Episode 35
Master!
The emperor has arrived to mourn!
Sima Yi! I'm going to kill you!
Guards!
Seize him.
Zi Lin!
Your Majesty.
Please redress the injustice for my father-in-law.
Please redress the injustice for Old General Xiahou.
Sister, please rise.
General Xiahou, are you not going to...
let me pay my respect to your father?
I dare not. I only ask of Your Majesty to...
kill Sima Yi in honour of my late father!
Your Majesty, that day...
Sima Yi and Old General Xiahou were alone.
Sima Yi knew that Old General Xiahou was sick.
Yet, he angered him and caused his death.
Please redress the injustice for Old General Xiahou.
Old General Xiahou contributed greatly to...
the founding of this empire.
He's also my uncle.
We're one family. Can't you all be honest?
Zi Lin, it's true that Old General Xiahou...
collapsed in Mr. Sima's residence.
But, as his son, don't you know his condition...
before he went to Sima Family's residence?
The imperial physician said that my uncle died because of stroke.
It's not caused by others.
Your Majesty, my father obviously died because...
Sima Yi put him in distress!
Zi Lin! Don't let others make use of you.
So, am I not allowed to pay my last respect to my uncle?
We dare not!
Bring me the mourning band.
Old General Xiahou, that day...
before you left, you asked me about...
my comment on you.
I said that you are a man of integrity...
who is not greedy for wealth and properties.
When I think back today...
I feel very, very regretful.
The words I said that day are not enough to describe...
your lifetime of loyalty.
You died worrying about the country.
You did not get to see the...
unification of the Nine Provinces...
and the prosperity of Wei.
As another official of Wei myself...
I am very, very ashamed.
Today, I apologise before your memorial tablet.
I swear to god that...
if I ever harbour the slightest disrespect...
towards Old General Xiahou...
or disloyalty to Wei...
I will pay with my life.
Old General Xiahou!
Allow me to kowtow to you!
Did you all hear that?
The country is currently facing a lot of challenges.
This isn't the time to fight among ourselves.
I grant Old General Xiahou...
the posthumous title of "Marquis of Loyalty".
There will never be...
another loyal official like him!
Father!
Father! -Father!
Uncle! -Father!
Uncle!
Speak. What's the matter?
Since Your Majesty asked...
I'll be frank. Your Majesty.
Our elder brothers are saying that...
you are taking sides with the scholar-officials...
and suppressing your relatives.
I told them that it's because Sima Yi is...
threatening you with the criticism of the scholars.
Am I right, Your Majesty?
The outcome is the same. Will the reason make a difference?
Your Majesty, of course it will make a difference.
If that's the case, our uncles and brothers...
can wait. They can wait until there is loyalty in the people...
and wait for Your Majesty to dismiss Sima Yi...
and abolish the new policies.
For the sake of the people's loyalty...
and the conquest of Wei...
I can even sacrifice my own life.
Don't you know, Zi Dan?
Your Majesty, to be honest, there were many, many times...
I didn't dare to trust you anymore.
Because Your Majesty is now the emperor...
and emperors employ tricks.
But, each time I thought $0...
I would flip through your "On Standards of Literature".
Your Majesty wrote this.
"During my late teenage years...
in spring when the weather is clear and fine...
I used to hunt in the west of Yecheng...
with my brother, Zi Dan."
"We could return with 9 moose...
and 30 pheasants and hares."
Those were the good old days.
But, we can't go back. Zi Dan.
This world isn't our hunting ground.
Liu Bei and Sun Quan are not the moose, pheasants or hares...
at our mercy. As the emperor...
my feelings are no longer so impoflant.
What is impoflant is the big picture.
If the big picture means...
allowing Sima Yi to suppress our clans...
aren't the sentiments of the 400,000 soldiers...
and the loyalty of Cao Family and Xiahou Family...
a pan of the big picture as well?
The Vice Censor-in-Chief, Sima Yi, has come.
Sima Yi, transfer Deng Ai back.
Your Majesty, I'd rather you...
grant me death in honour of General Xiahou Dun.
The new policies must not be abolished.
This is just temporary.
The soldiers respect Old General Xiahou very much.
There are rumours about you and Deng Ai causing his death.
If someone kills Deng Ai out of anger...
I won't be able to do anything.
Deng Ai plans to build another agro-colony at Shouchun, right?
Let him go to Shouchun. We all should not attempt to...
change Qiao County again.
Your Majesty, are we going to let half a year of hard work...
go to waste?
