Episode 2
Scene 1: Beijing, Imperial Palace: Hall of Mental Cultivation (Yangxindian)
Li Fuquan, eunuch to the emperor, enters announcing the arrival of Laita, who seeks a very important audience with the emperor. Kangxi, at first, is far from enthusiastic about Laita’s interruption, believing that the visitor has merely come to pay respect to the emperor. The eunuch, however, informs him that Laita claims a very special purpose to his call upon the palace. The emperor becomes curious and instructs Li Fuquan to ask Laita in.
Scene 2: Beijing, in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation
Li Fuquan leaves the emperor’s study to invite Laita in to address the emperor, whereupon Laita cuts short his conversation with the official with whom he had been biding his time and proceeds to the emperor’s quarters. He stops in front of the emperor’s door to look at a cockatoo sitting upon a wooden perch. Laita tries to get the bird to call his name, but instead, the cockatoo commands Laita to kneel down before the emperor. Laita, in a foul mood, takes his leave of the bird.
After paying respect to the emperor, Laita tells him of the beautiful calligraphic scroll, which he had acquired as a gift for the emperor. This calligraphy comprises of the “Lanting Ji Xu” (Preface to the Collected Poems From the Orchid Pavilion) written by the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi [303–361], which the second emperor of the Tang dynasty was said to have taken in his tomb after his death, but of which a Tang dynasty copy made by Chu Suiliang [597–658] had survived. The emperor is very excited for he has great interest in the old arts and is eager to determine whether the calligraphy is authentic. Despite Laita’s assurance that he had already had the artwork inspected, Kangxi has little faith in his proficiency and calls for Li Guangdi – a specialist in the appraisal of such pieces of art. The unique difficulty in proving the authenticity of the work lies in the fact that, apart from Chu Suiliang’s copy, the second emperor of the Tang dynasty had several copies of the original work to be reproduced by another famous Tang artist, Feng Chengsu, and passed them off as presents to distinguished Tang officials. Judging by the material and colour of the calligraphy, Li Guangdi concludes that it must be the original work of Chu Suiliang. The emperor is highly pleased upon hearing this and wishes to show Laita his gratitude with a banquet.
Hong Xu is heading towards Shi Lang’s residence riding in a sedan chair. While his servants carry him to Shi Lang’s residence, scenes of everyday life on the streets of Beijing pass by, such as a bread-seller selling his bread to customers. Arriving at his destination, a servant greets them and opens the door, asking Hong Xu the nature of his visit. He introduces himself merely as a fellow from Fujian, who had once been a compatriot of Shi Lang, and has important news from Shi Lang’s son, Shi Shizong, from Taiwan. The servant is quite happy to hear of this for the Shi family has been quite upset at the lack of news from their son over these past two months.
The warm greeting Shi Lang had prepared to give Hong Xu quickly turns tense as Hong Xu hands his host a letter, which, he informs him, is from Shi Shizong. Reading the letter, Shi Lang grows very disturbed and alarmed as he learns how his son has turned his loyalties away from the Qing emperor. Although he recognizes the handwriting to be that of his son he cannot bring himself to believe that this letter is genuine. His conviction in his son’s loyalty to the Qing emperor compels him to suspect that Hong Xu had forced his son to write that letter under duress. Shi Lang and Hong Xu begin to argue heatedly, culminating in Shi Lang expelling Hong Xu from his house.
Later, at the residence of the Shi family, Shi Shilun notices a tattered letter on the table. Putting the pieces together, he immediately recognizes his brother’s handwriting. Shi Lang enters the room and tells his son about the imprisonment of Aman and Zhu Lin as well as Laita’s intrigues against him. Shi Lang says that he is planning to tell Kangxi about the letter, and intends to march into the execution ground in order to prevent the beheading of Aman and Zhu Lin. As part of the plan he has already bought a coffin. Shi Shilun remains doubtful of the whole situation and desires that his father abandons his plan.
After paying respect to the emperor, Laita tells him of the beautiful calligraphic scroll, which he had acquired as a gift for the emperor. This calligraphy comprises of the “Lanting Ji Xu” (Preface to the Collected Poems From the Orchid Pavilion) written by the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi [303–361], which the second emperor of the Tang dynasty was said to have taken in his tomb after his death, but of which a Tang dynasty copy made by Chu Suiliang [597–658] had survived. The emperor is very excited for he has great interest in the old arts and is eager to determine whether the calligraphy is authentic. Despite Laita’s assurance that he had already had the artwork inspected, Kangxi has little faith in his proficiency and calls for Li Guangdi – a specialist in the appraisal of such pieces of art. The unique difficulty in proving the authenticity of the work lies in the fact that, apart from Chu Suiliang’s copy, the second emperor of the Tang dynasty had several copies of the original work to be reproduced by another famous Tang artist, Feng Chengsu, and passed them off as presents to distinguished Tang officials. Judging by the material and colour of the calligraphy, Li Guangdi concludes that it must be the original work of Chu Suiliang. The emperor is highly pleased upon hearing this and wishes to show Laita his gratitude with a banquet.
A few minutes before the execution is to take place the guards have already positioned themselves at the execution ground while ordinary people show up to watch the impending event.
Shi Lang is thoughtfully watching his scale model and a map of China and Taiwan. His wife appears with his hat, a sign of his official position. She is very upset over the whole situation as well but cannot stop her husband from carrying out his plans. Shi Lang hands her a letter he had written to his son Shi Shizong. When opened, however, the letter reveals only the character for death. As he departs his home in the company of his son Shi Shibiao, his other children cry out of fear and sadness of his going away.
At the execution site Laita and another high-ranking official preside over the event as judges. Zhu Lin is led to the balcony, where the judges read out the indictments of espionage against him. Zhu Lin denies being a spy. Laita then shows him a silk picture of a young woman and asks Zhu Lin about this lady but as Zhu Lin does not answer his questions, Laita commands Aman to be brought forward to the execution place. Laita proceeds to read the indictments of espionage against Aman. Aman also denies the allegations of being a spy. Laita, seeking to prove the two had acted as spies, asks Aman about her purpose of coming to Beijing. In response, she explains that her objective was to deliver a letter to Shi Lang. Upon her mention of the letter, which obviously poses a great threat to his own personal safety, Laita urgently seeks to learn more about its whereabouts. Aman tells him that Shi Lang did not welcome them upon their arrival at his home. Laita is relieved at first, but upon reflection he nearly panics at the thought of where the letter could possibly be now.
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