♪The tempestuous northern wind, the tempestuous martial arts world♪
♪Blades and bows drawn♪
♪What is youth without bravado?♪
♪With a wave of my hands, the world flows through my fingertips♪
♪Traveling the world with a damsel♪
♪The wind blows, the moon's reflection on the water♪
♪The night has been cut short♪
♪Who there is hiding in the shadow?♪
♪Oh, the long journey. Fate wills if we live or die♪
♪But let's give our shot at this world♪
♪Fight together as two♪
♪Right or wrong, I'll brave the storm, watching as things rise and fall♪
♪Black and White, as the drum sounds, it's for passion and justice♪
♪The fury, the wavering blades♪
♪I catch a glimpse of the divine beauty♪
♪How can we determine if the soul is flawless?♪
♪Let's see who can rule the world♪
=Who Rules The World=
=Episode 18=
Ask the Astronomy Officer to divine their birth date.
If nothing goes wrong, we'll exchange the dowry and dower.
On the first day of the upcoming year,
I will grant you the betrothal decree.
Consider it a new beginning for a new year.
Queen Baili's fasting
will have come to an end.
Much obliged, Father.
Send out my decree.
Feng Chang will be given the title of Prince Yongxin.
He will be granted a fief of 3000 households.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Congratulations, Prince Yongxin.
Is this how it feels like to be a Prince?
Everyone fights among themselves
to get to this position.
Your Lordship, you suddenly promoted Prince Chang.
Are you trying to use him to counterbalance Prince Lanxi?
Either way,
Lanxi has had his shares of attention lately.
I still can afford the price of promoting someone to a Prince.
This should at least wake up those
opportunistic ministers.
I still haven't decided who will be the heir yet.
Wise decision, Your Lordship.
Ask the Ministry of Works
to forge more armors and weapons
during this winter break.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Father gave Feng Chang the title of Prince Yongxin?
Calm down, Your Highness.
Someone!
Yes, Your Highness?
Fetch a message to my mother.
Tell her it's ready to be deployed.
Yes, Your Highness.
Li Jiaxian.
Yes, Your Highness?
Your Highness, this is...
You would defy my order?
No,
Your Highness, this is a serious matter.
It might...
So?
I can kill many birds with one stone.
Inform my uncle
about it.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness,
is it wise to leave your mother out of this?
Mother is now confined to her palace.
Even if we tell her,
she won't be able to help us.
On the contrary,
she might just cause more trouble.
Go now.
Yes, Your Highness.
(Younger Brother of Queen Baili, Baili Jing)
It is the Queen's order.
Did you hear everything clearly, Your Highness?
These are truly her words?
Just admire the plum blossom tomorrow with Miss Qi Cheng.
No need
to worry about the rest, Your Highness.
Remind her
of what she promised me.
I'm only helping her this one time.
After tomorrow,
we don't owe each other anything.
Did you just say
that Feng Chang invited me to admire plum blossom?
(Everlasting Virtues)
Yes.
Oh, Your Highness.
In your opinion,
doesn't this sudden invitation
raise suspicion?
It doesn't sound like what Feng Chang normally does.
(Prince Yongping's Residence) Baili Jing went to visit Feng Chang
(Prince Yongping's Residence) in plain clothing?
Carry on with the espionage.
Yes, sir.
(Prince Yongping's Residence)
You scum!
Prince Yongping, you're scum!
You destroyed my family.
I'll kill you. Let go of me!
Your Highness, black hound blood.
I'll kill you.
I'll kill you, scum!
Let go of me!
You scum.
Let go!
Scum.
Don't worry.
I will come after you.
I will kill you. Let me go now!
(I hope the black hound blood)
(will deter you from heading out today.)
Who set the madman loose?
How dare he sullied Your Highness with black hound blood?
Disgusting.
Your Highness,
the investigation has been completed.
He was a merchant
who colluded with Wang Minghai.
When Wang Minghai was arrested,
so did he due to bribery.
That's why he holds grudges against you.
Hand him over to the Capital City Governor.
Double the amount of patrols outside of the residence.
Yes, Your Highness.
I have
to pay Minister Liu a visit later.
Noted.
Wait, no.
You have been defiled by black hound blood.
Usually, you need to stay home for a few days.
Then fast and rinse the filth away with salt.
Otherwise, bad luck will descend upon you.
I confirm the existence of such superstition.
New Year is around the corner.
Having a good start is very important.
Or else...
Your Highness, you shouldn't...
Enough with the dos and don'ts.