It can't be helped since Old General Xiahou...
passed away in front of your house.
I wish god can lend me a hand...
and let me unify the lands as soon as possible.
I failed Your Majesty.
Don't you want to know what I plan to do with you now?
I will always obey Your Majesty.
Please punish me.
Eliminate the rebels for me. Leave Yecheng.
Leave this land of conflicts.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
The troops in Qingxu are former Yellow Turban troops...
that surrendered to the late emperor back then.
They've always been independent. They only obey the late emperor.
The rebellion of Licheng is caused by the emperor's...
attempt to weaken the sovereigns.
You must be very careful.
Don't confront them so soon. Try your best to appease them.
Suppress this rebellion first.
When the problem in the court is solved, “...
we can deal with the external threats in assurance.
We can only continue to feed and please...
these arrogant soldiers and generals.
Once the country is strong enough...
we can divide and rule. Do not be impatient...
and attempt to settle it over a battle.
I will keep your advice in mind.
Yes, father. Brother Yi is the most timid one among us.
Listen to father. Avoid confrontation.
I know that you are trying to do great things.
That's why you're constantly in danger.
I've never expected it to be smooth-sailing for you.
But, I hope you can learn to protect yourself.
I'm still hoping that...
I can see you again. - Father, please rest assured.
Violence is my last resort
In war, it's best to win through mind games.
If a fight can be avoided, why not?
Father, if I lose, please beat me when I return.
I'm too old to beat you.
You've only joined as an advisor before.
You've never led an army personally.
Is the emperor actually trying to kill you?
My dear, the emperor is doing his best to protect me.
Protect you? If that's the case, he wouldn't...
choose Qingxu which even his father gave up on.
Those are the former Yellow Turban troops.
They've been on the loose for...
more than 20 years. ls this how he protects you?
He's clearly trying to kill you to please his uncles and brothers.
The emperor has no choice. Think about it.
The generals of Cao Family are agitated and angry now.
Will they be satisfied if I am sent to a peaceful place?
Going to Qingxu is better than staying in Yecheng.
My dear, you need to be careful while I am away.
Remind Shi Er and Zhao Er to avoid going out.
You're not taking me along? -This is real war.
If you go with me, who will take care of father?
Are you going to bring her along?
I know. You want to assure the emperor.
It's not that I want to take her along.
It's just that the emperor will surely order her to go.
Please rest assured. I will be another Zhan Huo.
Come back alive.
Other things don't matter to me.
Ms. Ling Yun, you've never travelled far.
Please take me along and let me serve you.
No. You need to stay for your mission.
Xiao Yuan, I'm going to war, not an excursion.
What's with the two big bags?
Yes. Why won't you let me go when it's so dangerous?
Besides, I can't let that tigress bully you.
"Matron". How many times have I reminded you?
How can you call her that?
Fine. "Matron". -Also, who says she's going?
Master isn't taking her along?
Only me and him.
You'll stay and look after the western chamber. Get it?
Please rest assured and leave the western chamber to me.
Only you and him. So, the two of you...
can get all lovey-dovey.
Take this!
I'm sorry. I'll go and pack for you.
Take this seal.
You can use it to send reports to me.
Report on the battle and Sima Yi's behaviour...
once every day. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Rise.
You must be happy now. You can spend...
all your time with Sima Yi every day.
It's all thanks to Your Majesty.
I have a question. Will Sima Yi be safe...
after leaving Yecheng?
Can Your Majesty grant me this happiness?
Do you know Jia Yi's "Rhapsody of Owl"?
“Heaven and earth are a crucible...
and the creator is the smith."
"Yin and Yang are the charcoal...
and living creatures are the bronze."
"Combing, scattering, waning, waxing, where is any pattern?"
All of us are in this crucible.
Even I cannot guarantee my own happiness.
Let alone you and him.
Go.
Kill.
Kill. -Your Majesty.
Were you dreaming?
What did you see?
I... I dreamt of many past incidents.
Did I hand my military power to the wrong person?
Sleep without me. I want to go out for a walk.
Your Highness, Ji Bu of the Bureau of Investigation is here.
Alright. You may retire.
Yes.
Greetings, Your Highness. -Rise.
I'm not meeting you as an imperial consort today.
I'd like to make a request as Guo Zhao.
Please go ahead. -Brother Ji, can you...
take a break from work? - I can apply for a leave.
Thank god. I'd like to ask of you to...
protect Brother Yi covertly.
