Subtitles by DramaFever
[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]
[Episode 22]
You've returned.
Where did they take you? Are you all right?
I'm fine. Everything went well.
It's good that Brother Liu is safe.
- Release them. - Yes.
Thank you, General.
I'm Wei Wen.
Hold on.
What my wife means is that although he's young
he's from the prestigious Wei family.
You had him knocked out.
This is all you're going to do?
We take strong measures first and then act courteous.
I'll send the medical officer to check him out.
I've also prepared some wine and food to calm your nerves.
Escort Madam to get changed.
- Yes. - It's not necessary.
Even though we're in the army, etiquette isn't to be overlooked.
It's all right.
It's not the right etiquette if I meet Duke Yuan in this outfit.
You even brought your wife along to the battlefield.
You're somewhat similar to Duke Yuan.
In war, life and death are determined in an instant.
I definitely have to keep my loved one by my side.
Good! Well said!
Duke Yuan will surely like you when he meets you.
Madam, this way, please.
Thank you, General.
I've prepared some food and wine.
Gentlemen, you can have your meal.
Later, I also have a gift to present to you.
- Thank you. - After you.
Thank you.
Brother Liu, after you.
Hey! Is anyone there?
I'm hungry!
- Is there any breakfast? - Zhong Da!
Zhong Da!
- Zhong Da! - Carefully.
I'll keep you company, Zhong Da!
Zhong Da! You've suffered.
Young Master.
You have yet to recover from your injury.
How can you come to such a dirty place?
It's really quite dirty.
But I can't be bothered.
My father is coming to interrogate you, so I have to protect you.
Otherwise, he'll have you beaten to death.
Thank you, Young Master.
Brother Liu.
Do they really believe us?
It's best to be cautious.
Don't talk unnecessarily.
Yes.
I...
What would you like to ask?
Ask away.
Brother Liu, you know this is a dangerous place.
If you wanted to contact Yuan Shao, you could have just sent an envoy.
Why would you take the risk?
Could you really have intended to surrender to Yuan Shao?
If I had truly wanted to surrender to him
I would have presented my imperial seal and exposed my identity.
Why would I bother with this disguise?
I truly wish to help your father.
Don't you believe me, Young Master?
Of course I do.
Brother Liu, why don't we eat first?
What are those?
These ones?
These are grapes.
You just eat it like this.
These are grapes from the Western Regions?
Although our trade route to the Western Region is cut off
we do plant a small batch here in the Central Plain.
I like them a lot.
Your Majesty, haven't you had any?
Since I took the throne
there was the chaos in Luoyang and then the escape from Chang'an.
During the worst times
I had to watch my officials starve to death in barns
while soldiers robbed the people and even ate them.
If it weren't for your father, I'd have starved to death then.
How could I have tasted such a rare fruit?
Your Majesty has suffered a lot.
In the future, I'll be sure to open up the route to the Western Regions again
and Your Majesty can have as many grapes as you wish then.
Deal?
Deal.
Secret Commissioner.
The gift I've prepared for you is outside.
Please come out.
Is this the gift that you've prepared for us, General?
We've caught a few of Cao Cao's spies.
You came from the capital so you know Cao Cao's army well.
Are there any that you know?
Lift your heads up!
Is this Yang Ping?
Exactly.
Are there any that you recognized?
Yes.
Which one?
This man is the colonel of Cao Cao's Tiger Leopard Cavalry.
He's an enemy of Wei family.
Please lend me your sword.
I hope to avenge my family.
Stop!
So... you're not actually on the same team?
This young comrade of mine acted on an impulse.
He's worried Cao Cao's subordinate might find out that we're here.
He didn't expect that as a colonel of the Tiger Leopard Cavalry
Deng Zhan actually managed to survive after being captured so long ago.
He must have surrendered.
I, Liu Ping, believe that General Chunyu can keep our secret.
Sure!
Let him speak!
Do you recognize them?
Yes.
Who are they?
Secret Commissioner of the imperial family.
The imperial family have been too careless.
He even knows of your identity.
Brother Deng Zhan, you've had a hard time.
Do get up. As for the rest, drag them out to be killed.
Don't worry.
Deng Zhan now serves Duke Yuan.
He'd never reveal your whereabouts.
Thank you... Brother Liu.
It's been one night.
We should be fine now.
I didn't expect Deng Zhan to be alive.
He's even here in Chunyu Qiong's camp.
Moreover...
you actually didn't blame me for stopping Cao Pi from killing him.
Because you were right to do so.
That was obviously a test.
