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 5
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?
And why do you turn to me?
To pick up your former career?
Do you have the token for Director-General of the Investigator's Office?
Yes, I have.
You will go to the Investigator's Office.
Maybe!
What are you doing?
The Investigator's Office has special records
of all cases.
If you can bring me
my file which doesn't have much importance,
I'd give my life
to you.
And from now on,
I'll be your slave and servant.
You can determine my life and death.
I don't want to do that.
I will never
kneel in front of you
if I have another choice.
I understand.
I don't even have
the slightest bit of dignity
as a man.
Don't push me.
I might do
terrible things beyond your imagination.
I know you will.
I swear
that file is nothing confidential.
Since you're the Director-General,
it's a piece of cake for you to take it out
without any trouble.
I'm saying it once again.
I don't want to do it.
I will help you
with one extra condition.
You must tell me
what's on the file,
why you would
assassinate the officials
from the imperial court,
and why
do you give up everything?
I was...
These people are...
The story was a cliche!
This common couple poured water on the street
and stained the royalty's dresses.
As a consequence, they got beaten up.
Thank you for saving my life.
Thank you!
Thank you for saving my life.
So you stopped them
protecting the couple?
It's not their fault.
I had no sense of propriety
and stewed in my own juice.
I don't think you did anything wrong.
The master of those people
is called Guo Baokun.
And his father is Guo Youzhi,
the current Minister
of the Board of Rites.
He has paramount power.
What happened next?
One day later,
I was on the wanted list of the Ministry of Penalty.
It's nothing but a fight.
Why put you on the list?
The charge was assassinating important officials.
That charge
was based on nothing.
How did they declare you guilty without evidence?
There were witnesses.
The Guos?
It was that couple.
I was just convicted like that
with extermination of all my family members.
Your family got involved as well?
My wife just got pregnant at the time.
I begged them for mercy
and asked for death
in exchange for the lives of my family.
But they told me that
the national law is too rigorous to give personal considerations.
I remember that I wanted to laugh
upon hearing these words,
but I just couldn't.
Who saved you?
The Investigator's Office.
They transferred me away from the jail
and took away all the files
with just one condition.
They wanted me
to serve them in the Investigator's Office.
If I agree,
they would save my family.
They must be attracted by your capabilities.
What if I don't know any Kung Fu?
Will there be vegetation
all over my cemetery?
For sure,
I am still alive,
but a lot of people died
with grudges.
You hate them.
Whom?
Do you mean Guo Baokun?
He is the son of the Minister of the Board of Rites
who is at a top position.
It's a bliss for me to stay alive.
I don't dare to hate him.
I mean that couple
After I came under the Investigator's Office,
I talked to them in private.
I really want to give them
a good round of beating
to unleash the anger in my heart.
Did you do it?
Please give me some money.
Please help me with some food.
It's very tiring, isn't it?
You're sweating.
Miss, please give me some food.
Miss!
What a miserable boy!
Please give me some food! Sir!
Please give me some money! Sir!
Give some to him.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Not at all.
Let's go!
Thank you! Thank you!
Life is not easy for anyone.
Yeah!
Please give me some money. Sir!
Please give me some food.
Please have mercy! Sir!
Please!
Please give me some money! Sir!
Please give me some food!
Have mercy on me please!
Please give me some food. Miss.
Have mercy please!
Anyone please help me?
Thank you! Thank you! Sir!
Thank you!
They are merely common people.
What can they do when they are summoned by
the Minister's Residence as witnesses?
Ever since then,
I understand that there is no black and white in this world
but just rich and poor.
I realized
I had to take my wife and children away
from the capital city
and spent the rest of the life
in obscurity.
So you used me for a fake death
to run away from the Investigator's Office?
I went home once.
It's all empty now.
My family are all missing.
I am a dead man
in name.
I can't investigate it.
You're the only man
that I can trust.
So,
this is the reason why you are looking for
the files of the Investigator's Office?