I'm worried about that female spy.
But, you must be very cautious.
Don't let Brother Yi or the emperor notice you.
If the emperor learns that I sent you...
he'll punish me again. - Please rest assured.
But... -But what?
If that woman harbours ill intention...
isn't Madam Chun Hua...
in a more dangerous situation? -I'm worried about...
my sister being reckless too.
Excellent. No wonder...
the emperor mentioned only about hunting with you in...
"On Standards of Literature".
But, he's the emperor now and he can't play with us anymore.
Uncle Zi Lian, it's not the company of the emperor you desire.
You desire to make this land your hunting ground forever.
Right. Zi Dan, those civil officials...
always write "everlasting reign"...
in their memorials. But, shouldn't they think of...
the people who fought hard to build this empire?
Sima Yi is just a scholar. Do you think he can win this time?
Uncle Zi Lian, Qingxu is a place...
even the late emperor gave up on.
Sima Yi alone can't win if they settle it over a fight.
So, you're saying that he'll surely die?
But, what if...
he can win without fighting? - How can he win without a fight?
Uncle, Sima Yi is very sly and deceptive.
He's good at using psychological tricks.
What if he manages to make the rebels surrender...
without bloodshed?
What should we do? Instead of killing him...
we'll make him meritorious. We won't benefit from it at all.
He can dream on. Uncle Zi Lian.
Have you noticed? How long has it been...
since Sima Fang last attended the court meeting?
I think he has been absent for 3 months.
He's just a dying old man.
Will he make a difference?
Uncle, you can't say that.
My housekeeper investigated for me.
Sima Yi's old man is out of time.
He's out of time? -You still don't get it?
I get it. You're saying that...
if his father is dead, Sima Yi has to resign and mourn.
Yes.
Uncle, that'll be 3 years.
As long as Sima Yi isn't around, in 3 years...
we can change the entire political situation.
Father, you can't come out.
Don't help me. Let me walk on my own.
Can't you wait until you get better?
No. Don't help me.
I can't lie in the bed all the time.
Else, I'll never be able to get up again.
I need to let the people who are waiting for me to die...
see that I am alive and healthy.
Is there any news of Zhong Da? Have they engaged?
Brother Yi said in his letter that he hasn't reached Licheng.
You're even more anxious than him. -I'm not anxious.
I'm worried. -Worried?
Father, will things get better if Brother Yi wins?
Zhong Da wants to be the leader of the scholar-officials.
His battle against the nobles will never end.
But, if he takes one wrong step, we'll be doomed.
So, I can't die. -Father.
I need to live on properly.
I must not die. Once I die...
they'll force Zhong Da to return...
and mourn. -Father.
Don't imagine things. You'll surely recover...
with recuperation.
When Brother Yi returns triumphant...
we can celebrate our family's reunion again.
Since the day Zhong Da left, this family is no longer complete.
No more. Grandfather! Uncle Fu!
Grandfather! Uncle Fu!
Shi Er. Zhao Er. Grandfather, you can walk now!
Yes.
Zhao Er. -It's alright.
Grandfather, have you recovered?
I feel better now. The weather is fine today.
So, I came out for a walk. Grandfather.
Brother Shi and I caught many pheasants to cook soup for you.
It looks like I am in luck thanks to Shi Er and Zhao Er.
Zhao Er and I shall pass the preys to mother first.
Alright. Go.
Wait for me, Brother Shi. - My two precious grandsons.
Shi Er has grown up.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Old Mr. Sima, please rise.
Old Mr. Sima, the emperor ordered you to rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, I came to make a request today.
Do you want me to summon Sima Yi?
Yes...
and no. -Then...
what exactly is your request?
I dare be dishonest.
I'm near the end of my time.
Old Mr. Sima, aren't you very fit all along?
Your Majesty.
Mortals have limited lifespan.
I've gone through various hardships in life.
War, separation and false accusation.
I'm fortunate to be able to die at a peaceful time.
I'm not afraid of death. But, Zhong Da is a filial son.
If I die, he must return and resign to mourn.
That will make my family the sinners of the country.
Old Mr. Sima, please rise. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Please keep this.
If I die, please hand this to Zhong Da.
Tell him to prioritise the country...
"instead of blindly abiding by the rites.
Old Mr. Sima.
You are truly an honourable man. Thank you.
Your Majesty.
I'd like to make another request. -Please go ahead.
Please grant my family a marriage.
Please let my grandson, Sima Shi...
marry the daughter of General Xiahou Shang.
