On the light screen, the side hall slowly came into focus.
A heavy plaque hung above its entrance, four characters carved deep and bold:
Integrity Piercing Gold and Stone.
Inside the hall sat a statue clad in gold armor. Its face was charcoal-black, its lips thick, its eyes wide and round—so round they seemed permanently startled.
It wasn't precisely ugly.
But it was the kind of face one could never forget.
Guan Yu glanced at it, then spoke lightly, as though commenting on the weather.
"Third Brother. Your name is written quite clearly up there. Why don't you read it out loud?"
"Zhang… Fei?"
Zhang Fei's eyes bulged as he spoke—until they matched the statue's expression perfectly.
Guan Yu nodded to himself.
Yes. About thirty percent resemblance now.
[Voiceover on the Light Screen]
"The side hall on the left belongs to the fierce general Zhang Yide.
His appearance here is a synthesis of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and traditional opera.
Onstage, characters cannot carry name tags. Visual clarity is essential.
Thus, 'Third Master Zhang' was historically assigned two defining traits: black skin and ugliness.
Over generations, this image gradually evolved into what we see today."
"Outrageous!" Zhang Fei barked. "I never offended those people! Why make me look so hideous?"
Zhuge Liang stepped in quickly, sensing the mood teetering.
"I think I understand their reasoning," he said mildly. "Yide, if the light screen were to summarize a man's appearance using only two words… why don't you try doing the same for the people here?"
The group instinctively glanced around.
Liu Bei—an unmistakable presence.
Guan Yu—no explanation needed.
Old General Huang—weathered authority.
Lady Huang—beyond comment.
But the rest?
The Strategist himself was refined and elegant.
Gongyan was dignified.
Zilong handsome.
Ma Liang gallant and composed.
And himself?
Zhang Fei's eyes reddened slightly.
Is it truly so? If one is not beautiful, must one be ugly?
[Voiceover]
"According to official history, Zhang Fei likely did not look like this.
The Records of the Three Kingdoms describes him as more of a 'scholar-general.'
Moreover, the Han Dynasty placed great importance on physical appearance.
Since both of Zhang Fei's daughters later became Empresses to Liu Shan, their father's looks could not have been entirely lacking."
Liu Bei's expression twisted into something between surprise, helplessness, and a firm do-not-ask-me-about-this.
Zhang Fei, on the other hand, brightened instantly.
"I knew it!" he said triumphantly. "The descendants are reasonable people! And I have a daughter? Excellent! Truly excellent!"
"Third Uncle…" Guan Ping hesitated. "A nation cannot have two Empresses at the same time. For two sisters to both hold that title…"
The implication hung heavy.
Either the first was deposed.
Or she died young.
Zhang Fei's face cycled rapidly through red, white, and something dangerous in between. His hand moved by instinct toward his spear—only to grasp empty air.
He froze.
Then, feeling the weight of his brothers' gazes, he laughed awkwardly.
"A-Dou is already four," he said, scratching his head. "My daughter must be around that age as well… not a good match, truly. Brother, perhaps you should find a suitable girl for A-Dou early?"
Liu Bei did not answer immediately.
He looked at Zhang Fei for a long moment.
Then said only one sentence.
"Do not strike A-Dou behind my back."
"Brother!" Zhang Fei cried out. "What sort of man do you think I am?!"
Internally, a very specific plan was quietly abandoned.
[Voiceover]
"The figures accompanying Zhang Fei in this hall are his direct descendants.
His son, Zhang Bao—a martial official.
His grandson, Zhang Zun—a civil official.
Zhang Bao's statue is beardless, as he died young—likely before reaching twenty.
Zhang Zun, however, fell in battle alongside Zhuge Zhan and his son, dying for the state at around forty.
Thus, the grandson's statue appears older than the father's.
Combined with Zhang Fei himself—who was murdered by his own subordinates—the Zhang clan represents another form of 'A Household of Martyrs.'"
Zhang Fei's mouth opened.
He meant to roar.
No sound came out.
Slowly, he closed it.
This time, it was Liu Bei and Guan Yu who watched him with concern.
Zhang Fei showed no grief. His tone was almost… proud.
"Bao'er is still young," he said firmly. "With Physician Zhang here, whatever took him can surely be cured. As for Zun'er… dying for the state is better than—well. It is a worthy death."
He snorted softly.
"And we won't let things descend into such a desperate state again."
"We certainly won't," Liu Bei said without hesitation.
"The Cao rebels will be crushed," Guan Yu added coldly.
As for the matter of being murdered by subordinates—Zhang Fei etched it into his heart with a silent snarl.
Not only Cao.
Did those Sun-Wu dogs learn such filthy tricks as well?
Nearby, Huang Yueying had been tugging gently at Zhuge Liang's sleeve.
She had caught the words Zhuge Zhan and his son perished.
A high-ranking Shu official named Zhuge… who else could it be?
Zhuge Liang did not answer at first.
Only after the brothers finished speaking did he turn and squeeze his wife's hand.
"General Zhang is right," he whispered. "Though we do not yet know who this Zhuge Zhan is… his fate will not be the same in this life."
[Voiceover]
"Opposite Zhang Fei's hall stands the Hall of the Saintly Guan.
Over the centuries, Second Brother received countless titles and was ultimately venerated as the 'Saintly Emperor Lord Guan.'
Thus, his statue is dressed in imperial robes.
The plaque reads: 'Righteousness Thinning the Clouds.'
He is flanked by Zhou Cang and Zhao Lei, as well as his sons Guan Ping and Guan Xing.
Zhou Cang is a fictional figure from the Romance, said to have followed Guan Yu unto death.
Guan Xing, like Zhang Bao, was a brother in misfortune—dying of illness before the Prime Minister."
Guan Yu and Guan Ping—the famed ice-faced father and son—remained expressionless.
Though Guan Yu did cast a dissatisfied glance at his robes.
"This attire violates military protocol," he said. "How am I to slay enemies dressed like this?"
Zhang Fei laughed.
"Second Brother, what's a set of clothes? They crowned you Emperor-Lord because they want you guarding the underworld."
Guan Yu snorted and said no more.
The camera slowly pulled back.
From above, the entire complex came into view.
[Voiceover]
"Seen from the Main Hall, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei flanking either side and the galleries of officials extending outward, the layout resembles a court assembly frozen in time—
As though the Sovereign and his ministers are still in session.
And at the far end of those galleries stand the works that 'Illuminate a Thousand Autumns':
The First and Second Proclamations on Starting the Expedition."
Illuminate a Thousand Autumns.
The hall straightened as one.
Even Zhuge Liang sat upright, a strange mix of tension and anticipation in his chest—like a student about to be examined by his master.
The screen moved to the end of the gallery.
Ancient stone steles filled the view.
As the camera swept across the text, Ma Liang's brush flew across the paper. His voice rose, rhythmic and steady:
"The Late Emperor had not yet fulfilled his quest when he passed away mid-course—"
Soon, Jiang Wan joined in.
Then Zhang Fei.
Then Liu Bei.
Even Guan Yu and Guan Ping added their voices.
[Voiceover]
"First is the First Proclamation, the most familiar of the two—after all, every student is required to memorize it.
Its prose is fluid, its logic sound, elegant without ornament.
Reading it today, one can almost see the Prime Minister's gentle, earnest expression as he instructs A-Dou.
He sets forth national policy and principles of governance with such sincerity that—
Knowing the fate of Shu, and knowing the fate of the Prime Minister—
It is impossible to read it without tears."