The Rise of Phoenixes Episode 16 Recap, Plot

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The Crown Prince and Ning Yi were at loggerheads in Qingming Academy. Emperor Tiansheng, tired of listening, ordered Zhao Yuan to issue an imperial decree: whoever broke the Zhuoying Scroll would be bestowed the title of Peerless National Scholar. Subsequently, the Qingming students went to prepare. At this time, the old stableman wanted to offer tea but was stopped outside by the Golden Feather Guards. Chunyu Meng took the lead but came back covered in dust.

Immediately after, several rich young masters entered the hall one after another to answer the questions, but none succeeded. Meanwhile, Chang Hai and Chancellor Yao were openly and secretly suspicious of each other outside the hall. Chancellor Yao's son, Yao Yangyu, had studied diligently in Qingming for ten years but only managed to answer one question. Emperor Tiansheng and the others were very disappointed.

Xin Ziyan could only step forward at this moment to recommend someone, but this person's appearance was ugly. The Crown Prince advocated for him to be summoned, while Ning Yi argued against it. Xin Ziyan then suggested that this person cover their face with a veil, and Emperor Tiansheng agreed. Inside the hall, the veiled person answered two questions correctly in a row. Outside the hall, students and ministers were very curious as to who was behind the veil.

Emperor Tiansheng then posed another question to the veiled person, who, after some thought, answered fluently. Emperor Tiansheng praised him greatly and ordered him to remove the veil. The face beneath the veil was, surprisingly, Feng Zhiwei's. Seeing this, the Crown Prince's expression changed dramatically. Emperor Tiansheng looked at her clean face and asked why she claimed it was ugly and unbearable.

Feng Zhiwei, however, claimed that she had discovered a shocking secret and was willing to die to expose the Xue Futu. Before she could finish speaking, the old stableman rushed in with others, heading straight for Emperor Tiansheng. Ning Yi and the Crown Prince each stepped forward to block him but were both knocked down, until Gu Nanyi appeared and defeated the old stableman.

Feng Zhiwei rushed up to persuade him to surrender, but the old stableman was stabbed to death by Ning Yi's sword. Feng Zhiwei was startled; he had promised her he wouldn't kill him! Gu Yan reported that the rebel accomplices had confessed, but before he could finish, he was kicked down by the Crown Prince, who shouted "Slander!"

Emperor Tiansheng was furious, so Gu Yan had no choice but to continue, revealing that the Crown Prince was harboring the Xue Futu. The Crown Prince was thrown into disarray and even bit back, claiming Ning Yi had set him up, while Ning Yi, clutching his wound, cried out his innocence. Emperor Tiansheng immediately felt unsteady and ordered the Crown Prince and Ning Yi to be temporarily confined to their respective mansions.

Master Zong recalled that night the old stableman came to him to confirm what Gu Yan had said. That night, he knew the old stableman would surely die, so he devised a win-win strategy for him: assassinate Emperor Tiansheng. Gu Nanyi stood by, calling him master. Master Zong told Gu Nanyi to protect Feng Zhiwei well and report to him regularly.

Emperor Tiansheng wanted to bestow the title of Peerless National Scholar upon Feng Zhiwei, but Chancellor Yao found her suspicious, seemingly involved with both the Crown Prince and Ning Yi. Emperor Tiansheng, however, believed she was a talent and decided to make use of her while the Crown Prince and Ning Yi were incapacitated. Subsequently, Emperor Tiansheng ordered Zhao Yuan to reveal today's events to the Crown Prince and Ning Yi. Gu Yan entered the palace by imperial decree.

Emperor Tiansheng ordered him to re-investigate Ning Qiao's rebellion from eight years ago. After Chancellor Yao announced the decree, Feng Zhiwei, from then on, adopted the alias Wei Zhi and embarked on her official career. Qiu Shangqi was ordered by Emperor Tiansheng to investigate yesterday's assassination case. He now stepped forward to ask Chancellor Yao for some guidance. Feng Zhiwei quickly turned around, but in the end, she couldn't avoid it. Feng Zhiwei spoke first, calling Qiu Shangqi "uncle."

After Chancellor Yao left, Qiu Shangqi was eager to take Feng Zhiwei home, but Feng Zhiwei feigned madness and stupidity, leaving Qiu Shangqi speechless. Emperor Tiansheng had already bestowed a residence upon Feng Zhiwei. She persuaded Yan Huaishi to go with her. Gu Nanyi also wanted to follow, but Feng Zhiwei said it would be very dangerous to follow her. Gu Nanyi, however, smiled and ultimately followed her.

The next day, Feng Zhiwei was carefully escorted into the imperial palace, summoned by Emperor Tiansheng to accompany him for tea. Feng Zhiwei was eloquent, and Zhao Yuan and Emperor Tiansheng greatly admired her. Feng Zhiwei mentioned Ning Yi's kindness towards her, yet her words also contained subtle criticisms of him. It turned out Feng Zhiwei harbored deep resentment over Ning Yi killing the old stableman.

Emperor Tiansheng listened without speaking, instead asking her to play a game of chess with him. Feng Zhiwei was outspoken on the chessboard, even claiming that she had discovered true freedom only comes with power and influence. Emperor Tiansheng sighed, saying she was indeed still a young lad, and that the higher one's position and power, the less freedom one had. Upon leaving the imperial palace, Feng Zhiwei saw Ning Yi and Xin Ziyan.

She now considered them neither foes nor friends, still holding deep resentment over the old stableman's death. Xin Ziyan was exasperated and advised her to truly examine her own heart. After Xin Ziyan left, Feng Zhiwei stepped forward to question Ning Yi. It turned out that he had never intended to spare the old stableman's life from the beginning. Feng Zhiwei's heart ached; she had only now truly seen Ning Yi for who he was.

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