Episode 10
I have a piece of news.
Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su.
In your opinion, will Zhuge Liang make a comeback?
After what happened, Zhuge Liang will definitely make a comeback.
Why is that so? -Your Majesty.
Zhuge Liang treats Ma Su as his own.
By executing Ma Su, it's like killing his own son.
However, he had to do it or his men wouldn't be pleased.
He would kill even Ma Su. That shows how determined...
...he is about Northern Expedition.
Zhuge Liang is a tragic and scary figure.
I'm afraid that there'll be no peace for Wei in the next decade.
Going by your words...
...is Wei even weaker than Shu?
Out of 13 states, Wei controls nine and a half...
...while Shu only has one.
We have four million people, while Shu's population is 900,000.
If you go by the figures, Zhuge Liang is no match for us.
Then I'm relieved.
Your Majesty, whether Shu will make a comeback...
...has nothing to do with military strength. It's about Zhuge Liang.
What can he possibly do by his own?
Your Majesty, in a moment of crisis...
...Zhuge Liang used himself as a bait...
...and seized the three districts.
He's capable of turning the entire Shu into an army.
If a man is willing to die, even 100 men won't be able to stop him.
If 10,000 people are willing to die, then they can rule the world.
Zhuge Liang is capable of getting 100,000 men to fight for him.
With someone like him around, Shu will surely make a comeback.
Why don't I have someone like this?
I have one million soldiers...
...yet not even 10,000 men who are willing to die for the cause.
That's because you're not that type of person.
Neither is Cao Zhen.
Neither am I, correct?
Hold your rice bowl.
The porridge is not bad.
Your Majesty, please have some tea.
You may rise. -Thank you, Your Majesty.
Come closer. Let me take a look. -Yes.
Your Majesty.
Not bad. You look prettier in person.
Smile.
Your Majesty, please forgive me.
I'm sorry for asking you to help me to go through the memorials.
You're a lady. You shouldn't be asked to do this.
I'm willing to do it for you, Your Majesty.
If I wasn't an Emperor...
...I would've left everything for the Chancellor...
...and focus on having fun with you.
Come on, do another one for me. -Yes.
Your Majesty, the Chancellor is back.
Help me get changed now!
Bring me my homework! -Yes.
Help me get changed now! - Get someone in here!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Chancellor, please rise.
Chancellor!
Chancellor, please don't do this. Please get up.
I'm sorry to have let you and the late Emperor down.
Chancellor, it's normal to lose a battle.
You managed to seize the three districts...
...prompting the Wei ruler to go for the war. This was good enough.
Chancellor, please don't be too hard on yourself.
Your Majesty, you and the late Emperor...
...entrusted me with the mission...
...yet I'd failed to do so...
...and made a fatal mistake at dieting.
We didn't get to keep the three districts.
The army had fought for nothing.
It's all my fault for choosing the wrong person for the mission.
A commander is responsible for the outcome of the war.
Your Majesty, please demote me to uphold the law.
I'm ashamed of myself.
No, I can't do this!
Chancellor, please don't do this.
Chancellor, why are you doing this?
Chancellor, please get up!
Chancellor!
Chancellor, if you insist, I'll listen to you...
...and demote you as General of the Right.
You'll still carry out the job of a Chancellor and command the army.
I need you, Chancellor! How about that?
Chancellor! -Thank you, Your Majesty.
Chancellor, it's okay.
We still have 100,000 men.
We'll just pick another date to attack Wei.
We'll surely defeat them!
When you're not around, I did my homework everyday.
Hold on.
Hurry up, give it to me.
Chancellor, look, I memorised these.
Chancellor, you can simply pick...
...any book that's on top to test me.
I can surely answer your questions.
Your Majesty, you've been studying hard.
I don't mind doing it for you, Chancellor.
I heard you have a new lover.
Is this true?
In such troubled times...
...you should be disciplined and keep yourself calm.
The Empress is General Zhang Fei's daughter.
She's decent and well behaved.
You should listen to her advice.
All right.
Chancellor, have you eaten?
I've prepared a meal for you.
Serve the meal!
It's all your favourite food, Chancellor. Come on.
Your Majesty, please be sensible.
Cao Rui of Wei is only three years older than you...
...yet he's gone for war.
Your Majesty, in the future...
...you should think twice before doing anything.
Wei's ruler is smart That's not good for us.
Chancellor, it doesn't matter whether he's smart or not.
He doesn't have a Chancellor like you.
I have you as my Chancellor. That's good enough.
Let's go. Let's eat together.
Chancellor, I've prepared your favourite dishes.
Don't worry, I'll finish my homework everyday.
I will not let you down.
Luckily you're not injured.
