♪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 13=
Please order a retrial, Your Lordship.
I second that!
Prince Yongping is suspicious of framing important government officials
and will be placed under house arrest.
Your Lordship, Prince Yongping is innocent.
It's...
It was an oversight from me that I failed to examine the evidence,
but I
have never ever framed anyone.
Zhang Zhongge.
Yes, Your Lordship.
You will now reinterrogate the candidates
and review the cheating case.
Duly noted, Your Lordship.
I have never seen this cheat sheet.
I am an honest student.
I truly don't know
where this cheat sheet comes from.
You have never seen what was written on it?
Never.
Come clean now.
Sir, I have been framed.
I never cheated.
Sir.
I'm telling the truth, sir!
I didn't cheat.
Song Sihan,
you still won't admit it?
I'll speak!
Candidate Song Sihan,
this cheating scandal has taken the government by surprise.
And now,
His Lordship will deal with this case personally.
Please reiterate your testimony
to His Lordship.
I swear to tell only the truth.
Who gave you the exam questions?
My mentor,
a Senior Secretary,
Pei Youshuo.
Pei Youshuo?
I have the document on which
Mentor Pei wrote down the exam questions.
Bring forth.
(Ways to promote peace)
This is indeed Pei Youshuo's handwriting.
How exactly did he leak
the exam questions to you?
The night before the examination,
Mentor Pei invited several students
to his residence.
Sir, even though we are your students,
there are many spectacular talents in this world.
If we underperform,
we will flunk the exam.
You're dismissed for now.
Follow me.
Look at this.
Sir, you're...
Now, all the best for your examination.
(Ways to promote peace) Why didn't Pei Youshuo
destroy this paper,
thus allowing you to use it as evidence?
Because my mentor was worried
that someone would find out about this plan
and so he asked me to prepare a contingency plan.
A contingency plan?
He first asked me to submit
my answer to him.
And then, he'll figure out a way
to sell the answer sheet.
It will act as a decoy
and if Your Lordship wants to investigate this case,
we can also free ourselves from liability.
He wanted me to burn the question sheet
but I kept it just in case everything goes sour
and I'll have something to protect myself.
Your Lordship,
this is the draft we found
from Song Sihan's abode.
Its content is similar to what is found in the Examination Hall.
Any other evidence?
Your Lordship,
I have sent someone
to question the people in Official Pei's residence.
A servant has testified
that Official Pei did ask for stationery that day
and sent all servants away.
He was then alone with four candidates.
The other three students
of Official Pei claimed
that that day,
Official Pei wrote them
words of encouragement.
I have sent someone to search their respective residence,
but I have found no such words.
Besides, after the interrogation,
the maintenance staff of the Examination Hall admitted
that Official Pei examined
every cell himself.
In that case,
incarcerate Pei Youshuo
and get to the bottom of this.
Yes, Your Lordship.
I got news from the Ministry of Justice.
One of Mentor's students, Song Sihan,
said that Mentor leaked the exam questions.
His Lordship has incarcerated the Mentor.
His Highness will definitely be implicated now.
We don't have much time.
Protect him at all costs.
Worst comes to worst,
I'll confess
that I forged the evidence.
No need for the hassle.
Your Highness.
The Royal Guards aren't strong enough to restrict my freedom.
Your Highness,
why didn't you let me take the blame for you?
Baili and others
want me
to be framed.
If you take the blame for me,
they can't proceed with their plan.
So
you already knew, Your Highness?
Everything is going too well.
As if it was all planned beforehand.
Therefore, I knew very early
that Duke Liang is not the leaker.
You knew this is a trap, Your Highness,
so why did you walk into it?
If I didn't do that,
they wouldn't move on to the next step quickly,
and I wouldn't be able
to find solid evidence against them.
What should we do then?
For Baili and others,
they must be thinking that their plan has worked.
Their next step
is to erase all evidence.
This is when
we can find out the truth.
