Who Rules The World Episode 26 Recap
> Who Rules The World Recap
Bai Fengxi met with her elder brother, Prince Xieyue, who praised her taste in men, acknowledging Feng Lanxi as a wise ruler genuinely dedicated to his people. Prince Xieyue revealed his visit had two objectives: to conduct peace talks and to observe Feng Lanxi's true feelings for Bai Fengxi. He had noticed Feng Lanxi's constant, subtle attention towards Bai Fengxi during their discussions, concluding that Feng Lanxi genuinely cherished her.
Despite his concern that Feng Lanxi might uncover Bai Fengxi's true identity, Bai Fengxi remained unperturbed, believing Feng Lanxi, though sharp in all other matters, was endearingly oblivious when it came to her. Their private conversation was cut short by the arrival of Feng Lanxi, forcing Bai Fengxi to quickly hide. Feng Lanxi immediately confronted Prince Xieyue about his frequent glances at Bai Fengxi during their earlier meeting, implying jealousy.
Prince Xieyue feigned a deep attraction to Bai Fengxi, claiming she resembled an old friend and he was instantly smitten, then boldly asked Feng Lanxi to "do him the honor" of letting her serve him instead. Feng Lanxi curtly dismissed the idea, stating that Bai Fengxi was not his subordinate but his partner, belonging only to herself and not to be traded like an object.
Prince Xieyue, acknowledging the lesson, then pressed further, asking if Feng Lanxi would allow Bai Fengxi to leave if she developed feelings for him. Feng Lanxi affirmed that he would respect her autonomy. Prince Xieyue continued his probe by mentioning his own sister, Feng Xiyun, an unrivaled beauty, asking whom Feng Lanxi would choose if Feng Xiyun were to favor him.
Feng Lanxi's resolute response was that Bai Fengxi was "one of a kind" in his heart, and "no one holds a candle to her." Concluding his elaborate test, Prince Xieyue noted that Feng Lanxi's words, free of aristocratic pride and full of compassion for his beloved and the common people, showed him to be a truly benevolent ruler, promising Feng Lanxi would one day understand the reason for his scrutiny.
Later, Bai Fengxi caught up with Feng Lanxi, offering to take the stroll he had previously suggested. Feng Lanxi, still nursing a perceived slight from her earlier refusal, grumbled that she only sought him out when she was free, making him "lose face." Bai Fengxi, feigning offense, began to walk away, prompting Feng Lanxi to quickly pull her back and "reluctantly" agree to the outing.
As they walked through Liangcheng, Bai Fengxi observed the growing smiles on the faces of the common people, attributing their newfound happiness to Feng Lanxi's efforts to remove the "oppressor" Yu Ming. She mused that in these turbulent times, true protection for the masses could only come from the imperial court, as martial arts heroics only saved a select few.
She declared her willingness to stand by Feng Lanxi and "help him" if he continued to strive for a peaceful world that prioritized the people. A sudden spring rain began, and Feng Lanxi quickly sheltered Bai Fengxi before dashing to buy an umbrella, only to find one remaining. As he ran back, Bai Fengxi worried about the small umbrella.
With a playful remark, Feng Lanxi scooped her onto his back, carrying her through the downpour in a moment of shared sweetness. Later, Feng Lanxi presented his vision for Liangcheng to Prince Xieyue, highlighting how connecting the newly built water channels to the main waterway would transform Liangcheng into a central hub for maritime trade and grant access to rich mineral resources.
He expressed his desire to "govern the region" alongside Prince Xieyue, who, understanding Feng Lanxi's ambition, pledged Qingzhou's unwavering support as his "best ally." In Jizhou, the King awoke to find Huang Chao by his side throughout the night. Deeply moved, he urged Huang Chao that should he conquer the world, he must rule with kindness and righteousness, not merely ambition, to avoid becoming a tyrant.
Huang Chao vowed to uphold these principles, promising that with Yu Wuyuan's guidance, he would never fail the common people. The King then announced his intention to issue a public apology, acknowledging his own faults while exalting Huang Chao's loyalty and benevolence, thereby silencing any internal opposition. Meanwhile, a subordinate informed Yu Wuyuan that the Jizhou King had indeed issued the apology, cementing Jizhou as Huang Chao's dominion.
The subordinate also reported Feng Lanxi's successful actions in Liangcheng: eliminating the corrupt official Yu Ming and negotiating a peace treaty with Prince Xieyue, which led to Qingzhou's army withdrawal and the initiation of a dam construction project. Yu Wuyuan recognized Feng Lanxi's talent and deemed him a significant threat to his own plans, necessitating his elimination.
