The Assassins (Tong Que Tai / 铜雀台) (铜雀台)

New Reign of Peace Year 14, Month 12, Day 17,

Season of Great Freeze.

That was the year.

Mu Shun and I were brought

to a place with no sunlight.

We were no better than stray dogs.

We were put through bitter training, every day,

and no one told us why.

How long can someone survive without hope?

I don't know the answer.

All I know is that was the year

a look from Mu Shun became my only hope.

From today,

hold tight the swords in your hands!

That sword is your only strength now.

And only the strong will leave this place to serve the master!

Listen up!

This is the prize for tonight's winner!

Only one of you comes down alive!

Turn over.

Get up! Get up!

Everyone up!

Go! Get moving!

Everyone take your clothes off!

Strip!

Strip! Faster!

Strip! Faster!

Faster!

Go!

Get in the water! Move!

Quick!

If you want out of here, you'll have to be clean!

Mu Shun said he kept a garden in his heart.

There was no war, no chaos,

no massacre or death there.

Mu Shun and Ling Ju lived there.

They had a field, had clothes to wear,

and had sons and grandsons.

And Mu Shun said that as long as the hope in his heart was alive,

nothing could kill us.

Later, I finally learned

everything they put us through was to kill one man,

the most powerful man in the world.

And that was the only way we could earn our freedom.

In the winter of New Reign of Peace Year 24,

I was sent to Bronze Sparrow Tower.

That year,

Cao Cao allied with Eastern Wu to capture Guan Yu, dead or alive.

Emperor Xian brought his ministers

to Bronze Sparrow Tower, Cao Cao's palace,

to Wait for his return. When the general did return,

a blizzard was raging.

Thick grow the rush leaves, their white dew turns to frost.

He whom I love,

Cao Pi!

Control yourself!

Don't scream… don't scream…

When the kingdom falls to me,

I'll make you a real empress.

I went down the river to look for him,

and there in mid-water, sure enough, is he!

And there in mid-water, sure enough, is he!

Hands off!

I'm already an empress!

I don't need your title!

And there in mid-water…

Your Highness, the army returns, in mourning garb.

And there in mid-water, sure enough, is he!

It's a shame

you married that puppet.

In the snow, among a crowd of strange faces, I stood alone,

awaiting my fate.

And there, behind Emperor Xian,

in his crowd of ministers and eunuchs, I saw Mu Shun again.

How could this happen?

Father!

Chancellor!

How could you leave me so soon?

Father!

Prepare to receive the King of Wei!

Welcome, Chancellor!

Chancellor…

This… performance was quite a shock to me!

And no doubt a disappointment to some of you!

Guan Yu was killed by Lu Meng when he took Fancheng.

Sun Quan, the traitor,

sent me Guan Yu's head to sow discord between Liu Bei and I.

But I received Guan Yu with full rites!

I ordered the army into mourning

to honor Guan Yu in the name of the House of Han.

I commend your wisdom, Chancellor!

Guan Yu served us loyally, and deserves our full honors!

Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!

My lord!

My lord! My lord, my lord…

My lord, look… Look who I've found for you.

This was the most powerful man on earth?

My heart quivered in terror,

Mu Shun, I didn't know where you Were.

What are you doing here?

The palace sent me to deliver a new medicine for Cao Cao.

Will "stars in multitudes" really fall

when the four stars align?

I don't know if we can escape

what those stars are bringing.

I've heard he's good to you.

That doesn't matter, does it?

Isn't this all a game?

I have to go back.

Be careful.

My lord…

My lord…

My lord…

My lord, they said you were here, so I came,

but I wondered if I should, because what if you weren't?

But, you really are here after all!

I'll be as concise as I possibly can. I have a new medicine,

and it wasn't easy to find.

This cures headaches?

No, your loins.

Lies! My loins require no curing.

My lord! My lord!

"CLAD IN SNOW"

In the year of Geng and Zi,

when the four stars align,

a new dynasty takes the throne!

Lord Astrologer…

Greetings, Chancellor.

Blizzards followed drought this year.

By your readings,

when will the balance of seasons be restored?

I'm afraid that will be difficult.

Are the stars unfavorable?

The stars are very favorable!

When the four stars align,

blood will be spilled.

Dynasties change when Geng crosses Zi.

This is divine will.

Lord of Wei, I implore you, obey heaven's will, and take your prize!

Are you aware of the penalty for treason?

This is not my desire,

this is the will of heaven.

Would the Lord of Wei oppose heaven's will?

Chancellor, please, take heaven's prize!

Those who oppose heaven meet death!

Chancellor!

Father!

Chancellor!

All things proceed in good order,

without needless description!

The stars will explain themselves without your help!

Blasphemers!

Seal the doors!

From this day forth, the Divination Hall is forbidden to all!

Yecheng, Cao Cao's Estate.

Xudu, Royal Capital.

As long as your father is alive,

the kingdom will never be yours.

You know that better than I do.

You long for something you shouldn't dare to.

And I can help you.

And if you do gain the kingdom,

I'll be your queen.

Greetings, my lord.

This is my armory.

The owners of all these blades

had a past with me.

They fought with me,

or against me,

but today, they sleep in the ground.

This halberd was Lu Bu's.

In the middle is Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Sometimes, I visit them…

I thought I was a god.

But I realized I was wrong today.

Guan Yu,

you were the god.

And I talk to them.

I have to personally

write the memorial of every man here,

because I'm the only one who understands them.

I don't understand.

You've been fighting your entire life,

but for what?

On the lands outside this palace,

every man needs to work, and fight.

Every day, every year,

and they have to keep going,

because with a unified will,

one day,

the world will be ours.

My world ends with the people I care about

and a place to call home.

The safest place to call home is the dust.

Just like them.

Since we all return to the dust,

what good does gaining the world do?

My mother gave it to me.

Your mother?

Why do I want the nation?