Please order a retrial, Your Lordship.
I second that.
Prince Yongping is suspected 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
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 the evidence.
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.
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 my mentor's students, Song Sihan,
said that my mentor leaked the exam questions.
His Lordship has incarcerated my 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. -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 was 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.
-Yes, Your Highness. -Yes, Your Highness.
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?
Ms. Fengxi,
I'm from the House of Jade.
Someone asked me to give you this letter.
Thank you.
TO BAI FENGXI
Did my 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 are 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.
All right.
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 Ladyship,
Minister Wang said that other than the true leaker,
everyone else has been dealt with.
You need to deal
with the true leaker yourself, Your Ladyship.
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.
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 lose 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.
Settle your debt first
and we'll lend you more money.
I…
I'm borrowing money to turn the tables.
Just this time.
I'll win and pay you back with interest.
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.
Do 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?
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 us
talk in another place.
Fengxi, I have been following Gu Yu these past few days.
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.
Sir,
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 Mian City, you see.
He was once the Mian City Army Commander
and he abused his power to occupy lands.
My parents died because of him.
I tried to bring justice to my parents, but to no avail.
So
I want him killed.
Do 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
You're assassinating a government official?
How dare you!
Someone!
Official Lu!
-Official Lu! -Official Lu!
I'll be guarding here.
Go and find the assassin.
-All right. -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?
Why are they
in Prince Yongping's residence?
What did Gu Yu do?
Fengxi, 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 Gentlemen?
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-syllable 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 of the Four Gentlemen
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.
Thank you for your trust.
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 he has to shoulder the consequences now.
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.
All right.
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 on 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 that Lu Xiumu leaked 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?
ROYAL 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 a part of the original exam questions.
What do you mean?
This technique is called Palm of Duplication.
It's not hard. Just 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 asking 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 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 excuses, Zhang Zhongge?
I have 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 speculation.
I can't do anything.
I…
Your Lordship, Feng Qiwu requests an audience.
Show her in.
Yes, Your Lordship.
You may get up.
Thank you, Your Lordship.
Greetings, Your Lordship.
May you live for a millennium.
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.
ROYAL 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.
Yes, 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 Ladyship.
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 to him, Your Ladyship.
Your Ladyship,
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, Your Ladyship.
Stop!
May I ask what we did wrong?
Was Gu Yu with you?
Yes.
Around 9 p.m. 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 now.
You are not allowed to head out.
All right.
Seal the place.
Fengxi, 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, Fengxi?
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.
-All right. -All right.
Feng Qiwu sealed the 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 had 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.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
All right.
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 magnolias.
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 magnolia flower,
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 Ms. 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.
Thank you, Father.
The arsonist who wanted to burn 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.
Send them to the Ministry of Justice and let Zhang Zhongge take over.
You don't need to 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 don't dare.
I have seen the evidence myself.
ROYAL EXAMINATION
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'er.
You are 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,
are you going to 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.
You are dismissed.
If you say so.
The balance of power between several parties
can make sure Yongzhou remains stabilized.
It is the safest way.
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 a pine tree.
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 I have finally understood now
the weight of your words.
I regret it very much.
Mentor.
Mentor!
His Lordship has arrived!
-Greetings, Your Lordship. -Greetings, Your Lordship.
-Long live the Lord. -Long live the Lord.
All of you are dismissed.
You may stand up now.
Lift your head up.
Look at me.
Do you not have the 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 wasn't aware of all this.
How can you stoop to this level?
Do 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 kinds 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?
Master,
why are you here?
I have been waiting for you, Your Highness.
What can I help you with, Master?
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 the 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.
Do you also want me to let go, Master?
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 Lady Baili once asked
about your marriage prospects.
To prevent further troubles,
consider marrying
Ms. Feng Qiwu, Your Highness.
As you said just now, Master,
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.