Who Rules The World Episode 20 Recap
> Who Rules The World Recap
Yu Wuyuan shared his vision for a peaceful world, one where all commoners could enjoy serenity, stating that this was why he assisted Huang Chao. Soon after, Feng Ju arrived to visit, bringing New Year gifts and acknowledging Yu Wuyuan's presence in Yongzhou. Yu Wuyuan, feigning weariness, asked Feng Ju to return another day.
Undeterred, Feng Ju told his subordinate that the Empyrean Yu family possessed unparalleled knowledge, and even Huang Chao considered Yu Wuyuan his "One-line Tutor," implying that persistence with multiple visits was essential. He expressed confidence that with Yu Wuyuan's support, Feng Lanxi would no longer be a threat. Once Feng Ju departed, Yu Wuyuan, pleased, declared that his "fish had taken the bait" and confirmed his intention to use Feng Ju against Feng Lanxi to destabilize Yongzhou.
He instructed his subordinate to handle Feng Ju's inevitable future visits. Meanwhile, Bai Fengxi brought Han Pu down the mountain to celebrate the New Year with the Tianshuang Sect disciples. They joyfully toasted their master's good health and their own martial arts progress, exchanged red packets, and enjoyed the festive fireworks. At the Yongzhou Palace banquet, the princes presented their gifts to the Yong King.
Feng Chang, excused from rising due to his (feigned) leg injury, presented a naturally formed Qilin coral, wishing the King good fortune and Yongzhou peace and prosperity. The Yong King rewarded Feng Chang with ten jade beads, 10,000 taels of silver leaves, a mansion outside the capital, and ten servants. The attending courtiers understood this as the customary reward for an "idle prince," signifying Feng Chang's removal from the competition for the heir's position.
Next, Feng Lanxi presented a detailed construction plan for all the water channels within Yongzhou, declaring that its successful implementation would strengthen the military, ensure national prosperity, and be as effective as a million-strong army. The Yong King was greatly pleased, praising Feng Lanxi and awarding him 10,000 taels of silver leaves and a pair of Sun and Moon Pearls, traditionally the most significant gifts bestowed before naming an heir.
Following this, Feng Ju presented a pillow crafted from 10,000-year-old agarwood from Nanhai, imbued with calming fragrance sachets, wishing the King peaceful sleep and freedom from worries. The Yong King was touched by Feng Ju's thoughtfulness and instructed him to remain by his side to share the burdens of state affairs. The courtiers, observing these seemingly contradictory gestures, were perplexed by the King's true intentions, sensing an even rivalry between Feng Lanxi and Feng Ju.
At the Jizhou Palace banquet, the Lord of Jizhou inquired about the absence of Grand Tutor Ran. Huang Chao reported that Grand Tutor Ran, due to his advanced age, had succumbed to the winter. (In truth, Huang Chao had him imprisoned and executed for repeatedly conspiring to frame him while managing the censorate. ) Huang Chao assured his father that the funeral arrangements were being handled.
Other courtiers echoed the sentiment that Ran Bo must have died peacefully, seeing Jizhou prosper under the King and Huang Chao. Huang Chao then requested a posthumous title for Ran Bo, suggesting "Qing," which the King approved. They all raised a toast to console Ran Bo's spirit. During the Youzhou Palace banquet, Princess Hua Chunran performed a "Heavenly Garment" dance for the Lord of Youzhou, wishing for peace and prosperity for Youzhou.
When asked what reward she desired, Hua Chunran humbly stated her only wish was to please her father, expressing sadness that if she were to marry next year, she would no longer be able to dance for him. Reluctant to see his daughter married far away, the Lord of Youzhou decreed that any suitor wishing to marry Hua Chunran must first reside in Youzhou for several years. Hua Chunran thanked her father for his consideration.
