Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 21 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
As Dong Cheng was secretly being transported to Guandu, Yuan Shao’s general, Chunyu Qiong, appeared to rescue him, declaring his intention to fetch “Guozhang Dong.” Liu Ping, Fu Shou, and Cao Pi, disguised as escorting soldiers, aimed to infiltrate Yuan Shao’s army. During the ensuing confrontation, Cao Pi was knocked unconscious. Dong Cheng intervened, confirming that Liu Ping and Fu Shou were "their people," and further insisted that the unconscious Cao Pi also be taken.
Liu Ping then revealed himself as the Embroidered Armor Agent of the Han Dynasty Emperor. Chunyu Qiong, having been compelled to spare them, took all three along with Dong Cheng. Kong Rong angrily confronted Guo Jia at his residence, accusing him of unauthorized transport of Dong Cheng, which led to his abduction by Yuan Shao’s forces. Guo Jia calmly admitted to acting on his own authority, feigning indifference to Dong Cheng’s fate.
However, in a private conversation, Guo Jia revealed that Dong Cheng's abduction was a calculated move. He had intentionally orchestrated the transport to send Liu Ping and Fu Shou to Yuan Shao’s side, though he hadn't anticipated Cao Pi joining them. His true aim was to ascertain if the Emperor was secretly colluding with Yuan Shao.
As Chunyu Qiong and Dong Cheng conversed, Dong Cheng expressed his gratitude to the Emperor for saving him and hinted at a planned rescue involving General Pan Yang. Liu Ping, maintaining his cover as the Emperor's agent, conveyed the Emperor's regards to General Pan. Suddenly, Dong Cheng collapsed, exclaiming that he had been poisoned.
It was a secret plot by Guo Jia, who had poisoned Dong Cheng beforehand to eliminate him as a middleman, thereby forcing Liu Ping to directly reveal his connection with Yuan Shao. Chunyu Qiong realized he had fallen into Guo Jia's trap and suspected Liu Ping was a spy. As Chunyu Qiong's men moved to act, the fading Dong Cheng gestured towards Liu Ping. Liu Ping then produced the Emperor's imperial belt decree, commanding Yuan Shao to pacify the rebels.
This, coupled with the political risk of harming a Han agent, made Chunyu Qiong hesitate, and he grudgingly decided to take Liu Ping into custody. Fu Shou and Liu Ping watched the unconscious Cao Pi. Liu Ping expressed frustration at being outmaneuvered by Guo Jia, deducing that the poisoning was meant to force their hand.
Fu Shou, realizing Cao Pi's disappearance was unknown to Cao Cao, proposed killing him to shift the blame entirely onto Yuan Shao, believing even Guo Jia would be powerless to retaliate. Liu Ping vehemently rejected this, stating it would completely derail their plans. Shortly after, Chunyu Qiong entered, still pressing Liu Ping for the truth. Liu Ping reiterated his status as the Embroidered Armor Agent and his desire to see Yuan Shao.
Chunyu Qiong then had Liu Ping’s eyes covered and took him away. Fu Shou protested, but Chunyu Qiong dismissed her. As Liu Ping was led off, he warned Fu Shou against any regrettable actions, indicating his awareness of her murderous thoughts toward Cao Pi. Fu Shou then asserted she would accompany Liu Ping, and she was also taken.
Meanwhile, Sima Yi arrived in Yecheng, observing Shen Rong, son of Shen Pei and manager of Yuan Shao's Supreme Commander's Office, rigorously searching scholars at the city gate for Xudu spies. A fellow scholar informed Sima Yi that Shen Rong wielded such power due to Yuan Shao's favoritism towards his sons. Sima Yi then deliberately provoked Shen Rong, announcing that his bag contained a letter from Xun Yu and offering it as a merit to Shen Rong.
As anticipated, Shen Rong immediately ordered Sima Yi's arrest. While imprisoned, Sima Yi explained to Shen Rong that his arrest was a ploy. He claimed to have been shadowed by Xudu's Ministry of Works agents, and his capture would force them to contact their local network in Yecheng. Sima Yi offered to help Shen Rong expose and dismantle Cao Cao's entire spy network, promising immense glory.
