Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 44 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
In the depths of winter, Sima Yi was alone in his room when Tang Ying arrived. He greeted her warmly, offering wine and urging her inside. Sima Yi expressed his joy at seeing her, reciting a line, "There is one beauty, with such big eyes gleaming with tears. After happily meeting again, let us go hide together."
Tang Ying replied that her greatest joy was simply being able to meet openly, and hoped the slacked surveillance since Cao Cao left for war would last. Sima Yi promised her a lifetime of happiness, assuring her that after they defeated Cao Cao, he would give her a glamorous wedding. Tang Ying, however, voiced her doubt, stating that defeating Cao Cao "will not be an easy feat." Sima Yi insisted, "Trust me, with me here, we definitely can."
Tang Ying then told him, "Today, let us be happy. Tomorrow, let us not forget each other." Their embrace was interrupted by a secret agent who delivered an urgent military report. After reading it, Sima Yi was visibly worried. Tang Ying asked if it was bad news, to which Sima Yi responded gravely, "It is hard to say. Sometimes. . . a person's ability may not be enough."
Meanwhile, Fu Shou visited Liu Ping in his sleeping quarters, bringing blooming plum blossoms. Liu Ping noticed her cold hands and asked if she was cold, but she simply replied, "The garden is full of blooming plum flowers. I will go put the flowers in the vase first." Liu Ping then mused that six months had passed since Cao Cao's expedition, and he was "still not used to this tranquility."
Fu Shou echoed his sentiment, adding, "I also feel that this tranquility is not real, but I hope that Chancellor Cao will come back a bit later. This way, I can spend more time with you." Their peaceful moment was broken by a eunuch announcing Sima Yi's urgent request for an audience. Liu Ping expressed surprise, and Fu Shou remarked, "He always says there is an urgent matter. Keep him company then," urging Liu Ping to go.
Sima Yi informed Liu Ping that Cao Cao had suffered a great defeat at Chibi from the joint forces of Sun and Liu. Liu Ping was surprised, noting the Secretariat Office hadn't received any battle report, and questioned how a joint army of only 50,000 could defeat Cao Cao's hundreds of thousands.
Sima Yi clarified that northerners were not skilled in water battles, and amid strong winter winds, "Sun Liu started a fire and burned the military ships," forcing Cao Cao to retreat to Jiangling with a loss that was "definitely not that small." Liu Ping lamented that the people of the empire suffered the most from such conflicts.
Sima Yi concluded that this defeat strengthened Sun and Liu's forces, meaning "the kingdom will still be in chaos for at least twenty years." He then pointed out that Cao Cao, now fifty-three, could no longer hope to conquer Jiangnan. If Cao Cao understood this, he would inevitably focus his efforts on confronting the Han Imperial Family.
Liu Ping understood that with unification no longer possible, Cao Cao would now "put all his energy toward the fight with the Han Imperial Family," possibly settling for being an emperor of a partial empire. Sima Yi then challenged Liu Ping, asking if he regretted stopping him from killing Cao Pi earlier.
Liu Ping responded that he did not, as Sima Yi himself had "escaped death several times, partly because of Cao Pi's efforts," and reminded Sima Yi that he and Cao Pi "once guarded Lulong side by side" and "were like real brothers." Sima Yi laughed, then stated, "Do you know who Cao Pi wants to get rid of the most? It is Cao Zhi."
He elaborated on the ruthless nature of the struggle for the throne, boasting, "If I, Sima Yi, want to compete for it, would anyone be able to defeat me?" Liu Ping dismissed the boast and predicted that once Cao Cao returned, "it will again be bloody rain and foul wind." Sima Yi reassured him, "Don't forget. With us working together, we are the strongest people in this world."
He admitted his methods might not be approved by Liu Ping, revealing his intention to "win over the Cao family," not only for Liu Ping but also "more importantly to make the woman I love be able to live under the sun." An eunuch then announced that officials from the Secretariat Office would arrive soon. Sima Yi instructed Liu Ping to handle them, lamenting that their "good days have ended."
Xun Yu and Cui Yan went to see Cao Cao, who greeted them by stating he was sure they had heard about his defeat at Chibi. Xun Yu advised Cao Cao not to worry excessively, but Cao Cao asserted that while he lost, "it did not affect the foundation of my army." He noted that with the "separation of power into three states" now established, long battles were inevitable.
He then revealed his intention to name an heir apparent who would serve as temporary chancellor during his expeditions, and sought their suggestions. Cui Yan praised Cao Pi but ultimately lauded Cao Zhi as "handsome and is with an unusually high level of moral integrity," possessing the "bearing of a Chancellor" and "overflowing with brilliance, excellent and unrivaled." Xun Yu concurred, stating that Cao Zhi was "more superior" in terms of being broad-minded and heroic.
Feigning concern, Cao Cao replied that choosing a younger son over the eldest would "induce criticisms." Cui Yan seized the opportunity, offering to marry his niece to Cao Zhi to solidify his position. Xun Yu quickly supported the idea, pointing out that as a leading aristocratic scholar of Hebei, Cui Yan's alliance would alleviate public criticism. Cao Cao, pleased, agreed to the marriage. As Zhen Fu was doing her hair, Cao Pi questioned her daily change of hairpins.