Your Majesty, Zhong Da is absolutely loyal to you.
Now, the noble generals bear a huge grudge against him.
Please sympathise with him and protect him.
The daughter of Xiahou Shang...
is the grand-niece of General Xiahou Dun.
Yes.
A marriage between relatives of the emperor.
It's good. -Yes.
Old Mr. Sima, you're thoughtful indeed.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
I wasn't aware of Your Majesty's sudden arrival.
I deserve death for not welcoming you earlier.
Your Majesty, why didn't you...
inform us of your visit in advance...
so that I can prepare?
We are brothers who grew up together.
You're also my brother-in-law.
It's not like you're an outsider, right?
Right. -Rise at once.
Your Majesty. -I heard that...
you all caught a lot of preys yesterday.
I came for a feast today.
You haven't finished, right? - Yes. They are still fresh too.
I'll tell them to prepare immediately.
Let your wife and children join us.
That's more like a family banquet.
Alright.
Greetings, Your Majesty. -Rise.
Xuan Er, you contributed to the agro-colony in Qiao Country.
I grant you the title of Gentleman of the Yellow Gates.
From now on, you'll serve me by my side...
to gain more experience. If there is war at the south...
you'll go to the battlefield with me.
Thank you, Your Majesty. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
I've never met your daughter prior to this.
How old is she?
Your Majesty, my daughter's name is Hui.
Her style name is Yuan Rong. She is still young and ignorant.
Please forgive us. - That's not true at all.
She looks very courteous.
Is she engaged?
Not yet. She's our only daughter.
I can't bear to marry her off.
She's as graceful as her name.
She deserves a handsome and knowledgeable husband...
with a good background.
But, not many children of the scholar-official families...
are qualified in terms of looks and age.
Come.
Your Majesty, do you wish to grant marriage to Hui Er?
What do you think of Sima Shi, the eldest son of...
Sima Yi, the Vice Censor-in-Chief?
Bo Ren, you must be crazy.
I can't believe you betrothed Hui Er to that son of Sima Yi.
Yes, I know. But, I didn't dare to say no.
The emperor even came personally. What could I do?
What could I possibly do? - The emperor even said that...
he wants Cao Family and Xiahou Family...
to live in harmony with Sima Yi.
This... -Dream on.
He's my sworn enemy. -Right.
My wife...
was easily convinced by the emperor.
She agreed to everything. I can't defy the emperor's order.
It's all because the emperor came too suddenly.
I wish you were present at that time.
The emperor is trying to protect Sima Yi's son.
Fine. He's just a brat.
I don't mind sparing his life.
But, my objective is to...
ensure that Sima Yi will never return to the court.
But, it's been 3 months since that fellow left.
The battle is over. It's about time for him to return.
Return?
Bo Ren, whether he can return or not...
he has no say in it.
Don't forget that there's another person...
who treats him as a sworn enemy as well.
Zi Dan.
It's a fair competition between two gentlemen.
The victor has yet to be determined.
Why are you withdrawing?
"The song of wild geese fills the air as dawn breaks."
"A gentleman does not destroy another's pleasure."
You're skillful. -I know you're not here for this.
I only have one sister. Surely, I must find out if...
her future husband is good enough for her.
You're worried about the conflicts between our families.
Marriage is marriage and politics is politics.
Politics has nothing to do with my marriage.
If your sister is willing to marry me...
I will surely love her and be loyal to her.
Good. Since you're so honest, I'll be frank.
Even if we're not on the same side in the future...
I hope that you'll treat my sister well.
You were a governor of a county.
You know the benefits of the new policies better.
It's nice to meet you. Goodbye.
My dear, it's time to eat.
You're reading a letter.
Is anything going on in our family?
The emperor granted a marriage to our family.
He betrothed the daughter of Xiaohou Shang to Shi Er.
The emperor is really trying his best to help.
He's using this marriage...
to fix the relationship between you and his relatives.
After all, conflicts between officials...
is bad for the country.
The emperor's relatives hate me not because of personal issues...
but because of my systems.
This isn't a problem that can be solved with...
a marriage between our children.
The emperor is trying to assure you.
Since the rebels have surrendered...
are you going to return to organise the wedding?
I'd like to discuss something with you.
I plan to go to Shouchun.
Cao Hong is training troops in Shouchun lately.
I'm a little worried.
I'll claim to be sick and sneak out...
to visit Deng Ai in Shouchun.
I'll go to Shouchun with you. -You should.