Episode 14
Mr. Sima.
Greetings, Lady Zhen.
Please come with me. I have something to say to you.
Lady Zhen, we can talk here.
Young Master Zi Jian is left behind in Xudu.
Mother is missing him.
She begged father. But, father ignored her.
Mother said that if Zi Huan pleads with the king...
the king will summon Young Master Zi Jian to Yecheng.
But, I cannot say this to Zi Huan.
He buys your advice the most. Please persuade him.
What must you say behind my back?
I shall excuse myself.
- What did she tell you? - Lady Zhen said that...
the queen wants you to plead with the king...
to bring Young Master Zi Jian back.
Don't bring this up again.
Sir, Lady Zhen is right. The king wants you to...
get along with Young Master Zi Jian.
Unless you plead for Young Master Zi Jian...
the king has no excuse to summon Young Master Zi Jian.
Did Zi Jian plead for us when we were in the prison?
Did he plead for Liu Zhen?
My father has declared his kingship.
Why would he summon him at a time like this?
To let him compete with me of course.
Sir, you and Young Master Zi Jian...
are not kids fighting over their father's affection.
Both of you are princes.
You should seek to conquer lands and heads.
Will you become the heir...
just because you stay with your father every day?
Am I very childish to you?
Or must I do as you say all the time?
I didn't say so. -Who are you saying this for?
Zhen Fu or your brother?
Sir, what do you mean?
Even though my brother serves Young Master Zi Jian...
I've never forgotten my promise and responsibility.
If you want me to trust you, don't ever bring up Zi Jian...
and do whatever I want you to do.
Sir, I remember that back in the stable...
you told me that I do not need to be a slave.
I'm not saying that you're a slave.
But, don't forget what you need to do.
I understand. -What do you understand?
I shall excuse myself.
What do you understand? -I understand.
I need to leave. I have to go home and eat.
You just talked to Zhen Fu behind my back.
Don't forget what caused Liu Zhen's death.
I didn't lift my head.
Father, have you managed to catch a fish?
Yes. But, it escaped.
Father, why are you so stupid? You cannot even catch a fish.
Zhao Er, don't spout nonsense.
This might be a blessing in disguise. Understand?
I am stupid.
Shi Er, did you make this carriage?
You're good. This horse is nice too.
Father, this isn't a horse. It's a fish.
Isn't this a horse's leg? -No.
Since you can't catch a fish, I made a fish for you.
It looks like a horse's leg. -It's a fish.
Alright.
It looks like it's really a blessing in disguise for me.
Good morning. -Good morning.
Mr. Cui. Mr. Sima. Greetings, General Cao Pi.
How come Zhong Da isn't here today?
He asked me to...
apologise to you. He's sick. He can't come.
Alright.
He's only getting prouder.
Young Master Yi!
Madam Chun Hua wants you all to go back and eat.
Young Master Yi, can we have fish soup tonight?
Don't tell me you haven't even caught a fish.
I caught one. But, it ran away.
Hou Ji, come here. -Yes.
What we just said doesn't count now. Hou Ji.
Yes. -Look at this.
Is this a fish or a horse?
Young Master Yi, it's a horse.
Look! Uncle Hou Ji said it's a horse as well!
Father, this isn't a horse! It's a fish!
How come both of us think it looks like a horse?
Father, you're clueless and Uncle Hou Ji has small eyes.
Right. Adults like to point at a fish and call it a horse...
and vice versa.
This is a horse. -It's a fish!
It's a horse! -It's a fish!
Kneel!
Bow!
All hail the king! -Rise.
Rise!
Father, this park was built upon the emperor's order.
The construction was supervised by me.
Please check.
Is Mr. Xun Yu absent?
My lord, upon arriving in Yecheng...
my uncle caught a cold from the tiring journey and...
He was perfectly fine before this.
I'll send my private physician over.
Yes. -Bring me a brush!
Do you all know what this means?
My lord, should we tear down this door?
Registrar Yang, what is wrong with this door?
