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

Your Majesty.

The imperial court already abolished the post of the chancellor

to prevent any official from being in position of high authority.

Cao Cao is the Minister of Works.

He's still constrained by the Three Excellencies.

The Three Excellencies are abolished if there's a chancellor.

In the future, I won't be able to keep him in check.

I wonder why Your Majesty would connive with Cao Cao.

Your Majesty.

Once Cao Cao assumes a dominant post

it'll be even easier for him to turn you into a figurehead.

Will he not have authority if I don't make him the chancellor?

But you still shouldn't hold a candle to the devil!

You must sow before you reap.

I definitely have to save Sima Yi.

However, it isn't such a terrible choice to make Cao Cao the chancellor.

Instead of having him fight for it

I might as well give him what he wants so as to make him compromise.

Therefore, just for the sole safety of Sima Yi

would you leave the imperial family in the lurch?

I just think that so long as Cao Cao isn't stupid

he shouldn't regard the power struggle

against the imperial family as his priority.

Sun Quan, Liu Biao, and Liu Bei are his biggest opponents.

He yearns for the nation to be united.

In terms of this goal, I should assist him in achieving it.

I shouldn't be hindering him in every way

and thus drawing his attention to his power struggle against us.

Father.

When we went head on against Cao Cao, we suffered a great many casualties.

Even Grand Commandant Yang was nearly implicated as well.

However, it's the imperial family's best chance to gain strength

when we support Cao Cao in pacifying the nation.

It was so in Guandu as well as Wuhuan.

Didn't we show our people the power of the imperial family

through those two battles?

Your Majesty, it's easy to set a tiger free into the wild but not to tame it.

Although the current peaceful situation seems to benefit the imperial family

it will be a calamity for us if Cao Cao becomes even more powerful.

Your Majesty, Elder Statesman Fu is right!

Please rest assured.

I'm no longer that easy to annihilate.

Sima Yi, receive the decree.

Allow me to ask a question.

Is this His Majesty's imperial decree or Minister Cao's?

The imperial decree is certainly written by His Majesty.

Moreover, His Majesty appointed my father as the chancellor.

He's abolished the Three Excellencies.

There's no longer the Minister of Works.

Sima Yi, receive the decree!

Yes, I hereby receive the decree.

Sima Yi of Wen County is resolute, daring, outstanding.

Clever and distinguished.

Due to his merit in rescuing the emperor

the exception of the Eight Deliberations applies.

He's pardoned for his misdeeds.

He's appointed as the chancellor's administrative official of literature.

By the emperor himself.

Who said that I'd serve in your manor in order to stay alive?

This is the emperor's decree.

Will Zhong Da defy it as well?

[Zhong Da, you have the talent to achieve great things in life]

[so join me in ruling this world. Cao Pi.]

You dare to employ me?

Aren't you going to ask me where Yang Ping is?

Compared to Zhong Da, Yang Ping doesn't matter.

As long as Zhong Da lives

the day you pledge allegiance to me will come.

As for the other matters, I can put up with them.

I'd like to discuss some important matters with Your Majesty in private.

You're dismissed.

- Yes. - Yes.

What took you so long?

Did you have a hard time in the prison?

Who are you to make such a decision for me?

This is the palace.

Can you not make me look bad?

Do you think you can order me about because you're the emperor?

No one dares to make me act against my will.

You sold me, and at the price of a chancellor.

You really are so stupid!

Zhong Da, you should know why I made such a choice.

Cao Cao already holds a greater authority than a chancellor should.

I've only done him a favor at a small cost.

I'm willing to cooperate with him, but not by replacing my empress.

Only by taking a step back can we reconcile for now.

As for Cao Pi, he truly admires your talent.

I'll need him to protect you.

If you help him with some matters that won't harm the imperial family

it won't be seen as picking on me.

Cao Pi?

How dare you even mention Cao Pi to me?

If you had allowed me to kill him in Lulong as I planned

would any of this have happened today?

Would the princess consort have had to show up to plead on my behalf?

Great.

Cao Cao takes even more precaution against Tang Ying now.

I'm also constrained in every way in Cao Cao's manor.

We can't even see each other.

If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have returned with you.

I should've just let you fend for yourself.

I know that I've made a mistake.

I also know that you mean well.

Stop being mad at me.

Let me make it up to you this once.

What?

Come and see it for yourself.

What can't be discussed out there?

There are matters that can only be discussed in here.

Prefect Xun is still waiting for me outside.

Wait in here for a while.

What are you up to?

Who is it?

Who are you?

What is a princess consort doing here?

This is the only place where I can see you.

What are you scared of?

I'm not holding a sword.

The tenderness around my fingers is surely better than some tempered steel.

Your hands...

You've lured away my life and soul.

How can a princess consort plead for a mere scholar before those officials?

Aren't you afraid of the rumors that might arise?

I wanted to... break you out of the prison.

You mustn't.

When I was in prison, do you know what I feared the most?

I was afraid that you'd come, masked, to rescue me.

If you'd done so, I wouldn't have gone with you.

They used you as their tool to take lives.

But it's different now.

You have me.

I can protect you.

I can also protect myself.

You're Sima Yi's wife.

No matter what happens from now on

you're not to do that again.

Do you understand?

I had wanted to... look for a place with great scenery.

We'd stay there and never return.

However, if we did so...

I understand.

You know me well.

You want me to realize my ambition.

Don't be scared.

Have you thought about it?

The Princess Consort of Han can't be remarried.

Nor can I have children.

My father has eight sons.

I'm not the only one who can carry on our bloodline.

Right now...

all I want is you.

What's wrong?

You...

Could you be...

You... It can't be that you've never done it?

I haven't.

In the past, the late Prince of Hongnong witnessed my skills in martial arts.

He had been frightened of me since we got married.

It was because I kept my sword by my pillow.

So...

he never dared to share my bed.

This is great.

I'm so thankful to him.

Tomorrow, I'll bring him the three meats as offerings.

I've been rendered homeless tonight.

I'm here in hopes that my empress will take me in out of sympathy.

You'd even lend your bed to someone else.

So much for coming up with such an idea.

Aren't you afraid that the historians will have that recorded?

Zhong Da and Sister Tang are finally reunited after such a misfortune.

They should have an exceptional nuptial night together.

When the nation is finally united

I'll be sure to host their wedding personally.

The historians will record this beautiful romance of a lifetime.

Are you unhappy about it?

Do you think that Zhong Da has violated the princess consort?

I also wish every happiness for Sister Tang.

They only get to spend such a short time together.

We shouldn't disturb them.

I've told the Prefect of Official Carriages and Palace Gates

that I'm having Sima Yi over to discuss political issues.

They are to close the gates at the regulated time.

Good.

The days I've spent with you are all of my happiest times.

Young Master Sima.

His Majesty has arranged a carriage to escort you back secretly.

Should anyone ask about it

tell them that you've been discussing political issues

with His Majesty all night so...

I want to see His Majesty.

There's an important matter to discuss.

Yes. Young Master Sima, this way, please.

Zhong Da, are you here to thank your matchmaker?

Zhong Da, if there's nothing else to discuss

you should leave the palace quickly.

It's likely to draw suspicion if you stay any longer.

I have to tell you about an important matter.

What is it?

You...

You and the empress...