Original subtitles

Segments and Subtitles by Our Lips are Sealed Team @Viki

[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]

[Episode 12]

I heard there is a master fighter working for Master Yang

that is skilled in throwing pebbles.

It's him, but I can't order him.

Who are you talking about?

His name is Xu Fu. He was once a traveling warrior.

He got arrested when he took revenge for friend. He was tortured in prison.

My father liked his loyalty and rescued him.

From then on, he has lived under a hidden identity.

He will only accept my father's command.

When Dong Cheng rebelled,

was it he who killed five Xudu Guards?

That's right. That time, I was still a spy by the side of Dong Cheng.

There were certain things that I had to do.

Magistrate Man, please forgive me.

Do you know about what happened at the offering ceremony today?

I heard about it. Coincidentally, Xu Fu was there.

It was great merit for him to have saved Young Master Cao.

Coincidence?

An incident happened in Xudu a few days ago and His Majesty is already going out for an offering ceremony.

Seeing that the dragon will be out in the field, it made people worry.

Father sent Xu Fu to secretly protect Your Majesty,

also because of the caring heart of an old subject for his country.

Was it not put to good use, either?

Kneel.

If you lie even a single word,

I'll kill you. Understand?

Yes, I do.

The Han Dynasty is in danger. Recently, the Emperor and I have taken some actions.

You must have seen it.

You've been serving me for two years.

You're smart, cautious, and dutiful.

I trusted you,

but I had no idea you'd been lying to me.

I would never dare to lie to you.

Your father is not a small-town scholar.

You did not learn your medical knowledge only after you entered the palace.

Right?

Your Majesty sees things clearly.

Who are you really?

Who was your mentor?

Why did you fool Commander Yang's trust to get inside the palace?

My mentor was Hua Tuo.

I was raised by him.

- The famous divine doctor Hua Tuo? - Yes.

The Five Catch Act I mentioned

was also created by him.

About five years ago,

my mentor's senior disciple angered him.

Our mentor

castrated all of us and evicted us.

Afterwards, I offered my service to Regular Palace Eunuch Wang Bi.

I once treated Supreme Commander Yang.

Supreme Commander Yang really liked me

and sent me into the palace to attend to Your Majesty.

You are considered to have seen much of life in the community.

Why are you willing to be a slave in the palace?

If anyone were to give you a high official post or salary, would you take it?

Although I am a person with a disability,

I have learned some medical skills.

I've seen through the seasons of life.

We can't control life and death, why seek wealth and fame?

Please do not worry that I could be bribed.

What do you seek to be a eunuch then?

I don't believe you just want enough food to eat.

Your Majesty, Lady Bian, the wife of Grand Minsister Cao, asks for an audience.

- Let her in. - Calling for Lady Bian!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

On behalf of my son and Grand Minster Cao,

I would like to thank you for saving my son.

For this debt of gratitude, my whole family

remembers it deeply in our hearts. It is a gratitude that we will hold until our death, and nothing will be enough to repay it.

I also just did an effortless deed.

Madam, please get up.

I would like to impeach someone.

Who?

Xudu Magistrate Man Chong.

Sister-in-law, this...

Pi'er almost died.

The rest of you...

are instead in here getting entangled because of a rock.

I would like to ask you.

The Xudu Guards claim they can put up a seal-tight defense and that they know everything.

You had almost mobilized your whole force to protect the venue.

How come a killer like Wang Yue was missed?

How did Wang Yue manage to find out the location of Pi'er that fast?

Pi-er's assassination,

everyone was in shock.

His Majesty tainted his hands with blood and lowered himself just to save him.

How come you...

did not seem shocked at all?

You instead easily found the rock thrown by someone.

Man Chong, can you give me an explanation?

I was not able to find out about the assassin

and exposed Young Master to danger. All are my fault.

A few days ago,

you brought Zhang Xiu to secure the defense of the Residence of the Grand Minister of Works.