After several attempts, Yu Wuyuan finally granted Feng Ju an audience. Feng Ju explained that because the Yong King was still in his prime, no heir had been named. He desired to compete for the position but had been consistently outmaneuvered by Feng Lanxi and sought Yu Wuyuan's assistance. Yu Wuyuan, however, declined, stating that the Yu family adhered to a long-standing rule against involvement in succession disputes.
Feng Ju then shifted his request, asking for advice on his plan to investigate corruption to replenish the royal treasury, but expressed concern about alienating his supporters in court. Yu Wuyuan offered a plan that promised to protect Feng Ju's allies while simultaneously causing significant trouble for Feng Lanxi. In the capital of Yongzhou, the Tianshuang Sect set up a porridge stall for the poor during the New Year festivities.
Officials under He Youde from the Ministry of Revenue aggressively attempted to shut them down, demanding an unreasonable "permit fee" of 100 silver leaves and threatening to dismantle their stall. Bai Jiande protested, arguing the charitable nature of their act and the absence of any such law. Zhong Li intervened, displaying Feng Qiwu's official plate, demanding respect for Minister Feng's authority.
He then accused the officials of illegally acquiring funds and warned that Feng Qiwu might personally confront Prince Ju regarding his unruly subordinates. He Youde's subordinate, intimidated, profusely apologized and quickly withdrew his men. Bai Fengxi, curious, asked Zhong Li about Feng Lanxi, and Zhong Li revealed that Feng Lanxi had orchestrated this intervention. Feng Lanxi later remarked that these minor officials were insignificant, and true reform required targeting the higher-ups, a sentiment Bai Fengxi shared.
She then joined in distributing porridge. During the court assembly, Feng Ju impeached three officials from the Ministry of Revenue for embezzling eight million taels, enraging the Yong King. The King immediately ordered Feng Ju to collaborate with the Three Ministries to conduct a thorough investigation and severely punish all corrupt officials to rectify Yongzhou's administration. Ren Rusong was perplexed, as the impeached officials were from Feng Ju's own faction.
Feng Lanxi, however, deduced that Feng Ju was leveraging the anti-corruption drive to gain favor and shed undesirable associates, effectively "killing two birds with one stone." He also noted Yu Wuyuan's close association with Feng Ju, recognizing Yu Wuyuan as an aide to Huang Chao of Jizhou. Feng Lanxi suspected Yu Wuyuan was orchestrating a deeper plot to instigate internal unrest in Yongzhou, rather than simply assisting Feng Ju. He cautioned his officials to be vigilant.
Soon after, Feng Ju frantically reported to the Yong King that the royal treasury had been robbed, with all the ledgers also missing. The King was furious, finding the timing suspiciously convenient, given his recent order for an anti-corruption investigation. Feng Ju, with feigned hesitation, implicated Zhou Zhong, a Vice Minister of Revenue, as a suspect.
He highlighted Zhou Zhong's familial ties to the Feng family, his responsibility for the treasury as manager of the finance and warehouse departments, and the fact that Zhou Zhong was seen meeting privately with Feng Qiwu and Feng Lanxi after the previous day's court assembly. The Yong King, suspicious, ordered Zhou Zhong's immediate arrest and thorough interrogation. Upon hearing the news, Feng Qiwu rushed to Feng Lanxi, strongly vouching for Zhou Zhong's integrity and asserting his incorruptibility.
Feng Lanxi instructed her to uncover the truth before Feng Ju could solidify his case, emphasizing that this was their only opportunity. He advised her to discreetly visit Zhou Zhong in the dungeon, urging him to reveal everything truthfully and resist any coercion into making false confessions. However, on her way to the dungeon, Feng Qiwu was ambushed by Yu Wuyuan, who forced her to consume a blue pill, causing a strange poison to disrupt her yin and yang energies.
Yu Wuyuan declared his intention to use her body to obtain the Sacred Jade Moon. Feng Qiwu's maid quickly informed Feng Lanxi of the attack. Feng Lanxi immediately went to her side, explaining that the unusual poison she suffered required the combined powers of pure yin and pure yang to counteract, necessitating Bai Fengxi's Sacred Jade Moon power.
