Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 51 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
At the Submerged Dragon Views, Liu Ping admonished the scholars to uphold the principles of noble men, to propagate civilization and protect their people, as they were the hope for walking out of turbulent times. The scholars pledged to remember his teachings. Liu Ping then instructed Magistrate Man to orderly lead them away. Unbeknownst to them, the scholars had been in grave danger, and a looming crisis was averted.
After the scholars departed, Cui Yan confronted Liu Ping, questioning why he had come. Cui Yan argued that to sacrifice one's life for righteousness was the duty of an Emperor, not a command to others, and that by stopping him, Liu Ping would fail to save the Han Dynasty and the Empress.
Liu Ping countered that the Han Dynasty must not survive on the sacrifice of young lives, reminding Cui Yan of his original intention to save scholars back in Ye City. When Cui Yan brought up the imperial family and Empress, Liu Ping calmly stated that the Empress wouldn't want such a sacrifice either. Cui Yan, deeply moved by Liu Ping's benevolent spirit, lamented that His Majesty was born at the wrong time.
Liu Ping gently replied that fortune could change, but one must not change their heart. Convinced, Cui Yan abandoned his plan and promised to take the memorial tablets of Guozhang Fu and Court Adviser Zhao back with him. Magistrate Man asked Liu Ping why he still came, knowing the danger. Liu Ping explained that he came precisely because he knew.
Moments after Liu Ping left the Submerged Dragon Views, Cui Yan activated a self-destruct mechanism, intending to be buried with the building in flames. However, Liu Ping bravely rushed into the inferno and rescued him. As Cui Yan was being tended to, he questioned why Liu Ping had saved him, acknowledging he had broken his promise to help bring peace to the country. Liu Ping insisted that Cui Yan live to see that peace.
Deeply moved, Man Chong noted that he finally understood why Libationer Guo Jia had kept Liu Ping's identity secret, recognizing Liu Ping as the emperor Guo Jia had hoped for. He then urged Liu Ping to hurry back to the palace, suggesting he might still be able to see Empress Fu Shou one last time. Meanwhile, Cao Pi and Sima Yi were ordered to the cold palace to deliver poison to Empress Fu Shou.
Knowing Sima Yi’s close relationship with Liu Ping, Cao Pi offered to go alone, but Sima Yi insisted on delivering the poison himself to spare Cao Pi the crime of killing the Empress, stating he was a heartless person capable of seeing such cruel deeds to the end. Inside, Sima Yi informed Fu Shou that Duke Cao ordered her death because her father, Fu Wan, had rebelled, making her an accomplice.
Fu Shou calmly accepted her fate, drank the poison, and told Sima Yi she would go accompany Tang Ying for him before succumbing to the poison. Cao Pi, who still held affection for Fu Shou, shed tears over her lifeless body. He confessed his hatred for Liu Ping for failing to protect the Empress, yet also expressed gratitude, for even if everything turned to ashes, he was determined to become the victor of these chaotic times.
When Liu Ping arrived and saw Fu Shou's body, he furiously drew his sword, intending to kill Sima Yi for revenge. Cao Pi intervened, blocking Liu Ping. Sima Yi calmly told Liu Ping that Fu Shou's death was a consequence of her family's unforgivable crimes, and it was Liu Ping's own choice in this "hell being burned by the fire of destruction." He added that his own crime would be judged by Heaven, not by Liu Ping.
Cao Pi then informed Liu Ping that his father had agreed to grant Fu Shou an Empress's burial before departing with his men. Man Chong reported the events at Submerged Dragon Views to Cao Cao. Cao Cao, furious, initially declared that if Cui Yan wanted to die, he should be allowed to. Man Chong cautiously reminded him that Liu Ping had publicly rescued Cui Yan from the fire, making further action against Cui Yan difficult.
At that moment, Kong Rong burst in, loudly condemning Cao Cao for forcing the Empress's death and predicting he would be remembered as more wicked than Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao, however, saw through Kong Rong's righteous indignation, mocking him for seeking martyrdom and fame as a loyal subject. To deny Kong Rong his desired ending, Cao Cao ordered Kong Rong’s entire family executed on the pretext of violating alcohol prohibition.
As Kong Rong was dragged away, he defiantly declared that Cao Cao could never silence all the scholars of the world. Shortly after, Cao Cao was overcome by a headache. Cao Pi then reported that Sima Yi had administered the poison to Empress Fu Shou, noting Liu Ping’s rage.