I'm the commander. I would never get injured...
was long as others were still alive.
How are our sons?
They're all grown up now.
Shi'er is honest, generous and talented.
I'm not worried about him at all.
As for Zhao'er, though he's young...
...he's as smart as his brother.
It's just that...
What is it? -It's just that Zhao'er...
...is more interested in political scheming than anything else.
He's not as broad-minded as Shi'er.
This is not good. I'm worried that...
...if we don't do anything about it, he'll be led astray.
Listen to yourself. He's your son.
He's into schemes and power play. He takes after you, doesn't he?
You're affectionate towards your youngest son.
Zhao'er went to the war...
...with you, yet you're so cud with him.
It's obvious that you favour your youngest son.
I'm strict to Zhao'er because I love him.
I've been thinking of arranging a marriage for Zhao'er.
It's okay. He's my son. Just leave it to me.
Why don't you focus on those two at the West couflyard?
I haven't even gone there since I was back.
Go ahead. I will not stop you.
Lady. Master, Lady Lingyun from West Couflyard is looking for you.
"The moment we speak of Cao Cao, he arrives."
Chunhua, you shouldn't be saying this.
It's an expression used by...
...Liu Xie to describe Emperor Wu back then.
It's forbidden now. Do watch your tongue.
Hou Ji, stop separating everything into east and west courtyards.
Everyone shall have dinner together.
Tell her, if she has anything to tell, voice it during dinner.
Yes. -Is that all right?
Go ahead. -All right.
So you've always wanted to go there.
I'm exhausted.
I didn't hear anything.
I just go there for a chat.
What else do you want to do?
See, you're grinning from ear to ear.
Go ahead.
Prepare the meal. -Yes.
Lady, I'll prepare the meal now.
Don't worry, Master will only stay briefly at West Couflyard.
Lingyun.
Master.
Master, you're finally back from the war.
Are you injured?
No, I'm fine.
It's been months. How are you doing?
I was just "lonely and keeping to myself in an empty room...
...thinking about you all the time."
You're so lonely that...
...you're reciting the late Emperor's Yan Gen Xing.
Are we going to reminisce about the late Emperor today?
You'd been busy with the war. You must had forgotten me.
No, not at all.
I had been thinking about you, but I was really busy.
After we parted, I travelled non-stop to VVanoheng...
...and led the army to travel 600km in eight days...
...to take down Meng Da in Xincheng. It's all about speed.
I've made some tea for you. Here.
It's okay. Dinner is almost ready.
Xiaoyuan, help out at the kitchen. We're having a feast tonight.
Yes, Master.
Xiaoyuan, tell Hou Ji...
Master, I'll tell Brother Hou Ji to prepare a few stew dishes.
Stew dishes?
A stew requires a long time to prepare.
Xiaoyuan. -Perfect. You're smart.
Go ahead. You've taught her well.
I have something to tell you, too. Why don't we have some tea?
Hou Ji is preparing dinner now. That's all the time we have.
Aren't you coming over tonight?
We'll see.
I haven't finished my story.
I took down Meng Da, but little did I realise Zhuge Liang had...
...already seized three districts. Sol rushed to Chang'an...
...to reclaim Jieting and the three districts.
After that, I led 150,000 men...
...and trapped Zhuge Liang at Xicheng.
I saw Zhuge Liang, but I didn't get to see his face clearly.
At Xicheng, we looked at each other from afar.
Whose clothes is this?
It's yours. You don't remember as you'd been gone too long.
I prepared it for you to get changed later.
I can't do it or I'll have to face the music.
Just keep it.
Yes.
Back then, I also recalled the late Emperor's poem Yan Ge Xing.
"The moon is shining brightly down on my bed.
Cowherd and Weaver Girl look at each other afar."
I've finally won a war this time.
I'd heard about your victory before you came home.
However, while you're out there, something happened in the city.
What happened?
Rumours were going around saying that the Emperor had passed away.
Some tried to name Yongqiu Lord Cao Zhi as the new Emperor.
We've won the war.
The Emperor is safe and sound. Where did the rumours come from?
That's why they're called rumours. We won't know the source.
Since there have been rumours, you should watch out.
Please help me with this.
I'd been following the Emperor around.
It has nothing to do with me.
It may have.
Think about it, who has the power to summon Cao Zhi to the capital?
Who has the power to name a new Emperor...
...if the current Emperor passes away?
Empress Dowager. -That's right.
I do hope it's just rumours.
I hope that it's not true and that I was just being paranoid.
All right, I'm done with the important business.
Let's carry on with our business.
What tea did you make?
It's bitter tea that will clear away all the heat.
I feel like having some.
Are the ministers laughing at me...
