Episode 29
Please read the decree.
Mr. Sima, please rise.
I dare not.
I am the decree itself.
What is the meaning of this decree?
The emperor wants me to stay by your side.
Isn't it obvious enough?
If you turn down the offer...
the existence of this decree will be meaningless.
I am a married man.
If I don't go home, my wife and children will worry.
I... I'm going home.
The city gate has closed and the horse carriage is gone.
Mr. Sima, you need to stay over tonight.
That's not a good idea. I...
I'll... I'll ask the emperor.
Do you intend to defy the emperor's order?
Before the next decree arrives, why don't you...
take things as they come?
Why is our Vice Censor-in-Chief so timid?
It's not like our lady is going to eat you up like a tiger.
Xiao Yuan.
I've prepared wine and food.
I believe you won't waste my effort
This way.
Come with us.
I prepared dinner in the pavilion. Please proceed.
I've heard that you're a good cook.
I hope you like these few dishes.
The pleasure of cooking lies in relieving pressure.
It's just my hobby. I won't call myself a good cook.
Why aren't you eating?
Are you worried about me spiking the food with poison?
No.
I cooked these dishes for you personally.
Please try.
Alright. Please help yourself as well.
What do you think?
I'm impressed.
How is it compared to your wife's dish?
I often cook with my wife. So, she knows my preference.
Both of you are equally good.
Mrs. Sima is so lucky.
Not many commoners are willing to help their wives...
with the household chores like you...
let alone the impoflant officials.
I'm flattered.
Since we're husband and wife, we should respect each other.
Sharing the workload should be an enjoyment.
It's not worth mentioning.
Speaking of Mrs. Sima, I heard that...
she used to be a wandering heroine.
How did a scholar like you meet a woman like her?
Judging from your speech, you must be an educated person.
Let's not talk about my family stories.
I'm just curious because I heard that...
you're afraid of your wife.
I'm not trying to pry into your past.
I'm just doing my job. Please don't be angry with me.
Let's have a toast.
Xiao Yuan, pour wine for Mr. Sima.
Mr. Sima.
My wife and I came from the same place.
We've been married for 20 years.
When she was a teenager...
she loved to wear her Armour and carry a sword.
She was nicknamed "Feisty Chun".
After marrying me...
she stopped getting involved in fights.
She gave all her attention to our family.
There's nothing special about our relationship.
If I must say something, I'll say that...
it's a bond too strong to break.
Others say I'm afraid of her. But, I see it as my love for her.
A bond too strong to break.
Mr. Sima, drink some warm soup.
Else, the soup will turn cold.
Young lady, even though you are a good cook...
this meal is tasteless to me.
Please tell the emperor to...
let me go home earlier.
Don't be so impatient.
You should eat more.
After a few days...
I'll prepare some dishes from my hometown for you.
How many days do I have to stay here?
I'm not sure.
It's up to the emperor.
Mr. Sima, please eat.
Zi Dan. -What brought you over?
Here. Read this.
Sima Yi did not enter Yecheng after returning.
Strangely, the emperor gave him an extraordinary woman.
He's busy enjoying the company of that woman now.
I don't get it. ls the emperor rewarding him or...
ls Sima Yi a lustful man? -No.
That explains it all. Bo Ren.
You underestimated the emperor.
Zi Dan, are you saying that the emperor doesn't trust him?
As I said, it's unwise for...
an outsider to sow discord in another's family.
I'm right about it. But, speaking of this...
I'm reminded of something.
I heard that Duke of Shanyang has two princesses...
and they are very pretty. - Do you intend to send them...
to the emperor? But, will he accept them?
Previously, in order to please his father, the emperor...
suppressed his desires.
Now, it's time for him to relax.
Besides, how can he reject my gift?
Zi Dan, the emperor is a clever man.
We must not go too far in certain things.
Bo Ren, your son is right.
The emperor is becoming more and more like his father.
Mr. Sima, you have travelled a long journey today.
Please take a bath here later...
and rest here tonight.
Young lady, please return.
What are you doing?
Are you stupid? I'm sewing you.
Why is she so reckless?
Xiao Yuan, you may retire. -Yes.
Young lady, although I dare not assume the emperor's intention...
I don't think...
this is the case.
Let me say a few words...
and you will know that it is the case.
Please go ahead. -Don't you know that...
the emperor is worried about you?
Why? -In the past, Qin Shi Huang...
gave Wang Jian an army of 600,000 soldiers to attack Chu.
Before departure, Wang Jian asked for...
farmlands and luxury mansions from Qin Shi Huang...
in order to show that...
he desires only wealth and not power.
Now, your situation is worse than that of Wang Jian.
