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 43
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.
Only in this way
can I be qualified enough to find out the truth.
To find out the truth,
I need assistants and friends.
Your Excellency, I'm here.
You alone won't be enough.
Yan Bingyun?
Your Excellency, you want to take him under your wing.
But it won't be easy
to win him over.
Besides that,
we have to make Shen Zhong
tell us about the smuggler.
It's even harder.
I want to have a try.
Well,
I don't have many to trust.
Don't tell anyone about
our words today.
Your Excellency, do feel relieved.
Your Excellency.
I'm not much of a speaker,
but if you really want to climb up,
I can be your ladder.
Wang Qinian,
what do you live for?
For my wife and daughter
of course.
Well said.
You're not a ladder, but a partner.
My Lady, His Excellency Shen is in front.
Brother!
You went to see him again!
You shouldn't have!
Our parents passed away early.
They left you in my care,
so that I can take good care of you
and protect you.
I don't want to stop you
from seeking the man you love,
but Yan Bingyun
can only hurt you.
Brother,
that would be my last time to see him.
I have broken off with him.
Did he say anything to break your heart?
I'll find him.
Don't!
You still can't forget him!
Brother,
just give me a few more days.
I will forget him
bit by bit.
Go home first.
What are you going to do?
Don't worry. I have something to say.
I won't go for Yan Bingyun.
Really?
Brother!
Do feel relieved.
I won't see him anymore.
Fan Xian! Fan Xian!
Your Excellency Shen, you're here.
What's up?
Your Excellency Shen,
what about talking inside?
Don't target at my younger sister.
Your Excellency Shen, you're kidding me.
Your younger sister is actually
targeting at Mr. Yan.
From today on,
I'll lock her up in her room
till you leave Shangjing.
You can lock her up, but you can't lock up her heart.
Do remember my words.
If Yan Bingyun dares seduce her again,
I'll kill him myself
even if I have to lose my rank.
How about this?
Your Excellency Shen, I ask you a question.
If you tell me the answer,
I'll help you kill Yan Bingyun.
I'm not in the mood to joke with you.
Your Excellency Shen, take it easy.
I'm not joking.
I've checked the account book of
our Neiku branch in Shangjing Town.
For so many years,
someone from Nanqing has been
pocketing vast sums of money.
Your Excellency Shen, do you know that?
What if I know?
Good.
Tell me the name and give me the evidence,
I guarantee
your younger sister and Yan Bingyun
won't see each other again.
Aren't you born wise?
If you want to know the name of the smuggler,
why not make a guess?
Your Excellency Shen, so you don't want to tell me.
What can you do
if I don't tell you?
Then I have to do something.
I'll wait and see.
I'm afraid by then,
there's no way back for everyone.
That's most welcome.
Your Excellency Fan, I'll leave first.
I'll wait for your moves.
I will try my best
not to disappoint you.
Cunning as he is,
he won't tell you the name.
Everyone will change when coming to a dead end.
Trusted by Empress Dowager of Beiqi
and controlling the Embroidered Uniform Guards,
how could he
ever come to a dead end?
Rest and heal.
Where are you going?
To see Shangshan Hu.
How dare you see him?
He will kill you.
Maybe I should buy him some gifts.
Find some reliable guards
to guard my mansion.
Don't let her
get out these days.
I see.
Your Excellency, we've got information
from our man watching the mission.
Fan Xian went out right after you left.
Where did he go?
Go shopping.
Shopping for what?
This one is really exquisite.
Sir, you're right.
The color looks joyful.
Boss,
do you sell coffins?
Yes, coffins are in the backyard.
Sir, you can go and pick.
No hurry.
I'll have a look at these.
Excuse me,
did any of your relatives or friends pass away?
No.
Then why do you buy coffins?
As gifts.
If I buy many coffins,
will you deliver them for me?
Grand General, something weird happens.
A man sends many coffins
and funeral stuff here
and piles them outside.
