Have you ever heard about that
the cliff of a snow mountain
once fascinated numerous people?
Legend has it that,
there were treasures at the peak
but also there was a bottomless chasm hidden over there.
The smart, the fool
and the kind people,
all are familiar to you.
On the mountainside, on the cliff,
on the cloud,
and in the human world,
snowflakes are drifting profusely and disorderly.
Joy of Life Season 1
Episode 4
Close the door.
Give out my order.
Tell them to clean up
the servants' kitchen,
for Fan Xian to move in.
Yes.
Madam.
Still inside?
Yes.
There's no sound. It's very quiet.
Sizhe! Sizhe!
Wake up!
Mom, ten taels of silver will be enough!
You...
It's improper for me to go.
Just go to your father's study.
Say that
you're worried that he might be hungry.
Ask him if he wants any pastries.
Take the chance to see
what Fan Xian is doing
in the study.
Mother, you're right.
I'll do as you command.
Take Young Master there.
Yes.
So obedient.
He's finally made some progress.
Lead the way faster!
Yes!
It's so late, but my dad hasn't eaten anything yet.
I'm so worried!
Really worried!
Young Master?
Am I silly?
Young Master!
Madam, Young Master has run away.
Fan Jian, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Revenue & Earl Sinan
Feeling anxious after waiting so long?
Father, good evening!
To answer your question, I'm not anxious.
After waiting in Danzhou for so many years,
no need to be anxious for a little longer.
It sounds like a complaint.
Should I shed tears
and cry for an hour with you in my arms
to express
my regret?
Please don't!
I think so, too.
Then let's get down to business.
What kind of person do you want to become?
I want to become the richest man in the world,
living a peaceful and romantic life with many young and beautiful wives.
Sorry, I'm a vulgar man.
How will you build up a fortune?
I've already thought about that!
I have a unique technique.
Under high temperatures,
I can make something marvelous out of sands
which is much smoother and more transparent than the crystal.
I call it glass.
Once it is made...
Where did you get that?
Your mom made it before.
And the technique is mature.
Never mind. I've got something else.
I can use grease
to produce something special
which can clean both clothes and human body.
Smooth as grease
with fragrance,
it's far better than honey locust and wood ash.
I call it soap.
Your mom made that before.
She not only made soap,
but also perfumed soap.
That's fine.
Actually, I've got something else.
Nowadays,
besides honey,
sweet food are usually made of
maltose or malt.
Even saccharose is pretty rough.
I've got a technique
to further refine the saccharose into
granulated sugar as white as snow.
And the flavor is excellent.
White granulated sugar.
There are two full jars in the kitchen.
Also made by my mom?
Yes, your mom made it back then.
Why haven't I seen these things
in Danzhou?
They are only used by
influential officials
and circulated in big cities.
So I'm to blame
for living in the rural area.
Do you have any other ideas?
No.
Why is my mom always one step ahead of me?!
Your mom ran a firm,
so she had countless fancy ideas.
Back then, the scale of her firm
was already No.1
in the world.
It was the fortune center of the world.
I've heard about that.
Rumor has it that after she died,
the firm was registered under the state treasury.
That's not true.
It was controlled by the imperial family
and was named Neiku (Homophone for underwear in Chinese).
Who came up with such a vulgar name?
Mind your words!
It was named by His Majesty.
What's so vulgar?
Never mind. Go on.
Diligent in handling complicated national affairs,
His Majesty has no energy
to manage Neiku in person.
Therefore,
he put Li Yunrui, the Princess Royal,
in charge.
The Princess Royal is in charge of Neiku?
She's extremely beautiful
and very gentle.
Though she's not related to His Majesty by blood,
she's deeply trusted.
And she's not married yet.
Li Yunrui, the Princess Royal of Nanqing
Father,
are you into her?
Nonsense!
Since we met,
you've talked from the firm to the Princess Royal.
You said we would talk about business,
but you only talked about gossips.
Do you know what gossip means?
The Princess Royal
has a daughter with Lin Ruofu,
the current Prime Minister.
You just said
she's not married yet.
It's a big secret.
You're definitely gossiping!
The Princess Royal's daughter
is named Lin Wan'er.
She is the woman
you come to marry.
Bastard son and bastard daughter,
we're really made for each other.
His Majesty proclaimed that
whoever marries Lin Wan'er
can take over
Neiku
from Li Yunrui,
the Princess Royal.
