Fang Duobing

Princess Zhaoling
(fiancee)

Fan Duobing is one of the main characters of the wuxia mystery drama "Mysterious Lotus Casebook". He is the Young Master of Tianji Hall and the adoptive son of the Hall-Master of Tianji Hall He Xiaohui and the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.

## Appearance

Fang Duobing wears expensive, embellished clothing of light/brighter colours - mainly in shades of blue. His hair is done in a high pony tail secured with varying hairpieces. At his waist he wears the jade pendant that He Xiaolan wore all her life.

## Personality

Fang Duobing is a somewhat naïve and innocent young man with a sunny disposition who is quick to trust others. He brims with determination and aspirations, and has the courage and wish to help others. It can be said that Fang Duobing loses some of those traits as his association with Li Lianhua increases and events become more serious.

## Early Life

Fang Duobing is the son of He Xiaolan and Shan Gudao though he had believed himself to be the son of He Xiaohui for most of his life. He Xiaolan passed away shortly after giving birth prematurely to Fang Duobing. Fang Duobing was sickly as a child to the extent that He Xiaohui didn't give him a proper name ("Duobing" (多病) translates to "many illnesses") for fear that he wouldn't survive to adulthood. Shan Gudao, whom Fang Duobing believed to be his uncle, would sometimes come around to see Fang Duobing and secretly teach him martial arts. Due to Fang Duobing's ill health at the time, he was in a wheelchair and could not hold a sword properly. During one such training session, Li Xiangyi came around and gave Fang Duobing a wooden sword. Li Xiangyi said that the wooden sword was more suitable for him and that if Fang Duobing ever learnt the hundred foundational with it, he could come find Li Xiangyi and he would take him as his disciple. Because of Li Xiangyi's words, Fang Duobing did his best to get better yet by the time he could stand up, Li Xiangyi was gone.

## Present

Having run away from an arranged marriage with Princess Zhaoling and tricked his way into the Baichuan Court by claiming to be Li Xiangyi's disciple, Fang Duobing was tasked with cracking three cases before he could formally become a Baichuan Court detective. His hobby of helping people led him to meet Li Lianhua, who helped him solve several cases while trying his best to get rid of Fang Duobing.

Fang Duobing and Li Lianhua's investigations uncovered the truth of Fang Duobing's birth, raised suspicions about Shan Gudao's death and revealed Li Lianhua's identity. Feeling betrayed, Fang Duobing vowed that to kill Li Lianhua if Shan Gudao's death indeed had something to do with him. After learning that Li Lianhua had been poisoned, Fang Duobing's anger and suspicions gave way to concern.

Following the revelation of Shan Gudao's treachery, Fang Duobing, Li Lianhua and Di Feisheng fought together to foil the Nanyin conspiracy. Afterwards, Fang Duobing agreed to come to Princess Zhaoling when he had had enough of the martial world.

Unbeknownst to Fang Duobing, Li Lianhua had given the Styx Flower which could cure his Bicha Poison to the emperor. Apart from healing the emperor, this also removed suspicion of treason from the Fang family. After Li Lianhua's condition worsened, Fang Duobing left to find Guan Hemeng for help but when he returned, Li Lianhua had disappeared, leaving him the techniques of the Xiangyi Swordplay. On the day appointed for Di Feisheng and Li Lianhua's duel, a letter was delivered to Fang Duobing from Li Lianhua which stated that Li Lianhua had passed away. Fang Duobing stated that he would not believe Li Lianhua was dead until he saw his body and vowed to find him.

## In the Auspicious Pattern Lotus House

Novel-version Fang Duobing is a rather ill-mannered young master. He apparently "might have been a handsome young man if he gained ten kilograms but currently resembled someone who had died of hunger". Li Lianhua often teased him about being so thin.