Lady Fan

FAN LEI FA is practicing her martial arts when she spots the shadow of an armed intruder. YEUNG FAN, a valiant fighter esteemed by the FANs, falls in love with FA at first sight. He asks FA’s father FAN HUNG for the hand of his daughter, only to be turned down by FA. FA is displeased that her elder brother FAN MO has accepted YEUNG’s betrothal gifts without her knowledge. She masquerades as a Han woman and enters the Yuk Moon Gate. FA’s younger brother FAN WAI accompanies YEUNG on his search for FA, but he exposes his real identity and is captured by a Han general. FA penetrates the SIT generals’ camp and engages SIT TING SHAN in a fight. YEUNG sets fire on the camp. FA’s master LEI SHAN SING MO has given her a love ring and reveals to her that she is destined to marry a man armed with weaponry. When she meets him, the ring will be split into two halves.… ...

FA and SHAN fall down a cliff. When their hands hold tightly together, a mysterious force is released, which sends KWAI and HUNG safely back to their respective camps. With SHAN gone missing, KWAI’s subordinates TAU YAT FU and his sister TAU SIN TUNG are dispatched to the enemy camp to gather news of his whereabouts. LEI SHAN SING MO tends to SHAN’s wounds. But SHAN, wide-awake, screams and yells in protest of his marriage with FA. He even refuses to eat for fear that she has poisoned his food. KWAI demands SHAN’s immediate release from HUNG, threatening to wipe out the entire Han Jiang Gate once his 100,000-man reinforcement troops arrive. FA brings WAI along to her meeting with YEUNG. WAI asks to study martial artistry with YEUNG and fakes injury so that FA may escape. FA gathers a magic herb for SHAN’s treatment but loses her consciousness after being poisoned by the plant.… ...

SHAN shows FA his gratitude by nursing her throughout the night. But mistaking it as a sham, SHAN leaves in an anguish and is captured by YEUNG. YEUNG sends KWAI an invitation to a duel with him alone at Han Jiang Gate. In fact, YEUNG has his archers lied in ambush for him. FA gets wind of the scheme and releases SHAN from the prison on condition that he returns in three days with a marriage proposal. SHAN has no choice but to agree with it. FA makes a timely appearance and takes the father and son to safety wielding her magic. SHAN meets again CHAN KAM TING, his childhood friend whom he secretly falls for. TING tells him that she and her godfather TEACHER CHAN will settle down in the area and run a bookstore. FA has waited at the tower for three days without any signs of SHAN’s return. Concealing her departure from the family, she launches her search for SHAN, who denies the vow to marry her.… ...

FA asks everyone she has come across what sincerity really means and eventually finds the answer from a bride. After much trouble, FA has bought a bowl of SHAN’s favorite sweet dumplings from a neighboring village and hurries to Yuk Moon Gate. At the gate, she chances on CHING NGAU KAM, who is weeping his eyes out for his missing cricket. A kind-hearted FA gives him a hand in his search, but because of the delay, the dumplings have turned cold by the time she reaches the SIT’s. LAU is displeased with her lack of sincerity and sends her away. Undaunted, FA waits for SHAN’s return in the rain outside the house. KAM pities her and takes her in. Thinking that SHAN has bewitched FA, a furious YEUNG leads his troops to charge Yuk Moon Gate, seeking to settle scores with SHAN. But his move has instead alarmed KWAI. SHAN’s sister SIT KAM LIN meets FA and finds out by divination that the marriage between SHAN and FA is not destined.… ...

KAM asks FA to teach her witchcraft in return of his lobbying to KWAI to make her a daughter-in-law. On the other hand, LAU plans to hasten SHAN’s marriage in order to dash FA’s hope. She sends over betrothal presents to TEACHER CHAN asking for TING’s hand, but TING is filled with apprehension about her reunion with SHAN after a long separation. SHAN thinks FA has intervened between TING and him and has a score to settle with her. The city is allegedly haunted. SHAN volunteers to investigate into the matter. With the assistance of FA, he exposes it to be a play staged by daddy SIT YING LUNG, who was desperate to try out his latest invention. A confidential letter reaches KWAI, informing him of the forthcoming incognito visits of the emperor LEE SAI MAN and his uncle LEE TO CHUNG to Yuk Moon Gate. KWAI thus orders his men to sweep the streets of the city. LUNG issues FA a challenge.… ...