Yet, you cannot damage your own reputation with wealth...
because if you do $0...
you'll lose the support of the scholars.
In this case, what can you do to protect yourself?
So, the emperor sent you. -Yes.
This is already the smallest price.
You can protect your reputation...
while assuring the emperor. Isn't this a good idea?
Young lady.
I'm truly loyal to the emperor.
There is no need to test me.
Aren't you afraid of calumny...
now that you have risen to a high position?
The emperor and I know each other very well.
The emperor treats me like his brother...
and I treat the emperor like my confidant.
I'm not afraid of dirty tricks.
Mr. Sima, are you saying that...
I'm scarier than calumny?
No.
I have my own principles.
One mistake will get me into deep trouble.
Alright. Since you don't wish to bathe...
what about going to bed early? -Please help yourself.
Mr. Sima, please proceed.
Young lady, please return.
Mr. Sima, aren't you giving me a hard time?
This is for your own good. You are such a good woman.
If you insist...
to do it...
you'll get into trouble because of me.
If you don't do this and this...
you'll really get me into trouble.
Young lady, we just need to put up an act.
There's no need to be serious.
You just have to tell the emperor that...
I'm truly loyal to him. What do you think?
The emperor knows. That's why he ordered me to...
spend the night with you.
Nonsense. Which ruler interferes in his subject's...
romantic relationship?
Does the emperor have nothing better to do?
Mr. Sima, please watch your word.
I've known the emperor for a long time.
His Majesty has been wise and brave since his younger days.
He won't do something...
so absurd. -Alright.
I'll show you the absurdity.
Sima Yi, receive the imperial decree.
Where's the decree?
I humbly receive the decree.
Mr. Sima, didn't you just say that...
the emperor is your brother and confidant?
Do you want to guess what is written on the decree?
I don't know. Please tell me.
Isn't it absurd?
"Conquer and return"
Long live Your Majesty.
Mr. Sima, accept the decree.
I cannot accept this decree.
Mr. Sima, you must not say the word "defy".
Your Majesty, I, Sima Yi...
have just been released from the prison.
I have spent days writing the new policies.
I am also exhausted from all the travelling.
Even if I wish to...
I am not in the condition to do as ordered...
and spend the night with the commissioner.
Your Majesty.
Please be understanding.
Mr. Sima, I don't think you're not in the condition.
You're just not in the mood tonight.
Forget it. I won't force you.
I've a suggestion. Why don't you do as ordered...
and bathe and sleep on your own?
Is this fine? -Sure.
It's alright. Get up. Rise.
We still have time.
Conquer and return.
Keep an eye on him. If anything goes wrong...
repol1 to Ms. Bai and me. -Yes!
Your mission of monitoring Mr. Sima tonight is cancelled.
The two of you may retire. -Yes!
Cancelled? That means no one will be watching over him.
Don't worry. I know what to do.
But, Sima Yi is such a blockhead.
He rejected you even after you persuaded him.
I think he's quite interesting.
If he doesn't reject me tonight...
it'll be disgusting.
His disinterest makes him worthy.
Should we report this to the emperor?
Xiao Yuan, have I gotten fat?
I think it's better to be slimmer, right?
Young lady, you... -It's alright.
You've worked hard today. Go and get some rest.
Yes.
Conquer and return.
How absurd.
Uncle Fu. -Uncle Fu.
Sister Chun Hua. -Where's Zhong Da?
Why isn't he back with you?
Brother Yi isn't back yet? He departed ahead of me.
My father isn't back. There's no letter either.
We thought he's with the emperor's entourage.
Sister Chun Hua, Brother Yi departed with...
the guards sent by the emperor.
He should be alright. I'll go and ask the Secretariat.
They can't lose their Vice Censor-in-Chief.
Mother, don't worry. I'll ask Uncle Chen Qun.
Alright. -If he's guarded by...
the men sent by the emperor...
let's ask the emperor. -Who do you take the emperor for?
Mother, I'll go now. -Go.
I know you want to prove your loyalty to the emperor.
But, you don't have to wake so early to write a memorial.
I'm writing a memorial to request that the emperor...
release me.
Do you hate me so much that...
you want to leave as soon as possible?
Please don't misunderstand.
Even if the emperor wants to confine me here...
there has to be a limit.
How many days do I have to stay here?
Setting aside my family matters...
I still have a lot of work to do.
I can't stay here forever.
Are you referring to the new policies?
I've read your new policies.
I've some humble opinions to offer.
The emperor showed you the new policies?
The emperor wants me to understand you.
The new policies...
are just a pan of my work.
They have nothing to do with me as an individual.
