We pick up right where the last episode abruptly ended: with Cao Cao quizzing his sons on what to do with the assassins hiding in the city. Third and Fourth Brother (who aren't important enough to warrant names) recommend all the city gates be closed and a hefty bounty offered. Cao Pei lamely goes along with these two. Youngster Cao Chong pipes up and says he'd leave all the gates wide open and let the assassins go. They've already failed in their attempt. This way they'll return to their master Ma Teng and tell him how Cao Cao lives, thus making the traitor quake in his boots. Cao Cao approves of this solution and preaches the very Christ-like message of don't hate your enemies to his other sons.
(Argh! Windows 8 continues to piss me off!)
The next day Xun Yu brings the good news that the rebels have retreated with their armies.
Cao Pei asks his teacher, Chen Qun, about this Sima Yi. Chen Qun goes on and on about how great Sima Yi is that rainbows and unicorns come out of his ass. This gives Cao Pei cause to worry. Since such a great man has been appointed tutor to Cao Chong, that must mean Cao Cao plans to name the boy as his successor. If that's true, in order to protect Cao Chung, the older brothers would have to be done away with. Cao Pei sends Chen Qun to sound Sima Yi out on how things stand.
(I'm not sure what this has to do with anything but after Chen Qun leaves, Cao Pei notices a hole in the ground and looks like he's about to faint. Is that a snake hole? Does this have anything to do with the snake theme from last episode? Is Cao Pei about to wig out?)
Chen Qun and Sima Yi catch up on old times. When Chen Qun gets down to business and asks what Cao Cao's plans are for Cao Chong, Sima Yi doesn't say anything. This basically answers Chen Qun's question. Sima Yi assures Chen Quen that Cao Chong isn't the most clever of Cao Cao's sons. That title belongs to the man who sent Chen Qun on this fact finding mission.
But what's this? By the next scene Cao Chong is on death's door. He's been poisoned. Xun Yu suspects it was a venomous rat. At least that's what he says in front of the servants. Once he and Cao Cao are alone, Xun Yu explains he really thinks it was a poisonous snake. Furthermore, he doesn't think this snake just happened to wander by but was intentionally released in the boy's household.
Under duress ("Tell me or I'll kill you!") a shaking Xun Yu points the finger at Cao Pei as the one person who would benefit the most from Cao Chong's death. Wouldn't you know it, though: here comes a messenger to report that just this moment Cao Pei has been bitten by a poisonous snake himself. Cao Cas rushes over to that son's deathbed. Cao Pei (cleverly) acts more concerned about his brothers than himself.
Cao Cao barks to have his other two sons tied up since they're out having fun and being alive. Speaking of being alive, Cao Chong no longer is. Cao Cao has to be helped to Cao Pei's bedside when it is predicted this son won't live much longer himself. Yet when he gets there it's really to hear good news for a change. It looks like Cao Pei is getting better and will recover. Cao Cao is weak with relief.
(Chen Jian Bin, you're one hell of an actor. I hope you won all sorts of awards for this.)
Sima Yi and Chen Qun are having tea together. Chen Qun wonders who was the assassin of the young master. Sima Yi, who is really into the pattern on the table top, lays the blame at the boy's own feet. Cao Chong was too smart for his own good so this was bound to happen.
Cao Pei drags himself out of his sickbed in order to attend his brother's funeral. Despite his father's orders to go back and rest, Cao Pei insists on staying to keep vigil. Cao Cao tries to reassign Sima Yi to another son. Instead that crafty old man asks to build a hut next to the boy's grave and keep him company for three years. Cao Cao agrees but also names Sima Yi as his secretary in the future once the three years are over.
Cao Cao is still trying to figure out who was behind the assassination. He thinks to go to the mourning hall and spy on his three sons. In his mind the innocent will be sleeping while the guilty will be awake because they're feeling guilty. Cao Cao peeks around the corner and can plainly see Cao Pei is only pretending to be asleep. Father decides to cover up for his son and decree that everyone was bitten by venomous rats.