The housekeeper
is crucial.
Go and find out
who he
has contacted.
Noted.
(This is a game of cat and mouse.)
(Let's see who is the cat)
(and who is the mouse.)
Are you looking for me?
Miss Fengxi,
I'm from House of Jade.
Someone asked me to give you this letter.
Thank you.
(To Bai Fengxi)
Did Father go to Mount Wu?
Yes.
He was visiting an old friend
when he learned
that Old Taiyin was looking for a successor.
That's why he rushed to Mount Wu to try his luck there.
Old Taiyin set up a trial in Mount Wu.
Knowing what he can do,
a carrier pigeon won't be able to reach Master.
Let's go to Mount Wu to find my father.
Be patient now.
You're still sick
and we're quite far from Mount Wu.
If you want to go there,
you have to make sure you're fully recovered.
But...
I understand your concern.
Old Taiyin is almost as strong
as a deity.
He won't let any harm come to the candidates in his trial.
Also,
you know how strong Master is, don't you?
Don't worry.
Once you're healed,
I'll bring you there right away.
His Highness is placed under house arrest by His Lordship,
but he still needs to be fed.
Your Highness, enjoy your meal.
I have news.
Only one person has been contacting
the housekeeper of Duke Liang's Residence frequently.
It's someone from Lu Xiumu's Residence.
Lu Xiumu?
He guards the Examination Hall,
but he's also the culprit.
Baili found a perfect target this time.
It's hard to notice him.
Let Chuanyun and Chuanyu watch over Lu's Residence
and see if they can find anything useful.
Noted.
(Phoenix Palace, Yongzhou)
Look at you.
You went to the Imperial City for the Six States banquet.
Why did you come back starved?
Spare me, Mother.
The food at the banquet could be delicious
but no one had the appetite.
Once the banquet was over,
I rode back straight away.
Great timing then.
Feng Lanxi can never outwit you, Mother.
Unfortunately,
I missed the defeated look on him.
Your Highness,
Minister Wang said that other than the true leaker,
everyone else had been dealt with.
You need to deal
with the true leaker yourself, Your Highness.
I see.
Eat now.
Now that you're back,
help me with one thing.
Find someone to remove Lu Xiumu.
Lu Xiumu?
He's the leaker?
Remember.
Do not use our people.
Understood.
(Bafang Gambling House)
Have a safe trip.
A trinket!
It's quite delicious.
Try it.
(Bafang Gambling House)
Please help me, good sirs.
Please lend me two silver leaves.
Gu Yu,
you borrowed three silver leaves today.
Together with what you asked yesterday,
you have ten silver leaves in your debt.
You lost all your money every time.
Why are you gambling?
I saw this counter
where the dealer won 13 times in a row.
Can you give me another chance?
Do you want to win everything back?
Sure.
(Taihe Teahouse) Settle your debt first
and we'll lend you more money.
I...
I'm borrowing money so that I can win everything back.
Just this time.
I'll win and pay you back, with interest too.
If you didn't give us your official tablet
as a deposit last time,
we wouldn't give you a loan at all.
Your official tablet is worth ten silver leaves at most.
You want another loan? Dream on.
Just give me another chance, please.
Move along.
Stop pestering us.
We have seen enough gambling addicts
like you.
I'm not a gambling addict!
Find yourself a mirror
and you'll see.
Right?
You...
What are you doing?
Let go of me.
Let go of him. Do you hear me?
Bring me two silver leaves.
So you're a robber now?
Today, I'll make sure
you pay for it!
(Taihe Teahouse)
Gu Yu,
do you know who we are?
You're doomed!
Let's see who will have the final laugh.
Stop fighting now, gentleman.
Who are you?
(Taihe Teahouse) You are a skillful gentleman.
Don't get yourself into trouble
for a few
silver leaves.
I will settle the debt
on his behalf.
Please leave now.
Let go.
You know the rules, at least.
Let's go.
