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 32
Your Majesty, everyone is here.
We can start the meal.
This is a family meal.
Help yourselves!
Your Majesty,
since it's a family meal,
my presence is improper.
You're thick-skinned. It's alright!
Go ahead with it!
I don't feel myself today
and can't eat anything.
So, I don't eat
and I'll watch you eating.
We haven't had any gathering for a long time.
I've got a lot of memorials to handle.
So liquor won't be served. There you go!
Help yourselves!
This is not on imperial court.
Don't stand on ceremony.
He was rigid ever since he was young.
Now he is still a piece of wood.
Look at him!
Never showed much table manners from childhood.
He is still like this.
Fan Xian!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Who do you think is more promising of them two?
This is a family meal. You can speak at will!
No conviction?
No!
Then I'm gonna say it.
Your Majesty, are you playing a joke with me?
This question will put me
in a deep trap.
No matter how I answer it,
it's leading me to death.
Loyal ministers don't fear death.
If all loyal ministers die,
there would be only sinister ministers left.
Are you the loyal type
or the sinister type?
It's up to Your Majesty.
I'm OK either way.
How do you two
think of him?
Spectacularly talented and important to the kingdom.
Loyal ministers and sinister ministers are common.
But crafty loyal ministers are rare.
Important
and rare!
They are really high comments to him.
He deserves
however high comments.
If so,
he should be protected
in future.
No matter whichever one of you take over the throne,
he should be an important minister on court.
Your Majesty is still young and strong.
You'll live a long life.
I agree.
Live a long life?
If I live a long life,
will you be happy
or unhappy?
Come on! Take a seat!
Go on with it!
Hurry!
Do you like it?
Your Majesty,
I don't know.
You don't know?
I was too nervous to feel the taste of it.
All the officials from the six divisions
reported the other day that
you leaked highly confidential information
which is related
to Yan Bingyun's being trapped in Beiqi.
Do you know it?
I've heard of it.
Me too.
You have a lot of followers
with a wide network of adherents.
It's bad enough
if it's spread out there
for just a few days.
I have no adherents,
but I'll still eradicate the misunderstandings
from an impartial standpoint.
I do have some friends
on the court.
I'll warn the ones who need to be warned
and persuade the ones who need to be.
I'll stop the rumor from confusing the masses.
Fan Xian,
you need to prove yourself innocent
and resolve this.
How do Your Majesty want me to handle it?
Escort Xiao En to Beiqi
and get Yan Bingyun back .
We are in short of a leader.
Your Majesty want me
to go to Beiqi for the exchange?
Only your personal participation
can erase the misgivings on court.
Is that an imperial edict?
It's a suggestion
which depends on you.
Remember what I said.
No matter what you're requested,
don't promise
unless you're clearly requested to with an imperial edict.
Fan Xian, you had been to the Lin's Residence
before coming to the palace?
Yes, I did.
Prime Minister has a lot of practical experience.
You should listen to him.
If I don't want to go to Beiqi,
does that constitute disobedience to the imperial edict?
No!
But your engagement has to be changed.
What do you mean?
There are a lot of misgivings from the six divisions on you.
If you marry Lin Wan'er
and take over the Neiku,
that doesn't make much sense.
It's not too bad for you.
If that's the case,
you can fix another marriage contract
as there are a lot of good ladies in the capital city.
I'd like to go to Beiqi.
Think about it. Think about it.
I'm not forcing you.
You must think about it carefully.
I really want to go. I can't wait.
Alright!
Ask Chen Pingping for the schedule.
I'll hold the wedding for you
after you come back from Beiqi.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
I'm a bit tired and need a rest.
Finish it by yourselves.
I'm fine!
By the way, Fan Xian,
I prepared a gift for you.
=Xinyang=
Rise!
Are you waiting for me?
I want to say goodbye here to Your Highness.
You lost the title as Director
and got banished to defend the remote boarders
because of me.
It's hurting me
inside my heart.
Fan Xian was assigned by His Majesty to go north.
The journey starts immediately.
Got that!
