Episode 12
Scene 1: Beijing, Wu Qijue’s residence
Aman visits Wu Qijue at home. After an initial chat, Aman tells him that she has found out where Chang Gui’e is hiding. She informs him that Chang Gui’e is staying at the “Holy Water” Buddhist convent and asks him if he could go to visit her. Wu Qijue hesitates first but then agrees to go see her.
Scene 2: Taiwan, Zheng Kezang’s residence
In this scene the heir apparent Zheng Kezang who governs Taiwan in the absence of his father is discussing business with his officials. The topic of their meeting is their volatile situation along the coast. In case of a failure to successfully defend Jinmen and Xiamen, the Prince of Yanping, Zheng Kezang’s father, and his court will be forced to return to Taiwan. While talking about the shortage of cannons, gunpowder and food in Taiwan, Haikui interrupts the meeting. Reprimanding her, Zheng Kezang leaves, everybody gets up and Haikui follows Zheng Kezang.
Having followed Zheng Kezang into his office, Haikui encloses two things: the first one being that she and Yao Yun were able to induce Shi Shizong and Shi Mingliang to surrender. The second one being that Tang Fei, Zheng Keshuang and Feng Xifan will want to kill him at some point since Zheng Kezang proves to be an obstacle in their struggle for power, him being the eldest son and heir to the throne. Zheng Kezang’s doubts towards the truth of the first one vanish when an official hands him Shi Shizong’s declaration of surrender. Unsure of how to handle such a big matter, Zheng Kezang orders to have a boat immediately deliver the declaration of surrender to his father in Jinmen. Haikui wants to talk about another matter but he waves her off and leaves.
Wu Qijue goes to the buddhist convent to apologize to Chang Gui’e. But a Buddhist nun turns him away telling him that Chang Gui’e is not available and that according to Buddhist teachings there is no need of apologies.
The old man Zhou comes to see Yao Yun at Haikui’s residence. He will escort her back to the mainland and has now come to give her some pills against her seasickness. After some small-talk, Zhou admits that he was sent by Shi Shizong to inquire whether she would be all right with Shi Shizong to say good bye the other day. She denies this request. When Zhou points out that Shi Shizong is at the seashore at the moment, Yao Yun tells him that she has no time to see him.
In another conversation with Zheng Kezang Haikui points out that Tang Fei and Feng Xifan had originally plotted to have him abducted and killed when he was a baby, because this would have meant removing Zheng Keshuang’s riva l to the throne. Only by mistake was she, Haikui, abducted instead of him. Haikui tries to convince Zheng Kezang that the two allies Tang Fei and Feng Xifan both profit from their relation to Zheng Keshuang - Tang Fei being his mother and Feng Xifan being his father-in-law - and still have the intention of killing him. Haikui now seeks revenge and wants to enlist the help of Zheng Kezang in order to get rid of both of them. Zheng Kezang however is quite wary of killing Feng Xifan, because Feng has too many friends in all sections of society, among them many officers of the armed forces. He tells her that, as her older brother, he will certainly take revenge for her, but asks her to be patient. Haikui is disappointed and leaves.
Yao Yun catches up with Shi Shizong at the shore. They talk a little about the sea and human beings. Their following conversation mainly circles around Shi Shizong having feelings for Yao Yun, Yao Yun not returning these feelings and Yao Yun allegedly wanting him to marry Haikui. They are both upset at the end of their conversation and Shi Shizong goes, leaving Yao Yun behind.
Yao Qisheng has finished writing the letter to Shi Lang and the memorial to the throne. Wondering why the emperor still hasn’t given his consent to have Shi Lang appointed as the naval commander-in-chief of Fujian province, Yao Yun points out that it might be because Shi Lang’s son fell into the hands of the enemy and therefore the emperor may be doubting Shi Lang’s loyalty. Yao Yun also adds that since Shi Shizong has penetrated the scene of the enemy in order to retrieve vital information for the Qing government the emperor will start to trust both father and son. Hearing this, Yao Qisheng appeals to caution and explains that in order to avoid this information being leaked out to the enemy and preventing Shi Shizong to lose his life the high officials at court should never discover the memorial to the throne. Yao Yun decides to deliver the vital letter herself and go to Taiwan. Reacting to her father’s concern about this trip, she elucidates that her relation to Haikui is the best cover-up and will avoid the letter falling into the wrong hands. Yao Qisheng agrees in the end and is very proud of his daughter.
