Side Story of Fox Volant Episode 27 Recap
> Side Story of Fox Volant Recap
Hu Fei and Cheng Lingsu were strolling through the bustling capital, admiring the vibrant streets and numerous sights. Cheng Lingsu observed that Hu Fei was hoping to encounter someone they both knew, specifically Yuan Ziyi. Hu Fei acknowledged this, musing about the slim chances of such a coincidence. Not long after, while Yuan Ziyi and her martial sister were also out, her martial sister attempted to cheer up a despondent Yuan Ziyi with a mask.
It was then that Hu Fei spotted Yuan Ziyi among the crowds. His heart raced, but before he could react, a passing carriage obscured his view, and Yuan Ziyi disappeared. Cheng Lingsu, noticing Hu Fei's agitated state, asked what was wrong. He quickly explained that he had seen Yuan Ziyi and rushed to search for her. However, to evade him, Yuan Ziyi had swiftly exchanged clothes with her martial sister.
When Hu Fei finally caught up to the girl he believed to be Yuan Ziyi, she playfully introduced herself by other names—Caiyi, Lvyi, and Fenhong Yi—and chastised him for chasing a woman without knowing her name. Realizing his mistake, Hu Fei dejectedly turned away. Hidden nearby, Yuan Ziyi watched him leave, her heart aching. Despondent from not having truly met Yuan Ziyi, Hu Fei returned to the inn.
He was so preoccupied that he mistakenly ordered hay for himself and Cheng Lingsu, who quickly stepped in to correct him and request actual food for their room. Later that evening, over their meal, Hu Fei remained perplexed. He wondered why Yuan Ziyi refused to see him and why she had previously prevented him from killing Feng Tiannan.
Cheng Lingsu suggested that Yuan Ziyi likely had a hidden reason, and they would need to find her to understand it fully, expressing confidence that if he missed her so deeply, they would surely cross paths again. Meanwhile, Yuan Ziyi sat in her room, also lost in thought. Her martial sister keenly observed her distress and surmised that Yuan Ziyi and Hu Fei shared a deep connection, likely formed during her time away from the mountain.
Sensing a secret between them, the martial sister even offered to investigate the identity of the young lady accompanying Hu Fei. Yuan Ziyi, however, quickly stopped her, admonishing her to stay focused on their mission in the capital and not to cause any trouble that could jeopardize their Master's important plan. To placate Hu Fei's deep-seated resentment, Feng Tiannan, through Official Tang, sought out Zhou Tiejiao, offering a substantial reward for his help in mediation. Zhou Tiejiao readily accepted.
He then orchestrated a chance encounter with Hu Fei, subsequently inviting him and Cheng Lingsu to dine at a nearby restaurant, all part of a plan to bring Hu Fei under their influence. The Old Madam, having fully recovered from her illness, was in high spirits and wished to reward the All-knowing Nun for her miraculous cure. However, the All-knowing Nun merely expressed a desire to tour the blooming garden, perceiving the vibrant flowers as a "Buddhist paradise."
Intrigued, the Old Madam, accompanied by her female attendants, enthusiastically proceeded to the garden. There, they admired a beautiful twins lotus, which the All-knowing Nun interpreted as a sign of divine blessing and a harbinger of double happiness for Official Fu's residence. As the Old Madam pondered what the second joyous event could be, Fu Kangan dramatically announced that he had located his long-lost biological children.
Though initially angered by this unexpected news and the implication of a past indiscretion, the Old Madam's ire softened upon learning the children were already five years old, securing the Fu family's lineage. Swayed by the All-knowing Nun's spiritual insights and Princess Hejia's practical advice, the Old Madam agreed to meet them. Ma Chunhua, the children's mother, was kept outside, while the two children were escorted into the main hall.
