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 42
Her kid's father
is Emperor Qing?
That's right.
I think he's at your age.
I'd been imprisoned for so long,
so I don't know too much about the royal family of Nanqing.
I'm not sure
which prince is that kid
or if there is something special about him.
The capital city is not a good place.
The late emperor died there.
Your mom died there.
You can live longer if you stay in Danzhou.
My mom was killed in the capital city.
Are those killers still alive?
I have no idea.
We've received an imperial decree to summon you into the imperial palace.
I see.
This is the truth hidden
by Chen Pingping and Fan Jian.
This is why they kept me away from
the capital city for so many years.
I don't belong to the Fan family.
I'm the son of Emperor Qing.
I'm a prince.
His blood is running
in my veins.
I'm a bit tired and need a rest.
Finish it by yourselves.
You don't have to kneel down if you don't feel like it.
This is different from the palace.
We're in the monarch-subject relationship in palace,
but here...
What's the difference?
Come back alive.
Knowing so many things all at once
and knowing your true identity all of a sudden,
it can be hard to accept.
It's fine
as long as you know
you're a descendent of the Xiao family.
I feel so relaxed
after telling the secret
kept for so long.
But next, the burden
is on you.
You'd better stop talking.
I'm dying. What's the difference?
It's so dim in the cave.
Having been locked up for so many years,
I don't like it here.
The scenery is so good here.
Don't let Ku He know
I told you everything.
I see.
Otherwise, he'll kill me instead.
What's your plan for the future?
Staying in Beiqi
or going back to Nanqing?
Going back to Nanqing.
Right.
Your roots are there.
Chen Pingping has no idea that
you've known the truth.
You can accomplish great deeds.
Before going back,
you should visit Zhuang Mohan when you're free.
Inform him of my death.
I will.
What else can I do for you?
After I die, let me sit here.
Don't bury me.
I don't want to be buried under the ground ever again.
OK.
No need to avenge my death.
Don't provoke Chen Pingping.
Bury everything deep in your heart,
and live a happy life.
I know.
Tell me.
Will I see them after I die?
See whom?
Ye Qingmei, and your son?
Yes.
You will see them.
Thank you
for telling me who I am.
It's a pity that I'm not your grandson.
Sit in peace.
No one will disturb you anymore.
So it's for the divine temple.
The secret of Xiao En
is the divine temple.
Wuzhu lost his memory.
Ku He will never
break his promise.
The only hope
to find the divine temple is Xiao En.
He remained silent for years of torture.
Will he really tell Fan Xian?
He will as long as he believes that
Fan Xian is his grandson.
That's why for so many years,
you didn't allow me to bring Fan Xian
to the capital city.
Firstly, I wanted to keep Fan Xian safe.
Secondly,
I was waiting for the perfect chance.
To have Xiao En leave the Investigator's Office
and meet Fan Xian,
everything should make sense.
No trace of manipulation shall be found.
Right.
The timing before the two countries started a war
was the best chance.
When the war ended, win or lose,
Shangshan Hu and Zhuang Mohan
would request to get Xiao En back.
So Fan Xian came to the capital city.
No wonder you left the capital city
on purpose.
I thought
I finally found the chance
to bring him to the capital city.
Actually,
it was arranged by you.
His Majesty picked the timing.
Was the Danzhou assassination
also planned by His Majesty?
Li Yunrui started the assassination.
I just made use of the opportunity.
What if Fan Xian was assassinated?
Have you ever thought about it?
The Sixth Division is in charge of assassination.
Why was the task given to
Teng Zijing of the Fourth Division?
That's because one month before that,
I had sent away all the officials of
the Investigator's Office
around Danzhou,
and Teng Zijing of the Fourth Division was the only one left.
Only he
could fulfill the task.
Was he also
picked by you in advance?
The officials from the Sixth Division
are hard-heartened.
They would definitely kill Fan Xian if they took the secret order.