The word "live" written in the word "door"...
makes the word "wide".
The king is saying that this door is overly wide.
Shouldn't we reconstruct it?
He has a point.
Registrar Yang, your intelligence...
is probably unrivalled.
I'm flattered. This is just the meaning of the word.
The true meaning can only be deciphered by...
your son, Cao Zhi, Marquis of Pingyuan.
- What makes you say so? - Marquis of Pingyuan wrote this.
"The great conquest has been achieved."
"My family has fulfilled our wish."
"We spread the virtues across the nation...
and pay our respect to the supreme ruler."
This is the true meaning behind the king's word.
"The great conquest has been achieved."
"My family has fulfilled our wish."
It looks like Registrar Yang understands it very well too.
You have all my respect and loyalty.
My lord, Marquis of Pingyuan...
expressed his sincere feelings through this poem.
Please make a sound judgment.
Father, I have something to say. You have moved to the new capital.
There is much work to do for the country and family...
and I am concerned.
I'm afraid I can't handle everything alone.
I'll need Brother Zi Jian's help.
Please summon Zi Jian.
I have a pair of good sons indeed.
Open the door.
Uncle, you're ill.
Why don't you rest in your room?
The king's physician will arrive soon.
The king knows I'm sick? -Yes.
The king asked about your absence.
Uncle, the king is very concerned.
The king cannot cure my illness.
Uncle, ever since the king declared his sovereignty...
you have been ill.
It has been a long time since you last met the king.
The king is very paranoid.
This might worsen the misunderstanding.
Why don't you write a memorial to thank the king...
since he sent you a physician?
The king knows me well.
I do not need to express my feelings deliberately.
Uncle, I know that...
you do not agree with the king's elevation of status.
But, we have come to this point.
You cannot make a change alone.
I left Yuan Shao to serve Cao Cao...
"because in a long, dark night...
even the faintest light...
will make you pursue the source at all cost...
and Cao Cao was this light to me.
But now, 20 years have passed...
and the war has yet to come to an end.
Yet, heads are changing.
What exactly have I done in this lifetime?
Uncle.
You have been...
balancing the powers of the Han court and Cao Cao.
I know that it's been hard on you.
Uncle, don't be too hard on yourself.
What else did the king say?
Apart from summoning the Marquis of Pingyuan...
he did not say much. Upon passing through the door...
he wrote the word "live" on the door.
Only Yang Xiu guessed the meaning correctly.
"Live" in a "door" means "wide".
Yang Xiu is indeed exceptionally clever.
The king is saying that...
only those who pass through this door...
can live.
Father, you're back. -Where did you go?
I took the kids out for an excursion.
Marquis of Pingyuan is returning. - Did General Cao Pi plead for him?
Yes. -One must endure for success.
Father, I'm make a trip to General Cao Pi's residence.
Come back.
Zhong Da, are you determined to serve him?
Father, I have not chosen the wrong person.
That's not the point. The problem is Bo Da.
Bo Da is with Yang Xiu. He cannot protect himself.
Father, tell Brother Lang...
to obey all of Yang Xiu's instructions.
I will deal with the rest.
Zhong Da, I knew it since the beginning.
Yang Xiu is using Bo Da...
to threaten you. If Cao Zhi wins...
Yang Zhi won't spare you...
or let Bo Da have a share of the success.
If anything bad happens, he will use Bo Da as scapegoat.
The two of you will only live if Cao Pi wins.
For the sake of Bo Da's safety, we must let Cao Pi win.
I know. -Yang Xiu isn't our enemy.
The king is our enemy.
I understand.
I've eight sons. I don't want to lose any of you.
Father, please rest assured. You can count on me.
I shall excuse myself.
Zhong Da, how are you?
- I'm good. - I heard from your father that...
you are ill.
I merely made an excuse because I didn't want to go.
So, what's your excuse for coming over now?
Excuse is needed when one wishes to be absent.
One does not need an excuse to come as one follows the head.
I was petty. Please forgive me.
I am petty as well. Do not hesitate to tell me...
if I make mistakes again.
