In the Eye of the Beholder

WONG TAI BAK and WAT KEI compete with each other on drawing. TONG PAK FU suggests KEI to draw winter flowers and KEI’s work is slightly better than BAK’s. BAK asks some people to attack KEI and FU on the way. The Grand Scholar HO HOI CHING rescues them on time. HO persuades FU to work for the government but FU dislikes the dark sides of officialdom. He runs away with KEI to Hangzhou. Somebody uses FU’s name to organize a charity painting sale event in Hangzhou. The rich merchant KAM YAT DIM is a tyrant in town and he wants to be the chairman of the event. However, everybody vote for WAH HUNG SHAN instead. Everybody in WAH’s Residence is overjoyed but WAH is worried for he is a chicken-hearted and low profile person. WAH’s wife YAN SAU WAI’s maid CHAU HEUNG is very good in martial arts and she adores FU’s talent since she was young. The fake TONG PAK FU arrives at Hangzhou and everybody welcomes him cheerfully……

FU meets HEUNG in the temple and HEUNG smiles at him again. FU tries to chase after HEUNG at the pier and he nearly drowns himself. HEUNG finds him hilarious and she smiles at him again. FU is mesmerized by the “love” in HEUNG’s three smiles. WAH’s Residence is looking for a servant and FU decides to apply for the job. KIU’s younger brother LEE CHUNG HING is the head butler and he has got an unofficial decision already before the selection exercise. FU plays tricks to force HING to hire him or he will report this to the government official. SHAN doesn’t want any troubles. He hires FU and calls him WAH ON. HING tries to take revenge by asking FU to feed the dog and clean the toilets. FU learns that HEUNG adores his works so he tries to please her with poetry. FU helps to identify the mistakes in the copied version of his poetry book but this makes HEUNG angry……

MAN and MO treat HEUNG as their older sister. FU knows that if he treats the two boys well, HEUNG will also develop good impression on him. KEI tries to work in WAH’s Residence by bribing HING. He becomes the assistant butler in the residence so that he could protect FU while hiding away from the prostitute SIU TO. In order to help KEI, FU goes to the brothel to talk with TO. MAN and MO follow him to the brothel. SHAN misconceives that FU brings MAN and MO to the brothel. HING wants to seize the chance to bit FU. During the time, MAN and MO suddenly recite the Song Poems to everybody. They say that this is the result of FU’s teaching activities. SHAN is overjoyed and he decides not to punish FU. DIM and his son meet SHAN and his sons at a restaurant. MAN and MO are invited to join a poetry contest in the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival. During the contest, FU and the others try to help them by giving hints with animals and other objects……

A satyr appears in Hangzhou city and everybody in WAH’s Residence is worried. HAK demonstrates self-defense kung fu and he takes this chance to beat FU. FU and KEI suspect that HAK is the satyr and they try to monitor him secretly. HAK invites HEUNG to his room for discussing the issue of the satyr. He tries to molest HEUNG and FU rescues her on time. HAK is not behaving well but he is not the satyr. When everybody questions HAK, the satyr suddenly bursts into WAH’s Residence. HEUNG risks her life to chase after the satyr and she nearly gets killed but FU arrives to rescue her. He captures the satyr as well. When HEUNG chases the satyr, she accidentally damages the House of Arts constructed by DIM and DIM’s son is hurt as well. DIM insists to sue HEUNG. FU speaks for HEUNG at the court and HEUNG is sent to the prison for further investigation……

FU covers his face and pretends that he is SIT. He reveals to the judge that DIM has used inferior materials to build the House of Arts and HEUNG is released eventually. The government official also starts carrying out investigation on DIM’s construction projects. HEUNG sends FU a writing brush to thank him and FU uses the brush to write a love letter to HEUNG. However, HEUNG rejects him gently because SHEK LAU has fall in love with FU. DIM’s cousin KAM TUNG SHING works in the Investigation Bureau. With such a powerful connection, DIM threatens SHAN to have business with him but SHAN rejects him. DIM asks the members of the Investigation Bureau to take revenge for him. SHAN loses a lot of money in his business and his house is also damaged. SHAN doesn’t know what to do. MAN and MO beg DIM to let go of SHAN by kneeling in front of him on the street. DIM ignores their request and humiliates them in front of everybody……

