Subtitles by DramaFever
[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 2]
You've come too late.
Early this morning
His Majesty passed away.
When I left yesterday, His Majesty was still fine.
Last night, His Majesty suddenly came down with a fever.
It wasn't until early this morning...
that His Majesty died in his sleep.
Perhaps... he wasn't in much pain when he passed away.
No one knew of it?
I've stayed by His Majesty's bed all day.
I made an imperial decree in his name.
All visitations have been declined.
If you didn't show up tonight
I truly don't know how long I could've held them off.
You've told me that His Majesty is my only kin.
But when I finally got to see him, he had already passed away.
His Majesty... didn't pass away.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
It turns out that
you were all so anxious to bring me into the palace...
just because of this?
Exactly.
In order to save the fragile lineage of Han dynasty's imperial family
the emperor must not die.
His Majesty summoned you urgently to the capital
so that you could take his place to uphold the imperial family.
Be the emperor in his stead.
Take His Majesty's place?
Great Commander Yang didn't lie to you.
Summoning you to the capital was a part of His Majesty's plan.
His Majesty knew that he'd never recover.
He had written a posthumous edict.
Liu Ping.
Receive the edict.
"I, without virtue"
"pass down my throne to my younger brother, Liu Ping."
"Without fail, restore virtue and glory for generations"
"to the imperial family of Han."
Liu Ping, receive the edict!
Why would it turn out to be so?
Why does it have to be done in such a way?
Did His Majesty know me well?
Did he know if I was kind or evil?
Did he really hand over the entire Han empire
and thousands of his people to me?
If the treacherous Cao Cao finds out that His Majesty has passed away
he is sure to assist a weak and incompetent puppet to the throne.
Then the imperial family will suffer and the sovereignty will disappear.
Only the prestige of an emperor can stand up against him.
Therefore, the emperor must not die!
As for you...
since you've asked such questions
doesn't that prove His Majesty's decision is right after all?
Liu Ping.
Receive the edict.
- Greetings, Your Majesty. - Greetings, Your Majesty.
- Long live the emperor. - Long live the emperor.
This should do.
Although you now resemble his appearance
it still won't be easy to fool the officials and Cao Cao.
Your Majesty, you should pretend to be ill for now.
Leave the officials to me.
You've guarded my brother alone all day and night.
You even took such a risk.
Was it just so that my brother's last wish could be fulfilled?
There's much more to His Majesty's last wish.
It can't be easy to substitute one man for another.
For instance, I came in here as a young eunuch.
My brother's corpse is still here as well.
That is one loophole after another.
We have a young eunuch here.
His Majesty already planned for that.
I'll castrate His Majesty.
You should all step out now.
But he was the emperor.
He was my brother and your husband. You--
His Majesty would do anything for the imperial family!
Step out.
There's no time to lose.
We still have much to do.
Your Majesty...
I've already brought him into the palace as you instructed.
May Your Majesty watch over us
and help the imperial family of Han overcome the obstacles.
Who's secretly grilling pastries?
They're burnt!
You're right.
Fire! Fire!
What happened?
Fire!
What's wrong?
His Majesty!
Her Highness!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! Your Highness!
Your Majesty!
- Go over there quickly! - Yes!
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Drape this on.
Come.
Your Majesty!
Your Highness! Where are you?
His Majesty is here!
Come and save him quickly!
Your Majesty!
[Leng Shou Guang]
Leave quickly.
Help!
Your Majesty.
Have a seat.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! I am at fault!
Your Majesty must been terrified!
Your Majesty...
What should we do?
What are we to do?
Fire! Fire!
Quickly! Fetch some water!
- Hurry up! - Who is on duty?
Prefect Xun.
Where is His Majesty?
His Majesty is still in there.
Eunuch Zhang refused to open the door
[Chong Ji] without the Grand Marshal's orders.
[Xun Yu, courtesy name Wen Ruo] Absurd! Have them open it up!
Yes! Come!
Prefect of the Masters of Writing Xun Yu seeks audience!
Is it Prefect Xun?
Eunuch Zhang!
Open up the door to get the fire put out!
The palace is about to be burned down!
Open the door quickly!
Prefect Xun, it's good that it's you.
Take me to His Majesty quickly.
Prefect Xun, this way, please.
Your Majesty, Prefect Xun is here to save you!
Your subject, Xun Yu, has come late to your rescue.
I'm terribly sorry.
Prefect Xun, please do rise.
Is it safe out there?
Your Highness, Chong Ji has come to your rescue.
Now that the north wind is strong, the fire is spreading very quickly.
It's best not to remain in the palace.
I beseech His Majesty to seek refuge from the fire in the Imperial Secretariat.
I approve.
Eunuch Zhang!
There's no water left in the copper urns.
We might not be able to put out the fire!
Scoundrel!
