Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

Lots of drama, fighting and romance this week on Legend of Fuyao~~

Join the crew of IMOmusings, Iridescent, Enid Bee and linjaturtle as we embark on this 66 episode long journey with weekly recaps.

Let’s begin Week 5!

WARNING! DO NOT OPEN FOR SPOILERS!

Series Information:

Chinese Title: 扶摇
Episodes: 66
Genre: Ancient, Romance
Broadcast Source: Tencent Video, Zhejiang Satellite TV
Airing Schedule: 2 eps a day, Mon-Thur
Current Progress: 40/66

Click To View Broadcast Schedule

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Character List

The main character factions are used as label headers for each tab, however, the tabs will only be updated for new characters that show up in each recap roundup.

MainXuanyuan SectTianquan KingdomTaiyuan KingdomXuanji KingdomTiansha KingdomFufeng KingdomTen ForcesOthersAncient FirmamentCorrelation Chart
Born from the divine lotus petal and a member of Xuanyuan Sect. Originally disregarded as a member of the Xuanyou Division (servants), at the age of 16 she was able to learn the Sect’s long lost fighting technique, the Ninth Heaven Breach.

After defeating her martial brother in the Tian Dou Competition, she left the Sect to find herself and justice. On the way she meets a man with whom she falls in love and they join together to take down the forces of chaos in Taiyuan Kingdom. Helping to defend the people’s peace and gradually revealing their life secrets along the way.

Yang Mi as Fu Yao

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Ethan Ruan as Zhang Sun Wu Ji/Yuan Shao Xu

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Crown Prince Wu Ji of Tianquan Kingdom, the illegitimate son of Empress Yuan and Prince De. Chosen by the heavens to prevent eternal doom from falling upon the Five Kingdoms.

He is courageous and resourceful and willing to do anything for those he loves. On the journey with Fu Yao, they fight side-by-side and grow together through mutual encouragement and affection.

With a mysterious connection to the Firmament, he has a lotus birthmark on his hand.

Li Hong Tao as Yan Lie
Huang Ming as Yan Jing Chen
Li Yi Xiao as Pei Yuan
Liu Luo Xi as Ah Lie
Jiang Long as Xiao Qi
Sang Yan as Uncle Zhou
Gao Han Yu as Jiang Feng
Wang Jing Song as Zhang Sun Jiong (Emperor of Tianquan)
Juan Zi as Yuan Qing Yi (Empress Ci’en)
Song Jia Lun as Zhang Sun Jia (Prince De)
Zhao Chu Lun as Zhang Sun Ping Rong (Prince Yi)
Gao Hei Ping as Lei Yuan Shan (General Jun Wei)
Sun Wei as Duan Tong (Prime Minister)

New this week:
Tang Guo Zhong as Chi Gui (aka Scarlet Devil – Leader of the Black Militia)
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Jia Ben Chu as Tie Cheng
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Yan Lu Han as Hu Sang
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Luo Ting as Magistrate Su
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Liu Yu Qi as Hong Ying (A Courtesan)
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Zhang Dong Shen as Xuan Yuan Ren
Liu Da Shen as Xuan Yuan Zhai
Quan Pei Lun as Xuan Yuan Min (Real)
Liu Yi Jun as Qi Zhen
Liang Zi Mu as Yun Hen
Lai Yi as Zong Yue
Chen Xin Wen as Yu Wen Zi
Zhou Li Wei as Shi Lan
Yuan Yu Xuan as Qi Yun
Liu Guan Lin as Gao Hao (Prince Xiping)
Zhong Wei Hua as Cao Cheng (Head Eunuch)
Sun Qiang as Zhang He Nian (Imperial Censor)
Hu Ke as Xuan Yuan Xiao
Li Ya A as Tang Zhi Rong
Wei Hui Ni as Jian Xue
Liu Zhi Wei as Gao Pu Rou
Wang He Run as Fo Lian
Zhao Xin as Qiao Ling (Fo Lian’s personal maid)
Vengo Gao as Zhan Bei Ye
Liu Qiu Shi as Ji Yu
Sheng Wu as Lin Yi
Zhang Ya Qin as Ya Lan Zhu
Liu Xuan as Fei Yan

Liu Ying Lun as Tai Yan

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Click To View Episode Recaps
Episode 33Episode 34Episode 35Episode 36Episode 37Episode 38Episode 39Episode 40Overall Thoughts

Is she the one you’re looking for?

Wu Ji finds out Zong Yue traded 40 years of his lifespan for Fei Yan’s help and is shocked. Zong Yue tells Wu Ji that he knows Wu Ji helped him defeat Qi Zhen to prove himself as Crown Prince and that Wu Ji doesn’t need to worry about Zong Yue anymore. However, Wu Ji insists that part of why he helped was for the sake of his friend. (Awww, love their friendship.)

Zong Yue reminds Wu Ji that Wu Ji’s wedding is the next day, but Wu Ji can tell that’s not why Zong Yue is bringing it up. When Zong Yue asks Wu Ji if Fo Lian is who Wu Ji really wants, Wu Ji shares the story of how he first met Fo Lian and why he liked her at the time. Zong Yue asks him about Fu Yao and what will happen to her, but Wu Ji is stumped.

Fu Yao can’t sleep and ends up seeing the Empress sneaking out. She follows and discovers her meeting with Zhang Sun Jia and overhears about their forbidden relationship, which they are also hiding from Wu Ji.
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After accidentally making a noise and scaring off the Empress, Fu Yao rushes back to her room, mad at herself for snooping. Zhang Sun Jia finds a piece of fabric stuck to the tree Fu Yao was hiding behind earlier.

The next morning, as Qiang Long helps Fu Yao get dressed, Fu Yao jokes about keeping the outfit which contains real gold. At the same time, Wu Ji is waking up in the cave, still distracted. The doctor’s hair is back to black (awww, I liked the grey) and he wonders if Wu Ji is stalling. Just then Jiang Feng comes looking for his master to tell Wu Ji that everyone is waiting for him. Zong Yue starts to tell Wu Ji something, but Wu Ji cuts him off. After Wu Ji leaves, Zong Yue comments how amusing it will be when Wu Ji discovers Fo Lian is really Fu Yao. (Dammit, hotty doctor. This is the one time I am mad at you. Just tell your friend already!)
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In the royal court, the envoys have started sharing their parts of the Conferring Map of Domain as the Empress watches from her seat behind a curtain and Zhang Sun Jia conducts the meeting. All that’s left is the piece from Xuanji Kingdom, which will be combined to help the Feather Tree. Just then Fo Lian enters and Jian Xue recognises her right away, but Jian Xue holds tongue despite her obvious confusion. Before Fu Yao will hand over her part of the map, she says that she has to talk to the Emperor first. When they insist to know why, she accuses the King of Tiansha of setting up Zhan Bei Ye and she wants justice for him. As she argues with the rest of the royals, the Emperor watches on his smoke TV.

In the midst of this, the Empress comes out from behind the curtain and in flashback we see that Zhang Sun Jia showed her the piece of fabric he found and that she recognised it as from clothing she’d given Fo Lian to wear. They know Fo Lian saw them together. The Empress tells Fo Lian that, right now, what is most important is saving the kingdom and then they can discuss her matters. But Fu Yao still won’t relent.
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When Prince Yi suggests she is stalling because she doesn’t have her part of the map, she agrees to contribute her piece. But when she puts it into place, the expected reaction doesn’t occur. Just as he suggests that the map is a counterfeit, the real Princess Fo Lian is announced. At first, Fu Yao is hopeful that the real Fo Lian will confirm their story, but soon realises that Fo Lian has set Fu Yao up. And with no one to testify on Fu Yao’s behalf, she has no one to rely on. Angry, she starts to comment that the Empress is not helping her because the Empress knows Fu Yao saw her. Fu Yao is cut off by the Empress, who suggests killing Fu Yao as an apology to Princess Fo Lian, but then the Emperor calls for Fu Yao to meet him.

