Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 22 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Liu Ping was released and returned to the camp, where he was treated as an envoy of the Son of Heaven due to the trust he had earned from Mr. Fei. General Chunyu Qiong also released Fu Shou and Cao Pi. Cao Pi introduced himself as Wei Wen.
Chunyu Qiong arranged for a medical officer to check on Cao Pi, who had been knocked out earlier, and prepared wine and food for Liu Ping and his companions, a stark contrast to their previous status as prisoners. Fu Shou initially declined the offer to change clothes but then agreed it was inappropriate to meet Lord Yuan in her current attire.
Chunyu Qiong noted the similarity between Liu Ping and Lord Yuan in bringing their wives to the battlefield, stating that in war, one must keep loved ones close. He promised Lord Yuan would be pleased to meet Liu Ping. While dining, Cao Pi offered Liu Ping some grapes from the Western Regions, grown in the Central Plains.
Liu Ping admitted he had never tasted such a precious fruit, recalling the hardships he endured since ascending the throne, including the chaos in Luoyang and the escape from Chang'an, where he witnessed officials starve and soldiers resort to cannibalism. He credited Cao Cao with his survival. Cao Pi promised to reopen the trade routes to the Western Regions so Liu Ping could enjoy as many grapes as he wished.
Meanwhile, in the prison, Shen Rong secretly visited Sima Yi and cautioned him to be careful, as his father, Shen Pei, was coming to interrogate him, and he intended to protect Sima Yi from being beaten. Back at their quarters, Cao Pi asked Liu Ping if their captors truly believed their story. Liu Ping advised him to be cautious and avoid unnecessary talk.
Cao Pi then expressed his curiosity about Liu Ping's true purpose in coming to such a dangerous place personally, instead of sending an envoy, and wondered if he genuinely sought refuge with Yuan Shao. Liu Ping clarified that if he intended to defect, he would have revealed his imperial seal and identity, rather than using a disguise. He stated his sincere desire to help Cao Cao, which Cao Pi affirmed he believed.
Chunyu Qiong later presented Liu Ping and Cao Pi with a "gift"—several alleged spies of Cao Cao. He asked them to identify anyone they knew, believing their knowledge of Cao Cao's army from the capital would be useful. Among the bound prisoners was Deng Zhan, who recognized Liu Ping from the portrait and was visibly surprised.
To solidify their cover, Cao Pi identified Deng Zhan as a colonel of Cao Cao's Tiger Leopard Cavalry and, claiming family vengeance, demanded a sword to kill him, but Liu Ping intervened and stopped him. Chunyu Qiong questioned their true alliance. Liu Ping explained that Cao Pi had acted on impulse, fearing exposure, but pointed out that Deng Zhan, having survived so long, must have surrendered to Chunyu Qiong. Liu Ping expressed confidence that Chunyu Qiong would keep their secret.
When asked if he recognized them, Deng Zhan, after a meaningful glance at Liu Ping, identified him as an "Embroidered Armor Agent of the Imperial family." Chunyu Qiong, seemingly satisfied, ordered Deng Zhan to be untied and the other prisoners killed, reassuring Liu Ping that Deng Zhan, now serving Lord Yuan, would not reveal their whereabouts.
Later, Liu Ping discussed Deng Zhan's unexpected survival with Fu Shou, acknowledging that stopping Cao Pi from killing him was the right move, as it was a test from Chunyu Qiong that could have made them look guilty. Fu Shou worried that Deng Zhan, having seen Liu Ping's portrait, knew of his identity as Yang Ping and must not be allowed to return to Guo Jia.
Liu Ping found it strange that Deng Zhan knew about the "Embroidered Armor Agents" and wondered who he was communicating with within the Yuan army. Fu Shou's primary concern, however, was that Deng Zhan might reveal the portrait secret to Cao Pi. Liu Ping expressed regret for bringing Fu Shou into such danger, but she reminded him that their mission was to confront these risks.
In the prison, Shen Rong stayed with Sima Yi, much to his father Shen Pei's exasperation. Sima Yi suggested that Shen Pei interrogate him in front of Shen Rong so that his son could understand him better.
Shen Pei then pressed Sima Yi on his true motives for coming to Yecheng, questioning why Guo Jia's spies had followed him, which "brother" Cao Cao had harmed given the Sima family's close ties to Cao Cao, and why he would serve in Xudu if there was animosity. Shen Rong interjected, defending Sima Yi by suggesting "brother" could refer to a cousin or sworn brother, and that Sima Yi was loyal to his friends.
Sima Yi then thanked Shen Rong and explained that he had held an official post in Xudu but was ostracized due to Cao Cao's lingering resentment towards Sima Yi's father for recommending Cao Cao as Commandant of the Northern Army. He had resigned and returned to his province.
When Shen Pei still pressed about Guo Jia's spies, Sima Yi revealed that his family's assets were in Hebei, and his younger brother Yang Ping was related to Supreme Commander Yang, who was connected to Lord Yuan by marriage. This made his family suspicious to Man Chong and Guo Jia, and Sima Yi believed Guo Jia was involved in Yang Ping's death. Shen Rong, convinced, promised to avenge Sima Yi once Lord Yuan defeated Cao Cao.
