Faces you'll recognise
Episode guide
In the year of Tien Chi in the latter part of Ming Dynasty, Hsi Chung is on the throne. In a bid to seize power, eunuch Wei Chung-hsien, for the sake of personal gains, adopts 13 'spirits' locally and abroad to form a terrorist outfit titled "The Deadly Thirteen", imparting to them unique martial arts from different schools to eliminate dissent and to frame the loyal ministers. To stop the Ming empire from falling into evil hands, King Chu Yu-chien of Hsin plans to resist in alliance with "six gentlemen" including Yang Lien and Tso Kuang-tou, but isolated and weak in power, they fail to shake out of the control of Chung-hsien and fall out of favor in deep emotion. Not reconciled to Ching-hsien's cover-up, Yang Lien braves his life to remonstrate with Hsi Chung and exposes in Court his crime of levying high taxes, building temples for the living and defiance of imperial order.… ...
On his way to Chinchow, Liaotung, Chu is pursued by Chung-hsien,s man Wang Chu, But rescued by a handsome young man Chou Ting-feng. Wang is beaten and killed, but Ting-feng goes away without leaving his name. On arrival, King Chu discovers Chung-huan to have a large Army and persuades im to rise up and lead troops to the Capital to suppress Chung-hsien. But Chung-huan advises him against any such movement, claiming that this might provoke the Chins stationed no less than 100 Ii away into invading the border. Chung-hsien takes the death of Wang at Chinchow to mean that Chung-huan has been covering up WeiTzu-chin against him, and therefore, send killer Yang Wan to capture the culprit. Fortunately, Chung-huan outwits him and craftily has the killer eliminated. With the death of his father as a martyr, Tzu-Chin loath to live alone overseas, vows to kill Chung-hsien to offer him to his shrine.… ...
Chung-hsien stores ten thousand human throats for the sake of practicing martial art. For convenience-sake, he sends somebody to kill Chung-huan. However, the dedicated killer escapes during the chaos. To gain Chung-hsien's favour, Chung-huan pretends as the head of anti- Wei's force. Chung-huan can exterminate Chung-hsien easily for he keeps a close touch with him. On his way, Ting-feng happens to encounter Tien Siu-lin, who is going to meet her father. On her way, she is unfortunately robbed by a few robbers and lying down in pain. Ting-feng then saves her. Ting-feng falls into love with Siu-lin, however, the latter leaves the former when the former seeks information about her life.… ...
Since Hsi Chung dies of illness, Wei Chung-hsien believes that King Shun is the only heir and thus proclaims him as anew king and marks a new era of Chung-cheng. Chung-hsien's manipulation can ensure his control over the court. Although Chung-cheng lives under the custodial eyes of Wei Chung-hsien, he is happy. to discover a secret tunnel which penetrates through the Forbidden City to the outside.Wei-Chung-hsien helps Chung-cheng to choose his favourite. He makes use of the chance and places Siu-lin on the card. Chung-hsieh hopes to make use of Sin-lin's sexual appeal to tempt Chung-cheng so that the tote latter goet astray from politics. Actually, Chung-cheng is able to see the truth and pretends to have fallen into the trap. He also pretends to have : alienated from the sincere advice of Wang Sing-yan. Also, he even beats up Sing-yan in front of Wei Chung-hsien. Later; Chung-cheng secretly saves Sing-yan from the horror.… ...
After endless struggle, Sing-yan finally escapes from the murder. Fortunately, he can meet Chung-huan. After meeting General Yuan Chung- huan, Sing-yan addresses him the grievance of the Court and persuades him to unite with Chung-cheng. Knowing Sing-yan's successful arrange- ment, Emperor Chung-cheng feels glad. Knowing that Chung-hsien is gifted in martial art, Emperor Chung-cheng sends Sing-yan and Chung-huan to persuade Chin Liang-yuk and Chow Ting- feng to deal with Wei Chung-hsien. To cope with the conspiracy, Emperor. Chung-cheng secretly sends the old guards stationed at Liaotung back to the capital. However, while Sing-yan is persuading. Liang-yuk to join the force, he is discovered by the secret gang of Wei Chung-hsien.… ...
