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

Are you cold?

There's warm wine.

I'll be fine after having some.

Head inside quickly. Here.

Here.

"A beauty from afar arises"

"with crescent brows and clear large eyes."

"By chance I meet her on the way, whom I’ll love until I pass away."

It's my greatest joy that we can meet up in open sight.

Nothing matters more than this.

Since Cao Cao left for war, the surveillance slackened a bit.

I wonder how long this will last.

A lifetime.

Ying, when we've defeated Cao Cao

I'll be sure to make it up to you with a glamorous wedding.

Defeating Cao Cao...

will by no means be easy.

Trust me.

It will be accomplished as long as I'm around.

Today, in bliss we are.

Tomorrow, forget not the times we shared.

There's an urgent military report.

Leave.

What is it?

Is it bad news?

It's hard to tell.

There's only so much one can do.

Your Majesty.

Are you cold?

Look at your hands.

They have turned pink.

The entire garden of plum blossoms has bloomed.

I'll go and arrange the flowers first.

Six months have crept by

since Cao Cao went on the expedition to Jiangdong.

We used to spend each day in fear.

I'd never felt that time went by so quickly.

Such tranquility... It seems that we were already unaccustomed to it.

I also find such tranquility slightly unreal.

But I do hope that Chancellor Cao can return a bit later.

Then I'll be able to keep you company for a few more days.

Your Majesty, the chancellor's administrative official, Sima Yi

seeks audience for an urgent matter.

Zhong Da?

He always says it's urgent.

Why don't you spend your days with him, then?

Go on.

Zhong Da.

Cao Cao was totally defeated at the Red Cliffs

by the alliance army of Sun Quan and Liu Bei.

But the Imperial Secretariat has yet to receive the military report.

This is true.

The scouts of the Imperial Secretariat aren't as fast as my family's horses.

This is absolutely accurate.

The alliance army consists of no more than 50,000 men.

How could they defeat Cao Cao's army of 100,000 some men?

Although Cao Cao outnumbers them in armed forces

the northerners aren't skilled in naval battle.

There are strong winds in winter.

Sun Quan and Liu Bei had his battleships burned.

He's now retreated to Jiangling.

The casualties are still unknown.

But there are bound to be many.

How many heroes will be recorded in history for this battle?

Sun Quan and Liu Bei gained a firm foothold from Cao Cao's defeat.

The world will be chaotic for yet another 20 years.

However, it is still the people who suffered the most in this battle.

Yi He.

Cao Cao is already 53 years old.

It's impossible for him to pacify the Jiangnan area.

If he had figured this out sooner

what do you think he would have done?

I understand.

Once there's no hope in unifying the nation

he'd focus solely on vying against the imperial family for power.

Perhaps then, he'd be willing to be an emperor of a fragmented nation.

You only collaborated with Cao Cao in hopes of unifying the nation sooner.

What about now?

Do you regret stopping me from killing Cao Pi then?

Zhong Da, you managed to escape death several times

because of Cao Pi's efforts.

Yi He, do you still place any hope on the Cao family?

We once fought together to defend Lulong.

We're like brothers.

Do you know who Cao Pi wishes to get rid of the most?

Cao Zhi.

So many brothers kill one another just to sit upon this throne.

The emperor's throne might be spacious, but only one man can sit on it.

What if it were us?

Would you fight over it with me?

If I wished to vie for it, how could anyone defeat me?

It isn't that special.

When Cao Cao returns...

it's going to get foul and bloody again.

Don't you forget that we're the most powerful when we join hands.

Yi He...

You might not agree with my methods.

What are you going to do?

I will defeat the Cao family!

Not only for your sake

but also so that my beloved can live under the sun.

The officials of the Imperial Secretariat will be here very soon.

Your Majesty, deal with them properly.

The good days are over.

Greetings, Chancellor.

I believe that you must have heard about the Battle of the Red Cliffs.

Victory and defeat are common in battles.

Chancellor, you needn't be overly worried.

I might've been defeated at the Red Cliffs

but it caused no damage to our fundamental armed forces.

However, now that the tripartite division of China has been confirmed

it's inevitable that there will be years of frequent battles ahead.

I wish to appoint an heir among my sons.

When I'm away at war, my heir can then act as the vice chancellor.

The two of you are my confidants.

I'd like to know your opinions.

Second Young Master is skilled in both civil and military affairs.

His talent is unparalleled.

He truly is very outstanding.

However, Fourth Young Master is attractive and physically fit.

He has a great strength of character.

He's also full of enthusiasm and fervor.

He very much takes after the chancellor.

He's so remarkably outstanding that he stands out from all others.

What about you, Prefect Xun?

I share a similar opinion to that of Duke Cui.

Both young masters each have their own strengths.

However, in terms of magnanimity and generosity

I would say that Young Master Zi Jian has the advantage.

Zi Jian is still young.

If I choose to abolish my elder son and appoint the youngest...

it might cause some dispute.

I don't have any children.

I've adopted my late brother's daughter as my own.

Now that she is of marriageable age

I'd be happy to marry her to Fourth Young Master

if the chancellor doesn't object to it.

Duke Cui is the leading scholar of the Hebei gentries.

If so, there's no need to worry about any public dispute.

Good!

I'll order my men to pay a visit immediately

to see to the proposal of marriage.

Why do you wear your hair differently every day?

I dream of a snake every night that coils itself in a different shape.

I just style my hair according to what I saw in my dreams.

Should I get you a doctor for having such weird dreams?

This is quite good.

Snakes are even warmer than humans.

For half a day, I've seen you styling your hair and then undoing it.

Who are you dressing up for?

For myself.

Have you greeted Mother today?

- I have. - What did she say?

Zhi is engaged.

Mother said to have you congratulate him.

He's engaged?

Who is he engaged to?

He's engaged to Master of Writing Cui's niece.

Why didn't you inform me sooner of such an important matter?

You didn't ask.

Get dressed.

We're going to Mother's.

You can go alone.

I don't want to see you fighting back disappointment like a hypocrite.

Tell me.

Why should I be disappointed?

You're jealous of your brother for marrying a noble lady

but you can only marry a sinned woman.

You find yourself another step farther away from being the heir.

I already witnessed the brothers of the Yuan family fight to be the heir--

That's enough!

You're so cold and sarcastic every day.

What is it that you want?

Look at me.

Look at me!

There's nothing new to look at.

Whenever Yuan Xi felt as if he were dumb

he would have the same expression as you

and act just like you.

This makes you resemble him all the more.

If it weren't that I was once fond of you...

What is it that I want?

I want freedom.

I want to recite poems with you.

The newlyweds, ascend the steps!

The newlyweds, cleanse!

The newlyweds, enter the hall!

The newlyweds, take your seats.

Eat from the same plate!

Serve wine!

Drink the nuptial wine!

The newlyweds, bow to each other!

Bow in gratitude to the parents!

Bow in appreciation to the friends and guests!

The ceremony is concluded!

Mother, look how happy Zhi is today.

Marriage is the most important matter in one's life.

Your fourth brother has married a virtuous lady

so he surely is happy about it.

Both your second and fourth brothers are married now.