My official tablet?
Go.
What are you looking at?
Bugger off.
Go!
You chased away all the people.
Who can I borrow money from now?
If you want money,
I have a deal for you.
Do you want to take it?
Let's
talk in another place.
Xiyun, I have been following Gu Yu lately.
He stays in the casino all the time.
Today, he used his official tablet
as a deposit to get a loan.
What has become of him?
Where is he now?
Someone settled the debt for him
in exchange for a favor.
They went to Sanliang Inn by the west.
I'll look for him.
Why do you need my help?
You are quite agile
so you must be skilled in martial arts.
I have a favor to ask.
What do you want me to do?
Kill someone
for me.
Kill someone?
I don't do that.
Mister,
hear me out
before you decide.
I want you
to kill a villain.
A villain?
He goes by the name of Lu Xiumu,
one of the Royal Guard Captains.
He is an arrogant tyrant who exploits the commoners.
I am from Miancheng, you see.
He was once the Miancheng Army Commander
and he abused his power to occupy lands.
My parents died because of him.
I tried to bring justice to my parents
to no avail.
So,
I want him killed.
You want me
to kill an official?
He is a corrupted official.
I will offer you a thousand silver leaves for it.
This is the certificate for 500 silver leaves.
Once the deed is done,
you'll get another 500.
I will deliver it to you myself.
Is he truly a villain?
(Lu Xiumu's Residence, Yongzhou)
Assassinating a government official?
How dare you!
Someone!
Official Lu!
I'll be guarding here.
Go to find the assassin.
All right.
- Go. - Now.
Mu...
Mulan...
Official Lu?
Mulan?
Why are you here?
I followed you here.
It seems like I'm late.
What did you do?
None of your business.
Stay there!
Move aside.
Stay there.
Bring him in.
Come.
(People from Fountain Abode?)
(Stellar Talent) (Why are they)
(Stellar Talent) (in Prince Yongping's Residence?)
(What did Gu Yu do?)
Xiyun, any news about Gu Yu?
I was late.
He assaulted a government official
and was taken away by Prince Yongping's people.
Prince Yongping's people?
Mr. Lanxi of the Four Gentry?
Also, I noticed
that Prince Yongping is very close to Fountain Abode.
Hei Fengxi of Fountain Abode.
Prince Yongping, Feng Lanxi.
There's only a one-character difference.
What is their relationship?
I should have noticed this earlier.
No ordinary man
can establish Fountain Abode
on his own within a decade.
The renowned Head of Fountain Abode
is the Second Prince of Yongzhou, Feng Lanxi.
Two Gentries among the Four
are found in Yongzhou.
I didn't want to lie to you.
I just didn't have the opportunity to tell you.
I know.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be here.
No one outside stopped me as well.
You came to me
for Gu Yu?
Gu Yu killed a government official.
It is a serious allegation.
There must be more to it.
He might have been used by someone.
Therefore, I came to discuss this with you.
I know
you can definitely find out the truth.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
So what exactly did he get himself into?
Let me explain to you slowly.
That is what happened.
Master once told us
that the disciples
of Tianshuang Sect should stay away from politics.
Gu Yu made this mistake for money
and now, he has to shoulder the consequences.
Your Highness.
Yes?
I just got news from the Ministry of Justice.
Gu Yu killed himself with poison
before the interrogation.
I see.
You're dismissed for now.
Noted.
How can this be?
Gu Yu will never kill himself.
I will
get to the bottom of this.
I like the martial arts world
because you can settle the score on the spot
unlike court,
where fighting is done in secret.
It's far more dangerous
than the blades in the martial arts world.
Now that Lu Xiumu was killed by Gu Yu
and Gu Yu died in jail,
the clue was lost as well.
We should
find evidence of Lu Xiumu's leaking the exam questions.
The exam papers were sealed.
They were unsealed under the supervision
of three invigilators.
How did Lu Xiumu
get the exam questions
from the sealed letters?