For the first time, someone finally tells Fu Yao what’s really going on. The Emperor tells her of Wu Ji’s true identity and seems to know everything about all their adventures. He even admits that his son has fallen in love with her, but that Wu Ji will choose responsibility above his personal desires.
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In the royal court, all the pieces of the map are finally joined together. Wu Ji joins everyone as the Emperor and Fu Yao watch from afar. Fo Lian is happy to see her future husband, but is disappointed that he’s not quite as affectionate as she’d hoped. But Fu Yao just sees Wu Ji choosing Fo Lian and is heartbroken. When he hears about the impersonator, Wu Ji says that person should be punished, which hurts Fu Yao even more. When the Emperor accuses Fu Yao of trying to seduce the Crown Prince, she tells him that she was never interested in doing so.

In the royal court, as the nobles discuss the strange events in their kingdoms, a servant presents the Empress with her medicine as commanded by the Emperor, but she doesn’t want to take it. Clearly something about the pill makes her, Wu Ji, and his uncle nervous.

I definitely won’t spare anyone that Wu Ji cares about.

In the royal court, as the nobles discuss the strange events in their kingdoms, a servant comes to present the Empress with her medicine as commanded by the Emperor, but she doesn’t want to take it. Clearly, something about the pill makes her, Wu Ji and his uncle nervous. To save his mother embarrassment, Wu Ji tries to get the servant to set it aside, but the Empress takes it.

The Emperor sets Fu Yao free and tells her that, from now on, she is not at all involved with his Kingdom. At the same time, the Empress tells everyone they can leave, but Fo Lian wants quality time with Wu Ji and is super clingy. He’s not interested though and reminds her she needs to act appropriately, which makes her angry. (Check out those crazy eyes!)
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Fu Yao, dejected, walks through the courtyard when she is confronted by Prince Yi and his guards. Jian Xue, in the meantime, is waiting for Wu Ji and immediately tells him that Fu Yao was the imposter. He rushes off to find Fu Yao. He first goes to ask his father not to punish her. His father replies that she has already been set free, but it was up to fate whether she lived or not.

Fu Yao and Prince Yi are fighting in the courtyard. He wants Princess Fo Lian’s badge and Fu Yao is angry he helped Fo Lian set her up. He is not able to overcome her until he throws some poisonous bugs at her, which knock her out and he locks her away in a dark room.
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Fo Lian visits Prince Yi to get her badge back and to thank him for his help. We see in flashback how they plotted together so he could have her as his wife. (Is it just me or does he have a really creepy chin? Those side profiles…) Fo Lian has no qualms flirting with the creepy prince and reminds him that he only succeeded in taking down Fu Yao because she had her maid poison Fu Yao’s food. Now that they have succeeded, he insists that Fo Lian marries him instead of his brother, but she says she will only marry him if he becomes Crown Prince. She makes it clear that though she is in love with Wu Ji, it’s more important to her that she becomes Empress of Tianquan. As a second princess, she has hated that she can not become Queen of Xuanji and wants to be able to outrank her older sister.
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Outside Shangyang Palace, Wu Ji is pacing when Jiang Feng informs Wu Ji that they captured Fo Lian’s maid and found out Prince Yi took Fu Yao. When Wu Ji hears that Fu Yao was poisoned, he’s ready to kill his brother if the older hurts her, despite Jiang Feng’s pleas.

Prince Yi has his servant deliver a jade bracelet to Fo Lian and is pleased to hear that Wu Ji is looking for Fu Yao, upset about Fu Yao being missing. Since Wu Ji cares about her, he definitely won’t spare her.

In a dark room, Fu Yao, once again, is sleeping while someone is creepily staring at her, but this time, he’s also undressing. Slowly, Prince Yi starts ripping off parts of her costume as she lays unconscious, but her body’s energy manages to eject a Soul Locking Needle out of her head that he had put there to stun her. She awakens just in time and smashes his head with a vase. He is upset, uncertain how the needle came out, and draws a sword to attack her, but she takes a broken piece of pottery and fights back as best she can, despite him cutting and wounding her. In the meantime, Wu Ji does some really cool, badass, slow-mo horseback riding to her rescue. (Ok, totally got me there. He looks pretty hot.)

Despite her injuries, Fu Yao manages to get up, much to Prince Yi’s ire. He just can’t understand how someone so seriously poisoned and injured could survive his attacks. He manages to stab her in the gut, but she just pulls the sword in deeper so she can get close enough to punch him. (Like a boss!)

Prince Yi’s guards try to keep Wu Ji from entering Prince Yi’s manor, but Wu Ji couldn’t care less what they have to say and rides his horse right through them.
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Prince Yi stabs Fu Yao in the arm and she breaks off the point of the sword and kicks it towards Prince Yi, slicing off his balls in the process before passing out. Hearing his brother’s cries of anguish, Wu Ji rides his horse through the wall. Despite Prince Yi’s call to kill her, Wu Ji instead rushes to her side. She opens her eyes for a moment and sees him, then passes out. At this point, Wu Ji is ready to murder anyone who hurts his woman and goes after Prince Yi, but is stopped by Jiang Feng and Prince Yi’s servants. Then messengers from the Emperor announce that Prince Yi has been summoned to the palace. Once his brother is gone, Wu Ji picks up Fu Yao and takes her back to his manor.
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Prince Yi is crying and hoping for his father’s help, but the Emperor is disgusted with his son for jeopardising the family’s reputation, which the Emperor considers paramount above all. When the Prince asks the Emperor to heal him, the Emperor basically tells Prince Yi to suck it up.

Zong Yue is treating a restless Fu Yao as Wu Ji watches. The doctor informs Wu Ji that the poison from the spell she’s under plus the poison from his brother’s attack has put her in danger. Wu Ji blames himself for putting her in danger. (Um, yeah. You better feel sorry.) He asks Zong Yue if he has a cure, but before Zong Yue can answer, Jiang Feng arrives to tell him the Emperor is at court to make a decree and that Wu Ji needs to go there immediately.
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In the Imperial Court, it becomes clear that the story now is that Fu Yao tried to assassinate Prince Yi and the Emperor orders she be arrested and executed. Just as the officials wonder what the Crown Prince may have to do with these events since he has Fu Yao at his manor, Wu Ji arrives. He asks to speak with his father privately and begs the Emperor not to punish an innocent person, but his father makes it clear that Fu Yao is not considered innocent since she made Wu Ji fall in love with her. Instead, the Emperor sees her as his son’s weakness which he intends to take care of. Wu Ji realises that his father has been distracting him, while his guards go get Fu Yao and, despite a warning from his father, leaves to save her.

Jiang Feng and Zong Yue are battling the guards. (Ooo, I love sword-flinging hotty doctor even more than needle-flinging hotty doctor.) Wu Ji faces down soldiers in the courtyard and outside of the palace, as he attempts to leave, and manages to take them all down. (Like a boss!)
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Back at his manor, he scoops up Fu Yao, and leaves, with Xiao Qi, Jiang Feng and Zong Yue fighting off the soldiers. They do their superhero walk out of the palace (see the behind the scenes outtakes for some awesome dancing and hair flip action). At the river, Wu Ji asks Jiang Feng to keep an eye on Prince Yi and Fo Lian, and to report the latest news to him. Then, after another buddy moment with the doctor, Wu Ji heads for the desert with Xiao Qi and Zong Yue to search for a plant to help treat the poison.
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What we need to do is annihilate them once and for all.