Your Highness, a message from the court
says Fan Xian will lead a mission to go north.
Very good!
The boarder is remote and deserted.
It's inevitable to have accidents.
My place of stationing
is also on the way to the north.
As soon as I get Fan Xian's schedule,
I'll have that delivered to you very fast.
I'll wait for that.
What are you looking at?
Eh!
Look at these flowers.
There is abundant water and sunshine.
Why are they all withered?
The horrifying Head Chen
is now worried about the flowers by the side of the wall.
They were planted by your mom years back.
If you're worried,
we can have it trimmed by a gardener
or moved into a flowerpot.
Your mom said
it has its own destiny.
Let it grow as it likes.
So it's always left unattended?
Yeah!
No matter how far I go these years,
I had been thinking about them.
Yeah!
No matter how far I go recently,
I had been thinking about them.
I was afraid of losing them after I came back.
They may not be able to
go through this winter.
You miss her?
It's alright! These flowers can still be saved.
They are in lack of potassium.
Potassium?
I've grown some medical herbs
while I was learning poison from the teacher.
I will make some medicine powder
and save these flowers with it.
Don't worry. I am its destiny.
Your mom planted them and you save them.
That's also destiny.
The journey this time
is both a test and an opportunity.
But bear in mind
to get Yan Bingyun back
in a safe way.
Got it.
One more point.
Stay vigilant to one person.
Shen Zhong, Commander-in-chief of Embroidered Uniform Guards.
You must be careful with him.
He is a very dangerous person.
It mustn't be someone good
who can be remembered by you.
All the rest documents
have been put on your carriage.
Read them on the way.
You must memorize the political situation of Beiqi.
Sure!
You're leaving for Beiqi
in a few days.
I'll send people to protect you secretly
in case Princess Royal does something bad to you.
Sure!
Have you met Lin Ruofu?
Yes!
What did he say?
He asked me
not to promise anything
required by His Majesty.
But you promised it all.
His Majesty said
if I don't go to Beiqi,
my marriage will be changed.
Even though the task of visiting Beiqi
is important this time,
it is not as important
as your life.
I think you're a good person.
Me?
A good person?
It's your first time
to say something like this over the years.
I have a good sense of judgement which can save a lot of trouble.
After you come back from the north,
you can gradually take over
the Investigator's Office.
By then, the Neiku and the Investigator's Office
will be all in your hands.
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.
Not even His Majesty?
You shouldn't ask like that.
I'll keep my mouth shut!
Let's go!
Someone is waiting for you in the Bagua Hall.
Waiting for me?
You'll see after you arrive.
I think
poison A4 is the best.
I think B3
is the most difficult to detoxicate.
What if
=Senior Fellow Apprentice Leng, Acting Director= What if
you poison yourself?
Well...
Junior Fellow Apprentice, do you still remember me?
Senior Fellow Apprentice Leng?
Yeah! Yeah!
Mr. Fei is away. I'm in temporary charge of the Third Division.
I heard you're going to Beiqi?
The Third Division
prepared something for you.
Come and check it out.
Nice to meet you, Senior Fellow Apprentices!
Nice to meet you, Junior Fellow Apprentice!
Let's catch up later.
Come over here.
You are in pretty good shape.
This is the right size.
Come on. Have a try!
What is it?
See!
It is fire-proof when worn inside.
But it can't resist constant burning.
It can also defend you from
the harm of some sharp weapons.
If your enemy
uses machete axe,
you'd better evade from that.
This is a newly-developed crossbow.
Pad here and it'll shoot the arrows.
Wrong direction.
It's very hidden
but not so destructive.
It is deadly only if shot to lethal parts.
Never mind!
A4 poison is easy to be detoxicated.
He will come back to life
after a while.
Umbrella cover made of asbestos cloth.
Very strong umbrella structure.
Open it when falling down from high.
It'll help reduce the speed of falling.
This rope can sustain
the weight of four to five people
without a problem.
You can strangle a few people
with it when you feel bored.
This looks just like a jade pendant.
You can smash it in times of emergency
and hide yourself.
I have put some piquant powder as well
which can stop the enemies.
