Episode 17
Don't give me that.
I know that you begged Mr. Xun Yu before.
Mr. Xun Yu is gone and I'm not as good as Mr. Xun Yu.
I don't have his courage. I still want to live on with...
the calligraphy works and inscriptions in my house.
Go home.
Mr. Ding, General Cao Pi has fainted.
Wake him up with water.
Mr. Ding, Mr. Zhong has set a rule.
The suspect must not be whipped for over 100 times...
and the whipping should stop if the suspect faints.
I'm the one in charge of this case.
The king pays special attention to this case of treason.
I want you all to wake him up!
Does it hurt?
My eye hurts.
Whip him! Continue to whip him!
Father, you must persuade Mr. Zhong to...
take over the interrogation of General Cao Pi.
Why must it be Zhong Yao?
Ding Yi and Yang Xiu are in cahoots.
If we allow Ding Yi to investigate...
General Cao Pi will surely lose.
If you save him, what about your brother?
We can't save Brother Lang unless we save General Cao Pi.
But, Zhong Yao converted to Wei from Han.
He won't listen to me.
He is too good at playing safe.
He might not want to intervene. -Father.
If Ding Yi continues to take charge...
General Cao Pi will be hopeless...
and Brother Lang will surely have to die.
Are you sure that we can save your brother...
if we manage to save General Cao Pi?
At this point, we have no other option.
The outcome of this matter...
does not just involve the fate of our family alone.
Alright. I'll go.
How come he suddenly fell sick? -My lord.
The little young master is still young and weak.
He is ill because of the distress accompanied by the cold.
Distress? Who gave him distress?
I was negligent. Please forgive me.
It's alright. Rise.
Yes.
Rui Er, don't be afraid.
I'm here for you. -Father.
Rui Er, be good. Grandfather loves you...
and your father. Your father will come back a few days later.
So, you must recover quickly.
Don't make your father sad, alright?
Father.
It's me, your grandfather. -Father.
It's me, your grandfather.
Father.
It's me, your grandfather.
Rui Er, are you afraid of bitter medicine?
No.
Good. Open your mouth.
Is it bitter?
Good. Come. Open your mouth.
Good boy.
My lord, I'd like to serve Young Master Zi Huan in the jail.
My lord, I know nothing about politics...
and I dare not plead for my husband.
But, Young Master Zi Jian loves to stay clean. Someone has to...
deliver some clothes to him.
Lady Zhen has to take care of Rui Er.
I'm the most useless person in this household.
Please let me go.
The Court of Judicial Review is a scary place.
It is said that even birds do not nestle there.
Are you sure you want to go? -Please allow me to...
stay with Young Master Zi Huan.
Ah Man, even law allows the family of the suspect...
to visit the suspect in the prison.
Even a vicious tiger will not eat its cubs.
My lord, Sima Yi came.
He picked a good time.
Let him in. -Yes.
You may rise.
Greetings, my lord.
I thought he ousted you.
He spared your life.
You sure have some guts to come back.
Even if I don't come, if General Cao Pi is convicted...
I'll be held responsible as well.
I'd like to die as a useful person.
My lord, please let me visit General Cao Pi in the prison.
What do you plan to say to him?
I'll tell General Cao Pi that...
if he is the one who wrote that letter...
he should confess and beg for your forgiveness.
If he did not write that letter, I will tell him...
not to give in and ruin his own reputation...
because I will prove his innocence...
even if it will cost my life.
Cost your life? Does your life matter to me?
There is no need to be concerned about my life.
But, please think twice about General Cao Pi's life...
and the position of the crown prince of Wei.
I'm innocent! -I'm innocent!
I'm innocent!
I'm innocent! -I'm innocent!
Sir.
Sir. -Sir.
Sir, wake up. -Sir.
Be gentler. -It's been hard on you.
Sir.
What are you doing here?
Brother Yi has never given up on you.
Sir, you must endure.
I will surely redress the injustice for you.
What is injustice? Injustice is when...
the subject must die as the ruler wishes...
and when the son must die as the father wishes.
I'm just returning my blood and flesh to him.
Sir, do you want to leave behind...
a bad name in history?
Have you forgotten what I told you at Ying River?
I still remember it clearly.
Fate is like the rough waves of an ocean.
Some rivers cannot be crossed.
I dragged you down. Leave.
Sir, please trust me again. You must trust yourself as well.
Sir, I'd like to borrow your blood-stained shin.
This... Is this Zi Huan's shirt? -Your Highness.
