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 10
"It's the Investigator's Office that
asked Teng Zijing to pretend to be killed.
I knew that,
so it's not an offense.
=Eunuch Hou, private servant of Emperor Qing= It's the Imperial Magistrate's duty to try a case.
The members of the royal family should go back
and mind your own business."
Your subject obeys.
Your Highness.
May I
take the liberty
to ask you a question?
Speak.
Do you know that
I was assassinated in Danzhou not long ago?
Your Excellency.
Here I am.
His Majesty ordered you to meet him in the palace.
Now... now?
Well, are you not available?
No no no. I don't dare.
I will obey the order.
Then follow me.
As you wish.
Please wait, Eunuch Hou.
Do you have something to say?
What about us?
The judge has already left.
Now you should go back home
and mind your own business.
The capital city is not big,
we will meet some day.
Please rise.
I'll take you back.
Mr. Fan, you have a promising future,
I don't dare to destroy it.
Let's gather at the Joy Tsin House the other day.
Who on earth are you?
I won't ask you about your background.
Then I won't tell anyone
you once went out.
All I remember is
one night with you on my bed.
Let's go out first.
Sir.
I can't help it.
The case
is closed.
=Prefecture of Capital City=
Did the Investigator's Office ask you to play dead?
Of course not.
Then why did His Majesty
give the order?
I have no idea.
Could it be that His Majesty appreciates you
and wants to get you out of the trouble?
I have been here for just a few days
and I haven't even seen His Majesty.
What does he appreciate me for?
It's so weird.
Anyway,
you come back to life again
and can show up in public
from today on.
What's your plan?
That's true.
Don't talk about me.
Go back home now and let your families know you are safe.
If you have time,
welcome to my house.
Alright.
Fan Xian.
I will be waiting for you at home.
What's wrong?
I heard that His Majesty sent people here.
It matches you well.
Am I impressive?
Boss.
Has Young Master Guo come here today?
You don't know that?
I heard that Young Master Guo
was beaten last night
and severely injured.
Guo Baokun was beaten?
What about his servant?
Was he injured?
Young Master Guo only takes hatchet men with him
when he goes out.
He never takes a servant with him.
Are you sure?
Young Master Guo is
one of our regulars here.
I've never seen him
take a servant with him.
Did Wan'er make a mistake?
I wonder Young Master Fan
who beat him
would admit his crime or not.
What are you saying?
Who did it?
Boss. Boss.
The case is closed.
What crime has the Imperial Magistrate
sentenced against Young Master Fan Xian?
He is not guilty.
Si Lili from the Joy Tsin House
testified for him on the court.
She said that Young Master Fan
slept at the Joy Tsin House that night.
So he couldn't
beat Guo Baokun.
Say that again!
Hey, kid.
Could I ask you something?
Is there a village not far away?
I've been here once at night,
but I almost forget it.
Thank you.
So delicious.
Kid.
Gimme your candied haws. Let me check it out.
Give it back!
It was mixed with little poison,
so he will only suffer from diarrhea.
Wait.
Tell me
who gave you this string of candied haws?
Don't look at me that way.
How about this? I give you the money.
And you give me this string of candied haws, okay?
Anyway, it tastes good.
You didn't go back?
I ask Fan Sizhe to go back.
Sit.
You make it for your son?
Boys
like this kind of stuffs.
Good. It's so delicate.
He has never seen me before
let alone call me dad.
Maybe it is because
you were not home for years.
I owe him.
Things will be better.
And you don't need to hide in the future.
Even His Majesty knows you are still alive.
Did you say you want to leave the capital city?
You can get prepared for it now.
Where could I go?
Just figure it out yourself.
If you make the decision, just tell me.
I will prepare a carriage for you.
The capital city is not a safe place.
It's good for you to leave here earlier.
Or your families
will always worry about you.
What about you?
My Lady Drumstick is in the capital city.
I don't want to leave now.
Well, you haven't told me
why you asked me here?
You haven't met my families, have you?
I came here in a rush
and didn't prepare any gifts for them.
No need.
Honey.
Fan Xian is here.
Greetings to you, Your Excellency.
Please don't be so polite.
According to the seniority,
I should call you sister-in-law.
You have a noble identity.
I don't dare to accept that.
At the gate of the Investigator's Office,
there is a stele,
inscribing that men are created equal
and there is neither lowliness nor nobleness.
Where is our son?