Though initially skeptical, Shen Rong was swayed by the prospect of such a great achievement and released Sima Yi, using him as bait. As Shen Rong’s men followed Sima Yi to the spy, a street brawl erupted, and Sima Yi vanished during the confusion. Furious, Shen Rong returned to his office, believing Sima Yi had deceived him. However, Sima Yi was already waiting for him.
He affirmed that his disappearance was part of the plan and that the spy had been identified. He reiterated the enormous merit of destroying Cao Cao’s spy network in Yecheng. Shen Rong, still suspicious due to the Sima family’s historical ties with Cao Cao, questioned Sima Yi's betrayal. Sima Yi earnestly explained that Cao Cao intended to harm his brother and had been monitoring him, compelling him to seek safety with Shen Rong. Convinced, Shen Rong promised protection and prosperity.
He then ordered twenty elite fighters assembled to raid the spy's lair. In a dark room, Liu Ping was brought before Mister Fei, Yuan Shao's military adviser. Mister Fei noted Liu Ping's resemblance to Guo Jia's temperament and revealed that his research into the Han Imperial Family tree showed no Liu Ping matching his age. Liu Ping calmly admitted his true identity was Yang Ping, son of Yang Jun, and that he was the Emperor's envoy.
Mister Fei, impressed, noted Yang Jun's strong character and his apparent self-mutilation. He questioned why Dong Cheng failed, and Liu Ping explained the Emperor's elaborate scheme to appear weak while secretly training loyal subjects, denying that the Emperor had Dong Cheng killed. After further probing about Princess Consort Tang and the motives of Yuan Shao, Liu Ping asserted that Cao Cao was their common enemy.
Satisfied, Mister Fei decided to collaborate with Liu Ping, revealing that he recognized the poison used on Dong Cheng as one known only to himself and Guo Jia. He concluded that Guo Jia had poisoned Dong Cheng to sever the Emperor's connection with Yuan Shao, boasting that Guo Jia hadn't anticipated Yuan Shao having him as an adviser. Meanwhile, Cao Pi regained consciousness and thanked Fu Shou for not killing him.
Fu Shou pressed him on whether Guo Jia had sent him, which Cao Pi denied, claiming he came to protect them. He then expressed concern for the Emperor's safety. Fu Shou reminded him that there was no Emperor there, only the Emperor's Embroidered Armor Agent, and Cao Pi agreed to play the role of the agent's attendant, vowing to use his identity as Cao Cao's son to protect them if necessary.
Shen Rong, led by Sima Yi, raided the spy’s stronghold. During the fight, Shen Rong was wounded by an arrow. Sima Yi swiftly killed the spy but captured some alive. Inspecting Shen Rong’s wound, Sima Yi declared the arrow poisoned, personally concocted by Guo Jia. A terrified Shen Rong demanded an antidote. Sima Yi produced a pill, feigning sorrow and recounting how Guo Jia's poison had killed his own younger brother before he could administer this very medicine.
Shen Rong immediately swallowed the pill, and feeling better, affectionately declared Sima Yi his biological brother. Soon after, Shen Pei arrived, anxious about his son’s injury. Shen Rong eagerly praised Sima Yi as his savior and the one who exposed Guo Jia’s schemes. However, upon hearing Sima Yi’s name, Shen Pei immediately ordered his arrest.
Shen Pei accused Sima Yi of being a spy for Cao Cao, citing the Sima family’s long-standing alliance with Cao Cao and Sima Yi’s previous service under Xun Yu. He dismissed Shen Rong's protests, asserting Sima Yi’s presence was a cunning deception, and left to "have a good talk" with Sima Yi.
Separately, in Xudu, Kong Rong demanded Guo Jia rescue the Emperor from Yuan Shao, but Guo Jia refused to risk a rash rescue, believing the Emperor was temporarily safe. News then reached Guo Jia that all his contacts in Yecheng were missing, having been dismantled by Shen Rong's forces, a move Guo Jia correctly attributed to Sima Yi. Guo Jia resolved to deal with Sima Yi, having sent his own agent to Yecheng.