Whatever Fan Xian might say,
they wouldn't explain.
In the Investigator's Office,
only a few are chivalrous
and dare to defy the authority.
So Teng Zijing
was one of them.
Teng Zijing was picked by His Majesty.
I thought you've
forgotten me.
What are you reading?
Stories of Beiqi.
Now that I'm here,
I'd better further understand
the customs here.
You're different than before.
What can I do for you?
I do have something for you.
But before that,
I want to ask you a question.
Do you remember Teng Zijing?
Your guard killed
on the Niulan Street?
He had a problem with you.
You were splashed with dirty water on the street,
and your guards hit him.
That's right.
Later, you asked Ministry of Penalty
to arrest Teng Zijing for assassination.
My butler
did that.
I only heard about it.
So you didn't give the order.
Of course I didn't.
How could I trouble myself
for a civilian?
His entire family was executed for this.
What a heavy sentence!
Neither did you add fuel to the fire behind the back?
Of course not.
I forgot about it the other day.
Fine.
After that,
Teng Zijing was saved by the Investigator's Office
and sent away from the capital city.
Did you send people
to harass his wife and son?
What do you mean?
I am the son of Minister of Board of Rites,
the Imperial Compiler and the follower of the Crown Prince.
I have a bright future ahead.
Why should I do that?
I...
By doing that,
I would ruin my name, wouldn't I?
It was not you.
Of course not.
Trivial as it was,
I forgot it after my guards hit him.
How would I go so far as to destroy his entire family?
Do you think our family
has no rules?
What a coincidence!
I arrived in the capital city
right at that time.
What?
It was all calculated
only for me
to meet Xiao En.
Xiao En?
Haven't we
given him back to Beiqi?
I believe you didn't lie.
Neither did Teng Zijing.
So all this was set up
by the Investigator's Office.
What do you mean?
What's the relation
between Xiao En and Teng Zijing?
Even if Li Yunrui didn't give
the fake order of assassination,
the Investigator's Office would make sure that
Fan Xian made trouble in Danzhou.
Everybody is
on your chessboard.
We're chess pieces in your game.
It's not my game.
His Majesty is the real chess player.
Even if it's for the divine temple,
is it worth risking
Fan Xian's life?
You know how many secrets
our lady had back then.
Those secrets,
those creative ideas
were all from the divine temple.
It holds resources
and wondrous items
transcending the era.
As long as we have the divine temple,
Nanqing will override any other country
and become the center of the world.
For Nanqing,
any risk is worth taking.
Right.
It's all for Nanqing.
But for Nanqing,
even my son has become a chess piece.
I have nothing to say.
What an old man!
But
I can understand that
he cares for Fan Xian deeply.
I woke up this morning because of a bad dream.
I didn't remember what it was about.
I just woke up with a start.
Your Majesty.
He said
Fan Xian is a chess piece,
but more importantly, he's my son.
Right.
Whatever Your Majesty did
is for Nanqing.
It's worth it.
Fan Jian might not think so.
He really
treats Fan Xian as a son.
He has complaints.
He'll think it through.
Don't you also
treat Fan Xian as a son?
Yes.
But when I ordered you to withdraw the black knights
to drive him to the last ditch,
you didn't hesitate at all.
I know who I am.
Who are you?
Chen Pingping.
An old dog beside Your Majesty.
Disabled as I am,
I still lead the Investigator's Office
because of Your Majesty's trust.
I do treat him as a son,
but I'm only loyal
to Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, as long as you give the order,
let alone my son,
I can give away my life
with a smile.
I heard you.
In the whole country among millions of my subjects,
you're the most loyal
to me.
I know.
I see.
It's late.
I'm going back.
Your Majesty.
Gong Dian.
Chen Pingping is in the courtyard now.
Follow him.
Find out who he meets
and what they talk.
Monitor Head Chen?
In Nanqing,
I trust you the most.