There must be record
about my family's whereabouts.
You have my life
if you can help me find them.
I don't need your life,
but I'll help you.
You clearly had the chance to kill that couple,
but you didn't.
You said you are apathetic now
but you're not.
That's the reason that I help you.
Let's go!
My Lady, it's time to take the medicine.
Wan'er,
=Ye Ling'er, Lin Wan'er's good friend=
I'm treating you with drumsticks today. =Ye Ling'er, Lin Wan'er's good friend=
I'm treating you with drumsticks today.
My Lady! My Lady!
Watch out for the wind!
My Lady!
You promised me
to keep it a secret, didn't you?
Why do you want everybody
to know it
as soon as you come?
It's no longer a secret now.
Drumsticks. Pork knuckle. You can take whatever
-you want. -My Lady!
What are you waiting for?
Take him to the kitchen
and get him prepared.
Do it now!
Lady Ye,
what new idea
do you have today?
I went out of town yesterday to watch sword shows on the street
and learned that a chef
can make dishes out of grains, vegetables, and beans
with the taste of various meats
which is not only tasty
but also vivid.
So I brought him here
to satisfy your craving for food.
You're so considerate.
Of course!
If you have a craving for any food
in future,
I'll bring him to you.
I have no luck to enjoy them
despite how honored I am.
Are you alright?
You are spitting blood again.
Did you catch a cold yesterday
when visiting the Qing Temple?
I'm fine!
Totally fine.
Do you think
some day
I would get used to
spitting blood.
No way!
Are you an assassin?
Not really.
Then, are you sent by the God?
Not really either.
I think you are.
It's fine.
After vomiting several times, I just get used to it.
I'll find a famous reclused doctor for you
some day when I go out of town.
You'll be cured.
In view of the current situation,
I won't be happy
even if I'm cured.
You're still concerned about the bestowed marriage?
I know the situation
about my body.
I could die any time.
Why would I die with the marriage contract?
That's bullshit!
You don't have to blame yourself
for a bastard.
He is a bastard.
So am I.
What's the difference?
You are the awe-inspiring princess
which is evidently different from him.
I grew up in sheer coverup
for my whole life.
The so-called identity as a princess is all fake.
Even if I am a princess,
I can barely decide
who I can love.
If anyone offends you,
I can stand up for you
to beat him up.
But...
I might have a weak body, but I have a strong will.
My marriage
shall not be controlled by the Emperor's order
or by the usurp of the imperial power and treasure.
I have only one requirement
to the person that I'm going to marry.
What's the requirement?
It must be a person that I love.
That's a good point, Wan'er.
Yes. Love is the thing.
I'm gonna fine a man
that I love too.
We're so indulged
in empty talk.
That's nothing difficult.
Wait! Where are you going?
Fan Xian is the determinant.
I'm gonna find him
and make it clear to him.
He has to understand
how bad he is
and plead the emperor to cancel the marriage contract.
My Lady,
where are you going?
You can't catch a cold again.
We're going to ask for the cancellation of the marriage contract.
My Lady!
Take some!
No! No! No!
By the way, I've got one more thing to do.
Ask him to pull over!
I need to get off.
What's so urgent?
I don't know either. I'm...
Stop!
Ask the guy from Danzhou
to come off!
Come off!
I'm going off to take a look!
It's OK.
Don't worry. Sit tight!
Do you hear me! Come off right now!
Brother!
It's all fine now.
OK. Get off and take a look.
He wanted a fight and got beaten up.
Young Master!
Young Master, please help me!
Don't come to me! Go away!
I don't even know you.
Young Master!
Shut up!
Do you know them?
No, do you?
Me neither!
Neither of us know him.
Young Master!
Shut up! I'm not your master!
Total bullshit!
I don't even know who you are.
Why the heck do you take me as your master?
The tie between me and my brother is tighter than anything else.
Don't you try
to alienate us.