She explained that she dreamed of snakes in different positions each night and styled her hair accordingly, adding coolly, "Snakes are a bit warmer than humans." When asked who she was dressing up for, she replied, "For myself," before relaying that his mother had news: "Fourth Little Brother is engaged." Cao Pi reacted with anger upon hearing that Cao Zhi was engaged "to the niece of Master of Writing Cui," demanding why she hadn't told him sooner.
Zhen Fu calmly stated, "You did not ask." Later, when Cao Pi asked her to get dressed to visit their mother, Zhen Fu refused, saying she didn't want to see "your pretentious look of holding back your disappointment." She sarcastically remarked that he envied Cao Zhi for marrying into an aristocratic family while he "could only marry a criminal woman," feeling he was "one step farther from the heir apparent position."
Agitated, Cao Pi retorted that he was "fed up with" the battle for the heir apparent. Zhen Fu provoked him further, saying he resembled Yuan Xi. Furious, Cao Pi demanded what she wanted from him. Zhen Fu, looking at her reflection, declared that she only wanted "to be free and unfettered. Recite poems and sing." Cao Zhi and Cui Yan's niece were married in a joyous ceremony officiated by Xun Yu.
Cao Pi, though outwardly congratulating his younger brother, covertly expressed his envy to his mother. As guests offered their well wishes, Cao Cao announced an imperial decree, conferring upon Cao Zhi the title of Pingyuan Marquis for his deeds in guarding Lulong. Sima Yi took the opportunity to prod Cao Pi, pointing out that "The eldest son has not been conferred a title, but the youngest already has one."
Cao Pi, however, demonstrated his sharp insight, explaining that Cui Yan's marriage alliance was a strategic move by Liu Ping to support Cao Zhi, a move Cao Cao allowed to "stabilize the hearts of the people of Hebei." He concluded that both his and Cao Zhi's marriages "technically were made possible by His Majesty." Just then, Liu Ping and Fu Shou arrived to congratulate the newlyweds. Liu Ping presented a belt personally sewn by Fu Shou.
Recalling how Fu Shou had once "sewed an emperor robe overnight while we were still in Lulong," saving the army, Cao Cao called her "the top meritorious subject in our victory last time." He then thanked Liu Ping for saving his two children. As Liu Ping called for wine, Yang Xiu quietly advised Cao Zhi, "Chancellor does not wish for you to be too close to His Majesty. You must take note of this."
Later, Liu Ping found Cao Jie lost in thought in a corridor and asked why she was sad. Cao Jie confessed, "Actually, I have always liked you." She reassured him that she would not let her father pressure him into a marriage, content for him to be her older brother. Liu Ping gently confessed that his heart belonged only to Fu Shou and that keeping Cao Jie by his side would only aggrieve her.
He advised her that she would "surely find a man that will be of one heart with you until old age," before excusing himself. Unbeknownst to them, Cao Pi had witnessed their conversation. On the way back, Cao Cao dismissed everyone for a private conversation with Cao Zhi. He revealed that Cui Yan's marriage proposal was orchestrated by Liu Ping, and that he had simply gone along with the plan to leverage the influence of the Hebei aristocracy.
He warned Cao Zhi, "the forces of our Cao family and the Han Imperial Family cannot coexist together." Cao Zhi countered that "revering the emperor can make our cause justified," but Cao Cao dismissed this, declaring that the task of pacifying the empire "can only fall on your shoulders." Expressing his high hopes, he told Cao Zhi that among his twenty-five sons, he was "the most similar to me. You must not disappoint me."
The next morning, Cao Pi found a sad Cao Jie and consoled her. She tearfully confessed, "I really. . . really like His Majesty." Cao Pi then asked if Guo Jia had left her any schemes before his death. Cao Jie revealed that Guo Jia had given her a pouch, saying it "concerns the secret of this empire," and that "only I can look at the content."
Suspecting a connection to his own long-held secret, Cao Pi revealed it to her: "the reason that Older Brother died in Wancheng was because of Mother." He claimed she bribed Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu to launch a mutiny, doing it "for me. For Fourth Brother," to clear their path to the heirship. He posited that Guo Jia, who knew of his secret investigation, gave the pouch to Cao Jie out of kindness or because he trusted her fairness.
Persuaded, Cao Jie agreed to open the pouch, but insisted that Cao Zhi also be present. With Cao Zhi there, Cao Jie opened the pouch, and they found a letter that exposed Liu Ping's true identity. Cao Pi exclaimed, "So that was it. . . . Yang Ping from the Sima family did not die. Yang Ping is the current emperor."
Cao Zhi, acknowledging Liu Ping's benevolence, advocated burning the letter, praising Liu Ping as a "wise emperor that is hard to come by." Cao Pi stopped him, arguing that "this matter must not be handled so hastily," and commenting that Liu Ping and Fu Shou "are originally. . . in-laws." Cao Jie then requested to keep the letter, reminding them of her promise to Guo Jia. Both brothers agreed that it was appropriate for her to do so.