Liang-yuk attempts to kill Wei Chung-hsien while the latter is patrolling. However, Liang-yuk is defeated and flees back to th Court in pain. Chung-hsien uncovers the secret and forces to search the bedroom of Chung-cheng. Fortunately, Chung-hsien's search is in vain. Being poisoned by Chung-hsien, Liang-yuk's life is in danger. Ting-feng successfully empoisons Liang-yuk and thus eases all the worries. Later, Wei Chung-hsien attempts to search Liang-yuk again. Unwilling to send Liang-yuk to Chung-hsien, Chung-cheng does not know what to do. To gain Emperor Chung-cheng's favour, Lady Tien cuts her shoulder and pretends as Liang-yuk to face Chung-hsien's torture. Knowing Lady Tien's situation and sacrifice, Chung-cheng feels guilty and sends somebody to rescue her from danger. However, he Empress stops her from doing so. Knowing that Lady Tien is his deeply loved Siu-lin, Ting-feng worries and declares war on Chung-hsien.… ...
Knowing his conspiracy is uncovered, Chung-huan gathers his elite group and stages a rebellion when the situation ;is ripe. Besides, they have to seek a new asylum for they are being identified. Knowing that Chung-huan boldly attempts to revolt against him, Chung- hsien sends his gang to destroy Kin-chin Court. Knowing that his direct confrontation with Chung-hsien is inevitable, Chung-Scheng orders Chung-huan to wipe Chung-hsien out. Being unable to tackle his enemy, he flees away and commits suicide. Having cleared the bad gang of the Court; Chung-cheng is very happy and boasts Chung-huan., Liang-yuk and the other supporters. All except Ting-feng accepts the Emperor's gift. Ting-feng just demands a common cottage to live in. Liang-yuk falls in love with Ting-feng. She, makes use of the pretext that Chung-hsien is wiped out.; expresses her hope to invite Ting-feng to Kui Chow.… ...
When Sing-yan leads a party of soldiers to purge Chung-hsien's family, eunuch Tsao Hua-hsiang finds out a letter which is sworn in blood by dedicated gang of 13. Knowing that his opponents are not completely wiped out, Chung-cheng worries very much. Actually the "mouse" killer is on the verge of-break-up after Wei Chung- hsien is killed. Having found out the name list of the rest of the gang, the "mouse" Killer attempts to gather the force and tries to take revenge on the Emperor on Chung-hsien’s behalf. When questioned by the Emperor about the 13 killers, Tsao Hua-hsiang shifts the responsibility to Hui Him-shun; a former supporter of Wei Chung-hsien.. Being an ignorant man; Him-shun forges a list so as to deceive the Emperor.… ...
Having lived in the cottage alone, Ting-feng suffers from the absence of his lover: He takes alcohol as a means of escaping from the reality. Chung-huan fears the fact that Chung-cheng discovers the real intention of Ting-feng-, he gives Ting-feng the golden shield. Since Chung-cheng is beleaguered by the 13 Killers' murder, he becomes extremely suspicious of the obedient ministers. In addition, he is being manipulated by Hua-hsiang’s Chung-cheng attempts to test the sincerity of all the ministers. His gesture enrages the ministers. After Chung-huan has returned back to Liaotung, he finds that the boundary is harnessed by drought: Since he attempts to make the region self-sufficient; he kidnappers Princess of Chin Dynasty, Yan Ge-ge-. He even forces Wang Ta-chi to teach him the way of irrigation. Fortunately, Ta-chi appreciates his bravery.While Chung-cheng is praying at Xiang-shan, murderer "horse" assassinates him.… ...