Chunyu Qiong won't let us kill him.
Won't it make us seem guilty if we try to kill him?
What is the matter?
I don't know.
I just think that you seem different.
However... Deng Zhan has seen your true portrait.
He knows who Yang Ping is.
Although you stopped Cao Pi from killing him today
we mustn't allow him to return to Guo Jia.
But I find it weird.
How did he know that we're here as secret commissioners?
Who exactly has he been keeping in contact with?
How did he manage to survive in Yuan Shao's army?
However, I'm certain that since he didn't expose my identity
there's still hope for us.
You shouldn't forget that he serves the Cao family.
He might not rat you out to Chunyu Qiong but he'll surely inform Cao Pi.
I'm sorry.
I thought that by taking you away from the palace
you'd be more carefree.
Who knew that I'd bring you into yet another tiger's den?
Aren't we here to challenge the tiger?
Rong.
What are you doing here instead of recuperating at home?
- Go home now. - I won't.
I'm going to stay and protect Zhong Da!
Stop fooling around!
If Duke Shen doubts me
you can interrogate me before the young master.
He can also get to understand what sort of a person I am.
All right.
Young Master Sima, you've come to Ye City.
What exactly are you after?
You'd better confess quickly to avoid getting hurt.
Duke Shen, I've come here as Duke Yuan summoned the scholars over.
Your son has also seen the command to summon scholars.
I am but a scholar.
I'm weak and powerless.
What could I possibly contrive?
If you were but a scholar
why would Guo Jia's secret agents stalk you all the way here?
Rong said that Cao Cao harmed your brother.
Sima Fang has eight sons.
All of them are alive and well.
Which brother did Cao Cao harm?
Father, you shouldn't say that.
Zhong Da called him a brother but he didn't say it's a biological brother!
The Sima family is huge.
It could be one of his cousins or a kin in the clan.
Or even a sworn godbrother.
Besides, this is what Zhong Da is like.
He'd put his life at risk for friends!
- If not, why would he have saved me? - Shut up!
If Cao Cao harmed your brother, why would he offer you an official post?
Young Master Shen, thank you for speaking up for me.
Duke Shen is so shrewd that I can only be honest with you.
Speak.
I'll be honest with you.
I did serve as an official in the capital.
However, Cao Cao held a grudge against my father for recommending him
to serve as the Commandant of the North District in Luoyang.
Therefore, I was shunned by the others in the capital.
In no time, I gave up the post and returned home.
Even so, Guo Jia's secret agent wouldn't have stalked and monitored you.
How dare you still try to lie your way out of it.
It seems that you won't tell the truth unless you're tortured.
Come!
Father!
Young Master!
Zhong Da is too delicate to take a whipping.
Young Master, please get up.
Duke Shen, please judge sensibly.
My father's family businesses are all up in Hebei.
My godbrother, Yang Ping, was a member of Grand Commandant Yang's clan.
Grand Commandant Yang and Duke Yuan are related through marriage.
Therefore, Man Chong and Guo Jia have always doubted my father.
My godbrother, Yang Ping, was killed.
I believe Guo Jia must be behind it.
Father!
See? I was right!
It really was Cao Cao who had Zhong Da's godbrother killed.
Don't be upset.
When Duke Yuan defeats Cao Cao, I'll avenge your godbrother.
Duke Yuan has summoned all sons of gentry to Ye City.
Guo Jia is taking strict precautions
to stop the Sima family from helping Duke Yuan.
Therefore, he sent out his scout to stalk me all the way here.
If Young Master hadn't helped me
I believe that my life would have been taken by now.
Once the capital is informed of the news
it's hard to say but the entire Sima family might be wiped out.
Therefore...
I was willing to seek the last resort and assist Young Master
in destroying Guo Jia's spies whom he planted in here for years.
This is just so that Duke Yuan could offer me a chance to survive.
However...
Duke Shen doubts me in every way.
Is it just because I didn't write a letter
to pledge my allegiance to Duke Yuan?
Father! Say something!
Zhong Da already made it very clear.
Young Master Sima, it seems that I've misunderstood you.
I've offended you just now.
Please don't take it to heart.
The key.
Hold on.
Don't doubt those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust.
Who is in charge of recruiting and contacting new recruits in Ye City?
Duke Shen, please take me to him.
This will then clear you of any doubt.
Don't!
We're just like real siblings.
You're regarding yourself as a stranger if you do so.
Father, say something.
It was just a misunderstanding.
Let's not bring it up again.
Zhong Da, you'll follow my lead from now on.
