Secrets of Three Kingdoms (三国机密 / San Guo Ji Mi)

Mother...

Mother...

Quietly.

This way, Your Highness.

Since His Majesty moved out from here

there's been no one in sight.

- What is Your Highness scared of? - I've left a message behind.

Why would you risk meeting me here?

Guo Jia's men already have me under strict surveillance.

Don't you know that?

I do.

But Princess Consort hasn't been very clear with your information recently.

Therefore I was told to ask you in person.

Speak quickly.

For instance, His Majesty is leading the expedition

to publicly assist Cao Cao.

Who exactly threatened him into doing so?

Guo Jia or Xun Yu?

Your Highness, please find out about it.

Come back to the superiors with a definite answer.

At the same time, please talk His Majesty out of the expedition.

I'll ask the empress.

There's one other matter.

After the palace caught fire, I couldn't see His Majesty at all.

It's impossible for me to spy on him.

What the superior means is that you should think of a method quickly

to assign me to the Ministry of Works.

Head back and tell Yuan Shao.

Everything that's happening in the capital is within my control.

Tell him to stop ordering me about.

Your Majesty.

We've almost cleaned up the entire Imperial Household Department.

Take a look.

Since I left, has anyone been here?

No, Your Majesty.

I've already found what I was looking for.

Prepare the carriage to head back.

- Yes! - Yes!

Your Majesty, are you still worried about Yang Xiu?

Grand Commandant Yang informed us that he's visited Guo Jia.

He said that Guo Jia hasn't tortured Yang Xiu yet.

It might be that he still has scruples about it.

Therefore, Your Majesty need not be too worried for now.

Empress.

Has Sister Tang visited?

Not yet.

But since there's such a serious matter, she will surely be here today.

Empress, don't tell anyone about what I planned to do with the expedition.

Particularly Sister Tang.

What's wrong, Your Majesty?

Why are you suddenly treating Sister Tang like an outsider?

It's not that.

This matter is of great importance.

I think that others will find me unrealistic if they know of my ideas.

It will only cause us more trouble.

It's best not to reveal a word of it.

Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that I'll also find you unrealistic?

You're different from them.

Just like Zhong Da, you're someone I can trust.

It's fine to be teased by you.

Your Majesty.

Princess Consort Tang asks to seek audience with the empress.

Have her wait in my quarters.

Yes.

I'll go with you.

Your Majesty.

It's rumored that you wish to lead the expedition.

Is this true?

Indeed.

Did Guo Jia force you to do so?

No.

I suggested it.

Why?

I have to express goodwill to Minister Cao for the sake of Yang Xiu.

Young Master Yang can then suffer much less.

Doesn't His Majesty often think differently from others?

It's good that you're not really going.

Your Majesty has to be careful not to end up

really being taken to the battlefield.

Sister Tang.

Do you not wish for me to lead the expedition?

Certainly not.

It's hectic on the battlefield.

How can Your Majesty be made use of by Cao Cao?

I only casually mentioned it to Prefect Xun.

Prefect Xun objected to it sternly.

Sister Tang, fret not.

That's good.

Sister Tang, is there anything else?

There's nothing else.

I'll take my leave.

Your Majesty.

Why are you so guarded against Sister Tang today?

Apart from you, I don't wish to tell anyone about my true intention

for going on the expedition.

You have to promise me that you won't tell your father and Sister Tang.

It's just the two of us... out to win this battle.

What are your plans?

I'll wait.

I'll wait for Yuan Shao.

Greetings, Master.

The emperor is going to lead the expedition.

He's assisting Cao Cao to suppress me.

Master.

It seems that the emperor has a favor to ask of you.

What do you mean?

The emperor only said so because of you.

He knows that

you're concerned with what the others say about you.

Therefore, he's using this to threaten you into cooperating with him.

This means...

that little puppet is actually quite wise.

I find that young emperor so pitiful.

He has to use himself as a hostage.

It shows that Cao Cao and Guo Jia have backed him into a corner.

However, this, in turn, will be favorable to Master.

Give this some thought.

Will you still have to worry about being defeated

if you have the emperor as your informant?

Good.

I'll send Tang Ying over immediately.

Tang Ying has been working undercover for years

and finally won his trust.

We have to reserve this pawn for the final, critical moment.

Then...

I'll send Pan Yang.

He can get into contact with the emperor

and also kill Guo Jia when he has the chance!

That will rid us of further trouble.

Master!

Don't forget the pact we made.

Cao Cao is yours to handle.

As for Guo Jia...

he's mine to kill!

That's enough.

Mother.

Look at my wound.

It's almost healed.

You don't have to be worried.

The wound is healed but you've yet to recover your energy.

You still have to recuperate.

You'll have to keep taking the medication prescribed by the doctors.

I still have to take it?

Thank you, Mother.

You're not to complain that the medicine is bitter anymore.

You can all step out now.

Here, give this to me.

I can do it.

Mother, I heard that you've withdrawn all of the spies around the emperor.

Why?

The emperor saved you.

He's a great benefactor to the Cao family.

We mustn't spy on our benefactor.

But--

Here, sit down.

Besides, we'll be found out someday.

If anyone reveals that

the Minister of Works' wife spies on the emperor's daily routine

it will be damaging to your father's reputation.

The commandant's office has taken over the security at the Ministry of Works.

Stop worrying about it.

Mother, you're right.

The emperor saved my life.

It's only right that I repay his kindness.

Here, have another slice.

Pi.

Thank you, Mother!

It's so sweet.

Finish that and drink your medicine.

Cao Pi wants to learn the Art of the Five Creatures?

Exactly.

You can just get Palace Steward Leng to teach him.

Perhaps, because I saved him, he wishes to warm up to me.

It's all right.

The man you're talking about is Cao Cao's son.

I believe that there's good and bad in every human.

Ever since I saved Cao Pi

the spies from the Ministry of Works have all been withdrawn.

That's because Cao Pi is going to spy on you personally.

I sometimes wonder if you're too naive or just overly magnanimous.

Instead of cowering in fear, I might as well be magnanimous.

Ever since you suggested leading the expedition

the Ministry of Works has taken even more precaution against you.

Whether Guo Jia has figured out your true intention or not

it's now even more difficult for us to contact anyone.

It's already been 10 days.

I wonder how Yuan Shao will contact me.

What do you need to report to Master?

Just tell me directly.

It's been years.

How have you been, Senior?

Senior, are you sure that you haven't been stalked?

Are you worried about my skills?

I'm worried about Guo Jia.

This place...

It hasn't changed much.

Senior, are you here personally because Duke Yuan no longer trusts me?

His Majesty leading the expedition is such shocking news.

Duke Yuan is really concerned.

He wishes to talk to the emperor.