Episode 13

Scene 1: Beijing, Imperial Palace

The emperor holds a meeting discussing the Taiwan issue. He is angry about Giyesu’s recent negotiations with the Zheng administration thinking that Giyesu has granted too many concessions. Moreover, he had asked his court officials to collect information on Taiwan from the historical works, but only Shi Lang was able to complete the task. Kangxi summarizes the contents of these works diagnosing that Taiwan has been part of mainland China since the Song dynasty – if not even before. Therefore, he denies the legitimacy of an independent Taiwan. Since the Qing government has not been able to bring about a peaceful submission of the rebels, the emperor decides to supplement negotiations by military action (jiao fu bing yong 剿抚并用). He asks for Laita’s and Li Guangdi’s opinion about who should be in charge of building up the Fujian fleet. Li Guangdi recommends Shi Lang but Laita is opposed to Shi Lang’s appointment since his son is said to have defected to Taiwan. Instead, Laita recommends to appoint Wan Zhengse. Kangxi is doubtful whether to belief the news of Shi Shizong’s defection, because Yao Qisheng who, as governor-general of Fujian, would be the first to know about it, also advocated Shi Lang’s appointment. In the end, he decides that Wan Zhengse should be the commander-in-chief of the fleet.

Scene 2: Beijing, Shi Lang’s residence

Yao Yun is waiting for Shi Lang at his residence to give him a letter. It was written by her father Yao Qisheng in which he informs Shi Lang that Shi Shizong feignedly declared submission to the Zheng regime at his command in order to spy for the Qing government. Shi Lang is concerned because he is afraid that if others find out about his son’s defection this would undermine his own credibility. On the other hand, he is not allowed to make the fact public that Shi Shizong is still loyal to the Qing government. Yao Yun replies that the letter from her father would be prove enough for Shi Shizong’s eventual rehabilitation. For the time being, however, Shi Lang cannot even tell the emperor that the submission is fake without endangering his son’s life and the lives of more than 70 family members held hostage on Taiwan.

Shi Lang tells his wife about their son. She is appalled by the news and wants her husband to rescue Shi Shizong and the family members. But Shi Lang thinks that there is no way to rescue them. His wife does not agree and argues with him. Shi Shilun overhears the cries of his mother and enters the room. Though he also wishes to rescue his brother, he realizes that he cannot help either.

Shi Lang visits Wu Qijue. He finds a jade pendant belonging to Aman in Wu Qijue’s dining room and reminds Wu Qijue that he should end their romantic relationship, because it would lead nowhere. But that’s not the reason of Shi Lang’s visit. Wu Qijue wants to report on the meeting at the emperor’s palace and tells Shi Lang that because of his doubts concerning Shi Shizong’s loyalty the emperor has chosen Wang Zhengse to build and command the fleet in Fujian. At the end of this scene Aman enters the room.

Shi Shizong and Haikui are discussing where to go out to have some fun. Shi Shizong persuades Haikui to visit the Penghu Islands (where he plans to secretly inspect the defense installations) and they try to figure out how to get there.

Upon request of chief negotiator Giyesu, Su Cheng and the envoy from the Zheng administration, Fu Weilin, have an audience with Yao Qisheng. Giyesu had granted far-reaching concessions to the Zheng regime which is allowed to withdraw to Taiwan. Yao Qisheng expresses his anger with this result saying that it is not in accord with the wishes of the emperor, because it would lead to a de facto independence. He continues with the announcement of the reintroduction of the Fujian fleet and informs Fu Weilin of a probable military confrontation.

Haikui is meeting her servant Jin Hanchen and asks him to be loyal and reticent. She makes him swear that whatever orders she will give him in the future he will reveal to no one.

Yao Yun has invited Fu Weilin for dinner. Yao Qisheng joins after a while. Talking about the Taiwan issue, Yao Qisheng declares that the Qing dynasty has proven itself as the legitimate government by bringing peace and prosperity to China. While it was right to fight the Manchu in the beginning, any attempt to restore the Ming dynasty now would mean to “dig out a rotten corpse from the grave.” Fu Welin concedes that he would like to defect to the mainland immediately but has to stay in Taiwan to protect his family. Yao Qisheng tries to convince Fu Weilin that his work for the Qing government in Taiwan is more important. When Fu Weilin expresses that he is afraid that his life and his family would get in trouble after the unification, Yao Qisheng promises to protect him and his family.

Shi Shizong and Haikui are visiting the Penghu Islands. They are looking for pearls, but Shi Shizong asks in a quite suspicious manner for the names of the different islands.

Yao Yun enters Yao Qisheng’s study. He is writing a memorial to the throne saying that Wan Zhengse is not capable to command a fleet and that Shi Lang should be appointed to this job. Yao Yun wants to bring Shi Shizong personally a letter of her dad to help him with his feigned defection. Yao Qisheng immediately feels that his daughter wants to go back to Taiwan because she loves Shi Shizong. But he grants the wish of his daughter and lets her go.

Haikui is talking to an old servants who is roasting fish on the fire. Shi Shizong is coming over and asks her why she took Jin Hanchen with them. Haikui replies that she plans to use him for an important mission, but Shi is not convinced of Jin Hanchen’s loyalty and honesty.

Fu Weilin and Yao Yun are traveling back to Taiwan. Yao Yun asks Fu Weilin about the future of Taiwan and he replies that things that were separated for a long time will join together again and things that were together for a long time will separate but you cannot change the natural flow of things. And he adds that Feng Xifan is at the head of the independence faction and the key to Taiwan’s strength.

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