An opportunity to transfer authority.

This was an excellent episode that builds the suspense and highlights the fractures within the flame villa sect.  It also boasts some excellent martial arts.

1)We open to Ge'er who chooses to skip the important meeting regarding the next villa master.  Instead she chooses to drink tea with Master Lei who says that he would be terrified if he were in her shoes because she has no knowledge of the villa and Feng is more popular; even Ji is more suitable as he has reputation for being just.  Ge'er....doesn't really have anything except her blood relation.  She agrees with him and states that she does not know if she will do this; she does not know why her father wants her to succeed.  She then asks him how he knows he can trust his father (aww, doubt) did not collaborate with Dark Evil Palace, and Lei is so confident it is borderline smug as he ticks off all his father's shortcomings but says as his son he trusts him, and is angry that the evil palace dragged his name through the mud.

2)MW, at the super important meeting, all the uncles one by one give their thoughts on Ge'er.  Most believe that because Ge'er has never participated in villa affairs, has never contributed, has no reputation and may never have one and she may not have the support of others on the outside, she is a poor choice (FYI Feng, Yu, and Ji are also present).  Her father states that they can help her, teach and guide her.  They argue that having her in charge will turn the alliance into a mess.  Zhongli of the Azure Hall states he is loyal to the flame lord's choice and supports her.  One uncle(Murong?) supports her however Ji respectfully dissents and states that he believes Feng is a more suitable choice and they run the risk of offending Blade City.  Yu says he will support her since he has asked his father to marry her, and as his princess consort he will do anything and everything for her--an announcement which pisses Feng off and causes him to say that she can't be a princess and lead--but Yu cooly says he will live here if he needs to.  Flame Lord refuses to change his mind.

3)Afterwards, Housekeeper Yi (godson) serves him tea.  He asks him why he hurt Yang Yi, and he answers that it was because she brought dishonor on the villa  (my mind always goes to Mulan).  He only smiles and then he asks him why he has not voiced any discontent over not being selected, after all he is just as skilled as the others, but Housekeeper states he has no ambition.  Flame lord then says that it HAS to be Ge'er who succeeds him.

4)Ge'er joins her father for tea.  She has a very direct talk with her father (something I really like about her,she is so consistent!) and asks him why he chose her.  She is worried she lacks the skill, that others will think her father is blinded by familiar love.  Her father says that he and his godbrother fought hard to build the flame villa, that a lot of blood was spilled, that a lot of humiliation was endured.  She then asks why not Feng'er? He is the descendant of his godbrother, he has the skill.  She admits no one will think her qualified and that he is biased.  Her father repeats Feng Tian's name and says he was his best friend....then that's it.  He says that Feng is too cold,but she is more calm. WEAK.

5)Ge'er hesitates, and then she says she has heard some dreadful rumors that have been repeated over the past six months and have sullied the relationship between him and his late godbrother.  Her father wants to know what HER thoughts are (notice he does not ask what was said).  Ge'er drops to her knees and admits she has had her doubts, but no longer doubts him.  Her father pulls her into his arms and thanks her for believing him.  Just as she is about to tell him what Feng believes, he interrupts and says he already knows, and has known for a while.  This surprises her.  She asks him why he has not confronted him, and her father says that one day Feng will understand the truth.

6)Ge'er then says that she is worried that Feng will hurt him. This makes her father very angry.  He tells her--insists--that she not doubt him and to have faith in him. (In drama logic I think we must know that everyone will betray her).   She tells her father she will not mention it again (notice how she did not agree).

7)MW, Xun Yi meets with Ji who explains his reasons for backing Feng'er. Basically, he believes he is better.  Xun Yi then reveal to us Ji's apparent hero idol worship of Feng;er who has saved his life too many times to count. It is so bad that she wonders if Ji loves Feng'er more than her, leading to a flushing Ji insisting that is not so.  Needless to say, we now know why he is so fierce in backing him.

8)Elsewhere, the uncles meet up and privately tell Feng they all really support him.  They just think flame lord is upset over the Yang Yi episode and needs a year to cool off.  Ge'er shows up with flamelord to attend her first meeting.  She asks everyone to guide her.  She then suggests they their annual match (which was not held because of the wedding) and her father agrees.  We then see Yu in battle for the first time, against Yu,  and it's a pretty cool scene since he is in a wheel chair.  Then it is Ge'er and Ji.  She kicks ass and looks really pretty.  The match ends, but she asks to fight Feng, shocking everyone.  Her father agrees.  Feng  asks her to go first, and she does a good job but he refuses to draw his sword. FInally he stops, and they are neck in neck.  Yu interrupts and begs her not to push herself too hard.  At dinner the atmosphere is a bit tense, especially as her father lavishes her with praise.  He then shocks all his disciples by announcing he will be taking her to Azure Hall (its kind of like announcing she is crown prince officially because only he and Zhongli see those letters) Yu immediately drinks to this, and Ji only drinks AFTER Feng'er toasts him.

9)At Azure Hall Zhongli formerly greets her and explains that the Azure Hall receives mail from all over the world.  Unimportant letters are burned, flame lord only sees important letters.  Her father announces that she will receive all his correspondence when she is in the royal city in his stead.  Alone with Zhong Li, she asks why her father did not receive her mail. He says he gave that letter to housekeeper Li o_O whom he believes is loyal and would not deliberately deceive flame lord (B.S.!) She tells him that only she and her father are to receive mail in the future no one, not even Zheng or housekeeper, can receive it.  She also asks him to research the Dark Evil Palace.

10)Unfortunately, they receive news of the death of Thunderclap Leader, and that Niang is taking over.  She goes to tell Lei, who is devastated,but she reasures him that he is safe here.  Miss D learns of the death and passes a message on, and Xun Yi for reasons alone is shocked when she finds out (is she the secret daughter?).  Miss D passes on to Lei a jade token, and Lei asks to leave on the morrow so that he can clear up his reputation even though Ge'er says he is walking into doom.  But he goes.  The episode ends with Ge'er telling her maids that as long as one is alive, there is hope to change things....

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