Episode 40
Han Lin has testified several plots to murder you.
Cao Shuang was training his army to abdicate the throne in March.
To abdicate.
I don't think his wild ambition...
...could drive him this far.
He bought the public support ganged up for self agenda...
...and mingled with the emperor's concubines.
He's long lost his loyalty as a minister.
Other than Han Lin, He Yan has also testified Cao Shuang's plot.
Father, you should prevent their resurrection.
Don't interrogate Cao Shuang in the meantime.
Send Ding Mi, Li Sheng and others to the coufl of judicial.
Yes.
You may laugh at me.
Today I come to offer a future to you.
People will laugh at a betrayer.
There's no future for me.
One of the Three Excellencies. Position in the court of judicial.
Prince Consort He.
Do you want it...
...or not?
Sir He, all the criminals are here. Please proceed.
I can't take this position.
You should appoint someone else.
Prince Consort He! This is your chance of survival.
How'd I speak for you to my father if you refuse?
You promised me that you won't harm General-in-Chief.
We didn't know he wanted to overthrow the emperor.
He's anyhow a royal relative.
Can't you spare his life?
Do you want to serve loyalty to your master?
My father never wanted to kill him.
You should think twice at this critical moment...
...on how to get rid of the charges against you.
This is your only chance.
General-in-Chief is walking on the bridge!
General-in-Chief is standing akimbo!
General-in-Chief is bending down to lift his shoe!
General-in-Chief is sighing at the sky!
They've confessed.
All of them.
How many extended families colluded with Cao Shuang?
Seven. -I think you're wrong.
Wrong? No.
No. There's more.
There's more?
Cao Shuang, Han Lin...
...Ding Mi, Deng Yang...
...Li Sheng, Bi Gui...
...and Huan Fan, a total of seven families.
No. There's more.
This is it. Seven families.
Think again. There's one more.
Think again.
Sima Zhao.
You're actually the cruellest!
You included me since the beginning.
You used me to instigate General-in-Chief.
You used me to frame him up! You're the murderer of Xiahou Hui!
You're certainly smart...
...but I've enjoyed myself.
You've done your pad.
You knew everything. Not bad...
...but you dare not say a word...
"because I'll spare your wife and son.
This is how I'm going to repay you.
I like your timid and fancy look.
Sima Zhao, are you a human or a ghost?
It depends on who I'm dealing with.
I've set General-in-Chief up.
I've set General-in-Chief up!
I've set General-in-Chief up.
Enough, Prince Consort He, you should take a rest now.
Sima Zhao! I'll haunt you even after I die!
Master Zhao, it's safer to kill him.
Let him do it by himself in the prison as a favour in return.
My father has no time for him.
Only He Yan can gain the details of testimony.
They know each other.
Is this enough to convince Grand Tutor?
Now we only need to convince my brother.
I've just learned that Cao Shuang and Ding Mi...
...forced sister-in-law to spy on us.
She refused...
...so they killed her and put the blame on us.
They're also responsible for our mother's death.
Seize Cao Shuang. -Yes.
Lin, you're hungry, aren't you?
Father, I'm not hungry. -Dear, let's eat.
Come and eat.
Are you hungry, Lin? Here, this is yours.
Eat it.
Is it delicious? -Yes.
Dig in.
Eat this, father.
Good boy.
You too, mother.
Good boy. Dig in.
Eat it, Lin. Eat more.
Grand Tutor has sent us some dried meat.
I've made dumplings. It's delicious. Try it.
You eat it. You first.
I ate it in the kitchen.
Eat it while it's hot.
Grand Tutor is quite nice to us. We get some meat to eat.
Come, Lin.
As long as we can stay together...
...it doesn't matter if we have meat or not.
Why do you come in? - General-in-Chief.
What are you trying to do?
Have you done eating? Come with us then.
What are you doing? - Grand Tutor spared me!
I want to see him! Let me go!
How can you break your promise? He's a royal relative!
He's the emperor's uncle! He's General-in-Chief!
Let him go! -Let me go!
Let him go!
Is the dumpling delicious? -Let me go!
Mother!
Go away! Don't touch my son! - Jian Jia! Go to Grand Tutor!
Go to Grand Tutor! -What are you doing?
Leave my son alone! -Let go!