He then issued orders to secretly aid Feng Ju in Yongzhou's capital and to gather intelligence on Youzhou, anticipating that Huang Chao's upcoming marriage proposal there would mark the beginning of new developments. Separately, Princess Huang Yu, Huang Chao's sister, visited Yu Wuyuan in military attire. She explained her determination to join the military to assist her brother, inspired by figures like Bai Fengxi.
Yu Wuyuan questioned her decision due to his family's ill fate, but Huang Chao later confessed his sister's deep affection for Yu Wuyuan before inviting Yu Wuyuan to accompany him to Youzhou, an offer he readily accepted. The initial call for labor to build the dam in Liangcheng yielded fewer than a hundred applicants. An official explained that while wages were offered, the scarcity of food meant money was worthless.
He suggested a food relief program, but the city's grain reserves were low. Feng Lanxi, rejecting a general's suggestion to use force, asserted that the lack of participation stemmed from the people's deep distrust. He then ordered a "work for food" system, where wages would be converted into grain at market price, and requested additional supplies from Yongzhou.
Bai Fengxi then offered an ingenious solution: scatter Yu Ming's embezzled silver, broken into small pieces, beneath the water channels and spread rumors that Yu Ming's hidden wealth lay there. Impressed, Feng Lanxi implemented the plan. The prospect of finding hidden silver spurred a massive influx of eager workers, all rushing to "dig back" what they felt was rightfully theirs. To show his gratitude, Feng Lanxi promised to cook dinner for Bai Fengxi that night.
In Yongzhou's capital, Zhang Zhongge reported to the Yong King about House of Jade's illegal dealings, which implicated numerous court officials and appeared to be gathering intelligence for the mysterious Fountain Abode. The Yong King, noting Feng Lanxi's surname, Feng, speculated he might be a descendant of the royal family. He commanded Zhang Zhongge to secretly apprehend and interrogate House of Jade's shopkeeper to uncover more.
Simultaneously, pleased with the news from Liangcheng, the Yong King decided to appoint Feng Lanxi as its temporary governor, granting him an additional three thousand households and the use of "half the royal carriage." Seeing this, Feng Ju privately instructed Li Jiaxian to widely publicize Feng Lanxi's achievements.
He explained that by "praising him to death," they would provoke the King's fear of a subordinate whose accomplishments overshadowed his own, especially since the King had granted empty honors without providing actual funds or soldiers. Back in Liangcheng, as Bai Fengxi and Feng Lanxi inspected the nearly completed dam, the overjoyed locals hailed Bai Fengxi as "Your Ladyship," a title that pleased Feng Lanxi immensely and which Bai Fengxi accepted with a blush.
The successful "connection" of the water channel was met with widespread celebration, and Feng Lanxi announced a grand feast for everyone, recognizing their collective "legacy" for Liangcheng and Yongzhou. Meanwhile, Ren Rusong received urgent news that House of Jade had been completely vacated overnight, leaving no trace. He expressed grave concern, suspecting a powerful enemy behind the swift operation, which he believed was linked to Fountain Abode and Feng Lanxi's true identity.
He dispatched an envoy to inform Feng Lanxi in Liangcheng, while others were tasked with investigating the palace and the martial arts world. Feng Lanxi also held a meeting, where his officials confirmed the dam's smooth progress and sufficient food supplies. He then inquired about the Moyu Cavalry, learning that with the integration of Liangcheng's local army, it now numbered five thousand, a figure Feng Lanxi considered "still lacking."
He brought up the issue of persistent banditry outside Liangcheng, deducing that the bandits must have colluded with Yu Ming. Feng Lanxi tasked a general, along with Chuanyu and Chuanyun, to recruit these bandits into the Moyu Cavalry, promising pardons for those willing to reform but authorizing immediate execution for any who were truly heinous. Later, Feng Lanxi learned that Bai Fengxi had gone to the town to offer medical services.
He went to find her as she was treating an old man's twisted ankle. After her diagnosis, the man lamented that all apothecaries in the city were closed. Feng Lanxi then stepped forward, announcing that he had brought medicine to Liangcheng and would make it available at the Protectorate.
He then playfully challenged Bai Fengxi to a "competition of who can save more lives," confidently claiming his medical knowledge was superior to her "amateur" skills and even offering an extra "dou" of rice to anyone who consulted him.