It's a regulation in the palace to fill copper urns with water
in case of fire.
Why isn't there any?
Fetch some water to put out the fire!
Yes! Yes!
This...
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I'm terribly sorry for coming to your rescue so late.
Your Majesty, the fire is raging.
You should leave quickly.
Escort His Majesty and the empress to the Imperial Secretariat immediately.
Yes.
Your Majesty, shall we?
Yes.
Lord Man!
Rescue Man Chong right away!
- Yes! - Hold on.
Lord Man always acts with reason.
Lock down the palace!
Yes!
Is General Cao Ren here yet?
Please halt.
Lord Man, are you going to lock His Majesty in here as well?
Your Highness, forgive me.
It's unclear how the the fire started.
I have to prevent anyone from endangering His Majesty by luring him away.
Please wait until General Cao Ren arrives to escort His Majesty out of the palace.
The fire started because I accidentally knocked over a brewing pot.
Lord Man, do you mean to suspect me?
Lord Man, I'll escort His Majesty to the Imperial Secretariat.
Report!
General of the Household Cao Ren has come to His Majesty's rescue!
General Cao is here.
Your Majesty, please go ahead.
Your Majesty.
[Cao Ren, courtesy name Zi Xiao] Your subject, Cao Ren
has come to Your Majesty's rescue.
General Cao Ren.
How quickly you have come.
How would I dare come late when the emperor is in danger?
General Cao, the emperor has had a fright so it's best not to brandish weapons.
General, please.
Step aside!
Set out!
Officers!
Open up the city gates!
I need to enter the city on urgent business!
Martial law is in order!
The gates can only be opened at dawn!
There are bandits outside the city and there's fire within the city.
What exactly is going on?
Officer! It's cold out here.
Get some wine to warm yourself up.
It's freezing out here, so I'm just trying to seek refuge from the cold.
Come in and warm yourself up by the fire!
Just this once.
Thank you, Officer.
What's caught on fire today?
The palace.
We'll have so much to do tonight.
Thank you, Officer.
Thank you.
Come in.
What is going on?
[Imperial Secretariat] It's such a huge fire.
These are my residential quarters in the Imperial Secretariat.
It's my fault that Your Majesty has to put up with such a humble dwelling.
It's a state of emergency.
Flames of fire know no mercy.
Prefect Xun has already done very well.
May I be so bold as to ask Your Highness how the fire actually started?
Sister Tang brought over some soothing herbs.
When I was lighting them up, I knocked over the brewing pot.
I owe it to Sister Tang's young eunuch for risking his life to save mine.
That was how we managed to escape from the fire.
Sadly, that young eunuch...
Prefect Xun, please take charge of this matter and have him buried soon.
Please be generous with the compensation.
Yes, Your Highness.
Invite Imperial Physician Zhao in!
I've summoned Imperial Physician Zhao to see to His Majesty.
Greetings, Your Majesty and Your Highness.
There's no need to do so.
Your Majesty has been unwell for days.
Tonight, you were frightened and kept out in the wind.
It's best to have the imperial physician take your pulse.
Prefect Xun.
Will you also cause His Majesty much distress?
I...
I wouldn't dare.
A few days ago, the medication His Majesty took worked very well.
Just concoct the same one.
Now that the war is in a critical situation
won't it have an impact on Duke Cao's army
if news of my health condition is made known to others?
I wonder who will gloat over it and who will be worried?
I understand.
Your Majesty, please take care of your health.
If there's no other matter, you are all dismissed now.
The empress will look after me.
Prefect Xun must be tired as well.
We'll let His Majesty get some rest soon.
If so...
we'll take our leave now.
As for food and medications, I'll have the eunuchs bring them over.
Prefect Xun.
How is His Majesty?
His Majesty has retired for the night in the Imperial Secretariat.
Minister Steward Kong, you needn't worry.
[Zhao Yan]
I need not be worried?
The Ministry of Works had the security measures of the capital wrecked!
Even the palace isn't secure!
[Kong Rong, courtesy name Wen Ju] Prefect Xun tells me not to worry?
Don't forget.
When the ruler worries, his subjects feel insulted.
When the ruler is put to shame, his subjects die!
His Majesty is well.
This is already a blessing.
Once His Majesty is fully recovered
he'll attend morning sessions and summon you over.
Court Adviser Zhao.
Walk your mentor home.
Prefect Xun, please do take care.
The monarch is isolated from his subjects and the political system is chaotic!
I'm heading home to write up a formal report!
It's good that His Majesty is fine.
- We can ease our minds now. - Exactly.
His Majesty has retired for the night. Gentlemen, you've had a hard day.
You should head home to get some rest soon.
The comet assailed the Emperor Star.
His Majesty is unwell.
The palace caught fire.
What a night this is.
This is a man-made disaster.
There's no point in asking the gods about it.
How is the fire in the palace?