Hotty doctor takes a trip across the desert to Nanrong with his entourage. Aww, he deserves a vacation. He’s been a busy guy. Let’s just enjoy the lovely desert shots, dreamy music and our favourite Divine Physician riding a camel towards their next destination, Yao City. (But seriously, someone give Lai Yi his own series. It’s been too long since he was a lead.)
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The group stops as the sun sets so they can set up camp, get water and for Zong Yue to go find some of the grass that will help treat Fu Yao’s symptoms. Fu Yao is still asleep while Wu Ji laments how his arrogance ended up getting her into trouble despite his best intentions. He realises everything is all his fault (damn skippy!) and that if she can just wake up, he will take any punishment from her and will take care of her.

As night falls, Wu Ji is tending to Fu Yao when he hears Zong Yue asking Xiao Qi if he’s a virgin and then tries to cut his hand to get his blood. Xiao Qi wants to help his friend, but is scared to get cut, but then Wu Ji offers his hand instead. (I kept expecting the doctor to say, “You’re a virgin, my ass.” Iridescent: Honestly though, that scene made Xiao Qi seem petty since Fu Yao did give up her life to save him) Zong Yue mixes the blood with the grass and gives Wu Ji instructions for how much to give Fu Yao. But this isn’t a cure, only to treat the symptoms, as they need to find the mentor who taught Prince Yi this type of poison in order to get the antidote.
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In the morning, Zong Yue sees Wu Ji getting a message from an imperial dove. The Empress has sent out soldiers to find Wu Ji. She wants to ensure his position and the marriage, but Wu Ji’s only concern is Fu Yao. He decides to return to find out why Fo Lian set Fu Yao up and to get his father to forgive her. Zong Yue promises to take care of Fu Yao for Wu Ji, whilst he is gone.

The Empress and Fo Lian are sharing a meal and the Empress is impressed by Fo Lian’s desire to help refugees in the city. The Empress wants to make the marriage official, much to Fo Lian’s delight.

In Yao City, Zong Yue is looking for ingredients while Xiao Qi worries about Fu Yao. They hear villagers worrying about getting away from the city before the Black Militia comes. Talking to some of them, the pair finds out that the city is about to be attacked by the Black Militia, which has been terrorising people without any intervention from the Imperial City. The County Magistrate is in league with the Black Militia and does nothing for the people, so everyone is leaving while they still can.

A servant is beseeching the Emperor to eat when Wu Ji arrives. He apologises to his father for being unfilial and prepares to be punished, but the Emperor thinks it’s useless since Wu Ji doesn’t even know what he has done wrong. Wu Ji says he looks up to his father, but that Fu Yao was the first person he met that didn’t suck up to him because of his title and calls her “the love I never had.” When the Emperor asks if he’s willing to give up being Crown Prince for her, Wu Ji says he is. The Emperor’s reply is that Wu Ji an adult now and he can do as he pleases, and the Emperor leaves Wu Ji alone.
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Fo Lian is walking through the city when Jiang Feng approaches with an invitation from Wu Ji. Suddenly, she wakes up on the floor of a room with Wu Ji staring at her. She’s immediately in full flirt mode, but instead, he tells her a story he heard from the commoners of a woman who had a treasure that could ward off all disease. This woman had learned black magic to intentionally spread a plague and then pretended to be a saviour and took care of the sick, utilising the treasure. Fo Lian is shocked at hearing of such a woman. She asks who this woman is and offers to talk to her to make her mend her ways. Wu Ji hands her a mirror so she can see who the woman is, but she refuses to look. 
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Suddenly, a trap door opens and she is dropped into a cell. Continuing to feign ignorance, Fo Lian says that she has nothing to be guilty about to which Wu Ji then tells her he will leave her alone to meditate and the trap doors close.

Throughout this episode, time passes though there’s no actual measure of how long time is passing, so we just have to guess. Wu Ji gets a letter from Zong Yue reporting that Fu Yao is doing better and should be able to walk so a few weeks have probably passed. Hearing that an antidote is still needed, Wu Ji knows what he needs to do.

Prince Yi, overhearing some maids talk about makeup, lashes out at them, certain they are laughing at him, and ends up wounding one of the maids with his sword. Wu Ji knocks the sword out of his hand before the older can do more damage and sends the maids away. When Wu Ji asks why his brother is attacking the girls, Prince Yi blames it on Fu Yao. They start to argue, but before it can go farther, they are both summoned by the Emperor.

The Emperor is disappointed in both his sons. Wu Ji agrees that their reputation is everything and then reveals that because of this, he has been hiding his brother’s misdeeds from his father. The Emperor becomes very interested in hearing more about it, much to Prince Yi’s dismay.
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Fu Yao is roaming the desert and sees Wu Ji riding towards her on a horse, but it’s just a mirage. Xiao Qi arrives, upset that she’s gone wandering despite the doctor’s orders for her to stay put while she’s still recovering. As they talk, they see smoke rising from a village in the distance. Fu Yao, as usual, decides to head towards danger without hesitation. (Girl, you’re really used to somehow always having a night in shining armour around right?)

Wu Ji informs his father that Prince Yi has been colluding with the Black Militia, despite the older’s claims to have suppressed them. Prince Yi and the leader, Scarlet Devil, have made a deal. Prince Yi gave gold and weapons in return for half a year of peace in Nanrong as the militia grew in size. They’ve been robbing and killing people in the countryside with no intervention, putting that strategic location at risk. The Emperor is angered to hear of this. He can forgive his eldest for his strange personal predilections, but can not stand betrayal of their people, and he gives Wu Ji permission to go to Nanrong to investigate further. (I see what you did there, Wu Ji. Very clever.)

Fu Yao and Xiao Qi arrive at the village and help tend to the wounded villagers. As they listen to the people talk about how the militia continue to attack them while the County Magistrate from Tianquan does nothing, Fu Yao is furious. At the Magistrate’s house in the middle of the night, Fu Yao beats the drum until he wakes up. The Magistrate is ready to arrest her, but then Zong Yue arrives carrying the Shangyang Palace badge and suddenly the Magistrate is singing a different tune.
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Initially sucking up to the doctor, the Magistrate is instructed by Zong Yue to talk to Fu Yao instead, as he’s only there to report back to the Crown Prince. The Magistrate immediately pleads to Fu Yao that there’s nothing he can do about the Militia as they are outnumbered and he is old. When word of another attack comes, Fu Yao is ready to head out there herself until the doctor reminds her that being reckless will only put people in danger. “What we need to do is annihilate them once and for all.
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The next morning, the Magistrate acknowledges in front of the entire village that he sucked at his job and then announces that a special envoy from the Imperial City will now take over Yao City. Out comes Fu Yao in a snazzy new outfit. (In a flashback, we see the doctor is back to using his skill with poisons to convince the Magistrate to retire as well as to get more information about the Militia to pass on to Wu Ji.) Fu Yao promises to take care of the people of Yao City and defend them, and they are all inspired. Even Zong Yue claps.

In her cell, Fo Lian is meditating. Wu Ji enters to give her a bowl of water, but she decides to pretend she’s too good to accept it. To her dismay, he ends up pouring it on the ground. He then hands her a letter that he wrote up for her. It’s a letter acknowledging that she is a bad person and asking to annul the engagement. Upset, she pleads with Wu Ji that the accusations are false. She claims she has been honest and is deeply in love with him. She won’t ask for an annulment. Wu Ji then brings in Prince Yi.
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I’m just a doctor.