They are just baseless superstitions.
If my enemy pours me
black hound blood on the battlefield,
do I have to get on my knee and pray right away?
Chuanyun, did your brain stop working just now?
I...
Why would you stop His Highness?
He's not looking for Minister Liu.
He's just using it as an excuse
to look for Miss Feng.
Oh, it didn't come across my mind.
You...
His Highness is head over heels for Miss Feng.
(Miss Feng?)
Black hound blood?
Right?
I can still
smell the stench now.
Why are you laughing?
You are so calm and collected normally
but when it comes to this, you have the reaction of a normal person.
Are you taking pleasures in my misfortune?
I have a solution.
Come with me.
(Southern Market)
What solution is this?
Can't you smell it?
It smells so good.
I can guarantee you
that after you have this meal,
whatever animal blood stench on you
will disappear.
Only the fragrance of western spice and meat
will be left.
Don't leave me. Listen.
This spice came from the West.
It's usually for a ritual
and it can dispel the bad luck brought by the black hound blood.
Believe me.
I have traveled for many years
so I have seen many tricks.
Foreign wisdom is still wisdom.
Understood?
Your dish is here.
Enjoy the meal.
What is this?
The middle section of the chicken feet.
It's crunchy and delicious.
Are you sure it's edible?
Edible and delectable.
Try it.
Bad luck begone.
Black hound blood?
What do you think?
Do you feel...?
That's it.
That's what it tastes like in your mouth.
It's normal.
Come.
Rinse your palate.
Now, savor it.
The taste is nothing special.
A gentry like you lives
on the high horse all the time.
You're sick of exotic delicacies
but little do you know that the true exotic delicacies
hide in small alleys like this.
It's a shame that none of you
knows how to appreciate food.
How can you be this petty?
Didn't you say
that you would get rid of the bad luck brought by the black hound blood?
Yes.
But I'm with you now.
I need to make sure I didn't get any the bad luck too.
I'll have all of them then.
Your meat buns.
Meat buns!
- The best meat buns in town. - Mister.
Six tea eggs.
The tea eggs still need to be cooked for a little while.
It's okay. I can wait.
Langhua,
you're not done shopping yet?
Embroidered fabric! Come have a look!
Come!
Does it look good on me?
That's a redundant question.
In his eyes, you're beautiful in anything.
You...
You're exaggerating.
I'm telling the truth.
Still hungry?
You're full already?
You ate so little.
Wait for me.
Hide.
Why?
Stop right there.
(Mix Fruits and Date Cake) Don't ask why. Just hide.
Take my candied hawthorn.
Don't ask. Go.
Go.
- Stop! - You're mean.
Martial Sister.
-Martial Sister. -Martial Sister.
Martial Sister.
You bought so many things.
What a coincidence.
Martial Sister, didn't you say
you couldn't understand certain parts of the Jade Moon Chant
so you had to go out to look for inspiration?
Why are...
Yes.
Old Taiyin's technique is quite esoteric.
I can't understand it fully
so I was thinking
that walking around and observing
might give me some kind of inspiration.
You can get inspiration from this too?
Of course.
Why not?
Why else do you think I spent such a long time looking at it then?
Come have a look.
(Mix Fruits and Date Cake) Look at this egg.
Behold.
This egg
is as murky as the world when it first came into being.
When simmered
with other spices and condiments,
this egg became
a dish that combines
the essence of meat and vegetables.
If you can decipher the secret within,
you will then overcome this ceiling
in martial arts.
Why are you laughing, Langhua?
No one's laughing.
I just couldn't agree more with what you said.
You are in another league, Martial Sister.
Of course, I'm your martial sister.
Come.
Look at
this egg.
Well...
We should leave now.
We won't disrupt your perusal further.
Reflect upon the words I said.
Go.
Let's go.
Go.
Return now.
What did I just make up?
Buns!
Hot, steamy bun!
Why did you...
Why did you keep me hidden like that?
Can't I meet them properly?
No.
I just wanted to make sure Langhua didn't find out anything.
- Why did you lie to them? - I...
It's because...
It's because I don't want them to get the wrong idea.
About what?
You haven't answered my question.
The wrong idea about what?
That I skipped my training
to study tea eggs with you here.
You even ate my candied hawthorn.
(Prince Yongping's Residence)
(Everlasting Virtues)
Your Highness,
the gift to Prince Chang for the plum blossom festival
is ready.
Good.
Are you
truly attending the event?
No matter what,
he's my elder brother.
I shouldn't make things tougher for him.