Ding Yi resents General Cao Pi...
"because he could not marry Ms. Cao.
He is abusing his authority for revenge. At this rate...
General Cao Pi might die.
Even if my son is guilty of a crime...
he should not be tortured and humiliated by an outsider!
Your Highness, please help him.
We haven't solved Zi Jian's problem...
and Zi Huan got thrown into the prison.
What happened to our family?
The Marquis of Pingyuan is protected by the king.
But, General Cao Pi might die. -Tell me then.
What should I do to save Zi Huan? Did he write that letter?
General Cao Pi has been a cautious and filial person.
He definitely did not write that letter.
I don't believe it as well. But, there's an evidence of it.
I can't convince the king. - If it is false accusation...
the truth will prevail if the case is investigated.
The key lies in the person investigating it.
To save General Cao Pi, we must let a fair person...
take charge of the case.
Who? -Zhong Yao, chief minister of...
the Court of Judicial Review.
That letter is the only evidence.
The handwritings of General Cao Pi and Xun Yu...
are on the letter.
The person who forged this evidence...
I mean, if that letter is fake...
the person who forged this evidence...
must be an extremely outstanding calligrapher...
who knows both General Cao Pi and Xun Yu...
and is able to obtain their works.
Could it be Yang Xiu?
He was not on good terms with Xun Yu.
He had no chance to enter Xun Yu's reading room.
It's hard to relate the case to him this time.
Not many...
can enter Xun Yu's reading room...
and imitate handwritings. -Yes.
It must be someone in the court
Yuan Chang, if you compare the handwritings in this letter...
with the works of all court officials, “...
do you think you can identify the writer?
Only the official in charge of this case...
can see that letter.
Brother, this is just a casual chat.
Forget about what I said. This is for your own good.
What if the king assigns you to investigate?
That won't happen. Ding Yi has been put in charge.
Will a dog let go of the bone in its mouth?
Yuan Chang, don't change the topic.
This case doesn't just concern Bo Da's fate...
and Zhong Da's future.
It concerns General Cao Pi and the position of the...
crown prince of Wei.
I should hold on as long as there are people...
who are concerned about me, right?
Brother Yi will surely save you.
When I face death, I finally realised that...
it is really meaningless to compete.
Bring me bamboo slips and a brush.
Write down what I say.
I want to write down the poems I composed over the few years.
You're injured. You shouldn't exhaust yourself.
Write it down before it's too late.
Am I being too greedy?
I want to leave behind something when I die.
"Literary works are the supreme achievement...
in the business of state...
and a splendor that does not decay."
"One's years stay for a while but then expire."
"One's fame and happiness die with the body."
“A time for both to end is inevitable.“
"How could they compare with the endlessness of literature?
Yuan Chang, this isn't just for my family!
This is for the sake of the peace in Wei!
Brother, please rise.
If you...
do not intervene at a time like this...
there will be a political disaster.
By then, the corrupt will be in power.
Is this something...
you wish to see?
The court cannot bear such internal conflict.
At this point...
we are cornered. -Brother.
If the king orders me to investigate this case...
and I get to see that letter, I am sure...
I will not make a wrong judgement.
We will be counting on you.
General Cao Pi, please come with me.
General Cao Pi was just tortured not long ago.
Even if it's law...
there should be an interval of 20 days.
Why is he interrogated again in just 2 days?
I don't know. I'm just ordered to escort General Cao Pi.
What nonsense is this? I'll go and reason with him.
It's alright. Don't give him a hard time.
Don't cry. It's embarrassing. Go.
Bring me that dark robe.
Don't worry.
I can take it.
Don't you trust your brother-in-law?
Stop crying. It's embarrassing.
- Mr. Zhong. - General Cao Pi, how are you?
Thank you for the concern. I am fine.
Sir, I'm ordered by the king...
to investigate this case. Please forgive me...
if I offend you. - If lam really guilty...
you do not need to do me any favour.
Sir, did you see the letter found in Mr. Xun Yu's room?
Yes.
Do you admit that the handwriting in it...
is the same as yours?
It's very similar. However...
it was not written by me.
Very similar? Did you see any difference between...
your handwriting and that handwriting?
No. So, the person who imitated my handwriting...
is extremely good.
Is your opinion on the king's sovereignty...
consistent with the content of the letter?
Every word in this letter...
is shallow.
They are just words of a despicable man...
who judges others with ill intention.
I've never thought of the same thing.
But, Emperor Gaozu said that...
only members of Liu Family can become sovereigns.