After haven spoken to Chang Gui’e Aman comes out of the Buddhist convent to talk to Wu Qijue. She informs him that Chang Gui’e will only see him, if he takes her back home as his wife and treats her accordingly. Wu Qijue is unable to do this and Aman reprimands him for having gotten married against his will and therefore having hurt her and Chang Gui’e. Aman tells him that she will only marry him, if Chang Gui’e decides to announce to the emperor that she wants to become a nun.
Laita arrives at Fuzhou. Yao Qisheng receives him in front of his residence. He reports on his efforts to bribe the officers and soldiers of the Zheng regime into capitulation. They talk about the enemy’s loss of vigour, imminent collapse and willingness to be induced to surrender. Yao discloses that he is actually in favor of military action against the Zheng regime, but since the emperor advocats to persuade them by peaceful means, he has made every possible effort to promote the emperor’s cause. Of the immense amount of money soldiers and officials have received so far not one cahs was to be taken from government coffers, since he together with the gentry and officials have donated the money. After the arrival of Manchu general Lahada, the governor of Fujian province Wu Xingzuo, and the provincial commander-in-chief Yang, Laita commences the meeting by talking about the planned military campaign against Jinmen and Xiamen. Pointing on the map of the southern coast of China and Taiwan behind them, Yao Qisheng says that he and Laita have agreed that all the soldiers will be divided to surround Jinmen and Xiamen by three routes. The officials are being informed that this time the emperor is determined to drive away the enemy and recapture Jinmen and Xiamen. They all agree to sincerely pursue a severe setback to the enemy.
Hong Xu has come to see Laita. Before revealing the actual purpose of his visit, Hong Xu delivers 10,000 tael to Laita, who accepts it happily pretending to use it for the refreshment of his troops. Hong Xu then reveals his purpose by inquiring about the emperor’s choice of a naval commander-in-chief of Fujian province. In case that Shi Lang has been appointed by Kangxi, Hong Xu points out to Laita the quite ironic possibility that Shi Lang might be confronted with his own son Shi Shizong in battle, because Shi Shizong has received the title of marquis and is now volunteering to go into battle and fight the Qing troops. Laita is delighted about the news and wants to inform the emperor about it.
The third round of negotiations between the delegates of the Zheng administration and the Qing officials starts with Feng Xifan scrutinizing his opponents’ – chief-negotiator Su Cheng – rank badge appliquéd to the front of his robe. The symbol signifies that he is merely a civil servant of the fourth rank and Feng Xifan accordingly puts on a condescending demeanour. The Qing official is not disturbed by Feng Xifan’s remarks and instead points out that Giyesu, the commander-in-chief of the latest military campaign against the Zheng regime on the mainland, has personally sent him as an envoy. The Qing government wants to assume control of Fujian province and has sent a punitive expedition against the supreme commander of the Zheng troops. In order to spare the common people living along the coast from the harm of warfare, Su Cheng demands from the Zheng regime that they no longer resist the Qing troops, but retreat from their defensive positions in Jinmen, Xiamen and Haicheng to Taiwan with the Pescadores Islands as boundary, where they may reside unchecked by Qing troops and administration as a vassal state and have trade relations with China. Feng Xifan replies that he doesn’t care for the sufferings of the common people along the coast and will never clear Haicheng, Jinmen and Xiamen. After these agendas have been clarified, both parties are quite upset. In order to calm the waves, Fu Weilin suggests that they will first report the demands to the Prince of Yanping before giving a definite answer.
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