Fo Lian pleads with Wu Ji that she has been falsely accused and refuses to annul their engagement. Wu Ji then brings in Prince Yi, who confirms that Fo Lian told him she knew who Fu Yao was and wanted to ruin Fu Yao’s reputation. He also shares that she seduced him into helping her as Fo Lian cries, accusing Prince Yi of framing her. But Wu Ji says that he doesn’t care if she’ll admit it or not as he knows how to make others believe it’s true. Despite her wailing for him to listen to her, he leaves her alone.
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Prince Yi begs Wu Ji to stop his investigation now that he’s helped Wu Ji deal with Fo Lian, but Wu Ji isn’t interested in helping. Wu Ji asks for the antidote to the poison Prince Yi used on Fu Yao, but the older insists that his mentor never gave it to him. His mentor kept it to himself and is traveling and can’t be reached. Trying to appeal to Wu Ji as a brother, Prince Yi is frustrated to be denied and vows to take actions of his own.

The Black Militia at their compound have heard about the new magistrate and want to go attack Yao City, but their chief, Scarlet Devil, is cautious, knowing that she’s been sent by the Imperial City. Instead, he orders his men to rob the villages around Yao City, but warns them not to attack the women, as a way to put pressure on the new magistrate.
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Wu Ji has been ordering gifts and sending them to Fu Yao, but instead of keeping them, Fu Yao has them distributed amongst the villagers. One of the soldiers, Tie Cheng, who has a crush on Fu Yao, sees a pretty hair pin and insists that Fu Yao keep it because it will look good on her. Zong Yue, who witnesses the exchange, writes back to Wu Ji and warns Wu Ji that if he’s gone for too long, Fu Yao will forget him. Zong Yue also gives us some more indication of time passing by sharing news that Fu Yao has been training troops and ordering reforms in the city so it must have been a few months now since Wu Ji left.

Wu Ji visits his prisoner and informs her that word has gone out that Fo Lian is in Fufeng Kingdom doing good deeds. He points out that all her traveling over the years makes it very easy for him to make up stories of where she is at, with none the wiser as to her true location. And when he points out that her death would just be a mystery, she finally admits that she did those things, but only because of her feelings for him. Wu Ji doesn’t care why, he only cares that she annuls the engagement. Cut to Wu Ji riding across the desert back to Nanrong as a decree is read out that Fo Lian has decided to make treating the suffering of the people her priority and has asked to annul the marriage.

The Black Militia is upset because all of Fu Yao’s actions have limited their conquests. They invite her to meet them, but Tie Cheng and a village elder insists it is not safe for her to go. Xiao Qi tries to get Zong Yue to weigh in as well, but he says that he’s only a doctor and it’s up to her to decide. Fu Yao realises it’s probably a trap, but is still going to go, not at all concerned.

As Fu Yao and Tie Cheng leave to meet the Militia, the doctor insists on joining them. Since Wu Ji has entrusted Zong Yue with her care, he feels obliged. At the Militia’s fortress, all appears empty. The three wander in and suddenly the doors close and they are surrounded. They start fighting with Militia members. (Hotty doctor back to using his fists and needle throwing combo. Still smexy as ever…) Scarlet Devil jumps in to fight Fu Yao himself. They are evenly matched, but then finally the chief stops when he hears Tie Cheng call out her name.
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Sitting down to food and wine, the Chief apologises, saying that they thought they were thieves and didn’t realise who she was as he hadn’t expected her to show up in person. When presented with a chest of gold from the Militia, Fu Yao at first acts impressed and shares pieces with her companions, who can see the gold bars have Tianquan stamps on them. But then she refuses the payment and threatens to go the legal route.

When the Chief points out that past magistrates, who were as ambitious as her, ended up getting killed, she then switches to playing helpless, hinting that they both work for the same master. Tensions eased and wine is served as Zong Yue pretends to use the toilet, but goes to check out their armory instead.

To distract them, Fu Yao suggests a drinking match and they agree, certain that such a tiny girl will be easy to out drink. Tie Cheng tries to step in for her, but she cuts him off. When the Chief notices the doctor is still missing, Fu Yao just wants to keep drinking. But the doctor is caught and brought back to the Chief who is ready to kill their visitors, until Zong Yue brings out yet another badge, this one from Prince Yi. Fu Yao says they are there to ensure that he is loyal to Prince Yi. The Chief is not entirely convinced until Zong Yue points out that the dagger he has could have only come from one of the royal family, and then Scarlet Devil insists that they have always remained loyal. They all toast to their future successes.

It’s beginning to snow as Wu Ji rides the way back to his woman. Back at her manor, Fu Yao and Zong Yue talk about the Militia. When she asks how he got the badge, he says telling her would mean bringing up a certain name he knows she doesn’t want to hear. When he asks her why she is mad at Wu Ji, she says it’s because Wu Ji says one thing, but does another. However, the doctor tells her that things are more complicated than they may seem. Tired of all Wu Ji’s lies, she isn’t sold.

Drinking by herself alone outside at night, she thinks it’s another mirage when Wu Ji appears before her. Drunk, she’s happy at first, but then she’s angry with him, certain he’s not real and that he would never come back for her.
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The next morning, as Fu Yao goes to perform her duties as magistrate, Tie Cheng is waiting eagerly as always and ready to go fetch breakfast for her. Wu Ji watches his would-be rival with amusement as a smiling Zong Yue (wow, he so rarely does that) updates Wu Ji on his findings regarding the Black Militia.
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Prince Yi is angered when a doctor tells him that his manhood can not be repaired. The prince orders that the doctor announce that he is healed and can have offspring, but the doctor doesn’t want to dishonor his family by lying. Prince Yi brings out his sword and the doctor prepares to die, but instead finds himself covered in the blood of the maid whom the Prince has killed instead, before putting his sword to the doctor’s throat.
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Fu Yao is resolving local conflicts when Wu Ji arrives. He wants to sue a woman from Taiyuan who broke his heart and caused him to lose his wealth. He presents to her a folded handkerchief that she remembers he had used to wrap up a fish skeleton as a memento of their love back in Tianquan. Fu Yao tries to find a legal reason to not hear his case, but he has a response for each of her arguments.

The best skill one can have isn’t the skill to kill innumerable enemies, but the skill to instill doubt.

(Warning you now that one of us had a little too much wine before recapping the rest of the episodes for the week. If you find these recaps amusing, yay! If not, it’s her fault!!)

Fu Yao is annoyed with Wu Ji and not wanting to deal with his frivolous lawsuit. (Oh, she tricked you? Really? Let’s look at the facts, shall we…) Of course, Xiao Qi totally wants Fu Yao and Wu Ji together and tries to help, but to no avail. Instead Fu Yao runs away.

Tie Cheng asks Xiao Qi who “Mister Yuan” is, but Xiao Qi tells Tie Cheng to mind his own beeswax. Tie Cheng keeps pushing and, of course, Fu Yao arrives before her friend can spill the beans. Tie Cheng offers to take her somewhere fun and she agrees. Xiao Qi wants to go as well, but she’s mad at him and makes him stay.
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Out in the desert, Fu Yao is enjoying the music of the singing sand. Then, moving to another spot, they can see mirages in the desert. Fu Yao is surprised to see Mount Xuanyuan and Tie Cheng tells her that the God of Sand will show her whatever is on her mind. She sees Taiyuan and then Wu Ji – Wu Ji as Xuan Yuan Min, Wu Ji in the garden, even slow-mo Wu Ji on a horse. Of course that last one ends up being the real deal.

Fu Yao gets annoyed and leaves, telling Tie Cheng to not let “him” follow. Of course, Wu Ji warns that her friend can’t exactly stop him, before knocking Tie Cheng out and carrying her off to an oasis. And then it’s all sad, lovesick Wu Ji and obstinate, wilful Fu Yao arguing. Wu Ji realises that she’s not really saying why it is that she’s so mad so, of course, he’s gotta kiss her. She brings up his engagement and when he tries to tell her it’s been annulled, she won’t listen.