HONG believes that TAK wants to meet pretty girls in Hangzhou. Since there are a lot of pretty maids in WAH’s Residence, HONG decides to accommodate TAK there. In order to welcome TAK, HONG tries to restructure the whole city and everybody is disturbed. MAN and MO built a grave for their rabbit but the officers destroy it. They are enraged and try to air their grievances by using needles to pierce a man of straw. HONG discovers it and he wants to kill them. FU explains that the two boys are trying to practice acupuncture with the straw man and TAK decides to let them go. TAK walks around Hangzhou city and Prince LING suddenly comes to give report to him. LING wants to update the Almanac of Wing Lok but TAK hesitates because the cost is very high. TAK asks FU to give advice and FU suggests updating the new parts only. TAK is relieved to hear his suggestion and he decides to grant 30 million dollars to LING for the task……

HEUNG brings TAK to the city without revealing their real identity. TAK finally realizes that his arrival has caused huge troubles to the citizens. HONG discovers the real identity of FU and he accuses FU for secretly planning to harm the emperor. FU has no choice but to reveal that his real objective is to get close to HEUNG by entering WAH’s Residence. HONG accuses FU for lying to the emperor. On the other hand, TAK blames HONG for creating a lot of troubles in town. He also thinks that FU is guilty but he can forgive FU if FU make a poem in seven steps. FU successfully make a poem and TAK appreciates his talents very much. TAK wants to take FU back to the capital but FU refuses. TAK reveals to HEUNG that he wants her to be his concubine but HEUNG rejects him. TAK is very sad to hear her decision. TAK says goodbye to FU. He knows that FU loves HEUNG whole-heartedly and he sends FU a golden plaque to bless him……

FU doesn’t want to change himself and give up his current lifestyle. He leaves HEUNG reluctantly and their wedding is cancelled. FU and KEI go to stay at Wah Yim Monastery. The Principal Master is threatened by a woodcutter because of his carelessness and FU plays tricks to settle the problem for him. The Principal Master wants to appoint a successor but he finds it difficult to make the decision. FU suggests selecting the successor by voting. WAI-HUNG appears to have malice in his heart and the Principal Master decides to appoint WAI-CHING as his successor. LING wants FU to work for him but FU rejects. SHAN hires FAN to be the teacher of MAN and MO. While SHAN is away, FAN suggests to WAI that MAN and MO should join the government examinations. MAN and MO copy the papers of other candidates during the examination……

LING asks FU to edit the hand-written sailing journal of CHENG WO. FU says goodbye to SHAN and he arrives at LING’s Sam Po Tong. The editor WAN CHIN PANG tries to give FU a bad time but FU manages to finish reading all the manuscripts in one night. He then gives remarkable advices to LING and LING is very impressed. KEI goes to WAH’s Residence to ask for help. SHAN asks LAU and HEUNG to take care of FU at Sam Po Tong. SHAN’s savior PAU SAI KIT comes to visit him. Thirteen years ago, SHAN was cheated by others and he lost all his money by selling counterfeit medicine. He tried to commit suicide but KIT rescued him. KIT helped to fight against the bad people and he also gave SHAN five thousand dollars for emergency use. KIT and SHAN later became sworn brothers. SHAN feels uneasy with KIT’s visit. FU, KEI and HEUNG try to solve the riddle behind the manuscripts. They travel to Lung Shing Village together to look for the Muslims……

The village head thanks FU and the others for their great help and he allows FU to copy the inscription on their holy stele. KIT encourages everybody to chase after their dreams. Everyone in WAH’s Residence is deeply touched and they admire KIT a lot. MAN and MO are inspired as well. They try to give away silk and satins to the villagers for free. All villagers fight for the silk and satins excitedly. MAN and MO are injured during the chaos. HUNG wants to bring FU and HEUNG together so he persuades FU to be more ambitious in his career but FU is not moved at all. HUNG decides to employ a prodding tactic. He asks HEUNG to choose her husband from the four guys CHUNG, KONG, YEE and TAM. However, FU plays tricks and the four guys become friends with each other because of a little money. TAK comes to Hangzhou again. KIT volunteers to perform in front of the emperor at Hangzhou City Centre……

