Episode 42
Can you give me some water?
If Grand Tutor intends to claim my life...
...let him grant me two coffin nails.
Master.
The wind is cold at night. Let's rest inside the cabin.
Come.
Slow down and watch your steps.
Report!
Grand Tutor, Wang Ling is requesting for coffin nails.
I dare not make any decision. So I come to inquire your command.
Coffin nails?
He...
...feels reluctant to beg for his life...
...yet he's holding back for his death.
Wang Ling must have been threatened by your power.
He feels uneasy.
So, you better talk him out.
Give him coffin nails. -Yes!
Do you want to kill him?
The rebel should be executed...
...by the state law.
Master.
Aren't you waiting for the imperial edict?
Imperial edict?
We'll add one to it.
Come to me! -Yes!
Three families of Wang Ling will be executed...
...for treason. -Yes.
Three families?
Wang family of Taiyuan is a notable clan.
There are more than 3,000 members in the clan.
Do you want to kill them all?
It's the state law.
I can't disregard the law just because they have a big clan.
We should at least repofl to the emperor.
As a minister, you don't have the power of doing that.
His Majesty is too young to understand it.
I'm good enough to keep...
...Wang Ling's dead body intact.
Sima Yi.
What did you call me?
Back then, you executed Cao Shuang...
"because he's younger than you.
You might have done it to clear the path of Shi and Zhao...
...but now, Wang Ling is older than you.
He's too old to do anything more.
He's surrendered...
...yet you give the order to kill.
Are you any different from Emperor Wu?
Cao Cao?
Who's he?
He'd rather betray the whole world than to be betrayed.
He's killed many lives and his hands are stained with blood.
I can still hear the rhyme of...
..."three horses in the same barn" at the Chunhua Hall.
I was old and muddleheaded too.
I always had a blade on my neck.
You know the ways in politics...
...but why are you now being so sympathetic?
You're now in full power.
You should better learn your place.
Soldiers are weapons...
...and are only to be used in desperate situation.
You want to kill Wang Ling.
You kill him because you fear.
I despise the cunning and timid Sima Yi...
...deep down in my head! -What?
I'm now in full power!
Whatever I do and not do aren't meant to earn your respect!
Madam Lingyun. -Let her be!
Li Feng.
Execute. -Yes.
Xiahou Xuan.
Execute. -Yes.
Zhang Ji.
Execute.
Yes.
Sir Zhong.
Sir Sima.
Are you going to kill them all? -Yes.
Does it include thousands of prisoners in the jail?
They all are Xiahou Xuan's accomplices.
Do you know...
...how many scholars and heroes are there?
You're exterminating...
...half of the notable families.
No one can be pardoned from rebellion.
I'm going to look for Sima Shi.
We can't kill anyone anymore.
No more.
Safe trip, Sir Sima. -We must stop killing people.
Liu Xian.
Execute.
Yes.
Uncle.
Where's your brother? - He hasn't recovered.
He might not be able to see you.
You'll tell me then.
Who has ordered the massacre?
Massacre?
I'm just executing the rebels by law. It isn't a massacre.
It involves thousands of them. It's a massacre!
Can't you just execute Xiahou Xuan alone?
But he has accomplices.
Xiahou Xuan makes a lot of acquaintances.
Do they all deserve death sentence?
There are also your friends...
...your brother's friends and your father's.
Are you going to kill all those related to Cao Shuang?
They admire Xiahou Xuan and sympathise Cao Shuang.
They'll hold grudges against my father...
...and even exterminate our family.
My father wouldn't want any disturbance in Great Wei.
It's worth using their heads to exchange for peace.
Nonsense! Your father would even spare Cao Shuang's associates...
...why not them? Decide only when your father comes back.
Uncle.
My father is 73 years old now. He's too tired to deal with it.
Besides, situation in Luoyang...
...might go out of control before he'd come back.
No, I can't take the blame.
It's you who wants to kill them.
What are you saying? I'm just executing the rebels.
It's for my father, my brother and the state.