Your Majesty,
Fan Xian and the legitimate son of Earl Sinan were together.
They should have gone to the Yishi House.
And
the men of the Crown Prince
are keeping an eye on the whereabouts of Fan Xian.
Apart from that,
the hangers of the second prince
=Eunuch Hou, private servant of Emperor Qing=
are hunting him secretly. =Eunuch Hou, private servant of Emperor Qing=
are hunting him secretly.
Fan Xian has no title.
Shall we protect him?
After all, he is taking over Neiku.
and a talent nominated by you.
How many fish are there in this pond?
Eh...
It's hard to tell with naked eyes.
You can't tell as the water is too deep, right?
How about now?
The bait in your hands
is Fan Xian.
This pool of water is the capital city.
And the fish...
They are the common people.
Thanks for coming, gentlemen!
Find a place for the carriage first.
We will wait for you upstairs.
Sure!
This Yishi House
is a famous house in the capital city.
It's very special.
Since Sizhe will treat us,
then this is it!
Sister,
isn't this a bit too expensive
for me?
You wanted to be the host yourself.
No one forced you.
Brother, let's get inside.
Let's go and check out what to eat.
Any books?
What?
Do you need any books?
Forbidden books!
This sounds so familiar.
Do you also sell discs?
What do you mean?
I'm only selling books.
Do you need any?
I need to take a look first.
Red Mansions!
It really is!
This book
is a real masterpiece.
It just got leaked on the streets.
Eight taels of silver for a scroll. No bargaining.
How much again?
Eight taels of silver each scroll.
Do you want it?
What if I want a lot?
You don't seem to carry many with you.
If you really want,
follow me to the rear alley.
Wait for me upstairs.
Are you serious?
Please take the lead!
Brother!
Sister, look at him.
How disgraceful!
You can't understand it!
That book is written by brother!
By him?
Please help yourselves!
Please!
Is everything ready?
Yeah!
Hurry up!
The guests are waiting upstairs!
Welcome inside!
Let's go to another one!
This way! Please come in!
How far is it?
Close!
You must bargain by yourself when it comes.
Not with you?
You bargain directly with the boss
since you buy a lot.
The books belong to the boss.
Right there.
Remember! If the imperial officials come,
you must leave without hesitation.
So many people
take books from him?
Yeah! You gotta bargain on your own.
I need to get back to the street.
Do you need the book or not?
Thank you!
Can you give me one for free?
Just one!
Remember to run if you see the imperial officials.
Go! Go!
But don't run to me!
Are all these books yours?
How many do you want?
Mr. Fan!
Wang Qinian!
First books, then maps!
You are monopolizing
the literature industry.
What is literature industry?
Shall we talk about the map first?
Mr. Fan, how about...
I'm willing to pay ten times as much
for the map.
That's delightful!
I always have the courage
to take the blame for what I did
and behave myself neatly.
Please look back.
What's there to look?
Run so fast!
I don't know when the Young Master
will come back either.
OK.
My Lady, I checked.
Fan Xian is not home.
Where did he go?
It seems he went to the house.
What a merrymaker!
Are you alright?
It shall be fine
to put forward the cancellation of marriage contract
in front of Mrs. Liu in the residence.
His Majesty finalized my marriage
without my consent.
I'm not happy with it.
Don't do to others what you don't want yourself.
Even if I want it to be cancelled,
I should look him in the eyes
and tell him.
I surely will help you.
I'm so weak physically
and yet so stubborn.
Thank you for helping me.
How stupid you are!
Guess who is the book trafficker?
Who is it?
Wang Qinian!
Where is he?
He ran away in a flash!
This book is widely spread
among the girls of each household.
We don't know how it got leaked.
Brother, it's all my fault.
That's alright!
Books are meant to be read by people.
What are you looking at?
So many book dealers!
Take a look!
It's the same!
Please take a look!
Sure!
This is the most popular book
on the street now.
Do you need one?
Why do so many people
carry babies?
