Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 46 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Yang Biao called for Fu Wan and Lu Yu to discuss matters concerning Liu Ping, but his son Yang Xiu had already sent them away. Yang Xiu explained to his father that in the current perilous situation, gathering such individuals would only draw Cao Cao's suspicion and endanger them. When Yang Biao pressed for a solution, Yang Xiu argued that Liu Ping's stubbornness had led to their predicament.
He urged his father to abandon Liu Ping and pledge loyalty to Cao Cao, asserting this was the only way to safeguard their family's standing. Yang Xiu highlighted that Liu Ping's "conceited righteousness and compassion" had thwarted their plans. Yang Biao, deeply committed to the Han Dynasty, was furious at his son's words, calling him a "treacherous son" who had forsaken loyalty and piety despite his upbringing.
He dismissed Yang Xiu, who, even as he was escorted away, continued to insist there was no future with the current Han imperial family. Meanwhile, Fu Shou presented Xun Yu with the late Emperor's sash edict. She revealed the Former Emperor had passed away in the fifth year of Jian'an (A. D. 200) and, in his dying wish, decreed that his twin brother, Liu Ping, inherit the throne to restore the Han Dynasty.
Xun Yu was deeply shocked by this revelation. Fu Shou further disclosed that Cao Cao was aware of the truth and asked Xun Yu for advice. Xun Yu acknowledged that the edict might persuade loyal officials to accept Liu Ping, especially since his ascension was not illegitimate.
However, he cautioned that Fu Shou's long-standing role as Liu Ping's wife—despite their actual relationship as sister-in-law and brother-in-law—would invite public scandal and bring shame upon the Han Dynasty, as it would appear Liu Ping had "stolen his brother's wife." Understanding the implications, Fu Shou decided to sacrifice herself, proposing to commit suicide to preserve Liu Ping's reputation and the Han Imperial Family's honor. Xun Yu was heartbroken but saw no alternative.
Fu Shou made one request: after her death, Xun Yu and Cui Yan, a respected virtuous scholar, should guide court discussions to legitimize Liu Ping's ascension as "upright and aboveboard" and protect him from Cao Cao's schemes. Xun Yu tearfully agreed. At that moment, Liu Ping entered and overheard their conversation. Cao Pi discussed the Emperor's summons of Xun Yu with Cao Cao, urging his father to be wary.
Cao Cao initially dismissed his son's concerns, citing his two decades of trust and shared ambition with Xun Yu. He even believed Xun Yu would be the first to defend the Han Imperial bloodline. However, Cao Pi reminded him of Guo Jia's past discretion, prompting Cao Cao to decide he would meet with Xun Yu himself.
When Princess Consort Tang Ying sought an audience with Cao Cao, Cao Pi offered to meet her, believing he could persuade her to help Sima Yi. He urged Tang Ying to advise Sima Yi to confess quickly to avoid the harsh tortures of the Xudu Guards. Tang Ying assured him she knew what to do, though Cao Pi confessed he didn't understand what "they were persisting to preserve."
After Xun Yu's conversation with Fu Shou, Liu Ping declared his unwavering devotion, telling Xun Yu that he and Fu Shou had endured many hardships together and that she had long been his Empress. He passionately explained that meeting Fu Shou at eighteen made him believe his identity as the Former Emperor's twin was solely so he could be with her.
He spoke of their shared journey through "continuous hell," stating he would have given up long ago if not for her. Liu Ping then questioned why the nation could not accept Fu Shou, who had sacrificed so much. Fu Shou, tearfully, echoed her desire to be with him forever but insisted they had run out of options.
Unwilling to sacrifice either Fu Shou or Sima Yi, Liu Ping proposed a drastic solution: to abdicate his throne to Cao Cao, just as the ancient kings Yao and Shun had done. This, he hoped, would ensure everyone's safety. Fu Shou vehemently opposed this, arguing that such an act would end the Han Dynasty and invalidate all their efforts. Liu Ping countered that their true responsibility was to save the people's lives, not merely preserve the throne.
He reasoned that Cao Cao was a capable ruler, not like Dong Zhuo, and giving him the empire might lead to a unified and peaceful realm, preferable to continued conflict. Fu Shou observed that Liu Ping's fundamental character had "never changed." Xun Yu, acknowledging Liu Ping's integrity, requested two more days to convince Cao Cao and save Sima Yi, urging the Emperor not to make any rash moves.