Sima Yi is holding his graveside vigil and getting all sorts of visitors. Chen Qun knows the real reason Sima Yi wants to mourn for three years is because the crafty old man wants to wait and see which Cao son would be considered heir to their father before Yi commits to being a teacher again.
The next day Xun Yu brings the good news that the rebels have retreated with their armies.
Cao Pei asks his teacher, Chen Qun, about this Sima Yi. Chen Qun goes on and on about how great Sima Yi is that rainbows and unicorns come out of his ass. This gives Cao Pei cause to worry. Since such a great man has been appointed tutor to Cao Chong, that must mean Cao Cao plans to name the boy as his successor. If that's true, in order to protect Cao Chung, the older brothers would have to be done away with. Cao Pei sends Chen Qun to sound Sima Yi out on how things stand.
(I'm not sure what this has to do with anything but after Chen Qun leaves, Cao Pei notices a hole in the ground and looks like he's about to faint. Is that a snake hole? Does this have anything to do with the snake theme from last episode? Is Cao Pei about to wig out?)
Chen Qun and Sima Yi catch up on old times. When Chen Qun gets down to business and asks what Cao Cao's plans are for Cao Chong, Sima Yi doesn't say anything. This basically answers Chen Qun's question. Sima Yi assures Chen Quen that Cao Chong isn't the most clever of Cao Cao's sons. That title belongs to the man who sent Chen Qun on this fact finding mission.
But what's this? By the next scene Cao Chong is on death's door. He's been poisoned. Xun Yu suspects it was a venomous rat. At least that's what he says in front of the servants. Once he and Cao Cao are alone, Xun Yu explains he really thinks it was a poisonous snake. Furthermore, he doesn't think this snake just happened to wander by but was intentionally released in the boy's household.
Under duress ("Tell me or I'll kill you!") a shaking Xun Yu points the finger at Cao Pei as the one person who would benefit the most from Cao Chong's death. Wouldn't you know it, though: here comes a messenger to report that just this moment Cao Pei has been bitten by a poisonous snake himself. Cao Cas rushes over to that son's deathbed. Cao Pei (cleverly) acts more concerned about his brothers than himself.
Cao Cao barks to have his other two sons tied up since they're out having fun and being alive. Speaking of being alive, Cao Chong no longer is. Cao Cao has to be helped to Cao Pei's bedside when it is predicted this son won't live much longer himself. Yet when he gets there it's really to hear good news for a change. It looks like Cao Pei is getting better and will recover. Cao Cao is weak with relief.
(Chen Jian Bin, you're one hell of an actor. I hope you won all sorts of awards for this.)
Sima Yi and Chen Qun are having tea together. Chen Qun wonders who was the assassin of the young master. Sima Yi, who is really into the pattern on the table top, lays the blame at the boy's own feet. Cao Chong was too smart for his own good so this was bound to happen.
Cao Pei drags himself out of his sickbed in order to attend his brother's funeral. Despite his father's orders to go back and rest, Cao Pei insists on staying to keep vigil. Cao Cao tries to reassign Sima Yi to another son. Instead that crafty old man asks to build a hut next to the boy's grave and keep him company for three years. Cao Cao agrees but also names Sima Yi as his secretary in the future once the three years are over.
Cao Cao is still trying to figure out who was behind the assassination. He thinks to go to the mourning hall and spy on his three sons. In his mind the innocent will be sleeping while the guilty will be awake because they're feeling guilty. Cao Cao peeks around the corner and can plainly see Cao Pei is only pretending to be asleep. Father decides to cover up for his son and decree that everyone was bitten by venomous rats.
Sima Yi is holding his graveside vigil and getting all sorts of visitors. Chen Qun knows the real reason Sima Yi wants to mourn for three years is because the crafty old man wants to wait and see which Cao son would be considered heir to their father before Yi commits to being a teacher again.
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