Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 9 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Inside the palace hall, Liu Ping, still reeling from the failed rebellion of Dong Cheng and the unjust deaths of many, harshly condemned Jia Xu, accusing him of being a fickle and treacherous man who repeatedly surrendered to Cao Cao before rebelling and then surrendering again. He highlighted how Jia Xu had assisted various rebels who were all defeated and killed, yet Jia Xu remained, constantly stirring up chaos.
Liu Ping then spat on Jia Xu in front of all the officials. Despite the public humiliation, Jia Xu remained composed, simply thanking Liu Ping. Xun Yu, witnessing the tense situation, stepped in to calm things, suggesting that Liu Ping should first deal with the remaining rebels to stabilize the court before discussing other matters. Liu Ping retorted, questioning if Xun Yu, being related to Dong Cheng's clan, was also to be punished by Minister Cao.
Fu Shou then intervened, gently taking Liu Ping's hand and suggesting that Imperial Consort Dong should be buried first. Liu Ping agreed, proposing a funeral hall for Dong Consort at the Ministry of Works. The officials objected, citing it was against custom, which further angered Liu Ping. He asserted his authority as the Emperor, demanding to know what affairs he could still decide on.
Fu Shou again eased the tension, affirming that a funeral hall would be set up as per His Majesty's order, while Xun Yu would handle other matters of city appeasement. After Xun Yu presented a request for rewards for Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu, Liu Ping dismissively stated that he was merely a puppet and nothing was up to him to decide, then walked away.
Outside, Cao Pi and Cao Jie watched Zhang Xiu, the killer of Cao Pi's elder brother, being honored by the Emperor, clenching their fists in silent fury. Leaving the hall, Liu Ping saw Cao Pi and Cao Jie outside. He asked Cao Pi what he would do if he faced the killer of his elder brother.
Cao Pi, recalling the tragic events, expressed a deep desire to "skin him and take out his bones, eat his flesh and sleep on his skin." Liu Ping then pointedly revealed that Cao Pi's brother's killer was currently inside the court, having contributed greatly to the Cao family. Cao Pi gazed at Zhang Xiu with profound hatred. Later, Liu Ping visited Dong Consort’s deceased body, expressing his deep guilt for having wronged her and his royal brother.
He lamented his inability to protect his brother's only descendant, shedding tears over the innocent lives lost. Fu Shou tried to console him, admitting that they never expected Zhang Xiu to defect to Cao Cao. She assured Liu Ping that Dong Consort's death would not be forgotten and that her soul would bless the Han Dynasty. Liu Ping, however, blamed himself for being powerless and hiding while others died unjustly.
After Liu Ping left, Fu Shou watched Dong Consort's body with sadness. Yang Xiu informed Fu Shou that Dong Consort's death was an accident, but Fu Shou declared it irrelevant. What mattered, she stated, was Zhang Xiu's defection to Cao Cao, which strengthened Cao Cao's forces, making their future efforts to overthrow him much harder.
When Yang Xiu brought up the task of dealing with Sima Yi, Fu Shou cautioned him against any rash actions, warning of dire consequences if Liu Ping were to find out. Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu discussed their future in Xudu. Jia Xu offered to contact old friends, muttering to himself that he had finally seen His Majesty again after five years. Meanwhile, Xun Yu chastised Man Chong for Dong Consort's death.
Man Chong, however, explained it as an accident during Wang Fu's attempt to abduct her, leading to severe trauma and uterine bleeding. Xun Yu then expressed concern about Zhang Xiu's Xiliang Army stationed in the capital. Man Chong reassured him that Zhang Xiu had signed a military order to retreat after the unrest was pacified.
When Xun Yu questioned how he convinced Zhang Xiu, Man Chong proudly stated it was all due to Guo Jia, who had foreseen the chaos in Xudu and arranged for Zhang Xiu's reinforcements. He also noted that Yang Xiu's sudden switch of allegiance had helped them grasp the timing of the operation, leading to fewer casualties. Xun Yu commended Man Chong's "clean and sharp" handling of the situation, acknowledging Guo Jia's continued strategic influence from afar.
Liu Ping, dressed in mourning attire, sat alone in his chamber, refusing food and drink. Fu Shou entered and lit candles to comfort him. He pointed to the reports from the Xudu Guards about Dong Cheng's rebellion, noting their detailed nature implied prior planning. Liu Ping felt that Cao Cao was too cunning, and Dong Cheng's rebellion was doomed from the start.