Chen Pingping and Fei Jie
don't want you to come to the capital now.
I take you here
while they are away.
Because now
is the best chance to get back
your mom's properties
and reclaim
what should be yours in the first place.
Here!
This is for you.
What's this?
The summary of important things of Neiku over the years.
Read it carefully.
It's helpful for you to reclaim the properties.
Actually, I...
But you should be more careful.
Neiku is a money tree for the imperial family.
A lot of people don't want you to take over.
My greetings to you, Your Majesty!
Arise.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
It's late. What brings you here? =Empress Dowager of Nanqing=
Your Majesty!
Fan Xian has arrived in the capital.
It's the kid Earl Sinan
kept in Danzhou.
Wan'er was sent out of the palace
right after I gave birth to her.
I've always felt guilty
and wanted to find her a good husband.
But Fan Xian is a bumpkin from a remote place
with no fame or talent.
He's no match for Wan'er!
So, you...
I don't want Wan'er to marry him.
So the Princess Royal doesn't like the marriage.
That's right.
She's not happy with it from the start.
Then it's over.
Without the consent of the mother-in-law,
there will be no marriage.
She has no say
in your marriage with Lin Wan'er.
She's her mom, yet she has no say in this?
For the imperial family,
family affection is never the theme.
You want to stop Fan Xian from marrying Wan'er?
Your Majesty, I beg your support!
Hong Sixiang, Head of Eunuchs of Nanqing
Princess Royal.
Eunuch Hong,
I'm sorry.
When it comes to the imperial family,
only His Majesty can make the call.
No one cares if you like it or not.
That is a warning for you
to never cross the line.
Yes.
As long as His Majesty consents,
what others think
doesn't matter.
But why does His Majesty
have to make me
marry Lin Wan'er?
His Majesty has four sons.
The eldest one is away leading troops.
The youngest one is still a child.
Now the Crown Prince and the second prince
are fighting for the throne.
How is that relevant to me?
The Princess Royal has supported
the Crown Prince all along.
It's like the imperial wealth
is controlled by the Crown Prince.
It's way too dangerous.
So the Head of Neiku must be replaced.
Exactly.
By taking over Neiku,
I practically shake the foundation of the Crown Prince.
This might be the cause of
the assassination in Danzhou,
You mean
it's the Crown Prince and his followers who tried to kill me.
It's probable with interests concerned.
You've said all these
to clear
Liu Ruyu.
You don't believe me?
You even drag the Crown Prince into this.
Does it matter if I believe you or not?
Follow me.
Princess Royal.
His Majesty wants to see you.
Please come with me.
Just lead the way.
Fan Ruoruo, daughter of Nanqing Earl Sinan Fan Jian
Fan Sizhe, second son of Nanqing Earl Sinan Fan Jian
I'm hungry.
Finished talking? Go ahead and take a seat.
I have to say this.
You don't want to eat,
but Fan Xian can be hungry.
Fan Xian, bastard son of Nanqing Earl Sinan Fan Jian
We have important things to discuss. Please leave us. =Liu Ruyu, Fan Xian's stepmother=
We have important things to discuss. Please leave us.
=Fan Jian, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Revenue & Earl Sinan=
We have important things to discuss. Please leave us.
Yes.
Only me?
Get out now!
Yes!
Did you send
Butler Zhou to Danzhou?
Master, you've known that.
Danzhou is so faraway.
I thought
it would be reassuring to send someone trustworthy
to take care of Xian'er.
He tried to assassinate Fan Xian
in Danzhou.
A...assassinate?!
You don't know that?
I haven't heard from him this month.
I've no idea.
There won't be any letters.
My mother has sent him onto a fish boat.
He won't get down in recent years.
Staying away for all these years,
he actually dare betray his master.
Thank God Xian'er is all right.
Butler Zhou confessed it all.
He had received your secret letter,
asking him to kill Fan Xian
with the Investigator's Office.
How come the Investigator's Office is also involved?
They also received a fake order.
The Investigator's Office only answers to His Majesty.
Whoever can insert spies in the Investigator's Office
must be from the imperial family.
And Lady Yi, mother of the youngest prince,
happens to be your cousin.
Master, you mean
I am the one who wants to kill Fan Xian?
Aren't you?
No, it's not me.
Why not?
I...
Tell him.
If I want to kill you,
I'll definitely
find a stranger
to do the job.
I'll never ask Butler Zhou to do it.
I... I'm not that stupid.