Knowing that Ting-feng has lived alone outside the Forbidden City, and knowing that he is beleaquered by his love-affair, Liang-yuk persuades him to go to Qui-chao. However, Ting-feng stubbornly rejects her offer. Hua-hsiang forges Chung-hsien's dead words and orders Tien Cheng-shun to follow his order, but :Cheng-shun rejects the order. Hua-hsiang persuades Chung-cheng to manipulate Ting-feng's love with Lady Tien. He aims at killing Shun-chi. Later, when Ting-feng catches Shun-chi, he discovers that the latter-is still very loyal to Wei Chung- hsien. Thus, .Ting-feng respects Shun-chi and lets him go. Knowing that Ting-feng cannot wipe out his opponent, Hua-hsiang sends somebody- to kill Shun-ch.i and reports Ting-feng's misdeed..… ...
When Chung-cheng discovers Li Kwok-shun sells his gift of the former Emperor in the street; he orders his guards to escort him to prison. On hearing the bad news, Kwok-shun is stunned to serious illness and never recovers from it. "Monkey" Killer seizes the chance and pretends as a fairy. He pretends to cure Kwok-shuns iIlness and at the same time manipulates Kwok-shun’s -wife to trap Chun-cheng. Having discovered the trap, Chung-cheng orders to confiscate his uncle-!s property and sends it to Liaotung..Chung-cheng is invited by Wang Ta-chi to enter a deer-hunt-competition. The invitation is hopefully designed to ease the tension which engulfs the boundary. On the other hand, Chung-huan who can hardly forget the fact that Sung Dynasty is conquered by the Chin opposes the reconciliation between the Chin and the Dynasty. Chung-huan's suggestion draws Chung-cheng into a dilemma.… ...
Chung-huan rushes back to the capital only to find that Chung-cheng's urgent call was over Lady Tien's elopement. He flares up and refuses to murder Ting-feng for him. Yan Ge-ge's declaration of love for Chung-huan is overheard by Tsao Ta-shu. She turns her anger into flattering Wang Ta-chi.In view of Chung-huan's deserted state; Hua-hsiang persuades him to organize a 'Brave Team', in order to infiltrate his power. A province governor, Tsui Pik-lun, facing the seriousness of the bandit problem and his old age; requests Chung-cheng for transferrable. In order to show his power, Chung-cheng orders his execution in the name of failing duty, which angers the other ministers:..Hua-hsiang's man, Pak Yuk-lun, is finally able to bring Lady Tien --- back to the capital. Unable to win her back, Chung-cheng orders her execution. The Queen's attempt to halt this ends in rebuff.
Yuk-lun traps Ting-feng with a view to delay his rescue of Lady Tien. Fortunately, Lady Tien is saved by Chung-huan on her way to be executed. On arriving at Liaotung, Chung-huan discovers that Wang Ta-chi has launched an attack on Kamchiaocheng which results in severe military loss on his side. He still refuses to surrender, to maintain the reputation of the Ming Dynasty. Hua-hsiang tricks Chung-cheng by making him into believing that Tsui Yan-yuan is able to enter into the dreamlands of all his ministers. He consequently of accuses the trustworthy ministers of treason, thus getting rid of them one by one. The 'Snake' Killer, Immanuel, directs a poisonous snake to attack Ting-feng and Lady Tien. Feng is bitten and Immanuel uses it to threaten Lady Tien. In response to the ministers' reports', of natural disasters and request of financial aid, Chung-cheng forbids all ministers to report them with the threat of execution.
Chung-huan sends Tsao Ta-shu to borrow soldiers from Mao Wen-lun to meet the Chin soldiers. However, Tsao and his soldiers are kept by Mao. In view of the situation, Chung-huan attacks the .. Chin soldiers suddenly and the latter has severe military loss. Yan Ge-ge persuades Chung-huan to have a compromise with Wang Ta- chi and proposes marriage implicitly. But Chung-cheng strongly objects to the idea of compromise. Chung-huan suggests to keep watch on the Chins by going back to the border, which is again rejected by Chung-cheng. Lady Tien, discovering that she is bearing Ting-feng's baby, insists on living in a Temple. The 'Chicken' Killer is ordered to force Ting-feng to join her organization. Liang-yuk overhears it and reports to Chung-cheng.