As Bai Fengxi prepared to leave, Feng Lanxi hesitated, mentioning that Feng Qiwu had once "admired" him, seemingly to preempt any potential misunderstandings. Bai Fengxi, however, dismissed his words, prioritizing saving a life. She bravely used her internal energy to draw the poison from Feng Qiwu, injuring her own internal force in the process. Feng Lanxi scolded her for her recklessness, but Bai Fengxi assured him that she knew her limits and acted out of righteous duty.
After they both calmed down, Feng Lanxi deduced that the attacker's true motive was to test whether he and Bai Fengxi possessed and could utilize the Sacred Jade Moon by targeting Feng Qiwu with a poison that specifically required its power for an antidote. He insisted that for their safety, they must remain together, never separating, and always look out for each other. Feng Qiwu soon regained consciousness. Bai Fengxi, accompanied by Feng Lanxi, visited her.
Bai Fengxi complimented Feng Qiwu's beauty and name but playfully teased her about her "poor eyesight" for once admiring the "cunning Black Foxy" (Feng Lanxi), which Feng Qiwu confirmed. Feng Qiwu thanked Bai Fengxi for saving her life. Bai Fengxi then introduced herself as Bai Fengxi of the Tianshuang Sect, and Feng Qiwu, recognizing her reputation as a heroine, expressed her respect.
Feng Qiwu admitted she could not recall the attacker's appearance and expressed worry that Prince Ju would exploit this situation to harm the Feng family. Moved by her predicament and their shared goal of remaining together, Bai Fengxi offered her help. Feng Lanxi agreed, entrusting the investigation of the treasury theft to himself and Bai Fengxi while Feng Qiwu recovered, though acknowledging her valuable intelligence.
To facilitate their joint investigation while respecting court protocols, they decided to stay at the Feng family residence for a few days. Meanwhile, Zhong Li reported to Bai Jiande, Bai Fengxi's master, that their investigation into the fake Empyrean Token had yielded new clues. Gongye Zhi, a renowned ironsmith from the Imperial City, had disappeared around the time the fake token emerged, and evidence suggested he was likely one of the Token Keepers.
This indicated that the mastermind behind these events might also be among the Token Keepers. Zhong Li cautioned Bai Jiande about the gravity and potential danger of the case. Later, Feng Lanxi and Bai Fengxi, in disguise, infiltrated the royal treasury under the cover of night to search for clues.
They found it peculiar that not only a significant amount of silver but also old ledgers were stolen, as this played perfectly into Feng Ju's accusation of Zhou Zhong orchestrating an inside job. Feng Lanxi explained that due to the height of the shelves, ledgers were typically placed using a long ladder. Even with his advanced Qinggong, he would need assistance to reach the highest shelves.
He observed two handprints but no other marks of support, leading Bai Fengxi to playfully suggest a giant or demon was responsible. Feng Lanxi countered that it was more likely several individuals stacking on top of each other, creating the illusion of a towering figure. Bai Fengxi was impressed by his deductive reasoning. When asked how many people were involved, Feng Lanxi explained that if the sole purpose was to frame Zhou Zhong, only the ledgers would have been taken.
The theft of 10,000 taels of silver leaves, weighing approximately 625 jin, implied that about five individuals were involved, driven by the temptation of the treasure itself. They also discovered fresh sealing wax fragments on a wooden frame, noting its unique composition as a promising new lead. Separately, Yu Wuyuan extracted a jade stone from Feng Qiwu's body, absorbing the power of the Sacred Jade Moon to temporarily suppress his blood curse.
However, he realized that he would still need to control the Empyrean Token to permanently resolve his condition. His subordinate inquired if they should now leave Yongzhou, but Yu Wuyuan decided to remain longer, eager to observe how Feng Lanxi would unravel the current predicament. He also saw an opportunity to eliminate Feng Lanxi if the circumstances allowed.
