Episode 2
All of you may leave. I need to talk to Sir Sima.
We'll make a move.
Sir Sima, please rise. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Sir Sima, do you still remember my mother's last words?
Yes, I do and I'll never forget.
Sir Sima, what should I do about the matter regarding my mother?
After the funeral...
...there should be a posthumous name for your mother.
All right, Sir Sima. Please go back and get some rest.
Don't be sad. Please take care.
I still need to count on you.
Thank you, Your Majesty, for being understanding.
I'll settle my family first, then observe the mourning period.
Sir Sima, you're one of the regents now.
Your previous residence is too small.
I've prepared a new one for you.
Please check it out.
I was previously a criminal.
Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness.
Please don't say that, Sir Sima.
I still remember...
...that stormy night when you carried me to look for my father.
Without you, I would never get to be the Emperor.
I remember what you've done for me.
It's my duty as a subordinate.
I don't expect you to remember it, Your Majesty.
I'm...
...so grateful.
Sir Sima, please rise. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
Let's not stand on ceremony. You may go back now.
I shall make a move now.
Sir Sima.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What should I do with Guo Zhao?
Your Majesty.
Empress Dowager Guo is your mother.
I know what to do.
I'll make a move first.
Father and uncle, you must be tired.
Please sit down. The meal is ready.
You only care about eating!
Father, what's wrong?
Zhaobo, please prepare some food.
Your father may not be hungry, but I am.
Yes. I'll tell the servants now.
My nephew, Sima Yi is back as a regent.
He's appointed as Palace Attendant, same rank as us.
So of course your father is unhappy.
I thought things had changed.l didn't expect him to return.
It's back to the same situation!
Father, do you think of replacing Sima Yi or his new policy?
As long as the policy still runs, the Cao family is still being...
...suppressed, even though he's gone for three years.
It's easy to get rid of Sima Yi. We just need one or two assassins.
However, removing the new policy will affect many officials.
If it's easy, we would've done it a long time ago.
Father, the Emperor is finally dead.
That's a rude way of saying that the Emperor has passed away!
Yes, the Emperor has passed away.
Since the Emperor has passed away, we shouldn't waste...
...this opportunity. - What should we do then?
Father. -Just say it! What should we do?
Just replace all the officials involved in the new policy.
You wish. The power of appointment and removal of the officials...
...lies in the hands of Imperial Secretariat.
The funeral Summon all governors and county magistrates...
...back to attend the funeral. Once they're in the capital...
...who do you think shall have a say...
...in their appointment or removal?
It's up to us the regents! Chen Qun is soft.
It'll be the two of us against Sima Yi.
Once we remove his people...
...Sima Yi's new policy will go down the drain.
We tackle the problem at its root. -Smart boy.
Brilliant. You're indeed very smart
Palace Attendant, here it is.
It's so spacious.
Where do you want to go? Hold on.
Palace Attendant.
Are you happy with the new residence given by the Emperor?
It's bigger than I expected. This is too much of a gift.
I'm surprised. -I shall make a move first.
Thank you.
Father, we don't have to be farmers anymore.
This is too big.
Who can possibly build such a big residence in Luoyang?
Father is one of the regents. Of course things are different.
Look, the Emperor is considerate. This is soft.
Brother, let's go to our rooms. -All right.
Rou'er, come here.
Father and mother, I'll bring them around.
All right.
The Emperor is considerate.
This is the biggest residence I've ever seen.
If only father was still around.
With big residence comes heavy responsibilities.
I thought we're going to spend the rest of our lives in hometown.
It looks like our future is up to the Emperor.
Is this...
...for time measurement?
It's called the qi vessel. It's not for time measurement.
Dear, look.
The water comes out from here...
...into the bronze sink. Once the sink is full, it'll topple.
This item serves as a reminder for one to remain humble.
The young Emperor is trying to tell me not to be greedy.
This ice container is huge.
This is awesome. In summer...
...we'll get to enjoy iced sour prune drinks.
If only father was still around.
So does the ice container carry any message from the Emperor?
Yes, the ice is crystal clear.
The Emperor wants me to see everything clearly.
Seriously?
Going by this...
...I know what this artificial rock is for.
What is it for? -It signifies Wei. The Emperor...
mwants you to stay loyal to Wei all the time.
Dear, you're smart
However, a symbol of Wei shouldn't be put in our room.
You've been an official for so long.
That's why you think everything carries a message by the Emperor.
Yes.
I'm just blabbering instead of guessing what the Emperor wants.
The second floor is impressive.
Don't tell me the Emperor has gifted you with a child.
Impossible. -Who are you? This is my home.
Who are you?
I'm Lun'er.
It might be the housekeepefis child.
Lun'er.
Are you familiar with the place? -Yes, I am.
Really?
Why don't you bring us around? -All right.
You have so much hair.
Can I hold you?
Here.
You're quite heavy.
Do you want to go upstairs?
Go upstairs? All right, let's go.
Dear.
Why don't you stay here? I'll be out for a while.
Where are you going?
Do you want to bring her home?
I know what you're thinking.