...for not being able to capture Zhuge Liang?
Your Majesty, they should be laughing at Sima Yi by now.
You joined the war yourself and defeated Zhuge Liang.
You've done far better than the late Emperor.
However, many are still hoping for me to die.
Your Majesty, please ignore the rumours.
There must be an origin for the rumours.
Who in Luoyang would want me to die?
Are you talking about Guo Zhao?
Apart from me...
"Empress Dowager is the only one with the gold medallion...
...to summon the Lords.
If Empress Dowagefis gold medallion goes missing...
...that's a proof that...
...she's the one trying to name Yongqiu Lord as the new Emperor.
She's been staying at Yong'an Palace for too long.
In this world...
...who can possibly ensure that he or she will remain safe forever?
I'll do it now.
Hold on.
I miss my mother.
I want Guo Zhao dead.
When she's dead, cover her face with her hair...
...and put rice bran in her mouth.
We'll cover her face with her hair and put rice bran in her mouth.
Your Highness, we can't find the gold medallion.
Keep looking. -Yes.
Your Highness, what are you looking for? Have you found it?
Greetings, Your Highness.
My gold medallion has gone missing.
I'll see the Emperor now.
There's no need for that.
Are you trying to go against your superior?
No, I'm merely following the Emperor's order...
...to investigate the treason case.
If you can't find the gold medallion and explain yourself...
...you might have to follow me, Your Highness.
Where to?
Tingwei.
No Empress Dowager in Wei should be asked to go to Tingwei.
There're rules and regulations to follow.
Ask the Emperor to see me.
Your Highness.
We have laws to follow in the country.
How would it look on everyone if the Yulin guards...
...are required to send you there?
Press here. Yes, here.
Do it softly.
Softly, yes.
Do it slowly.
Smart girl.
Brother Zhao, why are you here?
Sister-in-law. - Uncle!
Good girl. I didn't have time to greet you...
...since I was back from the war.
Yongliang is just a hill of yellow earth.
The people are poor and there's nothing much there.
They do have some nice silk from Shu.
Many soldiers bought it. So I got some for your daughter.
Rou'er, look what I have brought you.
Thank you, uncle. -Good girl.
Do you like it? -Yes.
I'm glad to hear that. - Thank you, brother.
Rou'er is still young. This is too expensive.
I chose this specially for you, sister-in-law.
It's beautiful.
By the way, I heard that mother-in-law...
...is arranging a marriage between you and Wang Situ's granddaughter.
Why don't you give it to Miss Wang as a gift?
I picked this specially for you, sister-in-law.
It doesn't matter what mother is giving Wang family.
I'm sorry.
I'll take it, thank you, brother.
Brother, this way, please.
Rou'er, can you practise by yourself?
When I was with father in the war...
...I killed someone.
You killed someone?
I always thought it's a wonderful thing...
...to be able to go to war and kill the enemies of my country.
When I first plunged a spear into someone...
...I could hear the sound of bones breaking.
It's breakable.
Before he even got to fight back, I pulled out the spear.
His blood was all over my face, body...
...and hands.
It's still warm.
That's when I understand how easy it is to kill someone.
I'm made up of flesh and bones, too.
It'd be easy for others to kill me, too.
Brother Zhao, in the future, if you have a choice...
...don't ever go to a war by yourself.
Mother was worried about you.
What about you? Were you worried about me and brother?
Yes, I was.
We had been thinking about all of you.
I remember the soldier from Shu.
He looked younger than me.
When I pulled out the spear, he stared at me.
He had no chance to even say goodbye to his family.
After I got out, I washed so hard.
I wanted to wash away the blood on me.
However, no matter how much I washed...
...I could still smell the blood.
At that moment, I felt like coming back and telling you this.
Sister-in-law, stay here.
Rou'er.
Uncle Ji Bu.
Empress Dowager lost the gold medallion.
Bi Xie has thrown her in jail.
Ask your father to think of a way.
She's Empress Dowager.
How could they throw Empress Dowager in jail?
You can't just let the Emperor do this.
Guo Zhao is like my sister.
Don't worry, no matter what, I'll save Guo Zhao.
They brought her to Tingwei.
Will Bi Xie torture her? -I don't think he'd dare to do so.
Aunt Guo is Empress Dowager. There're laws to follow in Wei.
Zhao'er, pass this to Grand Commandant Guo to seek help.
Yes.
Grand Commandant Guo can only stop them temporarily.
What should we do next? -I'll see the Emperor tomorrow.
All of you risked your lives to save the Emperor.
Look at how he's turned out.
Your Highness, here's a word of advice.
Just confess to the crime, that you intended to name...
...Yongqiu Lord Cao Zhi...
was the new Emperor.