CHUNG insinuates that the SITs have acted in collision with the barbaric tribe to overturn the Tong court and urges the emperor to execute them. KAM pleads for KWAI and FA and reveals the reason behind FA’s appearance. He points out that FA is an invaluable asset to the court in their attempt to pacify the Liao tribe. FA performs magic for the emperor and receives his rave review. The emperor answers her request and bestows her upon SHAN as his wife. SHAN drowns his sorrows in wine with TUNG as his company. LUNG contends with FA in bird catching and again loses to her. His penalty is to address FA as mother. Pitying SHAN’s sufferings, TUNG asks to meet FA in private. But their meeting proceeds from words to blows. On the emperor’s order, KAM informs HUNG the marriage arrangement between SHAN and FA and tries to talk him into defecting to the Tong court. HUNG is outraged by his suggestion.… ...

FA drags LUNG out from Yee Hung Singsong House to meet his birth mother. FA’s recklessness causes the SITs to believe that she has eloped with LUNG. SHAN decides to pen a divorce letter, only to be stopped by KWAI. SHAN and TUNG sneak into LUNG’s residence to gather evidence of her adultery but fall into a trap laid by LUNG. LUNG sees the harmonious family life his mother now enjoys and understands the reason behind her walking out on him and father. To end SHAN’s protest for a divorce, FA subjects herself to a test of virginity by KAM and proves her innocence. She demands apologies from SHAN or she will lodge a complaint with the emperor. LUNG tires to make SHAN realize the ordeal of being wronged by bribing a woman to accuse him of harassment. His scheme just incurs SHAN’s wrath. After meeting LUNG’s mother, SHAN finally offers his apologies to FA. LAU points out that the SIT’s daughter-in-law must be an adept chef.… ...

SHAN misconceives that FA schemes to poison the family with the soup. Fortunately, KAM comes to her defense. FA asks LUNG to bring MO a birthday present. Missing FA, MO disguises as a Han and pays her a visit in Yuk Moon Gate. LUNG recognizes MO as FA’s brother from a keepsake FA used to possess and smuggles him into the city from the air by employing his ingenious invention. This way, they successfully escape the watchful eyes of the generals guarding the gate. MO searches everywhere for the puppet FA gave him and has unwittingly offended LIN. KWAI, alarmed, drags him to the military camp for questioning. FA pleads on MO’s behalf. KWAI permits MO to stay and meet his sister. KWAI and others make the traditional obeisance at their ancestral temple. LAU assigns FA to guard the longevity candle. But MO’s sneezes unwittingly extinguish the candle and causes FA’s penalty.… ...

Unable to marry TING, a depressed SHAN locks himself up and has no appetite for food and drinks. FA learns shoe-making in order to please him. TUNG meets up with TING and learns that she is still deeply in love with SHAN. LAU thus arbitrarily takes a concubine for her son. In order to get rid of FA on the auspicious day, she asks FA to make obeisance to the Marriage Rock to pray for marital bliss in TUNG’s company. FA fails to see through her scheme and abide to the arrangement. LUNG gets wind of the concubine taking ceremony to be taken place at the SIT’s and hurries the news to FA. The rejoicing over the ceremony is interrupted by FA’s return. She demands an explanation from SHAN. KWAI urges FA to live and let live and insists that the ceremony should proceed as scheduled. KAM arrives with the emperor’s imperial decree to summon KWAI and SHAN to the court and join forces to deal with a stalwart fighter of Huihe.… ...

FA lives up to everyone’s expectation by defeating the arrogant Huihe fighter with magic. In return, she asks for the emperor’s ruling to prohibit SHAN from taking a concubine. SHAN finds FA all the more loathsome. Chancing on the rendezvous between SHAN and TING, FA flies into a fury. MO seeks revenge for FA but swallows an odor pellet meant for SHAN by mistake. As if to rub salt into TUNG’s wound, the scar on her face, LUNG hires someone to play a practical joke on her, causing her scar to swell. Venting her spleen, TUNG seeks LUNG out in the mountains but chances on FA instead. FA puts a thousand years old leech on her face to suck blood from her scar and heals her wound. FU arrives and finds a poisoned TUNG in a coma. He vows to avenge her death. Despite FA’s explanation that TUNG will soon regain her consciousness, no one believes in her. Abiding by the law, KWAI locks her up in prison.… ...