"A gentleman is concerned with righteousness...
while a despicable man is concerned with benefits."
You're a wise man.
The new policies you work hard to implement...
are both righteous...
and beneficial.
I'm flattered.
From the perspective of fairness, the Nine-Rank System...
is a huge encouragement to the scholars.
The scholars of Wei are excited about the new policies.
As such, when the emperor replaced the emperor of Han...
only a few former Han officials objected to it.
This is completely different...
compared to the late emperor's case...
when even Xun Yu objected to it.
It's all thanks to you.
You're intelligent.
The righteousness is for strengthening the country...
and it is the emperor the new policies will benefit.
This is what the people desire. I dare not claim credit for it.
From the perspective of benefits...
you and Chen Qun became the leaders of the scholars.
From now on, talents of the nation...
will all be your aides.
This is the benefit.
You are wrong. The talents of the nation...
belong to the emperor. I swear to heaven that...
the new policies are meant to benefit the country.
When the country is strong and prosperous enough...
I will leave with my wife and children...
to retire to seclusion and travel around the world.
One honest opinion frightened you to this state.
Mr. Sima, you are going to do great things.
How can you succeed without followers?
You're wrong. You don't know me.
But, the emperor knows me.
Every day, after the court meeting...
I go home immediately.
I never form a clique or socialise.
Enough. At this rate...
you'll be even more desperate to go home.
I've a suggestion.
Since you love to write memorials...
I'll accompany you.
Xiao Yuan, prepare some food. -Yes.
Since the memorials you wrote...
won't be seen by the emperor so soon...
why don't you write and let me comment?
If I make a wrong remark...
you may punish me. -Young lady.
At this rate, things will go wrong.
What will go wrong?
How come I don't understand?
Mr. Sima, are you having dirty thoughts?
I'm saying that...
if we live together for too long...
your reputation will be ruined.
Mr. Sima, you wrote a wrong word. -Which word?
The word "utterly" in "utterly grateful".
There's one extra dot.
I'll correct it.
Welcome back, Your Majesty.
Long live Your Majesty.
Rise. -Thank you, Your Majesty.
Rui Er, it's been half a year.
You're so tall already. Are you studying properly?
Father, I've finished studying the Four Books.
I'm studying "Classic of Poetry"...
and "I-Ching" now. -Good.
"One cannot develop good speech if one does not study poetry."
Dong Xiang.
You may study with your brother as well.
Father, mother teaches me poetry better than brother's teacher.
I know. Your mother is a talented woman.
Alright. Go back.
I'm tired. Once I'm free, I'll test the two of you.
Ah Zhao, stay.
Rui Er, let's go.
You didn't want to stay?
Of course not.
I can tell.
Give birth to a son for me quickly...
so that I can make you the empress.
Your Majesty, Lady Zhen is your official wife.
You can't disregard the rites.
Let's talk about it later.
Your Majesty, I'd like to...
make a request.
That'll depend on my mood.
Your Majesty, can you tell me...
Mr. Sima Yi's location?
Are you asking for that sister of yours?
She only learnt that Brother Yi is missing yesterday.
She has been sleepless.
Your Majesty, do you have any idea?
Your surname is "Guo" and her surname is "Zhang".
How is she your elder sister?
Sister Chun Hua saved my life and raised me.
Eastern Han collapsed because of...
the eunuchs and relatives of the empresses.
I've restrained the eunuchs.
Now, I've to restrain my relatives as well.
You're my woman. You should forget about your past.
I don't want you to have a Vice Censor-in-Chief...
as your brother-in-law.
Your Majesty, I won't interfere in state affairs.
But, this time...
please tell me Brother Yi's whereabouts.
If you tell Zhang Chun Hua...
don't stay with me tonight. You may choose.
Your Majesty.
Are you serious? -A ruler does not lie.
Your Majesty, my sister is worried sick.
Please allow me to tell her.
Go.
Mr. Sima, did you rest well as ordered last night?
I slept well and bathed as ordered.
Did you pass the memorial I handed to you to the emperor?
Did the emperor read it?
I've sent it over. But, I don't know...
when the emperor will read it. What's the matter?
Don't tell me you plan to send a memorial a day...
to request to return.
There's a lot of work to do in implementing the new policies.
Yet, I'm enjoying life here.
I'm really worried. -Mr. Sima, you're so hardworking.
But, speaking of the new policies...
I have some humble opinions.
Would you care to listen? -I'm all ears.
Please sit down. -After you.
Mr. Sima, please sit down.
Your new policies...
encourage the scholars by using background as...
one of the criteria of selection.
It's true that background is impoflant.
But, this policy has two cons.