Wang Qinian is remarkable.
He is the friend of women.
Fan Xian,
did you really write this book?
No!
It is the Red Mansions of Cao Xueqin.
Brother, don't hold it back.
There is no such person in the world.
It is really not me.
This book is a masterpiece.
How can I steal the honor of it
by claiming to be the writer?
What I did
is only to write it from memory.
In a word,
are you the only one
who knows the story thereafter?
Why do you ask?
Fan Xian, we can take over
the book trafficking business.
Fan Sizhe,
stop messing around!
No, sister!
I observed very carefully just now.
A lot of people buy this book.
Eight taels of silver for one scroll.
Look at this book!
It has mediocre quality.
The cost is no more than three qian and two fen
for platemaking and printing,
excluding manpower.
So we can make a profit of
seven taels six qian and eight fen
with the sales of each book.
About eight to nine books were sold
in such a short while.
If we spread the network,
hundreds of them can be sold in a day.
With the sales
of a hundred books,
we can make
768 taels of silver.
If we hold a good control of time
and publish one scroll for every 15 days,
that will be
11,520 taels of silver.
If we take out the cost for manpower and network
which should be enough for three fen,
we can still make
8,064 taels of silver
as pure profit.
If you publish 12 scrolls,
it will be
96,768 taels of silver.
This is just a rough estimation.
It's so lucrative, Fan Xian!
What do you call him?
Brother! My most beloved brother!
As long as you give me this business,
I can call you uncle
if you want me to,
let alone brother.
What do you think?
Let's do this together.
You publish the book. I will take care of the network of shops.
And then we split the profit 40/60.
You get 60 and I get 40.
You can get
4,838.4 taels of silver
for every 15 days.
What do you think?
How did you get all these numbers?
Do I even need to calculate?
It's so simple.
Get out of the way!
Get out of the way, all of you!
Stop selling!
Get out of the way!
Who allows you to sell this? Go away!
This is forbidden now. Get out of the way!
What's going on here?
Who allows you to sell it?
Go away!
Sir, they are all gone now!
=Guo Baokun, son of Nanqing Minister of the Board of Rites Guo Youzhi=
Damn!
What happened?
This guy is Guo Baokun,
the son of the Minister of the Board of Rites.
What is he doing?
It was he who persecuted your family?
Yes!
Don't you want to beat him up?
I've got only one life now.
I can't run the risk.
Folks,
I am Guo Baokun!
My father is the Minister of the Board of Rites.
I am too humble to be blessed
with the position of an editor in the palace.
I attended school ever since I was young.
I know rites.
As you are all intellectuals,
you should read the sages and men of virtues.
It's such a shame to read filthy book
like this.
In my opinion,
this book should be banned from today onwards.
That's bullshit!
Guo Baokun, you're talking non-sense.
Who is talking to me like this?
Your grandpa!
Who is Guo Baokun close to?
He used to be the reading partner for Eastern Palace.
We can take him as on the Crown Prince's side.
It's the Crown Prince again!
He's involved again!
He has been looking towards me
while he was talking just now.
He knows that I am here.
Now that he is against you,
why would he become so agitated?
That's right!
Fan Sizhe and Guo Baokun are enemies?
I haven't heard of that before.
Hey! Stop messing around!
This book is so popular.
It means
it's a good book.
You want to ban a good book.
What's your title?
Editor in the palace.
That's a small enough title
to even step into the imperial office.
I know who the heck you are.
What a dumbass!
You are the dumbass!
Your dad is the Minister of dumbasses!
-Mr. Guo, please calm down! -How dare you!
=He Zongwei, a scholar in the capital city of Nanqing=
I've heard you are outstanding in terms of eloquence
and family knowledge.
I didn't believe it at the start.
Now I see you
defend the honor for scholars
in the world.
It's so admirable!
He Zongwei is well-known as a scholar
in the capital city.
It looks like he has found a wise master.
I've known you well
by your reputation as a talent.
