Who Rules The World Episode 8 Recap
> Who Rules The World Recap
Bai Fengxi urged Hei Fengxi to drink his medicine gently, promising him candied figs if he complied. Hei Fengxi, shivering and feeling cold, mumbled "Huan Niang, close the windows" in his feverish state. Curious about this "Huan Niang" but prioritizing his health, Bai Fengxi embraced him to warm him up. The next morning, Hei Fengxi woke to find Bai Fengxi asleep beside him, realizing she had held him all night. He quickly feigned sleep as she stirred.
Bai Fengxi, initially flustered, quickly reassured herself that her actions were to save a life, thus her conscience was clear. She felt relieved when his fever had finally broken, joking that he would have ended up "brain damaged" otherwise. Hei Fengxi sincerely thanked her for saving him. When Bai Fengxi offered to cook, Hei Fengxi, in his usual demanding manner, requested a luxurious meal of Qinzhou millet broth with bird's nest.
Bai Fengxi sarcastically told him to ask "Huan Niang" for such delicacies but nevertheless went to prepare noodles. The simple meal brought back memories of his late mother, who used to cook noodles for him on his birthday, a tradition in the Dadong Empire.
Hei Fengxi revealed his difficult past: after his mother's death, his stepmother constantly tried to harm him to secure the family's wealth, leading him to only trust food prepared by his loyal servants, Zhong Li and Chuanyu. He explained that Huan Niang was a long-time personal servant who had attended to him since childhood, a detail Bai Fengxi dismissed outwardly but secretly delighted in.
Meanwhile, news reached Feng Qiwu that the bodies of the boat scuttlers, who caused Feng Lanxi's disappearance, were found to be men from Prince Chang's manor. Feng Qiwu immediately dismissed Prince Chang's involvement, arguing that his relationship with Feng Lanxi was strong, and he would never use his own men for such a crime. She suspected Prince Ju was the one who stood to gain from this conflict.
She dispatched agents to investigate Prince Ju, vowing to gather enough evidence for Feng Lanxi's defense before his return. Prince Chang, summoned by the King, vehemently denied the accusations, calling it a blatant frame-up orchestrated by someone who benefited most from Feng Lanxi's demise. The King, however, ordered Prince Chang to prove his innocence within seven days by either finding Feng Lanxi or the true culprit, lamenting that his children were reliving the same power struggles he experienced years ago.
Away from court, Ren Rusong was distraught over Feng Lanxi's disappearance, blaming himself and tirelessly continuing the search. Prince Chang, too, was anxious, hoping his brother would be found alive. After sleeping for ten hours, Hei Fengxi was woken by Bai Fengxi, who gently urged him to take his medicine, reiterating her promise of candied figs once they disembarked. As they approached Longtou Port, Bai Fengxi agreed to dock the boat for supplies and rest for her martial siblings.
At the local market, she playfully forced a brown sugar bun into Hei Fengxi’s mouth, claiming it was for "blood replenishment." Hei Fengxi then led her to the House of Jade, a known outpost for the Fountain Abode. He exchanged coded phrases with the proprietor and sent a message back to the capital of Yongzhou, indicating his imminent return.
He also presented Bai Fengxi with a beautiful dress made of snow twill and personally adorned her hair with a delicate hairpin, playfully warning her not to sell it for wine. He also taught her the Fountain Abode's password for future emergencies. In Jizhou, Yu Wuyuan met with Huang Chao, who, uncharacteristically, inquired extensively about Bai Fengxi, rather than pressing matters of state.
Yu Wuyuan deduced Huang Chao's growing affection for her, though Huang Chao merely stated he found her "interesting." Huang Chao then sought Yu Wuyuan's expertise to verify the Empyrean Token, which was confirmed to be a fake. Suspicious of a swap, Huang Chao mentioned Hei Fengxi's presence on Mount Xuan and his rescue of Bai Fengxi, but Yu Wuyuan confidently asserted Hei Fengxi's innocence in the token's tampering.
Back in the capital, Feng Ju grew increasingly nervous as the King showed leniency towards Prince Chang, fearing the investigation might expose him. He instructed his subordinate, Wang Yuan, to quickly find a body to present as Feng Lanxi's. Wang Yuan soon found a corpse that, despite some bloating, matched Feng Lanxi's distinctive red mole on his elbow and calluses on his hand from writing, as well as his general physique.
Feng Ju then publicly declared his brother's death and arranged for Buddhist rituals to show his "grief." The King, believing Feng Lanxi's survival was unlikely, ordered a reduction in search efforts. Feng Qiwu, however, strongly opposed this, warning that it would confirm public rumors of the King's favoritism towards Prince Ju and lead people to believe Feng Ju murdered his brother to secure the title of Heir.
She proposed that the King himself preside over the upcoming Guanyin's Birthday rituals at Guanyin's Temple to demonstrate his impartial love for his children. The other ministers agreed. The King privately noted that Feng Ju's recent displays of devotion were too overt, clearly designed to appear innocent. Hei Fengxi received a message from the capital, confirming both good and bad news. His father seemed unconcerned by his disappearance, but his elder brother genuinely grieved.
His loyal aides, Chuanyun and Chuanyu, and the Fountain Abode remained steadfast. The bad news was the culprit was indeed his half-brother, Feng Ju. At the same time, Feng Qiwu received a secret letter from the House of Jade, confirming Hei Fengxi was alive, bringing immense relief. Suddenly, Bai Langhua, Bai Fengxi's martial sister, fell ill with enteric fever, unable to adjust to the climate. Bai Fengxi managed to stabilize her but acknowledged the need for a physician.
Hei Fengxi suggested they travel to the capital of Yongzhou, where he could arrange for the best doctors and temporary lodging until Bai Langhua recovered. Bai Fengxi readily agreed. Thanks to the timely treatment, Bai Langhua's life was saved, though Bai Fengxi spent most of her remaining silver leaves on the expensive medicine. Upon reaching Yongzhou, Feng Qiwu immediately met with Hei Fengxi.
She reported that Prince Ju, convinced of Hei Fengxi's death, had conspired with Wang Yuan to present a fake corpse to solidify the news. Hei Fengxi acknowledged Wang Yuan as the main instigator, explaining that Feng Ju kept Wang Yuan by his side precisely because of his ambition and willingness to take risks, making him a convenient scapegoat. He concluded that Feng Ju's cunning calculations were no less intricate than Baili's, implying that his younger brother was far more complex and dangerous than he appeared.
