Episode 3 Review: A Brother's Betryal

Characters Added (May Have appeared earlier but they take center stage now)

Lord Chengjiao: A beloved younger brother to the Emperor (I will continue to refer to Zheng as this even if it is still a little to early since there are so many Kings)

Zhao Gao: A (eunech, I think) who is a servant to the Emperor

Tuan Du: Minister who betrayed the Zhao royal family

Crown Prince Jia: Last surviving member of the Zhao royal family

Danding Sect: A sect infamous for kidnapping retainers

Historical Context: Basically Zhao is the only state powerful enough that can face Qin.

Ahem: There is a Lot going on in this episode.

-We open up to where we left off: Zheng is at the bedside of Li'er. In a flashback we receive more information on her harrowing intervention to save his life when they were children: when Zheng was fleeing Zhao state, which was holding him prisoner at the time, soldiers were sent to kill kill him. Li'Er, who couldn't have been older than ten, uses her body as a shield as a soldier prepares to kill him. But he fails, because Jin appears and stabs him in the back. Thus these two were both responsible for saving his life (I bet Jin will regret that!).

-Elsewhere, the Chancellor Lu Buwei reflects upon his current state, and his loss of power. He regrets sending the Marquis to seduce the Queen Dowager and appease her lust (while there is nothing wrong with that, her weakness causes problems) (the audience is also treated to an over the top man-seducing woman scene). But it is evident he only has regret because his plan failed.

-Meanwhile, we go to Jin (I forgot to add it but last episode he was fleeing pursuers who were after Li'er). He led them outside the city to protect her. He reveals to the warrior who rescued him-Lu--that they were actually looking for him. Jin explains he has no idea why anyone would be after Li'er. Warrior Lu suggests that since Gongsang (gramps) died for the state, and she is his only heir, that these pursuers, whom he recognized as the Danding Sect, must be after the Legendary Huluo Sword Tecnhnique Guide (sounds like something out of Dragon Ball Z).

-Jin wonders if the guide is the blue piece of silk master left him (OMG HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT?)

-MEANWHILE, Chancellor Lu Buwei is meeting with the Queen Dowager. They are discussing the current plan to send, in total, 100,000 troops to deal with the Shandang rebel army, whom they believe to be assisted by Zhao State. Chancellor suggests that Lord Chengjiao be given the lead over half of these troops, something the Queen is initially against until Lu Buwei explains that it is an opportunity to test his loyalty to the king

(now why would Lu Buwei do something like that when everything that Lu Buwei does is for Lu Buwei? Well that is quickly explained!)

-In a shocking flashback, we learn that the previous king, on his death bed, asked Lu Buwei to write an edict naming Chengjiao as the crown prince. Lu Buwei scoffs at this and tells the king that he owes everything, including his title, to him so he and the Queen decided that his eldest son, Zheng'er, would be a much better choice. He laughs and walks off--says a lot about somebody if they can do that on the death bed. He could have just let him die but he had to have that final dig.

-We then go back to Li'er, who awakens. Zheng continues to masquerade as a merchant, and after he asks, she explains she protected him because her grandfather taught her to use martial arts to protect people. The King of Wey enters, and she gets on her knees to greet him, showing him a great deal of respect and regard. The king of Wey awkwardly follows along with the ruse Zheng has concoted. Here they learn that she has been looking for the Warrior Lu and that Pu Yang City has fallen to Qin. Both men are shocked.

-She is surprised the king still does not know, and Zheng explains that Qin closely guards Wey, that he is essentially under house arrest, and no person or news is allowed in without the Emperor's permission. Both men leave as a retainer of Zheng calls him out to deliver news. He learns of Lu Buwei's collusion with the Queen to face Zhao, and he views the plan to summon Chengjaio as a plot, but for what end he does not know. he advises his brother to not go. But his brother explains that the Queen has always despised him and unless he does this, then it could be bad for him.

-The Emperor returns to Xiangyang (the capital, I think), but just before leaving the King of Wey presents him with an extremely cheesy gift (you have to watch the delivery). He supposes that the Emperor must care for Li'er. But the emperor refuses to acknowledge this, suggesting that the King of Wey would probably kill her if he did not know that she was important to him. He says that whether she lives or dies is all up to her (he wants no weaknesses!).

----shortly before this scene we also learn, though his thoughts, that the emperor has always been in love with Li'er and most of his conversation with her is trying to figure out if she is single--

-Meanwhile, Jin has tracked Li'er down. He is happy she is fine, and as they leave he asks the King of Wey how Li'er was allowed in considering the tight control exercised by Qin--wouldn't they have needed the Emperor's permisison (der) but the King of Wey gives a vague answer and Jin let's it go.

-Back in the capital, Zhao Gao intimates to the King that the use of Lord Chengjiao is likely a plot that may lead to rebellion--but this angers the Emperor and he snaps at him

-Elsewhere, Chengjiao is visited by a hooded man, purportedly sent by the Crown Prince Jia (of Zhao). He tosses him a note, and it is written in red--to make Chengjiao the crown prince because Zheng'er is not my son--i.e. this is the last will and testament of the previous king. At first, Chengjiao is disgusted and flings the note away. But the hooded man shows his identity--he IS Jia--and shares a sad story about Zhao--that his family may have survived were it not for the betrayal of a minister, Tuan Du, who led to Qin executing the entire family. This is important, because he then points out how odd it is that Madame Ziyu (Chengjiao's mother) died suddenly in a drowning accident--and how convenient it was.

-Chengjiao puts the piece's together--it seems that Lu Buwei, Zheng'er's supposed father, planned with the queen to kill his mother, making it easier to put Zheng on the throne. Now he is angry, and he wants revenge! He revolts. Playing right into Lu Buwei's hands.

-Back at the capital, the emperor gets a shocking notice of revolt from his brother. Ministers are shocked. Lu Buwei throws himself at the emperor's feet, pleading and explaining he has always been loyal. Zheng believes that he was pushed into this, and that his brother has a reason. He personally leads troops to fight him.

-He sends his brother a letter offering him an out and forgiveness (which shows how cherished he is because the emperor trusts no one). Chengjiao meets him on the battle field and tosses the testament at him, and Zheng'er is outraged and doubts the veracity of the letter (meanwhile, the Zhao prince waits in the woods). But his brother won't be appeased and demands that Zheng'er give him the throne, which Zheng announces he will never give up.

-End Episode-

My Thoughts: Phew, so that was a mouthful. I think it's important to point out that the show does a good job of incorporating multiple historical interpretations. For instance, it is strongly believed in China that Zheng was born out of wedlock, which has blackened his name a bit, but recently a lot of historians have questioned this.

I think that the use of color is important in this series. For instance, when Zheng is just the merchant, he dresses in white, maybe implying that he dons an entirely new role and is a different person but in reality he wears black, the colors of the Emperor (apparently this has to do with the elements and the reigns of emperor's, and black is the color of water because Zheng was born in the 'water' dynasty. It was also a very expensive dye so it shows wealth) . Incidentally, it is interesting that Zheng wears white because in ancient china that was a color of mourning. It is also ironic that his brother wears blue, because blue can symbolize tranquility and trust (yet here he is, a rebel). Black can also be a symbol for Winter and unknown times---it is currently winter and I would say this is an unknown time...

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/colours.htm

I also think it is worth noting that Zheng, in spite of his feelings for Li'er, is not making that a priority. His priority is the stability of the state and revenge at the moment. He refuses to let her (at the moment) be a known weakness to his person.

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