(Everlasting Virtues)
Nice shot, Your Highness.
Please.
Look how beautiful this one is.
Who is prettier? The flower or me?
You, of course.
So why the long face then?
If you don't want to see me,
don't force yourself.
Good morning, Prince Lanxi.
Pardon my intrusion, Official Jiang.
(Plum Garden Owner, Jiang Che) It's my honor, Your Highness.
Your Highness,
Prince Ju is at the Liangfeng Pavilion by the south.
If it's too cold for you,
you can head to Xuliu Parlor to listen to some music.
The performer today
is the renowned Yu Guan.
I would hate to miss her performance.
Oh, is Feng Chang here?
Yes, he is.
However,
he's having a promenade
with the daughter of Duke Qi.
It's best
if you do not disturb them.
Here, please.
Good morning, Your Highness.
Morning, Official Baili.
It's been a while.
Mr. Liu.
Here, please.
Enjoy the spectacle, Prince Ju.
(Xuliu Parlor)
Your Highness,
it's getting chilly here.
Allow me to fetch you a charcoal pot.
No need.
Where is the person who went to invite Prince Chang?
Why hasn't he returned?
I will see to it that it's done now.
Forgive me.
All right. Dismissed.
Yes, Your Highness.
Mister,
come get changed with me downstairs.
It's cold.
I...
Follow me.
Here, please.
Your Highness, Prince Chang is getting changed.
He will be here soon.
Your servant
will be back once he gets changed too.
This tea was freshly brewed. Enjoy, Your Highness.
Well.
Your Highness?
Greetings, Prince Chang.
Miss Qi Cheng? Did you...?
Everything is ready.
Should we summon the people now?
(She's cold-hearted.)
Don't panic.
But...
Yes?
Sorry, Your Highness.
Feng Chang,
why would you bring harm to me?
(Lanxi cannot stay here.)
I am the eldest son. You are the legitimate son.
We are meant
to be enemies.
Might as well
settle the score as early as possible.
I'm sure you are forced to do this.
Tell me. Who forced you, Feng Chang?
Speak now
and we'll figure out a solution.
You have lied to me for many years.
Do you truly view me as your elder brother?
You only have yourself to blame
for what's coming next.
I never want it to be like this.
But in the royal family,
knowing more means more risks.
Blame yourself.
Blame the accursed destiny of this royal family.
Feng Chang,
why do you wish to harm me so?
I once told you
that we should go our separate ways.
Why do you have to come here?
Why can't you sever the tie between us?
When I was young,
my mother told me that you had a rough life
and that your mother didn't acknowledge you as her son.
That's why my mother asked me to be extra kind to you.
I cannot just stand still
while you continue to suffer.
I know
until now,
you take care of me more than I take care of you.
I want you
to live a carefree life.
If you have made up your mind,
then I have nothing else to add.
Feng Chang, you have been looking for a Golden Rattan Whip.
I found one.
Unfortunately,
we might have to let our mother down this time.
Feng Chang...
Stop pretending already.
You
are not the Feng Lanxi I know.
And I
am not the Feng Chang you know.
Go.
Now!
Why do you have to do this to her?
Why?
(Xuliu Parlor)
Feng Chang!
(Xuliu Parlor) Feng Chang!
Isn't this Prince Chang?
Feng Chang!
Summon the physician.
Now!
Your Highness,
I'm from the Medical Bureau...
Enough. Just help my brother.
Prince Chang is safe.
Now, carry my brother back to the residence to receive treatments.
Hurry up.
Yes, Your Highness.
Careful.
(Xuliu Parlor)
Here. Quick.
What happened upstairs?
Who was upstairs?
Prince Yongping is upstairs.
Did something...
I'm held accountable
when such a serious issue happened.
Any brave soul here
is willing to go upstairs with me
to be my witness?
I...
Don't worry.
I'll come with you.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Let's go.
Right, let's check it out.
Go.
This is...
I...
Cheng.
My daughter!
My love!
Cheng! Cheng!
My daughter!
Cheng!
My condolences, Duke Qi.
This tragedy took place in my garden.
I will investigate it thoroughly
to give you an answer.
Can someone
please carry the Duke's wife and her daughter out?
Duke Qi,
I'm sorry.
Where is Prince Yongping?
(Duke Qi) He was the only one
(Duke Qi) upstairs.
Only he could kill my daughter and Prince Chang.
Where is he?
Where is he now?
He is...
I...
Your Highness, may I know where you were just now?
Shouldn't you be watching the performance upstairs?