General Cao Pi, is it right for the king to...
declare his sovereignty? - This is exactly why...
I'm saying that the writer lacks knowledge.
His thought are confined within the words of Emperor Gaozu.
He did not analyse the current situation...
and the people's preference.
Mr. Zhong, today...
the Han society is about to collapse.
If my father did not turn the situation around...
by eliminating the rebels and warlords...
to save the emperor and establish the capital...
we will be in a hopeless situation today.
I fought alongside my father for over 20 years.
I saw how he suffered during the battles.
If it is the throne my father is after...
why did he have to lead the army in every battle...
and sacrifice my two elder brothers?
My father only wants to centralise everything, “...
so that it is easier to command the troops and people...
in battling Sun Quan and Liu Bei...
and restoring peace.
The person who wrote that letter...
is just trying to use my name...
to defame my father and accuse him of coveting the throne.
He is a despicable person.
I will report your answer to the king.
I will be troubling you.
Since you denied that you wrote this letter...
I will compare the handwritings carefully.
I will come and question you again if necessary.
Please go back and rest for now.
You may leave. -Yes.
- How's his injury? - According to the physician...
even though the external injuries are serious...
he willfully recover with a month's recuperation.
You said that torture is not necessary.
How do you plan to interrogate?
General Cao Pi refuses to admit it...
even after all the torture, is there a possibility that...
the letter was forged to frame General Cao Pi?
This person can imitate General Cao Pi...
and Xun Yu's handwritings.
In fact, he has access to Xun Yu's reading room.
I boldly guess that he is a member of the court
He is also an exceptional calligrapher...
who was on good terms with Xun Yu.
My lord, please allow me to examine the memorials...
and compare the handwritings. Perhaps...
I can find some clues.
Can you really tell by comparison?
A person's handwriting...
has its own special traits. The forgery will definitely...
lack something. There are over 500 words in this letter.
There might be some hidden clues. -You are in charge.
You can do as you see fit.
Mr. Zhong.
Do not be afraid of getting into trouble...
and do not attempt to read my mind. Just investigate.
He's coming.
This...
What are you all doing?
Mr. Zhong, we are all officials under General Cao Pi.
We heard that you have taken over his case.
So, we came to wait for your verdict.
This case cannot be concluded overnight.
Isn't it pointless to wait at the Court of Judicial Review?
Mr. Zhong, General Cao Pi is in the Court of Judicial Review.
It is our duty to wait here.
Please rest assured. We will abide by the rules.
We will not be a bother.
Come here.
What are you doing? Is this a protest?
Uncle, if you draw a conclusion...
we can make sure that everyone knows the truth.
You're pressuring me.
Uncle, I'm worried about you getting threatened by someone.
Advisor Xun, please don't put me in dilemma.
Mr. Zhong, my uncle has just passed away.
On behalf of Xun Family from Yingchuan...
I came to wait for your verdict.
If my uncle is guilty...
Xun Family is willing to accept punishment.
If my uncle is falsely accused...
please give Xun Family an answer.
Fine. Wait if you want.
We won't be giving out food though.
Thank you, Advisor Xun.
What did Mr. Zhong say? -He said he won't give out food.
Father, your office is messier than our reading room.
These are memorials written by all court officials. They were...
delivered from the palace last night.
We must finish examining them quickly...
to find the handwriting...
that matches the one in the letter.
Father, why are you asking me to help you in this case?
You're my son. Why do you have so much complaint?
Bring me a cushion. -Alright.
I bet...
you suspect every good calligrapher in the court
So, you picked a student with no rank or position like me.
The handwriting in that letter...
looks very similar to Cao Pi's handwriting.
However...
I have a memorial Cao Pi wrote in the past.
Look. He likes to write in "Flying White".
When he writes, he always adds a lift and a fork...
at the end of his stroke.
It's the same even when he writes in formal style.
But, the one in the letter is different.
It is just similar on the surface.
Why don't you tell the king directly?
- What do you think? - You're being careful.
Redressing the injustice might get someone into trouble.
Maybe the king himself doesn't want the truth to prevail.
Hopefully, this has nothing to do with the Marquis of Pingyuan.
Else...
I really don't know how to report to the king.
Father, are we still going to investigate this case?
Yes. Why not? Examine quickly.
Brother Yi.
- Why haven't you gone to bed? - I've been waiting for you.
- What's the matter? - I want to talk to you.
- What do you want to talk about? - Brother Yi.
I heard you all waited outside of the Court of Judicial Review.
Advisor Xun went as well.