LING asks TAK to assign troops to him for eliminating the remaining members from Heaven and Earth Union but TAK rejects him. LING's beloved daughter CHU TING YUK is an unruly girl. She damages FU's painting "The Nine Beauties" and she makes a mess at Sam Po Tong. KEI makes a poem to make a dig at YUK. YUK picks it up accidentally and everybody discovers that YUK is totally illiterate. LING's Residence organizes a poetry contest for YUK wants to find the person who speaks behind her. FU saves the person with TAK's fan but YUK takes away the fan. The Sichuan leader of Heaven and Earth Union is carrying a secret name list and he hides in SHAN's warehouse. People from the Investigation Bureau lurk in different places to capture the members from Heaven and Earth Union. KIT asks HUNG to carry out investigation at the warehouse. HUNG fights with the people from Investigation Bureau and he is arrested by them……

YUK plays tricks on HEUNG and people misconceives that HEUNG is an immoral woman. They try to parade HEUNG through the streets for this. FU makes complaint to LING and he resigns from his post. YUK and LING quarrel with each other madly. LING slaps YUK on her face and YUK runs away from home angrily. LING is very nervous and he asks people to search for YUK in different places. YUK's maid HAU LIN reveals YUK's story to FU and the others. YUK's mother committed suicide because LING misconceived that she had committed adultery with a scholar recruited by LING. YUK started to hate every scholar since then. LING is ashamed of himself so he spoiled YUK all the time. FU and the others try to look for YUK at her mother's hometown in Jiangxi. YUK has used up all her money there. Madam LUNG cheats her home and forces YUK to marry her grandson. During their wedding ceremony, FU and the others arrive……

YUK knows that she has made a big mistake and she is very ashamed. FU consoles her and YUK decides to make a change. YUK apologizes to everybody. She asks a painter to redraw "The Nine Beauties" again and she deliberately asks the painter to include HEUNG in the drawing but others tease her for doing so. FU teaches YUK to write a letter of apology to her father. While putting the letter in her father's room, YUK discovers a secret chamber. YUK misconceives that the books in the chamber are copybooks for calligraphy and she sends some to FU's room. After reading the books, FU and the others realize that LING is planning to rebel against the emperor. Trying to pretend that they have never read the books, FU and the others leave the house immediately. LING tries to test if FU knows anything but FU replies him tactfully. LING reads YUK's letter of apology and he is deeply touched……

From CHENG WO's journal, FU discovers that WO had been searching for the Buddha’s white tooth and he finds it strange. YUK follows FU to WAH's Residence to join a birthday banquet. She behaves gracefully and everyone is amazed. YUK knows that FU is still in love with HEUNG. She doesn't want to look for trouble so she agrees to go out with the commander HA HAU YUNG. FU asks if WAI-CHING knows anything about the Buddha’s white tooth and CHING believes that it means wisdom. CHING also tells FU that CHENG WO used to stay in Law Hong Monastery at Wuchang before his trip. FU and the others therefore go to Law Hong Monastery to search for hints. The Principal Master there reveals that Master CHI-WAI used to live in one of their rooms and FU believes that this person is the missing emperor WAI of the Ming Dynasty. CHENG WO was searching for emperor WAI during his trip……

FU deliberately interprets the Buddha’s white tooth as a hidden treasure so as to confuse LING. WAH's Residence is on fire and SHAN discovers the name list of Heaven and Earth Union accidentally. KIT realizes that SHAN has read the name list so he reveals his real identity to SHAN. He claims that SHAN was presumed to be one of the leaders of the union already and he threatens SHAN to follow them. SHAN finds that KIT wants to harm FU. He tries to remind FU secretly but he fails. KIT threatens SHAN to help eliminating FU or he will harm his family members. YUNG finds that YUK is holding the emperor's fan and he misconceives that this is a gift of love from FU. YUNG is very jealous and YUK kicks him away angrily. SHAN invites FU to a restaurant. Members of the Heaven and Earth Union are waiting there secretly for they want to kill FU. However, YUNG suddenly arrives with his subordinates to beat FU……