You want to kill all followers of Cao Shuang.
You want to wipe out your enemies using your father's prestige.
I wouldn't dare to do that.
Zhao, listen to me. Ask Zhong Hui to stop the massacre.
We'll make the final decision only after your father comes back.
I'm begging you.
Uncle, my brother and I will...
...make the decision. Don't worry.
Just focus in your job.
Here's another thing that I'd like to say to you.
You mustn't...
...betray Sima family at this time.
Will I betray Sima family?
You'll ruin your father's reputation!
Do you know your father?
Uncle.
It's you who doesn't know my father.
Safe trip.
Feiyan is a beauty.
Always associates with Sir Zhang.
She enters the imperial palace.
Brother!
Let's enjoy the moonlight in Chang'an!
Sure!
Execute.
Execute!
Come on!
Feiyan is a beauty. Always associates...
...with Sir Zhang.
She enters the imperial palace.
She comes...
...to harm the prince.
The prince dies.
Lamb...
Eat grass.
Otherwise, go away.
Lamb...
meat grass.
Otherwise, go away.
Lamb, eat grass.
Otherwise, go away.
Or, I'll smack your head.
Lamb, eat grass.
Otherwise, go away.
Or, I'll smack your head.
Why? Am I crying? -No.
Lamb, eat grass.
Otherwise, go away.
Lamb, eat grass.
Otherwise, go away.
Protect madam!
Kill Sima Yi to avenge Grand Commandant Wang!
Come out, madam!
Leave now!
Madam!
Stop killing them!
Stop killing anyone!
You kill him because you fear.
I despise the cunning and timid Sima Yi...
...deep down in my head! -What?
I'm in full power!
Whatever I do and not do aren't meant to earn your respect!
I've been an executor for others in my entire life.
This time...
...I'm...
...the executor for myself.
Your Majesty, I've just gone out of prison.
I've spent days to work on the new policy.
Even if I've the will, I'm incapable...
...to follow the order and be a commissioner.
What a wonderful night.
Lord Xinling is a righteous man. He didn't kill innocent life.
Yet, Hou Ying died.
That wouldn't have happened if Lord Xinling trusted Hou Ying.
I understand. I won't leave Hou Ying behind.
You know me well. I can hide nothing from you.
If one day, you're able to do that...
...people will fear you.
I'd stay by your side...
...every day and night until we die in the farm.
I'm thankful that you'd spend your life...
...with me for a son.
I only have one head...
...called "devotion".
I once dreamt of putting on red robe...
...and riding on a white horse on my wedding day...
...but after choosing you...
...that doesn't matter...
...anymore.
Ling Yun...
...you know me well.
Grand Tutor!
We were ambushed on our way back.
Madam was killed in that incident.
Master!
Master Fu, I bet you miss my cook.
Yes. -Enjoy it.
Thank you.
Brother.
A toast to you.
Brother, you're unkempt and filthy.
It's time to tidy up yourself.
Why do I bother at this age?
Yes, we're both old.
When you proposed my marriage to Yen's family back then...
...I didn't like how I looked.
You said I'm the handsomest man...
...among the eight siblings of Sima family...
...but I'm so old now...
...that I dare not look into the mirror.
You shouldn't say that, Master Fu.
I'm still here.
Had Zhao...
...married to you...
...you would've gained a big...
...and happy family.
Listen to yourself.
You've gained the courage to say it as you're in full power now.
Speaking of Zhao, I recall the year when you brought me...
...to the Monthly Review for my marriage.
I was so dump that Yang Xiu drove me off.
You argued with him.
If I wasn't so dump, you wouldn't...
...have been picked up by Emperor Wen.
And you wouldn't have got involved in the dispute for decades.
It's my destiny.
I can't run away from it.
You tried very hard, didn't you?
Back in the horse barn, you let me collect some wine from Hou Ji.
It took me a long time to realise something was wrong.
Your leg was broken when I came back.
Sir Cao...
...offered me a clerk position.
It was a good thing.
Sir Cao offered me a clerk position.