He admitted he was afraid to see Fu Shou and the others because he felt useless and had disappointed them. He confessed that neither Cao Cao nor they truly regarded him as the Emperor, seeing him merely as a helpless child. He lamented the many lives lost to protect him and expressed his remorse for not being like his royal brother, who would have charged out to fight.
Fu Shou tried to reassure him, saying even the Former Emperor would not have gone out and that survival was paramount for future plans. Liu Ping, however, felt isolated, seeing Cao Cao's formidable allies like Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Zhang Xiu, and Jia Xu, while he was alone. He was weary of seeing others sacrifice themselves while he passively hid. He felt his previous belief in a reliable strength by his side was a misconception, leaving him feeling utterly alone.
Fu Shou embraced him, reminding him that she was his empress and wife, and would always be by his side. They kissed, but Liu Ping suddenly pulled away. He realized that the few people in Xudu who knew his true identity—Fu Shou, Tang Ying, Yang Xiu, Yang Biao, and his father—had not participated in Dong Cheng's uprising.
He deduced that this was no coincidence and that they had intentionally prevented him from joining Dong Cheng's plan because they were never truly allied with Dong Cheng. He accused them of scheming against their own people for power, feeling heartbroken by their cold-blooded tactics and the sacrifice of so many for ulterior motives. He found it difficult to discern truth from lies in their words.
Meanwhile, a subordinate reported to Man Chong that Wang Fu had staged his own death on Tang Ying's sword. Man Chong, connecting this to Zhang Yu's assassination, deduced that Tang Ying, the Princess Consort, was the female assassin who killed Zhang Yu. He ordered his men to find more evidence, recognizing the gravity of a princess consort involved in rebellion. The next morning, Liu Ping refused to attend the morning court.
Having uncovered the full truth, he was disgusted by Fu Shou and their allies' ruthless manipulation. He insisted on seeing Sima Yi. Unable to dissuade him, Fu Shou announced to the outside that the Emperor was unwell and had canceled court for the day. In the grand hall, officials gathered, but Xun Yu soon announced the Emperor's absence.
As they dispersed, Kong Rong angrily confronted Man Chong, condemning him for allowing the Xiliang Army to enter the city without official consent or imperial decree, and for placing a "rapacious and ruthless person" like Zhang Xiu near the Emperor. Kong Rong declared that Dong Cheng was more loyal than Zhang Xiu and vowed to write a memorial to the Emperor. Soon after, Man Chong and his guards intercepted the Empress's carriage.
Yang Xiu protested, but Man Chong, citing Guo Jia's orders and the need for strict palace security, ordered a meticulous search for rebels. Finding nothing, he allowed the carriage to pass but then detained Yang Xiu, inviting him to the Xudu Guards for a chat about the previous night's rebellion. The Empress's carriage proceeded to the Memorial Hall of Prince Hongnong. There, Fu Shou singled out a soldier from her retinue, ordering him to escort her inside.
This soldier was Liu Ping in disguise. Liu Ping finally reunited with Sima Yi, who was lying down. He apologized to Sima Yi, saying he knew Sima Yi was not truly sleeping but was angry at his deception. He expressed how much he missed Sima Yi and their past together. Sima Yi, upon hearing Liu Ping, rose and slapped him. Liu Ping apologized again, saying he knew he was wrong for leaving without notice and worrying Sima Yi.
Sima Yi, however, declared Liu Ping's greatest mistake was not lying to him, but allowing himself to be manipulated by "a bunch of women and schemers." Sima Yi calmly unraveled the conspiracy: Dong Cheng's uprising was impossible without an imperial edict, yet everyone close to Liu Ping was fine. He deduced that the timely arrival of Zhang Xiu's army meant the plan was leaked, and Yang Xiu was the one who betrayed Dong Cheng.
Sima Yi concluded that the entire rebellion was a calculated deception: a feigned weakness to make Man Chong cease investigating them, while strategically inserting Yang Xiu into Cao Cao's inner circle. He called it a "despicable, but very clever plan." Liu Ping, heartbroken by this confirmation, declared himself a "stupid puppet" who could not and did not want to be this kind of emperor.
He pleaded with Sima Yi to take him away, back to Henei, to escape the palace filled with schemes. He recounted his pain over the deaths of loyal subjects and his brother's child, holding Fu Shou responsible too, accusing her of being cold-blooded. Fu Shou, desperate, explained that everything was planned by the late Emperor, a deliberate step back to gain space for a future reversal. Liu Ping, however, rejected her words, feeling he was just another pawn, an "actor" they found to play the Emperor, and refused to participate further.