You've been thinking about it along the way. Go ahead.
Thank you for being understanding.
Why are you here?
I was about to fetch you.
I know you'll be back. I've been waiting here for three days.
She's been waiting here for three days already.
Master and Lady, you're finally back.
Lun'er, please get down.
Mother.
Lun'er, you must have wandered off just now.
Whose child is he?
He's my child.
Your child?
His name is Sima Lun.
He's your child, too.
That day...
How dare you.
Why didn't you tell me about it?
I didn't know whether you'd be back.
If you couldn't come back, you'd feel guilty...
...if I told you about it.
You'd also feel uneasy.
Lun'er, call him father.
Father.
Are you Sima Yi?
That's me.
You have a longer beard compared to what mother said.
Lady, I'm no longer at the late Emperor's command.
I'm just an ordinary woman.
If you want me to leave, Master will not be harmed in any way.
Although I'm a woman, I'm capable of taking care of my own child.
It's all up to you whether you want me to stay or leave.
Your son is called Sima Lun.
He's a child of Sima's family. I would be inconsiderate...
...if I asked the both of you to leave.
Are you saying that I can stay?
Yes.
Lady, I know the rules.
Legally, you'll always be Lun'er's mother.
You shall be the one who decide on everything about Lun'er.
I already have two sons.
I don't wish to raise another woman's son.
The ties of a mother and a son...
...are far more important than the rules and hierarchy.
Starting today, I'll stay at the east side...
...while you'll be at the west.
We'll respect each other and not meddle in one another's affairs.
This shall be the best arrangement for you and me.
Thank you, Lady.
Thank you, Dear.
This is between me and her. Why are you thanking me?
Thank you for being generous and forgiving.
Am I?
Yes, you are.
I'll look for Shi'er and Zhao'er.
Father.
I want a piggyback ride.
Now? -Now.
I don't have the strength for it now.
Then I'll wait until you 'win the battle'.
He knows everything.
Chancellor.
We have an emergency report from Luoyang.
Cao Pi is indeed dead.
Chancellor, you guessed it right.
Before he died, Cao Pi named Cao Rui the Crown Prince.
He had also appointed four regents.
Who are the regents?
Youchang, since you know Cao Wei's politics well...
...why don't you make a guess?
In order to become a regent, one has to be powerful, influential...
...and not too old.
If we're talking about Cao Pi's relatives...
...it should be Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu.
You're right.
As for the ministers, it should be...
...Chen Qun, chief of secretarial staff.
Indeed.
As for the fourth regent...
...is it Wu Zhi?
Wu Zhi doesn't have the capability nor the right personality.
It's Sima Yi. -Sima Yi?
I thought he was already dismissed from his position.
He was not taking pan in politics...
...but the new policy he designed is still being enforced in Wei.
Cao Pi didn't really dismiss Sima Yi from his position anyway.
Chen Qun is weak and not involved in military affairs.
Cao Xiu is responsible of handling Eastern Wu.
He's impatient and not very bright.
These two are no match for us.
Cao Zhen is in charge of the war against us.
Though he's brave, he's arrogant and petty.
He should not be a problem.
As for Sima Yi, though he didn't really take pan in the army...
...he seems to be in control of everything...
...that happened in Wei over the years.
I can't tell how he's going to be like.
This person will be the enemy of Han.
However, we may be able to defeat him.
Chancellor, do you know him well?
The four regents are at odds with each other.
As long as Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu are around...
...Sima Yi won't get to do much.
It's a great opportunity for us to conquer the states...
...and restore the Han dynasty.
Prepare a carriage. I'm going to see the Emperor.
Yes.
Brother Changwen.
Any news from Eastern Wu? -No.
What about Western Shu? -No.
Sima Yi, are you worried that Eastern Wu and Western Shu...
...might attack us during the national mourning period?
Sun Quan and Liu Bei will surely seize this opportunity to attack.
This is the calm before the storm.
The Grand Marshal and the General-in-chief are here.
Greetings, Grand Marshal and General-in-chief.
All of you may leave.
Congratulations, Sir Sima, for returning to Imperial Secretariat.
It's been three years. There's not a day that went by...
...that I didn't think about you, Sir Sima.
Yes, I miss the time we worked together.
We have got plenty of time.
Generals, you brought your men to Imperial Secretariat.
Is it about the army?
We're wondering why...
...imperial Secretariat has yet to issue a decree...
...to summon the officials from other states...
...to attend the late Emperor's funeral.
The late Emperor didn't issue any final decree...
...summoning the officials around the country to attend the funeral.
The late Emperor didn't issue a decree...
...banning them from attending the funeral either.
Emperor Wu had a final decree stating that...
...officials shall not neglect their duties...
...in national mourning period.
This should serve as a reference.
Things are different now.
The decree existed because there's a war in Emperor Wu's reign.
However, our country is peaceful now.
It's the officials' moral obligation to attend the funeral.
What would Sun Quan and Liu Bei say?
Sun Quan and Liu Bei are eyeing Wei now.
If the officials leave their states to attend the funeral...
...they'll neglect their duties.
