Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi prove that they make a great love team and astonishing martial artists in Who Rules The World.
Episodes 19 and 20 mark the end of the series’ first half. Much traveling and crime-fighting are involved, and there is never a lack of humor and wit in the episodes following this C-drama’s first look.
In fact, Who Rules The World proved to have what it takes to keep viewers watching and patiently waiting for new episodes. Fascinating in its own charms, a lot has unfolded since then from the storyline.
Nathan Llantos watches Who Rules The World on Netflix.
Episode Ratings:
Episode Recaps: First Look
What Has Transpired So Far in Who Rules The World?
After rescuing the last descendant of the Han Family, Bai Feng Xi (Zhao Lusi) decided to take young Han Pu with her. However, the Han Family murder perpetrators seem to have more agendas in action. As they pursue the enemy to avenge the Han Family, they encounter the Soultaker Sect in Shangzhou. Meanwhile, the empire’s finest gentry, Yu Wuyuan, arrived just in time to help the famous Hei-Feng-Bai-Xi tandem.
The renowned Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi traveled to Yucheng, where they encountered the Qi Family, who sought their help to find his competitor, Patriarch Shang. The situation is as Hei Fengxi predicted, and this request from the head of the Qi Family will be their way to catch the mastermind of the Soultaker sect.
In their battle with the Soultaker sect. Bai Fengxi and Hei Fengxi found a handkerchief embroidered with a locust and cricket. Afterward, the two Fengxis part ways to continue investigating the matter independently. Bai Fengxi takes Han Pu to the village of the Tianshuang sect to keep him safe. They meet the Prince of the Jizhou state, Huang Chao, on their way back.
The Ambitious Prince of Jizhou
Scavenging the mountain for food, young Han Pu complains and goofs around Bai Fengxi. Unfortunately, Prince Huang Chao’s aide mistook Han Pu for an enemy and attacked him. Bai Fengxi swiftly intervened and engaged Huang Chao and his aide in close combat. Later on, the misunderstanding was cleared.
Bai Fengxi and Han Pu ate to their hearts’ content as Huang Chao offered them food as compensation for the incident. Subsequently, Bai Fengxi announced their departure, and he gave Prince Huang Chao the empyrean token in her possession. She, however, warned them that it was a counterfeit.
With this, Huang Chao realized that she was not merely Han Pu’s elder sister but the famed martial artist and heroine, Bai Fengxi. Huang Chao admitted that he never thought that the phrase that describes heroine Bai Fengxi, “As beautiful as she is lethal,” could also be associated with the “Oddest woman in the empire.”
Hei Fengxi’ Double Life
Meanwhile, trouble awaits Hei Fengxi. Unknown to the kingdom of Yongzhou, their second prince is also the famed martial artist and owner of the intelligence group Fountain Abode. After Hei Fengxi traveled with Bai Fengxi in search of the lost Empyrean token, Feng Ju, his obnoxious brother, the third Prince of Yongzhou, paid a visit to his residence.
Eager to catch his older brother red-handed, Prince Feng Ju decides to pay him a visit after his hunting session. Fortunately, Lanxi made it back in time. Prince Ju attempted to enter Lanxi’s Villa but was stopped by Maid Huan. The first and eldest Prince Chang then appears and beats up Maid Huan, shocking Prince Ju.
Later on, it was revealed that this was part of the plan so Prince Ju wouldn’t insist on seeing Lanxi, in the pretense that their second prince is currently receiving medical treatment. Apparently, the Lord of Yongzhou and his brothers believe that the second Prince is ill. In fact, his identity as Hei Fengxi has been well hidden for 10 years.
Hei Fengxi is actually Feng Lanxi, the second Prince of Yongzhou. His attendants and trusted steads support him in his endeavors outside of his residence.
Hunting Season & Marriage Talks
Since Lanxi has returned to the Capital, he has to be a prince again and hide his identity as Hei Fengxi. His father, the Lord of Yongzhou held a hunting session and the winner will be rewarded with a family heirloom. A sword relic known as one of the oldest and legendary swords in the empire. Here, marriage talks were also commenced since the Lord believes his sons are of marrying age.
On the other hand, Chancellor Ren, Feng Lanxi’s guardian and mentor was concerned when he learned that Lanxi had spent so much time with Bai Fengxi during their last expedition. As Lanxi is now of marriageable age, Chancellor Ren suggested the possibility of getting married. According to the Chancellor, Feng Qi Wu is a strong lady who also serves as the Civil Rights Minister of the state.
