Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 7 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
At the residence of Grand Minister Cao, Madam Cao, along with her family, formally paid respects to Emperor Liu Ping and Empress Fu Shou, offering them a humble meal. As Liu Ping recited a poem about an admirable guest, Cao Jie, observing from below, found herself secretly drawn to his distinguished demeanor. Madam Cao apologized for the simplicity of the feast, attributing it to the ongoing war and Minister Cao's frugality.
Liu Ping acknowledged the hardship, stating that such a lavish feast had not been seen in the palace for some time and that he empathized with the suffering people, also claiming to be frugal himself. Meanwhile, Director Xun conversed pleasantly with Sima Yi. He first apologized to Sima Yi regarding the delayed investigation into his foster brother’s case, explaining that unrest in Runan and Xuzhou required military focus. Sima Yi showed understanding, acknowledging state affairs take precedence.
Director Xun then urged Sima Yi to persuade his father to accept an official post. Sima Yi explained his father’s refusal to serve feudal lords, stating his father only serves the Imperial Court. Director Xun countered that as long as one works for the welfare of the people, it shouldn't matter who they serve.
He then offered Sima Yi a position as a literary officer, tasked with mending ancient palace records destroyed by fire, stressing the importance of preserving culture amidst turbulent times. Sima Yi, deeply concerned for the world and also worried about Liu Ping, readily accepted this "arduous but meaningful task," and Director Xun promised to secure his appointment from the Emperor the next day.
Madam Cao, believing that unseen wars are the most formidable, instructed her maids to closely monitor every move and word of the Emperor and Empress, even during their private moments, as people are most truthful then. Later, she spoke with her son, Cao Pi, who assured her that he had already fortified the manor's defenses and vowed to protect their family and Xudu, preventing any further calamities like those that befell his grandfather and older brother.
Lord Fu, concerned about the precarious situation and fearing Fu Shou might compromise their family's reputation, urged her to always consider their family traditions and the Former Emperor's last will before acting. He worried she might even resort to death to preserve the Emperor’s reputation. Fu Shou calmly acknowledged their family's long history of serving the Han Dynasty. Her expression then subtly shifted as she questioned if her father truly understood the Former Emperor's actual last will.
When he inquired further, she simply stated it was inconvenient to discuss the matter late at night and sent him away. Fu Shou prepared meticulously, bathing with flowers and donning elaborate makeup and formal sleepwear. When Liu Ping saw her, he was greatly surprised, as he had merely intended to discuss matters as usual. Fu Shou explained that within the Grand Minister's Residence, they must adhere to palace protocols.
She described the formal process of an Empress being summoned, including detailed records kept by the Clerk of the Capital. Liu Ping, taken aback, clarified that he had no such intentions and was unaware of such rules. Fu Shou gently reproached him for his ignorance, stressing the necessity of maintaining proper etiquette during these extraordinary times to avoid arousing suspicion from the Cao family. Consequently, Liu Ping and Fu Shou spent the night sitting quietly in the room.
Later, Fu Shou approached Yang Xiu. When she inquired if he had attended the court session with His Majesty, Yang Xiu asserted that Liu Ping was capable of handling the ministers himself. He then cryptically remarked that "after tonight, things might be very different," hinting that Director Xun and Magistrate Man would be too preoccupied to concern themselves with the Emperor. Yang Xiu chillingly described the coming night as "dark and windy," an ideal atmosphere for "killing people."
Director Xun presented ten scholars to Liu Ping for appointment as Literary Officers, among whom was Sima Yi from Henei. Liu Ping and Sima Yi were both visibly startled upon their re-encounter. Liu Ping, outwardly addressing all the scholars, spoke emotionally about his arduous path to the throne and his determination not to betray the sacrifices made for him.
He emphasized the preservation of culture, family bonds, and the pursuit of peace, with his true message directed solely at Sima Yi. Passing by outside, Fu Shou also overheard Sima Yi’s name and paused, observing intently, wary of revealing any inconsistency. Liu Ping, feigning interest in their hometowns, inquired about the conditions in Yingchuan and Henei.
He learned of Yingchuan's drastically reduced population due to war, while Henei, thanks to the stewardship of Sima Yi's father, Sima Fang, maintained a prosperous population of 120,000. Praising the Sima family's dedication, Liu Ping offered Sima Yi a toast. Sima Yi, still visibly upset by Liu Ping's unannounced departure, expressed bitter grief and anger over the death of his foster brother, Yang Ping, who he claimed was killed by bandits after leaving without permission.
He lamented not being able to discipline Yang Ping for his recklessness. Liu Ping offered his condolences and promised justice. As Sima Yi departed, he deliberately bumped Liu Ping, a subtle yet unmistakable gesture confirming his recognition of the Emperor’s true identity. After the audience, Sima Yi approached Yang Xiu, who was engrossed in a game.
Sima Yi provoked Yang Xiu, mocking the Emperor as "not that functional" and "pitiful," suggesting it was better to be mediocre than to possess aspirations and abilities that ultimately prove useless. Yang Xiu, acknowledging Sima Yi's keen intellect, also pointed out that Grand Minister Cao held ultimate authority in Xudu. Sima Yi skillfully deciphered Yang Xiu's game, winning with ease. Yang Xiu conceded, but remarked that Sima Yi had arrived "too late."
Sima Yi countered that the dark, windy night with tightly closed city gates presented an excellent opportunity to "start a game." Yang Xiu, stating he had official duties, then departed. Later, Director Xun noticed an unusual number of Chamber Guards stationed around the residence. Yang Xiu explained that the Emperor had ordered the additional guards to assist the Cao family servants, who were reportedly exhausted from their duties.
