Fate Takes A Hand

The story begins with a heavily wounded Tu Hsien-wu recalling the past after protecting Dr Sun Yat-sen dedicated to a revolutionary cause in Hong. Kong from the pursuit of the Ching troops.. A rich and powerful man in Tientsin, Tu Yu-wen seeks the help of geomancer Fang Yi-ting to find a suitable grave, hoping that his son. Hsien-wu will someday be blessed with honor. On the other hand, sensing the corruption of the Ching regime and the threats posed by the French troops, Hsien-wu, endowed with civil and military virtues, devotes himself to achieving unity and building China into a power. One day, a recluse Lu Hang-erh extorts with a coffin a large donation from the Tus for replenishing arms against French invasion. Impressed by his patriotism, Hsien-wu offers to duel with him and wins easily.… ...

Hsien-wu is rescued by Kuo Feng and each is deeply impressed by the other's patriotism. While Yu-wen and his wife are worrying over their son, they get information that he has been honored by Queen-Mother Tzu Hsi for credit rendered to the country through the recommendation of the General. Hearing of this, the villagers give color to the story and publicize him as the model of a Nationalist hero, making him the butt of a satire. Fast Sword Liu, who lost his job as a high officer responsible for operating on eunuchs due to failure in an operation, becomes an opium addict. Dawdling away his life, he forces his nephews Fu-hai and Hsiu-hai to become rickshaw men to support him. Eunuch Tung Cheng, a baron of Tzu Hsi, deserts is palace post to run roughshod in Tientsin. In a bid to woo Cheng, Yu Wen leads his son Hsien-wu to attend a party arranged by the French Ambassador.… ...

Yi-tung's daughter Chieh rescues. Hsien-wu whom, hung by the jealous Tung Cheng on the tree, is attacked by his followers. While presenting Hsien-wu the plaque of honour, Tung Cheng insults him before the on lookers buts in turn made fun of by the witty Hsien-wu. To fulfill his wish in finding the three graves of luck, Yi-tung goes all the way to Tientsin. Told by Yi-tung that one of the graves, the 'Lying Calabash', is blocked by the tomb of Fu-hails ancestor, Yu-wen, by threat as well as bribery, demolishes the Lius' tomb. Breaking the Tus' grave in revenge, Fu-hai and Hsiu-hai are chased after by the officers whom Yu-wen has bribed. To escape, the two brothers seek help from Tung Cheng whom Fast Sword Liu has once helped. To consolidate his status in the palace, Tung Cheng promises to bring them back to the palace as eunuchs after Liu has operated on them but Liu rejects.

Convincing his father to forgive the Lius, Hsien-wu hurriedly looks for them but Hsiu-hai, to protect his brother from being punished, has operated himself. TungCheng betrays his promise and refuses Fast Sword Liu to bring Hsiu-Lai back to the palace. The desperate Hsiu-hai finally hangs himself. Exhausted after finding the graves, Yi-ting entrusts Chieh to Yu-wen's care and dies. To revenge, Tung Cheng kidnaps Chieh. Failing to seek pardon, Hsien- wu decides to use force but is defeated. Kuo saves Hsien-wu who is suspicious of why Tung Cheng releases him in Kuo's favor. Tung Cheng plots to arrest Hsien-wu with good reason if he tries to rescue Chieh. Worrying about Hsien-wu's safety, Chieh sends someone to warn him.

Hsien-wu attacks Tung Cheng who openly molests Chieh. Assisted by Fu-hai, Hsien-wu finally brings TungCheng to the court. Insulted at the court by the arrogant Tung Cheng who intends to escape, the province director Chen Ying sues Tung Cheng for deserting his palace post. Hsien-wu, in appreciation of Fu-hai's help, finally convinces Fu-hai to work for his family instead of leaving for Beijing. Chieh gives Hsien-wu her family's jade pendant as a token of love but is disappointed at Hsien-Wu's indifference. To collect evidence to prove, Tung Cheng corrupt, Chen Ying, orders the search of his mansion but is threatened by Tung's guards armed with guns. When surrounding Tung Cheng's mansion with Chen. Ying's followers, Hsien-wu discovers that Kuo, plotting to overthrow the Ching dynasty, buys weapons from Tung Cheng.… ...

To force Chen Ying to release Tung Cheng, Tung's followers break into Chen's mansion. Furious, Hsien-wu kills Tung Cheng. While people are worrying about Hsien-wu, Tzu Hsi's decree to behead Tung Cheng suddenly arrives. Chen Ying reports on Hsien-wu's merit in getting rid of the corrupt Tung Cheng and as a result Hsien-wu is honored by Tzu Hsi. Believing that Hsien-wu is blessed by fengshui and that he will succeed in the Imperial Examination after marriage, Yu-wen urges Hsien-wu to marry Chieh.… ...