That way you won't be tortured.
Don't make it difficult for me. Why don't you just do it?
If not, though you're Empress Dowager...
...you're, after all, a woman.
It would be a pity...
...if I had to use these on you.
Why should we go through that?
So you still remember I'm Empress Dowager.
Have you ever wondered what the historians would say...
...about the Emperor over this?
I'm sure you know what happened to Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede.
Moreover, this is a crime of treason.
The Emperor is rather forgiving...
...for not executing all your family members.
I did not commit treason. My son is the Emperor.
Why should I commit treason?
Your Highness, you know perfectly well whose son the Emperor is.
Why don't you just confess to the crime?
If you do so, your brothers might be spared.
I'm Empress Dowager.
You can't frame me.
It's a pity.
Toflure her. -How dare you!
I have the order of the Emperor. Of course I can do it. Do it!
Stop!
You fool! Are you blind?
How dare you do this to Empress Dowager?
Get out! -Yes.
Greetings, Your Highness.
Grand Commandant, please rise. - Thank you, Your Highness.
Grand Internal Officer.
Grand Commandant, you arrived just in time.
I left an important file here. I'm here to retrieve it.
I heard Empress Dowager was here with you. I didn't believe it.
This must be a misunderstanding.
Grand Commandant, there's something you didn't know.
The Emperor ordered me to...
“investigate the treason case.
For some reasons, Empress Dowager lost her gold medallion...
...and can't justify herself.
That's why I had to bring Empress Dowager here...
...to find out more.
I've been a Grand Court Justice for two decades...
...and a Commandant of Justice in Wei for years.
I helped to create the laws in Wei.
One can't be convicted based on rumours.
Grand Commandant, you're wrong.
Chen Jiao of Western Han was an Empress, too.
She was thrown in jail, too.
To interrogate her in Tingwei...
...you need the Emperor's decree and a judicial panel.
If not, you're disregarding the law and the Emperor.
As one of the three most important ministers...
...I can't just do nothing...
...if someone attempts to do something like this.
I'm in my eighties.
I'm very, very old...
...and ready to die.
If someone attempts to frame Empress Dowager...
...I'm willing to risk my life...
...in order to protect the Emperor's reputation.
Grand Internal Officer, this is not within your jurisdiction.
You shouldn't be here at all.
Grand Commandant, you're indeed smart and thoughtful.
Your Highness, with the Grand Commandant around...
...I'm sure you have nothing to worry about tonight. Goodbye.
I'll make a move first.
Everybody, listen.
Take good care of Empress Dowager.
Do not make any mistake. -Yes.
Grand Commandant, you're getting older.
It's time to fix the prison.
What smell is this? It's smelly and old.
I'm sorry for being late.
Your Highness, it's been hard on you.
It's okay.
I feel bad for the late Emperor.
Don't worry, Your Highness.
Sima Yi is trying to think of a way now.
He's the Emperor and you're his ministers.
What can you do?
When the late Emperor passed away...
...I should've died with him.
Tell the Emperor.
I don't mind dying, but I won't die being framed.
Your Highness, you can't do this. Please don't do it.
Master and Lady. -Zhong Hui, what's the matter?
Are you going to see the Emperor over Empress Dowager?
Yes. -You can't do it.
Why can't I do it? -My father went to the prison.
Empress Dowager is fine, but you shouldn't see the Emperor now.
Nor should you defend Empress Dowager.
Why are you saying this? You know Empress Dowager is innocent.
Yes, I do. Master, do you know that...
...Bi Xie went straight to General Cads mansion last night?
The Emperor needs Cao family's support on the matter.
You might be able to beat Cao Zhen in convincing the Emperor...
...but once the Emperor joins forces with Cao Zhen...
...you won't be able to beat them.
We can't just do nothing and watch Empress Dowager being framed.
Lady, I know you're close to Empress Dowager...
...but think about it...
...the Emperor is crucial in the fight between Master and Cao Zhen.
If the Emperor loses his senses and ends up blaming Master...
...then Master will be doomed.
Brother!
Is Guo Zhao in jail now? -Yes.
We have to save her! -How are we going to do that?
We'll persuade the Emperor to change his mind.
Brother, we can't act in haste.
We should calm down first.
Brother!
Open the door.
I'm Minister of Revenue, Sima Fu.
I'm here to see Empress Dowager. Open the door.
Open the door.
Greetings, Your Highness.
Long live...
...the Empress Dowager.
Minister Sima, please rise.
Open the door. -Yes.
Please don't.
Our reputation will suffer if we're in the same room.
All right.
Then I'll just stay here.
Even if I can't save you, I'll keep you company...
...whenever and wherever you need it.