Maybe you did it the opposite way.
I have no reason to kill you.
You don't want me to inherit the family properties.
No, Fan Xian.
I might be particular about you,
and I might try to suppress you,
but I'll never try to kill you.
Why?
If you die because of me,
Master is sure to
drive Sizhe and me out of the Fan mansion.
I...
This...
Ruoruo.
I think she's made a point.
If she wanted to kill you,
she wouldn't involve her minion.
Right.
So?
Words alone
can't prove anything.
I...
You can investigate on your own.
Let's eat first.
Here you are!
It's from the Princess Royal.
Li Yunrui, the Princess Royal of Nanqing
Your Majesty, the Princess Royal is here.
Emperor Qing, Nanqing's emperor
Don't hold a grudge against the Empress Dowager
for that slap on your face.
I just don't want Wan'er
to marry a bumpkin.
You can just say it out!
Why ruin
other's reputation instead?
Your Majesty, what do you mean?
I don't understand.
Really?
Gong Dian!
Yes! =Gong Dian, Deputy Director of Imperial Guards of Nanqing=
Go find out
who sent the maidservants
out for purchasing today.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Take a seat.
Come on! Let's eat while the dishes are still hot.
Eat more.
What a feast!
Here, I'll fetch you some soup.
OK.
You're so kind!
This is the white gourd clam soup.
I especially
have the clams delivered.
Here! Have a try!
Thank you so much!
Madam, I've never seen such a dish
in Danzhou.
Really?
- Just try it! - How does it taste?
Do you like it?
I'm so blessed!
- Good! - Terrific!
Madam! Father!
This fish is specially brought here
from Danzhou.
Please try and see how you like it.
OK! Let's taste it!
It looks so yummy. You're so thoughtful.
If you like it,
I'll send you fish regularly from home.
I like it very much. It also smells good.
I'm glad you like it.
Master, eat more.
Here!
Madam!
Did you make all the dishes?
Yes, I did.
My dad is so lucky!
I specially made them for you.
Lucky me!
I'd like to learn a few dishes from you in future
so that I can cook for you. Is that OK?
No problem!
Let me see what I want to learn.
Come on! Try more!
Sister.
Here!
I've only been out for a little while.
How come
they suddenly become so close?
It's nothing.
They just suspect that your mom
tried to kill elder brother.
Come on! Try this!
This!
Let me get it for you.
It's delicious.
Sister, don't you lie to me!
It's the truth.
Eat with me! I can help myself!
I'm just happy watching you eat.
Then I'll eat more.
Here! Here! Here!
Come on! Eat!
OK!
Your Majesty,
Ms. Han from Shanggong Bureau
is the one who arranged for today's purchase.
Where is she?
Your Majesty, she has
hung herself.
Your Majesty, do you need me to explain
my relationship with that Ms. Han?
No need to make it so clear.
If Your Majesty ask,
I'll answer.
Are you tired?
Resting in the imperial palace all the time,
I don't feel tired.
Good!
Then just sit here and wait!
Your Majesty,
what are we waiting for?
A man.
May I ask who he is?
If it's a court official,
then I'd better excuse myself.
You'll know who he is
when he arrives.
Your Majesty, His Highness requests to see you.
Let him in.
Look, here he is.
Don't just kneel. Say something.
It was me who planned
the whole maidservants blocking the carriage thing.
I'm willing to take punishments.
I'm really disappointed at you.
Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of Nanqing
I acknowledge my sin.
Li Yunrui didn't acknowledge anything.
I made the mistake
out of temporary confusion.
Reconsidering it now, I feel so ashamed.
Neiku should be managed
by the person pointed by Your Majesty.
I should never act as I think fit.
By taking charge of Neiku, one can gather the wealth of the world.
As the Crown Prince,
you sure have to fight for it.
What really disappointed me
is the means you've adopted.
Let me ask you.
Is there any difference
between an imperial blood
and a street civilian?
As different as heaven and earth.
But some may say
they are both
ordinary people
with two hands and two eyes.
Your Majesty, that's insane.
What are complicated ethic codes
and strict laws for?
For protecting the foundation of the country.
Protecting the foundation of the country?
It's for building a high tower
in people's heart,
so that we can stand high above the masses with dignity and respect.
Whoever said that should be executed.
Trying to ruin other's name
at the cost of the imperial name,
we've become a joke.
With more jokes, there goes the reverence.
Without the reverence,
no dignity or respect will be found in people's heart.