They approached the Old Madam without fear, immediately endearing themselves to her, prompting her to give them precious rings to play with. Since her miscarriage, Nan Lan's health had not improved. Tian Guinong brought a physician to examine her, but the physician could offer little hope, revealing that Nan Lan's body had suffered permanent damage and she would likely be unable to bear more children.
Tian Guinong was heartbroken by this news, yet his greater fear was Nan Lan's inability to cope with such a devastating truth. He sternly instructed the physician to keep this prognosis a secret, especially from Nan Lan. Unbeknownst to him, Nan Lan stood by the door and had overheard their entire conversation.
The next day, as Hu Fei and Cheng Lingsu discussed the urgent need to find Feng Tiannan, Cheng Lingsu reiterated her belief that Yuan Ziyi had legitimate reasons for her actions and encouraged Hu Fei that they would eventually reunite. Just then, as part of the plan orchestrated by Zhou Tiejiao, Official Wang encountered them. Official Wang immediately insisted on treating Hu Fei and Cheng Lingsu to a lavish meal at Juying Restaurant, a place frequented by high-ranking officials.
During the meal, Official Wang expounded on the substantial, often illicit, benefits of being an official, explaining how officials accumulate wealth beyond their meager salaries through various "tributes" from the public, which he rationalized as necessary for maintaining their network. After their meal, Official Wang and his associates, including Zhou Tiejiao, persuaded Hu Fei to join them in a friendly game of gambling, an invitation Hu Fei, despite his reluctance, found difficult to refuse.
Grateful for the All-knowing Nun's assistance in his reunion with his children and his mother's recovery, Fu Kangan extended an invitation for her and her disciple to attend the upcoming World's Sect Leaders Gathering, offering her a place of honor as a prestigious guest. He had even reserved one of the Emperor's bestowed Jade Dragon Cups for her. Although initially hesitant, citing her sect's detachment from worldly affairs, the All-knowing Nun eventually relented, acknowledging Fu Kangan's sincere and generous offer.
Fu Kangan promptly arranged for their accommodation at the sect leaders' residence. Despite Hailan's clear dislike for the two children, she was ordered to ensure they were comfortably settled. After Hailan left, the Old Madam reprimanded Fu Kangan for the scandal, emphasizing that while the children might be appealing, their mother's humble origins were an embarrassment. Fu Kangan, understanding his mother's preoccupation with social standing, countered that without these children, his lineage would end.
Though initially stern, the Old Madam eventually relented, agreeing to keep the children and personally oversee their education in the family's customs. Meanwhile, Hailan raged within her quarters over Ma Chunhua's presence, threatening drastic measures. Princess Hejia arrived to calm her, advising that a royal decree celebrating the reunion made further resistance futile. When Hailan despaired, Princess Hejia revealed that Ma Chunhua was a woman from the martial arts world, unfamiliar with the strict protocols of the king's residence.
Princess Hejia subtly suggested that Hailan could exploit this lack of knowledge, tormenting Ma Chunhua under the guise of teaching her proper etiquette. Hu Fei's exceptional gambling skills quickly became apparent as he won over a thousand taels within a short period. One of the other players, Official Wang, grew increasingly frustrated with his losses, even accusing the dealer of foul play before impulsively betting his family's heirloom sword, a valuable item passed down from his ancestor, Wang Chengyang.
Despite winning the sword, Hu Fei, being a man of integrity, immediately offered to return it, stating he had no use for it. Though Official Wang initially refused, accepting his defeat, Hu Fei ultimately returned the precious item, earning the admiration of everyone present. Impressed by Hu Fei's skill and character, Zhou Tiejiao then challenged him to a final game. He wagered a mysterious letter against all of Hu Fei's accumulated winnings, which totaled approximately five thousand taels of silver.
Hu Fei, unfazed by the high stakes, readily accepted, remarking that money could always be recouped. Upon winning the final round and opening the letter, Hu Fei discovered it contained a land deed for a residence. Despite his initial hesitation, persuaded by the others, he accepted the property, promising to host another gathering once he had settled in.