He came back just now.
Come here. we have a guest.
Say hello to our guest.
Sword.
I made it for you. Do you like it?
Yes, I do.
Alright. Don't play the sword.
Come here. Call him uncle.
This uncle is so weird.
He took my candied haws.
Your Majesty. Mei Zhili has arrived.
Bring him here.
Your Majesty.
Sit.
=Mei Zhili, Imperial Magistrate of Prefecture of Capital City=
I don't dare. I am terrified.
Obedience is better than politeness.
Sit.
Well.
This is not the front hall.
I ask you to have a seat. Then just sit down.
Gratitude, Your Majesty.
You like drinking mud honey?
Your Majesty, you are so kind to me.
I feel so grateful.
Today let's ignore who we are.
We are just friends.
Have a seat.
I still remember the time when we first met,
especially when I was the crown price.
You also have greying temples.
One year ends and another begins. Nobody could avoid it.
You have been working so hard. Thank you.
Your Majesty, it's my job.
That year, I was not in an important position.
If not Your Majesty trusted me,
I won't make it today.
Do you still remember it?
I remember it.
When Your Majesty ascended the throne,
people all said the Imperial Magistrate
took charge of all affairs in the capital city.
And the position is always taken by offsprings of the royal family.
If you didn't hold your own opinion against the others
and ordered me to
take such an important position,
if I don't make painstaking efforts,
I will feel sorry for your trust.
These years,
I have been always driven by it to do my job.
It keeps me on my toes.
Many memories arise as if it were yesterday.
I always think about that
since we have such a connection,
we should have a good ending.
What a pity!
We always get the opposite of what we want.
Your Majesty. I confess.
We're just chatting.
Why do you confess?
What do you confess for?
I...
I shouldn't interrogate Fan Xian.
You received the written complaint.
As the Imperial Magistrate,
you should do your job.
When the Crown Prince visited the court,
I disobeyed the criminal law and got confused.
The Crown Prince visited the court.
You didn't know how to deal with it. I understand.
When you took the position that year,
you wrote
in your first memorial that
the most important thing to be an official was
loyalty.
Your Majesty.
I might be incompetent,
but my loyalty to Your Majesty
is so obvious that everyone could tell.
Mei Zhili.
I heard that you know
how to predict fate through physiognomy.
No.
Come.
Have a look at me.
I... Well.
I...
Tell me if my time is up or not.
Your Majesty, why do you say these words?
If I die,
you still have time to choose the Crown Prince.
No.
As a minister to three kings,
you will get a good fame.
Your Majesty.
I've contributed my sincere heart to you.
It never happened.
Sincere heart?
When the Crown Prince wanted to catch Teng Zijing,
did you ask the Inspector
to investigate his whereabouts?
Did you order people to arrest him?
If not,
well, it's me who was convinced by the rumors.
I should say sorry to you.
Your Majesty.
I confess. I am guilty.
If you punish me by the law, I will never complain.
You are a senior official,
if I punish you by law,
you may think I am cold-hearted.
I understand.
What do you understand?
When I come back home today,
I may probably fall into a well by accident.
But my families
know nothing about the case,
I beg you to show some mercy.
Alright.
You haven't drunk the mud honey.
Your...
Don't be terrified.
I will have a cup of mud honey with you.
Mei Zhili.
For old time's sake,
don't jump into a well after you go back home.
Write a memorial to apply for
resigning from office and returning to your hometown.
Don't get up too early tomorrow morning.
I promise you can return to your hometown with honor
and lead a peaceful life in the future.
Thanks for your kindness, Your Majesty.
It is now too late to repent.
I wish you can keep healthy.
Please take care of yourself.
Ask the Investigator's Office
to keep an eye on Mei Zhili,
and kill him on his way to his hometown
as a bandit.
Yes, Your Majesty.
In the hall today,
what Fan Xian did has been known
by all people in the capital city.
I've heard about that.
He wrote the line A thousand miles from home, I'm grieved at autumn's plight;
he beat someone on the street
and a famous prostitute even suffers calamities because of him.
It's extraordinarily bustling.
Fan Xian is really good at poetizing.
But he is
too arrogant and rude.
Now everyone knows that
Fan Xian indulges in dallying with prostitutes
and beat people on the street.
If Wan'er marries him,
I'm afraid that
he will bring shame on the imperial family.
Do you still want to turn down the marriage?