Come with me by then. -Where to?
To welcome Zi Jian. -Alright.
Is Cao Zhen going as well? -Go.
If that's the case, I'm not going.
I can't hold my liquor.
Young Master Zi Huan, avoid drinking too much...
when you meet Young Master Zi Jian.
Fine. You don't have to go. Cao Zhen might torture you.
Let's go in. My mother just granted me...
grapes from the Western Region.
Let's enjoy it together. -Grapes? Sure.
Grapes only? -There's food too.
That's great.
Zi Huan, is it really necessary to do this?
Enough. Let's just wait.
Zi Jian. -Brother Zi Huan.
Brother Zi Huan. -Zi Jian, you're back.
Brother Zi Dan.
Father and mother miss you a lot.
Why are you on your own? Where is your wife?
I was impatient. So, I went full speed ahead.
Their carriages are behind.
They'll arrive in 2-3 days. -Zi Jian.
You've been riding for 2-3 days. It's been hard on you.
You might not know, but Zi Huan...
was overjoyed to have you back. He couldn't sleep.
This exhaustion is nothing if it is to see my family.
The commissioner said that...
it was Brother Zi Huan who pled with father for me.
Thank you, Brother Zi Huan.
Don't mention it. We're brothers.
Mother misses you so much. I can't bear to let her feel sad.
I've disappointed father, mother and you.
Come. I prepared fine wine.
I've even heated it. Let's talk while we eat.
Come. -Zheng Li. De Zu.
Let's drink until we drop today.
Come. -Wait, Young Master Zi Jian.
This isn't a good idea. Think about it.
You rushed back because...
you can't wait to meet the king and queen, right?
They are waiting for you in the palace.
Brother Zi Huan took the trouble to come and welcome me.
I don't think this is a good idea. -Sir.
The king and queen can't wait to see you.
We can't let them wait. - Ding Yi, what are you saying?
Don't poke our nose in our business.
Don't be meddlesome. - Zi Dan, say no more.
They are right. Zi Jian, you can go.
Ah Wang.
Sir.
Mother and Zhen Fu made this for you.
Mother's eyes are failing her. So, she asked Zhen Fu to help.
The two of them spent a few nights sewing this.
Wear it on your way back. It's warm.
Sister Zhen Fu.
Mother and Sister Zhen Fu are so nice to me.
It's a pity that we've to waste the food and wine here.
Right. -Zi Jian, come on.
Zi Huan waited for you all day. -Go back without me.
I'm going to drink with them. -Come.
You'll stay with Young Master Zi Jian tonight.
- Take good care of him. - Please rest assured.
De Zu, this...
General Cao Pi, goodbye.
Sister Zhen, go in.
The little young master is looking for you.
Why aren't they back yet? Should we send someone to check?
The city gate has closed. No one can leave the city.
General Cao Pi and Marquis of Pingyuan...
will surely drink and feast together.
They should have checked into an inn by now.
Don't worry.
Maybe I worry too much.
I feel like something will happen...
now that Marquis of Pingyuan is back.
From Xudu to Yecheng, both of them have been...
"surrounded by conflicts and dangers.
They can't hide from it.
What happened to the brothers?
Cao Pi fooled Zi Jian so easily.
Zi Jian totally forgot who caused his misery.
Zi Jian isn't the one I'm worried about.
You mean, Cao Pi?
Yes. This man is way scarier than we thought.
He won't be so nice to plead for Zi Jian.
Is this a trap?
If they want a confrontation, we will play along.
Fill your cup! -Sir, you need to stop.
We need to go to the king. -Yes.
Thank you, Brother Zi Huan.
Father and mother are still waiting for me.
I need to go.
Sima Lang, get the carriage. -Yes, sir.
I shall excuse myself.
Zi Jian, it's so late already.
You'll make me worry if you go back at this hour.
L...
Young Master Zi Jian, I think the city gate is closed.
Why don't we stay in this inn tonight?
I'll send someone to prepare some hot water...
for you all to take a bath. -That won't do.