He has her hold the Leaf of Spiritual Elixir which he told her before will reveal the truth. When she does, we find out that what the Emperor showed her was not the complete truth. Turns out Wu Ji was even colder to the bitchy Princess than we first saw and Fu Yao also sees the eventual confession. Wu Ji tells her that part of the Emperor’s power is sowing seeds of doubt.
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At night in the desert, their fight is over. Wu Ji is playing with Fu Yao’s hair and they are being all cute again. But Fu Yao is still cautious of his sweet talk, so he teases her about Tie Cheng. Wu Ji is not jealous because he knows he can outperform anyone who may show up. Then Yuan Bao arrives to warn of strangers.

The Black Militia are camping out near where they are, lead by the Scarlet Devil. They realise something is afoot. Of course, Wu Ji wants to take charge, but Fu Yao reminds him that a local will be more effective. Before either of them can do anything, someone else arrives to cause a scene. Lan Zhu is back!! And she is kicking ass and taking names. (Normally I hate the whiny princesses, but she gets a pass because she is no pushover.) They watch her fight some guys from the militia and then Wu Ji kicks a couple rocks to save her while she takes out the rest. The three have a brief reunion before running off to hide in a cave, not noticing that one of the guys is not actually dead.

In the cave, we get a bunch of exposition: Lan Zhu went chasing after Bei Ye, lost him in the Geya Desert, aka the Desert of Death, got lost, found her way to Pan City, got captured by her father, was engaged to a shaman, threatened to kill herself, escaped to look for Zhan Bei Ye again and then stole a horse from the Black Militia, causing the fight we just saw. Wu Ji asks if she is from the Qiongye Tribe and she wonders how he knows.

The survivor of the Princess’ fight informs the Scarlet Devil that she ran off with the Yao City Magistrate. He decides to show the Magistrate how much of a threat the Black Militia are.

More cave exposition as Lan Zhu and Wu Ji talk about the Qiongye tribe. They were the fifth major Kingdom until two brothers, both kings, fought and split up the kingdome with Lan Zhu’s father, one of the kings, retreating with his people to the mountains. Suddenly, Fu Yao is ill from the Love Lock Poison. As Wu Ji uses his skills to help her, Lan Zhu recognises the movements immediately and is not happy.
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After helping Fu Yao, Wu Ji once again is proposing to Fu Yao, but she’s not having any of it. And Lan Zhu has her own business with him. She demands to know if he has had anything to do with what happened to her family and he admits that he was responsible. But when she tries to stab him, Fu Yao, as usual, gets in the way and gets a dagger to the chest instead.

Back at Yao City, Fu Yao is, as usual, waking up to someone watching over her. (Can’t she end up in bed for some fun reason and not because she’s dying/wounded/poisoned/can’t stop sticking her fingers in the outlets?) Lan Zhu and Wu Ji are both concerned about her, but she hates being helped and asks to be alone for a while.
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This gives Lan Zhu and Wu Ji some time to sort out their conflict. Wu Ji tells her to go ahead and kill him and he won’t fight back, but she doesn’t go for it. So then, he says that once she unites her kingdom and rules it, he is willing to fight her as an equal. But for now they decide to leave their differences aside and they shake on it.

The people of Yao City perform a ritual for the God of Sand to protect them and then throw sand about the place. (I feel sorry for any of the extras wearing contacts. What agony!)

Zong Yue is having tea outside. (Hi, hotty doctor. Your fans have missed you.) He sees Xiao Qi running off to deliver some skincare serum that Wu Ji gave to Fu Yao, over to Lan Zhu. Zong Yue takes it from him and doesn’t give it back. Instead, he distracts Xiao Qi, asking about the God of Sand ceremony. (Sorry, Xiao Qi, you don’t get this princess.)
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Tie Cheng is showing off his archery skills as part of the festival, mostly to impress Fu Yao, as Zong Yue gives Wu Ji an update on Prince Yi’s movements. Wu Ji is aware of his brother’s schemes, but can only think of Fu Yao. Zong Yue warns Wu Ji that without the antidote, there’s nothing they can do for her and that she is his weakness. But Wu Ji is certain he can succeed and is not worried.

Tie Cheng suddenly throws an arrow at Fu Yao and challenges her to a match. She easily wins, but apparently what Tie Cheng meant was that if she won, she would marry him, which she is not prepare to do. (Sorry, Tie Cheng, but you are no Zong Yue… I mean Wu Ji…) Of course Wu Ji steps in to save the day by challenging Tie Cheng. While Tie Cheng shoots an arrow, Wu Ji grabs one from his quiver and tosses it, knocking out Tie Chung’s arrow and winning the match. He then tells Tie Cheng that pestering a beauty won’t win her over. (Oh really? Isn’t that what you’ve been doing for the last 36 episodes?!)

That evening there is a competition for the most beautiful woman in Yao City. Wu Ji asks why Fu Yao is not participating and she says that it’s because she’s not that pretty. The winning girl has seen Wu Ji and eagerly offers her handkerchief to him, a symbol that she wants to be his. Wu Ji won’t take it, but Fu Yao easily accepts it on his behalf, which angers him and he walks away.
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In the desert, Wu Ji is drinking and Fu Yao joins him as if she was just a buddy, but he is having none of it. His feels are all hurt, but she just ignores him. He demands to know what is going on, but she just wants wine. (Me, too!)

When we’re alive, we should shine with brilliance. When we die, we should die with honour.

In the desert, Wu Ji is drinking and Fu Yao joins him as if she was just a buddy, but he is having none of it. His feels are all hurt, but she just ignores him. He demands to know what is going on, but she just wants wine. Angry, Wu Ji won’t let her leave and they finally have another fight. She knows she’s been poisoned and there is no cure and she doesn’t want to hurt him, but, of course, he kisses her and says that he wants to share her pain and insists that he’s not going to let her die.
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A little while later there’s this sweet couple moment with Fu Yao celebrating her Prince’s birthday with fireworks and some sacred birds flying overhead and some pretty music and nice quotes that made me slightly teary-eyed. “When we’re alive, we should shine with brilliance. When we die, we should die with honour.”

The next morning, there is an urgent report from Tianquan to Wu Ji. Oh, look, it’s Zong Yue!!!! (*le sigh*) The Emperor is ill (f*** him?) and Wu Ji feels compelled to go home though he realises it’s a trap.
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The Emperor asks his servant about the machinations of the officials in his court as well as of Prince Yi. Even ill, he is no idiot. (I really want to admire this about him, but he’s still a dick!) He asks about Wu Ji as well. Prince Yi is making moves against Wu Ji.

Back at Yao City, Wu Ji is also aware of his brother’s plans. He decides to take the dangerous, but direct route through Geya Desert. Zong Yue tries to talk him out of it.

The Emperor asks his servant whom he would choose as his successor, but the eunuch is too smart to say. He then shares what others think and the consensus is for Wu Ji. But the Emperor feels that Wu Ji has had it too easy and that it would be good to throw some obstacles in Wu Ji’s path. He’s still a bit mad about the whole Fu Yao thing.

And now we are back to Wu Ji telling hotty doctor of his plans. Wu Ji has arranged to have his Shadow Guards meet him in the Geya Desert to help him get back, but Zong Yue worries about what things may be in the desert and offers to go with him. (Producers, are you trying to make something happen here? I mean, I know ‘buddy love’ is a thing right now in C-drama land, but given that you are airing against “Guardian” which, right now, is the king of BL, followed by “C.S.I” featuring your Jiang Feng, you shouldn’t even be trying. Just give us more Lai Yi. He’s what we want.)