He doesn't realize he is just a subject
and doesn't show any respect
to the Crown Prince in the court.
If he takes over
the Neiku in the future,
I'm afraid there will hidden troubles.
I am tired. You should leave now.
She never wants
to marry Wan'er to Fan Xian.
But what she said
makes sense.
Fan Xian's reputation
is really not that good.
I'm afraid
the marriage is improper.
Your Majesty could issue a decree
to break off the engagement.
I will leave it to the emperor.
How dare you
ask High Highness about the assassination
in front of so many people?
I wanted to know it, then I asked.
But he said nothing.
As for the girl named Si Lili
who has suffered the cruel torture for you,
everyone is gossiping about
your personal relationship now.
She suffered the cruel torture
not for me.
Miss. A few young men
have been attracted here by your reputation.
They are waiting outside
and want to appreciate your graceful bearing.
By virtue of the cruel torture,
I won the reputation.
From today on,
I have settled down
in the capital city.
It's
worth it.
You wanted to punish Guo Baokun.
Fine, it's okay.
But you leaked your whereabouts
and even asked the girl from the Joy Tsin House
to be your witness in advance.
You've done all these things
because you want to tell all people that
you are lust for women and arrogant.
You're right.
Why?
I want to break off the engagement.
You don't want to marry Lin Wan'er?
I've told you about the Lady Drumstick.
If only you marry Lin Wan'er,
you could take the Neiku back.
It's not easy to meet a girl I like.
Neiku is
your mother's property.
I think
she would prefer to see me living a happy life.
Did you say you want to leave the capital city?
You can get prepared for it now.
Where could I go for?
Just figure it out yourself.
If you make the decision, just tell me.
I will prepare a carriage for you.
The capital city is not a safe place.
It's good for you to leave here earlier.
Or your families
will always worry about you.
Have you packed our luggage up?
We will leave here tomorrow.
Where are we going?
In such a big world,
we can go everywhere.
It's better than staying in the capital city.
It's been so many years.
I have always wanted to leave
and kept thinking about it.
Till now,
my wish is fulfilled.
But it seems like you are not happy.
Go.
To where?
To meet him.
No matter what decision you will make,
we will always be with you.
Ling'er, you can't cheat me.
It's absolutely true.
Guo Baokun has no servant.
How could it be like this?
You are still in the mood of caring about his servant.
Do you know
how people gossip Fan Xian now?
Last time he hid a girl singer in the carriage
and this time he was in a tangle with Si Lili
from the Joy Tsin House.
You are a princess,
how can you marry such a disgraceful man?
Please rest assured.
I will help you to break off the engagement.
It's getting late.
You'd better go to bed now.
I will see you tomorrow.
If you are not the servant,
who else are you?
I heard that Wan'er came here
and wanted to break off the engagement.
But Fan Xian has bad manners.
She hasn't seen him.
I think
she must hate to marry with him.
But Her Majesty
hasn't agreed her with that yet.
They just care about the state affairs.
Nobody cares about what's on Wan'er's mind.
Her Highness ordered us not to gossip.
You'd better go out of the palace
and pass on a message for me.
Break off the engagement?
Yes.
Her Highness said
this marriage
is not what she wishes.
Now she knows Fan Xian is so ridiculous,
she hates him much more.
Although His Majesty and Her Majesty
haven't agreed her with that,
Her Highness will manage to find a way out
and asks you not to worry about it.
Her Highness will help you to break off the engagement
and never marry you to a man you don't like.
Then I should thank him to his face.
Her Highness said
you should recuperate at home.
You don't need to visit her.
Please send my regards to mother.
I will.
What's more, Her Highness asked
if you have anyone in mind?
No, I...
I don't have anyone in mind.
Then I will reply Her Highness as you said.
Well.
Well, if we break off the engagement,
can I marry anyone I like regardless of his status?
Her Highness said that
if you really like him,
it doesn't matter who he is.
Well, what if he is just a servant?
That's okay.
A servant?
I am just off the top of my head.
I don't mean anybody.
A servant?
Whose servant is he?
It's weird.
Her Highness has been recuperating at home for years,
she has few chances to make friends.
Even if she has some friends,
they are all girls.
It's impossible for her
to encounter some servant.
Go check it out
whose servant
has met Her Highness.
And then
check out which kind of people he is and his background.
Then we can talk about the other things.
I will.
Uncle Wuzhu.
Are you really completely
disappeared from then on?