Your Majesty, I would never fail you.
Let's go back.
Fan Jian,
it's not a good thing to have too many questions.
One thing you should know.
He's still surnamed Fan.
I'm still his father.
What do you want to ask?
Your Excellency, you're finally back.
How's it going? Are you OK?
Has Yan Bingyun made a move?
No.
He just stays in the room quietly.
Are you still reading the account book?
Is Shen Zhong dead?
No.
I lied to you.
The target of this operation
was not Shen Zhong,
but Shangshan Hu.
Why did you lie to me?
I wanted to know whether you would make a move
when Shen Zhong took the bait.
You think I might collude with the enemy.
Just as you're suspicious of me,
I also wanted to know
after being tortured by Embroidered Uniform Guards for so long,
have you yielded
and become Shen Zhong's spy?
Good!
Aren't you angry?
Only by being skeptical
can you be a worthy Director-General
of the Investigator's Office.
I'm satisfied that
you're skeptical of everything.
What we're going to do next is
to get the secret behind
the account book out of Shen Zhong
and find out
who actually benefit from the dirty money.
I can help you with that,
but you have to return me the favor.
What can I do for you?
I've no idea yet.
We might start from one little thing.
What's that?
Do you understand Chen Pingping?
No one can
truly understand Head Chen.
If Chen Pingping tells a lie,
how true can it be?
Don't you want to ask me something?
Why don't you speak?
If obtaining the divine temple is for the benefits of Nanqing,
which is more important
to you and His Majesty,
Nanqing or Fan Xian?
You can't compare apples and oranges.
If you have to choose between the two,
will you choose Nanqing
or Fan Xian?
Why do we have to choose?
Fan Jian, you should know that
my biggest wish is
to obtain the resources and know the secrets of the divine temple
so as to make Nanqing a long-lasting dynasty.
So,
you'll choose Nanqing.
Why can't we have both?
I just feel that
one day,
we'll have to make such a choice.
I can tell you.
I will choose Fan Xian. I will choose my son.
One last thing.
In your story just now,
you've been avoiding one thing.
Does Xiao En's grandson
really exist?
Yes.
You didn't kill him?
No.
On this matter,
I didn't lie to Xiao En.
I did turn his grandson
into a Nanqing citizen.
I cultivated him into a warrior
who hates Beiqi to the core.
Is he in the Investigator's Office?
Good for you, Chen Pingping.
What's the point of asking me that?
In the Investigator's Office,
how many people are my age?
Why do you ask?
Don't worry. It won't do harm to Nanqing.
There're a lot. I can't tell the number.
For example, we are of the same age.
The Investigator's Office always
cultivates trusted subordinates when they are little,
so I really can't
tell the number.
What did you just say?
You are also the same age as me?
Right. What's wrong?
Have you ever seen your birth mother?
What kind of a question is that?
Just pretend I'm curious.
My mother passed away when giving birth to me.
I wasn't lucky enough to see her.
Have you spent much time with your father?
My father is strict with me.
He entrusted me to others
when I was a child.
Though we seldom meet,
it's for my own good.
Is there anything wrong?
So everything is exactly
as he expected.
Teng Zijing was your man.
If he tried to assassinate me,
you would take the blame in the end.
Why do you bring that up?
So,
you were destined
to lurk in Shangjing.
Why was it destined?
Who could predict in advance that
Teng Zijing would take the fake order?
Who could predict in advance?
So he knew in advance that
Xiao En would be used to exchange you.
Even if Xiao En survived
in Beiqi by luck,
you would go back to Nanqing.
No matter how you struggle,
you'll never go beyond his control.
Fan Xian,
what on earth do you want to say?
Xiao En said
Chen Pingping is
a manipulative villain.
Indeed,
everything is under his control.
It's true that Head asked me
to stay and serve you.
It's also you that sent secret messages
to black knights, right?
Who are you?
Why does Chen Pingping
send the black knights for you?