He says he is here to send gifts.
The gatekeeper finds him crazy
and wants to kick him away,
but he insists on seeing you.
Does he say his name?
He says he's called Fan Xian.
Fan Xian?
Fan Xian has sent coffins
to the door of Shangshan Hu's residence?
Yes.
He got Shangshan Hu's guards killed,
and now he's acting provocatively.
Where's Fan Xian? Has he left?
No, he wants to see Shangshan Hu.
He's seeking death.
Grand General, on hearing that
your guards were all killed,
I feel so sorry.
I bought coffins
to see them off.
I hope that you can take care of yourself
and restrain your grief.
Leave us.
It's good you're here.
I guess so.
Save the coffins.
Your head would make
a perfect gift to see Tan Wu and others off.
Grand General,
Shen Zhong is the one who got them killed.
No hurry. I'll take you down one by one.
I'm not here to fight.
Just let me kill you.
Wait! I have something to say.
Tell me in my dreams after you die.
Don't you want to know
where Xiao En is?
You prepared Xiao En's
substitute in advance.
you asked him to change clothes
and hide among the dead.
I discovered that by chance
and followed him all along.
Don't you want to know
what happened later?
Where is my adoptive father?
He's dead.
Shen Zhong killed him.
What?
Shen Zhong was prepared in advance.
He ordered He Daoren and Langtao
to stop and kill Xiao En secretly.
Langtao broke off Master Xiao's
heart arteries and veins.
It was Shen Zhong who planned
the whole thing!
I'll have Langtao
and He Daoren guarding in the dark.
If someone really tries to
replace Xiao En secretly,
only with two Ninth Dan masters joining hands
can we really eliminate a hidden danger.
I accompanied Master Xiao
when he was dying.
He left some words for you.
Tell me.
Master Xiao asked me to tell you.
After I die, let me sit here.
Don't bury me.
I don't want to be buried under the ground ever again.
No need to avenge my death.
Don't provoke Chen Pingping.
Bury everything deep in your heart,
and live a happy life.
Don't avenge his death!
Don't provoke Shen Zhong!
Bury everything
deep in your heart,
and live a happy life.
Father!
By killing my father, he's become my mortal enemy.
How can I let go of him easily?
But how can you do that?
Grand General,
I've thought it for you.
Shen Zhong is a high-rank official with enormous power,
while you're trapped
in Shangjing
with no guards around.
You stand no chance
to kill him.
I can fight his guards and kill him on the street.
Then Grand General,
you'll be sentenced to death for sure.
I'm not afraid to die.
Master Xiao's last wish
is for you to live a happy life.
You might not be afraid to die,
but who will mourn Master Xiao
if you die?
Now in the entire Shangjing Town,
I'm the only one who can help you
kill Shen Zhong.
Shangshan Hu didn't kill Fan Xian
but left his residence with Fan Xian instead.
It's true! Indeed!
Where did they go?
According to the direction,
it must be the imperial palace.
The imperial palace?
I thought you come to visit His Majesty.
How come you're here?
Your Majesty,
after visiting you last time,
I find you graceful and poised,
kind and respected.
Having lost my mom when I was little,
I can't help admiring you.
I keep thinking about
visiting you again.
Today, I finally fulfilled my wish.
I'm sorry!
Just be careful.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Is that all?
Your Majesty,
I've been racking my brains
these days,
trying to figure out
what gift I shall prepare
for your birthday.
It's just for fun.
No need to bring me a gift.
I won't forgive myself
if I bring no gift.
Neither will I forgive myself
if my gift is similar to other's.
I have to find a gift
unmatched in the world.
So you've found it?
Yes.
Your Majesty, I feel so happy
to find the gift.
I can hardly wait till your birthday,
so I bring the gift to you today.
Such being the case,
just show me.
Yes.
Grand General! Grand General!
Her Majesty asks you to come in.
I can help you.
But Grand General,
to avenge your father's death,
you have to put aside your dignity.
