Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 50 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Cao Pi excitedly informed Sima Yi that Cao Zhi had charged into the Imperial Palace at night and ridden his horse on the fast lane, openly committing grave crimes. Although their father, Cao Cao, couldn't bear to remove Cao Zhi's title, he had publicly announced his crimes, rendering him unqualified to compete for the heir apparent position. Sima Yi agreed, remarking that Cao Pi had won.
Sima Yi then asked if Cao Pi had accepted the task of further investigating Fu Wan's rebellion, to which Cao Pi confirmed. He added that Yang Xiu was also assigned to investigate the case with him, noting that Yang Xiu had earned merit for reporting it. Cao Pi worried that they were a step too late and Yang Xiu would gain significant credit.
However, Sima Yi confidently advised Cao Pi to assist Yang Xiu attentively, finding every little detail, as the more Yang Xiu investigated, the faster he would seal his own demise. In her chambers, Empress Fu Shou shared a final, somber farewell with Liu Ping. She implored him not to let her father's corpse be destroyed and expressed her belief that they could not escape their current predicament.
Liu Ping vowed to protect her clan and her, asserting that he was still the Emperor. Fu Shou responded that her last dignity as Empress was to stop dragging him down, acknowledging that with such a crime, Cao Cao would never let her off. She urged Liu Ping not to betray the Han Dynasty for her sake, as she would not rest in peace otherwise. Liu Ping insisted there would surely be a way.
The next day, Fu Shou, with quiet dignity, walked out of her residence and was escorted to the cold palace. Meanwhile, Xun Yu advised Cao Cao against deposing the Empress. He argued that Fu Wan's death should mark the end of the matter, and continuing the investigation would harm Cao Cao's reputation and destroy the hard-won peace with the Han Imperial Family, potentially turning Xudu into a battlefield.
Cao Cao, however, angrily denounced the Han Imperial Family for plotting his assassination while feigning reconciliation. When Xun Yu insisted that the old Han officials acted on their own initiative and it had nothing to do with Liu Ping, and that Cao Cao shouldn't ruin his reputation over a few pedantic people, Cao Cao lashed out, accusing Xun Yu of being an old Han subject himself and questioning his loyalty. Feeling his loyalty suspected, Xun Yu departed in anger.
Soon after, Cui Yan arrived to inquire if the scholar assembly he and Kong Rong were organizing would proceed as scheduled. Cao Cao, his mood somewhat improved, praised Cui Yan's broad-mindedness and affirmed that the assembly should go on. He instructed Cui Yan to cooperate with Kong Rong and agree to all his requests, ensuring Kong Rong remained focused on the assembly and did not cause trouble regarding the Empress.
Cao Cao stated that if Kong Rong did not make any fuss about the Empress, it would be Cui Yan's merit. Cui Yan then asked how Cao Cao intended to deal with the Empress. Cao Cao chillingly replied that she would be sentenced according to the crime of rebellion. Cao Cao then confronted Liu Ping, demanding he execute the Empress for Fu Wan's alleged rebellion.
Liu Ping defiantly refused, stating that if Cao Cao forced him to kill the Empress, he would rather meet him in arms. Liu Ping challenged Cao Cao, saying that no empress in this world had ever rebelled against a subject, and if he refused, Cao Cao would have to pressure him to abdicate.
Cao Cao countered that Liu Ping's identity was not legitimate and that he had endured Liu Ping's constant provocations, including Tang Ying's assassination attempt and Fu Wan's persistent pursuits. He declared that he finally understood the root of the problem: Empress Fu Shou, whom the rebellious subjects treated as their leader.
Cao Cao accused Fu Shou of seeking Liu Ping to make a switch to deal with him, and asserted that as long as she remained, the Han ministers would not abandon their schemes. He warned Liu Ping that if he chose to turn the Central Plains into a bloodbath for a woman, he would fight to the very end. Deeply troubled, Liu Ping left the palace to seek out Sima Yi.
A profound rift had formed between them since Tang Ying’s death, and Sima Yi harbored deep resentment towards Liu Ping. The two brothers sat across from each other, sharing a silent meal, the atmosphere so tense that even the servant who brought the food felt uncomfortable. As Liu Ping gazed at the snacks on the table, memories of Sima Yi feeding him such treats as children flashed through his mind.
Tears streaming down his face, Liu Ping confessed to Sima Yi that he now had no one left to confide in and asked if abdicating his throne might save Fu Shou. Sima Yi cynically retorted, asking if Liu Ping could finally sense the pain of losing one's wife. Liu Ping pleaded with Sima Yi, telling him to direct his hatred and torment towards him, but to spare the Empress.