It should have rained sooner.
We could only watch the palace quarters burn to ashes.
What is your opinion on this fire?
I don't believe a word of explanation from the palace.
I'm all ears.
First of all, no guard is on duty tonight.
That was pre-arranged.
I've inquired about it.
The empress had Chong Ji's subordinates relocated this morning.
Her Highness said that
many of Chong Ji's new recruits have no manners.
His Majesty is ill and prefers tranquility.
That was why she sent them out of the palace quarters.
Secondly, that young eunuch wasn't burnt to death.
In a raging fire, one will surely gasp for air in the fumes.
The victim should die with his mouth wide open.
Besides, his limbs were spread out.
Anyone burned alive in a fire would have their limbs curled up.
This man would have been dead before the fire broke out.
They brought a young eunuch into the palace to kill him.
Then they set a huge fire to burn the palace quarters down with him?
Why would they do so?
I have yet to figure that out.
Whatever it is they are trying to hide
I'll be sure to get to the bottom of it.
Lord Man...
Duke Cao has waged war upon Yuan Shao
and the Battle of Guandu is near at hand.
His Majesty matters greatly to Duke Cao.
Lord Man, you must put the general interest above all else.
You can tell the start of a wind from the movement of the clover ferns.
His Majesty chose to take action at such a time.
Perhaps it has to do with the Battle of Guandu.
We should be all the more prudent and secure the rearguard for Duke Cao.
Duke Cao left the capital in our charge
so the two of us will have to take responsibility for certain matters.
Only the two of us can remain tenacious to this task.
Whatever His Majesty might be keeping to himself
or however estranged he might be from Duke Cao
we should know the etiquette and duties as subjects.
It's inappropriate for Lord Man to push His Majesty too hard.
I understand.
However, Prefect Xun, you've always known that
His Majesty isn't that weak at all.
What is the matter?
What if I'd turned out to be chubby?
What?
I've been wondering how you pulled through this entire day and night.
You've been expecting me all this time
but what if I'd turned out to be very chubby?
I think that you should all be grateful to Zhong Da instead.
When I was 15 years old
I was up in the mountains gathering medicinal herbs.
I almost fell off a cliff.
If Zhong Da hadn't saved me, I reckon I'd be a cripple now.
Wouldn't your plans have then gone up in flames?
Who is Zhong Da?
Zhong Da is my godbrother from the Sima family, Sima Yi.
May I write him a letter to say that I'm actually alive and well?
No!
Do you think this is just a game?
Every step we're taking is as good as treading on blades.
Are you going to expose our plans and seek your own doom?
I'm sorry.
I'm too impatient.
His Majesty made his plans precisely and closely aligned.
Therefore, we managed to get through tonight with some luck.
However, once you let your guard down, we're only a step away from defeat.
So as to prevent the imperial physicians from getting in close contact with you
you can't act too ill.
Once you're well, you'll have to attend imperial court and meet with officials.
You'll have to meet Cao Cao as well.
One wrong step and it's all beyond redemption.
Do you understand this at all?
I'm sorry.
Man Chong still has my brother's corpse.
What should we do now?
I'll take care of that.
Who exactly is Man Chong?
He's a viper.
What did you find?
Sir, the victim is around 16 to 20 years old.
He hasn't been dead for more than two days.
His organs are still fresh.
I already knew that.
Find out what I don't know yet.
I'll do my best.
County Magistrate of the capital, Man Chong?
Xu Chu, Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun...
So many great strategists and warriors serve under Cao Cao.
All of them are well known.
But I didn't expect a mere county magistrate to be so capable.
Are you frightened?
Frightened?
I'm feeling dizzy now.
How could I even find the time to be frightened?
But you're all quite remarkable.
You have so many secret informants.
That palace guard, Chong Ji, is also one of your informants, isn't he?
If even you have noticed that
don't you think Man Chong has already figured it out?
Then...
There are many intertwining political factors in the capital.
Not everything is black and white.
You'll gradually understand as time goes by.
All you have to do now is act prudently.
And even more prudently.
Yes.
I've now realized how remarkable my brother was.
The late emperor never stopped thinking about
how to save the fallen imperial family.
Throughout his 18 years of life
each of those days was far worse than what I endured yesterday.
Therefore...
he never smiled.
You said that my brother never smiled?
But you did today.
Bear this in mind.
You must never smile at any of the officials.
There's one other matter.
You just addressed Minister Cao as Cao Cao.
That was wrong.
You should address him as Minister Cao.
Yes.
Don't worry.
I'll make you become His Majesty.
You're right.
I have to become like my brother soon.
I'll have to face those officials in the imperial court tomorrow morning.
What was my brother like when facing those officials?
There's also the etiquette in the palace.
I must learn it as soon as possible.
I... I only have one night to study all that.
There simply isn't enough time.