I can guarantee you a promising career with Duke Yuan.
If so... thank you, Duke Shen.
Father, Zhong Da and I are as close as real brothers.
Can't I keep him instead?
Duke Shen, I became friendly with Young Master at first sight.
I'd also like to spend more time with him.
Zhong Da is prudent and resourceful.
I can ease my mind if he's here to assist you.
Spend more time together here in Ye City then.
Thank you, Duke Shen.
Thank you, Father.
Since the first day we met, I knew we were meant to be friends.
Let's go.
Here.
Young Master, you have to rest well.
Take your medication regularly.
Make sure that your wound doesn't rip apart.
Yes.
Second Young Master.
Is this how Libationer Guo contacts you?
That was how you knew we were disguised as secret commissioners.
Second Young Master is indeed exceptionally bright.
There's no Second Young Master.
Bear this in mind.
I'm Wei Wen.
The other commissioner is my older brother, Liu Ping.
Yes, I'll bear that in mind.
You're still not careful enough.
What if I weren't the one to walk in here?
Young Master Wei is right.
Take off your top.
Take it off.
Deng Zhan...
You should know that I was just putting on an act for Chunyu Qiong.
I didn't really want to kill you.
Even if you really wanted to kill me, it's only right to do so.
You're among our enemies now, so it's best to be careful.
You mustn't trust anyone easily.
Was that medical officer also working for Libationer Guo?
I don't know.
Actually... after I was brought here by Chunyu Qiong
Libationer Guo had his instructions sent here.
He told me to leak some information so as to survive.
But it has always been just Libationer Guo giving me instructions.
Sometimes, the instructions are hidden in my food.
Sometimes, in my clothing.
For instance, they were hidden in the medicinal pouch today.
Libationer Guo's men come and go like a shadow.
I couldn't really ask much.
Is this the injury you sustained from Wen County?
Yes.
Who did this to you?
I'm too incompetent and failed to see clearly.
Why would Libationer Guo send you to Wen County for no reason?
Forgive me, Young Master.
I can only report to Libationer Guo for his missions.
You serve under my family.
This is an urgent situation and we were also taken as prisoners.
The sooner you tell me, the sooner we can improvise.
Please forgive me, Young Master.
These are Libationer Guo's orders.
I... don't dare to defy him.
All right, I'll leave you to recuperate.
Brother Liu.
I was here to remind him about a few matters.
What a coincidence.
I'm also here to remind him about a few matters.
Brother Liu, go ahead.
General, don't you have any questions for me at all?
I'm just a military man.
All I know is that I should carry out military orders.
I'm not interested in asking about political strategies and schemes.
What do you intend to do next?
Libationer Guo has given me orders to protect the secret commissioners.
I knew it had to be him.
What about Young Master Wei?
Like I said, I only carry out Libationer Guo's orders.
All right, I understand.
I have nothing else to ask.
I'll take my leave.
Hold on!
I have a question.
Why did you stop Second Young Master from killing me?
Am I not a greater threat to you?
To be honest, I didn't consider that much.
I just think you're also innocent.
You're just carrying out the orders.
You shouldn't have to die for it.
Who would have known that Your Majesty was such a person?
Indeed.
Everything I did was just carrying out the orders.
Therefore, when I get to see Libationer Guo again
I'll still tell him the truth about the portrait.
Libationer Guo will be the one to decide.
Even if you really do so, you're not in the wrong.
But when that day comes...
I hope that you can make your own judgment.
Carefully.
This lousy place.
Zhong Da.
You've had to suffer because of my reckless father.
Don't mention it.
Duke Shen thinks highly of me to have locked me up in such a place.
This...
What does that mean?
I was locked up right next to the famous scholar, Tian Feng.
This indicates that it isn't just an ordinary prison.
I guess... this must be Ye City's maximum-security prison.
You were locked up next to Tian Feng?
That old fellow...
You mustn't believe in his nonsensical utterances.
Did he speak ill of my father?
If he dared to speak ill of Duke Shen, I'd have been the first to refute him.
Exactly.
Zhong Da, you're actually right.
We're in the Ye City Guards’ Office.
This is under my father's jurisdiction.
The prisoners in here are all exceptional felons.
What is Tian Feng compared to them?
Young Master Shen.
I'm curious about the other prisoners you have in here.
Speaking of odd prisoners, Duke Yuan sent one in some time ago.
A woman.
They had her confined with two heavy locks.
We don't even have the keys.
I heard that she's an assassin.
She's vicious and highly skilled in martial arts.