So many things have happened recently.
When I have to make a choice,
I don't know whether it's right or wrong.
If you were me,
what will you choose to do?
It's so late. Why are you here?
Why did you
take my son's candied haws away?
I have explained it to you.
I took it away
because I knew
he was poisoned.
I did it for your son's sake.
But you bit it.
Because I wanted to check it out.
I think you are a fool.
Do you have to taste it for that?
What if you die because of it?
I won't die because of that.
I'm Fei Jie's student.
You were so stupid that
you even
questioned His Highness on the court.
I just wanted to know the truth.
What can you do if you know it?
I haven't figured it out yet.
So I think you are a fool.
Do you think
you are under the cover of the Second Prince
and the Crown Prince doesn't dare to hurt you?
I am not on the Second Prince's side.
Then you can't be more stupid.
You don't even have a shelter.
Why are you so arrogant?
Bro.
You come to my house so late
just for scolding me?
I
will stay.
What? You won't leave the capital city?
You are so stupid. If I leave here,
I'm afraid you can't survive
by yourself.
You always say that
you want to leave the capital city, don't you?
Fifty taels.
What?
You give me fifty taels of silver
every month.
No arrears.
My son is at the school age.
You should find him the best teacher
through your relationship with the Fan family.
Moreover,
you should give me
two acres of fertilized land
and an ox.
In the following days,
the Crown Prince may attack me at any time.
Because of your stupid behavior.
You stay here at the time
to be my guard.
Silver, land and ox.
I want all of them.
Have you made up your mind?
The capital city is not a safe place.
No bargaining.
Fine. Deal.
What are you doing? Get up.
By the way,
do you know
who poisoned your son?
It's me.
You?
Yeah.
He likes candies.
I'm afraid his teeth will decay,
so I poison him.
If he eats too many candies,
he will suffer from stomachache.
Then I can control the intake.
You even poison your own son
because of this?
I can't scare him with a knife.
How can you behave like this as a dad?
I am a new dad.
I have to learn how to be a dad.
Your son is so tough.
My son is happy.
He likes the wooden knife I made for him.
I still want to make him
a wooden sword, a wooden bow and a wooden dart.
Please tell me
which one I should make first.
Can you make him
a wooden horse?
Then I will make him a wooden lance.
He is not a cavalry.
He is just a kid.
Just make him a wooden horse for kids.
Why do you always give people
such an ill feeling?
If you want to get along with kids,
the most important thing is
to keep the childlike innocence
and behave in a naive way.
Then you can
get close to him.
Do you understand?
Then why did you
take my son's candied haws away?
I said I didn't do that.
But you bit it.
I wanted to check out whether it was poisoned or not.
I think you are stupid.
I will not die because of that.
You are really stupid.
Fine. I am stupid.
Your Majesty.
Her Majesty sent people here
to ask you to go to sleep early.
What else did Her Majesty say?
She said Fan Xian
disrespected the Crown Prince on the court.
She didn't say it in a direct way,
but I'm afraid, Your Majesty,
that you should think over the marriage of Her Highness.
After all, it's an imperial marriage,
Your Majesty, you should be cautious.
If he showed respects to the Crown Prince,
he would be
the same as Mei Zhili.
Tell me, how close he has got
to the Second Prince?
The Second Prince
showed up on the court today,
but I still think His Highness went there on purpose.
In this way,
the Crown Prince may think that
Fan Xian has been on the side of the Second Prince.
In such a hurry and confusion,
the Crown Prince may take action.
At that time, he will be caught tripping
by the Second Prince.
My sons
are really hard to deal with.
His Highnesses are detail-minded.
They are the best of the best.
Do you think they can cheat on each other?
I don't dare to tell.
It's not finished yet.
Sit on our hands. Let them play.
Eunuch Hou.
I'm here.
You have
talked too much recently.
It's so early.
What's the rush?
Please forgive me, Your Highness.
I have been waiting here early in the morning
for fear of bothering you.
Her Highness asked me to tell you that
His Excellency Mei asked for reassignment because of illness yesterday.
On his way to the hometown,
he has been murdered as a bandit.
Her Highness thinks that
it must be His Majesty's order...
It's my fault.
I was in such a rush to declare Fan Xian's guilty
but got Mei Zhili involved in it.
Her Highness also said that
Fan Xian may have been
on the side of the Second Prince.
Before long,
he would be a throne in your flesh
for Your Highness.