Prince Yi is crying crocodile tears for his sick dad, but, after getting no response, he tries to peek in on dear ol’ dad. Cue jump scare as the Emperor appears behind him. (The Emperor may be a dick, but I still like him more than Prince Yi.) Once again, the Emperor berates his eldest for being a sucky candidate for Crown Prince, but then leaves the door open for him to gain it by killing his brother. (Nice family you got there.)
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Prince Yi and his troops ride through Nanrong as Fu Yao tries her hand at the “womanly arts”  by making a pouch for Wu Ji, but Yuan Bao just laughs at her attempts and says her lotus looks like a Riceball (Enid:”Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms” anyone? / IMOmusings: I just love the way they had Yuan Bao rolling around in laughter~ Iridescent: Honestly surprised that Fu Yao understands Yuan Bao now).
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Xiao Qi comes and drags her outside in time to see Tie Cheng kowtowing to Wu Ji, calling Wu Ji his mentor and promising to take care of his mentor’s wife. But Fu Yao doesn’t want to be his wife and kicks him over. (And made me snort wine up my nose when I laughed. Thanks a lot.) Fu Yao doesn’t want any of the responsibility of feeding him, but Tie Cheng, as always, is willing to feed her instead.
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Wu Ji sends Xiao Qi and Tie Cheng away so he can have flirty time with Fu Yao, who is upset to hear that he plans to leave. He trusts Tie Cheng the most to take care of her and has taught him some stances, but Fu Yao is all in “I can take care of myself” mode. (Are you really sure you can?) However Wu Ji is serious. He knows he will face dangers going back to the Imperial City and wants her to be safe, but she feels she will be fine.

The next day, when she says goodbye to Wu Ji, she must also say bye to Zong Yue who is going to look for the antidote for the poison in her body. (Noooooo! Who am I going to oggle at now?) The doctor insists that the couple owe him a lot. Wu Ji emphasises to Fu Yao how important Yao City is to Tianquan Kingdom and so she is committed to keeping the city safe.
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The Ball-less wonder and his troops have arrived at the Black Militia’s compound.

Zhang Sun Jia has arrive at a brothel, where a young girl eagerly awaits him as an older woman spies on them. He is entertained, but once the spy leaves, it’s revealed that the young girl herself is also a spy for him, delivering news of Prince Yi’s movements against the Crown Prince and asking what he plans to do. Zhang Sun Jia won’t pick sides and points out the benefits of both. When the past is mentioned, he acknowledges that originally, he was destined to rule the Kingdom, but chose his true love over power and that she still is the most important to him. Then he reveals that he knows the girl is an agent of the Emperor and has been spying on him. He tells her that he will help her leave the city so she can lead a peaceful life. (I hope he is Wu Ji’s dad. He’s not so much of an ass.)
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At the Black Militia camp, the Scarlet Devil eagerly accepts more gold and weapons from Prince Yi. (Sidenote: If you haven’t yet, you should watch “Rakshasa Street”. Tang Guozhong plays a Guardian in that show and his story is soooooo good and heartbreaking and he has some great fight scenes and a funny bromance with Jiro Wang.) Prince Yi tells Scarlet Chief to take out Yao City first and then help him seize the Imperial City.

Fu Yao and Yuan Bao are worried about Wu Ji and missing him. In the desert, Zong Yue and Wu Ji ride as they are pursued by Prince Yi’s soldiers. In the meantime, the Black Militia and Prince Yi’s troops are headed for Yao City when Prince Yi finds out that Fu Yao is the magistrate of that city and demands that the Black Militia give him her head.

Tie Cheng and a city elder report that the Black Militia are on the way to attack the city and ask Fu Yao what she plans to do. She realises that she should have planned sooner for this and decides to do what they can to defend the city.

In the desert, Zong Yue and Wu Ji are near the Geya Desert, but the Shangyang Palace cavalry has still not arrived. They realise it means they’ve been compromised. They decide to fight Prince Yi’s troops. Fu Yao and her friends are planning how to defend the city on limited rations and weapons. (Molotov cocktails! Even if it is a waste of good wine.)

Zong Ye and Wu Ji defeat the soldiers, but Wu Ji realises that continued battles are just meant to wear them out so it’s best to split up. Wu Ji leaves Zong Yue alone in the desert (looking so smexy…).
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The Black Militia and Prince Yi’s soldiers ride for Yao City just as the citizens have hidden jugs of wine in the ground and left the gates ajar. The adversaries are ready to attack, but see no soldiers on the wall and no one to confront them. They have archers shoot arrows, but get no response. The soldiers send the Militia to check it out first. They enter, but then are attacked at the last moment by the townsfolk, who also send molotov cocktails flying over the walls that trigger the jugs of wine buried in the ground to blow up and all their enemies scatter. (Yao City – 1, bad guys – 0)

The ones I’m risking my life for would actually shut me out. Those I don’t even know are the ones who sacrificed for me!

Prince Yi’s soldiers call to attack Yao City, but the molotov cocktail attack pushes back them and the Black Militia from the city. (Who runs the world? Fu Yao!)

The Empress senses bad omens. She runs to the Emperor’s manor, kneeling outside and promising to continue taking her medicine, even if it kills her (ok, WTF is in that medicine?!), just as long as her son lives and the Emperor keeps his promise (whatever that is).
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A messenger reports to Fu Yao that the soldiers that were in Baiting have been relocated far away. There are no reinforcements for Yao City. They are distributing watered down congee to the citizens, but their rations are almost gone, even with Fu Yao not eating herself. What few bits of food are found Fu Yao has distributed amongst the citizens as she tries to figure out other options. In her manor, she fingers the pouch that Wu Ji gave her should things go bad. He told her that inside was the one thing that could keep her alive and she is hopeful, but when she opens it up, she only finds instructions to flee. However, she refuses to abandon the people of Yao City.

Prince Yi delivers another shipment gold to Scarlet Devil with the promise of more once the latter takes over Yao City and delivers Fu Yao’s head. Of course the Prince himself will not be sticking around as he wants to personally take care of his brother.

Fu Yao is happy to see Wu Ji return until she realises it was just a dream. Xiao Qi reports that the Black Militia shot messages into the city saying that anyone who surrenders will be spared and that the townsfolk have opened the city gates. As they flee the city, Fu Yao tries to get them to go back inside, only to watch them get slaughtered as the Black Milita’s archers shoot them down. She manages to save one child (that was soooo “Princess Agents”) before she ends up getting shot in the back.
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Healing after her wound, Fu Yao is not ready to give up, even as Xiao Qi tries to get her to flee. When Lan Zhu says that he’d need the two of them to save him, he brags that he is from the Stealth Merman Tribe and can dig tunnels like no one. (OK, why didn’t we know this before and why doesn’t he just dig a tunnel for the entire city to use to flee and let the militia waste time attacking an empty town?) Fu Yao decides that Xiao Qi and Lan Zhu will use the tunnel to go get help – one from Tiansha and one from Tianquan – while Fu Yao stays on.

Prince Yi hears that Wu Ji has entered Geya Desert and they proceed to take care of Wu Ji. In the meantime, a dehydrated Wu Ji and his horse collapse in the desert just as Prince Yi’s soldiers come to . But Wu Ji is victorious despite his situation, collapsing after overcoming the soldiers. (Even as he collapses, some of them are still rolling down the sand dunes from above him, but screw continuity…)

The Empress secretly meets with Zhang Sun Jia, telling him that Prince Yi is trying to kill Wu Ji with the Emperor’s approval and urging Zhang Sun Jia to help, but he knows there is little he can do. He tells her not to overreact as Prince Yi has not yet formally announced her son’s death. In the meantime, he will do what he can to get more information.
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In Yao City, the townspeople are eager for Fu Yao to offer a plan, but are disappointed when she gives up and goes to turn the city over to the Black Militia. Even Yuan Bao is mad at her. Fu Yao has to pester the mouse several times before he finally goes to find Wu Ji. Then Fu Yao leaves the city as the people throw objects and insults at her for deserting them as Tie Cheng tries to defend her and insist all is not as it seems.