She can kill a man in 10 steps.
Isn't she remarkable?
That can't be true.
How could a woman be so skilled?
They obviously think very little of the Ye City Guards’ Office.
Why would I lie to you?
If... If she were just some ordinary prisoner
I'd let you have a look.
But this prisoner was sent here by Duke Yuan himself.
She's very important.
If she escapes, both my father and I won't be spared.
Forget it.
I admit that I'm a coward.
It's fine.
This isn't really important.
It's all right.
Indeed.
Let's not talk about that.
I've prepared food and drinks. We should calm your nerves.
Thank you, Young Master Shen.
Who is that screaming?
It's nothing.
They are interrogating Guo Jia's scouts.
Did they manage to find out much?
Nothing at all.
They used every instrument of torture but they kept their lips sealed.
Young Master.
Would you like to render another merit and challenge Guo Jia again?
Do you have a plan?
Young Master, do you know how to play cat and mouse?
Set them free to seek out Guo Jia?
Young Master, leave them to me.
You're all dismissed.
Get going!
Useless scumbags.
Why bother staying here when you can't get anything out of him?
Get lost!
Make it look more convincing.
Understood.
I don't know anything.
It's true that you don't know about what I wish to know.
Why don't we play a game?
If you can escape from here, I'll let you go free.
You expect me to show you the way?
In your dreams!
What do you have to fear?
You're going to be killed in here anyway.
Why don't you try and see if you can escape?
What exactly are you up to?
Perhaps you might really be able to take me to what I wish to find.
Zhong Da!
My leg...
Zhong Da.
You were too fast.
I haven't made the arrangements!
Where is he?
The guards are all out there.
He can't get out.
He's headed inside instead!
Zhong Da! It's too dangerous!
Zhong Da, wait up!
Where are you?
Sima Yi is here!
Do you think you can get away?
Where are you?
Sima Yi is here!
Do you think you can get away?
Sima Yi is here!
Show yourself now!
How much longer are you going to hide?
I, Sima Yi, will surely catch you!
Here comes Sima Yi!
Who dares to make such a racket?
If you keep making a racket, I'll kill you!
Ying, is it you?
It's me.
Are you all right?
Did they hurt you?
You'd actually... come all the way here for me?
You can't shake me off.
You should leave quickly.
I don't need your help.
Don't you worry.
I'll be able to get you out of here very soon.
Leave now!
Sima Yi!
You've made use of me again!
Sima Yi!
Give me a moment.
Zhong Da! Where are you?
Zhong Da!
Quickly! Zhong Da, are you all right?
I'm fine.
Useless scumbags!
Why should I bother keeping you?
So many of you can't even catch one man.
I'll chop off your heads if anything happens to Zhong Da!
Forget it. It's not their fault.
It was my oversight.
But our plan totally failed.
I will accomplish what I set out to do!
All right, I believe in you.
Zhong Da, we'd better get going.
I've had enough of this darn place.
Drag him away!
I have to go.
You're such a fool.
Can you contact Libationer Guo?
I don't know.
I know that you've been passing on orders from Libationer Guo to Deng Zhan.
I also work for Libationer Guo.
It's just that I've lost contact with him.
I only need you to deliver a letter to him.
I really don't know about it.
Stop pretending.
Tell Guo Jia that Second Young Master is here.
Ask him to order Deng Zhan to tell me why he sent Deng Zhan to Wen County.
Guo Jia?
I don't know what you're saying.
Where did you get the letter to put into Deng Zhan's pouch?
My apprentice made that medicinal pouch.
I don't know anything.
Help!
What are you doing?
This is a fruit from the Western Regions. Have you had it?
Chunyu Qiong treated us to some.
It has a unique taste.
I had wanted you to try some yesterday
but I forgot about it because of Deng Zhan.
Try it.
Do you know how to eat it?
I certainly do.
Cao Pi taught me yesterday.
Today... I haven't seen Cao Pi around all day.
Don't worry.
Deng Zhan won't tell him.
You still have much to learn.
That wasn't what Cao Pi taught me yesterday.
You trust the Cao family too much.
Cao Pi isn't actually a bad person.
Do you know he told me yesterday
that he'd open up the route to the Western Regions for me
to bring in more of these fruits?
However it might be, he's still Cao Cao's son.
Second Young Master was arrested.
Leave now!
- Why? - He killed someone.
I'll go and save him. You'll leave first.
- How are you going to save him? - By force.
You mustn't. You're still injured.
How can you rescue him from so many heavily armed guards?