FU doesn't want to change himself and his life objective doesn't match with HEUNG. YUK plans to move to another city but she finally decides to stay after realizing that FU and HEUNG are no longer lovers. LING learns that YUK is in love with FU and he is very angry. HUNG looks for KIT at the warehouse and he fights with members of Heaven and Earth Union. KIT stuns him at the back. KIT brings HUNG to the village of widows and orphans. HUNG is sad to realize that these people are suffering because of the bad government officials. KIT takes the chance to persuade HUNG joining their union. HUNG asks HEUNG to persuade FU to find the descendants of emperor WAI for Heaven and Earth Union. HEUNG reveals to HUNG that LING is planning to rebel against the emperor. KIT asks FU out and he threatens FU to help him with the lives of HEUNG and the people in WAH's Residence……

From the manuscript, FU discovers that CHENG WO used to bring a prestigious person to Tai Tin Village at Henan. FU and the others go to the village to carry out investigation. They find that CHENG WO had brought the eminent monk NAI MOR to stay in Fat Sim Monastery. They look at NAI MOR’s statue and realize that NAI MOR is a monk from India only. From CHENG WO's poetry in the monastery, FU believes that CHENG WO had found emperor WAI but he released him. YUK's nursing mother reveals that YUK's mother did not commit suicide and it was LING who pushed her into the well. YUK scolds LING angrily and runs away. LING asks FU to console YUK. Based on the record of CHENG WO's chef TSUN WAI, FU roughly finds out the whereabouts of emperor WAI. LING's advisor MA KO suspects that FU is misleading them regarding the white tooth. FU explains himself tactfully. CHEUNG's real identity is exposed and LING's people arrest him……

LING arrests FU and the others. He gives FU a death sentence but YUK threatens LING to give up the plan with death. LING has no choice but to prison FU and the others first. LING's people surround WAH's Residence and everybody including KIT is trapped inside. HEUNG is remorseful for she has embroiled FU in the trouble. FU consoles HEUNG. HEUNG worries about her father and she tries to run away but LING's guards attack her. YUK risks her life to save HEUNG and she is injured. YUK begs LING to give FU a chance. LING finally agrees to marry YUK to FU. KIT tells LING that he could help fighting against the emperor. LING decides to join hand with Heaven and Earth Union. FU knows that the whereabouts of emperor WAI is very critical and he spends a lot of time to ponder over the issue. He is getting very restless everyday. YUK and the other console him. LING invites other princes to join hand together in fighting against the emperor……

FU and KEI decide to go to Siam. All people in WAH's Residence put their hopes on them. After going through all the difficulties together, HEUNG reveals to FU that she is willing to marry him. KEI and LAU fall in love with each other. FU is very surprised. On their departure day, HEUNG say goodbye to them reluctantly. FU arrives at Siam and they meet Uncle CHIU at China Village. CHIU reveals that there is a CHENG WO temple there and they believe that this was constructed by emperor WAI. FU finds the family with the surname NGAU in a notebook at temple. He believes that this is emperor WAI and his descendants. After going through some hard times, FU finally finds the grave of emperor WAI. He also finds WAI's descendant - a kid called NGAU PAK CHUN. LING is overjoyed to learn about the news. He goes to the palace with other princes and they force the emperor to hand over his throne……

FU arrives with CHUN and the imperial jade seal. LING has got the upper hand and he forces TAK to sign a resignation letter. At that moment, FU suddenly whispers something to LING and LING changes his attitude radically. LING stops pushing TAK to sign the letter. He even hands over his troops to TAK voluntarily and decides to devote himself to the editing tasks. FU persuades TAK to let go of all the members from Heaven and Earth Union. TAK agrees not to disturb CHUN's peaceful life at Siam and not to punish all the princes who joined hand with LING. In fact, CHUN is a girl so she is not able to inherit the throne! FU mediates between different parties to bring forth a harmonious conclusion to the rebellion. Afterwards, FU rushes back to LING's Residence to meet HEUNG. YUK is heart-broken. All members from Heaven and Earth Union welcome the amnesty but KIT doesn't want to give in……