Pi'er scolded you.

I even punished him and defended you.

Thinking back about this now,

ever since we allowed you to let Zhang Xiu surround our house,

your words and actions have been against us.

Pi'er could see this clearer than adults like us.

Man Chong, did you use an assassin to kill Pi'er?

Since I started my official life, I have been loyal to my master.

I never had such intentions.

Sister-in-Law, your accusations are too much.

I think Man Chong would not dare do that. Also, no one wanted Zihuan to be hurt.

Madam, please don't be angry.

I understand the love for your son.

Man Chong might have committed negligence in his duty,

but I believe that

he definitely did not have any intentions to harm his master.

I ask His Majesty to punish him for negligence of duty then.

Based on the laws of the empire and the military, how should a person indulging an assassin

be punished?

Director Xun.

General Cao.

Let us suspend Man Chong from his duties as a magistrate of Xudu for the time being.

Let me inform Grand Minister Cao first before proceeding with the punishment.

I wonder if His Majesty

and Madam are satisfied with this.

It's fine if Madam Cao and Master Cao are satisfied.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you, Madam.

Your Majesty, do you still remember?

Five years ago,

before you entered the palace,

your home town, Langya Commandery, once suffered a famine incident.

At that time, Your Majesty...

Your Majesty took out your family's food provision to help the people.

I was punished by my teacher then.

I felt extreme despair and just wanted to die.

I was too weary and rested under a tree. I looked like a beggar then.

It was Your Majesty...

It was Your Majesty who personally

took two biscuits

and placed them on my chest.

I don't remember this.

I remember it!

I have lived these past years like...

living for a life time.

I don't remember many things that happened in the past.

Stand up.

Your Majesty then was quite similar to the current emperor.

I am not like him who does things so recklessly.

Today, he exposed his martial arts and medical skills.

Even if you covered for him, I think...

Man Chong did not believe it.

My teacher once wrote a book

called "Blue-Sac Book." It is written there that

a person is simplest during moments that they are dazzled.

It means that the immediate reaction of a person when in shock

can showcase his true heart more.

That time, His Majesty embraced you and took you away.

I am sure that he had no time to think about

the pros and cons of showing off his martial arts skills.

He just did not want you to get hurt.

Informing Your Majesty, Fu Wan and Yang Xiu ask for an audience.

Take a break for a few days first.

Older Brother knows about your merits. He will not do anything to you.

I indeed was incompetent.

I cannot deny my part in Second Young Master getting hurt.

After just seeing Young Master hurt,

it cannot be helped for Lady to be too emotional.

When Madam has cooled down after a few days, everything will be fine.

Even if she doesn't blame me,

they will also find ways to make it difficult for me.

They think that if I leave this post,

I won't be able to pursue this matter again.

They don't know that

Libationer Guo will be back soon.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Guozhang, please rise. Sir Yang, please rise.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Leng Shouguang, wait outside.

Yes.

His Majesty seems to be different from what we expected.

We already explained it to the high officials.

His Majesty right now is learning from Leng Shouguang

medical and martial art skills to improve his health.

And Leng Shouguang is indeed well-versed in skills to maintain good health.

We can cover this up.

If he can easily be deceived by an excuse like that,

he then is not Man Chong anymore.

His Majesty has shown too many loopholes.

His Majesty saving Cao Pi

is also planning far ahead.

We've now earned the trust of the Cao family.

Then, what about him leaving last time?

What strategy was that?

He is a human being and not some puppet that can be ordered around.

If we want him to be the Emperor,

we then cannot keep hiding things from him.

Your Highness seems to approve of His Majesty a lot.

Has the scheme of the former emperor worked?

But who exactly is the one that fell for the beauty's trap?

How dare you!

In a life and death moment like this,

stop fussing over seniority with me.

Once he goes out of control, the first one who will be in danger is you.

With you being this overly sensitive,

you haven't been intimate with him as a married couple yet. Isn't that so?

