Episode 38
Lin, you must learn riding and archery skills from me...
"understand? Come. -Yes.
Try this.
I heard you're going to take all ministers to Gaoping Tombs.
Yes.
Why can't the emperor pay respect to the ancestors...
...with his ministers in early of the first lunar month?
Taking all out from the city will turn Luoyang into an empty city.
How are you going to enter if someone shuts the city gate?
No one would dare to do that.
Have you left out Sima Yi?
Without you reminding, I nearly forgot about that old man.
He's still alive? -I've checked several times.
Sima Yi is beyond cure. They've prepared his coffin and shroud.
We have nothing to worry about.
Isn't Prince Consort He detesting Sima Yi?
Why aren't you worried of him anymore?
Don't you know, one who desires to fly would amaze the world?
We spent years of effort and we made it. There's nothing to fear.
He's still the Grand Tutor. It isn't an absolute success.
General-in-Chief, this is about life and death.
All right, if you're worried, send someone to find out.
Prince Consort He should go and test Sima Zhao again.
If you're worried, shall I stay in Luoyang tomorrow?
Fine, you'll stay.
I'll take leave. -All right.
How's the Grand Tutor? - His body is deteriorating.
He can't even hear us clearly.
He's gone through lots of battles, yet an illness hits him badly.
It makes me fear of what the heaven could do.
I didn't expect my family...
...to end like this.
Don't jump into a conclusion.
I'm persuading General-in-Chief...
...to make you the successor of the Grand Tutor...
...but your brother might revolt.
He shouldn't be worried of that. Since my father is ill...
...my brother spends every day absent-mindedly.
There's no need to fear him.
That's good.
Could you bring me to General-in-Chief?
He's taking all ministers to Gaoping Tombs tomorrow.
You'll see him after that. -Sure.
Prince Consort He, you mustn't forget this.
Don't worry.
Thank you for promoting me to the Governor of Jingzhou...
...instead, Sir Ding.
Jingzhou is your hometown and a rich land.
It's a great honour to go home.
Thanks to General-in-Chief and you.
I'll do my best to return your favour.
Jingzhou is close to Wu's frontline.
You must pay attention to military affairs.
Yes, Sir Ding.
Have you paid your last visit to General-in-Chief?
Yes, I've sent some gifts...
...and he's accepted them.
What about the Grand Tutor?
No, I swear my loyalty to General-in-Chief...
...and you. I won't get in touch with the Grand Tutor in secret.
Don't overthink. We trust you on that.
General-in-Chief and I miss him a lot.
You'll pay him a visit for us.
Yes.
Grand Tutor.
Greetings, I'm Li Sheng.
Who is it?
Please forgive us, Sir Li.
My father is severely ill. He can't hear and see clearly.
Sure.
I'm taking office in Jingzhou.
So, I specially come to pay a last visit.
Li Sheng...
...Bingzhou is close to Shuofang.
So, it's always disturbed by the barbarians.
You must be careful.
Be careful.
Have a seat.
Sit. -Thank you, Grand Tutor.
Father, Sir Li is going to Jingzhou in the south.
Nonsense, Bingzhou isn't located in the south.
It's in the northwest.
It's Jingzhou, my hometown.
I'm old and muddle-headed.
I've difficulties...
...in hearing.
Why are you so ill?
Please take care of yourself.
Father, Sir Li wants you to take care of yourself.
I'm in my seventies...
...and death is waiting for me.
Li Sheng, I wonder...
...if we'd still meet up...
...after this.
Madam.
It's time for Grand Tutor to take his medicine.
Sorry to disturb. Please feel free to do so.
Master, it's time for medicine.
You're feeding me this bitter soup every day.
It won't help because I'm dying.
I'm not drinking it. -Be good and drink it up. Here.
Join us...
...for lunch.
No.
I'll depart at once. Take care, Grand Tutor.
I'll come back to visit you next time.
Stay longer.
We haven't...
...received any guest...
...for a long time.
I'll let you rest more. I'm leaving.
Father, we'll send Sir Li out.
This way, Sir Li.
Here, drink up the medicine.
I feel sorry when I haven't seen him in person.
Are you sure Sima Yi is really ill?
Not only that, but he's lost his senses...
...and he's dying, probably within these few days.
What about the rest in the family? What did Sima Shi say to you?
He grieved at the fickleness of the world.
They haven't received any guest among the ministers for long.
He even asked for your sympathy.
It's too late to regret it.
You may leave.
What have I told you?
You're over-thinking. I don't need to stay here tomorrow.
Many things have happened due to an overlook.
I still think we should beware of Sima Yi.
You make trouble out of nothing. Why don't you stay here instead?
How can I stay when I'm the dispatcher of the ritual?
Prince Consort He, this isn't the time to fight for attention.
Don't judge others by yourself, Brother Ding.
Enough. You both are my trusted aides...
...and ministers.
You'll be the Three Excellencies after I succeeded.
Take your seat and drink to the full.
When I was young...
...I always observed the lights in your room across the courtyard.
I'd fall asleep only when you're sleeping tight.
Now I hardly fall asleep even when we're sleeping side by side.
I was so young and beautiful...
...when I married to you back then.
Now I don't even dare to look in the mirror.
Who is it?
Master Shi sent me here to deliver a letter.
Father, a man in black...
...has just given me a letter.
Master.
You've recovered?
I'm still living.
Or...
...you weren't ill...
...at all.
You even kept this from me.
I'm worried that you...
...might not...