Open the door quickly!
No!
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
Don't swing it. There are needles in it.
Look!
It's C6 poison on them
which is not lethal but will make you itchy.
Itchy.
Given that you're not going on a battlefield,
you don't need to
carry these big articles.
These are already enough.
By the way,
Mr. Fei has also said that
you've learned the essence of applying poison,
so we didn't prepare any poison for you.
Senior Fellow Apprentice, I don't have the ingredients.
Tell me what you need.
Maokouzi, arsenic stones
nux vomica, and Nanhai camphor tree.
Wait a second!
Maokouzi is too bitter.
It's not a good choice.
Arsenic stones and nux vomica
should not be hard to find.
It's not convenient to buy these given my identity.
It can catch others' attention too easily.
OK! OK! OK!
That's not a problem. The Third Division has got plenty.
You probably need to bring
some chloroform as well.
New poison?
Newly developed knockout drops.
Mr. Fei has tested it before.
He said it works better than nux vomica.
Is it easy to detoxicate?
As easy as it is for Youyexiang.
So that explains it.
Can we replace the arrow poison
with arsenic stones?
That works much faster.
Murder!
Your Excellency, please get off the carriage!
What happened?
There are enemies ahead trying to attack us.
Who are they?
I didn't see clearly.
We've lost touch
with most of the people protecting Your Excellency.
They are very terrific people.
How about Your Excellency leaving first?
I'll defend at the back.
Your Excellency. Leave first.
Everyone from the Third Division comes here.
People protecting Your Excellency are completely annihilated.
Your Excellency. Go now!
Mr. Fei!
=Fei Jie, Director of the Third Division= Teacher!
=Fei Jie, Director of the Third Division of the Investigator's Office=
It stinks!
The Third Division's crossbow.
No. 3 poison. Oh no!
No. 4 poison.
You're back!
Just now
I saw a lot of sneaky people
around you.
It's alright now.
I've knocked them down.
Why do you look at me like that?
They are from the Sixth Division?
They protected me.
The Investigator's Office has too many people.
I don't know them all.
They are not dead, are they?
No!
My poison is not lethal.
Let's go!
Your Excellency!
Mr. Fei!
Well, he...
I'm serving
His Excellency Fan now.
Let's go together.
Mr. Fei, haven't seen you for ages.
Your Majesty!
Are you here to argue?
I dare not to.
Then you're here for Fan Xian.
Beiqi is our enemy after all.
It doesn't have to be him
for the visit.
Minister Lu has left his position for his hometown due to sickness.
You can take his place
as the Minister of Ministry of Revenue.
I'm here not for promotion.
I can give up the Assistant Minister
if I can stop Fan Xian from going north.
You want to breach the laws and regulations of the imperial court?
What if he gets killed?
He should take up more challenges
as a young man
otherwise how will he take up bigger responsibilities?
Then leave the bigger responsibilities.
Do you know what I like about you?
A lot of people don't wish him to go!
You are the only one who comes to me for it.
If someone else comes for it,
it's a disobedience to the law.
Who do Your Majesty mean?
You have to take over the position
of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
So does Fan Xian with his visit.
Your Majesty!
No bargaining!
Then please allow my personal guards
to protect him on the way north.
Don't do this again!
You want me to help you stand up?
Leave!
=Rouge Shop=
No problem! =Rouge Shop=
Help me out! Which one looks better? =Rouge Shop=
Help me out! Which one looks better?
Does this one look good?
Let me see!
Let me do it for you!
Let's exchange.
How about that one?
Much better now!
That one is really nice.
-What about this one? -This?
No problem. Most people like it.
That's not the look that I want.
This one doesn't look good!
I think it's pretty.
How do you guys get in?
My grandson is getting married.
We want to prepare some rouge for the bride.
He's shy.
Get out of the way!
Let the boss help us with it.
Handsome boy! Handsome boy!
You're really gorgeous!
We all like you.
His daughter doesn't deserve you.
My daughter does!
Don't go!
She is an absolute beauty!
What a pity!
He didn't even talk to us.