You have no choice other than that.
Minister Shangshan Hu pays respect to Your Majesty.
What's this about?
Your Majesty,
he is the gift
I prepare for your birthday.
What?
Fan Xian gave Shangshan Hu to Her Majesty
as her birthday gift?
Your Excellency,
I also thought I heard it wrong.
But after confirming many times, it's really the case.
Then what?
Then Fan Xian said he wanted to
speak with Her Majesty alone.
So Her Majesty
asked everyone else to leave.
Our agent
dared not to stay of course.
So we don't know
what they would say later.
Reporting to Her Majesty alone,
but he's the minister of the enemy country!
The Saintess is also inside the Hall.
There should be no danger.
It's such a weird move.
Giving Shangshan Hu away as the birthday gift,
what kind of a trick is that?
Your Excellency Shen, so you don't want to tell me.
What can you do
if I don't tell you?
Then I have to do something.
I'll wait and see.
I'll wait for your moves.
No,
I have to stop him!
Get the horse ready. I'm going to the imperial palace.
Yes.
As the Grand General,
you don't have to kowtow when meeting me.
Rise.
What's going on? =Empress Dowager of Beiqi=
What's going on?
I didn't lie to Your Majesty.
The Grand General
is my gift for you.
Nonsense!
It took me some time
to persuade the Grand General
to follow Your Majesty.
I pledge allegiance to Your Majesty today.
From now on,
I will be at your disposal.
Grand General, you're
an important general of our country.
Why do you pledge allegiance again?
Before now,
he was not so loyal
to Your Majesty and His Majesty.
With a wise emperor and virtuous ministers,
Beiqi is prosperous.
How can the Grand General not be loyal to His Majesty?
Your Majesty,
there're only a few people in the Hall.
Let's be honest.
How honest?
If His Majesty really trusts the Grand General,
why would His Majesty
transfer him away from the border troops and trap him in Shangjing?
Moreover, Your Majesty,
you work your heart out for Beiqi,
but His Majesty
is not convinced.
You do everything for the benefits of Beiqi,
but His Majesty is actually suspicious of you.
By seeing that,
I also feel emotional.
How dare you!
You try to pit me against His Majesty with your silver tongue.
Do you really think I dare not to kill you?
Your Majesty, no hurry.
If you want to kill me, just wait till I finish my words.
After analyzing the current situation
with the Grand General openly,
he finally realized his errors
and decided to return to the correct path.
Your Majesty, it seems that
the border troops are under your control.
You persuaded the Grand General to serve me?
Exactly.
And Shangshan Hu just listened to you?
He didn't listen to me.
He was pushed by the general trend.
Which trend?
Your Majesty,
tricked by Shen Zhong,
Shangshan Hu lost
all his guards.
After that,
he was alone and helpless in Shangjing Town.
If he doesn't find a patron now,
should he really wait to die?
I remember a story
told by the late emperor.
I'd be glad to hear it.
Defeated and driven into a corner,
a Grand General pledged allegiance to his opponent.
What then?
Then?
Then he took the opportunity
to escape, staged a comeback
and rebuilt his army.
Fan Xian.
Yes.
It's easy to bend a man's knees,
but it's hard to predict his mind.
The story is good.
Grand General, what do you think?
What's this?
The names of
all my trusted subordinates
in the army are on it.
From generals who lead the army
to military officers of different battalions,
no one is left.
As one man, it's impossible
to control the entire army on my own.
These generals and military officers
form the foundation for me
to command the army as I wish.
You actually hand over the foundation you've laid
for commanding the army over the years?
Otherwise, how can I show my allegiance to Your Majesty?
Your Majesty, congratulations!
Now with the loyalty of a brave general,
the turbulent situations can be settled. It's so...
So what?
So good!
It's not right.
How is Beiqi turbulent?
Your Majesty, whatever you say.
Shangshan Hu.
Yes.
I've seen your sincerity.