It is still the Former Emperor who understood men more.

He knows how to make them obey.

What you are doing concerns the governance of a country.

Why get constrained by vulgar etiquette?

I am a daughter from a renowned and Confucian family.

I am also the Empress of the Han Dynasty.

He is also a person with a sense of righteousness and honor.

How he should be taught,

I have my own ways.

As for you, Master Yang,

since you supported him to ascend to the throne,

he is your emperor then.

May you also strictly follow the way of a subject.

You are the greatest loophole right now.

Don't force me to use underhanded tactics

to punish a subject that has stepped beyond his bounds.

Your Majesty, take your time to guide me then.

Your Majesty, have you never thought about this?

You can talk about sense of righteousness and honor with me now.

But once this information leaks out, how will the world

look at an empress who is sleeping with her brother-in-law?

Hence, you can stop arguing with me

who will be the one at the biggest risk here. Right?

I'm taking my leave.

Liking each other that fast...

Magistrate Man.

Are you really leaving?

It's only temporary.

If you have any matters, you can still report to me.

I won't shirk from my responsibility.

Wang Yue didn't kill Sun Yi.

I checked Sun Yi's wound in details.

The physician may not be able to notice it,

but martial arts practitioners like us are very familiar with sword wounds.

There were two sword stabs in the same wound.

As for the stab which killed him, the person who did it is not highly skilled in martial arts.

If Tang Ying was the female assassin,

the stab couldn't have been by her.

Only Sima Yi and Tang Ying were alive at the scene.

Sima family?

Sima Yi's father was Master Cao's benefactor.

He himself was promoted by Director Xun.

He betrayed Tang Ying,

but he helped her silence Sun Yi.

The Sima family had fostered the dead Yang Ping

and has a close relationship with Yang Jun.

Yang Jun is also the nephew of Yang Biao.

This Sima family...

is really benefiting from both sides, a profound mystery.

The appearance of Wang Yue

coincidentally eliminated Sun Yi, who is a threat to Tang Ying.

And, coincidentally, harmed Second Young Master and also brought you trouble.

If his assassination was arranged by someone else,

this person is too formidable.

Xiu'er!

Father, you are here.

- Was it you who sent Xu Fu? - Yes.

Where did you get the information from?

Of course, from Hebei.

I was informed that Wang Yue is heading south; hence, I have guessed his intention.

If he wanted to kill anyone, today was his best opportunity.

Then why didn't you inform His Majesty?

Was it not better to let him make such a huge scene?

No, we are in unusual times.

We shouldn't take such risks now.

Even more so, we should not have communications with Yuan Shao anymore.

Father, the sight of the Ministry of Works

has been lured away from us because of the rebellion of Dong Cheng.

Man Chong has also been removed from his post by Lady Bian.

The Ministry of Works is now in disarray because of the injury of Cao Pi.

They do not have the energy to monitor His Majesty anymore.

Currently, the Han Dynasty is at its safest moment.

Father, isn't my chess move incredible?

But that person will be back soon.

Guo Jia?

So what?

The army of Yuan Shao might cross over the Yellow River anytime.

The people around Cao Cao are having thoughts of betrayal.

A lot have sided with Yuan Shao.

With such a messy and dangerous situation, I do not believe that Guo Jia

would dare stay in Xudu for a long time. Let us see how many moves he can make.

Xiu'er, remember these words. These words

were once said by Xun Yu, Cheng Gong,

or even Jia Xu just a few days ago.

This phrase is...

Guo Jia has never made any mistakes.

Segments and Subtitles by Our Lips are Sealed Team @Viki

Are you still angry because I saved Cao Pi?

And also because you leaked your martial arts skills for saving me.

Have you never thought of saving yourself

and also causing trouble to those people around you?

In such a short instant, I have no time to think.

My innate instinct got the better of me.

I could not just watch a kid die

and not do anything.

I couldn't help but save you, too.

Is your innate character just kindness?