FA rescues SHAN, who has been cast a spell, and joins hands with him to eradicate the Huihe fighter. KWAI chastises SHAN for violating military disciplines but FA pleads for his pardon. Meanwhile, TUNG wakes up and finds the scar on her face disappeared. Her heart swells with gratitude for FA and the two women become sworn sisters. WAI fears that FA will soon be appointed by the emperor to attack Sai Leung. HUNG is inclined to make peace with the Tong court but meets with WAI’s opposition. In fact, WAI has been secretly seeking the alliance of other feudal kings. FA is appointed head coach of the army, teaching the soldiers magic tricks. Meanwhile, SHAN is demoted to become a warehouse guard. FA asks KWAI to offer SHAN another chance to wipe out the enemies on the battlefield, but involves SHAN in further trouble as he is transferred to the kitchen. SHAN drowns his sorrows in wine.… ...

KWAI chides LIN for smearing the family reputation with running a street stall and punishes her by making her copy Sun Tsu The Art of War. LAU hopes to tame her daughter by finding her a marriage partner through a matchmaker. Meanwhile, an argument ensues between LUNG and FU. The two men make a bet on wooing LIN. SHAN’s changing impression of FA offers TING cold comfort. LIN divines of her own forthcoming wedding and becomes deeply troubled by it. LUNG sends LIN an invitation to an outing delivered by a carrier pigeon. LIN is elated to wheel about in the sky. FA delivers a message to KWAI from SHAN which expresses his reluctance to work in the kitchen. KWAI simply asks her to mind her own business. TING accompanies SHAN to a walk in the countryside. She fakes twisting her ankles and makes SHAN carry her back home. TEACHER CHAN meets TING on her return and reminds her to stop seeing SHAN. KWAI awakes in a cold sweat.… ...

TING is, in fact, YEUNG’s sister. YEUNG has asked her to report on every move of the SITs. LUNG tries every means to please LIN. The lady is overjoyed. MO informs FA that TING is a native of Sai Leung. SHAN, who happens to walk by, extracts LIN from her predicament. Unrelenting, MO follows after TING, who lures him to a back alley and accuses him of harassment. Hearing her scream, KWAI exiles MO to beyond the pass. Prior to his departure, MO urges FA to guard against TING. Suspecting the death of an old feudal king is a conspiracy, HUNG vows to capture the culprit and resumes command of the army. When WAI’s wife alerts YEUNG of HUNG’s suspicion, YEUNG instructs her to poison HUNG. LUNG pretends being knocked over by a carriage. A tearful LIN rushes to his side, urged by everyone to say “I love you” to a presumably critically injured LUNG. In fact, LIN has learnt of the bet made between LUNG and FU.… ...

The emperor tactfully inquires into the marriage between FA and SHAN. A shrewd FA gives the emperor a flawless answer. The very same night, the couple stays over in the imperial palace at the emperor’s invitation. To find out if the rumor that the couple is at odds has any truth, CHUNG observes stealthily outside their room. FA realizes the presence of CHUNG and pretends to embrace SHAN. The couple takes a stumble and kisses each other on the lips, arousing their mutual affections. The emperor praises FA’s contributions to her country, but she gives all the credits to the SITs and KAM. FA declares her love for SHAN, who admits to seeing her in a new light. SHAN also prepares to break up with TING. Knowing the reason behind SHAN’s visit, TING sheds tears and disheartens him to propose their break-up. His weakness upsets FA. LIN uses FU to infuriate LUNG, but at the same time, she tells FU that she will not fall for him.… ...

TUNG offers a plan to patch up SHAN’s relationship with FA. YEUNG orders the diffusion of the SIT Family Troops, but TING refuses. Moved by LUNG’s sincerity, LIN forgives his misdeeds. FU drinks alone in Yee Hung Singsong House. The following day, he wakes up to find a dead prostitute by his side. FU cannot dispute a witness’ testimony of his murder of the prostitute in his drunken state. KWAI, who comes under immense pressure from the emperor, orders FU’s execution in two days. TUNG stands up for FU’s defense, but despite everyone’s best effort, no evidence to prove of FU’s innocence can be found. A desperate TUNG resorts to redeeming FU from the prison. WAI has summoned a congregation of feudal kings to discuss on their plan to attack the Central Plains. YEUNG seizes the opportunity to expose WAI’s murder of the old feudal king. To pacify the leaders, WAI is exiled from their land.… ...