Since you want to take my side, do you want anything in return?
Shen Zhong killed my adoptive father with schemes.
Your Majesty, please avenge his death for me.
Xiao En?
Wasn't he taken away
and burnt to death?
How could Shen Zhong kill him?
I'm so sorry.
My adoptive father was saved
by my guards.
Aren't you afraid I might punish you?
I'm willing to take punishments.
Go ahead.
I planned to replace my adoptive father
and help him escape,
but Shen Zhong was prepared in advance.
He asked He Daoren
and Langtao to join hands
in killing my adoptive father.
Your Majesty,
Shen Zhong and I are absolutely irreconcilable.
That's not what Shen Zhong said.
We'll know the truth
by asking He Daoren
and Langtao.
Mr. He.
Mr. He, where are you going?
Her Majesty wants to see me.
Good, I also want to see Her Majesty.
Let's go together.
Your Excellency Shen, please.
Please.
Your Majesty, He Daoren is here.
Commander Shen is...
Your Majesty.
Rise.
Your Majesty, you're really wise and farsighted.
By inviting His Excellency Shen to confront face-to-face,
no loyal minister will be wronged.
Your Excellency Fan, what trick
are you playing now?
Your Excellency Shen, don't you know?
As you really summoned by Her Majesty?
Sorry! Sorry!
I saw His Excellency Shen come straight
to the Hall without reporting.
So I guessed wrong. Sorry.
Your Majesty,
Fan Xian is cunning.
I'm too worried about you
to wait for reporting.
Please forgive me.
You're the most trustworthy minister of Beiqi
with ardent loyalty.
Why should I blame you?
It's not so easy
to pit me against you.
Your Majesty, I'm wronged. I didn't do that.
Mr. He.
I'm so flattered.
Your Majesty, please call me by my name.
According to Shangshan Hu,
you and Langtao
were ordered by His Excellency Shen
to kill Xiao En?
Well...
Is it true?
No matter what the truth is,
I won't blame
Commander Shen.
Feel relieved to tell the truth.
Her Majesty is asking you. Why are you hesitating?
I did receive order
from His Excellency Shen to kill Xiao En.
Commander Shen,
I remember telling you
to spare Xiao En's life.
I acknowledge my sin.
Now thinking back,
I didn't think it through.
Commander Shen, by imprisoning Xiao En,
you became his enemy.
Of course you would worry that
you might be in danger if Xiao En was alive.
You killed him to protect yourself.
Your Majesty, I'm willing to take punishments.
I know you're loyal.
Rise.
Well,
do I have to issue an imperial edict
to make you stand up?
Grand General.
Yes.
I know you love Xiao En
deeply as a son,
and I know you have a grudge
against Shen Zhong.
But now Beiqi faces domestic strife
and foreign aggression.
For the sake of our country,
I hope you can
let go of resentment
and make concerted efforts to defend Shangjing and our country.
I'm willing to defend my country.
Good.
Rise.
Commander Shen.
Yes.
The Grand General has let go of resentment
and offered service to the imperial court.
It's a blessing to Beiqi,
and a blessing from our ancestors.
I'm really happy.
Fan Xian, as to you,
you've rendered great service by persuading the Grand General.
You've really given thoughts
to my gift.
I owe you for that.
I'm so flattered.
Your Excellency Shen,
I am the one who persuaded the Grand General.
From today on,
you two are colleagues.
Try to be good buddies.
Your Majesty,
I have another birthday gift for you.
What's that?
It's Neiku's branch in Shangjing Town,
which belongs to the imperial family of Nanqing.
I know that.
Please let me explain.
When I return to Nanqing,
I'll take over
the financial power of Neiku.
Marrying the princess and taking over the financial power,
I've heard of that long ago.
Nothing in the world
can escape Your Majesty's eyes.
How is it relevant to my birthday gift?
When Li Yunrui was in charge of Neiku,
she smuggled goods with Beiqi secretly to gain profits.