Then the tower will collapse, right?
You are ruining our foundation on your own.
Your Majesty, I see.
You don't!
Just think it over.
Come here.
This is the list of officials
to be dismissed these days.
Be prepared for it.
See who are on the list.
Are your followers on it?
I've also been the Crown Prince.
I've fought for what I should.
But there is always a line.
Your Majesty!
Just leave!
Your Majesty!
Leave!
Father!
I'm leaving for studying.
Me, too.
Yes.
Master,
the room for Xian'er
is tidied up.
I'd like to show him around now.
See if he needs anything else.
You may leave first.
I need a word
with him.
Yes.
You're in the capital city now.
Learn to be cautious
later on.
I'm pretty cautious all the time.
How can you call yourself cautious by bring the assassin of the Investigator's Office
to the capital city.
So you know about Teng Zijing.
The guards escorted you to the capital
are all elites.
You really think they wouldn't notice
when there was one more person.
What's this?
Arrest warrant.
I found it in the files of the Ministry of Penalty.
It's for Teng Zijing.
What crime did he commit?
I don't know, and I don't need to know.
Just be careful of him.
It's an old warrant.
Anyway, he's not here now.
Stay away from the Investigator's Office
in future.
Moreover,
I will make secret investigations to find out
whether the Crown Prince is the one who tried to kill you.
Don't act rashly on your own.
Act rashly?
What can I do?
Can I rush into the Eastern Palace and kill the Crown Prince?
Back then,
your mom could really do that!
So awesome!
She was bound to no rules of the world.
She could always
make unexpected moves.
How did she die?
She was killed.
Those who killed her, are they still alive?
I don't know.
In theory,
the villains who killed your mom
were all wiped out back then,
but Chen Pingping and I both think
there is hidden danger
in the capital city.
So,
I've always kept you in Danzhou.
Eventually,
you still take me to the capital city.
I've told you.
It's the best chance to get back
your mom's properties.
You're right.
Well.
You're also tired. Have a good rest.
As to your marriage with Lin Wan'er,
I'll arrange everything for you.
No need to worry about anything.
I don't want to marry her.
What did you say?
I said
I didn't want to marry Lin Wan'er.
I've said so much,
but you still don't get it?
I get it.
My mom used to have a firm.
Now it belongs to
the imperial family.
By marrying Lin Wan'er,
I can take the firm back.
Now is the perfect chance.
I understand all the things you've said.
I just don't want to marry her.
Why?
I'm falling in love with
a drumstick thief.
What?
Actually, it has nothing to do with her.
Even if I hadn't met her,
I still won't marry Lin Wan'er.
Neiku is the fruit of
your mom's painstaking labor for a lifetime.
I understand it's very important to you.
But...
But how can I
put this?
Look!
It can move.
If cut open, it'll bleed.
I'm growing up recently,
so I eat a lot every day.
Vegetables are good for health,
but I still love to eat meat.
Eating too much meat,
my nose will bleed,
and my nails will grow fast,
so I often have to cut them every day.
What nonsense are you talking about?
I'm telling you that I am a man.
Not a chess piece.
Not a chip.
I am a living man.
Why would I
use my life
to trade for a firm?
Xian'er, you have to understand.
If you control Neiku,
you're in control of
uncounted wealth.
Were you with my mom
for her money?
How dare you!
I can't marry her.
I want to live
for myself.
These are all your followers.
His Majesty is warning me.
It's a warning and a guide.
Officials on the list
are all from Ministry of War and Ministry of Personnel.
See it yourself!
His Majesty wants to tell you
the line is military power and official governance.
As long as you don't cross the line,
you can do
whatever you want.
If that's true,
then I can take Neiku by force.
His Majesty just said
we had adopted the wrong means,
but he didn't say
we can't go after Fan Xian.
Aunt,
what should we do?
Why did His Majesty choose Fan Xian
to compete for the financial power of Neiku?
He has never been to the capital city
and he belongs to no factions.
He's not the only one.
But why him?
Rumor has it that
Fan Xian has written
a masterpiece named Red Mansions
under a pseudonym.
I was wrong before.
To destroy him completely,
we must aim at
what he's best known for.
Red Mansions.
Young Master.
Give it to me!
Give me!
Give me that!
Just put it down.
Put it down! Put it down!
I don't need these.
All of you, just go back.
Young Master,
we are the servants
of your yard now.
Where else can we go?
You...