Have you heard? The palace caught fire.
Really?
I haven't heard about it.
I got along so well with the two of you at first sight
and imposed on you last night.
It's time I take my leave now.
Come visit again, brother.
We'll be on night shift again the day after tomorrow.
When you have time, we'll drink together again.
Thank you, brothers.
I'll take my leave.
Which restaurant has the best food?
Sir, spare me some change? Look. I'm starving to death.
What would I know about any good restaurants?
Once you've starved for three days, you'll know which restaurant is good.
Watch that foul mouth of yours!
Who would beg like you did?
Young Master, please be so kind.
Young Master, I wish you wealth and prosperity!
Sir, please spare me some change.
Spare me some change.
Thank you, sir!
Thank you, Young Master!
- Thank you, sir! - Thank you, Young Master!
I know.
On Copper Camel Street
Zhang's Maize Store has the best food.
Tell me. Which officials entered and left the city yesterday?
I'm keeping an eye out for Zhang's Maize Store
here at the city gates.
I need food as well.
Can you tell me now?
Yesterday...
it was quite busy inside and outside the city.
First, there were the bandits, and then there was a fire.
A great many people came in and out.
There were officials.
Keep going.
It's seldom that I get to meet Young Master.
Wouldn't I be a fool not to charge you more?
Why would my family hire someone like you?
Fine!
Speak up.
First, there was Grand Commandant Yang's carriage.
Then Grand Commandant Yang's son entered the city after he did.
Afterwards, it was...
It was...
Commandant of Xu and Man Chong left the city to round up the bandits.
In the middle of the night, they dragged back a bloody man.
After that, there was a fire in the city.
Once the city gates were sealed, no one could enter or leave.
After Grand Commandant Yang's carriage entered the city
where did it head to?
As for that...
I don't know about that.
We have our own respective area.
I'm only in charge of--
Don't! Don't do this.
Young Master, please spare me.
Spare me, Young Master.
It isn't that I refuse to tell you.
It's just that... that place...
It's haunted.
Young Master, have some mercy.
[Imperial Secretariat]
Did Prefect Xun also stay up all night?
I didn't dare to sleep.
What about you, Lord Man?
There isn't enough time for me to sleep.
What have you found out?
That burnt corpse isn't that of a eunuch.
I examined his loins.
He was too thoroughly castrated.
A real eunuch is only removed of his penis.
Therefore, that man couldn't have been a eunuch.
He was only castrated after he died.
He must be someone we all knew very well.
That was why His Majesty set fire to destroy his corpse at all costs.
When Princess Consort Tang brought him into the palace
I saw him.
It's a pity that I didn't take a good look at his face then.
Someone we all knew very well...
They went to great lengths to bring him into the palace
just to kill him and destroy his body?
How are you, Elder Statesman?
[Fu Wan]
How are you, Prefect Xun?
I wonder if His Majesty is well.
May I visit His Majesty?
Although the fire had given His Majesty a fright and he inhaled some fumes
he seemed to be in good spirits.
Elder Statesman, you're His Majesty's father-in-law.
His Majesty will surely see you.
Good.
[Consort Dong]
Is this how you look after His Majesty?
Your Ladyship, you're with child.
Why would you wear yourself out traveling?
[Dong Cheng] With the skin gone
what can the hair adhere to?
His Majesty's safety matters much more than my daughter.
As his subjects
how can we spoil the ship for a half pennyworth of tar?
One is the Prefect of the Masters of Writing
and the other a county magistrate of Xu.
How could the palace catch fire under your surveillance?
The emperor even had to seek refuge here.
Speak up! Is someone out to harm His Majesty?
Your Ladyship, you're right to reprimand us.
Your Ladyship, you're overly concerned.
The empress has decreed to ease the minds of the officials.
She stated that a brewing pot started the fire by accident.
The empress?
Is that how your daughter looks after His Majesty?
It seems that His Majesty is awake.
Please inform His Majesty that we'd like to seek audience.
His Majesty was ill for a long time
so this outfit hasn't been worn for quite some time.
Just for the sake of this imperial robe
so much blood has been spilled.
So many people have died.
By the way, did you also kill the young eunuch
whom I replaced upon entering the palace?
Sister Tang sent him back to his hometown.
Bear this in mind.
You're now His Majesty.
If you don't perform well, more will have to die along with you.
I remember every word you said to me last night.
Try to talk less by using your health condition as an excuse.
Bear three matters in mind.
First, if I don't voice any objection, tell them that you approve.
Don't ask the officials about any matter.
What about my brother's corpse?
The more important a matter is
the more you have to pretend to show no concern for it.
I understand.
What about the second matter?
You're not to smile.
Thirdly...
You have to say this to Dong Cheng.
"You mustn't let me down with what I have entrusted you to do."
Did you hear me clearly?
I didn't.
Have you memorized it now?
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