Don't touch my son! Let him go!
Let go of my son!
Let him go!
Lin.
Master, we shouldn't spare Cao Shuang and the rest.
Cao Shuang spent the state fund to buy public support.
He granted rewards and positions randomly as if he's generous.
Many intellectuals were deceived by him.
They'll always be ready while he's still alive.
Crisis of Lu will remain unsettled while Qing Fu is alive.
Cao Shuang is guilty...
...yet he's Cao Zhen's son and a royal relative.
He shares the same bloodline with His Majesty.
If you kill him, you're turning yourself against the Cao family...
...and His Majesty.
No one will regard you as a loyal minister after that.
They'll curse you.
You mustn't do this, Brother Yi.
Master, don't put yourself in real danger for false reputation.
False reputation? Real danger?
Brother Yi, don't forget...
...you've promised Cao Shuang and Grand Commandant Jiang.
We should keep our promise.
Uncle, my father has promised him that, but not the ministers.
Hold a court meeting, then let the emperor...
...and ministers to kill him. -You're crazy!
Brother Fu.
We're old already.
Have you ever thought of...
...our children after...
...we're gone?
Cao Shuang...
...is... -He's 40 years old.
Kill him.
Yes.
Hou Ji. -Yes.
Have these delivered to the Imperial Secretariat at once.
And let them send over Yongliang's revenue at once.
What's it?
You don't know? -I don't know.
Just memorise it.
Revenue. I've memorised it.
Madam Lingyun.
Master, I heard Zhong Hui has arrested...
...Cao Shuang and others. What is he trying to do...
...without asking your permission? -He must have...
...a reason to arrest them.
Zhong Hui is appointed by you?
The young generation will manage it.
They said he conspired against the state. Let them arrest him.
Cao Shuang has yielded to you.
You've retrieved the power. Why must you kill them?
You'll be condemned by later generations by breaking promises.
Master, our family has got everything in hand.
You'll be written in the history.
You should earn your prestige and reputation.
Go down in history.
That's a scholarly spirit. Since the day I rose to rebellion...
...I've abandoned...
...the false reputation.
Grand Tutor Sima Yi has arrived!
You may rise, Grand Tutor. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
Please, Grand Tutor. - Please, Your Majesty.
Please, Grand Tutor. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
Today, we invite you all here...
...to mainly discuss...
...about Cao Shuang's rebellion.
It's a serious case.
I dare not make the decision arbitrarily.
We'll discuss...
...am0ng ourselves.
Sir Zhong.
You'll begin.
Your Majesty, I've testified...
...the prime criminal, Cao Shuang, accomplice, Cao Xi, Cao Xun...
...Ding Mi, He Yan, Deng Yang, Bi Gui...
...Li Sheng, Huan Fan and Han Lin, a total often persons...
...pl0tted to overthrow His Majesty...
...in March of tenth Zhengshi Year.
Minister who plotted against the emperor should be executed.
Extended families of Cao Shuang are bestowed by the emperor.
He's appointed as a Regent by late emperor...
...yet he harbours evil intentions that goes beyond his duty.
He worked in collusion with Ding Mi...
...He Yan and others against His Majesty. It's treason.
Do you have valid evidence?
Yes, Grand Tutor.
We'll discuss.
Based on the law of the Great Wei, rebellion is the worst crime.
It's a death penalty that involves three families.
I agree. -I agree.
Grand Tutor, didn't you promise to spare Cao Shuang's brothers?
Grand Commandant, the law is selfless.
We can't...
...release any criminal due to our private relationship.
You made an oath beside Luo River...
...and I sewed as your guarantor.
You won't harm them so long as they surrender.
How'd I explain to the people when you're doing against it?
This is a serious case. It should be decided by His Majesty.
Fine. That's great.
Great!
I'm an incapable Grand Commandant.
I dare not claim myself a great minister.
I plead to resign.
Grand Tutor, Cao Shuang is guilty...
...but he's my uncle...
...and a Regent appointed by my father.
Please don't kill him, all right?
I plead Your Majesty to announce an edict...
...to execute Cao Shuang's three families for the rebellion.
I agree. -I agree.
I agree.
Grand Tutor.
Your Majesty.
Do you want to seize the throne by executing Cao Shuang?
Shall I submit the throne to you?