Lanxi disagrees with the idea and says he has a lot to plan for. The real Empyrean token is nowhere to be found and the Soultaker sect is still running amok. Hence, despite being confined in his residence in the palance, he starts to investigate Soultaker sect’s motive.
Coincidentally, Bai Fengxi is also trying to understand the murderous patterns of the enemies. They both have arrived on a conclusion that the Ma Family is the next target.
Queen Yige’s Tragic Demise
Ren Chuan, one of Lanxi’s trusted aides, was intrigued about why Prince Lanxi had to pretend he had a frail body. Miss Huan told him that Lanxi’s mother was Princess Yige of the Dadong Empire. She is the sister of Emperor Chunxi. Queen Yige was gorgeous, with a laid-back demeanor. She was a benevolent queen.
She even let her husband, the Lord of Yongzhou, bring Bai Li, the first Prince Chang’s mother, as a concubine on the day of their wedding. Queen Yige lovingly fostered Prince Chang and raised him as if he were her own child. This is why Prince Chang adores his brother, Prince Lanxi. However, she suddenly collapsed and died in her chambers long before Lanxi came of age.
A Series Of Misfortunes
Lanxi’s return to the Palace brought a series of incidents mostly colluded by Queen Baili from afar and his youngest brother, the third prince Feng Ju. Prince Lanxi, little by little, showed the Lord of Yongzhou his capabilities. Nevertheless, he does it gradually to not raise suspicions. After all, he has been known in their kingdom as the Prince with a fragile body for ten years.
As a result of his outstanding feats, the Lord of Yongzhou began entrusting Lanxi with political matters. Lanxi and his two other brothers are tasked to work on different ministries. However, Lanxi’s achievements threaten and annoy Feng Ju. Consequently, Lanxi’s life is continually endangered, and accidents and problems arise one after the other.
Prince Lanxi was sent by his father to fix a problem in one of their towns. Because Decheng is reached by water. Prince Lanxi road a boat to reach his destination. He, unfortunately, met problems along his way. In addition to the bad weather, his ship was assaulted. Lanxi drowned in the sea. Prince Ju learned that his assistant Wang Yuan had planned Lanxi’s assault back in the capital.
Prince Ju was taken aback. He informed his assistant that he wished to beat his brother but had never considered killing him. Subsequently, Jiurong noticed a drifting body in the sea. Bai Fengxi quickly recognized the unconscious man as martial artist Hei Fengxi since his actual status as a prince was unknown to her.
Detour At Yongzhou
Meanwhile, the Lord of Yongzhou and the citizens were mourning the death of the second Prince. The third Prince Feng Ju was aghast when Prince Lanxi returned home suddenly. The Lord of Yongzhou discovered that the one in the tomb was a random corpse.
Bai Fengxi took good care of Prince Lanxi while he was still recuperating. And since Langhua, the daughter of their Leader, fell ill, Lanxi asked them to stay at Yongzhou for a while. Every time Lanxi has free time or when he is out to handle state matters, he drops by the rented villa for Bai Fengxi and the members of the Tianshuang Sect.
Where The Story Heads To?
The Homecoming Of The Wicked Queen
Because she gave birth to a prince, Baili went up the ranks from a common concubine to a noble consort. This has been her goal ever since she entered the palace. Thus, she set in motion her plans in getting rid of Queen Yige and the second prince, Feng Lanxi. Following Yige’s death, the King wedded Baile and made her queen soon as Queen Yige was placed in her tomb.
Since then, the vile Queen Baili had been conspiring to degrade and humiliate Prince Lanxi to ensure that her son, the third prince, Feng Ju, would be the first in line to Yongzhou’s throne. Lanxi was an intelligent child.
Hence, growing up, he came up with tactics and facades so he could survive. Moreover, he believed that the only way to avoid his cruel stepmother’s machinations was to appear weak, unwell, and uninterested in court.
Eager to get rid of Lanxi’s supporters, Queen Baili even went to create a cheating scandal in the Imperial Examination. The Lord of Yongzhou has entrusted Prince Lanxi to get to the bottom of this case.
Despite the Lord overlooking what Queen Baili did during the Imperial examination, she did not stop scheming. After learning about Prince Lanxi’s new task, Queen Baili and Feng Ju are off to ruin Lanxi’s quest related to the horse shortage.
The Legend of Old Taiyin
Following the cheating and horse trafficking scandal in Yongzhou, Bai Fengxi discovered that Hei Fengxi is indeed, Prince Yongpin. It took a while but she has discovered that the “Black Foxy” she has been traveling and fighting with in the martial arts world, is also Prince Feng Lanxi one of four fine gentries of the Dadong Empire.