Now,
since I'm going to take over Neiku,
it's a pity to hand in
such a large sum of money.
In my opinion,
we can keep doing
the business.
I'll take over the business.
Your Majesty, I beg your approval.
As to the profit,
I'll give 30% to the imperial family of Beiqi.
Take it
as my gift
for your birthday.
What profit from smuggling?
Well, Your Majesty,
don't you know?
Our Nanqing Neiku's branch
has been cooperating with His Excellency Shen to gain profits.
It's a lot of money.
Your Excellency Shen,
haven't you told Her Majesty yet?
Commander Shen.
Your Majesty,
the accounts of Neiku's branch
were falsified,
but the money
had flowed into Nanqing.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards didn't gain profits from that.
Really?
I can assure that with my life.
Your Majesty, please investigate the secret files of the Embroidered Uniform Guards thoroughly.
I've never made profits from it.
No need to investigate.
Of course I trust you.
It turns out Your Excellency Shen is so warm-hearted
as to help others make money.
Doing good deeds and accumulating virtues this way,
you're really admirable.
Your Majesty,
the smuggling is related to
high-rank officials of Nanqing.
I thought by conniving at it,
we've sowed the seeds of
Nanqing's turbulence in future.
So I offered my help
to make it happen.
I see.
It's just a small accident. It's fine.
When I take over Neiku,
we can keep doing the business.
Your Majesty,
you can still gain profits from it.
As a Nanqing minister,
why smuggle goods with Beiqi?
It's such a large sum of money.
Even if I hand it in,
it'll do me no good.
Why not gain profits together?
I'm a bit greedy. Sorry.
Pay more attention to that.
Arrange it properly
before you leave.
I need another favor.
Go ahead.
Please ask His Excellency Shen to tell me
the name of the smuggler
in the imperial court of Nanqing.
No way!
Your Excellency Shen,
by taking over Neiku after returning to Nanqing,
I pretty much cut off his source of income.
He certainly hates me to the core.
Your Excellency Shen, tell me his name
so I can protect myself.
Then our business can last long.
Your Majesty,
the smuggler is of great importance.
If he rises in rebellion someday, Nanqing will be a mess for sure.
By then,
It'll be a good opportunity for us.
We can't give him away now!
Don't worry.
I'm not a silly old fool.
Shen Zhong has made it clear.
The smuggler
in the imperial court of Nanqing
has nothing to do with Beiqi.
No need to ask him anymore.
I see.
Now that everything has settled,
I'll leave first.
Your Excellency Fan.
I'm confused about one thing.
May I ask you?
Your Excellency Shen, please go ahead.
Your Excellency Fan, you're so outstanding in literary accomplishments
that you're respected as poetic genius from heaven in Nanqing.
I'm so flattered.
Nanqing boasts strong military forces but is poor in literary achievements.
Talented as you are,
you're bound to have
a great future in Nanqing.
Thank you for your blessings.
In that sense,
you'll become a nobleman or a minister in the near future.
So I just don't get it.
By smuggling goods from the Neiku of Nanqing,
you can obtain a lot of money.
But money can't buy you
a bright future like that.
By doing so,
you're handing your life
over to Beiqi.
Your Excellency Fan,
are you really so shortsighted
as to value money over life?
Your Majesty,
this is what confuses me.
Fan Xian.
Yes.
Are you going to forsake darkness for light
and join us in Beiqi?
Your Majesty, that's not my plan.
Then what you do
makes no sense.
Actually,
I do have a reason that
I've never told others.
Tell us about it.
Your Majesty, by persuading
the Grand General to serve you
and offering you profits gained from
future smuggling,
I hope to ease our relation
and have more contacts.
Why?
I ask this world: what is love on earth
that binds the lovers up in life and death?
I fell in love with your Saintess
at first sight.
I planed the whole thing carefully
for Miss Duoduo's sake.
Your Majesty,
I'm mad
about Duoduo.
Please give us a chance.