This cheating case
is Yongzhou's business.
I shouldn't meddle in it.
However, Gu Yu died for it.
So, I have to find out the truth.
I want
to investigate with you
and hopefully, we'll locate the culprit.
Can I have a look at the exam questions?
(31st year of Chunxi's reign. Yongzhou's Law Examination. Ways to promote peace.)
Why has the color of the royal seal faded so?
If you hadn't mentioned it,
I wouldn't have noticed it.
The seal paste for the royal seal
is made from good quality cinnabar and honey.
Although it fades with time,
it shouldn't be this quick.
What does the seal have anything to do
with the leaking of exam questions?
It means
that the exam questions have been tampered with.
The royal seal
is personally verified by my father.
Perhaps...
Perhaps this is
just part of the original exam questions.
What do you mean?
This is a technique called Palm of Duplication.
It's not hard.
You just need to manipulate your inner force.
While I was traveling around,
I saw an artist drawing.
He drew a painting
and duplicated it on several sheets of paper
before giving them a title.
And then, he asked someone to sell them.
Not only did he save more time,
but he also earned more money.
However, during the process,
the ink of the original drawing will fade.
You will notice it if you pay attention to it.
I suppose
martial arts world shenanigans like this
are too vulgar for your taste.
I see.
Thank you.
I merely want
to identify Gu Yu's killer.
We already identified the modus operandi.
It's your turn to deal with the rest.
I shouldn't stay here for too long.
See you.
A criminal who killed a government official
died in the jail of Ministry of Justice.
Any excuse, Zhang Zhongge?
No excuse, Your Lordship.
I have already asked my people
to investigate and find out the killer.
But
yesterday,
just when Prince Yongping suspected Lu Xiumu of leaking the questions,
he was killed in his residence.
While the culprit confessed
that he killed Lu Xiumu due to his occupation of lands,
I can't help but believe
that this has something to do with the exam leaking scandal.
Give me the evidence.
Without evidence, it's just speculations.
I can't do anything.
I...
Your Lordship, Feng Qiwu requests an audience.
Show her in.
Noted.
You may get up.
Thank you, Your Lordship.
Greetings, Your Lordship.
May you live for millennia.
Have you
made any discoveries?
Your Lordship,
I discovered something huge.
Speak now.
I noticed that the questions in our safekeeping
had been tampered with.
They are not the original copy.
(31st year of Chunxi's reign. Yongzhou's Law Examination. Ways to promote peace.)
Your Lordship,
I have served in the Ministry of Justice for many years,
and never have I seen a technique like this.
The ingenuity of it!
As such,
the three invigilators
were not the only ones privy to the exam questions.
Another individual who could steal the exam questions
was Lu Xiumu.
Your Lordship, this also proves
that Prince Yongping did not frame Duke Liang
in an attempt to protect Official Pei.
Someone must have set everything up
and misled Prince Yongping.
I suggest we ransack
and search Lu's Residence thoroughly.
Permission granted.
Go now.
Noted, Your Lordship.
Thank you for your help, Minister Wang.
I will not forget the kindness you showed today
and will repay you in the future.
You're welcome, Your Highness.
It's my duty.
After this,
Prince Yongping will lose
his title.
Lanxi was too impatient.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have dealt such a heavy blow.
You are already quite merciful with him, Your Highness.
Your Highness,
Feng Qiwu went to see His Lordship today
and was granted permission
to search Lu Xiumu's Residence.
Minister Wang,
did Lu Xiumu leave any evidence behind?
Our plan was concocted
through secret meetings.
There is no evidence whatsoever.
However...
Yes?
After Lu Xiumu stole the exam questions,
he burned them in front of me.
A heart can be treacherous.
He took the risk and stole the exam questions.
He might have left something to protect himself.
Go check the scene now.
Report to me if you have anything.
Will do.
Stop!
May I ask what we did wrong?