What is more, Langhua has fully recovered. Bai Fengxi and the martial artists of the Tianshuang sect depart to Wushan to locate their master. Bai Fengxi got word that her master went to the mountain to inherit Old Taiyin’s legendary skill. T
here, she met Prince Huang Chao of Jizhou and Yu Wuyuan again. Incidentally, their journey to the mountain was predicted by Old Taiyin.
The Sacred Jade Moon
In fact, he has laid out challenges and mazes for them. The cunning Yu Wuyuan even trapped Bai Fengxi to have his hands on the Sacred Jade Moon. Yu Wuyuan was yearning for the jade because it could break his clan’s curse of dying before the age of 30. When Old Tian Yi discovered what Wuyuan had done, he had his servant take Wuyuan to an enclosed region that would capture him.
Meanwhile, Prince Lanxi, on the other hand, heard of the sudden earthquake at mount Wushuan. He immediately went to rescue Bai Fengxi. Subsequently, the two went further in the mountain to complete Old Taiyin’s challenges. Together, they inherited the Sacred Jade Moon and were able to rescue the trapped travelers, including the Tianshuang sect’s master.
The First Prince’s Secret
Although Prince Chuang and Prince Lanxi have a really good sibling relationship, Queen Baili gets in the way. Prince Chang was called by Queen Baili. She informed him that his wife had been selected.
His prospective wife was Cheng Qian, the spoiled daughter of a duke. Cheng Qian commanded Prince Chang to constantly do what she said so that her father would award him a title after the marriage, even though he was simply a servant’s son. Her attitude disgusted Prince Chang.
Moreover, he is well aware of why his mother is so desperate to have him marry Cheng Qian. The duke and their family are against Prince Yongping’s (Feng Lanxi’s new title).
Thus, his vile mother, Queen Baili, is trying to use him to get into Lanxi’s nerves. He adamantly disagreed. However, he eventually goes with the plan because the Queen threatens she will reveal that Prince Chang has epilepsy.
In the empire of Dadong, epilepsy is viewed as an illness caused by demons. Prince Chang might lose his status as a prince if word gets out. Queen Baili is so vile she shows no remorse nor affection for her firstborn, Prince Chang. However, Prince Ju is not contented. He had plan to frame Feng Lanxi with murder.
Cheng Qian dies at the Parlor, and Prince Chang tries to protect Lanxi by jumping off the parlor’s second floor. He survives the fall and pretends to be disabled. This puts Queen Baili at bay from using him against Lanxi.
Who Rules The World?
Lanxi had been achieving one feat after the other. But Prince Huang Chao of Jizhou also has tricks on his sleeve. Moreover, the pretentious but wise Yu Wuyuan is aiding Prince Huang Chao. The Empyrean token is still nowhere to be found, and the autonomous states of Dadong start their quest to conquer the Empire’s throne.
More importantly, the long ousted Cricket and Locust army are starting to rise again in power. In particular, Yu Wuyuan is not the most refined gentry he pretends to be. He has set an even bigger scheme that Huang Chao, Bai Fengxi, and Lanxi have yet to uncover. Besides that, Feng Ju and Queen Baili continue to plot their own wicked plans.
Bai Fengxi and Hei Fengxi / Prince Lanxi ‘s adventures continue with all the problems and discoveries awaiting to be unveiled in Who Rules The World.
Who Rules The World Mid-Series Musings
Intriguing Plot Premise
The story at first seems complicated to grasp, but it quickly unravels its charms to entice the viewers. There is much to discover as the episodes unfold more about the lives of the characters and the condition of the empire. And the series’ trajectory seemingly moves slowly but steadily, giving the viewers enough time to digest everything.
There are a lot of characters in the series, but the main ones are remarkable enough to remember so as not to confuse the viewers. Each episode also makes viewers look forward to what is coming next. With that said, Who Rules The World is indeed off to a great start and a promising trajectory ahead.
Appealing Male & Female Lead Tandem
Besides their stunning visuals, Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi prove to be the ideal actor and actress for the main lead of the series. Their characters suit them very much, and for sure, viewers are ecstatic to see Yang Yang don a costume for this drama once again.
Moreover, the Hei-Feng-Bai-Xi tandem has an enticing strong, and lovely charisma that would draw viewers more and more to watch Who Rules The World.
Join Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi in their conquest in the martial arts world. Who Rules The World is available on WeTV and Netflix.
Photos: WeTV
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