If you still continue to rely on kindness for survival,

you don't need to stay then.

When I left yesterday, I reflected a lot.

I wanted to escape to Jiangnan with Zhongda

and stop having interactions with outsiders.

I also thought about being like Royal Brother and hardening my heart,

not minding all kinds of sacrifices, and just focusing on doing a grand undertaking.

But when I returned,

I realized that all these are not what I wanted,

and also not the true intention of my heart.

What does your true heart want then?

At the moment I saw Cao Pi fighting for his life,

everything suddenly became clear to me.

This is the real intention in why I came back.

Saving people, saving you, saving the world,

is equivalent to saving the Han Dynasty.

I'm a weak person.

There is now a way I can be like my Royal Brother who was so emotionless.

He was a fighter emperor, while I am a scholarly emperor.

Although the methods are different,

everything is for the Han Dynasty.

I will use my own methods to fulfill my promise.

In this world, you can never have both ways.

Very soon, you will understand

how big a price there is for being benevolent.

Sometimes, the real intention is also a kind of selfishness.

You can regard me as being selfish

but I know that I won't sacrifice you.

Leng Shougang already knows that you sleep on the floor.

If the people from Cao residence find out that the Emperor is sleeping on the floor,

will that not be a laughing matter?

Fine,

I will sleep on the bed then.

Once the situation has become more stable,

choose a woman you like to be your consort.

I don't need it.

But it can't be Cao Cao's daughter.

I never had any improper thoughts towards his daughter.

I am just being prepared.

After all, we are in-laws.

This is hard on you, and it is too dangerous for people to notice anything.

Moreover, the Han Dynasty needs a prince to steady the hearts of the people.

When you have thought of what kind of woman you like, tell me then.

I will choose one for you.

Frankly, the woman whom I like...

I'm really old.

It's clearly spring out there.

But I still can't leave this stove.

You have been suspended and you still have the time

to drink with an old geezer like me.

Libationer ordered me

to take good care of General Jia.

Once you have fattened me up, are you going to let him personally butcher me?

General, you like to joke. The person that Libationer Guo admires the most

is General Jia.

Guo Jia also has someone he respects and admires?

Just for that, I am willing to disregard my life

and still drink this.

General Jia, you have served Dong Zhuo

and then Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Xiu.

You were able to maintain your moral upliftment among wolves and tigers.

Those people were all the most crafty

and most vicious people of their times.

General, instead, was the most skillful.

Is that not worthy to be admired?

In terms of craftiness, I will not compete with Libationer Guo anymore.

These old bones of mine cannot bear to be lifted and doted by you.

You were trained by Guo Jia.

Deep inside, you are the same as him;

no one is outstanding in your eyes.

Tell me. What is it that you'd like to talk with me about?

General, are you familiar with His Majesty?

I cannot say so.

When Dong Zhuo and I entered Chang'an,

His Majesty was just twelve years old.

He was still a prince.

When the eunuchs in the palace had an uprising, he and his older brother escaped to the home of a farmer.

In front of Dong Zhuo, his older brother was so scared that he could not say anything.

But our little emperor

instead ordered Dong Zhuo to be respectful.

His bearing and manner of speech then

was calmer and firmer than an adult.

Even Dong Zhuo had to admit

that he was stronger than his older brother.

In meeting him again this time,

did you find him different?

You are with him every day.

The changes in him--

can you not see them?

Since the start of the battle at Guandu,

His Majesty has changed drastically.

This battle concerns the world,

and concerns His Majesty more. I am wondering

if his change

has something to do with Yuan Shao in Hebei.

You are suspecting the Emperor of secretly conniving with Yuan Shao?

Or else, he is alone and without any support.

I really could not understand the reason behind his squanders,

to the point of not even minding to sacrifice

the forces of Dong Cheng.

For Tang Ying and Sima Yi,

once I have enough evidence,

I can arrest them.

Only His Majesty...

Hence,

may General Jia help me test him.

