Original subtitles

♪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!

I second that!

I second that!

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.

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!

Official Lu!

I'll be guarding here.

Go to find the assassin.

All right.

- Go. - Now.

- Go. - Now.

Mu...

Mulan...

Official Lu?

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.

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.)

(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.

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)

(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♪

♪Then let's face the uncertainty together♪