I can't keep father and mother waiting.
Go and prepare a bath.
I need to go, Brother Zi Huan. Let's drink together again.
Have a safe trip.
Stop right there! Who is this?
I am Sima Lang who serves the Marquis of Pingyuan.
The Marquis of Pingyuan needs to meet the king. Open the door.
No one can pass through the Outer Palace Gate...
at midnight without the emperor's order.
What's going on? -I'm sorry.
Mr. Sima, you must be drunk.
I'm sorry. I was careless.
Thank you for reminding. We shall excuse ourselves.
Turn around. Let's go. -Wait.
Young Master Zi Jian.
Why am I not allowed to pass?
We got the wrong gate. This is the Outer Palace Gate.
Who is so audacious? - Young Master Zi Jian.
We can't force our way through the Outer Palace Gate.
Move. -I just want to visit my father.
How am I intruding? Move.
The court has its own rules. I cannot make way.
You want to stop me? He has the guts to stop me.
Haven't you heard that my aide killed a guard of a gate before?
I cannot make way even if you threaten to kill me.
How dare you!
Aren't you Cui Shen? -Greetings, sir.
You are considered my relative.
We're one family. Do me a favour.
My father and mother have waited long in the palace.
Tonight, I am just the prefect of official carriages.
The law is absolute. This gate is only for...
the emperor and His Majesty's commissioner.
Please return. -How dare you!
Do you have any respect for my father?
Fine. I insist to pass through this gate today.
I'll find out if you're really so fearless!
Young Master Zi Jian! -Move!
Forcing our way through will be a serious offense!
Sir! Sir...
Sir, you can't force your way through this gate!
Guards!
Mr. Xun. -Go out and check.
Who is riding in the palace?
Is there an urgent military report?
Yes.
Who is it? Who is riding in the palace?
Report! Mr. Xun. -Speak.
It's Mr. Cao Zhi. He came in through the Outer Palace Gate.
Inform the king at once. -Yes.
Wait.
Forget it. Just wait outside.
Yes.
Get out!
Confine this bad son of mine!
Let him sober up in the Court of the Imperial Family!
Yes.
My lord, what did Zi Jian do?
What did he do? Last night, he forced his way...
into the palace through the Outer Palace Gate.
He... He must be too eager to see us.
The Outer Palace Gate is meant only for...
the emperor and His Majesty's commissioner.
Others are not allowed to ride through this passage.
Yet, he rode all the way into the palace.
This is a capital offense.
My lord, I beg of you!
He forced his way through the Outer Palace Gate at midnight...
and alarmed the whole palace.
I'm afraid the officials have all learnt about it.
What purpose does it serve to beg me?
You should beg them!
My lord, Zi Jian is your favourite son.
Don't you plan to make him your heir? You must save him.
My lord, you can't confine him in the Court of the Imperial Family.
Zi Jian will be a goner if you punish him according to law.
My lord.
We've lost Chong Er.
We can't lose Zi Jian as well. My lord.
My lord.
Stop crying-
You make me go soft.
Stand up.
Stand up!
Listen to me. My son...
cannot be set up just like this.
De Zu, what should we do?
I knew that something would happen.
Young Master Zi Jian is guilty of a capital offense.
Don't panic.
Who led the carriage to the Outer Palace Gate last night?
Sima Lang.
This is too vile!
Since it is a trap they set up, we can only play along.
You have a plan. -If I tell you that...
this has nothing to do with the Sima Brothers...
will you believe me? Will the king believe it?
We need to hold Sima Lang responsible. How brilliant.
Let's act separately. I'll tell Zi Jian what to say.
You'll talk to Cui Shen. - Cui Shen is very stubborn.
You must convince him at all cost.
This concerns Zi Jian's life.
Something so serious just happened.
Where do you think Cui Shen will go to?
It's time for drastic measures.
Zi Huan, cheers.
Cheers.
Zi Huan, this should conclude it all.
Zi Jian has seriously offended the Han officials.
He'll get into deep trouble.