In facing you, he is most rash.

Maybe, his true intentions will easily become exposed.

You want to touch a princess consort, and even the Emperor.

You've got some guts.

General Jia, with your lifetime of works,

you have shaken Heaven and Earth, and startled ghosts and deities.

You are instead asking me about my guts?

You are too impatient. These are not yet cooked.

I am old. Those times,

there were just small feudal lords having small fights between them.

Now, in Xudu, the battle is between the Emperor and high officials.

The wind and waves here are stronger than during our generation.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

General Jia, why do you want to see me this early?

Did I allow you to rise?

May Your Majesty forgive me for being old and having decaying bones.

I cannot endure floors as hard as this.

If I fall, I fear that it will be so unrefined.

Informing Your Majesty, Libationer Guo Jia is returning to Xudu.

Libationer Guo coming from the front line is good news.

Spread my decree and have Guo Jia see me.

I want to ask him about the war situation in Guandu.

Yes.

General Jia, why do you want to see me?

I initially came to report the exact same matter.

Since you already know about it,

I then have nothing to report anymore.

I will take my leave.

Your Majesty, take care.

The fortune of His Majesty is not good.

The Emperor has a fate bestowed by Heaven.

Why would he need good fortune?

Then it means, Young Master Yang already knows?

Young lad, do not play with fire.

Do it for the sake of your father,

and for the Emperor.

Mister, spare some change.

Give me some money, Sir. I have not eaten for a long time.

- Sir, give me some money. - Thanks.

Please be kind, sir.

What is in Xudu that is worthy for you to make this trip?

For half a year, there have been new people hiding here in Xudu.

It is a very interesting place.

Magistrate Man.

Respectfully welcoming Libationer Guo!

You are Man Chong?

I only came back to get some medicines.

Do not make it so grand and invite the attention of others.

I understand; hence, I did not bring any men with me.

I came to welcome you by myself. Is your health...

Aren't I doing very well? [Guo Jia, Courtesy Name: Fengxiao]

In passing, I can nurse my health more here in Xudu for a few days.

I have disappointed you.

I was not able to completely clean up Xudu. Yesterday,

I was suspended from my post by Lady Bian.

No wonder you are so anxious to see me.

You have suffered some grievances.

Come up.

I dare not. I will just accompany you by walking.

The matter with Lady Bian is easy to handle.

I will take care of it.

What is your opinion about Yang Xiu?

This person is smart and crafty. He cannot be trusted.

But it is also thanks to him

that we were able to pacify the uprising of Dong Cheng with one move.

Hence, this person can be of use temporarily.

Is overthrowing a measly Dong Cheng

a good thing?

I also once suspected

that Yang Xiu was working for the Emperor.

If this were the case,

they sacrificed Dong Cheng and Imperial Consort Dong;

sacrificed so many military forces,

making such an elaborate set up

just to insert a Yang Xiu among our ranks?

Doesn't their losses outweigh their gains?

Look at that person selling taros.

He would shout, "I incurred losses..."

I understand. I surely will thoroughly investigate Yang Xiu.

Find out their purpose

and their future plans.

No need. I have a good place

prepared for him.

Libationer, your health is not that good. It is better to limit your drinking.

May I ask which doctor is treating you lately?

I know about my illness.

I can nurse it by myself.

You said that you came back to have your illness treated and to get some medicines.

Upon returning, you are already saying these annoying things.

He himself does not want to live anymore, so why bother?

How dare you!

I picked you up because I hoped to die in your embrace.

Have you seen Guo Jia?

When Cao Cao just arrived here in Xudu,

I once saw him from a distance in the imperial court.

There are some people you can only understand once you have seen them.

For people like Guo Jia,

you only need to calculate how many enemies have died in his hands.

When I was in Wenxian, I had heard of him.

He helped Cao Cao defeat Lu Bu.

The outside world talked about his intelligence like it was some divine thing.

