was dead, Cao Cao's attention would be diverted.
Man Chong would assume that there was nothing more to your plot.
The rebellion would be pacified
and all of the imperial family's forces would be wiped out.
Man Chong would then stop investigating all of you.
You'd also get to plant Yang Xiu in Cao Cao's den.
This might be a quite despicable plan
but it is indeed a great one that kills two birds with one stone.
That's enough.
I am nothing more than a puppet.
I was toyed with, foolishly.
I can't be such an emperor nor do I wish to be so.
Zhong Da.
Take me away with you.
We'll return to Henei.
You're the emperor.
You can't leave!
Your Majesty...
Are you really going to leave?
Yes.
Ever since I figured out your schemes
I've made up my mind to leave.
Three loyal subjects and hundreds of faithful warriors
were all wiped out overnight.
I sent them to their doom.
You also sent them to their doom!
There's also my brother's child.
You didn't even care about my brother's offspring.
I thought that you were strong-willed.
I was wrong.
You're not strong-willed, but cold-blooded!
Now that I think of the days and nights I spent with you
I can't help but shudder.
Not a day longer do I wish to stay in such a palace.
You're wrong.
All of this was planned by the late emperor.
From the moment he handed his belt to Dong Cheng
the plan was already initiated.
We could only take a step back in order to advance
and turn the situation around.
The dragon lying low in the abyss is bound to soar into Heaven.
The late emperor already planned everything he could think of.
We're just carrying out his final edict!
That brother of yours was surely remarkable.
The posthumous edict.
It's the posthumous edict again.
I must be just like them.
I'm just like Dong Cheng.
Aren't I just a pawn that can be easily forsaken?
You're not like them.
You're the emperor--
I'm not the emperor!
I'm just an actor you brought in to play the role of an emperor.
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