Seeing that the state affair is in a mess, Chung-huan intends to kill Hua-hsiang with his sacred sword: However, when Hua-hsiang . uses a Golden Shield to exempt himself from death, they seek Chung- cheng out to settle their conflict. In response to Chung-huan's accusation of Hua-hsiang's corruption with evidence, Chung-cheng declares Hsiang's execution. But Hsiang uses Ting-feng's life to threaten him and is subsequently put into prison. Finding that Ting-feng is controlled by the 'Chicken' Killer, Liang-yuk alerts :him to the danger, but in vain. Lady Tien leaves the Temple when she is going to give birth, nonetheless, she faints on her way and is rescued back to the Temple. Incidentally, Chung-cheng has dug a tunnel to connect the Court with the Temple: One day, he discovers that Lady Tien has given birth to Ting-feng's son and flares up.
Wang Chung Yan, though being ordered to capture Lady Tien, releases the mother and son in return for her past mercy. Thus, Chung-cheng sets Hua-hsiang free to solicit his support in catching Lady Tien. Once released, Hua-hsiang made plans to overthrow Chung-cheng and at the same time, sends the '-Dragon' Killer to dress up as Ting- feng to approach Lady Tien. Seeing through the trap, Lady T-ien pets her son under the care of an old nun, and then puts up a struggle with the 'Snake' Killer. Chung-cheng orders his army to capture Lady Tien and tortures her to death. Knowing the death and under the persuasion of the 'Chicken' Killer, Ting-feng plans his revenge on Chung-cheng. After investigation, Liang-yuk, comes to the truth that the 'Chicken' Killer has used medicine to control Ting-feng. He wishes to help Feng recover, with his teacher's advice.
Whilst Chung-cheng is paying tribute to his ancestors, Hua-hsiang leads him to seek fortune from the 4Dog}' Killer and employs the use of lies to upset Chung!s relationship with Chung-huan. On the other hand, he orders Mao-Wen-lung to murder Chung-huan, but Mao is killed instead. To flatter Ting-feng, the 'Chicken' Killer gives him a babysand makes him into believing that it is his son. With much effort; Liang-yuk discovers Ting-feng's where about and intends to take him to Ting, but interrupted by the 'Chicken' Killer. The latter kills a baby and proclaims that it is murdered by Liang-yuk, who is then wounded by Ting. In order to trap Ting-feng; the 'Chicken' Killer gives his true son to Chung-cheng. When saving his son, Ti-hg-feng is caught and imprisoned.
The Queen's aid to Ting-feng proves to be futile. After putting up a struggle with Chung-cheng, he runs away with his son, being injured.Tsui Yan-yuan, sent by Hua-hsiang to murder Chung-huan, is killed instead. Deceived by Hua-hsiang's words that the murderer is Chung- huan, the 'Monkey' Killer, Chung-cheng orders his,capture.sTo revenge on Chung-huan, Yan Ge-ge leads the Chin Army to launch a massacre in Kamchaocheng. Chung-huan hangs her to prevent theChins from future attack. Having heard of his sister's death, Wang Ta-chi leads his army to seize Yanking. When praying for good luck for the Ming Dynasty, the Queen uses her blood to copy the Buddhist Book.
Knowing the Chins' attack, Chung-huan rushes back to the .capital to fight against them. Nevertheless, Chung-cheng misinterprets it as an attack by Chung-huan, in collaboration with the Chins, and so he refuses to open the gate and interrupts the army's supplies. Wang Ta-chi makes use of the opportunity to make Chung-cheng believe Chung-huan has surrendered to the Chins._ Hua-hsiang_also_spreads the rumour of Huan's co-operation with the Chins. In response,`Chung- cheng weakens Huan's military power and imprisons him. Unable to realize his goal, Chung-huan gives his 'blood letter' to Tsao Te-shu, asking him to fulfill his will. Ta-shu promises to do so but refuses to obey Chung-cheng's order. As a king, Chung-cheng is helpless in combating the foreign invaders and murders so many able ministers. He is thus named 'Kwong Loong' by historians.… ...
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