Let's go! Let's go!
I'm so envious.
Take your seat!
Just like what it was in Danzhou.
I'll be fine to stand.
Who runs the shop?
Me!
You run a rouge shop?
I went to apply poison in Beiqi the other year.
My target was a woman.
I had the idea
to make some poisonous rouge.
But that was awfully made.
She didn't like it
and refuse to use it.
That was an accident
which almost caused big trouble.
Then you opened up this shop?
Your Excellency may not know that
these women
might be very picky
with the choice of rouge.
But when it comes to the payment,
they are really generous
and ostentatious.
My wife is just like that.
Mr. Fei is really wise
to run such a lucrative shop.
It has nothing to do with money.
Then why do you run this shop?
Ever since then,
I always have that incident in mind.
If it ever happens again,
there can't be any mistakes.
So the shop sustains.
For many years?
For a lot of years.
How serious was that incident
that you still remember it now?
That incident
took the legs of Chen Pingping.
Everyone poisoned?
Yes!
After I woke up,
Director-General Fan was already gone.
I've sent my people to search for him.
Head,
should we send people from the First Division as well?
The guy who kidnapped Director-General Fan
is super vicious.
We'd better search for him through the whole city.
Did anyone see his face?
Yes!
Tell me about it.
Xiao En was the King of Spy
in Beiqi at the time.
He's constantly moving from place to place.
It took a lot of manpower
to get the intelligence that his son would get married.
Chen Pingping led an army and travelled a thousand miles
to capture him alive.
I've heard about that.
I arrived first that time.
Xiao En and his son were pretty vigilant.
I planned to poison his daughter-in-law
so that I can threaten him and his son.
But the rouge went wrong.
The Investigator's Office
lost half of its manpower in that battle.
His son and daughter-in-law died on site.
Chen Pingping lost his legs.
I always think
if I didn't make the mistake.
Will the situation be any different
from what it is now?
It will be the same.
How could people like Xiao En
surrender himself
just because his daughter-in-law got poisoned?
No one will know
if it would be the same or not.
I heard that
you're going to escort Xiao En to Beiqi.
Yes.
To get Yan Bingyun back.
Which jerk comes up with such a lousy idea?
Don't go!
It is His Majesty's idea.
You must flee from the capital city.
Get prepared.
We set out tonight.
Teacher!
Xiao En deeply hates the Investigator's Office.
We can't hold back the relationship
between you and me or Chen Pingping from him.
How will you cope with Xiao En
after you get to Beiqi?
Teacher, I can manage it.
Just listen to me on this.
Leave tonight.
I'll sort out the route of fleeing.
No!
Mr. Fei, how about me?
Wait for us.
Flee with us together at dusk.
No,
my wife and daughter
are all in the capital city.
What does that have to do with me?
Teacher,
neither the Investigator's Office
nor the Imperial Guards will let me go!
I'll kill
whoever stands in our way.
Including me?
How do you know this place?
I know it all the time.
Fan Xian can't go to Beiqi.
You know the consequence to act against the imperial edict.
If Fan Xian flees,
he will have no ground to stand in Nanqing
for the rest of his life.
That's not any worse than dying in Beiqi.
So what?
You want him to be like you
who travels around the world
and never be able to see
families or friends?
I am old.
Over all the years I've spent in the Investigator's Office,
I've seen enough of this type
of life and death farewell.
I can't watch him dying.
Besides,
after I die,
there is gotta be someone burying me.
I can't find anyone else
other than Fan Xian.
If only one person can live in the world,
I will surely choose Fan Xian.
Then why do you let him
escort Xiao En to Beiqi?
Do you know?
After he comes back this time,
the future of the capital city
will all be in his hands.
That's too dangerous, Head Chen.
Whose life isn't dangerous?
If he shall live
under your shadow and mine,
he'll be ruined.
Don't worry!
I'll ensure his safety.
Stand up!
I'll trust you if you stand up now.
It was because of me back then
that you lost your legs.
Your Excellency!
Teacher,
I'm willing to go to Beiqi.