Look at me!
Healthy and strong as I am,
I don't need any servant.
In addition,
as men, we are born equal.
No one is superior and no one is inferior.
We are all the same.
You should also live for yourselves.
Just go.
What are you doing?
Young Master.
We are servants.
If we did anything wrong,
please punish us directly.
Just don't scare us.
Right, Young Master.
How am I scaring you?
I'm serious
about that.
Moreover,
stop calling yourselves servants.
We are
all equal.
Everyone is his own master.
Young Master,
life or death, we belong to the Fan family.
We're absolutely loyal!
Apparently,
debating
based on different knowledge levels
is by itself unequal.
Personnel management is an art.
Sometimes,
you have to be simple and rough.
Just fuck off!
I'm unsociable and eccentric.
I don't want to see others in my yard.
Hurry up and leave!
Leave! Mind your own business!
Young Master,
if...
if you said that earlier,
we would understand you.
Then why are you still here?
Yes, Young Master!
We'll leave now.
Whatever you need,
just tell us.
Leave right away!
Or I'll beat you with a plank.
Yes, Young Master.
You guys!
Hurry back and find a plank
for Young Master.
-Yes. -Fuck off!
Young Master, you've had a long day.
Please rest early.
If he lives alone,
who shall take care of his daily life.
Fine! Fine!
There are so many
weird young masters and ladies
in different families.
It's no big deal.
Only what he said first
sounds horrifying.
Enough! Enough!
You guys, listen to me!
It's not that bad.
He was much nicer
when he asked for a plank for beating us.
Right!
Fan Xian! Fan Xian!
Fan Xian.
Are you asleep?
It's Fan Sizhe.
I need to talk to you.
I'm coming in.
Sleeping already?
Wake up!
Don't sleep!
I have something to tell you.
How come you sleep like a log?
Fan Xian! Wake up!
Fan Xian,
haven't you slept in Danzhou?
Are you awake?
I have something to tell you.
Well, today,
I almost beat you.
It's my fault.
After all, we are relatives,
right?
How about this?
I'll book a table in a restaurant
at noon tomorrow.
Take it as my apology for you.
Is that OK?
Well, I'll take that as a “Yes”.
At noon tomorrow. Don't forget!
I'm leaving.
I'll leave this on your desk.
Fan Xian.
Who is he?
Teng Zijing, member of the Fourth Division of the Investigator's Office of Nanqing
What?
He's the guard who escorted me to the capital city.
Sending away all the maidservants
while keeping a guard,
what's wrong with you?
Why are you here?
There's one more thing.
Dad
is old-fashioned and inflexible.
But no matter what,
he's still your dad.
Do you understand?
I don't need you to tell me that.
Fine! Fine! Fine!
Don't tell him about
our lunch tomorrow.
I see.
I'll leave you to your business.
Where were you just now?
Anywhere you can't see.
Aren't you gone?
Listen.
He has fallen into my trap.
Tomorrow morning,
find some guys to go out with me.
I will beat up
the bumpkin from Danzhou.
He is a Young Master of the family after all.
He is a Young Master.
I'm not, right?
Fuck off!
Yes.
All your files back then
were transferred by the Investigator's Office.
The only thing left
is this arrest warrant.
According to it,
the crime you committed back then
was assassinating court officials.
This is weird.
Why would the Investigator's Office
hire a criminal
like you?
In the river of history,
time goes round and round.
Memories about the former and present lives
join each other in an endless way.
In the long drunken Milky Way,
one season follows another in a flash,
and the wild geese are flying south.
I just can't give up
to be with you for my whole life.
I have been hovering in the dreams for hundreds and thousands of times.
I can't even say a word when I watch the flowers falling.
Year after year in the wandering,
I count the remaining years.
Even though we can't meet each other anymore,
even though we have ended up the destiny,
I never feel regretful.
In such a chaotic world,
I still miss you as ever.
I can't fall asleep under the moon.
With a gentle heart,
I cherish our remaining years.
Even though we have to go through
all the hardships along the journey,
you always stay by my side,
watching the falling flowers, speechlessly.
Year after year in the wandering,
I count the remaining years.
Even though we can't meet each other anymore,
even though we end up the destiny,
I never feel regretful.
In such a chaotic world,
I still miss you as ever.
I can't fall asleep under the moon.
With a gentle heart,
I cherish our remaining years.
Even though we have to go through
all the hardships along the journey,
you always stay by my side...