It was a rather boring performance
so I came down to fish.
Do you have an alibi?
Do I need an alibi
for a fishing trip?
But Miss Qi was killed.
Prince Chang fell from the second floor.
You need to prove your innocence.
What?
Feng Chang did?
Lanxi.
I'll visit Feng Chang.
Lanxi,
please clear your name first.
All right.
I was fishing by the pond.
Someone saw me.
We did see each other
in the garden.
I can testify
that Prince Yongping was next to me.
But that is insufficient.
Official Baili Jing, why are you here?
You're the murderer!
I'll kill you.
Stop!
I'll kill you.
Calm down, Duke Qi.
Even if His Lordship wants me to pay with my life,
I still want to avenge my daughter.
Calm down, Duke Qi.
No matter what,
His Lordship will give you an answer.
Cheng!
Lower your head
and follow me.
Greetings, Prince Yongping.
Here, please.
Your Highness.
It's your fault.
You wanted to use Feng Chang to frame me.
Don't worry.
No one
will be able to walk out scot-free.
Your Lordship,
I demand justice!
My daughter
was but 19 of age.
Your Lordship!
Don't you worry, my loyal minister.
I will
definitely get to the bottom of this
and give you a satisfactory answer.
How is
Prince Yongxin?
Your Lordship,
the physician said that Prince Yongxin survived
but he remained unconscious.
However, due to his broken right leg,
he might be handicapped in the future.
And what about Baili Jing?
Other than the scratches on his face,
he has sustained any external injury.
But he is in this
catatonic state now,
as if he suffered tremendous trauma.
As to whether it's real or it's an act,
we'll know after the constable interrogates him.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Any comment?
Father,
obviously,
this is but a framing device deliberately set up against me.
It is fortunate that I left Xuliu Parlor early.
Otherwise, the name of such a crime
will fall onto me.
It is uncanny what has transpired today.
Prince Yongping must have come prepared.
When you talk to His Lordship later,
defend your brother.
That way,
he won't suspect you of anything.
Father,
I am just as perplexed.
I don't know what exactly happened.
However, this arrogant criminal hurt Qi Cheng,
hurt Feng Chang,
and wanted to frame Lanxi.
He has committed a serious crime.
You're right, Prince Ju.
Your Lordship,
Prince Yongping was remaining in the parlor
only to change his mind suddenly to fish by the pond.
Coincidentally, Baili Jing was there too.
I'm sure
Prince Yongping holds more information.
It is quite possible
that all this
is just his attempt to frame Baili Jing.
Why would I do that?
You have a close tie with Prince Chang.
Why would
he frame you out of a sudden?
Besides,
who will benefit the most
from pinning this crime against Baili Jing
other than Prince Chang, Your Highness?
Now that we have the evidence,
do you still think it's my doing, Duke Qi?
Do you think
you can accuse the royal family of wrongdoing like that?
You...
Duke Qi must be too grief-stricken
to mince his words.
You have a generous soul, Your Highness.
Please forgive him.
As for Duke Qi's accusation,
I'm afraid we can only decide
after Prince Chang
regains consciousness.
Let's wait until Zhang Zhongge
is done interrogating everyone.
Summon the Chief and the Deputy Chief of Medical Bureau
to Prince Yongxin's residence.
Wake him up as soon as possible.
All of you are dismissed for now.
As you wish, Your Lordship.
Yuan Lu.
Yes, Your Lordship?
Who
do you think is the culprit?
I
do not have an answer either, Your Lordship.
Baili Jing is an eyesore
but I don't believe
he can commit this grave crime
out of lust.
Do you think
perhaps Feng Chang wished to frame Lanxi
only to be outmaneuvered by the latter?
Pardon my incompetence.
I do not know.
However, I'm inclined
to believe that Prince Chang is a victim too.
If he wished to frame another person,
he did not need to risk his own life.
No handicapped prince
has inherited the throne in Yongzhou.
Even if there is a precedence,
falling
from a high place like this is simply too perilous a plan.
So that left Feng Ju and the Queen then?
He thought he could get rid
of his two elder brothers with one plan.
That way, the title of the heir
would naturally fall onto him.
I, Baili, wish to talk to you, Your Lordship.
Isn't she confined to her palace?
Why is she here?
Ask her to return.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Your Highness,
please return.
You still have to serve your confinement.
Please return, Your Highness.
Move aside.
I will see His Lordship today.
Your Highness.
Dismissed.
Yes, Your Lordship.
What are you doing?