However, Liu Ping refused, stating he could not bear to wait any longer while Sima Yi suffered "harsh torture" and his life "hung by a thread." Looking distraught, Xun Yu emerged from the Emperor's chambers to find Cao Cao waiting. Cao Cao inquired about Liu Ping's instructions. Xun Yu vaguely replied that the Emperor wished for him to "make some mediation."
Xun Yu then took a bolder stance, criticizing Cao Cao for obstructing court discussions, arguing it harmed his reputation and the goal of unifying the empire. Cao Cao reminisced about their twenty years of collaboration, reminding Xun Yu of his sincerity and the pivotal role Xun Yu played in his success. He warned Xun Yu not to disappoint him for an "emperor with a questionable background."
Xun Yu retorted that Liu Ping's ascension, based on the Former Emperor's last will, was legitimate. He recalled his own past advice to Cao Cao to align with the Emperor against Dong Zhuo and questioned whether Cao Cao's current ambition to usurp the throne was truly worth his decades of diligent work. Xun Yu appealed to Cao Cao's former "kind and generous heart," urging him to release Sima Yi and reconcile with Liu Ping to gain the people's admiration.
Cao Cao, with a sarcastic tone, asked if Xun Yu truly expected him to "reconcile with a fake emperor." He then lamented the abrupt end of their master-subordinate relationship and warned Xun Yu to "think about it well" regarding his future. Cao Pi led Tang Ying to the prison to visit Sima Yi.
He handed her a premium balm for Sima Yi's wounds and once again urged her to persuade Sima Yi to confess, emphasizing the brutality of the Xudu Guards' torture. Tang Ying promised she knew what to do, and Cao Pi departed. Inside, Tang Ying lovingly tended to Sima Yi, who, despite his injuries, comforted her and asked her not to cry, saying it would diminish her beauty. He asked her to smile, claiming it would ease his pain.
Sima Yi then instructed Tang Ying to inform Liu Ping that his father and brother had successfully escaped, ensuring Cao Cao would not apprehend them. He then gave Tang Ying detailed directions to a remote house, describing how to find it beyond the western gates of Xudu, through a village, by a river, near a huge rock.
He asked her to furnish it with a bed and a bookcase, explaining it was the peaceful home he had purchased for their future. He vividly described the bright sunlight, the cool bamboo shadows, and their future life of simplicity, including gathering bamboo shoots, catching fish, and raising children. Tang Ying, emotional, embraced him and promised to decorate their home beautifully, put on her wedding clothes, and wait for his return.
Sima Yi, in turn, expressed his impatience to be with her. Late at night, Yang Biao and Fu Wan met secretly at the Hongnong King Ancestral Temple. They reminisced about their past efforts to uphold the Han Dynasty, recalling the tragic death of Prince Hongnong and their shared grief. They remembered Cao Cao's passionate courage in attempting to assassinate Dong Zhuo, contrasting it with his current ambition.
They lamented the changing times and the loss of their old allies, noting only they remained to guard the Han Dynasty. Fu Wan, steadfast in his loyalty, proposed an all-out uprising to rally loyalists against Cao Cao. Yang Biao, however, deemed an uprising in Xudu too risky and likely to cause a bloody massacre, and it would go against Liu Ping's intentions.
Instead, Yang Biao planned to host a farewell banquet, trick Cao Cao into attending at his manor, and sacrifice himself to kill Cao Cao. He reasoned that his death would be preferable to a full-scale uprising, and Fu Wan could then use military force and Liu Ping's prestige to rebuild the dynasty. Both men expressed their readiness to bleed their last for the Han Dynasty.
Unexpectedly, Tang Ying appeared and interjected, stating that neither of their plans would work, and offered to undertake the dangerous mission herself. Later, Yang Biao met with Cao Cao to discuss Sima Yi. He appealed for mercy for the Sima family, reminding Cao Cao of Sima Fang's past kindness in recommending Yang Biao's first official post. Cao Cao acknowledged their shared history but subtly warned Yang Biao about his own family's "collusion" and advised him to "put your safety first."
Yang Biao then announced his decision to resign from his official post, stating that he felt he had neglected his duties and could no longer remain in government as a mere spectator during such troubled times. He extended an invitation to Cao Cao for a farewell banquet at his home the following evening, after which he intended to return to his province once the Emperor approved his request.
Cao Cao praised Yang Biao's lifelong integrity and his past contributions to preserving the empire during tumultuous periods. He accepted Yang Biao's resignation, stating he would not make it difficult for him, and promised to attend the banquet to personally see him off. Yang Biao thanked him for the honor.