Fu Yao arrives at the Black Militia camp to surrender the city. The Scarlet Devil is arrogant, knowing he soon would have the city anyway, but Fu Yao points out that they’ve kept him at bay for almost a month and Prince Yi must not be happy. He finally agrees to the formal ceremony to swear a truce. The ceremony dictates Fu Yao and Scarlet Devil must draw blood from their heart. As she takes the dagger, the Militia watch her warily.
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Back at Yao City, the citizens hear that Fu Yao has given them up and the Militia promise not to kill anyone who is strong enough to serve with them, but Tie Cheng is not having it.

Fu Yao sticks the dagger in her chest and draws a drop of blood that she then drops in a bowl of wine. The Scarlet Devil takes his dagger, drops his armour and prepares to draw his own blood. But Fu Yao, instead, shoves the dagger into his heart and then kills his men. When he gets up to fight her, they square off, but eventually she cuts off his head. (I saw the behind the scenes for this shot. Awesome camera work.)

As she wraps the head up in cloth to take back to Yao City, she is discovered and now has the Militia outside, waiting to take her down. But then some mysterious men in black cut through the side of the tent and announce that they’ve been sent to protect her. She rides with them back to Yao City with the Militia in pursuit. (Hat’s off to the B-roll team for those awesome overhead shots!)

Wu Ji wakes up in the desert, surrounded by statues. But then he realises that the statues are men who suffered from the Petrifying Potion that is now consuming him. Thinking only of Fu Yao, he passes out again.
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Fu Yao and her saviours arrive at Yao City, but the citizens refuse to let the traitor in, even when she tells them she killed Scarlet Devil. (Sorry, girl. I know pretending to be a traitor came so easy to Wu Ji, but you’re no Crown Prince and your act didn’t pay off as well.) Tie Cheng, inside the city walls, is begging for them to let her in, to no avail, as the Militia arrive to kill her. Fu Yao and her protectors fight the Militia as Tie Cheng tries to hack at the chains locking the city gates with no success.

Fu Yao is distraught. “The ones I’m risking my life for would actually shut me out. Those I don’t even know are the ones who sacrificed for me!” She watches as another of the nameless men fights and dies to protect her.

It’s a long story…

Fu Yao watches as another of the nameless men in black sent to save her ends up dying while the townsfolk inside call her a traitor and refuse Tie Cheng’s pleas to let her in. She tries to get the last remaining man to escape and take a message to Wu Ji, but he has promised his master to protect her with his own life and proceeds to take out as many as he can before he finally dies. She can then only tell Tie Cheng not to cry and to thank him for helping her.
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Yuan Bao, our mousy friend who, apparently, can travel miles very, very quickly on his short little legs, has found Wu Ji. He, of course, is only thinking of Fu Yao and sends Mr. Mousy back to tell her where he is. (In the meantime, mousy is all, “Screw this back and forth, you two. I’m tired. I’m finding myself a lady friend and having some fun.”)

Fu Yao, now alone, prepares to take her life before she is killed as Wu Ji also prepares to die. Neither have any fear. But at the last moment, someone shoots the sword out of Fu Yao’s hand. It’s the long lost Zhan Bei Ye!!!!! (Hi, Vengo! Since there’s no doc around, I’m glad to have one handsome face around.) Of course, he brought friends, the Black Wind Cavalry, headed by Xiao Qi (wow, I thought Lan Zhu would have headed for Tiansha), and orders them to kill the Black Militia. When he asks Fu Yao where she wants to go, she says, “Anywhere, but here.” When the people of Yao City finally open the gates, they find the dead bodies of the Black Militia and Fu Yao’s backside as she leaves their sorry asses forever.
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***Warning: The rest of this episode is a buttload of exposition about Bei Ye. Nothing advances this story at all, or at least in not any obvious way at this point.***

At the Black Wind Cavalry’s camp, Fu Yao is, once again, in bed, being stared at, this time by Bei Ye. Xiao Qi, the King of Exposition, has updated Bei Ye on all things Wu Ji. Fu Yao has visions of Wu Ji and, of course, is determined to just go and save him, despite how weak she is. When Bei Ye asks about her visions, she describes Wu Ji surrounded by statues that are really men and that he is being turned to stone. The Prince says it’s just a dream, but the look on his face tells us that he recognises her vision.

Outside, he and General Ji talk about her dream and General Ji is impressed by what Fu Yao has accomplished since they met last in Taiyuan. They recognise what she describes in her dream as being the forbidden zone of the Geya Desert from which no one ever survives. Xiao Qi overhears them talk about how Wu Ji most likely is trapped there and will not survive.
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Xiao Qi goes to take care of Fu Yao, who is determined to crawl all the way to Wu Ji to save him. When Xiao Qi lets slip what he heard, she is even more determined, but is too weak and passes out as he calls for help.

Xiao Qi begs for Bei Ye and General Ji to save his friend to which Bei Ye decides to pull out the Englobement Bell and use it to save her. (Wait a sec. He gave that to Fu Yao before she left Taiyuan, but Prince Yi never found it on her when he was looking for Fo Lian’s badge, but now Bei Ye has it again? Umm, who exactly changed Fu Yao’s clothing after that battle at Yao City? Hmmm…) General Ji pleads with Bei Ye not to use it, but he sends both of them away.

Xiao Qi and General Ji wait nervously outside. Xiao Qi is worried for Fu Yao, but General Ji knows that the method Bei Ye is using could, at the very least, drain the Prince of his life force and, at the most, cause death. Inside the tent, and a bit of overacting later, Bei Ye puts the Bell in Fu Yao’s hand covered by his and they meet together in her subconscious as General Ji explains how the whole process works. Not knowing what else to do, Xiao Qi and General Ji go looking for a doctor. (Hey, we know a guy…)

In Fu Yao’s subconscious (let’s call it Inception), she is in the desert, trying to find Wu Ji, but finds Bei Ye instead. They come across an army and Bei Ye quickly has them hide. The army is the Dust Dragon’s Secret Army and can kill them even though they are in a dream.

At the Black Wind Cavalry, random doctors have not been able to help. (Hey, we told you we know a guy!) Just then, Lan Zhu arrives and she’s brought Zong Yue!!! (I would like to apologise to my neighbor for the drunken shriek I let out when Zong Yue finally returned.) Xiao Qi immediately asks Zong Yue to check on the pair.
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Prince Yi receives news that Wu Ji slipped into quicksand and died. Cue crocodile tears of grief at the passing of his brother and his insistence that his guard dig up the body for a proper burial. Zhang Sun Jia, of course, is there to witness the whole thing. When Prince Yi suggests that perhaps now he could take over the Kingdom, Zhang Sun Jia insists that he has no interest in power and prestige as the Eldest Prince does and is interested in simpler pleasures like tea rituals, poetry, the opera, flowers, (secret meetings with the Empress, making sure Wu Ji retains the throne…) and no stress. Prince Yi, though, doesn’t believe him and has his guard keep an eye on Zhang Sun Jia, certain that he’ll need to take out his uncle next to ensure his rise to the throne.