It'll shake our foundations.
These are troubled times.
You insisted on summoning the officials to the capital...
...to mourn the late Emperor's death or to find fault with them?
It's normal for the officials to mourn the death of an Emperor.
These are officials of Wei.
Sima Yi, you try to stop them.
Are you viewing the officials in Wei...
...as the subordinates of Sima's family?
Chen Qun, what do you think?
This concerns the nation, as well as the Emperor, too.
We're all regents. Since we have disagreement...
...why don't we bring it to the Emperor...
...and leave it for him to decide. What do you think?
This is an important matter. We should leave it to the Emperor.
I can't believe you're shrugging off your responsibility.
Let's go and meet the Emperor. -After you.
It looks awful.
It doesn't look like mother at all.
Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Get someone in here! -Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Does yours get a likeness of my mother?
No. -Can you capture her likeness?
Yes.
Her eyes were not like these.
I'll change it then.
Your Majesty.
You've sullied the drawing of my mother. Execute him.
Your Majesty! -Execute him!
Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, please allow me to change it!
Your Majesty, I know how to draw the eyes!
Please allow me to change it, Your Majesty!
You can't even get a drawing right!
All of you are useless!
Execute all of them! -Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
I can do it, Your Majesty!
Please give me a second chance, Your Majesty!
Please forgive us, Your Majesty! Please allow me to draw a new one!
Pixie.
Yes, Your Majesty. -lssue a decree.
Summon the painters in the country.
Anyone who can capture mother's likeness...
...will be rewarded with money and title.
Yes, I'll do it now.
Greetings, regents.
Why are you here?
We want to see the Emperor. Please tell the Emperor now.
The Emperor can't see you now. I'll pass the message for you.
Grand Internal Officer, Imperial Secretariat has yet to...
...summon the officials around the nation to attend the funeral.
Imperial Secretariat has many execuses and fails to do the job.
They're being disrespectful to the late Emperor.
Grand Internal Officer, please pass our message.
It's the national mourning period.
Sun Quan and Liu Bei are eyeing for a chance to attack us.
The officials should beef up our defence...
"instead of gathering in the capital...
...and neglecting the safety of the country.
It's normal for one to observe a mourning period...
...for his father's death.
If one fails to do this, he's worse than an animal!
Sima Yi...
...do you want the officials to...
...do what you did and be called disloyal and unfilial?
Do you want the Emperor to do what you did...
...not mourning the death and be called disloyal and unfilial?
General, do you wish to discuss my private life before the Emperor?
When my father died, the late Emperor needed my service.
It's not up to you to decide...
...whether I'm a filial son or not.
Sima Yi, there's nothing private about an Emperor's death.
Cao Zhen and I are head of the regents.
Why are you questioning our decisions?
The late Emperor appointed you as a regent...
...not for you to arrogate power to yourself.
You're the one who's doing that! -Calm down, General!
We're all doing it for the sake of our country!
Chen Qun, don't paper over everything!
Go away. -Stop calling me by my first name!
I'm the Minister of Works now!
The Emperor is inside and you're still fighting among yourselves!
This is utter disrespect!
My mother...
...had small red lips...
...nice pearly teeth...
...smooth and fair hands...
...and fingers.
When she smiles...
...she's as beautiful as the rosy clouds of dawn.
When she's sad, she's as lovely as a lotus in the water.
Do you get it? -Yes.
Then start drawing. -Yes.
Your Majesty, the four regents are outside.
They want to seek your opinion on...
...whether the officials around the nation...
...should attend the funeral.
Can't they decide on that among themselves?
They almost fought.
That's why they want you to decide.
Who almost fought?
The two generals and Sima Yi, of course.
The generals proposed to summon officials back for the funeral...
...to display loyalty.
Sima Yi proposed otherwise, citing national security as a reason.
As for Chen Qun, he's furious.
So much drama.
Since it's just Sima Yi against the two of them...
...then don't summon the officials back.
What's the official reason? - He's already got one, right?
National mourning...
...is different from the mourning period observed by the commoners.
Got it.
Small red lips. Think about it.
The Emperor praised Imperial Secretariat for being considerate.
The officials around the country will not be summoned back.
The Emperor made a right decision.
Grand Internal Officer. - General, the Emperor has decided.
If not for the Emperor, I would've burnt down your department!
Cao Zhen, let's go.
Because of you...
...the Emperor would forever be called disloyal and unfilial!
Grand Internal Officer, I have something else...
...to tell the Emperor.
Can you pass the message?
Sir Sima, you can see the Emperor...
...tomorrow when he meets the ministers.
The Emperor is being so mysterious.
Anyway, we've done our pads.
Since Empress Dowager Zhen passed away...
...the Emperor behaves more strangly than before.
I think the both of us should be careful.
What is this?
Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Why did you draw a sun?
Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Execute all of them!
Please pardon us, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, we can draw another one!
Please pardon me, Your Majesty!
Isn't there any painter that can...
...successfully capture my mother's likeness?
Is there any at all?
Your Highness, the Emperor is executing people again!
Empress Dowager is here.
Greetings, Your Highness.