You may not believe
it's the first time for me to hear this name.
Chen Pingping from the Investigator's Office
is publicly known as King of Nights
and the source of all sins.
You prove yourself to be Head of the Investigator's Office.
Nobody else could be
more scheming and calculating than you.
Stay away from the Investigator's Office
in future.
Don't believe Chen Pingping.
What kind of person is he?
He's well known for being resourceful,
capricious and ruthless.
I find it safer inside.
Find more allies.
Don't rely solely on
Chen Pingping.
Tactics...
I'll assist you secretly
to turn you into the No.1 minister
of Nanqing.
No one will be able to jeopardize
your safety by then.
Humanity...
You should wear more. Don't catch a cold.
You have her eyes.
Who is she?
Ye Qingmei. Your mother.
But I'll have to
return it to you after all.
The time may have passed, but my original intension remains the same.
Tell me
if anything bothers you.
Tell me also
if anyone makes it hard for you.
I'll help you out.
I'll take care of the rest about Lin Gong's issue.
I think you're a good person.
Me? A good person?
Emotion...
These are all chess pieces in his game.
Fan Xian, how can you be
so disrespectful to the Head?
Chen Pingping,
all my life,
it's the first time I fear someone so much.
Your Majesty,
when you were out these days,
everyone inside the imperial palace
was at a loss without the mainstay.
Your Majesty, Director Gong is here.
Let him in.
Your Majesty.
Leave us.
How's it going?
Your Majesty,
Head Chen
ran into Minister Fan
when leaving the Taiping Residence.
What did Head Chen say?
Head Chen told Minister Fan that
he wants to make Nanqing
a long-lasting dynasty.
A long-lasting dynasty?
Head, you look
so exhausted.
I had a heart-to-heart talk.
A heart-to-heart talk?
Well,
I'm fine. Just leave.
Stop.
Yes.
Did Head Chen really say that?
I've remembered every word he said.
I dare not tell a lie.
Head Chen's loyalty to Your Majesty
is second to none.
Second to none?
Turn around.
I've succeeded in making the Armor Piercing Arrow.
What else do you want to say?
Long live Nanqing.
Open your eyes.
Why don't you hide?
Your Majesty, you didn't order me to hide.
To build a long-lasing Nanqing,
I can't do it on my own.
I still have to count on loyal ministers as you.
Rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
He's here! He's here!
Just leave. Stop waiting.
Don't shout! Don't shout!
I'll take up your challenges tomorrow.
Come earlier.
Leave!
Leave! Leave! Leave!
Let's come tomorrow.
Fan Xian went back
to the mission alone.
We didn't see Xiao En.
Xiao En is dead.
Are you sure?
His heart arteries were broken.
Even if my master was there,
he wouldn't be able to save Xiao En.
Was there anything unusual in He Daoren's fight?
Nothing unusual.
I'm too suspicious after all.
What did you imply
by saying those words?
Nothing.
As to Head Chen's chess game,
what does it mean?
Where's Xiao En?
He's dead.
Did he tell you the secret
before his death?
Did she marry Emperor Qing?
They didn't hold a wedding ceremony,
but they were actually a couple.
Ye Qingmei was also pregnant
with his baby.
Which do you think is better,
to be a minister
or to be a prince?
What kind of a weird question is that?
The Crown Prince is competing with the Second Prince.
Whoever loses in the end
can only die.
How can we make improper comments
on the imperial family?
In this sense,
it's safer to be a minister.
How can we choose?
Right.
We can't choose our bloodline.
It's destined after all.
Did Xiao En tell you something?
Come here.
Take a seat.
Zhu Ge, Director of the First Division of the Investigator's Office
followed Li Yunrui
and betrayed the Investigator's Office.
He's dead already.
I've heard.
Now that post
remains vacant.
Do you want to take the post?
Not me.
It's you.
I'm not qualified.