Sima Yi dismissed Liu Ping's words, explaining that Fu Wan's affair merely presented an opportune moment. He stated that he had already tried to change himself to fulfill Liu Ping's dream but realized he was wrong. Now, he intended to manipulate this chaotic world his own way. Sima Yi then told Liu Ping that there was a way to save Fu Shou, but it required him to abandon his benevolence and kindness.
He urged Liu Ping to accompany him to a certain place. Sima Yi led Liu Ping to the Submerged Dragon Views, a structure built by Cui Yan to assist Kong Rong in preparing for the upcoming scholar assembly. He asked Liu Ping if he knew who built it, to which Liu Ping correctly replied it was Cui Yan and Kong Rong, intended to rival the discussions that happened during the White Tiger Views and be remembered forever.
Sima Yi noted that the name "Submerged Dragon" was chosen to compare Liu Ping's weakness to the Cao Clan's monopolization of power. Sima Yi then instructed Liu Ping to push a pillar, revealing that it was an uncanny piece of workmanship designed to collapse, with its top painted with varnish and tung oil to make it highly flammable.
He explained that Cui Yan and Kong Rong intended to ignite a fire and collapse the hall during the scholar assembly, killing hundreds of scholars. This act, he elaborated, would ignite the world's fury against Cao Cao, giving Liu Ping the leverage to save his beloved empress. Sima Yi emphasized that this was Liu Ping's final opportunity to save Fu Shou. However, Liu Ping was deeply conflicted, unwilling to sacrifice innocent lives, and fell into a pensive silence.
Despite the dire situation, Liu Ping went to the cold palace to visit Fu Shou, lamenting that his own incompetence had brought harm to her and her father. Fu Shou, however, was not bothered, reminding him they had agreed to stop such self-blame. She affirmed that their choice was not wrong, but rather they could not go against their hearts' desires.
Fu Shou declared that she chose Liu Ping, and thus chose his path, concluding that killing the innocent would never fulfill their aspirations, only lead to an ignoble existence. She hoped Liu Ping would forever love the man he was, and asked that for tonight, they forget the past and future and simply be together.
As scholars began to gather for the assembly, Kong Rong angrily confronted Cui Yan, questioning why he wasn't at Cao Cao's court pleading for the Empress. Cui Yan, calmly, reiterated that today was the scholar assembly. Kong Rong, in disbelief, criticized him for hosting such an event amidst the impending destruction of the world and accused him of being scared of Cao Cao.
Cui Yan calmly retorted that the gathering concerned the nation's survival and questioned whether advising, begging, or arguing with Duke Cao would still work. When Kong Rong suggested risking their lives and using public opinion, Cui Yan argued that Cao Cao was in a rage and had a valid reason for his actions, and previous compromises were only temporary.
He then revealed his true, shocking plan: if he and the scholars died in the Submerged Dragon Views that day, it would be Cao Cao's doing. He instructed Kong Rong to use his brush to ensure history recorded that the scholars were massacred for opposing Cao Cao, thereby setting the stage for saving the Empress. Kong Rong was horrified, trying to stop Cui Yan, but was locked inside the room.
Cui Yan left, telling Kong Rong that the room was equipped with brush and ink, and he looked forward to reading Kong Rong's account of him in the future. Meanwhile, Magistrate Man Chong arrived at the Submerged Dragon Views, ostensibly to ensure the smooth running of the scholar assembly, but in reality to keep an eye on things for Cao Cao.
Inside, Cui Yan convened the scholars and, before the discussion began, made an offering prayer to Zhao Yan and Fu Wan, whom he presented as Confucian scholars killed by Duke Cao. He aimed to make their sacrifices known to future generations, asserting that no one else would dare give them their deserved offerings. Deeply concerned by the potential catastrophic sacrifice, Liu Ping arrived at the Submerged Dragon Views just as the tension mounted and the planned collapse seemed imminent.
Man Chong, initially attempting to stop him, was disregarded as Liu Ping asserted his authority. Cui Yan, seeing Liu Ping, immediately understood that his plan had been exposed and would fail. Liu Ping, addressing the assembled scholars, spoke of "Dao" as the origin of all things and the criterion for discerning right from wrong. He emphasized that the "Dao" should be a model not only for subjects but especially for rulers.
He expressed his shame for the countless sacrifices in an era where human lives were treated as mere trifles and urged the scholars to uphold the way of a noble man to propagate civilization and protect the citizens, as they were the hope for walking out of chaotic times. After his impactful address, Liu Ping instructed Magistrate Man to lead the scholars to exit in an orderly fashion, thus averting the catastrophic sacrifice.