Cao Cao warned his son that Sima Yi was a cunning and dangerous man, a "dagger that can stab the heart of the master," who would inevitably interfere with Cao Pi's personal affairs in the future, despite Cao Pi’s assertion that he had considered the consequences. Later, Cao Pi discussed Kong Rong's execution and Liu Ping's rescue of the scholars with Sima Yi.
Sima Yi categorized losers into "stupid" and "idiot," labeling Liu Ping an "idiot" for failing to understand the circumstances, restricting himself to his own ideals, and spoiling his loyal subject's plan by saving the scholars. He pondered if Cui Yan, before his presumed death, felt wronged or willingly submitted to Liu Ping. Sima Yi admitted to both hating Liu Ping’s stubbornness in the face of disaster and fearing the hopes placed upon him by scholars and citizens.
When Cao Pi asked if Sima Yi still held expectations for Liu Ping, Sima Yi declared that his past expectations had transformed into an equal measure of hatred. Cao Pi attempted to reassure him that all was in the past, but Sima Yi retorted that it was not over yet, speculating that Yang Xiu must be confiscating Fu Wan's manor by then. Indeed, Yang Xiu led his soldiers to search Fu Wan's manor.
When a servant accused him of being heartless and disregarding old affections, Yang Xiu coldly stated that it was Fu Wan’s fault for not adapting to the times. While Yang Xiu was sifting through documents, Cao Pi arrived. Yang Xiu suggested that clues might be hidden in seemingly ordinary letters. He picked up one, remarking it could contain vital information, but it turned out to be a letter from his own father, Yang Biao, to Fu Wan, incriminating his family.
Cao Pi seized the opportunity. Later, Cao Pi presented two letters to Cao Cao: one from Director Xun (Xun Yu) urging Fu Wan not to act rashly, and another from Supreme Commander Yang (Yang Biao) expressing solidarity with Fu Wan against a common adversary. Cao Pi and Yang Xiu argued before Cao Cao, with Yang Xiu claiming the letters were a desperate ploy by Fu Wan to sow discord.
Cao Cao, convinced by the authenticity of the letters and the interrogation of Fu Wan's butler, believed the accusations. Seeing no other recourse to protect his father, Yang Xiu pleaded to die in his father’s stead, offering to serve Cao Cao to atone for his father’s supposed crimes. Cao Cao accepted. As Yang Xiu was led away, he defiantly taunted Cao Cao, questioning who would inherit his "grand undertaking" if he failed to protect his beloved son.
Sima Yi arrived to see Yang Xiu one last time. Yang Xiu asked if Sima Yi had come to witness his demise. Sima Yi acknowledged Yang Xiu’s admirable filial piety. Yang Xiu then questioned if Sima Yi had deliberately trapped him to avenge Tang Ying. Sima Yi bluntly stated that he could not sleep soundly until Yang Xiu was dead. Yang Xiu, accepting his defeat, declared the world a vast battlefield and admitted his loss.
He speculated on who would be the next players – Liu Ping, Cao Cao, or Sima Yi and Cao Pi – to which Sima Yi replied that Yang Xiu would not live to know. Yang Xiu, fed up with the games, bid Sima Yi farewell, advising him to abandon the "weak and incompetent man" (Liu Ping). Sima Yi claimed he had already done so.
Yang Xiu, unfooled, retorted that Sima Yi could deceive Cao Pi but not him, and vowed to await Sima Yi’s end in hell. Sima Yi, with a smirk, promised a spectacular performance. Late that night, Cao Cao visited Xun Yu, who was unable to rest, knowing his letter would eventually be discovered.
Cao Cao noticed the sparse words on the command letter Xun Yu was drafting for the execution of the Fu Wan clan, remarking that he never thought Xun Yu would have difficulty writing. Xun Yu, requesting leniency for Fu Wan's remaining family, cited Fu Wan’s status as an imperial relative and old Han subject, expressing concern for Cao Cao’s reputation given the public criticism over the Empress's death.
Cao Cao, however, angrily threw Xun Yu’s letter to Fu Wan, accusing Xun Yu of betrayal and regretting making him Director of the Office of the Secretariat. Xun Yu calmly asserted that becoming Director was his own choice, not Cao Cao's arrangement. He reminded Cao Cao that their initial aspiration was to assist the Han Empire and save the people, and that Cao Cao himself once only wished to be a Han minister.
Xun Yu lamented how both of them had deviated from their original intentions, finding himself trapped between Cao Cao and Liu Ping, painstakingly maintaining an awkward propriety to fulfill both their dreams. He confessed his fear, admitting he had underestimated Cao Cao’s ambition and veered too far from his own initial dream, now feeling lost and unable to face the public.