Your Majesty is the emperor. Please respect yourself.
Your Majesty has a duty...
...and so do we as the ministers.
Emperor Wen and Emperor Ming trusted you.
Can I do the same?
Heaven and earth shall testify...
...my loyalty to the Great Wei.
What should I do, Grand Tutor?
Cao Shuang should be executed by law.
Others were just taking orders from their master.
They'll be spared from death sentence...
...and possibly be reinstated.
What do you think, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty.
I'm old.
All I hope is to restore...
...peace...
...to the Great Wei...
...before I die.
You may rise, Grand Tutor.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Draft an edict. Three families of prime criminals...
...led by Cao Shuang will be executed.
Others will be spared from death and possibly be reinstated.
Long live Your Majesty.
Xiahou Xuan, you can't go back.
Cao Shuang has been seized by Sima Yi.
You're Cao Shuang's cousin and you seized Sima Yi's military power.
He won't spare you if you go back.
Where else can I go then?
Occupy Chang'an? That's rebellion.
The Great Wei should stay together.
We shall take the Hanzhong Route...
...to seek refuge from Jiang Wei in Shu.
I, Xiahou Xuan, live and die as a minister...
...of the Great Wei.
Stop suggesting me with those ideas.
Sima Yi will kill you as soon as you go back.
That's why I must go back. It's to save Cao Shuang and the Great Wei.
You're foolish.
You'll be left alone without military power.
You're no match for Sima Yi.
I'd do it even if I'm left alone!
I want to protect the Great Wei with my own method.
I should either give up my life...
...or righteousness in order to battle against Sima Yi.
I'd give up my life, but not righteousness.
I'm so surprised.
Xiahou family of the Great Wei...
...has come to such ending.
Neither a Marquis nor a prince.
Led thousands of soldiers to Mount Mang.
Neither a Marquis nor a prince.
Led thousands of soldiers to Mount Mang.
Neither a Marquis nor a prince.
Led thousands of soldiers to Mount Mang.
Neither a Marquis nor a prince.
Led thousands of soldiers to Mount Mang.
Neither a Marquis nor a prince.
They don't even spare the children.
That's once in a few decades.
Countless marquises and princes are buried in Mount Mang.
It's you.
You lied to me!
You said you'll spare them! You lied to me!
Return my son! Return my husband!
Return my son!
Lady.
You weren't his legitimate wife. You're kidnapped here.
You aren't responsible for his crime. Leave here.
I've killed him.
I shouldn't have let him back. It's my fault.
I've set you up, Cao Shuang.
I've set him up.
Cao Shuang.
Lady, you better leave here.
This is all I can do for you.
You can take me away?
Lin.
I regret for not taking your advice.
I regret for coming back.
General-in-Chief, you're a righteous friend...
...but not a capable master.
Even so, I'd die with you.
Good! We'll see...
...how it ends for Sima Yi!
Hold on! - General-in-Chief! Lin!
Mother! -Lin!
Jian Jia. - General-in-Chief!
Jian Jia! -Lin!
Stand back! Let her pass! -Lin!
Jian Jia, why are you here? Leave here immediately.
General-in-Chief, I come to see you off.
Mother.
Lin.
Do you miss me? -Yes.
Uncle.
What's going on? Why are there children?
Cao Shuang's son has to be executed, too.
Is this your father's idea?
Uncle, we shouldn't leave any threat behind.
I'm asking if your father knows about this!
Fine, I'll go to Grand Tutor myself.
No one should execute them before I come back...
...do you hear me?
Yes.
Master, Master Fu wants to talk to you.
What's it, brother?
Can you spare the life of Cao Shuang's three-year-old son?
It's the state law.
He's only three years old. He knows nothing.
He's innocent.
He'll remember his family name when he grows up.
Someone will support him.
Since when have you become so cruel?
Have you forgotten our initial purpose of entering politics?
Can you survive if Cao Shuang...
...won in this battle?
If Cao Shuang won this battle...
...can Lingyun and our sons live on?
You'll be condemned after doing this.
Our family will be condemned by the later generations.
Master, are you the same like Cao Shuang?
Would I be afraid to be condemned since I've done it?
No one is innocent in the chaos.
Let's eat together.
Hou Ji. -I'll serve you.