We won't save him then?
I can't leave Minister Cao's son behind!
I'll come up with a plan.
What plan can you come up with?
Your priority is to keep yourself safe!
I can't just let him die.
We'll have to take the initiative.
Someday, he'll get you killed.
Kneel!
Why did you kill the medical officer?
He was going to kill me.
Nonsense!
He's a doctor. Why would he want to kill you?
He's Guo Jia's spy.
I recognized him so he was going to silence me.
Nonsense!
He's never left Hebei Commandery.
How can he be Guo Jia's spy?
You're probably the spies.
He found out what you've been secretly planning to do
so you had him killed, didn't you?
Speak!
Who exactly are you?
Secret Commissioner.
You're a young man and yet you're very stubborn!
Take him away!
We'll arrest the other two as well!
Bad news.
Those two commissioners are gone.
What?
Your accomplices have left you and ran.
Some commissioners you are!
Go and arrest those two!
Yes!
Move it!
Your Majesty, I--
Don't bother. We need to get out of here.
Dead or alive, anyone who catches them will be handsomely rewarded!
What's wrong?
You should go first and I'll cover you!
No, we must leave together.
If so, neither of us can escape!
Get going.
Let's go.
No, we must return to the capital together.
Run!
Come on!
I'll tell Libationer Guo about you.
You have to be alive to do so.
Run!
How did they catch up with us?
Is it because Deng Zhan--
It's all because of you.
Let's not discuss that yet.
We'll head in there.
They surely won't be able to locate us at night.
You're so valiant.
What a pity!
Is that where the scholars make their speeches?
Exactly.
There are more and more scholars gathering in here.
There are also more troubles.
What are they discussing?
I don't know and I can't be bothered.
Those who are not of Qin State must leave
and those visiting officials must be expelled.
But this means to consider only beauties, music, pearls, jade
and disregard the public.
You're right! That makes sense.
What Li Si once said still rings in our ears.
Even the Emperor of Qin can accept such a suggestion
and yet 400 years later, someone wants to make the same mistake.
What are they talking about?
They said that Duke of Yuan values talent
and gathers all scholars to Ye City.
As for Duke Shen, he's shunned them in every way.
He's narrow-minded and brutal.
He's even worse than the Emperor of Qin.
How dare they mock my father?
Listen up.
It's similar to the era of the six states.
Whoever recruits the right talent gets the power in politics.
Lately--
Isn't this Young Master Shen?
You walked in with high spirits so may I ask what it is you wish to say?
Who did you just quote that speech from?
You haven't even heard of it?
Listen up.
The renown official of Qin Dynasty, Li Si!
That Li Si?
Li Si suggested the petition to expel foreign officials
to make the Emperor of Qin rescind his order.
That was because Qin Dynasty had the most talented scholars back then.
However...
may I ask who you are?
I'm from a huge family of Hedong, the Liu family.
Liu Yi.
A nobody!
You're just using your family name as a front to hoodwink others.
Do you have any essays or works known to the world
or any talent that's praised by others?
How dare you compare yourself to Li Si?
Shameless.
You... Fine!
Answer me.
Before Li Si became famous
who knew that he'd reach such an achievement?
Exactly!
Fine!
Since you claim to be as talented as Li Si
how about taking a test?
Duke Yuan and Cao Cao has been at a standoff in Guandu for months.
What strategy do you have for defeating Cao Cao?
This...
This... this concerns the military strategists.
How does this concern scholars like me?
Fine.
Here's another test.
We need rations to fight a war.
The many people in Ye City also need rations.
If we send all the rations to the front line
someone is bound to starve in Ye City.
When people starve, they will revolt.
If Ye City is chaotic, how can Duke Yuan be at ease to fight the war?
What strategy do you have for ensuring the abundance of rations?
Well...
When did he get the gift of the gab?
Exactly.
What strategies do you have?
Feel free to tell me.
Impress me.
You're just a bunch of ignorant people trying to mislead the others.
Debating with the lot of you leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
How arrogant.
Zhong Da, I really owe it to you.
Let's go.
It's actually you!
Sima Yi, why would you be in the company of such a person?
I got it.
You must have taught him to say that, right?
Young Master Shen is clever and wise.
As for you...
you're like squabbling sparrows standing in front of a wild goose.
Don't you find it embarrassing?
Sima Yi, I was wrong about you.
You'd actually cohort with such a person.
Mind your words.
- Or I'll have you arrested. - Young Master.
We need not pay attention to the barking of a defeated dog.
Let's go.
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