Look.
The tree grows well.
The tree, it...
Well, what is this tree?
This tree looks so beautiful.
This tree...
It's...
It's green.
Well,
before I came to Beiqi,
I thought there would be
no grass
or tree here.
I didn't expect
it's so vibrant here.
It's full of vigor.
Well, how wonderful life is!
Well, you're laughing.
Fell in love with me at first sight?
I couldn't tell that old lady
I did everything
to kill Shen Zhong, right?
I just need an excuse.
Don't take it seriously.
You persuaded Shangshan Hu to follow the Empress Dowager
to kill Shen Zhong?
The Empress Dowager is sure
to be tempted by the military power.
But she won't kill Shen Zhong for that.
Now the border troops
are controlled by the Empress Dowager.
Haven't you gained approval from His Majesty?
This is the name list of
Shangshan Hu's subordinates in the army.
I copied it.
All the men on the list are generals and military officers.
To win them over or crack them down,
to take or lose the military power,
it's up to His Majesty.
Well, I didn't do you harm, right?
But Shen Zhong is still safe and sound.
Shen Zhong is talented and confident.
That is his strength,
but it might also get him killed.
Your Majesty, Fan Xian is
too cunning to be trusted.
He's young after all.
So many young men
in Shangjing Town fancy Duoduo.
Fan Xian is no different.
Your Majesty, by thinking so,
I'm afraid you're tricked by Fan Xian already.
Is Her Majesty less wise
than you are?
I don't mean that.
Though Shen Zhong remains safe today,
the seeds have been sowed.
What seed?
Seeds of suspicion and fear.
By killing Xiao En,
Shen Zhong defied the Empress Dowager's order.
He didn't report
the smuggling, either.
The Empress Dowager didn't blame him.
But she'll remember it in heart.
After all, the Empress Dowager trusts him.
So if it happened before,
she wouldn't blame him at all.
Even if she felt dissatisfied,
she would just let it go.
But now it's different.
What is different?
Now the Empress Dowager
has Shangshan Hu by her side.
Commander Shen, I'm delighted
that you're concerned about our country.
How can I blame you?
Your Majesty, you're really bright and perceptive.
The smuggling can
really be profitable.
In this case,
if we tell the truth,
Fan Xian will surely be punished by Nanqing.
His life is somewhat
controlled by us.
Your Majesty, please think twice.
We can't follow
our enemy's will.
No matter how much money,
we shouldn't be tempted.
Perhaps,
we can take the offer first, and see what happens later.
Forgive me for being outspoken.
We'd better be cautious.
Then I'll think it over.
Exactly.
Let's put it aside for the moment.
You may all leave.
I'm leaving.
Your Majesty, I bid you farewell.
As a first rank military official,
you don't have to kowtow to me.
Proprieties must be observed.
I'm loyal
in heart and in behavior.
Well said.
In heart and in behavior,
it's so well said.
Though Shen Zhong is important
for controlling the Embroidered Uniform Guards,
Shangshan Hu is more powerful
in the army.
The more cautious and low-pitched Shangshan Hu is,
the more arrogant and bossy Shen Zhong appears.
Your trick is too simple.
I'm afraid the Empress Dowager can see through it.
Of course she understands
Shangshan Hu takes the chance
to attack Shen Zhong.
But it's an overt scheme.
Even if the Empress Dowager
understands it all,
she'll grow dissatisfied gradually.
People change. It's human nature.
Then it will be a situation of
check and balance at most.
The Empress Dowager won't kill Shen Zhong.
Someone will if she doesn't.
Do you have another plan?
Tell His Majesty that
I promised to kill Shen Zhong for him,
and I'll definitely make it happen.
That's what he said.
Exceptionally tactful and resourceful,
and good at writing books as well,
what an excellent man!
Did he copy the name list himself?
Yes.
His handwriting is poor.
Auntie, what else do you tell him?
Nothing else.
I just warned him
when he left.
About what?
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...