Sacrifice

The army is off to war.

On the march again.

They're off to war again.

You know who's leading the troops?

Sir Tu'an Gu, Surely.

No. General Zhao Shuo has taken over.

I was taking his wife's

pulse when I heard the news.

She's pretty.

Very pretty.

You took the pulse of Lady Zhuangji?

No way.

It's true.

You saw she's pregnant?

They couldn't work out when

she's due. So they called me in.

She shouldn't be riding in a carriage.

It could hurt the baby.

I said I'd treat you

when I recovered.

Let's go for a drink.

My wife's due as well.

I should stay with her.

After the birth, drinks are on me.

Thank you.

Grand Councillor Zhao Dun!

General Zhao Shuo!

Lady Zhuangji!

What's my sister doing here?

A woman of the royal family...

is about to give birth to a Zhao.

Once he's born... I'll be his uncle.

Zhao Dun is Grand Councillor.

His son is off to war...

and will return a hero.

How enviable!

Even I'm envious!

If I'd known...

I'd have married her to you.

Then I'd be jealous of you.

Go to battle, fine.

Why put your heavily pregnant wife...

on show... for the whole town to see.

A woman about to give birth...

seeing her husband off to war...

who wouldn't be moved?

And she's the elder

sister of the king.

Isn't it really just

telling the world...

that the Zhaos are in charge?

Brother-in-law. I've come to

see you off.

Zhao Shuo, I can see...

Sister cares more about you

than she does about me.

The general is off to war,

and all you do is joke around.

Everyone's saying you

should be in command.

The king's sister,

should've been married to you.

You tease.

They forgot my contribution long ago.

When you return, we'll

drink to your victory.

I'll prepare the wine.

The Grand Councillor

will prepare the wine.

Sir Tu'an. Present.

When Zhao Shuo returns victorious,

what will you give him?

Felicitations on your imminent fatherhood.

You, m'Lady...

are the most fortunate of women.

Who'd have thought his very

first battle... would go so well?

Wasn't that your hope?

Why aren't they here yet?

M'Lord...

When General Zhao rode into town,

the townspeople thronged to

welcome him. They'll be some time.

We've won! We've won!

Grand Councillor!

The Grand Councillor is Suggesting...

that M'Lord hurry over there as well.

I'm not going.

Tell Zhao Dun... We shall wait.

However late they are.

We have a gift for him.

M'Lord, they're here.

I'll go welcome them.

Good.

There's an assassin! Hurry,

protect the Grand Councillor!

Take this.

Bravo on your victory, General.

So this is how you reward my

son when he returns a victor?

Luckily it only hit my horse's eye.

This is Surely a misunderstanding.

We can testify that Sir Tu'an

didn't mean it.

Go on, apologize to the Grand Councillor.

I apologise.

That was nothing...

compared to leading the king astray.

It was only your horse.

Zhao Dun couldn't have done that.

This is my punishment.

The talismanic circle

painted on his skin...

contains cinnabar and oxblood.

These insects love that smell.

Is this the best method?

What could be better than

framing them for the crime?

How can I thank you?

There are 300 in the Zhao clan...

you tell me.

You're over forty.

How'd you manage to have a boy?

Don't you get it?

We'd have had one earlier if we could.

That it happened now...

is fate.

Is there some pill? I want one too.

Pill?

Having a boy is just fate.

She was scared she wouldn't give me a boy.

I said don't worry...

And whoosh, out he came!

I wasn't wrong, was I?

The next will be a boy too.

Here's your medicine.

That'd be my wife. Take your time.

Three things.

Tell me.

First, I want fish soup.

Easy.

The second?

These names

- I don't like any of them.

You don't think any of them...

is good enough for our son.

I'll work on it.

There's one more thing.

Hand out 'birth eggs' to all and

Sundry and people will laugh at you.

Who doesn't know by

now that you've had a son?

I have a feeling Lady Zhuangji's due.

I've never killed a woman.

Even one with a

Zhao child in her belly?

I won't kill Lady Zhuangji.

What about her child?

Do we kill it?

Zhao Dun,

to celebrate our victory,

and congratulate your son,

what wine have you brought?

Five Colour God of State Wine.

It represents the hopes of

all your people.

Drink it...

and let it inspire you to

be a wise and virtuous ruler.

It's just wine. What's it got

to do with wisdom and virtue?

If I don't drink it it seems

I wrong the people.

If I drink but I'm not wise,

I wrong the people.

So tell me, should I drink it, or not?

I won't drink. Don't drink it then.

You must drink it.

I also have a gift for M'Lord.

It is also to remind M'Lord to be...

a wise and virtuous ruler.

You're conspiring to make me unhappy.

What is this gift of yours?

A Divine Beast of the Western Regions.

Divine Beast?

It's just a dog.

True.

It's a dog.

What's so special about it?

It can tell a patriot from a traitor.

M'Lord,

though the palace is large...

there's no room for an animal.

Such a big place - of course

there's room for a dog.

Bring it in for us to see.

Wise indeed!

Don't be angry.

It's just a dog.

Don't be ridiculous!

You don't need a sword...

to deal with a dog.

Take it away.

Felicitations, M'Lord. Lady

Zhuangji has given birth.

I'm an uncle.

Is it a boy or a girl?

A boy.

Zhao Shuo, hurry, go see them.

Felicitatons, General,

you're a father at last.

If... your son had lived...

you'd be a granddad by now.

Let's drink!

We want the red one.

Two,

she says stop giving out eggs.

M'Lady, can you guess why she

won't let me do this?

Your wife is Surely thinking...

that you're a famous doctor.

A bit more reserve is called for.

Hardly.

She just hates giving away so

many eggs!

Arrest Zhao Shuo!

The first tribute.

No one else may drink from

the king's wine.

The wine's poisoned.

M'Lord!

What?

Kill Zhao Dun! Exterminate

his whole clan!

Sir!

Your sword.

Move or I'll kill you.

Go! Run!

My wife asks you to give

our child a name.

Now, avoid drafts and stay calm.

A late birth is good.

It heralds nobility.

Mine was born prematurely.

Not a good omen.

Your Surname is Cheng.

Call him 'Bo'.

Cheng Bo...

vigorous and lofty.

Thank you, M'Lady.

Arrest Zhao Dun.

Grand Councillor, hurry!

Hurry!

Hold on.

Someone sawed the axle in two.

M'Lady, the Grand Councillor

has been murdered!

And the rest of the Zhao's?

M'Lady!

M'Lady!

There are soldiers everywhere. I

nearly walked straight into them.

Don't worry.

There's a way out. I'll go with you.

Husband!

Husband!

Husband!

He's still breathing.

What? What are you saying?

Is the baby here yet?

It's coming.

Flee.

Hurry. Escape.

Husband!

Husband!

Cheng Ying...

help deliver my baby!

This lists all the Zhaos.

Please check it, Sir.

You know Sir Gong Sun's home?

Yes.

Good. Do this for me.

Take the secret passage.

Give the boy to Sir Gong Sun.

If there's a way out,

why don't you come too?

We'll go together.

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