I feel flattered
and regretful to it.
That's all bullshit.
Be careful with your words.
This guy is the son of Earl Sinan.
Earl Sinan is in charge of the Ministry of the Revenue
which has all the silvers.
So definitely his son will be superficial.
How dare you insult my dad!
I...
It's fine.
Guo Baokun won't recognize me.
But his subordinates may recognize you.
Don't reveal yourself.
What do we do then
other than watching him bullied?
Let me go!
After all, I'm your dad's colleague in the palace.
Kowtow to me for forgiveness,
and I'll forgive you this time
for the sake of your dad.
I won't apologize to a pig!
Throw this dumbass harder!
So here comes the bastard
that Earl Sinan raised in Danzhou.
Hi, Lady Ruoruo!
What a talent you are!
But it's such a pity
that you have these rubbish
as brothers.
I'm afraid you made a mistake.
I'm just a passer-by.
What?
Do you feel ashamed?
Fan Xian!
How come you're afraid
to admit your own identity?
I really don't expect you
to admire me so much!
That's bullshit!
Of course no!
I just came here from the capital city yesterday.
Today is my first day out.
I barely recognize all my family
before you recognize me with one blink of an eye.
You even memorize my name so clearly.
Is it because you admire me for long?
You...
You may keep silent if you can't think of any words to say.
It looks embarrassing to me.
Let's get back to where we were.
If I hadn't come down to help,
one of his arms would have been broken by now.
Yeah, so what?
What are you waiting for?
Come on!
He is nothing but a bastard.
Nothing to be afraid!
You wanted to break his arm.
I'd break your nose in return.
That's a fair treatment.
Countryside rubbish!
Arrogant and overweening.
Why do you look at me?
Just do it!
You have me at your back.
Overbearing Vitality Qi.
Well done!
What do you want to do?
Beat him up!
Did you just say
this is filthy book?
Yes, I did. So what?
Have you read it?
I don't even have enough time to read books from the sages.
How can I have time to read this stuff?
How about you?
I was too afraid it will stain my eyes.
An insult
based on nothing.
The writer of this book is obscure.
What good word could he produce?
Do you read his book
or his fame?
If a writer is not famous,
can't he produce any good works?
Without learning, one cannot increase his knowledge.
Without indomitable will, one cannot finish his studies.
You're too short-sighted
to claim yourselves scholars
or literary figures.
You don't even have the cultivation
to treat others' works with respect.
Shame on you!
Damn you!
No countryside men like you
can comment on scholars
like us.
Put your tongue straight
before talking.
If all scholars in this world
are like you,
I'll feel ashamed to be one of it.
Well said!
Mr. Fan's words are classic.
Your Highness!
Without learning, one cannot increase his knowledge.
Without indomitable will, one cannot finish his studies.
I thought about these two sentences.
There is a lot of meaning behind it.
It's one glimpse
of Mr. Fan's knowledge.
Your Highness,
don't get cheated
by this guy.
You two have always been famous
as talents.
Coincidentally,
there will be a poetry gathering at my residence.
You should come for the sake of making friends
through literature and cultivating yourselves through poems.
You can compete through poem on the poetry gathering
so that all the intellectuals in the world can see
who is the actual scholar.
=Li Hongcheng, Nanqing Prince Jing's son=
What do you think? =Li Hongcheng, Nanqing Prince Jing's son=
I'll come for sure!
So will I.
Who are you?
This is Li Hongcheng,
Prince Jing's son.
Who is Prince Jing?
Don't say it out loud.
Prince Jing is the biological brother
of His Majesty.
Royal bloodline!
Scholarship is the origin of mankind.
Bloodline is not worth mentioning.
You've got a good attitude.
By the way,
will there be any girls on the poetry gathering?
There will be a lot of female scholars indeed.
Good job!
You pick up girl scholars
with sobriety.
What does "pick up" mean?
Then it's a deal.
See you tomorrow at the poetry gathering.