Sima Yi further explained that Guo Jia's spies had followed him to prevent the Sima family from siding with Yuan Shao, and if not for Shen Rong's help, his clan would be in danger. He stated he had risked everything to help Shen Rong cut off Guo Jia's spy network, hoping to find a path through Lord Yuan, and questioned Shen Pei's continued doubt. Shen Pei, admitting his error, apologized.
Sima Yi then suggested he meet the person in Yecheng responsible for communications with defectors to fully allay Shen Pei's suspicions, quoting, "You do not doubt the people you use. You do not use the people you doubt." Shen Rong, calling Sima Yi his "real brother," dismissed the need for such a meeting. Shen Pei agreed, telling Sima Yi to follow him, promising a bright future with Lord Yuan.
Shen Rong then asked his father to let Sima Yi follow him instead, citing their immediate bond. Shen Pei, noting Sima Yi's wisdom and strategic mind, agreed to let him assist Shen Rong. Later, a doctor tended to Deng Zhan's wound. Once the doctor left, Deng Zhan secretly retrieved a message hidden in his bandage, read it, and burned it.
Cao Pi then visited Deng Zhan, correctly deducing the method of communication and that Deng Zhan knew they were disguised Embroidered Armor Agents. Cao Pi identified himself as Wei Wen and cautioned Deng Zhan about the security, also reminding him that Liu Ping was his older brother. He clarified that his previous attempt to kill Deng Zhan was an act for Chunyu Qiong.
Deng Zhan explained that Guo Jia had ordered him to betray intel to Chunyu Qiong to preserve his life, with orders delivered unilaterally and mysteriously through items like food, clothes, or medicine bags. He admitted he didn't know how to directly contact Guo Jia or if the doctor was an agent. Cao Pi inquired about Deng Zhan's trip to Wenxian and his wound, but Deng Zhan, citing Guo Jia's orders, refused to disclose any details.
When Liu Ping subsequently visited Deng Zhan, he wanted to know if Deng Zhan had revealed the portrait secret to Cao Pi. Deng Zhan stated he only followed Guo Jia's commands and intended to tell Guo Jia the truth about the portraits once they met. He expressed puzzlement as to why Liu Ping had stopped Cao Pi from killing him, as his death would have kept the secret safe.
Liu Ping responded that he believed Deng Zhan was an innocent man merely following orders and did not deserve to die. He then expressed hope that Deng Zhan would "have his own stand" when the time came to decide. Sima Yi, back in the prison with Shen Rong, deduced that it was a top-level prison for important prisoners like Tian Feng.
Shen Rong confirmed it was the Yecheng Guards Office and mentioned a recently imprisoned woman, an assassin personally sent by Lord Yuan, heavily shackled with keys they did not possess, rumored to be exceptionally skilled. Sima Yi pretended disinterest, then overheard guards failing to extract information from a Guo Jia spy. Sima Yi suggested a strategy of "deliberately indulging to eventually capture" to Shen Rong, who readily agreed.
Sima Yi orchestrated the spy's escape, shouting his own name, "Sima Yi," loudly through the prison corridors, pretending to pursue him. Tang Ying, hearing Sima Yi's voice, rattled her chains, allowing him to locate her cell. She urged him to leave, but Sima Yi promised to rescue her. The escaped spy, realizing Sima Yi had used him to find Tang Ying, was swiftly killed by Sima Yi.
Shen Rong arrived, believing the plan had failed, but Sima Yi assured him of his capabilities. Later, Cao Pi confronted the doctor who treated Deng Zhan, holding him at knifepoint, hoping he was Guo Jia's contact. The doctor denied any knowledge of Guo Jia, claiming the letter in Deng Zhan's medicine bag was from his disciple. Cao Pi, realizing the doctor was not Guo Jia's agent, killed him to ensure silence.
Liu Ping and Fu Shou discussed the grapes, with Liu Ping mentioning Cao Pi's promise to reopen Western Region trade routes. At this moment, Deng Zhan burst in, informing them that Cao Pi had been captured for killing the doctor. With their cover blown, Liu Ping and Fu Shou had to escape.
Deng Zhan, despite his wounds, declared he would cover their escape, sacrificing himself to an arrow from Chunyu Qiong as Liu Ping and Fu Shou fled into the woods. Fu Shou blamed Liu Ping for Deng Zhan's death as they continued to run, hoping to evade pursuit under the cover of night. In Yecheng, on the bustling streets, scholars engaged in fervent political discussions, lamenting the separatist regimes and the state of the world.
Shen Rong, unable to comprehend their intellectual discourse, asked Sima Yi for an explanation. Sima Yi clarified that the scholars were satirizing Shen Pei, calling him narrow-minded and cruel, worse than the Qin Emperor, for allegedly sidelining talents gathered by Lord Yuan. Enraged, Shen Rong confronted the scholars. Sima Yi subtly guided Shen Rong's arguments, prompting him to challenge the scholars on their achievements and their lack of practical strategies for military and civilian affairs, effectively silencing them.
Sima Yi applauded Shen Rong's performance, an action noticed by Cui Yan. A scholar recognized Sima Yi and accused him of colluding with Shen Rong and teaching him the arguments. Sima Yi defended Shen Rong, dismissing the scholars as insignificant. Shen Rong, emboldened, threatened to imprison the defiant scholar, and Sima Yi urged him to ignore "defeated dogs."