Was Gu Yu with you?
Yes.
Around 9 PM the night before yesterday, the suspect, Gu Yu,
assassinated the Royal Guard Captain, Lu Xiumu.
He was captured
by the patrolling guards while he was fleeing
and was locked up in the Ministry of Justice.
He then killed himself with poison in the jail last night.
What?
All of you are his sect mates
and will be detained in this courtyard for the moment.
You are not allowed to head out.
Noted.
Seal the place.
Xiyun, is what he said true?
I didn't stop Gu Yu in time yesterday
and so, he made a grave mistake.
I didn't expect him to...
Why did Gu Yu do that?
What should we do now, Xiyun?
Gu Yu is a disciple of the Tianshuang Sect.
No matter what,
I'll find out the mastermind who manipulated him.
The officials are here on orders.
They won't give us a hard time.
Just wait for me.
I'll handle it.
Okay.
Feng Qiwu sealed Lu's Residence
and searched everywhere.
It seems like she couldn't find anything
and so, she returned to her home.
Check
if Lu Xiumu has another private residence.
If he has the evidence,
he might have stashed it away somewhere else.
If he has another private residence,
whether the evidence is in there or not,
just destroy it.
Better safe than sorry.
Noted.
(Lu's Residence)
Why are you here?
Chuanyun told me
that before Lu Xiumu died,
he uttered "Mulan".
I searched his residence
but I couldn't find anything about Mulan.
Lu Xiumu is a foreigner.
He's good at mounted archery
so he must be a nomad.
I get it now.
The Mulan
Lu Xiumu uttered
is not the flower, Mulan,
but a hunting ground.
There are many ethnic groups beyond the border
that speak different languages.
In one of the ethnic groups,
"Mulan" means a hunting ground.
Moments before Lu Xiumu passed away,
he wanted to convey a message.
It was so urgent
that he conveyed it in his mother tongue.
I remember
this piece of info from Fountain Abode.
Lu Xiumu has another house outside of the city
to keep the tools he used for his hunting trip.
Good.
Sir.
Your Highness.
We have captured the arsonist.
This is what you requested.
(Royal Examination)
Have Minister Feng
deliver this evidence to my father at once.
Yes, sir.
Zhong Li,
see Miss Feng back.
Yes, sir.
Feng Qiwu has shown me the evidence
that you weren't trying to frame the allegation
to protect Pei Youshuo.
You
are free from now on.
Thanks, Father.
The arsonist who wanted to set fire to Lu Xiumu's private residence
has been captured.
I believe we can locate the mastermind
after the interrogation.
Leaking exam questions,
framing, and killing government officials
constitute a serious offense.
Have someone send them to the Ministry of Justice
and let Zhang Zhongge take over.
You need not
worry about the rest.
What?
Do you still have something to tell me?
Father,
it might be an exam scandal
but you should be able to tell
that someone is trying to get rid of me.
Now that the truth has surfaced,
I pray that you can enforce justice.
You're worried that I might be partial?
I dare not.
I have seen the evidence myself.
(31st year of Chunxi's reign. Yongzhou's Law Examination. Ways to promote peace.)
Naturally, I will set Pei Youshuo
as well as the innocent candidates free.
Of course,
the candidate who framed Pei Youshuo
will be severely punished.
Lu Xiumu who leaked the questions has died
and his killer also died in jail.
I have asked
Zhang Zhongge to get to the bottom of this.
What else do you want me to do?
I hope you can
identify the mastermind, Father.
Remember this then.
Lu Xiumu is the mastermind.
Father!
Xi.
You're the Prince Yongping.
You are a Prince with the title.
Not only are you my son,
but you also work for me.
As an official,
you need to look beyond yourself
and be concerned about the bigger picture.
Everything has shown
that Lu Xiumu
is the main culprit.
Did I make myself clear?
Father, you know very well
that if you continue investigating,
she will be implicated.
But Father,
you would leave her be?