Firstly, the selection of talents...
"lends to be monopolised by scholar-official families.
Children from poor families will have a hard time advancing.
Secondly, it tends to produce powerful officials...
who expand the influence of their families.
You must be cautious.
Your words enlightened me.
I'm thankful for the emperor's advice.
I will exercise caution and keep that in mind.
What makes you think that this is the emperor's opinion?
Is it not the emperor's advice? - It's just my personal opinion.
I just want to remind you not to neglect the poor students.
Young lady, you are more intelligent than...
ordinary officials.
Alright. Be it...
a candidate from a poor or prominent family...
I will be fair to all.
Please inform the emperor that...
I will not mistreat the poor students...
or form a clique. -Mr. Sima, you should just...
follow your conscience.
Speaking of my job, ___
I really want to go back and check...
if any of those scholars is from a poor family.
I'm so worried.
Mr. Sima, you just want to leave.
If you can face all the conflicts in the court calmly...
why is it that you are so restless at my place?
To be frank, even though I'm safe and sound here...
my family must be worried sick.
If that's the case, I've a way to calm you down.
There's a new decree? - Please come with me.
"You should not cross the river."
"Yet, you crossed the river."
How many people in this world can survive the river?
May you go against the current...
and cross the river safely.
Why are you playing this song?
The emperor told me that you know this song very well.
Please guide me.
I'm feeling very restless now. I'm not in the mood to play it.
Music can reveal a person's inner feelings.
The emperor wants to know your inner feelings as well.
My feeling towards the emperor...
is as clear as water.
As clear as water? This was said by Zheng Chong...
during the reign of Emperor Ai of Han. As for you...
whether your head is as calm as water...
or as violent as a storm...
you need to let me listen.
Is this the emperor's order as well?
What do you think?
Is there a decree beneath the zither?
I will wait patiently and calmly. Please go ahead.
Please make way. -I want to see your fingering.
You can check afterwards.
The emperor really pays attention to the details.
But, he's surprisingly childish.
And has nothing better to do? -I dare not say that.
I'll play the zither.
What are you doing? -Move!
Sima Yi, what are you doing?
Playing the zither.
You spent the past few days playing the zither with her?
My dear, there is a decree beneath this zither.
Where's the decree?
Where's the decree? -I didn't say there's one.
Who is she? -My dear, let's go home first.
Who is she? -Let's talk at home.
This is a private bath the emperor granted Mr. Sima.
Mrs. Sima, you shouldn't behave like this.
I'm punishing my husband and it's none of your business.
Who are you?
I'm the woman the emperor... - Let's talk at home!
My dear, let's talk at home. -Let her finish!
Let's talk at home. -What are you doing?
Listen to me. -Don't drag me!
Ms. Bai, do we let him leave just like this?
This is just the beginning.
A decree under the zither? You're good at making up stories.
Fine. Go ahead.
I was tricked by that woman as well.
But, on the first night, there was really a decree...
in the room with a pool and a bed.
You bathed and slept with her?
My dear, if you're so worked up, how can I explain to you properly?
It's a long story. The emperor did issue a decree and...
ordered me to stay with her. -Nonsense!
The emperor ordered you to bathe and sleep with her...
and you really did it? -My dear.
Of course I won't do something so despicable!
I'm saying that this woman is no ordinary woman!
The emperor sent this woman...
to spy on me! -What nonsense are you saying?
Father. Mother.
Father, what are you doing? -Your mother...
dropped a bodkin. It's the jade bodkin, right?
Yes! Have you found it? -I'll find it soon.
Where is it? -I'm looking for it.
Shi Er, what brought you over? -Father, it's about you.
This is my opinion. You and mother...
have gone through 20 years of ups and downs together.
We can't let another woman enter our family.
See? That's my good son.
Don't worry, Shi Er. I won't betray your mother.
This should not be made known. Don't spread it in the household.
I will handle this matter with care.
Close the door, Shi Er. - Alright. I shall excuse myself.
Why would an emperor force his subject to sleep with a woman?
What's written on the decree?
Did he specifically order you to bathe and sleep with her?
My dear, why must you say all those unpleasant words?
The emperor is an educated man.
He won't write something so unrefined.
What did he write then? -He wrote "conquer and return".
Conquer what?
Fight with her on the bed? What do you want?
Make babies with her?
Am I a man like that?
I rejected her! I told that woman that...
I'm not in the condition! - What if you're in the condition?
Do you secretly like it?
Speak! Your children are going to be adults soon!
Do you find me too old now?
Father. Mother. Father, what are you doing?
I'm looking for your mother's bodkin.
Is it the jade bodkin?
Yes! Where is it?