FA and MO break their siege and escort an injured HUNG safely to the healing hands of the SING MO. Meanwhile, CHUNG and his aide CHIEF COMMANDER LEE lead their troops to Yuk Moon Gate. SHAN and WAI return to the FAN’s residence but meet with a sudden attack. TUNG and FU timely come to their aid and risk their lives to inform KWAI of YEUNG’s conspiracy and coup. HUNG, who is nursed back to health, bids farewell to SING MO, who asks him to bestow the Cloud-piercing Bow and Arrow on SHAN when they meet again. HUNG appears in time to overturn the coup and expose YEUNG’s conspiracy. YEUNG has no way to run but to jump off a cliff to his death. At the very moment CHUNG presses KWAI into declaring war on Sai Leung, MO arrives with the news that HUNG has no intention to wage war on the Central Plains. HUNG personally administers the punishment of WAI for his murder of the old feudal king.… ...

TEACHER CHAN is furious of SHAN’s advances on TING and confronts him with his devious acts. FA, who happens to witness the incident, storms out. She ignores SHAN’s pleadings in the rain. KAM’s speech softens FA’s attitude. She gives consent to SHAN’s taking TING as his concubine. The entire village is gossiping about SHAN’s taking of TING as his concubine. Ashamed of the disgrace he has brought FA, SHAN refuses to enter the bridal chamber. SHAN takes LUNG’s suggestion and prepares FA a special gift. FA is moved by his gesture, but soon jealousy fills her heart as she sees SHAN enter TING’s room. TOAIST PRIEST FUNG LUI saves YEUNG and imparts on him the art of illusionism, but on one condition — YEUNG must kill FA and SHAN. LIN tells LAU about her love with LUNG, but KWAI refuse to accept a dandy as his son-in-law. In order to gain the father’s trust, LUNG enlists in the SIT Family Troops.… ...

FA personally prepares TING a tonic. TING falls ill after drinking the medicine. The doctor announces the saddening news that the baby has died prematurely. Everyone condemns FA’s malignancy. Feeling wronged, she returns to Sai Leung. Defying military disciplines, LUNG punishes SHAN on FA’s behalf. FUNG LUI imparts the Bewitching Black Magic on YEUNG but demands his careful application. KWAI, again haunted by the vision of SHAN’s murder of himself, avoids seeing SHAN all together. Learning FA’s sufferings, HUNG asks to meet KWAI in an attempt to clear her name. As SHAN sets off to Sai Leung to beg for FA’s pardon, TING shrewdly retains him by her side. SING MO reveals to FA that the love debts between KWAI and SHAN of this life and of the previous incarnation will soon cease. SHAN will shoulder the blame of killing his own father. YEUNG springs a sudden attack on the SITs camp.… ...

Witnessing KWAI’s injury inflicted by FA, SHAN pricks the skin of FA’s chest and announces their separation. KWAI, seriously wounded, falls into a coma. YEUNG controls the mind of TING with the Bewitching Black Magic and urges her killing of KWAI. However, YEUNG’s hands have become stone solid after wielding the magic. Only when he confronts FUNG LUI that he realizes he has been used. YEUNG kills the priest. SHAN appears just in time to save KWAI from TING’s killing hands. SHAN suspects that FA has bewitched TING and has been pulling the strings. On the contrary, TUNG is distrustful of TING. She and SHAN test TING’s loyalty by writing her a letter in the Sai Leung dialect. TING fails her test and pours out to SHAN YEUNG’s scheme and control over her. CHUNG resumes the control of Yuk Moon Gate. KWAI wakes up and recounts to SHAN the cause of the battle with FA.… ...

SHAN flees from the imprisonment and searches for FA in Sai Leung. When FA sees him, she loses her sanity and demands his life. SHAN injures FA in the chaos but manages to take a bound FA to SING MO. Even the master cannot break her curse. FA tricks SHAN into releasing her restraints and wields her killing sword at him again. YEUNG appears to applaud FA’s killing of SHAN, incognizant of the fact that it is a trap. YEUNG tries to restore the balance of qi in his body but the inner devil gets the better of him. He perishes in flames. SHAN speeds to the execution ground, trying to stop the execution of KWAI and others. Though YEUNG has died, his hostility has taken a new host in CHUNG. LUNG timely arrives to protect the emperor from CHUNG’s harm. FA and SHAN follow the hostile air to the forest. SHAN is bewildered by the two visions of FA.… ...