For us,

he is not some divine being that is worth the wait,

but is the scariest opponent.

But, currently, Cao Cao

has reached the most difficult moment in the battle with Yuan Shao,

but he instead let Guo Jia return to Xudu.

Do you not find that strange?

He most likely came back

because of the uprising of Dong Cheng.

Since he is a person that Cao Cao relies most heavily on,

he surely will not stay in Xudu for long.

Let us temporarily not make any move

and do things very carefully. We just need to wait for him to leave.

Your Majesty, do you know what is your most fatal weakness?

I know. I am unlike the Former Emperor.

Wrong. It is Sima Yi.

You said that His Majesty has changed.

Other than Yang Xiu, is there any new person by his side,

or any person missing from his side?

Other than Zhang Yu, there is no one missing.

It is just that the Second Young Master of the Sima Yi Family from Wenxian

suddenly came to Xudu.

Sima Yi?

The deceased son of Yang Jun

has been fostered by the Sima family since he was little.

Indeed.

This Sima Yi is very suspicious.

Yesterday, I went to his house to visit him.

In our chat, I tried to test him if he was sure

that the deceased victim was Yang Ping.

Oh? How did he answer?

He did not hesitate at all.

He was so sure that the corpse was Yang Ping.

In this world, it is really rare to have people who impatiently hope

that their brother is dead.

What Libationer means is...

Respectfully welcoming Libationer Guo in your return!

Libationer, Lady Bian is still mad at me.

I will not go in anymore.

Just wait here for a while.

Once I have reinstated you, come in.

Today?

I do not have the energy to go to the Residence of the Grand Minister of Works everyday.

I am going to handle your matter now in passing.

This...

I... Thank you, Libationer.

This is the Residence of the Grand Minister of Works? There is nothing special about it.

I thought Grand Minister Cao was already being treated as an emperor.

Stop deliberately provoking him.

He has no sense of humor. Let us go.

[Resident of the Grand Minister of Works]

Libationer Guo is back.

What? Libationer Guo is back?

So what if he is back? It is not Father.

Men!

Hurry... and look for Libationer Guo.

Tell him that he must pass by my room.

I have important matters to tell him. Quickly go.

Yes.

Older Brother, you are still gravely ill. Why are you rushing to see him?

I do not like him.

Why?

He is the trusted aide and main strategist for Father.

He always fools around. Every time he comes to our house, he brings with him a different woman.

I fear that he will be a bad influence on Father.

I prefer a honest gentleman like Uncle Xun Yu.

Xun Yu harmonizes using upright manner. Guo Jia wins by surprise tactics.

People like them cannot be assessed using vulgar standards.

With the present messy situation of Xudu,

it exactly needs a very strong medicine.

I am guessing that this is the reason that Father sent Guo Jia back.

Why then must you see him?

Because the several puzzles here in Xudu

can only be solved by Libationer Guo.

This is good.

Segments and Subtitles by Our Lips are Sealed Team @Viki

Your Majesty, after entering the manor,

Guo Jia went to visit Lady Bian first.

♫ The flame for cooking the wine is still warm. ♫

♫ Passionate love, devoid of hate ♫

♫ The light during the night talks is still attractive ♫

♫ Meeting a wandering soul while having a long dream ♫

♫ Covering up another's moon only made matters worse ♫

♫ Desolating a certain sight ♫

♫ Reality is hesitant. Bursts of cold air ♫

♫ sank so many stars and constellations ♫

♫ A young man's ambition and the desire to be recorded in history ♫

♫ After hundred years of chaos, no famous people remain ♫

♫ Can only pray for world affairs in one's remaining years ♫

♫ Sorrowful songs singing about one's empire ♫

♫ A young man's dream is unchanging from start to end ♫

♫ Hundreds years of wars and in all cases there are loyal men ♫

♫ Able to fulfill their wishes in their remaining years ♫

♫ The wind falls back to the mortal world ♫

[Secret of the Three Kingdoms]