Unbeknownst to Director Xun, this was a subtle maneuver by Yang Xiu, foreshadowing the impending uprising. Liu Ping later questioned Fu Shou about the military report from Jiangdong, where Sun Ce was reportedly planning to attack Xudu. He asked if this presented an opportune moment for Dong Cheng to launch his uprising. Fu Shou confirmed his assessment, noting that Xudu was currently undefended and capturing the Xudu Guards and Magistrate Man would open the city.
Liu Ping then suggested involving Sima Yi, who now knew his true identity, believing Sima Yi’s abilities would guarantee success. However, Fu Shou expressed reservations, questioning whether Sima Yi would truly risk everything and if his entire family, particularly his father, Sima Fang, who was close to Cao Cao, would be willing to face annihilation if the plan failed.
Conceding the danger to the Sima family, Liu Ping, though confident in Sima Yi’s loyalty to him personally, requested one last meeting to explain the situation and sever ties with his foster brother for the Sima family’s protection, to which Fu Shou consented. Meanwhile, Sima Yi was also making clandestine preparations.
He instructed his associate, Shop Owner Zhang, to reposition their men from around Dong Cheng's manor to an area between the Grand Minister's Residence and the Changde Gates, and to prepare twenty carriages, signaling an urgent operation for that very night.
Shop Owner Zhang, speculating that Sima Yi was attempting to abduct a woman, was corrected by Sima Yi, who, without revealing the person's identity, simply stated he had "set his eyes on this person" and needed help to retrieve them. He anticipated that this individual would attempt to hide as disaster approached, and Sima Yi planned to "give him a good beating" after capturing him. Elsewhere, Magistrate Man observed a suspicious surge of armed city defense guards.
When he questioned their unusual movement, the soldiers explained they were rushing to the southern military drill ground for overdue salary distribution, justifying their weapons by citing orders to carry them during curfew. Magistrate Man, though briefly suspicious, accepted their explanation. Concurrently, Dong Cheng meticulously arranged the details of his uprising within his manor.
He confirmed that Wang Fu's forces would gather at the southern part of the city under the pretense of salary distribution, a tactic intended to deceive Magistrate Man. He boasted of their numerical superiority within the Xudu Guards, where Wang Fu’s 400 men, supported by half of the Xudu Guards who had switched allegiance, would confront Man Chong's 300.
For the assault on the Grand Minister's Residence, Dong Cheng planned to use his fifty private soldiers, augmented by Yang Xiu’s fifty Chamber Guards, against the fifty Tiger-Leopard Cavalry defending the residence. He further instructed Wu Shuo to extinguish the lights of each city gate they conquered and ordered Chong Ji to collaborate with Yang Xiu in a pincer attack on the Grand Minister's Residence, ensuring the Emperor's safety.
Dong Cheng then rallied his troops, reading a decree to eliminate traitors and promising them substantial rewards, promotions, and lasting renown as loyal subjects for the "rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty." Wang Fu, concerned for Tang Ying, visited her, reassuring her that he would take her away once their operation succeeded that night, and instructing her to stay indoors. As he left, Tang Ying quietly urged him to "come back alive."
Meanwhile, many soldiers were disgruntled, complaining about two months of unpaid salaries and severe food shortages, with some even openly discussing rebellion. Wang Fu arrived at the barracks, bringing chests of gold and silver. He galvanized the soldiers by promising not only immediate wealth but also "high positions and abundant salaries" and a "lifetime of luxury" if they helped him quash the "treacherous subjects" within Xudu.
His promises, including 3,000 qian and three ranks of promotion, along with the right to plunder the rebels' homes, swiftly boosted their morale, and they eagerly rallied behind him. Back in the Grand Minister’s Residence, Liu Ping expressed his anxiety about the unfolding situation. Fu Shou, appearing calm, tried to comfort him and advised him to eat. Liu Ping declared he would protect Fu Shou if the Tiger-Leopard Cavalry attacked, offering to resist them with eunuchs until Chong Ji arrived.
Fu Shou gently chided him, reminding him that the Han Dynasty had not yet fallen to the point where he needed to personally wield a sword, and warned his open excitement might alert the Cao manor. Liu Ping acknowledged his error. He then observed that Fu Shou and Sima Yi shared similar traits: composure in danger, courage, and a tendency to mock him.
He expressed his trust in them, envisioning a future of freedom with Sima Yi and a proper posthumous honor for his "Royal Brother" once their plan succeeded. Fu Shou, however, confessed that she was not as composed as she seemed, admitting her heart was "very confused" and many thoughts she harbored could only be confronted "after tonight is over." In a carriage, Sima Yi awaited Liu Ping, ready to escape with him, oblivious to the ominous atmosphere descending upon Xudu.
His associate inquired about the mysterious "person" Sima Yi is so infatuated with, and how he met this person inside the palace, to which Sima Yi cryptically replied that "that person" had been "tricked into entering the palace." An urgent report then informed Sima Yi that Yang Xiu had left the Cao Manor through a back exit and proceeded directly to the Imperial Palace, puzzling Sima Yi as to why he wasn't protecting the Emperor.
Meanwhile, Wang Fu led his troops to surround the Xudu Guards, but upon breaching the defenses, they found the compound deserted. Realizing their targets had been forewarned and escaped, Wang Fu immediately redirected his forces to surround the Grand Minister's Residence.