Was it bad? -He offered me a clerk position.
Was it a good thing or a bad thing?
I've been thinking.
If I was slightly smarter...
...I might be able to save your leg...
...and save you from the recruitment.
Unfortunately, I kept failing in the past several years.
You've however climbed to the top.
Brother Fu.
Are you trying to say something? -Yes.
Spill the beans. Don't hold back.
You received my letter about Xiahou Xuan, didn't you?
Yes, I did.
Why didn't you stop Shi and Zhao from executing Xiahou Xuan?
They had the power to execute as soon as...
...I entrusted Luoyang to them.
I'm talking about Xiahou Xuan.
You said he's a gentleman and we're close families.
Do you remember travelling to Luoyang with Emperor Wen...
...when Emperor Wu passed away?
Emperor Wen killed Wang Can's son.
Back then, Emperor Wu claimed...
...that he'd spare Wang Can's descendants...
...yet he praised over Emperor Wen's action.
So, are you following that example?
Back in the days...
...you'd break your leg to avoid him...
...but now you're acting just like him.
I remember that protecting our family...
...was your initial intention of entering the political arena...
...but now...
...our father is gone...
...Brother Lang is gone...
...Sister Chunhua is gone...
...and even Madam Bai is gone.
I just want to ask...
...if you still keep the original intention.
Well said.
You're still keeping your original intention.
Looking at you is like looking at...
...the simple and naive scholar...
...during the Monthly Review.
I'm glad that you've kept...
...the initial intention...
...for our family.
You want to leave me...
...don't you?
I just want to be...
...a minister of Wei.
Fine.
Go ahead.
Brother.
Aunt Xiao Yuan.
Lun.
You've come to your mother's. -Yes.
I miss my mother.
Azalea flowers are blooming again.
My mother...
...can't see it anymore.
Your mother...
...is prettier than the flower.
I'm sure she can see it in heaven.
By the way, Aunt Xiao Yuan.
I came back very late that day.
What did my mother say? -Which day...
...are you talking about?
I see.
That's all your mother said. She said it here, didn't she?
I'm just asking.
I'll bring the flower to your mother's room.
Brother. -Lun.
Don't be sad. You still have me. I'll look after you from now on.
Brother.
I'm not sad, but I'm scared.
What are you scared of? - What did my mother say...
...to our father?
I've a feeling that she knew it.
Do you know the key of our father's victory?
He can see through people's mind.
Do you think there's anything more important than you to your mother?
Even if she knew it, if you'd be hurt...
...by the matter, I'm sure she'll keep her lips tight.
Yet, I'm worried of a person.
Xiao Yuan?
Master, I had an unusual dream last night.
Interpret it for me.
What's in your dream?
I dreamt of Butcher Zhang in the market.
He's very old by now.
He died several years ago.
A dead person?
Butcher.
It's an omen.
Perhaps you're getting your retribution...
...after eating too much of meat.
No, he wasn't talking about meat.
He held my hand tightly...
...and asked, "Are you still missing my daughter?"
I said, "No...
...your daughter is married, and she's now a grandmother."
"I don't miss her anymore."
He stared at me and asked again...
..."You're getting old."
"It's time to take one step fuflher."
Master, where should I take my next step?
Hou Ji, you've been working...
...for my family for almost your entire life.
You cook for everyone...
...in the mansion.
In the kitchen...
...you steam, cook and slaughter.
It's just like a butchery.
I know the shaman...
...in Baima Temple.
I'll talk to him.
You'll become a monk over there.
Wait. Did I say I want to become a monk?
I never plan to live in the temple.
I think that's what your dream is indicating.
No.
You're losing your sense as you age.
Let me be honest with you. It's not a dream at all.
I don't want to become a monk. I want to get married.
I see.
Go and pack up.
We'll travel back to our hometown.
Why?
We're familiar with the people and place.
I might be able...
...to find someone with a child for you.
No, I can do it on my own.
We don't have to go to hometown. There's one in the courtyard.
In the courtyard?
Who is it?
Xiao Yuan.