I know my brother has committed a serious crime.
I'm not here to give you excuses.
Please allow me to renounce my title
and set an example for your concubines.
I already have a lot on my plate.
I don't need more.
This is not an act, Your Lordship.
I personally selected Miss Qi Cheng to be my daughter-in-law.
Now that she has been killed,
I can't help but feel guilty.
Whether my brother
will be found guilty
or if you will punish me,
I am willing to promise three things on behalf of the Baili family.
One, compensate Duke Qi and his family 5,000 pieces of gold.
Two,
the son of Baili Jing
will marry the niece of Duke Qi.
Three,
the title inherited by my maternal family
will be bequeathed to the son of Duke Qi's niece.
May these compensatory gestures
put your mind to rest
and ease the pain of Duke Qi.
We'll discuss that
later.
Since I'm ready
to renounce my queenhood,
I might as well come clean.
I know you have been growing suspicious of me
but I can swear with my own life
that what transpired today
has nothing to do with me or Ju.
I know nothing
about the nefarious plot
on Xuliu Parlor today.
However, you are a shrewd man, Your Lordship.
You must know
that the one who stands to benefit the most
must be the mastermind.
I can do many things
but I can't possibly devise an evil plan
when I was confined to my palace.
Ju can be as bold as he claims to be
but he'll never devise a plan
that jeopardizes
the life of his own uncle.
Chang...
Chang
is also my son, regardless of everything.
All right.
Don't cry.
I will
get to the bottom of this.
Go back to your palace now.
Your Lordship,
I have sealed and searched
Official Jiang's garden.
I found a dead body.
It's the servant in blue who went missing
in Xuliu Parlor.
An evidence erasure?
Yes.
Also, I found this
in his grip.
A dark fox fur coat?
Yes.
It was soaked in wine.
I had a dog sniff it.
It bears the same scent as the wine
on Miss Qi Cheng's body.
Issue a decree
that other than Feng Chang,
all noblemen who took part in the plum blossom festival
have to reflect upon themselves in their abode.
Without my permission,
none can venture out.
Once Feng Chang wakes up,
we'll know who's guilty
and who's innocent.
Yes,
Your Lordship.
Who did this?
Calm down, Mother.
It's Baili Jing's idea.
He said
that we could seize this opportunity
to get rid of Feng Chang and Feng Lanxi.
That's why I agreed to it.
He was smart enough to devise this plan?
I speak the truth, Mother.
I would never do this otherwise.
Mother,
what should I do?
You left
such a mess to me.
And now, I have to deal with it.
Go back to your residence
and stop giving me more trouble.
Yes.
Are you telling the truth?
Why are you examining the dark fox fur coat, Official Zhang?
Is it related to the perpetrator?
Sorry for the inconvenience, Your Highness.
Chancellor Ren,
His Lordship has ordered
that all staff of Prince Yongping's Residence
have to stay here for a few days.
Even government officials like you
are not allowed to leave or enter.
Noted.
I will not disturb you further, Your Highness.
I will take my leave now.
Miss,
I have sent the new fox fur coat to Prince Yongping.
Did anyone see you?
I have been very careful.
No one has noticed me.
Good.
Keep Prince Yongping's old fox fur coat.
Why don't we destroy it?
Prince Chang is still unconscious.
Everything is uncertain.
To clear His Highness's name,
we have to prove that Baili Jing is guilty
before Prince Chang wakes up.
The fox fur coat
is the evidence.
His Highness cannot leave his abode.
People will talk, naturally.
So I have to deal with this.
If only
His Highness could reciprocate your feeling.
My wish
is to make sure he can achieve
what he can achieve.
♪Like the dissipating fog, you become clearer♪
♪Like the hawk that soars freely, you reject the shackles♪
♪Your white silk is as light as a feather and yet it moves my heart♪
♪Ripples come at me but I don't want to dodge♪
♪Wind is just the outline of the cloud♪
♪Black is the lock of the White♪
♪Night is when the Day sleeps♪
♪You are a part of me♪
♪Right or wrong, don't worry about the why♪
♪Pain or joy, they are from our obsession♪
♪If some things cannot be taken apart♪
♪Then let's face the uncertainty together♪
♪Let tears run dry♪
♪Let's stop in another place♪
♪Let love sever all happiness and sadness♪
♪And pierce through the vicissitude of life♪
♪With a merry start, don't worry about a sorrowful end♪
♪A full moon will be more intertwined♪
♪If some things cannot be taken apart♪
♪Then let's face the uncertainty together♪