Sure! Will wait you for it.
Li Hongcheng, Prince Jing's son,
has a reputation among the masses.
He likes literature and poetry gathering.
Scholars from different schools join it.
I didn't expect you to join it
as I thought you may not like it.
We can't escape it.
What do you mean?
It's nothing but a meal.
Disciples of the prince and Prince Jing's son
showed up one after another.
And a newly arrived bastard
got invited
to the poetry gathering
just because of a few words.
Isn't it a bit hasty?
You don't think it's a coincidence?
He is there to wait for me.
Don't think too much.
He is Prince Jing's son.
Why would he wait for you?
Besides,
who could predict that
you're going to Yishi House today?
It's very easy to find the destination
by following the carriage.
So he sent someone
to wait for you at the gate of our home
just to meet you
and invite you to the poetry gathering?
Is it even possible? Don't think too much.
More or less.
So what about Guo Baokun?
Guo Baokun was sent by the Crown Prince.
So you mean the prince wants to meet you
and Prince Jing's son wants to meet you too.
I didn't notice
you're such a hot potato.
You have to ask them about this.
Stop woolgathering!
This book is very popular recently.
Unprecedented masterpiece.
Fan Xian
is a bit straightforward.
He is a funny man and extraordinary.
Not many people in the capital city
get praise like this
from you.
How about a meeting with him tomorrow?
No, let's wait a bit more
and see how it goes.
Alright!
What are you doing?
Why did you dash downstairs
just now?
Didn't you notice
he insulted your book?
Why would you care about it while I didn't?
We are going to sell the book together
but he tried to ban it.
Cutting off my road to wealth
is no worse than killing my parents.
Who promised to work with you?
Don't you think about it? It's lucrative!
You're really quick at calculating.
Just so so.
That doesn't matter.
Think about it carefully.
Shall we work together?
Why do you want to sell books?
To make money,
of course.
Why do you want to make money?
What do you mean?
Do you plan to buy something expensive
with the money you make
or to go to the casino or the brothel?
I haven't thought about those.
I just enjoy making money.
Don't look at me like that.
Do you agree?
You must do me a favor.
What is it?
No one is here. You could get off.
What's going on?
Take the carriage back to the residence directly
and don't let anyone know
I have left.
Where are you going?
Stop asking, or I'll not let you sell my book.
It's pointless to threaten me.
My sister is here.
She is most afraid to lie.
She can't help you for sure.
Am I right, sister?
Just go, brother!
Don't worry. I'll watch over him
and stop him from leaking.
Eh...
Don't leak!
The way you treat me
is totally different from the way
you treat him.
Turn left at the entrance of the alley
and go east all the way to Tianhe street.
You'll find the Investigator's Office.
Send them back to the residence.
I can find it on my own.
You're the Director-General of the Investigator's Office.
Do you still need to sneak in?
Don't let anyone know
my identity as the Director-General.
The files of your family whereabouts
is D No. 534,
right?
Yes!
Wait for my good news.
Thanks!
Think about where to open
the book shop.
We'll discuss it when I come back.
So you agree with it?
Don't let anyone see you.
Hooray!
Hawthorn on sticks!
Sure, sir!
Hawthorn on sticks!
Gotta pick the store for printing.
And the paper as well.
All the illegal books
out there
must be collected,
or they will have a bad impact on my sales.
All these must be taken into consideration
and get prepared.
Did we reach already?
We are stuck.
Let's retreat and make way for them.
Sure!
Miss Fan, hold on a second!
Who is it?
The girl from the Ye family
who likes messing around from day to night.
I remember her now.
Is it the girl
who gave you two cases of diamonds and jewelries
every Spring Festival?
No, not she!
It's Ye Ling'er,
the daughter of Chief Guard of the capital city.
Just send her away!
Ye Ling'er is not a big deal.
I feel like she has other companies.
Who else did you see?
It's the carriage from the Fan mansion.
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...