What I want
is a stable and united
Yongzhou.
Only then
can Yongzhou survive
the infighting of all Six States.
What you went through is nothing
compared with the stakes
in Yongzhou.
Dismissed.
If you say so.
(The balance of power between several parties)
(can make sure Yongzhou remains stabilized.)
(It is the safest way.)
Mentor. Mentor.
Mentor.
I regret my mistake.
If you still regard me as your mentor,
why did you forget
the word I wrote you?
(Pine)
Sihan,
you're the most suited for politics among them.
But you're also the one with the most shortcomings.
Pine. This is the word I wish to give you.
Stand tall and resilient like the pine tree.
(Pine)
Before long,
you will be the pillar of the world.
I made a mistake.
I was enticed by the position they promised me.
I wanted a head start on my career
and now, I have finally understood
the weight of your words.
I regret it very much so.
Mentor.
Mentor! Mentor!
His Lordship has arrived!
Greetings, Your Lordship.
May you live for millennia.
All of you are dismissed.
You may stand up now.
Lift your head up.
Look at me.
You have no courage to look at me anymore?
Lift your head up.
I do have the courage.
I just don't want to face your wrath.
I have been your wife for more than two decades.
I don't have it in me
to witness the disappointment in your eyes.
In that case,
why did you do what you did?
You framed my ministers.
You violated my laws.
And you even wanted to kill my son.
How can I protect you now in front of everyone?
I plead guilty
to all those crimes, Your Lordship.
Feng Ju is still your son,
Your Lordship.
Please spare him.
He went to the Imperial City on your behalf.
He isn't aware of all these.
How can you stoop to this level?
You think Lanxi will be an easy target
following the death of Yige?
The imperial bloodline flows within him.
He is my legitimate son.
You know,
many have criticized my indecision
in giving him the title of an heir.
And now, you should do these kind of things.
What can I do now?
I know,
Your Lordship.
I just don't want to see him.
Whenever I see him,
I'll be reminded of Yige.
I'll be reminded of the pain of separation we had to endure.
I have to do this.
I want him to fail.
Only then will I find peace
with the suffering I went through.
Enough!
Ridiculous.
We were madly in love, Your Lordship.
But Yige broke us up.
For five whole years,
I couldn't even see you.
This pain of separation.
This forlornness.
I wish to forget them
but I can't.
I have stopped Lanxi
from investigating further.
I have also dealt with
the arsonist you sent to burn the residence.
I know you had it rough.
But many years have gone by.
Let bygones be bygones.
What you need to do now
is to be on the same page as mine
and unify Yongzhou.
That's how
we will survive
this infighting.
Understood?
Mentor,
why are you here?
I have been waiting for you, Your Highness.
What can I help, Mentor?
I have heard what happened in the royal palace.
Now that you're officially on Baili's bad side,
it's but a matter of time
before a battle of usurpation.
I just want to give you my advice, Your Highness.
A temporary gain or loss is much more trivial
than the bigger picture.
You also want me to let go, Mentor?
If you want to be the heir,
you have to make some compromises.
Besides,
you want more
than Yongzhou, don't you, Your Highness?
You have a great ambition, Your Highness.
All the more reasons to know
that many more sufferings
await you.
The exile of Su Wu
and the humiliation Han Xin endured,
all of them gave way to a greater purpose.
Besides,
I also heard
that Queen Baili once asked
about your marriage prospect.
To prevent further troubles,
consider
wedding Miss Feng Qiwu, Your Highness.
As you said just now, Mentor,
in my journey,
there's no room for romance.
A wife? Let's save it for the future.
I am tired now.
Your Highness,
I will leave then.
(Everyone wants me to let go)
(and look at the bigger picture.)
(But I am doing this)
(to settle the score.)
♪Like the dissipating fog, you become clearer♪
♪Like the hawk that soars freely, you reject the shackles♪
♪Your white silk is as light as 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♪