Zong Yue can’t do anything to help Bei Ye or Fu Yao. Fu Yao was already in danger from the curse, the poison, Yao City people breaking her heart, Wu Ji being in danger, the writers of this series losing the plot and getting us mired in this situation… After Lan Zhu insists that he must know a way to save them, he admits there is one person who can save them, but that person would have to come willingly. And that person is….
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Back in Inception desert world, Fu Yao is tired and wants to pass out so Bei Ye punches her in the face. Wait, no, he punches himself in the chest, since they are joined, so hurting himself hurts her and that will jolt her awake. Ironically, he does it because he can’t bear to hurt her. Fu Yao wants to talk about Wu Ji, but Bei Ye just wants to talk about what happened after he left Taiyuan and so then we get a bunch of exposition between him and their friends around the campfire waiting for them to wake up. As General Ji says, “It’s a long story…” and then everyone spends the last twelve minutes telling long stories.
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The short version… sort of… hard to make this short:

Zong Yue’s story: after the desert fight, he took the official route to the Imperial City, met Jiang Feng, found out the Cavalry was misdirected, heard about Wu Ji’s supposed death and then ran into Lan Zhu.

Bei Ye and General Ji’s story: General Ji went to Tiansha as ordered, but Zhan Nan Cheng had already taken out Bei Ye’s subordinates and was hunting down General Ji, who fled to the desert which happens to be where Bei Ye’s mother’s family hails from. (So the desert is at the end of an icefield? Add that to the plot point WTF list.) The Geya Desert people’s Black Wind Cavalry took care of General Ji and his men, but then they realised that, actually, the Cavalry were plotting something, so they sent that emergency note that Bei Ye received in Taiyuan, which made him leave.

Bei Ye arrived in Geya Desert where, initially, he was used in a ritual to worship the Dust Dragon’s Secret Army (that scene of him bleeding earlier in this series), and then they tried to kill him and his men, but then the earthquakes happened with our supporting characters and others falling into this deep crevasse and killer wasps come out of the ground trying to kill everyone. But Bei Ye found the Black Dragon Sword in a rock and pulled an Excalibur which then lead to the wasps disappearing and the Cavalry to pledge loyalty to Bei Ye as the new leader of the Black Wind Cavalry. (Props to the Props department for that kick ass sword!)

Post-exposition: Lan Zhu tucks her Prince in, still upset he left without her.

NB: A certain author had asked that the recap for this episode be checked against the story, but after reading through it I felt that the ramblings of a slightly inebriated mind does wonders to create imagery of a rather tasteless story so I have left the recap as is~

Enid Bee: Is it just me, or the further along this story goes, are there an awful lot of plot holes? How does Jian Xue know what Fu Yao really looks like? Why does Fo Lian seem to know about her and know to be worried about her? If Wu Ji and Fo Lian were sharing love letters this whole time and it was his idea to marry her according to Zong Yue, why now is it made out to be like his mom is making him? How does Xiao Qi suddenly know how to fight? Why is the Emperor such a dick? OK, that last one isn’t really a plot hole. Just more of an observation…

Linjaturtle: I agree with you. Many many plot holes. How did Yuan Bao reach Wu Ji in the desert so fast when he tooks days to ride across? Wasn’t Wu Ji surrounded by dead bodies? How did he move location and end up surrounded by statues instead? Did those corpses turn into statues? So confused. – Oh I see. I’m not with the story. Those corpses did turn into statues. Can we please skip this arc?

Enid Bee: I finally realised that Ethan Ruan was in one of my favorite Taiwanese dramas, “My Queen”. That series is the reason why I ended up starting to learn Mandarin and spent a month traveling around Asia in 2017. Can’t believe I didn’t realise it was him! I loved that couple. So why don’t I feel the same chemistry in this show with this couple? I like both of the leads (Yang Mi is the reason I decided to watch this series), but something about this series is not making these two click for me. As I said before, I like the characters as individuals, but not as a pair. (And I love Lai Yi and he, honestly, is the reason I’m still hanging in there. Please let him have his own little love story in this, even if tragic.)

Click To View: Next week on Legend of Fuyao
What…did I just walk in to…
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Also, our favourite handsome doctor needs a hug.

  1. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    Thanks for these hilarious recaps! They’re what tides me over until I patiently wait for the next batch of subbed episodes.

    How can the emperor not know about the empress and his brother. He has a magical hazy screen after all. Geez, they should get themselves a tunneled room (a la Nirvana in Fire).

    Also, our favourite handsome doctor needs a hug. – I volunteer!

  2. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    Oh, Enid Bee, I couldn’t agree with you more on this. Lai Yi is the one and only reason I am still hanging in there. He’s so hot and charismatic!

  3. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    When the female lead has be rescued the umpteen time- there’s no more adrenaline rush or emotional high-lows for the scenes anymore. It only feels like the scenes are created to fill in episodes. And it makes the drama tiresome to watch for me.

  4. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    I’m getting more and more disappointed with the drama, so many loop holes and so weak plot. It’s like they encounter many problems, but then it’s solved pretty easily. I’m debating whether I should finish watching or not. The book is extremely much better! Too bad they changed so much for the drama. Fuyao is truly fearless and I can feel that Wuji has such a regal aura in the book.

    • 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

      Ugh, after watching ep. 41 & 42, this show has taken a nosedive.

  5. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    I must be the only one who don’t see anything wrong with this show. Yeah its draggy at times and full of plotholes but I can’t stop watching… Maybe its because I am a fan of fantasy dramas.
    But what bothers me is the… female characters of the show. Ya Lanzhu, Qi Yun, the Queen etc… they seem to have nothing going for them other than crying and pining for their men. I always roll my eyes at their scenes. Maybe its because Fuyao is a female-centric show; all the remaining “strong” traits are given to the lead character. Even Fuyao herself needs to be saved multiple times; but that doesn’t really bother me as much because she still looks like she has an occupation.
    Anyhow, I’m excited for the remaining countries to be unlocked.

    • 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

      I have to agree. I liked Fu Yao and Lan Zhu at the beginning. Lan Zhu was silly, but in times of trouble, she kicked butt. And Fu Yao was able to hold her own. But now it’s just round after round of do something rash and impetuous without thinking and then have to be saved. Plot wise it’s reminding me of how Princess Agents ended up. I’m wondering if it’s because they are trying to fit as many key scenes from the books into the show for the sake of having them rather than just focusing on the main story. At least it’s not as bad as what they did to Cinderella Chef, but it’s so frustrating when they could have just gotten ride of a lot of these secondary storylines (except Zong Yue – must always keep him around).

      My picks: Princess Fo Lian – gone. Xiao Qi’s crush – nix that. Lan Zhu and Bei Ye – cut all of her weepy monologues and about half of his and just let them do what they do to help propel the main story forward. Prince Yi – just make it Qi Zhen and Nan Cheng plotting to get someone who is not Wu Ji on the Imperial throne whom they can control. The two of them are the best bad guys anyway.

  6. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    I’m also getting more and more disappointed with this drama. So many loop holes and so weak plot, it’s like they encounter many problems, but then it gets solved so fast and easy all the time. I really prefer the book over drama now, too bad they made many changes. Fuyao is strong and truly fearless and Wuji has such a regal aura in the book which I couldn’t see at all in the drama. I’m debating if I should stop watching or not.

  7. 9 thoughts on “Legend of Fuyao: Episodes 33-40 Recaps

    Legend of fuyao is the best drama for me this year. I am following this drama now and it is very very good drama. Yang Mi portrait this drama very well. Even though she grew up as a slave but she learned and very good martial art. I like the settings happened in Deep Water Nation where she played her role very well. This drama revolved around the five regions or country where it is controlled by Megrez empire and each nation seemed like a one drama equivalent. All in all I was and am currently enjoying this now.

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