I don't think so.
I know him well.
If Fan Xian is on his side,
he would not show up himself.
If he has to show up himself,
it proves that Fan Xian
isn't on his side.
Her Highness thought
even so,
you can't just let Fan Xian
take over the property ownership.
Go back and tell Auntie that
for the time being,
His Majesty transferred Fan Xian to the post,
I'm afraid he must take him as the bait,
if you want to attack Fan Xian again,
you must kill him with one shot
and never get the official force involved.
We can't take actions in such a hurry.
Let me think it over.
Why are you here again?
Fan Xian told me that you are going to leave.
I have made a deal with him
and then I come back.
Where is he?
He is with my dad?
What happened in the early morning?
I don't know.
Fine.
I have a question.
How much money
does Fan Xian pay you every month?
What are you saying?
Haven't I made it clear enough?
No. I've heard what you are saying
but I can't understand.
What do you mean by Lin Wan'er and I
are still engaged!
I mean
you will marry her.
Well. I have messed it up like that.
Why didn't they break off the engagement?
It's said that the imperial harem is not satisfied with you
and even Her Majesty dislikes you.
That's what I want.
But why didn't they cancel the engagement?
His Majesty ordered that
you are still going to get married.
Well, I...
Let me figure out the relations.
The Princess Royal is His Majesty's younger sister.
Lin Wan'er is the Princess Royal's daughter.
Lin Wan'er has no blood relation with His Majesty, but she is a princess.
That is to say,
His Majesty is
Lin Wan'er's uncle.
You're right.
Father.
There is nobody else here.
Please tell me the truth.
About what?
Tell me whether
His Majesty is out of mind or not.
How dare you!
I have a bad reputation now,
why does he force
his sister's daughter
to marry me?
His Majesty must have his own intentions.
Then what about My Lady Drumstick?
Just forget her.
He really will pay you 50 taels?
Fan Xian.
You pay him 50 taels
every month.
Why do you ask about this?
You even bought him
land and ox.
I don't even
get 50 taels per month.
Well brother,
how about this?
I will exchange my identity with him.
I want to be your guard.
Cut the crap!
I'm looking for you.
Take Ruoruo along.
You will go out with me.
What are you going to do?
Take my wife back.
If you pay me 50 taels,
I will think about it.
Sister.
You go out with me
without asking where we are going?
Why should I?
We should know what we are going to do, shouldn't we?
Brother has his plan.
If he plans to sell you,
will you go with him?
He must have his reasons if he does so.
Fan Xian.
What on earth
have you done to my sister?
My sister is
the first talented girl in the capital city.
Why does she behave like a silly girl
in front of you?
I should have told you what to do.
Ruoruo. You are a girl.
A little while later,
when you see your sister-in-law, just take her away.
Sister-in-law?
If I marry My Lady Drumstick,
then they won't force me to get married with Lin Wan'er.
Brother, where are we going?
Prince Jing's mansion.
It's lucky that I know
she is a servant girl of Prince Jing.
Your Highness, Fan Xian asks to see you.
Let him in.
As you wish.
Fan.
Why are you here today?
I want you to help me with one thing.
What is it?
I want to see the girls in your house.
Which one?
All of them.
Well.
Once I tell you whom she is,
Ruoruo, you go and grab her.
If I do it,
I'm afraid it's a little rude.
Please rest assured.
You will never be ruder.
Your Highness, I will get started.
Come and line up.
One by one.
Come here.
Do you want this one?
This one?
Next. Next.
Next one.
I think this girl is good, brother.
Come one, next one.
Next one.
Come. You can go.
Next one. Next one.
Do you live here?
Are you married?
No.
What's your name?
Okay. Next one.
Actually, this one is okay.
It must be her.
You haven't found her out?
It's okay.
Just wait.
The next batch. Come on.
You are really picky.
Go. Go. Go.
Don't be afraid. Go. Hurry.
Is it her?
Fine. It's not her.
Go. Go. Go.
My brother doesn't want to see you.
Come.
Haven't you found her?
Don't worry.
Brother, we still have another batch.
The next batch. Come.
They are all here?
Yes.
That's impossible.
I saw her on the poetry gathering.
That day,
there were many guests.
The maidservant you're looking for
might not be from my mansion.
If so,
it won't be easy to find her.
What if I visit all the families
one by one?
I'm afraid you'll probably be kicked out.
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...