After finding out the truth of the smuggling,
you should be qualified.
When we return to the capital city,
I'll try everything I can
to get you the post.
Are you buying me over?
I told you I need your help.
Do you want to form a clique for private gain?
I want to form a clique, but only for public benefits.
The Investigator's Office
is controlled by Chen Pingping
all the time.
It's not a good thing.
Mr. Yan,
can't you do anything
for Nanqing?
Cooperate with me for check and balance.
That's the way to serve our country worthily.
Are you mad?
I've never been so clear.
Do you think I will work with you?
Indeed. I have to wait for the right moment.
You're so ambitious.
I'll tell the Head
after returning to the capital city.
Your Excellency,
there's a woman at the door
wanting to see Mr. Yan.
I told her
Mr. Yan is injured
and it's inconvenient for him to meet visitors.
But she's really stubborn.
I've tried to persuade her for a long time,
but she just wouldn't leave.
Now she's waiting in the yard.
Did she say her name?
She just said she's an old friend of
Mr. Yan,
but she refused to tell who she is.
Gao, thank you. Go and have a rest.
Yes.
Judged from your look,
you don't want to see her, right?
Please stop.
Are you OK?
You're severely injured.
I can see you inside.
No need to come out yourself.
Well,
these are medicines to enrich the blood and heal the wounds.
And here's the medicine for healing the cold.
Some should be taken orally and the others should be applied externally.
It's all written clearly.
Take them.
Just take them.
I've never loved you.
I... I know.
You've told me.
You approached me
so that you can use my identity
to get military information.
Then why are you here?
I'm just worried about your health.
After all, we know each other.
I can accept your kindness
if you
promise me one condition.
Just go ahead and tell me.
Bring me the head of your elder brother.
If you can place righteousness above family loyalty,
I promise I'll talk to you
as we used to.
We can even be intimate
if you want.
If you couldn't bear to kill him
with a sword, I can give you a poison.
Put it into his tea,
and let him drink it!
If you really don't love her,
you should talk her into
releasing you when you were caught.
What on earth do you want to say?
I think you've left a place
for her in your heart.
As an official of the Investigator's Office,
how can I have heart?
Your Excellency.
You've seen it all?
Yes.
Do you think
Yan Bingyun is really heartless?
I hope so.
Why?
Just think about it.
Now we are
in the capital of Beiqi.
If we get entangled
with Lady Shen,
Shen Zhong will hate us even more.
Lady Shen came to see Yan Bingyun.
We can't hide it.
Shen Zhong can come if he wants.
I'll wait for him.
Shangshan Hu has already
counted you as his enemy.
Why do you also provoke Shen Zhong?
It's not my style
to keep provoking strong enemies?
Your Excellency,
you were hard to predict,
but you never
asked for trouble.
After coming to the capital city from Danzhou,
I've gone through many things.
Most of the time, trouble found me.
I only responded effectively to the situation,
and I seldom took the initiative.
Do you know why?
No.
Because I only want to
live a happy life.
I want nothing else other than that.
I want to live an easy life.
I've never desired anything.
Nor did I know
my goal for life.
One can be austere if he has no selfish desires.
But now it's different.
Have you found
your goal for life?
Do you know Ye Qingmei?
Yes.
Why was she murdered back then?
I really don't know why.
I originally thought that
by having a successful business
and taking control of the financial power of the world,
she offended someone influential,
so she was murdered.
Is that wrong?
Do you mean Ye Qingmei married into the royal family of Nanqing?
Yeah.
Who did she marry?
He was a prince at that time.
Now, he's the emperor of Nanqing.
Now I see.
As a consort,
she shouldn't die in obscurity.
The truth is hidden by someone.
Since it's a top secret,
petty officials like us are not supposed to know it.
You're right.
So I've got
a goal for my life.
I know what I want to do.
I want to be the Head of the Investigator's Office
and become the most powerful minister in Nanqing.
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...