...agree to what I'm going to do.
I might not agree...
...to what you're going to do?
It must be...
...extremely dangerous.
I'll do it...
...while...
...I'm still alive.
Master, I'd persuade you to give it all if it's 20 years ago...
...but now you're 72 years old.
Xiahou Xuan has 100,000 men in Chang'an.
Luoyang and Shouchun are both in Cao Shuang's control.
You're throwing an egg against a rock.
I'm afraid that if you insist...
This time...
...I'm really scared.
I've been the sabre held...
...in others' hand in my whole life.
This time...
...I'm...
...the executor.
She gives me a peach...
...I give her a jade.
Today is the day to burn our bridge.
We'd remove the firewood rather than staying in the boiling pot.
Sima Fu and Sima Shi. -Yes.
Take 1,000 men to seize the Sima Gate.
Gather troop to seize the palace. -Yes.
Sima Zhao. -Yes.
Request an edict from Yongning. -Yes.
Jiang Ji and Chen Tai. -Yes, Grand Tutor.
Go to the Imperial Secretariat...
...and keep the remaining ministers in the city.
Yes.
Ji Bu. -Yes.
The key to victory is to cut off Cao Shuang's army resources.
We'll lead slayers to seize the armoury.
Yes.
Father, you'll pass by Cads house before reaching the armoury.
His mansion is guarded by watchtowers, which is too risky.
I'd switch the task with you.
I'm willing to attack the armoury.
Act accordingly and don't talk anymore.
Yes. -Yes.
After putting things in control, we'll garrison at the bridge to...
...stop Cao Shuang from returning. -Yes.
Grand Tutor.
It's been 10 years.
I don't know you...
...and you...
...don't know me...
...but our lives...
...are tied together.
We share the same destiny.
You'll be the national heroes in return.
If we succeed today...
...I'll reward you all handsomely...
...for saving my life.
If we fail today...
...I'll..
...die before you all.
We'll die for you!
We rise!
Check that out!
Hurry up! -1, 2, 3.
Not bad. -Prince Consort He.
Report!
Prince Consort He, a troop is coming to us!
Atroop? Where did they come from? It's impossible.
Let's go! -Prince Consofl He!
Atroop? -What's going on?
Step aside! -Prince Consort He.
Lay out a defence to stop Sima Yi!
Shoot him!
Shut the door!
Grand Tutor, what are you trying to do?
It's you.
Step aside.
I'm going in. -You can't.
Armoury is a prohibited place to outsiders.
Those who surrender will be spared!
This is a prohibited place and you mustn't come forward!
Sima Shi, this is treason!
Sima Shi, I'll fight you if you come further!
Sima Shi, this is treason!
By the imperial edict, Cao Shuang has been dismissed.
You all were my brothers in the battlefield.
I don't want to hurt any of you.
Brothers, make way for me.
Step back!
Thank you very much.
Clear out everything!
What are you trying to do?
My father pleads Your Highness to approve this.
You want to dismiss Cao Shuang?
Isn't this a wish of Your Highness?
Is this all? Would Grand Tutor harm His Majesty?
No minister is more loyal than my father.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Wait.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your father mustn't forget the entrustment of the late emperor...
...and your family serves the Great Wei forever.
Prince Consort He, are we going to leave the family behind?
Get up quickly, madam.
At least I'd afford bringing you and your child.
Make a decision! -Bring us along!
Take us with you, Prince Consort He!
Father, Her Highness has approved the dismissal of Cao Shuang.
Her Highness is safe.
We've seized Xiaoyuan Gate and Guangyang Gate.
Gong Gate and the mansion of Cao Shuang, Ding Mi and He Yan...
...are also guarded. The palace is guarded by guards.
Their safety is guaranteed. - Pingchang Gate and Kaiyang Gate?
We can't allocate 3,000 men in so many places. Besides...
...Cao Shuang will come through Xiaoyuan Gate or Guangyang Gate.
I can only gather enough men to guard those two gates.
Military force is certainly the greatest threat.
3,000 men at the armoury can temporarily put Luoyang...
...under control, but Cao Shuang has 1,000 men...
...the emperor, ministers and valiant generals.
If Cao Shuang moves south to Xuchang with the emperor...
...or gathers Xuchang troop in the name of the emperor...
...at least 2 million men can be dispatched instantly...
...which we can't withstand.
I'll rescue His Majesty and the ministers with 2,000 men...
...before Xuchang troop arrives. - Brother, if I were Cao Shuang...
...I'd kill the emperor and make you the scapegoat...
was you come with an army.
You made the move first. You'll be regarded as the traitor.
Marquises around the state will then gather to attack you.
Cao Shuang is a dog. Desperate situation will drive him crazy.
We can't risk our family for a dog.
No, we mustn't harm His Majesty.
We aren't contending with military force...
...but human head.
Cao Shuang is cruel and incompetent.
I shouldn't put you in danger.
You're going to defend Luoyang.
There's no other who'd convince Cao Shuang.
I'm the best representative to express our sincerity.
I only have one question.
Could you keep the promise of sparing Cao Shuang's life?
Jiang Ji.
I'll swear to the Luo River.
We don't rise to overthrow the emperor...
...or kill indiscriminately or harm the royal relatives.
We do this for the state.
If Cao Shuang would come back...
...we'll only remove his military power, not his noble rank.
I'll guarantee a luxury life for him.
The heaven and earth shall testify this.
I won't break my promise.
If so, I'd guarantee Cao Shuang's surrender...
...with my life.