Marquis of Pingyuan has always been an alcoholic.
This time, he finally committed a huge offense.
Now, the king will understand that...
Young Master Zi Jian is...
not fit to be his successor. -Yes.
Zhong Da, come here quickly.
Sir, am I late? -No.
They came early. Sit down.
Alright.
Why are we drinking early in the morning?
Is there a good news?
I need to thank you.
Zhong Da advised me to be cautious and diligent.
I didn't listen. I even called him a fool.
But now, I realised that he's right. He told me to...
fight for the right thing and not to win.
That was a wise move.
Zi Huan, why are you thanking him?
He didn't make Zi Jian barge past the Outer Palace Gate.
You should thank Yang Xiu for indulging Zi Jian.
Right? -General Cao Pi.
Did Young Master Zi Jian barge past the...
Outer Palace Gate? -Yes.
He got drunk and forced his way through the Outer Palace Gate.
That's not all. Sima Zhong Da.
Your brother was with Zi Jian last night.
They were together at the gate. Isn't it coincidental?
Sir, please let me take a leave.
Zi Huan, did you see that?
I told you that Zi Jian is the one he wishes to serve.
Enough. Sima Lang is his brother after all.
But, is his brother more important than you?
Let's drink.
Alright. Let's drink.
Cheers. -Come.
Is he awake? Brother Lang!
Water.
Brother Lang!
Did you come back with the Marquis of Pingyuan last night?
Did the two of you enter through the Outer Palace Gate?
Let me think. Yes, we committed the capital offense.
Why?
I couldn't stop him. -Whose idea is this?
Think, Brother Lang!
It was the Marquis of Pingyuan.
Is there a witness?
Cui Shen, the prefect of official carriages.
He tried to stop the marquis as well.
Brother Yi, this isn't Brother Lang's idea.
Brother Lang will be fine, right?
If General Cao Pi makes it worse for the Marquis of Pingyuan...
you will be the first one to die.
Now, only Cui Shen's testimony...
can save your life.
Where is Sima Lang?
Seize him!
The Marquis of Pingyuan is solely responsible...
for last night's incident. -Alright.
Don't tell others about this.
Rest assured, uncle. I know what to do.
Master, Mr. Ding Yi came.
What brought him over? -Go to the back.
Let him in. -Yes.
Good morning, Mr. Cui. -Mr. Ding, you rarely visit me.
We usually discuss about work in the office.
I'm not here for work-related matters.
This matter concerns you.
No, it concerns the whole Cui Family.
What's the matter? - Last night's incident...
has sparked a controversy. You don't have to feign ignorance.
Your nephew is involved in this case.
I cannot find him anywhere. So...
I came here to try my luck. -Mr. Ding.
Do you wish to enlighten me or my nephew?
"You did well."
"As time goes by, things will change."
Mr. Cui, I don't understand.
What will change?
This is Mr. Yang's handwriting. It looks like...
Yang Xun handed the letter to him.
Mr. Cui.
You probably thought you can afford to...
complain in your letter to Yang Xun...
because you recommended him.
But, would Yang Xun...
keep something so dangerous? -How despicable.
Yes. Despicable men...
all know that you are an honourable man.
But, when a gentleman tries to show his integrity...
he tends to forget that loose lips sink ships.
You made sarcastic remarks on Yang Xun's statement...
to congratulate the king on his enfeoffment.
And even cursed the nation.
Mr. Cui, there is a price to pay...
to be a real gentleman.
What do you want me to do?
We just want you to do what you should do...
and protect your son-in-law, Marquis of Pingyuan.
Let me guess. You want Cui Shen to lie about last night's incident...
and push the blame to Sima Lang.
This is something you should naturally do.
A gentleman has to lead by good example...
to avoid getting impeached. What say you?
If I'm afraid of blackmailing, I wouldn't be in this position.
Yes. I'm just an insignificant official.
Of course you won't be afraid.
But, if the king learns about it...
you know what the king will do.
This is treason.
You cannot afford to bear the consequences.