Marco tracks the assassins who targeted Kublai.
Fathers are destined to disappoint sons; and sons their fathers.
But subsequent eventsbeginning with the Polos arrest for smugglingproved that Marco was even more Oriental then uncle had claimed.
Credit: Phil Bray/Netflix
But a still-bloodied Hundred Eyes suspects something even more nefarious.
Murmer, murmer, concerned murmer.
This is what happens when we barter with barbarians, he says.
Cruelty must be met with cruelty.
We must lay waste to their cities.
Jia has outmaneuvered the Empress Dowager, and the rebel army is at his command.
It makes me happy to know I have this with you.
Hes not interested in this particular privilege of power.
Shes beautiful all right, but shes kinda unstable, no?
Didnt she recently venture to kill him with a venomous snake?
True, he did nobly try and protect her from perceived danger, so…
I suppose hes back in her good graces?
Of course, her renewed affection virtually assures that Marco will not take her advice.
Ahmad, meanwhile, feeds Jingims petty jealousies about Marco and urges the prince to mobilize for war.
A pall falls over the bar, and the crowd quickly shrinks away in silence.
When Marco comes to his senses, he faces the cryptic Old Man.
When things turn testy, Marco threatens the man and demands to know who hired his mercenaries.
Clever, spirited, and deserving of paradise.
The Old Man scoffs at Marcos stubborn assumption that the Song chancellor hired the Hashshashin.
It was an inside job.
Someone within the palace wants Kublai dead.
Marco says he recognizes the handwriting of the traitor, but that that person is dead.
Or is Marco lying?
Remember how he lobbied the Empress to whisper war into Kublais ear, because war was good business?
And the Old Mans key word may have been purse.
I am just a bookkeeper, Ahmad once said to Jingim.
I tally, I account, I serve.
But maybe thats too obvious?
Pure-blooded Mongol lord Kaidu bears a grudge against Kublai.
Hes a logical suspect.
So are the Blue Princess and Tulga, who couldve been selling jewelry to finance the hit.
She did confide to him that war was coming long before she shouldve had that insider information.
I dont believe Prince Jingim has the stones to commit patricide, but Id consider the Empress a suspect.
But its got to be Ahmad, right?
On their return home, Byamba opens the door for Marco to follow the Blue Princesss advice and escape.
Hes willing to look the other way and report that Marco was killed by the Hashshashin.
But if Marco thought his loyalty and success would win him mercy towards his father, he thought wrong.
His request for a complete pardon is briskly dismissed by Kublai.