This case involves too many powers.
On top of pressuring Mr. Zhong...
we must help him. -Mr. Zhong...
should be willing to help General Cao Pi, right?
This explains why he didn't oust you all.
Now that Mr. Zhong has replaced Ding Yi...
we have hope. General Cao Pi will also...
receive better treatment in the prison.
You all waited outside...
"because the king might favour Marquis of Pingyuan...
and hide the truth, right?
There are things you don't have to say out.
But, doing this means pressuring the king...
with public opinion.
The king will hold a grudge.
Since I'm determined to help General Cao Pi to be the heir...
of course I must remove all obstacles for him.
Brother Yi, I want to help you.
I want to help you to save Brother Lang.
How?
I want to become an official. -Shu Da.
Even if you become an official tomorrow...
can you play a significant role right away?
I think you are a kind and honest person.
You should do something...
that doesn't require you to go against your conscience.
You should do something better than being an official.
General Cao Pi is in jail. Ah Zhao must be worried sick.
Is she alright?
I'll recommend you to serve in General Cao Pi's office.
Sure. I intention to serve General Cao Pi as well.
Shu Da, Ah Zhao has married General Cao Pi.
When can you forget about Ah Zhao...
and work on your own future? Don't you know that...
it's useless to cry over spilled milk?
I only wish to love one person for a lifetime.
If General Cao Pi is the one for Ah Zhao...
and they will love each other for a lifetime...
how do you...
spend your life?
Are you cold?
No.
Let's sit here a little longer.
Alright.
Brother Yi, I find myself useless.
Many who find themselves useful...
don't do the right things.
To me...
you are the useful person.
Greetings, my lord.
How are you? -I am fine.
Father, I've realised my mistake.
I've really realised my mistake.
I've been sleepless. I must tell you the truth.
What truth?
The one who barged past the Outer Palace Gate...
was me and not Sima Lang.
I deceived you. Please punish me severely.
I'm glad you said it out.
Tricks are one thing...
and conscience is another thing.
I was right about you. - Father, I beg of you.
Please free Sima Lang.
Don't bring up this matter again.
I want to ask you another question.
Are you aware of the case of the letter Zi Huan wrote?
Yang Xiu brought it up when he visited me yesterday.
Yang Xiu?
This matter concerns your life, Cao Family...
and even the fate of the whole country.
No matter what, you must answer me honestly. Understand?
I dare not lie to you again.
Do you have anything to do with that letter...
found in Xun Yu's reading room?
No, father. Even if I wish to become the crown prince...
I won't use a dirty trick like that to frame my brother.
What about Yang Xiu? -He won't do that as well.
It's true that he's a little unrestraint.
But, I bet he won't have the guts to deceive the king.
Who did it then?
Is it really Zi Huan?
Father.
Must you get to the bottom of it?
What do you think? -Father.
Brother Zi Huan has always been filial and humble.
It's hard to convince people that...
he did something like this.
But, whoever the culprit is...
this case will ruin the relationship...
between you and Brother Zi Huan.
Why don't you just take it as a misunderstanding?
How childish of you.
Father, no matter who becomes the crown prince...
we're brothers. I really don't want to...
Stand up!
When will you understand my effort?
Do you really understand why I insist to let you...
fight for the position of the crown prince?
Why?
You like my talent.
What is even more important than talent...
is your kindness.
This is what I lack.
Confucius said, "if a true king were to arise, it would still...
take a generation for virtues to prevail.“
He was right about it.
I hope that decades later, your kindness...
will make the world understand...
the exploits of Cao Family.
I am sorry. I have indulged myself...
and failed you.
I'm not the one you failed. You failed yourself.
To realise a dream, you need strategies...
and political trickeries.
Your kind head alone is not enough.
After I die...
how will you establish yourself?
Father.
Is this really my only option?
I hope that...
after walking out of this place...
you will...
think about all these things.
Have some biscuits.
Thank you. -Thank you.
Here you go. Eat slowly.
Alright. -Brother, after you.
Do you want a biscuit? - Brother, you can have it.
No, you have it. -You have it.
It's just a biscuit. Don't worry.
Alright. Zhong Da. -There's still some.
Have some porridge. -No thanks.
"A fair maiden awaited me at the city gate."
Father, you've been working since last night. Eat something.
Father, what's wrong?
Have you found the one?
Father, let me take a look.
I'm not a member of the court I can be calmer.
Son, listen carefully.
The future of Zhong Family...
is your future.
You must make a decision yourself.
This time, I will let you decide.