Legend of Fu Yao (扶摇)

I heard that the abducted candidate came from your manor.

She's even your new goddaughter.

You really are softhearted.

Did you send her to the palace gates, but couldn't bear to let her leave

so you came up with this idea?

Definitely not!

Everyone in Taiyuan Kingdom belongs to you, My King...

let alone a goddaughter.

This was indeed my oversight.

However, I don't mean to cover for myself.

My King, please give me a few days.

I'll be sure to arrest the kidnapper and appease your anger.

Well then...

Thank you, Elder Statesman Qi.

Assassins snuck into your manor

and even set a fire.

You're scouring the city for them too.

I'm afraid you... have your hands full?

State affairs should come before personal matters.

You're busy with state affairs too.

Just leave this matter to be investigated by Zhang He Nian.

As you wish, My King.

Oh, right. Zhang He Nian will need help with the investigation.

He'll need soldiers to make an arrest.

Naturally, we'll need money for that.

Since he asked me for funding on his report

just approve it.

My King! Arresting the kidnapper

and asking for military funding are two different matters!

Elder Statesman Qi.

Elder Statesman Qi...

Who is King of Taiyuan?

Is it you?

Or me?

Don't tell me you think that all of Taiyuan Kingdom is at your disposal

just because you're the one who assisted me to the throne?

You better not forget

that you aren't the only authoritative official in the court.

You're also not the only one with military power.

Thank you, My King.

Elder Statesman Qi, you're tired.

You should head home quickly and get some rest.

Thank you, My King.

Report!

The candidate, Yuwen Zi, was found outside the palace.

She being carried into the palace to await the king's orders.

Where is she now?

My King, she's waiting outside the hall.

But she's passed out, so her personal maid is attending to her.

Summon her in quickly!

Yes!

Enter!

What happened?

My King! After Miss Yuwen was abducted

the guards and I chased after them for a while, until we got to the lake.

The kidnapper acted like he had the wrong person

and threw her into the lake.

We only managed to save her then.

Miss Yuwen suffered so much.

Something like that actually happened?

How could this happen?

Quickly! Anyone?

Summon the royal physician!

My King, you're too kind.

Elder Statesman Qi, isn't the Divine Physician, Zong Yue

currently a guest in your manor?

- Yes. - How about summoning him?

I believe you'd prefer someone you're familiar with.

Indeed, I do.

Young Master, you acted so well.

Qi Zhen was so scared that he couldn't even talk properly.

Can't you tell between when I'm acting and when I'm actually angry?

Someone messed with my woman.

But I didn't know about it.

So he is really angry about it.

If I hadn't assisted him, would he have taken the throne?

Get out!

How dare he reprimand me at the royal court today!

He even threatened me with Zhang He Nian! Who does he think he is?

Godfather, calm down.

He's just a puppet I assisted to the throne!

I shouldn't say this, but this is Taiyuan Kingdom.

However useless a puppet may be, a king is after all a king.

Are you reminding me that his surname is Xuanyuan?

I wouldn't dare to do so.

Yes.

His surname is Xuanyuan...

Only by reining in a moment's temper

can I achieve the accomplishment of a lifetime.

What happened today is by no means as simple as it seemed.

Godfather, do you suspect that Xuanyuan Min sent the kidnapper?

Exactly.

That way, he could blame it all on me.

And successfully grant the military funds to Zhang He Nian.

He's actually that cunning.

Not only is he cunning, he's also arrogant.

At this rate, I'm afraid it will be harder to manipulate him.

What about the informants in the palace?

Although Cao Cheng is there to find information for us

he doesn't get information directly.

We'll have to think of a way to keep a close eye on him.

Yes.

Fifth Brother!

Your Highness!

I heard that the candidate from the Elder Statesman's manor

was abducted by a highly skilled warrior.

I guessed that you must have gone to rescue Fu Yao, am I right?

Your Highness, where is Fu Yao now?

Fu Yao has other plans.

She has no intention of leaving the Elder Statesman's manor.

She's going to enter the palace.

Why?

The palace is so dangerous.

Can Fu Yao manage on her own?

No one can just come and go from the palace as they please.

Fu Yao has always been witty.

She can handle it on her own.

Besides, you've disguised her appearance.

She should be fine.

What are you doing?

I have matters to handle.

I intended to rescue Fu Yao to repay her kindness

and leave Taiyuan for some time.

Now that I don't need to worry about Fu Yao

I plan to set out right away.

Take these gold leaves with you.

They'll come in handy.

Thank you, Fifth Brother.

All right! Wherever you go, we'll follow.

We can watch out for one another.

No.

Why not?

- Master Yun. - Master Yun.

Is Doctor Zong in?

He's having a nap.

- No one is allowed to disturb-- - It's fine!

I wonder what brings Young Master Yun here?

Elder Statesman Qi's goddaughter, Miss Yuwen, was abducted this morning.

Oh?

Is she the one who survived the fire?

Exactly.

Fortunately, she was rescued.

She's just a bit in shock.

Doctor, please take a look at her.

Since Young Master Yun has asked me for this favor

I'll certainly be more than happy to do so.

Qing Feng, take my medical kit there.

Yes.

Just see me off here.

But--

I don't like to repeat my words twice.

Fifth Brother...

It will be such a long and dangerous journey.

I'm worried about you traveling alone.

It's exactly because it's so dangerous that I won't be able to look out for you.

If I take you with me, you'll just be a burden.

But--

It's not somewhere you should go!

I know you're worried it would be dangerous for me

so you keep acting like you're all mean and nasty.

You stare fiercely, like a bull.

Can't you be a bit nicer to me?

No one in Tiansha or Taiyuan is to notice that I've left.

Should they find out about it...

you'll never see me again.

Fifth Brother, don't you worry.

I won't tell anyone!

The situation in Taiyuan is unpredictable.

Trouble is stirring.

Once I'm not around, there will be no one to look out for you.

If you find it dangerous here, you can head home to Qiongye first.

You don't have to wait here for me.

These past six years, I've traveled across the five kingdoms with you.

What couldn't I possibly handle?

I'm off.

Is there any information on the assassins who set the fire?

The assassin and his accomplices were arrested the next day.

Oh? I wonder what kind of villains would be so daring.

They're just some notorious bandits.

Who knows what got into them

and made them target the Elder Statesman's manor.

Elder Statesman Qi already had them all killed.

All of them are dead?

Exactly. The dead... can't stir up more unnecessary trouble.

Young Master Yun, you handle matters so cleanly.

Elder Statesman is lucky to have you.

It's very late.

Why have you come to see me?

Could we have a word inside?

We were hunting down the assassins today.

The assassin was wounded, so he will be easy to identify.

I wonder if you'd allow me to take a look at your arm.

You're right.

I'm the man you're looking for.

Doctor, please come with me to see Elder Statesman Qi.

Aren't you going to ask me why I confessed so easily?

Doctor, you can report your reasons to Elder Statesman personally.

If I'm right, your real birthday is on the 4th of July.

You turned 19 this year.

What do you mean by that?