Li Yunrui betrayed Yan Bingyun
to destroy me.
I'm the cause of it.
So I have to get him back.
So beautiful!
Didn't you say
you have important things to tell me?
Why don't you talk?
I'm going to Beiqi.
I know.
Actually, I don't want to go.
Then don't!
The worse result is to disappoint His Majesty's will
and go back to Danzhou with you.
If I don't go to Beiqi,
the marriage contract will be gone.
That's the idea of His Majesty?
Who else's could it be?
We can elope.
I've saved up a little bit of money.
If we keep ourselves frugal,
it's enough for our whole lives.
The only thing is the Investigator's Office may come after us.
How about
going out on the sea?
Set out on sail with a large boat.
We stop at wherever it goes
until no one
can find us.
Setting out on sail
means never being able to come back.
Aren't you afraid?
You will protect me, right?
You're too adorable. I couldn't hold it.
I'm serious.
If you elope with me,
do you know how many people will laugh at you?
I don't care.
I do!
Wait for me to come back.
After I come back from Beiqi,
let's get married.
I don't want you
to force yourself
into something you don't like for me.
Not at all.
Knowing that we can get married after I come back,
I wish I could set out tonight.
Aren't you afraid of being watched?
No!
I've sent them away.
You sent them away?
So you did plan it.
Come on! I'm about to leave.
Take it as a farewell gift.
Wait! Stand straight.
Put your hands at the back and don't move.
We must agree on three points of law.
Firstly, don't flirt with any other ladies in Beiqi.
No one but you would accept me.
What if there is someone?
I accept no one but you.
I couldn't hold it.
Why do you laugh?
No, I don't.
I couldn't help enjoying the aftertaste.
You said three points of law.
So what are the rest two points?
I haven't come up yet.
No worries. Take your time.
What are you doing?
I miss you already.
You haven't left yet.
I start to miss you even before I leave.
Fine, but hold you mouth back from me.
Sure, whatever you say.
Listen to me carefully.
You must come back alive
from this journey.
I'll be waiting for you here
with cherry flowers.
Xie Bi'an
is not only good sword
but also a scary one.
Let him in.
You sent Wan'er back?
I don't remember having such pavilion before.
Just built it.
Watch out!
There is no base!
This will be removed after the drink.
This is just for a drink?
You can't leave me waiting
in the middle of the road, right?
So I built this pavilion.
Why do you look at me like that?
As a prince,
wouldn't it be a breach of duty
if I don't live extravagantly?
That makes sense.
A toast to you.
Good liquor.
Is it?
With the support of this scenery,
any liquor can be good.
When do you set out?
In a couple of days.
When you come back,
you'll enjoy enviable reputation.
By then, the imperial examinations held in spring will start soon.
I'll plead His Majesty
to appoint you as the examiner.
I don't have any reputation.
The title of the Poetic Genius Fan is enough.
Once you organize the imperial examinations held in spring,
you'll become the examiner of those students.
It's hard to fully describe
the advantages behind it.
Feel it yourself.
I'm just curious
why Your Highness give such a good chance
to me.
You're not hateful
and can drink with me together.
Even if you follow the Crown Prince in the end,
we can still be friends.
Your Highness is most generous.
This world is full of common people.
There aren't many people
with whom you can open your heart.
I've read your poems.
"The capital city has so many officials.
Only this one guy looks frustrated and unhappy."
There are certain sincerity behind it.
There are a lot of routes to the north.
The guardian at Fengming Pass is my follower.
If you go through there, I'll ask him to protect you.
Thank you,
but we probably won't go through Fengming
this time.
Because it's a long route.
Then forget about it.
The feast is over and now it's time to move apart.
It is a pretty good day.
I'll wait for your return.
See you!
Don't tell anyone
about which pass you'll go through
for today's journey.
Keep the decision to yourself only.
I understand.
Your poison technique is better than ever.
This is newly made.
Smash it at critical moment.
It won't take any lives
or hurt anyone physically,
but even Great Masters
will sleep quite a while from it.
Thank you, Teacher!
No problem.
Just don't show off with it.
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...